California Ag Network

Category: News

  • Pink Bollworm Program Honored for Reducing Dependence on Pesticides

    Sacramento, Calif., (January 31, 2017) – California’s cooperative Pink Bollworm Program was one of six projects recognized by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) at an award ceremony, January 26, 2017,  in Sacramento to honor efforts to manage pests while reducing the use of pesticides.

    The awards recognize innovation, leadership, education and outreach by California-based organizations that carry out pest management.

    The six projects use integrated pest management (IPM) to manage pests, combining preventive and natural strategies such as releasing parasitic insects and providing habitat for natural predators.

    The Pink Bollworm Program involves introducing sterile pink bollworm moths to fields to disrupt the pests’ ability to reproduce and spread in California’s main cotton-growing regions.

    Sterile moths are produced at the CDFA/USDA PBW Rearing Facility in Phoenix, Arizona. To determine where sterile moths need to be released, program personnel put out pheromone-baited insect traps. Sterile PBW moths are sent to California daily and released by aircraft over targeted areas determined by the trapping results.

    The program has prevented pink bollworm moths from becoming established in California’s major cotton region without the use of conventional pesticides for more than 40 years. It is organized by the California Cotton Pest Control Board, California Department of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the National Cotton Council.

    For more information about the DPR awards, see the press release online

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    From left: DPR Director Brian Leahy presented the award to four Pink Bollworm Program representatives (all retired), Jim Rudig and Pat Akers from CDFA, Bob Staten from USDA, and Bob Roberson from CDFA.

  • Fish & Game Consider Two Issues Important to Ag

    Sacramento, Calif., (January 31, 2017) – The Fish and Game Commission’s Wildlife Resources Committee (WRC) met in Redding last week and discussed two issues of interest to Farm Bureau members.

    The WRC is considering recommending changes to how wild pigs are managed in California. Currently wild pigs are considered a game animal and require a depredation permit to take any wild pig causing damage to property. There is broad agreement that the population of wild pigs should be reduced and the Commission is determining the best way to address the issue. A draft proposal of amended regulations was shared at the meeting to open discussions with the public. Additionally, legislation will need drafting to amend the Fish and Game code to allow the regulatory changes. Farm Bureau will be engaging with the WRC as it embarks on this important issue.

    The WRC also heard testimony on the status of the Predator Policy Workgroup. This workgroup was appointed by the Commission to make recommendations on policy and management of predators in California. Farm Bureau is a member of the workgroup to represent our members’ interests. The workgroup developed a draft predatory policy to present to the WRC. Environmental and animal rights interests were opposed to some of the language in the policy and preferred to see a requirement that non-lethal measures be exhausted prior to the use of lethal control. Fortunately, the WRC did not accept that proposed change, but did ask the workgroup to revisit the policy to address additional concerns regarding humane methods of take and public values. The workgroup will meet again to discuss possible policy and regulatory changes on February 21st.

  • Hydroponic agriculture showcases diversity of California Ag production

    San Diego, Calif., (January 30, 2017) – Hydroponic agriculture, the growing of plants without soil and adding nutrients in water, is a relatively new method of production in California, but it shows promise as a growth sector for farmers seeking to produce more efficiently while utilizing fewer natural resources, a challenge and opportunity recognized by all of agriculture as it moves through the 21st Century.

    CDFA staff recently had an opportunity to visit a hydroponic operation at Archi’s Acres, a diverse farming operation in San Diego County. Archi’s Acres is already well known for its commitment to retrain returning members of the military for careers in agriculture, and it’s now also developing a strong reputation for its work in hydroponics.

    Archi’s Acres is a certified organic greenhouse operation, growing fresh basil, kale, and other herbs and produce using highly efficient crop production methods to maximize use of natural resources while focusing on local sales distribution channels.

    The farm’s proprietary nutrient cycling system, which is verified through the annual organic inspection to meet required standards, employs nutrient cycling practices that provide ecosystem services through conservation of scarce water resources.

    Using Archi’s Acres’ unique hydro-organic methods, a plant only takes what water it needs and the rest is recycled for use again and again – an important benefit in a state still dealing with drought. The farm’s entire basil greenhouse, with 6,000 plants growing at a time, uses only about 100 gallons of water a day due to recycling.

    The system at the farm is actually known as hydro-organics, a hydroponics system that includes the use of organic fertilizer as the key nutrient.

    At CDFA we strive to continually gain a greater understanding and appreciation for all models of farming in California. Our scientists, responsible for review and analysis of both conventional and organic fertilizer materials, benefit greatly from opportunities to broaden their understanding of farming systems and inputs. When coupled with their scientific background, these ongoing educational experiences help our staff at CDFA make sound, informed decisions for the fertilizer products they oversee.

    Hydroponic facilities at Archi’s Acres, a diverse farming operation in San Diego County.

  • EcoFarm names Jan Derecho as Executive Director

    Soquel, Calif., (January 30, 2017) – The Ecological Farming Association (EcoFarm) is excited to announce Jan Derecho as its executive director. Formally it’s interim executive director, EcoFarm is thrilled to welcome Jan to her permanent position. A seasoned leader, Ms. Derecho will guide EcoFarm’s mission to nurture healthy, just, and sustainable farms, food systems, and communities.

    A lover of music, bike-riding, and organic eats, Ms. Derecho brings to EcoFarm many years of diverse experience. Jan spent ten years as executive director of the Santa Cruz Symphony, in addition to her tenure on the board and one year as president. With a background in banking and a history of successfully tackling deficits, Jan brings her strength of sound financial management and development to the organization.

    Jan has been the beloved mother hen to the currently all-female EcoFarm staff since April of 2016. With both a gentle heart and steady leadership, Jan’s tenure as interim executive director has enabled her a chance to get well acquainted with the organization and become an effective liaison among its board, staff, partners, and the broader community. The organization looks forward to Jan applying her expertise and vision to assist EcoFarm’s growth for years to come.

     

  • What a Feast It Will Be, Benefiting Honey and Pollination Center

    Davis, Calif., (January 30, 2017) – The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center’s annual Feast, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11, will celebrate mead and honey, as usual, and something else: a new partnership to bring a pollinator-friendly kitchen garden to the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science.

    Amina Harris, director of the RMI’s Honey and Pollination Center, said the garden will be part of the Good Life Garden that sits amid the institute’s buildings in the south campus, and is being developed in cooperation with the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden.

    “We are creating a team to look at plantings, irrigation concepts, educational signage and even the installation of a beehive,” Harris said.

    The center’s mission: Helping UC Davis become the world’s leading authority on bee health, pollination and honey quality.

    Kathleen Socolofsky, assistant vice chancellor and director of the Arboretum and Public Garden, said: “We are thrilled to be able to plan the next phase of the Good Life Garden with our partners at the Robert Mondavi Institute, including the Honey and Pollination Center and other academic partners in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.”

    Ideas for the garden will be presented at The Feast: A Celebration of Mead and Honey, described by Harris as “a tasty way” to celebrate pollinators and the wonderful fruits and vegetables they help bring to the table.

    The dinner, now in its fourth year, also serves as a fundraiser for the Honey and Pollination Center’s outreach and education programs.

    Harris said Ann Evans, author of The Davis Farmers Market Cookbook (second edition), has created a feast menu that is redolent with seasonal flavors: hors d’oeuvres and Honey Stingers featuring ginger mead; a rich tomato aspic salad; and a main course of chicken with plumped dried figs and apricots, and roasted Musqué de Provence squash with couscous. Wines, honey lemonade and sparkling mead will paired with each course.

    A cheese interlude will accompany a dessert mead flight with a perfect closure to a winter feast: mead-poached pears served with butter cookies and the mead flight.

    The Feast, including music by the Jonny Gold Trio, will begin at 6 p.m. in the foyer of the RMI Sensory Building. Tickets: $150, available online. For more information, contact Harris by email.

     

  • Walnut Theft Meeting, Jan. 30

    Tulare, Calif., (January 27, 2017) – The Tulare County Board of Supervisors are hosting a public forum for local walnut growers, processors, agents and buyers to meet and discuss the county Nut Theft ordinance, and the consideration of changes which may help improve the ordinance and deter theft.

    County officials from law enforcement, the district attorney, agriculture commissioner’s office, and Board of Supervisors will have representatives present to answer questions.

    Questions about the current ordinance may be directed to the Ag Commissioner’s office, at 684-3350.   For meeting information, contact Samantha Ferrero at 636-5000.

    The meeting will be held:  Monday, January 30, 2017, 2:00 pm

    Tulare County Administrative Building

    Conference Room A/B

    2800 W. Burrel Ave

    Visalia, CA 93291

  • Farm Bureau Awards FFA Jackets to Local Students

    Tulare, Calif., (January 27, 2017) – Tulare County Farm Bureau will award the signature blue corduroy FFA jacket to local students through the Blue Jacket Bonanza program. Launched in 2012, Blue Jacket Bonanza was developed to provide area students involved in FFA, who may not have the financial means, a chance to earn their own uniform jacket.

    To be granted a jacket the students completed an application process, participated in personal interviews with the Blue Jacket Bonanza selection committee and have completed set hours of community service.

    “These outstanding students have earned their very own FFA jacket to wear at the various FFA events and activities they plan to take part in during their high school career,” said TCFB President Roger Everett.

    Students will be recognized and awarded their jackets at a special awards night on January 26, at the Tulare County Office of Education in Visalia.

    “This program provides a way for Farm Bureau to make an investment in young people who are motivated and excited to further their education in agriculture thru the Future Farmers of America,” stated Everett.

    FFA helps the next generation rise up to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Its members explore their interests and develop their own unique skills and talents through FFA activities, career development events and competitions. By helping to prepare the leaders of tomorrow, Farm Bureau is guaranteeing a brighter future for all.

    The program is made possible through generous donors including: Dennis and Julie Cates, Kiwanis Club of Woodlake, McKellar Farms, Nielsen and Associates Insurance Services, Porterville Breakfast Lions Club, Rotary Club of Visalia, Tulare County Cattlewomen, Tulare County Dairy Women, Tulare Noon Kiwanis, Tulare-Kings CWA and the Tulare County Farm Bureau’s Education and Scholarship Charitable Fund.

    The following students are the Blue Jacket Bonanza recipients for this year:

    Ana Andrade, Monache FFA

    Dalton Baird, Mt. Whitney FFA

    Mia Bates, El Diamante FFA

    Shazaim Beig, El Diamante FFA

    Gianna Benedetti, Tulare FFA

    Sheccid Campos, Tulare FFA

    Jacob Canaday, Mt. Whitney FFA

    William Garrison, Exeter FFA

    Marisol Gonzalez, Monache FFA

    Ethan Haley, VTEC FFA

    Breana Hernandez, Mt. Whitney FFA

    McKenzee Huff, Mt. Whitney FFA

    Matthew Jauregui, Exeter FFA

    Cody Johnston, Mt. Whitney FFA

    Esai Lucatero, Woodlake FFA

    Makinze Machado, Tulare FFA

    David Magana, Orosi FFA

    Ryan Majarian, Mt. Whitney FFA

    Hayley Mull, Woodlake FFA

    Bethanie Negrete, Mt. Whitney FFA

    Gerardo Palafox Jr, Woodlake FFA

    Skylar Rodriguez, Woodlake FFA

    Miguel Rodriguez, Woodlake FFA

    Jose Sanchez, Orosi FFA

    Jessica Standlee, VTEC FFA

    Serica Torres, Tulare FFA

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (January 27, 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 Growers continue to wait for fields to dry out in order to resume winter grain and field crop planting. The planted grains and field crops continue to mature at an excellent rate, reaping the benefit from all the recent rain. Sorghum seed continues to be received for future planting. Black-eyed beans were exported to Malaysia.

    Table grapes from cold storage continue to be exported primarily to Canada and Mexico. Field work in vineyards and orchards: pruning, tying, berm sanitation, and brush shredding, are all on hold until workers can get back in wet fields. Kiwifruit are being exported to Colombia. Pistachios are being exported Belgium, China, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Vietnam. Almonds are being exported to Chile, China, Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. Pecans are being shipped to Australia, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. Walnuts are being shipped to Hong Kong. Pomegranates are primarily being exported to Mexico. In drier locations the removal of older orchards and vineyards continues in preparation for replanting with new varieties, but even this has been delayed by the extended wet weather.

    The citrus harvest was essentially stopped during the recent rains. With the clearer weather it should resume at a rapid pace. Navel oranges are being shipped to Australia, China, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The second application of copper fungicide has or will be made to meet the February 4th deadline for continued export to Korea. Mandarin oranges continue being shipped to Australia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Japan, and Mexico. Satsuma tangerines continue to be harvested and sent to domestic markets only. Melogold grapefruit are being exported to Japan and Korea. Lemons are being exported to Australia, China, Korea, and New Zealand. Removal of older orchards continues in preparation for replanting to new varieties in drier locations. The domestic market for citrus fruit remains steady at a good price.

    Winter vegetables continue to mature ideally. The wet weather stopped the harvest of cole crops, but the harvest should continue as fields dry in the coming days. Strawberries fields continue to thrive. Blueberries continue to be planted, weather permitting.

    Rangeland and dryland pasture continues to improve with the recent rainfall. Rangeland quality is benefiting from this week’s rain at the lower elevations. The fed cattle market price up at $120 per hundredweight.

    Bare root rose nursery stock continues to be received, processed and shipped out. Potted roses are currently being shipped. Shipments of wholesale nursery stock have remained slow due to winter weather and a lack of demand. Mature olive trees are being dug up and sold for landscaping as soil conditions permit.

  • Update on Organic Certification Cost Share Program

    Sacramento, Calif., (January 26, 2017) – CDFA’s State Organic Program (SOP) is pleased to announce a federal funding opportunity of $12.5 Million for eligible applicants under the Organic Cost Share Program (OCCSP).  The SOP has applied to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) under the United States Department of Agriculture to assist in distribution of these funds.  This money assists organic producers and handlers by offsetting costs related to SOP registration, certification, and transitional fees paid to certifiers as producers transition to organic.The cost-share payments May not exceed 75 percent of costs up to a maximum of $750 per producer/handler for each scope (registration, certification, transitional).

    The FSA, in addition to administering the program, will also be directly accepting applications for reimbursement of funds. Operations will be subject to the same eligibility criteria and calculation of cost share payments regardless of whether they apply though the SOP or FSA local office.

    For producer or handler Applications, FSA county offices will accept applications producers and handlers for FY 2017 starting on March 20, 2017 and ending October 31, 2017.

    In fiscal year 2015/16 CDFA processed and distributed a total amount of $1,543,929 to 1,917 producers and handlers.

    For eligibility requirements and further details please visit the following website https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/i_&_c/organic.html or you may contact the SOP at (916) 900-5030.

  • International Agri-Center Prepares For 50th Anniversary of World Ag Expo

    Tulare, Calif., (January 26, 2017) – World Ag Expo will celebrate its 50th anniversary show,  February 14-16, 2017.

    The largest annual agricultural exposition of its kind, World Ag Expo boasts more than 1,500 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. A record-setting 106,349 people came from 47 states and 79 countries to attend 2016 World Ag Expo.

    The World Ag Expo Arena will once again offer daily Equipment Showcases, where exhibitors will perform live demonstrations of their latest products. Seminars will be offered in a variety of categories, including dairy, irrigation, international trade, business and farm management, marketing and media, and general agriculture. These seminars are presented by professionals in the industry and provide attendees with valuable information to improve their operations.

    The Top-10 New Products Competition, sponsored by Bank of America, is back with products offering new technology and increased efficiencies. From dairy nutrition and irrigation technology, to crop cleaning and melon harvesting, the Top-10 New Products has something to offer every type of farming operation.

    “World Ag Expo has built a 50-year legacy of bringing agricultural buyers and sellers together,” says Jerry Sinift, International Agri-Center’s Chief Executive Officer. “Ag is always evolving in order to feed a growing world. World Ag Expo is here to facilitate the connections between the exhibitors who provide the most advanced technology and equipment and the farmers who continue to evaluate and improve their operations to meet that demand.”

    The 2017 World Ag Expo will host daily 50th anniversary celebration events, including the Wednesday evening Bud Light After-Hours Party in the Arena, with a free concert by Parmalee and fireworks to commemorate the golden anniversary.

    The newly expanded Career & Education Center has relocated to South Greenbelt, just north of the World Ag Women Pavilion. This area is larger and will allow more schools and companies serving the career-searching audience to be part of this space. “We are very passionate about ag education and want to do all we can to encourage the younger generations to pursue a career in agriculture,” said Kerissa Chapman, Ag Education Manager for the International Agri-Center. “We are excited about the opportunity to offer a larger space and further our mission as an education-based non-profit organization.”

    The Career & Education Center was previous located in the Hilvers Building, which will now become the home of World Ag Expo’s newest addition, Taste of California. Taste of California will provide opportunities for attendees to experience a glimpse of what California Agriculture provides to the world.

    World Ag Expo attendees can get the latest news, information and updates about the show by downloading the new 2017 mobile app. The free app provides mobile access to the schedule of events, an exhibitor directory, map of the show grounds and other visitor resources. The app is available for download from the app store by searching “World Ag Expo 2017.”

    For a full schedule of events, more information about the show or to purchase tickets for 2017 World Ag Expo, visit www.WorldAgExpo.org.

    World Ag Expo-bringing you the best in Ag since 1968.