National Beef Rejects General Offer from Community, Still Plans to Close

NATIONAL BEEF WILL CLOSE, LEAVING BRAWLEY IN A LURCH

Source: Lloyd Miller, The Desert Valley Review

The Imperial Valley Ad Hoc Committee met on February 21^st to inform the public that after three weeks of proposals with National Beef, the processing plant chose to continue with their April 4th closing date.

Ryan Kelley, supervisor district 4, was the spokesman of the committee present. Others were Don Wharton and George Nava of the Brawley City Council, Matt Dessert, Imperial Irrigation District director, and cattlemen Bill Plourd of El Toro Exports and Bill Brandenburg, Meloland Cattle Company, absent was Paul Cameron of Mesquite Cattle Feeders.

Kelley mentioned that National Beef never gave any figures they had to have to stay, but said they had lost many millions of dollars yearly at the Brawley plant.

Bill Plourd said the cattlemen met many times, with the ad hoc committee and with all the Imperial Valley Cattle Feeders. Last January 2013, the feedlots had agreed to a reduction of $15 million, on top of that they promised another $9 million reduction in prices.

“We have to be competitive, too. We buy cattle, we have to buy feed. To be successful and continue attracting customers there has to be a profit. Otherwise our customers will leave and ship their cattle where they can make money,” Brandenburg explained to the room.

Matt Desert said they cut their electrical rates to the historical contract that they had given when the plant first opened. This totaled $2.1 million in savings.

Wharton said the city of Brawley spent many hours combing through rates looking for ways to save the plant.

George Nava said that there was still reason to hope. “The door isn’t closed completely. It may just be a crack, but it is still open. We will continue our dialogue with National Beef CEO Terry Wilkinson in Kansas City, Mo. and chief financial officer Simon McGee.” He also added that National Beef did go from saying the plant would be moth-balled, to they would consider any reasonable offer.

Kelley said, “If you know of anybody interested, give me their name. I’ll call them.”

Plourd said that the cattlemen would now adjust their herd size. Many had recently expanded to meet the needs of the market, but now would downsize until the market reached its equilibrium.

Brandenburg added that through all of this the cattlemen remained united in trying to save the cattle industry and this would reverberate all through California, not just the Imperial Valley.

“We have clients that buy bull calf Holsteins from dairies and now that market is disappearing.

Ryan said that they wanted to give special recognition to Senator Ben Hueso and Assemblyman Manuel Perez and how they made calls and met with local officials. In the end, the State of California didn’t move in their regulations.

“In fact, the state didn’t seem to care,” Ryan said.

“But the cattlemen, they did not shy away. They gave their all.”

National Beef released this statement on February 21, 2014:

National Beef would like to thank the City of Brawley, Imperial County, the State of California, the regional cattle feeding industry and other community leaders that participated in developing and submitting a proposed incentive package in an effort to keep our Brawley processing facility open. The response was quick, thoughtful and well organized across many agencies. We have listened to the feedback and are grateful to all who were involved in the effort to support the continued operation of the facility.

We have considered all of the alternatives, but unfortunately, the barriers to profitably operate the facility continue to exist. Even with the proposed incentive package, the declining supply of fed cattle available for the Brawley facility remains the key driver of our decision to close the plant.

“We truly regret the impact this may cause to our employees. Their loyalty and dedication has been remarkable, and we will be offering assistance to help them transition to other opportunities,” said Tim Klein, chief executive officer, National Beef.

National Beef will continue to operate through this transition period until the last day of production, which is currently anticipated to be April 4, 2014.

National Beef:

We are a leading American beef supplier dedicated to providing fresh, chilled and further processed beef and beef by-products for our customers. Our focus is to expand our branded boxed beef, case ready beef, portion control beef and wet blue leather businesses to continue to meet and exceed the growing needs of our customers.

National Beef^® has grown from a single beef plant in 1992 to the fourth largest beef processor in the U.S. Our goal is to ensure that our customers have the tools they need to drive their own growth in the marketplace.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:55-07:00February 26th, 2014|

March 3rd Deadline for Drought-related Conservation Funds

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds interested farmers and ranchers that they have until March 3, 2014, to apply for $25 million in drought-related conservation assistance. Farmers and ranchers should consult with their local NRCS offices as soon as possible in order to apply for assistance.

NRCS California can help farmers and ranchers understand the options for their particular water situation, soil type and production goals and develop a plan to get through this drought. Soil conservation practices for fallow land include cover crops, residue management, mulching and other complimentary practices.

To help ranchers suffering from drought conditions, NRCS can offer practices such as livestock well development, piping, troughs, and fencing. For some ranchers, this may allow livestock to take advantage of available grass while protecting vulnerable ranch resources.

Finally, for farmers who have access to water and want to make every drop count, NRCS can provide improved irrigation hardware with an irrigation management plan to optimize efficiency.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $20 million in drought assistance through NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) on February 4 and President Barak Obama enlarged the conservation cost share assistance to $25 million during his California visit on Feb. 14. The program is strictly voluntary and producers share in the cost of the work.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is also providing drought assistance through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to consult with their local offices to gain a full understanding of the drought assistance options available from both agencies. FSA and NRCS are often co-located in service centers throughout California.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:55-07:00February 26th, 2014|

CRIME ALERT: Alfalfa Theft in Sutter County

CRIME ALERT: HAY STOLEN IN SUTTER COUNTY

The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office received a report on 2-15-2014 regarding theft of hay. The reporting party said 80 bales of alfalfa hay were taken from the area near Oswald Road and Township Road between the date of 2-12-14 and 2-15-14.

There are no suspects or leads at this time.

Please contact the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department with information at (530) 822-7300.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:55-07:00February 25th, 2014|

Solar Thermal Desalinization Shows Promise for Ag

PANOCHE WATER DISTRICT AND STATE TEST SOLAR THERMAL DESALINIZATION

Source: Excerpted from Todd Woody, The New York Times and posted By CDFA

With California facing a record-breaking drought, the spigot has gone dry for farmers that depend on long-term contracts with the federal government’s Central Valley Project to deliver cheap water from the north. Irrigation costs are expected to double or triple as growers are forced to buy water on the spot market. “Food prices are going to go up, absolutely,” said Dennis Falaschi, manager of the Panoche Water District, as he drove his pickup truck past bone-dry fields of almond trees and grapevines on an unseasonably warm day recently.

But, on a wheat field in Firebaugh, a giant solar receiver installed slowly rotates to track the sun and capture its energy. The 377-foot array, however, does not generate electricity but instead creates heat used to desalinate water.

It is part of a project developed by a San Francisco area start-up called WaterFX that is tapping an abundant, if contaminated, resource in this parched region: the billions of gallons of water that lie just below the surface. Financed by the Panoche Water District with state funds, the $1 million solar thermal desalinization plant is removing impurities from drainage water at half the cost of traditional desalinization, according to Aaron Mandell, a founder of WaterFX.

If the technology proves commercially viable — a larger plant is to be built this year — it could offer some relief to the West’s long-running water wars.

For agricultural water districts like Panoche, solar thermal desalinization promises to solve two persistent problems. One is a chronic  water shortage, even in rainy years, as regulators divert water to cities and for environmental purposes, like protecting endangered fish. The other is the growing salt contamination of agricultural land that has led farmers to abandon more than 100,000 acres in the Central Valley in recent years.

During the pilot project, WaterFX produced 14,000 gallons of purified water a day. A commercial version of the plant, set to be built this year on 31 acres of land, will produce 2,200 acre-feet a year. That’s the amount of water that would cover an acre of land at a depth of one foot, or 717 million gallons. The company will store excess heat generated by the solar array in molten salt to allow the plant to operate 24 hours a day.

Mr. Mandell said WaterFX currently produces an acre-foot of water for $450. That compares to about $280 an acre-foot charged by the Central Valley Project — when water is available. This year, farmers in the Panoche district will receive no water. Last year, they received only 20 percent of their allocation, Mr. Falaschi said. In 2012, the allocation was 40 percent. Farmers elsewhere who rely on the State Water Project to irrigate 750,000 acres of farmland will also receive no water in 2014.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:56-07:00February 25th, 2014|

Ag One Foundation Honors Supervisor Phil Larson March 14th

SUPERVISOR PHIL LARSON TO BE HONORED FOR AG AND WATER LEADERSHIP

Fresno County Supervisor and past Fresno County Farm Bureau President Phil Larson will be honored by the Ag One Foundation at California State University, Fresno during the 2014 Community Salute, scheduled for March 14, 2014, at the Fresno Convention Center beginning at 6 p.m.

Larson has passionately served the agricultural community in Fresno County and California at many levels. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and achieving the rank of sergeant E-4, Larson came home to the farm, where he grew cotton, hay and corn, eventually planting permanent crops.

Phil Larson

He worked for Wilbur Ellis Company for more than 37 years as an agricultural chemical sales representative. Larson became active in the community where he served on the Fresno County Republican Central Committee, the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce, the Kerman Unified School Board and the Kerman Covenant Church Board. For more than 45 years, he was actively involved in the Kerman High School Boosters.

“I commend the Ag One Foundation for bestowing its Community Salute distinction on Phil Larson,” said Dr. Charles Boyer, dean of JCAST. “His statewide leadership on agricultural issues and expertise on water have had a lasting impact on the Central Valley.”

Proceeds from the $125-per person fundraiser will establish an endowment in Larson’s name to support deserving students in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (JCAST).

The event will begin with a social at 6 p.m. immediately followed by a dinner and program at 7 p.m. Per-person tickets are available for $125; sponsorship levels beginning at $500 are also available.

RSVP is requested by March 7. For more information and to register, visit www.agonefoundation.org or contact the Ag One/JCAST Development Office at 559-278-4266.

Ag One Foundation benefits, promotes and supports Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and its programs. The Foundation has raised more than $16 million in endowed funds and awarded some 3,250 students with more than $2.3 million in scholarships and grants. For the 2013-2014 academic year, Ag One will provide nearly $500,000 to deserving students and programs.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:56-07:00February 25th, 2014|

Participate in Record-breaking Fresno County Farm & Nutrition Day!

FRESNO COUNTY FARM & NUTRITION DAY SEEKs PRESENTERS, VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS

The ninth Farm & Nutrition Day, sponsored by the Fresno County Farm Bureau, the Big Fresno Fair and Friends of the Fair, is scheduled for March 21, from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., at the Fresno Fairgrounds. This year’s program is experiencing record registration from schools throughout the county!

Farm & Nutrition Day will provide facts about food and fiber production in Fresno County, with a focus on proper nutrition and healthy eating to more than 4,000 third grade students, teachers and chaperones. The sponsoring organizations are seeking individuals to participate as presenters, sponsors and volunteers.

Additionally, donations, both monetary and in-kind of any amount, go a long way to help offset event costs. Many contributions will go towards transportation reimbursements for participating schools that qualify.

Donations to Farm & Nutrition Day are tax deductible and can be made payable to: Fresno Regional Foundation, tax ID# 77-0478025. Mail check to: Farm & Nutrition Day, c/o Fresno County Farm Bureau, 1274 W. Hedges Ave., Fresno, CA 93728.

Donors will be recognized in advance publicity for the event, on signage at the event, and in follow-up publicity about the event via FCFB’s monthly newspaper Agriculture Today, and via news releases. Those donors who wish to remain anonymous will have their wishes honored, as well.

For additional details, please contact Katie Rodgers at 559-237-0263 or via email at info@fcfb.org, or visit www.fcfb.org to sign up today.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:56-07:00February 25th, 2014|

Lack of California Irrigation May Hurt Southwest!

Lack of Irrigation in California May Hurt Southwest

Could this be true…even more collateral damage from a drought and environmental restrictions??

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 28 (UPI) — Irrigation in California’s Central Valley doubles the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, increasing rainfall across the U.S. Southwest, researchers say.

Scientists at the University of California, Irving, report when moisture on the vast farm fields evaporates, the vapor is blown over the Sierra Nevada mountains and dumps 15 percent more than average summer rain in numerous other states.

While the additional water falling on adjacent states can be beneficial, they said, it can also increase the strength of storms and other potentially destructive seasonal weather events.

“If we stop irrigating in the Valley, we’ll see a decrease in stream flow in the Colorado River basin,” which provides water for about 35 million people and the cities of Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix, climate hydrologist Jay Famiglietti said.

But the extra water vapor also accelerates normal atmospheric circulation, “firing up” the annual storm cycle and drawing in more water vapor from the Gulf of Mexico, the researchers wrote in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

When the additional amounts of moisture are fed into developing storms, Famiglietti said, “it’s like throwing fuel on a fire.”

Understanding irrigation’s impact on changing climate and water availability could improve emergency planning in parched or flooded areas, the researchers said.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:56-07:00February 25th, 2014|

State Water Board to Hold Public Workshop on Feb. 26th

WATER BOARD INVITES PUBLIC INPUT ON IMMEDIATE DROUGHT RESPONSE OPTIONS

State Water Resources Control Board will hold a public workshop to receive public input on actions to Increase Water Conservation, Reuse, Recycling and other Drought Related Measures on Wednesday, February 26, 2014.

This will be informational only and no State Water Board action will be taken.

Joe Serna Jr. – Cal/EPA Headquarters Building

Coastal Hearing Room

1001 I Street, Second Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

The Agenda is below.

Public Workshop Regarding Immediate Drought Response Options State Water Resources Control Board

February 26, 2014

What actions should the Water Boards be taking in response to the drought including actions to increase water conservation, reuse, and recycling?
Addressing topics that were not discussed during the February 18-19, 2014 Workshop

9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks

State Water Board Chair and Board Members, Department of Water Resources, California Department of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture and California Department of Public Health

9:05 a.m. Overview Presentation by State Water Board staff

9:15 a.m. Agricultural Water Measures Panel

Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation
Natural Resources Defense Council
Driscoll’s

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Small Community/Rural Water Measures Panel

United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
California Rural Water Association
Community Water Center

11:00 a.m. Break

11:15 a.m. Urban Water Measures Panel

Long Beach Water Department
Orange County Water District
Pacific Institute
Alliance for Water Efficiency

12:00 p.m. Lunch Break

1:00 p.m. Public Questions/Comments

First comments will be (Coast Keepers and River Keepers on drought-related groundwater actions)

4:15 p.m. Closing Remarks by State Water Board

“Video broadcast of meetings will be available at: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Broadcast/”

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-08-03T21:16:08-07:00February 25th, 2014|

Constructive Dialogue Follows Conflict: Center for Land-Based Learning Has Discussion with Chipotle

CHIPOTLE JUSTIFIES USING SATIRE, DENIES INTENTION TO VILIFY AG

By Laurie Greene, Associate Editor

Last Friday, Craig McNamara, Founder, and Mary Kimball, Executive Director, both of Center for Land-Based Learning, had a good conversation with Chris Arnold, Communications Director and Official Spokesman at Chipotle Mexican Grill, after cancelling a fundraiser with the restaurant chain due to the eatery’s launch of a miniseries that fosters “animosity toward production agriculture”.

Kimball said that Arnold has been the lead on all of the company’s marketing campaigns for a very long time, 15 years or so. Kimball commented, “We spent the majority of the time discussing our perspectives.” She conveyed that from Arnold’s perspective, the 4-part HULU Series provided the ability to reach millions more people, to achieve what he called ‘a longer shelf life of a campaign’, and to benefit from the kind of free PR that they have already received just in the form of so much talk, discussion and articles, which have already reached over $10 million in value.

“He said that there was no intention to pit large Ag against small Ag,” said Kimball, “or to vilify it in any way. In his mind, because it is such a satire, he doesn’t see how anyone would think that it was real.”

“We discussed the importance of education,” Kimball continued, “and, in general, the work that Land-Based Learning does to inform eaters. We talked a great deal about the perspective of our board, as well as what we are hearing from other agriculture folks – large, small, and everything in between.”

Kimball concluded, “There is no way to influence the current campaign, that was clear. We did ask if we (or other farm groups) could be a part of future marketing campaigns from the standpoint of giving feedback. He didn’t rule it out but certainly didn’t agree to it.”

“We also asked if he was ever in Northern California,” she said, “would he think about coming to the Farm on Putah Creek and continue the conversation. He was very interested in that option – as he will be in Monterey in May, and then back in the Bay Area in June.”

Kimball said the upshot is, “We will stay connected to him and absolutely continue to urge for this meeting.”

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:56-07:00February 25th, 2014|

2014 Citrus Showcase on March 6th

2014 CITRUS SHOWCASE TO COVER HLB, ACP, GMOs, WATER

The 2014 Citrus Showcase is March 6th at the Visalia Convention Center. There is no cost or registration required to attend. Breakfast and lunch tickets can be purchased by contacting California Citrus Mutual; reservations are required and tickets are expected to sell out fast.

The Citrus Showcase is the largest educational forum for California citrus growers, offering 6 separate breakout sessions focused on priority issues that are currently impacting the industry and industry tradeshow with over 100 exhibitors.

New this year is the first Annual Citrus Showcase Breakfast featuring keynote Speaker Felicia Marcus, Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. In her talk, titled “Breakfast with Water” Marcus will discuss the biggest issues facing California farmers today – water supply and delivery.

As Chair of the Water Board, Marcus’ activities include oversight of Regional Water Board activity including directing nitrate regulation and clean drinking water initiatives as well as assisting the Administration in determining where the State’s limited water supply shall go.

“Water with Breakfast” is sponsored by Compac Equipment and Sorting, Rabobank, and Bank of the Sierra. The program will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Visalia Marriott, Sierra-Nevada Ballroom adjacent to the Visalia Convention Center.

The Luncheon will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Visalia Convention Center Trade Show Exhibit Hall. The program will feature keynote speaker Cathy Enright, Executive Vice President of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) who will discuss the public backlash against Genetically Modified crops.

GMO research has been identified as a possible solution path for the U.S. citrus industry to defend itself against the ravages of the deadly citrus plant disease Huanglongbing. Activists have raised concern about GMO products, citing safety as a primary reason why GMO engineered food product should not be allowed into the market place. Their momentum has caused government, members of the scientific community, and some stakeholders to take a step back from the spotlight. Enright will discuss how members of her organization have begun to fight back.

Sponsors of the Citrus Showcase are: JKB Energy, Valent, Pace International, Farm Credit Associations, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences, Syngenta, Fruit Growers Supply, Southern California Edison, Yara, Sinclair, Deep Point Group, 2,4-D Taskforce and Duarte Nursery.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:56-07:00February 25th, 2014|