California Ag Network

Category: News

  • USDA California Crop/Weather Report

    Sacramento, Calif., (December 5, 2017) – A frontal system brought light rains to areas of Northern California early last week. Drier conditions developed mid-week as high pressure built after the passing of the frontal system over most of California. Over the weekend a cold front boundary brought northerly winds as well as light rain and mountain snow and colder conditions from the northwest to central areas of California. The coldest temperatures were recorded along the Northeastern part of the State. The warmest temperatures were recorded along the southeastern interior of the State, where temperatures were reported to be more above normal in comparison to the rest of state.

    Temperature highs were in the 50s to 60s in the mountains, 60s to 80s in the valley and along the coast, and 70s to 80s in the desert. Temperature lows were in the 20s to 30s in the mountains, 20s to 40s in the desert, 30s to 40s in the valley, and 30s to 50s along the coast.

    Cotton harvest neared completion. The warmer temperatures accelerated emergence of previously planted winter wheat. Growers continued to prepare fields for fall planting of wheat, barley, and oats. Silage corn grew well and harvesting was ongoing. Black-eyed beans were being harvested and processed. Recent rain helped germinate planted forage.

    Apple harvest was winding down. Pruning continued in some stone fruit orchards and old orchards were removed and prepared for replanting. Table grape harvest was nearing completion.  Some vineyards were sprayed for weeds. Pears, pomegranates, kiwifruit, and persimmons were harvested. Olive groves were pruned. Navel orange harvest was ongoing. Lemon, grapefruit, mandarin and pomelo harvests continued. Young citrus trees were bagged to protect them from frost.

    Almond and pistachio harvests were complete. Walnut harvest was nearly complete. Soil amendments were applied in orchards.

    Broccoli, carrots, and lettuce all have excellent stands for the winter season.  Fall and winter vegetables were being harvested and available at roadside stands. Strawberries continued to grow at roadside stands. Continued cultivating of organic garlic was ongoing.  Fresh onions fields and tomato beds were being prepared for planting. Organic cantaloupe harvest ended. Organic broccoli, celery and spinach fields were growing nicely.  Head, leaf, and romaine lettuce for the fall season grew nicely with many fields starting to be harvested.

    Non-irrigated and foothill rangeland forage quality was improving with some north and central state locations reporting fair to poor conditions.  Earlier rains and warm weather stimulated germination and foothill range and non-irrigated fields were showing green. Dairy workers were cleaning out corrals in preparation for winter.  Supplemental feeding of cattle was ongoing.

  • CDFA Awards Nearly $800,000 To Improve Agricultural Fertilizer Management And Water Quality

    Sacramento, Calif., (December 5, 2017) – CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is pleased to announce the award of $800,000 in grant funds to agricultural organizations and universities this year. The grants will fund four projects designed to improve nutrient efficiency and reduce the nitrogen footprint of fertilizer use.

    Nitrogen is a key nutrient for food production.  However, if not used efficiently, it can also lead to water and air quality impacts.

    “These four projects will provide us with the science-based evidence and necessary training we need to better guide our decision making,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.  “We look forward to ongoing collaboration with agriculturalists, policymakers and the academic community.”

    The projects are research examining the nitrogen cycle in nursery production; bilingual training on nutrient management and irrigation system efficiency; examining the ratio between crop yield and nitrogen; and programs to help minority farmers better understand nitrogen uptake patterns for specific Asian vegetable crops.

    Since 1990, FREP has funded more than 220 projects focusing on California’s environmentally sensitive cropping systems. A database of completed research is publically available at:www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/FREPresearch.

    The FREP mission is to promote the efficient and environmentally friendly use of fertilizers through the funding of fertilizer research and education, and the decision to utilize the findings of FREP research ultimately lies in the hands of the grower. For more information, please visit the FREP website at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/FREP.

  • Climate Change in the Southern Hemisphere: Irrigation Efficiency and Other Adaptations in Chile

    Sacramento, Calif., (December 5, 2017) – Irrigation efficiency, water conservation and water management are three terms that resonated over and over as we visited specialty crop farms and talked to water managers during our ongoing visit to Chile. These are important issues that Chile and California share, given that both counties have recently experienced historic droughts with significantly reduced snowpacks and greater reliance on groundwater.

    Delegation members Jeff Creque of the Carbon Cycle Institute and Paul Robins of the Monterey County Resource Conservation District check out some Chilean soil.

    We visited an avocado grower who pumps water approximately 1,600 feet up steep slopes with electrical water pumps for a highly efficient drip irrigation system. With little rain in the San Felipe region (north of Santiago), using efficient irrigation technologies like those incentivized in CDFA’s SWEEP program are critical to ensuring agricultural food production in this region.

    Providing growers with access to an adequate water supply is a priority shared south of Santiago, as well. A water management agency in the Cachapoal River-area supplies approximately 100,000 acres of agricultural land with water and is investing in cloud seeding to stimulate additional precipitation. The government of Chile is also participating in this project and is assisting this agency and others in an effort to maintain water deliveries not only to agriculture, but to other sectors such as mining and urban areas.

    Irrigation efficiency and water management are supported through innovative education pathways in Chile. We visited a high school that focuses on teaching its students about irrigation and public/private partnerships. They get hands-on experience with renewable energy use and water pump improvements. Understanding these technologies and providing growers with human resources and expertise to operate efficient irrigation systems is critical to future food production.

    Secretary Ross with Chilean avocado grower Gonzalo Bulnes.

    We also saw that if a grower selects the right plant variety, greater on-farm water efficiency can be achieved. A company we visited called SubSole has planted newer varieties that produce double the yield with half the water use. The company produces specialty crops like table grapes, avocados, kiwis, cherries and pomegranates and has invested heavily in  sustainability and food safety programs to provide a high level of environmental and social responsibility certifications to buyers and consumers. SubSole uses very little nitrogen fertilizer for its table grapes because it has built organic (carbon) content in soil through the addition of compost and mulching; management practices that will soon be incentivized in CDFA’s Healthy Soils Program.

    The delegation visited Escuela Agricola El Carmen De San Fernando, a high school providing irrigation instruction among other courses.

    Many specialty crops farms in Chile are supported by agronomic experts from the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA). INIA is a government supported organization whose work is similar to the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension Services. These extension services are critical to ensuring growers have the right expertise as they invest in efficient irrigation systems and technologies to combat climate change events. What we have learned so far is that Chile is very similar to California and it is working hard to adapt to a changing climate through investment in specific technologies, education and outreach activities.

    Secretary Ross is in Chile this week for an exchange on climate change adaptation. Joining her in the delegation are representatives from the agricultural, academic and policy sectors.

  • California State Fair Wins Best of Show At International Competition

    Sacramento, Calif., (December 4, 2017) – On November 29, 2017, the California State Fair accepted top honors at the 127th annual International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) convention in Las Vegas. Fairs and Expositions compete from around the world in Agriculture, Competitive Exhibits, Communication and Sponsorship categories. The California State Fair won the Best of Show in Communication for the third year in a row, competing against well known fairs like Minnesota, Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, New York, Calgary Stampede as well as fairs from Australia, to England. The California State Fair also won Best of Division in Agriculture, and for the first time won the Judges Creative Award in Communication. This was unprecedented to win both the highly coveted and sought after Judges Creative and Best of Show awards. Accepting the awards for the California State Fair team included CEO Rick Pickering, Chief Deputy General Manager Tom Martinez and Deputy General Manager Margaret Mohr.

    “We are honored and humbled to be an industry leader for the nation and are very proud of our State Fair Team for winning this award for the third year in a row,” said Rick Pickering, CEO of California Exposition & State Fair.

    “The IAFE Hall of Honor Communications contest provides fairs with a unique collaboration experience, allowing them to critique promotional materials in an effort to continue strengthening marketing campaigns at fairs, internationally,” said Lori Hart, Director of Education and Member Services (IAFE).

    For the past three years, the California State Fair has focused on making the annual event a true celebration of the best of California. A large wine garden honors the state’s wine region, a live 3.5-acre farm provides an interactive “Farm to Fork” experience, an active kitchen with an Official State Fair Chef produces farm fresh food for tasting and 17 nights of top-level entertainment and concerts create some of the best nights of summer. Year after year, the advertising campaign highlights this experience with food and lifestyle photography that makes the Fair a tourist destination. For this year’s campaign, un/common advertising created the theme “Live in the Moment.” An original song played in videos showing fair goers having unforgettable moments with friends, family and their community. A series of billboards showcased headlines written as if they were “experiences” one might have on their bucket list. The campaign also offered some media surprises including a 50th Fair Hunt scavenger hunt game, an app that let fair-goers create their perfect day and an anthem video that played every night on the Cal Expo water tower. Thank you to Tre Borden for his creative work on the water tower anniversary projection project.

    “We focused on the experiences people have at the fair. These are some of the best, most memorable moments in life. Since the California State Fair is a celebration of the absolute best of California, the marketing campaign needs to convey that, or it just isn’t doing its job,” said Brantley Payne, Partner/Creative Director at un/common.

    Overall, the California State Fair brought home 34 awards total, 21 first place awards, 12 second place awards and 1 third place award in the following categories:

    Hall of Honor Communication Awards – In addition to winning the Best of Show and the Judges Creative Award for the 50th Anniversary Water Tower, the California State Fair won 13 awards out of the 20 categories. A couple noteworthy awards included the newspaper ads that ran in local papers in the area and the magazine ads that ran in Sacramento and Sactown Magazine.

    Agriculture Awards – The California State Fair received 9 awards out of 13 categories in addition to the Agriculture Awards Program Best of Division. Of particular note were wins for the Blue Ribbon Brunch and the Farm to Glass and Olive Oil Exhibits at the Fair.

    Competitive Exhibits Awards – Out of 18 categories, the California State Fair took home 12 awards. Winning entries included the Whale Tail Exhibit, the Steampunk Competition and the 50th Fair Hunt among others.

    For questions, please contact Margaret Mohr, Deputy General Manager or Maricela Ramirez, Marketing Assistant at (916) 263-3182 or mramirez@calexpo.com.

  • First Annual California Soils Week To Highlight Connection Between Healthy Soils And Healthy Lives

    Sacramento, Calif., (December 4, 2017) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is joining with government partners, NGOs and private industry to celebrate the inaugural California Soils Week, scheduled to correspond with World Soils Day on December 5, 2017 but also including events in northern and southern California from December 4 to December 7.

    The week’s theme is “Healthy Soils, Healthy Lives,” in recognition of the fact that California’s soils help feed the world, conserve water, improve air quality, and fight climate change.

    “California Soils Week will highlight all the remarkable gifts healthy soils have to offer,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.  “We hope that by telling the story of California soil we can help Californians better understand how vital it truly is.”

    The events for California Soils Week are as follows:

    Monday, December 4 (Kickoff Day) – Viewing Healthy Soils information panels at State Capitol; 10 am, outside of governor’s office.

    Tuesday, December 5 (World Soils Day) – International webinar on climate smart agriculture to discuss the barriers, strategies and success stories related to soil health; 9 am – 11 am. Join at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5217479928986888962

    Legislative briefing on Healthy Soils at State Capitol, room 317, 3 pm.

    Wednesday, December 6 (Food Waste and Compost Day) – Soil drop/compost education outreach to legislature, State Capitol, 9 am – 10:30 am.

    Compost and farm tour for legislative staff – 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm, Jepson Prarie Organics, Vacaville, CA (Media contact – Robert Reed, 415-606-9183); Sierra Orchards, Winters, CA.

    Thursday, December 7 (Urban Agriculture and Community Gardens Day) – Urban Farm Tour, 11 am, GrowGood Farms, 5600 Mansfield Wy. Bell, CA.

    Sacramento Food Policy Council meeting – 5:30 pm, Hot Italian, 1627 16th St. Sacramento, CA 95814 (Media contact – Beth Smoker, 916-834-4710, estorelli3@gmail.com)

    Note – Social media postings for the week will be identified with #CASoilsWeek, #Healthy, #Soil.

  • UC ANR Supporters Give Over $85,000

    Davis, Calif., (December 4, 2017) – Thanks to everyone who participated, UC ANR’s #GivingTuesday campaign was a tremendous success.

    “We surpassed our goal of $60,000, raising $85,168,” said Mary Maffly Ciricillo, director of Annual Giving and Individual Gifts. “This is close to a 24 percent increase over last year’s Giving Tuesday total of $68,322.”

    As an added incentive to potential donors, ANR received over $37,000 in donations toward match challenge funds supporting all of UC ANR programs.

    The California 4-H Foundation alone brought in over $32,000. Compared to 2016, there was a 250 percent increase in giving to UC ANR programs – including Master Gardeners, Master Food Preservers, IPM, the REC System, and county offices – totaling over $15,000.

    The number of gifts received also rose, from 224 gifts in 2016 to 318 gifts this year. “We even received a gift designated to urban horticulture!” Ciricillo said.

    In addition to raising money, the #GivingTuesday social media campaign helped raise the visibility of ANR programs. The Master Gardener Program team made a video of the unselfies posted on social media by their supporters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI_tVcNhBcQ.

    “We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in t
    his fundraising effort and hope we can continue to build on our success for the next #GivingTuesday,” Ciricillo said. “These private funds will help us expand UC ANR’s reach.”

    Below is a list of funds donors selected to receive Giving Tuesday their gifts:

    • 4-H Foundation UC Donor Funds
    • 4-H Undesignated
    • Alameda County Master Gardener Fund (Endow)
    • Alameda County UCCE – Master Gardeners
    • ANR – California Naturalist Scholarship Fund
    • ANR – Giving Tuesday Match Fund
    • ANR – Master Food Preservers Fund
    • ANR – Master Gardener Annual Giving Fund
    • ANR Informatics and GIS Fund
    • California Institute for Water Resources
    • Central Sierra – UCCE
    • Colusa County UCCE – Master Gardener Program
    • Contra Costa County UCCE Fund
    • DREC – Desert REC FARM SMART Fund
    • El Dorado County UCCE – Master
    • El Dorado County UCCE – Rangeland Fund
    • Elkus Ranch Fund
    • Fresno County UCCE
    • HREC – Hopland REC – Fund
    • IPM – Program Fund
    • Kern – 4-H Program – Various Donors
    • KREC – Kearney REC – Fund
    • Los Angeles County UCCE – Master Gardeners
    • Los Angeles County UCCE Fund
    • LREC – Lindcove Field Station
    • Marin M
      aster Gardeners Opportunity Fund
    • Merced County Agriculture Extension and Research Endowment
    • Merced County UCCE – Master Gardener Fund
    • Nutrition Policy Institute General Fund
    • Orange County UCCE – Master Food Preserver Fund
    • Orange County UCCE Fund
    • Plumas County UCCE – Project Learning Tree
    • REC System
    • Riverside County UCCE – Master Gardeners
    • Sacramento County UCCE – Master Gardener Fund
    • San Joaquin County UCCE – Master Gardener Fund
    • San Mateo – 4-H Program – Various Donors
    • San Mateo County UCCE – MG Greenhouse
    • San Mateo County UCCE Fund
    • San Mateo/San Francisco UCCE – Master Gardener Fund
    • San Mateo/SF UCCE – Master Food Preserver
    • Santa Barbara County 4-H – Various Donors
    • SFREC – Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center Fund
    • Sonoma County UCCE – Citizen Science Projects
    • Statewide Master Gardener Endowment Fund
    • Statewide Program – Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Program
    • Sutter-Yuba Counties UCCE – Master Gardeners
    • UC California Naturalist Program
    • UCCE Master Gardeners of Orange County
    • Urban Horticulture
    • Ventura County Master Gardeners
    • Ventura County UCCE – Master Gardener Fund
    • Ventura County UCCE Fund

     

  • Sun-Maid outgoing President Featured in American Vineyard

    Check your mailboxes for the December issue of American Vineyard Magazine, Featuring outgoing President of Sun-Maid Barry Kriebel, Wildfire Damage Assessment to the CA Wine Industry, and more… If you don’t currently receive the magazine and would like to, subscribe for free here.

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (December 1, 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 Cotton fields are being shredded and disked to comply with Cotton Plow down Regulations. All fields must be brought into compliance prior to December 20th. Black-eyed beans are being exported to Guadeloupe. Seed is being shipped in and planted to winter forage crops such as wheat, barley, and other cereal grains and forage mixes. Recent rain should help germinate planted forage, but more rain will be needed.

    Table grape harvest is coming to an end, and grapes are being exported to China, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates. Kiwifruit are being shipped to the Dominican Republic, French Polynesia, Honduras, and Mexico. Persimmons are being harvested and sold domestically and exported to Mexico. Pomegranates are being exported to Korea. Pistachio nuts are being exported to China, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. Almonds are being exported to Belgium, Hong Kong, Israel, Jordan, Korea, Pakistan, South Africa, and Taiwan. Pruning continues in some stone fruit and nut orchards. Some older, poorly producing orchards and vineyards are being removed and prepared for replanting.

    The navel orange harvest is well underway, with exports of early varieties to Australia, Chile, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, and Taiwan. Mandarins are being packed and shipped to Saudi Arabia. Pomelos are being harvested and sold domestically, as well as exported to Australia and New Zealand. Melogold hybrid grapefruit are being exported to Japan. Lemons are being exported to Australia, El Salvador, and New Zealand. Limes are being shipped to New Zealand. Finger limes are being exported to France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Young citrus trees are being bagged to protect them from frost.

    Fall and winter vegetables are being harvested and available at roadside stands. Strawberries continue to grow at roadside stands.

    Rangeland forage conditions are fair to poor. Rains should help with germination and growth of rangeland forage. Some supplemental feeding is required. The fed cattle market price was steady this week at $124.00 per hundred weight.

    Bare-root roses are being received and processed for reshipment out-of-state.

  • Crane Family: 165 Years of Farming in Santa Rosa

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (December 1, 2017) – Jennifer Crane is part of the sixth generation farming on family property in Santa Rosa. Many know the family’s historic barn that they drive by on Petaluma Hill Road where they can purchase Crane Melons at the end of the summer and shop for Christmas gifts in the winter.

    Jennifer Crane, her parents Cindy and Richard Crane and her husband Lucas Jones. Photo by Janice Yriberry courtesy of the Crane Family.

    Jennifer’s great-great-great-grandfather Richard Crane came to California in 1849 as a gold miner before settling on the family’s property in 1852. Their iconic barn was built 16 years later out of redwood and the property was home to a prune orchard. Consistent with the times, the family was very diversified, raising livestock and growing hay and grain.

    Richard’s son Oliver Crane started farming the melons in the 1920’s looking for one that would grow in their clay soil. He developed the Crane Melon by crossing multiple varieties including several heirloom varieties that were common back then.

    The Crane Melon has been grown on the family property for nearly 100 years and known by locals for its flavor and quality. Melons can only be purchased on the family’s property when they’re in season (September and October) and their melons are always selling out.

    The Cranes see many people who can go to the supermarket and get whatever produce want at any time of the year, but they said they always encourage everyone to eat seasonally. They work with local RCDs to bring school kids to their ranch, teaching them the concept of eating seasonally and where their food comes from.

    The Crane Melon Barn was built from redwood in 1868. Photo by Rachel LaFranchi.

    Like they were in the 1800’s, the family has remained diversified. The melons only grow on approximately 30 of their 142 acres. Eleven acres were planted with Pinot Noir in 2002, and the family still grows hay. They also grow yellow watermelons.

    Jennifer said the property’s soil influences both the grapes and melons, and the family feels their dry farming practices help bring out the flavors. When they planted the vineyard 15 years ago, Jennifer said they enjoyed learning about the concept of terroir. She said they see terroir through both the grapes and the melons.

    As for the future of the property, the family has two easements with the Open Space District so the property can’t be developed. The Cranes said it’s nice to know that their land is protected and it will remain in the state it is now forever.

    “We’re proud of the product we produce, and there’s nothing better than seeing the customers that have been coming here for years,” said Jennifer. “At the end of the day, we all just enjoy what we do.”

    For the last thirty years, the Cranes have also held a seasonal Christmas market in their barn for the holidays. They have gifts ranging from antiques to local food items, and the family says there is something for everyone. The Crane Melon Barn located at 4935 Petaluma Hill Road in Santa Rosa is open for the 2017 holiday season starting November 24. It is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 17th.

  • 2017 Census of Agriculture Gets Underway

    Washington, D. C., (December 1, 2017) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) starts mailing the 2017 Census of Agriculture to the nation’s producers this week. Conducted once every five years, the census aims to get a complete and accurate picture of American agriculture. The resulting data are used by farmers, ranchers, trade associations, researchers, policymakers, and many others to help make decisions in community planning, farm assistance programs, technology development, farm advocacy, agribusiness setup, rural development, and more.

    “The Census of Agriculture is USDA’s largest data collection endeavor, providing some of the most widely used statistics in the industry,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Collected in service to American agriculture since 1840, the census gives every producer the opportunity to be represented so that informed decisions can support their efforts to provide the world with food, fuel, feed, and fiber. Every response matters.”

    The census will be mailed in several phases through December. Farm operations of all sizes which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural product in 2017 are included in the census. The census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every state and county in the nation.

    NASS revised the census forms in an attempt to document changes and emerging trends in the industry. Changes include a new question about military veteran status, expanded questions about food marketing practices, and questions about on-farm decision-making to help better capture the roles and contributions of beginning farmers, women farmers, and others involved in running a farm enterprise.

    “Producers can respond to the census online or by mail. We highly recommend the updated online questionnaire. We heard what people wanted and we made responding to the census easier than ever,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “The online questionnaire now has timesaving features, such as automatic calculations, and the convenience of being accessible on mobile and desktop devices.”

    The census response deadline is February 5, 2018. Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and only publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation. NASS will release the results of the census in February 2019.

    For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call (800) 727-9540.