AGRICULTURE LAUNCHES TWITTER CAMPAIGN FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM

Farmers for Immigration Reform

The Agriculture Workforce Coalition, Western United Dairymen, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and more than 70 of the largest American agriculture groups this week joined with the Partnership for a New American Economy to launch #ifarmimmigration, an agriculture campaign to support renewed efforts to enact immigration reform this year.

Farmers across the country depend on temporary labor to help grow their crops and their business. Immigrants help fill those vital positions, creating additional 2-3 jobs for domestic-born workers up and down the economy in food packaging, shipping or farming supplies. For many farms across the country, there are simply not enough native-born workers to work their fields.

The agriculture campaign will stress the agriculture sector’s critical need for immigration reform with activities online and on the ground, in Washington D.C. and in key Congressional districts. The month started with a Capitol Hill briefing on Feb 5, where Congressional staff heard from farmers and ranchers about the need for immigration reform. Throughout the month, the campaign will release new research on labor shortages while farmers and ranchers will be on the ground telling their stories through farm tours, social and traditional media, videos, and community events for members of Congress in their districts.

American Farm Bureau’s Bob Stallman commented, “Unfortunately, because of a labor shortage in our farm fields, there’s a growing crisis about the future of our food supply.”

Stallman continued:

“In that spirit, throughout the month of February, farmers across the country, in conjunction with the Partnership for the New American Economy, will be using a slightly different spin to show consumers and lawmakers just how important immigration reform is to our food system. The truth is, we either import our labor or we import our food.”

“America’s farmers and ranchers need a balanced immigration reform bill that includes a fair and workable farm labor provision. We are encouraged by the House Republican Conference’s commitment to moving forward on immigration reform this year with the release of their immigration ‘standards.’ The American Farm Bureau Federation supports the House using these principles as guideposts and, specifically, we appreciate the recognition that agriculture’s need for a legal and stable workforce must be addressed.”

“But much work remains and farmers will continue to work toward passage of responsible immigration reform legislation that includes an earned adjustment for experienced, undocumented agricultural workers and a new, flexible guest worker program.”

http://www.renewoureconomy.org/news/updates/lets-passimmigration-year/

This effort joins The Partnership for a New American Economy, which brought together more than 500 Republican, Democratic, and Independent mayors and business leaders who support immigration reform as a way of creating jobs for Americans today.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:59-07:00February 9th, 2014|

Kerry Arroues Is Recognized For Work in Soil Science

Soil Scientist Kerry Arroues Recognized by Agronomy Society

Kerry Arroues in the Soil Pit he references in story

At the recent American Society of Agronomy meeting in Fresno, Kerry Arroues was recognized for his extinguished service in Soil Science

Kerry Arroues grew up in northeastern CA in Susanville. He received a BS degree in Agriculture specializing in Soil Science from Chico State in 1973. He held the following professional positions:

SCS/NRCS Supervisory Soil Scientist (Soil Survey Leader, most recently covering the San Joaquin Valley and CA Delta), Hanford, CA, 1991-2012; SCS Soil Survey Project Leader, Hanford, CA, 1979-1991; SCS Soil Scientist, Hanford, CA 1976-1979; SCS Soil Scientist, Bakersfield, CA 1975-1976.

During his work as a soil scientist with Natural Resources Conservation Service he was co-author or author of the following soil surveys covering a total of about 4.5 million acres that include the top three counties in market value of agricultural production in the United States: Kings County, Published 1986; Tulare County, Western Part, Published 2003; Fresno County, Western Part, Published 2006; Yosemite National Park, Published 2007; Kern County, Northeastern Part, Published 2007; Kern County, Southwestern Part, Published 2009. He has been a Certified Professional Soil Scientist for 33 years.

Kerry Arroues is author or co-author of more than a dozen publications. He co-authored a November 2012 publication for the National Cooperative Soil Survey Newsletter titled “Field Investigations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.” In the fall of 1996 Kerry sampled soils in Uruguay with Dr. Warren Lynn and considers this one of the highlights of his career.

He also presented posters and papers at the 6^th International Meeting of Soils with Mediterranean Type of Climate in Barcelona, Spain in 1999. He has been an auxiliary member of Kings County Agricultural Advisory Committee for many years. He was a member of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and Earth and Soils Department Advisory Councils at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and provided input for 15 years on issues related to maintaining the viability of a soil science program.

Kerry retired from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in late December, 2012 after more than 39 years of Civil Service. In his retirement he has continued to work as a volunteer for NRCS. This work involved digging pits and describing soils in July, 2013 on the Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Soil Survey in an area located in the upper part of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River watershed.

In receiving his award, Mr. Arrouses told this story:

I am grateful and truly thankful for this recognition.

Last July I was sitting on the edge of a soil pit I had just dug on the side of a glacial valley floor just below Martha Lake and near the headwaters of the South Fork, San Joaquin River. I reflected on my 40 years of work as a soil scientist as I looked around at the incredible scenery and I understood how fortunate I had been to be able to work in so many diverse and wonderful places during my career. That is one of the reasons that prompted me to volunteer for soil survey work on the Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park soil survey on a 10 day backpack soil survey trip to elevations as high as 11,200 feet.

Thinking of the soils I had personally touched may seem a little weird, but it also brings a certain reality to work and life. I think of the diverse soils I have worked with here in our valley, the peat and muck soils in the CA Delta, the glaciated soils in Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and the high shrink-swell clay soils in the plains of Uruguay. I also think of lacustrine lake bed soils in the Honey Lake area near Susanville where I was first introduced to soil mapping and soils in the Tulare Lake and Buena Vista Lake that illustrate what an incredible place this valley was and is.

As amazing as soils are however it is the many interactions with great people who also enjoy their work with soil in the field that have added much more value to my work as a soil scientist. My first supervisor as a soil scientist with the Soil Conservation Service was Kan Kim Chang in Bakersfield. He instilled in me what a privilege it was to work on soil surveys. Kim Chang was trained by the late Dr. Gordon Huntington while working on the Eastern Fresno Area soil survey. Gordon became a mentor to me after I was a student in the University of CA, Soils 105 “Field Studies of Soils” class in 1984 that he instructed with 4 others (Gene Begg, Drs. Mike Singer, Randy Southard, and Ron Amundson.

I spent 6 weeks describing about 100 soils in California and Nevada and developed a deep respect for him that continues to this day. A short time before his death he gave me a number of items related to his work as a soil scientist. I brought his Master’s Thesis with me today. It was signed by three individuals in 1954 and one of those was Dr. Hans Jenny. Dr. Jenny, born in Switzerland in 1899, was the author of the book “Factors of Soil Formation” published in 1941 which neatly laid out a strong paradigm for soil formation factors responsible for differences in soil. This book has been referenced repeatedly since 1941 in a multitude of soils-related publications.

In Hanford, Bob Beede and I have maintained this kind of a relationship over the decades. Trees do grow in soil after all! Another UC Extension Specialist who I depended on for assistance was Blake Sanden who helped write soil survey agronomy sections for published soil surveys in Kern County. Another person who had a big impact on my work with soils was the late Carl Anderson, supervisor for my first four years in the Hanford Soil Survey office. His love of soil chemistry and effects on soil salinity gave me a great foundation to build on in later years here in the San Joaquin Valley. The list is long and I have appreciated all of the interactions with others who have the same passion for science and soils that I have.

As I reflect back on those who had an influence on my career it illustrates the importance of giving back to others in soil science some of the lessons I have learned and experienced. Jackie Robinson had an appropriate quote for this idea when he stated: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:59-07:00February 9th, 2014|

North Coast Pear Research Meeting, Feb. 12

Wednesday, Feb, 12 2014

Scotts Valley Women’s Club

2298 Hendricks Rd, Lakeport CA

Agenda

1.5 hours DPR credit received

8:00 a.m. Registration, coffee and pastries

8:30 Welcome and announcements

Rachel Elkins, UC Cooperative Extension, Lake/Mendocino Counties

8:40 Pear variety evaluation in the Sacramento Delta

Effects of calcium sprays and AVG (ReTain®) on fruit quality at harvest and

after storage

Optimizing fertilizer practices based on seasonal demand and supply

Brown marmorated stink bugs in Sacramento County

Chuck Ingels, UC Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County

9:10 Active yeasts improve selective insecticides for codling moth in pear

Evaluation of insecticides for codling month control

Bob Van Steenwyk, Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management,

UC Berkeley

9:30 Detection of pear scab resistance to fungicides

Pear scab fungicide evaluations

Identification and control of pear canker diseases in California

Doug Gubler, Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC Davis

10:10 BREAK

10:30 Evaluation of new bactericides for control of fire blight

Evaluation of postharvest treatments for management of gray mold, blue

mold, and other decays of stored pears in California

Doug Gubler, Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC Davis

11:00 Design tool for orchard platforms used in assisted pear harvesting

Rajkishan Arikapudi, Dept. of Biological and Agricultural Engineering,

UC Davis

11:20 Evaluation of potential components of a fire blight IPM program

Rootstocks and orchard systems for European pears

Developing rooting strategies for dwarfing pear rootstocks

Rachel Elkins

12:00 LUNCH – SPONSORED BY CPAB/PPMRF

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:59-07:00February 9th, 2014|

PRESIDENT OBAMA COMING TO FRESNO

BREAKING NEWS

President Obama Coming to Fresno to Witness Drought and Possibly Offer Solutions

President Obama to visit Fresno Feb. 14

Ag leaders are hailing the planned Feb. 14 visit of President Barack Obama to Fresno to view the effect of the severe drought crisis facing the state.

Manuel Cunha

Manuel Cunha, Jr., President of Nisei Farmers League, told California Ag Today, “I appreciate that he is coming.” Cunha credits the President’s visit to all the efforts of elected officials, their letters, and the governor’s emergency drought declaration, but he particularly praises the Water Rally in Sacramento held on January 16, 2014. Cunha said, “The rally grabbed the greatest amount of press and importance and included all of the cultures being impacted.” Cunha believes the President realizes that things have to change and that he needs to come here to the number one food chain in the world.

“I think it’s great that the President is visiting the Valley,” said Mario Santoyo, Executive Director of the California Latino Water Coalition and Assistant General Manager of the Friant Water Authority. “Over the past several years, there has been a great need to have the engagement of the federal government, and ultimately the buck stops at the President.” Santoyo anticipates that the national media covering the President’s visit will highlight how bad the situation is in the Valley.

Mario Santoyo

“Hopefully he will have the opportunity to meet with city officials, farmers and, most importantly, see the impact on the West Side in terms of fallowed land and lost jobs,” Santoyo said. “We are anxious to participate with him in whatever form he would like.”

“I find it interesting that the President’s visit will be the day after the major drought discussion at the Word Ag Expo in Tulare. One person that I know will be part of the President’s agenda is the top federal official regarding water in the state, David Murillo, Mid-Pacific Regional Director of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior. Murillo will be on our panel in Tulare—the day before the President visits.”

David Murillo

Santoyo thinks once the President visits the Valley, he will understand the tremendous impact of the current crisis, “and it will allow him to work with the Senate and the House in coming up with some legislation within the scope of the biological opinion and some of the Endangered Species Act Issues.”

Similarly, Cunha stated, “As President of the United States, he can make things happen by issuing a federal declaration which helps all of our communities; it helps the farmers and farmworkers, and it helps to get the food moving without asking if people are citizens or not. There are a lot of things we can do now, so we don’t have to have people leaving their homes and schools because there is no food.”

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:06-07:00February 8th, 2014|

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.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:06-07:00February 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.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:06-07:00February 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

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 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

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 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.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:07-07:00February 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 – 2^nd Year Board Member / John Potter Specialty Foods, Innovative Sales – Modesto

JoAnn Wall, ARA – 1^st 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.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-08-26T12:03:34-07:00February 7th, 2014|

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