California Ag Network

Category: Ag Economics

  • USDA Announces Over $146M Investment in Sustainable Agricultural Research

    U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today an investment of more than $146 million in sustainable agricultural research projects aimed at improving a robust, resilient, climate-smart food and agricultural system.

    This investment is made under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Sustainable Agricultural Systems program. This innovative program focuses on a broad base of needed research solutions from addressing labor challenges and promoting land stewardship to correcting climate change impacts in agriculture and critical needs in food and nutrition.

    “USDA is tackling urgent challenges facing American agriculture and communities across our nation. Critical issues like food insecurity, drought resilience and response, animal disease prevention, and market disruption requires investments to help meet these challenges. This is the time for agriculture, forestry, and rural communities to act. Together we can lead the way with investments in science and research and climate-smart solutions that feed and nourish families, improve the profitability and resilience of producers, improve forest health, while creating new income opportunities, and building wealth that stays in rural communities,” said Secretary Vilsack.

    This investment is part the third installment of NIFA grants within its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems program designed to improve plant and animal production and sustainability, and human and environmental health. AFRI is the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences.  These grants are available to eligible colleges, universities and other research organizations.

    “Investments in research projects likes these awarded today will result in long-term improvements in agricultural practices that will benefit consumers, farmers and the environment,” said NIFA Director Dr. Carrie Castille. “It takes an inclusive systems approach to tackle these major issues. We are excited to see impacts this research investment will generate for our nation to move us towards solutions that benefit all Americans.”

     

    • University of California researchers and their partners aim to alleviate groundwater over-use and sustain irrigated agriculture in the Southwest United States. They will develop innovative education programs and novel Extension programming to support sustainable groundwater and irrigated agricultural systems, create models (geophysical, hydrology, biophysical, and socioeconomics), develop climate change adaptation management strategies, and produce decision support tools. ($10 million)
    • University of Hawaii and partners will develop a Children’s Healthy Living Food Systems Model and simulations to identify and test drivers of resiliency in food supply chains for decreasing food waste and increasing food and nutrition security, healthful diets and health among children. The work aims to prevent chronic disease in households and communities across the U.S. Affiliated Pacific insular area. ($10 million)
    • Central State University and its multidisciplinary team, partnering with 1890 land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities, a 1994 land-grant Tribal College and 1862 Land-grant Universities, will investigate using hemp as an aquaculture feed ingredient to address food safety concerns about consuming seafood raised with hemp feed additives. They will also research ways to increase economic markets and production sustainability for seafood and hemp. ($10 million)
    • A Colby College partnership project will compare and optimize algae feed additives for dairy cows, and will assess the impact at the animal-, farm- and community-level. The project will include developing integrated public outreach programs to enhance milk production, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and recover nutrients. ($10 million)

  • Government Interference in Beef & Cattle Markets has Unintended Consequences

    In response to a bipartisan request from the House Agriculture Committee, Texas A&M University has completed a comprehensive report on the U.S. cattle and beef markets written by leading economists across the country. Among its key findings is that proposals increasing government intervention and mandates will cost livestock producers billions of dollars.

    “Thursday the House Agriculture Committee will hold the fourth Congressional hearing this year on beef and cattle markets. It is no surprise that the Texas A&M analysis reflects the expert testimony at each hearing: supply and demand have the most influence on the price of cattle and goods for consumers,” said Meat Institute President and CEO, Julie Anna Potts.

    The analysis is a 180 page book called “The U.S. Beef Supply Chain: Issues and Challenges,” and is the result of a collaboration with Texas A&M’s Agricultural and Food Policy Center, national experts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    “The Texas A&M book went one step further and examined current legislative proposals and found these proposals’ unintended consequences will harm those they are meant to protect: cattle producers,” Potts said. “This book should be required reading for Members of Congress who want to help livestock producers and consumers.”

    One of the most significant findings was regarding government mandates included in proposed legislation by Members of Congress (called the 50/14 or 30/14 proposals) to require minimum negotiated cash market purchases. Dr. Stephen R. Koontz, Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at Colorado State University found:

    “The short-term impact for a policy most like that being considered is a $2.5 billion negative impact in the first year and a cumulative negative impact of $16 billion over 10 years, inflated to 2021 dollars. This cost is leveled mainly on cattle producers,” said Koontz. “The 50/14 proposal would have these negative impacts and the 30/14 would have similar negative impacts albeit approximately halved.” (Page 104)

    Similar to the experts and economists who have testified before Congress, the book’s introduction contains this warning:

    “In the meantime, we would urge extreme caution in making changes to a system that has grown organically over time to reward high-quality beef production in a way that acknowledges regional differences throughout the country.” (emphasis added) Page ix

    The book contains the following critical arguments:

    Regarding Concentration
    “While not necessarily a popular position, most economic research confirms that the benefits to cattle producers due to economies of size in packing largely offset the costs associated with any market power exerted by packers. Research indicates that there is market power, but its effect has been small.” Page x

    Fed Cattle Pricing:
    “Innovation via AMAs (alternative marketing arrangements) originated with feeders who were attempting to capture value associated with improved quality. There has been tremendous variability in the adoption of AMAs, with the Texas-Oklahoma-New Mexico region by far being the largest users of AMAs.” Page x

    “Reliance on formula pricing significantly reduced transaction costs associated with negotiation and induced predictability in the supply chain.” Page x

    Regarding Price Discovery:
    “Among the cattle market economists consulted, there was general agreement that price discovery in fed cattle markets is still robust despite the fact that less than 30% of the transactions are negotiated (or cash).” Page x

    In Chapter 2 of the Study, John D. Anderson, Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas, Andrew M. McKenzie, Professor and Associate Director of the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas, and James L. Mitchell, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas and an Extension Livestock Economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture wrote: “The reliance of formula prices on negotiated prices is reason enough to pay particular attention to the manner in which prices are established in the market. Negotiated prices not only reveal information about supply and demand fundamentals in the fed cattle market; they also contribute substantially to formula prices that control two-thirds or more of fed cattle trades. For both of these reasons, negotiated trades in the fed cattle market have some characteristics of a public good; therefore, market participants have a strong interest in ensuring that negotiated trades occur in sufficient quantity to fulfill this public good role (Koontz and Purcell, 1997).  Theory and empirical work, as reviewed in this volume, suggest that the figure may be quite small – smaller than market participants (at least on the selling side) are apparently comfortable with.” Page 61

    Requiring Minimum Cash Transactions:
    “While some argue that imposing mandatory minimums on negotiated (or cash) transactions would improve price discovery in the fed cattle markets – accruing benefits to the cow/calf producer in the process – authors in this book argue it could have the opposite effect, potentially imposing huge costs that are passed down to cattle producers in the form of lower prices.” Page xi

    Regarding Capacity
    “The experts consulted in this study repeatedly stressed the cyclical nature of the cattle business. While cattle supplies have outpaced available packing capacity, that will not always be the case. As a result, anyone who decides to build additional capacity must understand those market dynamics and be aware that packer margins can plummet with that cycle. The decline in packing capacity has occurred over several decades; it is not just a recent event.” Page xi

    For more information from the Meat Institute on beef and cattle markets see the following:

    They Said It: Economists, Academics, Industry Agree: Supply, Demand, Labor, Economies of Scale Drive Beef and Cattle Markets

    On Inflation: North American Meat Institute to Secretary Vilsack: Scapegoating Industry Does Not Help Consumer

    On Market Structure and Capacity: Meat Institute’s Public Comments in Response to Secretary Vilsack’s Request for Information on Investments and Opportunities for Meat and Poultry Processing Infrastructure

    About North American Meat Institute
    The North American Meat Institute is a leading voice for the meat and poultry industry. The Meat Institute’s members process the vast majority of U.S. beef, pork, lamb, and poultry, as well as manufactures the equipment and ingredients needed to produce safe, high quality meat and poultry products.

  • Agriculturists Jeani and John Ferrari Recognized with CA Farmland Trust’s Vance Kennedy Award

    Local philanthropists and long-time supporters of farmland protection, Jeani and John Ferrari, were honored by California Farmland Trust (CFT) as the 2021 Vance Kennedy Award recipients.

    The Vance Kennedy Award was established in 2014 in honor of Dr. Vance Kennedy, a founding member of CFT, because of his extraordinary contributions and efforts to the organization. Recipients of this prestigious award demonstrate significant commitment and dedication to furthering the protection of farmland in our most valuable regions. The Ferraris are the third recipients to receive the Vance Kennedy Award.

    “Being recognized by California Farmland Trust, an organization we hold in the highest regard, is a meaningful recognition,” John said. “CFT does the work that our region desperately needs, protecting our most important farmland for the long-term. It’s an esteemed award, and Jeani and I are honored.”

    As second-generation growers of sweet potatoes, almonds, walnuts, and peaches, Jeani and John’s passion and dedication to agriculture and farmland protection runs deep through Stanislaus and Merced counties. In addition, the Ferraris almond orchard is home to the first agricultural conservation easement enacted by Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT), now CFT, and Jeani served as a founding CVFT board member.

    Jeani and John exemplify community engagement, spanning from the Farmland Working Group that Jeani spearheads to inform the public about land use policies, to the “new” Turlock and CSU Stanislaus libraries, and the arts including the Carnegie Arts Center. John served on the Emanuel Medical Center’s foundation board and fundraising committees in support of the Cancer Center and Cardiovascular Operating Suites, where his dedication throughout the planning and fundraising process was invaluable.

    “The contributions Jeani and John have made since CFT’s inception and within our communities are extremely worthy of recognition, and the Vance Kennedy Award is especially fitting,” said Charlotte Mitchell, executive director at California Farmland Trust. “We are honored and thankful to work with such amazing community supporters and farmland protection advocates.”

    The California Farmland Trust is a California nonprofit 501(c)(3). Our mission is to help farmers protect the best farmland in the world. To date, we have protected 16,934 acres of farmland on 78 farms. To learn more visit us: www.cafarmtrust.org

  • Yeast and Bacteria Together Biosynthesize Plant Hormones for Weed Control

    Plants regulate their growth and development using hormones, including a group called strigolactones that prevent excessive budding and branching. For the first time, scientists led by UC Riverside have synthesized strigolactones from microbes. The work is published in the open-access journal, Science Advances.

    Strigolactones also help plant roots form symbiotic relationships with microorganisms that allow the plant to absorb nutrients from the soil. These two factors have led to agricultural interest in using strigolactones to control the growth of weeds and root parasites, as well as improving nutrient uptake.

    These root-extruding compounds don’t come without risks. They also stimulate germination of witchweeds and broomrapes, which can cause entire crops of grain to fail, making thorough research essential prior to commercial development. Scientists are still learning about the physiological roles played by this diverse group of hormones in plants. Until recently, manufacturing pure strigolactones for scientific study has been difficult and too costly for agricultural use.

    Yanran Li

    “Our work provides a unique platform to investigate strigolactone biosynthesis and evolution, and it lays the foundation for developing strigolactone microbial bioproduction processes as alternative sourcing,” said corresponding author Yanran Li, a UC Riverside assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering.

    Together with co-corresponding author Kang Zhou at National University Singapore, Li directed a group that inserted plant genes associated with strigolactone production into ordinary baker’s yeast and nonpathogenic Escherichia colibacteria that together produced a range of strigolactones.

    Producing strigolactones from yeast turned out to be very challenging. Although engineered yeast is known to modify the strigolactone precursor, called carlactone, it could not synthesize carlactone with any of the specific genes used by the researchers.

    “This project started in early 2018, yet for over 20 months there was basically no progress. The gatekeeping enzyme DWRF27 is not functional no matter how we try in yeast,” Li said. “Kang developed a microbial consortium technique to produce a Taxol precursor in 2015 and that inspired this wonderful collaboration.”

    The team turned toward E. coli, which had already been shown capable of producing carlactone. The carlactone it produced, however, was unstable and could not be further modified by engineered E. coli into any strigolactones. Li’s group managed to optimize and stabilize the carlactone precursor.

    To their delight, when the yeast and bacteria were cultured together in the same medium, the E. coli and yeast worked as a team: E. coli made carlactone, and the yeast transformed it into various final strigolactone products. The method also produced enough strigolactones to extract and study. Using this platform, the group identified the function of multiple strigolactone biosynthetic enzymes, showing that sweet orange and grape have the potential to synthesize orobanchol-type strigolactones.

    The team also engineered microbe metabolism to boost strigolactone production threefold to 47 micrograms per liter, enough for scientific study. Though commercial production of strigolactones is still a long way off, the new method for biosynthesizing them from a yeast-bacterium consortium will help scientists learn more about this important group of plant hormones, especially the enzymes involved.

    Enzymes are protein catalysts and are responsible for modification of carlactone by yeast. Because carlactone is unstable, it cannot be purchased from commercial sources. As a result, many plant scientists have difficulty studying new enzymes that may work to transform carlactone into strigolactones.

    “The new yeast-bacterium co-culture provides a convenient way for scientists to complete such works because the bacterium makes carlactone in situ,” Zhou said. “With discovery of more enzymes and optimization of the microbial consortium, we can manufacture strigolactones in quantity in the future.”

    Li and Zhou were joined in the research by Sheng Wu, Anqi Zhou, and Alex Valenzuela of UC Riverside; and Xiaoqiang Ma at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology. The paper, “Establishment of strigolactone-producing bacterium-yeast consortium,” is available here. — By Holly Ober, UC Riverside

  • Breeding Honey Bees for Adaptation to Regionalized Plants and Artificial Diets

    Honey bees could be intentionally bred to thrive on plants that are already locally present or even solely on artificial diets, according to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study.

    ARS researchers found individual bees respond differently to the same diet and that there is a strong genetic component involved in how they respond to nutrition. This points directly to the concept that managed bees can be intentionally bred to do better on different diets, whether you are talking about an artificial diet or a diet based on specific plants already growing in an area, explained lead researcher Vincent A. Ricigliano. He is with the ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research Laboratory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

    “Urban development, modern agricultural systems and environmental alterations due to climate change, invasive plants, and even local landscaping preferences have all had a hand in regionalizing plants that dominate available pollen. It could potentially be more beneficial to tailor honey bees to do better on what is already available instead of working hard to fit the environment to the bees,” Ricigliano said.

    The overall aim would be breeding to improve nutrient use by managed honey bees, like we have done for poultry and cattle breeding programs, Ricigliano explained.

    “Now that we know there is room for genetic adaptation to diet, we could also look at breeding honey bees with improved nutrient efficiency or identifying genotype biomarkers that respond to various supplements to promote honey bee health,” he added.

    In most commercial apiaries, honey bees do not have the opportunity to naturally breed to adapt to local conditions because commercial beekeepers typically replace the queen in each colony every year. The queen in a colony is the only bee that lays eggs to produce the next generation.

    Beekeepers usually purchase new queens already inseminated from a handful of queen breeders in the United States. As a result, honey bees across the country generally have the same range of genes for nutritional responses without any specialized adaptation.

    Honey bees have already been successfully bred for a very few selected traits, among them Varroa mite resistance. Varroa mites are among the single largest problem afflicting honey bees in the United States today.

    “It was a little surprising to find when we started this study that, despite a sizable body of research pertaining to honey bee nutrition, relatively little is known about the effects of genetic variation on nutritional response,” Ricigliano said.

    His next step is to refine knowledge about what genes control which nutrient and metabolic pathways and where the greatest amount of genetic variation exists so that breeding plans can be specific and scientifically guided.

    The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $17 of economic impact.

  • SLO Coast Wine History: A Pioneering Spirit

    San Luis Obispo Coast Wine Collective — When you talk to early winery owners of the SLO Coast Wine region, there is a pioneering spirit that shines through along with a true do-it-yourself aesthetic. From humble beginnings to world class recognition, the SLO Coast wine region was trailblazed by a group of committed dreamers, farmers, and enthusiasts who all agree they could not have done it without the help of their community.

    Saucelito Canyon vineyard before & after restoration

    For Bill Greenough, owner of Saucelito Canyon, finding their property in 1974 was a journey through Oregon, Northern California, and Paso Robles that eventually led to a Zinfandel vineyard just outside of Arroyo Grande, planted in the 1880s by homesteaders Henry and Rosa Ditmas. Bill found the property that had yet to hit the market and was attracted to the unique location and climate of the property; coastal mountains that trapped the ocean breeze keeping the temperature of the vines low and allowing the fruit to retain acidity. He recalls spending the night on the property before purchasing, “I loved it. It really hit me in a spiritual way.”

    Bill & Nancy Greenough in 1984

    The Greenoughs acknowledge that buying the property was a longshot and a gamble, and the lack of wine resources in the area presented quite a challenge. Bill spent hours poring over books to learn more about farming the vineyard and his wife Nancy fondly remembers what a big deal it was to get an education in wine, “All of the classes in those days were in Napa and there were extension classes at UC Davis,” she explains, “We would pile our kids into our VW van and head up to Davis to take classes. The van topped out at 55 miles per hour, so it was a haul for us!” In addition to a lack of educational resources, the Greenough’s mention the lack of equipment resources and having to wait weeks for supplies to arrive from Europe or make the voyage up to Napa for winemaking essentials. 

    Saucelito Canyon’s unique Zinfandel clone is now preserved in the UC Davis heritage vineyard thanks to Professor James Wolport. Even though it has been almost forty years since their first vintage (1982), Bill Greenough reflects on the area, “It’s really remarkable the history here… We were people willing to take chances physically, financially, and from a marketing perspective. The smaller wineries really retain the spirit of the early days. There’s a lot of camaraderie and pride.”

    Claiborne & Churchill’s Clay & Fredericka

    Clay Thompson’s journey to the area was also a nomadic quest to carve out a life for his family. He and his wife were academics who were bitten by the wine bug in the early 1980s, eventually making their way out to California where they fell in love with the Edna Valley. They promptly returned to their home state of Michigan, got married, tendered their resignations, and moved out West. Clay worked in the cellar at Edna Valley Winery learning the ropes and was eventually allowed to make his first vintage there. He eventually founded Claiborne & Churchill with his wife.

    Thompson speaks fondly of his early years in the area and being part of a growing group of enthusiastic winemakers, “What impressed me the most is that the winemakers and everyone involved was willing to work really hard because we were proud of the products we were making. It was fun to go to work. We were few, but very mutually supportive of each other. No petty jealousy. If someone needed something, we were there the next day to help if a forklift broke down. Someone needed extra materials, things like that. We could and can still count on each other.”

    Early winemakers in Edna Valley

    The early days of the SLO Coast drew people seeking an undiscovered area and opportunity to be a part of something new and exciting. Jean-Pierre Wolff of Wolff Vineyards moved from the Bay Area to the Edna Valley thanks to several factors. The proximity to the ocean, cool climate grapes and an up-and-coming AVA spoke to him. He was also drawn to the adjacency to Cal Poly SLO and the culture of a college town.

    Like many of those pioneering the area, Wolff revels in the camaraderie developed over the years as well as the “us against the world” attitude. For him, it was also facing the challenge of making a name locally for the wine industry in the area, “When I came, I was surprised how few local wines (Edna Valley) were on wine lists in restaurants. It was the exception not the rule. I remember thinking that does not make sense. You fast forward and you look at local restaurants and I would say that the grand majority have local wines on their list.” 

    Wolff credits this change in local attitudes to the small, but mighty group of vintners in the area that did the legwork in communities to get the word out, build relationships, and change the mindset that wine tasting was part of the tourism draw to the area. Soon directional signs were in place, area maps were ubiquitous in local lodging facilities. Wolff has noticed over the years the tourism draw is from around the state, country, and the world. 

    Brian Talley is a third-generation farmer in the area who knew the only way to get people to recognize the area was to get wine in their glasses. He started managing his family’s wine business, Talley Vineyards, in 1991 and spent much of his time traveling to San Francisco and Los Angeles doing tastings, “Just getting the wine in people’s glasses really moved the needle,” he recollects “People were willing to try something new.”

    Mr. & Mrs. Talley in 1987, First Harvest, the Talleys including Brian Talley

    Talley beams when he talks about the area and how far it’s come and how unique the wines and people are, “What sets the SLO Coast wines apart is that we lean into this climate. This is one of the coolest growing regions in California. We are a welcoming, friendly community of wineries. The wines themselves are refreshing, have natural acidity, and energy.” This energy radiates through the wines, the people, and the land. While the area may have more wineries and notoriety, the spirit of its down-home origins remains.

  • New Explorer Course Gives Aspiring Farmers Quick Intro to What They Can Expect

    Since 2013, the Center for Land-Based Learning in Woodland has offered Beginning Farmer Training through its California Farm Academy. The intensive seven-month program combines lectures by farmers and agricultural professionals, hands-on field experience, and farm visits to expose students to topics critical for a future in farming.

    The program went virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and this year it was canceled. In its place is a new Explorer Course, which ran for just six weeks when launched this spring. But while the pandemic helped jump-start the new program, it’s not just a temporary replacement, explained Dr. Sri Sethuratnam, the Farm Academy director.

    “We’ve been considering running an Explorer program for five years,” he said. “The main reason is that every year, a large percentage of the participants aren’t ready for a seven-month program. You really need a fairly narrowed down idea of what kind of farming you want to do before you begin.

    “This program is for people who haven’t made the commitment that the (seven-month participants) have. They don’t really know what steps they’ll have to take so it helps to organize them and move forward toward their farm dream. Because of COVID, we had to take a break from the regular program, so we thought, why not run the Explorer course and see how it works.”

    Supporting the next generation of farmers is a top priority, which is why Farm Credit has sponsored the Farm Academy since 2018, said Curt Hudnutt, President and CEO of American AgCredit.

    “The USDA reports that the average age of an American farmer today is nearly 60, so programs like the Farm Academy that educate and encourage people with an interest in farming are crucial,” Hudnutt said. “Farm Credit has provided $40,000 to support the Farm Academy and believes this new program can introduce even more prospective farmers to agriculture.”

    Additionally, Farm Credit’s support of the Center for Land-Based Learning extends beyond just the Farm Academy, noted Mark Littlefield, President and CEO of Farm Credit West.

    “Farm Credit is now in the third year of a five-year commitment that will give the Center $100,000 to fund its new state-of-the-art workforce development campus and statewide hub,” Littlefield said. “The Center is the largest organization of its kind in California and operates programs in 27 counties. We look forward to continuing our partnership into the future.”

    Supporting Farm Credit Institutions American Ag Credit, CoBank, Colusa Glenn Farm Credit, Farm Credit West, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit, and Yosemite Farm Credit are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, the largest provider of credit to American agriculture.

    Sethuratnam said Farm Credit’s support has been instrumental in helping achieve the Center’s goals.

    “The sustained financial support we have received from Farm Credit has given us the capacity to build effective pathways into farming for people who are not connected to the farm sector. This support is valuable as these new farmers are the future of our farming and food systems,” he said.

    Nine people participated in the spring Explorer session, participating in classroom lectures to get the basics of becoming an owner-operator, including marketing, how to develop a business plan, basic production information, soil science and irrigation practices. Participants also take tours of small farms and ask farmers questions to get real-life answers. Another seven enrolled in the fall Explorer course, which concluded in late September.

    Jon Kupkowski, the beginning farmer training program manager, said the feedback from the spring session was generally positive.

    “They got clarity and direction and developed a stronger understanding of what they want and how to get there. One thing we’ll look at going forward is how to provide more hands-on sessions. For example, they spent an hour pulling weeds and harvesting onions. We saw that as really positive, so we want to incorporate more time in the fields for the next course,” he said.

    Sethuratnam said they are planning some changes when the Beginning Farmer course returns.

    “For that program, we had people who were just interested in one kind of farming, such as livestock or horticulture. In the past, though, everyone worked as a group on a one-acre plot. Going forward, they will all still do generic coursework to start but for the latter part of the course we want to have tracks, like livestock, viticulture and seed production – we’re in the middle of a region that has produced seed for 80 years. And we want to add information about the use of technology, like sensors and drones.”

    And of course, the program is geared to the Center’s mission – to inspire, educate and cultivate future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders and natural resource stewards.

    “There are people who want to get into farming, and now I’m seeing first-generation immigrants wanting to do so. If we can give them the skills and knowledge they need, they can succeed,” Sethuratnam said.

    About Farm Credit:

    American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa Glenn Farm Credit, Farm Credit West, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. For more information, visit www.farmcreditalliance.com

    About the Center for Land-Based Learning:

    The Center for Land-Based Learning’s mission is to inspire, educate, and cultivate future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders and natural resource stewards. To do this, we motivate people of all ages to promote a healthy interplay between agriculture, nature, and society through their actions and as leaders in their communities. It began in 1993 as the FARMS Leadership Program, out of concern for the growing disconnect between people, their food supply, and the land. In 2001, programs expanded, and CLBL was created as a 501(c)(3). Today, CLBL operates five distinct programs that advance our mission. One is the California Farm Academy, including the Explorer program, a beginning farmer training program and a farm business incubator program. For more information, visit www.landbasedlearning.org

  • Protecting Workers from Wildfire Smoke

    CA Department of Public Health Occupational Health Branch — In 2020, California had five of the largest wildfires in state history during that one year alone. This year, the Dixie fire continues to burn and is now the largest single wildfire in state history. Poor air quality due to wildfire smoke may persist for months and spread to neighboring counties and states. Smoke is made up of a mixture of gases and fine particles that can cause a range of health problems. These respiratory irritants can cause coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing; they can also cause aggravation of pre-existing medical conditions and increased risk of premature death.

    Outdoor workers such as agricultural workers, landscapers, and construction workers are especially affected by wildfire smoke exposure. Cal/OSHA’s Protection from Wildfire Smoke regulation requires employers to take important measures to protect their employees when the Air Quality Index (AQI) of harmful particulate matter (defined as “PM2.5” because of particle size) at their worksites is 151 or greater. As fires become a growing problem, workers need to be protected from smoke and poor air quality.

    What does the regulation require employers to do?

    1. Identify harmful exposures – Determine employee exposure to wildfire smoke at the start of each shift and periodically thereafter by obtaining AQI forecasts (available online).  
    2.  Communication and training – Train workers and supervisors on the health effects of wildfire smoke, the right to obtain medical treatment without fear of reprisal, methods to protect employees from wildfire smoke, and the use and limitations of respirators. 
    3. Reduce workers’ exposure to wildfire smoke using:
    • Engineering controls: Where possible, provide an enclosed building, structure, or vehicle with filtered air for employees to spend some or all their time. 
    • Administrative controls: Relocate workers to another outdoor location where the current AQI is lower, change work schedules, reduce work intensity, or provide more rest periods (preferably in cleaner air).
    • Personal protective equipment: 
      • Provide NIOSH-approved particulate respirators (such as N95 masks) to employees for voluntary use if employers cannot reduce workers’ exposure using the methods above.
        NOTE: When the AQI of PM2.5 is greater than 500, employers must provide and require employees to use respirators.
      • Provide eye protection where employees are experiencing burning sensations, redness, and tearing of the eyes caused by wildfire smoke. 

    Resources

    Protecting Outdoor Workers Exposed to Smoke from Wildfires | Spanish – Cal/OSHA information and resources for workers who are not firefighters
    Voluntary Use of NIOSH-approved N95 Respirators (including for smoke protection) – new Cal/OSHA training video
    List of National Suppliers with N95 Respirators in Stock – vendors compiled by Cal/OSHA
    Worker Protection from Wildfire Smoke – overview of Cal/OSHA regulation, CCR, Title 8, Section 5141.1
    Worker Protection from Wildfire Smoke (PDF) | Spanish – printable factsheet from UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program
    Air Quality Index (AQI) – U.S. EPA website with real-time information; includes zip code search tool

  • Critical Groundwater Supplies May Never Recover From Drought

    Illustration of groundwater location. (USGS)

    Along with hurricanes and wildfires, there’s another important, but seldom-discussed effect of climate change — toxic water and sinking land made worse by groundwater drought. Water from snow and rain seeps deep into the ground between layers of soil and accumulates in sponge-like underground bathtubs, called aquifers. Farmers rely heavily on this groundwater to irrigate their crops when they can’t get enough water from surface water sources.

    Roughly 85 percent of Californians also rely on groundwater for some portion of their water supply. Worldwide, an estimated two billion people depend on it. However, excessive groundwater use combined with droughts has caused land surface to sink, damaging critical infrastructure including roads, buildings, and sewage and water pipes.

    New UC Riverside research shows groundwater takes an average of three years to recover from drought — if it ever recovers at all. In the largest study of its kind, scientists found that this recovery time only applies to aquifers that aren’t touched by human activity, and the recovery time might be even longer in regions with excessive pumping.

    For groundwater levels to recover after a drought, new precipitation requires time to percolate through the soil and recharge the depleted aquifer. The researchers show that this process can take several years longer in areas with deeper groundwater levels.

    “If people pump groundwater without first letting it recharge, groundwater levels keep going down, the cost of pumping goes up, and the land sinks,” explained Hoori Ajami, UCR groundwater hydrologist and study co-author and principal investigator on this project.

    Published in the Journal of Hydrology, the new study is the first to examine groundwater response to droughts on a continental scale. Previous investigations of groundwater drought have mostly relied on model simulations and covered smaller areas. This study relied on 30 years of daily measurements from 600 wells across the country.

    On average, the researchers determined it takes about two years for rainwater drought to become groundwater drought, though in some cases it takes as long as 15 years. Because of the long lag time, the effects aren’t felt or seen immediately. However, they can be severe.

    Groundwater drought combined with pumping can cause a gradual, uneven lowering of the land surface called subsidence. “It is a known problem in California’s Central Vaalley, exacerbated by climate factors and excessive water pumping,” Ajami said. “Subsidence causes irreversible damage to infrastructure, buildings and roads.”

    As the ground shifts and water level declines, contaminants in the soil, like arsenic, can mobilize and poison the water. In coastal areas, aquifers depleted by drought and pumping can fill up with salty sea water, making groundwater unusable for drinking or farming.

    “You start with a problem of water quantity, and you end up with a problem of water quality,” Ajami said.

    “Excessive pumping lowers the groundwater level, creating a downward spiral in which restoring the aquifer becomes harder and harder,” added study co-author Adam Schreiner-McGraw.

    To reduce the damage from prolonged droughts that are an inevitability as the planet continues to warm, the researchers have several recommendations. Most climate models show rain becoming more intense. Storing rain waters could recharge aquifers, speeding up the recovery process.

    The researchers also suggest that farmers improve irrigation efficiency and switch perennials like almonds, pistachios, and walnuts to annual, less water-intensive crops in areas where groundwater depletion is severe.

    “We need to improve our climate projections to include groundwater, so that we can better assess what we have and how to protect it,” Ajami said. “There are ways to better manage what we have.” — By Jules Bernstein, UC Riverside

  • Higher Loan Limit Now Available for USDA Farm Loans

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing a higher loan limit will be available for borrowers seeking a guaranteed farm loan starting Oct. 1, 2021, from $1.776 million to $1.825 million.

    “Farm loans are critical for our customers’ annual operating and family living expenses, emergency needs, and cash flow,” FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux said. “Raising the guaranteed loan limit will allow FSA to better meet the financial needs of producers as natural disasters and the pandemic continue to impact their operations.”

    FSA farm loans offer access to funding for a wide range of producer needs, from securing land to financing the purchase of equipment. Guaranteed loans are financed and serviced by commercial lenders. FSA provides up to a 95% guarantee against possible financial loss of principal and interest. Guaranteed loans can be used for both farm ownership and operating purposes.

    In fiscal year 2021, FSA saw continued strong demand for guaranteed loans. FSA obligated more than $3.4 billion in guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans. This includes nearly $1.2 billion for beginning farmers. The number of guaranteed borrowers has grown by 10% to more than 38,750 farmers and ranchers over the last decade. FSA expects the increasing demand for farm loans to continue into fiscal year 2022.

    Disaster Set-Aside Extension

    USDA has additional support available to producers given the recent outbreaks of the COVID-19 Delta variant and has extended the availability of COVID-19 Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) for installments due through Jan. 31, 2022. In addition, FSA will permit a second DSA for COVID-19 and a second DSA for natural disasters for those who had an initial COVID-19 DSA. Requests for a COVID-19 DSA or a second DSA must be received no later than May 1, 2022.

    Last year, FSA broadened the use of the DSA. Normally used in the wake of natural disasters, the DSA can now allow farmers with USDA farm loans who are affected by COVID-19 and determined to be eligible, to have their next payment set aside. The set-aside payment’s due date is moved to the final maturity date of the loan or extended up to twelve months in the case of an annual operating loan. Any principal set-aside will continue to accrue interest until it is repaid. This will improve the borrower’s cashflow in the current production cycle.

    More Information

    Producers can explore available options on all FSA loan options at fsa.usda.gov or by contacting their local USDA Service Center. Service Center staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email and other digital tools. Because of the pandemic, some USDA Service Centers are open to limited visitors. Contact your Service Center to set up an in-person or phone appointment. Additionally, more information related to USDA’s response and relief for producers can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.