Blue Diamond Growers has named Dean LaVallee as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) for California’s largest almond cooperative. In addition to serving as COO, LaVallee will continue to operate in his current role as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and will report directly to Blue Diamond Growers’ President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Jansen. As COO/CFO, LaVallee will oversee the Finance, Global Ingredients, and IT divisions within Blue Diamond Growers. He joined the cooperative in 2011.
“We are so pleased to expand Dean’s responsibilities to include that of Chief Operating Officer,” said
Jansen. “His strategic and proven leadership over the last decade within our organization has established a crucial foundation for Blue Diamond’s success in ensuring maximum returns to our grower-owners. In his new role, Dean will bring together the needed infrastructure, technology and resources for our continued growth and prosperity.”
In other leadership news from the cooperative, long-time Blue Diamond Growers’ employee, Bill Morecraft, has announced his retirement at the end of this year after 35 years of service. Morecraft joined Blue Diamond Growers in 1986 working in Finance, Production Planning, and Sales Planning. He assumed leadership of the Global Ingredients Division in 2008 where he is credited with streamlining the product line, introducing a focus on value-added ingredients, and developing a close relationship with Blue Diamond’s Operations Team to increase profitability. Blue Diamond now processes and ships premium almond products to more than 90 countries.
Effective September 1, Laura Gerhard was promoted to Vice President to assume leadership responsibilities for Blue Diamond’s Global Ingredients Division. Gerhard will lead day-to-day operations of the division, which supplies almond ingredients for processed and prepared food manufacturers, as well as for bulk purchase, around the world. She will also oversee the commercial success of the division’s global product portfolio, which includes a growing array of almond-based ingredients, such as almond protein powder, almond flour, and almond butter. Gerhard began her career with Blue Diamond Growers in 2017 as Director, Strategy and Planning with Global Ingredients. She added responsibility for Global Ingredient Division Marketing in 2020.
“It is leaders such as Bill who have helped to make Blue Diamond Growers the global leader in almonds that it is today,” said Jansen. “All of us at Blue Diamond sincerely thank Bill for his hard work, dedication, and numerous contributions over the years and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement. I also want to congratulate Laura on her promotion. I have great trust in her leadership. Laura has been instrumental to our success in the Global Ingredients Division, where she has helped drive business growth, develop a strong team, and organize our business and strategic planning. I’m confident Bill, Laura, and their team will work closely to ensure a seamless transition for our customers.”
Farm supply cooperatives and independent ag retailers are enjoying strong financial returns as the upturn in U.S. grain prices enters its second consecutive year. The extended period of above-average crop prices is leading farmers to increase spending on agronomic inputs and services. However, while profits for the ag retail sector are expected to remain favorable over the next 12 months, emerging structural challenges will bring increased competition and pressure profitability in the years to come.
Major crop input suppliers wielding greater market power, larger farm enterprises with a growing appetite for more sophisticated technologies, and competition from ag equipment dealers competing for those services are among the key challenges facing ag retailers over the long-term.
According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the ag retailer of the future has an opportunity to earn more income from precision agronomy services and emerging sustainability management programs, in addition to traditional crop input sales. The report suggests the current operating environment provides a timely opportunity for ag retailers to invest in new technologies and position themselves for success in a marketplace that is evolving rapidly.
“The traditional approach for farm supply cooperatives is to save above-average profits when times are good and then manage costs rigorously during the inevitable downturn, which we expect will begin in 2023,” said Kenneth Scott Zuckerberg, lead grain and farm supply economist with CoBank. “Unfortunately, this approach exposes cooperatives to revenue volatility and declining earnings during down cycles, which can often last five or more years.”
Instead of relying on product commissions and rebates alone, Zuckerberg sees farm supply cooperatives’ path forward is to expand their precision agronomy service offerings and capture more income from consultative service and software fees. “Putting technology and information to work to help farmers manage their inputs and production is where farm supply co-ops excel,” he said.
Tailwinds Continue for Ag Retail, Near Term
Ag retailers have enjoyed three consecutive profitable agronomy seasons and are generally well positioned for fall 2021 given high grain prices and favorable farm economics. The short-term outlook remains generally positive based on strong farmer income, steady demand for crop inputs and favorable cash flows. Partially offsetting this, retailers may face shortages of certain protection chemicals sourced from Asia as well as high wholesale fertilizer costs which they may not be able to fully pass on to growers.
Growing global demand for feed grains and vegetable oil generally positions U.S. farmers and retailers for continued success in 2022. U.S. corn and soybean stocks remain very tight and the demand imbalance in stocks and usage should persist until at least 2023.
Forces Driving Change
Over the next several years, ag retailers are facing risks that will accelerate over time. The number of U.S. farms continues to decline due to consolidation as family and non-family farms seek greater economies of scale to boost profitability. As the new class of commercial farming enterprises hire their own agronomy staff and demand more data-intensive precision ag services, ag retailers could lose their edge as agronomic service providers.
Recent acquisition activity confirms that ag equipment manufacturers are accelerating their offerings of autonomous and precision farming services, which compete with traditional agronomic advice provided by ag retailers. Consolidation among agro-chemical and seed suppliers and the maturation of disruptive ag tech startups represent additional structural obstacles.
Getting Paid Properly for Advice
Beyond providing farm customers with enhanced tools to farm more profitably, the business case for ag retailers’ expansion of precision agronomy services is financially compelling. Precision capabilities can help cooperatives attract and retain high value customers, while recurring service fees provide a new source of income. From a risk-reward standpoint, Zuckerberg sees revenue-sharing partnerships with proven technology service providers as a solid opportunity for ag retailers.
“The current environment is ideal for partnership structures as a revenue-sharing opportunity between retailers and suppliers,” he said. “The opportunities associated with technologies for everything from drone imagery and remote sensing for crop scouting to precision seed recommendations and prescriptions are continually expanding.”
Read the report, Precision Agronomy Services Will Factor Heavily in the Future of Ag Retailing.
At the site of the KNP Complex in Sequoia National Park, Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted the California Comeback Plan’s over $15 billion climate package – the largest such investment in state history – tackling a wide array of climate impacts facing the state. The Governor today signed legislation outlining investments in the package to build wildfire and forest resilience, support immediate drought response and long-term water resilience and directly protect communities across the state from multi-faceted climate risks, including extreme heat and sea level rise.
“California is doubling down on our nation-leading policies to confront the climate crisis head-on while protecting the hardest-hit communities,” said Governor Newsom. “We’re deploying a comprehensive approach to meet the sobering challenges of the extreme weather patterns that imperil our way of life and the Golden State as we know it, including the largest investment in state history to bolster wildfire resilience, funding to tackle the drought emergency while building long-term water resilience, and strategic investments across the spectrum to protect communities from extreme heat, sea level rise and other climate risks that endanger the most vulnerable among us.”
When the Governor signed the state budget and related legislation in July, he and legislative leaders agreed to additional discussions during the summer to further refine steps to advance their shared and funded priorities, including natural resources investments. The legislation signed today details some of the most important investments funded in the over $15 billion climate package, which includes:
$1.5 Billion Wildfire and Forest Resilience Package
The $1.5 billion package supporting a comprehensive forest and wildfire resilience strategy statewide is the largest such investment in California history. Building on a $536 million early action package in April ahead of peak fire season, an additional $988 million in 2021-22 will fund projects to reduce wildfire risk and improve the health of forests and wildlands. This includes investments for community hardening in fire-vulnerable areas, strategic fuel breaks and fuel reduction projects, approaches to restore landscapes and create resilient wildlands and a framework to expand the wood products market, supporting sustainable local economies.
This investment helps implement the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan published in January, and builds on previous budget investments for emergency management, including funding for additional fire crews and equipment, and executive actions to help combat catastrophic wildfires. Governor Newsom bolstered CAL FIRE’s firefighting ranks in March by authorizing the early hire of 1,399 additional firefighters and in July supplemented the department’s capacities with 12 additional aircraft. The Governor earlier this year launched an expanded and refocused Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to deliver on key commitments in his Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. Last year, the Newsom Administration and the U.S. Forest Service announced a shared stewardship agreement under which they are working to treat one million acres of forest and wildland annually to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
$5.2 Billion Water and Drought Resilience Package
Climate change is making droughts more common and more severe. The California Comeback Plan invests $5.2 billion over three years to support immediate drought response and long-term water resilience, including funding for emergency drought relief projects to secure and expand water supplies; support for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, with a focus on small and disadvantaged communities; Sustainable Groundwater Management Act implementation to improve water supply security and quality; and projects to support wildlife and habitat restoration efforts, among other nature-based solutions.
$3.7 Billion Climate Resilience Package
Focusing on vulnerable front-line communities, the package includes $3.7 billion over three years to build resilience against the state’s multi-faceted climate risks, including extreme heat and sea level rise. Investments to address the impacts of extreme heat include urban greening projects, grants to support community resilience centers and projects that reduce the urban heat island effect, and funding to advance the Extreme Heat Framework as part of the state’s Climate Adaptation Strategy. The package also supports coastal protection and adaptation measures, efforts to protect and conserve California’s diverse ecosystems, and community-based investments to build resilience, such as grants to support environmental justice-focused initiatives and funding for the California Climate Action Corps, which supports local climate action projects in disadvantaged communities.
$1.1 Billion to Support Climate Smart Agriculture
Amid climate-driven drought and extreme heat challenges, California is committing $1.1 billion over two years to support sustainable agriculture practices and create a resilient and equitable food system. These efforts include investments to promote healthy soil management, support for livestock methane reduction efforts, funding for the replacement of agricultural equipment to reduce emissions and technical assistance and incentives for the development of farm conservation management plans. The package also supports programs to expand healthy food access for seniors and in schools, other public institutions and non-profit organizations.
$3.9 Billion Zero-Emission Vehicle Package
The California Comeback Plan supports California’s nation-leading climate agenda with a $3.9 billion investment to hit fast forward on the state’s Zero-Emission Vehicle goals and lead the transition to ZEVs on a global scale. The package includes funding to put 1,000 zero-emission drayage trucks, 1,000 zero-emission school buses and 1,000 transit buses, and the necessary infrastructure, on California roads – prioritizing projects that benefit disadvantaged communities. Helping drive consumer adoption, the package funds consumer rebates for new ZEV purchases and incentives for low-income Californians to replace their old car with a new or used advanced technology car.
Additional Investments
The package also includes $270 million to support a circular economy that advances sustainability and helps reduce short-lived climate pollutants from the waste sector, and $150 million that will support urban waterfront parks, with a focus on underserved communities.
More information on the over $15 billion climate package can be found in the Department of Finance’s addendum to its enacted budget summary. Click here for the budget addendum.
Governor Newsom today also signed a raft of new climate measures to protect communities and advance the state’s climate and clean energy efforts. Legislation to boost drought and wildfire resilience includes SB 552 by Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) to ensure small and rural water suppliers develop drought and water shortage contingency plans and implement drought resiliency measures to prevent and prepare for future water shortages; SB 403 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) to allow the State Water Resources Control Board to order consolidation of an at-risk water system or domestic well in a disadvantaged community; SB 109 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) to create the Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development at CAL FIRE to evaluate emerging firefighting technology; and AB 697 by Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Arcadia), which enables the state to plan, manage and implement forest restoration projects on national forest lands through an expanded Good Neighbor Authority Program.
The legislation signed today also includes SB 1 by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), which establishes the California Sea Level Rise Mitigation and Adaptation Act to help coordinate and fund state efforts to prepare for sea level rise; AB 525 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco), which directs state agencies to develop a strategic plan for offshore wind resources in California following the state’s historic agreement earlier this year with federal partners; SB 47 by Senator Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara), which increases the amount of money the state can collect annually to plug abandoned wells, utilizing funds from fees on the oil and gas industry; and AB 39 by Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Arcadia), which enables the University of California to establish the California-China Climate Institute to advance joint policy research and foster high-level dialogue in order to accelerate climate action.
A full list of bills signed by the Governor today is below:
The North American Meat Institute today announced that it will join the U.S. government-led multistakeholder Coalition of Action on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation to be launched by the Biden administration at the UN Food Systems Summit.
The Meat Institute also announced that more than 96 percent of comments received during a public consultation launched in July supported its draft sustainability framework and the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow, which the Meat Institute has submitted to the United Nations Food Systems Summit (FSS) commitment hub.
The Meat Institute expects to announce in November ambitious, data-driven targets to publicly verify progress on the 100 metrics in its sustainability framework, which aims to:
North American Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts commented:
“High-quality animal protein is at the center of healthy diets, and our commitments to economic, social, and environmental sustainability also place us at the center of solutions for a healthy future.
“We are proud to join the U.S.-led coalition on sustainable agricultural productivity and to feature the Protein PACT in UN Food Systems Summit outcomes as the first initiative of its kind to unite farmers and processors in a common vision for transparent communication, continuous improvement, and ambitious commitments to ensure the sustainability of the beef, pork, poultry, and dairy people around the world rely on every day.”
Learn more about the Protein PACT and the Meat Institute’s draft sustainability framework here.
About the Meat Institute: The North American Meat Institute is the 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 manufacture the equipment and ingredients needed to produce the safest and highest quality meat and poultry products. To learn more, visit www.MeatInstitute.org.
About the Protein PACT: The Protein PACT unites partners across animal protein in the first-ever joint effort to accelerate the entire animal protein sector’s progress toward global sustainable development goals for healthy people, healthy animals, healthy communities, and a healthy environment. Protein PACT partners are establishing transparent baselines and benchmarks for our efforts, setting ambitious targets for continuous improvement, collecting data to verify and transparently report on progress, and launching comprehensive communications about animal protein’s unique place in sustainable, healthy diets. To learn more, visit www.TheProteinPACT.org.
Merced Irrigation District joined with Yosemite National Park officials today in announcing the installation of a new snow and weather station in the high reaches of the Merced River watershed in the central Sierra Nevada.
The data it provides will greatly enhance forecasting by Yosemite National Park, as well as MID, the National Weather Service and the California Department of Water Resources.
“This station will provide crucial data about snowpack and runoff not only to MID but also to several other entities who will benefit in their forecasting,” said MID General Manager John Sweigard. “We appreciate the work and cooperation of all the partners who brought this project to completion, especially considering the remote and sensitive nature of the area in which the station is installed.”
Merced Irrigation District will use the information to support its operations and management of Lake McClure and New Exchequer Dam, located in the foothills several miles west of Yosemite National Park. MID provides irrigation deliveries from Lake McClure to approximately 2,200 growers – the vast majority of which are farming on fewer than 50 acres of small family farms in eastern Merced County.
In recent year, MID has taken significant steps to modernize its facilities and is continuing to pursue the most advanced technology possible to help manage limited water supplies in the region. The weather station is a key component of that effort.
The data will provide immediate benefits to MID such as:
Informing future environmental restoration efforts and projects on the lower Merced River
Improving water quality in Eastern Merced County
Enhancing operations of Lake McClure to ensure the best decisions are being made for water storage and flood control
The weather station sensors are able collect data about precipitation as well as air temperature, pressure, humidity, solar radiation, soil moisture, wind speed and wind direction. Equally important, the station will be able to measure snow surface temperature, depth and density. Collectively the data provides enhanced information about the quantity of water within the snowpack. The station is one of 11 such facilities in the park.
The station was installed over the course of two weeks in July with support from MID staff. It is located within the foot print of the Vogelsang High Sierra Camp at just over 10,000 feet above sea level. Currently, this is the highest elevation snow station within the Yosemite National Park boundary. The station is solar powered, fully functional and reporting data to California Data Exchange Center with the designation of FLV. Merced Irrigation District is the station operator.
The new station was funded by California Department of Water Resources Forecast Coordinated Operations (DWR-FCO) Grant, and Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart grant.
Yosemite National Park officials said the new station will provide the park and others with multiple benefits.
“The Vogelsang weather station is a significant addition to Yosemite’s ability to understand weather and climate at the park’s highest elevations,” said Cicely Muldoon, Yosemite National Park Superintendent. “We are grateful to our partners on this important project that will benefit everybody.”
Up and down the roughly 70-miles of Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo County you will find over 250 wineries. But how do you decide who to support and maybe join their wine club? Consider filtering by eco-friendly and sustainable, and don’t forget to review our handy packing list! Combining the SLO Coast Wine region and Paso Robles Wine Country, SLO CAL has nearly 50 wineries that are certified sustainable. See the SLO CAL Sustainable Wine Map, with legend below. What do the certifications mean?
Sustainable Winery Certifications
Regenerative Organic Certification is a distinction coined by Patagonia®, which evaluates three key pillars (soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness). Tablas Creek Vineyard in SLO CAL is the only winery that has been certified at this level and is currently serving as a global model for others, such as the local Villa Creek Cellars, and Robert Hall Winery.
Certified Biodynamic is a global standard that proves a grower uses biodiverse practices including soil husbandry and livestock integration. These wineries already adhere to organic practices and additionally respect the interconnectivity of the planets and the four elements of earth, fire, air, and water. Days are divided according to the lunar calendar into best times for fruiting (best time to harvest), rooting (best time to prune), flowering (leave the plants alone), and leafing (best watering days). Also unique are the practices of making compost tea, burying dung in cow horns to later dig up and distribute around the vineyard at a later date. That’s right. Don’t ask us why. We’re just the messenger. Those in SLO CAL that adhere to these practices are the Verdad Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard (known as Slide Hill) and Chamisal Vineyards in SLO Coast, and Castoro Cellars, and Ambyth Estate in the Paso Robles wine region.
Organic Certification proves products are pesticide- and synthetic fertilizer-free. Certifications vary globally, and the USDA imposes bottling regulations, such as sulfites—which is why many do not display organic on their wine bottles—although the farming practices were certified organic. Organic seals on bottles are also displayed in the natural side of merchants, which is dissuading to many high-quality wines that might be segregated in stores. Those vineyards certified around SLO CAL would be Stephen Ross Wine Cellars in SLO Coast and Booker Vineyard & Winery, Sixmilebridge, and Turley Winery in Paso.
Certified Sustainable comes from a variety of certification boards, such as SIP “Sustainability in Practice” or CSWA “California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.” These verification standards are at a minimum, including water management and energy efficiency regulations. Many wineries are certified at this level, including SLO Coast’s Center of Effort, Edna Valley Vineyards, and Talley Vineyards. Meanwhile, the Paso Robles region boasts even more including the incomparable DAOU Family Estates, Cass Winery, and Villa San-Juliette Vineyard & Winery.
LEED Certified refers to green architecture, and the SLO CAL wine region has two such buildings. Look to the Paso Robles region for Shale Oak Winery and Niner Wine Estates for these tasting rooms and landscapes for gold and silver certifications, respectively. At Niner Wine Estates, a bank of solar panels provide energy to charge up your electric car while you sip (always remember to drive responsibly). There are a whole host of other EV charging spots in SLO CAL Wine Country you can read more here.
Stay A While
Better yet, stay a night at a winery! SLO CAL has plenty of boutique, luxury, and even RV (see Cava Robles) spots to hitch up for the night. But how about staying over amongst the vines. Maybe not for the faint of heart, it will be just a few of you out among the vines in wine country. Sound up your speed? Consider checking out these vineyard villas.
Allegretto Vineyard Resort – Find a serene paradise in the rolling hills of Paso Robles at Allegretto Vineyard Resort. Enjoy a glass (or two) of wine while taking a vineyard tour, on horseback, in a private poolside cabana, or post-spa service. Guests can savor some of the finest regional wines including Allegretto’s own private label. Allegretto truly transports visitors to a Tuscan-inspired getaway without even leaving the U.S.
The JUST Inn – Enjoy the elegant, natural beauty of California’s Central Coast at JUST INN, an on-site hotel at JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery. Guests can choose to stay in a JUST Inn Suite, the exclusive and equally expensive Chateau at JUSTIN (we’re talking $12,000 a night, and you can’t even book right now), or Vintners Villa – all of which are surrounded by vineyard views. An overnight stay includes a bottle of JUSTIN wine, breakfast, and complimentary tasting and turndown service.
Geneseo Inn – Located on the Cass Winery estate, surrounded by 145 acres of breathtaking vineyard views (especially at sunset). Enjoy one of eight apartment suites in the vines with amenities like the vineyard breakfast, a farm-to-table organic garden-supplied way to start your day. There are also a host of activities provided on the operation, like horseback riding, beekeeping lessons, cooking classes, and much more!
CaliPaso Winery & Villa – Hidden in the east side of Paso Robles, find a haven with one of seven luxurious private residences at CaliPaso. The elegant architecture will transport you to Europe while you indulge in the oak-soaked countryside accommodations, just minutes to whatever SLO CAL town you have eyes for that day!
However you prefer to experience SLO CAL, sip confidently knowing your beverages were responsibly sourced and the fruits of our SLO CAL labor can be enjoyed for generations to come. — By Visit SLO CAL, in collaboration with SLO CAL & SLO Coast Wine
For a century, researchers have tracked genetic traits to find out which cattle produce more and better milk and meat. Now, two University of Florida scientists will use artificial intelligence to analyze millions of bits of genetic data to try to keep cattle cooler and thus, more productive.
Raluca Mateescu, a UF/IFAS professor, and Fernanda Rezende, a UF/IFAS assistant professor – both in animal sciences — gather hundreds of thousands of pieces of information about cattle genetic traits. They plan to use UF’s supercomputer, the HiPerGator, to analyze that data. With the information Mateescu and her team get from the HiPerGator, they can give ranchers better recommendations on which animals to keep and breed for improved quantity of beef and dairy.
“AI has rapidly emerged as a powerful approach in animal genomics and holds great promise to integrate big data from multiple biological layers, leading to accurate prediction of future traits – for example, meat yield,” Mateescu said. “My research group is investigating the use of AI methods to develop approaches to accurately predict the value of certain genes. Ultimately, we plan to provide more effective strategies to improve animal productivity.”
With 25.6 million head of cattle, dairy herds peaked in the United States in 1944. As of 2017, there were only 9 million, but they produce more milk. With fewer cattle producing more dairy and beef, the livestock industries are leaving a lower environmental footprint, such as methane emissions, Mateescu said.
While all that is good, Mateescu knows she and other researchers can help ranchers improve cattle beef and dairy output. That’s where AI comes into play.
“We know some of the specific genes for milk and meat production,” she said. “But we’re looking into a bit of a black box. AI will help us clear up the mystery faster and more accurately.”
Livestock traits of economic importance — milk and meat yield, meat quality — are factors of both genetics and the environment. Mateescu can only control a cow’s environment to a certain degree. But she and other scientists can improve cattle genetically. There are thousands of genes in the cattle genome, and each gene contains thousands of different genetic markers.
As an example of her team’s use of AI, Mateescu is processing genetic data from about 1,000 beef cattle. From that process, researchers have extracted data on 770,000 DNA genetic markers, more than 18,000 genes and 86 traits — on every animal. That’s way more data than any human can analyze and integrate.
That’s why Mateescu and Rezende are using HiPerGator, the largest university-based supercomputer in the world. HiPerGator then tells the scientists what particular combination of genetic markers and genes will result in better animals – in other words, which ones will be cooler and thus, more productive.
“AI allows us to use more information – the more information we have on an animal, the higher the accuracy of our prediction,” Mateescu said. “Given the complex genetic architecture, it is challenging for researchers to identify how these thousands of genetic markers and thousands of genes combine to produce the traits we see. AI can help researchers achieve that goal. We are just starting to use AI to address these problems.”
About AI at UF
The University of Florida is making artificial intelligence the centerpiece of a major, long-term initiative that combines world-class research infrastructure, cutting-edge research and a transformational approach to curriculum. UF is home the the most powerful, university-owned supercomputer in the nation, according to rankings just released by TOP500, contributing to innovative research and education opportunities. — By Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food & Ag Sciences
New groundwater agencies in the Sacramento Valley are currently finalizing plans to manage their groundwater basins for long-term balance, as required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Successful stewardship demands good information not only about groundwater conditions, but also about surface water availability. To help build shared understanding of surface water for agriculture—the valley’s main water-using sector—we produced a new dataset showing how access to this vital resource varies across irrigated farmland in the Sacramento Valley and the Delta. This effort builds on previous Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) work in the San Joaquin Valley, making it now possible to assess surface water conditions across the entire Central Valley.
Although the Sacramento Valley is currently mired in extreme drought, higher precipitation and the presence of major rivers mean that its basins tend to replenish more readily and recover more quickly after drought. Nonetheless, SGMA implementation here will likely entail some pumping cutbacks to avoid significant undesirable results of groundwater use. As in the San Joaquin Valley, some areas face heightened risks of drinking water wells going dry when pumping causes groundwater levels to fall. Because the Sacramento Valley’s basins are relatively healthy, the region will need to pay greater attention to avoiding impacts of pumping on river flows, which can adversely affect downstream water users, including the environment.
Sacramento Valley surface water is spread unevenly
The water rights and contracts held by a water district determine the amount of surface water available to its growers. The interactive map below illustrates average surface water availability from various federal, state, and local projects. Districts with less than 3 acre-feet (af) per acre regularly require supplemental groundwater; those with much less are fundamentally reliant on pumping. The valley-wide average is approximately 2 af/acre, but individual district access ranges from over 6 af/acre to none.
Substantial variation arises both across basins (Vina averages less than 0.5 af/acre, versus more than 3.5 af/acre in Butte) and within (for example, Sutter and Colusa basins contain both areas rich in surface water, and areas without any). We found similar patterns of haves and have-nots within the San Joaquin Valley.
Diversity in water availability and cropping patterns creates incentives for water trading
The Central Valley also has a wide diversity of crops, and cutting back on pumping will be more costly for some crops than for others. Trading water—both within and across basins—can help lessen private and regional economic losses by keeping the most productive lands irrigated. Such trading already helps farmers manage the costs of surface water cutbacks during droughts, and incentives to trade will grow as SGMA limits groundwater availability.
Within the Sacramento Valley, water trading will be especially valuable for the large areas of high-earning perennial orchards—such as almonds, walnuts, or grapes—that have insufficient surface water but cannot be fallowed like annual crops. Approximately 70% of perennial crop acreage in the Sacramento Valley averages less than 2 af/acre of surface water; nearly 60% is on lands relying almost entirely on groundwater. Other lands may have water to trade, including those where rice is grown, helping to avoid very costly shortfalls for perennial farmers in the future.
There will also be demand for Sacramento Valley surface water beyond basin boundaries—or outside of the region altogether. The San Joaquin Valley has almost three times as much perennial crop acreage in groundwater-reliant areas. For the past three decades, Sacramento Valley growers have routinely sold water to San Joaquin Valley farmers and coastal urban communities during droughts. SGMA implementation will increase this demand, but it could also increase local pressure to keep this water at home, to balance local basins.
Although groundwater conditions are generally strong in the Sacramento Valley, the fact remains that 60% of all agricultural lands are in areas with average surface supplies below 3 af/acre. Farmers will need to adapt as groundwater becomes scarcer, especially during drought. Trading can help facilitate this adaptation. A new PPIC report on this topic identifies key barriers to water trading and explores innovative new approaches, such as expanded groundwater banking arrangements. — By Alex Ehrens, Joy Collins & Andrew Ayres, Public Policy Institute of California
Note: This research was supported with a grant from the Water Foundation. The underlying data and additional notes on surface water availability in the valley can be found in Data Set: PPIC Sacramento Valley and Delta Surface Water Availability.
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and Upper Salinas Las Tablas RCD is working with a team of California soil scientists and extension agents (Dr. Cristina Lazcano, Dr. Kerri Steenwerth, Dr. Charlotte Decock, Mark Battany and others) to study soil health, and the potential for carbon sequestration in vineyard soils of Paso Robles. Our goals include developing real metrics for what a “healthy soil” is for premium wine grapes, and as we learn, educating our members and all growers on what practices best impact soil health, carbon sequestration, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in our vineyards. This study is funded through the American Vineyard Foundation. We are now recruiting collaborating growers in the Paso Robles AVA. Are you willing to participate in the next phase of this exciting research project?
BACKGROUND
In the last years there has been a big push for growers to incorporate practices that improve or preserve soil health. However, there are not yet clear guidelines on how much the health of a particular soil can be improved given certain management practices. There is also no information on how soil health may be important for wine grape production as compared to other crops. This project aims to determine the variability of soil health indicators (soil organic matter, infiltration etc.) in areas with different soil types and climate in Paso Robles.
GROWER COMMITMENT
SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Thank you in advance for your consideration, If you are willing to participate or have any questions please contact Dr. Lazcano, Assistant Professor of Soil Ecology, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California Davis at clazcano@ucdavis.edu.