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Temperance Flat Could Control Floods

Association Calls for Flood Control through Temperance Flat

With the rising San Joaquin River in the background, board members of the San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority (SJVWIA), assemblymen, city officials and stakeholders of the Temperance Flat project gathered recently to discuss the importance of flood control.

The Western Ag Processors Assocation (WAPA) Director of Regulatory Affairs Jodi Raley spoke at a recent news conference highlighting the impacts of flood damage as it relates to agriculture. Noting the acres of valuable agricultural land along the river, Raley expressed that while it is important for the future dam to capture water, this season, we are seeing how the project would play a critical role in flood control.

Many acres of orchards and fields have experienced saturation or an inundation of water during this heavy rain season. These conditions on an extreme not only lead to situations concerning crop health, but could also result in loss of jobs for ag workers in affected areas.

In addition, it was highlighted that the amount of water released from Friant, currently 9,000 cubic feet/sec (cfs), has very little to no demand. It is being said that with the rain received and the significant snow pack in the Sierras, Millerton Lake will receive enough water to be drained and refilled seven times over.

The SJVWIA and the Technical Advisory Committee, along with the large breadth of stakeholders, are calling upon Governor Brown to recognize the need for this project’s construction. Raley said that the association will continue to push and fight for the construction of Temperance Flat to bring more water not only to the Central Valley, but to the entire state.

Patrick Cavanaugh2017-04-24T19:33:04-07:00March 9th, 2017|

Paraquat Resistance in Weeds?

Weeds Now Showing Paraquat Resistance

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Farm News Director

There’s been weed resistance to glyphosate herbicide, but now some weeds show resistance to paraquat herbicide.

“When we see paraquat resistance at often a very high level of resistance, it doesn’t cause any visual injury, which is different than a lot of cases,” said Brad Hanson, a UC Cooperative Extension Weed Specialist at UC Davis.

“We’re dealing with a lot of glyphosate resistant weeds right now, and when you spay glyphosate on the resistant weeds, they are slightly injured and then they recover,” said Hanson. “With paraquat resistance, it’s very stark. You often don’t see any symptoms at all. I describe it almost as immunity. It’s such a high level of resistance.”

“We have glyphosate resistance to annual ryegrass and hairy fleabane, and we have some populations of those same weeds that are resistant to paraquat,” Hanson said. “We see a very temporary reduction in the photosynthetic ability, but within a few hours it bounces back to normal.”

The plant is taking that active herbicide molecule, and it is being sequestered. It’s taking that molecule and putting it somewhere in the cell where it cannot get to the photosynthetic apparatus that’s its target site. It’s a very unique and interesting kind of resistance challenge.

“I think we’re talking about multiple resistance to paraquat and glyphosate. The grower likely switched to use paraquat in order to kill the glyphosate resistant weeds, and then the weeds selected paraquat resistance on top of that.”

Patrick Cavanaugh2021-05-12T11:05:42-07:00March 6th, 2017|

Early Registration Open for MRL Workshop in San Francisco

Annual MRL Harmonization Workshop May 31 to June 1

The California Specialty Crops Council will hold its twelfth annual 2017 MRL Harmonization Workshop May 31-June 1 in San Francisco. The interactive seminar based on maximum residue limits (MRLs) will address critically important issues for stakeholders with interests in exporting agricultural products.

Registrants, growers, packers, shippers, PCAs, regulators, trade experts, and other stakeholders in international trade are strongly encouraged to attend. Presentation topics include: international trade trends, global registrations, pesticide residue monitoring, MRL strategies for growers, updates for international residue standards, global MRL challenges, and research reports regarding the impacts of residues.

Ed Ruckert, Partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP, will kick off the Workshop discussing “Pesticide Regulatory Trends in the New Administration.” Julia Doherty from the US Trade Representative will discuss “Recent Work in the WTO SPS Committee on Pesticide MRLs.” The agenda also includes international speakers from the EU, Korea, Australia and Taiwan.

A copy of this year’s speaker lineup can be found at the link below. The Workshop will be held at the Hyatt-Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. On-line pre-registration is required by May 22. For all meeting, hotel information and an updated agenda go to http://specialtycrops.org. The registration fee is $425 by March 31 and $475 after that date.

The California Specialty Crops Council (CSCC), a 501(c) 5 non-profit organization, is a trusted source of field-based information spanning horticultural crop production, pest management, food safety and stewardship activities in fruit, root, vegetable, vine and berry crops (fresh, dried, and processed). Its diverse partnership of ag organizations also includes the CA State Beekeepers Association. Combined, CSCC growers generate almost $4.1 billion annually on approximately 522,000 acres of California farmland.

Patrick Cavanaugh2021-05-12T11:02:00-07:00March 3rd, 2017|

Pyrethroid Review Deadline Nearing

Pyrethroid Review Commenting Deadline is March 31

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Farm News Director

The EPA is reviewing the pyrethroid class of crop protection materials and it’s concerning the Ag industry, which often turns to the materials as part of an integrated pest management strategy – recommended by the University of California.

David Haviland – an entomologist with UC Cooperative Extension Kern County – said he is not too concerned with the EPA review.

“Every pesticide should be periodically reviewed to make sure that all new information about a product gets reconsidered. Our ability to test for products changes over time. Our experience with products changes over times. The role of products changes over time, so a re-review is warranted. I don’t have any concerns with that,” Haviland said.

Of course, the big question is what is the current role of pyrethroids in the grower’s toolbox?

“It absolutely has a role. The best way to manage pests we know is through integrated pest management, and integrated means using lots of different tactics. Sometimes, there’s a way to control a pest completely with biological control, sometimes there’s a cultural control, but there are cases where pesticides are needed,” Haviland said.

“There’s a time and a place for a very soft surgical strike against one-species pesticide and there’s also a time and a place for a product that can kill two or three or four different pests at the same time. Sometimes, those broader spectrum products are the only ones available for certain pests,” Haviland explained.

“Pyrethroids fit that role as the last group of broad spectrum products that are effective on a wide range of pests, particularly with organophosphates, which is being phased out of most crops,” Haviland said.

There is time to comment on this EPA review – and this time expires March 31, so it’s critical for anyone who needs these pyrethroids as an IPM strategy to go to www.defendbifenthrin.com and post a comment.

Patrick Cavanaugh2021-05-12T11:05:42-07:00February 27th, 2017|

EPA Reviews Agricultural Pyrethroids

Pyrethroid Products Reviewed

By Brian German, Associate Broadcaster

Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that are included in more than 3,500 registered products, with many of those being used in agriculture. Every 15 years, the Environmental Protection Agency is required by congress to review all registered pesticides. They received their first-ever review evaluating how they impact fish and aquatic plants.

John Cummings is the Registration and Regulatory Affairs Manager for FMC, a diversified chemical company that has been serving the agricultural community for over a century. “We are very concerned with the content of that risk assessment – that they have identified that there is high-risk concerns to certain aquatic organisms, not necessarily fish or anything like that, but small aquatic organisms,” Cummings said.

The underlying purpose of these kinds of reviews is to ensure public safety, especially when reviewing products used in ag production. “They’ve done a very high level, simple, cursory risk assessment that has identified these concerns,” Cummings said.

During the past decade, the use of pyrethroids has increased, as the use of organophosphate pesticides continues to decline. That is due to their higher toxicity to birds and mammals when compared to pyrethroids. Cummings expressed his concern regarding the data that the EPA bases their decision on. “There’s been other actions by EPA recently around the use of the best available data and the best science around risk assessment. … The EPA should be using the best science to make the right regulatory decisions while protecting the environment,” Cummings said.

Through their industry consortium, the Pyrethroid Working Group, FMC is in the process of putting data together that they hope the EPA will take into consideration. Cummings explained that their research will “make it more real world while still conservative and protecting the environment. It’s more real world and typical of how these products are used.”

Pyrethroids are a broad-spectrum insecticide that have shown tremendous success in controlling a variety of different insects considered to be economically important to the ag industry. “Pyrethroids are a very important element of both integrated pest management as well as resistance management. Growers today are facing very complex insect control problems, and it’s necessary to have many tools in the tool box,” Cummings said.

“I think EPA needs to understand how important it is to consider the benefit of these to production agriculture as well as society, in feeding the world,” Cummings concluded.

The public comment period for the EPA’s risk assessment has been extended to March 31st.

Ag Stakeholders are urged to comment at http://www.defendbifenthrin.com

Patrick Cavanaugh2021-05-12T11:05:43-07:00February 26th, 2017|

Recharging Aquifer: Job One Today

Water Districts Recharging Aquifer

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Farm News Director

David Nixon, Deputy General Manager of the Arvin Edison Water Storage District

With the reservoir and all water district canals brimming, there is a great effort to move water into underground aquifer recharge ponds, said David Nixon, general manager of the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District in Kern County.

“Absolutely, we tried to get every acre foot of water in this district we possibly can,” he said. “With that water at this time of year, before it’s needed by agriculture, it’s all about water storage and rebuilding that underground aquifer.

“We have about 1500 acres of recharge ponds that we can use to refill the underground aquifer,” Nixon said.

It has been a great, wet year, with Middleton Lake filling in Fresno County, and water moving Southward in the Friant-Kern Canal all the way to Kern County, right where Arvin-Edison Water Storage District is located.

“It’s beautiful out there. Ponds are full, and hopefully, if everything works out with our water supply, they’ll be full all year long,” Nixon said.

“We take a wet year supply and turn it into dry year water. When we do not have ample water supply for the 53,000 acres that are under a long-term surface water contract with us, then we will run our wells,” Nixon said.

This year will not be one of those years.

Patrick Cavanaugh2017-04-25T15:59:47-07:00February 20th, 2017|

Land-Based Learning Gets Donation

Donation to Center for Land-Based Learning Supports Next Generation of Local Farmers

Raley’s announced in a news release last week that they are increasing commitment to supporting beginning farmers through the Center for Land-Based Learning’s West Sacramento Urban Farm Program.

Raley’s has committed significant support for three urban farm sites in the City of West Sacramento. The Urban Farm Program, run by the Center for Land-Based Learning, supports beginning farmers through low cost land leases, professional mentoring and by helping farmers find markets for their crops.

According to Raley’s, “Urban farm sites increase access to fresh local produce, promote community sustainability, encourage volunteerism and stimulate educational opportunities. A percentage of produce grown will benefit Food For Families while creating a built in market for beginning farmers.”

“Our partnership with the Center for Land-Based Learning provides a full circle approach to Raley’s support of the entire food system,” said Becca Whitman, Community Relations Manager for Raley’s, in the news release. “By working together, we are strengthening the market channel for farmers, increasing agricultural workforce development opportunities, and providing our Food For Families partners fresh fruits and vegetables for the food insecure in our communities.”

In 2014, the Center for Land-Based Learning planted West Sacramento’s first urban farm. There are now four urban farms within the city, all of which are managed by beginning farmers. The Farm at the BARN will be the fifth urban farm site and is slated to be planted in spring 2017. Three of the five sites are supported by Raley’s.

Raley’s said that ongoing efforts will be made to support farmers seeking to gain access to larger partners, including Raley’s own “Living Local” Program, which builds relationships with local farmers within 50 miles of its stores. Produce from the first urban farm is sold at the Raley’s in West Sacramento.

“Contract growing, navigation of complex food safety rules and the ability for several small-scale farmers to aggregate their produce to fill large, weekly orders is a huge step toward sustainability for these beginning farmers,” said Mary Kimball, Executive Director of the Center for Land-Based Learning, in the news release. “Just like any other business, the first three years are make or break, but farming presents its own unique challenges, which Raley’s is helping to address with beginning farmers.”

The project supports Land-Based Learning’s mission to inspire, educate, and cultivate future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders, and natural resource stewards. “The ongoing support of Raley’s to the Center for Land-Based Learning is exactly the type of civic interaction that the city of West Sacramento seeks to foster,” said Christopher Cabaldon, Mayor West Sacramento, in the release. “The strong partnership sends signals throughout the community that we are dedicated to nurturing connections between residents, businesses and non-profits to improve the quality of life for all.”

Patrick Cavanaugh2017-04-25T16:56:47-07:00February 20th, 2017|

Cheryl Foster Talks California CattleWomen

Meet Cheryl Foster, President of California CattleWomen

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Farm News Director

Cheryl Foster is the President of the California CattleWomen and a sixth generation rancher. Her operation ranch house is in Siskiyou County, about seven miles from the Oregon border. It’s a cow-calf operation on deeded ground, as well as forest service leased ground.

“It all started back in 1871, with a livery stable in Yreka, and then when that burned down, my family went out and bought the ranch land. My grandfather, John Foster is the one who really expanded the ranch,” Foster said.

The cattle breed on the ranch is predominantly Hereford and Red Angus cross. “That cross helps a lot with the fertility and longevity of the cow,” Foster said. “It’s Northern California and pretty tough country, with hillsides and lots of rocks. You put cattle where you can’t have row crops, so it’s rough!”

Foster’s husband is a CPA; she runs the cattle operation with her brother. “My brother is responsible for equipment, and I’m responsible for the cattle and the irrigating our 450 acres of hay, so we have it divvied up well,” she said.

Foster focuses on the primary tasks of California CattleWomen. “We are trying to get the women to be engaged with the truth about the industry and keep pushing, because it’s a very, very important industry,” she said.

“We get out and tell a positive story, because I think sometimes we are afraid of what to say to counteract when people come in with wrong information. So, real important to get good information out and get the ladies confident to get out and say that we are doing a good thing for the land,” Foster noted.

Foster explained the traditional roles of the men and the women in the California cattle industry. “The men’s organization has been going for a 100 years and the women have been going for 65 years,” she said.

“Initially, the men and their organization were more on the production, and the genetics of the herd. The women started being the beef promoters, to get out there and say, ‘It’s not just about the production. People need to eat our product,’ ” Foster explained.

The CattleWomen are out and about wherever they can spread the positive word on the beef industry. They go to fairs and trade shows and participate in the California Agriculture in the Classroom, where they engage in K-12 audiences and improve agricultural literacy.

Patrick Cavanaugh2017-02-20T16:12:28-08:00February 17th, 2017|

Pyrethroid Review by EPA is Important

EPA Pyrethroid Review Vital for Many Reasons

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Farm News Director

David Haviland is a UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor based in Kern County, and he’s focused on etymology. He spoke to California Ag Today about the current review by the EPA on the pyrethroid class of crop protection materials. He noted that the EPA is concerned about the material making its way to waterways.

David Haviland

“It’s a legitimate concern in that pyrethroids can bind to sediment, and if that sediment was just hypothetically say, worst case scenario, what if you sprayed a product into a orchard or a field right next to a river on the day before it rained?” Haviland asked.

“We don’t do that, but hypothetically if you did that and that sediment washed from that orchard out into a stream, yes, those pyrethroids can affect aquatic invertebrates and of course little tiny organisms. These little invertebrates are the basis for food chains in the stream systems,” Haviland said.

“Just like if you’ve got a household cleaner, it says, ‘Store out of reach of children.’ So yeah, there’s a risk of that product, and you mitigate or solve that risk by only using it where it’s appropriate, storing it where somebody can’t get it,” Haviland said. “The same is true with pyrethroids. If you read the label, there’s very specific use instructions on where you can and can’t use the product as well as other details about waterways and buffer zones and things like that,” he said.

All that is taken into account to make sure that any risk that may occur doesn’t turn into an actual real problem. “That’s part of the review, for the EPA to look over that label,” Haviland said.

The EPA review is to make sure that any mitigations on the label and use patterns adequately take into account any risks that may be real. “I expect it will be done scientifically and prudently and based on that, I hope pyrethroids are in the tool box for a long time,” Haviland said.

Patrick Cavanaugh2017-02-20T16:11:16-08:00February 16th, 2017|

Managing DiMare Fresh Tomatoes

Season Starting for DiMare Fresh Tomatoes

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Farm News Director

DiMare Fresh is a fresh market tomato company with operations throughout California. California Ag Today spoke recently to Brian Souza, who is the in-house pest control advisor, among other things, for the company.

Souza explained how he manages the work throughout the state: “We start down south and work our way north as the season progresses. Other than being a PCA, I start in the greenhouses and manage our transplants, and just work from there.”

“We also schedule all the plantings, and manage the crops, and myself and another PCA walk the fields two times to four times a week. We always have someone in the fields every day looking, because … fresh market is sensitive, and they definitely need a lot of attention,” he said.

“We have great team members, and communicate constantly. We’re always in different areas at different times, so if there’s something I’m missing the other guys hopefully catch it, and that’s usually the case. It’s a lot of good communication and team work,” he said.

DiMare Fresh does not grow any tomatoes, but they manage a lot of growers who grow for the company.

“DiMare doesn’t own any of the property, but we do have growers that grow for us. And they are very loyal growers that we’ve had for 20, 30, 35 years.

All the rain this winter certainly can be a game changer for companies like DiMare. “We are one of the first tomato companies to start planting,” Souza said. “We love these rains, but it does bring challenges getting in as early as we normally would like to do. Sometimes we’ll have to just chance it and get our stuff in if we can.

Rains also means a lot of weeds in those fields. “For sure, there’s a lot of weeds out there, and especially with the drought we’ve noticed some newer weeds that are taking over, that are a little more drought tolerant. Horseweed and hairy fleabane are the most prominent,” Souza said.

Patrick Cavanaugh2017-02-15T15:55:44-08:00February 15th, 2017|

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