California Ag Network

Category: Ag Economics

  • USDA to Invest $41.8 Million for Producers in Drought-Impacted States

    In response to historic drought conditions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering $41.8 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to help agricultural producers in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon alleviate the immediate impacts of drought and other natural resource challenges on working lands. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will make available this funding through Conservation Incentive Contracts, a new option available through EQIP. Signup for this targeted funding begins today, and NRCS will accept applications through July 12, 2021.

    Through EQIP, NRCS offers conservation practices that help producers recover from the impacts of drought as well as build resiliency. These practices provide other key benefits, including mitigating impacts from climate change as well as preventing and recovering from wildfire.

    “As ongoing drought conditions in the West continue to worsen, we knew we needed to increase our support to farmers and ranchers in dealing with drought and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow,” said NRCS Chief Terry Cosby. “EQIP is our flagship conservation program, and with the expanded benefits the Conservation Incentive Contracts offer, it enables producers to deploy conservation activities that strengthen existing efforts on their land to help during times of drought. Additionally, by targeting this program in several states, we can make any needed adjustments before rolling out Conservation Incentive Contracts nationwide in fiscal year 2022.”

    Conservation Incentive Contracts

    While Conservation Incentive Contracts are available in select states in fiscal year 2021, NRCS will roll out nationwide in fiscal year 2022, using this pilot to refine implementation of this new option.

    The 2018 Farm Bill created the new Conservation Incentive Contracts option to address high-priority conservation and natural resources concerns, including drought. Through 5- to 10-year contracts, producers manage, maintain and address important natural resource concerns and build on existing conservation efforts.

    Conservation Incentive Contracts offer conservation activities that producers implement to address resource concerns.

    NRCS will set aside $11.8 million directly for drought-related practices. Practices include forest management plans, tree/shrub establishment, brush management, prescribed grazing, pasture and hay planting, wildlife habitat, livestock watering systems and cover crops.

    How to Apply

    To learn more about Conservation Incentive Contracts, visit the EQIP webpage. Producers in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon who are interested in this targeted funding should apply by July 12, 2021 by contacting their local USDA Service Center.

    While USDA offices may be closed to visitors because of the pandemic, Service Center staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools. To conduct business, please contact your local USDA Service Center. Contact information can be found at farmers.gov/service-locator.

  • 3rd Annual Santa Barbara County and 9th Annual Ventura County Farm Days

    After a year of virtual events, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) will be holding its annual Santa Barbara County Farm Day and Ventura County Farm Day in-person this fall. Santa Barbara Farm Day is September 18. Ventura County Farm Day is November 6. This year’s Farm Day theme is “Know The Essential Hands That Feed You.”

    Every year, growers in each county provide open tours of their farms to the public. Visitors learn about the origins of their food and how agriculture contributes to the country’s nutritional well-being. Activities during Farm Day are geared to all age groups and include farm tours and product samples.

    Members of the public drive themselves at their own pace from farm to farm on Farm Day. This year, SEEAG is introducing a new Google Maps integrated Farm Day Trail Guide. The guide will enable users to create a custom itinerary based on their personal interests. The guide will also feature curated trails featuring tours that will focus on science and new farming technology; other trails will highlight farming history.

    Santa Barbara County Farm Day is now in its third year. Ventura County Farm Day is celebrating its ninth year.

    “We are grateful for the support we receive from growers in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG founder and CEO. “Without so many growers participating, Farm Day couldn’t happen. Farm Day is such a great opportunity for growers and the public to connect. How produce appears on grocery shelves is a mystery to many. Farm Day provides a greater understanding and appreciation of growers and farm workers.”

    Growers already signed up to take part in Santa Barbara County Farm Day are …

    Sponsors include Bobalu Berry Farms, Brokaw Nursery, Coastal Ag, Community Bank of Santa Maria, Edwin and Jeanne Woods Family Foundation, Plantel Nurseries, Reiter Affiliated Companies, Ventura County Agriculture Commissioner, Ventura County Credit Union and Wells Fargo.

    For more about SEEAG, Santa Barbara County Farm Day and Ventura County Farm Day, go to www.seeag.org.

    About SEEAG

    Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program based in Ventura County teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this and other SEEAG programs, including its Child Wellness Initiative in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, over 60,000 elementary school students in Central and Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. For more information, visit www.seeag.org or email Mary Maranville at mary@seeag.org.

  • Innovative ‘Soil for Water’ Regenerative Agriculture Project Expands to 7 States

    Building on a successful peer-to-peer network of Texas ranchers who are implementing innovative grazing techniques to improve soil health and increase profitability, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is scaling up its Soil for Water project to support livestock producers and farmers across seven southern states.

    The Soil for Water project grew out of recent droughts, which put a strain on agricultural producers across the country. The effort is combining the use of appropriate technology, peer-to-peer learning, and on-farm monitoring to encourage regenerative agricultural practices across the seven-state project region. For example, through managed grazing systems, livestock have the ability to improve soil health, and healthy soil holds more water.

    “Increasing the adoption of regenerative methods could have significant economic, environmental, and social benefits,” said NCAT southwest regional director and project lead Mike Morris. “Economically, regenerative agriculture has the potential to increase forage production, drought resilience, animal health, access to lucrative new markets, and therefore profitability. Environmentally, it has the potential to improve soil health and biodiversity. Socially, it has the potential to facilitate decentralized local and regional food systems by enabling more producers to offer healthy, sustainably produced products to local consumers.”

    By late summer, the project will be available to ranchers and farmers in Texas, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Virginia. Project investors include grants from the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), $980,000; The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation, $50,000; and the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, $1 million. The Soil for Water project launched in 2015 with support from the Dixon Water Foundation and the Meadows Foundation.

    NCAT will lead the expanded Soil for Water project with eight cooperating organizations, including the University of Arkansas, Virginia Tech University, and Mississippi State University.

    The effort aims to reach hundreds of small to mid-sized family-owned farms and ranches encouraging them to try land management practices that improve soil health, catch more rainwater in soil, reduce erosion, sustain diverse plant and animal life, and filter out pollutants.

    First-generation farmers Jeremiah and Maggie Eubank manage 2,000 acres in Texas Hill Country. They’re raising cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, and ducks on land between San Antonio and Austin. It’s beautiful, tough land that Maggie Eubank says has been overgrazed for a century. They’re working to change that.

    “The Soil for Water Project is connecting us with a network of other ranchers who are doing what they can to use animals to grow more grass and keep more water in the ground,” Eubank explains. “Regenerating this ranch is the focus of our job, but we can also show other ranchers and farmers it can be a viable business.”

    The high interest in grass-fed, sustainably produced meat and locally grown products is not only an economic benefit to these producers like the Eubanks, but also a quality-of-life benefit to their communities when healthy, locally produced food is available in neighborhood markets.

    To learn more about the Soil for Water project, visit SOILFORWATER.ORG.

  • Soil Health Institute Announces Virtual Annual Meeting

    The Soil Health Institute (SHI), the non-profit charged with safeguarding and enhancing the vitality and productivity of soils, announced today its much-anticipated annual meeting will be held on August 11 and 12, 2021. This year’s theme is “Enriching Soil, Enhancing Life” and the event will be hosted virtually.

    “Enriching Soil, Enhancing Life” is designed to connect and advance the science, adoption, and environmental benefits of soil health. A wide array of practical information, research, and actionable takeaways will be presented that is relevant to farmers, agribusiness, consultants, scientists, field conservationists, government, and non-governmental organization professionals around the world. There is no cost to attend the event, but you must register at https://soilhealthinstitute.org/2021-annual-meeting.

    The two-day event will feature six plenary sessions:

    • Farmers’ Experiences with Adopting Soil Health Systems
    • Business Case for Regenerative Soil Health Systems
    • Agricultural Input Impacts on Soil Health
    • Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation through Soil Health
    • Establishing Soil Health Interpretations for Farmers and Conservation Planners
    • Understanding and Managing the Soil Microbiome

    Each day, sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET, break for an hour, then resume from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET.

    “We’re at a critical juncture in the fight against climate change,” said Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, CEO of the Soil Health Institute. “Our organization hosts this event to connect more people to the most recent science behind soil health to empower implementation of practices and soil health systems that not only benefit farmers’ livelihoods but can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient runoff, and provide many other environmental benefits worldwide.”

    For more information about the “Enriching Soil, Enhancing Life” event and to register, visit https://soilhealthinstitute.org/2021-annual-meeting.

    ABOUT SOIL HEALTH INSTITUTE

    The Soil Health Institute is a global non-profit with a mission to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soil through scientific research and advancement. We bring together leaders in soil health science and the industry to help farmers, ranchers, and landowners adopt soil health systems that build drought resilience, stabilize yield, and benefit their bottom line. The Institute’s team of scientists, holding doctorates in various soil science and related disciplines, has developed highly effective soil health targets and standardized measurements to quantify progress at achieving regenerative and sustainable agricultural systems, and leads the cutting-edge fields of carbon sequestration and decoding the soil microbiome. Healthy soils are the foundation for rejuvenating our land. Together, we can create a secure future for all, mitigate the effects of climate change, and help agriculture and organizations meet production and environmental goals at scale. Visit soilhealthinstitute.org to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

  • Farming Tips for Enduring Historic Drought in Northern CA

    It has been heart breaking to seeing wheat and alfalfa fields dry up the last few weeks.  The recent hot temperatures caused many fields to wither, while placing greater irrigation needs on the few crops being irrigated with well water.   It’s the driest year I have experienced in my 10 years in the Klamath Basin!

    Several people asked me about strategies moving forward this summer and what yields they can expect from crops with limited irrigation.  I do not know all the answers, but I tried to highlight some of my past experiences from research and farming below.  Please keep in mind every field situation is unique and one strategy rarely works in all situations.  I want to commend the farming community for being resilient in a terrible situation.  I also want to thank all those that have spent countless hours trying to improve the water situation today and in the future.

    Irrigation tips

    Almost all fields started this year with very little residual soil moisture.  At IREC, not a drop of water flowed through our tile drains this winter and spring.  Darrin and I noticed the first irrigation on many fields did not even refill the soil profile especially when irrigating during strong winds.  This made 2021 even more difficult as winter precipitation did not refill the soil profile naturally.  As a result, many alfalfa and grain fields are starting to show unusual patterns from drought such as wind strips and tall growth under sprinkler drains.  If you can water fields with well water, it is very important to check the sprinkler heads to make sure they are the proper size, check water pressure on the ends of irrigation lines, and make sure your irrigation is providing good coverage.  Offset your wheel-lines one roll the next irrigation in fields with wind strips.    As many of us are irrigating out of drains, it is important to make sure you have adequate sprinkler pressure.  If you do not have adequate pressure, you need to reduce the size of your sprinkler heads and extend the duration of the irrigation set (16 hrs vs 12 hrs) or run less lines.

    Many alfalfa producers are in the position to harvest 1st cutting and cannot water for the next couple weeks until the hay is picked up.  In this situation, producers should consolidate limited water on their most productive fields.  Once an alfalfa field wilts from drought it will typically go dormant.  This is good as the alfalfa will likely survive until next year, but it also means the alfalfa is resistant to green-up and grow again in mid-summer.  As such, I’d recommend using limited water to irrigate healthy fields instead of trying to stretch it across all fields especially those fields that are already wilted with poor growth going into first cutting.

    Potato producers will need to apply long sets to refill the soil profile when the potatoes emerge.  Most field have very little residual soil moisture, and it is important to avoid drought stress during vegetation growth and tuber initiation to maximize tuber set and tuber quality.  I advise potato growers to check soil moisture frequently throughout the potato rooting zone to make sure water reached the bottom of the hill and is uniform throughout the field.

    Most farmers should be done irrigating winter grain, and I see a few producers irrigating spring grain.   If you decide to irrigate spring grain, I recommend irrigating the crop fully until you run out of your water allocation instead of trying to space irrigation throughout the summer.  Irrigating spring grain fully to meet the crop water demand during tillering and elongation will maximize forage yields, and once wheat and barley fields show signs of drought stress, they will start to head producing low forage and grain yields.

    Fertilization tips

    Producers that decide to irrigate grain and grass fields should make sure to apply adequate nitrogen.  The cost of the fertilizer will easily pay for itself with high forage prices and nitrogen can double grass forage yields compared to leaving fields unfertilized.  Granular nitrogen fertilizer applied as a topdress (over the top of the crop) should be watered into the soil with at least an inch of water within a few days of application to prevent volatility losses.  Don’t fertilize fields if you do not have adequate water to irrigate crop!

    Pest Management tips

    2021 is shaping up to be a very bad pest year.  We have already witnessed problems with blue aphid and weevils in alfalfa, and I am starting to see armyworms in grain and alfalfa.  We had a very high population of seedcorn maggot in onions as all the maggot flies seemed to congregate in the few irrigated fields throughout the basin.  Thrip populations are also very high.  Onion producers should start scouting for thrips earlier than normal and be ready to start insecticide applications if thrip numbers build on young plants.  Potato producers should expect higher than normal pest populations.  Aphid populations are high, and many insects will be moving into potato fields after alfalfa and grain harvest.  Mites may be more problematic than normal as fields are receiving less overhead irrigation and we have a lot of dust in the air.  I hope the dry weather will help reduce foliar crop diseases, but the hot temperatures and stagnant water sources may make my prediction incorrect.   Potato and onion farmers need to apply frequent irrigation to keep up with crop water use, so make sure to scout for foliar diseases and try to avoid keeping leaf surfaces wet for extended periods. — By Rob Wilson, UCCE Farm Advisor, ANR Intermountain Research & Extension Center

  • New Cheese Export Opportunities With Middle East Domino’s Partnership

    Amy Wagner

    Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) has entered a partnership with Alamar Foods Company, which owns 455 Domino’s stores in the MENAP (Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan) region.

    DMI’s partnership will focus on about 300 locations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a goal of increasing U.S. cheese sales.

    Amy Wagner, DMI executive vice president of global innovation partnerships, said the checkoff will offer technical expertise on menu development and marketing support to Alamar.

    “This is an extension of an already strong Domino’s partnership and a tremendous opportunity because pizza is a lesser developed category in the Middle East,” Wagner said. “As we looked to increase dairy sales internationally, we knew American cuisine is very popular there and pizza is loved. We see an upside to grow even more pizza sales that will use U.S. cheese through innovation and marketing support from DMI.”

    This is DMI’s first venture into the Middle East with a partner, but it’s not the checkoff’s first in the international marketplace. In 2019, DMI began a partnership with Domino’s Japan where the volume of U.S.-sourced cheese has doubled since its launch, Wagner said.

    “These partnerships illustrate the importance of export growth to U.S. dairy and how our work supports the U.S. Dairy Export Council’s efforts to diversify growth into new regions of the world,” said Pennsylvania dairy farmer Marilyn Hershey, who serves as chair of DMI.

    While DMI is building its international presence, Domino’s has long been established outside of the United States. Domino’s is the No. 1 pizza company worldwide with 11,000 of its 17,000 stores located in 90-plus international markets. Domino’s had global retail sales of more than $14.3 billion in 2019, split almost evenly between its domestic and international businesses.

    “As a global pizza brand, we love nothing more than selling delicious pizzas with lots of cheese to our customers worldwide,” said Joe Jordan, executive vice president of Domino’s International. “Connecting DMI with our master franchisee, Alamar Foods, provides a great opportunity to deliver even more dairy goodness to pizza menus around the world.”

    Wagner also emphasizes that about 96 percent of the global population lives outside of the U.S., a fact that supports DMI’s mission to seek more opportunities such as this.

    “We have aspirations to have an even larger partnership presence throughout the Middle East and Africa where populations are increasing,” Wagner said. “We’re beginning with two very strong markets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.”

    For information about the dairy checkoff, visit www.usdairy.com.

     

    About Dairy Management Inc.

    Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) is funded by America’s 31,000 dairy farmers, as well as dairy importers. Created to help increase sales and demand for dairy products, DMI and its related organizations work to increase demand for dairy through research, education and innovation, and to maintain confidence in dairy foods, farms and businesses. DMI manages National Dairy Council and the American Dairy Association, and founded the U.S. Dairy Export Council, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

  • CAWG Foundation Awards $34,000 in Student Scholarships

    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Foundation has awarded $34,000 in college scholarships to seven students. The scholarships are awarded annually to students whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower.  “The CAWG Foundation is honored to award these scholarships and show our support for vineyard employees who are valued members of our winegrape industry family,” said Davindar Mahil, chair of the CAWG Foundation board of directors. “The recipients exemplify excellence – in scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities and community service. We are so impressed with how hard these students have worked to pursue higher education, and we are pleased to help them with their academic goals.”

    Each year the CAWG Foundation board selects several recipients from high schools throughout the state. Scholarship selection is based on scholastic ability, financial need, community involvement, leadership and an essay. Since the program’s inception in 1998, the foundation has awarded $528,500 in scholarships. Funds are raised through the generous donations of members of CAWG and the California wine community.

    The four-year scholarships are $8,000 each for students attending a University of California or California State University campus. An additional $5,000 scholarship was awarded this year to a high-caliber applicant. The two-year college scholarships are $2,000 each for students attending a California community college. The Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship was created by the family of Bob Miller, a California wine industry leader who helped establish the Central Coast as a leading winegrape growing region. The scholarship invests in the future of Central Coast students who plan to study viticulture or enology at either Allan Hancock College or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and pursue a career in the region’s wine grape industry.

    Four-Year University Scholarship Recipients / $8,000 each

    Jocelyn Cervantes Cabrera, Bakersfield, Foothill High School

    Dafne Cruz Rodriguez, Santa Rosa, Windsor High School

    Lyzet Montañez Hurtado, Clearlake, Lower Lake High School

    Four-Year University Scholarship Recipient / $5,000

    Rebecca Hernandez, Windsor, Windsor High School

    Two-Year Community College Scholarship Recipients / $2,000 each

    Daniela Romero, Plymouth, Amador High School

    Samantha Zavala Ferro, Ione, Amador High School

    Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship Recipient / $1,000

    Lauryn Allen, Templeton, Templeton High School

    ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS

    FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP / $8,000 EACH

    Jocelyn Cervantes Cabrera, Bakersfield, Foothill High School

    Jocelyn is a first-generation Mexican-American who believes that education will pave the way to a better future. She is an exceptional student, who managed community college courses in addition to her rigorous high school courses and achieved a 4.5 GPA. Jocelyn was active in numerous school clubs and held leadership positions for three years with student government. She greatly contributed to community service projects, including a homeless shelter, local library, highway cleanup and toy drive. She also volunteered at the Kern Medical Hospital, helping care for NICU babies. Jocelyn plans to attend UC Berkeley, major in biochemistry and someday become a neurologist. Her counselor wrote, “Jocelyn has left a very positive impact on our campus. I know she will continue to accomplish greatness wherever her path leads her in the future“ and “she will be successful in anything she sets her mind to.”

    Dafne Cruz Rodriguez, Santa Rosa, Windsor High School

    Dafne likes to dream big and has high aspirations to make a positive impact in her community and the world. A first-generation Mexican-American, she has worked hard for her academic success, achieving the No. 1 rank in her class with a 4.6 GPA. Dafne has an extensive list of leadership and volunteer experiences, including Project T.R.U.E. (Teen R U Educated), Committee for Change, Sonoma County Library and Windsor Unified School District (WUSD) student representative. She was also member of the varsity cross country/track and field team. Dafne plans to attend UC Berkeley or UC Irvine and major in political science or sociology, and then pursue a career in law or education. The WUSD student services coordinator wrote, “Dafne has a strong, positive impact in each of her endeavors” and her “work ethic, passion and motivation will serve her well as she takes on post-secondary education and future goals.”

    Lyzet Montañez Hurtado, Clearlake, Lower Lake High School

    Lyzet’s parents and siblings instilled in her a love for learning and encouraged her to do well in school. Despite some setbacks, she persevered and pushed herself to achieve her full potential. Lyzet excelled in challenging courses, earning a top-ranking 4.3 GPA. She also took 30 units at community colleges, earning a 4.0 GPA. Lyzet balanced academics with extracurricular activities, volunteer endeavors and part-time work. She was on track and field, soccer and volleyball teams. She served on numerous clubs, including the Class of 2021 Council for five years, Upward Bound Council, Tobacco Coalition and Interact Rotary Club. Lyzet plans to attend UC Berkeley, major in political science and pursue a career as a lawyer. The Upward Bound assistant director wrote, “Lyzet combines a total self-determination and a superior work ethic. She will undoubtedly excel in academia through determination, motivation and intelligence. Her potential is limitless.”

    FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP / $5,000

    Rebecca Hernandez, Windsor, Windsor High School

    The daughter of immigrants, Rebecca will be the first in her family to attend college, which will bring great pride to her Latino community and family. Her hard work in school, which included nine AP classes, resulted in a 4.3 GPA. She also graduated from Cali Calmecac Language Academy, a bilingual school. Rebecca’s extracurricular activities were varsity lacrosse for four years, Key Club and the environmental-focused GSE Club. She has been a vocalist for her church worship team for 10 years and has held a part-time job since 2019. Rebecca plans to attend UC Irvine and major in global cultures, with the goal of becoming a teacher and making a difference in her community. A school program coordinator wrote, “Rebecca is an impressively accomplished student. When it’s time to get work done, whether it be academic, philanthropic, environmental or financial, she buckles down and works.”

     

    TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP / $2,000 EACH

    Daniela Romero, Plymouth, Amador High School

    With wisdom from her immigrant parents, Daniela takes her education very seriously and strives to take advantage of every opportunity by staying focused, being consistent and excelling in classes. A diligent student with a 4.1 GPA, Daniela prioritized academics while being actively involved throughout high school with the FFA program. Through FFA, she attended leadership conferences, participated in speaking contests, performed community service, earned three FFA degrees, and spent several hundred hours raising market lambs. Daniela plans to attend Modesto Junior College and major in ag education/ag science, then transfer to Chico State. Her goal is to become an ag teacher and inspire students to be part of the industry. Her teacher wrote, “Any teacher on campus will tell you how organized and what an incredible student Daniela is. Her future colleges and her future students will be lucky to have her.”

    Samantha Zavala Ferro, Ione, Amador High School

    During high school, Samantha successfully managed difficult academic material because she had a confident maturity, a natural curiosity and an excitement for learning. Her dedication and efforts resulted in a 4.2 GPA. As a Mexican-American daughter of immigrants whose family has faced some challenges, Samantha knows the value of hard work and education. She held a part-time job and performed community service while attending school. From her work experience, her self-confidence, communication and social skills grew. Samantha plans to attend Columbia College, major in psychology and pursue a career as a therapist or teacher. Her teacher wrote, Samantha “finds a way to go above and beyond what is required to truly comprehend and retain what can be challenging concepts” and “will exceed expectations in any field she chooses.”

     

    ROBERT MILLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP / $1,000

    Lauryn Allen, Templeton, Templeton High School

    Immersed in the wine industry her entire life, Lauryn is excited it will be part of her future. She is a hardworking and ambitious student who took numerous AP and community college courses during high school and earned a 4.3 GPA. Lauryn was active in the U.S. Pony Club for 10 years, Sarah Dubost Equestrian Team for 10 years, the high school newspaper and the STEM-Chemical Engineering Program. Through the STEM program, she interned as a lab technician for several months. She plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, major in viticulture and enology, and pursue a career as an enologist, lab technician and sommelier. Her teacher wrote, “Lauryn has proven herself to be an exceptionally driven student, willing to seek out opportunities to advance her understanding in advanced fields” and “would be an asset to any educational institution.”

    About the California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation

    The CAWG Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that awards scholarships to high school seniors whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower. For more information, visit www.cawgfoundation.org.

  • USDA to Invest More Than $4 Billion to Strengthen Food System

    Citing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent supply chain disruptions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through the Build Back Better initiative. The new effort will strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind, and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain. Today’s announcement supports the Biden Administration’s broader work on strengthening the resilience of critical supply chains as directed by Executive Order 14017 America’s Supply Chains. Funding is provided by the American Rescue Plan Act and earlier pandemic assistance such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

    Secretary Vilsack was also named co-chair of the Administration’s new Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. The Task Force will provide a whole of government response to address near-term supply chain challenges to the economic recovery. The Task Force will convene stakeholders to diagnose problems and surface solutions—large and small, public or private—that could help alleviate bottlenecks and supply constraints related to the economy’s reopening after the Administration’s historic vaccination and economic relief efforts.

    USDA will invest more than $4 billion to strengthen the food system, support food production, improved processing, investments in distribution and aggregation, and market opportunities. Through the Build Back Better initiative, USDA will help to ensure the food system of the future is fair, competitive, distributed, and resilient; supports health with access to healthy, affordable food; ensures growers and workers receive a greater share of the food dollar; and advances equity as well as climate resilience and mitigation. While the Build Back Better initiative addresses near- and long-term issues, recent events have exposed the immediate need for action. With attention to competition and investments in additional small- and medium-sized meat processing capacity, the Build Back Better initiative will spur economic opportunity while increasing resilience and certainty for producers and consumers alike.

    “The COVID-19 pandemic led to massive disruption for growers and food workers. It exposed a food system that was rigid, consolidated, and fragile. Meanwhile, those growing, processing and preparing our food are earning less each year in a system that rewards size over all else,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Build Back Better initiative will make meaningful investments to build a food system that is more resilient against shocks, delivers greater value to growers and workers, and offers consumers an affordable selection of healthy food produced and sourced locally and regionally by farmers and processors from diverse backgrounds. I am confident USDA’s investments will spur billions more in leveraged funding from the private sector and others as this initiative gains traction across the country. I look forward to getting to work as co-chair of the new Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force and help to mobilize a whole-of-government effort to address the short-term supply challenges our country faces as it recovers.”

    The Build Back Better Initiative will strengthen and transform critical parts of the U.S. food system. As it makes investments through this initiative, USDA will also seek to increase transparency and competition with attention to how certain types of conduct in the livestock markets and the meat processing sector have resulted in thinly-traded markets and unfair treatment of some farmers, ranchers and small processors. Among other investments in the food system and food supply chain, Build Back Better will specifically address the shortage of small meat processing facilities across the country as well as the necessary local and regional food system infrastructure needed to support them.

    Funding announcements under the Build Back Better initiative will include a mix of grants, loans, and innovative financing mechanisms for the following priorities, each of which includes mechanisms to tackle the climate crisis and help communities that have been left behind, including:

    1. Food Production: Food production relies on growers, including farmers and ranchers, workers, and critical inputs. But a diminishing share of the food dollar goes to these essential workers. USDA will invest in the current and future generation of food producers and workers throughout the food system with direct assistance, grants, training and technical assistance, and more.
    2. Food Processing: The pandemic highlighted challenges with consolidated processing capacity. It created supply bottlenecks, which led to a drop in effective plant and slaughter capacity. Small and midsize farmers often struggled to compete for processing access. USDA will make investments to support new and expanded regional processing capacity.
    3. Food Distribution & Aggregation: Food aggregation and distribution relies on people working together throughout the food system and having the right infrastructure to gather, move and hold the food where and when it is needed. This system was stressed during the pandemic due to long shipping distances and lack of investment in local and regional capacity. USDA will make investments in food system infrastructure that can remain resilient, flexible and responsive.
    4. Markets & Consumers: The U.S. spends more on health care and less on food than any other high-income nation; yet the U.S. has higher rates of diet-related illness and a lower life expectancy than those nations. At the same time, many socially disadvantaged and small and mid-sized producers do not have equitable access to markets. USDA will support new and expanded access to markets for a diversity of growers while helping eaters access healthy foods.

    USDA will continue to make announcements through the Build Back Better initiative in the months to come. Today’s announcement is in addition to the $1 billion announced last week to purchase healthy food for food insecure Americans and build food bank capacity, putting the total announced thus far at more than $5 billion.

  • USDA Soliciting Plant Pest Project Proposals to Allocate $75 Million to Stakeholders

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) invites stakeholders to submit project suggestions for fiscal year (FY) 2022 Plant Protection Act Section 7721 (PPA 7721) funding. In total, APHIS will allocate approximately $75 million to plant protection funding with at least $5 million going to the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN).

    PPA 7721’s Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program is a cooperative agreement program established by the Farm Bill that allows APHIS and its partners to prevent, detect, and mitigate invasive plant pests and diseases. APHIS, along with the National Plant Board, State departments of agriculture, industry organizations, and other governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, developed the FY 2022 Implementation Plan, which outlines six strategic goal areas for funding projects:

    1. Enhancing plant pest/disease analysis and survey;
    2. Targeting domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points in the safeguarding continuum;
    3. Enhancing and strengthening pest identification and technology;
    4. Safeguarding nursery production;
    5. Conducting targeted outreach and education; and
    6. Enhancing mitigation and rapid response capabilities.

    The open period for submitting suggestions for Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program funding will be seven weeks, from June 7 through July 23, 2021. Visit www.aphis.usda.gov/ppa-projects to get resources and guidance, including the FY 2022 Implementation Plan, templates, help session webinar schedule, frequently asked questions, and more.

    The FY 2022 Implementation Plan also describes priorities for projects supporting PPA 7721’s National Clean Plant Network (NCPN).  The NCPN establishes a network of clean plant centers for diagnostic and pathogen elimination services to produce clean propagative plant material and maintain blocks of pathogen-tested plant material in sites throughout the United States.  NCPN program priorities include:

    1. Promoting the introduction, diagnosis, treatment, establishment and release of clean plant materials for commercial development;
    2. Conducting methods development to test and advance therapies designed to ensure plant material is healthy and clean;
    3. Developing partnerships with university extension offices, state departments of agriculture, and other entities to interact with commercial nurseries, industry associations and producers; and
    4. Developing and implementing best practices and quality control protocols for growing high quality propagative plant material.

    The open period to apply for NCPN program funding will last for 12 weeks from June 7 through August 27, 2021.  Funding is available for land-grant universities, non-land-grant colleges of agriculture, State agricultural experiment stations, State and Federal agencies, and non- governmental organizations.  Proposals focused on specialty crops have funding priority. Visit www.aphis.usda.gov/ppa-projects to learn more about the NCPN program.

    To receive email updates, subscribe to the Plant Protection Act 7721 topic in the APHIS Stakeholder Registry.

  • CA Prop 12 Not Beneficial to Consumers & Increases Sow Mortality

    The North American Meat Institute (the Meat Institute) today said the State of California’s Proposition 12 (Prop 12 or the law) provides no benefit to consumers and increases breeding sow mortality according to the State’s own proposed rule.

    “The recently proposed rule by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) admits there are no benefits to Californians as a result of Prop 12. CDFA admits deaths of breeding sows will increase. Both are unintentional consequences of a costly and unconstitutional law,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute. “Our petition to challenge the law has the support of more than 20 states and we think it should be reviewed by the Supreme Court.”

    CDFA released the proposed rule, originally due in September of 2019, late last month.

    The following are key findings in the notice published along with the proposed rule:

    • Estimated costs for businesses to comply regarding pork: “Estimated ongoing cost is greater than the initial cost of conversion at $100,000 per year for a typical breeding pig farm due to smaller inventory of breeding pigs, lower piglet output per animal and increased breeding pig mortality.”
    • CDFA acknowledges that animal confinement space allowances prescribed in the Act (cage-free for egg-laying hens, 43 square feet for veal calves and 24 square feet for breeding pigs) “are not based in specific peer-reviewed published scientific literature or accepted as standards within the scientific community to reduce human food-borne illness, promote worker safety, the environment, or other human or safety concerns.”
    • “This proposal does not directly impact human health and welfare of California residents, worker safety, or the State’s environment…”
    • CDFA also identified higher costs for schools, universities, prisons, and county jails. And discussing “Benefits to human health, worker safety, or the State’s environment” CDFA said “The Department has made an initial determination that the proposed regulatory action will have significant, statewide adverse economic impact directly affecting California businesses including the ability of California businesses to compete with businesses in other states.”
    • Finally, the agency identified an impact Prop 12 is likely to have – forcing low income consumers to pay more for food. “Covered pork, and especially covered egg products will become more expensive to consumers starting in January 2022 because of the animal confinement standards mandated in statutes. … Therefore, the Act will disproportionately reduce food purchasing power of low-income consumers. … Food consumers most affected will be those low-income consumers that are not enrolled in assistance programs.”

    The text of the notice and proposed rule can be found here.

    The Meat Institute made the remarks in a reply brief in support of its petition to the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and in response to the defendants’ previously submitted briefs.

     In addition, the reply brief said the Ninth Circuit’s decision to uphold California’s unconstitutional and costly Proposition 12 directly conflicts with legal precedent in other circuits and the Supreme Court itself, making it the perfect vehicle to consider extraterritoriality. The reply brief can be found here.

    In February, the Meat Institute filed a petition for a writ of certiorari asking the Supreme Court to review an earlier ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the Meat Institute’s challenge to the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 12: The Farm Animal Confinement Initiative. The Meat Institute opposes the law because it is unconstitutional and will hurt the nation’s food value chain by significantly increasing costs for producers and consumers. The petition may be found here, appendix here.

    In March, 20 state attorneys general filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court supporting the petition.

    The question is whether the U.S. Constitution permits California to extend its police power beyond its territorial borders by banning the sale of wholesome pork and veal products sold into California unless out-of-state farmers restructure their facilities to meet animal-confinement standards dictated by California.

    The Meat Institute urged the Court to grant review because the “Ninth Circuit’s decision conflicts with the decisions of other federal courts of appeals on the question whether the Constitution limits a State’s ability to extend its police power beyond its territorial borders through a trade barrier dictating production standards in other States and countries.” Allowing Prop 12 to stand “insulates in-state farmers from out-of-state competition, while imposing crushing burdens on out-of-state farmers and producers who have no political voice to shape the regulations that California has unilaterally determined to foist upon their operations outside of California.”

    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.