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Having Good Water Rights Gives More to Farmers

Westside Fresno County Farmers Continue Field Work, Waiting for Rain

By Patrick Cavanaugh, editor

Bill Diedrich farms near Firebaugh in western Fresno County. Despite his location, he may have more water than most since he is in Firebaugh Canal Water District, which is part of the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors, which hold some of the oldest water rights in the State, dating back to the late 1800s.

Diedrich farms almonds, prunes, alfalfa pomegranates, cannery tomatoes and cotton.

“Right now we are tuning up our irrigation system in our tomato fields, flushing the lines repairing leaks we might have and generally getting it in top shape for next year. And since the fields are dry we are able to be in the field working and keeping our employees busy.

He noted that he is also pruning pomegranates and almonds and will start shaking the nut mummies out of the trees to prevent navel Orangeworm pressure next summer. “Of course the number one topic on every farmer’s mind is that lack of rain and snowfall,” he said.

Where Diedrich farms, water is more available due to the water rights from the San Joaquin River. “We will hopefully get 75 percent of our normal water supply, so I do not have any plans yet to not plant anything in the spring.”

Diedrich also farms in Madera County and relies on ground water and surface water. “That is something that is on everyone’s mind, but we feel pretty good about our ground water this year,” he said. “I’m in the San Luis Water District, a federal water district where there is will be an initial zero water allocation, but we are waiting to see what January, February and March brings us, and hopefully we can get some inflow to Shasta and get some water in the system. That’s what we are all hoping on!”

“If we do not get the rain and snow, then it may be catastrophic enough to get our politician’s attention to actually get something done,” he said. “We need to get storage money back in the water bond and hopefully get this state turned around in regard to policy on water.”

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:24-07:00December 30th, 2013|

Farmer Needing Winter Rain Feel the Pain

Field Crop Farmers Hurting with No Winter Rain

By Patrick Cavanaugh, editor

Michael Correia farms field crops in Tulare County, relying on winter rains for germination. And since California is having a record drought with negligible rainfall so far this winter, Correia is worried about his crop.

“I farm oats along with alfalfa inter-planted in wheat and we have not been able to get it out of the ground due to less than a half-inch of rain,” Correia said. “So, I am having to irrigate the ground with well water, and I am not sure if I am going to make a crop.”

“We rely on winter rains to grow these crops as well as recharge the ground water,” he said. “So with no rain, we are just pushing the ground water down further. I already have two wells that have dried up on me and now I need to drill some new wells.”

This year is the worse Correia as seen. He said he started pulling down a living on his dad’s ranch when he was seven-year’s old, and I am 58-years-old now. “Again, I have never seen it this bad,” he said. “One year it did not rain until December 23, but then we got a good rain from that point on.”

Correia noted that “even if we get a good rain in January, February and March it may not bring the underground water supply back up.”

“I could get some help from my two water districts, which are Persian and Watson, but I have had no deliveries from them this season,” he said. “It’s going to be very tough this year and making matters worse is that the power bills will be outrageous. Southern California Edison is already raising our rates because they are having to buy power from other suppliers because they have very little water in the reservoirs to run through there generators for power. So they’re having to buy from coal and natural gas fired generators, which costs a lot more,” Correia said.

He noted that he also usually plants corn in the spring and harvests it 90 to 120 days later. He grows corn for human consumption and well as silage corn for the dairy industry. “I will need to know that I have water before I plant the corn this spring,” he said.

Something he did last year that saved on irrigations is that he planted milo for silage, which gives the same amount of tonnage on less irrigation. “That worked out pretty good for me,” he said.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:24-07:00December 28th, 2013|

9th Annual CA Rangeland Conservation Coalition

Jan. 21-22

California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Summit

Oakdale Community Center, Oakdale, Ca

With rangelands returning as little as $1/acre per year, ranchers and grazing are being replaced not only by ranchettes and shopping malls, but by tree crops, vineyards and other types of agriculture.

This conversion is particularly evident in California’s San Joaquin Valley, the location of the 9^th Annual Rangeland Summit. At risk is the future of California’s ranching industry and the diverse wildlife, unique wetlands, and healthy watersheds they support.

Ranchers, researchers, land managers, conservationists and agency representatives will convene at the state’s largest rangeland stewardship forum to learn from one another and consider how to keep California’s rangeland and ranches working for livestock production and conservation.

This is a 2-day event. For presentations, sessions and tour schedule, visit: http://www.carangeland.org/

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:24-07:00December 28th, 2013|

FDA INVITES COMMENT ON FOOD ADULTERATION POLICY

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FSMA Proposed Rule to Protect Intentional Adulteration of Food

FDA’s proposed rule, published on December 24, 2013, on food defense would require domestic and foreign facilities to address vulnerable processes in their operations to prevent acts on the food supply intended to cause large-scale public harm. The proposed rule, mandated by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), would require the largest food businesses to have a written food defense plan that addresses significant vulnerabilities in a food operation. Comments are invited by March 31, 2014.

The FDA is proposing that requirements be effective 60 days after the final rule is published in the Federal Register. Recognizing that small and very small businesses may need more time to comply with the requirements, the FDA is proposing tiered compliance dates based on facility size. The FDA will hold a public meeting on February 20, 2014, to explain the proposal and provide additional opportunity for input.

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law on January 4, 2011, to better protect human and animal health by helping to ensure the safety and security of the modern food and feed supply and recognizes the need for global approach food and feed safety as well.

Acts of intentional adulteration may take several forms, such as the intentional large-scale public health harm; acts of disgruntled employees, consumers, or competitors; and economically motivated adulteration.

While intentional adulteration of the food supply is unlikely to occur; however, it could have catastrophic results including human illness and death, loss of public confidence in the safety of food, and significant adverse economic impacts, including trade disruption, all of which can lead to widespread public fear.

Efforts to protect against intentional adulteration require a shift in perspective; FDA proposes targeting vulnerable processes rather than targeting specific foods or hazards.

With some exceptions, this proposed rule would apply to both domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food and are required to register as a food facility. This rule would not apply to farms or other food facilities not required to register.

The FDA has identified four key activities within the food system that are most vulnerable. They include:

Bulk liquid receiving and loading
Liquid storage and handling
Secondary ingredient handling (the step where ingredients other than the primary ingredient of the food are handled before being combined with the primary ingredient)
Mixing and similar activities.

Each facility covered by this rule would be required to prepare and implement a written food defense plan, which would include the following:

Actionable process steps
Focused mitigation strategies
Monitoring
Corrective actions
Verification
Training
Recordkeeping

The cost of the proposed rule to both domestic and foreign firms (annualized over 10 years at a 7 percent discount rate) is between $260 million and $470 million. The first-year cost is between $520 million and $860 million. The expected benefit of preventing a catastrophic terrorist attack on the US food supply is about $130 billion, such that the benefits of this rule outweigh the costs to Americans if the rule has a 1 in 730 or better annual chance of preventing such an attack.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:25-07:00December 28th, 2013|

STUDENTS SEEK VOTES FOR BEST AG EXPO VIDEO

Fresno State Video Seeks Public Votes for World Ag Expo Award

A Fresno  State student-produced video touting the university’s role in agriculture  education is among 10 global finalists for the World Ag Expo 2014  video contest. Now the students seek public support to be chosen as the  best.

Students Michael Price and Connor  Alstrom learned this week that their five-minute submission, “Fresno State Trains Students to  Feed Tomorrow’s World” that involved Fresno State  agriculture, business and art students, made it to the final round for a chance  at the $3,000 cash prize.

The contest winner is determined by the number of public votes, and supporters can vote once daily until Jan 27. The winner will  be announced on Jan. 31, two weeks prior to the annual expo in Tulare,  Feb.11-13, where the top video will be played and recognized.

To promote the expo’s 2014 theme, “Feeding  Tomorrow’s World,” entrants were asked to find creative ways to tell the true  story of agriculture. Anyone 30 years of age or younger was eligible to enter.

“Farmers and ranchers are dedicated to  providing us with a safe and consistent supply of food and fiber. We want the  public’s help to tell their stories,” said Jerry Sinift, chief executive  officer of the International Agri-Center.

The  Fresno State production incorporated students from the Plant Science Department  in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Lyle’s Center for  Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the College of Arts and Humanities.

Alstrom is an Entrepreneurship  major from Fresno and a Craig Business Scholar who went  through the Lyles Center Student Hatchery program at Fresno  State. He was also a Network for Teaching  Entrepreneurship (NFTE) student when attending Bullard High.

Price  is a mass communication and  Journalism major from Fresno and a current Hatchery student with his own private  venture, Price Right Productions. While in high school,  Price was the winner of the 2010 Contest hosted through Fresno Works.

They said they made the Ag Expo video to show how  Fresno State leads the Central Valley in producing educated workers in the agriculture industry.

“These  students are the future leaders of the agriculture industry in America, the world’s  breadbasket,” Alstrom said. “Investing in  programs and students at Fresno State is the best way to advance agriculture so  we are able to feed tomorrow’s world.”

Price  said wining this contest would not only bring exposure to their own ventures but  also “to the students of Fresno State and the advancements that they will bring  to the future of agriculture.”

Eric Liguori, Lyles Center assistant director, said the project  represents the collaboration between faculty and students in several of  Fresno State’s colleges.

“Not only does it demonstrate the exceptional skill  level present in our student entrepreneurs, but also the outstanding efforts of our agricultural department,” he said.

Others involved in the video included Dr. Bruce Roberts, professor  of Plant Science, Elizabeth Mosqueda, president of Plant Science Club,  and fellow plant science majors Zac Borges, Jeremy Mora and Luis Toledo.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:25-07:00December 27th, 2013|

DPR APPROVES FUNGICIDE REVISION

Revised Precautionary Statement for Cannonball WP

Ann M. Prichard, Branch Chief of the Pesticide Registration Branch of Pesticide Regulation, DPR, posted TODAY, the updated Notice Of Final Decisions To Register Pesticide Products and Written Evaluation with the Secretary of the Resources Agency.

Cannonball WP, a Syngenta Crop Protection LLC fungicide controls various diseases such as white mold, vine decline, and gray mold on crops such as melons, beans, and leafy vegetables.

Cannonball WP now has a revised precautionary statement, ground water advisory, rotational crop groups, ginseng crop table and added directions for use on crops such as bushberries, spinach, and chives.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:25-07:00December 27th, 2013|

Farmers Urged to Participate in Survey

Study: Conservation benefits From Farming in Central Valley

By Anita Brown

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Every year thousands of California farmers work hard to protect the environment while maintaining the state’s enviable status as the nation’s top agricultural producer.

Farmers establish highly efficient irrigation systems, limit or stop the runoff from their farms, add vegetative strips and hedgerows to catch sediment, lend a patch of space to pollinators and wildlife, practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and adopt practices to build healthy soils that help stop fields and creek banks from eroding.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) enters into conservation contracts with over 2,400 producers each year in the state. Other farmers work with resource conservation districts, industry groups or non-profits, or they undertake conservation completely on their own to comply with the strictest regulations in the nation and fulfill an internal commitment to pass-on the land in better condition than they found it. As a result, hundreds of millions of dollars and countless hours are invested in protecting water, soil, air and wildlife on California farms. And yet, we constantly struggle to tell the story of what farmers are doing to protect natural resources.

With all of this in mind, NRCS California and the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), are collaborating on an extensive survey of approximately 1700 farmers in the Central Valley watershed. The study, called the Conservation Effects Assessment Project or (CEAP), is the largest one ever undertaken in California. NASS surveyors, called enumerators, have just begun to collect data and will continue to do so through next February.

USDA statisticians will use the survey data to populate computer models showing the benefits of conservation practices in use. The models can also simulate the impact of removing current practices or the benefits of targeting and applying additional conservation on the landscape.

This will help us tell our story to those crafting policy or legislation or anyone else who asks, “What has agriculture done for the environment lately?”

The results will also help point up where more assistance is needed and make the case for greater funding in such areas.

Since information is pooled for statistical analysis and modeling, confidentiality for individual landowners is absolute. In fact, in over 17,000 CEAP surveys completed nationwide, there has never been a breach of privacy.

But the project will be scientifically valid only if farmers agree to take their valuable time to participate. This conservation story deserves to be told. We ask farmers and ranchers to please add their voice if NASS comes knocking.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:25-07:00December 26th, 2013|

BILL TO CURB ANTIBIOTICS FOR FARM ANIMALS

California Law To Stop Non-Medical Antibiotics For Farm Animals

Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) has announced he will introduce legislationlegally requiring recently released FDA voluntary guidelines to phase out the non-medical use of antibiotics in farm animals in California in order to combat “growing resistance to these vital drugs. The bill will be introduced when the Legislature re-convenes on Jan. 6.

Under the legislation, farmers’ and ranchers’ use of antibiotics to make animals grow bigger, a practice since the 1950s, would be illegal in California. The bill would require food producers to obtain a veterinarian’s prescription to use the drugs to prevent disease in their animals.

“With veterinary oversight, animal pro-dicers will still be able to use medically important antibiotics for legitimate disease treatment purposes,” according to the press release.

Drug manufacturers would have to change their labels to prevent farmers from buying antibiotics over the counter and using them for non-medical purposes. Again, the press release states, “Pharmaceutical and livestock producers would be subject to penalties if they do not comply.”

At hand is the issue of disease-resistance from repeated exposure to antibiotics to drugs such as penicillin and tetracycline that are used to treat common bacterial infections in humans. Medically important antibiotics used in food-producing animals are the same ones used in humans. Farms consume at least 70 percent of the nation’s antibiotic supply, and the FDA has approved at least 685 different drugs for use in animals.

This year, an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant salmonella linked to three chicken plants in California sickened nearly 400 people; 40 percent of those infected were hospitalized. Each year antibiotic-resistant infections result in at least $20 billion in direct health care costs and at least $35 billion in lost productivity.

“Antibiotic use in food producing animals for non-medical reasons is a serious public health issue,” Hill said. “My legislation is intended to ensure that medically important antibiotics remain effective in treating bacterial infections in animals and humans.”

Sources: Office of Senator Jerry Hill, Western United Dairymen, 12/20/13

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:25-07:00December 25th, 2013|

SOYMILK, ALMOND MILK NOT FROM COWS

Judge: Reasonable Consumer Knows Products Contain No Milk

U.S. District Judge Samuel Conti in California dismissed a lawsuit by ruling that that a reasonable consumer would not be deceived into thinking that products labeled as “soymilk” and “almond milk” contain dairy milk.

Conti said in the ruling, “Under plaintiffs’ logic, a reasonable consumer might also believe that veggie bacon contains pork, that flourless chocolate cake contains flour, or that e-books are made out of paper.”

The ruling terminates a lawsuit filed in California that seeks class action status and accuses manufacturers WhiteWave Foods, Dean Foods, WWF Operating Co. and Horizon Organic Dairy of false advertising. The judge said that because the words “soy” and “almond” precede “milk” in the product names, it’s obvious to “even the least discerning of consumers” that they’re not produced by dairy cows.

Since the FDA hasn’t adopted a uniform interpretation for what such products should be called, Conti said he agreed with the manufacturers that the terms “soymilk” and “almond milk” are accurate descriptions.

Soy milk, a beverage made from soybeans, is a stable emulsion of oil, water, and protein. It is produced by soaking dry soybeans and grinding them with water. Soy milk contains about the same proportion of protein as cow’s milk: around 3.5%; also 2% fat, 2.9% carbohydrate, and 5% ash. commonly used. The coagulated protein from soy milk can be made into tofu, just as dairy milk can be made into cheese.

Almond milk, a beverage made from ground almonds, contains no animal products, cholesterol nor lactose.

Sources: Western United Dairymen, 12/20/13

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:25-07:00December 25th, 2013|

SANTA CLEARED FOR TRAVEL JUST IN TIME

Santa Gains All Permits for Travel, California is First Stop

Dr. Peter Merrill, APHIS Director of Animal Imports posted BREAKING NEWS out of Washington DC TODAY that the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a movement permit to Mr. S. Claus of the North Pole, a broker with Worldwide Gifts, Unlimited.

The permit will allow Santa and his reindeer to enter and exit the United States between the hours of 6 PM December 24, 2013 and 6 AM December 25, 2013, through or over any northern border port.

In a fireside interview, Santa told California Ag Today that after entering from the north, his itinerary will commence in California’s Central Valley, where he can stock up on his favorite snacks: tree nuts and kale. Santa will bring some citrus back to the elves.

Santa – Across the Field in the Distance

“During this season of giving, USDA wants to do everything in its power to help Santa,” said Dr. John R. Clifford, USDA’s Chief Veterinary Officer. USDA has agreed to waive normal application fees and entry inspection/sniffing dogs/overtime costs/permits/baggage fees/passportcertification/visiting visa and foreign currency exchange, provided he winks his eye and wishes port personnel a Merry Christmas at the time of crossing.

APHIS also waived the normally applicable disease testing requirements, as the North Pole is recognized by APHIS as a negligible risk for all livestock diseases; at a recent inspection, the reindeer were found to be healthy and able to prance and paw with each hoof.

As a condition of entry, Santa Claus must certify the reindeer as never having been fed anything other than hay, sugarplums, and gingerbread. The reindeer must also be individually identified with microchips or official ear tag identification, and must respond to the names ‘Dasher’, ‘Dancer’, ‘Prancer’, ‘Vixen’, ‘Comet’, ‘Cupid’, ‘Donner,’ ‘Blitzen’ and ‘Rudolph’ when interacting with port personnel.

No more than one reindeer in the group may be visibly affected by ‘Rednose Syndrome’, and upon entry, port personnel will visually inspect the reindeer to ensure they are healthy and fit for continued travel.

They will arrive pulling a wooden sleigh that has jingling bells attached and is filled with brightly wrapped gifts. Port personnel will clean and disinfect the runners and underside of the sleigh at the time of entry.

The Division of Motor Vehicles has already provided Santa with registration plates for the sleigh. Santa renewed his drivers’ license just in time for the journey.

“With these steps completed, the reindeer will continue their journey across the country and around the world, spreading holiday cheer as they go,” said Clifford.

APHIS regulates the movement of cervids, noted by their antlers, including reindeer, to protect the health of America’s livestock population. The permitting process provides assurance that only healthy animals enter the United States.

California Ag Today wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, a good 2014 crop and a deluge of rain.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:42:25-07:00December 24th, 2013|

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