California Ag Network

Category: Ag Economics

  • Producers Can Now Sign Up for USDA’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can now sign up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP). The signup runs from today through June 28, 2024. Grassland CRP, offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands and provide important conservation benefits for wildlife, soil health and carbon sequestration, all while continuing most grazing and haying practices.

    “Grassland CRP is a vital conservation tool that supports two of USDA’s top priorities: the wellbeing of American agriculture and the health of America’s grasslands, which provide critical environmental benefits for wildlife and carbon sequestration,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Over the past three years, we have seen historic interest in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program with producers signing up to conserve over 6.8 million acres. This historic interest from agriculture has proven that agricultural productivity and conservation priorities are not exclusive from one another, but can coexist and, more importantly, complement and enhance one another.”

    More than 2.3 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners were accepted through the 2023 Grassland CRP signup. That signup reflects the continued success and value of investments in voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs. The current total participation in Grassland CRP is 8.64 million acres, which is part of the 24.8 million acres enrolled in CRP opportunities overall.

    On Nov. 16, 2023, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6363, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-22), which generally extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334), more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, through Sept. 30, 2024. This extension allows authorized programs, including CRP, to continue operating.

    Landowners and producers interested in CRP should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn more or to apply for the program before the June 28 deadline.

    Other CRP Options

    FSA is also accepting applications for the Continuous CRP signup, which opened in January 2023. Under this enrollment, producers and landowners can enroll in CRP throughout the year. Offers are automatically accepted provided the producer and land meet the eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap.

    Additionally, FSA also offers financial assistance to producers and landowners enrolled in CRP to improve the health of their forests through the Forest Management Incentive (FMI), which can help participants with forest management practices, such as brush management and prescribed burning.

    Producers with expiring CRP acres can use the Transition Incentives Program (TIP), which incentivizes producers who sell or enter a long-term lease with a beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher who plans to sustainably farm or ranch the land.

    More Information

    Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits.

  • U.S. Wine Industry Gathers to Discuss Opportunities and Value of Sustainability

    The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance partnered with several wine grape industry organizations recently in hosting the 3rd U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit in Lodi, CA. Attendees enjoyed a local vineyard and winery tour, and engaged in educational sessions highlighting the evolving definition of sustainability and its value to growers, vintners and consumers. American Vineyard Magazine Editor Matthew Malcolm met with Allison Jordan, Executive Director of the Alliance, at the Summit to share some of these insights and remarkable progress of the U.S. wine industry in becoming certified sustainable.  Watch this brief video and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • What Nut Growers Can Do to Combat the New Carpophilus Pest

    It seems we are always on the verge of some type of apocalypse, and with the new carpophilus beetle invading California tree nut orchards, there is cause for concern.  Watch this brief California Ag Network interview with UC Riverside CE Entomology Specialist Houston Wilson to learn more about this pest and how to stop it from damaging your crops.

  • June USDA Lending Rates for Ag Producers

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for June 2024, effective June 3, 2024. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.

    “I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work with our local offices and our cooperators to capitalize fully on the existing flexibilities in these important programs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux.

    Operating, Ownership and Emergency Loans
    FSA offers farm ownership, operating and emergency loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers, whether multi-generational, long-time, or new to the industry, obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. For many loan options, FSA sets aside funding for underserved producers, including, beginning, women, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic farmers and ranchers.

    Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for June 2024 are as follows:

    FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders.  To access an interactive online, step-by-step guide through the farm loan process, visit the Loan Assistance Tool on farmers.gov.

    Commodity and Storage Facility Loans
    Additionally, FSA provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade on-farm storage facilities and purchase handling equipment and loans that provide interim financing to help producers meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are low.  Funds for these loans are provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and are administered by FSA.

    Farm Loan Program Process Improvement
    FSA has a significant initiative underway to streamline and automate the Farm Loan Program customer-facing business process. For the over 26,000 producers who submit a direct loan application annually, FSA has made various improvements, including:

    • The Online Loan Application, an interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features, including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents, such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet and build a farm operating plan.
    • The Loan Assistance Tool that provides customers with an interactive online, step-by-step guide to identifying the direct loan products that may be a fit for their business needs and to understanding the application process.
    • An online direct loan repayment feature that relieves borrowers from the necessity of calling, mailing, or visiting a local Service Center to pay a loan installment.
    • A simplified direct loan paper application, reduced from 29 pages to 13 pages.

    More Information
    Since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed in August 2022, USDA’s Farm Service Agency has provided approximately $2.3 billion in immediate assistance to more than 42,000 distressed borrowers. The deadline to request assistance through the Inflation Reduction Act Assistance for Distressed Borrowers and Discrimination Financial Assistance Program has passed. Any applications submitted before the program deadlines are currently under review. Visit the related program webpages for more information.

    To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If producers don’t have an account, they sign up today.

  • Rising Fruit Fly Populations Concern California Growers

    Fruit fly populations spiked last season and brought multiple species, compounding the damage to vineyards and orchards following Hurricane Hilary.  This is a continued concern for California fruit growers moving into the 2024 season with limited pest management tools available. Watch this brief California Ag Network interview with Adam Borchard from the California Fresh Fruit Association to learn more.

  • USDA Announces $824 Million in New Funding to Protect Livestock; Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Pilot Program

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced it is taking several additional actions to ensure the health and viability of the nation’s livestock and poultry. In the two months since the initial detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle, USDA has worked quickly and in concert with its federal and state partners to better understand the virus and contain the disease and remains committed to seeking additional ways to collect the data needed to better understand and mitigate the risk created by this outbreak. USDA is adding an additional $824 million in emergency funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to bolster these efforts and is launching a new Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program to give dairy producers more options to monitor the health of their herds and move cows more quickly while providing on-going testing and expanding USDA’s understanding of the disease.

    Emergency Funding to Build on Response Efforts

    To help ensure the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) can continue to provide critical rapid response activities, Secretary Vilsack approved the transfer of $824 million from the CCC to APHIS to directly support the response efforts. This funding allows APHIS to continue its critical work with state and local partners to quickly identify and address cases of HPAI/H5N1 in poultry and livestock. The funding will support anticipated diagnostics, field response activities, pre-movement testing requirements, other necessary surveillance and control activities, surveillance in wildlife for APHIS, the Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) work in developing vaccines for HPAI in cattle, turkeys, pigs, and goats, and ARS and the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s food safety studies.

    The Secretary is authorized to transfer funding from available resources including the CCC to address emergency outbreaks of animal and plant pests and diseases. USDA previously approved the use of $1.3 billion in emergency funding to address nationwide HPAI detections in wild birds and commercial poultry operations. These additional funds will ensure our continued robust and rapid response to this outbreak.

    Voluntary Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program

    Continuing to build on the efforts to contain H5N1, APHIS is standing up a Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program, which provides alternative testing and movement options to the Federal Order to increase USDA’s monitoring capabilities to mitigate the spread of H5N1. The Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program aims to create additional testing options for producers with herds that have tested negative for three weeks in a row, further reduce H5N1 virus dissemination, provide for further opportunities to test herds that are not known to be affected with H5N1, increase surveillance and expand our knowledge of the disease, and support an overall national program to reduce the risk of H5N1 in dairy herds.

    The main benefit for farmers who choose to enroll in the Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program is that once they can demonstrate their herds are free of H5N1 with results from a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) facility, they will then need to conduct weekly tests on bulk milk from that herd to confirm that status and will be able to ship their cows at the time they prefer and without testing individual animals.

    Dairy producers from States enrolled in the first phase of this program who choose to enroll their herds and who test negative for H5N1 for three consecutive weeks using on-farm bulk tank milk samples or similar representative milk samples tested at a NAHLN laboratory will be able to move animals without additional pre-movement testing currently required under the Federal Order. Producers must also comply with continued regular weekly monitoring and testing of the herd for H5N1.

    APHIS is currently working with state animal health officials to identify states to participate in a pilot phase of the program. Producers from states participating in this pilot can start enrolling in the Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program on the week of June 3, 2024, by contacting their APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge or State Veterinarian and signing a Herd Monitoring Plan agreement. USDA strongly encourages dairy producers to enroll in this new program. Beyond the benefits for their own operations, increased producer participation may help USDA to establish state and/or regional disease-free statuses that could further ease compliance with the current Federal Order. Those herds not enrolled in the pilot program will continue to follow the interstate testing and movement requirements published in the Federal Order. More specific guidance on the new program, including how to enroll and how to obtain and maintain a herd status, will be made available on the APHIS website in the coming days.

    As additional testing measures take place, USDA anticipates that it will see an increase in testing and positive test results, which will add to our knowledge of the disease and how it may spread between herds. At the same time, this pilot program will help to gather additional information on how producers with affected herds can document elimination of the virus on their operations and steps they can take to maintain an H5N1 virus-free herd.

    This new investment in risk mitigation augments the previously announced Federal Order on pre-movement testing of lactating dairy cattle, announced on April 24, as well as the tools to support biosecurity activities, announced on May 10, and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program funding availability, announced on May 23.

    As USDA continues to take steps to protect the health of livestock, the Department continues to work closely with federal partners at the CDC on protecting the health of people and FDA on protecting the safety of the food supply. The U.S. government remains committed to addressing this situation with urgency.

    To learn more about USDA’s response to H5N1 in dairy cattle, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock.

  • Fresno County Leads Nation in Processing Tomato Production (May California Forecast)

    As of May 15, California’s tomato processors reported they have or will have contracts for 11.5 million tons of processing tomatoes for 2024. This production estimate is 1 percent below the January intentions forecast of 11.6 million tons and 10 percent below the final 2023 contracted production. The May contracted acreage of 228,000 is 2 percent below the January intentions forecast of 232,000 acres and 40,000 acres less than last year’s final contracted acreage.

    Fresno County remains the top California county and leading the national in contracted planted acreage for 2024 with 53,000 acres. Yolo, Kings, Merced, and San Joaquin make up the remaining top five counties, accounting for 65 percent of the 2024 total contracted planted acreage for California.

    Mild spring temperatures and adequate water have aided the development of the processing tomato crop. Planting began in late February in warmer areas of the state and has progressed with little to no weather delays. There were reports that the beet leafhopper has been detected in some areas, warranting close monitoring and increased pest control. At this point, yields are projected to be a little higher than last year. Harvest is expected to start in early July.

    Tomato supplies were replenished after growers in 2023 produced the largest crop in years. As a result, contracted acreage has decreased in most counties. Planted acres in Kings County increased significantly, as cropland that was previously under water has since been recovered. Processors anticipate that this year’s tomato harvest will be on schedule and will not extend beyond normal timelines, reducing the need for late- season deliveries.

    This early processing tomato estimate is funded by the California League of Food Producers.

  • California Dairy Families and Raley’s Food for Families Partner to Provide for Families Facing Food Insecurity

    In California, over 3 million households face food insecurity. In honor of June as National Dairy Month, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) has announced a partnership with Raley’s Food For Families program to deliver milk and dairy foods to nourish families in need.

    Throughout the month of June, California dairy families, through the CMAB, will match customer in-store and online Food For Families donations, dollar-for-dollar (up to $30,000) to provide California dairy products to feeding programs. Prompts with the “Do Good with Dairy” message will be shared through in-store signage and digital communications to alert consumers to the initiative. Part of the Real California Milk CADAIRY4GOOD program and Raley’s well-known Food For Families charitable organization, the partnership is part of an ongoing commitment from both to providing resources to food banks and feeding programs to increase access to nutritious foods.

    California Agriculture Secretary, Karen Ross, shared: “Despite California’s leading position worldwide in food production, far too many people here are food insecure, and we must change that. I applaud the efforts of the California Milk Advisory Board and Raley’s to help feed hungry families.”

    “As a California dairy farmer, it’s important that all families have access to milk, one of the most nutritious foods available,” said Maureen Lemos who, with her husband, dairies in the Waterford area. “This partnership not only provides valuable resources where they are needed most, it also helps to raise awareness of the importance of dairy foods for nourishing families and communities.”

    Milk donations will be distributed to 12 Food For Family partner food banks – Alameda County Community Food Bank, Central California Food Bank, Food Bank for Monterey County, Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Placer Food Bank, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, Second Harvest of the Greater Valley, and Yolo Food Bank.

    Christina Allen, Raley’s Foodservice Assistant Team Lead, kicks off the Real California Milk + Raley’s Food For Families Do Good with Dairy campaign.

    “Currently, folks experiencing hunger is at an all-time high. Milk donations our community will receive thanks to the charitable efforts of Raley’s and California’s dairy families are truly a blessing,” said Blake Young, President/CEO at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. “We are grateful for this wonderful support.”

    With help from customers, vendors, and Raley’s team members, Raley’s Food For Families has provided millions of meals to local families. Raley’s absorbs all administrative costs, maximizing the impact of every donation.

    “We are excited to partner with Real California Milk to bring dairy products to our food bank partners,” Zoe Edwards, Raley’s Food For Families Operations Specialist. “Year-around we accept donations to Food For Families to help alleviate hunger in our communities. Dairy is an important food group, providing nutrients and additional sources of protein to our food bank partners and their clients.”

    The CADAIRY4GOOD platform focuses on increasing access to nourishing dairy foods for individuals and families throughout California through partnerships to pilot programs to deliver product and refrigeration resources to the state’s food banks and feeding programs.

    California is the number one dairy state. Its 1,100 family dairy farms are focused on delivering the wholesome goodness of California milk while creating a greener, more sustainable future for dairy in the state.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world. Connect with the CMAB at RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube,Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

    About Raley’s Food For Families

    Raley’s Food For Families is a registered 501(c)3 organization providing food to Feeding America food banks and their network of partner agencies. The year-round program serves the communities of Northern California and Western Nevada through Raley’s, Bel Air Market, Nob Hill Foods and Raley’s ONE Market locations. Raley’s Food For Families began as a holiday food drive in 1986 and was founded by Co-Chairman and Owner Joyce Raley Teel and CEO emeritus Charles Collings. In the past 33 years, the organization has raised over $59 million and 44 million pounds of fresh wholesome food. With a long commitment to local communities, Raley’s Food For Families continues to grow and thrive as an organization dedicated to health and happiness for those experiencing food insecurity. Raley’s covers one hundred percent of the administrative costs for the non-profit, meaning all donations go directly to the food bank partners.

  • ‘Add Milk!’ Program Launches in Mother’s Nutritional Center Stores Across Southern California

    A nutrition incentive program that helps low-income families purchase healthy fluid milk products is expanding to California. The Add Milk! program is being launched in grocery stores to provide a dollar-for-dollar match for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, when they purchase low-fat or non-fat milk. A community event held at Mother’s Nutritional Center in San Bernardino, Calif., marked the launch of the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive (HFMI) project, Add Milk!, at 78 participating Mother’s Nutritional Center grocery stores across Southern California. Representative Pete Aguilar (CA-33) was in attendance.

    The Add Milk! program is made possible by a $3 million cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) through a program named Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects. The HFMI pilot program was established as part of the 2018 Farm Bill to promote milk as part of a healthy, balanced diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Overall, Americans are consuming less milk. Low-fat milk is an important part of a healthy diet, and health researchers have warned these declines over time could have health impacts on future generations. Studies have shown that incentive programs, like Add Milk!, increase purchase and consumption of the incentivized food. HFMI pilot projects will be operating in more than 700 locations across 18 states by the end of 2024, and Congress recently appropriated an additional $3 million to expand the program to more stores and more locations in the coming years.

    How It Works

    The Add Milk! program provides an incentive to SNAP participants using CalFresh EBT to purchase healthy milk options. The participant receives a dollar-for-dollar match for every dollar spent on non-fat and low-fat (1%) milk products, including lactose-free options, to use for any CalFresh EBT eligible item. Participants can receive up to $10 in rewards per transaction.

    The program is operating in all Mother’s Nutritional Center stores across Southern California. Find more information about Add Milk! in California, as well as a list of locations here.

    “Our customers get more for their EBT dollars with this program, and any extra help goes a long way for these participants. It adds to their benefits to be rewarded for choosing to drink healthier milk and using those rewards to provide healthier foods for their families. We are honored to partner with Auburn University to make this incentive available for the CalFresh recipients in our communities,” shared Richard Flores, president of Mother’s Nutritional Center.

    “This new program will make milk more affordable for working families in the Inland Empire, bring down grocery bills, and encourage healthy food options in our community,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I’m excited that the Inland Empire was chosen to be the first region to launch the Add Milk Program.”

    “Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive projects will allow more families to add nutritious milk to their meals. This is part of USDA’s broader efforts to support SNAP participants in healthy eating. Specifically, the goal of these projects is to promote milk as part of a healthy and balanced diet, consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” said USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long. “We are pleased that the Milk Incentive project will expand to hundreds of retailers and 17 states including Alabama, California, Georgia, and South Dakota under Auburn University’s management.”

    “Nutrition incentive programs, like Add Milk, are important in helping SNAP households access healthy foods by not only providing financial incentives, but also by collaborating with local, independent retailers who already provide incredible customer service to SNAP households,” said Alicia Powers, managing director of Auburn’s Hunger Solutions Institute. “HSI is thrilled to collaborate with Mother’s Nutritional Center, a respected retailer in California known for their personalized shopping experience, locations in areas with limited food access, and appeal to a diverse customer base.”

    “Expanding the SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects means greater access to affordable, nutritious dairy products for the most vulnerable Americans,” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. “Consuming milk, along with its 13 essential nutrients, is linked to healthy immune function, hydration, cognition, mental health, bone health, and lower risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. During this time of high food costs and rising food insecurity, it’s critical we find ways to stretch the SNAP dollar further in support of the purchase of nutrient-dense foods.”

    “We are thrilled to partner with Mother’s Nutritional Centers to help bring the Add Milk! Program to families in Southern California,” said Victor Gastelum, General Manager, Alta Dena Dairy. “This program is really important to local communities in this area, as milk plays a critical role in childhood nutrition, and we’re helping to ensure access to dairy for children and families who need it.”

    The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.2 million jobs that generate $49 billion in direct wages and $794 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.

  • North Coast Dairies Reduce Methane, Produce Compost & Improve Soil Health

    Earlier this month, the California Climate & Agriculture Network (CalCAN) organized a tour of two organic dairies and a farm in Sonoma County. We invited several local experts and state Assemblymember Damon Connelly to learn from each other and discuss how to support family dairy farms and sustainable dairy management. The tour was incredibly inspiring and generated productive dialogue among dairy producers, technical assistance providers and sustainable agriculture advocates. Assemblymember Connelly was actively engaged throughout the afternoon, asking important questions and demonstrating his commitment to his agricultural constituents and community.

    Focus on AMMP: Reducing Methane Emissions

    The central focus of the conversation was on California’s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). California dairies produce a significant amount of agricultural methane, much of which comes from the anaerobic decomposition of liquid manure.  AMMP was designed to fund equipment which separates manure solids from liquids and produces valuable compost, thereby reducing potent methane emissions caused by anaerobic decomposition in manure ponds.

    The Calfiornia Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), which  administers AMMP, reports that as of January 2024, AMMP-funded projects throughout California have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents (MTCO2e) over five years, an amount equivalent to removing more than 300,000 cars from the road for one year. However, Governor Newsom’s proposed 2024-25 budget would stall this progress by dramatically cutting funding for the AMMP program and several other climate smart agriculture programs.s.

    Touring Sustainable Dairies in Sonoma County

    Renati Dairy: Innovative Manure Management

    At Renati Dairy, the first stop on the tour, we heard from Denny Renati and his nephew Ty about their third-generation farm which produces organic milk from cows pastured on beautiful rolling hills outside of Petaluma. Ty successfully applied for an AMMP grant a few years ago in order to upgrade their manure management system and reduce methane emissions.

    Rather than using water to flush their stalls, they now scrape the manure into collection pits where two aerators oxygenate the slurry and minimize methane off-gassing. They use a simple auger solid separator to remove manure from the liquid waste stream and reuse the water. The solids are dried and composted and usedas healthy bedding for their cows, reducing costs and greatly decreasing the truckloads of rice hulls coming from the Sacramento Valley that they used to import for bedding. The Renati’s plan to pursue a grant from the Healthy Soils Program to help pay for applying the compost to their grazing land.

    Auger solid separator used to remove manure from the liquid waste stream which allows the water to be reused.

    “We took advantage of the AMMP funding to become more economically efficient and sustainable. Without it, we never could have afforded the improvements.”  – Ty Renati

    Triple C Dairy: Year-Round Composting

    At Triple C Dairy, just off Highway 101 north of Petaluma, we were joined by a few other dairy producers and had a tour from Bob Camozzi and his nephew Blake. They have a similar solid separator as the Renati’s. Bob Camozzi used AMMP funding to build a covered barn to help compost the manure solids year round, something they couldn’t previously do during the rainy season because the compost would have been too wet. They are applying compost to their pastures where they’ve seen improvement in soil health and pasture fertility as well as the ability of the soil to absorb water during the winter rains. Composted manure also minimizes the leaching of nitrates into groundwater.

    Year-round compost barn.

    Throughout the tour, it was emphasized that dairy producers need the support of technical assistance providers to help them design the methane-reducing projects and apply for the grants. We were lucky to have with us several important partners who do just that: Randi Black from the UC Cooperative Extension in Sonoma, Patricia Hickey from Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District and Anya Starovoytov from Sonoma Resource Conservation District.

    Jeff Creque from the Carbon Cycle Institute, a CalCAN coalition member, also reinforced the importance of technical assistance and taking a carbon farm approach to optimize greenhouse gas emissions reductions and carbon sequestration in soils. Representatives from Clover Sonoma and Organic Valley also participated and talked about how important government funding is to keep the dairies that produce milk for their brands in business and thriving while also providing climate solutions.

    Camozzi Farm: Research and Innovation in Composting

    Our third stop on the tour was in the middle of a field of hay on the Camozzi farm where we gathered to hear from UC Berkeley researchers Dr. Whendee Silver and Dr. Tibisay Pérez. They are conducting studies on the effect of incorporating basalt rock dust and biochar into manure compost. Biochar is produced through a process called pyrolysis (burning organic waste at high temperatures in an oxygen-free vacuum) and can be a way to convert agricultural waste such as almond shells and hull waste, removed trees, and other woody plant material into a valuable product.

    Assemblymember Connelly and Dr. Tibisay Pérez walking through the waist-high hay.

    With sophisticated state-of-the-art equipment that is nearly invisible amid the tall hay, the researchers are measuring which combinations of compost, basalt and biochar have the greatest benefit on a number of outcomes including soil nitrogen retention, soil structure and health, plant productivity and greenhouse gas emissions. Their findings will build upon a 2022 studythat found that adding biochar to composted manure can reduce methane emissions by 60 to 84 percent compared to composting alone.  The Camozzi’s see their collaboration as another way to contribute to dairy sustainability and the health of their communities.

    The Need for Consistent Funding

    California’s projected budget deficit of $44.9 billion has resulted in a mix of funding delays, clawbacks, and no new proposed funding for CDFA’s suite of climate smart agriculture programs. This interruption in funding will set back efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon on agricultural land, and slow efforts to reach the state’s climate goals.

    As we heard loud and clear during these tours, farmers want to be part of the solutions to climate change and they understand how doing so can also lead to greater financial stability.

    CalCAN is part of a coalition of food and farming organizations calling for the legislature to include funding for climate smart agriculture in a climate bond measure., We see a climate bond that includes funding for these programs as one answer to ensuring continued progress toward curbing climate change. — By Renata Brillinger, California Climate & Agriculture Network