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RECAL EXPANSION for CALIF. MEAT PRODUCTS

California Firm Expands Recall of Meat Products Produced Without Full Inspection

Class I Recall — Health Risk: High

TODAY, Rancho Feeding Corporation, based in Petaluma, is expanding its recall to include an additional 420 pounds of product that was produced without the benefit of full federal inspection, making it unfit for human food deemed by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

FSIS has received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

The products recalled today were produced Jan. 8, 2014, and shipped to distribution centers and retail establishments in California. This recall is an expansion of the approximately 41,683 pounds of various meat products that were recalled on Jan 13, 2014.

The entire recalls include:

Declared on Jan. 16, 2014

30-lb. boxes of “Book Tripe”

Declared on Jan. 13, 2014:

“Beef Carcasses”
50-lb. boxes of “Beef Feet”
20-lb. boxes of “Beef Oxtail”
50-lb. boxes of “Beef Hearts”
60 and 30-lb. boxes of “Beef Liver”
30-lb. boxes of “Beef Cheeks”
60-lb. boxes of “Beef Tripe”
30-lb. boxes of “Beef Tongue”

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that recalled product is no longer available to consumers.

USDA Recall Classifications Class I is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:14-07:00January 16th, 2014|

POST CAL-OSHA 300A BY FEB. 1

Ag Employers to Post 2013 Illnesses and Injuries on Cal-OSHA Form

Employers are required to post OSHA Form 300A, reporting any workplace illnesses and injuries occurring in 2013, by Feb. 1, 2014 through April 30, 2014. Employers of fewer than 11 employees are exempt from this notice.

For more information, go to Cal/OSHA Consultation’s website on posting 300A logs.

Sources: CA Department of Industrial Relations, CalOSHA, FELS

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:14-07:00January 16th, 2014|

REGISTER FOR 2014 RANGELAND COALITION 9TH ANNUAL SUMMIT

California’s Ranching and Related Ecology at Risk

California Rangeland Conservation Coalition will host the 2014 Rangeland Coalition 9^th Annual Summit  , “Keeping Rangelands and Ranches Viable for Wildlife, Wetlands and Water” on Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22.

The state’s largest rangeland stewardship forum will convene at the Oakdale Community Center, 110 South Second Avenue, where ranchers, researchers, land managers, conservationists and agency representatives will learn from one another and address how to keep California’s rangelands ecologically and economically sustainable.

For more information: www.CaRangeland.org or Pelayo Alvarez

For Sponsorship Inquiries: Karen Sweet

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:14-07:00January 16th, 2014|

KALE – HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS AND SAFE

Kale is Cool!

Source: April Ward, Calfornia Leafy Green Products

The growing popularity of the leafy green kale, historically used as a garnish or cooked beyond recognition, has been quite astounding. Had you bought kale stock in 2011, you’d be a rich person today. Now the proclaimed “super food” is often eaten raw in salads and used as a juicing ingredient.

As people start adding kale to their diet, some might question its safety because, like other leafy greens eaten raw, there is no kill step for pathogens. Consumers can be assured that kale coming from LGMA membersis subject to all the requirements of our rigorous science-based food safety practices and mandatory government inspections.

Even with a rigorous farm food safety program in place, consumers should practice safe-handling methods in the kitchen to reduce the risk of foodborne illness and keep your family healthy. Keep greens cool in the refrigerator and avoid cross-contamination with raw meats (or cutting boards!). To answer a popular question, when you bring home bagged salads (including kale), the Partnership for Food Safety Education recommends that you do not wash bagged greens marked washed or ready to eat.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:14-07:00January 16th, 2014|

SUNDAY’S AFC CHAMPIONSHIP — NUTRITION EXPERTS TEAM-UP FOR PISTACHIO GROWERS

Broncos and Patriots Confront on the Field, Agree on Pistachios

The Broncos and Patriots will confront each other on Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, but their nutrition experts are in agreement that pistachios are a nutrient-rich snack. American Pistachio Growers (APG) TODAY announced the addition of two key ambassadors to their list of athletes and nutrition experts: Bryan Snyder, Team Nutrition Manager for the Denver Broncos and Ted Harper, Team Sports Dietitian for the New England Patriots.

Both men are tasked with developing the year-round nutrition strategies designed to support the intense physical requirements of their players and ultimately, the world championship. These two ambassadors will reach millions of health-conscience sports enthusiasts and educate them on the health benefits of pistachios, a favorite snack.

While millions of Americans struggle with weight and weight-related health issues, nutritional solutions should include Pistachios, long known as a heart-healthy tree nut and the lowest calorie nut per serving, as an ideal snack, thanks to the recent and numerous studies revealing health benefits realized by people who eat nuts regularly, including pistachios.

Bryan Snyder, Denver Broncos and Ted Harper, New England Patriots

The New England Journal of Medicine (11/20/13) published a study that showed people who eat a handful of nuts (including pistachios) daily had a 20% lower death rate over the course of the 30-year research project, the largest study of its kind. In addition, other supporting studies showed people who eat nuts regularly tend to remain leaner due to an association with reduced waist sizes and less weight gain throughout the course of life, compared to individuals who do not regularly eat nuts.

“This is good news for football fans who want to live to see their team win that “perfect season,” according to Judy Hirigoyen, Director of Global Marketing for American Pistachio Growers. Pistachios are an ideal snack, whether you’re a professional athlete or an armchair spectator.

The addition of Harper and Snyder follows APG’s announcement in October that British pro cyclist Mark Cavendish(the most stage wins at the Tour de France) is the newest APG Brand Ambassador and his dietitian, Nigel Mitchell, an expert nutrition ambassador for the growers’ association. Says Hirigoyen, “In their roles, Mitchell, Harper and Snyder Both teams enjoy pistachios throughout the year for good health.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:14-07:00January 16th, 2014|

CENTER FOR PRODUCE SAFETY CALLS FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS

2014 Food Safety Research Proposals Due March 14

The Center for Produce Safety (CPS) today announced TODAY its 2014 request for food safety research proposals. The center and its public and industry research partners are making $3 million available to fund general and commodity-specific research aimed at addressing the fresh produce industry’s food safety research needs.

The 2014 Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to fund both general produce food safety questions and commodity-specific questions to fill basic knowledge gaps. A complete list of research priorities is posted on the home page of the CPS website .

Proposals are due by March 14, 2014, 5 p.m. PST, and should be submitted through the CPS Grant System website. All qualified research professionals are eligible to apply for CPS funding.

CPS has compiled an impressive four-year body of work, awarding nearly $13.6 million and funding 85 one and two-year research projects at 27 universities and organizations.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:14-07:00January 16th, 2014|

USDA DESIGNATES CALIF. COUNTIES FOR DROUGHT DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Nearly Half of Calif. Counties Termed Natural Disasters Due to Drought

TODAY, 27 of California’s 58 counties have been designated by the USDA as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by extreme drought.

Agricultural operators in all natural disaster designated counties may qualify for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Counties that are contiguous to the primary disaster counties also qualify for USDA natural disaster assistance.

Farmers and ranchers in designated counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for the EM loan to help cover part of their actual losses. To verify the deadline for application in your area, contact your county’s Farm Service Agency Office.

The agency will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. The maximum amount for an EM loan is $500,000.

“Just about everyone in California agriculture has been negatively affected by drought this year,” said Val Dolcini, FSA State Executive Director. “California’s diverse farmers and ranchers of all sizes and backgrounds have experienced drought conditions and water shortages and may find help at FSA offices.”

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has conservation-related disaster assistance to protect soil, water and habitat Small, non-farming businesses in USDA disaster-designated counties may be eligible for disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The FFSA Emergency Conservation Program may also help restore conversation-related farm property and facilities. And the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program is available for producers who have enrolled in this annual protection program prior to the deadline earlier this year. For further information, contact your local USDAService Center.

The 27 designated counties include:

Alameda

Alpine

Amador

Calaveras

Contra Costa

El Dorado

Fresno

Inyo

Kern

Kings

Los Angeles

Madera

Mariposa

Merced

Mono

Monterey

Sacramento

Santa Clara

San Benito

San Bernardino

San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

Santa Barbara

Stanislaus

Tulare

Tuolumne

Ventura

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:15-07:00January 16th, 2014|

FARMERS TO APPLY FOR BAY DELTA INITIATIVE FUNDS

Bay Delta Initiative Adds New Funded Project Areas-Applications Due February 21

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California announced today it has approved four proposed project areas to be added to its three-year old Bay Delta Initiative, bringing the total number of project areas to 15. Farm and conservation groups in the approved areas work with farmers from Colusa to Bakersfield on voluntary projects to conserve and protect water and wildlife habitat. Farmers who wish to apply for contracts within these project areas must do so by Feb. 21, 2014, to ensure consideration for funding in 2014.

”California is seeing some of its most challenging times ever relative to conserving and protecting our vital water resources,” said Carlos Suarez, state conservationist for NRCS in California. “Every drop is precious, is valued, and must be used as efficiently as possible. The country and the world looks to our farmers to supply healthy produce, nuts, dairy and other commodities—and wildlife depend upon us for habitat as well. The Bay Delta Initiative helps to focus NRCS aid to farmers and conservation groups working to balance all these needs.”

Eighteen million dollars is available for farmers in the approved areas, through the Farm Bill-funded program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). In addition, four of the continuing projects also received funding from the Bureau of Reclamation to improve water delivery infrastructure. NRCS funding then complements that investment by funding needed on-farm irrigation improvements. For example, pressurizing a system for more efficient delivery could be funded by the Bureau while delivering the newly pressurized water to fields with leak-resistant pipes and systems, may be funded by NRCS. The result is a more efficient water delivery system where all the opportunities for water savings are more fully realized.

Bay Delta Initiative Projects

New Projects in 2014	Sponsors	Award Amount
1. Ingram/Hospital	East and West Stanislaus Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs)	$690,000
2. Lower Colusa Basin Drain	Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program	$416,000
3. Semitropic & Buena Vista Water Storage Districts	NW Kern RCD	$1,600,000
4. Tehama County- Sacramento River	Tehama RCD	$300,000
Continuing Projects	Sponsors	Award Amount
5. Cache Slough Complex	Dixon RCD	$750,000
6. East San Joaquin	Sustainable Conservation Western United Dairymen	$5,000,000
7. French Camp Slough	San Joaquin RCD	$1,500,000
8. Kings River	Kings River Conservation District	$2,000,000
9. Lower Snake River	Sutter RCD	$1,700,000
10. Walker Creek	Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program	$720,000
11. Waterbirds	CA Rice Commission	$650,000
Continuing NRCS-Bureau of Reclamation Sponsored Projects		Award Amount
12. Firebaugh Canal Water District		$300,000
13. Henry Miller Reclamation District		$500,000
14. Central California Irrigation District		$600,000
15. Tulare Irrigation District		$750,000

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:15-07:00January 16th, 2014|

REMINDER TO VOTE BY FRIDAY JAN. 17TH

Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections: Vote by January 17 Deadline

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Val Dolcini, is reminding farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers that the deadline to return completed ballots for the Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections is this Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. Eligible voters who have not received a ballot can obtain one from their local USDA Service Center. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Jan. 17.

To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm may also be eligible to vote. Agricultural producers in each county submitted candidate nominations during the nomination period, which ended on Aug. 1.

County committee members are an important component of the operations of FSA and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to county committees help deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on commodity price support programs; conservation programs; incentive indemnity and disaster programs for some commodities; emergency programs and eligibility. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.

Close to 7,700 FSA county committee members serve in the 2,124 FSA offices nationwide. Each committee consists of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Approximately one-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. More information on county committees, such as the 2013 fact sheet and brochures, can be found on the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or at a local USDA Service Center.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:41:15-07:00January 15th, 2014|

NITROGEN MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED CROP ADVISERS

CDFA Debuts CCA Nitrogen Management Training

CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and EducationProgram (FREP) is excited to announce the debut of the NitrogenManagement Training Program for California certified crop advisers (CCAs). Since October 2012, FREP has collaborated with the California Certified Crop Adviser Program and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources to develop and implement a voluntary nitrogen management curriculum specifically targeted for California Certified Crop Advisers.

The goal of the program is to facilitate CCAs’ understanding of sound nitrogen management practices and increase their ability to make informed recommendations to growers, thereby improving environmental performance relative to nitrogen management for crop production. Developed by subject matter experts, the curriculum will address the management of nitrates from plant nutrients to reduce unintentional emissions in waters throughout the state, while emphasizing the economic and environmental benefits achieved through improved management of agricultural use of nitrogen and irrigation water.

Each training session will occur over the course of two days. The first day will include presentations on course objectives, the nitrogen cycle in crop production systems, nitrogen sources, irrigation and nitrogen management, nitrogen budgeting, future resources, and a discussion of local and statewide considerations. The second day will feature concurrent sessions with emphasis on annual and perennial crops. Each session will address current practices, the use of best management practices, and will include a hands-on nitrogen management planning exercise, concluding with a synopsis from both the annual and perennial crops subject matter experts.

The first course is already underway this week in Modesto. Four other courses are scheduled to take place in February and March throughout the Central Valley and the Central Coast area; please see below for dates and locations. If you are a CCA interested in attending, please pre-register to attend one of the sessions through the CAPCA Ed website at or by using the links below. Due to the targeted nature of the curriculum for these courses, attendance is limited to CCAs only.

The nitrogen management training sessions are a part of FREP’s ongoing commitment to provide growers and CCAs with decision-support tools, technical education, and access to research to increase awareness of more agronomically sound use of fertilizing materials to minimize the environmental impacts resulting from their use.

Since 1990, FREP has funded more than 160 research projects focusing on California’s important and environmentally sensitive cropping systems. For more information about this project and other FREP initiatives, please contact FREP staff.

WOODLAND — February 18-19, 2014

Heidrick Ag History Museum – Event Hall 

1962 Hays Ln, Woodland, CA 95776  Register Online

FRESNO — February 25-26, 2014 

Ramada Inn Fresno (University) – Shaw Rooms A, B, C 

324 E Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93710  Register Online

SALINAS — March 5-6, 2014 

Salinas Elks Lodge #614 – Main Dining Room 

614 Airport Blvd, Salinas, CA 93905  Register Online

TULARE — March 11-12, 2014

 International Agri-Center – Banquet Hall 

4500 S Laspina St, Tulare, CA 93274  Register Online