With increasing production in the California walnut industry, and at the same time being faced with high tariffs in some of the key export markets, growers are much appreciative of the ongoing efforts of the California Walnut Board and Commission building demand for the crop, not only in the export market, but also right here in the States. Check out this brief interview with Jennifer Olmstead with the California Walnut Board and Commission as she explains some of their exciting new domestic marketing campaigns and initiatives. Read more about her presentation at Malcolm Media’s Tree & Vine Expo in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Don’t currently receive the magazine? Subscribe for free at: https://malcolmmedia.com/pacific-nut-producer-magazine-subscriptions/.
Category: Ag Economics
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Sun Maid Rationale Behind Opting out of the Raisin Bargaining Association
Sun-Maid made a big decision this year to opt out of the Raisin Bargaining Association’s negotiated field price for the first time ever. While growers were excited about receiving the highest price ever for their raisins, Sun-Maid representatives felt the price was too high under current circumstances in the world raisin market. Watch this interview with Sun-Maid Chairman Jeff Jue, as he shares their stance on the raisin market and what this means for the industry moving forward. Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
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USDA to Support Marketing of Record Breaking Pistachio Crop
If you missed Richard Matoian’s State of the Pistachio Industry Address at the Annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo, be sure to check out his brief video interview as he shares where the industry currently stands in production and marketing trends. He also discusses the impact of the international trade dispute and its impact on the pistachio industry, and the multiple ways in which USDA may support the industry at this critical time. Watch the video and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
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How the CA Raisin Industry will Stay Competitive with the World Market
With record low raisin inventories in California this past year, record high imports of raisins flooded the US market. Foreign competitors also took larger shares of key export markets for the California raisin industry. With increasing production costs and declining raisin grape acreage, what can the California raisin industry do to remain competitive in the world market? Harry Overly answered this question at Sun-Maid’s 106th annual Meeting on Dec. 1st, and in this video interview with California Ag Network. Watch this brief interview and read the full report of Sun-Maid’s Annual Meeting in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
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Central Coast Wine Industry Trends: Another Great Vintage
At the time of Malcolm Media’s Central Grape Expo mid-November, some growers were still out harvesting; but many took a short break to attend this popular half-day industry event. One of the featured speakers this year was Todd Azevedo from Ciatti Company who shared his insights on the current State of the Central Coast Wine industry, and how different varieties are trending in the market. Watch this brief interview with Todd Azevedo, and read his State of the Industry report in the coming January issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
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California launches first dairy digester pipeline cluster
CDFA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt congratulates Calgren and their partner dairies and contractors at the launch of the new digester cluster facility. California is proud to announce the state’s first dairy digester pipeline cluster. CDFA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt was on-hand this week for the launch of Calgren Renewable Fuels’ new facility, which partners with local dairies in the Pixley, California area.
Eleven digesters, 22 miles of pipeline and 75,000 cows contribute to this interconnected system, which will collectively reduce an estimated of 1,867,651 metric tons of CO2 (equivalent) over 10 years. That’s equal to 399,925 passenger vehicles driven for 1 year or 201,668 homes’ electricity use for 1 year. Now that’s cow power.
Touring the Calgren facility. The digesters and the cluster project were made possible in part by grants in 2017 and 2018 from CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program totaling approximately $16 million, with an additional $17.5 million in matching funds provided by the dairies and Calgren.
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Record High CA Raisin Price Established for 2018 Crop
The Raisin Bargaining Association and packers came to an agreement on October 19th to establish the highest price ever in California raisin history for the 2018 California raisin crop. Watch this brief interview with RBA CEO Kalem Barserian as he shares the price and update on inventory. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine, and be sure to attend the Annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on November 13th at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds for a complete State of the Raisin Industry report.
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RBA & Packers Make Progress Toward Record CA Raisin Price
Raisin Bargaining Association Board Members and packers are making progress towards finalizing the high price ever in California raisin history for the 2018 California raisin crop. Watch this brief interview with RBA CEO Kalem Barserian as he shares the progress being made, as well as the recent rainstorm impact on the crop. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine, and be sure to attend the Annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on November 13th at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds for a complete State of the Raisin Industry report.
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TULARE COUNTY CROP REPORT For the week ending October 13, 2018
SMALL GRAINS, OTHER FIELD CROPS:
Summer row crops are all but harvested, and fields are being tilled and prepared for winter plantings. Alfalfa baling for hay continues. Cotton is being harvested in parts of the county. Black-eyed beans are now being cut and placed in windrows.DECIDUOUS TREE FRUITS, NUTS, AND GRAPES:
Stone Fruit export are slowing considerably. Remaining peaches, nectarines and plums are being exported to Mexico, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, the Philippines, and China. Apricots continue to be exported to Mexico. Old fruit trees are being pushed out in selective areas in favor of new plantings. Almond harvest continues, with exports to Taiwan, Jordan, Israel, India, Kuwait, Japan, the Netherlands, Mexico, Korea, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. Pistachio harvest continues, with nuts being exported to Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Mexico, and Germany. Grapes are being shipped domestically, as well as exported to Bangladesh, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Japan, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, China, Nicaragua, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands. Plastic tarping is being used on late-variety grapes to protect them from rain. Raisin grapes continue to be picked for sun-drying, with some completing the drying process and being picked up. Persimmons continue to mature and develop external color. Early variety pomegranate harvest continues, with some exports to Australia. Walnuts are being harvested and processed domestically. Candied apples are going to Canada.
CITRUS, AVOCADOS, AND OLIVES:
Lemons are being exported to Mexico. Valencia oranges continue to be packed for domestic markets, with some exports to Mexico, China, Hong Kong, and Korea. Finger Lime harvest begins, with exports to China, France, and the Netherlands. Citrus groves continue to be hedged and skirted. Early varieties of fall citrus are growing and should be ready for maturity testing a couple of weeks. Most olives have reached maturity and are beginning to be harvested.
VEGETABLES, MELONS, HERBS, BERRIES:
Pumpkin patches are full and awaiting Halloween harvest. Various summer vegetables continue to be grown and sold at roadside stands and Farmer’s Markets, including assorted peppers, squash, Zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes. Strawberry beds are being prepared and planted.
LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY:
Pasture conditions remain poor, with ranchers welcoming the recent rainfall. Supplemental feeding with hay and/or grain continues. The Fed Cattle price is at $114 cwt.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Roses are being sent to Texas. Fall shipments of nursery stock from local wholesale nurseries continue. Fall varieties of ornamentals, such as Camellias, are being shipped domestically. -
US Trade Mitigation Package Direct Payments for Almonds
The Almond Alliance of California appreciates the efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish the procedures required to provide direct payments to almond growers to help offset some of the damage being incurred due to the retaliatory tariffs imposed by China and Turkey. As announced today by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, growers of California almonds are now eligible to apply for direct payments of $.03 per pound as part of the $12 billion mitigation package announced earlier this month. The damage assessment figure assigned to almonds is $63.3 million.The announcement is a result of the industry coming together and advocating through the Almond Alliance of California (AAC). Elaine Trevino, President/CEO of AAC said “Industry members should be proud that through a unified effort they were able to have their voices heard and be acknowledged for their contribution to the national economy, along with the significant role they play in the international market place.”The almond industry has been significantly impacted by retaliatory tariffs and the inclusion of the commodity in the USDA trade mitigation package is a result of a vocal industry and the support and hard work of California’s congressional delegation. Trevino noted, “The direct payment program reflects the hard work of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Chairman Jeff Denham who led the congressional effort including Congressmen Costa, Valadao, Nunes, LaMalfa, Pannetta and Senators Harris and Feinstein. Their combined efforts and leadership helped ensure that the California almond industry received direct payments within the specific program guidelines. We are thankful that our congressional delegation worked hard for our industry and acknowledged the importance of almonds to the California and U.S. economy.”Producers of almonds can sign up for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which is a direct payment program for eligible almond growers who have been directly impacted by retaliatory tariffs, resulting in significant export losses. The MFP is established under the statutory authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act and is under the administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). There are specific eligibility requirements that must be met by an applicant and the maximum payment per applicant is $125,000. Eligible almond growers may apply for MFP September 24, 2018 through January 15, 2019.Almonds are one of California’s top three valued commodities and the leading agricultural export. The California almond industry exports 67% of what it produces. With exports of nearly $4.5 billion in 2017, the California almond industry contributes significantly to the longstanding trade surplus generated by American agriculture. While the mitigation initiatives are helpful, they will not begin to approach the anticipated economic losses and long-term impact these retaliatory tariffs will have on the industry’s trade relationships and the considerable investments made over the years to create market demand in China and Turkey. Trevino pointed out, “We remain hopeful for a quick resolution to the broader trade disputes with these trading partners to ensure open and fair trade so consumers around the globe can continue to enjoy California almonds.”For more Information:
For more information about the MFP program, visit www.farmers.gov/MFP or contact your local FSA office. To find your local FSA office, visit www.farmers.gov.
About the Almond Alliance of California
The Almond Alliance of California (AAC) is a trusted non-profit organization with a mission of advocating on behalf of the Almond industry in California. AAC actively advocates for the positions of almond growers, hullers, shellers, handers and processors, while educating the industry about upcoming and existing regulatory changes. Through workshops, newsletters, conferences and meetings, AAC serves as a clearing house of information that informs the almond industry and continues to position the industry as an agricultural leader in the state.