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Is investing in farmland in Your Goals for 2020?

FarmTogether Online Platform Can Help

By Tim Hammerich, Ag Information Network

FarmTogether is a California-based startup that allows investors to invest in farmland via their online platform. COO David Chan calls the platform a one-stop-shop for investing in and monitoring farmland investments.

Chan…”In addition to being able to make investments through the platform in a seamless and quick way. You’ll also be able to track the performance of your investments in our platform. So we’ll show you each year’s projected yields and actual yields for comparison. So you can judge and see how the property is performing. You’ll see expected distributions and actual distributions. So again, you can see how is this property performing compared to where we had it in underwriting. All tax information will be shared through the platform. So. We formed these as pass through entities, which issue K-1s. So your K-1 will go right into your platform and will be available for you for downloading…

” We’ve put in a lot of effort into creating a one stop shop to serve all of our investors’ needs from education and exploration and learning to investments and actually funding your opportunity that you’re interested in, to tracking those opportunities and receiving your distributions and receiving any relevant tax forms as well,” said Chan.

Chan noted the platform lists a range of U.S. farmland investment opportunities including both row crops and permanent crops. Investors may include individuals or institutions looking to broaden or diversify the agricultural holdings.

 

2019-12-30T12:18:13-08:00December 30th, 2019|

Increasing The Shelf Life of Walnuts

Can Walnut Shelf Life Be Increased?

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Abhi Kulkarni is Assistant Technical Director for the California Walnut board and Commission. Could an edible coating help increase the shelf life of walnuts?

“Traditionally we have faced some challenges in terms of shelf-life vis-a-vis other products. So one of the things we’re looking at is how can we extend shelf life through any edible coating of walnuts or through different technologies that can squeeze more shelf-life for the open market or industrial products,” said Kulkarni

Kulkarni said they’re getting some preliminary results, which look very promising.

“Especially the research we’re doing with Oregon State on the edible coating of walnuts. It does show some initial promise, but we’ll see how it goes,” he noted.

FSMA Inspections

We also ask Kulkarni about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) with inspectors coming to large farms for inspection. “Starting in 2020 someone on each farm must be trained to meet the Food Safety Modernization Act standards,” he said.

“It’s not that complicated. Basically what you need to do is each farm is required to have one person attend the FSMA training, which is a one day about eight hour training, and it’s the one time, so you don’t have to take it every year,” he said.

“We offered complimentary training for walnut growers for the past three years, and that program has lapse. However, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is offering a low cost training program, which is about $35 and growers can find information on their website to where they can sign up at their nearest training programs, Kulkarni explained.

Search for CDFA Produce Safety Program.

2019-12-26T20:34:53-08:00December 26th, 2019|

Consistent Production is Key in Almonds

Keep Almond Farming Simple and to the Point

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Franz Neiderholzer is a UCANR Farm Advisor based in Colusa County and he also works with  growers  farming almonds in Sutter and Yuba Counties.

He says consistent production is the key.“Once the orchard has been laid out and the pruning’s been selected, an you’ve grown trees to fill their space, how do you maintain good production year in and year out for a mature orchard? Consistent production is your goal,” Neiderholzer said

Neiderholzer explains the steps toward good production. “You provide the resources the trees need, set them up, but don’t try to force it,” Neiderholzer said.

“Mother Nature is going to give you the crop that the weather conditions at bloom will allow and whatever environmental conditions occur throughout the rest of the season. But there is no silver bullet. You need to maintain consistent practices and spend money on good bees, an adequate crop protection practices,” Neiderholzer

“Do the fundamentals and the rest of it should follow. So again you need adequate pollination and nut set, careful irrigation in nutrition and protecting the canopy through crop protection practices and adequate nutrition and irrigation,” he said.

2019-12-18T13:24:36-08:00December 24th, 2019|

Ag Apprenticeship Programs Coming

Apprenticeship Programs Coming for Tree and Vine Growers

By Patrick Cavanaugh,  Editor

Coming soon…. apprenticeship training for tree nut and vineyard farmers. Elaine Swiedler is the apprenticeship program coordinator for the Center for Land-Based Learning based in Winters, California.

“We currently run the beginning farm and ranch management program, which was approved by the California Department of Apprenticeship Standards in January 2018 and right now we’ve worked with diversified growers up in the Yolo County, some in Sacramento County area, majority of people doing row crops, a couple of people farming orchards,” said Swiedler.

The program was developed to address kind of a real need for management in farming, whether it’s taking over for an owner or just filling in some middle layers and there’s definitely a real need and gap in the nut industries and also wine grapes. “We’ve learned from people that either would want to work with or just looking over the needs in the estate. Our goal is to serve the ag industry as a whole and also create viable pathways for incoming people,” she noted

Swiedler was at the recent Tree and Vine Expo in Turlock surveying growers.

“We wanted to find out what those labor needs are. And the Walnut Board and the Almond Board have both partnered with us in addition to the California association of wine grape growers,” Swiedler said. “Those three different organizations have helped us pilot the survey. So that’s the first step in understanding what the labor needs are of industry.”

2019-12-18T17:47:55-08:00December 24th, 2019|

Almond Growers Concern About Trade Issues

Farmer Joe Del Bosque Checks In Regarding Almond Season

 

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Joe Del Bosque is a diversified grower in Western Fresno and  Merced counties.

He noted the almond crop was light this season mostly due to a wet spring that fouled up pollination. “Yes, I think the crop was a little lighter than normal, particularly in some varieties. Some did okay. Some did pretty normal and some were lighter.” Del Bosque said.

And del Bosque said that pest pressure was not particularly heavy.

“The few reports that I’ve seen on worm damage didn’t look too bad. So I think we’re, we’re going to come out okay with pests this past season,” he noted.

And trade issues, particularly with China, continue to be a big concern.

“For almond growers that’s probably our major concerns aside from water. So we hope that they will certainly solve this trade issue so that trade flows more freely,” Del Bosque said.

“It’s not that we haven’t been able to sell our almonds, because we have been able to sell them, but there have probably been some restrictions in the trade and maybe that might have been reflected in the prices,” he said.

“Maybe we should be getting higher prices than we have if we didn’t have these, these trade issues looming over us. And I think the, the worst part about the trade issues is probably the uncertainty of how long we’re going to go with these tariffs,” Del Bosque noted.

2019-12-17T10:48:21-08:00December 23rd, 2019|

Peracchi Steps Down as President of Westlands

Dan Errotabere is Now President of the District

On December 17, 2019, Don Peracchi announced that he would step down as President of Westlands Water District’s Board, effective December 31, 2019. Following his announcement, the District’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to elect Director Daniel Errotabere as President of the District.

Mr. Peracchi stated, “It has been an honor to serve as Westlands’ President, and I am proud of the District’s accomplishments over the last several years. These include the District’s role in passage of the WIIN Act, its role in negotiating revisions to the Coordinated Operations Agreement, conversion of the District’s water service contract to a repayment contract, and development of the groundwater sustainability plan. The District has a well-functioning Board supported by competent, dedicated staff. I believe it’s time to provide another Director with the opportunity to serve as President of the District.”

Tom Birmingham, the District’s general manager, stated, “On behalf of the staff, I want to express our appreciation to Mr. Peracchi. Few people understand the time commitment required to serve as Westlands’ President; it is a full-time job. Mr. Peracchi led the District through difficult times, when drought and regulatory restrictions severely reduced water supply, but because of his leadership on the Board, the District is in a good position.”

Mr. Errotabere stated, “Don Peracchi leaves big shoes to fill. He did an incredible job of leading the District through difficult times. I am gratified that the Board has confidence in my ability to continue the course set by Don and the Board.”

Mr. Peracchi has served as a Director of Westlands since 2008 and was elected President in 2011. He will remain on the Board of Directors. Mr. Errotabere, who previously served as Westlands’ President from 2002 through 2005, will begin his second term as President of Westlands on January 1, 2020.

Westlands is a public water district governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. Elections for the Board are held every two years and Directors are elected to four-year terms in office. The Board elects the District President and appoints other officers.

Westlands Water District is the largest agricultural water district in the United States, made up of more than 1,000 square miles of prime farmland in western Fresno and Kings Counties. Under federal contracts, Westlands provides water to 700 family-owned farms that average 653 acres in size.

 

2019-12-18T14:25:28-08:00December 23rd, 2019|

UnitedAg Association Helps Members

 

UnitedAg Helps with Healthcare For Its Members

News from the AgInformation Network

Health insurance is an expensive item for all business owners. Many agricultural companies also face challenges in having access to local health care in rural areas. UnitedAg is a trade association focused on bringing innovative solutions to healthcare in agriculture.

President and CEO Kirti Mutatkar said they are finding ways to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for their members.

Mutatkar…”In California, agriculture is an areas where there’s no access to even primary care and clinics and decent care. So yesterday we actually had our ribbon cutting in Selma, and that is actually one of the underserved regions in California. And the next one you opening is Turlock. And there’s one more opening in King City the first part of the next year.”

UnitedAg operates similarly to other health insurance providers but is only open to companies that make at least 50% of their revenues from agriculture. Their eight health and wellness centers are located around agricultural areas of California where they offer care at no cost to members.

Mutatkar says they think of themselves as representing the empathy side of agriculture. Members have access to their full PPO network so can likely keep existing providers. Learn more at UnitedAg.org.

2019-12-26T19:07:44-08:00December 23rd, 2019|

New Director of Trade At CA Fresh Fruit Assoc

Caroline Stringer is New Director of Trade. at CFFA

The California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Caroline Stringer as its new Director of Trade. Ms. Stringer comes to the Association after serving as a Public Affairs Representative at Pacific Gas & Electric. Prior to her role with Pacific Gas & Electric, Caroline served as the Senior Specialist on Global, Technical and Regulatory Affairs for the California Almond Board.

The Chairman of the Board for the Association, Randy Giumarra of Giumarra Vineyards Corp., stated, “We are very pleased that Caroline has agreed to become a part of the team at CFFA. Her personal background and education, as well as her extensive experience working in the area of trade will bring immense value to our membership.”

Association President Ian LeMay added, “We are extremely fortunate to have Caroline joining the CFFA team. The issues of trade and access into foreign markets is of paramount importance to our membership, possibly now more than ever. Caroline brings an extensive educational and professional background to this position and we are excited to see the work she does on our member’s behalf. We believe that Caroline is a natural fit, along with our current staff, to continue to bring value to CFFA members and to serve the California fresh fruit industry.”

Ms. Stringer is a graduate of San Francisco State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations. She also earned a Master of Arts in International Trade Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Ms. Stringer’s first day at the Association will be Monday, January 6th.

2019-12-18T13:25:55-08:00December 20th, 2019|

House Passes Workforce Act

 Workforce Modernization Act  Passes with Bipartisan Vote

 

The United Fresh Produce Association applauds passage of the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act approved by the House of Representatives last week by a vote of 260 to 165.

“For too long, the fresh produce industry has suffered under a system that fails to meet the labor needs of our industry,” said United Fresh Produce Association President and CEO Tom Stenzel. “Passage of this legislation represents an important step in ending decades of uncertainty for growers of fresh fruits and vegetables. I’d like to personally thank Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA) who spearheaded the bipartisan negotiations that led to this agreement. United Fresh looks forward to similarly working with bipartisan members in the Senate to build on the work of their House colleagues and craft legislation that deserves our support.”

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act provides much needed reforms to the H-2A program by expanding access to year-round industries, brings certainty to wage costs that have ballooned in recent years and provides a pathway to earned legal status to the current undocumented workforce.

For more information, contact Robert Guenther, United Fresh’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy, at 202-303-3409 or rguenther@unitedfresh.org

2019-12-17T15:43:37-08:00December 19th, 2019|

Act Now to Help Pass the USMCA

House to Take First Step Towards Full Ratification of USMCA

Provided by California Farm Bureau Federation

This Thursday, the House will take the first step towards full ratification of the renegotiated NAFTA known as the “US-Mexico-Canada Agreement” (USMCA). California agriculture exports $6.6 billion in goods to Canada and Mexico and supports more than 56,000 jobs.
 
Since NAFTA was implemented, U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico quadrupled from $8.9 billion in 1993 to $39 billion in 2017. After President Trump renegotiated NAFTA, the International Trade Commission determined that the USMCA would have a positive impact on the U.S. economy and a positive impact on U.S. agriculture. An additional $2.2 billion in exports is expected once this agreement is ratified.
 
Congress must pass USMCA to preserve the proven successes of NAFTA while enjoying greater access to dairy, chicken, and eggs. The agreement has positive updates for fruit exports, improvements in biotechnology, protected geographical indications, and strengthened sanitary/phytosanitary measures.
 
All in all, the USMCA is needed to bring more stability to the volatile trade market. Please reach out today to your U.S. Representative to urge their YES vote on this important agreement.

Click Here: ACT NOW for USMCA House Passage

2019-12-25T14:06:59-08:00December 18th, 2019|

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