Agriculture Teaching Agriculture

THE FARM DAY EXPERIENCE

Thursday, October 24, 2013

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Monterey County Fairgrounds

2004 Fairground Rd., Monterey

The agriculture industry of Monterey County is a world leader in food production, innovative techniques and progressive science. Monterey County Agriculture recognizes the importance of increasing the level of agricultural literacy in its own community.

Each year, the agriculture industry in Monterey County comes together to offer THE FARM DAY EXPERIENCE, nationally recognized as one of the leading agriculture education awareness programs in the nation. This hands on educational program is the largest event of its kind in the nation, as well as the longest running program. Every third grade class in Monterey County is invited to participate in this program that reaches 7,800 third graders and over 1,500 adults and teachers.

Monterey County Ag Education Inc. hosts three Farm Day’s per year in order to rech every student in the county. The first Farm Day Experience of the season will be held at the Monterey County Fairgrounds on October 24thand will be located at 2004 Fairground Rd., Monterey. County agriculturalists including; cattle ranchers, produce growers, nurserymen, wine grape growers, salad processors and industry support representatives, all unite to share their way of life with third grade students from throughout Monterey County to educate children about the origin of their food. Future Farm Day Experiences will take place in Salinas and King City.

Monterey County Ag Education Inc. (a non-profit organization) conducts The Farm Day Experience with the help of 700 volunteers from agriculture and the community. All costs associated with The Farm Day Experience are paid by Monterey County Agricultural Education, Inc., including bus transportation and teacher training. By funding the entire program, no class, school or district in Monterey County is left out because of budget concerns.

We are always in need of event volunteers. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP OUT WITH THE FARM DAY EXPERIENCE BY VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME OR DONATING TO OUR ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION AS WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE MONTEREY COUNTY ABOUT AGRICULTURE

Please contact Candi Depauw (831) 905-3669 or visit our website at www.montereycountyageducation.org

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:18-07:00October 22nd, 2013|

APPLICATIONS DUE FOR TWO NCRS OPPORTUNITIES

NRCS Assistance for Catastrophic Fire Recovery, Conservation Planning

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced on Friday that applications will be accepted to assist private landowners of forestlands and rangelands in California affected by recent catastrophic wildfires in the last 18 months with immediate resource protection.

Applications for this initiative, funded by the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) can be submitted for primary consideration and ranking through Nov. 15, 2013.

The Catastrophic Fire Recovery EQIP Initiative addresses prioritized concerns such as protecting immediate soil erosion, minimizing noxious and invasive plant proliferation, protecting water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, bringing back forests, and restoring livestock infrastructure necessary for grazing management.

Additionally, EQIP has continuous sign-up for the voluntary conservation planning and technical assistance program, and applications can be submitted throughout the year. An EQIP application received by Nov. 15, 2013, will be considered for FY 2014 funding, and applications received after Nov. 15, 2013, may be considered later in the year depending on funding availability.

Interested applicants are encouraged to request from a local NRCS field office to help with the development of a conservation plan.

In order to be considered eligible for EQIP, the applicant must have a vested interest in production agricultural or non-industrial private forestland and meet other program eligibility requirements.

EQIP, NRCS’s largest conservation program, helps eligible producers plan and implement conservation practices that address a wide range of natural resource concerns and provide opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland.

NRCS has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America’s private landowners and managers conserve their soil, water and other natural resources since 1935.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:18-07:00October 22nd, 2013|

"Fight for Water" Film Wins Award in Fresno

New Screenings in Bakersfield, Pacific Grove

The award-winning documentary, “The Fight for Water: A Farm Worker Struggle”, was awarded another special award for Best Documentary, at the Viña de Oro Fresno International Film Festival which was held October 16 – 19, 2013, at the Historic Tower Theatre in Fresno, California. The film, which features a historic water march that spanned across the Westside of the California Central Valley to the San Luis Reservoir by farmers and their farm workers, screened October 19 as the closing film of the festival.

The documentary, which put a human face to the historic 2009 water crisis and the environmental decision that impacted a farm working community in the Westside of the California Central Valley, now moves on to Bakersfield, California, as the “Official Selection” at this year’s first ever Outside the Box Bakersfield Film Festival, which will be held November 8 – 10, 2013 at the Historic Fox Theatre. The film will screen at 1:50 pm on Friday, November 9.

The film will also screen in Pacific Grove, California as the “Official Selection” at this year’s International Monarch Film Festival, which will be held December 11 and 12, 2013.

The film, which was also nominated for Excellence in Filmmaking and was Winner Runner Up for Best Documentary in Cinematography and Runner Up for Best Documentary Political Film at the Action on Film International Film Festival, also screened internationally at the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival, in Malaysia, and the Life Sciences Film Festival in the Czech Republic.

The film is truly an independent film. Juan Carlos Oseguera, who wrote, produced, edited and directed the film, is not associated with the California Latino Water Coalition, which was the most prominent organization behind the 2009 Water March, nor did he receive any funding from any political organization to make the film. This film is his sole vision and perspective. He is an alumni of San Francisco State University who has been a published film critic and has won awards and recognitions in writing, producing and directing.

Hollywood actor Paul Rodriguez, who helped organize the water march in the style of Cesar Chavez, is featured in the film for his activism in this cause. Major political figures from throughout the state, and community leaders representing the Fresno community, who stood in favor and against the water cause, also appear on the film. Arnold Schwarzenegger also makes an appearance.

The documentary features two Latino farmers, Joe Del Bosque and George Delgado, who describe how federal water measures contributed to fields going dry in the West Side of the California Central Valley in 2009 while refuges that protect a threatened fish received all of the water designated for them. This affected their community tremendously. Because of that, the governor had to declare the affected area a disaster and provide government-run food assistance for over two-hundred thousand farm working people who were displaced from their jobs.

Oseguera, 39, who was raised in the California Central Valley by parents who were migrant farmworkers, understood the struggle they were facing and set out to document the their plight as a lesson to be learned and as a voice to be heard. He wants viewers to understand the migrant farm workers and how they are a driving force to our economy. Yet in his quest to understand this water situation, he uncovers class, racial and environmental intricacies behind water access and distribution in California, and the ripple effect it has on all of us. It is an eye opening documentary that everyone must see.

For additional information about the film, the film festivals screenings visit:

www.thefightforwaterfilm.com

www.facebook.com/thefightforwaterfilm

Questions about the film contact filmunition@yahoo.com or call (209) 675-2988.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:18-07:00October 21st, 2013|

Fresh Summit New Orleans

Fresh Summit Is Big

New Orleans is Great Host City

The produce industry from around the world is in New Orleans TODAY at the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit 2013.

California Ag Today Editors are there as well to gather information for the blog.

New innovations, produce safety, and workshops on creating fruit and veggie passion were just come of the popular seminars on Friday. Then Saturday came and the first day of the grand exhibit hall opened and about 5,000 people entered the doors to do business and meet produce suppliers from around the world.

Most of the U.S. companies there are from California. They include many nut suppliers such as Setton, Keenan, Nichols, and Mariani. Raisin suppliers such as Sun Maid are hear as well as treefruit, vegetable and berry growers including Kingsburg Orchards, Parmamount Farms. Mann Packing, Bolthouse Farms, Apio, Gills Onions, J. Marchini Farms, Christopher Ranch, Driscolls, Well-Pict, D’Arrigo Brothers, Chiquita Brands, Naturipe, Grimmway Farms, Church Brothers, to name a few.

Crowds visit more than a 1000 exhibitors.

Additional California growers of dates, table grapes, pears, prunes, dried tomatoes, mushrooms and other commodities are all there to do business.

There were many international exhibits from many countries in South America, and Central America, along with Mexico, and Canada. Visitors and produce buyers were from all over the world.

Connections were made, deals were struck, friendships were strengthen, ideas were exchanged, and much knowledge was transferred. It’s all part of PMA’s Fresh Summit 2013 in New Orleans.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:19-07:00October 20th, 2013|

CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON CALIFORNIA FARMS

CDFA Database Highlights Growers’ Use Of Conservation Practices

As the clock ticks closer to Thanksgiving, it’s a popular time to recognize farmers for the fruits, vegetables, meats, grains and dairy products they produce throughout the year, according to the American Farmland Trust. However, it is also important for the public to understand the significant environmental benefits farmers also produce by using conservation practices on their land. These practices help protect water quality in streams and lakes, provide vital wildlife habitat, and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

To highlight both the environmental and economic benefits of implementing these conservation practices on California farms, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recently compiled an interactive database of the many ecosystem services—defined by the CDFA Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel as “the multiple benefits we gain from farming and ranching”—currently being produced by California farmers and ranchers.

The new database provides detailed information on nearly 400 farms implementing conservation practices across the state. The database can be sorted by keyword, county, crop type, and ecosystem services provided (such as pest control and nutrient management).

The database “is a fantastic tool for farmers looking for information on a variety of conservation practices,” explains American Farmland Trust’s Environmental Consultant, Steve Shaffer. “Examples of everything from efficient irrigation practices to building soil fertility are now at farmers’ fingertips with this database.”

In addition, American Farmland Trust is working in California to increase the adoption of Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) that yield the ecosystem services profiled in the CDFA database. We work closely with CDFA, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and farm and ranch organizations across the state to promote BMPs that meet the “triple bottom line” of farm profitability, environmental sustainability, and community responsibility.

American Farmland Trust’s recent work includes:

Ag Vision Stewardship Case Studies that compliment the CDFA database by providing a more in-depth look at the environmentally-beneficial agricultural practices being used by California family farmers and ranchers.
BMP Challenge to adopt conservation practices on California farms through our yield guarantee program.
Published report with recommendations for increasing the use of improved irrigation and nutrient management practices among California’s many specialty crop farmers.
Conservation Practices Resource Guide for growers who want to learn more about NRCS conservation practices.

Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops (SISC): member. SISC released its first suite of working metrics that provides a system for measuring sustainable performance throughout the specialty crop supply chain, including farms growing fruits, nuts, and vegetable crops.

Source: American Farmland Trust

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:19-07:00October 18th, 2013|

Broccoli Price Up, Growers Happy

Broccoli Prices Soar Upward

Mike Hornick with The Packer Reports:

Broccoli prices have soared in the wake of diminished California yields and storm damage to Mexican crops.

California grower-shippers on Oct. 14 were quoting $32-35 for 20 pounds of loose crown-cut broccoli out of Salinas and Santa Maria. That’s up from $7.65-10.48 on July 15, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics reported before the government shutdown Oct. 1.

Crown-cut broccoli breached the $20 mark around Sept. 23, soon after Hurricane Manuel hit Mexico, and kept climbing. The high markets are expected to continue at least two more weeks.

“The hurricane came in and clobbered Acapulco at the same time a storm came in off the Gulf of Mexico, so the production areas in central Mexico got a one-two punch that reduced their volume,” said Mark McBride, salesman for Salinas, Calif.-based Coastline Produce. “We’ve been $29-31 for bunches (of 14s and 18s), and crowns anywhere from $32-35.”

Linda Kivlehan, retail manager for Coastline, noted it has been a nice run also due to the wet weather hurting broccoli fields in Yuma. “It washed a lot of broccoli fields away. We should be seeing some good prices all the way into December,” said Kivlehan.

Memories of weak markets past kept California acreage down this year, particularly in Salinas. But yields were also down as fall came on, as seeds fine-tuned for the Central Coast climate often ran into temperatures or humidity slightly higher or lower than they like.

“The majority of the broccoli this time of year comes from Santa Maria, and a lot of varieties there are not responding well to changes in weather,” said Henry Dill, sales manager for Pacific International Marketing. “A lot of guys have acreage just sitting there doing nothing for a couple of weeks.”

“Warm and cold in Salinas are not what people experience in other parts of the country,” McBride said. “It’s relative, but if you’ve got a seed bred for the warmer temperatures we typically have in the fall, and we don’t get them, the seeds underperform.”

Broccoli is a $316 million crop in Monterey County — fourth behind leaf lettuce, strawberries and head lettuce — but growers don’t always speak of it glowingly.

“I can’t remember the last time we planted broccoli in Salinas and it was profitable,” Dill said. “In past years, the broccoli market has been pretty dismal here, and many grower-shippers have been hesitant to put a lot of broccoli in the ground. We have to plant some for rotation.”

Pacific International was quoting $34 or $35 on crowns, Dill said.

“People are hoping for a more normal situation when we get production established in the desert,” McBride said. “But we’re not out of the woods there either because there was rain a few weeks ago in northern Baja and across the desert areas. Some of the first fields on many items are showing a bit of damage.”

The transition to desert broccoli production varies by grower-shipper, but happens mid-to late-November.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:19-07:00October 18th, 2013|

NEW PESTICIDE REGISTRATIONS

–>

Department of Pesticide Regulation,

Pesticide Registration Branch

Notice of Final Decisions to Register Pesticide Products and Written Evaluations for the following:

Nichino America, Inc.
Fujimite Xlo Miticide/Insecticide
Use: Insecticide, Miticide – For The Control Of Various Insects Such As Mites, Leafhoppers, And Mealybugs On Crops Such As Cranberries, Grapefruits, And Kumquats

Omex Agrifluids, Inc.
Sulfomex Fungicide
Use: Fungicide – For The Control Of Powdery Mildew On Crops Such As Apples, Tomatoes, And Carrots

Bio-Ferm Gmbh

Botector
Use: Fungicide – For The Control Of Various Diseases Such As Gray Mold, Blossom Blight, And Brown Rot On Crops Such As Strawberries, Apples, And Almonds

Type: California Only Registration –
Gowan Company
Sandea Herbicide
Use: Herbicide – For The Control Of Various Weeds Such As Mildweed, Goosefoot, And Jimsonweed In Various Crops Such As Asparagus, Cucumbers, And Pumpkins

Loveland Products, Inc.
Dyna-Shield Metalaxyl 318 Fs Fungicide
Use: Fungicide – For The Control Of Various Diseases Such As Systemic Downy Mildew, Pythium Seed Rot, And Pythium Damping-Off On Various Crops Such As Cotton, Onions, And Peanuts

Nufarm, Inc.
Nufarm Weedone Lv4 Ec Broadleaf Herbicide
Use: Herbicide – For The Control Of Broadleaf Weeds And Brush In Crops Such As Corn, Red Potatoes, And Soybeans And In Non-Crop Areas Such As Lawns, Pastures, And Rangeland

Valent U.S.A. Corporation
Seize 35 Wp Insect Growth Regulator
Use: Insect Growth Regulator – For The Control Of Various Insects Such As Leafrollers, Codling Moth, And San Jose Scale On Apples, Pears, And Almonds
Type: Section 3 Label Amendment – To Add Control Of Whiteflies On Kiwifruit

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:19-07:00October 18th, 2013|

NEW WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS

Public Commentary Invited at
Water Quality Meeting

There will be a set of new water quality regulations imposed on Sacramento Valley irrigated agriculture and managed wetland owners as soon as April 2014! This is due to adoption of a waste discharge requirements General Order for the Long-Term Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP).

An upcoming public workshop, held by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB), will summarize the proposed new regulations based on those in the Sacramento Valley and provide an opportunity for interested persons who already signed up by October 11 to provide commentary.

The primary duty of the CVRWQCB is to protect the quality of the waters within the Region for all beneficial uses. This duty is implemented by formulating and adopting water quality plans for specific ground or surface water basins and by prescribing and enforcing requirements on all agricultural, domestic and industrial waste discharges.

The new regulations could increase each farmer’s costs; require them to prepare, maintain and submit an on-site farm evaluation report and nutrient management plan and summary; implement a sediment and erosion control plan; participate in grower outreach events; cooperate in requested assistance for groundwater quality monitoring; and implement management practices protective of surface or groundwater.

Revised meeting location:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013, 10:00 A.M.

Colusa Indian Community Council

Community Center

3730 HWY 45, Colusa, CA

Sources: Glenn County Resource Conservation District, Calif. EPA CV Regional Water Quality Board.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:19-07:00October 17th, 2013|

Winter Vegetable Deal Hurt By Gov. Shutdown

Fallout of Government Shutdown Threatens

U.S. Four Billion Dollar Winter Vegetable Supply

America’s nearly four billion dollar winter vegetable harvest is in jeopardy, according to the Irvine based Western Growers Association. The Obama Administration needs to take immediate action to expedite pending foreign worker visa applications that have been stalled during the government shutdown.

The Office of Foreign Labor Certification at the U.S. Dept. of Labor (DOL) has been shuttered since October 1 and the processing of H-2A applications were halted just when the growing season for winter vegetables was getting under way.

Ninety percent of the country’s vegetables are grown in the desert regions of Arizona and California in winter time. Applications have not been processed for more than two weeks and the backlog of paperwork has grown. If H-2A workers are not in place by November 18, consequences will be dire. It usually takes at least eight weeks to process the applications of H-2A workers.

“The H-2A program has never been efficient, or responsive to the needs of employers or workers even in the best of times,” said Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers. “Inaction by Congress on immigration reform has forced many farmers to turn to the H-2A program in desperation, but if these applications are not processed in an expedited manner, the Yuma and Imperial winter vegetable harvest, which relies on thousands of H-2A workers, will suffer from lack of workers and consumers will face a shortage of domestic fresh produce. Prices will surely rise as supplies diminish.”

The H-2A visa program is the only visa program U.S. farmers can use to hire much-needed foreign workers when the labor supply in agriculture expands at harvest time. Thirty to 50 percent of agricultural workers in Yuma County (AZ) and Imperial County (CA) are H-2A guest workers during the winter season.

The government agencies involved in the H-2A process must implement contingency plans for expediting these applications immediately upon the resumption of the government so workers can be ready when needed.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:19-07:00October 17th, 2013|

Walnut Quality is High Throughout state

California Walnut Industry Doing Very Well

Quality Is Great, Demand is Up, So are Prices

Like other nut crops California walnuts are doing very well on increased shipments and good pricing for growers

According to the latest figures there are 245,000 bearing acres in the state producing 497,000 tons last year

“This year, early varieties production was down and that created a shortage early on, Carl Edith, Technical Support Director for the California Walnut Commission in Folsom, Calif.

“Of course the late Chandler variety, the star of the industry is just being harvested now and is high in shell demand in China and Turkey, said Eidsath. Driving demand even stronger is the nut’s high quality, especially its size this season. “Prices are up for growers, especially on the jumbo/ large Hartley variety, which was exceeding $2.00 a pound. Chandlers should do equally well and most likely better.”

Eidsath note that consumer demand is increasing especially in China and Turkey. “Domestic is still the biggest user even though we export 60 percent of the crop,” he said.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:19-07:00October 17th, 2013|

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