California Ag Network

Category: News

  • Dairy Producers Can Enroll or Elect to Opt-Out for 2018 MPP Coverage

    Washington, D. C., (September 14, 2017) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that starting Sept. 1, 2017, dairy producers can enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). Secretary Sonny Perdue has utilized additional flexibility this year by providing dairy producers the option of opting out of the program for 2018.

    To opt out, a producer should not sign up during the annual registration period. By opting out, a producer would not receive any MPP-Dairy benefits if payments are triggered for 2018. Full details will be included in a subsequent Federal Register Notice. The decision would be for 2018 only and is not retroactive.

    Producers can mail the appropriate form to the producer’s administrative county FSA office, along with applicable fees, without necessitating a trip to the local FSA office. USDA has a web tool to help producers determine the level of coverage under the MPP-Dairy that will provide them with the strongest safety net under a variety of conditions. The online resource, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool.

    For more information, visit FSA online at www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy or stop by a local FSA office to learn more about the MPP-Dairy. To find a local FSA office in your area, visit http:// offices.usda.gov.

  • Can Stockmanship training improve your bottom line?

    Davis, Calif., (September 13, 2017) – Among other changes, your next FARM evaluation requires documentation of annual stockmanship training for employees. Certainly low-stress cattle handling has been around for decades, with pioneers like Bud Williams and Temple Grandin describing basic behaviors like flight zones and point-of-balance. With employee training time at a premium however, producers may justifiably wonder “Does stockmanship training pay for itself?” Some newer, more sophisticated research provides some important clues into the potential damaging effects of rough handling on production.

    Some studies indicate that milk yield can be reduced by as much as 10% when rough handling is used during cow movement. Excessive noise (shouting and slamming of metal gates) not only increases heart rate and anxiety in cattle, but can be comparable to the use of an electric prod. An intriguing study of cow recognition demonstrated that cows not only remember rough-handling employees, but exhibited a 70% increase in residual milk when milked in their presence.

    An Australian study observed that forceful handing accounted for about 16% of the differences in annual milk yield between participating farms. This recent accumulated research suggests that low-stress animal handling training for new employees and annual refresher training for all employees could be valuable.

    Dairy employee attitudes and practices are critical for providing proper animal care and cow productivity. It’s for this reason that CDQAP partnered with the California Beef Council on August 23rd to offer a pilot train-the-trainer workshop in stockmanship training plan development on the Durrer family dairy in Modesto. The workshop’s goal was to introduce producers and herdsmen to resources and techniques they can use to tailor stockmanship training to their own farm.

    Dr. Ron Gill from Texas A&M University used slides and videos to highlight important concepts that producers may wish to include in their own training programs. A review of training videos and documents available on-line as well as on-farm drill demonstrations of moving cows and heifers with low-stress techniques were also provided.

    The day finished with a discussion of the pilot workshop held over lunch served alongside the cows. The course slides and handouts are being collected for CDQAP’s animal care & economics webpage to be available soon and additional workshops may be offered in the future.

    By Dr. Michael Payne, UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine and Director, CDQAP

     

  • New Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation Announced

    Dr. Keith and Ruthie Bolsen announce the new Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation.

    The non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting safe bunker silo and silage pile

    management, and providing safety educational resources and materials for the global silage

    industry. Send everyone home safe!

     

    Keith and Ruthie’s mission is to promote safe silage. As The Silageman™, Keith has had

    his hands on more silage than anyone, and is a widely-recognized educator. He taught Cattle

    Nutrition and Silage Technology at Kansas State University, where he is a Professor Emeritus.

    The foundation will officially become public at World Dairy Expo, October 3 – 7 in

    Madison, WI. The foundation’s first presentation, “Bunker and Pile Safety – Get Your Wakeup

    Call Today” is at the Arena Building Forage Seminar Stage on Friday, October 6, 10:00 a.m.

     

    “The foundation will share the importance of silage safety through proper management

    practices from harvest to feedout,” says Keith. “Ruthie and I have experienced the pain of injury

    and death with the family members of silage accidents, and it is our goal that everyone working

    on a dairy or beef farm goes home safe every day.” The foundation’s website outlines the

    resources available: printed and video materials, speaker opportunities, training workshops,

    and scholarships for families of silage collapse victims.

     

    “Preventing silage accidents is a big challenge, and we are looking for donors – both

    industry and individual farmers – who want to support this important mission,” adds Ruthie.

     

    Keith and Ruthie will be at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin October 3 – 7 to

    introduce and promote the foundation. Please stop by their display in the Connor Agriscience

    booth, Arena Building, Space 490 and 491.

     

    Learn more at www.silagesafety.org, or call 512-301-2281 for more information.

  • California Dairy Families Tell the Real People Story of California Milk in New Social Series

    “California Dairy Stories” videos further connect consumers with family farmers behind the Real California Milk seal

    TRACY, Calif. (August 17, 2017) – Family, hard work and responsibility are all key themes that come through in “California Dairy Stories”, a new social media series launched today by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). The series, which captures short day-in-the-life moments from real California dairy families, was created to continue to connect consumers with the real people behind the Real California Milk seal.

    Like life, it’s not all work and no play for the 1300 dairy families who farm in California. From tractor pulls to stroopwafels, the series of 12 short videos tell very personal stories of the families who farm in California and look to pass this tradition to the next generation.

    Each moment demonstrates the variety of the dairy industry in California, which spans the state and is responsible for over 40 billion pounds of milk each year. For Tony Louters of Merced, who stepped away from a planned career as a CPA, going into farming means being able to spend time with his family, including daughter Alexis who is applying the values of hard work she learned on the farm to her studies as a speech therapist. Fourth-generation producer, Megan Silva, uses her early morning run to help prepare for the challenges of three business, 12 barns and three kids. And David Jones uses his lens as an amateur photographer to tell the story of California agriculture.

    “Real California Milk is about real food from real people. These short slices of California dairy life not only help consumers connect with the California dairy families who put the food on their tables but also create a better understanding of how we share the same values and experiences,” said Michael Freeman, VP of advertising for CMAB. “We pass on family traditions, we squeeze fitness into our busy lives and our kids often aspire to go into the family business. For farm families, though, that family business is nourishing the world.”

    The multigenerational story of family dairy farming in California is evident in each video vignette. From sharing traditional recipes to teaching the tools to become successful in farming, what comes through is the love of family, love of community and the gratitude for being in an industry that allows them to share the fruits of their labor with the world while continuously working to preserve the tradition of farming for the next generation.

    As B. Van Beek of Dairyland Farms in Tipton, Calif. says, “We don’t inherit the land from our parents, we borrow it from our grandkids.”

    “California Dairy Stories” joins the “Growing Up Dairy” social media series that debuted last year and depicts dairy kids sharing the love they have for raising livestock and helping on the farm. All videos can be viewed at RealCaliforniaMilk.com or on YouTube @realcaliforniamilk. They will be shared out through the Real California Milk Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels.

    Dairy products made with California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy
    farms. California produces more fluid milk, butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt.

  • Keeping Cows Cool With Less Water and Energy

    Davis, Calif., (September 12, 2017) – Innovative cooling technologies tested on dairy cows at the University of California, Davis, are addressing the long-standing challenge of keeping dairy cows cool in heat-stressed California.

    Cows cool off at UC Davis. (Paul Fortunato/UC Davis)

    Standard livestock cooling methods, such as fans and sprinkling cows with water, require significant amounts of electricity and water. The new technologies, being tested at UC Davis by the Western Cooling Efficiency Center and the Department of Animal Science, are designed to reduce water by up to 86 percent and electricity by up to 38 percent over conventional methods.

    Milk production and heat stress

    Milk is the most valued agricultural commodity in California, with $9.4 billion in retail sales in 2014. Roughly one in every five dairy cows in the nation lives in California. In addition to disturbing the cow, heat stress is a major cause of diminished milk production in dairy cows, with annual losses directly related to heat stress exceeding $800 million.

    “The process of rumination, where cows ferment their food, produces a lot of heat, as does milk production itself,” said Cassandra Tucker, a professor in the Department of Animal Science who focuses on dairy cattle welfare. “When the outside temperatures also rise, it’s a challenge for the animal in how she’s going to try to keep cool. This project is trying to reduce the energy and water use associated with that to help both the cows and the dairy producers.”

    How it works – The technologies involve two approaches. The first is conduction cooling, where the bedding area is cooled using heat exchange mats placed where cows lie down. To reduce energy consumption, water flowing through the mats is cooled through a novel evaporative chiller called a Sub-Wet Bulb Evaporative Chiller.

    The second approach is targeted convection cooling, which uses fabric ducting to direct cool air onto the cows while they lie down and when they eat. The air is cooled using a high-efficiency direct evaporative cooler.

    Keeping Cows Cool California Dairy Magazine

    “This is an exciting research opportunity for UC Davis to combine our expertise in engineering with our expertise in animal science,” said Theresa Pistochini, senior engineer at the Western Cooling Efficiency Center. “There is significant potential to apply existing technologies in a novel way to reduce both energy and water used to cool dairy cows. Through this project we aim to design, test and demonstrate an efficient alternative.”

    The project is part of a four-year, $1 million grant from the California Energy Commission to help improve water and energy efficiency in California’s dairy industry. The data being collected now will help determine which technology the team should use to pilot at a commercial dairy in a future phase of the project.

  • CDFA Announces Vacancy On The Citrus Pest And Disease Prevention Committee

    Sacramento, Calif., (September 12, 2017) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing one vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee. The Committee advises the CDFA secretary on activities associated with a statewide work plan that includes outreach and education programs; and programs for surveying, detecting, analyzing, and treating pests and diseases specific to citrus.

    The members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary travel expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.

    A committee vacancy exists for a grower representative from the Coastal District and will expire on September 30, 2019. Individuals interested in being considered for a committee appointment should send a brief resume by September 11, 2017 to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, 1220 N Street, Room 221, Sacramento, California 95814, Attention: Leandro Ramos.

    For additional information, contact: Leandro Ramos, Program Manager at (916) 654-0317, or e-mail (leandro.ramos@cdfa.ca.gov).

    The California Department of Food and Agriculture protects and promotes California’s $47 billion agricultural industry. California’s farmers and ranchers produce a safe, secure supply of food, fiber and shelter; marketed fairly for all Californians; and produced with responsible environmental stewardship.

    For additional information on the California Department of Food and Agriculture please visit our website at www.cdfa.ca.gov.

  • USDA California Crop/Weather Report

    Sacramento, Calif., (September 12, 2017) – Hot weather continued, but enough moisture moved into the state to drive scattered showers across the mountains and northern valley. Additional monsoon showers were seen in the deserts.  Most areas that saw rain saw less than half an inch, although a few heavier downpours led to nearly an inch of rainfall in isolated locations. Patchy snow continued at elevated, sheltered areas in the Lassen Volcanic Park, with a maximum depth of up to a foot. In addition, there was still one to three feet of snow on the peak of Shasta.

    Temperature highs were in the 60s to 80s along the coast, 70s to 90s in the mountains, and 90s to 100s in the valley and desert.  Temperature lows were in the 30s to 50s in the mountains, 50s to 60s along the coast, 60s to 70s in the valley, and 60s to 80s in the desert.

    Rice was nearly completely headed. Alfalfa fields continued to be irrigated, cut and baled. Sorghum for silage was in various stages of development. Cotton was being irrigated and bolls continued to develop. Black-eyed beans were drying and nearing harvest.

    Stone fruit harvest was nearly complete.  Harvest of some late variety stone fruit orchards continued.  Wine, table, and raisingrape harvest was ongoing.  Harvest of some early wine grape varieties was complete.  Raisin grapes continued to be placed on trays for drying.  Pomegranate harvest continued.  Persimmons continued to gain size and change color.  Valencia oranges and lemons were harvested and packed.  Early apple varieties were harvested.

    The almond harvest continued.  Walnut orchards were being prepared for harvest and sprayed for husk fly and orangeworm.  Ethephon sprays were applied to some walnut groves.  Pistachio harvest continued.

    In Colusa County, the processing tomato harvest continued.  Reported issues included both mold and excessive quantities of green tomatoes.  In San Joaquin County, harvest continued for honeydew melons, watermelons, cantaloupes, pumpkin, squash, and processing tomatoes.  Farmers Market vegetables continue to be harvested and offered for sale.   In Monterey County, the weather was hot, which affected lettuce growth.  Seedstem showed up in romaine and iceberg lettuce.  Continued heat and cloudy conditions expected next week may continue to impact the harvest.  In San Mateo County, beans were harvested.  Pumpkins started reaching maturity.  In Tulare County, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers were picked by certified producers and sold at the local Farmers Markets.  Yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, Bell peppers, green chili peppers, and cucumbers were harvested and shipped domestically.  Fall vegetables were planted and developing well.

    Rangeland and dryland pastures continued to decrease in nutritive value necessitating supplemental feeding of livestock. Sheep continued to graze retired cropland as well as harvested melon and vegetable fields.  Bees were still active in squash fields.

  • FAQ Sheet Regarding the Class Action Lawsuit for CA Raisin Growers

  • USDA California Crop/Weather Report

    Sacramento, Calif., (September 6, 2017) – Hot and dry weather continued across most of the State under the influence of stubborn high pressure over the interior western United States. Rain only fell in parts of the Sierras, as well as a couple areas of the desert, which were driven by a monsoon. Some locations experienced record high temperatures; San Francisco recorded its highest temperature ever recorded. Patchy snow existed at elevated, sheltered areas in the Lassen Volcanic Park, with a maximum depth of one foot in places. In addition, there are still one to three feet of snow on the peak of Shasta.

    Temperature highs were in the 60s to 80 along the coast, 70s to 90s in the mountains, 90s to 100s in the desert, and 100s in the valley. Temperature lows were in the 30s to 50s in the mountains, 50s to 60s along the coast, 60s to 70s in the valley, and 60s to 80s the desert.

    Alfalfa fields continued to be irrigated and baled. Sorghum for silage was in various stages of development. Corn silage continued to be harvested. Cotton was being irrigated and bolls continued to develop. Black-eyed beans were drying and nearing harvest.

    Peach, nectarine, pear, fig, and plum harvest continued. Harvested stone fruit orchards were pruned and topped. Table grape harvest continued as wine grape harvest began. Valencia orange and finger lime harvest were ongoing. Irrigation and repair of irrigation systems continued. Olives were developing well. Pomegranate harvest was now underway.

    Almond harvest was underway. Pistachio harvest began.  Walnut orchards continued to be irrigated.  Both mechanical and chemical weed control continued in orchards.

    In San Joaquin County, harvest continued processing tomatoes, onions, honeydew melons, watermelons, cantaloupes, and sweet corn.  Farmer’s Market vegetables continued to be harvested and offered for sale.   In Monterey County, the weather was moderate and allowed for continuous harvest and fieldwork. All fall season commodities were in production.  In Fresno County, harvest continued for tomatoes and peppers.  In Tulare County, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers were picked by certified producers and sold at the local Farmers’ Markets.  Yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, Bell peppers, green chili peppers, and cucumbers were harvested and shipped domestically.  Fall vegetables were planted and developing well.

    Low elevation, non-irrigated pasture and rangeland quality continued to deteriorate. Range conditions were reported to be fair to very poor. Cattle were being moved to higher elevations. The higher elevations provide more grass than previous years. Feed costs for cattle remained high. As the nutritional quality of range grasses diminished, supplemental feeding increased. Some cattle were moved to higher elevations.  Sheep grazed retired pasture and dormant alfalfa.

  • Sonoma County Wine Harvest Off to a Fast Start

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (September 11, 2017) – Ask any winegrape grower to describe the grape harvest in Sonoma County and you typically hear “harvest time is like a marathon.”  When it comes to the 2017, harvest has taken off like a sprint and the pace shows no sign of letting up until the end of harvest.

    August delivered some of the longest, hottest periods seen in years which caused heat stress for both grapes and people.  In some AVAs, it became too hot for too long causing sugars to rapidly increase – in some cases faster than the grapes were maturing.  Some growers increased their irrigation cycles to avoid excessive sun damage to the vine leaves and fruit.  Rapid increases in brix levels resulted in some grapes being harvested as quickly as possible, while in other parts of the county later varieties were being irrigated to keep the grapes from dehydrating.

    The other primary challenge facing Sonoma County winegrape growers is the availability of labor.  While there is not a critical shortage this season, it is clear that there is a limited supply with more workers needed, especially in the coming years.  To combat the tight labor market, more growers are turning to mechanical harvesters in addition to using hand harvesting and picking fruit at a riper level.  All growers agree that it will only become more difficult to secure the necessary skilled labor force in the future. However, many growers are talking about the increased skill level of the agricultural workers this year.

    With early September bringing a much needed cool down, the sparkling wine harvest is mostly complete.  Throughout Sonoma County, harvest has begun for most varieties of grapes including Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Malbec.   The harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes is expected to begin in earnest in the middle of September.  Most growers anticipate harvest being complete in mid-October.

    Russian River Valley
    Excellent quality and great flavors are offsetting concerns about near normal or slightly below normal yields throughout the Russian River Valley AVA.  The frequent heat waves this summer have reduced yields in many blocks while creating a challenge to plan and coordinate the harvest.  According to Duff Bevill, a partner in Bevill Vineyard Management, he is in full harvest mode for the next five to seven weeks, and the sustained heat resulted in him having to harvest some Zinfandel blocks earlier than expected.  For other growers, the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir harvests are commencing this week, followed by the start of the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest in the middle of the month.

    Dry Creek Valley – Heat is the common concern throughout Dry Creek Valley with growers monitoring the brix levels on a frequent basis, as they anticipate it will result in a slightly earlier harvest throughout the AVA.  Patrick Taylor, co-owner of Taylor Family Vineyard reported that the early heat waves in July – followed by cooling fog and ending up with a late August heatwave – have caused brix levels to sky rocket. The Sauvignon Blanc harvest has begun, while the Zinfandel and Syrah harvest should begin shortly; Cabernet is expected to be fully ripened by the latter part of September.

    Alexander Valley – The harvest is getting underway throughout most of Alexander Valley with the overall grape quality looking excellent with an average yield.  The harvest of Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc grapes has been ongoing for the past ten days.  The harvest of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are both just beginning. Merlot, Gewürztraminer, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Cabernet, Zinfandel and more are still to be harvested over the next month and a half.  Throughout Alexander Valley, a supply of skilled labor remains a top concern.

    Sonoma Valley – Harvest is ramping up throughout the Sonoma Valley AVA, as the recent heat wave spiked sugar levels and pushed all varieties to an earlier harvest.  Many growers are predicting that if the weather continues to be warm throughout September, the majority of the fruit in the AVA could be picked by the end of the month.  The continued winter rains and mild spring created some ideal growing conditions early, which should pay off with some very high-quality grapes at average yields.  Taylor Serres, COO of Serres Ranch, reports that quality is above average across the board, though the harvest has begun earlier than anticipated.  The concern looking ahead is all varieties ripening at the same time due to the August heat wave.

    Chalk Hill – Initial reports indicate an average to higher than average yields, and excellent quality throughout the Chalk Hill AVA.  Harvest is expected to begin in September and be completed by early October.  A primary concern throughout the AVA is the availability of skilled labor.  Most growers are looking to do as much work by machine as possible and anticipate more machine harvesting in the very near future.

    Follow the Harvest – If you want up-to-the-minute updates on Sonoma County’s harvest activities directly from our grape growers and wineries, the Sonoma County Winegrowers have created an online Harvest Tracker to help everyone stay informed on what’s happening in our vineyards and cellars. Visit the Sonoma County Winegrowers Harvest Page for the latest news and use the hashtag #SCHarvest on social media.