California Ag Network

Category: Featured Post

  • What Weeds are Telling You About Your Soil Health with American Vineyard Live

    Join Stetcyn Maldonado and Tom Johnson from Project Apis m. as they explore how weeds can serve as powerful indicators of vineyard health—often revealing potential problems before they become critical. In this insightful episode of American Vineyard Live, you’ll discover what different weeds can tell you about your soil and how they reflect the overall condition of your vineyard. As soil health takes center stage in sustainable agriculture, understanding these natural signals is more important than ever.

    Special thanks to Ag Bio Fusion for sponsoring this event.

  • Four Trending Products with American Pistachios that Consumers are Raving about Worldwide

    Pistachios are trending worldwide, not only as a snack, but also as an ingredient. At American Pistachio Growers (APG) annual Pistachio Industry Conference, growers got to taste the success of APG’s recent strategic partnerships. Sampling a high-value Pistachio & Kunafa (Dubai Style) Chocolate made exclusively with American pistachios was one such product everyone enjoyed, and consumers are raving about it worldwide. Pacific Nut Producer Editor Matthew Malcolm met with APG’s International Director of Marketing, Suzanne Devereaux, and in-country India representative, Sumit Saran, to highlight these new trending products that are strengthening the global demand for American pistachios. Watch this brief interview and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor SQM Specialty Plant Nutrition for their industry support.

  • How to Water your Vineyard Smarter this Season with American Vineyard Live

    American Vineyard Live teams up with Larry Williams and Cassie Braswell of HotSpot Ag to discuss how to water your vines more efficiently and economically. Topics discussed: Distribution Uniformity, Technology and Irrigation Monitoring, Irrigation Timing, and more! Learn from a renowned researcher and water conservation specialist!

    Special thanks to our sponsor HotSpot Ag

  • American Vineyard Live: What Weeds are Telling you About your Soil Health

    Join Stetcyn Maldonado and Tom Johnson from Project Apis m. on May 9th at 10am as they discuss how to understand vineyard soil conditions better by the weeds that are thriving. Strategies for remediation and scouting tips will be a primary focus. Walk away with several actionable items to improve your soil health!

    Register to attend the free webcast at: https://americanvineyardmagazine.com/register-live/

  • Asian Citrus Psyllid Infestation in California: A Guide for California Citrus Growers

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    California’s vibrant citrus industry, renowned for its oranges, lemons, and limes, is under threat from the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri , ACP). This small invasive pest not only jeopardizes the health of citrus trees but also acts as a carrier of Huanglongbing (HLB), a bacterial disease that causes citrus greening. Here’s what growers need to know about ACP, its impact, and how Kemin Crop Technologies can help with effective botanical solutions to manage and prevent infestations.

    Understanding the Asian Citrus Psyllid

    The Asian citrus psyllid is a sap-sucking insect native to Asia, Africa, and the Saudi Arabian Peninsula. It was first detected in the United States in 2005 in Florida and in California in 2008 and has continued to spread across the major citrus growing regions. This insect’s feeding behavior damages citrus trees by causing leaves to curl and blacken. However, the real threat lies in ACP’s role as a vector for Huanglongbing (HLB). HLB is one of the most devastating diseases affecting citrus crops worldwide. HLB is caused by the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, which infects the phloem of citrus trees, disrupting nutrient flow. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure, and the disease eventually leads to the tree’s death. Infected trees can be stunted, have reduced fruit yield, blotchy mottled leaves, and produce misshapen, bitter fruit, rendering them unmarketable. The economic and ecological impact of ACP and HLB is profound, putting California’s multibillion-dollar citrus industry at significant risk.

    Identifying an ACP Infestation

    Early detection of ACP infestations is crucial for effective management. Growers should regularly inspect their orchards for the following:

    • Adult Psyllids: Small (3-4 mm long), brown, winged insects perched at a 45-degree angle on leaves.
    • Nymphs: Tiny (0.25-2 mm long), yellowish-orange immature psyllids found on new growth.
    • Honeydew: Sticky substance excreted by psyllids, often leading to sooty mold development.
    • Leaf Curling: Deformed leaves caused by psyllid feeding.

    Regular monitoring and application during ACP’s active growth stages can significantly reduce infestations and aid in limiting the spread of HLB through psyllid vectors.

    Unlock Superior Protection with TetraCURB™ MAX: Kemin’s botanical-oil based Solution

    For growers seeking a sustainable and effective solution, Kemin’s botanical oil-based biopesticide, TetraCURB MAX, offers a promising option. TetraCURB MAX is a rosemary, peppermint, clove and castor oil-based contact miticide-insecticide and repellent specifically designed to target soft-bodied insects like ACP. Its unique composition is formulated from a proprietary blend of essential oils and synergizers to have multiple modes of action that paralyze, suffocate, desiccate, repel, and disrupt the pest’s feeding and reproductive cycles.

    Here are the key benefits of TetraCURB MAX, and excellent tool for citrus growers to leverage:

    • Smart Blend for Maximum Impact: TetraCURB MAX is formulated with a proprietary blend of active ingredients, including castor oil, rosemary oil, clove oil, and peppermint oil. It also contains an adjuvant, soap and emulsifiers ensuring optimal spray contact, spread, and improves active ingredients efficacy without phytotoxicity. This unique combination ensures multiple modes of action, such as neurotoxic effects, contact suffocation, desiccation, and repellency aiding in fast pest knockdown. The multiple modes of action also help to reduce the likelihood of pests developing resistance.
    • Broad-Spectrum: TetraCURB MAX is effective against a range of pests, being specially formulated to target small, soft-bodied insects. ACP fits perfectly into this category, and we see excellent ACP knockdown in 3rd party assays.
    • TetraCURB MAX Kills on contact with a quick knockdown thanks to the smart blend technology.
    • Safety for Labor, Workers, and Consumers: TetraCURB MAX is made from safe-to-use ingredients, providing peace of mind for laborers and workers. Use of TetraCURB MAX requires minimal personal protective equipment (PPE) and allows a zero-hour restricted-entry interval (REI)
    • Minimal Disruption to Harvest Activities: With a zero-day pre-harvest interval (PHI) TetraCURB MAX can be applied at any time during the season, including on the day of harvest.
    • Versatility: TetraCURB MAX is labeled for use on all crops and has no restrictions on the number of applications per growing cycle.
    • Environmental Safety: TetraCURB MAX does not cause phytotoxicity in plants when used according to the label direction.
    • Easy Application: Applying TetraCURB MAX is simple. It can be used as a stand-alone or in a tank mix. Shake well before use, dilute in water, and apply as a foliar spray with standard equipment ensuring full plant coverage until runoff. ​ With a recommended spray volume of 100 gallons per acre and a treatment interval of 5-10 days, TetraCURB MAX fits seamlessly into your crop protection routine.
    • Exemption from Food Tolerance Requirements: These biopesticides are exempt from Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in the United States, as the pesticide residue expected to remain on crops after application is minimal.

    Proven Efficacy in Lab and Field Trials

    Recent studies conducted at the University of Florida and in Oviedo, Florida have demonstrated the efficacy of TetraCURB MAX against ACP. First, in lab bioassays, TetraCURB MAX at a 1% rate achieved a 59% mortality rate of ACP nymphs within just three days of the application, outperforming the positive control Spinosad-based product. ​A field trial on sweet orange trees showed that two applications of TetraCURB MAX at 0.5% 21 days apart, significantly reduced the nymphal population by 86%, matching the performance of conventional insecticides like Cyazypyr at 16 fl.oz/100 gal. ​ Download the crop sheet to see the full data set HERE:

    Protecting California’s Citrus Legacy

    The battle against ACP and HLB is ongoing, but with vigilance and innovative solutions like TetraCURB MAX, California’s citrus growers can protect their orchards and ensure the industry’s longevity. By adopting sustainable practices, we can safeguard the future of citrus farming for generations to come.

    Don’t let ACP infestations compromise your citrus yield. ​Add TetraCURB™ MAX to your rotation in an IPM program and experience the benefits of superior pest control. ​

    For more information, visit kemin.com/tetracurbmax or contact your Kemin Sales representative today.

  • U.S. Animal Feed Consumption Trends

    The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), in collaboration with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and North American Renderers Association’s (NARA) research arm the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), announced a new report today that quantifies the amount of feed consumed by America’s major livestock, poultry and aquaculture species. In 2023, U.S. livestock, poultry and farmed aquaculture consumed approximately 283.6 million tons of feed, according to the IFEEDER report.

    “The new IFEEDER feed consumption data demonstrates the vital role that feed mills, ingredient suppliers, liquid feed manufacturers, renderers and row crop farmers play in keeping animals fed throughout their lives, which, in turn, provides Americans with nutritious meat, milk and eggs,” said Lara Moody, IFEEDER’s executive director. “On behalf of our project partners AFIA and FPRF, IFEEDER is pleased to make this data readily available as part of its ongoing mission to advance understanding and trust in a sustainable animal feed supply chain.”

    The project, conducted by researchers at Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS), which has conducted similar studies in the past for IFEEDER, used a ration cost optimization model to quantify the consumption of feed ingredients for the major animal species. Excluding harvested forages and roughages, the study found that in 2023, beef cattle consumed the most feed at 76.7 million tons, followed by broilers at 61.5 million tons, hogs at 60.9 million tons, dairy cattle at 48.7 million tons, egg-laying hens at 17.7 million tons, turkeys at 10.9 million tons, horses at 5.3 million tons, sheep and goats at 1.2 million tons, and aquaculture at 615,800 tons.

    The report primarily examined nearly 70 unique feed ingredients used among the studied species, finding that by weight, corn tops the list at 159.4 million tons, followed by soybean meal at 35.4 million tons, corn distillers’ dried grains at 32.6 million tons, wheat middlings at 5.6 million tons, and canola meal at 5.2 million tons. Recognizing that feed often complements harvested forages and roughages (e.g., corn silage, alfalfa hay, other hay, legume silage, corn stalks, sorghum silage, and wheat straw) in ruminant diets, DIS calculated that dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats and horses consumed 267.4 million tons of those ingredients. The report also found that an astonishing 37% of total feed consumption (excluding harvested forages and roughages) came from “circular” ingredients, which are coproducts or byproducts from the human food industry or other industrial processes that might otherwise go to landfill.

    “Many Americans may be surprised to learn that U.S. feed mills and rendering facilities work closely with their local bakeries, food processors and ethanol facilities to capture nutritious ingredients, some of which might otherwise go to waste, and through a highly regulated process, safely feed them to animals,” said Moody. “With more than one-third of production animal diets’ consisting of circular ingredients, our industry is doing its part to reduce waste.”

    Five states topped the list in the tonnage of feed ingredients fed to animals in 2023, including Iowa at 29.1 million tons (primarily to hogs, beef cattle and egg-layers), Texas at 24.4 million tons (primarily to beef cattle, dairy cattle and broilers), Nebraska at 17.3 million tons (primarily to beef cattle and hogs), North Carolina at 15.5 million tons (primarily to hogs, broilers and turkeys), and Kansas at 15.3 million tons (primarily to beef cattle, hogs and dairy cattle).

    The full report, along with infographics and a multimedia map that allows users to search by species, state or ingredient, are available at ifeeder.org/consumption-report.

    IFEEDER thanks ED&F Man Commodities, the National Corn Growers Association and Westway Feed Products for providing financial contributions to support this research project.

    One hundred percent of IFEEDER donations support funding for research, education and sustainability initiatives on behalf of the U.S. animal food industry. Learn more about IFEEDER at ifeeder.org.

  • Could Farmers Get a Tax Credit for Paying Employees Overtime?

    Could farmers in California get a tax credit for paying their employees to work overtime?  Other states have already implemented this to alleviate the pressures of inflating wage costs burdening ag employers. Watch this brief interview as Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) joins Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share how CAWG is working with the California Farm Bureau and Senator Shannon Grove through SB628 to support California ag employers and make this happen.
     

    Please thank this video’s sponsor SIPCAM AGRO USA for their industry support.

  • Strong Demand and Prices Expected for California Blueberries This Season

    California blueberry growers are gearing up for harvest, and market trends appear to be in their favor this season with strong demand and lower global competition, according to David Magaña, Raboresearch Senior Analyst of Horticulture at Rabobank. David met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to highlight opportunities for the California blueberry market heading into the season. Watch this brief interview and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

  • Summit to Showcase California Agritourism Best Practices, May 14-15

    Given market fluctuations and climate volatility, many agricultural producers are seeking additional sources of farm-related revenue to pay their bills. Agritourism is one avenue, and it could take the form of offering event venue space, on-farm educational tours and classes, or experiences to work on a farm or ranch.

    On May 14-15, 2025, the California Agritourism Summit will provide farmers, ranchers and other key stakeholders a unique opportunity to explore agritourism ventures and develop productive partnerships. Interested parties are encouraged to register by April 30 for this gathering in San Diego County.

    The event will feature practical tools to start or expand an agritourism business, expert panels, roundtable discussions, presentations, networking opportunities and tours of successful agritourism operations. The summit is organized by the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) and UC Cooperative Extension in San Diego County.

    “This is an exciting time for agritourism in California – in 2025, California Jobs First and Visit California both released plans in which the majority of regions across the state specifically identified agritourism as a priority area for economic and tourism development,” said Rachael Callahan, statewide agritourism coordinator for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and SAREP.

    Agritourism has been identified as a priority area of growth for many areas of California, from San Diego County in the south to Modoc County in the far north, where this farm-to-table dinner was set up at a family farm. Photo by Rachael Callahan

    “With a legacy of on-the-ground agritourism efforts and this recent recognition of agritourism’s importance at the state level, the summit is an important opportunity to bring everyone together to begin shaping a collective future of agritourism in California,” Callahan added.

    She noted that representatives from producer and community-based organizations, state and local governments, and destination marketing organizations are all encouraged to attend – as well as tourism and economic development professionals.

    The second day of the summit begins with a panel featuring Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California; Paul Towers, executive director of Community Alliance with Family Farmers; and leadership of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

    “The summit will not only highlight the diversity and creativity of local agritourism but also spark conversations about how tourism organizations can better support and showcase these experiences across California,” said Darlene Ruiz, one of the summit organizers at the UC Cooperative Extension office in San Diego County. “It’s an opportunity to foster partnerships that strengthen both local economies and community pride.”

    The first day of the summit comprises tours of exemplary agritourism businesses in the area, and culminates in a special evening reception, hosted by California Grown, at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.

    “UC Cooperative Extension values the partnerships developed over the years with agritourism businesses throughout the region,” said Jan Gonzales, community education supervisor with UCCE in San Diego County. “We’re excited to coordinate with several of them and share with summit participants some of the diverse agritourism industry in our county.”

    A showcase of agritourism success in San Diego County, The Flower Fields will be the site of an evening reception hosted by California Grown. Photo by Marcie Gonzalez

    Register for the California Agritourism Summit at https://bit.ly/2025CAAgTourismSummit.

    Businesses interested in supporting the summit can learn more here: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/83086/becomeasupporter/.

    Funding for the California Agritourism Summit was made possible, in part, by a grant agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Services and supported by USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Award number 2023-70027-40445.

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu.

  • California FFA Announces State Star Award Winners at 97th State FFA Leadership Conference

    California FFA is proud to announce the 2025 winners of the prestigious State Star Awards. Winners were announced at the closing session of the 97th State FFA Leadership Conference on April 6 in Sacramento.

    The State Star Awards are designed to recognize exceptional FFA members who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs). SAEs, which have been a part of agricultural education since 1917, offer students an individualized application of the career and life skills taught in agricultural education courses beyond scheduled class time.

    After an extensive application process, finalists demonstrating outstanding management abilities in production, agribusiness, agricultural placement, and agriscience were selected in each of the six regions. These FFA members represent the best of the best, exhibiting excellence in all aspects of their agricultural endeavors, demonstrating strong leadership skills, and participating in their local FFA chapter. California FFA is proud to announce this year’s winners:

    Star Farmer: The Star Farmer Award recognizes an FFA member who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in an entrepreneurial production agriculture SAE. This award celebrates those who have exhibited excellence in agricultural production, finance, and management while maintaining active involvement in FFA. This year’s Star Farmer is Peyton Wood from Yreka FFA. Wood owns and operates a registered cow/calf operation as well as numerous market projects in beef, sheep, and poultry in Siskiyou County. Wood has developed production techniques to maximize livestock quality and efficiency through breeding, nutrition, pasture management, maintenance of breed association records, and marketing her registered breeding animals and finished market projects.

    Star Agribusiness, Adrian Sanchez, Madera FFA

    Star in Agribusiness: The Star in Agribusiness Award honors a student for exceptional achievement in an entrepreneurial agribusiness SAE. This award is presented to individuals who focus on agricultural sales, services, or other entrepreneurial endeavors. Whether through sales, service, or innovation, the recipient must demonstrate outstanding business acumen and leadership. The 2025 Star in Agribusiness Award goes to Adrian Sanchez from Madera FFA, who has excelled in his fabrication business, where he designs and builds custom orders for customers all over the state. Through his SAE, Sanchez has successfully developed and managed all aspects of his business, including working with customers, financial record-keeping, ordering supplies, and designing and building projects.

    Star Placement, Alden Hansard, Atwater

    Star in Agricultural Placement: The Star in Agricultural Placement Award celebrates a student who has excelled in an employment-based SAE, including work-based learning opportunities. The awardee should gain real-world experience throughout his or her SAE, all while contributing to the greater agricultural workforce. The 2025 recipient of the Star in Agricultural Placement Award is Alden Hansard from Atwater FFA. Hansard started working at Cal Farm in 2020 as a part-time mechanic and salesman, where he was responsible for inspecting equipment and ordering parts. In 2022, he joined Diamond J Custom Farming as a repair mechanic, servicing and restoring farm equipment. Through his employment, Hansard has gained invaluable skills and work ethic through his daily duties of maintaining tractors and trucks, troubleshooting issues, and ordering parts.

    Star Agriscience, Salyn Meas, El Capitan FFA

    Star in Agriscience Award: The Star in Agriscience Award recognizes an FFA member whose SAE is focused on advancing agricultural science, research, and innovation. This award is designed for students who apply their curiosity to solve problems and answer questions within the agricultural industry. The 2025 Star in Agriscience Award goes to Salyn Meas from Lakeside-El Capitan FFA. Throughout her FFA career, Meas has successfully completed four agriscience projects, each contributing to groundbreaking research. Through each experiment, she has demonstrated a passion for scientific exploration in agriculture, furthering the impact of innovation and student research.

    About California FFA: California FFA serves more than 105,000 students and strives to make a difference in their lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the California FFA, visit calaged.org.