Dairy GHG Emissions Falls Dramatically

Dairy Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduced by 45 Percent Over Last 50 years

By David Sparks, with the AgInformation Network

New research published in the Journal of Dairy Science finds the climate footprint of milk production in California has been significantly reduced over the past 50 years (1964 to 2014).

The amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced per unit of milk was reduced by more than 45 percent. Scientists at the University of California, Davis conducted a life cycle environmental assessment (cradle to farm gate) of California dairy farm production, using the latest scientific models and international research standards.

The study’s key findings are as follows:

The amount of greenhouse gas emissions per each unit of milk (e.g. glass or gallon) produced has decreased more than 45 percent, due to increased milk production efficiency, including improved reproductive efficiency, nutrition, comfort, and overall management.

The amount of water used per unit of milk produced has decreased more than 88 percent, primarily due to improved feed crop production and water use efficiency.

Dramatically improved feed crop production and utilization of agricultural byproducts have led to significant reductions in the amount of natural resources used to produce each unit of milk, including, land, water, fossil fuels, and energy.

Technology on the rise in the field–and the farm office

A recent agricultural-technology summit in Modesto focused not just on the flashy, but also the mundane. One farm-tech officer spoke of the need to use technology to track finances in real time, as a way to help farmers make more informed decisions about money. Getting the next generation interested in the business is the focus of one educator who helps teens find internships with equipment makers.

California Ag Today2020-02-19T19:26:43-08:00February 26th, 2020|

Bureau of Reclamation Official Announce on 15% Initial Allocation

15% Initial Allocation is based on Less Than Average Rain and Snow

The Bureau of Reclamation today announced the initial 2020 water supply allocation for Central Valley Project contractors will be 15%. Allocation amounts are based on an estimate of water available for delivery to CVP water users and reflects current reservoir storages, precipitation, and snowpack in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada.

“Today’s allocation comes on the heels of an operations plan signed last week, underscoring the Trump administration’s commitment to bringing a sustainable and reliable water supply to California’s Central Valley. While that operations plan is based on the best available science and maximizes water supplies, we still face significant uncertainty due to legal challenges,” said Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. “Despite the hurdles brought on by litigation from the state and others, we remain committed to providing reliable water for families, farms, cities and the environment.”

California benefited from wet weather and significant snowpack in late 2019, but precipitation and snowpack have been below average so far in 2020. The California Department of Water Resources reports that as of February 24, statewide average snow water content in the Sierras was just 41% of the April 1 average. Current Northern Sierra precipitation is about 51% of the seasonal average.

“After a promising start to our precipitation season, January and February turned much drier than average,” said Reclamation’s California-Great Basin Regional Director Ernest Conant. “Fortunately, our project reservoirs are still hovering above average thanks to the wet winter last year, but with little precipitation in the forecasts, we must remain cautious with supplies and allocations this early in the year.”

Shasta Reservoir’s 4.5 million acre-feet capacity represents the majority of CVP water storage. Water from Shasta is used for many purposes, including contractor supply for north and south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, as well as ensuring adequate temperatures can be maintained downstream of the dam throughout the summer and fall for threatened and endangered species. Currently, reservoir storage is above the historic average for this time of the year. However, runoff forecasts still predict that overall storage might be limited if typical spring precipitation does not materialize.

“While we’re constrained by the water nature provides, our new CVP operations plan will improve operations to maximize water supplies,” Conant said. “We recognize the importance of providing meaningful allocations early in the year, especially for our agricultural contractors’ planning needs.”

Given the low snowpack and low projected runoff this spring and summer, Reclamation is announcing the following initial allocations:

North-of-Delta Contractors (Including American River and In-Delta Contractors)

Agricultural water service contractors North-of-Delta are allocated 50% of their contract supply.
Pursuant to Reclamation’s M&I water shortage guidelines, M&I water service contractors North-of-Delta (including American River and In-Delta Contractors) are allocated 75% of their historic use or public health and safety needs.
The Sacramento River Settlement Contractors are allocated 100% of their contract supply.

Eastside Water Service Contractors

Eastside water service contractors (Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District and Stockton East Water District) will receive 100% of their contract total.

South-of-Delta Contractors

Agricultural water service contractors South-of-Delta are allocated 15% of their contract supply.
M&I water service contractors South-of-Delta are allocated the greater of 65% of their historic use or public health and safety needs.
The San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors and San Joaquin Settlement Contractors are allocated 100% of their contract supply.

Wildlife Refuges

Wildlife refuges (Level 2) North- and South-of-Delta, which also have allocations subject to pre-established Shasta inflow criteria, are allocated 100% of their contract supply of 422,000 acre-feet.

Friant Division

Friant Division contractors’ water supply develops in the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Watershed and is delivered from Millerton Lake through Friant Dam to the Madera Canal and Friant-Kern Canal. The first 800,000 acre-feet of available water supply is considered Class 1; and Class 2 is considered the next amount of available water supply up to 1.4 million acre-feet. Given the current hydrologic conditions, Reclamation determined that Friant Class 1 initial allocation will be 20% and Class 2 will be 0%.
For the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, Reclamation is currently forecasting a “Critical-High” water year type, providing for 70,919 acre-feet to be used for Restoration Program purposes.

In addition to the 2020 initial CVP water allocation, several South-of-Delta and Friant Division contractors are rescheduling unused water from 2019 supplies into 2020. That water is being stored in San Luis Reservoir and Millerton Lake. The option to reschedule (carry over) water in San Luis Reservoir and Millerton Lake from one contract year to the next has been available to the water service contractors since the early 1990’s. That carry over option was instituted after a series of dry years in the early 1990’s to encourage conservation and best water management practices.

Reclamation notified the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors, San Joaquin Settlement Contractors, and Refuge Contractors that the forecasted inflow to Shasta Lake is currently greater than 3.2 million acre-feet and we are not currently in a “Shasta Critical” year as that term is defined in their contracts.

As the water year progresses, changes in hydrology and opportunities to deliver additional water will influence future allocations. Water supply updates will be made as appropriate and posted at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/index.html.

California Ag Today2020-02-25T13:03:30-08:00February 25th, 2020|

Feds Initial Allocation is only 15 Percent

Westlands Water District Statement on 2020 Initial Allocation

Today the Bureau of Reclamation announced that the initial 2020 allocation for south-of-Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) agricultural water service contractors is 15%. Needless to say, Westlands Water District wishes it were higher, and the District is confident that Reclamation would have provided a higher allocation if existing conditions would have allowed it.

It is likely many people will question a 15% initial allocation considering President Donald J. Trump’s recent remarks concerning new biological opinions issued for coordinated operations of the CVP and State Water Project (SWP). Without question, those new biological opinions restore operational flexibility to the CVP and SWP, while at the same time providing more protection for listed species.

Indeed, if those biological opinions had been in effect in 2019, the projects would have been able to conserve more than an additional one-million acre-feet of water. That is enough water to irrigate 300,000 acres of land or serve more than 2 million households in urban areas served by the CVP and SWP. However, 2019 was a wet year, and unless California begins to experience significantly more precipitation, both in the form of rain and snow, 2020 will ultimately be classified as a dry or critical year. Even with the new biological opinions, Reclamation cannot allocate water that its operations forecast indicates will not be available.

Despite the lack of precipitation, it should be noted that the new biological opinions have benefited farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. The 2020 water year is shaping up to be very similar to 2009, a critically dry year. In 2009, south-of-Delta CVP agricultural water service contractors received a 10% allocation, and that allocation did not come until April. Comparatively speaking, a 15% allocation in February is good news.

Westlands staff will continue to work with Reclamation and other CVP contractors to analyze hydrologic and environmental conditions in hopes the allocation can be increased as early as practicable.

Statement by California Farm Water Coalition Executive Director Mike Wade on the Initial Allocation Announcement by the Bureau of Reclamation

“Today’s announcement by the Bureau of Reclamation of a 15 percent initial allocation for water supplies south of the Delta is clearly the result of the dry hydrology California is experiencing. February is shaping up to be possibly the first time in recorded history without any measurable precipitation. That alone is evidence that California may be on the leading edge of another drought.

“These dry conditions are similar to what we saw in 2009. For months farmers were not given an allocation amount and told they may get zero water. In April of that year, well past the time to make effective planting decisions, the allocation was set at 10 percent.

“The new biological opinions implemented last week are already making a difference by allocating 15 percent in February. We’re obviously hopeful that allocations will rise, but we’re pleased to be off to a better start than we were under the old operating rules.

“Had the new biological opinions been in place last year we believe an additional 1 million acre-feet of water could have been stored for use this year, delivering more water and offering better species protection, based on what we’ve learned over the past 10 years studying the Delta and its tributaries.

“That kind of operational flexibility is essential for California to remain the nation’s leading farm state and to continue to produce more than half of the fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in the U.S. as well as vast amounts of dairy, beef and nursery products.”

California Ag Today2020-02-25T12:41:26-08:00February 25th, 2020|

Redd Group Hosts Important Management Seminar March 26 in Bakersfield

The Redd Group Presents Management Seminar to Help All Segments of Ag Industry Comply with Arduous Regs

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Jesse Rojas is the Founder and CEO of The Redd Group, LLC, based in Bakersfield. The Redd Group consults with employers to improve employee relations by using and implementing new methods of communication. Jesse and The Redd Group is presenting another important Management Seminar for many segments in the agricultural industry, and that half-day seminar will be on March 26, 2020, in Bakersfield at 4900 California Avenue, Tower B, Second Floor from 1 pm to 5 pm.

“I’m happy to present this seminar again in Bakersfield. Anyone from owners, operators, human resources team members, farm labor contractors, and administrators,” said Rojas. “We’re going to have specific presentations once again from Michael Saqui with the Saqui Law Group. He is the agricultural industry’s most powerful partner on labor issues. I’ve known Michael for several years, and his group recently became a division of Dowling and Aaron, so there are a lot of bigger in the State of California. He’s going to be focusing on a few new topics this year.”

“One of the topics of discussion is PAGA the Private Attorney General’s Act, which many companies have been affected by this frivolous law from the State of California and shark attorneys are suing in class action lawsuits suffocating companies. So, he will be giving a status on how do we attack and how do you protect your company from this PAGA fiasco.” Rojas continued.

“And one of the hottest controversial topics this year as well, as you might know, is AB-5, the Independent Contracting Bill. And really the consequences of AB-5 are going to affect agriculture as well because agriculture, like any other industry requires independent contractors, a lot of companies they need to move their product and they have independent truckers or they have other independent contractors they use in agriculture. And by affecting agriculture, I mean everything from growers, packers, shippers, FLCs, and, most importantly, the workforce. And how do you protect yourself from it?

What can you do to be in compliance with AB-5? As you might’ve heard with some of the pressure coming down on AB-5, they’re working in the legislature on introducing a few different bills to address some of these AB-5 broad consequences.” Rojas emphasized. So that’s going to be very interesting that we discuss AB-5 regardless of how big you are and what specific industry you are in, you need to be aware and know all the ins and outs of AB-5.” said Rojas.

And like in previous seminars, employee relations will be discussed as well. “Myself and Raul Calvo, we’re going to be focusing on, like you mentioned, employee relations. So leadership development for supervisors and managers, proper ways to resolve conflict within your company and your employees. And then strategies for effective employee relations, thinking outside the box to be on the cutting edge of your labor relations and labor management by implementing new methods of communication.” Rojas said.

And of course, with the labor shortages throughout the Central Valley, another hot topic at this seminar will be H-2A.

“As you know, with our labor shortage and changes in work culture in agriculture and farming, H-2A’s becoming one of the best methods to provide labor, efficient labor, high productivity. But it still comes with compliance and loopholes that you have to clearly understand to properly asses if H-2A is the right fit for your company. So we will be discussing H-2A as well.” Rojas explained.

You are encouraged to share the event flyer with the appropriate individuals in other companies who could benefit from the information. Again the event is going to take place on Thursday, March 26, 2020, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, and registration at 12:30 pm. The location will be at the Cal Twin Towers, 4900 California Avenue, Tower B, Second Floor in the Cal King Room. The cost of the event is $50 per person, and seating is limited. You can register by calling or texting 844-946-7333 or email jesse@reddgroup.org.

California Ag Today2020-02-27T08:55:17-08:00February 25th, 2020|

AgTech Innovation Continue Advancement

AgTech Innovators Compete At Radicle Challenge By Corteva

Five Agtech Innovators Selected from Across the Globe to Compete for $250k in Funding at the Radicle Challenge by Corteva Pitch Day at World Agri-Tech

Innovators Across Water Risk Analytics, Genetic Detection, Early Disease Detection, Autonomous Robots and Soil Microbes Chosen as Finalists from the Largest Ever Pool of Applicants to a Radicle Challenge; to Pitch at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit

Radicle Growth, an acceleration platform for early-stage ag and food technologies, today announced the five entrepreneurs who have been invited to compete at the Radicle Challenge by Corteva Pitch Day competition taking place March 16, 2020 in San Francisco at the World-Agri-Tech Innovation Summit.

The Radicle Challenge by Corteva at World Agri-Tech called on entrepreneurs with technologies across the agricultural landscape who are solving problems with breakthrough technology solutions. The winner will be awarded a$250k investment, access to Radicle’s company-building platform, and the opportunity to engage with Corteva technology leaders to help shape, validate and refine their technology using virtual or actual on-the-farm assessments. It will also present on stage at the summit’s acclaimed Technology Showcase, to an audience of 1,500 agribusiness leaders.

“In just five weeks, we had our largest pool of applicants ever for a Radicle Challenge from across the globe. This confirms that entrepreneurs are hungry not only for the funding to advance the development of their technologies, but also for invaluable coaching and hands-on refining of their technology from some of the biggest names in agriculture,” said Kirk Haney, Managing Partner, Radicle Growth. “Where traditionally we see the highest concentration of applicants in digital ag technologies, we saw more entries than ever before in novel farm systems and biologicals and close to 65% from outside of the U.S. We look forward to having all of these rising stars in one room next month to pitch to our panel of judges.”

The finalists are:

Aquaoso: a SaaS water risk analytics company dubbed the “credit score for water,” which helps ag lenders, investors, growers and shippers understand the financial impacts of water risk on operators.

Holganix: a liquid soil treatment that contains a consortium of 800+ microbes to drive yield, soil health and reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers.

Nanobio Designs: a handheld device that uses self-assembling nanoparticles to test for the presence of GMOs.

Scanit Technologies: An in-field platform (for indoor or outdoor growers) to detect plant pathogens when they are airborne and before they infect plants.

SwarmFarm Robotics: Commercially available robots for autonomous agriculture.

Companies will be evaluated by a panel of esteemed judges, including: Corteva’s CTO, Neal Gutterson, Nutrien’s Chief Corporate Development and Strategy Officer, Mark Thompson, Corteva’s Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer Debra King, Microsoft’s Director of Agriculture, Claudia Roessler, Fall Line Capital’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, Clay Mitchell, DCVC’s Managing Partner, Kiersten Stead and Radicle Growth’s Managing Partner, Kirk Haney. The winner will be announced March 17th at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit, the day after the Pitch Day Competition.

For more information on the Radicle Challenge by Corteva at World Agri-Tech, visit www.worldagritechusa.com/radicle-challenge

California Ag Today2020-02-25T09:31:54-08:00February 25th, 2020|

The Power of Three in Walnuts

Power of Three Highlights Increasing Walnut Consumption Increase Heart Health

By Patrick Cavanaugh on the AgInformation Network

It’s called the power of three and it’s part of a big social media campaign by the California Walnut board and Commission. Jennifer Olmstead is marketing director for domestic public relations for the California Walnut board and commission.

“We have a lot of research backing up the heart health benefits of walnuts,” said Olmstead. “We’ve been researching it for approximately 30 years now and there’s a lot of data to support that and that’s the reason why we have the heart checkmark from the American heart Association

“The Omega 3 in walnuts is actually one of the key messages in our global power of three campaign. There are three different key points to the campaign. One is the Omega 3 in walnut,” said Olmstead. “The other is that we’re encouraging people to eat three handfuls a week, so something simple that they can remember to do to get them closer to better nutrition. And then we also want them to share that message with three people in their own life,” she said.

And because a robust public relations by the Walnut Board and Commission, most people already know that walnuts are good for their heart health.

“Yes, the heart healthy message is starting to resonate for walnuts. Health is one of the top reasons that people are buying walnuts in general, and we want to continue that momentum throughout the year,” noted Olmstead. “We want people buying walnuts all year and even-out that season and not just have this tremendous spike around the holidays. We want to encourage people to think about other ways to use walnuts throughout the year.”The Power

California Ag Today2020-02-17T19:36:41-08:00February 24th, 2020|

Sonoma County Ag Produces Very Little GHG

Sonoma County Winegrowers Committed to Sustainability

By Tim Hammerich, with the Ag Infomation Network

In 2014 the Sonoma County Winegrowers made the commitment to become 100% certified sustainable in all 1,800 member vineyards.

They’re now taking their commitment a step further by piloting a new Climate Adaptation Certification Program created by the California Land Stewardship Institute.

“Because of our sort of foundational work in sustainability, it really felt to us what a great opportunity to continue being leaders and also continue to kind of push the envelope on what we’re learning and what we’re doing and on our vineyards, “said Sonoma County Winegrowers President Karissa Kruse. “So we were super excited to partner with Laurel Marcus and her team at the California Land Stewardship Institute and really be this pilot kind of launch model for what could be done, not only in vineyards, but ag around the state and even across the U S.”

Kruse said through conservation tillage, cover crops, and other practices, ag can be part of the solution to offset carbon emissions.

“Ag is really in an interesting position. It really accounts for only 8% of the greenhouse gas emissions. But when you think about around the state, who has the most opportunity to sequester carbon, it really is our farmers.” noted Kruse. “I mean, they’re the ones with the land and the soil and it’s not paved over. It’s not in an urban environment. And so they have kind of a unique opportunity to almost be part of the solution for more than just offsetting their GHG emission, but also helping our cities and others in the urban environment offset some of their GHG emissions.”

California Ag Today2020-02-17T19:29:26-08:00February 21st, 2020|

New Biological Opinions Replaces Outdated Science

The Adoption of the New Biological Opinions

A Statement by California Farm Water Coalition Exec. Director Mike Wade

For the first time in more than a decade, the federal rules known as Biological Opinions are being updated. These rules exist to protect threatened species in the San Francisco Bay-Delta region while also meeting the water supply needs of farms, businesses and people.

The new Biological Opinions, based on more than 10 years of scientific study, will allow California to manage water in real-time using the latest science rather than relying on an arbitrary calendar approach that takes years to recognize updated research.

The decade-old rules are based on outdated science and have failed to help Delta smelt, Chinook salmon and other threatened species. And to keep us from once again letting rules get outdated while struggling species suffer, the new Biological Opinions allow for ongoing scientific review as well as independent evaluation by outside experts.

Getting these rules right impacts the entire state. Water from the federally-run Central Valley Project delivers enough water to meet the needs of 1 million California households, over 3 million acres of some of the most productive farmland in the world and over a million-acre feet of water for fish and wildlife and their habitat, including state and federal wildlife refuges and wetlands.

The State Water Project serves the water needs of 750,000 acres of productive farmland and the domestic water supply for two-thirds of all Californians. We applaud the Trump Administration as well as California leadership including Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Devin Nunes for their part in making this a reality.

To be clear, this is just one piece of a very complicated puzzle that we hope includes new Voluntary Agreements on water. We support the Newsom Administration’s efforts to make water policy work better for all Californians.

California Ag Today2020-02-19T19:33:20-08:00February 20th, 2020|

President Trump: Feds Must Find a Way To Store More Water in California

President Trump: Its For Flexibility in State and Federal Water Project

Wednesday’s signing of a record of decision coordinating federal and state water projects offers a hopeful sign, according to California Farm Bureau Federation President Jamie Johansson.

Johansson, who attended the ceremony in Bakersfield where President Trump announced signing of the document, said the action will add much-needed flexibility to operation of the federal Central Valley Project and State Water Project. He also thanked the president for signing a memo directing federal agencies to coordinate efforts to store more water, offer regulatory certainty and improve protection of protected species.

Jamie Johansson CFBF

“Farmers are optimists and this is a day for optimism,” Johansson said. “The federal agencies have taken a holistic look at the California water system and offered an alternative that promises to improve the health of the environment without devastating people whose communities and livelihoods depend on reliable water supplies.

“We should embrace this new approach and give it a chance to succeed,” he said. “We know all too well that the policies of the past 25-plus years haven’t worked.”

Johansson said better coordination and improved flexibility of federal and state water project operations would benefit people throughout California.

“Federal and state officials need to be pulling in the same direction to assure the most efficient use of California water for fish and people,” he said. “We hope people at all levels of government can cooperate on plans to enhance the environment, accommodate a growing population and maintain productive farms and ranches.”

Johansson expressed disappointment in reports indicating the state government will sue over today’s federal actions, and said solutions to California water problems will be found in constructive discussions, not in courtrooms.

“We have to get off the merry-go-round of endless litigation,” he said. “No one benefits from that. Fisheries continue to suffer. Productive farmland goes unused. It’s not a sustainable path for anyone. Farm Bureau will continue to advocate for practical, reasonable, cooperative ways to address California’s water supply needs.”

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 34,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 5.6 million Farm Bureau members.

California Ag Today2020-02-19T19:42:47-08:00February 20th, 2020|

World Ag Expo 3-day Show Had More than 106,000 Visitors.

The 53rd World Ag Expo Comes to A Close

Sunny skies, large crowds and optimistic attendees defined the 53rd edition of World Ag Expo. The world’s largest annual outdoor agricultural exposition came to a close on Thursday, February 13 and boasted 1,442 exhibitors on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. The three-day show hosted 106,357 attendees representing 46 states, the District of Columbia and 56 countries

Exhibitors reported high traffic, quality leads and a well-organized event. First year exhibitor Agland Management Consulting, Inc. was in the Hemp Education & Marketing Pavilion and their team was pleased with their first trip to World Ag Expo.

“It was great. We’re excited hemp was part of the show. We got multiple good leads and will be working with new counties on regulations,” shared Josiah Thomas of Agland. “The second day was the best and the show was better than we could have imagined.”

Attendees came from all over the world to network and learn about the newest ag equipment, services and technology. More than 130 educational seminars, demonstrations and workshops were held over three days and covered a variety of topics ranging from irrigation to hemp, livestock to international trade.

“What a fantastic show!” said Jerry Sinift CEO of the International Agri-Center. “There were 124 international business matchmaking sessions, hemp was included as a new option for farmers, new products were launched – there are just so many good things to say. Our exhibitors step up their game every year and it creates an even better business platform for our attendees.”

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall kicked off opening day with a well-received speech and took a tour of his first World Ag Expo that focused on technology, the international flavor of the show, hemp and dairy.

Other popular attractions at the 2020 World Ag Expo included the Ride & Drive areas, Wine and Cheese, and the Demonstration Pavilion.

California Ag Today2020-02-17T18:11:01-08:00February 19th, 2020|