California Ag Network

Category: Ag Economics

  • USDA Accepting Applications for Philippines Ag Trade Mission

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications from U.S. exporters for an agricultural trade mission to Manila, Philippines, July 18-21, 2022. The mission will provide U.S. growers, producers, and exporters the opportunity to explore a thriving market that is expected to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic with one of the strongest growth forecasts in Asia.

    The Philippines is the eighth-largest export market for U.S. agricultural and food exports, averaging $3.1 billion annually during the last five years. It offers U.S. agribusinesses tremendous export potential thanks to its young and fast-growing population, strong consumer preference for U.S. foods and beverages, and robust service-based economy, which has reported increased sales in food retail, food service, and food processing following the country’s economic reopening.

    “As the Administration works to provide new and better market opportunities for U.S. agricultural exporters, the Philippines sets itself apart from the rest with a U.S. partnership that spans decades and an even brighter future for trade,” said USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Administrator Daniel Whitley. “The Philippines and the United States just marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries and the United States is proud to be one of the Philippines’ largest economic partners. When it comes to U.S. foods and beverages in particular, U.S. brands are highly regarded as safe, reliable, and of good quality, and are the leaders in the marketplace, accounting for 21 percent market share.”

    For U.S. companies interested in exploring the Philippine market, strong export opportunities include beef; pork; poultry; cheese and cheese products; food preparations, including infant food; fresh vegetables; healthy foods; gourmet; convenience food products; processed fruit and vegetables; wines, beer, and distilled spirits; pet food; seafood products; and tree nuts.

    “USDA is also pleased to be partnering with the Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA–Northeast for this mission,” added Whitley. “Strong collaboration between FAS and the U.S. agricultural industry will ensure we are providing the best possible service to our customers both internationally and right here at home.”

    While in Manila, participants will conduct business-to-business meetings with potential importers, receive in-depth market briefings from FAS and industry trade experts, and participate in site visits and other networking opportunities.

    The deadline to apply for the Philippines trade mission is May 18, and spots are limited. USDA previously had a trade mission to the Philippines scheduled for April 2020, which was cancelled due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Applicants originally selected for the 2020 trade mission will be given priority to participate in this one.

    For more information, visit https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions or email trademissions@usda.gov.

  • CA Senators Feinstein and Padilla Join Efforts To Hold Summit to Resolve Ag Export Trade Crisis

    The Almond Alliance of California today thanked  California’s U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla for joining with a collaborative of major agriculture associations in urging a summit with all stakeholders – ocean shipping carriers and agricultural exporters – to resolve gridlock at the nation’s ports, where billions of dollars of exports are stuck on the docks.

    “The agriculture community of California thanks and appreciates our Senate delegation for standing up to end this gridlock which has crippled California farmers for the last year,” stated Almond Alliance President Aubrey Bettencourt.

    The call to action – spelled out in a letter from the senators – urged a wide range of interests to come to the table to address this crisis. The communique was sent to

    March Bourdon, President of CMA CGM Maritime, the United States Secretary of Agriculture, the United States Secretary of Transportation, and the National Economic Council.

    The senators implored those officials to work with American agricultural exporters to immediately expand export opportunities.

    “We urge you to work with California agricultural producers to ensure their products, especially perishables, expeditiously get to export markets worldwide during this important season,” the senators wrote. “We look forward to working with you to achieve our shared goals.”

    In their communique, Senators Feinstein and Padilla underscored the urgency of the crisis:

    Our “agricultural commodities have been significantly hampered in exporting their products because of container and equipment shortages, canceled bookings, and inadequate receiving windows.

    “According to the attached letter from several of California’s major agricultural producers, three out of four containers at U.S. ports are returning to Asia empty, resulting in a significant backlog of sold product in need of transportation.”

    That letter from national and state agricultural groups specifically demands for an immediate federal effort to convene a meeting of ocean carrier companies and agricultural exporters to address the tremendous export trade imbalance which is crippling American agriculture and damaging the American economy.

    Signatories of that second letter include leadership of the California Farm Bureau; Western Growers Association; National Milk Producers Federation; U.S. Dairy Export Council; Western United Dairies; the Almond Alliance of California, and the California Walnut Handlers Alliance.

    To read letter:  Click Here

  • California Almond Subjective Forecast Estimates Smaller Crop

    The 2022 California Almond Subjective Forecast published by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates that the crop harvested in 2022 will come in at 2.8 billion pounds, 4 percent below last year’s 2.92 billion pounds.

    Forecasted yield is 2,040 pounds per acre, 8 percent below the 2021 yield of 2,210 per acre.

    Richard Waycott, Almond Board of California

    “A lower crop estimate was not totally unexpected versus last year’s 2.9 billion pounds,” said Richard Waycott, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California (ABC). “Some growers’ crops this spring were impacted by frost, while all growers are managing continuing concerns about water availability. However, demand for California almonds around the globe remains strong and California almond growers are prepared to meet that demand.”

    The Subjective Forecast is the first of two production reports from NASS for the coming crop year. It is based on opinions from a phone survey conducted from April 19 to May 6 of randomly selected California almond growers. The sample of growers, which changes every year, is spread across regions and different sized operations.

    On July 8, NASS will release its second production estimate, the 2022 California Almond Objective Report, which is considered more accurate and is based on actual almond counts using a more statistically rigorous methodology to determine yield.

    This Subjective Forecast comes two weeks after NASS released the 2021 California Almond Acreage Report, which gave a preliminary estimate for bearing acreage in 2022 at 1.37 million acres, about 3.8 percent larger than its estimate for 2021 of 1.32 million bearing acres.

    NASS conducts the annual Subjective Forecast, Objective Report and Acreage Report to provide the California almond industry with the data needed to make informed business decisions. These reports are the official industry crop estimates.

  • How to Protect Your Farmland for Future Generations in California

    Many California farms are run by families who have cultivated the land for several generations.  It’s not just land, it’s not just an investment — it is part of what defines them and their mission to feed the world. Watch this brief interview with Charlotte Mitchell from the California Farmland Trust as she shares how to protect their legacy of farming for generations to come.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • The Mission and Objectives of the California Farmworker Foundation

    The pandemic proved challenging to all in various ways, and farmworkers had unique needs that had to be met in order to keep agriculture going and food from California on dinner tables all over the world. The California Farmworker Foundation was among the great organizations that rose to the occasion to meet their needs. Pandemic aside, farmworkers are essential, they have families and needs, they have a voice, and the California Farmworker Foundation has been established and continues to grow for these reasons. Watch this brief interview to learn more.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • Farmers Cannot Bear the Burden of Record Inflating Costs Alone

    Among some of the top issues impacting the California fresh fruit industry, and all of the state’s agricultural industries for that matter, are record inflating production costs.  This was addressed at the recent annual conference of the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA). Watch this brief interview with CFFA President Ian LeMay as he addresses this.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • EU Proposes New MRL Regulation on Imported Pistachios

    It appears that aflatoxin will not be the only naturally occurring mold sabotaging pistachio shipments destined for the European Union.  The EU is proposing a new MRL regulation on Ochratoxin A in pistachio imports to go into effect January 1, 2023. But what is Ochratoxin A and what should the pistachio industry know about this? Watch this brief interview with Thomas Jones from the Safe Food Alliance as he explains.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • Navel Orangeworm Sterile Insect Technique Moving Forward

    Many tree nut growers are aware of the pistachio industry’s investment and government support of sterile insect technique as another tool to suppress navel orangeworm populations in the orchard, but recognize that the research takes time and money. So how far have we come and does the technique still have promise for combatting the tree nut industry’s number one insect pest? Watch this brief video to find out, featuring Ted Sheely, a cotton and pistachio grower who has been following this program long before it was used for navel orangeworm. Read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • Almond Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations Following Whole Orchard Recycling

    Whole orchard recycling has been a great alternative to the traditional burning of aging almond orchards; however, incorporating the carbon rich wood chips back into the soil presents concerns for nitrogen availability upon replanting.  Watch this brief interview with UCCE Farm Advisor Brent Holtz as he shares his nitrogen application recommendations for replanting almonds following orchard recycling based on recent studies, and be sure to read his monthly Almond Tasks column in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • Growers Limited to Insecticides for Control of Walnut Husk Fly

    As growers prepare to begin monitoring their orchards for walnut husk fly emergence in June, watch this brief interview with Jhalendra Rijal from the Tree & Vine Expo, as he shares more about the nature of this pest and the limited tools growers have to control it.  Read more in-depth information about walnut husk fly control in the May issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.