California Ag Network

Category: News

  • Quota Implementation Plan (QIP) Dairy Producers Meetings

    Modesto, Calif., (October 10, 2017) – In addition to informational sessions conducted by California Dairies Inc. (CDI), Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Land O’Lakes (LOL), a series of joint dairy producer meetings will be held throughout the state in the next few weeks. The presentations will be brief to allow ample time for questions you may have. This is a producer-only process and 51% of ballots must be returned for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to even consider referendum results. Therefore, producer organizations in the state want you to be aware of the importance of your vote.

    • October 16, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, 1201 L Street, Modesto, 10am
    • November 6, Chino, Chino Fairgrounds, 5410 Edison Avenue, Chino, 10:30am
    • November 7, Tulare, Heritage Complex, 4450 S. Laspina Ave, Tulare, Conference Dining Room, 10am

    Agenda:

    • Statewide QIP Referendum: Description of the QIP and main features
    • Questions & Answers

    Note: The Quota Implementation Plan (QIP) was delivered to the post office for mailing on October 6. The ballot (which is on blue paper) is in a 9X13 white envelope with BALLOT ENCLOSED noted on the envelope. Included in the envelope is a cover letter with instructions, the QIP language, and a postage paid envelope to return the ballot. The close of the referendum is December 4, 2017.

    We believe that supporting the QIP is the only path forward to allow fair consideration for a FMMO in CA and are urging you to make an informed decision by attending one of the meetings referenced above prior to casting your vote.

    Contact information:
    California Dairy Campaign, Lynne McBride: lmcb44@comcast.net, 925-385-0217
    Milk Producers Council, Kevin Abernathy: kevin@milkproducers.org, 209-678-0666
    Western United Dairymen, Anja Raudabaugh: araudabaugh@westernuniteddairymen.com, 916-532-9974 California Dairies, Inc., Rob Vandenheuvel: RVandenheuvel@californiadairies.com, 559-679-5651
    Dairy Farmers of America, Francis Pacheco: fpacheco@dfamilk.com, 951-493-4942
    Land O’Lakes, Pete Garbani: PRGarbani@landolakes.com, 559-285-6357

  • USDA Invests in 48 Projects in Local Watersheds to Protect Communities and Vital Infrastructure

    Washington, D. C., (October 11, 2017) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to invest in 48 new, multi-year projects that aim to build vital infrastructure while conserving natural resources in 20 states or territories through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works with local groups to help prevent floods, protect watersheds, improve agricultural water management and enhance wildlife habitat through this program.

    “Protecting lives and property and improving natural resources within our nation’s watersheds are critical,” NRCS Acting Chief Leonard Jordan said. “Watersheds are nature’s natural boundaries. NRCS has made much progress in reducing damages caused by flooding, sedimentation and erosion in watersheds nationwide because of our proactive approach to program implementation once we obtain Congressional funding.”

    NRCS will invest $150 million in these 48 new projects, through which NRCS works with project sponsors, such as conservation districts, local governments and American Indian tribes. The projects take place in smaller watersheds that cover 250,000 acres or less. Additionally, this investment also includes funding for 41 existing projects in 11 states.

    The projects are owned by the local sponsors. NRCS serves as the primary technical adviser to project sponsors because of its engineering and environmental expertise and ability to deliver science-base technology and knowledge about the watershed’s natural resources and ecosystem.

    The new, multi-year projects include:

    California – Beardsley Watershed Project – The Ferro Ditch Channel Improvement Project consists of the design and construction of an improved 1,700-foot long channel. This will be the final structure to complete the Beardsley Watershed Project in Ventura County. This project purpose is to restore degraded salt marsh areas, restore failing fish passages to enhance spawning habitat, and to improve water quality in shellfish-growing areas. The project also will improve safety of the Ferro Debris Basin Dam.

    Massachusetts – Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project – This project consists of 16 individual projects that include fish passages, stormwater remediation and salt marsh restoration.

    West Virginia – Upper Deckers Creek Watershed – This project proposes to treat acid mine drainage along nearly 24 miles of Deckers Creek in Monongalia County to improve water quality. Improved water quality will support aquatic life and restore aquatic habitat in that stretch of the creek. Deckers Creek flows through populated areas of Morgantown.

    A full list of projects is available here. 

    Since 1947, the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program has helped communities address critical needs on flood control, water management, watershed protection and development. This strong federal, state and local partnership has resulted in the construction of more than 2,000 watershed projects that help communities in every state in the nation and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. These watershed projects reflect a federal investment of about $6.2 billion and deliver an estimated $2.2 billion in average annual benefits nationwide.

    “History has shown us that smart, proactive investment in small watershed and flood prevention projects yield immense benefits for landowners, communities and taxpayers,” Jordan said. “These dams have reduced flooding of businesses, homes, roads and agricultural lands. They have provided dependable water supplies for agricultural, residential and industrial use. They have also increased opportunities for fishing, hiking, birdwatching and the enjoyment of open space.”

    More information on this program is available here.

  • Pete Christensen Wine Grape Short Course

    Fresno, Calif., (October 10, 2017) – The Department of Viticulture and Enology at University of California, Davis will host a two-day Pete Christensen Wine Grape Short Course on December 12-13, at the UC Davis Conference Center, 550 Alumni Lane, Davis.

    The course is designed to address the production issues growers may be facing in our diverse growing regions. Topics discussed during the course will focus on three main areas including vineyard soils/site preparation and irrigation system design, achieving high efficiency production, as well as mechanical and precision viticulture.

    Cost to attend is $350 for both days, which will include a continental breakfast, lunch and handouts. Click here to register online and download the official agenda. For questions or to register by check, contact Kay Bogart at 530-754-9876 or klbogart@ucdavis.edu

  • State Agencies to Host Groundwater Recharge Forum on November 8th in Sacramento

    Sacamento, Calif., (October 9, 2017) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in collaboration with California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and other state entities, are hosting a Public Forum on Managed Groundwater Recharge to Support Sustainable Water Management. This all-day event will be held at the Sacramento Convention Center on November 8th 2017 and bring together a variety of speakers to address recharge opportunities and issues.

    Groundwater recharge is an important topic for California as the state continues to recover from an historic drought that caused increased reliance on groundwater basins – resulting in overdraft, failed private domestic wells and impacts to environmental quality.

    In June 2017, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture sent a letter to CDFA Secretary Karen Ross encouraging the convening of a forum to, “inform long term state policies related to ground water recharge.” California’s farm and ranching communities are important partners in helping to implement recharge efforts, but many barriers in federal/state policy as well as infrastructure challenges limit wide scale recharge opportunities.

    This forum will bring together water authorities, agricultural organizations, regulators and other stakeholders to address groundwater recharge opportunities and associated policies.

    Registration Information

     

  • Medfly Infestation Triggers Quarantine In Portion Of Solano County

    Sacramento, Calif., (October 9, 2017) – A quarantine has been declared due to a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) infestation n Solano County. A total of four adult males and one unmated female have been detected. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Solano County Agricultural Commissioner, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are working collaboratively on this project.

    The 85-square mile quarantine is in and around the City of Fairfield. It is bordered on the north by Alamo Drive; on the south by Montezuma Slough; on the west by Suisun Valley Road; and on the east by Travis Air Force Base. Additional information and a link to the quarantine map may be found here: www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/medfly/regulation.html.

    Sterile male Medflies are being released in the area as part of the eradication effort. The release rate will be 500,000 males per square mile per week in a 50 -square mile area around the infestation. In addition, properties within 200 meters of detection sites are being treated with an organic formulation of Spinosad, which originates from naturally-occurring bacteria, in order to remove any mated female Medflies and reduce the density of the population.  Finally, fruit removal will occur within 100 meters of properties with larval detections and/or multiple-adult detections.

    The quarantine will affect growers, wholesalers, and retailers of susceptible fruit in the area as well as local residents – home gardeners are urged to consume homegrown produce on site and not move it from their property. These actions protect against the artificial spread of the infestation to nearby regions where it could affect California’s food supply and backyard gardens.

    The sterile fly release program has a proven track record of success in California. Sterile male flies mate with fertile female flies in the natural environment but produce no offspring. The fly population decreases as the wild flies reach the end of their natural life span with no offspring to replace them, ultimately resulting in eradication of the pest. Sterile male Medflies are provided by the joint CDFA/USDA sterile insect rearing facility in Los Alamitos, which prepares sterile flies for release everyday over the Los Angeles Basin.

    The Medfly is known to target more than 250 types of fruits and vegetables. Damage occurs when the female lays eggs inside the fruit. The eggs hatch into maggots and tunnel through the flesh of the fruit, making it unfit for consumption. Residents who believe their fruits and vegetables are infested with fruit fly larvae are encouraged to call the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.

    While fruit flies and other invasive species that threaten California’s crops and natural environment are sometimes detected in agricultural areas, the vast majority are found in urban and suburban communities.  The most common pathway for these invasive species to enter our state is by “hitchhiking” in fruits and vegetables brought back illegally by travelers as they return from infested regions of the world.  To help protect California’s agriculture and natural resources, CDFA urges travelers to follow the Don’t Pack a Pest program guidelines (www.dontpackapest.com).

     

  • A New Water Year Brings Uncertainty

    Sacramento, Calif., (October 9, 2017) – After five years of drought, the 2017 water year brought unexpectedly heavy precipitation, ranking second only to 1983 as California’s wettest year for statewide runoff. The dramatic swing in water conditions highlights the need to develop better long-range weather forecasting to cope with the state’s highly variable annual precipitation.

    DWR begins water year 2018 intent on narrowing the forecasting gap with improved sub- seasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecasting. Working with researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, DWR is developing innovative technology to forecast land-falling atmospheric rivers.

    “Current short-term forecasting for seven days out is 70 percent accurate, while the 14-day forecast is only seven percent accurate,” said DWR Director Grant Davis. “That isn’t adequate for water management. Advancing accurate, even longer-range forecasting is critical for our ability to plan for California’s highly variable weather.”

    The water year that ended September 30 saw an extraordinary number of atmospheric rivers that created high water conditions throughout the state. The Feather River watershed received record runoff in January and February, which led to some of the highest inflows into Lake Oroville ever recorded. More accurate forecasting would have helped DWR manage reservoir levels to deal with significant inflow in the days following the February 7 discovery of erosion on the main spillway at Lake Oroville. Better forecasting also would help inform the spillway’s reconstruction timeline based on predicted precipitation.

    The record-setting precipitation in Northern California and above-average rainfall elsewhere contributed to flooding in several river systems. Fifty-two counties declared states of emergency due to the January storm sequence, and flood fight materials and specialists were pre- positioned in Merced, Butte, Stanislaus, Fresno, and San Joaquin counties based on the forecasts in anticipation that local agencies would request support.

    Despite record-breaking rainfall in Northern California in water year 2017, drought impacts still linger. Governor Edmund Brown Jr. issued an executive order in April to end the statewide drought emergency, but maintained a state of emergency for the counties of Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Tuolumne, where homes with dry or contaminated private wells continue to receive emergency drinking water deliveries.

    One success story stemming from the drought is the East Porterville Emergency Water Project, which will see 756 unincorporated East Porterville homes connected to the City of Porterville’s municipal water supply by the end of 2017. Similar projects are underway in the communities of Okieville, Monson, and Seville-Yettem to connect an additional 195 homes to a sustainable water supply.

    Another highlight of the 2017 water year was the announcement that 99 percent of the state’s high- and medium-priority groundwater basins met a key deadline to form local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) under the state’s landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014. California depends on groundwater for a major portion of its annual water supply, particularly during times of drought. The long-term planning required by SGMA will reduce the impacts of groundwater overdraft, including subsidence, and provide a buffer against drought and climate change.

    Although a wet 2017 minimized the risk of subsidence in historically affected parts of the San Joaquin Valley, DWR continues to fund satellite- and aircraft-based radar monitoring of subsidence by NASA to support local implementation of SGMA.

    Looking ahead, DWR is preparing for the uncertainty of water year 2018 and beyond:

    • In August, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board adopted the 2017 update to the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, prepared by DWR, which recommends long-term multi-benefit actions to improve flood risk management.
    • This past year DWR awarded more than $4.2 million in Delta Flood Emergency Response grants to improve Delta flood response and increase public safety.
    • In the past five years, DWR has awarded 46 grants totaling $25 million to develop and update flood safety plans, and increase coordination, training, and flood fight supplies for local agencies across the state.
    • Ongoing SGMA implementation will bring overdrafted groundwater basins into balance to protect our water supply against the impacts of prolonged drought and climate change.
    • California WaterFix will upgrade California’s water supply infrastructure to more reliably transport water through the Delta, protecting against the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. The project provides a more flexible and environmentally-responsible way to convey water during significant precipitation events for use in dry years. Construction could begin in 2018, pending support from public water agencies.
    • The first phase of reconstruction on the Lake Oroville spillways will be completed by November 1, 2017, ensuring the spillway can handle 100,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) this water year. Phase 2, which will be completed by end of 2018/early 2019, will bring the spillway to final design with a capacity of 270,000 cfs. The emergency spillway will be reinforced with several erosion-prevention features, including a cutoff wall to prevent head-cutting erosion.

    In the face of California’s highly variable weather patterns, DWR and our local, state, and federal partners are working together to ensure that Californians are prepared. Infrastructure improvements and advances in accurate, long-term forecasting are critical to public safety and sustainability. When it comes to water, California must prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Read more about water year 2017 in the report “What a Difference a Year Makes.”

  • Karen Ross To Headline California Citrus Conference

    Visalia, Calif., (October 10, 2017) – The California Citrus Conference, scheduled for October 11, will feature California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross as its keynote speaker.

    All those associated with the California citrus industry are invited to attend the free one-day event of presentations and demonstrations sponsored by the Citrus Research Board (CRB) at the Wyndham Hotel in Visalia, California. The conference will share the “best of the best” in research developments, according to CRB President Gary Schulz, and will emphasize work being done to combat huanglongbing (HLB).

    “HLB, which has decimated the citrus industry in other growing regions throughout the world, has now been found in over 150 residential trees in California,” said Schulz. “Secretary Ross will convey to growers that the CDFA understands the urgency of finding a cure for this devastating disease and stands foursquare behind the CRB’s wide-reaching research efforts.”

    “This disease is fatal to citrus trees,” Ross said. “It has no cure, so the solution must come from research – research that is already well underway, thanks to foresight and funding from growers and our state and federal leaders.”

    Ross has served as CDFA Secretary for nearly seven years. She previously was chief of staff for U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and also had been president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers and vice-president of the Agricultural Council of California. Under her stewardship, the CDFA has worked diligently to track, contain and slow the spread of Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) and HLB by setting traps, treating trees in infested areas and removing HLB-positive trees.

    Other featured topics and speakers at the conference will include:

    • “The Very Latest in ACP and HLB Treatment Strategies and Detection Challenges” presented by Beth Grafton-Cardwell, Ph.D., director of the Lindcove Research and Extension Center and research entomologist, University of California, Riverside, and Carla Thomas, plant pathologist and epidemiologist, University of California, Davis.
    • “Exploration and Exploitation of the Microbial Communities That Associate with Citrus Trees” presented by Johan Leveau, Ph.D., professor of plant pathology, University of California, Davis.
    • “Improving Nitrogen Management of Citrus” presented by Steve Petrie, Ph.D., of Yara North America Inc.
    • “Being Active Is Not Being Bold” presented by Joel Nelsen, president of California Citrus Mutual.
    • “An Update from the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee (CPDPC)” presented by Nick Hill, CPDPC chairman.
    • “Priority Post-Harvest Research to Control Insect Pests of California Citrus” presented by Spencer Walse, Ph.D., research chemist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Agricultural Research Service, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center.
    • “Panel Discussion: Biological Control Program for Asian Citrus Psyllid in California and Arizona” presented by Greg Simmons, Ph.D., entomologist with USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, David Morgan, Ph.D., biocontrol specialist with CDFA and Richard Stouthamer, Ph.D., entomologist with the University of California, Riverside.
    • “Citrus Breeding for California: New Tools to Meet the Challenge of HLB” presented by Mikeal Roose, Ph.D., professor of genetics at the University of California, Riverside.
    • “Streamlining the Introduction of Citrus Varieties from HLB-infested Areas into California. A Case Study – Florida” presented by Georgios Vidalakis, Ph.D., professor and UC extension specialist in plant pathology, University of California, Riverside and director of the Citrus Clonal Protection Program.

    The event also will feature scientific poster presentations, networking opportunities and continuing education units, which have been approved by the Department of Pesticide Regulation.

    A complimentary breakfast buffet will be served from 6:30-9:00 a.m. Morning conference sessions are scheduled from 9:00 a.m.-noon, and will be highlighted by the keynote address from Secretary Ross. Following a free luncheon, afternoon sessions will run from 1:15-5:00 p.m.

    To register or request additional details, contact the CRB on line at www.citrusresearch.org  or by phone at 559.738.0246.

    Additionally, a special session, “Train the Trainer: Best Practices for Citrus Field Crews to Prevent the Spread of ACP/HLB” will be conducted in Spanish only from 7:00-9:00 a.m. Pre-registration for this seminar is required through www.citrusinsider.org or by phone at 559-592-3790.

  • Benefits of Subsurface Drip Irrigation in the Orchard

    Subsurface drip irrigation is growing more and more common in field crops, but what about in the orchard? The UC Cooperative Extension has been experimenting on this for a few years now in a stone fruit orchard at the Kearney Ag Center, and the results are very positive. Watch California Ag Network’s interview with Becky Phene as she explores the benefits of converting to subsurface drip, and read more about it in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.

    Sponsored By:

    Calagnet & YARA

  • Supplement Promises to Create Climate Smart Cows

    Davis, Calif., (October 6, 2017) – Belching beef and dairy cows emit a significant amount of methane, sending a potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere where it can contribute to climate

    A steer at UC Davis that is part of the Mootral trial, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.

    change. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources researcher Ermais Kebreab, a professor in the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis, is studying a potential new solution.

    In European studies, supplementation with just 15 grams of a formulation called Mootral, derived from garlic and citrus extracts, killed bacteria in the cow’s gut that produce the gas emitting from the animals’ mouths and nostrils. Methane emission was cut 30 to 50 percent. Kebreab and his staff are feeding the supplement to nine California cows at the UC Davis farm and comparing their emissions with nine cows on identical rations minus Mootral.

    The research was shared with writers in Sacramento for the International Food Bloggers Conference during a pre-event excursion to the UC Davis ag barn.

    UC ANR researcher Ermais Kebreab is leading a trail at UC Davis comparing cattle that received the Mootral supplement with those that did not.

    “This research is highly relevant in California,” Kebreab said. “The state is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent of 1990 levels by 2030. We need to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production.”

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (October 6, 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 Alfalfa fields continue to be irrigated, cut, and baled. Sorghum fields are being harvested. Corn silage continues to be harvested. Cotton harvesting has started in some county fields. Black-eyed beans continue to be harvested.

    Peaches, nectarines, and plums continue to be picked and shipped to both domestic and export markets. Stone fruit is being exported to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and New Zealand. A few old stone fruit orchards are being pushed out. Soil amendments are being applied to some stone fruit orchards. Pistachio harvest continues, with exports to China, the European Union, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, and Vietnam. Almond harvest continues throughout the county. Almonds are being exported to Argentina, Chile, Germany, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates. Walnuts continue to be harvested. Pears are being exported to Mexico. Table grape harvest continues, and are being exported to Australia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, and Vietnam. Thompson seedless grapes are being rolled and picked up. Pomegranate harvest continues, with exports going to Brazil and Australia. Kiwifruit are being harvested, and exported to Mexico and Panama. Persimmons are now coloring.

    Valencia oranges are being exported to China and Korea. Most citrus packing houses are getting ready for the new navel orange season. Citrus orchards are being skirted and trimmed for the coming season. Some orange groves are being pushed out to make way for new plantings. Finger limes are being exported to Japan, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. The olive crop is heavy and continues to be harvested.

    Certified producers are picking tomatoes, sweet corn, okra, cucumbers, squash, and peppers. Commercial plantings of Yellow squash, eggplant, Bell peppers, green Chili peppers, and cucumbers are being harvested and shipped domestically. Fall vegetables are developing well and some early varieties are almost ready for harvest. Strawberries continue to grow. Pumpkins patches look very mature and should be ready for picking soon.

    Rangeland grazing is much better this year and helping ranchers off-set higher than average feed costs. The fed cattle market price is down to $104.00 per hundred weight. Harvested grain fields continue to be sheeped-off in the southern portions of the county.

    Nursery shipments continue to be slow. Wholesale nurseries are shipping small amounts of stock to local and out-of-state retail outlets. Potted roses are being shipped to Texas. New wells continue to be drilled.