California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Ag Workers Reduce Hours or Move Locations to Avoid Wildfire Smoke

    Millions of cell tower pings from dating, weather, messaging and other mobile apps that use location-sharing services are helping agricultural economists better understand how farmworkers respond to environmental hazards such as wildfire smoke.

    During California’s most destructive wildfire season in 2020, the number of farmworkers in a surveyed field fell by nearly 35% and the number of hours worked in that same location dropped by 37% on smoky days when elevated levels of particulate matter were in the air.

    On less smoky days, the number of workers in surveyed fields was nearly 18% below typical levels and the hours worked were 23% below normal, according to novel research from the University of California, Davis, to be published in the January edition of Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.

    “When this smoke is really heavy there’s a large reduction in the amount of people in a field in day,” said Tim Beatty, chair of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and the senior author on the research.

    The researchers also found that farmworkers tended to work more hours in the days leading up to smoke events and switched fields to avoid the worst conditions.

    “We could figure out very rich hourly information of where these farmworkers went and if they moved to another location,” said Goeun Lee, a postdoctoral scholar and lead author on the journal paper. “This is kind of the first application of this data to answer some important questions in agricultural economics.”

    A new resource

    The research represents a new way of gleaning information about one of California’s most elusive workforces – farmworkers who harvest crops that help feed the nation – that conventional sources cannot quantify.

    “The results are relevant for policy makers seeking to protect workers health, safety and well-being and to ensure the sustainability of one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world,” the authors wrote.

    Lee and Beatty used crop field boundaries to define agricultural crop locations, overlayed smoke plume and weather data to determine environmental conditions and accessed cell phone data from a company that collects location information from about 400 mobile applications.

    They identified time, place and movement data of cell phones at the field level from January to mid-October for 12,667 crop workers – representing 8% of the agricultural workforce in California – and a sample size 20 times that of the federal National Agricultural Worker Survey of 2020, which is a main but limited point-in-time resource for tracking this population.

    “We don’t do a good job of collecting data on these pretty marginalized groups who are very important, so it’s very hard for us to say anything about policies that affect them because they don’t turn up in the data,” Beatty said. “This mobility data is interesting and important to really answer questions about a group of people who are underrepresented in surveys.”

    Shocks on the horizon

    Major wildfires and other environmental shocks are projected to become more frequent and current protections may not be adequate to protect farmworkers and their financial health, the authors said.

    “Farmworkers primarily work outdoors and they’re exposed to many environmental shocks and factors that can affect their health and productivity negatively,” Lee said. “Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of wildfire smoke and California relies a lot on this labor force. They are essential for California agriculture.”

    Wildfire smoke can cause fatigue, dizziness, headaches, confusion and other symptoms that increase the risk of injury. The researchers defined high smoke days as those with 40 micrograms per cubic meter of particulate matter. California regulations require workers to wear protective gear like respirators, alter their schedule or work in an area with better air quality when particulate matter is 55.5 micrograms per cubic meter.

    The short harvest season coincides with more intense wildfire months, which means farmworkers could lose wages while avoiding smoke hazards. “We should worry about people’s health but also their ability to earn a living because that also impacts their health and wellbeing quite directly,” Beatty said.

    Future studies

    The research has some limitations related to who made decisions related to smoke.

    “It could be as simple as farmers have multiple fields and they just switch the field they’re harvesting that day. It could be they work for a farm labor contractor and they just basically change the client they are working for that day,” Beatty said. “That sets the table for a lot of future questions.”

    The methodology could be used to answer future labor, environmental and agricultural economics questions and the authors are using cell phone data to track farmworker movement and behavior during extreme heat events and after pesticide use.

    “This kind of new data set that we made can be a valuable resource to answer other questions about farmworkers,” Lee said.

    The research was funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. — By Emily C. Dooley, UC Davis

  • Sonoma Vintners Announce “Wine Is Us” Campaign Promoting Benefits of Wine

    Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) is excited to announce their new “Wine Is Us” multimedia campaign as part of their ongoing efforts to advocate for and promote Sonoma County wines to the world.

    The “Wine is Us” campaign is designed to increase awareness of the many comprehensive benefits of moderate wine consumption, as reported in reputable medical studies. It will also invite consumers to enjoy positive personal interactions that may result from sharing a glass of wine with friends and family, emphasizing the more positive social, mental and physical health impacts.

    SCV’s new campaign will begin over the 2024 holiday season and expand throughout 2025 on various media platforms including radio, social media, digital display, and more.  A dedicated web page will be created that will feature news articles and studies highlighting wine’s social engagement benefits.

    “Our ‘Wine Is Us’ campaign is designed to provide a positive and informed  narrative that highlights the cultural, social and well-being impacts of wine,”  stated Michael Haney, Executive Director of Sonoma County Vintners.

    To learn more about Sonoma County wine and stay updated on the rollout of the “Wine Is Us” campaign, visit sonomawine.com or follow @sonomacountyvintners.

    About Sonoma County Vintners
    Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) connects Sonoma County wine and the global marketplace for the sustainable growth and prosperity of our members and community. SCV represents over 250 wineries throughout the county. The organization actively promotes Sonoma County and its world-class wineries through educational programming and marketing initiatives; advocates for its members at local, state and federal levels; and contributes to the local communities through Sonoma County Vintners Foundation. Sonoma County Wine Celebration, its annual fundraiser, benefits non-profit organizations throughout the region. To learn more about Sonoma County Vintners, visit SonomaWine.com.

  • Can Whole Orchard Recycling Suppress Weed Establishment in New Orchards?

    Recent research has shown many potential benefits of utilizing whole orchard recycling (WOR) when removing an orchard. Instead of burning the wood produced in orchard removal, WOR involves chipping the wood from pulled trees and redistributing it back into the field using a chip or amendment spreader. This management technique has been mostly used in walnut orchards being followed by new walnut orchards. The conservation of the carbon in the wood benefits the soil by increasing nutrients available for the next crop, improving the soil’s water holding capacity and and enhancing microbial activity. After a recent evaluation of weed populations in a WOR trial in Yuba County, it appears that weed suppression in the first few years after orchard establishment at a WOR site may be yet another benefit to this practice.

    A WOR trial in Yuba County, led by UCCE Yuba-Sutter Farm Advisor Clarissa Reyes, was initiated by removing and chipping a mature walnut orchard at removal in late fall of 2023. The chips were spread at 60 tons/acre in winter 2023 in a grid design to allow comparison of orchard performance between areas with chips and areas without chips (control). RX1 rootstock trees were planted in April of 2024 and budded to Wolfskill walnuts in September 2024. In the first three months after orchard establishment, weed suppression was observed in the plots that had been covered in wood chips. Weed populations were surveyed in each plot in the orchard in August 2024.

    A representative three foot by twenty foot strip within the rows between two trees was evaluated for each plot within the trial. The percent of soil covered by weeds was estimated, and the dominant weed species were recorded. The plots treated with wood chips averaged 14% weed cover, while the control plots with no wood chips averaged 58% weed cover. This difference was significant and very visually apparent.

    In addition to difference in coverage of weeds, different species were observed in the chipped versus control plots. Almost all plots, regardless of treatment, had common knotweed (Polygonum arenastrum) and littleseed canarygrass (Phalaris minor). Control plots also had established populations of crabgrasses (Digitaria spp.), hairy fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) and fringed willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum). It is interesting that hairy fleabane, a particularly difficult weed to manage with known herbicide resistance, was suppressed in plots with chips. The possible mechanism of suppression for this particular weed could be physical, in that the seeds cannot germinate or seedlings are unable to break through the thick layer of mulched wood chips. Hairy fleabane has also been shown to be susceptible to allelopathy from juglone, produced by walnuts. There is no specific evidence indicating that the juglone in the soil from the wood chips is the control mechanism, but it may be worth evaluating in future trials.

    We expect that over time, the weed suppression will decrease and eventually there will be no difference between the chipped plots and the controls. However, reduced weed pressure in the critical first few years after orchard establishment may prove to be a valuable benefit to WOR. Annual weed surveys will continue in coming years of the Yuba County WOR trial. — By Becky Wheeler-Dykes, UCCE Glenn Orchard Systems & Weed Ecology Farm Advisor

  • Almond Alliance Responds to Proposed Endangered Species Protection for Monarch Butterfly

    Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). According to the proposed listing rule, its purpose is to reverse the population decline of this pollinator species.

    While we have concerns about the potential impacts of this listing on growers and their operations, we are committed to working with the USFWS to develop solutions that protect the monarch while supporting our growers.

    As a leader in pollinator conservation, almond growers have made significant contributions, including:

    • Leading the nation in Bee Friendly Farming certification, ensuring sustainable and supportive environments for pollinators. In fact, 86% of all U.S. bee-friendly certified farms are almond farms.

    • Providing more than 35,000 acres of permanent pollinator habitat managed by family-owned farms.

    • Additionally, 20% of California almond orchards plant blooming cover crops between tree rows to provide more than 130,000 acres of seasonal pollinator nectar resources.

    California’s working lands will be essential to the monarch butterfly’s recovery. Almond growers have shown that proactive pollinator conservation and sustainable farming can coexist. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with USFWS to accelerate the monarch’s recovery while continuing to provide benefits to ecosystems, farming communities, and sustainable food production.

    Almond Alliance is the leading authority in state and national policy, championing American almond farmers, industry, and community for the continued global growth, innovation, and success of American almonds and agriculture.

    Established in 1980, the Almond Alliance is a non-profit trade association with a local and international network of almond processors, hullers/shellers, growers, and allied businesses. The Alliance is dedicated to providing resources and solutions for our members, ensuring industry success and growth opportunities. Learn more at almondalliance.org.

  • New Marketing Assistance Now Available for Specialty Crop Producers

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, aimed at helping specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs, is now accepting applications from Dec. 10, 2024 through Jan. 8, 2025. Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, MASC was announced in November alongside the $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program for facilities impacted by 2024 natural disasters.

    “Specialty crop growers have typically faced higher marketing and handling costs relative to non-specialty crop producers due to the perishability of fruits, (nuts), vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Through this marketing assistance program, we can expand U.S. specialty crop consumption and markets by providing specialty crop producers the financial support needed to help them engage in activities that broaden and enhance strategies and opportunities for marketing their commodities.”

    MASC helps specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to:

    • Perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursey crops and herbs;
    • Specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control;
    • Packaging to prevent damage;
    • Moving perishables to market quickly; and
    • Higher labor costs.

    MASC Eligibility

    To be eligible for MASC, a producer must be in business at the time of application, maintain an ownership share and share in the risk of producing a specialty crop that will be sold in calendar year 2025.

    MASC covers the following commercially marketed specialty crops:

    • Fruits (fresh, dried);
    • Vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed);
    • Tree nuts;
    • Nursery crops, Christmas trees, and floriculture;
    • Culinary and medicinal herbs and spices; and
    • Honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass and grass seed.

    Applying for MASC

    Eligible established specialty crop producers can apply for MASC benefits by completing the FSA-1140, Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program Application, and submitting the form to any FSA county office by Jan. 8, 2025. When applying, eligible specialty crop producers must certify their specialty crop sales for calendar year 2023 or 2024.

    New specialty crop producers are required to certify 2025 expected sales, submit an FSA-1141 application and provide certain documentation to support reported sales i.e., receipts, contracts, acreage reports, input receipts, etc. New producers are those who began producing specialty crops in 2023 or 2024 but did not have sales due to the immaturity of the crop, began producing specialty crops in 2024 but did not have a complete year of sales or will begin growing specialty crops in 2025.

    MASC applicants, established and new, must also submit the following information to FSA if not already on file at the time of application:

    • Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
    • Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
    • Form CCC-941, Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information.  
    • Form FSA-942, Certification of Income from Farming, Ranching and Forestry Operations, if applicable, for the producer and members of entities.
    • A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC) and wetland conservation certification (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification) for the ERP producer and applicable affiliates.
    • Other Documentation if requested by FSA to support reported specialty crop sales.

    Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms or producers who may be new to conducting business with FSA, can contact their local FSA county office.

    For MASC program participation, eligible specialty crop sales only include sales of commercially marketed raw specialty crops grown in the United States by the producer. The portion of sales derived from adding value to a specialty crop (such as sorting, processing, or packaging) is not included when determining eligible sales. Further explanation of what is considered by FSA for specialty crop sales as well as an online MASC decision tool and applicable program forms, are available on the MASC program webpage.

    MASC Payments

    For established specialty crop growers, those who certify crop sales in 2023 or 2024, FSA will calculate MASC payments based on the producer’s total specialty crop sales for the calendar year elected by the producer. Payments for new producers will be based on their expected 2025 calendar year sales. Payment calculation details and examples are available on the MASC webpage or related questions can be directed to local FSA county office staff.

    FSA will issue MASC payments after the end of the application period. If demand for MASC payments exceeds available funding, MASC payments may be prorated, and the payment limitation of $125,000 may be lowered.  If additional funding is available after MASC payments are issued, FSA may issue an additional payment.

    Specialty crop producers interested in applying for MASC benefits, are encouraged to review the program fact sheet for detailed information on program eligibility, required documentation, payment calculations and more.

    More Information

    Additional information on MASC is available in the Notice of Funding Availability, which went on public inspection in the Federal Register on Dec. 9, 2024.

    FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.

  • Newly Established Century Club Honors 22 Sonoma County Legacy Farm Families

    The image of vibrant farms and rugged ranches set among Sonoma County’s beautiful landscapes has long been sought after by tourists, painters and photographers. The sheer beauty has always stood out, but, given that the area’s first vineyards date back to 1812, it is the region’s agrarian roots and family legacy that makes Sonoma County unique.

    Today, twenty-two local families, all winegrape growers, were recognized as the original members of the “Century Club” in honor of their continuously farming their family’s original land for more than one hundred years. Sonoma County Winegrowers created the Century Club to mark the unique legacies of farm families in the region and it will recognize new families with the honor as they hit the one-hundred-year mark in the years ahead. Each of these farms – and the families behind them – have endured the ups and downs of the cyclical nature of today’s agriculture to survive and thrive.

    “To have so many families still working the very land where their grandparents, great grandparents and great, great grandparents settled and began farming over a hundred years ago is truly the definition of sustainability and the DNA in our wine region,” said Karissa Kruse, President and CEO, of Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We are very excited to launch this program because we are fortunate to live in an area where so many multi-generational farm families continue to farm the very ground that their ancestors farmed and ranched more than a century ago.”

    All of the families being honored share one common theme – brave ancestors who left their homeland to seek the American dream by working the land. Some examples include the Mauritson family who have been growing grapes in the Dry Creek Valley since 1868. The Munselle family arrived in the Alexander Valley with a vision of producing fine wines nearly 150 years ago. The Bisordi family began farming hops, prunes and more in 1898.  The Dutton family has been working the land since the 1880s and today the fourth, fifth and sixth generations are still farming. The Martinelli family first planted grapes and began making wine in the area in the 1880s.

    Each of the families honored today received commemorative pins, special recognition signs to place on their property and a Congressional certificate from Representative Mike Thompson. Looking ahead, the Century Club members will be invited to attend the annual recognition lunch, as well as participate in exclusive members-only events.

    The member families of the inaugural 2024 class of the Sonoma County Century Club and the year their ancestors began farming in Sonoma County are:

    • Azevedo Family – Azevedo A-Bar Ranch, began farming in 1904
    • Bacigalupi & Gaddini Family – Bacigalupi Vineyards, began farming in 1883
    • Bastoni Family – Bastoni Vineyards, began farming in 1905
    • Bisordi Family – Bisordi Ranch & Vineyards, began farming in 1898
    • Bundschu Family – Bundschu Company, began farming in 1858
    • Denner Family – Denner Ranches, Inc., began farming in 1890
    • Dutton Family – Dutton Ranch, began farming in 1880
    • Giusti Family – Giusti Ranch & Vineyards, began farming in 1875
    • Kunde Family – Wildwood Vineyards Arthur Kunde & Sons, Inc., began farming in 1904
    • Leras Family – Leras Family Vineyards, began farming in 1918
    • Martinelli Family – Martinelli Winery & Martinelli Vineyard Management, began farming in 1860
    • Mauritson Family – Mauritson Farms, began farming in 1868
    • Munselle Family – Munselle Vineyards, began farming in 1876
    • Puccioni Family – Puccioni Ranch & Vineyards, began farming in 1904
    • Rafanelli Family – Rafanelli Winery, began farming in early 1900s
    • Saini Family – Saini Farms, Inc., began farming in 1917
    • Sanchietti Family – Sanchietti Ranch & Sanchietti Farming, began farming in 1919
    • Sebastiani Family – Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, began farming in 1904
    • Seghesio Family – Seghesio Family Vineyards, began farming in 1895
    • Serres Family – Serres Ranch, began farming in 1924
    • Schmidt Family – Tzabaco Rancho Vineyards, began farming in 1856
    • Young Family – Robert Young Estate Vineyards, began farming in 1858

    To learn more about the founding families of the Century Club, click here!

    About Sonoma County Winegrowers:

    Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grape growers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world. In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023. SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA). Learn more at www.sonomawinegrape.org.

  • Center for Land-Based Learning Launches Program to Upskill Farm Employees

    As California agriculture seeks to adapt to changing markets and increased government regulations, farmers and ranchers are working hard to boost productivity and ensure that their workforce has the skills needed to be as productive as possible.

    To help make that goal a reality, the Center for Land-Based Learning is launching a new program called AgHiRE, crafted specifically for the Spanish-speaking agricultural workforce and dedicated to empowering top-performing workers.

    “Employers are getting pressure from all sides to become more efficient and nimble. They need workers to be as skilled and efficient as possible,” said Marisa Alcorta, the Center’s apprenticeship program director. “The program, the newest component of our California Farm Academy, is designed to equip employees with critical language skills, digital literacy and leadership training that will enable them to advance into roles with more responsibility within their organizations.”

    She said the program is designed to give experienced farmworkers the skills to make them more valuable to the employer.

    “A lot of employers have said they have employees who don’t speak English who they would like to move up. We needed to create a program accessible for Spanish-speaking workers. There are a lot of amazing talents working in the industry who know their job but can’t advance because of those gaps,” she said.

    Alcorta noted that the curriculum was developed during more than four months of meetings with an Advisory Committee consisting of agricultural employers, educators and regulatory consultants.

    “It was important to make sure industry was driving the design of this program so that it was meeting the needs of growers and their employees,” she said. Other partners included Valley Vision and YoloWorks!, the Yolo County Career Services Center.

    Jacob DeBoer, Regional Marketing Manager, with American AgCredit, said Farm Credit continues to strongly support the Center because of its innovative and successful programs to inspire, educate and cultivate future generations of farmers and agricultural leaders.

    “For 30 years, the Center has provided programs for students, beginning farmers and aspiring farm managers,” DeBoer said. “The new AgHiRE program builds on a successful two-year farm management apprenticeship program with the goal of providing more skills and opportunities for farmworkers, benefitting workers and employers alike. Programs like these are invaluable assets to California agriculture, and Farm Credit is proud to continue supporting the Center’s work.”

    Kevin Ralph, California State President for AgWest Farm Credit, noted that Farm Credit’s support extends to the Center’s ambitious campaign to raise $10 million in public funds and private donations to allow it to further expand its efforts.

    “The Center’s vision is to expand its workforce training options, launch a new bilingual farmworker upskilling program in partnership with major statewide ag groups and expand the beginning farmer and rancher apprenticeship program statewide,” Ralph said. “Farm Credit has generously supported the campaign and encourages others in the ag community to do the same.”

    Farm Credit organizations supporting the Center’s programs are AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit. These organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

    Alcorta added that sponsorships such as Farm Credit’s are essential to the Center’s success.

    “Investment by Farm Credit has really helped kick-start many of our programs and keep them going,” she said. “We couldn’t do what we do without their support, and we hope we can lean on their support in the future as we work to make programs even more relevant to employers.”

    She said the first AgHiRE cohort began the program in early December and will finish in mid-March. It consists of three-hour in-person classes on Wednesdays and Fridays, with a monthly five-hour Saturday session focused on leadership and communication, totaling 87 hours of instruction.

    In addition, the 25 participants are learning critical language skills and digital literacy that will enable them to advance into roles with more responsibility within their organizations. The center plans to offer another course next winter, and to add an advanced course as well for farmworkers who already have most of the basic skills.

    Alcorta said the center is really excited about launching the program because it serves an important need.

    “Our goal is to help farmworkers advance their careers. They deserve a pathway for professional development. And as the labor force dwindles because the industry is having to shift to mechanized labor to survive, more and more farmworkers are going to need to be trained on these soft skills and technology,” she said.

    “That’s why the digital literacy piece is so critical, and I can see it expanding a lot for the advanced class.”

    About Farm Credit: 

    AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. For more information, visit www.farmcreditalliance.com

    About the Center for Land-Based Learning:
    For 30 years, the Center for Land-Based Learning has been dedicated to inspiring and training the next generation of farmers, agricultural leaders, and natural resource stewards. By focusing on sustainable practices and community engagement, CLBL aims to build equitable and resilient food systems that benefit both people and the environment. For more information, visit www.landbasedlearning.org

  • USDA Announces Availability of $1.13 Billion for Local Food Programs

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a $1.13 billion investment to support local and regional food systems, building upon the Department’s previous investments in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs.

    This round of funding, announced on Oct. 1, will allow states, territories, and federally recognized Tribes to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods for distribution within their communities to emergency food providers, schools, and child care centers. Those interested in applying for this round of LFS, which now includes funding for child care centers, can visit the LFS website. Those wishing to participate in this round of LFPA can visit the LFPA website. Producers wishing to receive information about becoming a vendor for LFPA or for LFS should contact their respective state, territory, or Tribal purchasing authorities.

    “These programs expand on the prior achievements of USDA’s LFPA and LFS programs and carry them into 2025, assuring local farmers, families, and communities that they will continue to get the help they need,” said USDA Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The programs reaffirm our commitment to bolstering local economies, ensuring food security, and fostering resilient agricultural communities nationwide.”

    “USDA believes that a healthier future for our country starts with our children,” said Cindy Long, USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. “We are excited to build on these successful collaborations that connect schools and emergency food organizations with nutritious food from local farmers and producers by expanding the model to child care facilities for the first time. Families can feel good knowing their kids are eating food that was grown right in their own community.”

    USDA will allocate up to $471.5 million for states and territories to purchase local, unprocessed, or minimally processed domestic foods for use by schools participating in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs, and up to $188.6 million for use in child care facilities participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Additionally, USDA will allocate up to $471.5 million for states, territories, and Tribal governments to use in local feeding programs, including food banks, schools and other organizations that reach underserved communities.

    Conceived in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LFPA, LFPA Plus, and LFS programs have invested over $1 billion into local food purchases to date. Through the LFPA programs, USDA has provided $900 million in funding to 50 states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and 84 Tribal governments, sourcing foods from over 8,000 local producers, with more than 5,000 identified as underserved. This wholesome food has gone to 7,900 food banks, food pantries, and communities across America. Additionally, LFS has awarded up to $200 million for states and territories to purchase domestic, local foods for use in their National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. These collaborations between the states, school systems, and local producers have established many new supply-chain partnerships, and enabled states to re-envision the school meal and what it can do for both students and local, small, and underserved farmers. Together, the LFPA and LFS programs have strengthened food systems, expanded local and regional markets, and are helping to build a fair, competitive, and resilient food supply chain.

    Today’s notice of funding will continue this vital work and provide an additional $1.13 billion to support local agriculture, schools, and feeding programs.

  • Recycling Human & Animal Excreta Could Help Meet Nutrient Supply for Global Crops

    It might not be a pleasant image, but recycling all the human and livestock feces and urine on the planet would contribute substantially to meeting the nutrient supply for all crops worldwide, thereby reducing the need to mine fertilizers such as phosphorus and dramatically reducing the dependency on fossil fuels, according to a global analysis of nutrient recycling published Nov. 26 in Nature Sustainability.

    “We have to find ways to recycle the nutrients that are now poorly utilized, and our data shows that there is a lot of it: Many countries could become self-sufficient at current fertilizer use if they would recycle excreta to agriculture,” said Johannes Lehmann, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), and the study’s senior author.

    The lead author is doctoral student Mariana Devault, and Dominic Woolf, a senior research associate in the School of Integrative Plant Science Soil and Crop Sciences Section (CALS) is a co-author.

    The researchers analyzed a large array of datasets retrieved from various databases, including the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization’s FAOSTAT and the International Fertilizer Association’s STAT, as well as satellite-based maps, to identify the locations of crops and livestock, and learn which fertilizers, and how much of them, are being used in as many as 146 countries.

    “A major aspect of our study is estimating these nutrient flows at the subnational scale in every country prior to making conclusions at the national and global scales,” Devault said. “Knowing that the cost of transportation is a barrier for an agronomically sound use of livestock excreta in many areas, we wanted to estimate how much of these nutrients has been poorly used simply to reduce operational costs at the farms. Then, we can imagine alternative ways to better manage the use of livestock excreta locally, which can help improve nutrient circularity nationally and worldwide.”

    After calculating the locations and quantities of nutrients accruing in excreta from humans and livestock, the team modeled how much of this waste, if recycled, would be needed to satisfy crop and grassland production systems worldwide.

    The analysis showed that the global amounts found in human and poorly utilized livestock excreta represent 13% of crop and grassland needs for major nutrients. National recycling of those nutrients could reduce global net imports of mineral fertilizers by 41% for nitrogen, 3% for phosphorus and 36% for potassium.

    The use of recycled excreta, Lehmann said, would have additional benefits, such as diverting waste nutrient runoff from entering local water sources, where it becomes a pollutant – for example, the harmful algal blooms found in the Finger Lakes. Nutrient recycling could also help establish a circular economy between food consumption and agriculture.

    “It doesn’t make any sense to pollute our environment, especially our waters and soils, and then have not enough fertilizer for agriculture,” Lehmann said. “We need to close the loop from poorly utilized nutrients, wherever they come from, and in this paper, we show that taking only two of these feedstock types, animal excreta and human excreta, we could theoretically satisfy all our fertilizer use at present.”

    Lehmann sees the urgency of meeting global fertilizer needs as a geopolitical issue comparable to that of oil, with the vast majority of phosphorus, a nonrenewable resource, mined in very few countries. Nitrogen, similarly, is expensive and requires a great deal of energy to commercially produce, creating a large greenhouse-gas footprint.

    “The basic fact is that any nutrient that we remove in agriculture, and we obviously remove a lot, we have to replenish,” he said. “There’s no free lunch.”

    Without the aid of recycling, eventual nutrient scarcities will only drive up the price of fertilizer and eventually food, risking increased migrations and political unrest, Lehmann said.

    While there may be public perception issues related to using fertilizer derived from human urine and feces, establishing a circular economy between food consumption and agriculture will be critical as the global food system will need to accommodate close to 10 billion people by 2050.

    “There are many countries in the world that flush down more nitrogen in the toilet than they import or add as agricultural fertilizer on their lands, and I think that’s a crime,” Lehmann said. — David Nutt, Cornell University

  • Organic Trade Association Advocates for Organic in End-of-Year Legislative Funding

    The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has been meeting with congressional offices in Washington, D.C., to advocate for funding for organic in a Farm Bill extension and a Continuing Resolution to fund governmental operations or full FY25 appropriations. While Congress is currently considering allocating billions in additional funding for conventional operations in core commodities, organic remains underfunded relative to our economic impact.

    OTA has requested funding for three “orphan” programs as well as the continuation of Organic Market Development Grants:

    Organic Data Initiative (ODI) 

    The USDA has made progress in aggregating accurate, segregated organic data via ODI and needs stable, secure funding to continue improving. This data is essential for understanding market trends and addressing challenges faced by organic operations. USDA’s reliance on conventional agriculture data has hindered effective responses, particularly in sectors like providing relief for organic dairy producers. Mandatory funding of $1 million for 2025 is critical to support this initiative.

    Organic Certification Trade and Tracking Program (OCTT) 

    The Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule, implemented to prevent fraudulent imports and protect consumer trust, requires continued and stable funding. Mandatory funding of $1 million in 2025 will enable the USDA to uphold organic standards and safeguard domestic farmers from market disruptions caused by fraud.

    Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) 

    The OCCSP helps organic operations offset annual certification costs, supporting farmers and handlers in meeting USDA organic standards. With rising inflation and increased demand, the program’s current $8 million funding falls short. We estimate $11 million is needed in 2025 to maintain reimbursement rates and avoid disruptions that could force farmers out of certification or increase reliance on imported organic products.

    Organic Market Development (OMD) 

    In 2023, USDA announced the Organic Market Development Grant Program to support the development of critical processing infrastructure to support farmers bringing new organic products to market. This program was a success, garnering hundreds of applications and requests totaling $218 million for only $75 million in available funding. The organic industry needs market expansion and increased domestic processing to meet growing consumer demand, generate greater farm-to-retail efficiencies, and encourage the adoption of regenerative practices inherent in organic agriculture. This program provides opportunities for the U.S. to reduce its reliance on imported organic products and generate value for our farmers and business operations. As such, it should be a key priority for this administration.

    To ensure the continued success of the organic sector and strengthen our agricultural economy, it is critical that we prioritize and fund these vital programs. By investing in the future of organic agriculture, we can reduce dependence on imports, support American farmers, and meet the growing demand for organic products. Stay tuned to OTA communications for the latest updates on advocacy efforts and funding developments.

    By: Matthew Dillon, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Organic Trade Association 

    About the Organic Trade Association

    The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing more than 9,500 organic businesses across 50 states through direct membership and 500 producers through our Farmers Advisory Council. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA’s Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.