Off Ground Almond Harvesting Studied

Reducing Dust in Almond Harvesting is Big Goal of the Industry

By Patrick Cavanaugh with the Ag Infomation Network

One major proposal is off-ground harvesting with the almonds being caught in a catch-frame, and then sent the processing from there.

Dr. Patrick Brown, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. He noted that the term off-ground harvesting is also known as alternative harvesting.

“The benefits from alternative harvesting are many fold, certainly soil health, and orchard sustainability, but in addition, reduce pests and disease interaction,” Brown said.

Brown said it will also reduce navel orangeworm damage as well as a problem known as Hull rot.

“There’s no negative impact on the quality of the fruit or the kernel nor the yield, the major issues to be resolved is how to dry the fruit effectively though about the information that has been presented, suggests it’s actually quite cheap and effective to dry the almonds mechanically,” noted Brown. “The big issue, I suppose, for most growers would be investments in new machinery and the optimization of their orchards for these practices. I think off ground has to go with early harvesting, like two weeks prior to what’s currently being done”

And we asked Brown why would a grower want to harvest earlier?

“Because you can. And because of the reason we were harvesting, when we are, is simply the convenience of getting the nuts as dry as possible on the tree before harvest. It was not for any particular horticultural benefit,” Brown said.

Still, mass adoption of off-ground harvesting is decades away.

California Ag Today2021-02-22T17:56:43-08:00February 22nd, 2021|

Congressman Valadao Urges SJV Vaccination Sites

Congressman David G. Valadao Pens Letter to Governor Newsom and FEMA Urging the Establishment of Vaccination Sites

Recently, Congressman David G. Valadao, Leader Kevin McCarthy, Congressman Jim Costa, Congressman Devin Nunes, and Congressman Josh Harder sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting FEMA Administrator Robert Fenton strongly urging the establishment of multiple COVID-19 vaccination sites in California’s Central Valley.

Governor Newsom recently announced two community vaccination sites in Alameda and Los Angeles Counties, though those two counties already have far higher vaccination rates than Central Valley counties. While Governor Newsom later indicated the intent to establish a vaccination site in the Valley, low vaccination rates demonstrate the need for multiple sites throughout the region.

“I am encouraged that the state has indicated intent to establish a COVID-19 vaccination site in the Central Valley, but one is not enough to meet the needs of our communities,” said Congressman David G. Valadao. “The Valley was leading the state in cases per 100,000 residents over the summer, yet most Valley counties’ vaccination rates lag behind those of Los Angeles and Bay Area Counties. The area’s rural communities are home to thousands of farmworkers who risk COVID-19 exposure every day to feed America. The unacceptably low vaccination rate in the Central Valley indicates that we desperately need multiple vaccination sites throughout the region. I ask Governor Newsom to prioritize vaccination for the areas that need it the most.”

“Though the announcement of a new vaccination site in the Central Valley is welcome news, this is just the beginning of fixing a subpar vaccine distribution plan,” said Leader Kevin McCarthy. “The State must not forget Californians in the region as it continues to work with FEMA to identify locations and secure federal resources to enhance vaccine administration. The Central Valley is unique, and any expanded efforts must support the diverse socioeconomic and rural communities we are proud to represent.”

“I am hopeful the San Joaquin Valley will be next on the list in California to get a FEMA vaccination site,” said Congressman Jim Costa. “I’ve been working diligently with the Valley delegation, along with the White House and Governor’s office, to reiterate the extreme need in the Valley for one of these sites. As one of the hardest-hit areas in the Nation, vaccinating our Valley communities is key to overcoming this health crisis. Keeping my constituents safe is my number one priority and I will keep fighting alongside my colleagues to ensure that a vaccine will be made available to everyone that wants one.”

“As Governor Newsom attempts to reverse California’s abysmal vaccine rollout, it is imperative that the state work with FEMA to provide swift vaccine distribution to the Central Valley families and workers who risk their health to feed the nation,” said Congressman Devin Nunes.

“When disasters happen, the Central Valley is always the first to get hit and the last to recover. It’s time our community gets the resources we need,” said Congressman Josh Harder. “As some of the hardest-hit areas in the state, Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties deserve a mass vaccine site close to home. Every farmer, teacher, and working mom and dad need to know they can get vaccinated without spending hours on the road away from their job and family.”

California Ag Today2021-02-18T21:03:29-08:00February 18th, 2021|

Vaccinations Begin For Cantaloupe Farmers and Employees

California Cantaloupe Farmers Begin Vaccinations for Essential Workforce

Fresno, CA — Essential workers employed by California cantaloupe growers are among some of the first front-line food workers to receive COVID vaccines in the state which grows the vast majority of our nation’s fruits and vegetables.

“We’re so thankful to be able to offer our workers these life-saving vaccines,” said Garrett Patricio of Westside Produce Company, a cantaloupe harvesting, packing, and shipping company located in Firebaugh, California. “Farmworkers are just one of the many groups who need and want to be vaccinated and we urge federal and state leaders to get more shots in more arms of more workers as quickly as possible.”

This week over 800 arms that work hard to pick, pack, and cultivate cantaloupe will receive shots — all thanks to the quick work of a team comprised of Patricio, California Secretary of Food Agriculture Karen Ross, local health care provider Valley Health Team, the Fresno County Department of Public Health and the Fresno Ag Commissioner’s office.

Firebaugh is located in Fresno County, which is the leading agriculture county in California and produces most of the state’s cantaloupe. In total, California grows about 75 percent of the fresh cantaloupe consumed in the U.S. None of this would be possible without essential workers who harvest and pack the fruit.

In addition to Westside Produce, other cantaloupe companies instrumental in securing vaccines for their workers include Del Bosque Enterprises, R&N Packing Company, and Toma-Tek Firebaugh.

“Fresno County Department of Health has been working to make sure we have a plan in place for vaccinating farm employees,” said Tom Fuller, who works for the county health department as the liaison to the ag industry . “We’ve tested this plan and it’s working successfully as we’re seeing with these vaccination events involving cantaloupe growers. We’re ready to do this in a big way as soon as more vaccines become available through the State.”

“As soon as we learned an opportunity might exist to have our employees vaccinated, we jumped at it,” stressed Patricio. “Unfortunately, vaccines for essential front-line workers throughout the food industry – along with seniors, teachers, and others — are extremely limited in California. We knew that if we missed this chance, we might not have the opportunity again for many, many months. The situation is dire and we do hope solutions that allow more people to be vaccinated will be coming soon.”

According to Patricio, vaccinations at a majority of the county’s cantaloupe farming operations were made possible by quickly reaching out to local government officials and securing an approved health provider. “It was critically important that Valley Health, which has a clinic here in Firebaugh, was already an approved provider for the vaccine,” he said. “We are just so fortunate to have pulled this off.”

Over the past week, Patricio and other local cantaloupe growers have been able to hold a series of drive-thru vaccination events at their operations. In addition to medical staff from Valley Health Team who are administering the vaccines, local law enforcement has been brought in to help manage traffic and other logistical challenges.

“We are all very happy to be getting the vaccine today as it will allow us to stay safe while we’re working and will protect us and our families,” said (TBD)

“We’re offering vaccines to any of our employees who wish to receive them, but we’re not requiring anyone to do so,” said Patricio. “Most workers are anxious to be protected from COVID by getting vaccinated, but not everyone has agreed to receive it.”

Patricio explains this means cantaloupe farmers will need to continue enforcing safety measures put in place during last season’s harvest to make sure workers are protected. The cantaloupe industry was able to get by with relatively few COVID outbreak incidents last year, but it’s been a challenge for everyone. Vaccines will go a long way to help reduce risk among workers. “This is why it’s just so critically important that we get more vaccines,” he said. “Protecting our essential workforce is a top priority for us all.”

Fresno County ag businesses with questions or who are interested in scheduling vaccinations are encouraged to contact the Fresno County Department of Health at covidag@fresnocountyca.gov

California Ag Today2021-02-17T18:39:09-08:00February 17th, 2021|

Resources For Farm Mental Health

Mental Health Resources for Farmers and Their Employees

By Tim Hammerich, with the Ag Information Network

The COVID pandemic has taken a significant role in the mental health of farmers and farmworkers. One challenge unique to rural communities is a lack of local resources and places to go to get help. To address this challenge, the American Farm Bureau has compiled resources on a website, www.FarmStateofMind.org. Here’s the director of communications, Ray Atkinson.

“Anybody that’s having any kind of emotional concerns or feeling a lot of stress, I’d recommend they go to a www.FarmStateOfMind.org. And we have a great website there that has crisis hotlines, treatment locators, tips for helping someone in emotional pain, ways to start conversations, and resources for managing stress, anxiety, or depression,” said Atkinson.

“I think particularly helpful you’ll find there is sort of some of the warning signs for stress. And things like looking at a change in the appearance of somebody’s farm, for instance, or the care of their animals and different things like that. So really good signs you can watch for and your friends and family and neighbors, to see if maybe they may be struggling, and there are resources there to help,” explained Atkinson.

If you or someone you know is feeling stress, anxiety, or similar mental health challenges, please visit www.FarmStateOfMind.org.

California Ag Today2021-02-16T19:05:08-08:00February 16th, 2021|

Kasumin Is Approved For Almonds

EPA Approves Section 18 Emergency Registration Request for Kasugamycin on Almonds

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Department of Pesticide Regulation recently accepted a Section 18 petition to allow the use of Kasumin 2L (kasugamycin) to control bacterial blast (Pseudomonas sp) in almonds. The registration allows up to two applications under anticipated cold or freezing conditions on almonds at a use rate of 64 fl. oz. per acre from February 12, 2021 through petal fall. Application after petal fall is prohibited. Kasugamycin may only be used during bloom.

The approval applies to the counties of Butte, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo and Yuba.

Growers interested in this application are heavily encouraged to reference the Almond Board of California’s Honey Bee Best Management Practices as well as the Quick Guide for Applicators (in English & Spanish) to ensure pollinator health is maintained. As stated in these practices, growers should only use applications when absolutely necessary and should only make applications in the late afternoon or evening, when bees and pollen are not present.

Please contact your local County Ag Commissioner’s office for further details if interested in using this product.

Visit the California Department of Food and Agriculture website for a full list of County Ag Commissioners’ offices as well as contact information for each.

California Ag Today2021-02-16T15:40:16-08:00February 16th, 2021|

Coming up: Virtual Walnut Series

Virtual Walnut Series Feb. 16-17

By Patrick Cavanaugh, with the Ag Information Network

A UC Cooperative Extension Virtual Walnut Series is coming up on Feb. 16th and 17th.

Kari Arnold is a UC Cooperative Extension Area 0rchard and Vineyard Systems Farm Advisor in Stanislaus County. “It’s going to be Feb. 16th and 17th. It’s online as virtual because of COVID-19 we can’t be in person. It’s going to be 9am to Noon each day. If you’re interested in the link for the seminar email at klarnold@ucanr.edu,” Arnold said.

“It’s going to cover diseases. We’re going to talk about rootstocks, pests, varieties, just the whole gamut. We tried to cover a lot of ground in six hours between the two days. The second day will be pests and diseases. So, there will be DPR, CCA, and CURES nitrogen credits,“ noted Arnold.

The California Walnut Board and Commission is sponsoring the event. “They will be covering all the associated costs. It’s a big collaborative event between USDA, University of California Cooperative Extension, University of California, Davis, and Riverside, and just a whole bunch of us are getting together and talking about walnuts,” she said.

Again, for more information, email Kari Arnold at klarnold@ucanr.edu.

California Ag Today2021-05-12T10:52:43-07:00February 15th, 2021|

Grape Consumption May Protect Against UV Damage to Skin

Study: Grapes Increase Resistance to Sunburn and Reduced Markers of UV damage

A recent human study published in the Journal of the Academy of Dermatology found that consuming grapes protected against ultraviolet (UV) skin damage.¹ Study subjects showed increased resistance to sunburn and a reduction in markers of UV damage at the cellular level.² Natural components found in grapes known as polyphenols are thought to be responsible for these beneficial effects.

The study, conducted at the University of Alabama, Birmingham and led by principal investigator Craig Elmets, M.D., investigated the impact of consuming whole grape powder – equivalent to 2.25 cups of grapes per day – for 14 days against photodamage from UV light. Subjects’ skin response to UV light was measured before and after consuming grapes for two weeks by determining the threshold dose of UV radiation that induced visible reddening after 24 hours – the Minimal Erythema Dose (MED). Grape consumption was protective; more UV exposure was required to cause sunburn following grape consumption, with MED increasing on average by

74.8%. ³ Analysis of skin biopsies showed that the grape diet was associated with decreased DNA damage, fewer deaths of skin cells, and a reduction in inflammatory markers that if left unchecked, together can impair skin function and can potentially lead to skin cancer.⁴

It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.⁵ Most skin cancer cases are associated with exposure to UV radiation from the sun: about 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86% of melanomas, respectively. Additionally, an estimated 90% of skin aging is caused by the sun.

“We saw a significant photoprotective effect with grape consumption and we were able to identify molecular pathways by which that benefit occurs – through the repair of DNA damage and downregulation of proinflammatory pathways,” said Dr. Elmets. “Grapes may act as an edible sunscreen, offering an additional layer of protection in addition to topical sunscreen products.”

California Ag Today2021-02-10T19:49:04-08:00February 10th, 2021|

Timorex Act BioFungicide Expands Label

Timorex Act OMRI-Certified Biofungicide now Registered Throughout Mexico

Also approved by California and Florida through distributor Summit Agro

STK bio-ag technologies, Israel’s innovative leader in botanical – based organic and hybrid solutions for sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, announces that Timorex Act organic biofungicide is now registered throughout Mexico, with Syngenta as the exclusive distributor.

Timorex® Act is based on a botanical extract of the tea tree plant. A purely organic formulation, certified by OMRI and Ecocert, Timorex® Act is highly effective against a broad spectrum of plant diseases in a variety of fruit and vegetable crops, including anthracnose, powdery mildew, early blight, botrytis, cencicilla, et al. Timorex® Act is also friendly to pollinators, such as bees, and has been endorsed by the Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation in its latest report. Moreover, Timorex® Act has no chemical residues whatsoever.

Timorex® Act’s mode of action is to find and rupture disease cells. This botanical-based biofungicide is in Frac Group 46. “TIMOREX ACT has a unique activity against fungal plant pathogens”, explained Marco Tulio, STK Country Manager in Mexico. “This activity is a huge benefit to organic growers since there are not many products available to growers looking for biological certified products without compromising efficacy, as proven by the numerous trials performed in Mexico and in the USA.”

For example, purely organic Timorex Act has proven to be as good as the chemical mixture of boscalid and pyraclostrobin in the vines trial in in Mexico against botrytis and Erysiphe necator:

California Ag Today2021-02-08T19:10:06-08:00February 8th, 2021|

Class 51 Ag Leadership Seeking Applicants

Applications Available for California Ag Leadership Program’s Class 51

Applications are now being accepted for Class 51 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP). Applicants should be mid-career growers, farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals, and/or individuals working in allied businesses and organizations who are emerging leaders in agriculture.

The Ag Leadership Program, operated by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF), is considered to be one of the premier leadership development experiences in the United States. More than 1,300 men and women have participated in the program and are influential leaders and active volunteers in agriculture, communities, government, business and other areas.

“We are delighted to open the application process for Class 51,” said CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson. “The California Agricultural Leadership Program is uniquely positioned to prosper and produce leaders who benefit their communities, their companies and California agriculture as a whole due to our unique curriculum, personalized coaching and a dedicated focus on lifelong learning.”

The 17-month program includes approximately 55 days of formal program activities. Four partner universities—Fresno State, UC Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Cal Poly Pomona—deliver comprehensive, diverse and high-impact curriculum designed to improve leadership skills. As a valuable extension to the monthly seminars, fellows participate in national and international travel seminars and receive individualized leadership development coaching. Working with our partner universities, CALF is preparing various options to ensure we continue to effectively implement this program during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

CALF invests more than $50,000 per fellow to participate in the Ag Leadership Program. The costs are underwritten by individual and industry donations. Candidates are strongly encouraged to talk with Ag Leadership alumni about the program and to attend a recruitment event. All recruitment events will adhere to state and local guidelines for safety and health.

Detailed program information and the phase one application are available online at www.agleaders.org/apply. Phase one of the two-part application process is due no later than April 26, 2021. Individuals are encouraged to complete the application as soon as possible.

California Ag Today2021-02-04T18:02:21-08:00February 4th, 2021|

Building Bee Habitats

Benefits of Bee Habitat Go Beyond Pollination

By Tim Hammerich, with the Ag Information Network

Building bee habitat is a great way to bring in pollinators, but its benefits go way beyond pollination, says Xerces Society senior pollinator conservation specialist Jessa Kay Cruz.

“So in addition to obviously the marketing benefits, a lot of the habitat and the plants that support pollinators also support other beneficial insects. So like natural enemies of crop pests, lady beetles, lacewings, parasitic wasps,” said Cruz.

“You know, if you’re a total bug geek, you could just go down the rabbit hole here. But it’s just seeing, you know, all of those insects are attracted to the same type of habitat, floral resources, all of that. And so farmers really will benefit by the ecosystem services that both pollinators provide, but also all of these other beneficial insects,” noted Cruz.

Cruz sees the construction of bee habitat as good for the environment, good for the crop, and good for the bottom line.

“Having habitat on a farm. Really helps with water infiltration, control erosion, it helps with the process of carbon sequestration. So, there are so many reasons to do this, not just for bees, but just for our health as a planet, as a whole,” said Cruz.

The Xerces Society offers a Bee Better Certification that allows some farmers to differentiate their products based on bee-friendly practices.

California Ag Today2021-02-03T19:22:50-08:00February 3rd, 2021|