California Ag Network

Category: Featured Post

  • Dairy Students Selected for California Milk Advisory Board Internship Program

    Fourth generation dairy producer Tony Lopes of Gustine and third generation producer Jeremiah Tiemersma of Visalia have been selected to serve as international interns in a new program from the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), the promotional arm of the state’s dairy farmers.

    The interns, selected from students enrolled in agriculture-related programs at colleges and universities throughout the state, were chosen based on academic achievement, their connection to the industry and a willingness to travel abroad and learn more about international dairy sales and marketing as well as a plan to work in the California dairy industry in the future.

    Over the six-week period, each intern will spend time with in-country CMAB marketing organizations – Lopes in South Korea and Tiemersma in China – to gain a better understanding of these markets, consumer buying habits and promotional efforts on behalf of California’s dairy industry.

    “California currently accounts for around 33 percent of all U.S. dairy exports so international trade is essential for our continued growth. Over the last decade, the CMAB has worked closely with partners in Asia and Mexico to develop markets for California dairy products. This program is focused on providing insight into international dairy marketing for future leaders like Tony and Jeremiah who will work in the dairy business and one day serve on dairy industry boards and lead industry groups,” said Glenn Millar, Director of International Business Development for the CMAB.

    Tony Lopes

    Lopes, 22, recently received a B.S. in Dairy Science from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo where he served on the board of Associated Students, as president of the Los Lecheros Dairy Club and as a Cal Poly Agriculture Ambassador. He also served in leadership positions with the California FFA Association and California Junior Holstein Association. Upon completion of the internship program, he will rejoin the family dairy operation as Operations Team Leader and Manager of Strategic Development.

    Tiemersma, also 22, received a B.S. in Agricultural Business from California State University, Fresno and is working on a master’s in International Agriculture. He served as an Agriculture Ambassador at CSU, Fresno’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and in a leadership position with the Agricultural Business Club. When he returns from the internships program, he plans to complete his masters’ studies and pursue a career in the import and exporting of agricultural products.

    Jeremiah Tiemersma

    The CMAB International Internship program’s goal is to provide young agriculture/dairy college students an opportunity to learn about dairy foods and marketing in the international marketplace with a focus on developing leaders who will serve on dairy industry boards, work in dairy foods processing or sales/marketing. The internship is open to college students who are enrolled in a California college or university agriculture/dairy program and have strong ties to the California dairy industry, a willingness to travel abroad and learn about the international dairy industry.

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. Dairy products made with Real California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms.

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    About the California Milk Advisory Board
    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s more than 1300 dairy families and is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB promotes California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visitRealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

  • Growing Fresh Market Figs with Steve Schafer

    With oncoming groundwater regulations and an increasingly tight water supply, California farmers are searching for alternative crops that require less water, not to mention lower labor costs, and Madera grower Steve Schafer has more recently invested in the fresh fig market for those reasons.  Watch his brief interview here and read more about growing figs in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.

  • CA Wine Market Trends & Thompson Green Price with Allied Grape Growers

    Allied Grape Growers just held their 67th Annual Meetings in the Central Valley and North Coast, celebrated their success with Nat DiBuduo as President for the last 18 years, and welcomed Jeff Bitter stepping up as the new President & CEO of Allied. Watch this brief video with Jeff who shared the new leadership structure of Allied, discussed the current state of the wine grape industry & revealed the green price for Thompsons this year. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Enjoy our Ag video news?  Be sure to let our sponsor Duarte Nursery know & thank them for their industry support!

  • Western United Dairymen on USDA Aid Announcement for International Trade Dispute

    WUD applauds USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue’s actions announced today to try to mitigate the impact international trade disputes are having on California’s dairy farm families. The Department announced a three-prong plan to mitigate the impact of retaliatory tariffs on various agricultural commodities including payments to producers, product purchase and donation and assistance with developing new export markets.

    The combination of payments to help dairy producers manage cash flow, product purchase and donation to help keep inventories in check in light of reduced export demand and resources to help develop other export markets will be welcome news in our industry.

    WUD looks forward to working with USDA staff to quantify the economic damage inflicted on California’s dairy farm families as a result of the reset of international trading relationships on products other than dairy. Our producers should be able to expect compensation to equal the harm they’ve suffered. WUD staff will help quantify that economic impact in the approximately six weeks between now and the expected rollout of the program on September 4th.

    California’s dairy producers have invested heavily in developing export markets for their products for more
    than two decades. Their success in building dairy exports leaves our state’s industry more vulnerable than
    most to volatility in foreign markets. That is another factor WUD will emphasize with USDA as details are finalized for these new trade assistance initiatives for farmers announced today.

    Properly implemented the assistance announced today could help farmers through in the short term, assist with the development of additional export markets over the next several months and help the White House maintain the support in rural America it needs to achieve its trade policy objectives.

  • USDA-FSA Approves Pistachio Bushy Top Syndrome for Natural Disaster Assistance

    Pistachio Bushy Top Syndrome has caused a lot of economic injury and heartache to the western pistachio industry over the last several years.  Thankfully, the USDA Farm Service Agency recently announced approval of Bushy Top as a natural disaster qualifying for coverage under the federal Tree Assistance Program for replacement of affected trees.  Watch this brief interview with Richard Matoian from American Pistachio Growers as he explains and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • California Pistachio Crop Update: Summer 2018

    What started off as a potentially disastrous year for the pistachio industry is now shaping up to potentially be one of the largest crops ever for California growers.  Watch this brief interview with Richard Matoian from American Pistachio Growers as he provides an update on the crop and invites growers to APG’s Summer Luncheon this week.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • UC Experts Provide Update on Valley Cotton at Mendota Field Day

    A trio of University of California extension and farm advisors will offer tips and provide the latest developments in cotton across in the San Joaquin Valley during a Tuesday, July 24 field day in Mendota.  Open to all growers and pest control advisors, the free event starts at 9:30a.m. at Pik-A-Lok Farms on Bass Avenue in Mendota. Featured speakers are:

    • Dan Munk, UCCE Fresno County farm advisor and cotton specialist, who will discuss monitoring cotton for improved yield performance.
    • Bob Hutmacher, UCCE extension specialist of the Westside Research and Extension Center, who will provide an update cotton diseases and plant development issues.
    • Jeff Mitchell, associate vegetable crop specialist at the Kearney Ag Center, will talk about going beyond the hype of soil health and doing something about it.

    The field day is sponsored by the San Joaquin Sustainable Farm Project, which provides farmers with valuable strategies to improve yields while becoming better environmental stewards in today’s challenging economic and regulatory climate.

    SJSFP is a state and federally funded program under the direction of the Sustainable Cotton Project, a California nonprofit that has worked with Valley growers to produce environmentally friendly Cleaner Cotton™ for the consumer market. Funding for this project has been provided through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Clean Water Act Section 319.For more information about the field day, contact Project Director Marcia Gibbs at (530) 370-5325.

  • Steve Patricio Honored for Significant Contributions to Ag

    Western Growers to Present Patricio with 2018 Award of Honor on October 30

    Western Growers will honor Stephen (Steve) Patricio, who’s visionary leadership has advanced the agricultural industry by leaps and bounds, with the 2018 Award of Honor. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of industry achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the agricultural community.

    “Steve has been a tireless advocate for agriculture, and his ability to turn some of the most tumultuous challenges that our industry has faced over the past few decades into opportunities is unmatched,” said Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers. “He has already left a tremendous legacy as someone who shoulders the responsibility of igniting change that advances the industry as a whole.”

    Patricio is being recognized for his immeasurable leadership and contribution to the agricultural industry, making significant advancements in food safety and the protection of public health. Steve led the creation of the first-ever mandatory food safety compliance program for the California cantaloupe industry, as well as helped raise millions of dollars to fund research geared toward preventing foodborne illness. He also played an integral role in the establishment of the California and Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements, which today have become the model for produce safety and accountability.

    “When you look at the success of California agriculture, Steve is a true representative of why the ag community is as successful as it is today,” said Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli, executive director of the Center for Produce Safety. “He truly embodies passion and proactivity, and his commitment to food safety to benefit both the consumer and industry is unlike any other.”

    Patricio’s tenacity does not just stop at food safety. Patricio has spent countless hours throughout his 45-year tenure in the industry advocating for a sustainable supply of water for farmers to grow the food that feeds the state, nation and world. He has taken every opportunity, as he did when he was asked to join former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the San Luis Reservoir, to call attention to the need for more surface water storage and stress the need for a comprehensive water solution. Furthermore, Patricio launched the industry’s first orientation program for agribusinesses that focused exclusively on water rights.

    “Steve has one of the brightest minds and quickest wit in the industry,” said Bob Gray, past chairman of Western Growers and former president/CEO of California Ag Leadership Foundation. “He is a contributor of substance, and the expertise and competence he has brought regarding food safety and water has made major impacts for the industry.”

    A Los Banos-native, Patricio is deeply involved in the community and industry. He has served as chairman for Western Growers, Center for Produce Safety, California Cantaloupe Advisory Board and Monrovia Nursery Company. He has also held leadership positions at Western Growers Assurance Trust, Monsanto Vegetable Seeds Advisory Council and the Produce Marketing Association.

    “I was speechless when I found out I was selected for this award,” said Patricio. “I never thought that, in the end of it all, I would be a farmer or involved in this honorable and wonderful world that I am so engaged in today. I often tell youth that your career chooses you, and because I followed the path life decided to take me on, I am proud to say that I am a farmer. I couldn’t imagine being in any other industry.”

    Patricio’s accomplishments and passion for shaping the ag industry will be recognized at the Award of Honor Dinner Gala at the Western Growers Annual Meeting on October 30, 2018, in Palm Desert, California.  There, Patricio will be honored by his peers, friends and family. To attend the ceremony, visit http://www.wgannualmeeting.com/.

  • 2018 CA Raisin Crop Update with Kalem Barserian

    It’s looking like California raisin growers are going to be experiencing an average crop this year; however, raisin acreage is down tremendously, and so are raisin inventories. Watch this brief interview with RBA CEO Kalem Barserian with a crop/raisin price update, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Enjoy our Ag video news?  Be sure to let our sponsor Duarte Nursery know & thank them for their industry support!

  • Tribute to Allied Grape Growers’ Nat DiBuduo

    Allied Grape Growers’ Nat DiBuduo recently retired after 18 years of dedicated service as President of the Association. He will be deeply missed by all who have come in contact with this great man. Watch this video tribute to Nat, as shared at Allied Grape Growers 2018 Annual Meeting, with comments from some of the many people who have been influenced by Nat over the years. Read Nat’s story in the June issue of American Vineyard Magazine or online Here

    Enjoy our Ag video news?  Be sure to let our sponsor Duarte Nursery know & thank them for their industry support!