California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Tito Sasaki Honored with the 2020 California Farm Bureau Federation Distinguished Service Award

    Sonoma County Farm Bureau — Tito Sasaki, a Sonoma Valley grape grower, scientist, and businessman, 35-year member and past president of Sonoma County Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County, is the recipient of the 2020 California Farm Bureau Federation Distinguished Service Award.

    The California Farm Bureau has presented the Distinguished Service Award annually since 1953 to dedicated Farm Bureau members from California. Over the last century, Farm Bureau has had dozens of strong leaders. However, few have devoted the time and energy that Tito Sasaki has given, which is why he is so deserving of this recognition. This is the first time a member from Sonoma County has received this award.

    With humility and a strong community spirit, Sasaki said he was honored to receive such a recognition.

    “I am most appreciative of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s generosity in recommending me for the award,” Sasaki said. “If I were still on the Board, I would have recommended instead, the whole Sonoma County Farm Bureau— its members, staff, and the board. Perhaps, it doesn’t make much difference. I am, after all, accepting this honor on behalf of our Farm Bureau family.”

    Jeff Carlton, former Sonoma County Farm Bureau President who nominated Sasaki for the award, described Sasaki as “widely respected by both Farm Bureau members and elected officials, who value his intelligence and grasp of complex issues.”

    After receiving several postgraduate degrees and a successful career in engineering and quantum mechanics, Tito Sasaki joined the Sonoma County Farm Bureau in 1985, after he and his wife bought their ranch and began to revive a neglected vineyard on the property. 

    Sasaki said soon after moving to Sonoma County he came to realize the tremendous value of Farm Bureau and its crucial role in representing farmers’ interests, protecting property rights, and preserving agriculture for future generations. Farm Bureau, he said, provides the structure for farmers to work together to tackle important issues.

    For several decades, Sasaki worked tirelessly on water issues in Sonoma County. He devoted much of his time to developing water solutions and strategies, namely a balance between the water needs of farmers, fish, and urban residents. His work with the County was integral for the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. He was also a member and past Chairman of Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s Water Committee and a member of the Natural Resources Committee.

    Sasaki has served as a one-of-a-kind leader who is passionate about securing agriculture’s future in Sonoma County. His efforts, undoubtedly, helped to ensure a bright future for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. In 2019, Tito’s many contributions to agriculture were honored with his induction into the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Hall of Fame. The prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made a real and lasting difference in preserving and protecting Sonoma County’s agriculture industry and the county’s 500,000 acres of farmland.

    “There are not many people who know and understand the issues in agriculture as well as Tito. During his years on the Farm Bureau Board, he devoted countless hours to the agricultural industry, going to meeting after meeting to represent the interests of our members,” Carlton said.

    He said Tito is widely respected by both Farm Bureau members and elected officials who value his intelligence and grasp of complex issues. 

    Those who have worked with Tito over the years say his keen intelligence, analytical skills, and bulls-eye business acumen were put to good use in defining the issues and defending the rights and livelihoods of farmers and landowners.

    Not surprisingly, those who worked closely with Sasaki during his many years of service to Farm Bureau and the Sonoma County community-at-large joined in congratulating him for receiving much-deserved award.

    “Leaders often emerge when we need them the most. Tito Sasaki exemplifies that rise to leadership in a time of need. Early on Tito realized that water would be the dominant issue of the time in Sonoma County, throughout California and the West. He became Farm Bureau’s expert on water issues and worked tirelessly to ensure agricultural interests were represented in crafting water policy,” said Tim Tesconi, retired executive director of Sonoma County. 

    Tesconi said he was always impressed by Sasaki’s brilliant intellect, temperament, and grace.

    “In meeting after meeting on complex water issues, land use, and other topics it became obvious that Tito was the smartest guy in the room. He lent his time and talents to define the issues and defend the rights and livelihoods of farmers and landowners,” said Tesconi

    Former Sonoma County Ag Commissioner Tony Linegar said that he enjoyed his close working relationship with Sasaki.

    “Tito’s strong grasp of complex and technical regulatory issues positioned him as a natural leader for the Farm Bureau in fighting for reasonable and pragmatic solutions to the challenges faced by Sonoma county farmers,” Linegar said. “He has been tireless in his efforts and has gained the respect of countless agency staff for his hard work and acumen.”

    Jay Jasperse, chief engineer and director of groundwater management for the Sonoma County Water Agency, has worked with Tito over the last 15 years on water issues, primarily, implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

    “Tito was one of the first to recognize that agriculture needed to be at the table to represent its interests in a proactive manner on the development of management programs to ensure a stable water supply,” said Jasperse.

    He said that Tito is one of the most impressive people he has ever worked with during his career. 

    “His intellect, work ethic, and his optimistic vision of the future, combined with his wry sense of humor, established him as a respected statewide leader on water matters,” Jasperse said. “I wish Tito the very best in his well-earned retirement and congratulate him on a job well done.”

    California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson said that Sasaki has worked passionately on Sonoma County water issues for more than 20 years.

    “He has devoted much of his time to developing water solutions and strategies, namely a balance among the water needs of farmers, fish, and urban residents,” Johansson said, noting his recent work in the county on implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

    Johansson said that Sasaki’s reach and influence extended beyond Sonoma County.

    “Tito regularly communicated with state Farm Bureau leaders and staff as well as California legislators, seeking their expertise and support as he advocated for the agriculture industry and has been keenly focused on statewide issues impacting farmers,” Johansson said.

    Although he has retired from the Farm Bureau board Tito continues to be an ambassador for agriculture and Farm Bureau while he focuses on the next chapter of his life with his wife Janet at their vineyard in Sonoma.

    Tito Sasaki’s California Farm Bureau Federation Distinguished Service Award Acceptance Speech

    Thank you very much for this extraordinary honor. It was an utter surprise to me and my wife Janet as we had no reason to expect it. I know that many of you deserve this honor more than I do. The only difference between us is that you are still contributing whereas I am done, over and out.

    I did work hard when I was with you because it was fun. I enjoyed working not only at Sonoma County Farm Bureau but also at Napa, Marin, and Mendocino County Farm Bureaus as well as at the CFBF. The Farm Bureau, at every locality and level, is our family home where we trust each other and help each other.  One does not live for himself alone.  Only by helping others one can grow and prosper.

    Our battles for water and for the freedom to work on our land will never end. Any victory will be short-lived. Looking back, I was engaged in never-ending struggles. But, you, by working through the Farm Bureau, will have fresh opportunities of winning new battles and improving your production and profit. Profit is essential. Without profit, there will be no freedom. And without freedom, there will be no act of greatness.

    As the pandemic is tearing our social fabric, we need first to make sure we are on solid ground; then we should boost our contribution to society by creative means. I trust you will keep fighting for agriculture, keep working with each other, and make the best use of your hard-earned freedom. You will, and that’s why this Award should really belong to you all. — By Brytann Busick, Sonoma County Farm Bureau

  • USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for January 2021

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for January 2021, which are effective January 4-January 31. These rates are used for a variety of farm credit options available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

    The CCC’s borrowing rate-based charge is 0.125%, same as December. The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed is 1.125%, same as December.

    Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans are the same as they were for December:

    • 0.250% with three-year loan terms;
    • 0.375% with five-year loan terms;
    • 0.625% with seven-year loan terms;
    • 0.875% with 10-year loan terms; and
    • 1.000% with 12-year loan terms.

    The interest rate for 15-year Sugar Storage Facility Loans is 1.250%, up from 1.125% in December.

    FSA loan programs provide low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade storage facilities and other structures. They also help producers with interim financing to meet cash flow needs. More information on loans can be found at fsa.usda.gov or by contacting your local USDA Service Center.

    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

  • Potential for Late-Season Spraying of Organic Herbicides to Control Yellow Starthistle

    Yellow starthistle is a noxious weed common in many areas of California’s grasslands, and is often a priority for control, due to its effects on decreased livestock carrying capacity, decreased plant diversity, and interference with recreational uses (reviewed in DiTomaso et al. 2006). A number of conventional herbicides are highly effective in controlling yellow starthistle (DiTomaso et al. 2006, USFS 2014), but in many settings, there is increased pressure to decrease use of conventional herbicides and find alternative control methods.

    Organic herbicides have received increased attention, including in the UC Weed Science Blog (https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=5623, https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCDWeedScience/index.cfm?tagname=organic%20herbicide), but often require repeated applications when trying to control plants during the growing season (Reiter and Windbiel-Rojas 2020).

    Yellow starthistle at the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve

    When considering the use of organic herbicides, it is important to not just substitute them into management protocols for conventional herbicides, but to consider their mode of action, and how that may shape promising approaches for their use. For example, D-Limonene (Avenger) and Capric and Caprylic acids (Suppress) contact-kill tissues, but are not systemic. This may make their effectiveness weaker when controlling weeds during the growing season, but could be promising in killing flowers and preventing seeding, as has been found with a number of conventional herbicides on yellow starthistle (DiTomaso et al. 2006), and in the use of both conventional herbicides and the organic herbicide Suppress in decreasing flowering of Wooly Distaff Thistle (DiTomaso et al. 2017).

    To assess whether these organic herbicides could provide effective control of yellow starthistle, we collaborated with Putah Creek Riparian Reserve to compare the effects of the timing and type of herbicide on yellow starthistle. Plots were mowed in December 2018 to assure good contact of the organic herbicides with growing plants. In 3 m x 3 m plots (7 replicates per treatment), we applied one of four herbicide treatments (no herbicide (control), the conventional herbicide Transline (clopyralid), the organic herbicide Avenger (D-Limonene), and the organic herbicide Suppress (caprylic and capric acids). These were applied in the spring of 2019 at 3 timings: early spring, mid-spring, and then at the initiation of yellow starthistle flowering in the late spring (see table below for details on applications).

    In the year of treatment, only the early and mid-spring applications of Transline decreased yellow starthistle, essentially eliminating it (see Photo 2), and there were no effects of the organic herbicides on the cover of yellow starthistle.

    However, all three herbicides applied at flowering resulted in damage to yellow starthistle (see Photo 3.)

    In June 2019, all herbicides applied at flowering resulted in damage to yellow starthistle

    In the following growing season, vegetation cover assessed in the late spring of 2020 showed that the most effective control of yellow starthistle was achieved from the late-season (at flowering) spray in the previous year—with equally effective control of the organic herbicides and Transline (Figure 1).

    Figure 1: Effects of 2019 herbicide applications on the percent cover of yellow starthistle at the end of the growing season in 2020.

    Of course, more time is needed to assess the long-term effects of late-season applications of organic herbicides, but based on two years of results, organic herbicides applied during the growing season have little effect on yellow starthistle, but applications at flowering are promising. Late-season applications are also beneficial because most desirable plants have already senesced at this time, providing the opportunity for yellow starthistle control with minimal unintended effects on other vegetation. — By Valerie Eviner, Professor of Ecosystem Management & Restoration, UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences

    References:

    DiTomaso, JM, GB Kyser, and MJ Pitcairn. 2006. Yellow starthistle management guide. Cal-IPC Publication 2006-03.

    DiTomaso, JM, GB Kyser, DJ Lewis and JA Roncoroni. 2017. Conventional and organic options for the control of Wooly Distaff Thistle (Carthamus lanatus). Invasive Plant Science and Management 10: 72-79.

    USFS. 2014. Field guide for managing yellow starthistle in the Southwest. USDA TP-R3-16-07.

    Reiter, M and K Windbiel-Rojas. 2020. Organic herbicides and glyphosate for weed control: results of coordinated experiments in urban landscapes. CAPCA Advisor Magazine. February 2020. Pp 24-30.

  • US Loses $44 Billion to Soil Erosion

    “Dirt cheap.” It’s an old saying, but hardly accurate. The fact is, the United States loses about $44 billion each year from soil erosion. The challenge is to keep that dirt where it is needed. Soil erosion is the detachment and movement of soil from one place to another by water or wind. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists from around the country have long studied the problem and recently developed a coordinated strategic vision for ongoing ARS erosion research, including improved models to predict erosion and how to control it. Their work, the ARS Strategic Plan for Erosion, was published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.

    “ARS is the world leader in understanding and modeling erosion and has been since at least the 60’s,” said Marlen Eve, ARS deputy administrator for natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems. “Erosion mitigation research has been a core effort of ARS for decades and this strategic plan is an effort to modernize our models and create new ‘precision agriculture’ approaches to managing soils and mitigating erosion. This is a doubling down on our commitment. Our soil erosion research is helping lead America toward a more sustainable, food secure future.”

    The plan is the result of an ARS soil erosion modeling workshop held in the fall of 2019 and is a coordinated effort across several soil erosion modeling platforms, including the Rangeland Hydrology Erosion Model (RHEM). RHEM has been a focus of several ARS labs for nearly 30 years. In addition, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) rely on RHEM.

    The ARS team has also developed an RHEM PowerPoint tutorial for NRCS, BLM, and the governments of Kazakhstan and Jordan and provides training upon request to state and federal agencies.

    “The most vulnerable rangeland areas for soil movement are where annual precipitation is between 4 and 16 inches per year, which limits the soil moisture available to sustain plant growth,” said Mark Weltz, rangeland hydrologist with the ARS Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit in Reno, NV. Weltz was one of the authors of the ARS Strategic Plan for Erosion. With low plant density and minimal plant canopy and ground cover, these arid and semi-arid areas are prone to erosion from wind and water following wildfires, or from overgrazing and off-road vehicles.

    Typical consequences of erosion include reduced soil quality for plant growth; build-up of eroded sediment in riverbeds, harbors, and behind dams that must be removed to maintain safe passage and prevent dam over-topping; and transportation of salts and nutrients that reduce water quality, such as algae blooms that harm aquatic life. To get a picture of what extreme wind and water erosion can lead to, one has only to look at historical records of the Great Dust Bowl of the 1930s and national monuments, such as the Grand Canyon and the Badlands.

    “The subtle aspect to soil erosion is that it removes water-holding capacity that plants need to grow and restricts the types of plants that can grow on the site,” Weltz said. “Further, most plant nutrients are stored in the surface soil. Once lost, it may take centuries to recover. In certain situations, once soil erosion has occurred to sufficient depth the productivity of the site is forever lost.”

    Fortunately, there are things that can be done to mitigate or prevent erosion, and that’s where the ARS Strategic Plan for Soil Erosion comes in. – By Scott Elliott, USDA-ARS Office of Communications

  • CA’s Planet-Smart Dairies: Model for National Climate Efforts

    Dairy Cares — 2020 has been a historic year, and the only thing for certain in 2021 is more change. President-elect Joe Biden will reenter the U.S. into the Paris Climate Agreement, renewing national commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift toward a clean energy economy. The new federal administration plans to address climate change, relying heavily on executive action through agencies, including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This will be a monumental effort, on top of the countless far-reaching challenges the pandemic has created. Tom Vilsack, Biden’s nominee for USDA Secretary, is fully aware of the role dairy farms play in a sustainable and nutritious food system, their track record of reducing GHGs, and what it will take to achieve further reductions.
     
    Vilsack, whose nomination is still subject to Senate confirmation, has spent the past four years serving as the president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). He has been a part of the conversation as the national dairy sector has been voluntarily developing goals and working strategically to reduce its climate impact. At a time when dairy foods are especially critical as a source of affordable nutrition, it is reassuring that Vilsack understands the great challenges and opportunities facing the nation’s dairy farmers.
     
    “With an estimated one in six Americans and a quarter of U.S. children facing a hunger crisis, farmers reeling, and rural communities struggling to weather the pain and economic fallout of the pandemic, Vilsack will bring the experience and bold thinking needed to deliver immediate relief to farmers, ranchers, producers and families all across the country,” Biden said in a news release announcing the nomination.
     
    While food availability is paramount, there is also no doubt that the dairy sector will continue to shrink its climate footprint. Vilsack recognizes that American dairy farmers have already made tremendous achievements—reducing the carbon footprint of a gallon of milk by 19 percent since 2007 (63 percent since 1944). “I think it’s important to set the stage by indicating that the dairy industry has always been committed to sustainability,” Vilsack said during a panel discussion at the virtual California Dairy Sustainability Summit this past November. He then described the national dairy industry’s ambitious net zero initiative, an industry-wide goal to achieve carbon neutral or better (net zero climate impact) by 2050. Vilsack noted that resources, including research and incentives, will be needed to make it affordable for dairy farms of all sizes to implement climate-smart practices and technologies.
    “The federal government can be a strong partner in this [national dairy industry’s net zero initiative] by providing resources, providing incentives, and providing research dollars,” Vilsack said.

     
    California is already demonstrating that incentive-based programs are highly effective in reducing GHGs, particularly methane, from the dairy sector. The state’s two dairy manure methane reduction programs—the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program and the Alternative Manure Management Program—are collectively estimated to reduce 2.3 million metric tons of GHGs (MTCO2e) per year, more than any other individual program in the state’s climate investment portfolio. The reductions are being achieved by installing technologies and adopting new manure management practices, including anaerobic digesters, solid separators, and vacuum trucks. The state has invested a total of $265 million to date, with more than $422 million being provided in matching private funds.
     
    While California’s dairy methane reduction programs have been achieving much success, additional opportunities for even greater reductions can be created through research and development. One example is the area of enteric emissions, or the release of methane directly from the digestive systems of cattle. A number of feed additives are demonstrating promise to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminant animals by 30 percent or more. As these products are further verified and eventually become commercially available, it will be critically important to ensure that these feed additives are economically viable for farmers and ranchers to incorporate into daily feed rations.
     
    Another tremendous opportunity would be to increase the use of manure nutrients as natural soil amendments—something Biden mentioned during an October town hall. California’s dairy community is currently working with researchers, non-governmental organizations, and technology providers to explore expanding the use of manure nutrients in ways that help sequester carbon. California dairy farmers have long been applying manure to build soils and fertilize their forage and grain crops, which are fed to cows. Now, dairy farmers are looking for new ideas to create a circular fertilizer economy, in which manure-based soil amendments can be used to grow even more crops. Much more research is needed to fully explore how a promising list of technologies and strategies could potentially serve the needs of dairies and other farms. This area of research and development represents a significant opportunity for public-private partnerships.

    The change in federal leadership is expected to promote the public-private partnerships needed to advance the sustainability of the dairy sector. From his time at USDEC, Vilsack has seen firsthand the global demand and implications of sustainable farming practices. The market is already demanding that dairy farm and food production practices become more climate friendly, the dairy sector has already pledged its bold commitment to do so, and California has created a model to build upon.
     
    As the U.S. embarks upon renewed efforts to fight climate change, it is imperative that initiatives remain financially feasible for family farms. That will not only ensure the viability of our culturally-rich dairy farm legacy, but also a continued, reliable supply of delicious, nutritious milk and dairy foods for the American people.
     
    The federal government can follow California’s lead—taking bold steps to nourish families while fighting climate change.

    Center, Tom Vilsack spoke on a panel with national dairy industry leaders during the virtual California Dairy Sustainability Summit on November 6, 2020.

  • Stay Vigilant with Asian Citrus Psyllid Finds on the Rise

    In the past few months, we have seen sporadic Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) detections popping up across California. While the citrus industry’s efforts have thus far kept Huanglongbing (HLB) out of commercial groves, these recent ACP detections are a reminder that we cannot let our guard down. The most effective way to prevent the spread of HLB is to keep psyllids out of our orchards.

    After ACP detections in multiple counties (Kern, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Tulare, Contra Costa and others) were confirmed earlier this fall — including areas with historically low ACP activity — the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Committee is encouraging all growers to stay informed, scout for ACP and treat when advised.

    The recommendations outlined in the Voluntary Grower Response Plan, developed collaboratively by growers and scientists, represent the most effective tools known to the citrus industry at this time and are meant to supplement the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s required regulatory response. You can help prevent the spread of ACP by following these best practices, participating in recommended winter treatments and ensuring haulers and transporters are tarping loads.

    While we should expect to see this type of “flare up” occasionally, we need to remain vigilant – even when things are quiet – to ensure we continue to stay on top of this elusive pest and the dangerous disease it spreads. The upfront cost to manage ACP is much less than the potential hit to our industry if HLB spreads throughout the state. To date, HLB has only been identified in backyard citrus trees in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and hasn’t made its way into a commercial citrus grove yet. To keep HLB out of commercial citrus, psyllid control is especially critical this season with warmer weather encouraging more pests.

    Here is what you can do:

    • Follow the best practices outlined in the Voluntary Grower Response Plan for Huanglongbing
    • Participate in treatment strategies recommended by the University of California (UC)
    • Adhere to tarping regulations that help keep pests from hitching a ride to new areas of the state

    Visit citrusinsider.org for more information and resources on the voluntary grower best practices, tarping regulations and UC treatment recommendations.

    Questions?
    Contact your regional grower liaison for the latest information on detections near you and coordinated or area-wide treatment schedules. Find your grower liaison here.

    Let’s work together to protect California citrus for your businesses, neighbors and generations to come.

    Sincerely,
    Jim Gorden
    Chair, Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Committee

  • Central Valley Dairies to Receive Mailed Salt Control Program Notices​

    During the week of January 4, 2021, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) will send letters to dairies and other bovine operations, and many other water quality permit holders. The letters will be titled as Notices to Comply.

    These letters notify permit holders that they must comply with a new regulation known as the Salt Control Program. Parts of the new regulation went into effect in January of 2020 and the remaining portion went into effect in November of 2020. Its primary aim is to reduce the impacts of salt accumulation in Central Valley groundwater.

    “The good news for Central Valley dairies is that they are already in compliance with the Salt Control Program, if they are members of the Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring Program (CVDRMP),” said CVDRMP Chairman Justin Gioletti, a Turlock area dairy farmer.

    “The Regional Water Board is required to notify water quality permit holders about this regulation, which is why Central Valley dairies and other cattle operations will receive the letter in early January,” said J.P. Cativiela, CVDRMP Administrator.  “However, if those operations are already CVDRMP members, the notice is essentially a formality. Recipients who read the letter carefully will learn that if they are CVDRMP members, they do not need to respond to the notice. These CVDRMP members are already in compliance.”

    As a monitoring coalition representing about 1,250 dairies and bovine operations, CVDRMP negotiated – prior to the official notice – an agreement that enrolls all its members in an alternative compliance option, known as “Pathway B.”

    For dairies, cost for enrolling in the Salt Control Program will be $72 for 2021, to be collected as part of their annual CVDRMP fees. However, the Salt Control Program alone will not result in a fee increase for CVDRMP member dairies, because the dairy farmer-led CVDRMP Board of Directors reduced costs in other parts of the monitoring program to compensate.

    “Through efficiencies, we have been able to reduce our monitoring costs enough to compensate for the additional costs of the Salt Control Program,” said Rodney Kamper, CVDRMP Treasurer and a Riverdale dairy farmer. “That means for our dairy members, the total annual cost for both groundwater monitoring and Salt Control Program compliance will be $972, the same amount we have charged for just groundwater monitoring since the start of the program in 2011.”

    However, there will be a cost increase for bovine operations who are CVDRMP members and regulated under the Regional Water Board’s “Bovine Order.” For those, cost of the Salt Control Program will be added to their 2021 fee invoices and will range from $160 to $320 per year depending on herd size. Enrollment will be automatic for all members.

    Kamper cautioned that this does not include the new costs associated with another new regulation recently adopted by the Regional Water Board, known as the Nitrate Control Program. Costs of the Nitrate Control Program are still being determined and will initially involve many CVDRMP members in so called “Priority 1” areas such as the Turlock, Modesto, Chowchilla, Kings, Kaweah, and Tule groundwater basins.

    “The Salt Control Program should not be confused with the more expensive Nitrate Control Program. More information will be coming to CVDRMP members in January and February about new fee schedules related to the Nitrate Control Program,” Kamper said. “For now, we want to assure our members that they do not need to worry about, or respond to, the Salt Control Program letters they receive in January.”

    CVDRMP members (or non-member dairies and bovine operations who want more information about how to comply) are welcome to contact CVDRMP at 916-594-9450 or CVDRMP@gmail.com with any questions they may have or to check the status of their facility’s membership in the program.
    About the Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring Program​
    The Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring Program is a not-for-profit group of more than 1,000 Central Valley dairies, organized and overseen by directors elected from its membership. The group’s purpose is to reduce regulatory costs for members by administering a representative program for dairies. Membership in this voluntary program fully substitutes for individual monitoring requirements currently in regulation .

  • Agriculture and Business Coalition Challenge Cal/OSHA Emergency Standards to Protect Nation’s Food Supply

    A coalition of agricultural and business employers has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court challenging the COVID-19 related emergency temporary standards (ETS) recently approved by the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Board). The complaint alleges, among other things, that the Board lacks statutory authority to impose many of the sweeping measures of the ETS on California employers.

    For California’s multi-generational farmers, the health and safety of their employees and the consumers they serve is their top priority.

    “In the weeks and months following Governor Newsom’s emergency declaration in March, California farmers and processors moved quickly to implement dramatic new safety practices aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace,” said Dave Puglia, President & CEO of Western Growers. “While these measures helped reduce transmission in workplaces, this virus has swept through communities large and small in spite of lockdown orders and mask mandates, and through every sector of the economy as well despite extraordinary efforts by employers and employees alike. The Board imposed unrealistic, unfounded and economically harmful standards in total disregard of these realities. We have no choice but to seek judicial relief.”

    The standards promulgated by the Board are unprecedented and sweeping. They were adopted with little public notice or opportunity for comment based on a purported “finding of emergency” and a declared need for immediate action, even though it took the Board nine months to enact these rules. Furthermore, Cal/OSHA staff insisted the ETS were not necessary for the agency to enforce the continually evolving general and industry-specific guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19. As stated in the complaint, “the ETS does not solve a crisis as much as it creates one.”

    “We take this unfortunate yet serious action because we believe there are unconsidered mitigation steps that have and would continue to better protect farm workers while allowing our farmers to continue to produce a consistent supply of fruits and vegetables,” said Christopher Valadez, President of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California. “As this pandemic has shown us over the last several months, it is imperative that science and data drive policy. That is at the core of what we seek in this lawsuit.”

    The ETS create significant new obligations and liabilities for employers, and subject well-meaning California farmers and other businesses to additional enforcement actions and substantial penalties. The practical effect of these emergency standards is to shift the public health and economic costs of COVID-19 monitoring, investigation, compliance and remediation onto employers, all without any consideration of the financial damage inflicted on businesses already struggling to recover from the pandemic.

    “These regulations will disrupt food supply operations all along the line, but it will be especially hard on our 20,000 small family farming members,” said Jamie Johansson, President of the California Farm Bureau Federation. “They and their employees are the unsung heroes of the pandemic but once again, they must react to a rule handed down by fiat instead of going through a deliberate regulatory process where the voices of farmers would be heard. We hope the court forces government to follow the law.”

    It is important to note that the ETS will have a disproportionate impact on California farmers and their employees since one aspect of the regulations is to substantially reduce and eliminate vitally needed agricultural housing during a statewide housing crisis. A reduction in already-scarce housing will directly impact farmworker communities and harm rural economies across the state that depend on agriculture.

    The lawsuit filed by lead attorney David A. Schwarz, Kent R. Raygor and Barbara Taylor, with Sheppard Mullin, argues that in enacting the emergency regulations without due process, the Board failed to explain the causal link between the ETS and the emergency situation to be addressed, or to adequately justify the necessity of the new rules. Additionally, the complaint contends that many of the regulations have nothing to do with workplace health or occupational safety but are designed to address non-work-related COVID-19 exposure risks.

    Click here for a fact sheet that details the basis for the legal challenge.

    Click here for the full text of the complaint with exhibits.

    The six plaintiff organizations are listed below:

    • California Association of Winegrape Growers: Michael Miiller
    • California Business Roundtable: Brooke Armour Spiegel
    • California Farm Bureau Federation: Dave Kranz
    • Grower-Shipper Association of Central California: Christopher Valadez
    • Ventura County Agricultural Association: Rob Roy
    • Western Growers: Cory Lunde

  • Vie-Del Company Completes Acquisition Of Constellation Brands’ High-Color And Standard Grape Concentrate Business Lines

    Vie-Del Company (Vie-Del), the oldest family-owned grape processor and supplier of bulk juices, concentrates, brandy, wine and spirits in California, announced today the completion on December 29, 2020 of the acquisition of the Canandaigua Concentrate High-Color Concentrate (HCC) and standard grape concentrate business lines from Constellation Brands U.S. Operations, Inc. (CBUSO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Constellation Brands, Inc. (Constellation). The transaction was approved by the Federal Trade Commission on December 23, 2020. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

    The acquisition is comprised of the Canandaigua Concentrate MegaNatural HCC, Mega Purple and Mega Red, and standard grape concentrates, which will be incorporated under the Vie-Del Company brand. Additionally, the acquisition included certain intellectual property, inventory, goodwill, interests in certain contracts and other assets.

    “The Canandaigua Concentrate acquisition enhances our already expansive lines of grape juice concentrates and takes Vie-Del into the High-Color Concentrate business with immense opportunity for growth,” said Dianne S. Nury, President of Vie-Del. “Our team of specialists will continue to serve our industry partners, existing and new, with quality products to fuel their growth and the same personalized business approach our family-owned company has delivered for the past 70 years.”

    The acquisition expands Vie-Del’s product offerings and solidifies the company as a leading supplier of High-Color and standard grape concentrates in North America. Together with Vie-Del’s existing concentrate business, these new capabilities will further enhance the company’s ability to serve the needs of the marketplace – domestically and internationally. This is complemented by Vie-Del’s other products that include wine, brandy, grape and fruit spirits, purée and custom fruit concentrates, natural wine flavors and wine reductions. To support this growth, Vie-Del is embarking on a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art facility expansion in the heart of California’s agribusiness region, Fresno County.

    Vie-Del Company Chairman of the Board Mike Nury pictured with President Dianne S. Nury, two generations who have led the company to be the leading North American supplier of grape concentrates, among other product offerings.

    About Vie-Del Company

    Founded in 1946, Vie-Del Company is owned and operated by the Nury family and is one of the oldest California-based grape processors and suppliers of bulk juices, concentrates, brandy, wine and spirits. Led by President, Dianne S. Nury for the past 30 years, Vie-Del also holds title as the largest woman-owned bulk winery, distiller, and fruit juice processor in the United States. The company operates out of two California facilities in Fresno and Kingsburg; its vineyard and winery are certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, acknowledging adherence to international sustainability standards and continuous improvement. Vie-Del additionally produces a variety of other products for the wine, spirit, food and beverage industries – domestically and internationally.

    For more information about Vie-Del Company visit www.vie-del.com and follow on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/vie-del-company) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/viedelcompany).

  • National Dairy Council Shares Dairy’s Role in New Dietary Guidelines

    The newly released 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans reaffirms the importance of consuming dairy daily as part of healthy dietary patterns for positive health outcomes.

    Daily inclusion of low-fat and fat-free dairy foods is recommended in all three DGA healthy dietary patterns: 3 servings in Healthy U.S. and Healthy Vegetarian, and 2 to 2.5 servings in Healthy Mediterranean. Following these healthy dietary patterns is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

    “Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt offer essential nutrients that help nourish people throughout life,” said National Dairy Council President Jean Ragalie-Carr, RDN, LDN, FAND. “At a time when affordable nutrition has never been more important to our nation, dairy foods, including lactose-free varieties, are a highly nutritious and accessible option that can help fill important nutrient gaps and support overall well-being. We’re pleased to see dairy consumption recommended for its contributions to healthy dietary patterns based on the scientific evidence.”

    National Dairy Council President Jean Ragalie-Carr, RDN, LDN, FAND

    The DGA are updated every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), who base their recommendations on a sound body of peer-reviewed science.

    NDC participated in the public process around the DGA, submitting written comments and oral testimony to USDA and HHS that summarized scientific evidence on the role of dairy foods in healthy dietary patterns. Dairy farmers and importers fund hundreds of research studies on topics such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, whole milk dairy foods, inflammation, protein, digestive health, sustainable food systems, child nutrition and more as part of their commitment to supporting good nutrition for Americans.

    The Guidelines are an essential resource in developing federal food and nutrition programs, such as the school meals programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

    For the first time, the DGA recommendations for the birth-to-23-month time period are included and yogurt and cheese were recognized as complementary feeding options for infants starting as early as 6 months. Dairy foods (whole milk, reduced-fat cheese and reduced-fat plain yogurt) were included in recommendations for toddlers 12-23 months.

    Consistent evidence demonstrates that a healthy dietary pattern, which includes low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, is associated with beneficial outcomes for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, bone health, and certain types of cancer (breast and colorectal).

    Other key aspects of the DGA for dairy include:

    • The nutrients of concern for Americans continue to be calcium, vitamin D, potassium and fiber; dairy foods are important sources of calcium, vitamin D and potassium in the U.S. diet and can help close these nutrient gaps.
    • Linking dairy foods to bone health in both adolescents and adults, showing dairy’s important nutritional support for accrual of bone mass and promotion of bone health outcomes, including prevention of the onset of osteoporosis.
    • The saturated fat recommendation remains at no more than 10% of total calories.

    While these Guidelines don’t include recommendations for sustainable food systems, the U.S. dairy community has commitments in place to advance environmental sustainability. Earlier this year, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy announced the 2050 Environmental Stewardship Goals which include achieving carbon neutrality or better, optimizing water usage and improving water quality.

    “All foods come with an environmental footprint and all sectors of food production can work to do better, including dairy,” said Krysta Harden, executive vice president of Global Environmental Strategy for Dairy Management Inc. “Today, U.S. dairy contributes about 2 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and collectively, from farm to retail, we are committed to being an environmental solution and leaving a positive footprint for future generations.”

    To learn more about the U.S. dairy industry visit www.usdairy.com, www.nmpf.org or www.idfa.org.