California Ag Network

Category: Ag Economics

  • Animal Ag Community Urged to be Aware of Discussions Among Animal Rights Activists

    The Animal Agriculture Alliance released a report today detailing observations from the Farmed Animal Conference E-Summit held virtually August 2 – 8. The event was organized and hosted by California-based animal sanctuary Animal Place, which advocates for a vegan lifestyle.

    The key claims and takeaways from this virtual event included the following: people within positions of wealth and power need to put both their personal and professional resources toward working on behalf of animals; the animal rights movement allegedly would be decades behind their current status without sharing “graphic” content as promotional tools; activists need to focus on aquaculture and push for federal legislation to protect aquatic species from supposed animal cruelty; and people need to move away from animal products completely.

    “An important part of the Alliance’s mission to safeguard the future of animal agriculture is monitoring the activities of animal rights activist organizations,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “It is important for everyone to be aware of just how far activists are willing to go to achieve their goals of ending animal agriculture and moving people – and even pets – to vegan diets. Our conference reports help our members learn more about the strategies and tactics being employed by these organizations so they can take steps to protect their animals, their operations and their livelihoods.”

    Activists attending the conference were encouraged to share more animal rights content on social media. Nina Jackel of Lady Freethinker, a non-profit promoting social media animal rights activism, stated “any online activism is good.” Jackel continued by stating she believes that animal rights activists need to continue sharing “graphic” images and videos on social media as she believes “the animal rights movement would be decades behind where we are right now if there weren’t these undercover videos… those images are what get people to pay attention and see that there’s a problem.”

    Several sessions called for public acknowledgement of aquatic animals as “sentient beings” and the need to elevate them to the same status as humans and other animals. Mary Finelli, president of Fish Feel, stated, “tragically, fishes comprise by far the largest category of functionally-exploited vertebrate animals. They’re subjected to some of the worst abuse, and they receive the least public concern or legal protection.” Kathy Hessler of the Animal Law Clinic, a partner of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, stated her clinic has been working with Animal Equality and Mercy for Animals to draft a humane aquaculture slaughter bill, claiming that “aquatic animals don’t get even the benefit of the minimal protections offered to these other animals that we raise and kill for food.”

    The animal agriculture community as a whole was attacked in multiple sessions throughout the event. Karen Davis, president and founder of United Poultry Concerns, claimed that animals are “individuals and have feelings.” Sean Thomas, international director of investigations at Animal Equality (and former undercover “investigator” for the Humane Society of the United States), claimed that the entire animal agriculture community is full of widespread cruelty. “It’s not just one bad farm. It’s the entire industry model,” he argued. The dairy community was criticized by several speakers including Philip Wollen of Winsome Constance Kindness Trust, a venture capital firm focused on “social justice” issues. “I studied the dairy industry, and I concluded that it is the filthiest, nastiest, most egregious form of cruelty in animal agriculture,” he claimed. His final point was that meat and dairy have “no place in civilized society” because “the animal industrial complex is actually a criminal cartel, and if they had to pay for their externalities, they would go broke.”

    Several sessions called for more focus on animal agriculture and climate change. Jane Velez-Mitchell, founder of JaneUnchained News, stated, “by eliminating animal agriculture, we can reforest land and it will begin to absorb carbon and immediately reverse the Earth’s temperature.” Christopher Eubanks, founder of APEX Advocacy, stressed the concept of only having one earth and argued going vegan can help the environment. He added, “consuming animal products is one of the biggest contributors to climate change.” Wollen echoed Eubanks’ statement by claiming “greenhouse gas emissions from livestock now vastly exceed those of transport.”

    Pet food was also a focus of the event with Shannon Falconer, CEO of Because, Animals, stating that animal agriculture would not exist without the pet food industry purchasing the “unsellable meat” for human consumption. She further claimed that “[pet food] is a white space that needs to be addressed if we’re going to look at and try to eliminate the factory farming industry as a whole.” She continued by pushing the vegan pet food agenda, claiming that antibiotic use would decrease with plant-based and cell-cultured meat used for pet food instead.

    As with most animal rights conferences, speakers demonstrated their real agenda is not about animal care, but rather ending the consumption of meat, poultry, dairy and eggs altogether, as evidenced by several speakers calling for everyone to consume a vegan diet. Wollen claimed that “every morsel of meat we eat is slapping the tear-stained face of a hungry child,” and explained that “we are trying to get people off the meat and dairy drug.” In Jackel’s session, she argued, “the healthiest diet is one that doesn’t have meat.” Plant based and lab-grown alternative proteins were positioned as key to ending animal agriculture, with Arturo Elizondo, CEO, Clara Foods (a company working on ‘creating the world’s first animal-free egg white’), stating “we’re all trying to ultimately create a world where we don’t need animals to eat them.”

    The 2021 Farmed Animal Conference E-Summit Report, which includes personal accounts of speaker presentations and general observations, is available to Alliance members in the Resource Center on the Alliance website. The Alliance also has reports from previous animal rights conferences accessible to members on its website.

    About the Alliance:

    The Animal Agriculture Alliance safeguards the future of animal agriculture and its value to society by bridging the communication gap between the farm and food communities. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.

    Find the Alliance on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • North American Meat Institute Calls for Moratorium on Prop 12 Enforcement

    With California’s Proposition 12’s (Prop 12) January 1, 2022, effective date for pork looming and the rules implementing the law nearly two years late and far from final, the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today called for a moratorium on enforcement to allow those subject to the law time to comply.

    “Until final rules issue, affected companies are ‘on hold’ with respect to what they must do to comply with Prop 12 to avoid the risk of criminal prosecution,” said The Meat Institute’s Chief Operating Officer, Mark Dopp. “For that reason alone equity demands the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) issue an enforcement moratorium lasting at least 28 months after final rules are published.”

    Dopp made these remarks during a public hearing on the proposed rules associated with Proposition 12 held by CDFA and the California Department of Public Health.

    Prop 12 directed CDFA to promulgate regulations implementing the law by September 1, 2019.

    “Had CDFA met its statutory deadline there would have been regulatory certainty and industry would have had 28 months to prepare for Prop 12.  But as I read this statement, the comment period regarding the proposed regulations with their many flaws is still open and publication of final regulations likely remains months away,” said Dopp.

    “Those who contend the industry has had enough time to comply with Prop 12 either do not understand or ignore, perhaps willfully, the complexity of the pork supply chain and the segregation and other costs Prop 12 will impose on packer/processors and other players in that chain.”

    In June, the Meat Institute submitted 12 pages of comments, found here that said the rules, if finalized, would create a bureaucratic labyrinth of regulatory provisions:

    • requiring an almost unworkable annual certification of veal and breeding pig (sow) facilities;
    • creating an overly complex accreditation process for entities allowed to certify those facilities;
    • imposing detailed recordkeeping requirements on producers and throughout the supply chain;
    • imposing problematic labeling provisions; and
    • granting legally questionable enforcement authority.

    The text of the proposed rules can be found here.

    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.

  • The Threat of Branched Broomrape for California Processing Tomato

    Branched broomrape (Phelipanche ramosa), a parasitic weed that was the focus of a $1.5 million eradication effort four decades ago in California, has recently re-emerged in tomato fields in several Central Valley counties. Processing tomatoes are important to the California agricultural economy; the state produced over 90% of the 12 million tons of tomatoes grown in the United States in 2018. Branched broomrape is listed as an “A” noxious weed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA); discovery of broomrape in California tomato fields leads to quarantine and crop destruction without harvest, resulting in significant economic loss to growers.

    In countries where broomrape is common, yield reductions caused by this parasitic weed can range from moderate to 80%, depending upon the infestation level, host and environmental conditions. Developing a detailed understanding of the biology of this weed under local conditions is an important step towards developing effective management plans for California. In the latest issue of California Agriculture (a University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources publication), extension researchers discuss branched broomrape in the context of California production systems, particularly of tomato. They also discuss the potential management practices that could help to prevent or reduce the impacts of branched broomrape in tomatoes and other host crops. Read the full article HERE.

  • Field Bindweed Yield Impacts on Processing Tomatoes May be Less than Expected

    Figure 1. Field bindweed (Convolvulsus arvensis)

    Field bindweed (Convolvulsus arvensis) is considered by many tomato growers to be the most problematic of all weeds in California production areas. Indeed, field bindweed and the closely related morning glory weeds were ranked the 8th most troublesome weeds in North America in a recent survey by the Weed Science Society of America. The rapid adoption of drip irrigation and the economic necessity of maintaining the beds and replanting with only minimal tillage for multiple seasons in processing tomatoes has created a system where field bindweed has become more prevalent. Field bindweed is extremely difficult to control because it propagates from seed and vegetatively from buds formed in the roots. Seedlings can be controlled with tillage when very young, but they become perennial very rapidly. Chemical control of seedlings is possible, but established plants are much more difficult to control. Established plants often have a large root system relative to the amount of top growth, and thus are extremely tolerant of post emergence herbicides such as carfentrazone (Shark), glufosinate (Rely), and glyphosate (Roundup).

    Bindweed is a headache not only for its persistent and pernicious growth habit and ability to reduce tomato yields, but also because it can physically stop a processing tomato harvester in the field. Vigorously growing vines can become entangled around the shaker and conveyor belts, requiring the equipment operator to shut down and manually clear out the foliage.

    Several years ago, myself and other UC researchers conducted herbicide trials evaluating field bindweed control — with marginal success. In a given year and location, most of the registered herbicides in tomatoes gave only temporary suppression – about 40 – 80% bindweed control at 8 weeks after transplanting. Best results were observed where herbicides were stacked: trifluralin (Treflan) pre-plant incorporated followed by rimsulfuron (Matrix) post. Glyphosate helped in situations where the bindweed emerged early and could be applied before transplanting (Figure 2).

    Figure 2. Bindweed control plots at UC Davis. Untreated control on the left, glyphosate, trifluralin, and rimsulfuron on the right.

    Earlier this year, I was asked to summarize the effects of weeds on processing tomato yield. This made me go back and look at this work, but with a slightly different emphasis: impact of weed control (or really, lack of weed control) on yield. To increase the size of my dataset, I also included data from trials done at UC Davis. Where I had data for both yield and weed control in good, replicated trials, I performed a regression analysis comparing % weed control and % relative yield (relative yields remove the year-to-year and location variability). In the end, I used 4 trials from 2012-13 (Table 1).

    Scott Stoddard, UC Cooperative Extension Merced-Madera Counties Vegetable Crops and Soils Farm Advisor

    Surprisingly, these data suggested that where bindweed dominated, it did not have a big impact on processing tomato yield. Even with just 50% control 8 weeks after transplanting, potential yield was 88-95%. This may have occurred because bindweed does not shade out the tomato canopy nearly as much as some of the common annual weeds. However, when tall broadleaf weeds dominated, such as pigweed, nightshades, and lambsquarters, yields dropped rapidly. I had some plots with a 99% yield drop if these weeds were allowed to grow all season. In this situation, the weeds towered over the tomato canopy.

    There have been no new registered herbicides in processing tomatoes in the last 10 years, while robotic weed control has progressed rapidly during this time. Unfortunately, neither our current slate of registered herbicides nor robots provide adequate control of field bindweed. This may not matter as much as previously thought, however. The annual grasses and broadleaf weeds have far greater yield impact, especially when they grow tall and shade out the crop. Thankfully, there are several registered herbicides that provide effective control of those weed types. — By Scott Stoddard, UC Cooperative Extension

  • Banner Year for U.S. Beef Exports in 2021

    USDA-FAS International Agricultural Trade Report — As countries roll back COVID-19 restrictions, foreign market demand for beef is becoming a bright spot for U.S. producers. With record U.S. beef production forecast this year, U.S. beef exports are forecast to strengthen their position in the global marketplace. Meanwhile, lower production in Australia and tighter exportable supplies from Argentina are expected to limit the global availability of beef. For 2021, U.S. beef exports are forecast to reach a record 1.5 million metric tons (mt) carcass weight equivalent (cwe), up 16 percent compared to last year and 8 percent above the 2018 high.

    South Korea Demand Boosts U.S. Exports

    Since 2016, South Korea has been a top destination for U.S. beef. Exports were up 26 percent on a volume basis and 30 percent on a value basis from January to May 2021 compared to the same period a year ago. This market accounts for 25 percent on both a volume and value basis of the U.S. overseas beef market in the first 5 months of the year. As demand remains strong, South Korea is very likely to continue as a top U.S. destination in 2021, particularly as the won strengthens relative to the U.S. Dollar and the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement lowers duties on muscle cuts from 13 percent in 2021 to zero by 2026.

    Expanded Market Access in China

    China overtook the United States as the largest beef importer by volume in the world in 2018 with imports totaling 1.4 million mt cwe ($4.8 billion) that year and 2.8 million mt cwe ($10.2 billion) in 2020. As demand remains firm, China is on pace to set another record in 2021 with imports in the first 5 months of 2021 at 1.3 million mt cwe ($4.6 billion). The potential for growth in U.S. beef exports is strong in future years as China import demand is expected to grow more than 30 percent during the next decade.

    From January to May 2021, U.S. beef to China surged 13-fold in both exports and sales from the same period last year. U.S. beef has benefited from the Economic and Trade Agreement between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (also known as the Phase One Agreement), which expanded market access for U.S. beef by eliminating several long-standing non-tariff barriers. Through May 2021, China ranks as the third-largest U.S. market by both volume and value, surpassing both Mexico and Canada which have historically been ranked as top U.S. markets consistently.

    However, despite robust growth, U.S. beef accounts for a small share of China imports. In 2019, the year before the Phase One Agreement entered into force, U.S. beef accounted for about 1 percent of China imports on both a volume and value basis. Through May 2021, U.S. beef has risen to a near 4-percent share by volume and 7-percent by value. U.S. exports are well below their full potential due to remaining market access barriers, such as a ban on the feed additive ractopamine.

    United States Picks Up China Market Share from Australia

    Reduced competition from Australia, the top U.S. competitor, is also a driver for strong U.S. exports. Australia beef production is forecast lower in 2021 due to herd rebuilding in the aftermath of a multi-year drought. China’s imports of Australian beef, which include a grain-fed volume that is in direct competition with U.S. beef, fell just more than 50 percent through May 2021. During the same period, the United States has increased its market share in the country.

    Argentina Restricts Beef Exports

    Reduced exports from Argentina may also boost U.S. global market share, particularly in China. In mid-May, the Government of Argentina announced a restriction on beef exports for 30 days to ease rising domestic prices by bolstering domestic supplies. As of June 22, the Government amended the restriction to only include specific muscle cuts and carcass segments until December 31, 2021. Further, beef exporters will be limited to exporting 50 percent of their average 2020 monthly export volume through at least August 31, 2021. As Argentina is the fourth-largest exporter in the world and second-largest exporter to China, the restriction is expected to buoy global shipments from other suppliers.

    Looking Forward

    Despite strong demand in South Korea, explosive growth in China, and reduced supplies from competitors, projections for 2022 are not as bright. U.S. production is forecast down 2 percent, the first drop in at least 7 years, and exports are slightly lower. But as overseas markets continue to recover from the pandemic, pent-up demand just may support exports in a number of markets.

  • USDA Updates CFAP2 for Livestock, Poultry Contract Producers and Specialty Crop Growers

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19, is part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has set an Oct. 12 deadline for all eligible producers to apply for or modify applications for CFAP 2.  

    “We listened to feedback and concerns from producers and stakeholders about the gaps in pandemic assistance, and these adjustments to CFAP 2 help address unique circumstances, provide flexibility and make the program more equitable for all producers,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on agricultural producers, and we have made significant progress since announcing our plans in March.  While additional pandemic assistance remains to be announced in the coming weeks, USDA is also ramping up its efforts to make investments in the food supply chain to Build Back Better.”  

    Assistance for Contract Producers  

    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, provides up to $1 billion for payments to contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry for revenue losses from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 27, 2020. Contract producers of broilers, pullets, layers, chicken eggs, turkeys, hogs and pigs, ducks, geese, pheasants and quail may be eligible for assistance. This update includes eligible breeding stock and eggs of all eligible poultry types produced under contract.    

    Payments for contract producers were to be based on a comparison of eligible revenue for the periods of Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 27, 2019, and Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 27, 2020. Today’s changes mean contract producers can now elect to use eligible revenue from the period of Jan. 1, 2018, through Dec. 27, 2018, instead of that date range in 2019 if it is more representative. This change is intended to provide flexibility and make the program more equitable for contract producers who had reduced revenue in 2019 compared to a normal production year. The difference in revenue is then multiplied by 80% to determine a final payment. Payments to contract producers may be factored if total calculated payments exceed the available funding and will be made after the application period closes. 

    Additional flexibilities have been added to account for increases to operation size in 2020 and situations where a contract producer did not have a full period of revenue from Jan. 1 to Dec. 27 for either 2018 or 2019. Assistance is also available to new contract producers who began their farming operation in 2020.  

    Updates for Sales-Based Commodities 

    USDA is amending the CFAP 2 payment calculation for sales-based commodities, which are primarily comprised of by specialty crops, to allow producers to substitute 2018 sales for 2019 sales. Previously, payments for producers of sales-based commodities were based only on 2019 sales, with 2019 used as an approximation of the amount the producer would have expected to market in 2020. Giving producers the option to substitute 2018 sales for this approximation, including 2018 crop insurance indemnities and 2018 crop year Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) payments,  provides additional flexibility to producers of sales-based commodities who had reduced sales in 2019.

    Grass seed has also been added as an eligible sales commodity for CFAP 2. A complete list of all eligible sales-based commodities can be found at farmers.gov/cfap2/commodities. Producers of sales-based commodities can modify existing applications.  

    Applying for Assistance  

    Sign-up for CFAP 2 was re-opened in March and remains open to address inadequate initial outreach efforts to reach underserved producers and particularly those who produce sales commodities. Newly eligible producers who need to submit a CFAP 2 application or producers who need to modify an existing one can do so by contacting their local FSA office. Producers can find their local FSA office by visiting farmers.gov/service-locator. Producers can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364. All new and modified CFAP 2 applications are due by the Oct. 12 deadline.  

    As USDA looks to long-term solutions to build back a better food system as announced in June, the Department is committed to delivery of financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers and businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 market disruptions. Since USDA rolled out the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative in March, the Department has announced approximately $7 billion in assistance to producers and agriculture entities. Previously announced pandemic assistance has included:

    For more details, please visit www.farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance.  

  • Bill Brosseau Celebrates 25th Harvest at Brosseau Vineyard, 10th Year Certified Organic

    Veteran winemaker Bill Brosseau marked the start of his 25th professional harvest on Monday, August 23rd for the 2021 vintage of Brosseau Wines. Harvested at night, Chardonnay grapes were the first to be hand-cut from the vines of Brosseau Vineyard, his family’s certified organic estate in Monterey County’s Chalone Appellation. Brosseau Vineyard is celebrating 10 years of organic certification and was the first to receive this distinguished certification in the Chalone Appellation back in 2011.

    Bill’s experience with winegrowing and winemaking extends well beyond his 25 professional harvests. His parents, Jon and Jan Brosseau, fell in love with the remote region near Pinnacles National Park and dreamed of following in the footsteps of Richard Graff, Chalone Vineyard co-founder and family friend. In the mid-1970s, they invested in the land that is now Brosseau Vineyard, planting the first vines in 1980. As a child, Bill spent the weekdays in the Bay Area and the weekends completely immersed in the vineyard life. “I just loved the adventure of creating wine, but also working on the vines themselves, or just riding my dirt-bike through the vineyard,” he remembers.

    Bill began his professional winemaking journey with hands-on experience and studies at the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program, completing three harvests before graduation. Following graduation, Bill began working for the Jensens at Testarossa Winery in 2000 and was promoted to winemaker at the Pinot Noir-specialized brand in 2003. Bill’s dual expertise in the vineyard and the cellar allows him to holistically fine-tune wines at every step of the growing and winemaking cycle.

    Today, Bill is the Director of Winemaking at Testarossa, Winemaker for Brosseau Wines, and Wine Consultant for Brosseau Wine Design, extending his knowledge and experience to some of California’s most revered wine brands and private estates in California’s Central Coast. Over the last 25 years, Bill’s philosophy of organic farming and minimalistic winemaking approach has helped him become one of California’s most respected and awarded Chardonnay and Pinot Noir artisans, garnering more than one thousand, 90+ point reviews.

    As the 2021 harvest comes into full swing, Bill is celebrating his past successes with his eyes on the future. “Looking back at 25 harvests, I could not have muscled through the challenge of each harvest if it were not for the continued love and support of my wife, my children, my parents, my winemaking team, and all of my wine friends. I am so fortunate to have been part of winegrowing and winemaking in the Central Coast. It offers some of the most beautiful and iconic sites in the world, yet still relatively undiscovered. I look forward to the steady pursuit of quality enhancements and helping the world discover our beautiful terroir.” Phil Woodward, Co-founder and CEO of Chalone Wine Group, reflects on Bill’s career: “I have enjoyed Bill’s wines from his very first vintage of Chalone Appellation wines. Bill, like Dick Graff, captures the essence of the Chalone terroir, especially in his Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.”

    You can learn more at brosseauwines.com and brosseauwinedesign.com.

  • Western Growers Unveils Middle School to Post-Graduate Agtech Career Development Pipeline

    Western Growers (WG) has bolstered its workforce development efforts with the launch of five initiatives aimed at transitioning the agriculture workforce to master rapidly developing agricultural technology. The initiatives make up WG’s Agtech Workforce Readiness Campaign, which was announced last night at AgTechX Ed at Reedley College.

    “We need agtech startups and technology experts to help us automate key functions such as harvesting, weeding and thinning,” said Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia. “As their innovations come forward, we will need trained and creative people to work on our farms and in our facilities who are adept in everything from agriculture and agronomy to data analytics and technology integration. These initiatives are designed to make sure we get there on time.”

    WG started its agtech workforce development focus in 2016 with the launch of Careers in Ag – a career pathways program. However, with the rapid development of innovative agtech solutions in the past few years, WG has ramped up its efforts to meet the growing demand for workers with a different type of skill set.

    The WG Agtech Workforce Readiness Campaign include the following initiatives:

    • AgTechX Ed: A statewide initiative aimed at developing a future workforce with the skills and knowledge to navigate emerging on-farm technology.
    • NextGen Curriculum Development: A project that will address the need for agriculture worker education by developing a curriculum that can be leveraged across campuses in the University of California, California State University and California Community College systems to provide the training needed for agtech expertise for the next-gen agricultural workforce.
    • Junior AgSharks: Students from middle and high schools in rural areas are invited to serve as AgSharks, where they listen to pitches from agtech startups and vet their technologies as well as learn about the latest technologies by interacting with leaders in the agriculture industry and venture capitalist space.
    • Home for the Holidays: An annual professional mixer where college students are invited to an exclusive meet-and-greet with agriculture industry leaders and technology companies.
    • Careers in Ag: A career pathways program encourages college students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers within the agricultural industry.

      “The Careers in Ag Program reinforced my desire to work in the ag industry,” said Anahi Huerta, one of 250 students who have participated in the Careers in Ag Program. “During the program, I was exposed to the variety of careers available in ag. When I graduated UC Davis, I was offered a position at a farm in California’s Coachella Valley and have been able to apply my managerial economics degree to my current role as food safety coordinator.”

      To accompany the initiatives, WG also rolled out the Agtech Workforce Readiness Campaign website today: www.agtechworkforce.com.

      The website is a one-stop-shop where stakeholders can find information about WG’s initiatives; watch videos and read articles about students who are already making a difference in the workforce; hear directly from farmers about workforce needs; and join the cause.

  • Dairy Industry Applauds USDA’s New Dairy Donation Program Aimed at Addressing Hunger, Food Waste

    Dairy industry representatives offered their support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new $400 million Dairy Donation Program (DDP). The Department released an interim final rule all but finalizing the DDP and making its $400 million funding available to eligible handlers and cooperatives. The program will ensure U.S. dairy companies are fairly compensated for donating nutritious dairy products to Americans struggling with hunger and food insecurity.

    Michael Dykes, president & CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) shared, “IDFA applauds USDA for finalizing the Dairy Donation Program, making it possible for U.S. dairy companies to donate fresh, nutritious dairy products to nonprofit organizations reaching Americans struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. dairy producers and dairy foods companies have led efforts to feed the hungry and support struggling communities. With the Dairy Donation Program announced today, USDA is providing our industry with one more tool to reach Americans in need. The dairy industry welcomes the opportunity to continue to partner with non-profits, charities, and other organizations working to combat hunger and nutrition insecurity. The Dairy Donation Program ensures high-quality, nutritious products like milk, cheese, yogurt and more will get to those who need them most, while ensuring dairy foods producers receive a fair market value for their healthy products. IDFA and our members look forward to working with USDA and the non-profit community to get this program off the ground this fall.”

    Congress established the DDP in December 2020 and USDA has been working for the past several months to design the new program. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. dairy producers and dairy foods companies have been proactive about responding to hunger and supporting families in need through local food drives and charitable donations as well as federal nutrition assistance programs.

    “We thank USDA leadership for their work to bring the Dairy Donation Program to fruition. This important program will help dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own to do what they do best: feed families nationwide,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “Dairy stakeholders are eager to enhance their partnerships with food banks and other distributors to provide dairy products to those experiencing food insecurity, which the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated.”

    NMPF championed the proposal throughout the legislative process and worked closely with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who led the effort to include this new program in COVID-19-related legislation enacted last year. The new Dairy Donation Program expands the original Milk Donation Reimbursement Program and has one-time funding of $400 million to reimburse farmers, cooperatives, and other dairy organizations for the full cost of raw milk needed to make finished dairy products for consumers.

    NMPF worked closely with USDA to ensure that the program addresses additional costs, such as processing and transportation, as well as other elements that make the program more viable. The provision covering the cost of processing is a significant enhancement from the previous program. NMPF also worked closely with Feeding America to support the program and recommend approaches to ensure its effectiveness.

    “We are grateful to USDA for helping ensure wholesome dairy products can be provided to food banks and other food distributors by reimbursing for some of these costs,” said Mulhern. “We have also been pleased to work with Feeding America to advance the partnership approach taken by this program as it will help to target dairy donations in a manner that effectively meets on-the-ground demand.”

    “Feeding America applauds today’s announcement implementing the Dairy Donation Program, which has the potential to connect millions of additional pounds of dairy donations through food banks to the people we serve. We look forward to working with USDA and our dairy partners to make this program a success now and in the future,” said Vince Hall, Interim Chief Government Relations Officer at Feeding America.

    Mulhern said NMPF appreciates Chairwoman Stabenow’s leadership in securing the program’s enactment last year, as well as the support for dairy donation offered by other key members, including Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA).

    “We commend Chairwoman Stabenow for her leadership in authoring this program and look forward to working with Congress to secure additional funding for this program in the future to continue to minimize food waste by providing nutritious dairy products to those who need them most,” Mulhern said.

    Jackie Klippenstein, Senior Vice President, Government, Industry and Community Relations for Dairy Farmers of America, added, “The Dairy Donation Program is an important step in helping to strengthen the dairy industry’s commitment to fighting hunger in a way that reduces food waste and minimizes disruption to the supply chain. We are pleased USDA is implementing this and other programs to help distribute dairy to those who need it most.”

  • Slowing the Onset of Alzheimer’s by Eating Berries

    Americans are growing old and, sadly, the aging process for many means more than simply turning gray or thinning hair.

    According to the United States Census, in about a dozen years the number of Americans over 65 will outnumber children. Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention project the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to nearly triple by 2060.

    Fortunately, USDA-funded research may have found a tasty way to slow disease onset.

    A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that diets high in flavonoids may protect cognitive health. Flavonoids are plant nutrients known for their antioxidant, antiviral, and anticancer properties and are found in berries, tea, dark chocolate, and other foods.

    “Alzheimer’s disease is a significant public health challenge,” said Paul Jacques, nutritional epidemiologist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. “Given the absence of drug treatments, preventing Alzheimer’s disease through a healthy diet is an important consideration.”

    According to Jacques, who co-authored the study, about one in nine adults over age 65 are living with AD. While memory loss is the hallmark of AD, Jacques said it has many other cognitive and behavioral changes, including difficulty carrying out simple multistep activities, such as dressing or cooking; loss of judgement and attention; and changes in behavior such as depression and agitation.

    Jacques’s study, one of the first truly large, long-term studies to examine the effects of flavonoids on AD, showed that diets high in certain types of flavonoids present significant promise toward preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s.

    “Our study examined the association between long-term flavonoid intakes and AD over an average follow-up of 19.6 years among 2,809 participants,” he said. Results show that those who consumed the most of three types of flavonoids were more than 50 percent less likely to develop AD risks compared with those who ate the least. Plant foods, such as vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, and seeds are good sources of flavonoids, as is a cup of green tea each day.

    Age 50 is not too late to make positive dietary changes. “While the risk of dementia increases over age 70, it is now believed that its preclinical stage may predate clinical diagnosis by decades” he said. “A healthy diet during this preclinical period may provide the best opportunity for slowing the development of AD. When you approach 50, you should start thinking about a healthier diet if you haven’t already.”

    According to Jacques, flavonoid-rich diets help more than just Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.

    “The bottom line is that there are many reasons to consume a healthy diet, including lower risks of cardiovascular disease and some cancers. We can now add protection of cognitive health and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease to that list.” – By Scott Elliott, USDA-ARS Office of Communications