FRACKING AND AGRICULTURE

Fracking Oil Industry Sharpening Bits 
Among Many Concerns

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor, and Laurie Greene, Associate Editor

The oil industry is snapping up speculative mineral leases across what’s known as the Monterey Shale, an area that includes vast agricultural, yet water-scarce regions in the San Joaquin Valley, offshore the central coast, the coastal range and areas in Los Angeles County. 

The oil industry is snapping up speculative mineral leases across what’s known as the Monterey Shale, an area that includes vast agricultural, yet water-scarce regions in the San Joaquin Valley, offshore the central coast, the coastal range and areas in Los Angeles County.


According to Don Clarke, an LA-based geologist, “Drillers have to move a lot of fluid for fracking. With conservation and economics in mind, regulations will require that used water and chemicals will be saved [for reuse] by building large tanks or by scheduling fracking so when one job stops, another begins.”
“Oil companies are trying to determine how to get the Monterey Shale oil economically,” noted Clarke. “Unknown geologic and other complex issues could necessitate a $25 million investment for the first bore, with no guarantees of success. But in any case, oil companies will most likely not have the technology needed to drill for the oil until 2015.”
Yet, California is reeling from droughts and environmental pressures that resulted in the biological opinion-derived diversion of 1 million acre-feet of water from the Delta to protect fish species. The resulting water deficit has severely impacted Central Valley farmers, stressing their ground water supplies already hurting from this year’s 80 percent water-delivery deficit, and requiring supplemental pumping that over-drafts wells. Furthermore, Bureau of Reclamation officials warn that Westlands Water District farmers may face a zero allocation next year.
After irrigation, environmental projects, and the state’s municipalities take their necessary water, there is very little water left, except what’s in storage. “The amount of water needed could be a deal-killer and the cost of water being pulled from agriculture would not be sustainable for oil companies,” Clarke said. “Possibly the only way to do this without impacting farmers is to use ocean water that is deeply trapped in the ground for fracking.”

Farmers are listening but are not overly concerned. Joe Del Bosque, who farms in Firebaugh and Huron, is a Governor Brown-appointed member of the California Water Commission. Del Bosque said, “I am certain that oil companies will not take water away from farms and cities or harm the water supply of the state. I have not heard any farmers voice concerns. In fact, it’s my understanding that the drilling is down so deep, it will not effect anyone.”
Don Drysdale, from the Public Affairs Office with California Department of Conservation (CA DOC), stated that in most cases, “hydraulic fracturing is going after resources hundreds, if not thousands, of feet below the water table, and there are natural geologic barriers as well as construction standards protecting the groundwater.”
In terms of benefits, a University of California (UC) report projects oil drilling in the Monterey Shale area will produce one half-million new jobs by 2015 and 2.8 million by 2020, and as much as $24.6 billion in state and local taxes.
Manuel Cunha, President of the Nisei Farmer’s League in Fresno, said, “The opponents of fracking say that it will destroy air and water quality and will hurt people—which is all wrong. Since the start of 2011, 974 California wells have been fracked, many in the southern San Joaquin Valley with no contamination to drinking water.”
Nevertheless, the Sierra Club and other opposition groups maintain that fracking would risk disaster for California’s wild lands, water and air quality, and wildlife. These groups have filed formal protests and suits against the U.S. Bureau of Land (BLM). On May 7, 2013, the BLM postponed all oil and gas lease sales on California public lands for the rest of the fiscal year; however, private land leases are still up for grabs.
In response, the CA DOC is conducting public meetings for input as it creates hydraulic fracturing regulations. The first regulation draft is due this summer and will include disclosure requirements and rigorous testing and evaluation before, during, and after hydraulic fracturing operations to ensure that wells and geologic formations remain competent and that drinking water is uncontaminated. Some of the proposed requirements will surpass those of any other state.
In addition to regulation, legislation for hydraulic fracturing is developing that would define the terms of hydraulic fracturing and hydraulic fracturing fluid and require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to mandate an independent scientific study on hydraulic fracturing treatments to be completed on or before Jan. 1 2015. Violators would incur a civil penalty of $10,000 to $25,000 per day, per violation; however the bill has gained little support thus far.
Dave Quast, Director ofCalifornia Energy in Depth (EID), said, “We have never experienced the negative environmental impact that extreme activists are prophesizing. Hydraulic fracturing is a regulated activity and is becoming more regulated. It’s a proven technology that has been used in California for more than six decades and, hopefully, the public will become more reassured as the process moves along.”
As we embark on the proposition of fracking in California, we can be certain of a healthy debate, and we will hope for a science-based decision.

2016-05-31T19:47:07-07:00July 30th, 2013|

FDA Levels Playing Field

BREAKING NEWS
FDA to Ensure Safe Imported Food

By Laurie Greene, Associate Editor


In order to implement the bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) signed by President Obama, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration today issued two proposed rules aimed at helping to ensure that imported food meets the same safety standards as food produced in the United States.


These proposals are part of the FSMA approach to modernizing the food safety system for the 21st century, which is right in line with FSMA’s mission of preventing food safety problems, rather than reacting to them after the fact.

Imported food comes into the United States from about 150 different countries and accounts for roughly 15 percent of the U.S. food supply, including approximately 50 percent of the fresh fruits and 20 percent of the fresh vegetables consumed by Americans. 

Under the proposed rules, The FDA proposes to adopt regulations on foreign supplier verification programs (FSVPs) for U.S. food importers to follow. For the first time, importers would be accountable for verifying their foreign suppliers are implementing modern, preventive food safety practices, and achieving the same level of food safety as domestic growers and processors.


The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also amending its regulations to provide for accreditation of third-party auditors or certification bodies to conduct food safety audits of foreign food entities, including registered foreign food facilities, and to issue food and facility certifications, under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The FDA expects that these regulations will strengthen the quality, objectivity, and transparency of foreign food safety audits on which many food companies and importers currently rely, and increase efficiency by reducing the number of redundant food safety audits.

Additional benefits include the increased flow of credible information to FDA regarding the foreign company compliance with food safety regulations that are ultimately offered for import into the United States, This information would, in turn, inform FDA’s inspection plans of foreign food facilities and possibly reveal problems with a particular firm or its products, and possibly raise questions about the rigor of the food safety regulatory system of the country of origin.


“We must work toward global solutions to food safety so that whether you serve your family food grown locally or imported you can be confident that it is safe,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. 


The FDA encourages Americans to review and comment on these important proposed rules. The proposed FSVP rule and the third-party accreditation rule are available for public comment by submitting either electronic or written comments until November 26, 2013. Together, the two proposed rules would help the FDA create an integrated, efficient import oversight food safety system. 

These new proposals work in concert with the proposed rules released in January 2013, for produce safety and preventive controls in facilities that produce human food. 

Those proposed rules are currently open for comment until September 16, 2013, but the FDA intends to grant a 60-day final extension of the comment period to allow the public more time to consider the interrelationships between the January proposals and the two proposals being announced today.

2016-05-31T19:47:08-07:00July 29th, 2013|

QUARANTINE COMING FOR TULARE COUNTY

BREAKING NEWS IN TULARE COUNTY
USDA Signs off On ACP Quarantine


By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor
A five-mile boundary quarantine is scheduled to be announced this week that encircles the two traps near Porterville that caught six Asian Citrus Psyllid adults in mid June. The quarantine is not following a measured radius; instead, roads and avenues will establish the outer boundaries of the quarantine.

“This represents 178 square miles where citrus cannot be removed unless certain protocols are followed,” said Gavin Iacono, Tulare County Deputy Ag Commissioner overseeing Standards and Quarantines.

“The quarantine has not been officially designated by CDFA, but it should happen soon,” Iacono said. “And the treatment has not been approved—as of today.”

Iacono noted the current protocol for a quarantined zone such as in Southern California is citrus cannot leave the area unless the fruit is sent over the top of a series of rollers and brushes—otherwise known as a moveable field fruit cleaning machine—such as those seen in packing houses. Also, the citrus must be free of stems and leaves. From there, the citrus can go into bins, loaded on trucks and shipped out of the area. “Right now, this is the only approved method, and it may be the method recommended by CDFA,” Iacono said.

One problem is that there are few field cleaning machines in the area. “Most of those portable machines on tractor-trailers are in Southern California where pre-cleaning is done in most citrus areas,” noted Iacono. “Some of these machines may need to be moved into Tulare County.”

Watch this blog for updated information on the pending quarantine.

2016-05-31T19:47:08-07:00July 29th, 2013|

APG Organization Grows

American Pistachio Growers Meet


By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

More than 300 growers and others allied to the pistachio industry gathered in Visalia today for the American Pistachio Growers (APG) Annual Summer Luncheon.

Here are the highlights of the many topics discussed during the meeting.

Jim Zion, APG Board Chairman;

The marketing budget presented is the accumulation of many meetings and countless hours by committee members and APG staff to determine the best use of annual assessment dollars received each year, always keeping the mission statement clearly in mind. Simply put, the process is done in a transparent manner in which every member has the opportunity for input.

Richard Matoian, APG Executive Director, made these comments:

·      With the increase in plantings over the last 10 years, the pistachio industry projects that around 2018 or 2020, the industry will reach 1 billion pounds.

 
·      Consumer/Food Service demand must be ahead of this increased production, so marketing activities are planned ahead of time to meet the new level.

·      Based upon current projections, by the end of this fiscal year, the industry will ship 300 million pounds to various export destinations. Just six years ago, the industry was shipping just above 100 million pounds.

·      China and Hong Kong together have become the #1 export destination for U.S. pistachios.

·      For current year shipments from September 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, with the last two months extrapolated, total U.S. exports are up an average of 5.7 percent. This includes Eastern Europe, which is up by 75 percent; Asia, up 4.4 percent; China, up 3 percent; and Western Europe, up by 10.4 percent.

·      During the same time period, domestic shipments are down about 3.9 percent, with roughly 144 million pounds currently, versus 149 million pounds shipped by the same time, last year. But in looking at a two-year average, domestic shipments are up by about 25 percent.

·      The APG marketing program targets markets both domestic and abroad, with the bulk of the effort is aimed at export markets. About 81 percent of the APG budget is devoted to marketing in order to keep consumer demand ahead of production.

·      Over the last five years, APG members have increased from 351 members to 548 members, a 56 percent increase.


Judy Hirigoyen, APG Director, Global Marketing made these comments:

·      Pistachios are now known as one of the top ten trends in food service. Pistachios are now the new “it” ingredients.

·      Demand must stay ahead of supply. And there are many areas of the world that cannot get pistachios, and we are looking forward to supplying that need.

·      This year, $9.2 million dollars were invested in marketing, and $1.3 million in nutrition, which, together, represents 83 percent of the budget.

·      In the countries that APG actively markets, the shipments have increased by 70 percent—a huge growth. All the time, there has been no change to grower assessments. The budget increases have been the result of the growth in membership. That’s why it’s important to recruit more growers to the organization.

·      Because food development by major food companies takes anywhere from six months to two years to launch a product, Hirigoyen emphasized that the time is now to place pistachios as an ingredient in their product development, and get those products in the pipeline. By the time they are finished, we will have all the pistachios they need.

·      Among the APG Ambassadors is Miss California, Crystal Lee, who happens to be Chinese and is fluent in Mandarin. APG is looking forward to taking her to China to help market APG pistachios.

·      Between December 2012 and May 2013, APG marketing reached more than 3.2 billion PR impressions, with the value, if it had been paid for, is worth $64 million dollars.  This means that every dollar spent on marketing has returned $52 dollars back to the grower in promotion around the world.

Also during the event, Bob Beede was recognized for his 35 years of service to the pistachio industry as a UCCE Farm Advisor. Beede retired in June 2013.

Complete coverage of the annual event will appear in the September issue of Pacific Nut Producer magazine.

2016-05-31T19:47:08-07:00July 27th, 2013|

Lettuce Growers See Big Rally

Salinas Lettuce Prices Soar Upward

Lettuce Harvest was brisk throughout the Salinas Valley over the last week as Lettuce Prices were up due do shortages.


By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor


Due to excess hot temperatures on the East Coast hurting quality and supply in the area, produce buyers have rung up the sellers in Salinas for some good quality green leaf, and iceberg varieties.

“It’s crazy, and definitely unusual,” said Ben Wilson a salesman for Salinas-based Coastline Produce.

“On Wednesday most 24-count green leaf cartons were shipping for $13 to $15 up from $10 to $11.50 a year ago,” Wilson said. “On June 22, prices were as high as $20.00 per carton.

Demand has been so robust that it has caused a shortage of green leaf and iceberg in the Salinas Valley. “It’s very tight,” said Wilson.

“Just over a month ago, we had more lettuce than we knew what to do with, and prices were in the cellar,” said Wilson. “But then East Coast came up short on product and that created big demand.”

Currently in Salinas, there are many fields of lettuce, but they are still weeks away from harvest.

2016-05-31T19:47:08-07:00July 26th, 2013|

Preventing Shaker Damage in Almonds

Almond Harvest Needs Mindful Decisions


By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor
Because there is a lot of variability in any almond orchard based on the performance of the rootstock and scion, as well as wet and dry areas on the orchard floor, the shaker harvest will not be the same for each tree. “There will be differences,” said David Doll, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor in Merced County. “This variability within the orchard makes it difficult to farm; different varieties are being harvested at different times.”

David Doll, UC Cooperative Extension
Farm Advisor, Merced County.
“There are differences in vigor, hullsplit and ripening, so shaker operators should be mindful of possible shaker damage to trees under certain conditions. Wet areas will shake differently than dry areas, and wet areas may not even be ready to shake,” Doll said.

Shaker damage to the bark of trees allows the fungus Ceratocystisto travel in the wounds. Ceratocystisis more likely to infect the trunk tissue when a wound occurs in the warmer months.

The fungal spores are carried by small insects that are attracted to the odors that the tree gives off. Once inside the trunk tissue, the fungus grows horizontally and vertically, creating a canker that increases in size each year.

“If a tree becomes infected, it essentially shortens the orchard’s life,” said Doll. “And we are seeing more Ceratocystis in the valley. If a grower is looking for longevity of the orchard, it’s important to harvest at the proper timing for the tree–not the whole orchard block. It is a tree-by-tree decision. But this is very difficult to manage, because it takes a lot of time.”

“Again, be more observant of the wetter areas of an orchard. It could mean coming back a few days later to minimize the tree damage. And this information needs to get to the shaker operator, which is yet another variable in the orchard,” said Doll.

2016-05-31T19:47:08-07:00July 25th, 2013|

California Dates Moving Closer to Harvest

California Dates Being Bagged for Protection


By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Tucked into the southeastern corner of Imperial County alongside the Arizona border and Mexico border is the Bard Valley where high quality dates are grown.

Ranch Managers Ron Hill, left
and Steve McCollum
This week, workers are on 60-foot high reach lifts, putting protected bags around the date-fruiting branches.

“The dates are ripening up, turning from green to yellow, and that’s when the birds start coming in. So we protect our dates with the bags,” said Ron Hill, farm manager of Royal Medjool Date Garden in Winter Haven, Calif. “It also protects the fruit from harsh wind storms, which could knock the dates off their fruiting branches,” said Hill, who has been managing the 400 acre operation since Jan. 1997.

Workers will come back in 7-10 days before harvest and close the bottom of the bags to catch any ripe fruit that may detach from the branches. 

“The bags stay completely closed as we get to harvest,” said Hill. “It takes 3 to 4 trips through the date gardens to harvest all the ripe fruit.”

Hill noted that currently labor supply is decent. “We have about 60 employees getting the job done, but we will ramp up to about 175 around August 20, which is harvest time,” he said.

He explained that a  thinning operation in May is the peak season for labor. “We need about 260 farm employees, and we were okay this year,” he said.

Hill said the fresh date market is good. About 95 percent of the dates go to the fresh market. That last five percent are for those delicious date rolls enjoyed by many!

Pictured are bagged date palms on trees significantly younger than the tall trees found in the Bard Valley.

2016-05-31T19:47:08-07:00July 25th, 2013|

Meeting Schedule for ACP Update and Control

MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TULARE COUNTY GROWERS/PCAS/PCOS

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

9:00 a.m. to Noon

Doors open at 8:00 a.m.

International Agri-Center, Heritage Complex Auditorium 4450 S. Laspina St.
Tulare, California 93274

On July 11 , CDFA announced recent findings of six Asian citrus psyllids on three glassy-wingedsharpshooter (GWSS) traps in the Porterville area. While we were all happy to hear the restrictions which were a result of the November 2012 ACP finds were lifted as of June 17th in Tulare County, these new finds mean new regulations in nearby areas.

Orchards near the trap finds will need to be treated and quarantine areas are being defined that will restrict movement of bulk citrus and nursery plants. This meeting is your opportunity to learn how these new finds and the regulations associated with them will affect you and your neighbors; how your CPDPP assessment dollars are being spent; and the best strategies for treating for Asian citrus psyllid in your groves.

TOPICS & SPEAKERS

Marilyn Kinoshita – Ag Commissioner, Tulare County UPDATE ON CPDPP ACTIVITIES

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS

Victoria Hornbaker – Program Manager, CDFA/Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program

Nawal Sharma – Environmental Program Manager, CDFA Marilyn Kinoshita – Tulare County Ag CommissionerTHE NEWEST REGULATIONS FOR TULARE COUNTY
Ken Keck – President, Citrus Research Board CDFA URBAN/RESIDENTIAL SURVEY AND TREATMENTSFLORIDA PERSPECTIVE ON AREAWIDE TREATMENTS
Debby Tanouye – Branch Chief, Pest Detection Emergency Program, CDFA AREAWIDE TREATMENT NOTIFICATION & PROCEDURES

Bob Wagner –Regional Grower Liaison, Tulare County

Dr. Beth Crafton-Cardwell – IPM Specialist & Research Entomologist, Dept. of Entomology, UCR

ACP SAMPLING & TREATMENT STRATEGIES

There is no charge for this program, however; an RSVP would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Emma at 559-738-0246 or email: info@citrusresearch.org

2016-05-31T19:47:08-07:00July 25th, 2013|

CA DPR to Regulate Rodenticide

CA DPR To Designate Rodenticide Products as Restricted Materials



By Laurie Greene, Associate Editor

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) proposes to amend and adopt sections of Title 3, California Code of Regulations. The proposed action would designate the active ingredients brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, and difethialone as California-restricted materials, making all second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) products restricted materials.

Also, this proposed action would add additional use restrictions for SGARs and revise the definition of private applicator to refer to the federal definition of agricultural commodityfound in the Code of Federal Regulations section 171.2(5).


Any interested person may present comments in writing about the proposed action to the agency by emailing <dpr13002@cdpr.ca.gov> or faxing 916-324-1452no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 3, 2013.

A public hearing is not scheduled. However, one will be scheduled if any interested person submits a written request to DPR no later than 15 days prior to the close of the written comment period.

DPR has determined that the proposed regulatory action does affect small businesses.


As background, pesticides must be registered (licensed for sale and use) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) before they can be registered in California. DPR’s preregistration evaluation is in addition to, and complements, U.S. EPA’s evaluation. Before a pesticide can be sold or used, both agencies require data on a product’s toxicology and chemistry, how it behaves in the environment, its effectiveness against targeted pests, the hazards it poses to non-target organisms, its effect on fish and wildlife, and its degree of worker exposure.

DPR’s current definition of private applicator refers to an individual who uses or supervises the use of a pesticide for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity.

The term agricultural commoditymeans any plant, or part thereof, or animal, or animal product produced by a person (including farmers, ranchers, vineyardists, plant propagators, among others) primarily for sale, consumption, propagation, or other use by man or animals.

In addition, U.S. EPA specified as a term/condition of sale/distribution in the reregistration notices of all SGAR products that the registrant can only sell or distribute these products in a manner that results in sales in stores oriented towards agricultural consumers (i.e., farm, agricultural, tractor stores) and pest control operators.

DPR anticipates delaying the effective date of this regulation by as much as six months to ensure there is adequate time for entities impacted by these regulations to comply with the new certification requirements.

2016-05-31T19:47:09-07:00July 24th, 2013|

Practical Knowledge Leads to Good Jobs

Growing Demand for Ag Students

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Clint Cowden, an instructor at West Hills Community College in Coalinga, knows about the demand for specific jobs in agriculture.

A special program for training future Pest Control Advisors (PCAs) and Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) is available at West Hills.

“Many of the large growers in our area came in and asked if we had students available who could help them on their operations. They were looking for on-the-farm PCAs and CCAs on the private side,” said Cowden. “They are also looking for welders, irrigation managers, and equipment operators.”

“In fact, PG&E has stated that they will need up to 5,000 welders over the next five years,” Cowden stated. “We have students coming in and training for this demand.”

Students get the text-book training along with practical hands-on experience in many areas in agriculture. “Students complete the programs with certificates stating that they meet all the rigorous demands that businesses will need,” Cowden said. “Our students typically get an average of 20 separate certificates that are backed by national professional associations and many industries.”

“Instead of the college professors teaching kids what they think they should learn, the industry got together and stated the true skills that students need to succeed in those industries,” Cowden said. “We want our students to clearly have the skills they need to succeed, and the certificates will state what skills they have,” he said.

Students earn an Associates Degree in Ag Science and Technology, and the credits are transferable to other colleges and universities such as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Davis, California State University Fresno, or others.

Cowden noted that the PCA/CCA program is taught with on-line lectures and face-to-face nine-hour labs across three weekends. “This enables students to stay employed where they are and work around their job to earn the new skills,” he said.

An update on the Bachelors Degree requirement for a PCA license:  “It’s known as Option 3 and approved by the Department of Pesticide Regulation. The requirement is 42 Science Units over 24 months, and the students can take the required PCA exam for a license. For the CCA license, five years of experience is required.

The next PCA/CCA class starts on August 19.

2016-05-31T19:47:09-07:00July 24th, 2013|
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