California Ag Network

Category: News

  • USDA California Crop/Weather Report

    Sacramento, Calif., (August 22, 2017) – Mostly dry conditions and near normal temperatures dominated the weather this week. With some areas of rain concentrated mostly in the higher elevation regions on the eastern side of the state, with Yosemite Valley receiving a total of 0.45 inches for the week. Continued heat in the higher elevations has nearly melted all snow, except for those shaded locations near Lassen Volcanic National Park.

    Temperature highs were in the 60s to 70s along the coast, 80s to 90s in the mountains, 80s to 100s in the valley, and highs in the 100s in the desert. Temperature lows were in the 40s to 50s along the coast and the mountains, 50s to 60s in the valley, and the 70s in the dessert.

    Alfalfa continued to be cut and baled. Safflower was drying in the field. Sorghum for silage was cultivated and irrigated. Cotton was blooming and forming bolls, and continued to be irrigated. Corn for silage was harvested. Black-eyed beans were maturing and nearing harvest. Rice was heading ahead of schedule.

    Peach, nectarine, Asian pears, and plum harvest continued. Harvested stone fruit orchards were pruned and topped. Fig harvest began. Table grape and finger lime harvest continued. Wine grape harvest was underway. Olives were developing well.  Valencia oranges were harvested, however, regreening continued to be a problem.

    Almond harvest was underway in some groves as hull split progressed. Almond orchard ground preparation continued for later varieties.  Walnut and pistachio orchards continued to be irrigated.  Both mechanical and chemical weed control continued in orchards.

    Processing tomato harvest was progressing well. Legumes and fall squash were flowering.  Brussel sprouts in the vegetative state were growing rapidly. Fresh tomatoes, onions, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, summer squashes, eggplant, and peppers were harvested. Sweet corn harvest continued. Monterey County strawberry production was impacted slightly by pest pressure due to fog. Melons were harvested and some later harvest fields irrigated. Fall ground work, including discing, chiseling, and land planning, was underway in some fields.  New drip tape was installed in new and existing beds.

    Non-irrigated pasture and rangeland quality continued to deteriorate. As the nutritional quality of range grasses diminished supplemental feeding increased. Some livestock were evacuated due to grass and forest fires. Sheep grazed retired pasture and dormant alfalfa. Bees worked melon fields.

  • California Table Olive Forecast For 2017

    Sacramento, Calif., (August 22, 2017) – The 2017 California table olive forecast is 73,000 tons, up 9 percent from last year’s crop of 67,100 tons, according to a survey conducted by the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Pacific Regional Office. Bearing acreage is estimated at 19,000, which results in a yield of 3.84 tons per acre.

    The Manzanillo production forecast is 63,500 tons, Sevillano production forecast is 9,000 tons, and other varieties are expected to total 500 tons.

    Good weather and increased precipitation provided improved conditions for California table olive growers. A cool January and February led to good

    floral development with a high bloom and adequate pollen. However, hot temperatures during bloom may reduce the set, and as well as concerns of labor shortages during harvest. The California table olive crop is currently in bloom.

    There were 328 growers sampled for the survey. Reports from 142 were used to establish this forecast. The sample is designed to provide a State estimate of all varieties; estimates by variety are less precise.

  • California Dairy Digital Magazine: August

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    The August issue of California Dairy Magazine is now available to read online! Read the latest California Dairy & Feed industry news and technology.  Here’s a peek of what’s inside:

    • Dairy Princess Makayla Toste – A Voice for the Dairy Industry
      Educating a Misinformed Public and Building Dairy Trust
    • Prevelance of Salmonella In California Cull Cows
      Keep Your Feed Clean & Rodent Populations Down
    • Subsurface Drip Irrigation in Alfalfa
      Advantages & Disadvantages
    • Dairy Consumption Reduces Risk of Kidney Disease
      Positive Results From the International Milk Genomics Consortium
    • CA Milk Prices: Higher but not Quite Up To Par
      Stand-Alone Quota Program Continues Development
    • Udder Things
      California Dairy News Briefs

  • A Faster, Less Costly Way to Process Walnuts

    Albany, Calif., (August 21, 2017) – The popularity of walnuts is growing among health-conscious consumers, but processing these nutrient-vitamin-rich nuts could use some tweaking. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have developed a method that uses infrared technology to improve commercial processing, particularly drying, to reduce energy costs and deliver high-quality products.

    Walnut drying is expensive and energy intensive, according to ARS engineer Zhongli Pan in Albany, California. The current hot-air drying method takes more than 24 hours to dry walnuts and uses a significant amount of natural gas and electricity. Infrared—a form of intense light that’s felt, but not seen—dries walnuts faster and is less expensive. It’s a type of electromagnetic radiation—as are radio waves, ultraviolent radiation, X-rays and microwaves.

    The new drying process, developed by Pan and his team at ARS’s Western Regional Research Center, includes three new steps: Hulled, in-shell walnuts are separated into two groups with different moisture contents; then pre-dried with infrared heating; and followed with regular hot air drying.

    In experiments, the new process saved up to 25 percent of the natural gas and electricity needed to dry walnuts, according to Pan. In addition, the infrared drying process quickly removed moisture from the surface and shell of walnuts, reducing total drying time by 35 percent.

    Walnuts have a broad range of moisture contents and get wet after washing, according to Pan. Currently they are hot-air dried for the same amount of time. This can cause under-drying or over-drying.

    When the moisture content is too high, it causes mold, so facilities tend to over-dry walnuts to make sure they are safe to eat, Pan stated. But over-drying wastes a lot of energy and reduces walnut quality. Infrared drying improves quality by reducing both over-drying and under-drying, allowing walnut meat to maintain color and an exceptional polyunsaturated fat content.

    This new infrared drying method also may be practical for other types of nuts, such as pistachios, according to Pan.

    Read more about this research in the August 2017 issue of AgResearch magazine.

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

     

     

  • Living with Wildlife at Hopland REC

    Hopland, Calif., (August 21, 2017) – In December 2016 we held our first workshop to share research and allow community conversation regarding ranching in an area rich in carnivores and the challenges that this poses. On August 31st we will be offering the follow up to this event, explaining current research efforts and the new data that has been collected on various methods of predator prevention.

    We hope you can join us!

    Living with Wildlife: New and Emerging Research

    Date: August 31, 2017

    Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Registration from 8:30am)

    Event Details: A series of brief research updates by UC ANR and other UC colleagues will detail ongoing work in the science and history of non-lethal carnivore control. Field demonstrations will allow direct experience of traditional and emerging non-lethal tools, including fencing types, guardian dogs, turbo fladry, Foxlights and e-Shepherd collars. Facilitated dialogue among diverse participants will be integrated throughout the day’s presentations including a rancher panel with representatives from the beef and lamb sector and from the coast to further inland. We look forward to hosting a range of speakers and participants, understanding new findings, building new partnerships, and moving toward solutions to manage for livestock and natural resource conservation.

    This workshop promises to be of value to ranchers, agencies, non-profits, researchers and all those with an interest in tackling the challenges associated with ranching in a landscape rich in wildlife.

    We hope you can join us at Hopland for this important and exciting event!

    $25 per person, includes lunch.
    No one turned away due to lack of funds – email hbird@ucanr.edu for more details

    Contact: Hannah Bird (707) 744 1424 ext 105 hbird@ucanr.edu

    Sponsor: Hopland Research and Extension Center/UC Berkeley

    Location: Rod Shippey Hall, UC Hopland Research and Extension Center 4070 University Road, Hopland CA 95449

  • Supreme Raisins a Hit at the UC Kearney Grape Day 2017

    Kearney, Calif., (August 21, 2017) – Excitement over the new Sunpreme raisins was evident at UC Kearney Grape Day Aug. 8, 2017. As soon as the tram stopped, dozens of farmers and other industry professionals rushed over to the vineyard to take a close look and sample the fruit. Raisins pulled from the vine were meaty with very little residual seed. The flavor was a deep, sweet floral with a muscat note.

    Sunpreme raisins drying on their own in a Kearney vineyard.

    Sunpreme raisins, bred by now-retired USDA breeder David Ramming, promise a nearly labor-free raisin production system. Traditionally, raisins are picked and placed on paper trays on the vineyard floor to dry. The development of dried-on-the-vine varieties opened the door to greater mechanization. Workers would cut the stems above clusters of grapes, which then dry out in the canopy and are harvested mechanically. The new wrinkle with Sunpreme is that grapes ripen and then start to dry on their own – no cane cutting needed.

    UC Cooperative Extension viticulture specialist Matthew Fidelibus and UCCE viticulture advisor George Zhuang are now studying the performance of Sunpreme grapes on different rootstocks and trellis systems at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

    UCCE specialist Matt Fidelibus is conducting rootstock and trellis system experiments on Sunpreme raisins.

    “We didn’t know a lot about this variety,” Fidelibus said. “We’ve found it to be very vigorous.”

    Fidelibus said the raisins take about a month to dry, and one challenge is the tendency for dried raisins to drop off the vine.

    “We want to keep the self drying and stop self dropping,” he said.

    Ramming discovered the Sunpreme variety in a Thompson seedless table grape variety trial in the mid-1990s. He was going down the row, saw clusters of raisins and screeched to a stop. He had discovered Sunpreme. The variety is not yet available for commercial production.

    Fighting nematodes with new solutions

    Also during Grape Day 2017, UC Cooperative Extension nemotology specialist Andreas Westphal outlined research underway to keep nematodes at bay.

    “There’s no methyl bromide in commercial planting,” Westphal said. The very effective fumigant was banned because of it’s tendency to deplete ozone in the atmosphere and the risk to human health because of its toxicity. Many farmers have turned to Telone as an alternative, however it is expensive and its use is limited by a township cap.

    Westphal is comparing alternative treatments for clearing the soil of the tiny worms that feed on vine roots and inhibit vineyard productivity.

    “Some companies are coming up with new chemistry,” Westphal said. “Our challenge in the perennial world is that the roots go so deep.”

    Seven new products and Telon were drenched in different replicated research plots. Some areas were left alone to serve as control. Three times the number of Sauvignon Blanc vines were planted in the plots compared to a typical vineyard so researchers could take out plants twice and examine the roots for evidence of pests.

    “We are excited to see significant growth differences among the treatments,” Westphal said, pointing out a row that was visibly shorter and less vigorous. “It amazed me. Three years after treatment, and it never grew back out of it.”

    Work is still ongoing, but Westphal said he believes some chemical treatment could be available in the future to help reduce nematode pressure.

    To deal with nematode populations, Westphal encouraged growers to sample soil and communicate with the diagnostic laboratory to determine what pest nematodes are in their vineyards, and then use that information for root stock selection.

    “Growers should not forget the value of nematode-resistant rootstocks,” he said. “Plant material needs to be chosen very carefully when different species of nematodes are present.”

    UCCE viticulture advisor emeritus George Levitt, left, chats with retired USDA breeder David Ramming at Grape Day 2017.

  • Another Stellar Sonoma County Wine Harvest Begins

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (August 18, 2017) – Record winter rainfall, a mild spring, a scorching summer and a serious labor shortage are just some of the challenges Sonoma County winegrowers have experienced this year.  Being tested as never before, local winegrape farmers began the 2017 harvest for sparkling wines in some parts of Sonoma County last week with early expectations calling for a high-quality vintage crop of an average tonnage size.

    “Though the year is barely half over, we have already witnessed many daunting challenges, but our farmers are amazingly resilient, they persevere and continue farming some of the world’s very best grapes,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “There is great excitement throughout the County as activities pick up and the crush begins.”

    The first quarter of the year saw a record rainfall hit the County with nearly 58 inches of precipitation falling in Santa Rosa, more than 70 inches throughout the County and rain reported for 21 of the 28 days of February. The rainfall filled the region’s reservoirs beyond their capacity, triggering flooding and landslides which closed numerous roads, inundated hundreds of acres of vineyards and saturated vines particularly along the lower Russian River. In addition, a tight labor supply, increased operating costs, proposed ground water regulations, urban encroachment and a host of local ordinances have had the attention of local winegrape farmers this year.

    The long rainy season and mild spring resulted in above-average vegetative growth and vigor. The heavy rains left ample water deep in the soil, so vines were able to handle the subsequent heat waves.  When it came time for the bloom, conditions were ideal and most varietals set well.  With harvest still weeks away in most Sonoma County vineyards, here are some of the harvest reports from the front lines of some of our AVAs:

    Russian River Valley: The harvest of grapes for sparkling wines has begun.  Joe Dutton, co-owner of Dutton Ranch and Chairman of the Sonoma County Winegrowers reports that picking is underway for Pinot Noir for the Gloria Ferrer Sparkling program. The grape harvest each day will be hit and miss for the next ten days to two weeks, but then after that, harvesting will be all day, every day. We are looking forward to a nice harvest. At J Vineyards & Winery, traditionally one of the first wineries to harvest in Sonoma County, picking has also begun, according to Jim Collins, VP Premium Winegrowing and Grower Relations for E. & J. Gallo Winery.  The first grapes picked were Pinot Noir for J’s sparkling wine program.  Overall, the vines weathered the year’s climate extremes very well and everything is shaping up to be a high-quality vintage.

    Dry Creek Valley: Ned Neumiller, grower relations and viticulture manager at Seghesio Family Vineyards, reports that much of the current activity in the Dry Creek Valley is finishing up final canopy management and starting to ready the crop for harvest.  Vine vigor continues to be the largest issue which is made more problematic for some growers due to the lack of labor.  The start of the Zinfandel harvest in the upper Dry Creek Valley will begin during one of the first two weeks of September.  Overall, quality looks to be excellent for Zinfandel with normal yields anticipated.
    Green Valley:In the Green Valley AVA, Dutton Ranch’s J. Alfred Steele reports that the harvest is running about 6-10 days later than last year but, given the big canopies from three months of storing carbs from the epic rains, the grapes could ripen quickly and the start of harvest may move up.  Right now veraison is on everywhere and it looks to be another great vintage.  Labor remains the biggest threat in the region this harvest season.

    Alexander Valley: Bret Munselle, a partner of Munselle Vineyards, expects the Alexander Valley harvest to begin between August 24th and the 28th.  The yield looks a little above average while the fruit looks great.  Cautious optimism is the current outlook.  Jim Rickards, owner of J. Rickards Vineyards, reports that the Malbec harvest should begin in late September, Petite Sirah in early October and the harvest will wrap up with Cabernet beginning mid- to late-October.  The vines appear to be doing well throughout the Alexander Valley with the heavy rains now providing vines with additional help in combatting recent heat waves.

    Sonoma Valley: With harvest still weeks away in the Sonoma Valley AVA, all blocks are at least 50% into veraison or well on their way to finishing.  Taylor Serres, of Serres Ranch, reports there was a late start to the season in Sonoma Valley due to the long winter which did leave ample moisture in the soil and paid dividends throughout the growing season. The other primary current challenge in the vineyards this year has been successfully managing mildew issues which have been experienced throughout Sonoma County.  Overall, the quality of grapes looks really good particularly the Bordeaux varieties.  Cluster counts appear to be similar to last year though Cabernet Franc seems lighter than last year. The one concern looking ahead is how fast and heavy the fruit will come in.

    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.

     

  • CDFA Certifies That Lyft, Uber Measurement Systems Accurately Establish Consumer Fares

    Sacramento, Calif., (August 18, 2017) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has issued California Type Evaluation Program Certificates of Approval to Lyft, Inc. and Uber USA, LLC. after determining that the companies’ digital systems accurately measure distance and time in establishing costs to consumers.

    Uber and Lyft connect drivers and riders via smartphone apps that provide a cost to the consumer based on time and distance traveled. The companies’ digital networks utilize GPS and other data transmitted by drivers’ smartphones to calculate fares. After two years of testing in real-world conditions across the state, CDFA certified the accuracy of the two systems. California is the first state to accept a measurement system for transportation network companies, also known as TNCs, which connect passengers with drivers through mobile apps.

    “Our evaluation of Lyft and Uber’s measurement systems should give consumers a high degree of assurance that they get what they pay for,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “As technologies and marketing practices advance, we want to ensure the state continues to meet or exceed the standards of consumer protection expected in California.”

    CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of commercial weighing and measuring devices in California. All new types of devices, such as the Uber and Lyft applications, must first be evaluated and approved by CDFA before use in California. This process of “type evaluation” certifies that the design and performance complies with all applicable weights and measures requirements for accuracy and reliability. Once certified for use, weights and measures inspectors in the 58 counties throughout California routinely check to ensure continued accuracy. In addition to Lyft and Uber, CDFA is also working with other TNCs that are in the process of being certified.

    Since 2015, Uber and Lyft have been operating under temporary use permits, allowing the companies to legally conduct business in California while CDFA did the work to provide final verification of the technologies in use. These systems measure times down to the second and distances in increments of one hundredth of a mile, and they add charges such as tolls, surcharges and booking fees when determining a total fare.

    CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards protects both businesses and consumers by ensuring fair competition for industry and accurate value comparison for consumers. The state works closely with county sealers of weights and measures who carry out the vast majority of weights and measures inspection activities at the local level.

     

     

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (August 18, 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 being irrigated, cut, and baled. Sorghum for silage is still being cultivated and irrigated. Corn silage is being harvested. Cotton continues to be irrigated, cultivated, and growing well. Cotton is blooming and forming bolls. Black-eyed beans are maturing and nearing harvest.

    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, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, and Taiwan. Almond harvest is underway throughout the county. Last season’s almonds and pistachios are being exported to Colombia, Chile, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, and Vietnam. Both mechanical and chemical weed control continues in orchards. Asian pears are being exported to Colombia and El Salvador. Table grape harvest continues, with grapes are being exported to Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. All permanent plantings are being irrigated.

    Valencia orange harvest continues, primarily for the domestic market. Regreening continues to be a problem, due to the summer temperatures. Valencia oranges are being exported to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. Valencia oranges and Meyer lemons are being bagged for export to Mexico. Variegated lemons are being exported to China. Finger limes are being harvested and exported to France, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands. Olives continue to develop.

    Certified producers are picking tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers for sale at the local Farmer’s Markets. Yellow squash, Zucchini, eggplant, Bell peppers, green Chili peppers, and cucumbers are being harvested and shipped domestically. Sweet corn harvest is continuing and available at roadside stands and the local Farmer’s Markets.

    Low elevation rangeland continues to dry and conditions are fair to good, but quality is continuing to decrease. Cattle are still being moved to higher elevations. The higher elevations are providing more grass than previous years. Feed costs for cattle remains high. The fed cattle market price is up to $118.00 per hundred weight.

    Nursery shipments are slowing overall. Wholesale nursery shipments to Canada and domestic markets have decreased due to the hot summer temperatures. Small amounts of citrus nursery stock continue to be sold. Kiwi pollen is being exported to Chile and South Africa. New wells continue to be drilled, with many existing wells showing higher levels due to increases in the water table.

  • Attendee Registration Now Open for Inaugural Organic Grower Summit

    Monterey, Calif., (August 17, 2017) – General attendee registration is now open for the inaugural Organic Grower Summit (OGS), slated for December 13-14 in Monterey, CA. A joint production between California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and Organic Produce Network (OPN), OGS will bring together organic growers, producers and processors for two days of education, information and networking opportunities with organic production supply chain and service providers.

    Attendee registration is $399, with discounts available for CCOF members. The registration includes all activities and events associated with the event, including opening reception, breakfast, educational sessions, keynote presentation, lunch and trade show floor.

    Over 50 sponsors have confirmed their attendance to date at the event, with more than half of the 72 available trade show booths sold. Among participating exhibitors are leaders in the fields of seed, packaging, soil amendments, food safety and ag technology who will be connecting with organic field production staff, supply chain managers, pest management advisors and food safety experts.

    “The Organic Grower Summit offers an important opportunity for agricultural producers and leaders to network and stay on top of the latest trends in organic production,” said Cathy Calfo, CCOF Executive Director/CEO, “The overwhelming enthusiasm for this gathering speaks to its importance for California’s organic and agricultural community.”

    Educational session panels at OGS will range in topics including farm soil management, environmentally sustainable packaging, advances in agricultural technology, and a discussion with elected state and federal officials on key issues facing agriculture. Among confirmed speakers are Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; Miles McEvoy, deputy administrator at USDA-AMS; plus additional keynote presentations and speakers to be announced in the coming weeks.

    Additionally, OGS is finalizing an educational Outreach Program for PCA, PRC and qualified applicators to kick off the event. Attendees are eligible for two hours of approved continuing education credit and will learn about new requirements for pesticide use near schools and worker protection standards.

    “The response to the event has been resoundingly positive from the organic community. They see the benefit of an event connecting organic growers and farmers with those on the supply and service provider side of the business. As organics continues to grow, the need for expanded education and information throughout the organic production community will be vital to our continued success,” said Tonya Antle, co-founder of OPN. “Our relationship with CCOF in putting together the OGS indicates we are producing the right event at the right time in bringing our community together.”

    For further information about the first-ever Organic Grower Summit, visit www.organicgrowersummit.com