California Ag Network

Category: News

  • Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County – 2017 Scholarship Applications

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (March 13, 2017) – This year the Farm Bureau Foundation will award more than $110,000 in scholarships to Sonoma County students pursuing higher education at a four year college, junior college or vocational school within an agricultural related field.

    Last year, the Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County Awarded scholarships to 40 Sonoma County students. All of the recipients were outstanding students excelling in academics, leadership and community service achievements.

    To qualify, students must be a graduating high school senior, Santa Rosa Junior College student, or continuing four year college students. Scholarships are only available to undergraduate students. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and be pursuing education in an agricultural related field.

    Applications will be available online at www.sonomafb.org. Applications should be typed and then printed and mailed with letters of recommendation and school transcripts by the deadline. Applications are due by 5 p.m. April 7, 2017 to the Sonoma County Farm Bureau office. Please mail or hand deliver completed applications to 3589 Westwind Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403.

    Download: 2017 Foundation Scholarship Application.pdf

    Scholarship Requirements:

    • All of the scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors, Santa Rosa Junior College students or continuing four-year college students who have or will have a major in Agriculture or an Agriculture-related field.
    • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for all scholarship applicants.
    • Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarships are only available to undergraduate students.
    • An additional essay, specific major or number of registered units may be required depending on the scholarship.

    How to Apply:

    • There is one common application for all scholarships administered by the Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County.
    • Applications must be typed, printed and signed.
    • A check list of the additional application materials for a complete application is included.
    • All completed applications must be received or postmarked by the
    • deadline of 5 p.m. April 7, 2017.
    • Mail or hand deliver completed application and required documents to: Sonoma County Farm Bureau, 3589 Westwind Blvd., Santa Rosa, California, 95403.
    • Process:
    • Applications will be screened to select the finalists for interviews with the Farm Bureau Foundation’s scholarship selection committee.
    • ALL finalists must participate in a mandatory oral interview on one of the pre scheduled days: Thursday, May 4 or Friday, May 5.
    • An additional interview day may be scheduled depending upon number of finalists.
    • Finalists for the Kunde Scholarship will have an additional interview with members of the Kunde family.

    If Selected:

    Proof of enrollment and a copy of the “thank you” letter to the scholarship donor are required before a check will be issued to scholarship recipients.

  • UC Davis Tops World Rankings in Veterinary Science – Ranks No. 2 in Agriculture and Forestry

    Davis, Calif., (March 13, 2017) – The University of California, Davis, held onto its top spot in veterinary science in the latest QS World University Rankings released today (March 7).

    And for the fifth consecutive year, the campus is among the top-ranked universities in agriculture and forestry, taking second place in the ranking this year.

    First in veterinary science since the field was added to the rankings in 2015, UC Davis is renowned for applying a “One Health” approach to addressing critical health concerns on a local and global scale.

    “The energy, passion, knowledge and skills that the UC Davis veterinary medicine community brings to their jobs every day is the secret to our success,” said Michael Lairmore, the school’s dean since 2011. “Our future, supported in part by generous philanthropic partners, will be shaped by our combined efforts as we push the boundaries of research discoveries, provide innovative educational opportunities for our students, bring advanced clinical services to our animal patients, and serve our communities by advancing the health of animals, people and the environment.”

    Ranked No. 2 in agriculture and forestry, UC Davis is the most published and cited U.S. research university in agricultural sciences, environment and ecology, and food science and nutrition. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has helped shape California and the world, and remains dedicated to solving critical issues with food, water, energy, climate change and human health to improve the quality of life throughout the world.

    Home of the internationally acclaimed viticulture and enology program, the college offers 29 majors and 43 minors, plus an exploratory/undeclared option, in the fields of agriculture, environment, human needs and social sciences.

    In other recent rankings, UC Davis was named the greenest university in the world by the seventh annual GreenMetric ranking from the University of Indonesia in December 2016 and No. 20 among large schools on the Peace Corps’ Top Volunteer–Producing Colleges and Universities list in February.

    In October 2016, U.S News and World Report’s “Best Global Universities” ranked UC Davis first in programs for plant and animal sciences, second in agricultural sciences, and fourth in environment and ecology.

    Other top showings in the QS rankings

    In this year’s QS rankings, UC Davis is among the world’s elite institutions in 35 of the 46 subjects and all five of the subject areas featured. Among UC Davis’ `highest rankings:

    • environmental sciences remains at 13th
    • biological sciences moves up four spots to 27th
    • anatomy and physiology is 28th in this newly ranked subject
    • earth and marine sciences climbs five spots to 29th
    • development studies, once below 50th, now shows among ranked schools at 47th

    QS rankings are based on reputational surveys and research citations. This year, QS evaluated 4,438 universities, then qualified 3,098 and ranked 1,117 institutions.

    Robust veterinary research and clinical programs

    The veterinary school, also ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report, is home to a robust research program, which last year totaled nearly $76 million in research funds. The school provides clinical services to more than 50,000 animal patients in 34 specialties annually. UC Davis serves as a strong leader in veterinary medical education, providing nearly 550 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students annually with a curriculum built on sound educational theory designed and delivered by prominent faculty members.

    Making a difference around the world

    The school is involved in improving the lives of people and animals, and the environment in more than 30 countries worldwide through efforts such as:

    • PREDICT, a $175 million multi-institutional program, led by the school’s One Health Institute and funded by USAID to rapidly detect and respond to emerging viruses such as Ebola
    • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, which protects public and animal health in partnership with the state’s Department of Food and Agriculture
    • Comparative Cancer Center, where veterinary researchers collaborate with physicians and researchers from the UC Davis School of Medicine to develop therapies for human and animal cancer
    • The 100K Genome Project, which aims to speed the diagnosis of foodborne illnesses by creating a databank of pathogen genome sequences
    • Collaboration among veterinary dental surgeons and biomedical engineers to regrow jawbone in dogs and provide valuable knowledge for human treatment
    • Advanced Imaging Facility (with cutting-edge confocal microscopes), providing researchers with a whole new view of biological specimens to answer questions about health and disease

    The rankings are prepared by Quacquarelli Symonds, a British firm widely considered to be one of the most influential international university rankings providers.

     

    A dog receives treatment in the dentistry lab of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. (Don Preisler/UC Davis photo)

  • California Grape Crush Report – Final 2016

    GRAPE CRUSH REPORT OVERVIEW

    Information contained in this Report was supplied by processors to fulfill the reporting requirements of Section 55601.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

    The Final Grape Crush Report includes all grape tonnage crushed during the 2016 season. It also includes purchased tonnage and pricing information for grapes with final prices prior to January 10, 2017. The Final Grape Crush Report, published on March 10, contains any late reports or corrections to the preliminary report.

    Details of the crushed tonnage, degrees Brix, and weighted average prices were reported by grape type and variety, as well as by grape pricing districts. The 17 districts refer to the area in which the grapes were grown as defined in the Administrative Code. A district map is located on the inside of the front cover.

    Read Full Report

  • CDFA Announces Vacancy On Citrus Pest And Disease Prevention Committee

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 10, 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 statewide citrus-specific pests and a work plan that includes programs for surveying, detecting, analyzing, and treating citrus pests and diseases; as well as outreach and education programs.

    Committee 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 Kern County. The vacancy will expire on September 30, 2017. Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment should send a brief resume by April 15, 2017 to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, 1220 N Street, Room 221, Sacramento, California 95814, Attention: Victoria Hornbaker.

    For additional information, contact: Victoria Hornbaker, Program Manager at (916) 654-0317, or e-mail at Victoria.hornbaker@cdfa.ca.gov.

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (March 10, 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 winter forage crops are maturing well. Black-eyed beans are being exported to Australia and Korea.

    Fieldwork in vineyards and orchards continues with: pruning, tying, berm sanitation, and brush shredding. Some early varieties of stone fruit are beginning to bloom and leaf-out. Bloom sprays are being applied following the recent rain. Cherries are beginning to bloom. Kiwifruit are being shipped domestically and exported to Guatemala, Japan, and Mexico. Some almond orchards are beginning to bloom, and bee colonies are being moved in for pollination. Almonds are being exported Belgium, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Pistachios are being sent to Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Vietnam. New orchards are being planted.

    The citrus harvest is continuing. All the recent rains are having some impact on overall quality. Navel oranges and Mandarins are being shipped to Australia, Chile, China, Ecuador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, and Vietnam. Minneola tangelos are sent to Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. Lemons are being exported to Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines and Singapore. Orange groves are being hedge-rowed and skirted. A few growers are starting to net the seedless tangerines to prevent cross-pollination by bees during the coming bloom. Pruning of olives continues.

    Squash are currently being planted in hot tunnels. New fields are being prepared for spring planting. Strawberries fields continue to thrive. Previously planted onions continue to progress well.

    Rangeland and dryland pasture quality continue to improve with all the recent rainfall. Condition is excellent due to continued rainfall and warmer weather. The fed cattle price is $125 per hundred weight.

    Bare root rose nursery stock continues to be received, processed, and shipped out. Shipments of wholesale nursery stock are picking up as spring sales begin in earnest. Local bare root nurseries are busy digging stock as weather and soil conditions allow.

  • Bulldoggers To Host Fresno State College Rodeo March 11-12

    Fresno, Calif., (March 10, 2017) – The Bulldoggers club rodeo team will host the Fresno State College Rodeo Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12, at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds (748 Rodeo Drive). The competition, which is the only home event of the season, starts with a slack session at 8 a.m. Saturday followed by a ticketed first round at 6 p.m. featuring 10 randomly selected competitors in each event. The 10 qualifiers combined from Saturday’s sessions will compete at 1 p.m. Sunday in the final short round session. Competition features seven other collegiate teams: Cal Poly, Cuesta College, Feather River College, Lassen College, UNLV, West Hills College and Western Nevada College, plus individual entries from CSU Stanislaus, Chico State, Modesto College, Nevada, UC Davis and UC Merced. Fresno State junior Jamie Lynn Giefer of Springville leads the women’s regional rankings in breakaway roping and ranks 17th nationally. Junior Colton Campbell of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and senior Dillon Hushour of Fairfield rank second and third in the region in men’s tie down roping. Competition each day will also include bareback riding, bulldogging, saddle bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding events. The cost to attend Saturday’s evening and Sunday’s day sessions is $5 each and free for Fresno State students with a student ID. INFO: Geoff Thurner at gthurner@csufresno.edu or 559.278.7221, or see Fresno State Rodeo Team Bulldoggers.

     

  • UC Davis Wine Historian to Tell Wine’s Story Through Vintage Labels

    Labels like this will be featured in a March 15 presentation on the history of California wine. (California Historical Society)

    Davis, Calif., (March 9, 2017) – UC Davis wine historian James Lapsley will use vintage wine labels to share the colorful history of California wine at a public event at the California Historical Society in San Francisco on March 15.

    His talk — illustrated by 20 vintage labels from the collections of the historical society and the UC Davis Library — is featured during the historical society’s exhibit Vintage: Wine, Beer, and Spirits Labels from the Kemble Collections on Western Printing and Publishing, continuing through April 16.

    ​Lapsley, an internationally known author and winemaker, will tell the story of how California wine — and its place in our lives — have been transformed. His presentation will trace its history from the days when the Gold Rush drove a new thirst for domestic wine, to its rebirth following Prohibition, to today’s world of seemingly endless consumer choice.

    Attendees will be able to explore the historical society’s exhibit featuring hundreds of wine, beer, and spirits labels as well as ephemera and stock label catalogue books from the now-forgotten Lehmann Printing and Lithographing Company of San Francisco.

    The exhibit includes an interactive display of Label This, a web application through which the UC Davis Library is inviting the public to help transcribe historic wine labels.

    Wine will be poured by winemaker Chris Kajani of Bouchaine Vineyards, a member of the UC Davis Alumni Wine Program.The event, for those 21 and older, will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the historical society, 678 Mission St. Tickets are $10 for general admission and free for historical society members, and UC Davis alumni, students, faculty and staff. Reservations are strongly recommended; tickets are available online.

     

  • Fresno County Department of Agriculture Crop Report for February 2017

    Fresno, Calif., (March 9, 2017) – Across the County, plantings of barley, oats, triticale, wheat, and winter forage are all growing well due to an abundance of rain. Some fields have already started to develop seed heads. Herbicides and fertilizers were applied to fields between storms. Ground preparation was underway for rice fields in Firebaugh.

    Alfalfa broke dormancy but growth is slow. Alfalfa fields continued to be sprayed for weeds, with some having to be by areal application due to wet ground.

    Growers started preparing ground for the upcoming cotton season by tilling, making furrows, and applying herbicides. Alfalfa seed was exported to China, France, Italy, Qatar and United Kingdom.

    Almond bloom started mid-month, accompanied with applications of fungicides to control disease. Some apricot, nectarine, peach, and plum orchards, started to bloom as well. Fungicide treatments began in these orchards as well as being sprayed for weeds. Buds started to swell in cherries. Growers participating in the Mexico Stone Fruit Program hung pheromone traps for the Oriental Fruit Moth as of February 15. Vineyard operators applied herbicides to combat the increase in weeds after all the rain. Stakes and trellis wire were repaired. In some warmer areas, grape buds started to swell. Many vineyards around the County continued to be removed for planting of almond, pistachio, and walnut orchards. In pistachio and walnut orchards application of herbicides took place. Almonds, Asian pears, prunes, and raisins were exported to Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Viet Nam. Pistachios were exported to Hong Kong. While kiwi was exported to Japan and Taiwan.

    Strawberry plantings were delayed in some districts due to wet conditions, but where previously planted they showed signs of slow growth. Carrots were harvested and beds where prepared for the next rotation. Garlic and onions around the County were growing well and had herbicides applied. In Kerman district, cilantro, kale, leaf lettuce, and mustard for seed production was growing well. Lettuce and pepper seed was exported to Australia. Growers continued to prepare for tomatoes and eggplant by applying herbicides, cultivating and fumigating to control soil borne pests. Winter crops of broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chard, collards, gai lan, and kale were harvested to be sold in local markets. Spring lettuce is growing slowly due to cooler conditions. Blueberries started to bloom around the County and fungicides were applied.

    Cara Cara, lemons, Navel oranges and mandarins continued to be harvested between storms. Nets were placed around mandarins to exclude bees from pollinating. Fungicide applications were made in a few citrus orchards. Grapefruit, lemons, mandarin, Navel, pomelo, tangelo, and tangerines were exported to Belgium, Chile, China, El Salvador, France, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore.

    Cattle and sheep continued to graze on the lush rangeland. Frequent rains have kept the rangeland grasses growing, providing excellent feed. Lambing season started with lots of babies produced in Huron district. Egg production ramped up again after the winter lull. Beehives were placed in lots of orchards and bees were busy pollinating.

  • March IPM Breakfast Meetings Sutter-Yuba Counties

    Yuba City, Calif., (March 9, 2017) – We will largely focus on orchards crops (but everything is on the table for discussion!). These meetings are open to all interested growers, consultants, PCAs/CCAs, and related industry. Planned topics for this meeting include managing spring diseases in a wet year and getting your pest monitoring program started for the season. Please contact Emily Symmes to request additional topics or bring your questions to the meeting!

    No-host breakfast. DPR and CCA hours requested (1.5 other)

    March meeting will be held at Perko’s Restaurant (724 W Onstott Rd, Yuba City, CA) space is limited – please RSVP to Emily Symmes at (530) 538-7201 or ejsymmes@ucanr.edu by March 12th to let us know you plan to attend.

    Monthly meetings are planned throughout the Sacramento Valley (second Tuesday of the month), so if you are unable to join us next week, keep the following dates and locations in mind and visit sacvalleyorchards.com for updates!

    • Colusa: July 11
    • Yuba-Sutter: August 8
    • Tehama: April 11 and September 12
    • Glenn: May 9 and October 10
    • Butte: June 13 and November 14

    If you have any accessibility concerns, please contact Emily at ejsymmes@ucanr.edu or (530) 538-7201 so that arrangements may be made.

    The University of California prohibits discrimination or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities. (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at http://ucanr.org/sites/anrstaff/files/107734.doc)

    Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to John Sims, Affirmative Action Contact, University of California, Davis, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 2nd Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1397.

  • USDA Announces $12.1 Million to Support Crop Protection and Pest Management

    WASHINGTON, D.C. March 8, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $12.1 in available funding through the Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) Competitive Grants Program.

    “Pests, including insects and other arthropods, microbial pathogens, weeds, and vertebrates pose threats to U.S. food security,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “NIFA-funded discoveries offer sustainable, economically viable solutions to manage these biological constraints to food production.”

    The CPPM program supports research and extension projects that address critical state, regional, and national integrated pest management (IPM) needs, ensure food security, and respond to other major pest challenges. The program encourages projects that establish communication networks and stakeholder participation to increase the impact of the research. In FY 2017, NIFA will competitively solicit only the Applied Research and Development Program Area (ARDP) and the Extension Implementation Program Area (EIP) applications under the CPPM program.  The anticipated amount available for grants in FY 2017 is approximately $4.1 for ARDP and $8 million for EIP.

    Eligible applicants include colleges and universities, including Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs), and research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities.

    The deadline for applications is May 9.

    See the request for applications for details.

    Since 2014, NIFA has invested more than $48 million through CPPM. Among previously funded projects, Pennsylvania State University(link is external) is adapting novel nanotube technology to detect plant pathogens on crops earlier in the infection cycle. This research is designed to give farmers faster tools to monitor the health of their crops. A University of Georgia(link is external) research and extension project is studying the highly damaging insect pest of peanuts, the peanut burrower bug. The outcomes of this project will provide growers tools to determine the risk to individual fields from this pest and treatment recommendations.

    NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension and promotes transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. NIFA support for the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel has resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that combat childhood obesity, improve and sustain rural economic growth, address water availability issues, increase food production, find new sources of energy, mitigate climate variability and ensure food safety. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates(link is external) or follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA(link is external), #NIFAimpacts(link is external).