California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • American Farmland Trust Awarded Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grant

    American Farmland Trust, the organization behind the national movement No Farms No Food®, was recently awarded a Professional Development Program grant from the Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Administrative Council. The grant will support AFT in expanding its existing work scaling up the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices among farmers by demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits realized from successful soil health management practices in wine grapes, wheat and other crops. The project, entitled “From Classroom to the Field: Soil Health Bottom Line: Expanding Adoption of Healthy Soils Practices by Quantifying the Economic and Environmental Benefits to Growers,” will focus in AFT’s California and Pacific Northwest regions.

    The dual strategies of keeping land in farming and managing it with good stewardship practices offers a viable and encouraging solution to climate change. No other approach to combat climate change yields the vital combination of abundant food, clean water and sustainable landscapes.

    “Healthy soils offer many benefits, including resiliency to extreme weather, nutrient and water storage and carbon sequestration,” says Hannah Clark, AFT’s Pacific Northwest regional director. “Growers want to improve soil health, but lack of information on the economic outcomes can be a barrier. Through this grant, we aim to help arm growers with the knowledge they need to make decisions around soil health based on economic and environmental impacts.”

    AFT’s scope of work entails delivering ten train the trainer workshops in ten major agricultural regions throughout Washington, Oregon and California. The workshops will provide agricultural service providers as well as staff from conservation districts, NGOs and land trusts with training on technical tools to assess and communicate the economic and environmental benefits of soil health practices in wine grapes, wheat and other crops. Following the workshops, select participants will create case studies featuring the economic and environmental benefits regional farmers realized from the implementation of these practices. The case studies will serve as a critical tool in providing motivation to other growers to adopt soil health practices on their own farms.

    Through these resources and trainings, AFT aims to grow a network of professionals with an enhanced understanding of the multiple benefits of healthy soils and a capacity to apply relevant technical tools. This network will support the expansion of soil health management systems in the west.

    “Climate-smart agriculture is fundamental in the fight against climate change,” says Kara Heckert, AFT’s California state director. “Realizing a sustainable future means investing in a strong foundation of service providers and farmers that can build the health of our soil, making it more productive and capable of absorbing vast amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.”

  • USDA Launches New Farmers.gov Features to Help with H2A Applications, Managing Loans

    (WASHINGTON, D.C., April 2019) – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched two new features on farmers.gov to help customers manage their farm loans and navigate the application process for H2A visas.

    “Customer service is our top priority at USDA and these new features will help our customers as they manage their farm loans and navigate the H-2A temporary agricultural visa program,” said Secretary Perdue. “In my travels across the country, I have consistently heard people express a desire for greater use of technology in the way we deliver programs at USDA. As we adopt new technology, we are introducing simple yet innovative approaches to support our farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters as they support the nation every day. It’s my goal to make USDA the most effective, most efficient, most customer-focused department in the entire federal government, and farmers.gov is a big step in that direction.”

    In 2018, Secretary Perdue unveiled farmers.gov, a dynamic, mobile-friendly public website combined with an authenticated portal where customers will be able to apply for programs, process transactions and manage accounts.

    Navigating the H-2A Visa Process:

    Focused on education and smaller owner-operators, this farmers.gov H-2A Phase I release includes an H-2A Visa Program page and interactive checklist tool, with application requirements, fees, forms, and a timeline built around a farmer’s hiring needs.

    You may view the video at this following link: youtu.be/E-TXREaZhnI

    The H-2A Visa Program – also known as the temporary agricultural workers program – helps American farmers fill employment gaps by hiring workers from other countries. The U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of State, and state workforce agencies each manage parts of the H-2A Visa Program independently, with separate websites and complex business applications.

    Over the next several months, USDA will collaborate further with the U.S. Department of Labor on farmers.gov H-2A Phase II – a streamlined H-2A Visa Program application form, regulations, and digital application process that moves producers seamlessly from farmers.gov website to farmers.gov portal to U.S. Department of Labor’s IT systems.

    Managing Farm Loans Online:

    The self-service website now enables agricultural producers to login to view loan information, history and payments.

    Customers can access the “My Financial Information” feature by desktop computer, tablet or phone. They can now view:

    • loan information;
    • interest payments for the current calendar year (including year-to-date interest paid for the past five years);
    • loan advance and payment history;
    • paid-in-full and restructured loans; and
    • account alerts giving borrowers important notifications regarding their loans.

    To access their information, producers will need a USDA eAuth account to login into farmers.gov. After obtaining an eAuth account, producers should visit farmers.gov and sign into the site’s authenticated portal via the “Sign In / Sign Up” link at the top right of the website.

    Currently, only producers doing business as individuals can view information. Entities, such as an LLC or Trust, or producers doing business on behalf of another customer cannot access the portal at this time, but access is being planned.

    Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge are the recommended browsers to access the feature.

    About farmers.gov:

    USDA is building farmers.gov for farmers, by farmers. Future self-service features available through the farmers.gov portal will help producers find the right loan programs for their business and submit loan documents to their service center.

    With feedback from customers and field employees who serve those customers, farmers.gov delivers farmer-focused features through an agile, iterative process to deliver the greatest immediate value to America’s agricultural producers – helping farmers and ranchers do right, and feed everyone.

  • Leading Farm, Conservation, and Wildlife Groups Unite to Protect Conservation Funding

    Having succeeded in protecting funding for the Conservation Title in the 2018 Farm Bill, more than 140 leading farm, conservation, and wildlife groups are once again joining together to protect those hard-fought conservation funds and programs in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations process.

    In a letter delivered recently, the groups, which include the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), National Farmers Union (NFU), National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), and American Farmland Trust (AFT), called upon appropriators to respect the funding decisions made in the 2018 Farm Bill and reject any cuts to farm bill conservation funding through the appropriations process.

    Farm bill conservation programs, including the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), play a vital role in helping farmers, ranchers, and landowners to keep their lands sustainable and profitable for generations to come.

    “America’s farmers and ranchers worked hard to ensure that the 2018 Farm Bill included support for the conservation programs they rely upon,” said Alyssa Charney, NSAC Senior Policy Specialist. “The Agriculture Committees listened when farmers told them what they needed to thrive, and now we are asking congressional appropriators to do the same. The farm bill process is closed; appropriators should seek to build upon the foundation laid by the 2018 Farm Bill, not attempt to undercut it. Appropriators have protected these programs in their last two funding bills, and we now ask them to continue to do so in FY 2020.”

    “As America’s farm and ranch families endure significant environmental and economic challenges, it is as important as ever that we maintain funding for voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs,” said Roger Johnson, President, NFU. “Congress just last year passed a farm bill with strong provisions and mandatory funding for conservation programs. Appropriators should reject changes that were settled in the process of crafting the Farm Bill and provide adequate funding to NRCS staff to fulfill their important role in ensuring the sustainability of family farms across the country.”

    “Farm Bill conservation programs are critical to addressing America’s wildlife crisis,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We call on lawmakers to reject any efforts to cut mandatory funding for Farm Bill conservation programs. These effective and widely supported programs give farmers and ranchers the tools they need to voluntarily restore important habitat for wildlife across America’s working lands and proactively recover at-risk wildlife populations.”

    In their letter, the 146 organizations also urged appropriators to protect funding for conservation technical assistance.

    “Ensuring full funding of CTA and farm bill programs will continue to allow conservation districts to work hand-in-hand with NRCS at the local level to deliver conservation on America’s landscapes,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “Farm bill conservation programs are essential to our nation’s producers, as well as the consumers of their products. We urge Congress to protect and sustain conservation funding to allow our producers to continue providing a safe, reliable food supply while emphasizing locally-led conservation solutions to improve the quality of our nation’s soil, water and natural resources.”

    The wide range of organizations signed on to the letter speaks to how significantly any cuts to conservation programs and technical assistance would be felt across the country.

    “Farm Bill conservation programs are critical to the efforts of farmers and ranchers across this country to voluntarily protect their land from development and implement environmentally sound farming practices,” said John Piotti, President & CEO of American Farmland Trust. “At a time when we are losing three acres of farmland per minute, it is absolutely necessary to save every last dollar for these programs and serve as many farmers and ranchers as possible.”

    AFT, NACD, NFU, NSAC, and NWF stand united with the more than 140 co-signed organizations in urging appropriators to protect funding for critical conservation programs and technical assistance in FY 2020.

    About American Farmland Trust (AFT):

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families.

    www.farmland.org

    About the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD):

    The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state and territory associations, and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.

    About National Farmers Union (NFU):

    National Farmers Union advocates on behalf of nearly 200,000 American farm families and their communities. We envision a world in which farm families and their communities are respected, valued, and enjoy economic prosperity and social justice.

    About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC):

    The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: http://sustainableagriculture.net

    About the National Wildlife Federation (NFW):

    The National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization, representing six million members and affiliate conservation organizations in 51 states and territories. The National Wildlife Federation works to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Learn more: http://nwf.org/.

  • Don’t Pack a Pest – April is Invasive! Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month!

    The USDA has declared April to be “Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month,” during a critical time of year when damaging invasive species emerge and can be easily spread in outdoor items that people pack and move, such as grills, gardening equipment, wading pools, bicycles, and patio furniture.

    Invasive species are a series problem. They attack trees, plants and agriculture, costing the United States about $40 billion each year. Household moves increase the risk for the spread of these invasive species, since people can potentially transport them to new areas.

    CDFA partners with the USDA to prevent and eradicate invasive species in California. The agencies have a long history of working together on programs like Asian citrus psyllid/huanglongbing, the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, and the European Grapevine Moth.

    About 35 million Americans move every year, bringing a high possibility of transporting invasive pests. For instance, federal and state inspectors often find gypsy moth egg masses on outdoor household items and recreational vehicles in non-infested areas. The USDA is offering a free checklist for household moves that includes suggestions and tips for reducing this risk.

    Click here for more information about CDFA’s invasive species programs.

    Click here for more information about the USDA’s Hungry Pests outreach program.

  • Study Examines Contribution of American Lamb Checkoff Program

    Denver, Colo. – The American Lamb Checkoff Program has positively contributed to American lamb demand and industry profits, according to the Texas A&M University 2019 report “Return on Investment in the American Lamb Checkoff Program” conducted by agricultural economists Gary Williams, Ph.D., and Dan Hanselka.

    After extensive econometric modeling, researchers concluded that the American Lamb Checkoff Program added from 2.4% to 2.7% of the annual value of retail lamb. The study measures 2002 to 2018, the time period during which the American Lamb Board (ALB) has been conducting programs. This new study has similar results compared to five years ago, when the last study was released.

    This white paper covers both traditional and nontraditional US lamb markets and compiles relevant data from the Livestock Marketing Information Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, industry reports on lamb sales, and other reputable sources. The paper discusses factors that affect seasonal supply, the role of US and imported lamb, impact on all industry segments, opportunities to alter the US seasonal supply, and case studies of producers who have shifted season of production to meet the needs of their customers.

    Researchers went on to write: “With modest funds available for promotion, the ALB succeeded in substantially enhancing the annual value of U.S. lamb consumed.” The American Lamb Checkoff Program’s promotion program is about $1.5 million a year, with another $0.5 million invested in education and research programs. Administration costs must be less than 10 percent of yearly collections.

    The new study indicated that this 2.4% to 2.7% “lift” is the result of increased consumption of lamb and a more modest increase in retail price. ALB promotion programs have helped increase the U.S. production share of lamb consumption to “some extent over time.”

    “These results are a win for every member of the American lamb industry,” says ALB Chairman Dale Thorne, a Michigan lamb producer and feeder. “The purpose of our checkoff is to increase demand for American Lamb and enhance opportunities for all segments to profit. This extensive analysis tells us that we remain on the right track with our promotion programs.”Price of American lamb is of particular interest to the industry. While the effect of lamb price on product demand has declined in recent years, a 10 percent increase in the price of lamb leads to a decline of about 6 percent in lamb demand. When it comes to competitive meats, a 10 percent decline in the price of beef results in about a 5 percent decline in the quantity of lamb demanded while the price of pork is insignificant as a driver of lamb demand. As for poultry, U.S. consumers do not consider it to be a substitute for lamb, said the report.

    Consumers’ “habit persistence” has a statistically significant effect on U.S. lamb consumption and has increased among current lamb eaters during recent years. Habit persistence means that past consumption influences current preferences and demand. So, according to this study, the more that U.S. consumers can be enticed to choose American lamb, the more likely they are to continue doing so.

    Another measure of checkoff program contribution to the industry is the cost-to-benefit ratio. The Texas A&M study reported that the average return to industry stakeholders for every $1 invested into the American Lamb Checkoff Program is approximately $14.20.By law, the checkoff program must undergo an economic return on investment analysis every five years.

    About the American Lamb Board

    The American Lamb Board is an industry-funded national promotion, research and information organization (national checkoff program) that represents all sectors of the American Lamb industry including producers, feeders, seedstock producers, and processors. The 13-member Board, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, is focused on increasing demand by promoting the freshness, flavor, nutritional benefits, and culinary versatility of American Lamb. The work of the American Lamb Board is overseen by the U.S

    The program is funded through mandatory assessments collected under the federally mandated Lamb Checkoff program. There is a live weight assessment of $0.07 per pound paid by the seller of sheep or lambs and a first handler assessment of $0.42 per head assessment paid by the entity who owns sheep or lambs at the time of slaughter. The assessments are remitted to the American Lamb Board. The Board’s expenditures for administration are limited to 10 percent or less of projected revenues. All remaining revenues are expended on programs related to promotion, research and information for the lamb industry.

  • Dairy Producers Previously Enrolled in the Livestock Gross Margin Program Now Eligible for 2018 Margin Protection Program

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that dairy producers who elected to participate in the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle Program (LGM-Dairy) now have the opportunity to participate in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) for 2018 coverage. Sign-up will take place March 25 through May 10, 2019.

    Producers enrolled in 2018 LGM-Dairy, administered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), previously were determined by the 2014 Farm Bill to be ineligible for coverage under MPP-Dairy, a safety net program available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

    “The 2018 Farm Bill included substantial changes to USDA dairy programs,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “This includes the ability for producers with LGM coverage to retroactively enroll in MPP-Dairy for 2018. It also integrated recent improvements to the MPP-Dairy in the new Dairy Margin Coverage program, beginning with the 2019 calendar year.”

    The MPP-Dairy program offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the national all-milk price and the national average feed cost — the margin — falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producers in a dairy operation. LGM-Dairy is an insurance product that provides protection when feed costs rise or milk prices drop. The gross margin is the market value of milk minus feed costs.

    This retroactive sign-up is only for dairy producers with 2018 LGM coverage who produced and commercially marketed milk in 2018 but did not obtain full year MPP-Dairy coverage. FSA will notify eligible producers by postcard and provide a one-time payment for all of the months in 2018 that had margins triggering MPP-Dairy assistance.

    “I’m pleased that dairy producers will now be able to take advantage of enrolling in both Livestock Gross Margin and the Margin Protection Program for 2018 coverage,” RMA Administrator Martin Barbre said. “The 2018 Farm Bill gave dairy producers more options like these and when combined with the new Dairy Protection Program offered by RMA, that means more overall coverage for dairy producers.”

    Eligible producers can enroll during the sign-up period at their local USDA service center. To locate your office, visit farmers.gov.

  • FDA Announces Enforcement Discretion Policy for Almonds in Action Applauded by the Almond Alliance

    We have goods news on the FSMA front. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated the regulatory process to put almonds on the “rarely consumed raw” list.  After years of discussions with the Almond Alliance and the Almond Board of California as to why almonds should be on the “rarely consumed raw”  list given the self-imposed pasteurization rule, FDA moved to make this a reality.

    The  California almond industry is a leader in food safety and through education and FDAs understanding on industry practices and requirements, we have worked together to prevent unnecessary regulation for our industry.

    The Almond Alliance President Elaine Trevino said the FDA action, “This is significant for the California almond industry.  The leadership at FDA has accepted the information and evidence that almonds are in fact rarely consumed raw. The industry went through an exhaustive process many years ago to get its pasteurization rule approved. We are pleased the FDA listened to the science and evidence that we presented and took the appropriate action in placing almonds on the rarely consumed raw list.”

    In 2015, FDA created the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). FSMA consists of seven regulations and one of which applies to almond growers, the Produce Safety Rule. The “Produce Safety Rule,” provides standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables for human consumption.  Since 2015, the Almond Alliance has been advocating on behalf of the California almond industry, explaining the pasteurization rule and why California almonds should be included on the “rarely consumed raw” list.

    Trevino thanked the Almond Board of California for its work in providing scientific research in support of the FDA’s action to place almonds on the “rarely consumed raw” list, singling out Tim Birmingham Director of Quality Assurance and Industry Services for the Almond Board, for his work.

    The Produce Safety Rule establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables for human consumption. The rule does not apply to produce that is considered to be rarely consumed raw (RCR), grown for personal or on-farm consumption, or not a raw agricultural commodity. Commodities considered to be RCR are those that the FDA has determined are typically cooked before consumption. Almond Alliance will continue to educate and encourage safe food and growing practices.

    About the Almond Alliance of California

    The Almond Alliance of California (AAC) was formerly the Almond Hullers and Processors Association and is a trusted non-profit organization with a mission of advocating on behalf of the Almond industry in California. AAC actively advocates for the positions of almond growers, hullers, shellers, handers and processors, while educating the industry about upcoming and existing regulatory changes.  Through workshops, newsletters, conferences and meetings, AAC serves as a clearing house of information that informs the almond industry and continues to position the industry as an agricultural leader in the state.

  • Update on Produce Safety Rule Exemption for Winegrape Growers

    SACRAMENTO – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Wednesday it will use
    its discretion and not enforce Produce Safety Rule requirements for growers of winegrapes.

    The agency’s announcement follows continued efforts by the California Association of Winegrape Growers
    (CAWG) to exempt winegrapes from the Produce Safety Rule. CAWG worked with the Oregon Winegrowers
    Association and Washington Winegrowers Association to obtain the exemption.

    FDA also announced it will exercise enforcement discretion with almonds, hops and pulse crops.

    “This is great news for winegrape growers,” CAWG President John Aguirre said. “FDA recognizes the fact that
    winegrapes are not consumed raw and winegrape growers should be exempted from the Produce Safety Rule.
    CAWG will continue to work with Congress and FDA to make sure this exemption remains intact.”
    Additional information from FDA:

    FDA in Brief
    https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/FDAInBrief/ucm634549.htm
    Constituent Update
    https://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm634253.htm
    Guidance
    https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/UCM634248.htm
    Media contacts:
     John Aguirre, (916) 379-8995, john@cawg.org
     Meredith Ritchie, (916) 984-4473, meredith@cawg.org

  • Grants Awarded to Educators in California

    Fresno, CA – Thousands of students have the opportunity to participate in innovative
    educational projects, thanks to a long-standing program funded by the California Table
    Grape Commission (commission) on behalf of California table grape growers.

    The “Innovation in Teaching” grant program was created in 1993 to support innovative
    teaching projects in the California table grape growing regions of the San Joaquin and
    Coachella valleys. Projects include the areas of agriculture, math, science, art, health, and
    technology.

    In total, 51 education grants worth up to $750 each were awarded. The funded projects will
    be implemented in the current academic year and will reach over 9,000 students, grades K
    through 12.

    “It is great to see so many exciting and innovative projects being implemented by teachers
    in the state’s table grape growing regions,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the
    commission.

    Examples of projects being funded this year include using robotic kits, mannequins that will
    help teach students how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the creation
    of mobile applications.

    California grape growers are proud to support the following education grants awarded to
    schools in the San Joaquin and Coachella valleys:

    Bakersfield City School District

    How Green is Your Garden

    Kathryn Douglas-Tierney, Owens Intermediate School

    Fifth grade students will grow vegetables to blend into smoothies and dehydrate into healthy
    snacks as they learn about physical wellness and good food choices. Grant funds will be used to
    purchase an Aerogarden, seeds for herbs and vegetables, a dehydrator, and a blender.

    Make Math Fun Again!

    Amanda Madkins-Choyce, Mount Vernon Elementary

    First grade students will integrate math learning with all the other subjects, like science, art,
    and reading. Grant funds will be used to purchase Lakeshore curriculum kits to learn about
    season and weather, bugs and insects, force and motion, shapes and counting, patterns,
    measuring, and more.

    Our Kinder Garden is Blooming!

    Valerie Padilla, Evergreen Elementary School

    Grant funds will be used to purchase raised garden beds, soil, compost, and gardening tools for
    these kindergarten students to learn about how food grows.

    Tasting the Rainbow

    Jessica Ercoli, New Teacher Support

    Grant funds will purchase healthy eating books, fruits, and vegetables for kindergarten and first
    grade students to taste and try in lessons about health, science, math, reading, and writing.

    The Munsey News Network

    Sarah Reiss, Munsey Elementary School

    Fourth and fifth grade students will write scripts and produce a twice per week news show for
    the entire school. Grant funds will be used to purchase a camcorder, microphone, editing
    software, and news team t-shirts.

    The One-Mile Club

    Laurie Kessler, William Penn Elementary School

    Fifth grade students will run one mile in 12 minutes or less to pass the California State Physical
    Education test in April. Grant funds will be used to purchase a standing digital timer,
    stopwatches, tally counters, ankle weights, a wagon for transporting the equipment, and an
    extension cord.

    Water Necessary for Optimum Plant Growth

    Shun Yee Florence Flesche, Munsey Elementary School

    Grant funds will be used to purchase tools and plants for the garden planters as these fourth
    grade students explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to conduct science
    experiments and find out how much water to use to yield optimum plant growth.

    Water to Help our Garden Grow

    Rachel Lenix, Downtown Elementary School

    Sixth grade students will contribute grant purchased water barrels to the school garden as they
    learn about the water cycle, water conservation, science, water safety, and nutrition.

    Central Unified School District

    United Physical Education

    Theresa Bollier, Central High School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase outdoor recreation and fitness equipment and games for
    high school students to engage in dynamic learning to improve fitness, flexibility, strength, and
    endurance in an inclusive class where peer coaches learn leadership skills and apply their
    knowledge.

    Clovis Unified School District

    Innovating with Adafruit Circuit Playground

    Delaine Johnson, Reyburn Intermediate School
    Seventh and eighth grade students will program and code a design of their own invention all
    the way to the prototype stage with this grant-funded coding educator’s pack of hardware and
    software.

    Coachella Valley Unified School District

    Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car

    Edwin Detoya, Bobby Duke Middle School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase hydrogen fuel cell car science kits for these seventh and
    eighth grade students to learn more about chemistry, renewable resources, science, and
    engineering with real life applications.

    Coalinga-Huron Unified School District

    Applying Measurement and Geometry Through Quilting

    Jessica Fairbanks, Coalinga High School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase sewing machines, irons, ironing boards, cutters, and
    cutting mats for this after school program for ninth through twelfth grade students to learn
    about quilting, geometry, and measurement as they create their own geometric patterns. Each
    student will create a block for a “Quilt of Valor” that will be donated to a local veteran.

    Your Body is a Walking Wonder

    Lauren Andrade, Sunset Elementary School

    Fourth and fifth grade students will use grant fund purchased pedometers to learn about
    physical education, nutrition, health, mathematics, physiology, and kinesiology.

     

    Delano Union Elementary School District

    Lights, Camera, Action!

    Rene Mendivil, La Vina Middle School
    Eighth grade theater and performance art students will explore their creativity as they write,
    direct, illustrate, perform, record, edit, and publish original plays. Grant funds will be used to
    purchase a camera, software, and memory cards.

    Virtual Reality Classroom

    Patricia Guzman, Nueva Vista Language Academy
    Grant funds will be used to purchase virtual reality headsets for second grade students to see
    and be a part of the Discovery Channel, academic games, and far-away places, as every lesson
    becomes a real experience.

    Mindfulness Through Fitness

    Griselda Boydstun Gomez, Nueva Vista Language Academy
    Grant-funded exercise equipment and healthy snacks will allow third through fifth grade
    students to value themselves and each other as they learn about health, fitness, and nutrition.

    Desert Sands Unified School District

    Career Girls Day

    Kayla Adler, Palm Desert High School
    Fifth through twelfth grade students will learn about science, technology, engineering, arts, and
    math (S.T.E.A.M.) career pathways at Career Girls Day. Grant funds will be used for activity kits
    and follow-up classes to learn coding, 3D printing, and a Women in Ag Saturday workshop.

    Edison School District

    Edison Middle School Garden Expansion Project

    Brian Holle, Edison Middle School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase fencing and related supplies to secure, beautify, and
    define the expanding garden. Seventh and eighth grade students will help with the expansion
    project in addition to being able to grow fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants in agriculture
    classes.

    Firebaugh Las Deltas Unified School District

    Let’s Model

    Ana Herrera, Firebaugh Middle School
    Students in the sixth through eighth grades will explore their creativity as they learn to apply
    the artistic process and principles of design to sculpt original works of art. Grant funds will be
    used to purchase wire, clay, and sculpting tools.

    Fresno Unified School District

    Eat Your Pudding and Your Spoon!

    Janice Kruse, Yokomi Science and Technology Elementary School
    Grant funds will purchase edible spoon makers and groceries for fifth grade students to learn
    next generation science standards as they figure out how to eat soup, pudding, and frozen
    yogurt using basic kitchen ingredients to construct an edible spoon.

    Magical Minecraft

    Suzanne Webster-Jones, Figarden Elementary School
    Fourth grade students will learn about California missions and California farmland as they learn
    math and history playing Minecraft. Grant funds will be used to purchase 20 Xbox controllers
    to allow students to build quicker.

    We Need Flexible Seating!

    Kristy Page, Wilson Elementary School
    Kindergarten through sixth grade students will be able to move, release stress, improve
    circulation, and stay calm with grant fund purchased balance ball chairs.

    Hanford Elementary School District

    Healthiest 5K on the Planet

    Jennifer Bays, READY Expanded Learning at Roosevelt Elementary
    Third through sixth grade students will learn about the importance of exercise, a healthy diet,
    and their impact on the body with grant fund purchased t-shirts and dye for team participation
    in the culminating activity, a 5K run and obstacle course.

    Kern High School District

    CSI: Forensic Investigations

    Kevin Crosby, AIM Center/Kern High School District

    Grant-funded forensic kits like “Who Stole the Gold” and “Case of the Missing Mascot” will
    allow ninth through twelfth grade students to collaborate and analyze the data as they collect
    clues and solve mysteries via realistic crime scenes.

    Matter and Energy Cycling in Aquaponics Ecosystems

    Kristin Hudlow, Centennial High School
    Ninth and tenth grade students will study food chains, food webs, biogeochemical cycles, and
    macromolecules with a grant fund purchased aquaponics system for classroom use.

    Multicultural Classic Books for Diverse Students!

    Andrew Chilton, Stockdale High School
    Twelfth grade students will choose books to read from a diverse assortment that are
    multicultural in content and written by well-respected international authors. Grant funds will
    be used to purchase books.

    Kings River – Hardwick Union Elementary School District

    Fact Fluency Through Games

    Tim Price, Kings River – Hardwick Elementary School
    Second grade students will learn math fluency through games and fun activities with grant
    funds purchasing dice, cards, dominoes, locks, and more.

    Stepping it Up

    Tim Price, Kings River – Hardwick Elementary School

    Grant funds will be used to purchase activity trackers for second grade students to learn about
    health and wellness as they track their progress, learning math and geography in the process.

    Kingsburg Elementary School District

    Lepidoptera Life Cycle and Metamorphosis

    Gini Muradian, Central Valley Home School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase caterpillars to enhance the science curriculum of the
    kindergarten through eighth grade students as they learn about life-cycles and metamorphosis.

    Kingsburg Joint Union High School District

    Mobile App Development

    Joshua Woods, Kingsburg High School
    Ninth through twelfth grade students will use grant fund purchased tablets to test their apps as
    they collaborate with peers and professionals to research, develop, and present their very own
    mobile apps.

    Madera Unified School District

    Early Literacy Skills Builder

    Chelsea Cappelluti, Sierra Vista Elementary School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase Early Literacy Skills Builder curriculum to focus daily on
    reading and target comprehension skills for kindergarten through sixth grade students.

    Everyone can be a Hero!

    Patty Hanson, Madera South High School
    Ninth through twelfth grade students will be able to recognize when someone is choking and
    respond appropriately with these grant funds being used to purchase five choking “Manikin”
    vests that students will wear to safely and successfully practice the Heimlich Maneuver.

    Norris School District

    Differentiated Learning Through Flexible Seating

    Christy Nelson, William B. Bimat Elementary School
    Sixth grade students will be able to choose where they want to sit throughout the day to
    maximize engagement; collaborate, communicate, and think critically with better posture; and
    increase core strength and metabolism. Grant funds will be used to purchase balance ball
    chairs, wobble seats, a table and chairs, futon, and more.

    Palm Springs Unified School District

    Sensory Garden for Functional Life Skill Special Education Students

    Nicole Stayskal, Rancho Mirage High School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase horticultural therapy supplies including seeds, gloves,
    grow lights, and a starter kit for ninth through twelfth grade students to enjoy hands-on
    learning about science, math, art, and literature.

    Panama Buena Vista Union School District

    Hands on STEM Kits for Kindergarten

    Joni Wattenbarger, Panama Elementary School
    Kindergarten students will use science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) kits to be
    active learners and problem solvers. Grant funds will be used to purchase Design & Build
    Engineering centers, Create a Path Magnetic Center, and Fairy Tale Problem Solving STEM kits.

    Porterville Unified School District

    Landscape Management

    Robert Aguilar, Porterville High School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase roses, perennials, and landscaping tools for ninth through
    twelfth grade students to design, beautify, and maintain their school campus.

    Riverdale Joint Unified School District

    Design and Build 3D Printed Cars for Safety During Collisions

    Loretta Anders, Riverdale High School
    Twelfth grade students will design and print their own 3D race cars to minimize impact forces
    during a collision. Computer simulations will assess and test the physics of the car crashes.
    Grant funds will be used to purchase the sensors required to collect momentum and impulse
    data.

    Yoga for Kids with Special Needs – Sensory Management

    Shawna Vital, Fipps Primary School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase yoga mats, yoga carpet, bead packs, balance stones, and
    more for these transitional kindergarten through third grade students to learn spatial
    awareness, motor skills, self-regulation, and manage symptoms of anxiety for overall learning
    success.

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno School District

    BrainPOP Junior

    Catherine Cash, Our Lady of Victory Elementary School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase a subscription to BrainPOP Junior videos that captivate the
    attention and imagination of second grade students as they learn about reading, writing,
    grammar, science, math, health, arts, and more.

    Flexible Seating

    Jordan Faiman, Our Lady of Victory Elementary School

    Third and fourth grade students will have a choice of flexible seating to regain focus and keep
    their brain moving at all times. Grant funds will be used to purchase stability ball chairs,
    wobble stools, and classic adjustable round tables.

    STEM Activities

    Jordan Faiman, Our Lady of Victory Elementary School
    Third and fourth grade students will learn about science, technology, engineering, and math
    (STEM) at engaging, hands-on centers. Grant funds will be used to purchase Design & Play,
    Survive the Quake, Power Tiles Circuit, Shpero BOLT, and Hot Dots Multiplication problem
    solving STEM kits.

    Rosedale Union School District

    Making Musicians in Music Club

    Steve Winn, Freedom Middle School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase bongos, drums, maracas, and a cowbell beater for seventh
    and eighth grade music club students to learn about and enjoy drums and hand percussion.
    These instruments are needed to accommodate the members of this club.

    Sanger Unified School District

    Fairmont Fresh Farm Store

    Christine Klistoff, Fairmont Elementary School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase tilt display shelves, basket displays, and a cash register for
    these kindergarten through eighth grade students to upgrade their fresh farm store from selling
    under a tent to a dedicated building near their farming operation.

    Selma Unified School District

    Building Language Through Science

    Monica Tovar, Laura Zuniga, Rosa Flores, and Eleanor Salazar; George Washington
    Elementary School
    Kindergarten students will learn about science and animals, writing about what they learn, as
    grant funds make possible a field trip to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and a follow-up ZooMobile
    presentation to get up-close and personal with different animals.

    Tehachapi Unified School District

    Foil Landscape

    Debbie Haeberle, Jacobsen Middle School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase printing, photography, and art supplies for sixth grade
    students to create original pieces of art, laminated foil prints of landscapes.

    …The Academies Charter Management Organization…
    Project Kindness

    Jennifer Denham, Sycamore Valley Academy
    Grant funds will be used to purchase kindness curriculum for each grade, kindergarten through

    sixth, to stop bullying, build self-esteem, and cultivate compassion while building children’s self-
    value and academic achievement.

    Running on Raspberry Pi

    Gloria Ramos, Blue Oak Academy Charter
    First through third grade students will use grant funded machine building, coding, and
    programming kits to collaborate about problem solving, electrical circuits, and electrical
    engineering as they build robots and machines.

    Tulare City School District

    Graphic Design on iPads

    Ryan Turner, Cherry Avenue Middle School
    Seventh and eighth grade students will create original fliers, posters, business cards, t-shirt
    designs, and much more as they study graphic design using the iPad and Apple Pencil purchased
    with grant funds.

    Visalia Unified School District

    Fictional Writing with Legos

    Salvador Campos, Golden Oak Elementary School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase Legos for fourth grade students to create characters and
    scenarios for fictional writing projects.

    Full Steam Ahead… Preparing the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers!

    Diane Medeiros, Linwood Elementary School
    Fourth through sixth grade students will design, build, and code various kinds of robots as part
    of their studies in science, engineering, and math. Grant funds will be used to purchase robotic
    kits.

    “WeDo” Love Hands-on Science in the First Grade!

    Teresa Conard, Linwood Elementary School
    Grant funds will be used to purchase LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 Core Set software to allow first
    grade students to construct science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects
    designed for the Next Generation Science Standards.

    For more information on the “Innovation in Teaching” grant program, go to
    www.grapesfromcalifornia.com/community-outreach/.

  • Deciphering the Walnut Genome

    California produces 99 percent of the walnuts grown in the United States. New research could provide a major boost to the state’s growing $1.6 billion walnut industry by making it easier to breed walnut trees better equipped to combat the soil-borne pathogens that now plague many of California’s 4,800 growers.

    In a new study, a team of scientists at the University of California, Davis, and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) used a unique approach to sequence the genomes of the English walnut and its wild North American relative by tapping into the capabilities of two state-of-the-art technologies: long-read DNA sequencing and optical genome mapping. The resulting genome sequences are believed to be of the highest quality ever assembled of any woody perennial.

    “By sequencing the genome of a walnut hybrid, we produced complete genome sequences for both parents in the time normally required to produce the sequence of one genome,” said Ming-Cheng Luo, leading genomics investigator on the project and a research geneticist in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis.

    This approach could be applied to genome sequencing of trees and many other woody perennials, opening the door to a better understanding of the genetic blueprints of almonds, pecans, pistachios and grapes.

    “Like walnut, these other crops naturally cross-pollinate and are therefore highly variable,” said Jan Dvorak, co-principle investigator and genetics professor at the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. “Variability has always greatly complicated our ability to produce a high-quality genome sequence for such crops, but these new technologies now make it possible,” Dvorak added.

    In California, walnuts are grown commercially using rootstocks chosen specifically for their ability to tolerate various soil-borne diseases.  “We chose to cross the widely used English walnut specifically with the wild Texas Black walnut because of its native resistance to several soil-borne diseases and root nematodes, which are serious pests of walnut in California” said Dan Kluepfel, a USDA-ARS scientist and principal investigator of the walnut-rootstock development project.

    The assembled genome sequences of the two walnut species also will now help researchers identify genetic markers that breeders can use to develop new varieties with improved pathogen and pest resistance.

    Major contributors to the project included UC Davis scientists Tingting Zhu, Le Wang, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientist Frank You.

    The study was published online today in Horticulture Research. The research was funded by the California Walnut Board and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative. The study can be found here.

    The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.