California Ag Network

Tag: USDA

  • Record-Breaking Almond Crop Predicted for 2018

    In spite of concerns about freezing weather during almond bloom, the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is predicting a record crop in 2018. According to the NASS 2018 Almond Subjective Forecast issued today, California almond orchards are expected to produce 2.30 billion pounds of nuts this year, up 1.3% from last year’s 2.27 billion-pound crop.[1]

    Karen Barindelli observes a solid 2018 almond crop in her Modesto orchard

    “Almond farmers used a variety of techniques to manage freezing nighttime temperatures in some parts of the Central Valley during bloom this year and those efforts appear to have worked,” said Richard Waycott, president and CEO, Almond Board of California. “Every year weather impacts farming, but almond trees thrive in our state because California is home to the world’s most efficient almond farmers, who continually improve their practices and rise to the challenge.”

    The Almond Subjective Forecast, the first of two California almond forecast reports for this year’s crop, is based on opinions obtained from randomly selected almond farmers located throughout the state via a phone survey conducted in April and May. Farmers were asked to indicate their almond yield per acre from last year and expected yield for the current year based on field observations. Those estimates are then combined and extrapolated to arrive at the numbers reported in the Almond Subjective Forecast.

    While the Almond Subjective Forecast provides early estimates of the coming crop after it is set, the 2018 California Almond Objective Report, which is released in July, uses a more statistically rigorous methodology. It is typically the more accurate of the two reports. Objective Report data is based on actual almond counts and measurements taken in orchards throughout the state, starting in May and ending in July.

    The Objective Report will be released July 5, 2018, at noon PDT. Both the report and the forecast are conducted by the USDA and funded by the Almond Board of California to provide almond farmers, processors and shippers with estimates to help them make business decisions.

    Last month, the 2017 California Almond Acreage Report showed bearing acres, that is orchards old enough to produce a crop, were up 6% at 1 million acres. Total almond acres for 2017 were estimated at 1.33 million acres, up 7% from the previous year.

    Almond acreage in California continues to experience significant increases.

    [1] USDA-NASS. 2018 California Almond Subjective Forecast. May 2018.

  • California Dairy Digital Magazine: April 2018 Issue

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    The December issue of California Dairy Magazine is now available to read online! Read the latest California Dairy & Feed industry news and technology.  Here’s a peek of what’s inside:

    • Hanford Junior Dairy Show Grows
    • Achieving High Reproductive Performance
    • Discovery in Isolating Embryonic Stem Cells in Cows
    • USDA Reopens Enrollment For Improved Dairy Safety Net Tool
    • Milk Prices: Hope on the Horizon

    Click Here to view it on Californiadarymagazine.com

  • USDA California Crop/Weather Report

    Sacramento, Calif., (April 17, 2018) – Early last week was dry across California. From Thursday to early Sunday, a series of storm systems from an atmospheric river from the Pacific impacted coastal areas as well as central and northern California; bringing moderate to heavy precipitation. Snow levels dropped to around 4,000 to 4,500 feet over the weekend in the mountains, with a few inches of snow at pass level. Dry weather returned on Sunday.

    Temperature highs for the week ranged in the 50s to 70s in the mountains, 70s to 80s in the valley, 60s to 80s along the coast, and 70s to 90s in the desert. Temperature lows for the week ranged from the 10s and 30s in the mountains, 40s to 50s in the valley, 30s to 50s along the coast, and 30s to 50s in the desert.

    Winter forage crops were maturing well. Alfalfa cutting was stalled by the wet weather. Cotton field preparation and planting was ongoing. Corn fields were prepared and planted in the San Joaquin Valley. Wheat development benefited from March precipitation.

    Older vineyards and orchards continued to be pushed out for new plantings.  Pear trees were leafing out.  Grape vines started to bud break.  Stone fruit orchards were continuing to leaf out as the bloom period was coming to an end.  Pomegranate orchards were pruned.  Mechanical and chemical weed control continued.    Olive and cherry trees were blooming.  The harvest of late variety Navel oranges continued, and fruit were showing some grading issues.  The Valencia orange and lemon harvests continued.  Seedless tangerine groves remained netted for the bloom.

    Orchard clean up continued after the heavy spring rains and recent storms.  A good set was reported for Almonds in many orchards in the San Joaquin Valley. Pistachio leaf out began. Early walnut varieties were blooming, and some orchards were pruned. Catkins were developing on Chandler walnuts.

    Fields were being prepared and planted, but activities have been slow due to wet soils. Harvest of broccoli, cauliflower, and some lettuce continued in Salinas. Strawberry harvest continued in Monterey. Asparagus harvest began in San Joaquin County.

    Rangeland and non-irrigated pasture quality continued to improve with the recent precipitation. Sheep grazed on idle crop land, stubble fields, and dormant alfalfa fields. Beehives were moved from almond to olive, citrus, and stone fruit orchards. Bee activity picked up when the weather was favorable.

  • USDA California Crop/Weather Report

    Sacramento, Calif., (April 6, 2018) – High pressure developed during the week leading to dry weather and above normal temperatures across California. As the high pressure slowly dissipated, mild conditions returned over the state.

    Temperature highs for the week ranged in the 60s to 70s in the mountains, 80s in the valley, 60s to 80s along the coast, and 80s to 90s in the desert. Temperature lows for the week ranged from the 10s and 20s in the mountains, in the 30s to 40s in the valley, 30s to 50s along the coast, and 40s to 50s in the desert region.

    Winter forage crops were maturing well. Some silage harvesting began. alfalfa swathing was reported in the San Joaquin Valley. Cotton field preparation was ongoing. Wheat development was benefiting from the precipitation in March.

    Irrigation continued in vineyards and stone fruit orchards.  Cherries were in full bloom.  Peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and prunes were leafing out.  Fruit was forming on most stone fruit trees.  Grapes were leafing out.  Apples and pears were leafing out and beginning to bloom.  Olives continued to be pruned.    Blooms continued to emerge on citrus trees.  Navel oranges and lemons continued to be harvested.  Valencia orange harvest progressed.

    The almond bloom was complete and trees were leafing out and nutlets were forming.  Walnuts were pushing catkins and were treated for blight. The pistachio bloom was increasing.

    Fields were being prepared and planted but activities have been slow due to wet soils. Winter vegetables were getting ready for harvest. Harvest of broccoli, cauliflower, and some lettuces began in Salinas. Strawberry harvest had begun in Monterey.

    Rangeland and non-irrigated pasture quality continued to improve with the recent precipitation and warming temperatures. Sheep grazed on idle crop land, stubble fields, and dormant alfalfa fields. Beehives continued to be moved from almond to stone fruit orchards. Bee activity picked up with the favorable weather.

  • USDA Releases Final CA FMMO Decision

    Modesto, Calif., (April 4, 2018) – USDA released the long awaited final decision for a California Federal Milk Marketing Order today. The potential differences between the final decision and USDA’s draft recommended decision from February 2017 had been a source of speculation in the industry for many months. Exactly how different was the final decision from the previous version? The answer is: it was exactly the same! Ta-da! Those who attended WUD’s convention got to hear about the basics of USDA’s draft recommendation, which also apply to the final decision. Now that we know this is what we will be looking at for a vote, more analysis will be conducted to determine the potential impact for producers around the state. Specifically, WUD will host three informational sessions on April 16 (Petaluma), April 17 (Modesto) and April 18 (Tulare; details below). The analysis presented will be performed by two independent experts who do not come with any agenda about persuading attendees one way or another. The emphasis will be on education and answering questions. USDA will also host a session in Clovis on April 10 to highlight the mechanics of the program.

    USDA will conduct a referendum among dairy producers to determine whether they support the proposed FMMO; this referendum will be held from April 2, 2018 through May 5, 2018. The FMMO will become effective if approved by two-thirds of the voting producers, or by producers of two-thirds of the milk represented in the voting process.

    Dates and locations for WUD’s meetings to discuss the economic impact of the CA FMMO:

    • Monday April 16th 10am Sonoma County Farm Bureau (3589 Westwind Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403)
    • Tuesday April 17th 9am Stanislaus County Harvest Hall (3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358, Training Room Center DE)
    • Wednesday April 18th 10am Tulare Agri-Center, (4500 South Laspina Street, Tulare, CA 93274, Social Hall)

    Refreshments will be served each meeting. RSVP’s are greatly appreciated: molly@westernuniteddairymen.com, or (209)527-6453

  • USDA Announces $8.4 Million to Support Veterans and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers

    Washington, D. C., (March 27, 2018) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement (OPPE) today announced up to $8.4 million in available funding for training and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers. Funding is made through the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (also known as the 2501 Program).

    “The USDA is committed to reaching all farmers and ranchers,” said OPPE Director Diane Cullo. “Through the 2501 program, the USDA is building lasting relationships among these farmers and ranchers, the local organizations that serve them, and the USDA’s local, state, regional, and national offices.”

    The 2501 Program was originally authorized by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. 2501 grants seek to enhance the equitable participation of socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers in USDA resources and programs, such as Farm Service Agency loans or grants through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). Projects may focus on conferences, training sessions, educational materials, or new programs to help these farmers and ranchers thrive and succeed.

    Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, networks, or coalitions of community-based organizations; 1890 or 1994 institutions of higher education; American Indian tribal community colleges or Alaska Native cooperative colleges; Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education; other higher education institutions; Indian Tribes or national tribal organizations. Eligible entities must have experience in providing agricultural education or other agricultural-related services for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers.

    The deadline for applications is May 15, 2018. See the request for applications for full details. Learn more about this funding opportunity through two teleconferences on March 28, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. EST and April 25, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. EST. To join each session, call 1-888-455-1685 and use passcode 7087935.

    Examples of FY 2017 funded 2501 projects include a grant to the National Hmong American Farmers, Inc., to provide technical and direct assistance to Hmong farmers in central California who face barriers to successful farming due to poverty and cultural and linguistic isolation. A Florida State University project reached veterans with workshops, online agricultural courses, and 15 farm apprenticeships and managerial apprenticeships at private farms.

  • The Road to the California FMMO Reopens – Come Hear Details At WUD’s Convention!

    Modesto, Calif., (March 20, 2018) – Big news this week: the judicial officer who was tasked with reviewing the entire California Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearing record ratified it. This officially clears the way for USDA to release the final decision for a California FMMO. USDA did not mention how long it would take to release the final decision once the record has been ratified, but in theory, it could be any day now. After a disappointing delay, we are looking forward to the final decision. Making a choice to change or not to change a pricing system that has been in place for 50 years is not a decision many take lightly. To shed light on the implications, WUD will extensively discuss details of USDA’s decision at its annual Convention on March 28. More specifically, I will provide pricing and pooling scenarios and answer questions you may have. This is of course pending USDA’s decision. If for some reason it is further delayed, I will still provide information on the draft recommended decision. It is important to get information out, because once the final decision is released, the referendum process will start. That referendum period will only last between 30 and 45 days. This is a very short time frame to reach out to the producer community and explain all the details of this complex system.

    As a reminder: the work of the judicial officer was required after a Supreme Court case called into question the appointments of administrative law judges (ALJ) in federal agencies. USDA announced last month the FMMO process for California could be significantly delayed until the court cases causing the delay were heard. This likely would have been around June. Hearing producers’ disappointment, USDA found a workaround and announced a solution during an industry conference call just weeks after the original delay announcement (appointing a judicial officer to review the FMMO hearing record). This officer is not subject to the appointment clause that applied to the ALJ that presided over the California FMMO hearing. Therefore, his review would prevent potential legal challenges down the road should the Supreme Court decide administrative law judges’ appointment was not constitutional.

    By Annie AcMoody, director of economic analysis

  • USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue Could Have Unusual Power In The Cabinet

    USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue followed his town hall at the World Ag Expo last week with visits with farmers and tours of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley. “I need all the education I can get,” Perdue said at Harris Woolf California Almonds facility in Coalinga, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times by Geoffrey Mohan.

    USDA secretary Sonny Purdue visited California in February. (Photo: USDA)

    Mohan spoke to the director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center, Dan Sumner, to understand Perdue’s role in President Trump’s administration.

    “When he say things to Trump, Trump can hear him saying, ‘Be careful about your constituency. Unless you want to see Nancy Pelosi in power, you better see to the reelections in the Central valley,” Sumner said.

    One of the reelections is for Rep. Devin Nunez (R-Tulare), a strong Trump supporter who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election

    Trump has to ponder whether he wants the Nunez or some Democrat leading the committee’s Russia investigation, Sumner said.

    Read the article: Trump ‘gets what you’re saying’: Agriculture secretary talks immigration, water and food stamps on California tour

  • USDA, Dairy Industry In Partnership to Promote and Enhance Environmental Sustainability

    Hanford, Calif., (February 21, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy to jointly promote and enhance environmental sustainability in the dairy industry. The pact extends and builds upon a MOU originally signed in 2009.

    USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue (r) shakes hands with dairy farmer Paul Rovey after signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States Department of Agriculture and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

    Secretary Perdue signed the MOU yesterday with Arizona dairy farmer Paul Rovey, chairman of Dairy Management Inc. and an Innovation Center board member, at DeGroot Dairies in Hanford, CA.

    “USDA and the Innovation Center will continue to work together to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies and increase energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms,” Secretary Perdue said. “These improvements will help producers diversify revenues and reduce utility expenses, while they strive to support their families and local communities by operating economically, environmentally sustainable dairy farms.”

    “USDA has resources that can help the dairy industry be successful but in many cases they are difficult to find because they are spread out through various agencies,” Secretary Perdue continued. “This MOU hopefully will be a potential navigator to the Innovation Center and give a ‘green light’ to interact with our agencies and centralize our various research and voluntary conservation efforts to reach their goals.”

    USDA’s support for agricultural and waste-to-energy research has played a key role in the agreement’s success to date. USDA will continue to work on enhancing the application and approval process for Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) programs, to make the process more efficient and tailored for producer convenience. USDA will also continue to examine ways to expand the award of conservation grants for sustainability initiatives by producers, cooperatives, non-governmental organizations and state and local governments.

    The Innovation Center agrees to work with its member companies to partner with USDA in communicating and educating producers on the value of sustainable practices while encouraging them to take advantage of conservation program opportunities.

    “Over the years, we have pursued creative and common-sense ways to work together that have allowed us to develop research, technologies, and on-the-ground practices that move us closer to our collective goals,” said Barb O’Brien, president of the Innovation Center. “The Innovation Center is proud of the synergy that has resulted from our collaboration with USDA, and we have no question that this public/private partnership works in the best interest of farmers, our dairy community and, most importantly, consumers of dairy who trust us to produce nutritious products they can feel good about feeding to their families.”

    USDA’s national and locally-based teams of subject matter experts and portfolio of programs help improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers, and the quality of life in rural America.

    “This MOU allows the dairy industry to continue to build on all of the good work we have done for years with USDA,” Rovey said. “It allows our industry to have a voice and work within a structure where we can continue making progress toward our shared goals and priorities. We are thankful to have USDA at the table with us.”

    Previous and current collaborations have resulted in research, resources and a variety of programs that have advanced sustainability within the dairy community, including anaerobic digesters on farms, food waste reduction and the development of nutrient recovery technologies through NRCS and dairy’s Newtrient company.  Additionally, the Farm Smart Project led to the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Environmental Stewardship module. This voluntary tool empowers farmers to identify opportunities for sustainability improvements on their farm as detailed within the FARM program. Ninety-eight percent of the U.S. milk supply participates in FARM.

    Note – CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program is also working for enhanced environmental sustainability on dairies.

  • USDA Moves to Assure Producers Can Vote on FMMO This Year

    Modesto, Calif., (February 20, 2018) – Unlike milk production, excitement surrounding the California dairy industry’s efforts towards better producer prices is not in decline. Indeed, just a week ago, USDA announced an unexpected delay in the FMMO process that left producer groups very disappointed. The agency stated it would be delaying the final decision for a California FMMO until after the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the challenge to the use of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) throughout the federal government agencies. In an effort to accelerate the process, WUD, along with MPC and CDC, submitted a letter to Secretary Perdue urging him to release the decision. The three California coops (CDI, DFA and LOL) who originally petitioned USDA also submitted a letter. At the Farm Show this morning, when questioned on the process, Secretary Perdue responded he could not provide additional information because of ex-parte rules. He however encouraged stakeholders to listen to a USDA call scheduled a few hours later, providing additional explanation on the delay of the California FMMO and which we should “be pleased with”. Rumors started flying through the Farm Show faster than Olympians on a luge.

    The conference call organized by USDA was hosted by Stephen Vaden from the Office of General Counsel at USDA. Citing many legal cases and opinions, he described USDA’s options in the process. The main risk and concern to USDA is that if the Supreme Court’s ruling made ALJ appointments unconstitutional, the California FMMO would likely be voided (or vacated in legal speak). With such an outcome, we would be looking at starting the process over and likely not seeing a final decision for another three years. Since USDA is not a fan of Russian roulette, they would rather take the safest route where all the work has no chance of reverting to square one. To ensure this, USDA will hire a judicial officer to review the whole record, all 40 days of it. And by reviewing the record, he will need to look at the whole thing word by word: the transcripts and the exhibits. If he so determines the record complete he will ra9fy it. If he does not, he would seek addi9onal feedback.

    Removing the potential of having to start from scratch certainly took away the biggest risk to the process, but the delay remains and the uncertainty of not seeing a final decision continues to hang over producers head. Despite the documentation-heavy record, USDA thinks this new road will delay the process by one month at best, or four at the most. Basically, if the new officer reaches an agreement with the decision as is, we could see implementation, pending the outcome of the producer referendum, by November 2018. If he does not, there must be a comment period for stakeholders and USDA anticipates this would push the implementation to February 2019. Yes, a year from now. We appreciate the secretary’s effort towards improving a tough situation but we are still disappointed in the delay this is causing.

    WUD’s president Frank Mendonsa is extremely disappointed in the delay of the final decision. Recalling the numerous heartfelt testimonies from producers at the 2015 hearing he added “milk prices in California are still as depressed today as they were over two years ago. While some tweaks have been made to the California formulas since then, there is hope in the producer community this could yield higher prices for California producers”.

    Stay tuned: we should see a decision or a period for comments in the next month or so!

    By Annie AcMoody, director of economic analysis