California Ag Network

Category: News

  • Fresh Citrus at Risk From Devastating Disease

    Davis, Calif., (December 15, 2017) – For the first time in 70 years, California has surpassed Florida in citrus production. Florida groves have been decimated by a disease called huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, that threatens citrus production in California, too.

    Over time, fruit of HLB-infected trees begins to turn green and develop a bitter, metallic taste. (Elizabeth Chin / UC Davis)

    “HLB is not just bad for farmers and the economy,” said Professor Carolyn Slupsky, a biochemist and nutritionist with the University of California, Davis. “The loss of fresh oranges and other citrus is a real possibility and that would seriously impact our health.”

    Slupsky and other UC Davis experts are working with farmers and fellow scientists to develop early detection methods, boost tree immunity and find a cure for the devastating disease.

    California farmers sold nearly 4 million tons of citrus in the 2016–17 marketing season, compared to 3.5 million tons from Florida, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Florida produced twice as much citrus as California as recently as the 2011–12 season.

    Florida didn’t lose its top spot because the Golden State is producing more citrus. In fact, California farmers produced 14 percent fewer fresh oranges this season.

    A silent killer – Citrus greening disease is caused by a bacterium that is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny insect that feeds on the leaves and stems of citrus trees. A tree infected with HLB can live for years without symptoms, allowing the pathogen to spread undetected to other trees. Symptoms emerge over time as a tree’s fruit starts to turn green and misshapen with a bitter, metallic taste.

    HLB is a global threat. Beyond Florida, the disease has destroyed groves in Asia, Brazil and the Dominican Republic. The disease has been spotted in about 250 backyard trees in Southern California, but so far California’s commercial orchards have been spared. Researchers are hard at work to keep it that way.

    An international team of scientists led by UC Davis chemical ecology expert Walter Leal recently identified the molecule that attracts the Asian citrus psyllid, which may help researchers develop a less toxic way to trap the insect to slow the disease’s spread.

    Slupsky is taking a different tack. She and her team are using nuclear magnetic resonance technology to study how the pathogen affects the metabolism of the tree. Her research shines a light on HLB’s mode of attack.

    “The pathogen seems to cause havoc with a tree’s ability to defend itself from infection,” Slupsky said. “That’s a spectacular discovery, because when we understand the mechanisms behind the attack we have a chance at blocking them and boosting a tree’s natural immunity.”

    Working with Kris Godfrey, an associate project scientist at the UC Davis Contained Research Facility, and Michelle Heck at Cornell University, Slupsky found differences in the chemical fingerprint of leaves starting very early in the infection process. With further research, she believes that she can develop a chemical profile to provide a reliable, rapid and early indicator of the presence of infection.

    “Early detection is key,” Slupsky said. “If we can catch the disease early in the infection and get rid of the infected trees, we can hopefully slow down the spread of HLB enough to give scientists time to find a cure.”

    Disease-resistant rootstocks – Breeders are working to develop HLB-resistant rootstock, which is one of the most promising avenues to a cure. Researchers are also looking at whether they can transform the psyllid to prevent its ability to spread HLB. UC Davis plant pathologist Bryce Falk is leading a search to find and engineer viruses that can induce traits in the insect that prevent it from transmitting the bacterium.

    Breeding rootstock and engineering viruses takes time. In the meantime, backyard citrus growers can help keep HLB at bay by monitoring their trees for signs of psyllids or infection and removing trees that are infected or near infected trees.

    How can you recognize signs of the disease? This website provides photos and tips on what to look for and how to control the pests.

    Slupsky says that together, farmers, gardeners and science can help save citrus and the nourishment it provides.

    “From a nutritional standpoint, it’s hard to beat fresh citrus,” Slupsky said. “Oranges provide energy, fiber and a wide variety of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. They’re one of the most consumed fruits in the United States. I can’t imagine life without fresh citrus.”

     

  • California Fire Damage To Homes Is Less ‘Random’ Than It Seems

    Oakland, Calif., (December 15, 2017) – In the midst of the many wildfire emergencies that have faced California this year, it can often seem that the way houses burn, or don’t, is random.

    Can California update its building codes to minimize fire damage? AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

    The thing is, though, it’s not. Firefighters and researchers alike have a pretty solid understanding of why some houses are more vulnerable to wildfire than others. The real challenge ultimately lies in whether those with the power to act on that knowledge will do so.

    Available science – It is commonly thought that it takes direct flame to spread a fire, but this isn’t always the case. Small embers are instead often the culprits that begin house fires during wildfires. These small bits of burning debris can be lofted long distances by the wind. They can then end up igniting landscaping materials like combustible mulch, or enter homes through vulnerable spots – gutters teeming with debris, unscreened attic vents, open or broken windows, old roofs with missing shingles. Once there, the embers smolder and can ultimately catch a house on fire.

    In California, iconic winds work to create ideal ember-driven ignition conditions. The Santa Ana winds in Southern California – known as the Diablo winds in northern part of the state – have generally followed fairly predictable seasonal and spatial patterns. “Red flag” fire warnings are often issued on dry days when the winds will be particularly fierce.

    While humans can’t really control as much as we’d like to believe when it comes to disasters, we do have the ability to control where and how we build. For decades, most wildfire education and enforcement campaigns have focused on creating so-called defensible space where landscaping vegetation is carefully selected and located on the property, as well as routinely maintained.

    Can California update its building codes to minimize fire damage? AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

    This is not enough, however. Officials in California – as in other fire-prone states – need to help homeowners, local governments and builders to understand there are also specific, science-based steps that can be taken to make structures themselves less vulnerable to fire.

    Researchers recommend what is known as a “coupled approach” to home and building survival. This means the development and maintenance of an effective defensible space, as well as the careful selection of construction materials and correct installation to ensure that, for example, there are not gaps in siding or roofing that would allow embers to penetrate.

    Decision-makers also need to be willing to take on the most taboo topic of them all: recognizing that there are places houses simply shouldn’t be built, or rebuilt, at all.

    (Not) too urban to burn – Earlier this year, California had the first strong winter rains after many years of drought. Now, after a typically dry summer, the state is experiencing a dry start to the rainy season, particularly in the south. At the same time, people have continued to build into places known to burn regularly. The result of this confluence of events has been fires deeply affecting many thousands of people up and down the state.

    California residents are largely aware that not all fire is bad, and that many of our ecosystems thrive on regular fire. It’s not something that we should, or ever could, hope to fully contain. Our only chance is learning, really and truly and finally learning, to live with it.

    In that vein, the state must look long and hard at some of the steps that have been the hardest to take – not building in places that are particularly fire-prone and matching building codes with a modern understanding of wildfire risk – if there is to be any hope of alleviating the human suffering these fires cause.

    We are being invited to free ourselves from the notion that wildfire destruction is random and unpredictable, and that therefore there is nothing to be done about it. As the fire season in California gets longer, the winds worsen and wildfires move into areas once deemed too urbanized to burn, maybe the knowledge about what makes houses burn can finally be put to good use.

    Faith Kearns, Academic Coordinator, California Institute for Water Resources, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

    This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

  • Cultivating Students & Garbanzo Beans at Reedley College

    Now is the time of year Central Valley growers are planting field crops like garbanzo beans.  Professor at Reedley college Tim Smith wanted to teach this first-hand to his plant science students at the community college.

    Reedley College professor Tim Smith instructs students on preparing planting equipment.

    Students filed out of the classroom and into the on-campus farm to really learn how it is done, and participate in the process.  Students learned the value of mechanized agriculture and learned how to operate planting equipment, and troubleshoot when something is wrong, like when seeds or fertilizer gets clogged up in the tubes.

    Smith teaches many of the agricultural courses at Reedley College.  He has taught over 200 students this fall, and about a third of them are progressing towards getting a PCA license and plan on working in California’s agricultural industry. “In this particular lab exercise, we really wanted to bring home the value of legumes in the industry and their relationship with rhizobium nitrogen-fixing bacteria,” Smith shared.

    This field has been planted in forage oats for the past 20 years, but will soon be covered in garbanzo bean plants.

     

    This legume crop with either be harvested with a combine later or be used as a green manure crop.  The important part is that it was a great hands-on learning experience for the Ag students at Reedley college.

  • Short 2017 Crop Forces Allocation of CA Raisins

    What started off as a short raisin crop this year, got even shorter with high heat and two rainstorms during harvest. At the 105 Annual Meeting of Sun-Maid held in early December, Chairman of the Board Jeff Jue shared that the California raisin industry would be allocating raisins in the coming year due to the the supply and low inventory. Watch Jue’s interview and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Sponsored By:

    Calagnet & YARA

  • Jeff Jue Shares Sun Maid’s Stance on the RAC Referendum

    Growers are voting on a referendum regarding some changed to the terms and conditions of the Federal Marketing Order for Raisins. At the 105th annual meeting of Sun-Maid Growers, Chairman Jeff Jue shared Sun-Maid stance on the Marketing Order and encouraged growers to vote. Watch Jue’s interview and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Sponsored By:

    Calagnet & YARA

  • Beginning Farmers Invited To Specialty Crop Training On Bay Area’s Urban Edge

    Knightsen, Calif., (December 14, 2017) – Aspiring farmers are invited to apply for Urban Edge Sustainable Farming, a program that will expand the range of opportunities for beginning farmers in California by leveraging 550 acres of prime, protected East Bay farmland for training, farm business incubation and long-term leasing.

    Janet Caprile explains procedure for releasing parasitic wasps to destroy moth eggs.

    As baby boomer farmers retire, a new generation of farmers is needed to carry on the work.

    “Small and mid-size farmers are vital to the strength of our local communities and the security of our food supply,” said Alli Cecchini, First Generation Farmers executive director. “If there are no farmers to keep fertile land in production, it will be sold to developers and we’ll never get it back.”

    First Generation Farmers received a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program to launch Urban Edge Sustainable Farming as a formal training and incubator program that combines classroom-style instruction with hands-on field training. The program is designed to provide beginning specialty crop farmers with the core agricultural production skills, business knowledge and the confidence they need to establish viable farm businesses.

    To provide science-based training, the women-led nonprofit farm located in Brentwood, 55 miles northeast of San Francisco, is partnering with UC Cooperative Extension in Contra Costa County.

    “It’s a very nice mix of practical application and applied science,” said Janet Caprile, who recently retired after 30-plus years as a UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor. “It’s very hands-on approach to education – more like an apprenticeship program. I’ve signed on to present.”

    Urban Edge Sustainable Farming is a full-time, nine-month residency. In 2018, the course will run from Feb. 5 through Nov. 5, with a one-week break in early July. Beginning farmers will live on site in dorm-style housing for an immersive, cooperative learning experience. The curriculum is designed and delivered by First Generation Farmers and professional instructors from the National Center for Appropriate Technology and UC Cooperative Extension. Participants will also learn from working alongside the Cecchini family — successful, fourth-generation farmers who are bridging agricultural tradition with adaptation to 21st century practices and market demands.

    The training covers a wide range of topics, including composting, organic practices, greenhouse management, pest and disease management, healthy soil management, cover crops and crop rotation, biodynamic farming, crop planning, food safety and handling, marketing strategies, financial record-keeping and business planning. First Generation Farmers will introduce participants to regional direct and wholesale markets.

    “What UESF [Urban Edge Sustainable Farming] offers beginning farmers is unique in California: an opportunity to farm on historic farmland, in close connection with a traditional farm family, in a changing farming community on the edge of a major and expanding urban market,” said Poppy Davis, independent ag business and policy consultant and research professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law.

    Urban Edge Sustainable Farming is open to all applicants, but the program prioritizes admission for beginning farmers with limited resources, military veterans, and those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, including women, members of the LGBTQ community, people of color, immigrants and refugees. Because a diverse population of farmers makes for a stronger and more resilient farming community, the program aims to support farmers who often experience significant systemic barriers to starting their enterprise.

    Up to 15 beginning farmers can be accommodated in the first cohort and applications will be accepted until the cohort is full. Applicants must be 18 years old and previous farm experience is not required. Tuition for the program is $4,000 and includes food and lodging. For more information and to apply, visit https://firstgenerationfarmers.org/uesf.

  • Celebrating 100 Years of Farm Bureau and the Future of Sonoma County Agriculture

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (December 14, 2017) – In 1917, a group of Sonoma County farmers banded together with a mission: to unify their voices to protect agriculture for future generations. Through Sonoma County Farm Bureau, they formed farm centers around the county where they met to talk about local issues, formulate solutions and educate each other as well as the non-farming community.

    Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors and community members participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber at the open house on November 9th, 2017. Photo by Rachel LaFranchi.

    As the landscape in Sonoma County changed dramatically over the next 100 years, the desire to have a unified voice has remained constant. Today in Sonoma County, some of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of these farmers continue to farm on the same land, and over the course of a century they have been joined by many other families who are passionate about Sonoma County agriculture.

    Over the last year, Sonoma County Farm Bureau has been celebrating our 100 year history, but we’ve also experienced growth and change as an organization moving into the next 100 years.
    One of the most noticeable changes in our organization has been relocating our office building from Piner Road to Westwind Blvd. The community celebrated this step with us on November 9th, when nearly 200 people joined us for an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony in partnership with the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber.

    On the 9th, Sonoma County Farm Bureau President Steve Dutton told guests the decision to purchase the building was a significant undertaking for the board, but the strategic and financial decision was made so the board could ensure Farm Bureau would be here for the next 100 years.

    At the centennial celebration, Linda Rosen was honored for her service to Sonoma County Farm Bureau. Rosen worked as Farm Bureau’s bookkeeper for more than 20 years and announced her retirement earlier this year. Rosen was presented with an inscribed clock as a token of appreciation. Farm Bureau wishes Linda well on her future endeavors.
    During the evening, Sonoma County Farm Bureau also displayed historical photos and content around the room.

    The evening concluded with a presentation on our new website which we believe represents Sonoma County Farm Bureau and showcases Sonoma County agriculture. Our new website has improved navigation, a modern and fresh look and up to date information.

    In addition to our open house, I have spent the last year profiling families who have been farming on the same land in Sonoma County for more than 100 years to celebrate SCFB’s 100 year history.

    The more people I talked to about Sonoma County agriculture’s history, the smaller this list became. Many families have been here for more than 100 years but haven’t been farming on the same land, some settled right after 1917 and others have made their mark fairly recently.

    As Sonoma County Farm Bureau ends our 100th year celebrating Sonoma County agriculture, I hope you will join us in recognizing the families who have maintained their property for 100 years or more – it is no easy feat. The families who have been farming for more than 100 years are proud of their history.

    Twelve families who have been farming in Sonoma County for more than 100 years are featured here, but they are by far not the only families who have been farming on the same property for 100 years. If your family has a story please reach out so we can share it with the rest of the Sonoma County agriculture community: 707-544-5575 or Rachel@sonomafb.org.

    While we’ve been celebrating 100 years of Sonoma County agriculture and its history, the future of our agriculture industry is just as important as our past. The agriculture industry in Sonoma County was valued at nearly $900,000,000 in 2016, up 17% from the year before. Our industry is stronger than ever, and we need to continue to join together to better the future of agriculture, keeping it viable for future generations and the next 100 years.

    The last 100 years of Sonoma County agriculture have been tremendous and Sonoma County Farm Bureau is confident our agricultural community will continue to thrive.

  • An Ag Leader to Remember

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (December 14, 2017) – On Tuesday November 21st, Sonoma County Farm Bureau and the Gerhardt family suffered a great loss with the passing of Al Gerhardt. Al died suddenly while on his way to the Farm Bureau office for a natural resources committee meeting.

    Al was the type of board member that will be hard to replace. He had a true passion for Sonoma County agriculture and Farm Bureau. Al join the Farm Bureau board in 2001, and during his tenure, he served on the membership committee, ag education committee, natural resources and environment committee and the water committee.

    Many of us joked that Al was the one board member who would read his board packet cover to cover. He was always prepared and always willing to ask questions. But the most important thing Al did was give his time and support of Sonoma County agriculture by attending board meetings, committee meetings, every FFA and 4-H fundraiser, and volunteering at Farm Bureau events. Al was ever passionate about ag education and could always be found passing out local apples to children at Ag Days.

    Al was a consistent fixture in Sonoma County, and his leadership will surely be missed.

    I would like to believe Al passed on his way to do something he loved. As Al’s family decides how his life will be celebrated, and how we can give in memory of Al, Sonoma County Farm Bureau will let our members know.

    For Farm Bureau, things to continue to change with direction and the board’s leadership. We are making strides to strengthen Farm Bureau in Sonoma County. Please stay tuned as we continue to improve our new building and look for new leadership. If there is someone out there that would like to talk about a board position or if you know someone that would be interested, we have openings in some of the districts. Feel free to contact me through the Farm Bureau office.

    I would like to wish you all Happy Holidays and a happy new year. As you’re making holiday toasts, please raise your glasses to Sonoma County agriculture that supports us all this holiday season!

    Written By: Steve Dutton, President – Published: December 5, 2017

     

  • Best Practices with Doug Gubler for Preventing Trunk Diseases in Grapevines

    As a throwback from American Vineyard’s Central Coast Grape Expo last year, now is the time to prepare our vineyards with the right tools to prevent trunk diseases from spreading in the vineyard. Watch this interview with international expert and emeritus Plant Pathologist at UC Davis Doug Gubler who shared some great insights.

    Sponsored By:

    Calagnet & YARA

  • Sorghum Forage Helps Meet Required Nitrogen Management Plan in CA

    As fertilizer becomes more and more regulated in California, farmers are turning to other crops with lower nitrogen requirements. For this reason, sorghum may appeal to feed growers, as it doesn’t require near as much nitrogen to grow. Watch this interview with Bob Hutmacher from the UC Cooperative Extension and read more in California Dairy Magazine.

    Sponsored By:

    Calagnet & YARA