California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Behind The Scenes

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (February 28, 2018) – Everyone remembers those dreaded days of the firestorm of October, 2017. All of the brave, determined firefighters from so many places, Law Enforcement that came to help keep things safe, Army National Guard, Santa Rosa Police Department and last but not least, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

    The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, SCSO, played a huge part in saving residents, searching for missing persons, keeping areas secured and putting out updates on a regular basis and as they occurred. The SCSO was out and about 24/7 running 12 hour shifts with 2 Deputies per Patrol Car. Even though a few of these fine men and women had lost their homes to the dreaded firestorm, they were out and about doing their jobs in helping the citizens of Sonoma County.

    What you didn’t hear about was the support group behind the scenes of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. When you have a great team out taking care of Sonoma County, then it just stands to reason you would have a great team supporting them. All non-sworn personnel such as, the Community Services Officers (CSO), office workers, Secretaries, Department Analysts, Accountants, Storekeepers, Legal Processors and the Volunteer Force, Volunteers In Policing (VIP). All of these folks came together and also worked 24/7 running 12 hour shifts.

    The dedication, hard work and “let’s take care of these folks” attitude was second to none. These fine men and women worked tirelessly in support of the deputies, outside Law Enforcement agencies and the Army National Guard. Not only did the support group furnish food, water, facemasks and other items of health aids to the SCSO staff, they also furnished the same items to the Command Center; staging area for outside Law Enforcement agencies, Army National Guard, Search and Rescue team and the Main Adult Detention Facility Jail.

    The Support Group took care of all supplies that were delivered such as pallets of Gatorade, water and sodas, paper plates, plasticware, snacks of all sorts and countless other items. The supplies that couldn’t be delivered were picked up by the Support Group. The task was like supplying a small army.

    The Support Group made sure there was plenty of hot, fresh food available for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day for everyone. The Support Group also made deliveries to outlying areas to make sure the patrol personnel that were watching the evacuated neighborhoods had plenty of drinks and food.

    The support group made countless runs to the MADF for ice to keep the 40 something coolers well chilled. The harder these folks worked, the happier they became. What a pleasant place for the tired Law Enforcement people when they returned for the shift change. Together it made it easier for everyone to return to a tough job at hand day in and day out.

    Every day the support staff would check all of the patrol vehicles to ensure they had the emergency equipment that was needed such as, fully charged fire extinguishers, plenty of facemasks and first aid boxes.

    Several of the team members of the Support Group were evacuated from their homes and had been relocated. The old saying says, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. OMG how true is that saying? We have all had tough situations at some point in our lives where we have had to cope and we all manage to make it through in one piece. “What doesn’t kill us, just makes us stronger”.

    Last, but not least is the Sonoma County Fleet Operations. Fleet Operations consists of a small group of mechanics and office personnel, a total of about 10 people. Fleet operation was in a 24/7 12 hour shift doing safety inspections on all of the patrol cars, making sure all filters were changed or checked, the tires were in good shape and making sure the vehicles were safe to drive. Because of the harsh conditions the deputies were driving in, the safety checks helped keep our deputies safe. Fleet Operations was changing tire after tire, all with screws, nails, or some other object stuck in the tire. One of the tires even had a screwdriver stuck in it. Unbelievable the areas our Deputies were driving in.

    The support system that was put together was so important for the safety and wellbeing of all people that were involved.

    What helped make the task such a success were the generous venders and suppliers. The businesses of Sonoma County with their support made the task of taking care of everyone that much easier. The around-the-clock support and the “We can do this” attitude helped keep Sonoma County alive.

     

     

  • MID Approves 2018 Irrigation Season

    Merced, Calif., (February 28, 2018) – Following a six-week public process, the Merced Irrigation District (MID) Board of Directors approved both the start of irrigation season and the water rate for the coming year.

    “So far, the winter weather has not been favorable to local agriculture,” said MID General Manager John Sweigard after the meeting. “We want to ensure that we are being as responsive to our growers as possible. We want them to have the water they need as quickly as possible.”

    Water orders can be placed immediately. The first deliveries are expected to occur around March 1. There will be no restrictions on allocations this year and water will be made available to neighboring Sphere of Influence (SOI) lands. Those are lands just outside the District boundaries but still within the eastern Merced groundwater basin.
    The in-District water rate for the coming season was set at $40 per acre foot for all MID growers. Neighboring SOI growers will have access to surface water at $100 per acre foot.

    Today’s decisions were made following nearly two hours of open discussion between the MID Board of Directors, the MID Advisory Committee and other interested members of the public.

    Options for ordering water include:

    • Orders may be placed anytime online at mercedid.org.
    • Orders may be placed anytime using MID’s automated water ordering system at (866) 825-2475. During weekday business hours, orders may also be placed by calling MID Customer Service at (209) 722-2720 or toll-free at (800) 750-2720.
    • Orders may be placed in person during weekday business hours at MID’s office, located at 744 W. 20th Street in Merced.

    WATER SUPPLY – Following five years of drought, Lake McClure experienced one of the wettest years on record last winter. The reservoir easily filled to its maximum capacity and remains at its maximum-allowed operating level at
    this time of year. That’s about 67 percent capacity or 667,000 acre feet. In discussing the water outlook for the year, MID opted to make all water available to growers for the coming season without restriction.

    GROUNDWATER BENEFITS – Providing surface water from Lake McClure to area growers provides a crucial benefit to area groundwater. MID and SOI growers will not have to depend on groundwater pumping for irrigation. Additionally, MID’s operations result each year in up to 140,000 acre feet of groundwater replenishment as water flows through unlined waterways and MID-operated groundwater recharge basins. Groundwater management has become a top priority in the region since the state approved the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. MID is one of multiple urban and rural partners working jointly to address groundwater challenges in eastern Merced County.

  • Reclamation Announces Initial Water Supply Allocation For The Central Valley Project

    Sacramento, Calif., (February 27, 2018) – The Bureau of Reclamation today announced the initial 2018 water supply allocation for many Central Valley Project contractors. This allocation is based on a conservative estimate of the amount of water that will be available for delivery to CVP water users and reflects current reservoir storages, precipitation and snowpack in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada.

    The 2017 water year was the wettest on record for most of northern California and CVP reservoirs were essentially full for the first time in five years; however, precipitation so far this year has been far below average. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) reports that as of February 15, the statewide average snow water equivalent in the Sierra Nevada was 4.3 inches (20 percent of the historical average), and rainfall is currently at approximately 60 percent of the historical average for the northern Central Valley.

    “Despite the historic rainfall last year, California’s lack of sufficient water storage forces us to operate on a year-to-year basis. The amount we can store in our reservoirs is not enough to get us through these very dry years,” said David Murillo, Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Regional Director. “Given what we know today, and what we see in the forecast, we must be very conservative with our allocation. If this lack of rain and snow continues, we could very well be right back in drought operations. A situation like this really underscores the need for more storage in California.”

    “There are many factors we have to consider when determining CVP allocations – hydrologic conditions, reservoir storage levels, water quality requirements, water rights priority, contractual obligations, and endangered species protections,” Murillo said. “All of these are taken into account with the goal of exercising all authorities available to us to maximize water supplies.”

    Given storage of CVP water in San Luis, Millerton, and New Melones Reservoirs, as well as conservative assumptions regarding Delta operations over the next couple of months, Reclamation is able to provide an initial allocation to South-of-Delta, Friant, and Eastside contractors of the CVP. Regarding the remainder of the allocations to CVP contractors, although the CVP is operationally integrated, each individual reservoir has unique and specific operational criteria that must also be met. Due to the extremely low snowpack levels and associated runoff forecasts, combined with the uncertainty in the ability to manage Shasta Reservoir in a way that will provide adequate temperatures for the protection of endangered salmon species in the Sacramento River throughout the summer and fall in 2018, Reclamation will not be providing an initial allocation of water to North-of-Delta Contractors at this time. The integrated nature of the operation of Shasta and Folsom Reservoirs requires the same approach for American River and In-Delta Contractors.

    Reclamation will be working with these contractors, as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), during the next week to ensure that water will continue to be delivered to meet public health and safety needs for Municipal and industrial (M&I) contractors and appropriate minimal needs of agricultural contractors during the month of March. This approach will allow Reclamation, NMFS, and the contractors to refine operating scenarios based on updated snowpack and runoff forecasts in March, and develop appropriate plans for dealing with the extremely dry conditions should they continue.

    Should conditions change, CVP supplies could also change. Reclamation will continue working with the DWR, federal and state fishery agencies, our contractors, and others to effectively carry out project operations and improve water supply consistent with all applicable laws. Based on the information outlined above, Reclamation is announcing the initial allocation to the following:

    South-of-Delta Contractors

    • Agricultural water service contractors South-of-Delta are allocated 20 percent of their contract total.
    • I water service contractors South-of-Delta are allocated the greater of 70 percent of their historic use or public health and safety needs.

    Friant Division Contractors

    • Based upon Millerton Lake storage and current and forecasted hydrologic conditions in the Upper San Joaquin River Basin, the Friant Division contractors are allocated 30 percent of Class 1 supplies.
    • For the San Joaquin River Restoration Project, the current best forecast developed jointly by SJRRP and the South-Central California Area Office now indicates a “Critical-High” water year type.

    Eastside Water Service Contractors

    • Eastside water service contractors (Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District and Stockton East Water District) will receive 100 percent of their contract total.

    On February 15, Reclamation notified the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors, San Joaquin Settlement Contractors, and Refuge Contractors that the forecasted inflow to Shasta Lake is currently greater than 3.2 million acre-feet and we are not currently in a “Shasta Critical” year as that term is defined in their contracts.

    Current dry conditions and the dry forecast underscore the need for all Californians to be conservative in their water use this spring, Murillo said. Without significant rain and snow this spring, conditions could worsen.

    As the water year progresses, changes in hydrology and opportunities to deliver additional water will influence future allocations. Water supply updates will be made as appropriate and posted at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/index.html.

    For additional information, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

  • Fresno State Student Wins 2018 Collegiate Discussion Meet

    Tim Traux of Fresno State

    Fresno, Calif., (February 27, 2018) – This past weekend, American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers held their 2018 Leadership Conference in Reno, NV. Among the many activities hosted was the Collegiate Discussion Meet, held annually at the conference. Representing California in the competition was Tim Traux of Fresno State, who was able to hold off competitors in the final round from Alabama, Florida and Michigan to become the 2018 Collegiate Discussion Meet National Winner. The final round topic was “With a growing demand for US farm products abroad, how can agriculture overcome public skepticism of foreign trade to negotiate new trade agreements and open new world markets?” Tim becomes the third Fresno State student in six years to win the national meet.

    The Collegiate Discussion Meet is a competitive event that stimulates a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. This competition is evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic. Participants build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important agricultural issues and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems.

  • PSA-Approved Produce Safety Training

    Fresno, Calif., (February 27, 2018) – California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Foundation is offering a Produce Safety Training in English and Spanish on Wednesday, March 7, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District, 808 4th St., Clovis. Both organic and non-organic growers are welcome to attend the workshop.

    The training will meet the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirement for produce growers. The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules: introduction to produce safety; worker health, hygiene, and training; soil amendments; wildlife, domesticated animals, and land use; agricultural water (part I: production water; part II: postharvest water); postharvest handling and sanitation; how to develop a farm food safety plan.

    Food safety technical assistance opportunities will be highlighted, including services provided by Fresno County U.C. Cooperative Extension, CCOF, and the California Center for Cooperative Development.

    After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.

    Cost to attend is $35 per person and includes lunch, course materials and certificate. For more information, contact the CCOF Foundation at ccoffoundation@ccof.org or 831-423-2263.

  • UC Davis Symposium Explores Future of Tea

    Davis, Calif., (February 26, 2018) – University of California, Davis, will hold its third annual symposium bringing industry experts, farmers and scholars together to talk about the the growing, distribution and culture of tea throughout the world. Topics including “Yes we CAn! Tea Farming in California,” “From Soil to Cup,” and “Sustaining Societies and Preserving Lost Cultures.” Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world other than water. About four in five of all people worldwide drink tea, according to UC Davis tea scholars.

    The event is free and open to the public.

    When: Thursday, Feb. 22 – Friday, Feb. 23, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Where: The symposium will be held at the UC Davis Conference Center Ballroom.

    Who: International tea consultant Nigel Melican, of England-based Teacraft Ltd., will deliver the keynote address Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m. UC Davis faculty and other experts will speak as well.

    Background: This is the third annual symposium held by the Global Tea Institute for the Study of Tea Culture and Science. The agenda, including map and directions, is here.

    More information on the event and its history are here.

    Media contact(s)

    Karen Nikos-Rose, News and Media Relations, UC Davis, 530-219-5472, kmnikos@ucdavis.edu

    Michael French, College of Letters and Science, 530-752-5863, mgfrench@ucdavis.edu

  • Tulare Noon Kiwanis Club will Honor Corky and Doug Anderson – 58th “Farmers of the Year” Award

    Tulare, Calif., (February 26, 2018) – The Kiwanis Club of Tulare will present its 58th Farmer of the Year award to Corky and Doug Anderson. The award luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 12:00 pm at the Heritage Complex in Tulare. Tickets are available for $25 in advance from Kiwanis Club members and various businesses in Tulare, tickets will be $30 at the door.

    This year’s honorees are brothers, Corky and Doug Anderson.  Corky and Doug were raised near Waukena, outside of Tulare where their father and grandfather were also farmers.   At age 13, Corky and a cousin started hauling hay for local farms and by 14 his business was successful enough to put a payment down on a new car.  Corky began doing specialty work in sugar beets, and then in cotton and grain.  Doug also knew he was destined for the life a farmer, and wanted to be the third generation to farm their home place west of Tulare.

    Corky moved to Orland for a time where he leased land and farmed row crops. He was a leader in the pistachio industry, creating a partnership in 1968 to form Pioneer Nursery, which specialized in selling pistachio rootstock they developed that was resistant to a devastating fungal disease called Verticillium wilt. The nursery was moved to Delano, and in 1982 Corky and his partner pioneered a new combination of rootstock naming it Pioneer Gold.

    Corky has been a member of the Western Pistachio Association since its beginning in 1989, served as Vice-Chair and Secretary/Treasurer, and numerous committees. He has served on the California Pistachio Commission, and Marketing Chairman from 1984-1989. A tireless advocate for the industry on government relations, tariff and trade, marketing, public relations, board governance and leadership.  He has been instrumental in fundraising for the Pistachio Political Action Committee, one of the most successful agricultural PACs.

    Doug started farming full time in 1972, with his father Hank, who at the time had 3,000 acres of row crops in Lost Hills and 640 acres west of Tulare.  Hank Anderson passed in 1980 and Doug took over the full operation, and brought his sister Debi and brother Corky into the picture in 1997 forming AMA Pistachio Farming and AMA Properties. Doug also co-founded Precision Ag Spraying. He served as a volunteer for the Waukena Fire Department for 10 years.  He has volunteered for 20 years for the Hank Anderson Memorial Golf Tournament, which benefits local schools and hospitals.

    In the 1990s Doug also acquired his real estate license, and established his own agency in 2005. He has been involved in APA, PGI, and WPA. In 2008 he along with other growers formed the Horizon Co-Op to market their pistachios. Doug is member of the downtown Tulare Association and a member of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge, and Roma Lodge.  Doug also possesses a pilot’s license he acquired in 1976 and enjoys volunteering at the Farm Show from time to time and for his church.

    Tickets are available at Farm Credit West, Garton Tractor and Machado Hay in Tulare. For information contact Celeste Moore, event chair at (559) 280-1481.

  • Citrus Biological Control Task Force Wins Integrated Pest Management Award

    Sacramento, Calif., (February 26, 2018) – The California Citrus Research Board (CRB) has received an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Achievement Award for its work in establishing biological controls for the Asian citrus psyllid.

    Joint ACP Biocontrol Task Force honorees this month at the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s annual integrated pest management awards ceremony. From left, Dr. Mark Hoddle of UC Riverside, Dr. Gregory Simmons of USDA, Dr. David Morgan of CDFA, Department of Pesticide Regulation director Brian Leahy, and Jim Gorden, chair of the task force.

    The awards, bestowed annually by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), recognize organizations that use IPM to address the diverse pest management needs throughout California. IPM is a tool that allows the management of pests by using natural and preventative strategies, and thus reducing the use of chemical pesticides.

    In 2010, the CRB established a task force to help control an invasive insect pest called Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), a serious threat to the citrus industry. Psyllids can infect citrus trees with a bacteria that causes huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease. There is no cure for HLB and it is fatal to trees. The CRB Joint Agency Biological Control Task Force is comprised of CDFA, the University of California-Riverside, the USDA and Cal Poly-Pomona.

    Instead of relying solely on conventional pesticides to fight the psyllid, the task force developed a program using natural predators as a means of reducing ACP populations. The task force imported, reared and studied parasitic wasps from Pakistan that kill ACPs. These wasps are a key part of the first biocontrol program that successfully targeted and reduced ACP populations in urban areas and citrus orchards, in some cases replacing pesticide applications at sensitive urban sites. The project has been successfully implemented in eight counties – San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and Santa Barbara.

    The CRB officially received recognition from DPR earlier this month at an awards ceremony in Sacramento.

  • California Fresh Fruit Magazine – January/February Issue – Read It Here!

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    You can read the PDF version of the January/February Issue of California Fresh Fruit Magazine HERE!

    • Goldbud Farms Finds its Niche
      Top Quality Apples and Stone Fruit
    • Citrus Display Pleases the Senses
      CCPP Brings Value & Security to the Citrus Industry
    • Late Winter Orchard Tasks
      Prune Bloom Management Considerations

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (February 23, 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. Winter wheat and oats are growing slowly due to insufficient rainfall. Ground preparation is continuing for spring row crops. Alfalfa fields need more time to fully develop before harvest begins. As always more rain is needed to maintain good growth and avoid irrigation. Black-eyed beans are being exported to Cyprus and Korea.

    Stone fruit, pecan, walnut, and pistachio orchards, along with grape vineyards, are completing pruning and debris shredding. More stone fruit orchards are starting to bloom, with the earliest varieties in full bloom. Some almond trees have started blooming. Bee colonies continue being moved into almond and stone fruit orchards in anticipation of the bloom. Almond orchards are being irrigated due to lack of rain. Almonds in storage are being exported to Belgium, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam. Pistachio shipments are going to Hong Kong, Italy, and Turkey.

    Navel and Cara Cara oranges, Minneola tangelos, and lemons continue to be harvested. Some pruning and skirting of orange groves is occurring. Navel oranges continue to be packed and shipped domestically and exported to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan. Packing houses are grading fruit to maintain good quality going to market. Cara Cara oranges are also being shipped to Japan and other Asian countries. Growers are carefully watching this week’s freezing temperatures for damage. Weed control activities are happening in some groves.

    Winter vegetables continue to grow. Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are being harvested and sold at the local Farmer’s Markets. Last week’s warm weather was good for onions and garlic. Vegetable fields are continuing to be prepared for early plantings of squash and cucumbers. Greenhouse vegetables continue to be harvested. Strawberry and blueberry plantings are progressing well and some are starting to bloom.

    The lack of rain has left the rangeland forage in poor condition. More rain is needed to help with germination and growth of rangeland forage. The fed cattle market remained steady at $126.00 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.