California Ag Network

Category: Ag Economics

  • U.S. Dairy Organizations Urge Gov’t to Preempt Colombian Trade Barriers

    The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) are asking the U.S. government to prepare a plan to “leverage all available tools” should Colombia move forward with imposing countervailing tariffs on U.S. milk-powder exports, making that request in a recent letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

    USDEC and NMPF also commended a complementary Congressional letter sent Friday to Colombian Ambassador to the United States Luis Gilberto Murillo in response to the investigation. Led by Reps. Jim Costa, D-CA, Adrian Smith, R-NE, Jimmy Panetta, D-CA and Dusty Johnson, R-SD, the letter highlights that the U.S. and Colombian dairy industries should be working collaboratively to promote policies that strengthen the dairy sector instead of launching “damaging protectionist investigations.”

    Colombia’s recent decision to initiate an unwarranted Subsidies and Countervailing Measures investigation into U.S. exports of milk powder is a tariff threat without merit, USDEC and NMPF say in the letter, noting that no causal link exists between U.S. milk powder exports and the injury alleged by Colombian officials. The letter also explains that imported milk powder products and domestically produced fluid milk are not interchangeable ingredients in a food manufacturing facility.

    “The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement has been a success story for American and Colombian producers and consumers alike,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “Initiating unfounded investigations undermines this progress and is a step backward in our trade relationship. We appreciate the Ag Trade Caucus leaders for recognizing this investigation for what it is – baseless. USDEC commends the U.S. interagency team for their extensive work on the ongoing investigation and will continue to work closely with the U.S. government and Congress as the legal process moves forward.”

    “NMPF appreciates Representatives Costa, Smith, Panetta and Johnson for standing up for American dairy producers’ market access rights,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “We will continue working with the U.S. government to ensure this unsubstantiated investigation doesn’t set a dangerous precedent.”

    The National Milk Producers Federation, based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce more than two-thirds of U.S. milk, making NMPF dairy’s voice on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.

    The U.S. Dairy Export Council is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Its mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and assist the U.S. industry to increase its global dairy ingredient sales and exports of U.S. dairy products. For more, visit www.usdec.org.

  • Fresno State Expands Farm Credit Multicultural Scholars Program, Encouraging Careers in Ag

    After some 40 years, the Farm Credit Multicultural Scholars Program at California State University, Fresno, is continuing to grow and expand its mission. In fact, the program is now reaching even more students and urging them to consider earning a college degree and pursuing a career in agriculture.

    During the recently concluded school year, Fresno State completed the first year of an ambitious outreach program to visit Central Valley high schools to educate traditionally underrepresented students about the benefits of attending the university and pursuing a career in an agriculture-related field.

    “We made 33 presentations and 14 farm tours during the school year,” said Amy Suarez, a graduate student leading the outreach effort. “The 60 ambassadors gave presentations about Fresno State as well as our ag programs. And they answered questions from the students about campus life, what it’s like to live in the dorms and about our majors. It was also important to show that all students can be accepted at Fresno State and that we thrive on diversity.”

    The expanded high school program adds to a long list of nearly 80 outreach efforts held each year by the Jordan College of Agricultural Science and Technology. These include career fairs, community college presentations and workshops at the FFA Leadership Conference. During the year, the ambassadors reached 10,675 high school and community college students in the Central Valley and Central Coast. That’s up from around 6,000 in 2022-23 and just 620 in 2021-22, said Dr. Sharon Freeman, the program coordinator.

    “For example, we had three of our ambassadors spend all day at a high school in Salinas, where they presented to eight groups of students in the ag teacher’s classrooms,” Freeman said. “We’ve found that students are receptive to learn about our six departments and the teachers are very appreciative as well.”

    The student ambassador program has been strongly supported by Farm Credit since 2013, said Keith Hesterberg, President and CEO with Fresno Madera Farm Credit.

    “During the past 11 years, Farm Credit has contributed over $765,000 to fund stipends each year for five ambassadors who serve as leaders of the program,” Hesterberg said. “Diversity has been part of Central Valley agriculture from the beginning as people from around the world migrated here to become farmers. That diversity is more important now than ever as we work to ensure that California agriculture reflects California’s rich diversity.”

    Kevin Ralph, California State President for AgWest Farm Credit, said he was extremely pleased to see the expanded outreach to high school students.

    “Our sponsorship has allowed the major expansion of the program to high school students while the program continues its outreach efforts to older students as well,” Ralph said. “It’s also a plus that this year the sponsorship is helping to reimburse the scholars for some of their travel expenses. Since the presentations take place from Modesto to Tulare, those stipends can really help these college students.”

    Farm Credit organizations supporting the program are AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank and Fresno Madera Farm Credit. These organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

    Freeman meets weekly with the ambassador leaders to go through the list of what’s coming up next and making sure enough people are in place for all of them, and Suarez keeps in touch throughout the week as well to orchestrate all the moving parts. Ambassadors can sign up for any activity that fits their schedules and student participation has been amazing.

    “I couldn’t be more proud of the effort and energy going into this outreach effort,” she said.

    Besides promoting careers in agriculture, the ambassadors also get a lot out of the program, Freeman said. They improve their communication, teamwork and time management skills, which improves their prospects for future employability.

    Suarez is a good example of that.

    “Being a part of the ambassadors has really helped me grow professionally,” Suarez said. “Managing the program has helped build my time management and management skills and I can see how it will help me pursue a career in the future. And just being able to develop relationships with other ambassadors has been a tremendous opportunity.”

    Suarez has an ag background and participated in 4H and FFA growing up. In high school, she raised and sold Boer goats to students to show at county fairs. She joined the ambassador program as a sophomore and became one of the agricultural scholars after entering grad school. She expects to begin student teaching this fall and to become a full-fledged ag teacher by May 2025 – and looks forward to continuing her outreach to students.

    “It’s very important to have ag teachers,” Suarez said. “They can spark students’ passion to be part of the industry, help them become more aware of what is going on in ag and how food ends up on their tables.”

    About Farm Credit: 

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

    About the Multicultural Ambassadors Program:

    The Multicultural Ambassadors program is made up of agricultural students attending California State University, Fresno. Their mission is to conduct recruitment activities to encourage underrepresented students to further their education, consider agricultural careers, and to learn about the opportunities available at the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. Recruitment activities include career fairs, high school presentations, farm tours, and leadership conferences. Through participation in these recruitment activities, the Multicultural Ambassadors develop soft skills, leadership, and career-readiness practices that prepare them for leadership positions in the agricultural industry.

  • California FFA Foundation Announces Grace Miller as Development Officer

    The California FFA Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of Grace Miller to the California FFA team. Grace will serve as the foundation’s development officer.

    Miller is a recent graduate of California State University, Fresno (CSU Fresno), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education with an agricultural communication option. While attending CSU Fresno, Miller gained development experience working as a student assistant for Ag One Foundation, a nonprofit benefitting, promoting, and supporting the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

    In this new role, Miller will support all facets of the foundation’s fund development efforts and work closely with key stakeholders, sponsors, and the FFA Foundation Board of Directors to further the impact made on California FFA members.

    “We are thrilled to have Grace join our development team at the California FFA Foundation,” said Matt Patton, executive director at California Association, FFA. “Given Grace’s FFA background coupled with her invaluable experience working at the Ag One Foundation, she will be a terrific asset to continue supporting over 104,000 California FFA members.”

    A native of Arcata, Calif., and FFA alumna, Miller also has extensive experience in the livestock industry, most recently serving as the livestock superintendent for the Humboldt County Fairgrounds. Her upbringing and past experiences provide her with a deep understanding of the California FFA Foundation’s mission and make her poised to fulfill the responsibilities of her new role.

    About the California FFA Foundation
    California FFA Foundation serves more than 104,000 California students and strives to make a difference in their lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the California FFA, visit calaged.org.

  • New Fire Insurance Protection-Smoke Index (FIP-SI) Crop Insurance Endorsement for California Grape Growers

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released additional details on a new crop insurance endorsement to better protect California wine grape growers from the devastating impacts of wildfire smoke. The Fire Insurance Protection-Smoke Index (FIP-SI) endorsement, developed by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) in collaboration with industry stakeholders, including the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), is set to be available as a pilot program for the 2025 crop year.

    FIP-SI will be available to grape growers in all California counties, with the deadline to sign up for coverage being January 31, 2025.

    The endorsement is designed to provide grape growers with an additional layer of financial protection in the event of significant smoke exposure. This area-wide policy triggers a loss when a minimum number of cumulative Smoke Events occur during the insurance period, as defined in the policy using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Hazard Mapping System Smoke Product.

    “The 2020 wildfires sent shockwaves through the wine industry, with losses from smoke-exposed fruit felt throughout the state. Since that devastating year, we’ve been working diligently to find solutions to better safeguard California’s winegrape growers from the impacts of wildfire smoke,” said Natalie Collins, CAWG President. “The introduction of this targeted risk management tool for smoke marks a significant step forward in protecting the livelihoods of our growers and the future of the wine industry as we continue to face the challenges posed by increased wildfire activity.”

    Collins continued, “CAWG extends its gratitude to RMA’s Product Development Team for their extensive work in crafting and introducing this critical crop insurance endorsement. We also commend U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and Congressman Mike Thompson for their advocacy in calling for action through crop insurance to better protect the CA wine industry.”

    CAWG will host an educational webinar on Thursday, November 14 at 10:00am, where Relation Insurance Services will present in-depth information on the new FIP-SI endorsement. The webinar will discuss how FIP- SI interacts with growers’ existing policies, and answer any questions from growers.

    Resources:

    About the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG)

    CAWG is a statewide nonprofit trade association advocating for California’s winegrape growers to ensure the sustainability of the winegrape industry. CAWG promotes the industry’s long-term success by advancing the adoption of sound public policies and fostering awareness and understanding of winegrape growers’ contributions to the economy, environment, and California communities. Learn more at cawg.org.

  • California Dairy Producers Prepare to Vote on Milk Price Adjustment QIP

    The debate over the California dairy industry’s Quota Implementation Plan (QIP) continues; but this time it’s not about whether to keep or sunset the program. Dairy producers will soon have the opportunity to vote in a referendum on some adjustments to the program that will affect all producers. Watch this brief interview with Paul Sousa from Western United Dairies as he explains to Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network, and read more about it in California Dairy Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Southern California Gas Company for their industry support.

  • Smaller Pistachio Crop This Year – Can Growers Expect Higher Prices?

    American Pistachio Growers held their first ever Pistachio Industry Insights Day, expanding upon their annual Summer Luncheon from years past. During this well-attended event in Visalia, CA, Jim Zion from Meridian Growers met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to discuss the current state of the pistachio market. As pistachios are in their “off-year” and with weaker chill hours over the winter, growers are expecting a much smaller crop than last season. The big question that’s on everyone’s mind is whether this will translate to a higher pistachio price and where the market is heading. Watch this brief interview with Jim and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Special Thanks to American Pistachio Growers for sponsoring this video.

  • Sonoma County Vintners Foundation Announces 2024 Honorees

    Sonoma County Vintners Foundation (SCVF) is pleased to announce this year’s Sonoma County Wine Celebration (SCWC) honorees, whose contributions to our local community will be recognized at the live auction on Saturday, September 21 at Chateau St. Jean. The Sangiacomo Family, third generation Sonoma County farmers, are the 2024 SCWC Vintner and Grower Honorees. Mark & Terri Stark, founders of Stark Reality Restaurants, are the 2024 SCWC Chef Honorees. Nate Weis, Vice President of Winegrowing at Silver Oak and Twomey, is this year’s Wine Business Leadership Award recipient. Event proceeds will benefit Sonoma County nonprofits through SCVF Community Grants and Emergency Relief Fund. Learn more and purchase tickets for the Sonoma County Wine Celebration’s three days of events happening September 19-21 at SoCoWineCelebration.com.

    “We love recognizing the positive impacts our vintner community brings to our region,” said Michael Haney, Sonoma County Vintners Foundation Executive Director. “Members of our wine and hospitality industries continue to work tirelessly to care for those in our area who need help the most. They are always willing to help raise critical funding for our programs that provide sustainable funding for frontline nonprofits.”

    2024 SCWC Vintner and Grower Honorees
    As third generation farmers, Mike, Mia, and Steve Sangiacomo proudly continue their family’s farming tradition in Sonoma County, a legacy dating back to 1927. Their story started in 1913, when their grandfather Vittorio Sangiacomo sailed alone to America at age 17. After arriving at Ellis Island, he traveled to San Francisco, eventually settling in Sonoma Valley.  In 1927, Vittorio purchased a 55-acre farm, Eden Dale, establishing the roots of what would become the Sangiacomo Home Ranch. He and his wife Maria raised four children: Angelo, Buck, Bob, and Lorraine. They steadily expanded their land to support this growing family and became one of California’s largest pear-growing operations.

    The late Angelo Sangiacomo, father of the current generation, was recognized as a Sonoma County Barrel Auction Icon in 2017 after working in agriculture for more than 70 years. During the decline of the California pear market, he encouraged the family to uproot their pears, and they planted their first vineyard in 1969. As the wine industry continued to gain acclaim in Sonoma County, they expanded and today they farm over 1600 acres of certified sustainable vineyards, supplying grapes to over 90 premium wineries. They were among the first to introduce vineyard designated wines, with over 30 wineries currently producing a “Sangiacomo Vineyards” wine.

    Sangiacomo Family Wines, launched in 2016, celebrates their family’s heritage as grape growing pioneers in Sonoma County. These terroir-driven wines are a tribute to the family’s commitment to showcasing the unique characteristics of their estate vineyards.

    2024 SCWC Chef Honorees
    James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur semifinalists Mark and Terri Stark together own and operate eight of Sonoma County’s favorite, and most highly rated, restaurants: Willi’s Wine Bar (2002), Monti’s (2004), Stark’s Steak & Seafood (2008), Bird & The Bottle (2015), and Grossman’s Noshery & Bar (2020) and Augie’s French (2023) in Santa Rosa, and Willi’s Seafood (2003) and Bravas (2012) in Healdsburg. After losing their flagship, Willi’s Wine Bar, in the 2017 Tubbs Fire, the Starks re-opened Willi’s at the restaurant’s new home in the Town & Country Center in Santa Rosa in June 2019. Willi’s Wine Bar first welcomed diners and introduced Santa Rosans to the small plates concept in 2002. Less than one year after re-opening Willi’s Wine Bar, the Starks opened Grossman’s Noshery & Bar in Santa Rosa’s historic Railroad Square in March 2020.

    The Starks founded Stark Reality Restaurants in 2006 to manage the operations of their diverse group of dining establishments. They are now one of Sonoma County’s largest employers. More than awards and accolades, Terri and Mark are most proud of being able to provide mentorship and employment to so many workers in the local culinary field. The Starks are committed to promoting from within, what Terri refers to as “stocking our own pond.” All of their chefs started out working for them as cooks, and, in some cases, dishwashers. The biggest measure of success, according to Mark, “At least 20 employees who started out washing dishes and bussing tables now own their houses; more than anything else, that is our greatest accomplishment.”

    2024 Wine Business Leadership Award 
    The Wine Business Leadership Award is a partnership award between Sonoma County Vintners and The Wine Business Institute (WBI) at Sonoma State University which recognizes an individual annually who demonstrates great wine business leadership, vision, innovation, inspiration and impactful service to the Sonoma County community.

    Nate Weis, whose father is also a winemaker, grew up locally and joined the Silver Oak team in 2014. He brought with him a wealth of experience from working at wineries in California and New Zealand.

    He is especially proud of helping the Duncan family, who co-founded the winery in 1972 with Justin Meyer and are now the sole owners, build upon the culture they’ve established. This includes being a leader in sustainability by building their LEED Platinum and Living Building certified winery in Alexander Valley and winning the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance Green Medal for Leadership in 2019. He helped found the winery’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee and subsequent apprenticeship program in partnership with The Veraison Project for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals interested in wine careers, establishing paid time off for volunteerism as a company benefit, and instituting a formal internal mentorship program and leadership development for high-potential employees.

    Nate has been an adjunct faculty at Napa Valley College since 2018, teaching courses in enology and wine education. He has been a board member of the Wine Business Institute since 2022, a former board member of the Northwest Chapter of the American Red Cross, and a member of the Unified Grape & Wine Symposium Program Development Committee since 2018. He was a North Bay Business Journal “40 under 40” recipient in 2014 and a Wine Business Institute Outstanding Alumnus award winner in 2021. However, Nate maintains that his real claim to fame is being the father of triplets (two boys and a girl) and their little brother, as well as recently celebrating a 20th wedding anniversary with his wife, Sally.

    Gathering to Give Back at SCWC
    The proceeds from SCWC will continue to support Sonoma County nonprofits focused on the areas of literacy, education, health & human services, the environment and arts & culture. In addition, a key focus for this year’s Fund-A-Need paddle raise will benefit the critically impactful K-3 Proficiency Project from the nonprofit K-3 Innovation, which has seen tremendous results in increasing literacy in Sonoma County school children.

    “A staggering 59% of our third-grade students in Sonoma County are not reading proficiently,” said Gary Nelson, Co-Founder of K-3 Innovation. “Learning to read by third grade is crucial; it marks the transition from learning to read to reading to learn. K-3 Innovation is expanding the K-3 Proficiency Project here in Sonoma County. This private/public partnership works to ensure all students reach reading proficiency by the end of third grade. We are incredibly grateful that a portion of the SCWC Fund-A-Need Paddle Raise will help K-3 Innovation provide more students with the literacy skills needed to succeed.”

    Full programing and ticket details for the new Sonoma County Wine Celebration are available at SoCoWineCelebration.com. Proxy bidding will be available for the live auction on September 21. Contact foundation@sonomawine.com or 707.522.5829 for details. To learn more about SCVF Community Grants, the Emergency Relief Fund, recent beneficiaries, or to make a donation to this year’s Fund-A-Need paddle raise for the K-3 Proficiency Project, visit sonomawine.com/foundation.

    About Sonoma County Wine Celebration
    Sonoma County Wine Celebration brings the region’s renowned winemakers and growers together with distinguished collectors and generous bidders for an opportunity to acquire some of Sonoma County’s top wines and bid on incredible travel experiences. Named one of the nation’s top charitable auctions by Wine Spectator, the proceeds raised benefit local Sonoma County charitable organizations. Since its inception, the auction has raised millions of dollars to help fund charitable organizations focusing on literacy, education, health & human services, the environment, arts & culture, and has supported more nonprofits than any other fundraising event in Sonoma County. Learn more at SoCoWineCelebration.com.

    About Sonoma County Vintners Foundation
    Sonoma County Vintners Foundation provides support to the local community through philanthropy and charitable giving. Sonoma County Vintners Foundation (SCVF) is an accredited 501c(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988. Its purpose is to consistently support local nonprofit organizations that address issues within the Sonoma County community. SCVF cultivates a vibrant and diverse Sonoma County by elevating lives through charitable events and philanthropic giving. Fundraising efforts have a direct impact in the areas of education & literacy, health & human services, the environment and arts & culture. With SCVF’s many initiatives including the Emergency Relief Fund, the organization is able to impact all needs, ranging from the immediate to the long term. Learn more at sonomawine.com/foundation.

    About Foley Family Wines & Spirits
    Established by Bill Foley in 1996, Foley Family Wines & Spirits (FFWS) is a portfolio of highly acclaimed wines and spirits from some of the world’s greatest estates. The company owns more than 24 wineries and a distillery, each with its distinct style, legacy, and approach to hospitality. FFWS has expanded its portfolio significantly since its founding, now including such storied brands as Chalk Hill Estate Winery, Sebastiani, Roth, Banshee, Ferrari-Carano, Chateau St. Jean, and Lancaster in Sonoma; Merus, Silverado, and Foley Johnson in Napa Valley; Lincourt, Firestone, and Foley Estates in Southern California; Chalone Vineyard in Monterey County; Four Graces and Acrobat in Oregon; and Three Rivers in Washington. FFWS’s import wines include Lucien Albrecht in France, Nieto Senetiner in Argentina, and 14 wine brands spanning three of New Zealand’s most acclaimed winegrowing regions: Marlborough, Central Otago, and Martinborough. The growing global spirits portfolio includes High Ground Vodka, Charles Goodnight Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey, New Zealand’s Lighthouse Gin, El Mexicano Tequila, the Loch Lomond Group portfolio of Scotch and spirits, and Two Stacks and Killowen Irish Whisky. Learn more at ffws.com.

    About K-3 Proficiency Project
    A staggering 59% of third-grade students are not reading proficiently in Sonoma County. Becoming a proficient reader by the end of third grade is critical as it marks the transition from learning-to-read, to reading-to-learn. K-3 Innovation, a local non-profit organization, started the K-3 Proficiency Project (K-3PP) with the mission of helping get every student reading proficiently by the end of third grade. K-3PP partners with Sonoma County schools to support teachers in kindergarten to third grade (K-3) classrooms. Students use adaptive online reading programs, while trained assistants help teachers provide small group targeted instruction based on student performance data. Star Reading Assessment results from participating schools show dramatic improvement year-after-year. Learn more at K-3 Innovation.

  • Fresno Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Award Nominations Now Open

    The Fresno Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that nominations for the 2024 Agriculture Awards are officially open. This year’s awards ceremony, scheduled for November 2024 (exact date to be announced), will celebrate outstanding contributions to the region’s agricultural sector.

    The awards categories include Agriculturalist of the Year, Agricultural Employee of the Year, and AGvocate of the Year. We’re also thrilled to welcome back Moss Adams as the presenter of the Moss Adams Agribusiness of the Year Award. You can find the nomination criteria and forms on the Fresno Chamber website. Nominations will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

    “These awards have a rich tradition of highlighting the incredible people and businesses that drive our region’s agriculture forward,” said Scott Miller, President & CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. “From multi-generational family farms to innovative start-ups developing the next big thing in agricultural technology, these awards shine a light on the breadth and depth of our local food industry.”

    Last year’s honorees included Elizabeth Hudson of Hudson Farms as Agriculturalist of the Year, John DeGroot and Son for the Moss Adams Agribusiness of the Year, Maribel Cortes of Woolf Farming

    as Agricultural Employee of the Year, John Alkire of Big Fresno Fair as AGvocate of the Year. Last year, Kathleen Nave of the California Table Grape Commission received the Lifetime of Service Award.

    Details on sponsorship and ticket sales will be available in mid-September. For more information about the awards or the upcoming celebration, please reach out to Tatevik Hovhannisyan, Events Manager for the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, at thovhannisyan@fresnochamber.com or call (559) 905-6090.

    “The Fresno Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest business organizations in the Central Valley, with approximately 1,000 member businesses representing over 77,000 employees. The Chamber’s mission is to “promote and support the success of the regional business community through effective advocacy, education, and relationship building.”

  • Westlands Water District Awarded $1M for Groundwater Recharge & Flood Mitigation

    The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) awarded Westlands Water District (District), a $1,000,000 grant as part of DWR’s Flood Diversion Recharge (FDRE) Initiative. This grant will assist the State’s efforts to reduce flooding by increasing flood flow diversion volumes to recharge areas and expand local capacity to divert future flood waters. These efforts in turn reduce downstream flood impacts and facilitate groundwater recharge.

    “The District is committed to building a resilient water future for the San Joaquin Valley and our family farms,” said Allison Febbo, General Manager of Westlands Water District. “This grant will greatly assist us in clearing the way for flood diversion and support our ongoing groundwater recharge efforts as we navigate through climate-driven weather extremes and continued decline in reliable surface water supplies and work towards groundwater sustainability.”

    The grant will support the removal of 450 acres of orchards from land recently acquired by the District. Located in an area of the District identified as subsidence-prone, adjacent to the San Luis Canal, the cleared land will reduce demand for groundwater near critical infrastructure, improve the availability of surface water and sustainable groundwater allocation(s), provide the District with increased recharge capabilities, and provide a site to temporarily retain diverted floodwater when needed. The subject land is part of 5,340 acres acquired since 2022, including the removal of 1,930 acres of orchards and vines, at a total investment of over $58,000,000.

    Reducing groundwater demand, increasing surface water, and sustainable groundwater allocation(s) to other productive farmland, land repurposing, and groundwater recharge are all important measures identified in the Westside Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan. Diverting flood flows for groundwater recharge also protects downstream communities and infrastructure.

    About Westlands Water District

    Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than five decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation, and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.

  • Checkoff Strategy Focuses on Dairy’s Link to Brain Health

    The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life – encompassing pregnancy through the child’s second birthday – is a critical period for brain development. During this time, a baby’s brain grows from about 10,000 brain cells in the first month of pregnancy to a staggering 10 billion by the sixth month.

    Nutrition is a key driver of this incredible development and dairy can significantly impact a child’s cognitive development and overall success in life, thanks to nutrients including iodine and choline.

    Expecting mothers and new parents are seeking guidance on how to best nourish their child and lay the foundation for lifelong health, particularly regarding cognitive development. To address this, the dairy checkoff is launching several strategies to highlight another benefit of dairy consumption.

    Checkoff organizations Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), National Dairy Council (NDC), Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Newtrient, GENYOUth and the 16-team state and regional network are joined by MilkPEP to collectively elevate awareness and understanding of dairy’s contributions to the 1,000-day period.

    “We identified a topic that’s of pressing concern and interest among thought leader audiences and consumers and has very strong dairy science behind it,” said Heather Oldani, head of marketing communications and affairs for DMI. “This is a collective effort that has different avenues for individual organizations within the dairy community to participate. Everyone will add a drop into the bucket and those drops will create an ocean effect for a bigger awareness and impact in the marketplace.”

    The strategies include:

    • Media Partnerships:Good Housekeeping and USA Today will each publish two articles in September, introducing readers to the science-backed importance of the first 1,000 days. Follow-up articles will discuss key nutrients needed during pregnancy that are found in dairy. This campaign, which runs through October, includes print ads and social media promotions through Good Housekeeping and USA Today’s channels.

    Social Media Strategy:The checkoff and MilkPEP will engage social media influencers to share relevant content with their followers. These influencers, including young parents, will discuss the role of dairy in their experiences, post recipes featuring dairy, and offer tips for incorporating more milk, cheese and yogurt into family meals. Additionally, NDC Ambassador Marina Chaparro, a pediatric dietitian, will promote dairy’s role in brain health through her channels and bilingual Nutrachicos site, which includes a free course on feeding toddlers. Ryann Kipping, a notable prenatal nutritionist on Instagram and TikTok, also will highlight dairy’s importance during the first 1,000 days. And MilkPEP will work with three credentialed experts to share the message with the media and consumers in August.

    Health & Wellness Partnerships, Collaborations, and Pediatric Care Specialist Engagement:NDC has launched a multi-year initiative with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to develop a nutrition education program for pediatricians and pediatric trainees. NDC is also collaborating with WIC to help educate about dairy’s role as a key component of maternal health and early childhood wellness. NDC will continue to engage leading health organizations such as the National Medical Association and will be at AAP’s annual meeting in October, which expects 6,000 pediatricians in attendance. Additionally, through the checkoff’s Mayo Clinic collaboration, dairy-focused nutrition content is featured on Mayo Clinic Press’ website as well as on a dedicated Parenting Hub, including information specific to the first 1,000 days.

    Checkoff-Produced Content:the checkoff will continue promoting content via its Undeniably Dairy channels. Stories at USDairy.comsuch as Dairy Foods for Infant Brain Development & Cognition and Top Benefits of Dairy For Cognitive Development in Infancy will be shared via Facebook, X and Instagram. Video content also will be posted on TikTok in an “edu-tainment” style to address questions about what foods to eat during pregnancy and after birth.

    Megan Maisano, director of nutrition and regulatory affairs for NDC, is confident this collective strategy will resonate with health professionals and consumers given its solid scientific foundation. She notes an AAP statement identifying 14 essential nutrients for early brain development, with dairy providing seven of them.

    “At the end of the day, every parent and care provider just wants their child to reach their full potential and do better than the generation before,” Maisano said. “Good nutrition during pregnancy, lactation and early childhood plays a foundational role in enabling a child to grow, learn and thrive. Dairy is an affordable, accessible food group that contributes really important nutrients, especially in those early years.”

    For information about the dairy checkoff, visit www.usdairy.com/for-farmers.

    Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) is funded by America’s more than 26,000 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 Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.