California Ag Network

Category: News

  • Benito Varela Appointed CEO of GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    GroPro is thrilled to announce a big change in it’s leadership team: Benito Varela, previously our COO, has now been promoted to CEO of GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro.

    GroPro Corp. is a commercial manufacturer of biopesticides, biostimulants, and biofertilizers and a research and development (R&D) organization. GroPro offers various products across the crop cycle for vital crops like tree nuts, soybeans, corn, wheat, bananas, coffee, and fruits and vegetables. Its natural bio products demonstrate field efficacy, extended shelf life, versatility at tank mix, no field re-entry restrictions, and zero residues.

    This promotion marks a significant milestone in our journey. Benito Varela’s illustrious 35-year career is a testament to his exceptional abilities and unwavering dedication. He is a global industry leader with experience across various geographies and functions; he embodies strategic vision, sales, and management expertise, and he has a proven track record that our company values.

    “I am excited to step into the role of CEO, GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro. Over my 35-year career, I have worked across multiple geographies and functions, gaining invaluable experience and expertise. My journey has equipped me with a strategic vision, sales, and management prowess, and a proven track record of success that I am eager to bring to GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro.” – commented Benito Varela.

    Benito’s key professional achievements include:

    -Staggering Revenue Growth: Under Benito’s leadership, he transformed Dow Chemicals’ Seed business in Brazil, tripling its revenue and EBIT within four years.
    -Global Leadership: Benito spearheaded major projects, including a seamless divestiture, culminating in a $1.1B transaction over 18 months. His leadership fostered top-performing teams through cultural transformations, achieving double-digit gains.
    -Dynamic Visionary: As a leader of the Six Sigma cohort at Dow AgroSciences, Benito consistently delivered transformative results in challenging missions.
    -Strategic Innovator: He successfully launched biotechnology products and enhanced commercial operations across Latin and South America using Six Sigma principles.
    -Expansive Network: Benito’s extensive international network of industry professionals, accumulated during 26 years of global exposure, will be invaluable in driving GroPro’s market expansion.

    Benito’s appointment is a significant milestone for our company and a tremendous support for our investors and board members. His strategic vision, exceptional leadership, and proven track record will ensure sustainable growth and maximize shareholder value, reinforcing the confidence and trust placed in GroPro’s future. His dynamic leadership and strategic insight assure us that GroNatural, Inc. dba GroPro will continue to flourish and exceed expectations.
    More Info: GroProAg.com

  • Central Valley Wine Industry Losing Share in Brandy Market, Compounding Other Challenges

    To compound the troubles Central Valley wine grape growers are already facing with a depressed global wine market amidst increased production costs, Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter shared some new trends in the brandy market that are beginning to negatively impact growers invested in that beverage category.  Watch his brief interview with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network, and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • USDA Expands Insurance Options for Specialty and Organic Growers

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding crop insurance options for specialty and organic growers beginning with the 2025 crop year. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding coverage options by allowing enterprise units by organic farming practice, adding enterprise unit eligibility for several crops, and making additional policy updates. This is the first of several announcements this summer, which will include the expansion of the shellfish policy in the Northeast and new coverage for grape growers in the West and beyond. These expansions and other improvements build on other recent RMA efforts to better serve specialty crop producers and reach a broader group of producers.

    “The Risk Management Agency is excited to expand coverage options for specialty and organic growers including the availability of enterprise and optional units for many producers,” said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger. “Expanding our coverage options gives producers more opportunities to manage their risks. We will continue to build on our work through future announcements later this summer.”

    The following changes will be made beginning with the 2025 crop year:  

    • Enterprise and Optional Units:
      • Expand Enterprise Units (EU) to almonds, apples, avocado (California), citrus (Arizona, California, and Texas), figs, macadamia nuts, pears, prunes, and walnuts.
      • Allow non-contiguous parcels of land that qualify for Optional Units (OU) to also qualify for EU.
      • Allow EUs by organic farming practice for alfalfa seed, almonds, apples, avocado (California), cabbage, canola, citrus (Arizona, California and Texas), coarse grains, cotton, ELS cotton, dry beans, dry peas, figs, fresh market tomatoes, forage production, grass seed, macadamia nuts, millet, mint, mustard, pears, potatoes (northern, central, and southern), processing tomatoes, prunes, safflower, small grains, sunflower seed, and walnuts. 
      • Expand OUs by organic practice to all remaining crops where OUs are available, and the organic practice is insurable.
    • Walnut Quality Adjustment: Allow sunburned damaged walnuts to be eligible for indemnity payments through quality adjustment.
    • Almond Leaf Year: Expand insurance coverage to younger trees by including trees in their fifth leaf year after being set out.

    These revisions come through the Expanding Options for Specialty and Organic Growers Final Rule published today by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). This Final Rule will update the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic Provisions, Area Risk Protection Insurance Basic Provisions, and includes changes to individual Crop Provisions. The enterprise unit availability will continue to be rolled out throughout the year with each crop’s contract change date and RMA will continue to evaluate expanding EUs to additional crops.

    Additional changes in the June 30 Final Rule include:

    • New Breaking Acreage:
    • Reduce administrative burdens on growers and the delivery system by removing written agreement requirements on new breaking acreage.
    • Reduce coverage penalties on perennial specialty crop producers and producers of intensively managed crops, such as alfalfa, when they move to row crop production. This allows for a seamless transition without losing crop insurance coverage.
    • Assignment of Indemnity: Provide flexibility for an indemnity payment to be issued via automated clearing house (ACH) or other electronic means when these methods do not allow for multiple payees.
    • Good Farming Practices (GFP): Streamline and shorten the FCIC GFP reconsideration process by closing the administrative file following FCIC’s initial GFP determination.
    • Double Cropping and Annual Forage: Clarify a producer must prove insurance history for the annual forage crop and meet the current double cropping requirements to receive a full prevented planting payment.

    RMA continues to explore ways to improve risk management tools for specialty crop producers and will be announcing additional program enhancements later this summer. Some of those improvements include:  

      Piloting the Fire Insurance Protection – Smoke Index (FIP-SI) crop insurance program for grapes in California for the 2025 crop year. The pilot program is an index-based endorsement to the Actual Production History (APH) Grape policy that provides additional protection against smoke damage and covers the liability between the APH policy’s coverage level and 95%.

      Expanding the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) to walnuts and citrus crops and increasing premium support to be consistent with the Supplemental Coverage Option.

      Expanding the Grapevine insurance program to an additional 29 counties in California. Grapevine insurance offers protection against vine losses in the event of several named perils.

      Releasing new Organic Practice Guidelines to producers for the 2025 crop year. These guidelines are to help producers report planted or perennial acreage insured under a certified organic or transitional practice.

    More Information

    This announcement further advances USDA’s recently announced Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative, a Department-wide effort to increase the competitiveness of specialty crops products in foreign markets, enhance domestic marketing, and improve production and processing practices.

    Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting your RMA Regional Office.

  • Western United Dairies and Almond Alliance Help Secure Placement of Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act on Ballot

    This week, Legislature passed SB 867 (Allen) the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, that will be placed before voters on the November General Election ballot. The bond would authorize $10 billion in general obligation bonds to finance projects for drought, flood, and water resilience; wildfire and forest resilience; biodiversity and nature-based climate solutions; and climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient farms, ranches, and working lands, among other priorities.

    The bond will provide significant investments for dairy farmers and almond growers to increase groundwater quality and supply in critical areas of the state. The bond would allocate $386,250,000 for the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for projects related to groundwater banking, groundwater recharge, and instream flow projects that support the conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water supplies.

    The two organizations have collaborated with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on a number of high-priority initiatives to promote improving water resiliency and management. Among these initiatives is LandFlex, a program designed as a tool for real-time flood control, protection of communities and properties, and developing long-term groundwater recharge capability. DWR has steadfastly supported the implementation of LandFlex, and with the passage of the bond, LandFlex will be prioritized within a larger water suite of programs that will assist in improving water quality and supply for agricultural regions of the state. LandFlex also accelerates compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), allowing farmers to explore innovative farming methods that align with our long-term sustainability goals.

    “Placing the Climate Bond on the ballot will allow voters to determine key investments to improve water availability for dairy farmers,” said Frank Mendonsa, President of Western United Dairies. “Our partnership with DWR has been instrumental in advancing projects that support water conservation and provide long-term certainty in sustainable agriculture. LandFlex is a prime example of how we can achieve these goals, and we are optimistic about its future with resources included in the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024.”

    “We are excited about the Legislature passing and the acting Governor signing the Climate Bond legislation,” said Blake Vann, chairman of the Almond Alliance. “Our collaborative efforts with DWR on initiatives like LandFlex demonstrate our commitment to innovative solutions that benefit both the environment and our agricultural communities. We look forward to voters approving the bond in November and allowing LandFlex to be a long-term water resiliency program.”

    The organizations would like to recognize and thank Assemblywoman, and Chair of the Agriculture Committee, Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) for championing the inclusion of funding for DWR and LandFlex programs. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Santa Rosa) and Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and their staff for working with AA & WUD on the inclusion of key funding priorities for dairy farmers and almond growers. Of course, without the support of Governor Newsom and key members of his administration, this bond and core funding for water programs would not be possible.

    The Almond Alliance and Western United Dairies remain committed to leading the way in establishing long-term water policies to promote sustainable agricultural practices and look forward to continued collaboration with the Governor’s Administration, DWR, and Legislative Champions to ensure passage of the bond in November and implementation of these vital initiatives for dairy farmers and almond growers.

  • Gearing Up to Celebrate International Year of the Woman Farmer

    USDA Foreign Ag Service — Did you know that women are responsible for roughly half of the world’s food production? The United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer gives the global community a chance to highlight that fact and celebrate the incredibly important role women play in ensuring global food security. At the same time, it’s an unprecedented opportunity to underscore – and to address – the myriad social and economic challenges that women in agriculture face worldwide.

    We’re so proud of USDA’s role in leading U.S. government efforts to introduce and generate support for the resolution, which was cosponsored by 123 other nations and passed by the UN General Assembly in May. This marked the first time in history that the United States was the lead sponsor of an “international year” at the UN, demonstrating just how important the role of women in agriculture is to our department, our nation and the world.

    USDA recently hosted a gathering of more than 200 partners and stakeholders on USDA’s Whitten Patio (along with another 800 who joined us online!) to celebrate the resolution’s passage and to begin networking and sharing ideas for how to make the 2026 observance of the International Year of the Woman Farmer a momentous and transformational one.

    In addition to the many female agricultural leaders in attendance, we were joined onstage by Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, who also serves as president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and Lauren Phillips, who serves as Deputy Director of Rural Transformation and Gender Equality at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. We’re grateful to them for sharing their insights and experiences and we’re also grateful that U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield was able to join us via video to issue a call to action.

    “The International Year of the Women Farmer offers governments, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders the opportunity to better understand the challenges women face, help close the gender gap and get us closer to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said. “Together, let’s amplify the voices of women farmers and better understand their financial and technological needs. Let’s ensure access to credit markets, education and technology and build strong networks for mentorship and knowledge exchange. Let’s support changes in social norms that empower women farmers and implement policies that give them access and control over their land.”

    We’re deeply grateful for the hard work women farmers do day in and day out to feed our nation and our world. As we continue along the road towards 2026, we encourage everyone to join our efforts to elevate and empower women in agriculture worldwide. You can learn more at www.usda.gov/iywf.

  • 5-Year Biostimulants Market Forecast Reveals Tremendous Growth

    According to MarketsandMarkets, the biostimulants market is projected to reach USD 7.6 billion by 2029 from USD 4.3 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 12.0% during the forecast period in terms of value. The global biostimulants market is experiencing significant growth with growing concerns about the environmental impact of conventional farming methods and the need to address issues like soil degradation and water scarcity, farmers and agricultural stakeholders are turning to biostimulants as a more sustainable alternative.

    Request Sample Pages of the Report:

    https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=1081

    Biostimulants offer a way to improve crop productivity and resilience while reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals, thereby aligning with the goals of sustainable agriculture. Additionally, there is a growing need for improved crop yields and quality to meet the demands of a growing global population. Biostimulants offer solutions to enhance nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and overall plant health, thereby helping farmers achieve higher yields and better-quality crops. This need for increased agricultural productivity, coupled with the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, further drives the adoption of biostimulants.

    In the active ingredients segment, Seaweed extracts hold the largest share of the biostimulants market.

    Seaweeds are rich sources of naturally occurring compounds such as cytokinins, auxins, and gibberellins, which have been shown to stimulate plant growth and development. These bioactive compounds act as potent biostimulants, promoting root growth, enhancing nutrient uptake, and improving stress tolerance in plants. Secondly, seaweed extracts contain a diverse array of micronutrients, vitamins, and trace elements essential for plant health, making them highly effective in supplementing soil fertility and correcting nutrient deficiencies. Additionally, seaweed possesses unique polysaccharides and other organic compounds that stimulate beneficial microbial activity in the soil, fostering a healthier rhizosphere environment for optimal plant growth.

    In the crop type segment fruits & vegetables hold the largest share of the biostimulants market

    Seaweed extracts sourced from Ascophyllum nodosum and Ecklonia maxima are commonly used biostimulants to enhance fruit quality. Protein hydrolysates are another effective option, improving plant nutrition and consequently fruit and vegetable quality. Extracts derived from Ulva lactuca, Pterocladia capillacea, and Jania rubens have been shown to increase fruit length and diameter in hot peppers, while Ascophyllum nodosum extracts have led to higher soluble sugar content in eggplants. Inorganic compounds containing carboxylic acids have demonstrated the ability to enhance fruit dimensions, including width, length, and thickness in apricots. Protein and nitrogen-based biostimulants are recognized for their capacity to improve fruit color. For instance, the capsicum variety Palermo exhibited enhanced fruit color through increased carotenoid levels after application of a commercial biostimulant composed of amino acids and vitamins as a leaf and fruit spray. Furthermore, humic and fulvic acids have been found to positively impact fruit length in apricots. Application of humic acids as foliar and soil sprays has resulted in increased total soluble solids and an improved ratio of BRIX to acidity, ultimately enhancing the taste of various fruits.

    The Asia Pacific region is projected to be the fastest growing in the biostimulants market

    With a growing population and shrinking arable land, there’s a pressing need for higher crop yields and improved crop quality in the Asia-Pacific region. Biostimulants, by enhancing nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and overall plant health, can help farmers meet these demands. The Asia-Pacific region is increasingly adopting advanced agricultural technologies, including biotechnology and precision farming practices. These technologies drive innovation in the development and application of biostimulants, making them more effective and tailored to the region’s diverse crops and farming systems.

    Buy this Report Now: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Purchase/purchase_reportNew.asp?id=1081

    Key Players in the Market

    • BASF SE (Germany)
    • Syngenta Crop Protection AG (Switzerland)
    • UPL (India)
    • FMC Corporation (US)
    • Rallies India Limited (India)
    • Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (Japan)
    • Corteva. (US)
    • Nufarm (UK)

    Browse Related Reports:

    Agricultural Biologicals Market

    Biofertilizers Market

    Biological Seed Treatment Market

    Humic-based Biostimulants Market

    About MarketsandMarkets™

    MarketsandMarkets™ has been recognized as one of America’s best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

    MarketsandMarkets™ is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

    Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America’s best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

    The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines – TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

    Built on the ‘GIVE Growth’ principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies – helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore™ (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

    To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets™.com.

  • USDA Begins to Survey Farmers’ Conservation Estimates in 2024

    As the 2024 crop season moves forward, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to determine the effects of conservation on working lands.

    “The USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project is an expanded effort to help the farming community better understand the environmental impacts of conservation practices,” said Gary R. Keough, NASS Pacific Regional Director. “CEAP is vital to help determine what resources farmers may need to further protect the soil, water and related resources in their area.” NASS representatives will visit farms between August 2024 and February 2025 to collect information such as on-farm production practices; chemical, fertilizer and manure applications; integrated pest management activities; and installed conservation practices.

    USDA NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents. The information provided will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with federal law, responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form.

    The survey data will be published in the Crop Production report in 2025. This and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information, call the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.

  • Climate-Smart Ag & Food System Investments Secured in Climate Bond

    California’s Climate Resilience Bond (SB 867, Allen), if approved by voters in November, will catalyze a wide range of powerful climate solutions, including nature-based farming practices, and investments to improve historically underserved communities’ access to healthy food and safe drinking water. The Food and Farm Resilience Coalition applauds the legislature for the inclusion of $1 billion of our Coalition’s priority investments in climate-resilient sustainable agriculture, local food system infrastructure, and farmworker well-being.

    The proposed investments related to the Coalition’s agriculture chapter priorities are five times greater than those in Proposition 68, the last successful climate bond to include food and farming investments.

    This boost in food system priorities is the direct outcome of a multi-year campaign by the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition and the tireless advocacy of legislative leaders Assemblymember Lori Wilson and Speaker Robert Rivas.

    “Fires, droughts, and floods continue to increase food prices and threaten the livelihoods of farmers and farmworkers,” said Brian Shobe, Policy Director at CalCAN, a co-founding member of the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition. “This November, voters can act by voting to approve the climate bond to make our food and farm system more resilient. California’s family farmers and farmworkers are worth the investment.”

    Over $1 billion in proposed investments across all four of our Coalition’s priority areas were included in the Climate Resilience Bond. This includes funding for these programs:

    • State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP): Funds on-farm water conservation and energy efficiency measures.
    • The Healthy Soils Program (HSP): Supports farming practices that improve soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase carbon sequestration.
    • Farmland Conservation: Easements funded through the California Farmland Conservancy Program permanently protect valuable farmland from urban development.
    • Farm equipment-sharing programs: Offers small farmers access to expensive farm equipment for healthy soils practices.
    • Local Food Infrastructure: Supports urban agriculture, farmers’ markets, mobile markets, and tribal food production which supports local food systems and improves access to fresh, healthy foods.
    • Farmworker Safety and Well-being: Funds energy-efficient retrofits for housing and safe, affordable drinking water infrastructure for farmworkers and their communities

    “The same week the Climate Bond was printed, extreme heat alerts hit the Central and Imperial Valleys, where many farmworkers labor in 100-degree heat. While labor laws protect them outdoors, who helps them cool down at home?” said Nayamin Martinez, Director at Central California Environmental Justice Network, a member of the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition. “Investments in energy-efficient programs for farmworkers, like the ones included in the bond, are instrumental to guarantee energy equity and resiliency for those more heavily impacted by extreme heat.”

    Given California’s budget deficit and the lack of resources in the Governor’s 24-25 budget, this bond may be the only source of funding for several of these popular programs and much-needed investments.

    In the coming months, the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition will actively educate voters about the critical need for this bond measure.

    “With climate change exposing the fragility of our state’s agricultural supply chain, the time is now to build the infrastructure that small farmers need to provide healthy and nutritious food throughout our state,” said Arohi Sharma, a senior policy analyst with NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), a co-founding member of the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition. “The local and regional food infrastructure investments proposed in SB 867 present a ripe opportunity for voters to help get food from California fields to Californians’ plates.”

    About the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition (FFRC): 

    The Food and Farm Resilience Coalition includes 17 agricultural, environmental, farmworker, public health, and food security organizations that came together in 2021 to create a more equitable and resilient food and farming system. The Coalition has been a strong advocate for securing food and farming investments in the Climate Resilience Bond, SB 867 (Allen). The group originally sponsored AB 125 (Rivas) and AB 408 (Wilson). Learn more at ResilientFoodSystem.org.

  • DPR Seeks Comments on Modifications to Reg on Statewide Pesticide Application Notification System

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has released modifications to its proposed pesticide application notification regulation. Once in effect, the regulation will support the statewide implementation of a first-of-its-kind system to provide advance information on the planned applications of restricted material pesticides used in agriculture. Restricted materials are a highly regulated category of pesticides that have greater potential than other pesticides to cause harm to people, animals, the environment, or other crops. They require a county-issued permit for use and carry significant restrictions on how and where they can be used and who can use them.

    The department is seeking public comment on the proposed modifications to the regulation through a 30-day public comment period and three public hearings scheduled on July 12, 15 and 23.

    Following the close of the current public comment period, DPR will finalize the regulation and system design in preparation for statewide implementation of the pesticide application notification system in the first quarter of 2025.

    The department initially proposed the regulation on Nov. 3, 2023. The proposed regulation would support the statewide implementation of a notification system by requiring electronic submission of select information from Notices of Intent (NOIs) for permitted applications to DPR and requiring DPR to make the information it receives publicly available. NOIs are required before a permitted application of a restricted material pesticide. DPR will be required to provide information 48 hours prior to the intended start of a soil fumigation and 24 hours prior to the intended start of all other restricted material applications requiring a permit. NOIs, which are part of the state’s restricted material permitting process, are currently submitted to and must be approved by the local county agricultural commissioner before a restricted material pesticide can be used.

    DPR will submit the final regulation to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for final review and approval.

    Additional details and the proposed revised regulation can be viewed on DPR’s website.

    Public Comment Opportunities on Proposed Modifications to the Regulation

    The department is holding a 30-day public comment period July 2 through Aug. 1 and three regulatory hearings on July 12, July 15 and July 23.

    The hearings and public comment period are to collect input on the proposed modifications to the notification regulation. The modifications were made after the initial public comment period, which was open for 70 days starting in November 2023 and included three regulatory hearings. Those proposed changes include:

    • The requirement for DPR to re-evaluate and review the system, including annually receive feedback from and provide a status update to the department’s Environmental Justice Advisory Committee, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s State Board and the public until DPR issues a comprehensive report on the system three years after the regulation becomes effective.
    • Clarifying the restricted material pesticides that are subject to the 24- and 48-hours reporting requirements.
    • Clarifying that DPR will make publicly available pesticide product name(s) and active ingredient(s).
    • Clarifying the effective date for the implementation of the system.

    A pre-hearing presentation on the regulation and proposed modifications and an overview and demonstration of the system design will begin at 6 p.m. prior to the start of each of the formal regulatory hearings and public comments. The formal regulatory hearings and public comments will begin at 6:30 p.m.

    All hearings will be conducted in English with Spanish interpretation provided. Information on accommodations, including requesting interpretation in additional languages, can be viewed within the regulatory notice, available on DPR’s website.

    Stanislaus County Hearing

    • Date: July 12, 2024
    • Time: 6 p.m. presentation, 6:30-8:30 p.m. regulatory hearing
    • Location: Carnegie Arts Center: 250 N Broadway, Turlock

    Virtual Hearing*

    • Date: July 15, 2024
    • Time: 6 p.m. presentation, 6:30-8:30 p.m. regulatory hearing
    • Location: Zoom (virtual) hearing. You can login using this link prior to the start of the hearing. You will be prompted to enter an email address to join. This is a Zoom requirement.*
    • Link to join the meeting
    • View Only: The hearing will also be accessible via public webcast for persons who would like to watch this hearing without participating. Access the public webcast

    *If you are interested in hosting a hearing group with multiple people using one Zoom login, please email randi.jimenez@cdpr.ca.gov so we know that the login will represent multiple speakers and DPR can better capture feedback from all individuals in the group.

    Kern County Hearing

    • Date: July 23, 2024
    • Time: 6 p.m. presentation, 6:30-8:30 p.m. regulatory hearing
    • Location: Shafter Youth Center: 455 E Euclid Ave, Shafter, CA 93263

    DPR is accepting written comments, which can be submitted online through the department’s public comment portal, by mail, or provided by email to dpr23003@cdpr.ca.gov, between July 2 through Aug. 1.

    Background on Development of the Notification System

    DPR began development of the statewide pesticide application notification system in 2021 with funding from the state budget to provide the public with advance information about pesticide applications. The department conducted a series of public webinars and workshops between 2021 and 2023 to collect feedback to inform the design and development of the system. In 2022, county agricultural commissioners in Riverside, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Ventura counties volunteered to partner with DPR to conduct local pilot projects to further inform the development of the statewide pesticide application notification system. In addition, between October 2023 and February 2024, DPR conducted a small group beta test of the proposed statewide notification system in Tulare County. A video demonstration of the system that was beta tested in Tulare County, called ”SprayDays California,” is available on the department’s YouTube channel.

    Feedback and input received from the public since 2021 informed many elements of the statewide notification system design, including:

    • Information on the pesticide application (available through the state’s existing restricted material permitting process), including:
      • Product name and chemical ingredient
      • Direct link to the product label
      • Intended application method
      • Intended date and time period the application may occur
      • Scale of the application, and
      • Context and information on how pesticides are regulated and evaluated in California to protect people and the environment, including specifically how restricted material pesticides are regulated.
    • An anonymous search function that allows users to search for pesticide application information without providing personal information.
    • A subscription function that allows users to receive email and text message “notifications” when an application is planned near a specific address; users may sign up to receive this information for multiple addresses.
    • Information provided in Spanish and English.
    • A public website and visual mapping tool that is easy to use on mobile devices.
    • User-centered design with graphic and visual content.
    • Information on community health and resources for finding more information on pesticide safety and health impacts from pesticide exposure including the phone number for the National Pesticide Information Center, which provides information on potential health impacts from pesticide exposure.

    The system will indicate the location of the pesticide application within a 1-square-mile area using the standardized Public Land Survey System data. The 1-square-mile Public Land Survey System location is the only location information used consistently in the restricted material permitting process across all California counties.

  • USDA Issues Recommended Decision Proposing Amendments to All Federal Milk Marketing Orders

    On July 1st, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Recommended Decision on its website proposing to amend the uniform pricing formulas applicable in all 11 Federal milk marketing orders (FMMOs). The Recommended Decision follows a 49-day national hearing held from August 23, 2023, to January 30, 2024, in Carmel, Indiana, where USDA heard testimony and received evidence on 21 proposals from the dairy industry.

    The Recommended Decision puts forth a package of amendments to update formulas and factors based on the evidentiary record of the proceeding. More specifically, this decision recommends the following:

    1) Milk Composition Factors: Update the factors to 3.3 percent true protein, 6.0 percent other solids, and 9.3 percent nonfat solids.

    2) Surveyed Commodity Products: Remove 500-pound barrel cheddar cheese prices from the Dairy Product Mandatory Reporting Program survey and rely solely on the 40-pound block cheddar cheese price to determine the monthly average cheese price used in the formulas.

    3) Class III and Class IV Formula Factors: Update the manufacturing allowances to: Cheese: $0.2504; Butter: $0.2257; NFDM: $0.2268; and Dry Whey: $0.2653. The Recommended Decision also proposes updating the butterfat recovery factor to 91 percent.

    4) Base Class I Skim Milk Price: Update the formula as follows: the base Class I skim milk price would be the higher-of the advanced Class III or Class IV skim milk prices for the month. In addition, adopt a rolling monthly Class I extended shelf life (ESL) adjustment that would provide for better price equity for ESL products whose marketing characteristics are distinct from other Class I products. .

    5) Class I differentials: Update the Class I differential values to reflect the increased cost of servicing the Class I market. The county-specific Class I differentials are specified in the decision.

    Regarding this announcement, Greg Doud from the National Milk Producers Federation reflected, “An effort that took more than three years, more than 200 meetings, 49 days of a record-long Federal Order hearing, and countless hours of analysis and discussion were reflected in a recommended USDA plan for Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization that incorporates much of the comprehensive approach to improvements we advocated throughout. Yes, not every detail is exactly as we would have had it – we always knew that would be the case. And USDA’s plan isn’t set in stone – we take very seriously the comment period we will soon be in and plan a detailed response to this proposal. Our FMMO task force is meeting to discuss the plan next week; even as we speak, our staff and cooperative experts are putting pen to paper to better understand how various parts of the USDA plan will interact to affect dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own, as well as the broader industry. That’s all to say our work is far from over. But Monday’s decision was arguably the critical milestone in this process. And this industry – led by the member-owners of the nation’s leading dairy cooperatives – has many reasons to be heartened by the improvements USDA has proposed to the nation’s Federal Milk Marketing Order system.”

    Looking ahead, Laurie Fischer from the American Dairy Coalition shared some concerns with the recommended decision. “Even though the draft decision appears to be responsive to dairy farmers, it does not treat all Orders fairly and could result in farmers voting “no” to the changes, only to discover that they’ve unintentionally voted out the individual Order in which they vote,” Fischer suggests. “We will take time to fully digest the draft decision and economic impacts and will be working to educate farmers on what the voting process is, who is eligible to vote, and what their vote means.”

    Publication of the Recommended Decision in the Federal Register is anticipated in early July 2024, and will invite public comments on the recommended proposals. Once it is published, comments may be submitted at the Federal eRulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be filed with the Hearing Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 1031-S, Washington, DC 20250-9200, fax number (202) 720-9976. All comments should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments will be made available for public inspection in the Office of the Hearing Clerk during regular business hours or can be viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov.

    Copies of the hearing notice may also be obtained from USDA/AMS/Dairy Program; STOP 0225 – Rm. 2530; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0225.