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From Tulare County

Tulare County Small Farms Advisor, Manuel Jimenez, Retires

Manuel Jimenez went from hard-scrabble farmworker to world-renowned farming authority, all while living in and serving his hometown – the small, rural community of Woodlake, Calif. The University of California Cooperative Extension advisor, who worked with small family farmers in Tulare County for 33 years, retires in June.

Jimenez has a storied California heritage. His grandmother was half Chumash Indian; his father an immigrant from Zacatecas, Mexico. The extended family of farmworkers settled in Exeter, where his grandfather, an early labor organizer, planned a strike in the 1950s, long before Cesar Chavez came on the scene. Subsequent hard feelings forced the family to migrate to other areas for work.

“My family was entrenched in farm labor,” Jimenez said. “I had the good fortune to go to college.”

Completing college wasn’t easy. He married his wife Olga right out of high school, and they immediately started a family. Jimenez worked in the fields and Olga in a packing house while they scrambled to find childcare.

Ultimately Jimenez earned a bachelor’s degree in plant sciences at Fresno State University in 1977. Not long after graduation, he was named senior agronomist for the North American Farmers Cooperative, an organization of 300 small-scale vegetable and fruit producers based in Fresno.

“We were responsible for visiting all the farmers twice annually – 600 farm calls a year,” Jimenez said. “I was overwhelmed very quickly, but learned a lot.”

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:47:15-07:00June 1st, 2013|

From Salinas Valley

Broccoli is Big on N Uptake

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Utilizing funding from the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), Richard Smith, UC Farm Advisor Monterey County, looked at the nitrogen uptake by cool season vegetables, in particular, cole crops.

With the funding Smith did work on the nitrogen uptake by broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Smith noted that he is about half way through the survey and preliminary numbers show in particular the amount of nitrogen picked up by broccoli is quite high—on average 300 pounds of N per acre.

Smith noted that even though the nitrogen uptake by broccoli is noted in the literature, it still surprised him that it was routinely as high as 300 pounds per acre.

“We are surveying fields that are growing very well in order to get real world

Information. Remarkably, growers are not even applying anywhere near that amount of nitrogen,” said Smith. “They are actually putting on about 180 pounds on N. So the bottom line is that broccoli is actually savaging nitrogen from the soil. It’s taking up more than is applied. The big question is: Where is broccoli getting all this nitrogen,” asked Smith

“We have been growing broccoli for 80 or 90 years in the Salinas Valley and here is something that we did not realize that it was capable of doing. And it may be due to it’s rooting structure, or density, but its illustrating that it is a tool to capture nitrogen that would otherwise be susceptible to loss,” Smith said. “We could use broccoli as a rotation crop.

In addition to fighting Sclerotinia, it may be doing something else too, in terms of managing nitrogen, by capturing N and bringing it back up to the surface. This is all good news because we now know we have a system of a rotational crop that can capture N deep in the soil profile,” he noted.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:47:16-07:00May 7th, 2013|

Bureau of Reclamation Announce Allocation

This is a Press Release from Westlands Water District

FRESNO, CA Feb. 26, 2013 – Today the Bureau of Reclamation announced that the initial water allocation for south-of-the Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) agricultural waters service contractors is 25 percent. Although expected, this allocation is very disappointing and exemplifies the issues faced by farmers and other people who rely on water supplied by the CVP and the California State Water Project (SWP).

The ability of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources to move water across the Delta has been greatly hindered by restrictions imposed under the 2008 Biological Opinion protecting Delta smelt. Over the last 60 days, the CVP has lost over 300,000 acre feet because of the limitations the federal government has placed on our supplies. Together the CVP and SWP have lost more than 815,000 acre-feet. This precious water cannot be replaced regardless of what happens in terms of precipitation and runoff for the rest of this year. The loss of that water for federal project water agencies translates into more than 200,000 acres of land that will be fallowed and the loss of more than 2,400 farm jobs. The economic loss to this region will be more than $1.5 billion, all because the CVP and SWP took 230 Delta smelt.

What can’t be reconciled is that when federal scientists conduct studies on the Delta smelt they are permitted to kill thousands of smelt. But the water supply of large areas of the state is shut down because the projects have taken 230 fish. This insanity has to stop.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:47:16-07:00March 1st, 2013|

Feds Kill More Smelt than Ag

There is great irony in blaming farmers for taking 230 smelt at C.W. Bill Jones Pumping Plant in the Delta. Because the Feds take more than that when surveying fish in the area.

Taking 230 smelt has caused the pumps to be turned down really hurting West Side Agriculture, leading to job losses and lost tax revenue

But Tom Birmingham the General Manager of Westlands Water District in Fresno say the Feds take many more smelt in their surveys, about 108 each month from January until May.

Westlands encompasses more than 600,000 acres of farmland in western Fresno and Kings counties. The District serves approximately 600 family-owned farms that average 900 acres in size.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:47:16-07:00March 1st, 2013|

Allocation May Be Above 20 Percent

Because the Tracy pumps have been significantly been turned down throughout December and most of December, the San Luis Reservoir has not been refilled as it should be, which will impact Farmers on the West Side of Fresno County. Patrick Cavanaugh has more

The reduce pumping has triggered an early prognostication last week, that farmers on the West Side could be looking at as low as a 20 percent allocation, but it is not the official allocation from the Bureau of Reclamation for this season.

Joe Del Bosque is a West Side Fresno County Farmer who is severely impacted by the water cutbacks. He told AgNet West that he’s waiting for the official announcement.

Del Bosque noted that The Bureau may make an official early allocation this week.

He said there should be more water coming.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:47:16-07:00February 22nd, 2013|

Lawmakers Considering Nitrogen Tax on Farmers

Saying farmers should pay an added fee for all Nitrogen Fertilizer products to help fund repairs to California water systems in certain areas of the state where there is nitrate contamination, but agriculture officials are pushing back.

A new report from the state’s water board is urging the Legislature to enact the new fees

Manual Cunha is President of the Nisei Farmers League in Fresno. He said that lawmakers should just hold on. What about homeowners and municipalities using nitrogen, which ends up in retention ponds in many cities.

Cunha said if everyone paid then it would be more fair.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:47:16-07:00February 22nd, 2013|

Will Bees Be Short this Spring for Almonds?

Honey Bees had a tough summer 2012 with droughts in the Mid-West. Colonies have also been hammered by Varroa Mites, which such the blood from bees, weakened their immune system and introduce other diseases to the bee. Already weakened by poor nutrition, many bees have died off.

Some growers are soliciting bees from the south. Beekeepers there are agreeing to help–chasing the carrot of higher rental prices pushing $180 per colony.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:47:16-07:00February 16th, 2013|

Unbelievable Lack of Rain

2012 is shaping up to be yet another critical water year. Thankfully the excessive rain and snow in 2011 filled the reservoirs that should supply agriculture much of its critical needs this season. But there deep fear about next year.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:47:16-07:00February 10th, 2012|

Growers Should Start the Revolution!

Photo at left is the San Luis Reservoir-filled to capacity, April 6, 2011

With all California reservoirs filled to capacity and much more snow melt to come, growers in the Federal water districts will receive 80 percent of their contracted water. Why not 100 percent? Still the pumps are at times OFF for the Delta Smelt—supported by a flawed biological opinion. Meanwhile millions of acre feet of water flows into the ocean.

A recent hearing in Fresno brought both sides of the political isle to discuss the ongoing water cutbacks that are hurting California agriculture.

Following is the opening statement by Congressman Tom McClintock, Chairman, House Subcommittee on Water and Power.

During the last session of Congress, Republicans unsuccessfully attempted for two years to get the Water and Power Subcommittee to come to Fresno to hear first-hand from the communities that have endured the devastating financial, social and environmental damage done by the government’s decision to deny this region 200 billion gallons of water to indulge the pet causes of the environmental Left.

A little over a year ago, Republicans held an informal listening session, at which time we heard riveting testimony of the human suffering caused by this misguided policy.

· We heard the stories of food lines in communities that once prided themselves on supplying American grocery shelves.

· We heard about the frustration of seeing the same produce once grown in the Central Valley of California instead imported from China — handed out at those Central Valley food lines.

· And we saw the anger as the absent Secretary’s testimony to the Natural Resources Committee in 2009 was played back, in which he admitted that the Obama administration had the authority to restore water deliveries but that it chose not to do so because that would be – quote – like admitting failure.

Even now, with the snowpack at 165 percent of normal for the season – the wettest year in the last 16 – the San Joaquin Valley has been guaranteed only 75 percent of its contracted allotments.

In this discussion, the left has attempted to pit fishermen against farmers. What they ignore, of course, is the actual science:

· They ignore the findings of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center that determined the Pacific Decadal Oscillation is the principal reason for changes in salmon migration; that these changes are not unique to Delta fisheries but have been observed throughout the Pacific Coast; and that as those conditions have improved over the last several years, salmon populations are rebounding.

· They ignore the California Department of Water Resources analysis of pumping flows that determined that their influence on salmon and smelt migration is negligible compared to natural tidal flows.

· They ignore the overwhelming impact of natural predation in the Delta that alone is responsible for some 90 percent of salmon smolt mortality.

· They ignore the tremendous contribution of fish hatcheries to supporting fish populations.

· They ignore – indeed, they actively oppose – the construction of new reservoirs and other water projects that could dramatically increase year-round supplies of fresh cold water throughout the Delta.

· They ignore the findings of the Federal District Court that the U.S. Interior Department’s biological opinion on Delta smelt to be “arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law.”

· And worst of all, they ignore the plight of the tens of thousands of farm families needlessly thrown into unemployment by these policies.

For too long, our government policies have been misguided by politically motivated junk science instead of the sober, dispassionate and accurate application of real science. For too long, our government policies have focused on rationing of shortages rather than on providing abundance.

Today we will hear testimony about what these policies have done to harm the economy of the Central Valley and the cornucopia of fruits, nuts and vegetables it once produced for the entire world. And we will hear suggestions on the changes in federal law that need to be made to restore abundance and plenty to all those who rely on the Delta.

I know that people are feeling powerless and disregarded by Washington. But the fact is that the debates inside the Capitol are merely a reflection of a much larger debate going on across the country. The public is rapidly engaging, becoming aware of these past policies and demanding change. As this occurs, public policy will follow.

Chairman Hastings has made it very clear that he wants priority given to this issue, and from this hearing today, the House majority will craft legislation to restore abundance as the principal objective of federal water and power policy — and with it, an era of abundant water, clean and cheap hydroelectricity, new recreational centers, desperately needed flood protection, burgeoning fisheries, re-invigorated farms – not to mention lower electricity, water and flood insurance bills for American families.

It is toward that brighter and more prosperous future that this majority seeks to proceed. It is my hope that the testimony today will assist the House in identifying those changes in law necessary to get there.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:47:16-07:00May 3rd, 2011|