California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • New UCANR Climate Scientist to Deliver Keynote at Upcoming Irrigation Conference

    Daniel Swain joined University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources on Nov. 1 as a climate scientist in the California Institute for Water Resources. Swain studies the changing character, causes and impacts of extreme weather and climate events on a warming planet – with a particular focus on the physical processes leading to droughts, floods and wildfires.

    “We are very excited to have Daniel Swain join UC ANR,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “He brings a unique blend of skills and expertise that are crucial to meet the challenge of climate change, here in California and across the globe. Daniel’s research – and his ability to clearly explain the latest findings in climate science – can equip fellow academics, policymakers and communities with the vital tools they need to forge effective and sustainable solutions.”

    Swain is known for his exceptional science communication skills, explaining weather and climate in terms easily understood by the public.

    “I spend a great deal of time engaging directly with the public in California and beyond on weather, climate and disaster-related topics, so I’m thrilled to be joining UC ANR—where broad dissemination of research-based information is a key part of the mission,” Swain said. “I’m grateful for ANR’s support for my unusual hybrid climate research and science communication role, and look forward to helping expand ANR’s virtual and statewide reach in the years to come.”

    In November, Swain was named one of Vox’s Future Perfect 50 – “the thinkers, activists and scholars working on solutions to today’s (and tomorrow’s) biggest problems.” Vox wrote: “Our communities and institutions are largely unequipped to fully understand, let alone deal with, the impacts of climate change. That’s where climate experts should, theoretically, come in. But knowing the science is one thing – being able to effectively communicate it is a whole other ballpark. Climate scientist Daniel Swain is that desperately needed liaison.”

    On his widely read Weather West blog, Swain has been sharing his perspectives on California weather and climate since 2006. He hosts regular “virtual office hours” for the public on YouTube. On X/Twitter, he has more than 101,000 followers.

    The “Weather Whisperer” fields hundreds of calls from reporters every year and has been the single most-quoted expert in recent years at UCLA, where he was a climate scientist in the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Last year, when Swain was seeking institutional support that would allow him to do science communication as well as research, a Los Angeles Times columnist wrote, “I certainly rely on Swain and other scientists to tell environmental stories.”

    The term “Ridiculously Resilient Ridge” was coined in 2013 by Swain on his Weather West blog to describe the large, formidable high-pressure mass that persisted over the West Coast during winter and diverted storms away from California, contributing to the state’s 2013-2017 drought.

    Before joining UC ANR, Swain, who grew up in the Bay Area, was at UCLA and held a concurrent appointment as a research fellow in the Capacity Center for Climate and Weather Extremes at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research since 2018. While holding a 100% appointment with UC ANR, he will maintain his associations with UCLA and NSF NCAR.

    Swain holds a Ph.D. in Earth system science from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science from UC Davis.

    He will be the keynote speaker at the California Irrigation Institute’s annual conference on Jan. 27 in Sacramento. His talk is titled “Drier and Wetter in 21st Century California? Managing Increasing Hydroclimate Whiplash in a Warming World.”

    In addition to posting on his blog at weatherwest.com, Swain is also on Twitter/X @Weather_West, Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/weatherwest.bsky.social, YouTube https://youtube.com/@weatherwest, Threads https://threads.net/@weather.west and Mastodon https://mastodon.social/@weatherwest.

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, economic growth, nutrition and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.

  • Long-Awaited UC Davis Bee Genetics Book Updated

    Hear that buzz? The long-awaited update of the landmark UC Davis-authored book, Queen Bee Rearing and Bee Breeding by Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. (1907-2003), “the father of bee genetics,”  and his former doctoral research mentee Robert E. Page Jr., now an internationally known bee geneticist, is about to be published.

    Wicwas Press of Kalamazoo, Mich., published the landmark book in 1996 and now will publish the updated book, Honey Bee Genetics and Breeding, written by Page and dedicated to Professor Laidlaw.

    UC Davis Professor Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. with graduate student and mentee Robert E. Page Jr., circa 1980

    “This book is long overdue,” said Page, whose career took him from doctoral student to professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology to provost of Arizona State University. “Although it isn’t actually a revision of Queen Rearing and Bee Breeding that I wrote with Harry Laidlaw 25 years ago, it does bring that book up-to-date with respect to genetics and breeding.  And there is still a lot of Harry in it.”

    The Laidlaw-Page book was “for beekeepers who know little about genetics, and geneticists who know little about beekeeping.”

    Page said he never expected Wicwas Press would still be selling the inaugural book nearly 30 years later.  “Harry used to remind me frequently that a revision was needed, we intended to do it, but he passed September 19, 2003, at the age of 96. I considered revising the book many times, but life got in the way, and I struggled with what more I could say about queen rearing.”

    Reviewers hail the 182-page book as “probably the best reference for learning about bee breeding theory and practice and the history of honey bee genetics.” Page offers examples of both successful and unsuccessful bee breeding programs.

    The chapters include “Principles of Inheritance,” “Mechanisms of Inheritance,” “Principles of Breeding,” “Disease Resistance,” “Defensive Behavior” and “Honey Production.”

    “The fundamentals of queen rearing have been with us since G.M. Doolittle’s book Scientific Queen Rearing first published in 1889,” Page related. “Methods have evolved through a process of natural selection with different queen producers developing their own specific modifications that get passed on, shared, and adopted or rejected by others until we have the practices used by queen producers today. But still, they are not far from the fundamentals of Doolittle.”

    Page noted, however, that “our understanding of the genetic basis of inheritance and the development of genetic tools for exploring the genetic architectures of honey bee traits has undergone a major transformation since 1996. The biggest leap in honey bee genetics came with the sequencing of the honey bee genome, published in 2006, an enormous international effort to assemble 240 million base pairs (building blocks of DNA) that contain about 10,000 genes.”  Gene Robinson of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne, spearheaded that effort.

    “Colony and individual traits are now routinely explored by genetic mapping, facilitating the identification of associated genes whose expression may be altered, thus enabling the investigation of their effects,” Page writes in his book. “We are on the cusp of the next great transformations: (1) the use of gene sequence information to reliably identify specific genes and enhance classical selection for economically important traits, and (2) the ability to transform genes, by editing them, into more favorable forms that may affect behavior and/or disease resistance.”

    Robert E. Page

    Since 1996, the main emphasis of bee breeding “has shifted from increasing honey production and reducing defensive behavior to controlling diseases,” Page wrote. “The increasing apicultural problems presented by varroa mites and their associated diseases puts pressure on bee breeders to find solutions through genetic stock improvement to reduce the use of chemical treatments in hives.”

    “The purity of honey is paramount in the perception of the public,” Page shared. “We must do all we can to preserve that. The tremendous worldwide effort to breed varroa resistance mechanisms into commercial honey bees has had only limited success, so far. But much has been learned about honey bee genetics and breeding, varroa biology and potential mechanisms of resistance in honey bees. Hopefully, the new genetic tools being developed will be employed and lead to more success.”

    Internationally recognized bee breeder and geneticist Susan Cobey, a mentee of Laidlaw, a former manager of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis,  and a newly retired Washington State University scientist, praises the book as demystifying technical aspects and filling in the knowledge gaps.  “Honey bee breeding is a lifelong adventure and passion,” she writes in the foreword. “As a young, idealistic beekeeper venturing into developing a commercial stock, Dr. Harry Laidlaw told me, ‘You will never be bored by the challenge of selecting the ‘super’ bee. She doesn’t exist, the journey will be the reward.’ Four decades later, this has proven true.”

    Cobey applied the Page-Laidlaw Closed Population Breeding Program (CPBP) theory to develop and maintain her New World Carniolan line. “The practicality and simplicity of the program gave it longevity. Many bee breeding programs have now converted to use this breeding scheme, including the USDA Hilo project.”

    “The literature addressing bee genetics, breeding scheme methodologies and assays for selecting desirable traits are scattered in the scientific, research and beekeeping journals,” Cobey wrote. “It’s like a large puzzle with missing pieces. Finally, in this book, Rob Page covers these subjects clearly, comprehensively, supported by his research with a highly informative and fascinating presentation.”

    Page, considered by his peers as “the most influential honey bee biologist of the past 30 years,” is known for his research on honey bee behavior and population genetics, particularly the evolution of complex social behavior. One of his most salient contributions to science was to construct the first genomic map of the honey bee, which sparked a variety of pioneering contributions not only to insect biology but to genetics at large.

    Page pioneered the use of modern techniques to study the genetic basis of social behavior evolution in honey bees and other social insects. He was the first to employ molecular markers to study polyandry and patterns of sperm use in honey bees. He provided the first quantitative demonstration of low genetic relatedness in a highly eusocial species.

    For 24 years, from 1989 to 2015, Page maintained a UC Davis honey bee-breeding program, managed by bee breeder-geneticist Kim Fondrk. Their contributions include discovering a link between social behavior and maternal traits in bees. Their work was featured in a cover story in the journal Nature. In all, Nature featured his work on four covers from work mostly done at UC Davis.

    Page is also the author of The Spirit of the Hive: The Mechanisms of Social Evolution (Harvard University Press, 2013) and the Art of the Bee: Shaping the Environment from Landscapes to Societies (Oxford University Press, 2020).  In 2023, he launched a publicly accessible  and free YouTube Channel, https://youtube.com/@artofthebee.

    A native of Bakersfield, Page received his doctorate in entomology in 1980 from UC Davis, studying with major professor Norman Gary and Laidlaw, his doctoral research mentor. Page  advanced  to professor and chair of the Department of Entomology (now the Department of Entomology and Nematology), serving as the chair from 1999-2004. A second career emerged when Arizona State University (ASU) recruited him in 2004.

    Today Page holds the titles of ASU University Provost Emeritus and Regents Professor Emeritus as well as UC Davis Distinguished Emeritus Professor and Emeritus Chair of the UC Davis Entomology Department.

  • Santa’s Reindeer Cleared for Visit to California

    California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones has granted a 24-hour permit for nine reindeer scheduled to visit California on the evening of December 24 and in the early morning hours of December 25.

    The application was filed with CDFA Animal Health Branch staff by a rotund, jolly man with a red suit, white beard, and a pocketful of candy canes. The signature on the application reads, “K. Kringle.”

    “Although Santa’s reindeer are special and very magical, we are grateful that every year he ensures they meet and exceed our animal health requirements to enter the state — he really cares about protecting the health of our farm animals and wildlife,” said Dr. Jones.

    The permit was granted with two conditions: the nine reindeer listed,  Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph, may not fraternize with other reindeer in the State of California, and the sleigh must be checked before entering the state to ensure no agricultural pests are hitching a ride. “Mr. Kringle’s veterinarian has assured us that the reindeer are healthy and fit again this year. They are ready for a busy night,” said Dr. Jones.  “We are excited to welcome them into our state, where they are sure to find plenty of yummy fresh vegetables to renew their energy,”

    CDFA Secretary Karen Ross thanked Department staff for their hard work, recognizing their commitment to maintaining animal health and safe and abundant California-grown food to share with all our visitors this holiday season. “We are delighted to issue this permit to Mr. Kringle,” said Secretary Ross. “We wish him safe travels and plenty of California milk and cookies as he and his reindeer deliver presents to the children of our state.”

  • Walnuts Deemed “Healthy” By the U.S. Food & Drug Administration

    Walnuts meet the updated definition for a “healthy” food based on the important role they play in recommended dietary patterns, according to the much-anticipated announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detailing a new definition for foods that can be identified or labeled as “healthy.”1

    This announcement, originally previewed in 2022 on the heels of the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, is a significant step toward ensuring food labeling is consistent with the most up-to-date nutrition scientific evidence and Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations to support individuals and families in building healthy eating patterns.

    “The inclusion of walnuts in the new “healthy” definition affirms consumers’ belief that walnuts are a healthy food.* It also aligns with decades of nutrition research reinforcing the important contributions walnuts can make in a healthy lifestyle,” shared Robert Verloop, chief executive officer for the California Walnut Commission.

    “It’s simple. Just adding walnuts to Americans’ daily diet can potentially have wide-ranging positive impacts.”

    The 2020-2025 DGA encourage consumers to choose foods that are nutrient-dense, such as nuts, including walnuts. However, close to two-thirds of Americans do not meet the recommended intake for nuts and seeds.2,3

    Encouraging walnuts as a substitution for food choices higher in saturated fat can help support recommendations to replace intake of saturated with unsaturated fats, as strongly advised by the recently-released 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report.4 The total fat in walnuts (18g) is mostly comprised of polyunsaturated fats (13g/oz), including omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz), an essential fatty acid with potential to support heart health and cognition.5-7 Walnuts are the only tree nut to provide an excellent source of omega-3 ALA.8 

    “In my 20 plus years of practicing nutrition at a major medical institution, I have seen trends go in and out for what the public considers healthy. But what has always been foundational is the role plant-based foods like walnuts play in supporting health. Walnuts are one nut I find consistently meets the variable needs of patients in my practice,” states Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RDN and author. “In practice, I focus on evidence-based approaches to reducing chronic disease risk, weight management, and improvements in metabolic health.”

    Walnuts qualifying as a “healthy” food is just one major milestone in a series of similar recognitions. A recent ruling, earlier in 2024, by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), ‘Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,’ will make it easier for schools to serve plant-protein rich meals and snacks that include walnuts. Using ingredients like walnuts can help reformulate meal favorites to be healthier, while also supporting vegetarian diets and other food preferences.  Additionally, for the first time, states are now allowed to include walnut butter as part of the latest WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)package updates. 

    These new inclusions and acknowledgements of the role of walnuts in healthy dietary patterns are due, in part, to the more than 30 years of evidence-based global health and nutrition research funded by the California Walnut Commission. This growing body of research has uncovered many potential benefits of consuming walnuts within healthy dietary patterns across various ages and life stages to maximize health and well-being, including promising research into heart health, cognition, cancer, gut health, body weight, and reproductive health.

    Walnuts are extremely versatile and convenient, adding nutrition to dishes at every meal, as well as simple snacks. For more information about the nutritional benefits of California walnuts, along with delicious recipe inspiration, please visit walnuts.org.

    About the California Walnut Commission 

    The California Walnut Commission (CWC) represents more than 4,600 California walnut growers and approximately 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers’ family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California. The CWC, established in 1987, promotes usage of walnuts through domestic and export market development activities as well as supports health research with consuming walnuts.

    To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry information and health research, visitwalnuts.org.

    * California Walnut Board 2021 Consumer A&U

    References

    1. Public Inspection: Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term ‘Healthy.’” Federal Register, 2024, www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-29957/food-labeling-nutrient-content-claims-definition-of-term-healthy. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
    2. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov.
    3. Analysis of What We Eat in America, NHANES 2013-2016, ages 1 and older, 2 days dietary intake data, weighted. Recommended Intake Ranges: Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Patterns.
    4. 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2024. Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    5. Sala-Vila A, Fleming J, Kris-Etherton P, Ros E. Impact of alpha-linolenic acid, the vegetable omega-3 fatty acid, on cardiovascular disease and cognition [published ahead of print February 16, 2022]. Advances in Nutrition. doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmac016.
    6. Naghshi S, Aune D, Beyene J, et al. Dietary intake and biomarkers of alpha linolenic acid and risk of all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ. 2021;375:n2213. doi:10.1136/bmj.n2213.
    7. Barceló-Coblijn G, Murphy EJ. Alpha-linolenic acid and its conversion to longer chain n3 fatty acids: Benefits for human health and a role in maintaining tissue n-3 fatty acid levels. Prog Lipid Res. 2009;48(6):355-74. Doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2009.07.002.
    8. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. Fdc.nal.usda.gov.

  • ARA Urges Congress to Fund Ag in Year-End Continuing Resolution

    Today the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President & CEO Daren Coppock released the following statement with concerns that Congress may neglect critical payments needed by growers as legislators work on the year-end continuing resolution this week.

    “ARA is extremely concerned with the potential exclusion of grower assistance from the supplemental short-term funding proposal. Without immediate financial assistance, growers may not be able to stay in business, which poses a national and food security risk to the nation.

    “Congress waiting until next year to address this important priority for America’s agricultural industry and their rural communities is not acceptable.”

    In July, ARA member Joey Caldwell with GreenPoint Ag testified during a House Agriculture Committee hearing to emphasize that while farmers are resilient and independent, they require support from policymakers for a robust Farm Bill with the certainty provided by crop insurance.

    “Strong farmers make strong families,” Caldwell testified. “Those strong families make for strong rural communities, and it is those communities that help make the fabric of this nation.”

    ARA strongly urges Congress to recognize the critical role payments to growers play in sustaining the entire supply chain and include ag payments in the year-end continuing resolution.

    About Agricultural Retailers Association
    The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is a nonprofit trade association representing the interests of retailers across the United States on legislative and regulatory issues on Capitol Hill. As the political voice of agricultural retailers, ARA not only represents its membership but also educates members on the political process and important issues affecting the industry. For more information on current legislative and regulatory issues impacting agricultural retailers, visit www.aradc.org.

  • Startups Get Help to Speed New Tech to California Farmers, Apply Today

    UCANR Innovate, the innovation arm of the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, has opened applications for its VINE Connect program. Developed in partnership with Farmhand Ventures, the program empowers startups and established companies to scale their technologies in California, addressing key challenges for the state’s farmers. Deadline to apply is Jan. 8, 2025.

    California farmers are at the heart of global food production, but staying ahead requires constant innovation. To meet this challenge, VINE Connect bridges the gap between innovation and application by helping entrepreneurs tailor proven technologies for farmers to ease weed control, harvest and other farming tasks.

    Each year, the VINE Connect program runs three cohorts, each centered on different focus areas within California agriculture. More than 20 solutions are selected annually to participate in a three-month cohort designed to accelerate market adaptation. Participants benefit from a workshop series on field trial readiness, opportunities to present their technologies during a field demonstration day, and extended network opportunities to connect with key stakeholders in California’s agrifood sector. Eligible participants may also qualify for future innovation grants to support technology development, field trials or relocation to California.

    “VINE Connect is all about bridging the gap between innovative ideas and the real-world challenges facing agriculture,” said Hannah Johnson, industry lead at UCANR Innovate. “We’re helping great technologies find their place in California’s farms and fields, creating solutions that work for farmers and the entire food system.”

    “Programs like VINE Connect are critical for supporting entrepreneurs as they adapt their technologies to the unique needs of California’s agriculture industry,” said Connie Bowen, founder of Farmhand Ventures. “It’s about building solutions that are both impactful and sustainable while ensuring they have the potential to grow and attract future investment.”

    The VINE Connect program is part of UCANR Innovate’s broader initiative, The VINE, which is dedicated to advancing agricultural innovation across California. Through a market-driven approach, The VINE collaborates with farmers, industry leaders and community groups to identify practical challenges and develop targeted solutions specifically for California.

    The initiative operates through two complementary tracks: VINE Build and VINE Connect. VINE Build focuses on transforming early-stage University of California prototypes into viable startups, while VINE Connect supports the market adaptation of any proven technologies to meet California’s unique agricultural needs. Together, these programs promote collaboration, sustainability and inclusive growth across one of the world’s most essential agricultural regions.

    “The VINE is about connecting the dots between innovation and agriculture,” said Gabe Youtsey, chief innovation officer at UC ANR and head of UCANR Innovate. “Together, these programs form a complete ecosystem for transforming agricultural challenges into opportunities, helping farmers, startups and communities thrive in California’s dynamic landscape.”

    Applications for the VINE Connect program are open now and will close on Jan. 8, 2025. For more information or to apply, visit https://thevine.io.

    UCANR Innovate is the innovation arm of University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, dedicated to driving agriculture, food and biotechnology innovation in California. We connect people, ideas, and resources to tackle real-world challenges and drive progress that empowers entrepreneurs, strengthens industries and secures a thriving, inclusive future for California’s agriculture, its workers and its communities.

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, economic growth, nutrition and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.

  • Rural Industries Disproportionately Exposed to Federal Policy, Facing Downside Risks in 2025

    The U.S. continues to benefit from solid economic growth, low unemployment and moderating inflation. From today’s vantage point, the U.S. economy seems likely to continue on that trajectory into 2025. However, the outlook for the rural economy is more volatile and uncertain. Rural industries are disproportionately exposed to federal policy, and the outcome of the 2024 election cycle promises to bring significant changes in the federal government’s approach to everything from international trade and immigration to energy exploration and rural economic development.

    According to a comprehensive year-ahead outlook report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the high level of policy uncertainty facing rural industries adds to their already long list of headwinds and challenges.

    “The environment we enter in 2025 hasn’t fully defined itself yet, but many of the policies proposed by the incoming administration would likely have a negative impact on U.S. agriculture,” said Rob Fox, director of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “Open access to export markets and labor availability are critically important for agricultural producers and processors. Depending on how policy plays out, those two areas could be big challenges in 2025 and beyond.”

    The CoBank 2025 outlook report examines several key factors that will shape agriculture and market sectors that serve rural communities throughout the U.S.

    U.S. Economy: A New Economic Era Begins

    Most economists are forecasting 2025 U.S. GDP growth around 2.5%-3.0%, essentially the same as today. However, those forecasts are based on rather mild assumptions on forthcoming policy changes. When taken in isolation, President-elect Trump’s proposed policies — tax cuts, decreased labor supply and tariffs on imported goods — are all inflationary. Consequently, longer-term interest rates have already edged higher, and the market has downshifted expectations for further Fed rate cuts in 2025. There is a good chance the proposed tariffs and the crackdown on undocumented immigrants will be more disruptive than markets have priced in, particularly in industries like construction and agriculture.

    U.S. Government: Trump Administration, Congress Set for Bustling January Start

    Congress is expected to wrap up the lame duck session of the 118th Congress by Dec. 19, hopefully addressing important pieces of unfinished business. A one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill is increasingly likely. President-elect Trump is expected to pursue an ambitious first-100 days of executive orders and other legislative activity that will likely include many of his campaign promises. These may include significant deportation efforts and immigration reform, implementation of tariffs, extending the 2017 tax cuts and providing regulatory relief rolling back the Biden administration’s initiatives. The 119th Congress will have a long and challenging to-do list when members return to Washington on Jan. 3.

    U.S. Agricultural Economy: Trade War Could Send Ag Economy from Bad to Worse

    The short-lived commodity boom precipitated by global droughts, the war in Ukraine and COVID-19 supply issues is now a distant memory. Row crop prices are down nearly 50% from their 2022 highs. But production costs have remained elevated, and profitability has plunged to decade-plus lows. The silver lining is that dairy and livestock producers are generally profitable due to low feed costs and resilient consumer demand. However, more headwinds may be coming for both the crop and livestock sectors. President-elect Trump rode to victory on two main economic policy proposals: enact significant import tariffs and reduce immigration while deporting undocumented residents. In theory, these policies could achieve some limited objectives, but it is hard to paint them as anything but negative for the U.S. farm economy.

    Grains, Farm Supply & Biofuels: Policy Uncertainty Weighs on Exports, Biofuels

    A strengthening U.S. dollar, combined with the potential for trade disputes and record-large South American crops, weigh heavily on the outlook for grain and oilseed prices in 2025. U.S. farmers are widely expected to struggle with further margin compression as weaker commodity prices test farmers’ ability to lower production costs. Crop input decisions will be evaluated much more closely with a focus on inputs that provide the greatest return on investment. The bearish outlook for oil prices diminishes the demand picture for ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel. Uncertainty over U.S. biofuel policy under the new administration also clouds the demand outlook for biofuels.

    Animal Protein: Rising Margins Improve Prospects for Growth

    Falling feed costs and rising producer margins have renewed expansion interest in animal protein segments. However, labor, construction and land costs remain elevated, tempering expectations for any meaningful supply growth in the near term. U.S. beef cow herd expansion is not expected to start until 2026 or 2027. The smaller herd will further support higher feeder and fed cattle prices in the coming year. With consumers now pushing back on beef prices already near historic highs, packer margins will remain under pressure well into 2025.

    Dairy: Record Investment Will Continue to Grow the Category

    The U.S. will see an unprecedented $8 billion in new dairy processing investment through 2026. Some of the new plants are poised to come online in 2025, with about half of the investment in the cheese category. The expected surge in cheese and whey output will likely put downward pressure on dairy product prices in the second half of the year. Sourcing additional milk supplies to fill new plant capacity is a looming question. 2023 and 2024 will go down as the first back-to-back years since the late 1960s that U.S. milk production took a downturn. On the flip side, higher component levels in farmgate milk, largely butterfat and protein, have lifted finished product yields.

    Food & Beverage: Health and Nutrition Take Center Stage

    The headline news for food, beverage and consumer packaged goods in 2025 is President-elect Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy’s purported goals include eliminating ingredients banned in other countries and “getting the chemicals out” of America’s food supply. Meanwhile, consumers’ renewed focus on their health and the popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are showing signs of impacting food manufacturers. GLP-1 users purchase around 8% less food compared with average consumers, according to J.P. Morgan research. Food and beverage manufacturers’ concerns about volume attrition are likely to continue well into 2025.

    Power & Energy: What an IRA Rollback Might Look Like

    President-elect Trump’s return to the White House will signal a significant shift in U.S. energy policy. While he has promised to end the Inflation Reduction Act, slowing the clean energy momentum that has accelerated under the IRA may be more difficult than imagined. Popular programs in the IRA have directed significant investments to many rural and economically distressed communities. And more than a dozen House Republicans have voiced concern that repealing the IRA could jeopardize ongoing development in their communities. Clawing back IRA funds that have already been allocated could prove to be very difficult. The more likely scenario is that unallocated IRA funding will be redirected to other priorities.

    Digital Infrastructure: Rural Connectivity Faces New Challenges

    Political uncertainty and low participation in the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment program raises big questions for bridging the digital divide in the year ahead. The $42.5 billion BEAD program, created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, includes an unprecedented level of government support. However, a lack of operator participation could blunt the impact of this well-intended program to bring reliable broadband access to underserved rural areas. Many small operators lack the specialized expertise or financial resources to meet some of the complicated BEAD requirements.

    Read the full report, The Year Ahead: Forces That Will Shape the U.S. Rural Economy in 2025.

    About CoBank

    CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 77,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.

    CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.

  • Preparing Soil for Winter can Protect Soil Health

    Farmers placed clumps of soil into metal mesh baskets, submerged the baskets into jars of water, then watched to see if their soil held together. The slake test, conducted at the Soil Health Field Day in Woodland, measured soil health. Healthier soil, which contains more organic matter and bioactivity and can better support plant growth, stays intact.

    “Participants said that it was particularly useful to see the slake test on a variety of soils to better understand the nuance of how soil health management practices such as cover cropping and reduction of tillage intensity could affect soil aggregation,” said Sonja Brodt, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program coordinator for agriculture and environment, who attended the field day alongside Vivian Wauters, SAREP project scientist.

    Katharina Ullman, Organic Agriculture Institute training and technical assistance coordinator, left, and field day participant view results of soil health test.

    Technical assistance providers, farmers and other soil health professionals gathered at the Center for Land-Based Learning on Nov. 19 to learn about preparing soil for winter with a specific focus on how soil health impacts soil structure, as well as the ability for water to move through soil as opposed to puddling or running off a field.

    “Soil with stable aggregates can withstand this submersion and stay intact, whereas a soil with poor aggregation will fall apart in the water,” Wauters explained.

    This in-field test can produce dramatically different results, where poorly aggregated soil colors the water, while the stable, aggregated soil will leave the water column relatively clear.

    Farmers were invited to bring their own soil samples to perform slake tests at the field day. Kabir Zahangir, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service regional soil health specialist, compared soils from different management practices and discussed how to assess aggregate stability and soil water infiltration.

    Margaret Lloyd, UC Cooperative Extension small farms advisor for the Capitol Corridor, and Lindsey Kelley, UCCE small farms community education specialist, discussed regional benchmarks for soil health.

    Attendees also heard from experienced growers Scott Park of Park Farming Organics and Andrew Brait of Full Belly Farm, who described how they assess soil health on their farms.

    By collaborating with others, Brodt said farmers and researchers are achieving benefits through learning together in real time. “We will also be able to benefit from aggregating soils data from across regions to begin to develop a statewide soil health database, which is a critical step in order for researchers to be able to determine relationships between farming practices and soil health outcomes under California conditions in the future,” she said.

    Lindsey Kelley discussed regional benchmarks for soil health.

    Slake tests can be performed on soil from one’s own backyard, garden or farm to better understand the health of the soil. Additionally, the NRCS principles of soil health – minimized disturbance, maximized biodiversity, maximized soil cover and maximized living roots – can be applied across all scales, though the specific practices will vary based on the type of yard or farm as well as the local climate and soil type.

    Brodt and Wauters, who coordinate the California Farm Demonstration Network, emphasize that it’s important to have local examples of innovative conservation practices across the state so people can see what is working to protect and enhance the soil health in their specific region. They encourage farmers and technical assistance providers to visit https://www.calfarmdemo.org/ to find local farms that are showcasing innovative practices. Farmers interested in being a farm demonstration site are also encouraged to contact Brodt (sbbrodt@ucanr.edu) and Wauters (vwauters@ucanr.edu).

    They hope to continue to support the learning and sharing of knowledge around climate-smart farming practices to help California’s farmers adopt climate beneficial practices.

    “CDFA has funding programs, such as their Healthy Soils grants, that farmers in our network can apply for to help cover the costs of implementing soil health practices,” Brodt said.

    Current work on the California Farm Demonstration Network is funded through a University of California Office of the President Climate Action Grant. — By Judith Eppele, UCANR

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, economic growth, nutrition and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.

  • UCANR Adds New Advisors/Specialists All Over California

    As California faces new challenges, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has been hiring UC Cooperative Extension experts with different skills to help Californians across the state, including residents in urban areas.

    Recently hired UC Cooperative Extension specialists, advisors and coordinators bring expertise in youth development, pest management, healthy families, soil health, urban water quality, urban agriculture, animal science, woody biomass and forest products, small farms, livestock and innovation for small food-related businesses to their communities.

    To better connect Californians with research developed at UC campuses, UC ANR has hired its first UCCE specialist based at UC Irvine.

    Since 1914, UC Cooperative Extension researchers have been working directly with community members to improve their lives and livelihoods.

    To see a list of UC Cooperative Extension experts who have joined in the past few months, visit https://ucanr.edu/About/DirectorySearch/Recent_Hires. The most recently hired scientists are introduced below.

    Berris to advise on water management, soil health in northern Bay Area

    Helaine Berris joined UC Agriculture and Natural Resources on Nov. 4 as the UC Cooperative Extension water and soil advisor for Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Mendocino counties. Berris will conduct research and extension activities that promote sustainable, innovative and economically viable on-farm water management.

    “My program will be shaped around practices that help agricultural producers improve water efficiency and soil health, meet local regulations and adapt to environmental extremes,” Berris explained. “This may include soil health practices to improve water-holding capacity, irrigation management, research around soil-plant-water dynamics and more.”

    Originally from northern Nevada, Berris attained her bachelor’s degree in eco-hydrology from University of Nevada, Reno. She went on to earn a master’s in hydrologic sciences – and another master’s in international agricultural development – from UC Davis, where she studied farmer needs in water-stressed basins and soil-water dynamics in cover-cropped rice systems.

    Her career path included some time at an agricultural technology company and four years as a teacher in China and Spain. Most recently, Berris worked as a soil conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Seattle.

    “I love working on applied projects that have tangible outcomes, and working with passionate people,” Berris said. “I’m constantly inspired by the many incredible scientists, partners and producers working in this space – and it’s a great feeling when we can all combine our strengths for a common goal.”

    Berris said she looks forward to developing collaborations with clientele and community members to solve challenges across Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Mendocino counties.

    “My main career goal is that my work is relevant to the local community; for me, that’s what being an advisor is all about – to live and work in a few counties, where I can focus my energy on really understanding the nitty-gritty of the water/agriculture challenges at a local scale,” Berris said. “These challenges will be continuously changing, which will require me to be constantly learning and adapting – but that’s the fun of the job.”

    Based in Santa Rosa at the UCCE office for Sonoma County, Berris can be reached at hmberris@ucanr.edu or (707) 565-2621.

    Belt to improve family, community health along North Coast

    Grace Belt joined UC Agriculture and Natural Resources on Nov. 1 as the UC Cooperative Extension youth, families and communities advisor for Humboldt and Del Norte counties. She will be designing, delivering and evaluating programs that alleviate local challenges surrounding food security, health, and youth and community development.

    “I am responsible for providing leadership and research expertise in nutrition and youth development, as well as providing academic oversight of the local 4-H Youth Development Program and the local Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP),” Belt said. “I have lived in Humboldt for many years and am excited to make a difference in a community that means so much to me.”

    While earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cal Poly Humboldt, Belt became interested in research related to the improvement of communities large and small – which motivated her to pursue a master’s in psychology from the same school.

    “The focus of my research projects, both qualitative and quantitative, has been on community success, economic development and social motivations for human behavior,” Belt said.

    Equipped with that academic foundation, Belt is excited to share her perspective and partner with people and organizations along the North Coast to improve lives and livelihoods.

    “I’ve always aspired to a position that allows me to bridge the gap between research and community improvement strategies,” Belt explained. “In this advisor role, I can bring novel, evidence-based solutions and strategies to challenges facing my community.”

    Belt is based at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Eureka and can be reached at kbelt@ucanr.edu.

    Daly joins 4-H as community education specialist in Alameda County

    Tanya Daly joined UC ANR on Oct. 23 as the community education specialist for the 4-H Youth Development Program in Alameda County.

    The long-time 4-H volunteer is excited about being involved again with 4-H. A former homeschooling parent, Daly said her focus has been on education.

    Daly earned a bachelor’s degree in art history at San Francisco State University and recently completed her master’s degree in museum studies with an emphasis on education and public programming at San Francisco State University. She is interested in applying that background to educating children through 4-H.

    Daly is based at the Hayward office and can be reached at tdaly@ucanr.edu.

    Sung-Jereczek named UCCE’s first beneficial burning and tribal land stewardship advisor

    Ally Sung-Jereczek joined UC Cooperative Extension on Oct. 1 as the first beneficial burning and tribal land stewardship advisor for Mendocino and Lake counties.

    In this new role, Sung-Jereczek will be working alongside tribes to help identify needs and build capacity towards long-term sustainable land stewardship goals that align with the tribes cultural, social, and economic priorities.

    She is currently working on connecting and listening to each of the tribes throughout the region. She hopes to build relationships to provide tools, resources and funding opportunities for partnerships among tribes, state agencies, private landowners, organizations and policymakers to support beneficial burning, climate adaptation planning and resiliency projects.

    Born and raised on Muwekma Ohlone land in the East Bay Area, Sung-Jereczek always had an interest in humans and their connections to place and the environment. She earned a bachelor’s degree in geography and conservation biology at UCLA.

    Following graduation, she worked as an environmental planner and wildlife biologist. “I began to notice how our personal connections to the land shape our perspectives and define our decision-making,” she said.

    Sung-Jereczek earned her master’s degree at the University of Michigan, working on an interdisciplinary degree at the School for Environment and Sustainability specializing in environmental justice, behavior change, communication and ecosystem science management.

    Her graduate research primarily focused on community-based participatory research and strengthening university and tribal partnerships alongside the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, facilitating listening circles and developing an ecological assessment that would support the priorities of the tribe for stewardship of the Chase Osborn Preserve (~3,000 acres of hemiboreal forest) located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She also worked on the Western Forest Fire Initiative at Michigan studying the relationship between wildfire, forests and communities in a changing climate as a social-ecological system.

    “I am looking forward to going beyond checking the regulatory box set by federal and state regulators and working towards building reciprocal relationships rooted in cultural humility, respect and responsibility,” Sung-Jereczek said. “Although I understand the current fear and trauma of fire that climate change and fire suppression regimes have caused, I also hope to empower communities and shift the ways in which we currently think, interact and live with fire in the future.”

    She will also be working alongside the UCANR Fire Network supporting the use of fire as a tool for land managers and climate resilience.

    Sung-Jereczek is based out of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center on ancestral and unceded Shóqowa (Sho-Ka-Wah) territory and can be reached at asungjereczek@ucanr.edu.

    Warner becomes UCCE livestock and natural resources area advisor

    Andrea Northup-Warner started working as a UC Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources area advisor for Placer, Nevada, Yuba and Sutter counties on Oct. 1.

    Excited to serve the community in which she grew up, Warner will help ranchers solve their most pressing issues. Currently, small ranchers with up to 15 cows, for reference, need support establishing their operation. Commercial ranchers, however, are interested in technology and developing research that will help improve health and nutrition of their cattle.

    “If a rancher’s animals aren’t healthy, they can’t make money,” she said. “If they can’t make money, they can’t support their family or their business.”

    Despite profitability being “priority zero” for consumers, Warner said that staying in business and/or expanding business operations is a primary goal for many ranchers. As an advisor, she’s excited to not only support ranchers’ endeavors to increase profits, but challenge consumers’ perspectives on the matter, too.

    Although a new advisor, Warner has worked for UC Cooperative Extension since 2022. First hired as a staff research associate at the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center in Yuba County, Warner said her research work has focused on nutrition and health of beef cattle, oak regeneration and rangeland management.

    Warner earned a master’s degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s in animal science from California State University, Chico. While her academic training will certainly be useful, Warner said that the mentorship she’s received from colleagues has been instrumental during her transition.

    She succeeds Dan Macon, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor, who transferred to UCCE in Calaveras County.

    Warner is based at the UCCE Placer-Nevada counties office in Auburn and can be reached at alnwarner@ucanr.edu.

    Palta named first UCCE specialist based at UC Irvine

    Monica Palta joined UC ANR on Sept. 1 as a UC Cooperative Extension specialist in urban water quality, health and justice. She is the first UCCE specialist to be based at UC Irvine.

    Palta is an urban ecosystem ecologist and environmental scientist who has conducted applied research in aquatic and coastal ecosystems throughout the U.S. Before taking the position with UC ANR, she was an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Science at Pace University in New York City.

    The main goal of Palta’s research is to develop sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships between natural ecosystems and human populations in urban watersheds. A central focus of her work is on interactions between infrastructure, ecosystem functions and associated environmental benefits to humans in urban waterfronts, and how these interactions may be altered by global change.

    Her research investigates sources and mitigation strategies for water pollution, as well as develops green infrastructure and environmental management strategies to facilitate greater environmental benefit, equity, access and resilience in marginalized waterfront communities.

    In 2023 she co-founded Participatory Science Solutions, LLC. This organization has provided research, training and evaluation on the social impact of urban environmental restoration projects (e.g., restoration of urban forests, wetlands and oyster reefs) conducted by nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

    Palta earned a Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from Rutgers University and conducted postdoctoral work at Arizona State University. She earned a master’s in ecology from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Grinnell College.

    In her new position with UC ANR, she is excited to collaborate with UC faculty and UC ANR colleagues from diverse disciplines as well as local communities and water managers. Her work will inform management for long-term resilience and reliability of water resources in Southern California under climate change, with a strong focus on strategies that sustain health and social equity within local populations.

    Palta is jointly based at UC Irvine’s Department of Civil Engineering (School of Engineering) and the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy (School of Social Ecology) and can be reached at mpalta@uci.edu and @MonicaMPalta on X.

    Azadfar joins UCCE as woody biomass and forest products advisor

    Ali Azadfar joined UC ANR on Sept. 3 as the UC Cooperative Extension woody biomass and forest products advisor for Siskiyou, Shasta and Trinity counties. In this role, he will focus on promoting sustainable forest products and woody biomass use to enhance forest resilience and support local communities.

    His work will involve collaborating with forestland owners, rural communities and local organizations to develop science-based solutions for managing woody biomass, reducing wildfire risks and advancing forest products.

    “I am committed to developing innovative strategies for forest management that empower communities and protect our natural resources,” Azadfar said. “By working closely with stakeholders, we can create sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the people who rely on it.”

    Originally from northern Iran near the Hyrcanian forests, Azadfar grew up immersed in the rich biodiversity of these ancient woodlands, which inspired his lifelong dedication to forest stewardship. His early experiences witnessing the impact of forest degradation on both the environment and local livelihoods motivated him to pursue a career in natural resources.

    “The moment I saw how utilizing old, corrugated container waste for paper production could reduce the need for deforestation was a pivotal turning point in my career,” Azadfar said. “It showed me the power of innovative, sustainable solutions in protecting our natural resources while still meeting industrial needs.”

    Azadfar holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in natural resources engineering with a focus on wood science and engineering from Iran, as well as a Ph.D. in biological and agricultural engineering from Washington State University. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Washington State University’s Composite Materials and Engineering Center, where he specialized in sustainable woody biomass utilization.

    “I look forward to working with local communities to continue addressing their needs by advancing sustainable woody biomass utilization and forest products, and improving forest resilience,” he said.

    Azadfar is based at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Yreka and can be reached at mazadfar@ucanr.edu.

    Beal joins UC IPM as advisor for Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito counties

    Dylan Beal joined UC ANR on Sept. 3 as the UC Integrated Pest Management entomology advisor for Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. In developing sustainable IPM programs, Beal said he aims to support farmers and communities in the Salinas Valley and beyond.

    “I hope to serve the growers of the three counties and develop more sustainable integrated pest management programs that are centered on their experiences and knowledge,” he explained. “My major goal is to support growers of leafy greens, cole crops, berry crops, grapes and other crops in ways that empower and elevate growers.”

    A native of Valencia in Los Angeles County, Beal ventured east to Cornell University where he earned bachelor’s degrees in entomology and plant sciences. As an undergraduate research assistant at Cornell, he had his first experiences with Cooperative Extension and the mission of the land-grant university system.

    After attaining a European master’s degree in viticulture and enology from Montpellier SupAgro in France and Universita degli Studi di Torino in Italy, Beal returned to the U.S. to complete a Ph.D. in environmental science, policy and management at UC Berkeley. His dissertation focused on studying spittlebug vectors of a bacterial pathogen, Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce’s disease in vineyards of California’s North Coast.

    Beal then went to Washington State University, where he worked as a postdoctoral researcher with growers on sustainable management strategies for spotted-wing drosophila in Washington cherry orchards and blueberry farms.

    “Inspired by my Extension mentors at Cornell, UC Berkeley and WSU, I aim to be a bridge between growers and researchers,” he said.

    Beal is based at the Monterey County UC Cooperative Extension office in Salinas and can be reached at djbeal@ucanr.edu and (831) 759-7359.

    Okella joins UCCE as 4-H animal science youth advisor

    Hedmon Okella joined UCCE on Aug. 1 as the 4-H animal science youth advisor for San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. He is developing an extension and applied research program in agriculture, with an emphasis on livestock for positive youth development. In addition, he will support the statewide 4-H Youth Development Program to help youth reach their full potential.

    “My focus is to partner with local communities to create new and innovative approaches that are responsive to the unique needs of the communities so as to strengthen and expand the 4-H animal science experience,” Okella said.

    Prior to joining UC ANR, he was a postdoctoral researcher in veterinary science and molecular biology at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center.

    Originally from Dokolo, Uganda, Okella was born and raised in an extended family that cherishes goats, sheep, swine and poultry farming – a childhood experience that nourished his passion in animal science. In the past 15 years of his career, Okella witnessed the infinite potential of young people amid limited or no opportunities among the underserved youth living in multicultural communities of Uganda, India and United States.

    “I envision extending more support with emphasis on animal science so that young people can discover and develop their full potentials,” he said.

    Okella earned a Ph.D. from Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda, with a focus on fish immunology, specifically bioprospecting of novel antimicrobial peptide drug candidates for potential application in veterinary and human medicine. He also holds a master’s degree in biotechnology from Saurashtra University, Gujarat, India, and a bachelor’s degree in science education (biology major) from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

    “I hope to leverage my expertise to develop and implement applied research and extension programs focusing on animal science, particularly centered on livestock such as cattle, swine, sheep and goats, tailored for youth in San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties,” he said. “I am so excited to partner with the groups and community organizations to continue to address the needs of the communities we serve.”

    Based at UC Cooperative Extension’s San Benito County office in Hollister, Okella can be reached at hokella@ucanr.edu.

    Weinberg joins F3 as academic coordinator for food innovation and small business

    Yonatan Weinberg joined UC ANR on July 1 as an academic coordinator for food innovation and small business to support the Farms, Food, Future Initiative, also called F3. The F3 Initiative mission is to encourage economic development in the San Joaquin Valley through its regional food system.

    Weinberg will help promote specialty crops and support food business development in the valley. By enhancing local food distribution, processing and preparation, he hopes all valley residents get to taste the region’s delicious food and benefit from the value it provides.

    Before joining UC ANR, Weinberg studied European and Asian food systems. He earned master’s degrees in resilient farming and food systems from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and in agroecology from Institut supérieur d’agriculture Rhône-Alpes in France. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in history, technology and society from Georgia Tech.

    His master’s thesis centered on why conventional farmers in England transitioned to organic and regional markets on their own. He then researched the effects of indigenous farmers’ transition to conventional practices in Cambodia. Later, he worked for a local nongovernmental organization to build a farmers market in Battambang.

    Weinberg said he seeks to “harness his research and professional interests to nourish a bright future for the San Joaquin Valley’s farming and food systems.” He will be working with food entrepreneurs who process, cook, sell and distribute local produce and foster connections among them across the food system in the valley.

    “We are building out Instagram pages for F3Local and our flagship event Central Valley Flavor Fest,” he said. “We very much would love some follower-love from the community; our handles are @cvflavorfest and @f3local.”

    He earned masters degrees in resilient farming and food systems from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and in agroecology from ISARA in France. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history, technology and society from Georgia Tech.

    Weinberg is based in Fresno and can be reached at yweinberg@ucanr.edu.

    Levy becomes UCCE soil health and organic materials management advisor

    Natalie Levy began as the UC Cooperative Extension soil health and organic materials management advisor serving Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties on June 3.

    To reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions, Levy is working on recovering edible food for human consumption and diverting organic material from landfills. She will collaborate with diverse clientele to develop closed-loop systems that replicate natural decomposition cycles that sequester carbon and improve soil health in both urban and agricultural settings.

    “I am particularly excited to be working towards solutions to climate change and to promote carbon sequestration in California. What makes this role interesting is that the pathway to achieving these broader goals is through simple but powerful solutions,” said Levy.

    For instance, applying a 3-to-4-inch mulch layer in a landscape not only improves soil water retention but also sequesters carbon and reduces landfill emissions by diverting and repurposing green waste. “In this role, I am also very excited about supporting food waste recovery and addressing food insecurity in the three counties that I serve,” she added.

    Prior to becoming an advisor, Levy worked for UC ANR as a staff research associate at South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, where she partnered with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to study urban runoff and water quality monitoring in Orange County.

    Later, she became a UCCE associate specialist for water resources at South Coast REC, focusing on all phases of applied water resource management research and extension efforts. As a specialist, she managed national and statewide collaborative projects centered on water conservation, including the UC Landscape Plant Irrigation Trial program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded, multistate Climate Ready Landscape Plants project.

    Levy earned a Ph.D. in agricultural and extension education and evaluation from Louisiana State University. Her dissertation research studied the types of management practices Louisiana homeowners were using to apply fertilizers in urban landscapes. Through this exploratory research, she identified behaviors that can increase nonpoint source nutrient runoff and designed Cooperative Extension programming to help change those behaviors. She also obtained a master’s degree in agronomy from LSU and a bachelor’s in environmental science from UC Berkeley.

    Levy is based at South Coast REC and can be reached at nlevy@ucanr.edu.

    Smith aims to improve community health, nutrition in Central Valley

    Jasmin Smith joined UC ANR on Aug. 1 as the community nutrition and health advisor for San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties. Smith will work to research, identify and address community health concerns – as well as support CalFresh Healthy Living programs and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in the region.

    “My focus is on promoting nutrition and health initiatives responsive to the unique needs of the communities and ensuring that the programs are impactful and sustainable,” Smith said.

    Originally from Champaign, Illinois, Smith also lived in Thailand, the Dominican Republic and Kenya during her youth, as her father worked for the Foreign Agricultural Service. Her experiences overseas were a significant motivating factor in pursuing a career in community nutrition and health.

    “Witnessing health disparities firsthand in different areas of the world highlighted the critical need for equitable access to nutrition and health care,” she explained. “These experiences have fueled my passion to address the root causes of these disparities and work towards creating healthier communities.”

    Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from North Carolina A&T State University, and a Ph.D. in human sciences from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where she studied obesity prevention in rural communities.

    That focus continues in her current role, as Smith seeks to partner with local communities to promote health and wellness in underserved segments of California’s population.

    “I hope to leverage my experience to develop and implement strategies and programs that promote equitable access to healthy lifestyles,” she said. “I am also excited to collaborate with the teams and community partners to continue to address the needs of the communities we serve.”

    Based at UC Cooperative Extension’s San Joaquin County office in Stockton, Smith can be reached at jasm@ucanr.edu.

    Robinson returns as urban ag, food systems and environmental issues advisor

    Derrick Robinson began working as the UC Cooperative Extension urban agriculture, food systems and environmental issues advisor in San Diego County on July 1. In this role, Robinson is focused on improving food production and delivery systems, economic success and sustainability, as well as science literacy and youth development.

    Currently, he aims to serve San Diego County residents, especially those in urban interfaces. Robinson brings a wealth of knowledge about San Diego County’s food system to his advisor role and his network consists of nonprofits and their members in North County and in the City of San Diego, mostly concentrated in low-income and traditionally marginalized communities in the region.

    “I’m also eager to identify policy issues that need to be addressed, especially as it relates to my scope of work – policies involving worker standards or climate-change impacts, for example,” said Robinson.

    His new role builds on work he did for UCCE in the past. From 2016 to 2019, he was a UCCE academic coordinator serving California. He developed and taught the “Living on My Own” curriculum for 14- to 24-year-olds, an expansion of the “Money Talks” financial literacy series promoting positive youth development. Before returning to UC ANR, Robinson worked for the Center on Policy Initiatives, a policy think tank focused on economic justice policy issues.

    Originally from Atlanta, Robinson moved across the southeastern part of the U.S. in pursuit of higher education. He earned a doctorate in applied economics from Auburn University in Alabama after obtaining bachelor’s degrees in communication and economics from the University of North Florida. Robinson also earned an associate’s degree in geography from Florida State College.

    Before moving to California, Robinson was an economics professor at the University of North Florida as well as at Tuskegee University in Alabama, where he taught agricultural economics. While in graduate school, Robinson conducted coastal resource evaluations with Sea Grant as a collegiate fellow for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    Just prior to returning to UCCE, he helped to develop San Diego County’s State of the Food System 2020 report and the Food Vision 2030 plan based on his outreach and community organizing.

    Robinson is based at the UCCE office in San Diego County and can be reached at drobinson@ucanr.edu.

    Babu joins UCCE Imperial County as entomology advisor

    Arun Babu joined UCCE on July 8 as the entomology advisor for Imperial County. Babu is responsible for developing and implementing research and education programs on managing insect pests of vegetables, forage, field and specialty crops in Imperial County.

    Babu earned his undergraduate degree in agricultural science from Kerala Agricultural University in Kerala, India. He started his career as an agriculture consultant on a project sponsored by the government of India, serving as an advisor for small-scale subsistence farmers of Southern India, providing technical assistance to a diverse clientele of underserved growers in making crop management decisions.

    In 2011, Babu moved to the United States to join the master’s program in entomology at Mississippi State University, where he studied why Helicoverpa zea, corn earworm, was becoming resistant to Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bt) toxins in transgenic field corn.

    During his Ph.D. studies and postdoctoral research at North Carolina State University, Babu worked extensively on integrated pest management in field crops, focusing on pests such as brown stink bugs, Euschistus servus, corn earworm and aphids in various crop systems. These studies generated tangible results with direct economic benefits for growers and crop consultants.

    In further postdoctoral research at the University of Georgia, he focused on monitoring and sampling, behavioral and chemical management of the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii in small fruit crops. Results from his trials enhanced adoption of IPM practices in managing D. suzukii in small fruit crops and helped growers reduce their dependency on frequent insecticide applications.

    As an entomology advisor for Imperial County, Babu is committed to working with growers, pest control advisers, industry partners, government agencies and others. He is dedicated to developing practical, cost-effective solutions for the various pest management problems faced by the growers in Imperial County.

    Babu is based at the UCCE Imperial County office in Holtville and can be reached at arbabu@ucanr.edu, (442) 265-7708 and @_ArunBabu_ on X.

    Kraus named small farms advisor for Fresno County

    Emily Kraus joined UCCE on July 1 as the small farms advisor for Fresno County.

    Kraus aims to find solutions to small farms’ production issues such as pests and soil nutrition. Some of her specific goals are to investigate the range and management strategies for Mexican rice borer, identify pest problems for longbean, and determine sustainable strategies for diversified cropping systems.

    Prior to joining UC ANR, Kraus was a Cooperative Extension scientist for pesticide knowledge and safety in the Pesticide Information Office at the University of Florida.

    The Indiana native earned her bachelor’s degree in entomology at Purdue University, where she focused on both biological control and medical entomology. She earned her master’s degree at Kansas State University, studying mosquito-transmitted diseases.

    Then she took a break from academia to serve in the U.S. Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa. Upon her return, she resumed her studies by working in integrated pest management in rice production at Louisiana State University.

    While working on her Ph.D. she traveled extensively to rice-producing regions of the world. Her desire for travel carried her through her postdoctoral fellowship at Rhodes University in South Africa, where she again studied biological control. This experience set her up for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture.

    Kraus is based in Fresno and can be reached at ekraus@ucanr.edu.

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, economic growth, nutrition and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.

  • Unique Conditions in Modoc County Drive Organic Ag Adaptations

    Modoc County, home to 8,500 people and tucked in the remote northeastern corner of California, has been a leader in advancing organic agriculture through its significant ranching and agronomic crop production, namely of potatoes and hay.

    In fact, Modoc County is California’s number one county for organic beef cattle production (119,782 acres in 2022), and consistently in the top five counties for total harvested certified organic acres in the state, according to the most recent California Department of Food and Agriculture statistics.

    “Modoc County farmers and ranchers in many ways exemplify the values of organic agriculture, adapting and tailoring their operations to the contexts of the unique landscapes we live in,” said Laurie Wayne, University of California Cooperative Extension nutrition, community health and food systems advisor for Modoc, Siskiyou and Lassen counties.

    Laurie Wayne

    This past summer, Wayne and Rob Wilson – UCCE farm advisor and director of the Intermountain Research and Extension Center operated by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources – shared their insights with a visiting team from the UC Organic Agriculture Institute.

    Established in 2020 as an institute under UC ANR, OAI was created to develop research, extension and education support for certified, transitioning and aspiring organic farmers and ranchers across California. The OAI team has been visiting different regions to better understand the unique conditions of organic agriculture in those areas.

    “These tours are our chance to build relationships with local farmers, partner organizations and colleagues and see how organic agriculture has grown and developed in that specific region,” said Houston Wilson, OAI director. “We also get to learn directly from farmers and ranchers about how regional contexts and community goals influence organic agriculture in their area.”

    Modoc County’s geography, climate spur adaptive strategies

    Wayne, who previously operated a farm in Modoc County and also co-founded the Surprise Valley Saturday Farmer’s Market and Modoc Harvest Food Hub, was the perfect person to introduce the OAI team to local agricultural producers.

    “I hoped to show our visitors just a glimpse at the many lessons I’ve learned and inspiration I’ve gained from the agriculture community in Modoc,” Wayne said.

    A common theme across Modoc County is the use of innovative and place-based strategies to farm within diverse ecosystems. For example, extensive rotational grazing is well-suited to the region’s vast sage steppes, perennial grasslands and sagebrush ecosystems.

    333 Ranch – a third-generation ranch in Lake City owned and operated by Sophie Sheppard, Lynn Nardella, and their son, Jason Diven – raises rotationally grazed beef cattle and calves, hogs and Icelandic sheep and grows organically managed vegetables.

    One of several beaver dams can be seen in a creek at 333 Ranch, where high tensile fencing has been installed alongside the creek. Photo by Houston Wilson

    Half of 333 Ranch is under conservation easement to preserve natural resources and wildlife. Their land stewardship practices include working with the Savory Institute – a nonprofit that supports the health of grasslands and the livelihoods of people on those landscapes – on ecological grazing techniques. They also partner with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to convert barbed wire fencing into high tensile fencing for riparian habitat restoration. Sheppard reported that one year after the fence conversion, the ranchers saw beavers building dams in their creek and nesting Greater Sandhill Cranes.

    Leah Larsen of Bidwell Canyon Farm in Fort Bidwell said she learned high tunnel production from Sheppard at 333 Ranch and others in the area. High tunnels allow farmers to extend their growing seasons to accommodate diverse crop rotations and opportunities for local food production.

    Larsen – who grows vegetables, fruit trees and berries on 1.5 acres (including in two high tunnels) – also raises milk goats and chickens, maintains grazing pasture and operates a farmstay rental. With 11 years of experience farming in Modoc’s high desert climate, Larsen offers mentorship to other growers in the region and shares information through channels such as the region’s high tunnel Facebook group.

    Canyon Creek Ranch in Alturas uses prescribed burns to manage invasive tree species in the sagebrush steppe. Richard (Dick) Mackey and his family operate 3,300 certified organic acres, with 350 head of cattle and 500 acres of hay, pasture and alfalfa. In addition to organic certification, Canyon Creek Ranch is also Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV)-certified; EOV is a program of the Savory Institute that gathers ecosystem data to verify that ranching practices are regenerating the land.

    Dick Mackey (middle) of Canyon Creek Ranch leads the OAI team on a tour of his property, and points out various conservation efforts, such as prescribed burns to manage invasive tree species. Photo by Houston Wilson

    Mackey, whose family has owned and operated the ranch since 1946, brought the OAI team to an area of their property that is managed with fire, demonstrating how their agroecological stewardship has improved the land and suppressed invasive species.

    “It was remarkable to see the difference ecological management such as prescribed burning and targeted grazing can make in promoting both healthy ecosystems and more productive organic agricultural systems,” said Krista Marshall, OAI policy and partnerships coordinator. “I feel incredibly grateful to have gotten the opportunity to learn from the innovative and thoughtful farmers and ranchers across Modoc County about how we can accomplish multiple goals in agroecosystems.”

    Another example of ecological and agricultural goals being met simultaneously can be found at Tule Lake, where rotations incorporate a wetland wildlife refuge and crop production. Rob Wilson noted that this “Walking Wetlands” program has benefited organic producers with good pest and disease control from the flooded years in the rotation.

    “The Walking Wetlands program is a great example of public and private land managers working together to meet land use objectives,” said Wilson, the UCCE farm advisor. “The program results in hundreds of acres of restored marshland habitat for migrating waterfowl each year, while providing organic potato and small grain growers with productive farmland largely devoid of soilborne pathogens and nematode pests.”

    Farm labor support, meat processing infrastructure investment needed in region

    All ranchers on the OAI tour commented on the lack of U.S. Department of Agriculture-accredited meat processors in the county. Ranchers explained that they must transport animals hundreds of miles to other counties or across state lines to access facilities.

    Jon and Kelsey Arreche of Cow Creek Meat, Inc. at Arreche Farms in Cedarville said that the year-long wait lists for processing complicates planning.

    Lambs and calves enjoy a snack at Cow Creek Meat, Inc. at Arreche Farms in Cedarville. Photo by Houston Wilson

    The Arreches manage 1,300 acres of pasture, alfalfa, wheat, barley and hay and raise 110 grass-fed and grass-fed/grain-finished beef cattle, as well as hogs, lamb and poultry. Cow Creek Meat was certified organic for 12 years and continues to farm organically despite not pursuing certification currently.

    Jon Arreche commented that prices for commodities like alfalfa are not stable but rather fluctuate between organic and non-organic markets, with some years offering a better premium than others. He said that they may pursue certification again in the future.

    “Greater investment in processing infrastructure and the need for organic market development are two concerns we heard consistently on the tour,” said Shriya Rangarajan, a postdoctoral researcher with OAI. “We have to ensure the long-term economic viability for these local ranchers.”

    The remoteness of Modoc County also has contributed to labor challenges for farmers and ranchers across the region. Some growers have pursued hosting farm apprenticeships or internships, through programs like World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) or through direct hire.

    Bidwell Canyon Farm has a farm internship program, which helps with labor on the farm and also contributes to mentoring and teaching the next generation of farmers. There was widespread interest in developing training programs, akin to Rogue Farm Corps in Oregon, to link beginning farmer apprentices with host mentor farmers.

    “Hands-on experience working on farms is the best way to inspire and train the next generation of farmers,” said Marshall. “Farmers in Modoc are already creating these types of apprenticeship programs on their farms, so network and capacity building to support these efforts would benefit the agricultural community.

    At Oz Garden, Kay Antunez de Mayolo (second from right) shows what’s growing to the OAI team of (from left) Lexie Wilson, Shriya Rangarajan and Laurie Wayne. Photo by Houston Wilson

    Markets often dictate whether organic certification is useful

    The number of certified organic farms and ranches in Modoc County declined from 34 in 2018 to 19 in 2022, according to CDFA statistics. The OAI visitors learned from growers in the region that markets often dictated if formal certification made business sense for their organically managed operations.

    Kay and Erik Antunez de Mayolo grow vegetables, herbs, berries and natural dye plants on a quarter-acre and heritage apples, peaches and other fruit trees on an additional three acres at Oz Garden in Eagleville. They manage their farm organically, but are not certified. Kay Antunez de Mayolo, who markets produce and value-added goods at the Surprise Valley Farmers Market in Cedarville and the Alturas Farmers Market, also contributes to the Modoc Harvest Food Hub.

    Most Modoc growers, certified or not, know their customers through direct sales and build trust around the integrity of their operations. Many farmers and ranchers ultimately don’t see the financial benefit of certification because of these direct relationships with their customers – especially given the certification cost and administrative effort required.

    While cost-share programs for organic certification fees exist (such as the USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program), applying for and maintaining certification status takes valuable time – in addition to direct financial outlay.

    Modoc growers contribute to conserving plant diversity

    The lively local food and farming community in Modoc County also includes smaller-scale vegetable and fruit farms; the State Organic Program reported 1,281 organic vegetable acres in Modoc in 2023. Modoc fruit and vegetable growers are conserving heritage crops on farm and preserving unique plant varieties while producing food for the community.

    Known for its stark natural beauty, Modoc County also supports a variety of agricultural activities through the efforts of innovative farmers and ranchers. Photo by Houston Wilson

    At Oz Garden, the apple trees are over 125 years old. Through the Modoc Harvest Heritage Fruit Tree Project, Kay Antunez de Mayolo and others work to identify these cultivars through research and DNA fingerprinting at the UC Davis Genetics Lab. Oz Garden grows diverse plant varieties, including the “Old Fashioned Surprise Valley Tomato,” a locally adapted beefsteak variety stewarded by Modoc resident June Perry.

    Bidwell Canyon Farm introduced the OAI team to honeyberries, also known as Haskap berries, which look like an elongated blueberry but have a distinct honeyed flavor and produce well in Modoc County.

    “That bit of honeyberry was symbolic of the entire tour – a small but memorable taste of the richness and diversity of Modoc County organic agriculture,” Marshall said. “We are so grateful to Laurie and all the farmers and ranchers for taking the time to share their experiences and feedback with us.” — By Lexie Wilson, UC Organic Agriculture Institute

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu.