About California Ag Today

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far California Ag Today has created 1977 blog entries.

Associations Conduct Air District Permit Training

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) and Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) in partnership with Cardinal Professional Products conducted a day long tour and training session on cotton gins and tree nut hullers and processors on air pollution permitting and issues. 24 engineers from all three regions (North, Central and South) of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District attended the training which included classroom training on fumigation practices and procedures, as well as cotton gin operation and how its air pollution control works. In addition, basic tree nut huller operation was introduced and demonstrated. The purpose of the training was to help permitting engineers know and understand the process of these operations to help expedite permitting times. The group toured Perfect PAC  LP, led by WAPA Board Member Jason Baldwin, Sierra Valley Almonds, led by WAPA Board Members Jim Sears, and Olam Cotton’s Silver Creek Gin, led by CCGGA Board Member Matt Toste. The training was led by the Association’s Director of Technical Services Christopher McGlothlin and President/CEO Roger A. Isom. Representing Cardinal Products was Doug Belle and Kevin Willet.

2024-11-22T08:59:17-08:00November 22nd, 2024|

Virtual Fencing “Game-Changer” for Ranchers Grazing Cattle

Courtesy of UCANR News

Tech can save ranchers time and benefit animals and land, becoming more viable

After the Caldor Fire destroyed seven miles of fencing on their cattle ranch in 2021, Leisel Finley and her family needed to replace the fence.

Finley, a sixth-generation rancher at Mount Echo Ranch in Amador County, said reconstruction costs were bid at $300,000 and would take at least a year to build, leaving the family without summer pasture and a herd of hungry cows to feed. Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service mandates that grazing be withheld for two years in postfire landscapes. This put the family in a difficult position.

While watching a recording of a California Cattlemen’s Association meeting, Finley learned about a pilot program for virtual fencing. Desperate to find an alternative solution, she registered to try the livestock containment technology, which uses GPS enabled collars to monitor each animal’s location in near real time.

Livestock producers can draw a perimeter on a map of their pasture using a laptop or smartphone application and send those instructions to the collar. The collar then uses audio and tactile cues to contain the animal in the area.

Eager to discover the short- and long-term benefits of virtual fencing, Finley turned to Scott Oneto, farm advisor, and Brian Allen, assistant specialist, from the University of California Cooperative Extension office in the Central Sierra. Since partnering with Oneto and Allen, Finley said she has come to understand and uncover more of the technology’s potential.

The team has consistently observed the technology’s value in integrating with and enhancing traditional livestock production systems across California. Though still in its early stages of development, the location tracking and containment system appears to provide time- and cost-savings that make it a game-changer for ranchers.

Ability to monitor location of animals in real time

Virtual fencing really stands out in its ability to monitor each animal’s location in real time. During roundups, ranchers can use their smartphones to see their own location relative to their herd. The system can also send alerts if an animal crosses the virtual boundary or if a collar remains stationary for an extended period, potentially indicating that the animal is sick or that the collar has fallen off.

Rounding up cattle on large, forested grazing allotments can be challenging, as the process generally requires a group of people and many return trips to find every animal. Prior to virtual fencing, Finley and her father could gather about 85% to 90% of the herd in a week. Since using virtual fencing, Finley said one of their most recent roundups lasted three days, and they located every single cow.

Something that every livestock producer dreads is the notorious call from a neighbor or California Highway Patrol alerting them that one of their cows is out in the middle of the road. It always seems to happen at midnight or while they are out with friends or family. This scenario changes with virtual fencing.

Containment based on animal behavior

The containment system that virtual fencing is built on is based on animal behavior. When the animal crosses an invisible boundary, the collar emits an audio warning, prompting most animals to instinctively turn back into the desired area. If the animal doesn’t respond, the collar delivers a mild electric pulse as a secondary deterrent.

Field trials by Oneto and Allen demonstrated the system’s success. Recently, the team trained a herd of 37 cattle of mixed ages that had no previous exposure to virtual fencing. During the initial six-day training period, the cattle responded to the audio warning alone about 75% of the time when they approached a virtual fence boundary, with the remaining 25% of cases requiring an electric pulse.

After about three weeks, the herd was responding to audio cues alone about 95% of the time. The field trials also showed that the collars contain the livestock within the desired areas 90% to 99% of the time when the entire herd wears virtual fence collars and their basic needs for safety, connection to the rest of the herd, water, forage, shade, etc. are met.

Opportunities for improvement

While the technology is effective in its current capacity, there are notable areas where it can improve. One limitation to the system is the current reliance on cellular networks to operate. If an animal wanders into an area outside of coverage, the collar will continue to operate based on the last instructions but won’t receive updates or report locations. This is especially a concern in many areas of California with poor cell reception, including the steep forested rangelands where many livestock producers have summer grazing allotments.

Another limitation is that some companies require a solar-powered base station with radio and cellular antennas to be placed on the pasture. These facilitate the transfer of animal locations and updates to the virtual fences. A base station going offline would create the same conditions as a drop in cell signal until the base station is repaired. Some companies are currently developing collars that bypass the need for these base stations.

The other major concern for ranchers is the cost for a virtual fencing system. The average rancher can expect to pay an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 in upfront costs. The cost to set up a base station alone is $5,000 to $10,000. However, this cost is highly dependent on several factors, including the manufacturer, the number of livestock to be collared, if the livestock are large or small ruminants, and the number of GPS base stations to cover the range.

According to Allen and Finley, the high cost of virtual fencing can be offset by the unique animal and land management benefits it can provide. “While physical perimeter fencing remains essential, VF is rapidly emerging as an innovative tool to control livestock with ease, precision, and flexibility in ways that were not previously feasible with traditional fencing,” Allen said.

Finley described the technology as a “game-changer” for her family.

Virtual fencing helps control invasive grasses, installing fuel breaks

While virtual fencing is designed to contain livestock without physical fencing, it is not intended to outright replace secure perimeter fencing. Instead, it operates best as a highly dynamic and adaptable cross-fence, allowing for more intentional grazing on the landscape to meet livestock production and natural resource conservation objectives within a secure physical perimeter.

With grant funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the UCCE team continues to work with Finley and other livestock producers to test these applications on California’s diverse rangelands.

Within the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges foothills, these trials include using virtual fencing on cattle for targeted grazing of invasive grasses to support the recovery of native forage and installing fuel breaks within the wildland-urban interface to remove vegetation where the edge of a pasture meets urban housing.

Using virtual fencing, 25 cattle were successfully concentrated on a field of Medusahead (Elymus caput-medusae), an invasive annual grass. The herd respected the virtual fencing boundary 99% of the time despite nearby preferable forage. Grazing reduced medusahead seed heads from 2,072 per square meter in the ungrazed control area to just 68 per square meter in the grazed section.

In a different trial, 37 cattle with virtual fencing collars were contained within 120-feet-wide fuel breaks along the boundary of an annual rangeland and residential area. Cattle stayed within the boundaries 99% of the time, leading to an 81% reduction in fine fuel biomass and lowering wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface.

Within rangelands on conifer forests, these UCCE trials concentrate cattle on brush to reduce the flammable plants and vegetation that competes with desirable timber species. It also can prevent livestock from entering sites that are sensitive to livestock presence.

Upcoming grazing trials will focus on how virtual fencing works with goats and sheep. In addition to Oneto and Allen, UCCE’s contribution to virtual fencing research is in large part due to Leslie Roche, UCCE specialist and associate professor at UC Davis, Dan Macon and Jeff Stackhouse, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisors, Kristina Horback, associate professor at UC Davis and Lone Star Ranch in Humboldt County.

To learn more about the trials led by the UCCE team,visit https://cecentralsierra.ucanr.edu/Virtual_Fencing/ 

2024-11-14T10:30:19-08:00November 14th, 2024|

Assemblymember Juan Alanis Awarded Almond Champion of the Year

The Almond Alliance is proud to announce Assemblymember Juan Alanis as the recipient of the 2024 Almond Champion of the Year Award. Assemblymember Alanis is recognized for his exceptional leadership and advocacy for California’s almond industry. As the Vice Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, he has been a strong voice for the Almond Alliance, consistently demonstrating his dedication to the industry’s growth and sustainability.

“The Almond Alliance is honored to recognize Assemblymember Juan Alanis for his unwavering support and leadership in advancing the almond industry,” said Alicia Rockwell, chair of the Almond Alliance Government Relations Committee. “We appreciate his commitment to a hands-on approach in advocating for agriculture and the almond industry. His efforts have given California almond farm families a fighting chance.”

The Almond Champion of the Year Award is presented annually to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in education, coalition-building, partnerships, and promoting legislation and policies that encourage the advancement and protection of California agriculture, particularly the almond industry. The award recipient is selected by the Almond Alliance’s Government Relations Committee, which includes the following esteemed members:

  • Alicia Rockwell, Blue Diamond Growers, Committee Chair
  • Melissa Frank, The Wonderful Company, Committee Vice-Chair
  • Dick Cunningham, Cunningham Ranch Inc.
  • Blake Vann, Vann Brothers
  • Jeannine Grech, Campos Brothers Farms
  • Dave Phippen, Travaille & Phippen
  • Steve Van Duyn, Van Duyn Family Farms
  • Todd Meyer, Bear Republic Nut
  • Bill Lyons, Mapes Ranch
  • Sebastian Silvera, Gladstone Farms
  • Taj Samran, Hilltop Ranch

Past recipients of this prestigious award include the Department of Water Resources, Assemblymember Adam Gray, Assemblymember Heath Flora, former USDA State Executive Director of Farm Service Agency Connie Conway, Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua, and CDFA Undersecretary Christie Birdsong.

The award will be formally presented to Assemblymember Alanis at the California Almond Political Action Committee’s Annual Modesto Fundraiser, taking place at Del Rio Country Club on November 6, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. This event brings together members of the almond community, elected officials, and special guests.

For RSVPs or more information, please contact Annie Romero at aromero@almondalliance.org or 209-300-7140.

2024-10-23T08:25:23-07:00October 23rd, 2024|

Congressman Valadao Requests Answers for Central Valley Small Businesses

Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) sent a follow-up letter to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel regarding delays in processing Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) claims, a program created during the COVID-19 pandemic to help businesses keep people employed. In January of this year, Congressman Valadao wrote to Commissioner Werfel requesting answers and expressing concerns over the IRS’ significant issues with processing and payment of ERTC claims.

Congressman Valadao highlighted the lack of communication from the IRS that has frustrated many small business owners:

“Businesses with legitimate ERTC claims deserve prompt processing and payment of their claims. Unfortunately, the IRS has not yet communicated the status of these claims or outlined the process for the analysis needed to complete their processing and payment,” Congressman Valadao wrote.

While the IRS has made progress since the Congressman’s initial letter to investigate fraud and pay eligible claims, there are still thousands of small businesses waiting for their claim to be processed and paid:

The ERTC program was designed to provide crucial relief to businesses during the pandemic. While the steps the IRS has taken in recent months are essential for addressing these claims, I am concerned that the IRS response has been inadequate,” Congressman Valadao wrote.

Congressman Valadao requested answers from the IRS on the current steps they’re taking to address these claims, including:

  • Will the IRS consider extending the 30-day period for taxpayers who received a disallowance letter to submit a protest? If not, why not?
  • How is the IRS reviewing the 60 to 70 percent of claims that have moderate level of risk? How is the IRS communicating the status of these claims with taxpayers?
  • In August, the IRS announced that 50,000 low-risk claims were moving into processing. Of these claims, how many have been paid?
  • Is the IRS working through ERTC cases that the Taxpayer Advocate Service is sending?

Read the full text of the letter here.

2024-10-10T15:47:46-07:00October 10th, 2024|

California Farm Labor Contractor Association Welcomes New Executive Director Kimberly Clark

The California Farm Labor Contractor Association (CFLCA) is pleased to announce that Kimberly Clark will be joining the association as the next Executive Director, effective October 14, 2024.

Kimberly brings a wealth of experience in the agricultural industry. She began her career on the coffee farms of southern Mexico, working to increase efficiency in the field in tandem with essential humanitarian improvements. Since 2020, she has managed programs and developed trainings with a focus on safety and compliance to support the people that feed our families, state, and nation.

Kimberly most recently served as Director of Programs for the California Farmworker Foundation, though she is no stranger to CFLCA. Kimberly previously worked as the association’s Programs Manager, where she expertly facilitated educational efforts for more than three years.

“We could not be more excited to welcome Kimberly back to CFLCA,” said Jeff Wenger, CFLCA Board President. “Her extensive experience supporting farm labor contractors (FLC) and her deep familiarity with the challenges facing our industry will make her an effective advocate for the farm labor contracting community.”

Kimberly is succeeding current Executive Director Nigel Bocanegra, who will continue with the association through mid-December to ensure a smooth transition. “We thank Nigel for his vision and leadership in advancing our mission through these challenging pandemic years,” said Wenger. “We are deeply grateful for his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

2024-10-09T11:49:03-07:00October 9th, 2024|

CDFA Announces Vacancies on Feed Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcommittee

Courtesy of the CDFA 

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces two vacancies on the Feed Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcommittee (TASC).

 

This subcommittee provides technical and scientific advice to the Feed Inspection Advisory Board and CDFA on animal food nutrition, safety and efficacy data review of new and unapproved feed ingredients, research project oversight and other issues that will affect the Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, Livestock Drug Program and Safe Animal Feed Education (SAFE) Program.

 

Applicants must demonstrate technical, applied and scientific expertise in the fields of toxicology, pathology, ruminant and non-ruminant nutrition, as well as possess general knowledge of the California feed industry.

 

The term of office for subcommittee members is three years. Members receive no compensation but are entitled to payment of necessary travel expenses. Individuals interested in being considered for appointment should send a resume and a Feed TASC Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire (http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/pdfs/FIAB-TASC_PMAQ.pdf) to SAFE@cdfa.ca.gov. The application deadline is October 21, 2024.

2024-10-07T13:41:11-07:00October 7th, 2024|

Westlands Water District Secures $2M WaterSMART Grants for Conservation and Drought Resiliency

Westlands Water District (District) recently secured $2 million through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s WaterSMART Initiative (WSI). Awarded funds will be made available to District growers in the form of block grants, up to $450,000 per grower, to carry out water conservation and drought resiliency improvements, such as installing irrigation pipelines, micro-irrigation systems, reservoirs, and temporary diversion pumping plants.

“As the San Joaquin Valley continues to battle the impacts of an unreliable water supply, programs that provide access to grant funding, those like the WaterSMART Initiative, for the District’s family-owned farms are essential,” said Allison Febbo, General Manager, Westlands Water District. “The District is continually working to identify resources like the WaterSMART Initiative to assist our farmers. These resources allow our farmers to continue their hard work maximizing the beneficial use of every drop of water, through use of efficient and sustainable farming practices and substantial investment in modern irrigation technology.”

District farmers are encouraged to apply for WSI grants by contacting their local Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) office as soon as possible to determine eligibility and start an application. To be considered for a WSI block grant, willing and eligible growers must complete applications by the deadline: January 31, 2025.

Today’s announcement is in addition to the $1,808,326 in grant funding the District was awarded in August through the WaterSMART initiative to retrofit 1,603 manually read surface water meters with advanced automated metering devices. You can learn more about the WaterSMART Initiative by visiting the program website

2024-10-03T09:00:23-07:00October 3rd, 2024|

Smoke From Megafires Puts Orchard Trees at Risk

Effects Last Months, Reducing Nut Crop Yields

By Amy Quinton | October 2, 2023

Long-term smoke exposure from massive wildfires lowers the energy reserves of orchard trees and can cut their nut production by half, researchers at the University of California, Davis, found. The smoke can affect trees for months after a megafire, depressing their bloom and the next season’s harvest. This finding reveals a new danger from wildfires that could affect plant health in both agricultural and natural environments.

Nature Plants published the study today (Oct. 2).

“A lot of research focuses on the impact of smoke on humans but there is less study on the effects of smoke on plant health,” said lead author Jessica Orozco, a postdoctoral researcher with the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences. “Our study suggests that trees are just as vulnerable as humans.”

Wildfire smoke blocks sunlight

Scientists studied almond, pistachio and walnut trees at 467 orchard sites in California’s Central Valley from 2018 to 2022. In 2020, megafires scorched more than 4.2 million acres in California, filling the skies with smoke and ash. At the time, researchers were studying how trees store energy, in the form of carbohydrates, to cope with heat and drought. But Orozco said the team saw an opportunity to study how smoke affects carbohydrate levels.

“Photosynthesis produces carbohydrates, which are critical elements for tree survival,” said Orozco. “Trees need carbohydrates not just to grow but to store energy for when they’re under stress or when photosynthesis isn’t happening.”

Photosynthesis changes under smoke-filled skies. Smoke particles block some sunlight but also reflect light, creating more diffused light. The diffused light can help trees make more carbohydrates. However, Orozco said the study found that while diffused light increased, the smoke was so thick that it likely didn’t compensate for the loss of direct light.

Megafires have lingering effects on tree health

The team found that megafire smoke not only reduced the amount of carbohydrates in trees but also caused losses that continued even after the fires were out. This led to nut yield decreases of 15% to as much as 50% in some orchards. The most active time for wildfires also coincides with the time trees start storing carbohydrates to sustain them through winter dormancy and spring growth.

“We were expecting to see some impact especially in the months when the smoke was really dense, but we weren’t expecting the smoke to have such a lingering effect and result in a significant drop in yield,” Orozco said.

Orozco said researchers still don’t know what components in megafire smoke caused the decrease in tree carbohydrates. During the 2020 megafires, the smoke reduced light and increased both ozone and particulate matter levels, all of which affect photosynthesis. One or a combination of these factors could have led to the drop in tree carbohydrates.

Additional authors on the study are Professor Maciej A. Zwieniecki and postdoctoral researcher Paula Guzmán-Delgado of the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences.

The Almond Board of California, the California Pistachio Research Board, the California Walnut Board and the California Department of Food and Agriculture supported the research.

2024-10-02T08:04:22-07:00October 2nd, 2024|

Westlands Water District Supports use of Adaptive Management

Courtesy of Westlands Water District 

Westlands Water District is encouraged by the recent decision to employ adaptive management as part of implementing a regulation affecting our federal and state water projects. The decision was related to the implementation of the Fall X2 measure, one piece of a set of operational measures set to enforce the Endangered Species Act. This example of relying on recent scientific information and real-time monitoring is an encouraging example of how flexible management can contribute to achieving the co-equal goals of ecosystem protection and a reliable water supply for the farms that feed that nation.

Based on the broad body of scientific knowledge, which includes a recent peer-reviewed scientific assessment of the benefits of implementation of the Fall X2 action, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) modified the Fall X2 action using an adaptive management component of the action. The Fall X2 action is intended to provide beneficial habitat conditions in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta for endangered Delta smelt and other native species after a wet or above-normal water year. Through adaptive management this year, the Fall X2 measure was implemented in September while adding an action to operate the Suisun Marsh Salinity Gates, providing much-needed additional food and habitat for the species.

 

The Fall X2 action for Delta Smelt has the potential to result in a large water supply reduction for cities and farms. In 2023 the water cost to implement the Fall X2 action was greater than 730,000 acre-feet between the Central Valley and State Water projects. This year’s action demonstrates the ability to use recent scientific information and monitoring to adaptively manage the enforcement of the Endangered Species Act while providing similar or better outcomes for the species. This year’s action also acknowledges the value of preserving our water resources for future purposes, including fish and wildlife benefits.

 

Allison Febbo, General Manager of Westlands Water District, stated, “Water is the lifeblood of our valley. We are encouraged to see the dedication from both State and Federal agencies to maximize the value of our limited water supplies while improving fishery conditions through flexibility and innovation. We applaud operators of both projects and fisheries agencies for their demonstrated commitment to science-based decision-making and their efforts to make transparent adaptive management a fundamental practice in the Delta.”

 

Fall X2 action modification aligns with the intended protections outlined in the 2020 Incidental Take Permit (ITP) and the 2019 Biological Opinion while smartly conserving our water supplies. Westlands looks forward to continuing our partnership with State and Federal agencies to refine these processes further, enhancing outcomes for both fisheries and water supply across California.

2024-10-02T07:59:08-07:00October 2nd, 2024|

Almond Alliance Calls for Swift Passage of Agriculture Disaster Relief Bill

Congressmen David G. Valadao (R-CA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) have introduced the bipartisan Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act after months of collaborative work on agricultural disaster relief. This legislation was developed in partnership with the Almond Alliance and a coalition of agricultural groups across California.

 

The bill aims to provide crucial support for farmers and rural communities that have been severely impacted by catastrophic natural disasters in 2023, including floods, droughts, and wildfires. This initiative comes in response to the significant challenges faced by California’s agricultural sector, which suffered billions in damages and losses due to severe weather events in 2023 alone.

 

The bill proposes $14 billion in disaster relief funding to the Office of the Secretary for Agriculture for 2023 disaster expenses, aimed at helping farmers recover from crop and livestock losses. It incorporates provisions from past relief programs, including drought definitions and direct payments, and ensures simultaneous payment administration for all producers. With California’s almond industry severely affected by ongoing drought and flooding, the Almond Alliance sees this relief package as vital to ensuring both the immediate recovery and long-term sustainability of the nation’s farming communities.

 

“Our almond growers and farmers across the nation faced significant losses in 2023 due to natural disasters,” said Blake Vann, Chairman of the Almond Alliance. “This bill will ensure they have the resources needed to recover and continue feeding our markets. It’s critical that Congress moves quickly to get this aid to the producers who are counting on it.”

 

The Almond Alliance thanks Rep. Valadao and Rep. Panetta for their leadership in introducing the Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Their efforts are crucial to supporting farmers impacted by recent natural disasters.

 

Reps. Reps joined Valadao and Panetta in the introduction. John Duarte (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Vince Fong (R-CA), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Salud Cabrajal (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Marc Molinaro (R-NY), Mike Thompson and Josh Harder (D-CA).

2024-09-30T08:37:17-07:00September 30th, 2024|
Go to Top