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PRESIDENT OBAMA’S REMARKS ON SIGNING THE FARM BILL

Farm Bill Statement by the President

Today, in a strong bipartisan vote, the U.S. Senate came together to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill – legislation that will build on the historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, create new jobs and opportunities, and protect the most vulnerable Americans. This bill provides certainty to America’s farmers and ranchers, and contains a variety of commonsense reforms that my Administration has consistently called for, including reforming and eliminating direct farm subsidies and providing assistance for farmers when they need it most. It will continue reducing our deficits without gutting the vital assistance programs millions of hardworking Americans count on to help put food on the table for their families. And it will support conservation of valuable lands, spur the development of renewable energy, and incentivize healthier nutrition for all Americans. As with any compromise, the Farm Bill isn’t perfect – but on the whole, it will make a positive difference not only for the rural economies that grow America’s food, but for our nation.

2016-05-31T19:41:06-07:00February 8th, 2014|

$2500 Ag Scholarship Targets Students of Agriculture

Scholarships Offered by Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers

The Responsible Nutrient Management Foundation is pleased to offer scholarships in the amount of $2500; available to students attending an agriculture-related program at a post-secondary educational institution in the United States during the 2014-2015 school year.

This scholarship opportunity is the result of a cooperative commitment between Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, Ag PhD, No-Till Farmer Magazine, Capello USA, PNC Bank, and RFD-TV; and intended to further the education of students who demonstrate the ability to clearly articulate the importance of responsible nutrient management not only for the future of the agricultural industry, but also for our culture as a whole.

Equipping the leaders of tomorrow with an understanding of the delicate balance between high-production agriculture and environmental stewardship will be critical as agriculture strives to more efficiently and sustainably produce food and fiber to feed and clothe the world. The Responsible Nutrient Management Foundation is committed to the future of agriculture and the youth who represent its leadership, and believe this scholarship will help bring bright students closer to their goal of a career in agriculture.

Interested students may access the scholarship application at: rnmf.org/scholarship.

Deadline for application is May 31, 2014.

 

2016-05-31T19:41:06-07:00February 7th, 2014|

BREAKING NEWS: PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED FARM BILL!

Newly Signed Farm Bill is Best Yet for Calif. Growers

President Obama signed  the $956 billion “Agriculture Act of 2014” TODAY, at Michigan State University.

After four years of bitter arguments over farming subsidies and reduced financing for food stamps, the final bill introduces an insurance program that replaces farm subsidies and cuts a compromised $8 billion in food stamps over the next decade.

Dennis Nuxoll, Western Growers Association’s Vice President of Federal Government Affairs, based in Washington, D.C., told Cal Ag Today a few highlights of what the bill does for California ag:

This is probably the best farm bill passed for our fruit and vegetable growers.

The bill makes funds available to:

  • Conduct short- and long-term research to combat citrus greening
  • Develop conservation programs to address issues such as drought measures
  • Combat invasive pests and diseases
  • Use for immediate needs such as
    • Identify new cost-effective and efficient food safety techniques
    • Educate growers on these best management practices
2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 7th, 2014|

ALERT: ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID QUARANTINE EXPANDS IN TULARE COUNTY

ALERT: New Psyllid Detected near Porterville

 

An additional portion of Tulare County TODAY has been placed under quarantine for the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) following the detection of one psyllid near the unincorporated area west of the City of Porterville. This brings the total quarantine area in Tulare County to 746 square miles.

 

The new quarantine zone measures 13 square miles in Tulare County, bordered on the north by Avenue 184; on the east by W Westfield Avenue; on the south by Avenue 144; and on the west by Road 192. This area is in addition to the previously announced quarantine areas of Tulare County. The maps are available online at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/go/acp-quarantine-sjv

 

In addition to the new and existing quarantines in portions of Tulare County and nearby portions of Fresno and Kern counties, ACP quarantines are now in place in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.

 

The ACP is an invasive species of grave concern because it can carry the disease huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening. All citrus and closely related species are susceptible hosts for both the insect and the disease. There is no cure once a tree becomes infected. The diseased tree will decline in health until it dies. HLB has been detected just once in California – in 2012 on a single residential property in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County.

 

HLB is known to be present in Mexico and in parts of the southern U.S. Florida first detected the pest in 1998 and the disease in 2005, and the two have been detected in all 30 citrus-producing counties in that state. The University of Florida estimates the disease has tallied more than 6,600 lost jobs, $1.3 billion in lost revenue to growers and $3.6 billion in lost economic activity. The disease is present in Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas. The states of Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii, and Mississippi have detected the pest but not the disease.

 

Residents in the area who think they may have seen the Asian citrus psyllid are urged to call CDFA’s Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.

 

For more information on the Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing disease, please visit: www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/acp and http://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/pdf/420.pdf

2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 7th, 2014|

DECIPHERING EVIDENCE BEHIND WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION AND DISEASE RISK REDUCTION

CA Walnut Comm. to Present Nutrition, Disease Reduction-April 25th

Decades of epidemiologic investigation and clinical studies have transformed the way nutritional science is viewed and reviewed. This symposium, organized by the California Walnut Commission and American Society for Nutrition (ASN) will take place on Friday, April 25, 2014 at 8:30 am – 12:00 pm at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront Aqua 308.

The Symposium will define and provide translational techniques for various types of studies utilized for nutrition research.

 

Presenters will share:

  • How to best understand outcomes and give insight as to how consumers and health professionals view research publications.
  • Strategies to blend basic science research with clinical investigations to influence consumer behavior and public health initiatives will be provided.
  • Cell research, clinical trials and dietary patterns will be discussed emphasizing the relationships among human health, food and lifestyle.
  • Novel implementations for understanding human nutritional requirements and the regulation of human metabolism will be reviewed emphasizing specific whole food case studies.

ASN designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3.5 CPEUs.

 

At the end of the program participants will be able to:

  • Critically review and differentiate between various types of research studies;
  • Describe the strengths and limitations of peer-reviewed research focusing on recognition of emerging science vs. scientific consensus;
  • Identify means to accurately determine associations between specific foods or diet patterns and health in order to better assess the validity of conclusions; and
  • Translate dietary recommendations into practice with a sound understanding of how to effectively communicate relevant nutrition science issues.

Attendees can register online or download the registration form.

2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 7th, 2014|

Cal Rural Appraisers Enters 2014 with New Logo, New Officers and New Direction

 DiBuduo Elected President 

 

The California American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (CalASFMRA) unveiled a new logo as officers were installed recently for the 2014 membership year. CalASFMRA – Western Ag Professionals, has nearly 300 members in California and Nevada.

 

Nat DiBuduo, AFM, President of Allied Grape Growers in Fresno, was elected President of the professional organization. A native of the San Joaquin Valley, Nat has been a member of ASFMRA since 1994 and has served on the CalASFMRA board for five years. He has been President of Allied since 2000, leading the California wine grape marketing cooperative with its nearly 600 grower-members throughout the state.

 

“As the newly elected President of CalASFMRA, I am excited about the direction and focus of the organization. It is both a personal and professional goal of mine to reach out to farm managers and agricultural consultants throughout our coverage area and to develop educational tools to help them in their careers. We have a strong program in place for appraisers and are looking forward to offering something similar for managers and consultants.”

 

In 2014, CalASFMRA will begin offering classes geared to farm management and agricultural consulting professionals that will include a certificate program along with the curriculum.

 

Other officers elected to the CalASFMRA Board include:

  • Mark Peterson, ARA, AFM, AAC – President-Elect / Kefa Capital, Inc. – Clovis
  • David Hamel, ARA – First Vice President / Hamel         Appraisal – Santa Maria
  • Tony Toso, ARA – Second Vice President / Edwards, Lien & Toso, Inc. – Hilmar
  • Dan Whisenhunt, AAC – 2nd Year Board Member / John Potter Specialty Foods, Innovative Sales – Modesto
  • JoAnn Wall, ARA – 1st Year Board Member / Central Coast AgAppraisal – Templeton
  • John Maus, ARA – Immediate Past President / Farm Credit West – Woodland
  • Dorothy Bell, ARA – Secretary/Treasurer – Rabobank, N.A. – Reno

 

CalASFMRA is a member based organization whose mission is to provide rural and agricultural property economic professionals with the education and means to offer trustworthy valuation, management, consulting services.

 

The group is a premier provider of agricultural appraisal education in California, publishes the widely recognized annual Trends in Agricultural Land & Lease Values publication, and presents the Outlook Agribusiness Conference each Spring. The Outlook 2014 event will be held on March 19 – 21 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Fresno.

 

The California Chapter (CalASFMRA) was chartered in 1949 as an affiliate of the national ASFMRA organization. It is a non-profit mutual benefit corporation under California law and supports the educational, ethical and professional standards set by ASFMRA.

2016-08-26T12:03:34-07:00February 7th, 2014|

NATIONAL DROUGHT RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIP—GROUND CENTRAL FOR RELIEF

Federal and State Officials Highlight “All-In” Response to Calif. Drought 

Source: Pamela Martineau, Association of California Water Agencies

 

Federal and state officials held a joint press conference TODAY to highlight the multi-agency collaboration – calling it an “all-in” endeavor – that is taking place to leverage resources to respond to California’s drought.

 

Officials with Bureau of Reclamation and the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) also announced an additional $14 million in federal funding that will be made available to water districts and growers to conserve water and improve water management. This funding is in addition to the $20 million announced yesterday by the USDA to provide for water efficiency improvements for growers and ranchers.

 

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor stressed during the press conference that California is facing a potentially worse drought than the one in 1976-77 because reservoir levels are currently lower and the state’s population much greater.

 

“We have a more significant drought with a lot more people to serve,” said Connor.

 

Connor said the coordination of federal response to California’s drought would take place through the National Drought Resilience Partnership.

 

“This is ground central for this partnership,” said Connor.

 

On Jan. 31, officials with the California Department of Water Resources announced that there would be no allocations from the State Water Project. Commissioner Connor predicted the allocations from the federal Central Valley Project would be low when announced later this month.

 

Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin said that collaboration across agencies – on the federal, state and local levels – would be the only way the state can effectively deal with a drought of this magnitude. He also said it is important that officials act now to prepare for even drier conditions later.

 

“Delay can exacerbate the impact of the drought, so it is important to act quickly,” said Cowin.

 

Cowin said the state is taking a “measured approach” in terms of calling for a 20% voluntary water cutback by consumers and is “looking to local agencies to make (the) call” about mandatory restrictions.

 

He added, however, that if dry conditions persist “we might take action at the state level” in terms of mandatory restrictions.

 

Cowin was joined Reclamation Commissioner Connor and administrators from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Integrated Drought Information System and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in demonstrating the coordinated response to record-breaking drought conditions in California.

 

Federal officials also committed to accelerate water transfers and exchanges and provide operational flexibility as necessary to help stretch California’s water supplies. Reclamation also released its 2014 Central Valley Project Water Plan, which outlines specific actions to help water users better manage their supplies through drought.

 

On Jan. 31, Reclamation announced that, with the consent of all settlement parties, it will begin reducing San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s Restoration Flows one month earlier than called for in the settlement, thereby making available about 13,000 acre-feet to the Friant Division long-term contractors with first priority to meet human health and safety needs.

 

Connor noted that pumping operations at the federal Jones Pumping Plant, located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta near Tracy, have been restricted by the lack of water due to drought conditions and State water quality permit requirements. Connor said pumping has not been curtailed by Endangered Species Act requirements for protection of imperiled fish species.

 

Also on Feb. 5, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it has begun, with assistance from the Bureau of Reclamation, focused drought-related surveys for delta smelt at Jersey Point on the San Joaquin River. The monitoring program will provide the Service, and state and federal water managers, with near real-time information about the location of delta smelt if they move closer to water diversions in the southern Delta.

 

Delta smelt are currently not near the water projects and entrainment risks are low. If there is substantial rain that increases Delta flows and the turbidity of Delta waterways, delta smelt could move closer to the water project diversions.

2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 6th, 2014|

STUDENT AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SYSTEMS INNOVATION PRIZE LAUNCHED

Help Innovate Agriculture!

 

Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh perspective to make a big jump in progress.

 

USDA is in cooperation with Agricultural Innovation Prize: Powered by 40 Chances to find the best new ideas for addressing the challenges in agriculture and food systems.

 

This competition, coordinated by the University of Wisconsin at Madison with support from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, will award $215,000 in prizes to students with the most promising innovations in agriculture. The grand prize winner gets $100,000!

 

USDA is reaching out to its university partners to pass the word along to potential contestants and to its own agency scientists to serve as mentors to help teams take their idea to the next level.

 

If this challenge sounds fun and important, and you’re ready to sign up as a contestant, go to http://agprize.com for more information about the scope, prizes, and timeline for the competition. You must submit your idea by February 28th, 2014, so get brainstorming! We, here at the USDA, can’t wait to see what you can do.

 

And if you want to be a judge or a mentor to student teams, head over to http://agprize.com/information-for-the-public/judges to get involved.

2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 6th, 2014|

CDFA INTRODUCES DROUGHT INFORMATION WEB PAGE

CDFA “DROUGHT RESOURCES” Website For Info And Assistance Programs

 

CDFA has developed a drought resources web page, which is intended to be a central location for information about the drought in California and assistance programs available to farmers, ranchers and farmworkers. The web site is also available in Spanish.

 

The page features links to the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, the Farm Services Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development. There is also a link to the US Small Business Administration. All of these groups have programs that could be of help to farmers and ranchers harmed by the drought.

 

Additionally, there is a link to the California Department of Community Services and Development, which partners with private, non-profit, government and community-based organizations working to help low-income individuals and families. The partners include four regional migrant and seasonal farmworker agencies that can help with rental assistance, employment services, and food and nutrition services.

 

Additional information, including updates on state and federal resources, will be provided as it becomes available.

 

The web page builds on efforts already underway at CDFA to support California’s drought response. The agency is working with federal and state agencies to plan a number of farmer and farmworker forums on assistance programs; it will continue to work with California food banks to address drought-related impacts; and it is working with the University of California to develop a real-time assessment of drought impacts in farming and ranching communities.

2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 5th, 2014|

FARM BILL PASSES SENATE

BREAKING NEWS

Farm Bill On The Way for President Obama to Sign!

 

 
(Form AP News) 
WASHINGTON –  Congress has given its final approval to a sweeping five-year farm bill that provides food for the needy and subsidies for farmers.

Ending years of political battles, the Senate vote Tuesday sends the measure to President Obama, who is expected to sign it.

The bill provides a financial cushion for farmers who face unpredictable weather and market conditions. But the bulk of its nearly $100 billion-a-year cost is for the food stamp program, which aids 1 in 7 Americans.

House Republicans had hoped to trim the bill’s costs, but conservatives were eventually outnumbered as the Democratic Senate, the White House and a bipartisan coalition of farm-state lawmakers supported it.


The legislation cuts the food stamp program about 1 percent; the House had pushed for five times that amount.

 

2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 4th, 2014|

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