California Ag Network

Category: News

  • USDA California Crop/Weather Report

    Sacramento, Calif., (November 21, 2017) – Temperatures across the State last week were typical for the fall season. The State received its first significant precipitation for fall and winter season. The cold front brought over 1.5 inches of precipitation to parts of the north of the State. Most weather stations in northern California reported over 0.25 inches of precipitation. After a brief reprieve, a second wave of moisture and snow hit the northern part of the State. The storm lingered over the Sierras as it moved south before the week ended with clear skies after some localized morning fog in the wet valleys.

    Temperature highs were in the 50s to 60s in the mountains, 60s to 70s in the valley, 60s to 80 along the coast, and 70s to 80s in the desert. Temperature lows were in the 10s to 20s in the mountains, 20s to 40s in the desert, 30s to 40s in the valley, and 30s to 50s along the coast.

    Cotton near competition. Early plantings of small grains had germinated and showed good emergence. Growers continued to prepare more fields for fall planting of wheat, barley, and oats.  Alfalfa for hay production was finishing up with the last cuts of the season and growers windrowed, baled and stacked the hay. The fields received herbicide treatments. Corn, milo, and sorghum continued to be harvested for green chop. Silage corn grew well and harvesting was ongoing. Cotton fields were defoliated and harvesting was in full swing. Black-eyed beans were being harvested and processed. Most summer crops have been harvested, and fields were being prepared for winter planting.

    Apple harvest was slowing down. Pruning continued in some stone fruit orchards.  Old orchards were removed and prepared for replanting. Table grape harvest was almost complete.  Quince, pears, pomegranates, kiwifruit, and persimmons were harvested. Olive groves were pruned. Early Navel orange harvest was underway. Lemon, grapefruit and pomelos were harvested. Tangerine harvest was underway. Mandarin harvest in the Sierra foothills began.

    Almond harvest was complete. Orchard pruning and planting of new orchards was ongoing.  Walnut harvest was wrapping up for the year.

    Fall vegetables were being harvested. Acorn and Spaghetti squash, turnips, beets, yams, kale, cauliflower, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and snow peas were available now at the local Farmers’ Markets. Strawberries continued to grow at roadside stands. Harvest continued for green beans, cucumbers, daikon, eggplant, yellow bell peppers and tomatoes. Also, beds for tomatoes and onions were being prepared for new planting and onions harvest was completed and the harvested fields were cultivated. Melon harvest was near completion. Garlic harvest was complete. New garlic crops were being planted. Weed control was ongoing on organic garlic. New fresh market onions were being treated for worms. 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 was primarily in poor to very poor condition. Recent rains will stimulate germination of range grasses. Supplemental feeding of cattle was ongoing. Sheep grazed on harvested alfalfa and grain fields.

  • Thankful for Lower Thanksgiving Day Dinner Costs

    Fresno, Calif., (November 21, 2017) – The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 32nd annual price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.12, a 75-cent decrease from last year’s average of $49.87.

    The big ticket item – a 16-pound turkey – came in at a total of $22.38 this year. That’s roughly $1.40 per pound, a decrease of 2 cents per pound, or a total of 36 cents per whole turkey, compared to 2016.

    “For the second consecutive year, the overall cost of Thanksgiving dinner has declined,” AFBF Director of Market Intelligence Dr. John Newton said. “The cost of the dinner is the lowest since 2013 and second-lowest since 2011. Even as America’s family farmers and ranchers continue to face economic challenges, they remain committed to providing a safe, abundant and affordable food supply for consumers at Thanksgiving and throughout the year.”
    The shopping list for Farm Bureau’s informal survey includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty for leftovers.

    Consumers continue to see lower retail turkey prices due to continued large inventory in cold storage, which is up almost double digits from last year, Newton explained.

    Foods showing the largest decreases this year in addition to turkey, were a gallon of milk, $2.99; a dozen rolls, $2.26; two nine-inch pie shells, $2.45; a 3-pound bag of sweet potatoes, $3.52; a 1-pound bag of green peas, $1.53; and a group of miscellaneous items including coffee and ingredients necessary to prepare the meal (butter, evaporated milk, onions, eggs, sugar and flour), $2.72.
    “Milk production has increased, resulting in continued low retail prices,” Newton said. “In addition, grocers often use milk as a loss leader to entice consumers to shop at their stores.”
    Items that increased modestly in price were: a half-pint of whipping cream, $2.08; a 14-ounce package of cubed bread stuffing, $2.81; a 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix, $3.21; a 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries, $2.43; and a 1-pound veggie tray, $.74.

    “Whole whipping cream is up about 4 percent in price, due to increased consumer demand for full-fat dairy products,” Newton said.

    The stable average price reported this year by Farm Bureau for a classic Thanksgiving dinner tracks with the government’s Consumer Price Index for food eaten at home. But while the most recent CPI report for food at home shows a 0.5 percent increase over the past year (available online at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm), the Farm Bureau survey shows a 1.5 percent decline.

    After adjusting for inflation, the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner is $20.54, the lowest level since 2013.

    A total of 141 volunteer shoppers checked prices at grocery stores in 39 states for this year’s survey. Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers are asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals, such as spending $50 and receiving a free turkey.

    Shoppers with an eye for bargains in all areas of the country should be able to purchase individual menu items at prices comparable to the Farm Bureau survey averages. Another option for busy families without a lot of time to cook is ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals for up to 10 people, with all the trimmings, which are available at many supermarkets and take-out restaurants for around $50 to $75.

    The AFBF Thanksgiving dinner survey was first conducted in 1986. While Farm Bureau does not make any scientific claims about the data, it is an informal gauge of price trends around the nation. Farm Bureau’s survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.

    Local perspective: Fresno County farmers and ranchers produce many of the food items that appear on Thanksgiving dinner tables around the nation.

    “The San Joaquin Valley grows a cornucopia array of fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, milk and fiber products that take center stage this time of year,” exclaimed FCFB CEO Ryan Jacobsen. “This region should take tremendous pride in what we do to feed our nation.”

    Popular food items produced here include:

     

     

     

     

  • Blue Diamond Joins FFA in Giving the Gift of Blue

    Galt, Calif., (November 20, 2017) – On November 9, the California FFA Foundation announced an exciting new partnership with Blue Diamond Growers. On Giving Tuesday, Blue Diamond Growers will match every FFA jacket donation up to 200 jackets, significantly aiding the California FFA Foundation in reaching their 400-jacket goal.

    On Tuesday, November 28, the California FFA Foundation will celebrate Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving, fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. This is the second year the California FFA has participated in Giving Tuesday with a focus on providing jackets for FFA members. For every $75 donation on Giving Tuesday, the California FFA Foundation will provide a member with their very own FFA jacket, and a tie or scarf. This year Blue Diamond Growers will generously match that donation.

    This partnership represents Blue Diamond Grower’s ongoing commitment to FFA and agriculture education, having served as a longtime sponsor of proficiency’s and other awards. Blue Diamond Growers represent 100 years of agricultural history in Northern California, with over 3,000 family growers helping to produce eighty percent of the world’s almonds.

    Click here to learn more about the California FFA Foundation’s Giving Tuesday efforts or to make a donation.

    Source: California FFA Foundation, News Release, November 9, 2017

     

  • USDA Offers Assistance to Protect Privately-Owned Wetlands, Agricultural Lands and Grasslands

    Washington, D. C., (November 20, 2017) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages people and groups wanting to protect critical wetlands, agricultural lands and grasslands to consider enrolling their property into conservation easements. This year, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest $250 million in technical and financial assistance to help private landowners, tribes, land trusts and other groups protect these valuable lands.

    The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) focuses on restoring and protecting wetlands as well as conserving productive agricultural lands and grasslands. Landowners are compensated for enrolling their land in easements.

    “Protecting these lands preserves America’s heritage, natural resources and open space,” NRCS Acting Chief Leonard Jordan said. “Easements are also important tools for people who are trying to improve the management of their land.”

    The 2014 Farm Bill created ACEP, merging together several easement programs into one. Last year alone, the program has protected nearly 300,000 acres through easements.

    Wetland Reserve Easements – Through ACEP wetland reserve easements, NRCS helps landowners and tribes restore and protect wetland ecosystems. Wetlands are one of nature’s most productive ecosystems providing many ecological, societal and economic benefits.

    “Seventy-five percent of the nation’s wetlands are situated on private and tribal lands,” Jordan said. “Wetlands provide many benefits, including critical habitat for a wide array of wildlife species. They also store floodwaters, clean and recharge groundwater, sequester carbon, trap sediment, and filter pollutants for clean water.”

    Wetland conservation easements are either permanent or for 30 years. Eligible lands include farmed or converted wetlands that can successfully be restored, croplands or grasslands subject to flooding, and riparian areas that link protected wetland areas. As part of the easement, NRCS and the landowner work together to develop a plan for the restoration and maintenance of the wetland.

    Agricultural Land Easements – Through ACEP agricultural land easements, NRCS provides funds to conservation partners to purchase conservation easements on private working lands. This program helps keep working lands working, especially in areas experiencing development pressure.

    Partners include state or local agencies, non-profits and tribes. Landowners continue to own their property but voluntarily enter into a legal agreement with a cooperating entity to purchase an easement.  The cooperating entity applies for matching funds from NRCS for the purchase of an easement from the landowner, permanently protecting its agricultural use and conservation values.  Landowners do not apply directly to NRCS for funding under this program.

    Easements are permanent. Eligible lands include privately owned cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and forestlands.

    More Information – Landowners and tribes interested in wetland reserve easements and partners interested in agricultural easements should contact their local USDA service center. Applications for ACEP are taken on a continuous basis, and they are ranked and considered for funding several times per year.

  • Gene Discovery May Halt Worldwide Wheat Epidemic

    Davis, Calif., (November 20, 2017) – University of California, Davis, researchers have identified a gene that enables resistance to a new devastating strain of stem rust, a fungal disease that is hampering wheat production throughout Africa and Asia and threatening food security worldwide.

    The discovery by UC Davis wheat geneticist Jorge Dubcovsky and his team will help breeders more quickly develop varieties that can fend off the deadly pathogens and halt a worldwide wheat epidemic. The findings were recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

    Wheat and stem rust have been in an evolutionary arms race for more than 10,000 years. In the 1950s, a major epidemic of the disease spread through North America and destroyed up to 40 percent of the wheat crop, the world’s second most important grain next to rice.

    Since then, scientists have developed rust-resistant varieties to boost wheat’s immunity to stem rust. But the pathogens are making a comeback. A new strain of the stem rust — called Ug99 after it was discovered in Uganda in 1999 — is spreading throughout the region. About 90 percent of the wheat varieties grown worldwide are susceptible to Ug99.

    “Ug99 has expanded to most of the wheat-growing regions in Africa and has crossed the Red Sea to Yemen and Iran,” said Dubcovsky, a professor with the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. “Ug99 is now at the door of the Punjab region — the bread basket of Asia — and identification and deployment of effective resistance genes are critical to mitigate this threat.”

    Dubcovsky and his team identified three different resistance forms of Sr13, a gene from pasta wheat that is effective against Ug99 and another group of virulent stem-rust strains from Yemen and Ethiopia. In 2013, Dubcovsky and fellow researchers discovered another gene called Sr35 that also provides resistance to Ug99. The team is close to identifying a third gene that confers protection from the virulent strain.

    Why genetics matter – To develop better varieties, breeders cross plants with desired traits and select the best offspring over multiple generations. Once stem-rust resistant genes have been identified, breeders can use molecular markers (specific regions of DNA) to select for the genes at the seed or seedling stage. This accelerates the crop-improvement process.

    These molecular markers allow breeders to pyramid multiple stem-rust-resistant genes in the same plant to extend the durability of resistance.

    “Wheat provides a substantial amount of calories and proteins consumed by humans,” Dubcovsky said. “We hope that a better understanding of the wheat-rust pathosystem will speed the development of new strategies to control this devastating pathogen.”

  • Local community rallies to support MJC Dairy Program

    Modesto, Calif., (November 17, 2017) – The Modesto Junior College Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Division hosted the bi-annual Dairy Springer Sale on October 21,raising $60,000  for the college’s Dairy Science Program, as well as over $11,000 for MJC’s Dairy Judging program.

    Student Marcus Rocha presents a Jersey heifer at the sale.

    During the spring semester of 2016, local dairymen and supporters donated young heifers to the MJC Dairy Science Program.  The heifers were moved into the campus dairy unit, cared for by students, halter broken, worked with, and became an important part of the living laboratory experience that agriculture students encounter at MJC.

    The generous support of the local community and work of the MJC students paid off with a successful fundraising event. Over 170 attendees participated in the Springer Sale, which included a tenderloin lunch. Over 30 animal lots sold, as well as semen and agricultural supplies donated by local businesses and community members.

    “With the dairy industry doing as it is now, it is wonderful to see such support for the future of the dairy industry and for what we do here at MJC”, said Dairy Science Professor Bill Hobby. “Thank you to everyone who continues to support the MJC Dairy Science program”.

    For more information on the MJC Dairy Science Program contact Professor Hobby at hobby@mjc.edu or (209) 575-6053. The MJC Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Division serves over 1,000 students who are taught and provided services by a dozen full time faculty and staff members. To learn more about MJC’s agriculture program visit https://www.mjc.edu/instruction/agens

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (November 17, 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 is still being harvested. Fields are being shredded and disced to comply with Cotton Plowdown Regulations. All fields must be brought into compliance prior to December 20th. Black-eyed beans are being exported to Malaysia. Most summer crops have been harvested, and fields are being worked and having fertilizer spread for winter planting. Seed is being shipped in and planted to winter forage crops such as wheat, barley, and other cereal grain and forage mixes.

    Table grape harvest is nearing completion, and grapes are being exported to China, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, and Vietnam. Plums are being shipped to Bangladesh, Canada, and Mexico. Kiwifruit are being exported to Colombia. Persimmons are being harvested and sold domestically. Pomegranates are being exported to Australia, Costa Rica, Korea, New Zealand, and Taiwan. Pecans are being harvested, with the first exports going to New Zealand. Pistachio nuts are being exported to Australia, Bosnia Herzegovina, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Walnuts continue to be harvested and exported to the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. Almonds are being exported to Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Pruning continues in some stone fruit orchards. Some older, poorly producing orchards and vineyards are being removed and prepared for replanting.

    The navel orange harvest is ongoing, with some early varieties being exported to Australia, Korea, Mexico, and Thailand. Maturity continues to be good, with tests above minimum requirements. Pomelos are being harvested and sold domestically as well as exported to Australia and Spain. Melogold hybrid grapefruit are being exported to Korea. Tangerines are being packed and sold on the domestic market. Finger limes are being exported to France and the Netherlands.

    Fall vegetables are being harvested. Acorn and Spaghetti squash, turnips, beets, yams kale, cauliflower, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and Snow peas are just some of the choices available now at the local Farmer’s Markets. Strawberries continue to grow at roadside stands.

    Rangeland forage conditions are fair to poor. Rains should help with germination of rangeland forage. Some supplemental feeding is required. The fed cattle market price continues to rise this week and is at $125.00 per hundred weight.

    Nursery shipments continue to be slow. Wholesale nurseries are shipping small amounts of stock to local and out-of-state retail outlets. Bare-root roses are being received and processed for reshipment out-of-state.

  • Genome of Wheat Ancestor Sequenced

    Davis, Calif., (November 17, 2017) – Sequencing the bread wheat genome has long been considered an almost insurmountable task, due to its enormous size and complexity. Yet it is vitally important for the global food supply, providing more than 20 percent of the calories and 23 percent of the protein consumed by humans.

    Now, an international team of scientists led by researchers at the University of California, Davis, has come a step closer to solving the puzzle by sequencing the genome of a wild ancestor of bread wheat known as Aegilops tauschii, a type of goatgrass.

    In the study, published Nov. 15 in the journal Nature, researchers applied a combination of advanced technologies to generate a reference-quality genome sequence for Ae. tauschii, which is highly adaptable and tolerant of diseases. It is also the primary source of genes for the bread-making properties of wheat flour.

    The findings will allow researchers to discover new genes that can improve wheat baking quality, resistance to diseases, and tolerance to extreme environmental conditions like frost, drought and salinity.

    The effort has already had one practical result: the discovery of two new genes for resistance to a race of wheat stem rust to which there is virtually no resistance in wheat. The genes were transferred from Ae. tauschii into wheat and are now available to wheat breeders.

    Piecing together the puzzle

    Wheat and its wild ancestors have genomes much larger than humans, which makes sequencing difficult.

    “When we started this project nearly two decades ago, there was no technology to sequence genomes of that size and complexity,” said Jan Dvorak, a leader of the project and professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. “This group of plants are unique because their genomes are just absolutely full of repeated sequences. We found more than 84 percent of the Ae. tauschii genome consists of closely related repeated sequences.”

    Dvorak describes the project as like tearing up pages of a thick book and trying to piece it back together. “Only imagine that every sentence on the page is nearly identical. That was our task,” said Dvorak.

    The technologies used by the researchers can be applied to any plant genome, so the implications extend beyond wheat.

    Contributors to the research include scientists from USDA-ARS, Albany, California; John Hopkins University, Maryland; University of Georgia, Athens in the U.S.; and from Germany, Canada, China, U.K., France, and Switzerland. The research was funded with a grant from the National Science Foundation.

  • Bringing Persimmons into the Limelight

    Albany, Calif., (November 16, 2017) – Persimmon is a sweet, flavorful fruit that hasn’t gotten much attention. That’s probably because many people don’t know what it is, how to eat it, or that it’s good for you.

    Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their collaborators are working to bring this uncommon Asian native fruit into the limelight. In 2016, the United States exported 7.4 million pounds of fresh persimmons valued at $3.6 million and imported 7.4 million pounds valued at $5.7 million (USDA Economics Resource Service).

    Persimmons are sold mainly in California, which produces 99 percent of the U.S. persimmon crop, according to Andrew Breksa, a chemist at ARS’s Western Regional Research Center(WRRC) in Albany, California. Persimmon trees are also grown by home gardeners and in some other states.

    The fruit, which is high in vitamin C, varies in shape and color. The most common market types are Fuyu and Hachiya. Fuyu persimmons are light yellow-orange with a tomato- or pumpkin-like shape. Hachiya are dark orange with an acorn-like shape.

    The availability of fresh persimmons is limited outside of California, and the fruit is only available for three months-typically late September through December. Breksa and his colleagues are developing ways to dry persimmons so the fruit will be available year round, which may help growers increase profits.

    Breksa’s team includes WRRC engineer Rebecca Milczarek and horticulturist John Preece at the ARS National Clonal Germplasm Respiratory in Davis, California. They are working with California persimmon growers and University of California, Davis, to select the best cultivars for commercial and home drying.

    ARS scientists identified the best cultivars for making dried chip-style persimmons.

    Results of this research, funded by a California Department of Food and Agriculture grant, was recently published online in Food Science & Nutrition. Scientists identified the best cultivars for making dried chip-style persimmons and determined how well consumers liked these snacks. Out of 40 cultivars, volunteer tasters preferred chips made from Fuyu, Lycopersicon, Maekawa Jiro, Nishimura Wase, Tishihtzu and Yotsumizo.

    Flyers will be distributed where persimmons are sold, detailing the fruit’s nutritional benefits and how to dry it (see persimmon flyers).

    Consumers who like persimmons won’t have to wait until harvest season to enjoy them, according to Breksa. They can buy extra fresh fruit when it’s in season and dry it at home.

    For more information contact Sandra Avant, ARS Office of Communications.

    The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

     

  • Why You Should ‘Know Beans’ About Beans

    Davis, Calif., (November 16, 2017) – If you say “I don’t know beans” about beans, you ought to.

    Navy beans, soaked overnight and ready to cook. The name is derived from the fact that they were a staple food of the U.S. Navy in the early 20th century, according to the California Dry Bean Council. (Photo: Kathy Keatley Garvey)

    Beans are one of civilization’s earliest cultivated crops, dating back to the early seventh millennium BCE. Today there are more than 40,000 varieties of beans worldwide.

    Beans can also have a place on the Thanksgiving table. The Maple Spice blog for vegans shares a meat-free substitute for turkey that combines mashed white canelli beans, nutritional yeast, vital wheat gluten and spices to create a loaf that slices like turkey breast. UC CalFresh, one of the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources’ nutrition education programs, developed a recipe for black bean and mango salad that makes a healthful and colorful accompaniment to a traditional Thanksgiving meal. (The recipe is below.)

    “Not only are beans a healthy food choice, but they are also a healthy choice for our world,” said UC Cooperative Extension advisor and dry bean expert Rachael Freeman Long. “Beans fix most of their own nitrogen so require fewer inputs for production compared to other sources of protein and they’re cheap! Plus some, like garbanzos, are grown during the wintertime, so they’re less dependent on irrigation.”

    The different varieties of beans include garbanzos (chickpeas) as well as black eyes, limas, and common beans like pintos and kidneys.

    Yolo County Farm advisor Rachael Long in a dry bean research field at the University of California, Davis. (Photo: Kathy Keatley Garvey)

    You probably won’t find a bigger fan of beans than Rachael Long. “I eat them at least once a week or more,” she said. “I love going on our Cal Beans website and getting new recipes. Summer time, I love beans on my salad, especially garbanzos. At this time of year, I love soups with beans. My favorite is the kale white bean sausage soup. If I want to go vegetarian, I’ll leave out the sausage or sometimes fry up some tofu sausage for flavor. And, it just so happens that this is the soup in the current bean blog. I got the original recipe from one of our nutrition staff at our office.”

    Long says that Cal Beans is an important site for bean growers and industry folks, too. “It’s supported by the California Dry Bean Advisory Board, an important funding source for my work. Right now, I have a grant to look at seed moisture and quality at harvest (possibly drying down seed too much at harvest results in internal injury to planting beans (seed stock).”

    What do you know about beans? Do you know that California grows the canning quality beans?

    “We have the perfect weather conditions for those large, creamy beige-colored beans,” Long said. “Other states like Washington grow about 100,000 acres of garbanzos for humus (but a lower quality bean and we can’t compete with their free water via rainfall.”

    California farmers supply virtually all of our country’s dry lima beans, Long notes.  In 2012, California farmers grew about 23,000 acres of baby and large limas, valued at $30 million that year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

    Long has authored two UC ANR manuals about beans (Lima Bean Production in California and Common Dry Bean Production Manual) and is just finishing the garbanzo production manual (it’s in peer review).

    “Lima beans are a major dry bean crop for California, representing a significant portion of the total dry bean acreage in 2013,” she wrote in the Lima Bean Production in California. “Lima beans are primarily grown for the dried edible white bean in California, although a limited but stable acreage is also for seed production. As with all dry beans, limas are a nutritional and healthy food choice, being an excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Lima beans are also an important rotation crop for farmers because the plants fix nitrogen, add biomass to the soil, and require relatively few pesticides.”

    California farmers supply virtually all of our country’s dry lima beans, says Yolo County farm advisor Rachael Long. This photo was taken in 2013 at a research site during the UC Davis Dry Bean Field Day. (Photo: Kathy Keatley Garvey)

    Lima beans belong to the species Phaseolus lunatus, distinct from the common bean, P. vulgaris.

    “Common dry beans include the market classes kidney, cranberry, pink, black, white, yellow, pinto, and red, all of which are different types of a single species (Phaseolus vulgaris) that was originally domesticated several thousand years ago in the areas that are now Mexico and South America,” Long wrote in the Common Dry Bean Production Manual. “Natural selection and breeding programs lead eventually to the current market classes, which are mainly distinguished by seed size, color, and shape, and plant growth habit. Currently, there are no commercially available genetically modified varieties of P. vulgaris.”

    “Dry beans,” Long points out, “are grown in California mainly for human consumption, though a limited but stable acreage is dedicated to seed production. Dry beans are nutritious: they are high in starch, protein, and dietary fiber, they have no cholesterol, and they are an excellent source of iron, potassium, selenium, molybdenum, thiamine, vitamin B6, and folic acid. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers dry beans to be both a vegetable and a protein source.”

    Rosane Oliveira, director of the UC Davis Integrative Medicine Program and an adjunct assistant professor in the UC Davis School of Medicine’s Department of Health Sciences, recently praised beans as one of the “Fab 4” plant foods in her “21-Day Food Challenge” blog.

    Beans are delicious, nutritious and brilliant. This is a cranberry bean in the UC Davis research field. (Photo: Kathy Keatley Garvey)

    l,m Beans are brilliant, Oliveira says, because they:

    • Are an excellent source of fiber, protein, iron, and magnesium
    • May add up to 3-4 years to your life if you eat one cup a day
    • Keep your blood sugar level stable for up to six hours
    • Improve cardiovascular health
    • Decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes

    Indeed, there’s even a National Bean Day, observed annually on Jan. 6. Want to know more about beans? You’ll find a wealth of information about dry beans from the U.S. Dry Bean Council.

    Bottom line: Beans should be an important part of your diet. You can call them “nutritious,” you can call them “delicious,” or you can call them “brilliant.” They’re all three.