California Ag Network

Category: Ag Economics

  • “Organic Night Out” Puts Spotlight on Organic Trend-Setters, Groundbreakers

    The best of organic – from innovative entrepreneurs and established organic brands to cutting-edge organic research and visionary scientists – will be honored next month at organic’s premier event at the Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, California.

    Hosted by The Organic Center and Organic Voices, “An Organic Night Out: Honoring the Year’s Best in Organic” on March 13 will recognize and celebrate the success of organic brands and companies in communicating the impact of organic to consumers, as well as showcase the latest organic research being conducted by The Organic Center and its partner scientists.

    The honorees at the first-ever “Organic Oscars” – all nominated and chosen by their peers – will reflect the huge diversity of today’s organic sector. Over 70 organic companies have nominated more than a hundred organic businesses and champions: organic farmers of all sizes producing everything from dairy products to wine; organic makers of meats, chocolate, spices, coffee and more; and organic entrepreneurs marketing dog treats, vitamins, baby blankets and mattresses! Groundbreaking organic research will be honored with an Excellence Award going to the most impactful organic research of the year.

    Awards will be given in eight categories: Best New Organic Food/Beverage Product; Best New Organic Non-food Product; Best Organic Messaging: Better for the Planet, People or Animals; Best Organic PR or Social Media Activation; Best Retailer Organic Activation; Most Impactful Organic Research Result or Finding; Emerging Organic Entrepreneur of the Year and Organic Company of the Year.

    Award-winning actress, philanthropist, and co-founder of the organic, next-generation children’s nutrition company Once Upon a Farm, Jennifer Garner, will emcee the awards ceremony with organic visionary, advocate, and co-founder of the world’s largest organic dairy company Stonyfield Farm, Gary Hirshberg.

    “The organic community is so excited to be recognizing these incredible organic game changers,” said Hirshberg. “The response from the organic industry to celebrate and honor the work of their peers truly demonstrates the creativity, generosity and dedication of our sector to create a greener and healthier future for our planet.”

    Celebrating the Science Behind Organic  

    “To grow the organic industry and its positive impact on people and the planet, we all must understand the value of organic and the holistic benefits when we buy products carrying the USDA Organic seal. This event will showcase the brilliant science that demonstrates those benefits and helps organic farmers succeed,” said Dr. Amber Sciligo, Director of Science Programs for The Organic Center. “The celebration of leaders in the organic industry, in combination with the spotlight on the latest organic research, promises a meaningful and unforgettable evening.”

    The evening will feature an interactive science fair demonstrating research being conducted by The Organic Center and other scientists. Attendees will see first-hand the real benefits organic practices have on crop production and the health of our planet and people. Displays will show how organic farming protects the health of our pollinators with a live bee observation hive, how choosing organic cotton is good for our environment, how the organic industry is leading the charge to tackle the devastating citrus greening disease without the use of toxic chemicals, and how organic farming helps protects consumers against contamination of pesticides, antibiotics and synthetic growth hormones in their milk and dairy products. To learn even more about the many benefits of organic, attendees can spin the Organic Wheel of Sustainability.

    An eye-catching installation at the science fair by artist Cynthia Minet will remind attendees of the copious amounts of plastic used and wasted across the food chain and the need to dramatically reduce its production. The Organic Center has partnered with stakeholders across the industry to tackle the use of plastic in agriculture products. In 2023, The Center’s signature conference event, “Organic Confluences,” focused on reducing plastic across the organic supply chain. The activating message symbolized so effectively by Minet’s installation is at the heart of the work The Organic Center will continue throughout 2024 in an effort to provide tools and solutions for the organic industry to reduce their reliance on plastic.

    Bringing together hundreds of organic visionaries, activists and businesses, the occasion is the single biggest fundraising event for The Organic Center and Organic Voices, both nonprofit organizations that work on important research, education and communication with the organic industry and with consumers.

    Sponsorship opportunities for this incredible evening are still open. Join the list of organic brands and champions who are making this event possible: Alexandre Family Ecodairy Farms, Amy’s Kitchen, Back to the Roots, Cal-Organic, Ciranda, Daves Killer Bread, Driscoll’s, Egg Innovations, Environmental Working Group, Forager Project, Gallant, General Mills, Global Organics, Handsome Brook Farms, Harmless Harvest, Independent Natural Food Retailers Association, Just Ice Tea, National Co+op Grocers (NCG), Nature’s Path, Naturepedic Organic Mattresses, New Hope, Once upon a Farm, Orgain, Organic Valley, Pete & Gerry’s, SPINS, Stonyfield, Taste For Life Publications, Thrive Market, Tradin Organic, Traditional Medicinals, True Organic Products, Inc., Uncle Matt’s Organic, Vivify Specialty Ingredients, WearPACT and Whole Foods Markets.

    For sponsorship opportunities, contact Cassandra Christine (cchristine@ota.com)

    About The Organic Center

     The Organic Center‘s mission is to convene credible, evidence-based science on the health and environmental impacts of organic food and farming and to communicate the findings to the public. The Center is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) research and education organization operating under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association.

    About Organic Voices

    Organic Voices is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help consumers better appreciate and eliminate confusion about all the benefits of Organic. It is dedicated to educating consumers about the significance of the USDA Organic seal, ROC certification, and GOTS certification through its Only Organic campaign. It creates compelling educational content tailored to inform and engage consumers, using multiple online channels to reach new audiences through large-scale consumer-facing campaigns. Partnering with brands, retailers, farmers, and consumers, Organic Voices strives to amplify the message of the benefits of organic and establish a unified voice throughout the organic industry.

  • Preventing Bacterial Blast Damage in Almond This Year

    In 2023, the cold, wet weather during bloom and leaf-out resulted in bacterial blast damage in many Sacramento Valley almond orchards. If conditions this year are cold and wet during bloom, we may see a recurrence of blast: make a plan now to keep blast damage to a minimum.

    The Bottom Line:

    • Bacterial blast can be a problem when cold, wet conditions coincide with bloom or leaf-out.
    • Copper resistance is common in the pathogen: spraying copper is ineffective for preventing blast in many orchards.
    • Frost protection is the most economical prevention option and will help prevent damage from both frost and bacterial blast.x
    • The antibiotic kasugamycin (Kasumin®) is effective for preventing blast when applied up to 7 days before cold, wet weather. It has received approval for availability this year under an emergency exemption registration (Section 18) but is not currently labeled for almond under a full registration (Section 3).The Details:

      Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pseudomonas) is a bacterium which can infect all aboveground parts of an almond tree. If leaves, flowers, or spurs are infected, the resulting disease is bacterial blast. Pseudomonas is ubiquitous in orchards, so bacterial blast is likely to develop whenever environmental conditions are cold and wet, which favors this disease. Pseudomonas is spread by water hitting the trees, either from rain or sprinklers. If this wetting occurs at the same time as frost damage, Pseudomonas can enter the tree through cells damaged by freezing. Trees are especially susceptible to frost damage during bloom and leaf-out, when tender new growth is exposed to cold temperatures.

      Preventing infection by Pseudomonas is the only way to control bacterial blast. Frost protection in an orchard is your best defense and your most inexpensive prevention strategy: if the trees are not damaged by frost, Pseudomonas will not be able to enter the tree to cause disease. As a second line of defense, research has shown that kasugamycin (Kasumin®) is effective for preventing bacterial blast when applied no more than 7 days before cold, wet weather. Note that kasugamycin is currently not labeled for use in almond, but has become available this season due to a Section 18 exemption. If the weather warrants treatment, kasugamycin can be used as a preventative spray up to two times during bloom. For this spray, complete coverage is crucial for control: all tender new growth must be covered in a protective layer of the antibiotic for it to be effective. Any tissue left uncovered will be unprotected.

      What about copper? Current work by UC researchers shows that copper-resistance is common in Pseudomonas throughout the state. Many of the orchards heavily affected by blast in 2023 received multiple dormant sprays containing copper. In some cases, mixing mancozeb with copper may provide some level of control, but research shows that this mixture is not as effective as kasugamycin and the copper can cause phytotoxicity. — By Jaime Ott, UCCE Tehama, Shasta, Glenn, and Butte Counties

      For more information on bacterial blast, check out these articles at sacvalleyorchards.com

      Bacterial blast/canker: What do we know? – an update on the factors predisposing orchards to damage by bacterial blast, and more details about control strategies for bacterial blast

      Bacterial Blast and Canker – a good description of the various symptoms seen with bacterial blast

  • 2023 UCCE Blackeye Bean Variety Evaluation

    UC Cooperative extension experts led by Michelle Leinfelder-Miles evaluated blackeye bean varieties in a commercial field in Stanislaus County in 2023. The season began with cool and wet spring conditions, which lasted through the month of June and delayed planting. Seven varieties from the University of California blackeye breeding program were planted on July 7th. The varieties were grown on a Hanford sandy loam, and the soil temperature was approximately 75°F at the time of planting. Each variety was planted across six rows on 30-inch spacing, on a row length of approximately 275 feet. The seeding rate was 40 pounds per acre. This was a non-replicated evaluation due to a limitation in seed; therefore, no statistical analysis is presented.

    The trial was planted in a field of CB46, and fertility and pests were managed by the grower in the same manner as the field. Data are presented in Table 1. Stand counts were made approximately two weeks after planting on July 20th. The stand was assessed as the number of plants per two-foot length. Twelve replicate counts were averaged. We evaluated aphid and lygus damage on September 8th, which were low due to the grower’s management. For lygus, we took 10 sweeps from four locations in each plot and counted the lygus. Data were averaged and are presented as a 10-sweep count. For aphids, we used a rating scale from 0 to 10 that accounted for visible crown damage and aphid incidence. In addition to the in-field assessment of lygus, we also evaluated harvest samples for stings and found that, on average, about 1.2 percent of the beans had lygus damage. No diseases were observed.

    We harvested on November 6th. All six rows of each variety were cut and raked into one windrow. At the time of cutting, the grower observed that CB77 plants were laying flat, but they were laying in such a way that the knives still picked up the plants. The grower also observed that CB74 had an upright growth habit that could potentially make it a variety viable for swather cutting. We evaluated 100-seed weight as a measure of seed size, evaluating five 100-seed samples per variety.

    We would like to thank the cooperating grower, the CA Crop Improvement Association for funding regional trials, and the CA Dry Bean Advisory Board for assistance with statewide research prioritization and assistance with outreach. — Images & Article By Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UCCE

    Table 1. 2023 Blackeye Bean Variety Evaluation Results

  • Dairy Council of California Awards over $45,000 in Let’s Eat Healthy Grants

    Dairy Council of California, a leader in nutrition education and advocacy, has awarded over $45,000 in community grants to assist California schools and community-based organizations with innovative and sustainable solutions to foster healthy eating and meet local needs.

    Grants advance Dairy Council of California’s Let’s Eat Healthy Initiative, engaging nutrition champions to support equitable access to science-based nutrition education. Funds also support food and agricultural literacy and help make healthy, wholesome foods, including milk and dairy foods, more accessible for local California communities. Awardees include:

    My Healthy Reader, Riverside County
    “I have been a long-time fan of both the Dairy Council and Let’s Eat Healthy, utilizing their online resources to help educate families and young children on the benefits of good nutrition. Being a grant recipient is an exciting honor that provides support and opportunity to expand program efforts. This grant will allow us to continue to impact families in the Inland Empire, by providing knowledge and resources that assist in learning how to make healthy food and dairy choices,” says My Healthy Reader CEO Yvonne Roberson Choyce.

    Griffiths Middle School, Downey Unified School District, Los Angeles County  
    “The Let’s Eat Healthy Community Grant provides our students with the essential knowledge and tools for a healthier future. This grant opens doors to nutrition education and wellness initiatives that will lead our students on a path of lifelong well-being,” culinary teacher Kim Silverman states.

    Centennial Farm, Orange County
    “The Orange County Fair and Event Center’s Centennial Farm is excited to have been selected as a recipient of the Dairy Council’s Let’s Eat Healthy Community Grant. Funds will be used to further enhance the importance of dairy and nutrition through activities with our existing educational programs and the impact of the grant funds will benefit students for years to come,” states Evy Young, director of agriculture programs at Centennial Farm.

    Ladera Ranch Middle School, Capistrano Unified School District, Orange County  
    “The Let’s Eat Healthy grant will significantly impact culinary classes. The classroom is over two decades old. With this funding, we now have the means to procure new equipment that has worn out. These enhancements will enrich our food labs, which integrate nutrition education and experimentation with different techniques and ingredients, notably emphasizing yeast dough making, homemade butter, milk cultures for cheese, and more,” says culinary teacher Carrie Gray.

    Community Housing Opportunities Corporation, Youth Services Program, Solano County  
    According to Amahirani Reyes, youth services program manager for Community Housing Opportunities Corporation, “CHOC sincerely appreciates the generous support extended by the Dairy Council of California in establishing this valuable partnership. Their support is positioned to significantly enhance youth nutrition education within our affordable housing communities, leaving a positive and lasting impact.”

    Dairy Council of California CEO Amy DeLisio explains the further impact of the grants: “The Let’s Eat Healthy Community Grants are another powerful tool for organizations to continue to provide access and opportunities where children, families and communities can build positive connections between nutrition, agriculture and lifelong healthy eating. These grants, and the valuable work of the awardees, will make a difference in the lives of those who need it most for years to come.”

    About Dairy Council of California
    Dairy Council of California is a nutrition organization working together with champions to elevate the health of children and communities through lifelong healthy eating patterns. Focusing on education, advocacy, dairy agricultural literacy and collaboration, Dairy Council of California advances the health benefits of milk and dairy foods as part of the solution to achieving nutrition security and sustainable food systems. Learn more at DairyCouncilofCA.org.

    About the Let’s Eat Healthy Initiative
    Launched by Dairy Council of California, Let’s Eat Healthy is an initiative that brings together community leaders and stakeholders with expertise in education, school foodservice, public health, health care and agriculture, inviting these change-makers to elevate the health of children and families through the pursuit of lifelong healthy eating habits. Through coordination and collaboration, Let’s Eat Healthy strives to provide sustainable solutions to champion community health and make healthy, wholesome foods accessible to all. The Let’s Eat Healthy Initiative is driven to provide dynamic educational resources and tools, peer networking, amplification of best practices and the latest in nutrition information, uniting individuals and organizations through shared values. Join the initiative and make a difference at HealthyEating.org.

  • Nine California Counties Make Top 10 List for Ag Sales in the Nation

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level. The information collected directly from producers shows a continued decline in the total number of California farms. However, the data also show an increase in the value of agriculture sales in California. The full Census of Agriculture report as well as publication dates for additional ag census data products can be found at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. Ag census data can also be found in NASS’s searchable online database, Quick Stats.

    “The 2022 Census of Agriculture provides a wide range of demographic, economic, land, and crop and livestock production information as well as first-time or expanded data such as hemp, precision agriculture, and internet access.” said Gary R. Keough, Director, USDA NASS Pacific Region. “Many of these data about California and our counties are only collected and reported as part of the every-five- year census.”

    The 2022 Census of Agriculture data show the following key trends for California.

    • The number of farms decreased to 63,134, down 10 percent from 2017 with an average size of 383 acres (up 10%) on 24.2 million acres of farmland (down 1%).
    • The market value of agricultural products sold totaled $59.0 billion, up $13.8 billion from 2017.
    • Total farm production expenses totaled $49.3 billion, up $11.5 billion from 2017.
    • At 16,699 farms, California is the top state using renewable energy producing systems in agriculture. Solar is the most common renewable energy producing system on farms and ranches in The Golden State.
    • The average age of the California farmer is 59.9, up from 59.2 in 2017.
    • Fresno County ranked #1 in the U.S., agricultural sales in Fresno County were greater than those in 23 states.

    • After Fresno County, the top 10 California counties are:

    2. Tulare County

    3. Monterey County

    4. Kern County

    5. Merced County

    6. Imperial County

    7. San Joaquin County

    8. Stanislaus County

    9. Santa Barbara County

    10. Kings County

    The national response rate for the 2022 Census of Agriculture was 61%; more than 40% of responses were submitted online. California’ response rate was 56%. Ag census data highlight publications are available at nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights. Additional products, including state and county profiles and congressional districts will be released throughout 2024.

    First conducted in 1840 in conjunction with the decennial Census and conducted since 1997 by USDA NASS – the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture – the Census of Agriculture remains the most comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation.

  • Friant Water Authority and Arvin Edison Water Storage District Sue Eastern Tule GSA

    The Friant Water Authority (FWA) and the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District (AEWSD) have filed a lawsuit against the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency (ETGSA) in Tulare County Superior Court for breach of a settlement agreement between the parties regarding land subsidence impacts to the Friant-Kern Canal and for intentional interference with AEWSD’s contract with the United States Bureau of Reclamation for water deliveries conveyed through the canal.

    The water delivered by the Friant-Kern Canal, which is operated and maintained by FWA (and owned and managed by the Bureau of Reclamation), is vital to the economy and the public health and welfare of the San Joaquin Valley. Land subsidence caused by “overdraft” groundwater pumping has severely reduced the delivery capacity of the canal causing extensive impacts to, among others, water agencies such as AEWSD that rely on water deliveries from the canal.

    The ETGSA is responsible under State law for sustainably managing the groundwater basin under its jurisdiction and to minimize land subsidence and subsidence-related impacts to critical infrastructure such as the Friant-Kern Canal.

    FWA and AEWSD entered into a settlement agreement in 2021 with ETGSA under which it agreed to pay FWA for subsidence damage to the Friant-Kern Canal caused by the over- pumping of groundwater by landowners within ETGSA’s boundaries. ETGSA also agreed to take steps to avoid or minimize further subsidence damage to the canal.

    While ETGSA has taken some of the actions it agreed to under the settlement agreement, it has failed to live up to its core responsibilities – with serious consequences for the Friant-Kern Canal and all who rely on it. For more than a year, FWA and AEWSD have tried in good faith to resolve this dispute short of litigation. But ETGSA’s repeated refusals to follow through on its commitments left FWA and AEWSD with no choice but to proceed with a lawsuit.

    In their complaint, FWA and AEWSD allege that ETGSA has, among other things, failed to:

    • Establish and maintain required penalties for unsustainable overdraft groundwater pumping;
    • Timely collect and remit penalty proceeds to FWA for purposes of repairing extensive damage to the canal caused by overdraft pumping-induced subsidence;
    • Adopt and implement effective management actions that limit further subsidence impacts to the canal;
    • Include a FWA representative in a standing committee authorized to recommend management actions to limit further subsidence; and
    • Timely enforce the required metering and reporting of groundwater pumping from deep wells in certain land subsidence management zones.

      ETGSA’s actions and, in many cases, failures to act, have caused additional subsidence, damaged the Friant-Kern Canal, deprived FWA of funding to repair and restore the canal, and interfered with AEWSD’s contract for water deliveries from the Bureau of Reclamation.

      Statement by Jason Phillips, FWA Chief Executive Officer

      “The 2021 settlement agreement between FWA, AEWSD and ETGSA was hailed at the time as a landmark agreement, one that would serve as a guide for other regions dealing with the same water management, subsidence, and groundwater issues facing the southern San Joaquin Valley.

      The basic, yet unique premise of the agreement was that FWA agreed to support the efforts of the ETGSA to implement their groundwater sustainability plan, as long as the forecasted additional subsidence that would occur along the Friant-Kern Canal was properly controlled and mitigation funding was provided to assist FWA’s efforts to restore the delivery capacity of the canal. FWA viewed this approach as a preferable alternative to other, more confrontational options.

      FWA has spent considerable time, energy, and resources trying to work with the ETGSA to improve its practices for managing and minimizing subsidence impacts, particularly as to the most important piece of water infrastructure on the east side of the valley, the Friant-Kern Canal.

      Unfortunately, after all of that effort and commitment, we’ve gotten to this point where subsidence has continued at an alarming rate, while at the same time, water accounting and management practices by the ETGSA have resulted in groundwater pumping penalty revenues falling well short of what was envisioned in the agreement. It’s become clear that without additional intervention from the courts and others, the unmitigated impacts to the Friant-Kern Canal will continue and possibly accelerate.

      It is also clear that local control over management of the ETGSA is not working and is undermining the important principle we all pushed for in the Valley to maintain local control of our groundwater basins. The path we are on currently certainly does not work for FWA, it’s not working for the disadvantaged communities whose water supply, water quality, and jobs are at stake, and it’s not working for our project partners at the Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources who have contributed tens of millions of dollars towards fixing the damage done to the canal.”

      Statement by Edwin Camp, AEWSD Board President

      “For nearly 60 years, AEWSD and its landowners have relied on the 152-mile Friant-Kern Canal (from Fresno to Bakersfield) to support high-value agriculture and conjunctively manage its surface and groundwater resources. Subsidence impacts to the Friant-Kern Canal have significantly impacted AEWSD’s water supply reliability to the detriment of its landowners and the region including the groundwater resources used by local water systems that serve drinking water to the residents of the City of Arvin and other severely disadvantaged communities.

      AEWSD wishes to protect the Friant-Kern Canal from continued subsidence and related impacts to its conveyance capacity and exorbitant maintenance costs. AEWSD’s ability to supply water to its landowners, while managing towards sustainable groundwater conditions, relies on maintaining the canal conveyance to deliver its contracted surface water. Unfortunately, the current groundwater overdraft and subsidence trends within ETGSA are not acceptable and we have run out of options in working with the ETGSA towards a path of mutual sustainability.

      We are extremely disappointed with ETGSA’s continued refusal to comply with the settlement agreement which has diverted funding intended for the urgently needed Friant-Kern Canal Project, undermining significant investment by the Friant family and its state and federal partners. The ETGSA groundwater market is taking mitigation money from the Friant-Kern Canal Project and enriching the pockets of ETGSA landowners. This is particularly concerning in light of ETGSA’s failure to prepare an adequate Groundwater Sustainability Plan and ongoing violation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.”

  • Hands-On Support to Help Ag Producers Applying for Renewable Energy Funding

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is inviting grant applications from organizations to provide hands-on assistance to agricultural producers applying for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding, which will lower energy costs and make energy efficiency improvements in rural areas.

    This assistance is made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act “President Biden and USDA are ensuring farmers, ranchers and small businesses get a fair chance at grants that make energy more affordable,” Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Farah Ahmad said. “We are giving them the know-how and support they need to be a vital part of the clean energy economy. Through these efforts, people in rural areas will be able to lower their energy costs, increase American energy independence and strengthen the resilience of their business operations.”

    Since December 2022, USDA has made up to $1.3 billion available in REAP funding through the Inflation Reduction Act. To support the staff on the ground making this historic effort a success, the Biden Administration worked with USDA Rural Development State Offices to provide them with more flexibility to award new technical assistance grants through the REAP Technical Assistance Grants Program (REAP TAG), hire additional staff support, and bolster their outreach and customer service efforts.

    Today, USDA is making $16 million available through the REAP TAG Program to provide additional support to farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners seeking REAP funds.

    Eligible recipients for these grants include state, Tribal or local governments; colleges and universities; electric cooperatives and utility companies; and for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Recipients may use the funds to:

    • Help rural agricultural producers and small business owners apply for REAP funding.
    • Provide information on how business owners and agricultural producers can improve the energy efficiency of their operations and use renewable energy technologies and resources.
    • Conduct required energy assessments and audits.
    • Help agricultural producers and small business owners with planning construction and development of renewable energy or energy efficiency projects.
    • Assist with the completion of environmental reports and/or documentation required for submittal of applications.

    Applications must be submitted by March 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. For additional information and submission details, see page 12815 of the Feb. 20 Federal Register.

    Background

    The Biden-Harris Administration championed the Inflation Reduction Act to help provide new funding and unprecedented incentives to expand clean energy, transform rural power production, create jobs and spur economic growth. It is the largest single investment in rural electrification since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.

    Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Administration is delivering on its promise to fight climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across America.

    It provides funding to USDA Rural Development to help eligible organizations invest in renewable energy infrastructure and zero-emission systems and make energy-efficiency improvements that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    For instance, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants and loans to help farmers and small business owners expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address climate change and lower energy costs for American families.

    REAP is part of the Justice40 Initiative, which is working to ensure that 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments reach communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.

    The REAP Technical Assistance Grants Program provides funding to organizations that support farmers and small businesses owners applying for federal funds for wind, solar and other renewable energy systems. This program works alongside REAP to create new economic opportunities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make energy more affordable for American families.

    Together, these programs will boost the long-term resiliency, reliability and affordability of renewable energy systems.

    For more information on the Inflation Reduction Act, visit: https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act.

    To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, visit www.rd.usda.gov or contact the nearest USDA Rural Development state office.

    USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

  • UCCE South Sacramento Valley Prune Meeting, Feb. 27

    The UC Cooperative extension is pleased to invite growers and other folks from the California prune industry to come and attend the annual South Sacramento Valley Prune Meeting on February 27, 2024 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sutter County Ag Dept. Meeting Room (142 Garden Hwy, Yuba City, CA). Topics will include: an IPM review, new approaches to prune thinning, prune grower regulatory update, managing fleabane and other problem weeds in prune orchards, how to utilize the weekly ET report for better irrigation, potassium and prune nutrition/fertility, and a California Prune Board Update.  The meeting will conclude with lunch generously sponsored by the California Prune Board.  The event is free to attend, but please RSVP for lunch HERE, and see the full agenda HERE. Continuing Education Credits have been requested.  Contact Franz Niederholzer at fjniederholzer@ucdavis.edu for more information.

  • ACTIVATE24: Valued Agriculture Workforce Development Conference Returns to Monterey

    Over 500 agricultural safety and HR professionals, farm managers and supervisors, labor contractors and farm owners will be converging on the Hyatt Regency in Monterey, CA, February 20-22, 2024, for ACTIVATE24, hosted by AgSafe.

    “ACTIVATE24 is a one-of-a-kind, annual conference, focused on the industry’s most vital resource, its people. With more than 50 sessions being offered in English and Spanish, this two-day conference will cover a wide range of critical topics from the fundamentals of health and safety — such as mental workplace health and compliance planning — to regulatory compliance, workforce development and pesticide handling,” Theresa Kiehn, AgSafe President and CEO. “Special emphasis is given to providing practical information, solutions, resources and professional development for agricultural supervisors, safety and human resources professionals and executives alike. The value for attendees is significant.”

    AgSafe, a non-profit membership organization, is the leader in educational training for the agricultural community. AgSafe’s focus is to provide practical education, with a “boots on the ground” approach, teaching both the “why” and “how” to protect workers in the field, as well as packing, processing and food manufacturing facilities.

    ACTIVATE24 kicks off on the morning of February 20 with the popular Pre-Conference Golf Scramble at the historic Old Del Monte Golf Course. In addition to the main conference program, which was developed with input from industry professionals, supplemental seminars are offered to Train-the-Trainers in Tractor Safety and Pesticide Handling. Premium tracks are also available for California Human Resources Certificate Program, California Agricultural Safety Certificate Program and Supervisor Advancement Seminar.  FLC Continuing Education is also available.

    Marshal Sewell, who grew up on a fifth-generation fruit and vegetable farm and is founder of Mind Your Melon (https://mindyourmelon.org/), will be providing keynote remarks on the stressors in agricultural communities and on Inspiring Healthier Minds Through Proactive Lifestyles.

    Tina Huff, PhD, SHRM-SCP will be presenting the Plenary Session to help every employee be successful at work – helping companies reach and exceed their goals. She is a former Chief People Officer / Vice President of Human Resources with over 30 years of experience across multiple industries including agriculture, contact centers, food processing, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail/grocery.

    Winners of the annual AllWays Safe Agricultural Safety Awards will also be unveiled at ACTIVATE24. A collaboration between AgSafe and the Almond Board of California, this award is designed to honor businesses and individuals that have committed themselves towards ensuring the safety and health of their workers. Awards will be presented in the categories of lifetime achievement, outstanding company,  safety professional and operations/production supervisor.

    As in past years, ACTIVATE24 is expected to sell out, yet AgSafe has just announced an extension of the discounted registration deadline, which is now available until February 13. For details and registration information, visit https://agsafe.org/activate24/.

    About AgSafe

    AgSafe, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, is the educational leader Since 1991 AgSafe has trained over 100,000 employers, supervisors and farm workers in the most critical issues impacting worker safety, human resources and pesticide safety. AgSafe employs a “boots on the ground” approach to these topics, teaching both the “why” and “how” to protect workers in the field, as well as packing, processing and food manufacturing facilities. For more information, visit https://agsafe.org/.

  • March 1 Deadline to Apply for Friends of the Fair Ag Scholarships

    Friday, March 1 is the deadline to apply for the Friends of the Dixon May Fair agricultural scholarships. The Friends will provide nine college scholarships, valued at a total of $25,000, in its annual Donnie and Tootie Huffman Scholarship Program that is open to Solano County high school graduates majoring in an agricultural field.

    In the past, eligible ag scholarship applicants had to “be attending a college or university within California.”  As of 2024, the rules have expanded to  “a college or university within the United States,” announced Carrie Hamel of Dixon, scholarship chair.

    In the four-year university or college category, scholarships available are:

    –The $5000 Donnie Huffman Presidential Memorial Scholarship

    –The $4000 JoAn Giannoni Scholarship

    –The $3500 Ester Armstrong Scholarship

    –The $3000 Joe Gates Memorial Scholarship

    –Three scholarships at $3000 each

    In the two-year, or community college category scholarships available are:

    –The 1500 Jack Hopkins Memorial Scholarship

    –$1000 scholarship

    Since 2000, the Friends have awarded a total of $248,750 in college scholarships, Hamel said.

    The scholarship program was named the Donnie and Tootie Huffman Scholarship Program in honor of the founding president Donnie Huffman (Feb. 29, 1940-2023), and his wife, Tootie, the founding treasurer. A resident of Vacaville Donnie died June 17, 2023 after a long battle with cancer.  His wife Tootie, continues as a Friends of the Fair volunteer.

    More information on the scholarship application rules is available on the Friends of the Fair Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheDixonMayFair. Applications must be on the Friends of the Fair form and include a personal essay of not more than two pages; accumulative and current transcripts; and two letters of support, with one from a professional educator. The packet (one set of originals and a copy of each document) is to be mailed to the Friends of the Fair, P.O. Box 242, Dixon, Calif.