Category: News

Sacramento, Calif., (December 27, 2017) – The annual California State Employees Food Drive, chaired by CDFA, is showing strong momentum as it aims for a goal of 800,000 pounds of food for needy Californians. CDFA employees are demonstrating the Department’s commitment this season through a series of events.

Each year CDFA joins other agencies in placing barrels in common office spaces for donations, and each year the agency hosts “Coffee with the Secretary” to help fill those barrels. This year’s event, bringing CDFA employees together with Secretary Ross in a casual holiday atmosphere, resulted in generous donations of food and cash.

Prior to Thanksgiving CDFA employees donated over 1,100 pounds of turkey to support the annual Turkey Drive. Turkeys were distributed by the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services and helped provide Thanksgiving dinner for many in the region.

CDFA employees also supported the Food Drive by participating in the annual Run to Feed the Hungry, organized by the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. Registration fees alone raised over $500 and provided a great opportunity to get out and enjoy some exercise and fresh air before Thanksgiving celebrations.

The Food Drive kicked off on September 29 with a Certified Farmers’ Market produce donation event in downtown Sacramento. A short time later CDFA organized a benefit golf tournament that raised enough money for 8,000 pounds of food, the equivalent of 6,667 meals. The golf tournament provided an opportunity for some of CDFA’s stakeholders to participate in the Food Drive through sponsorships, including the California Strawberry Commission, the Olive Oil Commission of California, California Cherries, California Pears, and California Grain and Feed Association.  We appreciate their generosity.

The need for food in California is substantial. According to the California Association of Food Banks, 5.4 million Californians contend with food insecurity, which is defined as the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs for a healthy, active life. More than two-million of those people are children. That need is what motivates California state employees to commit to this effort each and every year.

Davis, Calif., (December 26, 2017) – Unconventional spaces could be put to use generating renewable energy while sparing lands that could be better used to grow food, sequester carbon and protect wildlife and watersheds, says a study led by the University of California, Davis.

These land-sparing spaces include: 1) built environments, such as rooftops 2) salt-affected land 3) contaminated land, and 4) water reservoirs with floating solar arrays, or “floatovoltaics.”

The study, published today in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, notes that unique technical, economic and institutional barriers exist for each land type. But with more incentives that encourage renewable energy development on these lands, they could more than meet state energy demands.

Could exceed energy demand

The study focuses on the Central Valley, a globally significant agricultural region encompassing about 15 percent of California. The research found that using these land-sparing site types in the Central Valley alone could exceed the state’s projected 2025 electricity demands up to 13 times for photovoltaics and up to two times for concentrated solar power.

“In the era of looming land scarcity, we need to look at underused spaces,” said corresponding author Rebecca R. Hernandez, an assistant professor in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources at UC Davis. “This paper provides a menu of sorts for farmers, agricultural stakeholders and energy developers to think about energy projects on spaces that don’t require us to lose prime agricultural and natural lands, which are becoming increasingly limited.”

Reducing environmental trade-offs

The study underscores the potential of siting renewable energy projects while largely avoiding the environmental trade-offs that often accompany energy sprawl and climate change mitigation.

The study’s additional authors include lead author Madison Hoffacker of UC Davis and also affiliated with UC Berkeley and UC Riverside, and Michael Allen of UC Riverside.

The study was funded by Center for Conservation Biology at UC Riverside; Schneider Climate and Energy Fellowship, through Stanford University and Audubon California; Agricultural Experiment Station Hatch Project; California Energy Commission; and UC Davis.

Visalia, Calif., (December 22, 2017) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of Major crops in the most valued county in the California Ag portfolio. They report that All cotton fields should have been shredded and disked to comply with Cotton Plow down Regulations prior to December 20^th. Inspections to insure compliance began on the20th. Seed is being shipped in and planted to winter forage crops such as wheat, barley, and other cereal grains and forage mixes. Irrigation has been necessary to maintain growth. This week’s rain will be a welcome relief, but more is needed. Black-eyed beans are being exported to Malaysia.

Table grape harvest has been completed, with shipments of stored table grapes being exported to China, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Panama, the Philippines, Trinidad & Tobago, and Vietnam. Pistachio nuts are being exported to China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Almonds are being shipped to Belgium, Colombia, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. Pruning continues in vineyards, stone fruit and nut orchards. Some older, poorly producing orchards and vineyards are being removed and prepared for replanting.

The navel orange harvest is gaining more steam, with exports headed to Australia, Chile, China, El Salvador, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Peru, and Singapore. The navel variety Cara Cara has shown increased demand in the Pacific Rim countries, with exports currently destined for China. Pomelos are being harvested and sold domestically, as well as exported to Australia, China and New Zealand. Melogold hybrid grapefruit are being exported to Japan and Korea. Lemons are being exported to Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand. Finger limes are being exported to France and Switzerland. Due to cold overnight temperatures late in the week frost protection has become a priority.

Fields are being prepared and planted with winter vegetable crops. Strawberries are growing at roadside stands.

The lack of rainfall has left rangeland forage conditions in poor condition. More rain is needed to help with germination and growth of rangeland forage. Some supplemental feeding has been required. The fed cattle market price is holding at $120.00 per hundredweight this week.

Bare-root roses are being received and processed for reshipment out-of-state, mostly to Texas. Sales of Christmas Trees and other decorative plants continue for the holiday season. Otherwise nursery shipments have slowed.

Davis, Calif., (December 22, 2017) – To enhance funding for food and agriculture businesses in the Central Valley, more than 60 people involved in small business finance gathered at the AgPlus Funders Forum Dec. 12 to contribute ideas.

Representatives from financial institutions, economic development organizations, universities, government agencies and innovative funders like community development financial institutions (CDFI) attended. Participants shared innovative financing tools for business and discussed obstacles for people in rural communities to access capital at the forum at the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources building in Davis.

Two primary challenges faced by people trying to start a new business are figuring out how to get started – such as their supply chain – and gaining access to capital to finance their endeavor, according to keynote speaker Glenda Humiston, University of California vice president for agriculture and natural resources.

“There are actually an array of sources of capital beyond just the traditional bank loan, the problem is people don’t know about them or how to access them,” Humiston said. She added that much more capital could be available to Central Valley businesses if residents would invest locally. “If you had brought home just one percent of the retirement accounts held by people in the AgPLUS region back in 2010, you would have had over $1 billion to invest in this region,” she said.

Marc Nemanic of 3CORE, Carrie Ellinwood of U.S. Small Business Administration, Ismael Herrero of Fresno State’s Office of Community and Economic Development, and Catherine Howard of Northern California Community Loan Fund discussed some of the challenges for financing new businesses and alternatives to traditional bank loans.

Nemanic noted that many millennials are carrying student loan debt, which may make them averse to taking on more debt or prevent them from qualifying for business loans.

Howard said her organization is creating a tool to help people satisfy collateral requirements for credit.

To build their businesses, entrepreneurs often need technical assistance so Herrera’s office pairs young companies with experienced mentors and other services. Herrera said he is working to create public and private partnerships in rural communities, such as commercial kitchens for people to turn farm produce into value-added products to sell at farmers markets.

Panelists pointed out that jobs in the gig economy, such as driving for Uber or Lyft, don’t provide the stable income that tradition lenders seek in borrowers so they need to create a flexible product.

In the afternoon, participants split into four groups to focus on identifying opportunities for supporting economic development, supporting small business and microenterprises, effective intermediaries to connect investors with entrepreneurs, and regional finance funds. Each topic was discussed by a diverse group of people as peers and experts, bringing their own expertise to the table.

To address the interplay between higher education, student debt and the structural changes in the nation’s economy, Meg Arnold, who moderated the session, said she could foresee policy implications.

“Student debt is not forgivable,” said Arnold, managing director of Valley Vision. “At the same time we are making a four-year university degree both more necessary and less affordable, the economy is also changing, to the point that some graduates may need to think of self-employment or gig economy employment.”

The discussions identified many other challenges for the food and agriculture sectors in rural parts of the state that need to be overcome to access capital.

“We need everybody who participated today to share those examples of where something kind of unique or innovative is really working,” said Humiston.

Ideas generated during the forum will be used to inform the work of the Central Valley AgPLUS Food and Beverage Manufacturing Consortium, which hosted the AgPlus Funders Forum. The information will also be used by Humiston to update the 2012 Access to Capital Report by California Financial Opportunities Roundtable (CalFOR). The report highlights financial needs for businesses in California, reviews financial tools and capital sources and provides policy recommendations. Humiston will also convey the outcomes to the California Economic Summit.

The AgPlus Funders Forum was sponsored by Chase Bank, Valley Vision, the Center for Economic Development, First Northern Bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Employment Training Panel, Blue Tech Valley, Fresno State Community and Economic Development and UC ANR.

There are many funding sources that people aren’t aware of, says Glenda Humiston

Sacramento, Calif., (December 21, 2017) – CDFA Animal Health branch chief Dr. Kent Fowler was honored this year by the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) with its National Assembly Award, presented annually in recognition of outstanding, dedicated service and leadership in regulatory veterinary medicine.

Dr. Fowler was recognized for his work in preparation for potential future outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease; for his support and acceptance of an official treatment for Piroplasmosis in horses, including efforts to establish a communications infrastructure for equine diseases; and for working closely with public health and animal health officials on bovine tuberculosis issues.

“Dr. Fowler’s many years of distinguished service in California uniquely qualify him for this award,” said California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones. “Besides advocating nationally for new, practical regulatory approaches to disease control, Dr. Fowler’s experience in private practice solidified his understanding of the realities of animal production and the importance of practical solutions to challenging problems.”

Before joining CDFA in 2004, Dr. Fowler practiced large-animal veterinary medicine on the central coast of California for nearly 30 years. He attended UC Davis, receiving both his B.S and Doctorate degrees there.

The USAHA works with state and federal governments, universities, veterinarians, livestock producers, national livestock and poultry organizations, research scientists, the extension service and several foreign countries to control livestock diseases in the United States. USAHA represents all 50 states, 4 foreign countries and 34 allied groups serving health, technical and consumer markets.