California Ag Network

Category: Ag Economics

  • $78,500 Check Presented to Valley Children’s Healthcare

    The International Agri-Center®, World Ag Expo®, and the Central Valley Toyota Dealers presented a check in the amount of $78,500 to Valley Children’s Healthcare during the All Guild Picnic held on May 24, in Madera, California. Valley Children’s became the fundraiser beneficiary in 2015 and $628,679 has been raised through the program to date.

    The check represented the total funds raised by the Guilds of Valley Children’s Healthcare, who participated in World Ag Expo’s® Toyota Tundra Giveaway by selling chances to win a new 2023 Tundra. The proceeds from the giveaway will directly benefit the Central California hospital.

    “The Guilds of Valley Children’s are grateful for our continued partnership with World Ag Expo and Central Valley Toyota Dealers to help fulfill our mission,” said Connie McClaskey, Chair of the Guild Coordinating Council. “It is truly amazing the support and generosity of our community for Valley Children’s and services they provide our valley’s children and their families.”

    The Tundra truck, won by Mike Gingles of Kings County on the final day of World Ag Expo®, was donated by the Central Valley Toyota Dealers, through their role as the Official Truck of World Ag Expo®.

    “This is one of the rewarding programs we do,” said Jerry Sinift, Chief Executive Officer, International Agri-Center®. “The Guilds do an amazing job driving this fundraiser. The Central Valley community and World Ag Expo attendees are always great supporters. We couldn’t do this without the support of our Central Valley Toyota dealers.”

    The 2024 World Ag Expo® Toyota Tundra Giveaway, benefiting Valley Children’s Healthcare, will kick off ticket sales this fall.

    The International Agri-Center® is home to World Ag Expo®, February 13-15, 2024 in Tulare, California. An estimated average of 100,000 individuals from 65 countries attend World Ag Expo® each year. The largest annual agricultural show of its kind, World Ag Expo® hosts 1,200 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of show grounds.

    The Guilds of Valley Children’s Healthcare have been raising funds since 1949, having raised over $30 million. The Guilds remain dedicated to their long-standing mission of raising funds, advocating for children, and promoting goodwill for Valley Children’s Healthcare and their objectives of raising financial support and developing ongoing community support.

    The Central Valley Toyota Dealers have been a sponsor of World Ag Expo® for more than a decade, every year providing a Toyota Tundra for the giveaway and helping raise funds for the partnered charity.

  • USDA-ARS California JOB VACANCY

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit is seeking a full time Plant Ecologist or Plant Physiologist or Agronomist for a permanent appointment in Davis, California. The successful candidate will be located at the USDA’s Aquatic Weeds Lab on the western side of the UC Davis campus but will also have space within a new USDA facility to be constructed nearby. The incumbent’s research will focus on the development of integrated weed management strategies for invasive aquatic plants to protect water resources and wetland ecosystem health in the western U.S. The successful candidate will be expected to advance basic knowledge of aquatic weed biology, ecology and invasion pathways to develop and improve management strategies in these ecosystems. In addition, the candidate will evaluate new herbicides and improve herbicide application techniques to enhance management efficacy of established aquatic weeds and in rapid responses to new weed invasions. The research position may be filled at one of several grade levels (GS-12-13-14) depending upon scientific impact of the selected person. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Research positions have an open-ended promotion potential.  Salary is commensurate with experience.  Citizenship restrictions apply.  Please view the complete text announcement and application instructions using the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/731291100.

    This vacancy announcement is open from 06/12/2023 to 07/11/2023.  For information on the research program contact Paul Pratt at Paul.Pratt@usda.gov

    The USDA/ARS is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.  Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

  • SHA Scholarship Fund Honors Regenerative Ag Pioneer, Co-Founder David Brandt

    Regenerative farming pioneer David Brandt, who passed away recently from complications resulting from an automobile accident, will be honored with his name’s addition to the Kendra Brandt scholarship fund, the Soil Health Academy.

    In 2020, shortly after the death of David’s wife, Kendra, SHA established a fund in her name that provides SHA school scholarships to women and beginning farmers who are committed to growing the regenerative agriculture movement by implementing regenerative principles in their own operations or through regenerative agriculture education, outreach or policy advocacy.

    In a series of interviews for the Soil Health Academy in 2022, David recalled how his wife of 55 years, helped him focus and kept him from “jumping off the deep end” through his many cover cropping experiments and challenges.

    “As regenerative farming partners in life, we thought it fitting that David and Kendra be partners in the continuation of that legacy by having both of their names associated with this important and empowering scholarship fund,” SHA President Dawn Breitkreutz said.

    The scholarships will provide partial tuition funding for recipients to attend a three-day SHA regenerative ag school. SHA on-farm schools feature instruction by Understanding Ag, LLC’s world-renowned farmer-instructors, and other technical consultants, all of whom are widely considered to be among the most preeminent pioneers, innovators and advocates in today’s soil health and regenerative agricultural movement.

    Breitkreutz said that with today’s announcement, the non-profit organization hopes to honor, in perpetuity, the regenerative pioneering and teaching legacy of the couple who focused much of their efforts in life providing support and encouragement to women and beginning farmers in their regenerative journeys.

    “All of us are still mourning David’s sudden and unexpected passing, but we’re heartened to know that David’s and Kendra’s legacy of teaching, giving and caring will continue to positively impact the lives of the next generation of soil health-improving regenerative farmers and ranchers through this scholarship fund,” Breitkreutz said.

    To learn more about the David and Kendra Scholarship Fund, to contribute or to apply for a scholarship, visit https://soilhealthacademy.org/scholarships/ .

  • American Agri-Women “Road to Influence” Leadership Program Applications Due June 21

    American Agri-Women (AAW) members can apply now for the “AAW’s Road to Influence” personal and leadership development program.  The group is making history with this unique program that is for women only, from across the nation, from a variety of backgrounds in farming, agribusiness, ranching, forestry and the food industry.

    AAW’s President Heather Hampton+Knodle said, “We are not tied to one state or emphasizing one set of issues. It is not a “one hit wonder” one-day event.  We are investing in the growth and evolution of women so they can lead meaningful conversations and progress in their homes, work, communities, and the industry.”

    The 14-month program will launch in August in conjunction with AAW’s LEAP: Leading, Empowering and Aspiring to Progress event in Reno, Nevada which is open to all AAW members.  As they travel the AAW Road to Influence, participants will explore three phases: a deep dive into themselves to identify and manage blindspots and strengths; maximizing working in teams; and enacting a program or initiative to advance the AAW mission.  The program will integrate virtual meetings with intervals of three to four in-person seminars that culminate with graduation at the 2024 AAW Convention in Wisconsin.

    Applications are due by June 21st to the AAW Leadership Development Team Lead, Sara Reid Herman.

    The packet and membership information can be found at the organization’s website, www.americanagriwomen.org.

    About American Agri-Women

    American Agri-Women (AAW) promotes the welfare of our national security through safe and reliable food, fiber and energy supply. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers, advocate for agriculture, and offer networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW website for more information and to join www.americanagriwomen.org. Find AAW on social media at: Facebook.com/AgriWomen/, Twitter.com/Women4Ag/ (@Women4Ag) and Instagram.com/americanagriwomen/ (@americanagriwomen). #standupspeakout4ag

  • LMA BlockTrust Network Pilot Project Sales Kicks off in California June 17

    Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) in cooperation with BlockTrust Network, Mobile Cattle Marketing, Petaluma, Calif., Humboldt Livestock Auction Yard, Humboldt, Calif., Turlock Livestock Auction Yard, Turlock, Calif., Cattlemen’s Livestock Market, Galt, Calif., and Blue Grass Stockyards, Lexington, Ky., are conducting a pilot project to determine how blockchain technology offered by BlockTrust Network may allow LMA member livestock marketing businesses to leverage voluntary data capture of cattle moving through the auctions.

    The first of a series of sales will kick off on June 17 in Petaluma, Calif., conducted by the Mobile Cattle Marketing Group and featuring 1,500 fancy calves and yearlings. Additional sales are scheduled for July 8 and July 22.

    “We see opportunity in discovering how the decentralized database technology, like that offered by BlockTrust Network, may help our member livestock auctions capture greater value for auction customers while also protecting the privacy and rights of the farmer/rancher, the livestock auction and each additional stop along the supply chain” said Kristen Parman, Vice President Membership Services for LMA. “We know that livestock auctions have access to a tremendous amount of information about their customer’s herd management practices that result in top quality calves coming to auction, and we want to help auctions and auction customers translate that information in to improved value.”

    For each animal that is voluntarily electronically identified and enrolled into the BlockTrust Network, a record is created on the Blockchain; this record can contain as much, or as little additional data as desired and in this pilot project that information will be managed and controlled at the discretion of the participating auction. An example of additional data would be records containing health events or routine examinations, nutrition information, or animal demographics.

    The participating auction and consignors can then access a web portal where the participant can securely access the data on the network that they have permission to see. As more animals go through the supply chain, and matches are made, more data will become available.

    Results from the pilot project will be reviewed to determine all costs and changes in value that can be attributed to the BlockTrust Network enrollment with full results reported back to LMA’s leadership for future member service development.

    About the Livestock Marketing Association

    The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., is North America’s leading, national trade association dedicated to serving its members in the open and competitive auction method of marketing livestock. Founded in 1947, LMA has more than 800 member businesses across the U.S. and Canada and remains invested in both the livestock and livestock marketing industries through support, representation and communication efforts. For more information, visit www.LMAWeb.com.

  • Nominations for Farmers and Ranchers to Serve on Local FSA Committees

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting nominations for county committee members for elections that will occur later this year. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is unveiling a new GIS tool to make it easier for producers to participate in the nomination and election processes for county committee members, who make important decisions on how federal farm programs are administered locally.

    All nomination forms for the 2023 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2023.

    “Producers serving on FSA county committees play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency, and they serve as the eyes and ears for the producers who elected them,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “In order for county committees to be both effective and equitable in their decision-making at the local level, they must reflect the full diversity of American agriculture. I am excited that we have another opportunity through this year’s nominations and elections cycle to make our committees more inclusive, and in turn, better equipped to best serve all our customers. I encourage you to consider serving the farmers, ranchers and producers in your community on your local FSA county committee, and I thank you in advance for your public service.”

    Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for members. LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction and they may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.

    Customers can locate their LAA through a new GIS locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

    “Based on feedback from stakeholders, including the USDA Equity Commission, we are unveiling this new tool to make it easier for producers to effectively participate in the process,” Ducheneaux added.

    Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee if they:

    • Participate or cooperate in a USDA program; and
    • Reside in the LAA that is up for election this year.

    A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits. Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages minority producers, women and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote and hold office.

    Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members are vital to how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity and price support programs, county office employment and other agricultural issues.

    Urban and Suburban County Committees 

    The 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to form urban county committees as well as make other advancements related to urban agriculture, including the establishment of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. FSA established county committees specifically focused on urban agriculture. The urban county committees will work to encourage and promote urban, indoor and other emerging agricultural production practices. Additionally, the new county committees may address areas such as food access, community engagement, support of local activities to promote and encourage community compost and food waste reduction.

    Urban committee members are nominated and elected to serve by local urban producers in the same jurisdiction. Urban county committee members will provide outreach to ensure urban producers understand USDA programs and serve as the voice of other urban producers and assist in program implementation that support the needs of the growing urban community.

    The 17 county committees for urban agriculture are located in:

    • Albuquerque, New Mexico
    • Atlanta, Georgia
    • Chicago, Illinois
    • Cleveland, Ohio
    • Detroit, Michigan
    • Dallas, Texas
    • Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • Los Angeles, California
    • Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
    • New Orleans, Louisiana
    • New York, New York
    • Oakland, California
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • Phoenix, Arizona
    • Portland, Oregon
    • Richmond, Virginia
    • St. Louis, Missouri

    Learn more at farmers.gov/urban.

    More Information 

    Producers should contact their local FSA office today to register and find out how to get involved in their county’s election, including if their LAA is up for election this year. To be considered, a producer must be registered and sign an FSA-669A nomination form. Urban farmers should use an FSA-669-A-3 for urban county committees. These forms and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

    Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning Nov. 6, 2023.

    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 you don’t have an account, sign up today.

  • California Almond Shipments Make Record Comeback

    Following record production years, pandemic and logistical issues slowed California almond shipments considerably, creating record carryover inventory and pricing issues for the industry.  Coming off a shorter crop year in 2022 and what appears to be another short crop in 2023, almond growers are hoping to see prices moving up again.  Watch this brief interview with Almond Board of California President Richard Waycott as he shares details of some record almond shipping months this year that is moving the industry back on track to greater prosperity.

  • California Walnut Grower Fallows Land for Water Recharge Purposes

    Watch this brief video with Chowchilla walnut grower Mark Hutson who chose to fallow some of his land for groundwater recharge purposes last year, not knowing that he’d be able to put it to use so soon with the tremendous storm systems that came through this past winter and spring.  Learn about his experience in utilizing NRCS grant funding to prepare his land for recharge, and consider whether some form of groundwater recharge will work on your farm in the near future.

  • How This Farmer Returned 158 Acre-ft of Stormwater to the Soil in 10 Days

    California has been blessed with a tremendous amount of snow and rainfall this spring.  Coming after many dry years that have reduced our groundwater supply, farmers want to do all they can in this brief time of plenty to not only irrigate their drought-stressed trees and vines, but also recharge the groundwater supply beneath their fields.  But how quickly can a farmer prepare his/her land to take on some of this snowmelt for groundwater recharge purposes and what will it require?  Watch this video featuring Madera grape and nut grower Jennifer Peters, who in a very short time was able to install an on-farm groundwater recharge basin and capture much of this stormwater.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.

  • Excellent Sizes Expected for California Prunes this Year

    California experienced favorable weather during prune bloom and growers are observing good sizes on fruit set. While production looks promising, supplies are expected to be tight again this season with an estimated 75,000 short tons (68,000 MT) in volume for the 2023 prune crop year according to the Executive Committee of the California Prune Board.

    Bigger sizes for California Prunes are in line with the premium quality of the crop. While still in the first half of the growing season, the prune trees in California appear happy from the wet weather with natural fruit drop, resulting in what growers anticipate will be a range of optimum sizes.

    “We’ve built solid demand and California prune handlers maintain careful inventory management, putting our industry in a pretty steady position,” says Donn Zea Executive Director for the California Prune Board. “The cost of business and continued tight supply is likely to keep pressure on pricing for the foreseeable future.”

    While participating on a panel of dried fruit industry leaders during the 40th meeting of the International Nut & Dried Fruit Congress (INC) in London last month, Mr. Zea reported that while production will be higher this year, the global prune industry is in relative balance between supply and demand. “The industry realities are impacted by a return to typical crop years in South America and France after short crops last year,” added Zea.

    For over 100 years, California Prune growers have been responsibly producing premium prunes. With the highest quality agricultural standards of any nation and a climate-controlled tunnel drying system, the California difference is reflected in the naturally sweet prunes that safely reach 60 countries every year. California is the largest producer of prunes in the world and heavily invests in scientific research to continue leading the category.

    ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE BOARD

    The California Prune Board was established in 1952 to represent growers and handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture. California is the world’s largest producer of prunes with orchards across 14 counties in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Promoting a lifetime of wellness through the enjoyment of California Prunes, the organization leads the premium prune category with generations of craftsmanship supported by California’s leading food safety and sustainability standards. California Prunes. Prunes. For life.