The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for its Request for Information to Oct. 12, 2023, to solicit public comments on possible changes to prevented planting crop insurance coverage. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) believes extending the deadline will enable additional time for comments and feedback from commenters and key stakeholders.
“We received great feedback from our listening sessions throughout the country, and we want to ensure everyone has an opportunity to have their voice heard” said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger. “We recognize that folks, particularly farmers, had a busy summer, and we will provide some extra time to submit comments.”
The request for information seeks stakeholder input on prevented planting topics, specifically:
Harvest Price Option – Feedback on whether to allow the prevented planting payment calculations to be based on the higher of projected price or harvest price under the revenue protection plan of insurance.
“1 in 4” Rule – Input on the challenges or experiences since the rule was implemented nationwide (to be eligible for a prevented planting coverage acreage, a producer must have planted, insured, and harvested a crop in at least 1 out of the previous 4 crop years)
10 percent additional coverage option – Input on if RMA should reinstate the option to buy-up prevented planting coverage by 10 percent.
Contract price – Whether prevented planting costs are higher for contracted crops and how prevented planting payments should be calculated for contract crops.
General topics – Willingness to pay additional premium for expanded prevented planting benefits, recommendations on other prevented planting limitations, etc.
The request for information, which includes details for submitting feedback, is available in this Federal Register notice.
In addition to the Request for Information, RMA held in-person and virtual listening sessions June through August to hear directly from producers. The in-person listening sessions were held in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas. RMA will accept written comments through its extended request for information until Oct. 12, 2023.
Prevented planting insurance provisions provide valuable coverage when extreme weather conditions prevent expected plantings. Prevented planting is when a producer is unable to plant an insured crop due to an insurable cause of loss in time to grow a viable crop. Final planting dates and late planting periods are detailed in a producer’s crop insurance policy, and they vary by crop and location. Prevented planting coverage is intended to assist with normal costs associated with preparing the land up to the point of seed going into the ground (pre-plant costs).
More Information
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator.Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting your RMA Regional Office.
With the McKinney Fire creeping closer to Yreka in the summer of 2022, Emily Jackson and her mother potentially faced the enormous task of getting all their goats, chickens, dogs and cats to safety – while Emily’s father and twin sister Lindsay were away fighting the fires.
Twin sisters Emily (left) and Lindsay Jackson were part of a 4-H project that produced a pet emergency preparedness brochure for Siskiyou County. Emily, currently a grad student at Cal Poly Humboldt, has been a U.S. Forest Service crew lead for the past two summers. Lindsay is a seasonal firefighter with CAL FIRE. Photo courtesy of Emily Jackson
Fortunately, Emily and Lindsay had gained crucial knowledge about evacuating animals through a 4-H service-learning project they helped lead in 2018. A group of eight 4-H youths, ages 14 to 18, had created a “Pet Emergency Evacuation Plan” (PEEP) brochure, aimed at educating their neighbors in Siskiyou County about the necessary preparations for livestock and pets.
The brochure, available through the Siskiyou County website, remains in use today in this densely forested region that saw another spate of wildfires this summer. The PEEP project team was composed of Kylie Daws, Emily Jackson, Lindsay Jackson, Will Morris, MadisonRestine, Maryssa Rodriguez, Emily Smith and Callahan Zediker.
Within those stressful hours in 2022 when the McKinney Fire prompted an evacuation warning during which residents could be required to leave at any moment, Emily Jackson said she and her mother had a game plan in place – thanks to her work on the PEEP project.
“At the time, it wasn’t even on my mind,” Jackson said, “but looking back now, I know that having the experience from making that brochure was driving my thought process at the time.”
And while the Jackson family and their neighbors ultimately were not asked to evacuate in 2022, many community members have benefited from the hundreds of copies of the PEEP brochure in circulation, which prompts residents to at least think about what their animals would need in an emergency, Jackson said.
Pet and livestock evacuation tips were needed
Such a resource previously had not been available among the county’s emergency preparation materials, according to Jacki Zediker, the 4-H regional program coordinator in Siskiyou County who advised the PEEP project group.
“One piece that was missing was how to help our communities understand that when they evacuate, and they take their pets with them…it’s not as simple as just taking their pets with them,” said Zediker, citing the example that some shelters do not take in animals – or do not take animals without proof of vaccination.
Other items to add to the pet’s emergency kit include food for several days, water, medications, comfort items or toys, and recent photos ofthe owner with their animal (proof of ownership).
Zediker had connected the young people with Jodi Aceves, senior deputy agriculture commissioner/sealer for Siskiyou County, who had been overseeing the county’s Animal Control programs and emergency response.
“There’s a lot of information out there for people evacuating, but not necessarily for livestock and pets,” Aceves said. “Unfortunately, we have had some fires where there were lots of pets and livestock lost.”
She met several times with the 4-H group, discussing the county’s evacuation systems and processes and the role of the Office of Emergency Services and law enforcement agencies, and sharing key considerations in preparing for emergencies – such as having a pre-agreement in place with someone who could house an evacuee’s animals.
Lindsay Jackson, a seasonal firefighter at the McCloud CAL FIRE station since 2020, hopes to land a full-time position with the department. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Jackson
Aceves praised the teens for distilling the vital information into a short and simple brochure that community members could easily read and remember. She also was impressed by the energy and genuine care that the young people put into the project.
“Most of their lives, every summer, they’ve been in fire,” Aceves said. “It’s close to their hearts, and they’ve seen a lot of their neighbors and other people in the county either affected by fire or evacuated at some point.”
For Lindsay Jackson, in particular, fire and serving the community have been lifelong passions, inspired by her father’s work in the area.
“My dad was a volunteer fire chief for the South Yreka Fire Department; he was doing that since I was about two or three, so I grew up watching him go to the trainings, go to a call,” she explained. “When I was 15, I joined the fire department as a cadet to help out with the medical side, but the more I volunteered, I really liked the fire side, too.”
Jackson added that Zediker has a special knack for nurturing and encouraging the interests of the 4-H participants and applying them in a productive way.
“Jacki was really good at figuring out where our passions were and then how we could put our passions into a service-learning project,” she said. “She knew I was really big into fire and helping the community in that way since I was young.”
Zediker also helped the Jackson twins on their senior project, a fire-safety field day at the South Yreka fire station. More than 100 schoolchildren learned fire safety basics, met firefighters and emergency personnel, and heard about 4-H from Lindsay and Emily.
4-H experiences, mentorship inspire career paths
The PEEP project group also was asked by several organizations to share their knowledge about emergency preparations for animals. In addition to presenting a poster about their work at the 4-H California Focus conference in 2018, the group handed out the brochure and shared information at a table during a Juniper Flat Fire Safe Council workshop and resource fair.
Beyond distributing the PEEP brochure at 4-H club meetings, school events and community meetings, the youths have lent their voices to advocating for emergency resources for animals. Zediker noted that they contributed testimonials that helped the county acquire grants for purchasing more portable kennels.
Emily Jackson, seen here at a booth about invasive plants during the Siskiyou County Fair, is currently working toward a master’s degree in biology, studying how fire suppression and other factors have changed plant communities in the Russian Wilderness. Photo courtesy of Emily Jackson
But the most enduring impact of 4-H participation and community service, however, is that those experiences were a springboard for the young adults’ careers. Emily Jackson – who participated in 4-H from age 5 to 19 – is now working toward a master’s degree in biology at Cal Poly Humboldt, studying how fire suppression and other factors have changed plant communities in the Russian Wilderness.
Whether training colleagues as a U.S. Forest Service crew lead for the past couple of summers, or leading lab sections in general botany as a graduate student, Jackson said she draws on her 4-H experiences – and Zediker’s inspirational example – as she pursues a career in teaching.
“In my development as a young adult into an adult now, I cannot overstate how big of a role Jacki played in that,” Jackson said.
Her sister Lindsay, meanwhile, has pursued her passion for fire all the way through the fire academy at College of the Siskiyous, where she also earned her emergency medical technician (EMT) license. Most recently working on fires near Pondosa in Siskiyou County, Jackson has been a seasonal firefighter based at the McCloud CAL FIRE station since 2020.
“It’s hard because, in the last three years, I haven’t left Siskiyou County, there’s just been so many fires here,” she said. “But it’s nice being able to help your community and know you’re making a difference.”
Lindsay Jackson intends to pursue a bachelor’s degree in leadership studies at Cal Poly Humboldt in hopes of getting a full-time position with CAL FIRE. — By Mike Hsu, UCANR
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings the power of UC to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu.
The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is updating its strategic plan with action-oriented, measurable goals to guide priorities over the next five years.
Released today for public feedback, DPR’s draft 2024 Strategic Plan lays the groundwork for a streamlined, transparent, accountable department that centers its work around human health, equity and environmental justice, broad environmental protections, support for agriculture and community well-being, and economic vitality.
“Our draft strategic plan reflects the department’s evolution in regulating pest management in a way that supports healthy lives and a healthy environment for all Californians, and an abundant, healthy food supply for future generations,” said DPR Director Julie Henderson. “I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with all of our stakeholders and partners to collect feedback on the department’s identified priorities.”
The department’s updated strategic plan reflects its sustainable pest management approach to the full scope of its work. The updated plan also strengthens and reaffirms the department’s commitment to equitably protect all Californians and advance environmental justice.
Updated DPR Mission: We protect human health and the environment by fostering sustainable pest management and regulating pesticides.
Updated DPR Vision: A California where pest management is safe, effective, and sustainable for everyone.
The department’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) will also be reflected in its updated strategic plan.
The goals outlined in the draft 2024 Strategic Plan will advance the department’s mission, vision and commitment to equity and environmental justice. The draft is available on DPR’s website In English and Spanish.
DPR encourages feedback from all stakeholders on its draft 2024 Strategic Plan.
Opportunity for Public Comment
DPR will accept written comments on the draft 2024 Strategic Plan via mail or email from Sept. 19 through Oct. 20, 2023. Comments are accepted online through DPR’s public comment portal in English or Spanish. written comments can be mailed to DPR at 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, CA 95812-4015.
Public Meetings on Oct. 2, 3, 4 and 6, 2023
DPR will host four public meetings – two virtually and two in-person – to receive live feedback on the goals outlined in the draft 2024 Strategic Plan. All four public meetings will be facilitated and offer simultaneous interpretation in Spanish. The meetings will each include brief remarks from DPR leadership on the draft updated mission, vision, DEI statement and goals included in the draft 2024 Strategic Plan, and then attendees will have two minutes per person to provide public comment. No registration is required to attend.
DPR respectfully requests tribal consultations on the draft 2024 Strategic Plan be held by Oct. 20, 2023. Tribes may submit consultation requests via email to Paul Ryan at Paul.Ryan@cdpr.ca.gov or via mail to:
California Environmental Protection Agency
Department of Pesticide Regulation
ATTN: Paul Ryan, Tribal Liaison
1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015
Sacramento, CA 95812-4015
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s mission is to protect human health and the environment by fostering safer and sustainable pest management practices and operating a robust regulatory system to monitor and manage the sale and use of pesticides across the state. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting scientific evaluation of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agriculture Commissioners and their 500 field inspectors. DPR also conducts outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to safety information. DPR invests in innovative research to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices. More information about DPR can be found at www.cdpr.ca.gov.
September 23 and 24, alpaca business owners throughout North America will celebrate the 17th annual National Alpaca Farm Days. Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA) invites individuals and families nationwide to visit participating member farms and ranches during this safe, fun-filled family event. Alpaca owners will welcome the public to meet their alpacas. Attendees will learn more about these inquisitive, unique animals, the luxury fiber they produce and why the alpaca business is perfect for environmentally conscious individuals.
Alpacas are primarily raised for their fleece in North America. As domesticated animals (alpacas do not live in the wild), it is up to their owners to keep them safe and healthy. A big part of doing so is annual sheering. A full fleeced alpaca in warmer months will suffer from heat stress which can be a life threatening medical condition.
This symbiotic relationship provides comfort and good health to the alpacas and a beautiful natural fiber to their caregivers.
Prized for its unique, silky feel, and superb “handle,” alpaca fleece is highly sought-after by both cottage-industry artists (hand spinners, knitters, weavers, etc.) as well as the commercial fashion industry.
One facet of alpaca fleece that makes it so much in vogue is its great variety of natural colors; pure white, several shades of fawn and brown, several shades of gray and true black – some 17 official colors with many other subtle shades and hues. White, light fawn, and light gray can be readily dyed, thus offering a rainbow of colors for the fleece artist. Alpaca fleece can also be readily combined with other fine fibers like merino wool, cashmere, mohair, silk, and angora to attain incredibly interesting blends.
This week, SB 659 (Ashby, D-Sacramento), which is co-sponsored by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), cleared its final legislative hurdle and was sent to Governor Newsom for consideration. SB 659, The California Water Supply Solutions Act of 2023, puts California on a path to develop additional groundwater recharge opportunities that increase the recharge of the state’s groundwater basins.
“SB 659 represents the most significant effort since creation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in 2014, in emphasizing the supply side of managing groundwater,” said Natalie Collins, President of CAWG. “CAWG thanks Senator Angelique Ashby for her leadership in authoring this bill. We also thank our co-sponsor Regional Water Authority in Sacramento for partnering with CAWG on this important legislation.”
SB 659 would give the Newsom Administration the needed authority to implement long-term strategies (regulations, funding, etc.) to ensure that addressing the impacts of climate change are a key component in securing a reliable source of WATER FOR ALL of California. This bill will lead toward a meaningful increase in the amount of groundwater recharged and help to take advantage of the state’s vast groundwater storage capacity.
Senator Ashby said, “Groundwater recharge projects provide multiple benefits, such as reducing flood risk, storing water for future droughts, maintaining agricultural productivity and domestic water use, improving management for environmental flows, and sustaining groundwater dependent ecosystems.”
Due to the impact of climate change, it has become imperative that we capture stormwater and substantially accelerate our groundwater recharge efforts. That is why a meaningful coalition of 52 organizations representing the agricultural industry, builders, water agencies, local agencies, and environmental organizations are all in support of SB 659.
Hurricane Hilary delivered wind and rain to many of California’s table grape vineyards at peak harvest time for most of the 90 varieties grown in the state. The immediate aftermath of the hurricane brought additional rain and humidity to many growing areas, compounding problems and loss. “The impact of the hurricane and its aftermath is devastating and heartbreaking,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission. “To say that the grower and farmworker community is in shock is an understatement.”
With approximately 30 percent of the crop harvested when the hurricane hit, it is projected that 35 percent of the remaining crop – 25 million boxes – has been lost. “The revised estimate for the California crop is 71.9 million 19-pound boxes,” said Nave. “The last time the crop was under 75 million boxes was 1994.”
Noting that it is typical for California to ship over 65 percent of its crop after September 1, Nave said that based on the revised estimate there are still over 45 million boxes of grapes the industry plans to ship. “Reaching consumers at retail stores is a major focus of the work done by the commission,” Nave said. “Partnering with retailers to get grapes on store shelves and to promote them to consumers is work that will continue throughout the season.”
Nave said that retailers understand the damage the storm caused and the many ways that labor costs will increase as a result. “Retailers understand that even with skilled workers it will take more time to harvest much of the remaining crop and that accordingly, to keep grapes on the retail shelves throughout the fall the price paid to growers will need to be enough to make it worthwhile to harvest.”
Nave said the industry plans to continue assessing the situation in the weeks ahead, providing updates as needed, and that the commission will continue its retail promotion activities and consumer advertising campaigns throughout the season.
With California raisin harvest underway, growers are confident that more of their raisins will have a home domestically due to record USDA purchases of their raisins announced recently. Watch this brief interview with Raisin Bargaining Association representatives Charles Salmon and Dwayne Cardoza for more details on the government buys and the status of price negotiations for the 2023 raisin crop. And save the date for the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on November 10, 2023 at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds for American Vineyard’s annual State of the Raisin Industry Report.
California Farmland Trust (CFT), a non-profit dedicated to preserving the best farmland in the country, is proud to announce the title and presenting sponsors of the third annual Race to Slow the Pace 5k/10k on Sunday, Sept. 17 at Bokisch Vineyards in Lodi, CA.
Title sponsors of Race to Slow the Pace, The John and Jeani Ferrari Family Foundation are local long-term supporters of farmland protection. As growers and landowners themselves, the Ferrari’s passion for agriculture is deeply rooted throughout Stanislaus and Merced counties.
“John and I are committed to fighting irresponsible land development,” Jeani Ferrari said. “Our nation depends on the highly productive farmland of the Central Valley of California, not only for food security, but also for quality, variety and affordable food. It has to be organizations like CFT to keep this region from becoming another L.A. County. We feel good about our support of Race to Slow the Pace because it’s a good concept that people can get involved in.”
Presenting sponsors of Race to Slow the Pace, Farm Credit Alliance institutions AgWest Farm Credit, American Farm Credit and CoBank are avid supporters of the agriculture community. The cooperatively owned lending institutions’ specialization in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses make them a trustworthy source for farmers and landowners.
Located in Contra Costa County, our presenting sponsor Dwelley Family Farms has maintained the sustainable production of a large variety of premium fruits and vegetables since 1921. Their conventional and organic produce can be found at their local fruit stand or at retail outlets across the Bay Area. Generations of diligence have led Dwelley Family Farms to provide communities with tasty, healthy, sustainably grown products.
“We’re thrilled to have the support of agriculture advocates in this event geared towards connecting consumers with farmland protection,” said California Farmland Trust Executive Director Charlotte Mitchell. “All sponsors have demonstrated commitment to our farmlands and we’re grateful that they’ve chosen to support CFT and our efforts to protect California farms.”
The California Farmland Trust is a California nonprofit 501(c)(3). Our mission is to help farmers protect the best farmland in the world. To date, we have protected 17,606 acres of farmland on 81 family farms. To learn more visit us: www.cafarmtrust.org.
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) official walnut industry crop estimate provides the California walnut industry with crucial information to support an orderly sales process. Using scientific methodologies, USDA field staff counted, measured, weighed and evaluated thousands of walnuts from major growing regions in July and August for use in a statistical acreage model to establish the annual walnut crop estimate.
The 2023 California walnut production is forecast at 790,000 tons, up 5% from 2022’s production of 752,000 tons. The forecast is based on 385,000 bearing acres, down 4% from 2022’s estimated bearing acreage of 400,000.
“The California walnut industry has increased its focus on providing handlers and growers the most accurate crop information by accelerating the collection of various data points,” said Robert Verloop, CEO and Executive Director for the California Walnut Commission (CWC) and Board (CWB).
While official final shipment, inventory and close-out figures for the 2022 crop year will be released within the month, preliminary figures indicate last year’s crop is virtually sold out.
“Last year, we were facing a completely different scenario with 130,000 tons in inventory brought on by the lingering effects of the COVID-impacted global marketplace and a record heat wave last September that negatively impacted the entire crop, which led to lethargic sales and record-low grower returns,” added Verloop.
“With minimal carryover from the previous crop year and favorable weather throughout the growing season, we’re optimistic about the new crop year,” said Tim Sabado, CEO of Prima Noce, based in Linden, California. “The upcoming crop promises a return to the exceptional quality that defines California walnuts globally.
“Harvest will begin in September, and may extend into November due to the early season cooler temperatures,” added Sabado. “Our focus is on an aggressive harvest, picking the crop at its peak quality and freshness.”
Inshell walnut shipments for international destinations will start in October. In the U.S. and Canada, retail customers are currently placing orders and building sales plans for their traditionally large holiday promotions and their health-focused kernel campaigns for January and February.
About the California Walnut Board
The California Walnut Board (CWB) was established in 1948 to represent the walnut growers and handlers of California. The CWB is funded by mandatory assessments of the handlers. The CWB is governed by a Federal Walnut Marketing Order. The CWB promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The CWB also provides funding for walnut production, food safety and post-harvest research.
About the California Walnut Commission
The California Walnut Commission, established in 1987, is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. The Commission is an agency of the State of California that works in concurrence with the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The CWC is mainly involved in health research and export market development activities. For more industry information, health research and recipe ideas, visit www.walnuts.org.
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service has forecasted contracted production for California processing tomatoes at 12.9 million tons for 2023, averaging 50.8 tons per acre. The current production forecast is 23% above last year’s contracted production of 10.5 million tons, and 2% above the May forecast. The projected harvested acreage of tomatoes grown under contract is 254,000 acres, up 13% from 2022.
Unseasonably wet weather through winter and spring delayed planting by weeks, but with record-high prices and ample water, contracted acreage increased significantly. Harvest began with a slow start in mid-July, a couple weeks behind average, and is expected to continue well through October if the weather stays dry. Now entering peak harvest, canneries are busy managing the logistics of consistently delivering ripe tomatoes to the plant.
The Processing Tomato Advisory Board published shipments through August 26, 2023, showing a 16% decrease compared to the end of August 2022. However, due to the late crop, shipments are expected to catch up and exceed the past 5 years.
This processing tomato estimate is funded by the California League of Food Producers.
About the California Walnut Board 
