California Ag Network

Category: Ag Legislation

  • Regenerative Farming School Focuses on ‘Keeping Dollars at Home, in Local Communities’

    Dan DeSutter is a farmer and a numbers guy. With an advanced degree in finance and decades of agricultural production experience, he understands the value of soil health-focused regenerative agriculture and what impact it has on his Attica, Indiana farm’s bottom line.

    He knows a lot because he’s seen a lot, including what he describes as “The good, the bad and the ugly of regenerative organic farming.”

    “Dan’s leadership, experience and success in the soil health movement, coupled with his organic regen-erative and grass-fed production operation, combine to make his farm the perfect outdoor classroom for the Soil Health Academy’s (SHA) upcoming school,” said SHA instructor David Kleinschmidt.

    In addition to Kleinschmidt, the three-day SHA school, Aug. 3-5, will feature instruction by Ray Archuleta, Doug Peterson 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.

    For his part, DeSutter will share how he has been able to practically apply soil health-improving regenerative principles in his farming operation—techniques that have generated numerous benefits.

    “If we invest in regenerating our soil, we can keep a lot of input dollars at home and in our local community,” DeSutter said. “The ultimate objective of regenerative farming is to have soils that can work for us instead of relying on us to provide for plant needs. Reducing those inputs translates into improved net profitability and positions regenerative growers to better connect with consumers seeking healthy, nutrient-dense food.”

    According to Kleinschmidt, the Attica SHA school will offer a mix of demonstrations, expert presentations and hands-on experience—all of which are geared to help producers quickly and practically improve soil function and increase net per-acre profits.

    “Students will learn regenerative farming techniques for weed and pest control, nutrient management, organic, no-till and how to design cover crop mixes to address resource concerns,” Kleinschmidt said. “From small-scale to large-scale producers, everyone who attends this school will see how to put regenerative agriculture principles to work for healthier soil, food and profits.”

    For more information about the school, visit www.soilhealthacademy.org.

  • Citrus Research Board Awarded $3.4 Million to Fund HLB Research

    The Citrus Research Board (CRB) has been awarded $3,438,059 in funding from the Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination Group (HLB MAC) to support its California Focused Citrus Research and Field Trials (CRaFT).

    The overarching goal of the CRaFT project is to demonstrate additional mitigations to improve psyllid control within commercial citrus groves across the various citrus growing regions in California. This information will inform areawide control efforts and demonstrate the benefits of control mitigation measures currently available to growers for regional, state, and national benefit. This project aims to demonstrate reduced psyllid levels (through trap, tap, and visual monitoring) within treated groves as a year-by-year measurement and relative to the regional psyllid levels.

    “We are excited to develop the first CRaFT project for citrus in California, as this project will bring new energy to the fight against HLB and benefit growers across the state while investing in vital research,” said CRB President Marcy L. Martin.

    A group of 10 industry members will steer the project through the CRaFT Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in conjunction with the CRB. This combined group will work with industry personnel to recruit growers in various regions to implement innovative psyllid management strategies. Growers who apply and are selected will receive reimbursement for costs associated with participation in the program.

    The project will be administered over two years by the CRB, with the intent to renew. Efforts in year one will include creating a foundation for the program while conducting trap-based monitoring. Data from these measures will be collected and summarized to demonstrate changes in psyllid populations from resulting mitigation measures. Semiannual grower meetings and quarterly CRaFT TAC meetings will be initiated to review project progress and identify any potential project issues.

    Year two will expand on previous efforts to provide data demonstrating changes in psyllid populations from applied mitigation measures. Findings will be summarized and shared with industry members to promote effective treatments.

    The HLB MAC group was established as an emergency response framework to better position the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to coordinate the citrus industry’s immediate and long-term needs in dealing with HLB. HLB MAC funds projects to drive innovative solution-oriented research while delivering effective and practical tools to growers.

    In addition to funding for the California Focused CRaFT project, other programs awarded funding for FY2021 include:

    • $4,061,941 to Texas (CRaFT project)
    • $676,665 to USDA Agricultural Research Service (expand data management tools to support these projects)

    For more information about the California Focused CRaFT Project and HLB MAC, visit www.citrusresearch.org.

    The CRB administers the California Citrus Research Program, the grower-funded and grower directed program established in 1968 under the California Marketing Act as the mechanism enabling the State’s citrus producers to sponsor and support needed research. More information about the Citrus Research Board may be found at www.citrusresearch.org.

  • Ben Thomas of Environmental Defense Fund Joins Leading Harvest Board of Directors

    Leading Harvest, a leader in promoting sustainable agriculture through its universalFarmland Management Standard, today announced that Ben Thomas, Senior Policy Director for Agriculture at the Environmental Defense Fund, has joined its Board of Directors. Leading Harvest’s board is composed of three equally represented chambers – economic, environmental, and social; Thomas fills a vacancy in the environmental chamber.

    “Ben Thomas’ background in agriculture, having grown up on a farm in Texas, his work in agricultural policy at both the state and federal levels, along with his passion for conservation and sustainable land management, make him a valuable addition to our Leading Harvest Board of Directors,” said Suzy Friedman, Vice President for Policy for the National Alliance of Forest Owners, a Leading Harvest board member and chair of the Board’s Nominations Committee. “Throughout his career, Ben has brought a collaborative approach to efforts to improve farming practices and achieve measurable, certifiable results. He will be a tremendous asset in advancing Leading Harvest’s mission.”

    At the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Thomas focuses on creating innovative and pragmatic solutions to address environmental risks from agriculture through collaboration with farming stakeholders and policymakers. Prior to joining EDF, Thomas served as the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture. He previously served as deputy undersecretary for Marketing and Regulator Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) during Secretary Tom Vilsack’s first tenure leading the department. As chief of staff for the Farm and Foreign Services mission area at USDA, Thomas focused on implementing changes to farm programs, conservation programs and crop insurance provisions from the 2014 Farm Bill.

    “Growing up on a farm in Texas, I learned early on that it takes more than hard work to get ahead. It also takes innovation, creativity, and teamwork. Leading Harvest’s Farmland Management Standard is bringing all that to farmers around the world, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to help them succeed,” said Thomas. “For too long, farms like the one I grew up on practiced conservation and sustainability, but did not have a common, certifiable standard to measure their operation. Leading Harvest is offering landowners the ability to demonstrate to the marketplace, consumers and the supply chain positive agriculture outcomes we all care about – from clean air and water to healthy soil, to biodiversity and productive relationships with farm workers the communities where we live and operate. This is not just good for the farmer – it is good for the land, environment and food we all share.”

    Leading Harvest provides assurance programs comprised of standards, audit procedures, training and education, and reporting and claim offerings that are optimized for flexibility, scalability, and impact.

    The inaugural Farmland Management Standard is designed by and for stakeholders and their diverse needs, ensuring that it is credible and readily available to everyone across the agricultural landscape and supply chain. The organization also offers ongoing training and education that is rooted in sound sustainability principles, designed to address critical environmental and social issues, and create lasting results in communities.

    In its first year, over 1.2 million acres spanning 29 states and more than 90 crop types were enrolled in Leading Harvest’s Farmland Management Standard.

    About Leading Harvest

    Leading Harvest is a nonprofit organization committed to increasing adoption of sustainability practices in agriculture. It was formally organized in April 2020 by and for all stakeholders across the agricultural value chain—from farmland owners to companies to communities. More information can be found at www.leadingharvest.org.

  • Agricultural Organizations Demonstrate Alternatives to Agricultural Burning

    On June 29, Nisei Farmers League, along with other agricultural organizations, held an in-person demonstration pilot project at a vineyard in Madera County to display alternatives to agricultural burning. The project is looking for cost-effective solutions to orchard and vineyard removals due to most agricultural burning being phased out by December 31, 2024, as passed earlier this year by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

    Participating in the event were Jared Blumenfeld, Secretary of Cal-EPA; Carlos Suarez, State Conservationist for USDA-NRCS; Richard Corey, Executive Officer for California Air Resources Board; Samir Sheikh, Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer for the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD); Dr. Tania Pacheco- Werner, CARB and SJVAPCD board member; Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes, as well as SJVAPCD board member; Madera County Supervisor Tom Wheeler, as well as SJVAPCD board member; and City of Los Banos Mayor Pro Tem Deborah Lewis, as well as SJVAPCD board member.

    Equipment demonstrated included:

    • An air curtain burner built by AirBurners. This machine utilizes a constant stream

      of air on the top of the wood waste to push emissions/smoke back into the fire to

      reburn, which significantly reduces particulate matter.

    • A horizontal grinder, provided by Bandit Industries, that chips wood debris and

      can remove metal, including wire, from the material.

    • A vineyard mulcher, built by Seppi, which drives over the top of the vine and

      mulches it back into the soil.

    • A mobile grinder that would grind trees, brush and vines (material that does not include metal.)

      Other equipment used in the demonstration process included excavators, tree grapple machines, and log and brush loading equipment.

      With some agricultural entities losing the ability to burn by December 31 of this year, finding economical alternatives quickly has become a top priority. Agricultural organizations are working with the SJVAPCD and CARB to locate and distribute funds for these alternative methods. All the demonstrated alternatives are many times more expensive than open burning because of the additional labor and equipment needed.

    Agricultural groups sponsoring the event included: Fresno County Farm Bureau; Allied Grape Growers; California Fresh Fruit Association; California Cotton Ginners and Growers; Western Agricultural Processors Association; and

    Nisei Farmers League. Other participating agricultural groups included: Sun-Maid Growers of California, Madera County Farm Bureau, Tulare County Farm Bureau, Raisin Bargaining Association and Milk Producers Council.

    Equipment being demonstrated was provided by Shawn Sage, Cal-Line Equipment and Bandit Enterprises; Ed Martinez, Mowbray’s Tree Service; John Yergat, JFS Enterprises; and Jordan Harris, Seppi Subsoiler. Special thanks to these companies and their employees.

    Local chippers and grinders participating included: Bill Boos of William Boos and Company; Lionudakis Orchard Removal; and Myron and Ryan Liebelt.

    Special thanks go to Samir Sheikh and his staff at the SJVAPCD for helping with the demonstration, the documentation and acquiring the funding needed to make the alternatives available to growers in the San Joaquin Valley.

    Lastly, a special thanks to Daniel Hartwig and Woolf Farms for providing the vineyard site.

    Nisei Farmers League will continue seeking viable alternative to agricultural burning over the coming months.

  • July 2021 USDA Lending Rates for Ag Producers

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for July 2021, which are effective July 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.

    Operating, Ownership and Emergency Loans

    FSA offers farm ownership and operating loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers, whether multi-generational, long-time or new to the industry, obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. FSA also offers emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters or quarantine.  For many loan options, FSA sets aside funding for historically underserved producers, including beginning, women, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic farmers and ranchers.

    Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for July 2021 are as follows:

    FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders.

    You can find out which of these loans may be right for you by using our Farm Loan Discovery Tool.

    Commodity and Storage Facility Loans

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

    Disaster Support

    FSA also reminds rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by the year’s winter storms, drought, and other natural disasters that USDA has programs that provide assistance. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to residents, agricultural producers and impacted communities. Many programs are available without an official disaster designation, including several risk management and disaster assistance options.

    Pandemic Support

    Through September 1, 2021, FSA’s Disaster Set-Aside provision is available to direct loan borrowers who have been impacted by the pandemic. This enables an upcoming annual installment to be set aside for the year and added to the final installment. For annual operating loans, the loan maturity date may be extended up to twelve months in order to set aside the installment.  This provision is normally used in the wake of natural disasters, and a second Disaster Set-Aside may be available for direct loan borrowers who already have a DSA in place on a loan due to another designated natural disaster.

    More Information

    Producers can explore available options on all FSA loan options at fsa.usda.gov or by contacting your local USDA Service Center.

  • ICBA Supports Senate Bill Offering Tax Relief for Rural Lending

    The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed its strong support for the Senate introduction of the Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America (ECORA) Act to support farmers, ranchers and rural homeowners.

    The ECORA Act (S. 2202/H.R. 1977) would exempt from taxation interest income on farm real estate and rural mortgage loans, allowing community banks to lower loan rates and more efficiently serve these borrowers. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the bill in the Senate following House introduction earlier this year by Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa).

    “With community banks making 80 percent of banking industry agricultural loans, ICBA strongly supports the Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act to help them offer lower rates in rural communities,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. “This important legislation will help sustain and revive rural economies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic while providing community bank lenders with benefits they can pass on to customers, similar to other rural credit providers.”

    With rural America and the agricultural sector facing continued challenges, ECORA will:

    • Exempt from taxation loans secured by agricultural real estate.
    • Provide similar relief to interest on loans secured by rural single-family homes that are the borrower’s principal residence in towns with populations under 2,500.
    • Assist those seeking to remain on the farm or acquire a home loan in rural communities by providing borrowers with better rates and loan terms.
    • Offer community banks greater flexibility to work with farmers who may have trouble servicing their debt.
    • Give lenders a strong incentive to remain in the rural farming and housing markets, thereby boosting local economic activity.

    ICBA looks forward to working with Congress to advance this critical legislation.

    About ICBA

    The Independent Community Bankers of America creates and promotes an environment where community banks flourish. ICBA is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education, and high-quality products and services. With nearly 50,000 locations nationwide, community banks constitute 99 percent of all banks, employ more than 700,000 Americans and are the only physical banking presence in one in three U.S. counties. Holding more than $5 trillion in assets, over $4.4 trillion in deposits, and more than $3.4 trillion in loans to consumers, small businesses and the agricultural community, community banks channel local deposits into the Main Streets and neighborhoods they serve, spurring job creation, fostering innovation and fueling their customers’ dreams in communities throughout America. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at www.icba.org.

  • NRCS Drought Assistance for High Priority Areas in CA (EXTENDED)

    In the middle of California’s drought, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is meeting with landowners, Tribal representatives, and agencies to assess resource concerns and offer assistance to farmers and ranchers, as well as, forest and Tribal land managers. Programs through NRCS include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the newest pilot program, EQIP-Conservation Incentive Contracts (EQIP-CIC).

    “Although we still have CDC coronavirus related health precautions in place for the safety of our customers and employees, we strongly encourage you to call the nearest office and schedule an appointment,” said Carlos Suarez, NRCS California state conservationist. “Our field conservationists are available to assess your resource concerns and we have a variety of conservation practices and programs to help agricultural producers.”

    The new pilot program, EQIP-CIC, can provide long-term support to address drought on agricultural and other lands. NRCS is taking applications through July 12 (EXTENDED TO JULY 14) and encourages interested land managers to contact their local offices for more information.

    Specifically through this new pilot program (EQIP-CIC), six high priority areas were identified:

    1.  San Joaquin Valley (cropland);

    2.  Statewide (cropland);

    3.  Klamath Basin (cropland);

    4.  Statewide (range, pasture);

    5.  Statewide (forest); and

    6.  Statewide Tribal Land (cropland, range, pasture, forest).

    In addition to these high priority areas, NRCS conservationists are available to discuss best conservation practices and enhancements for cropland, rangeland, forestland, pastureland, and tribal land, which can result in development of a conservation plan. A conservation plan is a roadmap to the natural resources stewardship of your land that helps you to successfully implement your conservation improvements.

    NRCS can help you develop a plan that is right for your operation. Starting with healthy soil as the foundation of a healthy environment, landowners can use mulching or cover crops to minimize erosion and improve soil health. With the new pilot EQIP-CIC, landowners would also be able to receive reimbursement for their efforts to decrease tillage intensity and increase plant-available moisture, for example, with complimentary practices.

    Plants are the natural solution for many conservation challenges. For example, landowners can install hedgerow and other plantings to establish multi-purpose wildlife habitat. With the new pilot EQIP-CIC, land managers could receive reimbursement for planting cover crops for pollinators while improving soil health and for planting trees, shrubs, grasses, and forbs to create habitat for beneficial insects and Monarch butterflies, while reducing soil erosion or improving livestock well being.

    As a western drought state, California landowners may reduce risks of wildfires while protecting homes and communities by using conservation practices such as brush management, fuel break, woody residue treatment, and forest stand improvement. With the new pilot EQIP-CIC, landowners would also be able to receive reimbursement to continue the longer term management of these best conservation practices for reducing the height and density of forest understory to limit wildfire risk.

    Landowners can efficiently use water resources by implementing practices such as irrigation ditch lining, irrigation pipeline, or micro irrigation. Through the new pilot, irrigation scheduling technology can be included in a conservation plan to help farmers explore new technology with agricultural innovations to help decrease energy and water use.

    For more information on the new pilot EQIP-CIC and the July 14, 2021 application deadline, contact a local field office to schedule an appointment. Our office locator is available at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ca/contact/.

  • House Appropriations Committee Advance FY 2022 Agriculture Spending Bill

    National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition — The House Appropriations Committee advanced their agriculture appropriations funding bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 today, which was marked up and approved by the Agriculture Subcommittee last week. The agriculture appropriations bill plays a major role in shaping our food and farm systems as it funds many of the major programs and functions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). For FY 2022, the bill proposes a total of $26.55 billion, a more than 10 percent increase from FY 2021.

    “The House bill includes historic wins for sustainable agriculture priorities,” said Eric Deeble, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) Policy Director. “NSAC applauds House appropriators for advancing comprehensive investments in rural communities, sustainable agriculture research, and local and regional food systems,” Deeble added.

    Notably, the legislation includes a substantial increase in investments for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program at $50 million, a $10 million increase from FY21. This funding level will allow SARE’s farmer driven research to keep pace with the growing challenges farmers face in remaining profitable and viable in the context of climate change. Moreover, NSAC is pleased to see an overall commitment of $347.4 million to address climate change across the USDA.

    NSAC supports the considerable allocation to build resiliency by investing in local and regional food systems. This includes $21.4 million in discretionary funding for the Local Agriculture Market Program, building on the $100 million in emergency funding allocated in the December COVID aid package, along with the $50 million in yearly mandatory farm bill funding.

    NSAC also commends the $2 million allocated to the Agricultural Marketing Service for a new Small Meat Packing Plants Apprenticeship program. Given the increasing demand for local or regional sustainable meat and poultry, and the challenges faced by small- and medium-sized meatpacking operations during the pandemic, this funding aims to bolster workforce development for smaller meatpackers and foster partnerships with existing institutions and organizations with expertise in meatpacking operations.  NSAC applauds Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee ranking member Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) for introducing this provision through the Strengthening Local Processing Act and providing funding for it through the FY22 bill.

    While it is not clear what the timeline will be, NSAC is pleased to see the House agriculture appropriations bill moving forward and we recognize that major hurdles remain to securing final FY 2022 funding levels. We encourage the Senate, as they move forward with their own appropriations process, to replicate these robust investments.

    “We hope Congress will expeditiously move forward with the appropriations process and avoid passing a Continuing Resolution, so that these significant increases in the House bill can be enacted as soon as possible to provide much-needed support to farmers, researchers, and organizations. Making these crucial investments now is key to recovering from the pandemic’s impacts and building a resilient rural economy, bolstering sustainable food systems, and addressing the climate crisis,” said Deeble.

    For more detailed information about the FY2022 Appropriations visit NSAC’s Agriculture Appropriations Chart.

  • Early Months Suggest Bright 2021 for US Ag Exports

    U.S. agricultural exports in the first four months (January – April) of 2021 were a record $59 billion, exceeding the previous record set in 2014 by nearly $5 billion. Robust global demand, high commodity prices, and increased U.S. competitiveness have led to record exports of corn, sorghum, beef, food preparations, and other products. Others including soybeans, soybean meal, wheat, and dairy have also seen large increases during recent years and have contributed significantly to early-year export levels. At the current pace, there is a strong possibility of a record-breaking year for U.S. agricultural exports surpassing the 2014 mark of $154.5 billion.

    The agriculture, food, and related industries are vital parts of the U.S. economy, contributing an estimated $1.109 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product and providing employment for 22.2 million people in the United States in 2019, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service. Agricultural exports have grown significantly within the past decades, becoming an increasingly important component of the agriculture industry. From 2000 to 2020, U.S. agricultural exports grew from $56 billion to $150 billion. It is estimated that U.S. agricultural exports supported nearly 1.1 million full-time jobs in 2019. In 2020, exports increased by nearly $9 billion during 2019. A record in 2021 would drive this total even higher, likely supporting more U.S. jobs and making a larger positive impact on the U.S. economy.

    Coming out of a strong year in 2020, the United States appears to be well-positioned for an even stronger 2021. An August 2020 World Trade Organization report examining the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural trade described the resilience of the sector as a whole, and highlighted the essential nature of food as a main factor. U.S. agricultural exports during the pandemic reinforce this idea. While the export value of a few products like tree nuts, beef, and cotton declined in 2020, total exports were up significantly. Record harvests causing low prices were the main drivers for the decline in tree nut export value (despite volume increases), but declines for beef and cotton could be partially attributed to COVID-19 due to reduced hotel, restaurant, and institutional sector demand and a slowdown of global apparel consumption. All other top export products performed as well as or better than 2019. In the first four months of 2021, exports of top products have met, exceeded, or in some cases greatly exceeded exports from the same period in 2020, contributing to an overall increase of more than $12 billion.

    Many upward trends from 2020 have continued into the new year. Global demand is rising, driven in part due to record purchases by China as it rebuilds its swine herd from African Swine Fever and demand for animal feed surges. The early 2020 signing of the Phase One agreement between the United States and China created a pathway for U.S. producers to step in and fill both the demand for pork, beef, and poultry products as well as the rising demand for animal feed. Production shortfalls reduced competition from feed exporters in South America, which also had an important effect on trade in the early months of 2021. The combination of increased global demand and reduced supply has led to price increases in the past year that look to benefit U.S. exporters. For more information on driving factors for U.S. bulk product and livestock product exports in early 2021, see additional commodity trade reports.

    Two additional major trade agreements were also implemented in 2020. The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement entered into force at the beginning of the year, providing tariff reductions for a wide range of agricultural products including beef, pork, and dairy, as well as preferential market access provisions for others including wheat and wheat products. While tariffs on many products were eliminated immediately, others will be gradually reduced in the coming years. The U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) entered into force in mid-2020, containing provisions to expand market access for U.S. exporters of dairy, poultry, eggs, and others while strengthening science-based trade rules and other processes. These agreements and the Phase One agreement with China serve to facilitate trade with four of the United States’ top trading partners and will have lasting positive benefits for agricultural producers in 2021 and beyond.

    Excellent agricultural export performance to date is not limited to bulk and meat products. For the period from January to April, 16 product groups reached record export levels in 2021:

    U.S. processed product exports are strongly represented on the list of high performers in early 2021. Food preparations, the largest processed product group which contains various ingredients for food manufacturing as well as some consumer-ready packaged and canned foods, had a notable increase of $125 million above the previous January – April record set in 2019. Other processed product groups like condiments & sauces, dog & cat food, and beer have also been high performers. The strongest markets for U.S. processed products are USMCA partners Canada and Mexico, but other markets have been growing in recent years. Countries with rapidly increasing numbers of middle-class households tend to show the most consumption growth for these products. For more information on consumption trends and opportunities for U.S. processed products, see recently published International Agricultural Trade Reports focused on snack foods, confectionery, baked goods, and pet food in various markets.

    Another notable achievement is that not only are year-to-date exports up across product groups, they are also up across nearly all major U.S. partners. For each of the top 10 markets for U.S. products in 2020 (China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the European Union, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Colombia), total exports are higher in January – April 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. For 9 of these 10 markets (excluding the European Union), this sets a 4- month export record. This diversity of potential markets is a source of strength and stability and is an indicator of high overall competitiveness of U.S. products in 2021. This performance is reinforced by trade agreements with many of these top partners, including the recent agreements with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and China, as well as with South Korea and Colombia.

    Based on current performance, U.S. producers should look forward to a bright 2021 for agricultural exports. Global demand is high, and consumption habits for products that were affected by COVID-19 will continue to normalize. If U.S. exports continue to be as competitive as they have been in the early months of the year, 2021 has a great chance at becoming a record year, paving the way for more records to come. As income worldwide increases and more customers emerge, U.S. farmers, ranchers, and those employed in the industries driving agricultural trade should expect a large part of global demand to be met by the United States, fulfilling its role as one of the world’s largest suppliers of food and agricultural products. — USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

  • Samantha Dorsey, President of McEvoy Ranch, Celebrates 20 years of World-class Extra Virgin Olive Oil

    This year, Samantha Dorsey celebrates her 20th anniversary with McEvoy Ranch. Dorsey began her career on the Garden Team in 2001 before becoming Farming Manager in 2013. In 2016, she was promoted to General Manager, then became the company’s President in 2019. Given her tenure, Samantha is intimately familiar with every aspect of the property including its unique microclimates that provide a distinct terroir to our olive orchards and gardens.

    After receiving her BA in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College in 2001, Samantha began her career with McEvoy Ranch. She has managed the olive tree nursery, as well as the Ranch’s vineyards and orchards. Her focus has always centered on sustainable farming, creating a ranch environment that is environmentally, socially, and fiscally sustainable.

    Samantha adds, “We have built a solid team of talented employees here at McEvoy Ranch dedicated to making and sharing our world-class products, as well as supporting our local community and understanding our role in California agriculture. I love learning from our team and working with staff to improve and innovate in agriculture, product development, hospitality, finance, and operations. I love working with such ancient products (olive oil and wine) in such a modern setting. We have thousands of years of production knowledge to build upon, but we do so with all of our modern tools and sensibilities.”

    As President, Samantha is shepherding McEvoy Ranch into its next stage of growth. She continues to lead workshops on olive orchard management and shares her expertise regarding sustainable farming with other growers in many areas including California, Oregon, Arizona, Mexico, and New Zealand. In addition, Samantha sits on the Executive Committee for the Olive Oil Commission of California and is a board member of the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance.

    About McEvoy Ranch

    For over 30 years, McEvoy Ranch has made award-winning, estate olive oils, small lot wines, culinary, and olive oil beauty products. Located 30 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the rolling hills of Petaluma, McEvoy Ranch is a 550-acre working, organic ranch, committed to good land stewardship and sustainable farming practices.