California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Bill Reintroduced to Improve Access to Locally-Grown Food

    Reps. David Valadao (R-CA) and Hillary Scholten (D-MI) reintroduced the Promoting Access to Local Agriculture Act. This legislation aims to remove administrative hurdles for small farmers and ranchers to participate in federal nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), which would expand their economic opportunities and improve access to healthy, affordable food for families.

    “Central Valley producers grow the food that feeds our nation, but unfortunately, complicated administrative hurdles make it hard for them to provide food to families in our own communities,” Valadao said “This bipartisan bill reduces these barriers and equips small farmers and ranchers with the tools needed to accept benefits through programs like SNAP and WIC. By expanding access to fresh, locally-grown food for lower-income families and opening new markets for producers, we can both strengthen our agricultural economy and improve food access across the Valley.”

    “The Farmers Market Coalition is extremely pleased to see the introduction of this bill. Farmers markets and the farmers who sell at them face many barriers to accepting SNAP and other Federal Nutrition Benefits, and this bill would make necessary improvements to remove red tape and streamline the process. These changes will increase income for American farmers and improve access to healthy food for low-income shoppers,” said Jamie Hadji, Board President of the Farmers Market Coalition.

    Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.

    “Every family deserves nutritious, affordable food, and that food can be grown right here in Minnesota. Farmers and producers are the lifeblood of Minnesota’s ag economy, and we should be doing everything we can to help farmers sell their products to families in their local community,” Smith said. “By cutting red tape and providing necessary technology and equipment, this bill will make it easier for them to accept nutrition program benefits, while simultaneously helping folks using federal nutrition programs get healthy, local food at farmers markets.”

    The Promoting Access to Local Agriculture Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to:

    • Streamline the application process for farmers and ranchers to participate as authorized vendors under various nutrition programs like SNAP, WIC and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs.
    • Streamline the equipment/technology systems needed by farmers to process the benefits.
    • Provide free wireless or mobile processing equipment and systems for farmers markets.

    Read the full text of the bill here.

    — Story contributed by the office of Rep. Valadao

  • Meat Institute Releases Report on How Animal Ag Supply Chains Are Calculating Emissions

    The Meat Institute released a new report entitled,  “Greenhouse Gas Accounting: Emissions Factors Brief,” offering a closer look at how companies across the animal ag supply chain are currently measuring and reporting upstream greenhouse gas emissions.

    “This report is intended as a practical resource for companies throughout the meat and poultry supply chain to better understand how emissions data are developed, to ask clearer questions of data providers, and to build strategies that reflect their operational realities,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “The report also outlines current knowledge gaps and points to where practical guidance and coordination could help improve alignment throughout the supply chain.”

    The brief reflects input from Meat Institute packer and processor members through surveys, interviews and industry roundtables, along with review by independent experts. It focuses on the scope 3 emission factors used today for beef, pork and poultry, and highlights areas where approaches differ across data sources, system boundaries, and calculation methods.

    For the broader supply chain, the report shows that:

    — Reported emission factor values span a wide range across proteins, often due to differences in functional units, geographic assumptions and whether impacts such as land use change are included or reported separately.

    — Many companies reference the same core U.S. studies, but apply them in different ways based on their own sourcing regions, customers, and reporting needs.

    — Recent publicly available data for poultry remains limited, with most of the reported information coming from third-party tools rather than published literature.

    — Method choices — such as how methane is modeled or which Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment values are applied — can meaningfully affect reported results, even when companies are working from similar underlying data.

    This report is a product of the Meat Institute’s Sustainability Committee.

    — Story contribued by the Meat Institute

  • California Table Grape Commission Launches a New Global Campaign as the Season Arrives Early

    The California table grape season is on track to arrive about two weeks early, signaling that grapes from California will be available for promotion longer than previous seasons. Each season begins in the Coachella Valley, where growers are expecting to begin harvesting at the beginning of May this year. An early start to harvesting in the San Joaquin Valley is also expected to begin in mid-June.

    “California grapes have always enjoyed a long season, with grapes often being promoted into January, but an early start to the season this year lets retailers get a head start on promotions and providing tasty, healthy, happy Grapes from California to eager customers,” said Commission President Ian LeMay.

    For the 2026 season, the Commission is launching an updated global marketing campaign throughout the U.S. and up to 22 export markets, targeting the trade — which includes retailers, wholesalers and importers, as well as primary shoppers — with the objective to drive demand for California table grapes. The updated campaign introduces retailers and consumers to a cast of characters known as the Lunchbox League. The Lunchbox League is a trio of superhero grapes that originate from California, where tasty fuels healthy, and healthy makes happy. Captain Cluster, Munch and Glow are the superheroes who make up the Lunchbox League and serve as the embodiment and personification of all the health benefits, taste, and quality of California grapes.

    “This campaign element is exciting because it capitalizes on the scientific perspective published by Dr. John Pezzuto in July 2025, which claimed grapes should be considered a superfood, in order to give the Lunchbox League their superhero status,” said LeMay.

    Dr. Pezzuto, Ph.D., D.Sc., is a leading resveratrol and cancer researcher and Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Western New England University.

    To drive demand for California grapes through the season, the commission works with retail partners on a variety of activities such as contests, digital promotions, merchandising, point-of-purchase materials and sampling. For retailers in the U.S. with registered dietitians on staff, the commission Retail RD Program offers an additional way to promote Grapes from California and highlight the health benefits of grapes to shoppers. Retail dietitians can work directly with the commission dietitian team to develop customized promotional activities and educational materials.

    “With a healthy crop arriving early and an engaging new campaign with demand-driving materials and activities, the commission is eager to work with retailers throughout the U.S. and around the world to move California table grape volume this season,” said LeMay.

    — Story provided by the California Table Grape Commission

  • Committee Advances Wine Labeling Legislation

    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) and Family Winemakers of California (FWC) announced that AB 1585, American Wine Truth in Labeling legislation, cleared its first committee hearing on an 18-0 bipartisan vote.

    AB 1585 would require any wine labeled “American” be made from 100% American-grown wine grapes. This standard aligns the national designation with the same requirement California applies to wines labeled “California.”

    “Today’s vote is an important first step toward ensuring that when a bottle says ‘American,’ it means American,” said CAWG President Natalie Collins. “California’s wine community has invested significantly in building the American wine brand, and we are grateful the committee recognized what is at stake, for growers, wineries, communities, and the consumers who trust what’s on the label. This effort has been strengthened by a clear and unified voice across the industry. We thank the committee for its leadership and look forward to advancing this bill.”

    “Family Winemakers of California is proud to see this legislation move forward,” said FWC Board President GinaLisa Tamayo. “Truth in labeling isn’t just good policy — it’s the foundation of what our members have built their reputations on. When a bottle says ‘American,’ consumers deserve to know it means exactly that. Today’s vote is an important first step, and we’ll be with this bill every step of the way.”

    The recent hearing marks the beginning of a legislative process that will continue through August. AB 1585 must clear several additional steps, including the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where the bill heads next, before the legislature’s August 31 deadline to act on 2026 session legislation.

    — Story contributed by the California Association of Winegrape Growers and Family Winemakers of California

  • Bearing Almond Acreage Drops for First Time in Decades

    California’s bearing almond acreage decreased over the past year — the first drop in 30 years — according to Land IQ’s 2026 Standing Acreage Initial Estimate as bearing acreage stabilizes.

    Initial 2026 bearing acreage is estimated at 1,385,870 acres, compared to the 2025 Land IQ Standing Acreage Final Estimate of 1,401,097 million bearing acres. This reflects a decrease of 15,227 bearing acres over the past year.

    Land IQ’s recent Initial Estimate does not include total almond acreage. It looked at bearing acreage, specifically orchards planted before 2024 that have matured enough to produce a crop for the coming 2026 harvest. Land IQ’s final report on total acreage and non-bearing acres — including newer plantings not mature enough to produce almonds for commercial consumption — will come out in November.

    In addition, Land IQ estimated 47,588 acres of orchard removals, adding to the nearly 49,197 acres removed in the 2024-25 crop year.

    The drop in bearing acres is due to orchard removals and a slowdown in new plantings. This comes on the heels of Land IQ’s report in 2025 that found that California’s total almond acreage had dropped four years in a row to 1.52 million acres.

    “While we’re seeing stabilization in bearing acreage, global demand remains strong and is the foundation of our industry,” said ABC President and CEO Clarice Turner. “Continued, strategic investment in market development is essential to supporting long-term growth and to position California almonds for the future.”

    The Land IQ report is a snapshot of the coming 2026 harvest but does not offer an estimate on the actual almond production for the 2026-27 crop year. A production estimate will be released on May 12 with USDA-NASS’ Subjective Estimate. As of December 2025, the Almond Board of California Board of Directors voted to cease funding for the July USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Objective Measurement Report, making a change in California almond crop estimates going forward.

    Land IQ’s final acreage estimate in November of 2026 will cover total acres, bearing acreage, non-bearing acreage and potentially abandoned acres and removals from Sept. 1, 2025 to Aug. 31, 2026. Please note that the almond crop year runs Aug. 1-July 31, so this estimate includes the harvest for the 2026-27 crop year.

    Land IQ’s Initial Estimate and its Final Acreage Estimate in November are commissioned by the Almond Board of California to provide statistical transparency and a robust picture of California almonds to industry stakeholders around the world. In 2018, ABC first commissioned Land IQ, a Sacramento-based agricultural and environmental scientific research and consulting firm, to develop a comprehensive, living map of California almonds, with the first report issued in 2019. The map is the result of more than a decade of research

    — Story Contributed by the Almond Board of California

  • IDFA Welcomes House Appropriations Support for Key Dairy Priorities

    The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) welcomed action by the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration to advance its FY2027 funding bill, including key dairy priorities.

    Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA, released the following statement:

    “IDFA applauds the Subcommittee for maintaining strong support for dairy across federal nutrition and innovation programs. The bill’s $4 million investment in Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects builds on the program’s proven success in stretching SNAP dollars and helping SNAP participants purchase more milk. Additionally, provisions in the bill preserve dairy benefits in (Women Infants and Children) and ensure that whole and 2% milk, made available by the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, is applicable to all school meals, securing access to nutrient-dense foods that parents and children need. Sustained funding for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative will also help drive innovation, strengthen regional supply chains, and create new market opportunities for dairy farmers and processors. IDFA thanks Chairman Andy Harris and Ranking Member Sanford Bishop, Jr. and Subcommittee members for their support of the dairy industry priorities contained in the FY27 funding bill. We look forward to working with Congress to include these priorities in the final FY2027 appropriations package.”

  • Judges Named for 2026 All American Jersey Shows

    The All American Jersey Shows’ three shows will be held Nov. 6–9 in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky.

    Chris Lahmers (Marysville, Ohio), will judge the All American Jersey Show on Sunday and Monday, Nov. 8–9. This marks his second time officiating the open Jersey show in Louisville, having previously judged in 2013. He also judged the All American Junior Show in 2012 and the National Jersey Jug Futurity in 2011. Lahmers has officiated nine shows in Louisville, six at World Dairy Expo and five at the Pennsylvania All-American across multiple breeds. His international experience includes judging Jerseys at International Dairy Week in Australia and at shows in Costa Rica and Japan. Chris and his wife, Elizabeth, exhibit a Brown Swiss herd with their daughters, Elaina, Ava and Audrey.

    Ryan Krohlow (Poynette, Wisconsin) was selected to judge the National Jersey Jug Futurity. Following his role at the 2025 All American Jersey Show, this will be his first time officiating the Futurity. He recently judged at International Dairy Week in Australia and has also officiated the World Dairy Expo Jersey Show (2024), Mid-Atlantic Jersey Show (2023), Midwest Spring and Fall National Holstein Shows, and the All-American Holstein Show, along with numerous state shows. Ryan and his wife, Haley, and their four children, Callie, Conway, Cooper and Case, operate under the HammerTime prefix.

    There are 457 three-year-olds currently eligible for the 2026 National Jersey Jug Futurity. In 2025, the class offered $11,730 in premiums, including $3,296 to the winner.

    Keith Topp (Botkins, Ohio) will judge the All American Junior Jersey Show on Friday, Nov. 6. This will be his third time officiating in Freedom Hall. He previously judged the All American Jersey Show in 2019 and the National Jersey Jug Futurity in 2017. Topp has judged Jersey and colored breed shows across 27 states, including the 2022 World Dairy Expo Jersey Show, as well as the Milking Shorthorn and Brown Swiss shows in Madison in 2019 and 2017 respectively. He owns and operates On Topp Genetics with his wife, Kindra, and their children, Keaton and Kinley.

    First- and second-place class winners in these shows will be named 2026 All American and Reserve All American honorees by the American Jersey Cattle Association.

  • Table Grape Commission Awarded $2.2M through Through America First Trade Promotion Program

    The California Table Grape Commission announced a $2.2 million award through the America First Trade Promotion Program to support expanding international marketing efforts to strengthen demand for California table grapes.

    “This award through the America First Trade Promotion Program represents a meaningful investment in the continued success of the California table grape industry and the communities the industry supports,” said Commission President Ian LeMay. “We are grateful to the Trump Administration for recognizing the importance of export market development and for providing tools that help American agriculture compete and thrive in global markets. These resources will allow us to expand strategic promotions in key partner countries and ensure consumers around the world continue to choose grapes from California.”

    California table grapes are exported to more than 60 countries each year, with international markets representing an important component of industry stability and growth. According to the Commission, funding from this award will support retail initiatives in Australia, Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom, and reinforce California’s position as a global supplier, while supporting growers, shippers and farming communities throughout the San Joaquin and Coachella valleys.

  • NMPF Releases Statement on the DAIRY PRIDE Act

    The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) released a statement supporting the reintroduction of the DAIRY PRIDE Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Introduced by Reps. John Joyce (R-PA) and Josh Riley (D-NY), the act would deem food products that are making inaccurate claims about milk content “misbranded,” requiring the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue guidance for nationwide enforcement of these products within 90 days.

    NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud expressed support for the DAIRY PRIDE Act, stating:

    “FDA’s continued failure to enforce its own rules on the proper labeling of plant-based alternative products is a public health problem, plain and simple. Milk and dairy products supply 13 essential nutrients, including three that continue to be identified as nutrients of public health concern: calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. But plant-based imitation products that are not nutritionally equivalent to real milk and do not deliver dairy’s unique nutrient package for too long have been allowed to imply to consumers that they are just like the real thing, creating a public health problem that FDA commissioners have acknowledged over the past decade.

    “The DAIRY PRIDE Act directs FDA to enforce dairy standards of identity, which were developed to promote honesty and protect consumers. Through the standards of identity, dairy terms, including “milk”, “cheese” and “yogurt,” have come to carry distinct meaning in the minds of consumers, with built-in expectations for nutritional values. By not enforcing these standards, FDA has allowed plant-based imitators to prey on consumers’ expectations while delivering nutritionally inferior products.

    “It’s high time FDA makes it easier for consumers to navigate the choices they face in the grocery aisles; the DAIRY PRIDE Act is an important step in the right direction. Dairy farmers and their cooperatives thank Reps. John Joyce and Josh Riley for their bipartisan leadership in finding solutions through this critical legislation.”

  • USJersey to Offer More than $47,00 in Scholarships

    The deadline is July 1 to apply for scholarship and educational awards administrated by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA), Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

    The AJCA has more than $47,000 in scholarship money to award to Jersey youth in 2026. This funding will go toward young Jersey enthusiasts pursuing a college or university degree or, in some cases, gaining hands-on experience in the development and management of Registered Jersey cattle. Junior or Lifetime members of the association with a 2.5 minimum grade point average, on a 4.0 scale, are eligible to apply for the awards.

    The Russell–Malnati Scholarship for Advanced Studies ($5,000) will be awarded to a graduate dairy science, animal science (dairy emphasis), large animal veterinary practice, dairy production or manufacturing or dairy product marketing student.

    The Walter and Joyce Owens Family Scholarship ($5,000) will be offered for the third time. Those who are incoming or current undergraduate students in any post education institute studying a dairy related major are eligible Applicants must also be working toward a two-or four-year degree and demonstrate satisfactory academic performance. Recipients can receive the scholarship a maximum of two times but must reapply for reconsideration.

    The Lineweaver Scholarship ($5,000) will be awarded to an undergraduate who has completed at least one year of study in a four-year program focused on dairy science, animal science (dairy emphasis) or dairy products.

    The Morris B. Ewing ABS Genetic Performance Scholarship ($3,250) will be awarded to a junior or senior undergraduate student seeking a career in genetics, dairy production, large animal veterinary medicine or milk marketing.

    The William A. Russell Memorial Scholarship ($3,000) is offered to those who will begin their studies at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2026. Students who have completed at least one year of their studies are eligible for the V.L. Peterson Scholarship($2,500). The Jack C. Nisbet Memorial Scholarship ($2,500) will be awarded to an eligible nominee in the Jersey Youth Achievement Contest.

    The Robert Bignami Memorial Scholarship ($3,000) was established from a generous donation of Bob and Pam Bignami, Orland, California, from the sale of BW Graduate-ET in 2020. Those who have graduated high school and attended Jersey Youth Academy are eligible to apply. These students must also be heading to or enrolled in an accredited four-year college or university majoring in an agricultural-based degree.

    The Cedarcrest Farms Scholarship ($2,000) will go to either an undergraduate or graduate student working toward a degree in large animal veterinary practice, dairy production, dairy manufacturing, or dairy product marketing. Students must also demonstrate significant progress toward their intended degree and a clear intention of an agriculture career through coursework completion and a goal statement.

    The Paul Jackson Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) is for continuing college students in any degree program area. The recipient of the AJCA Directors’ Scholarship ($1,500) is determined based on academic performance, activities and accomplishments with Jersey cattle and commitment to continued involvement in the Jersey dairy business. The Bob Toole Jersey Youth Award ($2,000) can be used for educational expenses or a well-defined practical experience related to breeding, developing and showing Registered Jerseys.

    The recipient of the Anne E. Perchard Challenge Award ($350) will be selected from among applicants for the national achievement contest and/or scholarship program to recognize abilities and leadership potential and, in turn, challenging the recipient to achieve his/her potential through continuing Jersey activities.

    Also, the Reuben R. Cowles Jersey Youth Award will be presented to an eligible resident of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia to be used for educational expenses or to travel to the All American Jersey Show and Sale, the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings or other Jersey educational activities. Applicants must be at least high school graduates, but not older than 36 years of age as of Jan. 1, 2026.

    Apply here: https://usjersey.com/wp-content/uploads/Youth/26_CowlesYouthAward.docx

    For application forms and instructions, visit the “Youth Corner” page on the USJersey website and select the scholarship option. Recipients will be recognized on Saturday, November 7 at the Youth Awards Ceremony held in Louisville, Ky.

    For more information, contact the AJCA by email at info@usjersey.com; or visit its web site at USJersey.com.     

    — Contributed by American Jersey Cattle Association