California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Ag Day highlights importance of Climate Smart Ag programs to California’s future

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 21, 2018) – Our annual Ag Day is today (March 20) at the State Capitol, and our theme this year, “Climate Smart – California Grown,” is far more than a slogan. It’s actually a key part of the road map for the future of farming and ranching in our state. CDFA and the Brown Administration share a essential priority with agriculture – keep it sustainable and flourishing into the 21st century and beyond.

    There is a strong likelihood that California will be asked to produce more food in the coming years while dealing with access to fewer natural resources, so we are embracing that challenge with several programs that are assisting rural communities while helping farmers and ranchers increase water efficiency and energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    Hmong farmers in Fresno County are among those receiving SWEEP grants to improve water efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
    • State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) – This program provides financial incentives for agricultural operations to invest in water irrigation and/or distribution systems that save water and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To date SWEEP has received $67.5 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and also includes $38.7 million in matching funds. The estimated GHG savings are 74,139 metric tons CO2 equivalent per year –  equivalent to removing nearly 15,900 cars off the road annually. The estimated water savings are 96,009 acre feet per year – equivalent to water in about 48-thousand Olympic-sized swimming pools. SWEEP would receive an additional $20 million in SB 5, the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018.
    • Healthy Soils Program – This program provides financial assistance for incentivizing and demonstrating the implementation of conservation agricultural management practices (such as cover crops, compost application, no-till and hedgerows) that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric GHGs and improve soil health. A total of $7.5 million has been invested in this program, so far, with an additional $5 million proposed in the Governor’s proposed 2018-2019 budget and another $10 million proposed in SB 5.
    Farmland in Contra Costa County protected by a SALC conservation easement. Photo courtesy of the Cecchini family.
    • Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) – This program, administered by the Strategic Growth Council, provides funds for agricultural conservation easements and local agricultural protection strategies to protect lands from conversion to urban and rural residential development. Climate investments of $79 million have been made, so far.
    • Dairy Digester Research and Development Program – CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from California dairy operations by capturing them and harnessing them as a renewable energy source. More than $47 million has funded 24 digester projects, so far, and the Governor’s proposed budget for ’18-’19 has a combined $99 million for this program as well as the next one below.
    • Alternative Manure Management Program – CDFA’s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) supports non-digester based manure management practices on California dairy and livestock operations, such as conversion to dry scrape or solid separation, followed by drying or composting, and pasture-based management. A total investment of $9.8 million has occurred, so far.
    • FARMER Program for Ag Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions– This program, administered by the California Air Resources Board, is intended to reduce agricultural sector emissions by providing grants, rebates, and other financial incentives for agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other equipment used in agricultural operations. An allocation of $85 million was made for 2017-2018, and an additional $102 million is proposed in the Governor’s ’18-’19 budget.
    • Food Production Investment Program – This is administered by the California Energy Commission to provide grants, loans or any financial incentives to implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions for food processors and also to support renewable energy projects in the agricultural sector. A total of $66 million has been allocated for 2017-2018.

    The California Climate Investment programs for agriculture demonstrate the extreme importance of working and natural landscapes in our overall climate strategy. We must align with all of our state’s citizens and show them that we’re all in this together; that sustainable agriculture means wholesome, healthy California-grown food for many years to come. Ag Day is another way to make that point.

  • Nine Farm Bureau Members Participate in Leadership Program

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 21, 2018) – Intensive training on agricultural issues and leadership methods has begun for the nine members of the Leadership Farm Bureau Class of 2018. The class was formally introduced during the annual California Farm Bureau Federation Leaders Conference in Sacramento last week.

    Participants in the Leadership Farm Bureau program receive personal-development, teambuilding and communications training, and advocate on behalf of Farm Bureau in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Participants will learn about agricultural issues and make field-studies trips to both Northern and Southern California. Sponsored by CFBF, the program includes seven sessions that involve more than 250 hours of training.

    The LFB Class of 2018 includes:

    • Joseph Alexandre of Ferndale, a dairy farmer, CEO of the family dairy-products business and second vice president of the Humboldt County Farm Bureau;
    • Brittney Blankenship of Visalia, program coordinator for the Tulare County Farm Bureau;
    • Joe Ferrari of Linden, a walnut farmer and member of the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation board of directors;
    • Rachael Fleming of Lodi, a program director for the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation;
    • Brad Fowler of Penn Valley, a cattle rancher and president of the Nevada County Farm Bureau;
    • Jason Gianelli of Bakersfield, a farm manager specializing in almonds and row crops, and a member of the Kern County Farm Bureau board of directors;
    • Erin Johnson of Anderson, executive director of the Shasta County Farm Bureau;
    • Jessica Sweeten of Hilmar, a sales representative for an agricultural products company who is active in the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee;
    • Taylor Zumstein of Fallbrook, owner of a breeding-sheep business and event and marketing coordinator for the San Diego County Farm Bureau.

    The program of activities for the 2018 Leadership Farm Bureau class will culminate in December with graduation during the 100th CFBF Annual Meeting in San Diego. For further information about the program, see www.cfbf.com/leadership-farm-bureau.

  • Using Vaccines To Increase Pollinator Health: Testing A Honey Bee Nosema Vaccine

    San Diego, Calif., (March 21, 2018) – Honey bees are responsible for the annual pollination of at least $17 billion worth of US crops, but face severe health challenges. Nosema ceranaeis a fungus thatcauses a common and widespread infection that is associated with poor colony health and Colony Collapse Disorder. Currently, Nosema diseaseis primarily treated with a single antibiotic. Because of the potential for antibiotic resistance and the transfer of resistant genes in humans, it is desirable to find an alternative treatment, one that relies upon the natural honey bee immune system. Based upon data from bees reared in the lab, we found thatfeeding honey bee larvae heat-killed N. ceranaspores can activate honey bee immunity and substantially reduces infection levels when these “immunized” bees are exposed to Nosema as adult bees. The proposed research will test if this “immune-priming”, a vaccine-like treatment can also work (1) in naturally-reared honey bee larvae, (2)in beesimmunized as adults, and (3) in field tests of colonies. To test the effectiveness of our treatments, we will measureindividual bee infection level, the number of infected bees per treatment, bee immune gene activation, and effects on bee longevity.

    OBJECTIVES: Honey bees are responsible for the annual pollination of at least $17 billion worth of US crops, but face severe health challenges. Nosema ceranaecauses a common and widespread infection that reduces honey bee health and is primarily treated with a single antibiotic. Activating insect immunity against fungal infectionsprovides a natural countermeasure that should be difficult for pathogens to evolve resistance against. This has been demonstrated with heat-killed bacteria, but it remains unclear if this strategy would work with a heat-killed fungal pathogen like Nosema cerana.In our preliminary data, we show that autoclaved N. ceranaespores fed to A. melliferalarvae reared in vitro (immune priming) and subsequently fed live Nosemaspores as adults have infection levels reduced by 85% upon adult death. The proposed research would test the efficacy of this immune priming treatmentin vivo and with field colonies. If successful, we will have developed a new treatment against N. ceranaeand created a potentallytransformative approach to treating honey bee fungal diseases. Specifically, we will determine if immune priming conveys protection against infection when administered in vivo to (1) larvae or (2) adults upon emergence. Based upon these results, we will test if (3) immune primingeither larvae or young adults in field colonies boosts colony immunity against Nosema infection. We will measure individual bee infection level (midgut spores/bee), number of infected bees per treatment, bee immune gene activation, and effects on bee longevity.Overall goal:We will test if immune priming activates honey bee immunity againstN. ceranaeand therefore decreases subsequent infection when bees are exposed toN. ceranae.Ourspecific objectivesare as follows. We will determine if immune priming conveys protection against infection when administeredin vivoto (1) larvae or (2) adults upon emergence. Based upon these results, we will test if (3) immune priming either larvae or young adults in field colonies boosts colony immunity againstNosemainfection. We will measure pathogen prevalence (proportion of infected bees per treatment), abundance (spore counts /bee), immune gene activation, and effects on longevity.

  • The Road to the California FMMO Reopens – Come Hear Details At WUD’s Convention!

    Modesto, Calif., (March 20, 2018) – Big news this week: the judicial officer who was tasked with reviewing the entire California Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearing record ratified it. This officially clears the way for USDA to release the final decision for a California FMMO. USDA did not mention how long it would take to release the final decision once the record has been ratified, but in theory, it could be any day now. After a disappointing delay, we are looking forward to the final decision. Making a choice to change or not to change a pricing system that has been in place for 50 years is not a decision many take lightly. To shed light on the implications, WUD will extensively discuss details of USDA’s decision at its annual Convention on March 28. More specifically, I will provide pricing and pooling scenarios and answer questions you may have. This is of course pending USDA’s decision. If for some reason it is further delayed, I will still provide information on the draft recommended decision. It is important to get information out, because once the final decision is released, the referendum process will start. That referendum period will only last between 30 and 45 days. This is a very short time frame to reach out to the producer community and explain all the details of this complex system.

    As a reminder: the work of the judicial officer was required after a Supreme Court case called into question the appointments of administrative law judges (ALJ) in federal agencies. USDA announced last month the FMMO process for California could be significantly delayed until the court cases causing the delay were heard. This likely would have been around June. Hearing producers’ disappointment, USDA found a workaround and announced a solution during an industry conference call just weeks after the original delay announcement (appointing a judicial officer to review the FMMO hearing record). This officer is not subject to the appointment clause that applied to the ALJ that presided over the California FMMO hearing. Therefore, his review would prevent potential legal challenges down the road should the Supreme Court decide administrative law judges’ appointment was not constitutional.

    By Annie AcMoody, director of economic analysis

  • The Future is a Return to Farm Bureau’s Mission

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (March 19, 2018) – In Sonoma County, our rich agriculture heritage is continually under attack from community members and elected officials who do not understand farming. There has never been more of a need for strong advocacy, education and communication on behalf of farmers. Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s board understands this and is making changes at Farm Bureau to provide leadership in defending and promoting local agriculture.

    For the future of farming, the board believes that it is critical for Sonoma County Farm Bureau to refocus on its core mission of protecting agricultural lands, promoting agriculture and its products, educating the public and uniting in support of local agriculture.

    Over the last year, we have been on a path to re-energize this mission. Starting with the grand opening of the new office and meeting space, Sonoma County Farm Bureau is becoming the go to place for ag groups to meet in support of local agriculture. This office space has been a vision of the board for the past few years and it is exciting to watch the space become a hub for conversations, meetings, workshops and even ag celebrations. And we are only getting started. More improvements are ahead that will support the collaboration of agriculture.

    We have also been making leadership changes to our staff. I am happy to share that the board has offered the full time executive director position to our Interim Executive Director Tawny Tesconi. On March 1, Tawny assumes the full-time position. Over the last 75 days as interim director, she has done more for our mission than the progress we saw in the last couple of years.

    Tawny’s extensive background includes being a Sonoma County native, growing up in agriculture, participating in 4-H and FFA as a kid and a 30-year career in fair management and public service. We are confident that she is the right leader at the right time for Sonoma County Farm Bureau.

    Under Tawny’s leadership, we have hired a new executive assistant / office manager, Samantha Piehoff, and Tawny has also been working with the current staff to ensure operating efficiencies, deliver better service and offer more value to Farm Bureau members. We are excited to see how Sonoma County Farm Bureau will thrive under new leadership and clear direction.

    Moving forward, we are fully committed to our mission and will stay focused on three key priorities:

    1. Advocacy – be the leading champion for policy that supports agriculture and our right to farm
      2. Education and Promotion – Deliver value to members through relevant workshops, access to influencers and communication that enhances local ag and supports farmers
      3. Unification – Work with the other ag organizations to leverage learning, support and create one ag voice for Sonoma County

    With the Board of Directors’ and Tawny’s great leadership, I look forward to a stronger and much more relevant Sonoma County Farm Bureau in the near future.

    Written By: Steve Dutton, President, Sonoma County Farm Bureau

    Steve Dutton

  • People, Poultry and Planet: Petaluma Poultry Is a Leader in the Poultry Industry

    Petaluma, Calif., (March 16, 2018) – Founded in 1969 by Allan Shainsky, Petaluma Poultry has been a local company for more than 40 years. They returned to their “old fashioned flavor” in 1986 when they began feeding a vegetarian diet, committed to never using antibiotics and introduced Rocky the Free Range Chicken.

    Petaluma Poultry took their commitment to the next level in 1999 with the introduction of Rosie the Original Organic Chicken.

    The company is a recognized leader in organic poultry production in the US, and their commitment to people, poultry and the planet is what sets them apart. Three P’s were the acronym for Petaluma Poultry (formerly Petaluma Poultry Processors), but they also represent the core values of People, Poultry, and Planet. Additionally, they’re important traits to the company’s customers.

    For people, more than 650 employees are very important to Petaluma Poultry. The company believes strongly in safety and making sure the employees go home as good as they arrived or better. They have a health improvement program with a nurse on site to offer optional health consultations to employees.

    For the planet, Petaluma Poultry focuses on farming sustainably. They are third party audited, certified and have won multiple awards for their commitment to sustainability.

    There are many factors that go into the company’s operations to make them sustainable including erosion control practices, effective use of water, available forage, handling of manure and environmental practices such as how they handle used oil. They have reduced their water and electricity usage and minimized waste.

    Petaluma Poultry has a robust recycling program with 56% of materials recycled and a goal to get to 75%. For materials that can’t be recycled, they compost waste from products including egg shells and feathers as well as wax cardboard.

    For the poultry, Petaluma Poultry is strongly focused on encouraging the natural behavior of chickens. The company is an innovator in free range and animal welfare. The birds are provided access to the outside, dust baths and other improvements that enhances their ability to be a chicken.

    “One of the things we’re really good at is growing chickens in a natural environment that encourages chickens to act naturally,” said Matt Junkel, Vice President of Operations. “We’re completely opposite of a factory farming operation.”

    Petaluma Poultry has 20 farms in Sonoma and Marin counties and the Central Valley; they raise approximately 20 million chickens per year.

    In addition to their farms, their facilities in Petaluma and the surrounding area include a hatchery, feed mill, farms, a processing plant, administrative office and distribution center.

    Petaluma Poultry has an economic benefit to the community of more than $40 million, with a significant portion of money spent on their employees in Sonoma County.

    Petaluma Poultry is very involved in the community and provides more than $100,000 in donations a year to local non-profits. They are big supporters of the county fair as well as a community garden in Petaluma. Other organizations that have benefitted from their support include the Polly Klaas Foundation, Petaluma Educational Foundation and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma and Marin County and COTS (Committee on the Shelterless). They’ve also participated in programs focusing on the environment such as the Petaluma River Clean Up that they’ve been involved with for more than 10 years as well at Doran Beach and Russian River Clean Ups.

    In 2017, they donated more than 70 tons of food to the Redwood Empire Food Bank, with a large majority going towards wildfire disaster relief. During the October wildfires, Petaluma Poultry also took their Rocky Mobile, a food truck, to five events and provided free meals to first responders and people staying at shelters.

    For more information visit petalumapoultry.com

    One of Petaluma Poultry’s Sonoma County Farms. Courtesy photo.

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (March 16, 2018) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of Major crops in the most valued county in the California Ag portfolio. They report that Corn is being planted as weather allows. Winter wheat and oats are enjoying the latest rains. Ground preparation is continuing for spring row crops. Alfalfa fields need more time to fully develop before harvest begins.

    Vineyards continue to be pruned and tied. Stone fruit orchards are continuing to bloom. Almond trees are blooming, with some leafing out. Bee colonies continue being moved into almond and stone fruit orchards to help with pollination. Orchards are being monitored for possible damage from the recent freeze to the bloom, but the extent (if any) is as yet unknown. Pomegranate and walnut orchards continue to be pruned. Pistachios are being exported to Germany, Hong Kong, Latvia, Poland, Spain, and Turkey. Almonds are being shipped to Belgium, Cambodia, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden.

    Navel oranges, Mandarins, and lemons continue to be harvested, but at a slower rate. Late variety navel oranges are showing some grading issues. The extent of freeze damage to citrus fruit is still being determined. Some pruning and skirting of orange groves is still occurring. Navel oranges and Mandarins are being exported to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Golden Nugget tangerines and Mandarins are being packed for the domestic market. Seedless tangerine groves continue to be netted in preparation for the coming bloom. Minneola tangelos continue to be shipped to Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.

    Squash and cucumber seedlings continue to grow under hot-caps and hot-tunnels. Greenhouse vegetables continue to be harvested. Strawberry and plantings are progressing well and maturing. Blueberries should begin to bloom late in the week.

    Last week’s rain was beneficial, but the rangeland forage is fair condition, As always, more rain is needed. The fed cattle market remained at $130.00 per hundred weight this week.

    Retail nurseries are stocked up on both perennial and annual plants for the spring season. Bare-root roses are being received and processed for reshipment out-of-state. Some mature olive trees are being dug for landscape purposes.

  • Tristan Benson Joins Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (March 15, 2018) – Tristan Benson has joined the Board of Directors for Sonoma County Farm Bureau.

    Benson, 34, joins the board as the chair of the Sonoma-Marin Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R), a committee of Sonoma County Farm Bureau for active agriculturists between the ages of 18 and 35 who are involved in production, banking, business, and many other areas of the agriculture industry.

    Benson succeeds Andrew Ryan who served on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Board for the 2016-2017 term. Benson’s term on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Board will coincide with his one year term as chair of the Young Farmers & Ranchers committee. The YF&R committee chair began serving on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau board last year when Sonoma County Farm Bureau saw an increased need to involve future leaders in the current issues and regulations facing Sonoma County agriculture.

    Benson is the foreman of Benson Ranch, a family business that produces plums, Asian pears and grain. Benson produces seed grain with a business partner that gets sold to millers. Benson also considers himself a mechanic, repairing equipment for his custom farming operation and other people.

    He feels 4-H and working alongside his parents are the reasons he wants to support all forms of agriculture from raising livestock to small engines to grain production. Benson is passionate about agriculture and wants to see the industry thrive.

    “We have some challenges but we have so many opportunities here in Sonoma County,” said Benson. “I think the most important agricultural issue for me is how do we encourage the next generation of farmers and make sure they have the right skills to be successful.”

    Sonoma County Farm Bureau currently has 17 board members, with one spot reserved for the chair of the Sonoma-Marin Young Farmers and Ranchers committee. A full list of board members is available at sonomafb.org/directors.

     

  • Bee-Well Farms: Resilience In The Face of Destruction

    In The Face of Destruction, Austin and Melissa Lely Are Resilient Young Farmers with a Positive Outlook on the Future of Agriculture

    Glen Ellen, Calif., (March 15, 2018) – Austin and Melissa Lely met at Chico State in 2010. They graduated as recreation majors and neither had a farming background. After graduating, the married couple moved to Glen Ellen, near where Austin grew up.

    Austin, 28, and Melissa, 27, fell in love with food and said their shared interest just spiraled. At the same time, the couple was seeing issues with the local food system, and saw a trend towards consumers seeking healthy food.

    Five years ago, they moved to a house in Glen Ellen where they were caretakers of the property and began growing their own food.

    “We decided that if we were going to have our own garden, let’s have it big enough for the community and farmers’ markets,” said Melissa.

    The couple incorporated as Bee-Well Farms in 2015 and was growing an acre and a half of produce for local farmers’ markets and raising chickens for egg production. They did one farmers’ market the first year and have expanded every year since.

    In 2017, they increased from raising 65 chickens to more than 400. Their chickens are raised in mobile coops which essentially make the entire farming operation moveable.

    A year and a half ago Melissa left her job at Beltane Ranch where she worked for their Bed and Breakfast and in their organic garden to work full time on Bee-Well Farm. Austin left his 5 year career with Benziger Family Winery, where he originally joined the company as event staff. Eventually Austin advanced to a position in Benziger’s tasting room, then their viticulture and sustainability department before his most recent position as ranch manager. During his time with Benziger, Austin learned a lot through their biodynamic program, skills he is looking forward to applying to Bee-Well.

    “This year was going to be the year we dive right in and really grow the farm,” said Austin. “We had planned on growing our egg production to 2,000 laying hens for 2018. We had ordered the 1,600 chicks in July of 2017 and they were supposed to be delivered on October 12, 2017.

    “On the night of October 8, around 11:30 p.m. our neighbor woke us up in a panic. He said that there is a fire and everyone needs to leave. We drove to the back of the property to check the cows and the fire was already burning the ranch next to us.

    “We did what we could for the cows but there was no fire break between the ranches and the winds were around 60 mph and blowing in our face. There were cops and firefighters telling us to leave now. We went back to our house and grabbed my wife’s wedding ring, important documents, our cash and dog and left Glen Ellen.”

    That was right before midnight, and at 7 a.m. on October 9th Austin and Melissa received a call from their landlords that everything was gone, including the house they had lived in the last five years.

    By 8 a.m., they were back on the property. They had stopped and picked up a bale of hay from a neighbor, and came back to find that all their animals had survived.

    On the right, crews finish cleaning up the debris of the house Austin and Melissa Lely lived in that burned in the October wildfires. On the left is where Austin and Melissa will grow row crops for farmer’s market this spring.

    “We lost our house, truck, UTV, hay barn with hay and chicken feed, greenhouse, poultry barn, chick brooder, tool shed full of our power tools and farm equipment, packing facility, all our fence lines, the wells and power,” said Austin. “We literally lost everything.”

    Austin and Melissa stayed for eight days with the fire burning around them. They described the roadblocks into the evacuation zone as a nightmare and said they were meeting friends to bring in bare necessities of food and supplies.

    They said that during the days that ensued, the couple was in survival mode taking care of their animals as well as their neighbors stock who were unable to access their adjacent properties. They said they each worked more than 80 hours in the first five days, sleeping in shifts of four hours.

    Austin and Melissa said they were particularly grateful for the community support over the following months, especially their neighbors. The Kunde family put them up after they lost their house and the Lelys are continuing to rent that house. Austin and Melissa tried to keep their animals on their home property, but after two weeks of hauling water for the animals, the Kunde family encourage the young couple to house their animals on the Kunde ranch.

    A relative of the Lelys started a GoFundMe for the couple that raised more than $10,000.

    Both Austin and Melissa agree they learned a lot through the recovery process.

    They applied through grants with NRCS and FSA for fencing, erosion control, creating defensible space and more. They learned about many additional programs these organizations offered which they didn’t know about before the fires.

    The last standing building on the Lelys’ property as crews continue to clear debris.

    Austin and Melissa are positive about their business and what the future has in store for them.

    “We are all all-in,” said Melissa. “All of this will go forward and be even stronger than before.”

    Their landlords, who have a small vineyard and produce wine, also have tenants growing cannabis. They all see the three businesses working together to create a polyculture and agritourism hub.
    “It will be easier to rebuild with a focus and direction,” said Melissa. “We’ll have the opportunity to build a functional flowing system and all work together.”

    Melissa sees their business shifting slightly from last year. Where they participated in seven farmers’ markets per week in 2017, they are going to focus on a couple of the markets they felt worked better for their farm.

    They plan to open an on-site farm stand and build a website where they can sell commodities online. They’re also planning on hosting events starting with a plant sale in the spring and pumpkin patch in the fall.

    They’re passionate about educating their community, and they hope to share their message about eating locally as well as hosting seminars and workshops.
    They plan to continue to grow, especially their egg production which they said there is a high demand for, but they also have plans to diversify. Additionally, the Lelys are planning to transition their row crops into more permanent raised beds.

    “This year, we’re really excited to just be able to focus on farming,” said Melissa.

    At the end of February, the couple still had no power or water to their farm, but they began to see progress in the clean-up of debris and everything began to happen quicker than they expected.
    When asked how they got through the most difficult times, they both responded at once: “She’s a badass,” Austin said while Melissa said, “luckily I’ve got this guy by my side.”

    “We have a passion for making this place happen and a strong vision for the farm,” said Melissa. “We’re trying to focus on the positives, the blessings and the awesomeness of the community.”

    Through the recovery process, Austin and Melissa were both excited to see that people still value the service of agriculture. The couple said they are saddened to hear about other farmers who have chosen not to continue farming after the October wildfires, but they know it’s a difficult decision and said they couldn’t do it without the community support they have received.

    You can donate to the GoFundMe for Austin and Melissa at gofundme.com/missys-homebusiness.

    Written By: Rachel LaFranchi

  • UC Estimates Costs And Returns For Growing Garbanzo Beans

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 15, 2018) – The UC Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Issues Center has released two new studies on the estimated costs and returns of producing garbanzo beans, also known as chick peas, in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys.

    Garbanzo beans mature in June and are harvested in July.

    “Although acreage is relatively small, garbanzos are an important crop because California growers produce the large, cream-colored seed that’s used for the canning industry, often used for garnishes for salads,” said Rachael Long, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor serving Sacramento, Solano and Yolo counties.

    The studies estimate the cost of producing garbanzo beans on 200 acres as part of a row crop rotation, using subsurface drip irrigation. A three-row bed tillage implement shallowly chisels, tills and reshapes the beds, avoiding disturbance of the buried drip tape left in place. Planting of seed treated for fungal and seedling diseases, Ascochyta rabiei, Rhizoctonia and Pythium, into residual soil moisture occurs in December. Seeding rates for the garbanzo beans are 85 pounds per acre.

    Input and reviews were provided by UC ANR Cooperative Extension farm advisors and other agricultural associates. Assumptions used to identify current costs for the garbanzo bean crop, material inputs, cash and non-cash overhead. A ranging analysis table shows profits over a range of prices and yields. Other tables show the monthly cash costs, the costs and returns per acre, hourly equipment costs, and the whole farm annual equipment, investment and business overhead costs.

    “The importance of these studies right now is that they are currently being used to help secure USDA crop insurance for garbanzo production, expected in 2020,” Long said.

    The new studies are titled “Sample Costs to Produce Garbanzo Beans (Chick Peas), in the Sacramento and Northern San Joaquin Valleys – 2018” and “Sample Costs to Produce Garbanzo Beans (Chick Peas), in the Southern San Joaquin Valley – 2018.”

    Both studies can be downloaded from the UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics website at http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu. Sample cost of production studies for many other commodities are also available at the website.

    For additional information or an explanation of the calculations used in the studies, contact the Agricultural Issues Center at (530) 752-4651 or the local UCCE Farm Advisors; Sarah Light, selight@ucanr.edu, Rachael Long, rflong@ucanr.edu, Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, mmleinfeldermiles@ucanr.edu, or Nicholas E. Clark, neclark@ucanr.edu.