Fresno, Calif., (August 17, 2017) – The Ag One Foundation announced the creation of two Fresno State student scholarships sponsored by Rabobank N.A. in memory of Tony DeGroot, one of the area’s most respected and innovative dairy farmers.
Each scholarship will provide one year’s full tuition and a $500 book stipend for a student in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State.
DeGroot passed away at age 80 in September 2015 in a plane accident while on a fishing trip in Alaska.
He owned DeGroot Dairy near Hanford, which started in 1966 with 100 acres and 400 cows. The farm grew to 2,500 acres and 4,500 cows while raising its own youngstock. In addition, he developed a Dutch Warmblood horse breeding operation, D.G. Bar Ranch, which is well known in the dressage community.
The farm is now run by DeGroot’s son, Tony DeGroot Jr.
“The Tony DeGroot Memorial Scholarship honors Tony for his significant contributions to our community, industry and Rabobank,” said Bob Dingler, Rabobank executive vice president and food and agribusiness director. “He served for many years on Rabobank’s Ag Advisory Board and advocated for the bank to be involved in advancing the dairy industry through research and supporting education. We and his family decided that there is no better way to honor a man, who we all considered a friend and mentor, than to start a Jordan College scholarship in his name.”
DeGroot immigrated to the United States in 1956 from the Netherlands and began a career as a baker near Rochester, Minnesota before developing a lung condition known as Baker’s Disease. His doctors recommended that he relocate to the Southern California coast in 1959, but the condition eventually returned, so he moved inland to the Central Valley where his farming and dairy career began.
DeGroot was known in the industry for his progressive instincts, and he more than doubled the farm’s milk-per-cow productivity in the span of 25 years.
His milking parlor developed a new milking system that used two pulsators simultaneously and mimicked the natural suction of nursing calves, streamlining the process and using less energy.
His farm grew beets as a rotational crop in alkaline-rich areas to reduce soil salt levels, and the beets were incorporated into corn silage piles for feeding. He also incorporated microbial protein amino acids into cattle feed to assist milk protein synthesis and to cost effectively reduce the amount of protein needed in cattle diets.
In 2015 he was honored with the Betaseed Feed Beets’ first Pioneer Award.
The DeGroot endowment is among more than 100 that are managed by the Ag One Foundation. Started in 1979, Ag One has helped provide 3,700 students with more than $2.7 million in scholarships and grants.
Fresno, Calif., (August 17, 2017) – Several students from throughout the San Joaquin Valley recently competed at the 69th National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in Gillette, Wyoming, from July 16 to 22.
Local competitors included Reed Neely, Andee Poole, Chance Strong and CJ Whitney. These individuals represented District 6 of the California High School Rodeo Association (CHSRA), which encompasses Kern through Madera counties. The organization offers 13 events that freshman through senior students may compete in.
Andee Poole
To qualify for the NHSFR, contestants were first required to compete at the state level. To make it to the California High School Finals Rodeo (CHSFR), students had to be ranked in the top five in their district for their respective event. At the state finals, the top four contestants in each event qualify to go on to compete at the NHSFR.
In Wyoming, contestants competed against opponents from throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. Each state or providence is entitled to send up to four competitors in an event. This year, more than 1,600 participated. The NHSFR has become known as the “World’s Largest Rodeo.” The California team placed second overall, behind Texas.
Reed Neely (18 years old), of Clovis, is a student at Clovis East High School. He competed in the saddle bronc, placing fourth overall. Reed followed in the footsteps of his father, Jeff. His mother, Debbie, also has a history in rodeo. Reed is involved with FFA and ranches with his dad.
Reed Neely
Chance Strong (17 years old), of Hanford, is a student at Kings Valley Academy. He competed in bull riding. He began riding sheep at the age of four when his dad got him started in the sport. Outside of competing, Chance spends his time ranching with his stepdad.
CJ Whitney (17 years old), of Visalia, attends Visalia Independent Charter and qualified for the reined cow horse event. CJ got interested in rodeoing through her grandpa. She spends her free time training service dogs.
The National High School Rodeo Association has a strong emphasis on academics. The organization also promotes western heritage, invests in the future of rodeo athletes, teaches leadership, promotes education and encourages family values.
Sponsorships play a large role in the success of the organization’s athletes. Contestants receive support through awards and scholarships. To become a sponsor of the California High School Rodeo Association, contact 209-847-6819 or chsrarodeo@gmail.com.
Los Banos, Calif., (August 16, 2017) – The signing ceremony for the Water Infrastructure Authority application marks an important milestone for the water users we serve. A diverse group of stakeholders have joined together in a bold effort to advance water storage for California. As chairman of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, I am proud to be a part of this historic action,” said Cannon Michael, chairman of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority.
“Surface water is vital to California. From our agriculture to our information technology to environmental management, the cities, counties, tribes and public water agencies represented here share a common bond. That bond is the need for adequate and dependable water supplies. Thousands of farmers produce food and fiber on some of the most productive farmland anywhere for consumers that live right here in our back yard and around the world. And as the world leader in technology, Silicon Valley depends on adequate and dependable water supplies to fuel the innovation of the future.
“Temperance Flat Dam will enhance California’s water supply, both for economic purposes and also to provide important ecosystem benefits. Fisheries and wetlands, stream flow and riparian forests will all thrive in the future with the additional water this project will provide. It will also be an important part of our efforts to address climate change. If predictions are right, future storms will be warmer and wetter and our ability to depend on the Sierra snowpack will diminish. It is important to begin preparing for that today.
“We are confident that with projects like this, the Valley and the rest of California will be a better place for our farms, our communities, and the important ecosystem resources that contribute to our quality of life.”
By Cannon Michael, Chairman – San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
Sacramento, Calif., (August 16, 2017) – Join us for the 2017 Blue Ribbon Brunch at the California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm on Sunday, September 10, 2017 from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
The Blue Ribbon Brunch is a three course farm-to-fork feast with the best fresh, local ingredients, plus award-winning wines, beers and desserts from the California State Fair competitions.
The Second Annual Blue Ribbon Brunch features farm-to-fork inspired meals by the official chef of the California State Fair, Keith Breedlove and guest chef Jill Campbell.
Guests can stroll through the farm enjoying freshly picked vegetables and fruits while they sip award winning wines and beers.
Tickets are $100.00 and are tax deductible. The Friends of the California State Fair hosts this major fundraiser for the Kaiser Permanente Farm. The proceeds from the Brunch help to add new fruit trees, cover expenses for planting new California-grown crops, farm equipment, supplies, tools and programming materials that are needed for the Fall and Spring Farm Tours from year-to-year.
Buy your ticket here!
The California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm offers K-6 grade students a unique, hands-on experience that shows them first-hand where their food comes during Spring and Fall Farm Tours at Cal Expo. Over 2500 students this year have experienced what it takes to plant, maintain and manage a farm from the 2017 CA State Fair Spring Farm Tours.
The California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm Tours are offered for six weeks in the spring and fall. The 2017 Fall Farm Tours begin September 12 and run through October 19. They are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. School sign-ups are going on now at http://www.castatefair.org/farmtours/ . There is a nominal fee of $5 per student for the tour.
“… the first challenge we have as teachers is to get students to buy in. Once they step foot on The Farm, they’re sold”, said Josie Peavy, 2nd grade teacher American Lake Elementary School.
The CA State Fair Farm grows over 90 varieties of fruits and vegetables all year long from kiwi, squash, eggplant, chili peppers, corn and melons to pumpkins and even cotton. The tours give students insight on what it takes to grow and produce healthy food. Students will see actual crops including a functioning greenhouse. They will participate in five learning stations: Grow it- they will explore seeds; See it: they will see what the seeds turn into; Save it: the newest methods for growing plants; Plant it: they can plant seeds; and Taste it: they will be able to taste the foods grown on The Farm.
The Farm’s fresh produce also goes a long way to providing healthy food to those in need all year long. We donate the majority of the fruits and vegetables to the Sacramento Food Bank. In 2016, Cal Expo donated 12,788 pounds of produce. Through June of this year, we have already donated 7,082 pounds. The Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services provides free emergency goods and services to 135,000 men, women and children each month. A fraction of the produce is used as for students to taste on the school tours and in cooking demonstrations at the California Kitchen during the CA State Fair.
The Farm does more than grow food; it grows knowledge and enriches the lives of area youth and even peaks the students’ interest to pursue careers in California’s number one industry: Agriculture.
“My students still talk about The Farm. We actually extended our farm unit by planting wild flowers to try and attract the bees, because they found out that the bee population was disseminating so they wanted to help out. And that was something they thought of on their own”, said Peavy.
Please consider supporting events like the Blue Ribbon Brunch to make California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm School Farm Tours available to all students.
Davis, Calif., (August 16, 2017) – In today’s food system, large scale food distribution has become the standard way food moves from farm to market. The system works well to feed a lot of people, and has allowed us to eat tomatoes in December and send produce far distances while keeping it fresh. But the system is not without its sacrifices.
Through large scale food distribution, farmers can lose the ability to set their own prices, and small-scale farmers can be cut out from the system for not being able to fill high volume orders. On the consumer side, this system can make local food harder to find and identify. Institutions interested in providing locally grown produce at their cafeterias may need the efficiency buying from large distributors provides, but find they’re unable to source food the way they’d like.
Food hubs are businesses popping up around California and the U.S. trying to create a food distribution system that supports regional food systems. By aggregating food from small and mid-sized farms and selling it to large businesses and institutions, food hubs are able to help realize the consumer’s desire for local food while helping small and mid-sized farmers succeed by connecting them with buyers who may otherwise be out of reach.
What is a Food Hub? #Collabatition
To help ease the challenge of starting these unique businesses, a network of food hubs in California, organized by the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, is learning how to conquer their business start-up and growth challenges together.
Thomas Nelson, president and co-founder of Capay Valley Farm Shop, a food hub in California’s Capay Valley, has built his business around a vision of a thriving regional food system where small farmers succeed. Thomas purchases food from 50 different farms in and near the Capay Valley, and sells primarily to corporate food service in the Bay Area.
Boxes of melons loaded into Capay Valley Farm Shop’s truck, headed for buyers in the Bay Area.
“Our model is farmer-focused,” Thomas said. “Farmers set the price for their food, and we add on our margin. We help tell the story of the farms so that their identity is kept throughout the supply chain. We let our buyers know about new products or new farms we’re working with, and our buyers ask for produce by farm name.”
Thomas works closely with his 50 farmers, helping them plan their crops to best meet the demands of their clients, and working with the beginning farmers to get them through the hurdle of learning how to sell wholesale.
“It can be a challenge to accurately predict the next harvest,” Thomas said. “And it’s our responsibility to mitigate some of those risks for the buyers as much as possible, but our buyers also get it. The reason they choose to work with the food hubs is they want to support local farms. What really makes this work are shared values.”
Thomas is one member of a new statewide food hubs network created in collaboration with the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP), a statewide program of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources whose work includes improving marketing opportunities for small farmers. The network, funded in part by the UC Global Food Initiative, brings together food hub mangers to learn from one another and collectively pave the way for successful food hubs in California.
The food hub business model is a relatively young one, few food hubs existed in the United States before 2008. Today, hundreds are in business across the country, and they’re all trying to figure out similar things: how to best work with farmers and customers to make the business model effective, how to run a food business in a regulation-laden environment, how to increase efficiency without sacrificing price, quality, and the value of local agriculture.
“Food hubs are really working with farmers in their local areas to help them reach markets beyond selling directly at the farmers’ market,” said Gwenaël Engelskirchen, who leads the food hub projects at UC SAREP. “We brought a group of northern California food hubs together for their first convening in February of 2015 and they realized that they all had a lot to learn from each other. They realized that there’s opportunity in them working together.”
There’s a hashtag on Twitter for what they’re doing: #collabatition, or, collaborating with your competition. UC SAREP acts as the organizing body for the food hub network — coordinating resources to help the hubs wade through the many rules and regulations of operating a food business, and working through the visions of their own businesses and the network collectively.
“This is a newish space, so there is a ton to learn and share,” Thomas said. “By having a network we are supporting each other on the journey of growing successful businesses that serve local farms and regional buyers. Working with UC SAREP, we can have conversations with larger buyers that would be hard for us independently to access.”
One of those potential larger buyers is an organization close to home — the kitchens of the University of California.
“UC SAREP plans to interview kitchen directors from UC campuses all around the state to see what keeps them from buying local food, and whether the food hub business model is one that can support the desire they have to incorporate local food into their kitchens,” Gwenaël said.
And past successes show that food hubs can play an important role in linking UC dining programs with local farms. According to a recent report from the UC Global Food Initiative, through a relationship with the food hub Harvest Santa Barbara, UC Santa Barbara is currently able to source 23 percent of its produce from within 150 miles of campus.
“By linking UC food buyers with food hubs, we want to see if that success can be replicated around California,” Gwenaël said. “In 2014, UC Santa Barbara alone served nearly three million meals, so the entire UC becoming a local produce buyer could be a major boon to regional food systems.”
The UC SAREP website offers a number of resources that can assist food hubs as well as farmers looking to see their produce wholesale. Find those resources here. Stay tuned for an upcoming article on food hubs in the next issue of California Agriculture journal.
Fresno, Calif., (August 15, 2017) – “After decades of talk and nearly two years of a regional effort to put together a stellar application packet, Fresno County Farm Bureau celebrates the San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority’s official filing of the Temperance Flat Dam bid for state water bond funding.
“Temperance Flat is an absolute must for the viability of farms throughout the Central Valley. The lack of a reliable water supply over the past decade has cost this region billions of dollars in agricultural production, economic activity and jobs. This project will benefit all Californians and Americans who depend on a domestic food supply while ensuring water solutions to our local communities.
“Fresno County Farm Bureau has been a supporter of Temperance Flat since the beginning. Our organization was among the many in our communities who marched for water in 2009, and who, again, in 2014, fought for the $2.7 billion in Proposition 1 funding for storage projects including Temperance Flat. Make no mistake…our statewide coalition specifically sought funding for aboveground storage projects knowing that Temperance Flat is the best project in the state to benefit.
“The project’s location is ideal for capturing, storing and moving water South-of-Delta while having minimal effect on the environment. Additionally, with the implementation of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, Temperance Flat will allow local communities and agriculture the opportunity to put additional water supplies back into the ground. In 2016-2017 alone, as much as 2.5 million-acre feet will be released as flood flows that should have been used for water/irrigation supplies, as well as groundwater recharge, in both this and future years.
“This project alone is not a cure-all to our local water supply challenges, but it is a necessary step towards building a reliable water future for the Valley. Fresno County Farm Bureau now asks the California Water Commission to fund this needed project. It is our hope to see ground broken on this significant infrastructure investment in the not-too-distant future.”
Modesto, Calif., (August 15, 2017) – This week CDFA made public the edits suggested to its draft language for a stand-alone quota program. The draft was presented at the last Producer Review Board (PRB), the third in a series of meetings where the PRB diligently and passionately listened and discussed the merits of what was presented to them. Edits ranged from mere word changes to more involved language discussions. One section in particular – Article 9: Quota Revenue Assessment – triggered much back and forth, leaving CDFA staff retyping the section faster than a teenager can text message. Being that the assessment is one of the key components that will directly affect almost all producers in California, it is not surprising so much time was spent on it.
Because the amount paid to quota holders for each day’s production covered by quota is static, there has to be a way to generate enough revenues each month to cover those payments. Due to fluctuating milk production in the state (either due to seasonality or other trends), it is not an easy task to determine what is the appropriate per hundredweight amount to assess every producer in the state. Currently, quota monies are withdrawn from the total California pool. Depending on the size of the pool, the quota monies have been taking out of the California pool around $0.36 and $0.37 per hundredweight. That amount varies, but producers do not see it directly on their milk check. With the advent of a Federal Milk Marketing Order, where such monies cannot be taken out of the pool, producers must be assessed directly. While CDFA originally intended to review the assessment rate every three months based on the most recent three months of data, the board felt this would create the potential for unnecessary fluctuations. Instead, they settled on giving the Secretary discretion on when to review it, while making sure the past twelve months of data are used.
The unedited draft stated that the initial assessment rate shall not exceed $0.045 per pound of solids not fat ($0.3915 per hundredweight, assuming 8.7% SNF). After review, the board considered this number to be needlessly high and modified it to $0.0436 per pound ($0.38 per hundredweight). While the higher number originally chosen by CDFA may seem like an excuse to take more money out of producers paycheck, it is important to remember that CDFA can only pay quota holders if they have enough funds to cover it.
Having a small buffer made sense with the previously written language stating review every three months. With the Secretary’s authority widened on how frequently she can review the assessment rate, this helps prevent funds shortages.
If it seems like Article 9 was dissected like fresh meat at the butcher, it’s because it was. One more part of said article generated discussion, where the original language stating “the continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval by Producer Referendum any time the computed rate reaches a new threshold level of $0.005 per pound” created some anxiety amongst board members. After some
discussion, it was determined that section should be chopped off entirely. If you are a quota holder, seeing a mandatory referendum in the language is understandably a risk factor to the program you probably would rather not see.
If reading this last paragraph left a bad taste in your mouth because the concept of frequent referendums sounds good to you, no need to worry: the draft language includes two other ways producers can voice their concerns with the program. The first one is a 5-year survey of the program, where the PRB will review producers opinions. The second is through a petition, signed by 25% of market milk producers. Upon receipt of such a petition, the Secretary would convene the PRB for review and to determine if a referendum is warranted.
QuotaImplementationPlan08072017_RedLine.pdf. In releasing this information, CDFA also postponed the deadline for comments to August 30, 2017. The next PRB meeting is still set for September 12, with expectations of a referendum start date in October. As a reminder, reaching a referendum threshold on California quota is not an easy task. First, 51% of all producers must return their ballot. Then, of those 51% that voted one of two things must happen 1) either 65% of the voters representing at least 51% of the milk produced or 2) 51% of the votes representing 65% of the milk must vote yes.
by Annie AcMoody, Director of Economic Analysis , WUD
Sacramento, Calif., (August 15, 2017) – The weather last week was hot and dry week across the state. The monsoon was not as active across the deserts. Rainfall was confined to the Sierras and northern mountains, with light showers dotting these areas every day Monday through Thursday. Most areas remained dry or received less than a quarter inch of rain, but a stray thunderstorm on Thursday near I-5 at the Oregon border dropped over an inch of rain. Snow cover was confined to the peak of Mount Shasta as well as sheltered, high-elevation locations around Lassen National Park. Packs were broken in these areas but may still exceed 4 feet in spots.
Temperature highs were in the 60s to 80s along the coast, 70s to 90s in the mountains, 90s to 100s in the valley, and 90s to 110s in the desert. Temperature lows were in the 40s to 50s in the mountains, 50s to 60s along the coast, 60s to 70s in the valley, and 60s to 80s in the desert.
Alfalfa fields were being irrigated, cut, and baled. Black-eyed beans continued to be irrigated and cultivated. Corn was being harvested for silage. Cotton was blooming and forming bolls, and continued to be irrigated. Sorghum for silage continued to be cultivated and irrigated.
The mid-season peach, nectarine, and plum harvests continued. Harvested stone fruit orchards were pruned and toped. Asian pears were harvested. Wine grape harvest began, and table grape harvest was in full swing. Olives were developing well. The Valencia orange harvest continued. Regreening continued to be a problem due to high temperatures. Finger limeswere being harvested.
Almond shaking began in some early varieties. As hull split was under way, almond orchard ground preparation continued for the upcoming harvest. Walnuts continued to be irrigated and were sizing well. Pistachios continued to be irrigated. Mechanical and chemical weed control continued in many orchards.
In San Mateo County, acres of beans and peas were in full bloom ready to set pods. In Colusa, Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo Counties, there were reports of 45 to 55 tons of processing tomatoes per acre being harvested. In Tulare County, certified producers were picking tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers for sale at local Farmers Markets. Yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, Bell peppers, green chili peppers, and cucumbers continued to be harvested, packed, and shipped domestically. Sweet corn harvest continued and was available for sale at roadside stands and local Farmers Markets.
Non-irrigated pasture and rangeland quality continued to decline. Supplemental feeding increased as the nutritional quality of grasses diminished. Some cattle were moved to high elevation pasture. Sheep grazed on retired pasture and dormant alfalfa. Bees worked melon and sunflower fields.
Farming in California is not easy, but it is the best place in the world to grow raisins. As growers take on increasing input costs due to changing political and environmental conditions, sustainability becomes so important to remaining viable and prosperous in the industry. National Raisin Company has recently invested in some key renewable technologies to improve their efficiency and secure their longterm future in the industry. Watch this brief video interview with LindaKay Abdulian, president of the company, as she shares about these efforts.
Sacramento, Calif., (August 14, 2017) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has received a $3.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help low-income Californians purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at certified farmers’ markets.
The Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant will fund the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), which begins this summer. The program addresses food insecurity by expanding access to fresh fruits and vegetables among low-income Californians while also supporting and expanding markets for California farmers.
“CDFA is thrilled to be selected for this award,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “The nutrition program is a triple win for California – it supports the health of our low-income shoppers, farmers, and the local economy.”
CNIP will offer nutrition incentives to encourage CalFresh shoppers to purchase healthy food and empower them to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. For every benefit dollar they spend at 339 certified farmers’ markets and mobile markets throughout California, CalFresh shoppers will receive an additional dollar to spend on fruits and vegetables at the market, within set parameters. All CalFresh shoppers can benefit from the program simply by spending their benefits at participating certified farmers’ markets.
CNIP, administered by CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork, builds on the successful California Market Match program in Berkeley, which received a two-year FINI grant in 2015. CNIP emphasizes innovative marketing and outreach to attract more CalFresh shoppers to farmers’ markets, facilitates expansion to new markets, and provides a foundation for testing technologies to make it easier for farmers’ markets to continue offering incentives. The program is made possible through a robust public-private funding structure.
CNIP was created by Assembly Bill 1321, authored by Assembly member Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2015. The program was provisionally funded when the Legislature appropriated $5 million for the program in 2016, contingent on receiving matching federal funds. This state funding enabled CDFA to apply for the FINI grant. The Department is exploring a second phase of the program next year and will apply for additional matching funds.
“Access to nutritious food is the foundation for good health. The healthiest choice should be the easiest choice,” said Assemblymember Ting. “It will be exciting to see how these funds expand access to our state’s bounty by enlisting farmers’ markets in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.”
