California Ag Network

Category: Ag Legislation

  • New Climate-focused Ag Program Aims to Train Students and Farmers

    California is the largest and the most diverse agricultural economy in the nation with revenue exceeding $50 billion — larger than the combined agricultural economies of the other 10 western states.  

    But the state and its residents, especially the disadvantaged, are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.  

    A $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will enable a new project at UC Merced to create an integrated program to develop multi-faceted pathways to climate-smart agriculture solutions. 

    Cooperative Extension Specialist Tapan Pathak, with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is leading the effort. He plans to involve farmers and ranchers, technical service providers and students in a variety of training and educational activities.

    Cooperative Extension Specialist Tapan Pathak

    Pathak plans to conduct needs assessments with local stakeholders, workshops and climate-smart agriculture training, as well as service-learning opportunities for students through the extension program.   

    “Farmers and ranchers, including the socially disadvantaged, are under constant pressure to adjust to uncertain weather and climate events to minimize risks, but often have limited access to technical assistance and fewer resources to adapt to climate change,” Pathak explained. “The critical initial step for developing a climate-smart agriculture program for them is to understand and document their perceptions, experiences and knowledge of climate-change exposures, potential impacts and social vulnerabilities.” 

    The researchers also need to know what tools and resources would assist them in making strategic decisions, and what types of education and outreach activities would help them choose and implement climate-smart agriculture practices. 

    Pathak and his team will conduct needs assessments in three phases: a statewide survey to get information from a diverse group of farmers and ranchers, then focus groups and informal personal interviews. 

    Another group of people the program aims to reach are technical service providers — those front-line farm and ranch counselors who are often asked questions on climate change, weather variability and local implications, but often have limited training on climate change.  

    “There is overwhelming evidence of the importance of integrating climate change into research, education and outreach activities carried out by Cooperative Extension, local, state and federal resource staff-managed programs or operations to improve sustainability, to adapt and to mitigate climate change impacts,” Pathak said. “However, individuals in these groups are content area experts and by and large do not have specific training in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. For example, federal resource staff are required to consider climate change in project planning and aspects of operations but have no to very limited training on climate change, and even less on how to incorporate such information into federal workflow.” 

    Finally, the student experience will form a large component of this effort. As the next generation of a climate-ready workforce, students need education and training in both climate change and agriculture, as well as practical learning opportunities. 

    Pathak plans to provide opportunities for University of California undergraduates as well as California Community College students through a UC Merced Summer Institute on Climate and Agriculture certificate course; a UC Davis credit-based course called Science and Society: Climate Change and Agriculture; and a certificate course for community college students, professionals and non-degree seeking students. The Summer Institute on Climate and Agriculture will pay students from any major to learn about climate and agricultural science, including topics such as climate science fundamentals; interaction of weather and climate with agriculture; the food-energy-water nexus; hands-on weather and climate data analysis for detecting trends; climate change impacts on agriculture; automation and data analytics; climate and water: conflicts and implications; and climate change communication.  

    “In addition, we will organize field trips, such as visiting and learning from local farming operations, county Cooperative Extension offices and USDA-ARS research facilities, irrigation districts and reservoirs, and visiting a National Weather Service office,” he said. “Each of these visits will give students the opportunity to meet, network with and learn from experts, scientists and professionals, all of which could benefit their future careers.”  

    The project is part of an investment in Cooperative Extension and USDA Climate Hubs efforts to bolster climate research and share climate-smart solutions directly with the agricultural communities. The USDA recently invested $9 million in several such projects as part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the nation’s leading competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. 

    “These new NIFA-funded projects will work toward net-zero emissions in agriculture, working lands and communities adapted to climate change, training a diverse workforce that can communicate and incorporate climate considerations into management and climate justice that is appropriate for unique U.S. agronomic conditions,” said NIFA Director Carrie Castille. — By Lorena Anderson, UC Merced

  • Co-occurring Droughts Could Threaten Global Food Security

    Droughts occurring at the same time across different regions of the planet could place an unprecedented strain on the global agricultural system and threaten the water security of millions of people, according to a new study in Nature Climate Change.

    A Washington State University (WSU)-led research team analyzed climate, agricultural and population growth data to show continuing fossil fuel dependence will increase the probability of co-occurring droughts 40% by the mid-21st century and 60% by the late 21st century, relative to the late-20th century. That comes out to an approximately ninefold increase in agricultural and human population exposure to severe co-occurring droughts unless steps are taken to lower carbon emissions.

    Jitendra Singh, a former postdoctoral researcher at the WSU School of the Environment now at ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

    “There could be around 120 million people across the globe simultaneously exposed to severe compound droughts each year by the end of the century,” said lead author Jitendra Singh, a former postdoctoral researcher at the WSU School of the Environment now at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. “Many of the regions our analysis shows will be most affected are already vulnerable and so the potential for droughts to become disasters is high.”

    The elevated risk of compound droughts estimated by Singh and colleagues is a result of a warming climate coupled with a projected 22% increase in the frequency of El Niño and La Niña events, the two opposite phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

    The researchers’ projections show that nearly 75% of compound droughts in the future will coincide with these irregular but recurring periods of climatic variation in the world’s oceans, which have played a large role in some of the greatest environmental disasters in world history.

    For example, El Nino-fueled droughts that concurrently occurred across Asia, Brazil and Africa during 1876-1878 led to synchronous crop failures, followed by famines that killed more than 50 million people.

    Deepti Singh, an assistant professor in the WSU School of the Environment

    “While technology and other circumstances today are a lot different than they were in the late 19th century, crop failures in multiple breadbasket regions still have the potential to affect global food availability,” said study coauthor Deepti Singh, an assistant professor in the WSU School of the Environment.  “This could in turn increase volatility in global food prices, affecting food access and exacerbating food insecurity, particularly in regions that are already vulnerable to environmental shocks such as droughts.”

    The researchers’ analysis specifically focused on ten regions of the planet that receive most of their rainfall during June-September, have high variability in monthly summer precipitation and are affected by ENSO variations, factors that lead to an increased potential for co-occurring drought. Several of the regions analyzed include important agricultural regions and countries that are currently facing food and water insecurity.

    Their results indicate areas of North and South America are more likely to experience compound droughts in a future, warmer climate than regions of Asia, where much of the agricultural land is projected to become wetter.

    Food produced in the Americas could therefore be more susceptible to climatic hazards. For instance, the United States is a major exporter of staple grains and currently ships maize to countries across the globe. Even a modest increase in the risk of compound droughts in the future climate could lead to regional supply shortfalls that could in turn cascade into the global market, affecting global prices and amplifying food insecurity.

    “The potential for a food security crisis increases even if these droughts aren’t affecting major food producing regions but rather many regions that are already vulnerable to food insecurity,” said coauthor Weston Anderson, an assistant research scientist at the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center at the University of Maryland. “Simultaneous droughts in food insecure regions could in turn amplify stresses on international agencies responsible for disaster relief by requiring the provision of humanitarian aid to a greater number of people simultaneously.”

    There is some good news, Anderson said. The researchers’ work is based on a high fossil fuel emissions scenario, and in recent years, the global community has made progress toward lowering carbon emissions which would greatly mitigate the frequency and intensity of co-occurring droughts by the end of the 21st century.

    Also, the occurrence of nearly 75% of compound droughts alongside ENSO events in the future climate highlights the potential to predict where these droughts may occur with a lead time of up to nine months.

    “This means that co-occurring droughts during ENSO events will likely affect the same geographical regions they do today albeit with greater severity,” said Deepti Singh. “Being able to predict where these droughts will occur and their potential impacts can help society develop plans and efforts to minimize economic losses and reduce human suffering from such climate-driven disasters.”

    Moving forward the researchers plan to take a closer look at how co-occurring droughts will affect various aspects of the global food network, how vulnerable communities are affected by and adapting to such climate extremes, as well as how society can be better prepared to manage the risk of increasing simultaneous disasters.

    Collaborators for the project included researchers from WSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Columbia University and the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, India. — By Will Ferguson, Washington State University

  • CA Prune Board Advances Study of Prunes and Bone Health

    The California Prune Board (CPB) is leading the way in investigating a connection between prunes and favorable bone through a growing body of evidence spanning two decades. Building on this remarkable and extensive research, the organization is announcing recently published scientific data supporting the role prunes may play in optimal bone health, while previewing a pipeline of clinical trials currently underway.

    “The science has shown us that something unique is going on with prunes, as we’ve uncovered some remarkable connections to bone health,” said Donn Zea, Executive Director, California Prune Board. “With every study we learn something more compelling further piquing our curiosity. Our research program has more to explore, and we’re excited to see where this takes us in terms of learning more about the benefits of prunes for bone health.”

    RECENTLY PUBLISHED HIGHLIGHTS

    In a recent review paper published in Advances in Nutrition titled, “The Role of Prunes in Modulating Inflammatory Pathways to Improve Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women,” researchers from Pennsylvania State University examined the relationship between prune consumption, oxidative stress, inflammation, and favorable bone health outcomes, summarizing the results of preclinical and clinical trials. They reported that the bone-protective effects of prunes found in postmenopausal women appear to be connected to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that prunes stimulate within the body. Moreover, the authors also suggested that prunes’ favorable effect on bone may be partially explained by changes in the gut microbiota that can come from regular prune consumption.

    Additionally, in a USDA-funded clinical trial recently published in Nutrients, titled “The Short-term Effects of Prunes in Improving Bone in Men,” investigators from Florida State University sought to test the effect of daily prune consumption on bone metabolism in 35 men over the age of 50 who had some bone loss. The early findings showed a reduction in osteocalcin, a biomarker of bone turnover, and an increase in what’s known as the OPG:RANKL ratio, indicating prunes may have a positive effect on bone status after just three months of eating this whole fruit daily. These preliminary findings are a subset of a larger study with results that have not yet been published but are anticipated in the next 12-18 months.

    “As a researcher it’s exciting to see a positive change in bone turnover in these men from prune consumption after a relatively short period of time. We anticipate even more favorable results in bone status once the men have completed a full year of eating prunes every day,” said Principal Investigator Bahram Arjmandi, PhD, RDN, Professor and Director, Center for Advancing Exercise and Nutrition Research on Aging, Florida State University.

    RESEARCH UNDERWAY

    In addition to this recently published data, the following nutrition studies from highly credentialed research institutions are currently in progress and working toward completion or journal publication:

    Randomized Controlled Trial of Dietary Supplementation with Prunes on Bone Density, Bone Geometry, and Bone Strength in Postmenopausal Women

    Principal Investigator: Mary Jane De Souza, PhD – Pennsylvania State University

    With a cohort of over 200 postmenopausal women, this is the largest clinical trial to date to investigate the effect of prunes on bone status as a non-pharmaceutical plant-based strategy to combat bone breakdown.

    The Effects of 12-months of Prune Consumption on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Turnover Markers in Korean Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia

    Principal Investigator: Peter Clifton, PhD – University of South Australia

    Co- Principal Investigator: Yoona Kim, PhD, RD, Gyeongsang National University, Korea

    This clinical trial in South Korea is the first study outside of the United States to investigate the bone protective benefits of daily consumption of prunes in Korean osteopenic postmenopausal women.

    The Impact of Consuming California Prunes on Bone Health of Young Women Using Hormonal Contraceptives

    Principal Investigator: Shirin Hooshmand, PhD, RD – San Diego State University

    The study is investigating the impact of prune consumption on bone formation and in preventing or slowing bone loss in young women 18-25 years old taking hormonal contraceptives.

    “Bone health, whether optimizing bone formation early in life or preventing bone loss in adulthood, is critical at all life stages given that the human skeleton is dynamic, undergoing a continuous cycle of building and breaking down bone,” said Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, RD, Nutrition Advisor, California Prune Board. “We are aiming to better understand the role of prunes in this cycle that is strongly correlated to gut health, inflammation, and oxidative states within the body.”

    While it remains unclear what bioactive compounds in prunes are responsible for the beneficial effects on bone, the prune-positive bone health story may be partially due to the array of vitamins and minerals in California Prunes known to influence bone status, namely boron, potassium, copper and vitamin K. Prunes are also rich in phenolic compounds, which research suggests may inhibit bone breakdown and stimulate bone formation. Key future directions to bridge the gap in the areas of bone and the gut-bone axis are on the research horizon.

    CREATING A VISION FOR THE FUTURE 

    Advancing bone-focused nutrition research and expanding the connection to the gut-bone axis, while also exploring clinical trials in various life stages and international populations is at the heart of the California Prune Board’s strategic vision for continued research into the next decade.

    The integrity of the California Prune Board’s nutrition research program is demonstrated by the renowned research and academic institutions with whom it has partnered and the rigorous process that ensures credible research decisions.

    A top-caliber nutrition research advisory panel, led by Mary Jo Feeney, MS, RDN, FADA, FAND, helps to guide these California Prune nutrition research efforts. The panel is comprised of highly experienced researchers and nutrition experts from academic institutions, including Tufts University, Cleveland Clinic, Pennsylvania State University, University of Minnesota, and San Diego State University. This independent advisory panel provides vision and oversight of the nutrition research program and ensures scientific rigor for every project that explores the nutritional and health benefits of California Prunes.

    The California Prune Board is deeply committed to the scientific rigor of nutrition research. For more details on previously published research, visit: https://californiaprunes.org/healthy-living/benefits-of-prunes/additional-research/

    REFERENCES

    Damani JJ, De Souza MJ, VanEvery HL, Strock NCA, Rogers CJ. The Role of Prunes in Modulating Inflammatory Pathways to Improve Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women. Adv Nutr. 2022 Jan 3:nmab162. Epub ahead of print.

    George KS, Munoz J, Ormsbee LT, Akhavan NS, Foley EM, Siebert SC, Kim JS, Hickner RC, Arjmandi BH. The Short-Term Effect of Prunes in Improving Bone in Men. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 10;14(2):276.

    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.

  • Management of Fungal Diseases of Tomato Webinar, Feb. 23

    On February 23, 2022, 3-4 pm Dr. Brenna J. Aegerter, Farm Advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension San Joaquin County will lead a zoom meeting under the UC Ag Experts webinar series discussing powdery mildew, black mold fruit rot, and various soilborne diseases in processing tomatoes. She will describe symptoms, factors that contribute to their development, and management options. 1.0 CEU (other) from DPR and 1 CEU (IPM) from CCA are pending. Register to attend the virtual meeting HERE.

  • California’s Vegetable Value Down 15% from 2020

    The value of California’s 2021 utilized vegetable production dropped 15% to $7.24 billion compared to 2020’s value of $8.55 billion according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Pacific Regional Field Office.

    Despite the decrease in state’s overall total value of utilized production, crops showing an increase included asparagus, snap beans, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, garlic, honeydews, onions, chile peppers, pumpkins and tomatoes.

    California fresh market and processing vegetable growers harvested 920,800 acres of principal vegetable crops in 2021, up 1% from 2020. Utilized production totaled 404 million hundred weight down 6% from 2020’s 428 million hundred weight.

    California leads the nation in vegetable production, accounting for over 40% of the U.S. vegetable acreage.

    USDA NASS recently posted the Vegetables 2021 Summary for vegetables grown during the 2021 crop year in California and across the U.S. The report includes survey data collected for acreage, production, marketing year price and value collected on an annual basis for 26 vegetable and melon crops in the U.S. Questionnaire content, survey timetables, and survey administration are state specific. Data are gathered by telephone interviews, mail, faxed, and online reporting.

    For a copy of the full report, visit Vegetables 2021 Summary. Below are comments for crops where The Golden State is the largest producer.

    Artichokes: Total California production in 2021 totaled 833 thousand cwt, up 9% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 4,900 acres, down 4% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 4,900 acres, was down 4% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $57.5 million, 10% below the previous season. Utilized production totaled 833 thousand cwt, all of which was for the fresh market.

    Despite artichokes in the Coachella region getting off to a late start due to the desert heat, the plants flourished and were very productive. In the primary growing region of the Central Coast, cool winter weather and pest pressures reduced early supplies, but better spring weather allowed the crop to recover with good quality and excellent production.

    Broccoli: Total California production in 2021 totaled 12.3 million cwt, down 14% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 95,000 acres, up 6% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 94,500 acres, was also up 6% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $631 million, 19% less than the previous year. Utilized production totaled 12.3 million cwt, of which 11.8 million cwt was for the fresh market and 22.7 thousand tons for processing.

    Broccoli prices increased as cooler weather in growing areas limited supplies. Crown quality was very good. Brown bead, hollow core, and yellowing were reported to be minor issues.

    Cabbage: Total California production in 2021 totaled 5.40 million cwt, down 8% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 14,800 acres, down 2 % from the previous year. Area harvested, at 14,600 acres, was up 2% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $155 million, 5% more than the previous season. Utilized production totaled 5.40 million cwt.

    Weather during planting in the fall of 2020 and through head development in 2021 was favorable. No significant pathogen impact on the crop was reported. Demand for cabbage was on the rise with consumer interest in health benefits during the continuing pandemic. Weather conditions were a mixture of dry and wet conditions during the season in most of the cabbage producing areas.

    Cantaloupes: Total California production in 2021 totaled 6.90 million cwt, down 4% from 2020. Planted areas was estimated at 23,500 acres, up 7% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 23,400 acres, up 7% from 2020. The value of the crop total was $163 million, a decrease of 11% from previous year. The utilized production was 6.90 million cwt, all of which was for the fresh market.

    Production of cantaloupes was strongly impacted by higher input costs, including water.

    Carrots: Total California production in 2021 totaled 25.2 million cwt, up 2% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 61,700 acres, an increase of 2% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 61,400 acres, is also up 2% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $654 million, 5% less than the previous year. Utilized production totaled 25.1 million cwt.

    The rise in the pandemic led to a surge in carrot demand, resulting in an increase in prices and labor costs. The market was steady with good supplies; growers saw jumbo and cello size in the fields. In the southern San Joaquin and Cuyama Valleys, the top carrot producing counties in California, growers reported severe drought conditions, limiting water supplies in 2021.

    Cauliflower: Total California production in 2021 totaled 7.07 million cwt, down 11% from the previous year. Planted area was estimated at 39,400 acres, up 6% from 2020. Area harvested, at 39,300 acres, was up 7% from the previous year. The value of the crop totaled $266 million, 2% less than the previous season. Utilized production also totaled 7.07 million cwt.

    Prices received by growers improved. Cooler weather slowed growth, resulting in lighter volume, but quality remained strong with good sizing and color

    Celery: Total California production in 2021 totaled 15.3 million cwt, a decrease of 5% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 28,000 acres, down 4% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 27,800 acres, showed a decrease of 3% from the previous year. The value of the crop totaled $375 million, up 5% from previous year. Utilized production for 2021 totaled 15.3 million cwt, down 5% from 2020.

    Cold and wet weather slowed production during the end of the year. Some growers in the Oxnard area reported crop damage due to flooding and a canal breach. Additionally, fusarium and insects caused reduced yields for some producers. The market was tight for organic celery during a portion of the 2021 growing season.

    Garlic: Total California production in 2021 totaled 4.19 million cwt, an increase of 18% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 26,500 acres, up 12% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 26,200 acres, also showed an increase of 11% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $244 million, up slightly from the 2020 value of $242 million. Utilized production also totaled 4.19 million cwt.

    Despite the minimal water availability and the extreme heat, the garlic crop was above average. Moisture received in April was beneficial and the crop was able to survive the hot temperatures

    Honeydew: Total California production in 2021 totaled 1.76 million cwt, down 20% from 2020. Planted area and harvested area were both estimated at 6,900 acres, down 4% from the previous year. The value of the crop totaled $48.9 million, up 7% from the previous season. All production was sold for the fresh market.

    Higher input costs, including water, reduced supply of honeydew melons. Consumer demand increased, which resulted in higher prices than the previous season.

    Head lettuce: Total California production in 2021 totaled 24.9 million cwt, down 11% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 76,000 acres, up 3% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 75,400 acres, was also up 3% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $728 million, 19% less than the previous season. All utilized production was sold for the fresh market.

    The head lettuce market was steady while supply remained low. Labor, weather, and quality were concerns throughout the growing season. High temperatures and humidity in the Salinas Valley during July and August caused stress for some of the crop, which resulted in internal burn and fog burn. There were also reports of below freezing temperatures causing harvesting and packing delays.

    Leaf lettuce: Total California production in 2021 totaled 10.2 million cwt, down 23% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 50,000 acres, down 6% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 49,700 acres, was 4% lower than 2020. The value of the crop totaled $532 million, 44% less than the previous season. Utilized production was all sold for the fresh market.

    Production of leaf lettuce continued to trend downward as the market remained steady. Quality was fair, while pricing remained competitive. Extreme temperatures affected crop quality and harvest efforts. There were reports of below freezing temperatures, causing harvesting and packing delays.

    Romaine lettuce: Total California production in 2021 totaled 20.1 million cwt, down 12% from the 2020 total. Planted area was estimated at 71,300 acres, up 3% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 70,400 acres, was up 4% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $768 million, 37% less than the previous season. All production was sold for the fresh market.

    The Romaine lettuce crop experienced some quality issues that affected yields and resulted in substantial price decreases compared to 2020.

    Onions: Total California production in 2021 totaled 19.0 million cwt, down slightly from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 45,800 acres, up 7% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 45,300 acres, was up 6% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $297 million, 10% more than the previous year. Of the utilized production, 9.51 million cwt was sold for the fresh market and 475 thousand tons were for processing.

    Growers had low expectations early in the season, given the extreme heat challenges and limited water supply. Onions dried up too quickly and volumes were disappointing. Dryness and long periods of intense heat, led to expansion of wildfires and prolonged lack of sunlight, causing minimal damage to the crop. Widespread, Fusarium basal rot was reported on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, causing some onions to decay and lower yields.

    Bell peppers: Total California production in 2021 totaled 3.83 million cwt, down 24% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 9,200 acres, down 22% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 9,000 acres, was down 23% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $185 million, 31% less than the previous year. Utilized production totaled 3.82 million cwt, of which 2.17 million cwt was for the fresh market and 82.2 thousand tons was for processing.

    Bell pepper growers were faced with rising production costs and transportation issues.

    Spinach: Total California production in 2021 totaled 5.17 million cwt, up 2% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 40,300 acres, down 5% from the previous year. Area harvested, at 39,800 acres, was also down 5% from 2020. The value of the crop totaled $359 million, 11% less than the previous season.

    Water supply was an issue for spinach growers as they experienced severe drought conditions during the 2021 growing season.

    Tomatoes: Total California production in 2021 totaled 224 million cwt, down 4% from 2020. Planted area was estimated at 251,000 acres, down 2% from the previous year. Area harvested, estimated at 248,900 acres, was unchanged from the previous year. The value of the crop totaled $1.18 billion, 6% higher than 2020. Utilized production totaled 222 million cwt, of which 6.72 million cwt was for the fresh market and 10.8 million tons were for processing.

    Drought concerns impacted planting decisions for the 2021 processing tomato crop and planted acreage decreased significantly from early season contracted intentions. Extremely high temperatures in May and throughout the summer lowered expected yields and slowed down operations at the canneries. Harvest began the first week of July and continued through November, marking the longest harvest in recent years.

    For more agricultural statistics, visit www.nass.usda.gov. 

  • Crush Report Reveals an 8.7% Increase in California Grapes

    After recuperating from another rigorous harvest season, California grape grower and vintners anticipate the release of the annual Grape Crush Report from USDA & CDFA – and that time has come with preliminary results revealing an 8.7% increase from the 2020 crush. Read the following report for more details.

    The 2021 crush totaled 3,858,841 tons, up 8.7% from the 2020 crush of 3,551,312 tons. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 2,016,959 tons, up 10.7% from 2020. White wine varieties crushed totaled 1,596,051 tons, up 0.3% from 2020. Tons crushed of raisin type varieties totaled 137,959, up 225% from 2020, and tons crushed of table type varieties totaled 107,872, up 13.2% from 2020.

    The 2021 average price of all varieties was $848.42, up 24.8% from 2020. Average prices for the 2021 crop by type were as follows: red wine grapes, $1.055.18, up 32.4% from 2020; white wine grapes, $668.89, up 19.7% from 2020; raisin grapes, $292.23, up 16.6% from 2020; and table grapes, $183.12, up 14.6% from 2020.

    In 2021, Chardonnay continued to account for the largest percentage of the total tonnage crushed at 16.0%. Cabernet Sauvignon accounted for the second largest percentage of the total crush at 15.3%. Table grape varieties crushed for wine accounted for 2.8% and raisin varieties crushed for wine were 3.6% of the total crush.

    District 13 (Madera, Fresno, Alpine, Mono, Inyo Counties; and Kings and Tulare Counties north of Nevada Avenue (Avenue 192)), had the largest share of the State’s crush at 1,190,395 tons. The average price per ton in District 13 was $335.75.

    Grapes produced in District 4 (Napa County) received the highest average price at $6,090.55 per ton, up 32.5% from 2020. District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) received the second highest average price at $2,671.57 per ton, up 10.7% from 2020.

    The 2021 Chardonnay average price of $967.52 was up 16.6% from 2020 and the Cabernet Sauvignon average price of $1,643.06 was up 33.0% from 2020. The 2021 average price for French Colombard was $324.51, up 13.0% from 2020, while the Zinfandel average price was up 21.7% from 2020, at $636.79 per ton.

    Prices for 2020 reflected adjustments due to smoke damage, as reported by purchasers. For more information about how purchasers reported smoke damaged grapes last year, go to: cdfa.ca.gov/mkt/pdf/GrapeCrush2020_Smoke_Taint_FAQ.pdf

    Grasp the full picture of the 2021 grape harvest by reading the March feature in American Vineyard Magazine. Don’t currently receive the print publication? Subscribe for free HERE.

  • Hemp Hampered no More with Research Showing Potential as Cash Crop

    After decades of being relegated and regulated research on industrial hemp as a valuable crop is far behind. That’s because the United States banned the use of hemp in the 1930s. That means that all research about this crop stopped, too. Now that the Farm Bill allows for the growing and use of industrial hemp, that leaves researchers with a decades-long gap in knowledge.

    At the forefront of those trying to enter back into the hemp market – seed companies and potential growers – is seed quality after harvest.

    This is where Sabry Elias, professor of crop and soil science at Oregon State University, and his team come in. Elias recently presented his work at the 2021 ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meeting, held in Salt Lake City.

    “One of the challenges in growing industrial hemp is that the plants have an indeterminate flowering pattern,” Elias explains. “This results in seeds with different maturity levels and ages on the same plant at the time of harvest.”

    This poses a series of questions that Elias and his team investigate. What is the difference in quality between a seed higher on the plant versus one lower on the plant? How can they test for these quality differences? After harvest, do seeds go dormant? If they do go dormant, for how long and how can dormancy be broken?

    There are two fundamentals that impact seed quality that the researchers investigated: viability and vigor. Viability is the capability of seeds to germinate and produce normal seedlings. Vigor is the ability of seeds to germinate and grow under a wide range of field conditions. Elias explains that these qualities are controlled by genetic and environmental factors.

    “Improved varieties possess good traits such as high yield, seed quality, and disease resistance,” he says. “Seeds that develop and mature under optimum conditions develop quality seeds. On the other hand, seeds developed under moisture stress, nutrient deficiency, extreme temperatures, etc. often result in light, shriveled seed or collectively called poor quality seeds.”

    One of the viability tests used by the researchers was the tetrazolium test. It differentiates live from dead seeds based on color reaction to the activity of respiration enzymes in seeds. Photo adapted by Sabry Elias from an original by Yeaching Wu

    The researchers performed four different tests on two varieties of hemp seeds. Two measured seed viability by trying to tell the difference between live and dead seeds. Two others measured seed vigor by looking at how fast they germinated and how well they grew under stress conditions.

    “Two seed lots can have the same viability percentage (e.g., 85%), but one of them can be more vigorous than the other,” Elias explains. “It is like both a 90-year-old and 25-year-old are alive, but the person who is 25 is (usually healthier than the one who is 90 years old)”.

    One viability test used biochemical reactions and subsequent color changes of seeds to measure if a seed is viable. The other measured the capacity of seeds to germinate and produce normal seedlings. One of the vigor tests germinated the seeds to test how quickly they do so. The second placed the seeds in high-stress conditions and then germinated them.

    Their findings showed that all four of these tests were useful in measuring the quality of hemp seeds. The team’s experiments also showed that harvesting the seeds lower on the hemp plant seven to eight days later than those higher on the plant improved the overall quality of the seeds.

    “This makes the whole plant, upper and lower parts, available for harvest,” Elias says. “It increases the yield by one-third because the current practice of some hemp farming systems is to harvest only the upper two-thirds of the plants to avoid the underdeveloped seeds from the lower part.”

    Lastly, the scientists looked at the dormancy of the seeds. Elias explains that dormant seeds are viable seeds but will not germinate even under favorable conditions, until dormancy is broken. Seeds are most dormant right after harvesting.

    Dormancy slowly disappears over time or with treatments such as pre-chilling, dry heat, or hormonal treatments. Their research showed that a pre-chilling treatment at 10 degrees Celsius for five days was able to break dormancy.

    “I believe that hemp has great potential as a cash crop for growers in the United States and around the world because of its multiple uses in food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial products,” Elias says. “In addition, I have passion for the areas of seed physiology, quality, and dormancy, particularly because research in hemp had been put off for decades.”

    This illustration lists the many uses of hemp in food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial products. The industrial hemp industry was shut down in the 1930s due to prohibition and confusion with its cousin, marijuana. The 2014 Farm Bill allowed for the reintroduction of this valuable crop to the United States. Figure adapted by Sabry Elias from an original by Aaron Cadena

  • Register Now for NCAT’s Virtual Soil Health Innovations Conference

    The National Center for Appropriate Technology has opened registration for its Soil Health Innovations Conference: Soil for Water, March 15 and 16.

    The two-day conference will convene online, and the highly interactive format will connect agricultural producers and educators in a critical conversation about soil health. As was the first conference, it will be an in-depth exploration of agriculture’s sustainable future: on-farm practices, soil biology, carbon markets, and public policy. This year’s conference will focus on farm and ranch strategies to catch and hold more water in the soil.

    “The inaugural Soil Health Innovations Conference last spring really exceeded our expectations,” said NCAT Executive Director Steve Thompson. “We were especially struck by the engagement of the participants, both during the conference and afterward through NCAT’s ATTRA sustainable agriculture program. It goes to show that we live in a time when producers and food companies, as well as policy makers, realize how important healthy soils are as we design practical approaches for supporting resilient regenerative agriculture.”

    The conference will bring together leading experts and innovative farmers from around the U.S. to share the latest in soil science, best practices in soil management, opportunities for policy change, and the emerging technologies that will drive the future of sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Two sessions will focus on the potential to reduce downstream flooding through watershed-scale soil health practices. Keynote speakers will include University of Washington and Dig2Grow’s David Montgomery and regenerative rancher Alejandro Carrillo.

    This year’s theme, Soil for Water, expands on NCAT’s nationwide effort of the same name to connect a growing network of regenerative farmers, ranchers, and land managers who are taking steps to catch and hold more water in the soil.

    In addition, since one of the best parts of any conference is the chance to greet old friends and make new acquaintances, the conference will have virtual networking tables that allow participants to get together with each other, speakers, and NCAT staff.

    There also will be virtual halls where participants can connect with exhibitors and conference sponsors.

    Don’t miss this chance to examine current practices as well as the concepts, techniques, and practical applications that may be available in the future. Register to attend the conference, exhibit or sponsor the event at SOILINNOVATIONS.NCAT.ORG.

    Keynote Speaker: March 15

    David R. Montgomery, University of Washington and Dig2Grow.com
    Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life

    “Soil may be the least sexy resource upon which civilization depends, yet soil erosion and degradation have plagued societies in the past and pose challenges for feeding the future. Growing a Revolution relates visits to farmers around the world at the heart of a brewing soil health revolution that cuts through standard debates about conventional and organic farming.”

    See David Montgomery’s biography

    Keynote Speaker: March 16

    Alejandro Raul Carrillo, Las Damas Cattle Ranch
    Regenerative Grazing to Reverse Desertification

    Using regenerative grazing techniques over the past several years, Alejandro dramatically increased the water filtration of his ranch in the Chihuahuan Desert 250 miles south of El Paso, Texas.

    See Alejandro Carrillo’s biography

  • FARM Animal Care Program Announces Version 5 Survey Results

    The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program today shared the results of its Animal Care Version 5 Development Survey. The report summarizes stakeholder perspectives on animal care issues of importance and captures ideas and levels of support for potential changes to the industry’s animal care standards.

    “We are pleased with the level of engagement and the quality of feedback that we received from dairy farmers, veterinarians and other industry representatives that will help inform the development of FARM Animal Care Version 5,” said Emily Yeiser Stepp, vice president of the FARM Program. “We remain committed to ensuring updates made to the program reflect the needs and goals of the entire dairy supply chain.”

    FARM Animal Care is updated once every three years to ensure relevance to current industry best management practices and scientific research related to on-farm animal care. The survey received 682 responses from farmers, veterinarians, and dairy-industry leaders nationwide.

    Stakeholders identified care for sick animals, calves, and non-ambulatory cattle as dairy’s greatest priority to maintain focus on for Version 5. The survey also showed general support for making minor modifications and adding clarity to the program while avoiding large overhauls. Most survey respondents, including farmers, showed they would willingly support small changes to better address animal care vulnerabilities. Respondents also were in consensus that standards that aren’t direct measures of good animal welfare practices should be updated to prioritize an outcomes-based approach.

    The results of this survey will be used to inform all levels of governance of FARM and will help guide ongoing discussions about the development of Version 5. The National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors provide final approval on FARM standards, which will come into effect starting July 1, 2024. For more information, visit the Version 5 development page.

    The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce the majority of U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

    Created by the National Milk Producers Federation in partnership with Dairy Management Inc, the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) works with all U.S. dairy farmers, co-ops and processors, to demonstrate to dairy customers and consumers that the dairy industry is taking the very best care of cows and the environment, producing safe, wholesome milk and adhering to the highest standards of workforce development.

  • Deadline Extended for U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards Nominations

    For more than a decade, the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards program has been celebrating dairy farms, businesses and partnerships for their dedication to advancing sustainability across the industry.

    The nominations period deadline for the 2022 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards has been extended to March 4.

    The farmer-founded Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, which unites the industry through a shared social responsibility platform, launched the awards to honor exceptional farms, businesses and partnerships for their socially responsible, economically viable and environmentally sound practices and technologies that have a broad and positive impact.

    Nearly 80 farms, business and partnerships have been celebrated as winners and honorable mentions over the past 10 years. They serve as examples of the dairy industry’s commitment to social responsibility, including the 2050 Environmental Stewardship goals announced in 2020. Set by the Innovation Center through extensive industry and stakeholder collaboration, the goals are to achieve GHG neutrality, optimize water usage and improve water quality by 2050.

    “Sustainability Award winners epitomize the best of dairy sustainability and ingenuity, providing useful case studies for the dairy community as it moves forward to meet industrywide commitments, including dairy’s 2050 Environmental Stewardship goals,” said Barbara O’Brien, president and CEO of Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. “We’re excited to see what innovations rise to the top with this year’s nominations.”

    Award submissions can be made at www.usdairy.com/2022Awards. There is no fee to enter. All farms, companies and organizations involved in the U.S. dairy industry and engaged in collaborative and sustainable dairy-related practices are eligible to submit nominations in the following categories:

    Dairy Farm Sustainability

    The Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability category recognizes farmers for practices and technologies that demonstrate exemplary economic, environmental and/or social benefits and continuous improvement in dairy production. Successful nominations take a holistic approach to sustainability and provide replicable results that can advance on-farm dairy leadership and inspire positive change industrywide.

    Processing and Manufacturing Sustainability

    The Outstanding Dairy Processing and Manufacturing Sustainability category recognizes demonstrated steps to innovate, measure and communicate progress within the triple bottom line of sustainability. It provides replicable success stories to benefit the dairy community and to inform continuous improvement industrywide.

    Community Impact

    The Community Impact category commends efforts that improve lives and communities through positive impacts on health and wellness, hunger relief, workforce development, community volunteering and investment, and/or environmental stewardship. Successful nominations demonstrate how farms, cooperatives, processors or other dairy community stakeholders (either collaboratively or as a single entity) develop practical and effective solutions to shared challenges and goals of the communities in which they live and work.

    Supply Chain Collaboration

    The Supply Chain Collaboration category celebrates collaborative and market-based partnerships to demonstrate that truly sustainable outcomes come when all parts of the supply chain are involved in finding solutions. This award highlights farm-to-fork engagement through a collaborative farm, cooperative processor, and/or retail/foodservice partnership to benefit all involved and to provide best-in-class examples of sustainable dairy supply chains.

    Finalists will be notified in April and the winners will receive:

    • An official commemorative plaque
    • Recognition via public relations and other promotional activities, including at an awards ceremony.
    • Opportunities to serve as a Dairy Sustainability Ambassador at key events
    • Use of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards logo for marketing purposes for up to one year
    • Case studies of their stories featured on www.usdairy.com/awards

    An independent panel of judges evaluates all nominations based on measurable results, demonstrated innovation and learning, and the potential for other dairy farms and businesses to adopt the practices.

    About the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

    The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® is a leadership forum that brings together the dairy community and third parties to address the changing needs and expectations of consumers and customers. Initiated in 2008 by dairy farmers through the dairy checkoff, Innovation Center leaders and members collaborate on important areas like the environment, nutrition and health, animal care, food safety, and community contributions. Through the Innovation Center, the U.S. dairy community demonstrates its commitment to continuous improvement from farm to table, striving to ensure a socially responsible and economically viable dairy community. For more information, visit www.usdairy.com/about-us/innovation-center