California Ag Network

Tag: northern California

  • UC Offers Toddlers Free Milk for Study

    Two-year-old children who drink cow’s milk are being sought to participate in a 12-month study by the UC Nutrition Policy Institute, a part of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Milk will be provided for free to participants in the Milk Type in Toddlers Study, or “Milk TOT” study, being conducted in Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Valley.

    “I enrolled my child in the Milk TOT study because we need more data-driven evidence to help us make informed decisions,” said one participant. “I feel good about my family making this contribution to pediatricians and families — and we get free milk.”

    Milk provides children with calcium, protein and vitamin D, which are essential for health and brain development. In the U.S., the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children switch from whole milk to low-fat or nonfat milk after age 2 to reduce their intake of saturated fat and calories.

    However, the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans have changed. The guidelines — issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and USDA — emphasize whole milk for children of all ages.

    “The truth is that we need more research to understand which milk type is best for young children,” said Kassandra Bacon, NPI project policy analyst. “The purpose of this UC study is to see how the type of milk toddlers drink affects their health, growth and development.”

    Researchers with the Nutrition Policy Institute are recruiting children ages 23 to 30 months old. Approximately 500 toddlers will be randomly assigned to drink either whole fat or 1% fat milk starting at age 2. The scientists will assess the toddlers’ diet, health and developmental outcomes.

    “We will follow each participant for one year, collecting baseline and follow-up data,” said Ryan Williams, a NPI project policy analyst and registered dietitian who is involved in the research.

    For 12 months, the scientists will measure each child’s height, weight, waist and head circumference. They will ask the parents what else the toddlers eat. They also will ask parents to visit a designated lab to check their child’s blood profile — lipids, cholesterol, insulin resistance and vitamin D — cognitive development and gut microbiome diversity.

    “I was a bit nervous as toddlers usually did not like the (blood) draws, but the study booked an appointment for me and the process was quick and easy,” said a participating parent.

    The assigned milk type will be delivered to participants free of charge via a grocery delivery service. Parents will receive advice from a registered dietitian to support healthy milk consumption as part of a balanced diet. Participants will also receive monthly newsletters with general health tips and earn up to $275 in gift cards by completing the study.

    “It has been very swift and easy,” said a participating parent in the San Francisco Bay Area. “The milk comes regularly, and you can even choose a delivery window that works for you.”

    Another parent said, “Very simple, easy, and added bonus of having a nutritionist to ask questions to, plus monthly handouts.”

    Participants for the milk study must meet these requirements:

    • Child must be 23 to 30 months old and have public or private medical insurance
    • Child’s parent/legal guardian must be 18 years or older
    • Child must live with the participating parent/legal guardian in one of the 21 designated counties (see list below) for the next year
    • Child’s parent or guardian must speak English or Spanish

    Children are ineligible for the study if they are:

    • lactose intolerant
    • allergic to milk protein

    Lorrene Ritchie, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist and former NPI director, and Anisha Patel, pediatrician at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and professor in the Division of General Pediatrics at Stanford University, are the principal investigators for the study. The research is primarily funded by a grant from the National Institutes for Health with additional support from the California Dairy Research Foundation.

    The study is recruiting participants in the 21 counties below:

    • Alameda
    • Butte
    • Contra Costa
    • El Dorado
    • Lassen
    • Marin
    • Monterey
    • Placer
    • Sacramento
    • San Benito
    • San Francisco
    • San Joaquin
    • San Mateo
    • Santa Clara
    • Santa Cruz
    • Shasta
    • Solano
    • Sonoma
    • Sutter
    • Yolo
    • Yuba

    For more information about the research and to sign up for the study, visit https://npi.ucanr.edu/milk.

    — Story contributed by the UC Ag and Natural Resources

  • CDFA Urges Immediate Reporting of Grapevines Purchased at Costco

    The CDFA is urging anyone who purchased grapevines from Costco stores in Northern California between April 21 and May 21 to contact their local agricultural commissioner after an invasive pest was discovered among the 13,000 vines shipped during that period.

    Grapevines from a Fresno nursery shipped to California Costco stores in April and May were found to be carrying the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), an insect capable of spreading a potentially lethal vine disease.

    On May 19, the first glassy-winged sharpshooter was detected on vines sold at the warehouse retailer, triggering an immediate and widespread containment effort by CDFA, agricultural commissioners and winegrape growers throughout Northern California. Officials are responding to public reports, conducting inspections and public outreach and trapping near stores and locations where purchased vines were taken. They are also ensuring that potentially infested plants are safely contained and disposed of.

    In addition to destroying infested stock still in Costco warehouses, CDFA is working with agricultural commissioners and conducting public outreach to locate vines sold to consumers across 24 counties, as well as neighboring at-risk counties.

    “While many vines have been intercepted and destroyed, locating the thousands that may still be in customers’ hands remains our top priority,” said California Ag Secretary Karen Ross. “Anyone who purchased these vines should contact their local agricultural commissioner immediately.”

    Costco is offering a full refund to anyone who purchased these vines. Customers do not need to return the vines to receive a refund.

    To prevent the potential spread of the pest, CDFA officials urge customers to:

    •Immediately contact your county agricultural commissioner

    •Keep the plant in its original pot or container and away from other plants

    •If possible, place the plant inside two trash bags, one inside the other, and seal them closed

    •Do not place the plant in the trash or compost bin

    •An agricultural inspector will come, inspect the vine for GWSS and — if necessary — remove and dispose of the vine

    Winegrapes are one of California’s largest cash crops, generating approximately $73 billion annually in economic activity and supporting more than 422,000 jobs statewide. A 2025 economic study estimated that Pierce’s disease, which is spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter, could cost California approximately $166 million annually if left unchecked.

    California first recognized the full threat of the glassy-winged sharpshooter in 1999, when a major Pierce’s disease outbreak in the Temecula Valley led to the destruction of more than 300 acres of vineyards. Winegrape growers quickly responded by working with the CDFA to create the Pierce’s Disease Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board to control the pest and find solutions to the disease it carries. The program has successfully contained GWSS for over 25 years. Visit cdfa.ca.gov/pdcp/PD_GWSS_Board.html. — Story Contributed by the California PD/GWSS Board

  • Golden State Farm Credit Supports Local Students with Back-to-School Backpack Donation

    Golden State Farm Credit (GSFC) recently donated 25 backpacks filled with school supplies to support students and families through The Salvation Army of Chico’s Back-to-School program, an annual effort to ensure local students are prepared for a successful start to the school year.

    Recipients of the program will receive a backpack filled with various school supplies such as notebooks and paper, writing utensils, a calculator, and a lunchbox. Each donation will support a child in need living in Chico, Paradise, Magalia, or Forest Ranch, helping relieve the financial burden from local families, parents, and guardians.

    GSFC has previously partnered with The Salvation Army of Chico, particularly through its annual participation in the Angel Tree program, which provides Christmas gifts to hundreds of children in the region. This back-to-school effort represents a meaningful extension of that partnership and a shared commitment to serving the community year-round.

    “We’re proud to support programs that provide local youth with the tools they need to succeed,” said Kris Costa, director of marketing and communications at GSFC. “Supporting the Angel Tree Program has always been a meaningful experience for our team, so when The Salvation Army invited us to be part of their back-to-school effort, we were excited to jump in and help.”

    This donation is part of GSFC’s ongoing commitment to serve and strengthen rural communities. The association’s community outreach pillar extends beyond supporting local agriculture organizations, activities, and events; they believe in supporting families in the community when the need arises. Looking ahead in 2026, GSFC plans to connect with other Salvation Army locations near its branch offices to expand the backpack donation effort.

    About GSFC:

    Golden State Farm Credit (GSFC) is a lending institution of the Farm Credit System with offices in Northern and Central California that service the counties of Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Trinity, Fresno, Kings and Tulare. The GSFC administrative office is located at 3013 Ceres Avenue, Chico, CA 95973. The Farm Credit System (System) is a nationwide network of borrower-owned lending institutions that provides loans, leases, and related services to farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, agribusiness, agricultural and rural utility cooperatives, and Young, Beginning and Small Farmers nationwide. Congress established the System in 1916 to provide a reliable source of credit for the nation’s farmers and ranchers. Today, the System provides more than one-third of the credit needed by those who live and work in rural America.

    For more information about Golden State Farm Credit, call (530) 895-8698 or visit us online at www.goldenstatefarmcredit.com.

  • Golden State Farm Credit Awards Over $15,000 in Scholarships

    Golden State Farm Credit (GSFC) is proud to announce that it has awarded more than $15,000 in academic scholarships to outstanding high school seniors and college students pursuing degrees in agriculture. These scholarships reflect GSFC’s ongoing commitment to investing in the future of rural communities and supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders.

    Each year, GSFC recognizes and supports students who reside within its service area, including Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Trinity, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties, or are children of GSFC customers. Recipients must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to agriculture and can receive awards ranging from $500 to $1,500 to support their education at two-year and four-year colleges.

    “Our scholarship recipients are the future of agriculture,” said Rob Faris, President and CEO of Golden State Farm Credit. “By supporting their education, we’re not only investing in individual students but also in the long-term sustainability of agriculture in California.”

    The scholarship program is one of many ways GSFC works to strengthen rural economies and encourage youth to pursue careers in the agricultural industry. In addition to academic scholarships, GSFC supports youth in agriculture by purchasing livestock at county fairs, offering a summer internship program, and providing interest-free youth loan opportunities for junior livestock exhibitors. These initiatives underscore the cooperative’s mission to develop future ag leaders and strengthen rural communities.

    Applications for the scholarship program open annually in January. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit GSFC’s website to apply for the 2026 cycle.v

    For a full list of 2025 scholarship recipients, see the following:

    About GSFC:

    Golden State Farm Credit (GSFC) is a lending institution of the Farm Credit System with offices in Northern and Central California that service the counties of Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Trinity, Fresno, Kings and Tulare. The GSFC administrative office is located at 3013 Ceres Avenue, Chico, CA 95973. The Farm Credit System (System) is a nationwide network of borrower-owned lending institutions that provides loans, leases, and related services to farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, agribusiness, agricultural and rural utility cooperatives, and Young, Beginning and Small Farmers nationwide. Congress established the System in 1916 to provide a reliable source of credit for the nation’s farmers and ranchers. Today, the System provides more than one-third of the credit needed by those who live and work in rural America.

    For more information about Golden State Farm Credit, call (530) 895-8698 or visit us online at www.goldenstatefarmcredit.com.