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THE COST OF PIERCE’S DISEASE and GWSS

Grapevine Diseases Costs Wine Grape Growers and State

Issues relating to various grapevine diseases, including Pierce’s Disease (PD), grapevine leafroll, and powdery mildew, are under scrutiny by Kate Binzen Fuller, a post-doctoral researcher in the Agricultural and Resource Economics Department at UC Davis, and colleagues.

Kate Fuller, post-doctoral researcher at UC Davis

The team’s PD research, a CDFA-funded effort, analyzes the costs of PD and associated control measures for grape growers and nurseries, and the benefits from state and federal programs that have been put in place to control its spread.

“To understand the effects of PD in California requires an understanding of differences in disease characteristics and wine grape production characteristics in different parts of the state,” said Fuller. “In northern California, especially in Napa and Sonoma Counties, the Blue-Green Sharpshooter has spread the disease for many years, causing chronic but manageable damages. Wine grapes in Napa and Sonoma are typically very expensive and yield per acre is managed to be very low.”

“In southern California,” Fuller continued, “wine grapes are produced with much higher yields per acre and fetch much lower prices per ton, and the insect that spreads the disease is much more efficient at doing so. In Riverside County in particular, a non-native vector, the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS), decimated many acres of vineyard land in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“As a result, the CDFA put programs in place in to prevent GWSS spread from southern California where the GWSS is now managed but endemic, to northern California’s high value wine regions,” stated Fuller.

“Our research suggests that PD of grapevines costs more than $100 million per year, even with public control programs in place that cost $50 million per year,” said Fuller. “This amount includes the costs of state and federal efforts to monitor and control the GWSS, research on PD/GWSS, and costs of compliance with the regulations by private firms including nurseries.”

Fuller estimates that under the current program, PD costs wine grape growers and consumers $92 million annually. If the control program ended and the GWSS became widespread throughout California, the annual cost borne by growers and consumers could increase by as much as $185 million.

In additional research, Fuller and her colleagues estimate that benefits from research, development, and adoption of PD-resistant vines range from $4 million to $125 million annually over a 50-year horizon, depending on the length of the amount of time until these vines are available to growers, and the rate of adoption. The sooner the resistant vines are available and the more growers adopt them, the greater the benefit.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:23-07:00October 7th, 2013|

ALERT: UFW NOTICES OF INTENT TO TAKE ACCESS

California Farm Employers’ Rights

Courtesy of Farm Employers Labor Service via Monterey County Farm Bureau

FELS has learned additional information that may be useful while dealing with United Farm Workers Union (UFW) Notices of Intent to Take Access (NAs).

First, regional Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) offices have recently requested certain information from employers within seven days:

the number of current agricultural employees including employees hired through farm labor contractors;
the principal crops produced by the employer; and,
the worksites and addresses of all of employees, including those hired through FLCs.

Such a request by the ALRB is previously unheard of; an investigation of an NA and provision of this information is not required by the ALRB’s access regulation.

Second, let your employees know that you and other agricultural employers and their organizations have been working very hard for a long time for the passage of an immigration-reform law that will benefit them and their family and friends, along with employers.

Also before UFW agents take access, reassure your employees that you respect their right and the right of UFW agents to communicate with each other confidentially during access periods. You should also let employees know they have the rights:

Not to talk to UFW agents if they do not wish to do so.
To fully understand for themselves what it is that UFW agents are asking them to sign before they sign it.

Third, there are limitations on UFW’s access rights in addition to those mentioned in the September 30 FELS eNews:

Access may be taken by only two UFW agents for each work crew on your land, except that if there are more than 30 employees in a crew, one additional agent is allowed for up to every 15 additional employees.
You may deny access to UFW agents if no NA was filed and served or if the agents fail to identify themselves upon request.
You may end access and order UFW agents off your land once the mandated access time has expired or if the agents disrupt work or harm equipment, crops or other property.

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact FELS at 800-753-9073 or info@fels.net

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:23-07:00October 7th, 2013|

KIWI FRUIT COMING TO PRODUCE AISLES

California Kiwifruit Shipments Started

By the beginning of next week all of the packers and handlers of California kiwifruit will be packing and shipping the harvested fruit.

Some small volumes of California kiwifruit have been shipped to date, and the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee will likely begin its broadcast of the KISS Weekly Price-Shipment Reports next week. The reports are posted on the California Kiwifruit industry website by the end of the reporting week at the following link: http://www.kiwifruit.org/industry/reports.aspx.

Monthly Inventory Reports will also be posted on the above link. The first such report will be posted the week of November 5.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:23-07:00October 5th, 2013|

BAGRADA BUG IS NEW PEST IN FRESNO COUNTY

Bagrada Found in Eastern Fresno County

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Michael Yang, a UC Cooperative Extension Fresno County ag assistant specializing in small farms operated by Hmong Farmers, said a farmer who had a mustard plant infested with a bug called him out. “The farmer in Eastern Fresno County wanted to know what he could spray to kill the bugs,” Yang said.

He said that hundreds of the insects were infesting the mustard plant—a favored host of the pest.

Bagrada Bugs are often seen in the mating activity.

“I did some research and it looked like the pest was the Bagrada bug. So, we we bagged part of the plant with the bugs and sent them to the Fresno County’s Ag Commissioner office. They forwarded the sample to the CDFA in Sacramento, and CDFA confirmed that it was the Bagrada bug,” said Yang.

Yang noted the low rainfall this year left the foothills dry and many insects started coming into the lush fields grown by Asian famers.

According to UC IPM, Bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris, is an invasive stinkbug spreading through western Arizona and southern California since 2008, causing severe crop, nursery, and landscape losses. Bagrada bugs gather on plants in large groups. In agriculture, Bagrada bug is a pest of cole crops and other mustard family plants.

Growers are asked to alert their county UC Farm Advisor if they see Bagrada bugs in their fields, as it is a new pest in Fresno County. The pest has been widely observed in southern California Counties and more recently in Monterey County.

There are several pest control products that are registered and effective on the pest. Growers should contact their pest control advisor for advice.

Below is a link to a video with more information on the Bagrada bug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSj3AZoJIRM

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:23-07:00October 5th, 2013|

FIGHT FOR WATER FILM IN FRESNO

Fight For Water Film in Fresno Oct. 19

The Fight for Water Film: A Farm Worker Struggle is the “Official Selection” at the Viña de Oro Film Festival, which will be taking place October 16 – 19 at the historic Tower Theatre. The festival will close with the documentary on Oct. 19 at 6pm.

Tickets can be bought at the door or in advance. For more information they can call the Viña de Oro Film Festival at 559-492-7878.

The Fight For Water Film documents the struggle of two farmers, and thousands of farm workers on the Westside, Fresno County, in 2009 when there was only a 10 percent water allocation.

Filmmaker/Director Juan Carlos Oseguera focuses on the 50-mile historic water march in his film, the only film that documents this journey that brought more than 1,000 farmers and farm workers from all over the state.

The film also records the many food lines that became necessary in towns such as Firebaugh, Mendota, San Joaquin and Huron. Farmworkers, though humiliated, were forced to resort to these food lines due to the high unemployment that reached in excess of 40 percent as a consequence of the non-irrigated fields.

Ironically, though The Fight For Water Film documents this event in 2009 and 2010, nothing has changed. In fact, farmers in the Westside Federal Water Districts are currently facing what could be an even worse year in 2014. The Bureau of Reclamation has warned that if there is not significantly more than average rain and snowfall this winter, there could be an unprecedented zeroallocation.

No water allocation may force many farmers out of business and cause massive unemployment in the Westside communities already suffering from severely reduced water allocations. This season, farmers received only 20 percent of what they needed and paid for.

Oseguera said, “I have found that Californians outside of the Central Valley, and Americans out of state, are unaware of the plight of farmers and farmworkers here. So, we need to expand distribution of the film to educate everybody.”

“There is growing interest from film distributors to advance the film to wider audiences,” said Oseguera. “A good way to tell the distributors that the film needs to be seen by others outside of California is to like the Fight For Water Facebook page,” he noted.

https://www.facebook.com/thefightforwaterfilm

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:23-07:00October 5th, 2013|

POMEGRANATE JUICE MARKET IN BAD SHAPE

Pomegranate Juice Market

Nearly Nonexistent

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

“The pomegranate for juice market is upside-down. It’s ugly,” said Mark Van Klaveren, a Madera County farmer. “It’s been that way since last year.”

“For fresh pomegranates, there is some movement; but as far as the market for juice—it is pretty quiet,” he said

“The crushing company I worked with in the past said they would contact me at harvest time. So far, I haven’t heard anything from them; of course, it was the same thing last year,” Van Klaveren remarked. “They are not paying enough to really get too excited about.

“Stiebs, in Madera, is one of the companies in the area,” Van Klaveren said. Stiebs has been an industrial ingredient pomegranate processor for more than forty years.

Van Klaveren commented, “We’re not paying labor for pomegranate harvesting yet. When we are done with almonds, we’ll shift gears and start to harvest pomegranates. While we get the almonds, we’ll keep the pomegranates on the trees. I have guys on my crew and I need to keep them busy, and that’s one way to keep them busy.”

“We do not grow on contract; we use open market. I set my price based on last year’s price and the market price. It pays the labor to pick and pack.”

Mike Thomas is a field rep for Steibs. He noted that he has heard that Paramount Farms, which owns the POM Wonderful brand of juice, and the industry leader in processed product and acreage, had excess juice last year and the price has dropped significantly.

In 2002 Stewart and Lynda Resnick started POM Wonderful, and grocery stores around the world stocked the unique bottle of 100 percent pomegranate juice. At the same time, with the help of the Resnick’s deep pockets and talented staff promoted the health benefits of pomegranates, and sure enough there was dramatic increased demand for pomegranates to be planted. (Editor’s note: Paramount was contacted and no calls were return as of late Friday afternoon.)

With the crop fetching $400 a ton for juice, more central valley acreage was planted for the relatively low input crop (accept for aphids, leaf-footed plant bug, requiring one or two sprays.) Yields were as much as 12 tons per acre.

Sure enough, after about seven good years, there was a huge excess of pomegranate juice in stainless steel tanks a Paramount’s Crush Facility in the Fresno County town of Del Rey. It was reported that part of the excess was dumped.

“Last year, the $400 price dropped to $75 and this year there is virtually no market for pomegranates for juice. In fact there has been no price announced,” said Thomas. “Again, there is limited market for fresh product. Needless to say, there will be a lot of crop left hanging on trees.”

About 4,500 acres were pulled last year. More is sure to be pulled this year. It would be nice if Food Banks could get access to the fruit.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:23-07:00October 5th, 2013|

SHORT CROP FOR PISTACHIOS

Off-Year Pistachio Production

Much Less than Expected

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

The U.S. Pistachio industry, which includes mostly California, but also Arizona and New Mexico is about to harvest nearly one hundred million pounds less than what was expected earlier this year.

Richard Matoian

Richard Matoian, executive director of the Fresno-based American Pistachio Growers told California Ag Today that the current subjective estimate by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios, the industry’s Federal Marketing Order, is 450 to 475 million pounds.

“We had thought that we would be producing 550 million pounds this season and it’s based on two things,” noted Matoian. “First, last season’s on-year crop was not as large as we thought when it came in at 555 million pounds—a record crop. Secondly we were anticipating all the new acres that would be bearing this year.”

“But there was a prolonged hot spell during the summer, which produced a smaller-sized nut, which means less weight,” Matoian said. “And there are also reports of higher than normal blanking—greater than 20 percent. In addition there were less nuts per tree.”

Fewer Nuts Per Cluster were observed this year.

Less volume in a tremendously high demand crop tends to raise prices, which is good for growers. However there may be shortages of crops, which will mean some customers may not get what they expect in volume.

“We would rather have a moderate and profitable price instead of high spikes,” said Matoian. “On top of that, we want a good supply for our customer base as well as our expanding base.”

“There may be an issue of allocation for all of our customers, and we are disappointed that we will not be able to expand our markets as we have planned,” he noted. “It’s critical that we expand our markets because we know we have big crops coming.”

A short crop limits the opportunities of marketing and promoting pistachios around the world. “We were hoping to increase business in countries such as Korea and Vietnam, but a shorter crop will hinder us in expanding out,” Matoian said.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:23-07:00October 4th, 2013|

BOB CURTIS TO BE HONORED AT UC DAVIS

Almond Industry Leader Will Be Honored

Robert “Bob” Curtis, an almond industry leader whose efforts have helped university research and extension programs improve production practices and environmental stewardship, will be honored Oct. 11 with an “Award of Distinction” from the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES).

Bob Curtis Will be Honored

The award is presented annually during a College Celebration event to those whose contributions and achievements enhance the college’s ability to provide cutting-edge research, top-notch education and innovative outreach. Curtis, an executive with the Almond Board of California, is being recognized as a “Friend of the College” for his work as as a liaison between the industry and the agricultural research community. Six other people—faculty, staff, alumni, and administrators—will also receive the award.

“College Celebration is the premier community event for our college and its many supporters who stand with us through thick and thin,” said Mary Delany, interim dean for CA&ES. “This year, in particular, we have much to celebrate, including the 25^th anniversary of a harvest-season gathering that has come to mean so much to us. The Award of Distinction recipients have made, and continue to make, remarkable contributions that bring great inspiration, honor, and distinction to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.”

Yields of California almonds have doubled over the last 20 years through advancements in horticultural practices. Production research has contributed to the growth and success of California almonds, which now encompass 835,000 acres, rank second in California farm gate value, and are the nation’s largest horticultural export. Research funded by the Almond Board has also helped improve fertilizer management and elevate food safety and quality.

Curtis’ impact has been felt beyond the almond industry, as well. He chaired the California Commodity Committee (2007–2012), leading an effort to develop a strategy for promoting and funding commodity research and extension. He was a member of a national specialty crop research team that outlined strategic research, extension, and education priorities for the 2008 Farm Bill, which led to grant funding in areas such as nutrient budgeting, irrigation management, precision agriculture, rootstock evaluation, and honey bee health.

Curtis serves on many UC Davis advisory groups, including the CA&ES Dean’s Advisory Council. He has written or contributed to more than 200 articles, booklets, and manuals on crop production practices, pest management, postharvest handling, and food safety and has given presentations to a wide range of domestic and international audiences.

“As a commodity representative, Bob has worked tirelessly to the betterment of industry-university partnerships that are at the heart of the CA&ES mission,” said plant sciences professor Patrick Brown. “He has made many very significant contributions to the programs of faculty and extension personnel throughout the UC system and above all he has been a true friend of the college.”

To learn more about College Celebration and the other Award of Distinction recipients, please visit http://collegecelebration.ucdavis.edu.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:24-07:00October 4th, 2013|

Alfalfa Event in Firebaugh Shows Economics

Industry Gathers In Alfalfa Field to

Show Why We Need Water

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

A crowd gathers for what was a dramatic aerial photo.

Showing the economics behind a single crop grown in the San Joaquin Valley was the vision of Steve Malanca, General Manager of Thomason Tractor Co, in Firebaugh. With the help of Gayle Holman, Public Affairs Representative with Westland Water District, more than 200 came together in an alfalfa field, west of Firebaugh, filled with the equipment and services necessary to grow the crop.

Steve Malanca, GM of Thomason Tractor Co, Firebaugh

It was a demonstration on how, without the alfalfa, due to reduced water allocations, there are major impacts on business and humans. The gathering of equipment, suppliers and even cows became an aerial photo, and video that will be publicized on different websites, YouTube and in other print and electronic mediums. “It is our responsibility to tell our story so that this information goes on record in the form of a unique photograph, which we hope to turn into billboard messaging,” said Holman.

Westlands Water District’s Gayle Holman

“What we are faced with in 2013 is a limited amount of surface water deliveries throughout the Central San Joaquin Valley. There was probably no irrigation district in the valley that was able to deliver enough water for a full season for the farmers, and we are praying that we get abundant rain and snow this winter,” said Malanca.

Malanca continued, “I think we all know the challenge we have in front of us to get people to understand the importance of the ag economy in Central California. We hope this message will be a way to convey a visual for people to understand what we do out here. Central California grows some of the safest food in the world. As you know, without water here, it can’t happen.”

“We plan on utilizing this video as many places as we can,” Malanca stated. “We hope Firebaugh High School FFA takes this as a challenge with their young social media skills to get this out on the Internet, Facebook and twitter. We would also like to challenge the FFA to share this with every FFA department from Tracy to Bakersfield, Dinuba To Mendota.”

Ken McDonald, Firebaugh City Manager

“This is a regional thing; it is not a Westside thing anymore,” declared Malanca. “We all are majorly dependent on water. And hopefully, with this event, we can convince people that storage and other means to keep the water flowing to the south is going to have to happen. And, I hope we can convince people that we need water storage.”

Thanks went to Doug Brittonfor offering his field for all the gathers to get their message across.

Ken McDonald, City Manager of Firebaugh, said, “There is no doubt that Firebaugh is one small part of this big Regional effort, and without water and without farming, Firebaugh would be wouldn’t be in existence.”

Firebaugh Area Farmer Chris Herd addresses the crowd.

Chris Herd, a Firebaugh farmer, “to my fellow farmers, our families, our workers, our friends, and those in our communities, the state—300 commodities produced—42 billion dollars farm gate value—and it is all at stake, not just the Westside, but the entire state.”

Below are the detailed items mentioned for alfalfa production. Most of these items were at the alfalfa field event.

Step/Process	Equipment	Company	Point of Contact
Alfalfa field	20 acres
Prep the field for planting	Tillage tractor – Disk equipment
Soil	Soil amendments needs to prep soil
Prep Border	Tractor
Irrigation	Irrigation crew – need X workers plus X of equipment – pipes, hoses, sprinklers, etc.
Water	How much water is needed to grow this crop
Seed	Bags of seed for planting
Bees	Bee hive boxes for Pollinating the flowering plant;
Fertilizer	Tanks and equipment for liquid,
Weeds –  Opt. 1	Sprayers and appropriate product to handle weeds
Weeds –  Opt. 2	Crop duster
Cutting	Swather to cut; mower-conditioner to cut
Baler	Baler and pick up bales
Loading Bales	Truck to pick up bales
Stringers	String company that supplies bale ties
Auto Parts Store	Provide various parts for vehicles/equipment associated with movable equipment
Tires	Tires for equipment
Petroleum	Fuel trucks to move the product
Vehicle Repair Shop	Repairs on various pieces of vehicles
Crop Insurance	Insurance Company
Insurance Company	Insurance Company for vehicles, equipment, dwellings
Banking	Financial institution for loans
Accountants	Provide financial/tax services for respective businesses
Phone Service	Provide cellular, land and computer service for business lines
Office Supply Store	Office supplies for the business portion of businesses
Cows	End user of alfalfa
Milk	Stainless steel tanks for milk storage
Children	Drinking milk

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:24-07:00October 4th, 2013|

UFW ACTION UPDATE #2

Western Growers Advise

Western Growers released the following post:

One hundred of the largest farms in California have been sent this letter dated September 27, 2013.

According to the letter, the UFW intends to file Notices of Intent to Take Access with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board to take access on October 3, 4 and 5, 2013.

The alleged purpose of the access will be to advise workers of the pending bipartisan federal legislation to reform national immigration policy in Washington and to mobilize workers to join a national “Day of Dignity and Respect” according to a second flyer received from the UFCW Local 5 out of Salinas.

There will be mobilizations in over 90 cities and workers are requested to attend one of the over 100 events being planned across the state and nationally.

Should the Union serve your company with a Notice of Intent to Take Access, please note that the Union will not be allowed to take access until such time that you receive notification from the Regional Director of the ALRB that the Access Petition has been filed.

Secondly, once properly filed, the UFW may take access to your agricultural operations three times daily: One hour in the morning before the start of work; one hour, which shall encompass the meal period; and one hour after the end of work. Two organizers per crew up to 30 workers may take access; and one additional organizer for every 15 additional workers. Organizers must wear a badge identifying themselves by name and name of the union; and must identify themselves upon request.

While on the premises, please have your supervisory employees vacate the immediate area where organizers may be talking to workers or distributing literature. Supervisors should be out of eyeshot and earshot –a safe distance is at least 100 yards. Additionally, please inform your supervisors not to interrogate workers about what the UFW has said or gave to them when the Union organizers leave. This would constitute an unfair labor practice.

If you use farm labor contractors, their employees will be deemed your employees for purposes of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act. Therefore, please contact your labor contractor concerning access by Union organizers beforethey begin access. Be sure that the same rules that apply for your supervisory employees also apply for those of the farm labor contractor.

If you have on-farm rules (e.g., signing in at a gate before accessing the ranch, food safety, speed limits) it is appropriate to consistently enforce these rules with union representatives.

Finally, workers should be advised that they are not required to sign union authorization cards nor are they required to provide their home addresses and telephone numbers if they are requested by UFW organizers as part of this process.

WG members are advised to inform their workers that through various local, state and national agricultural organizations, your companies, individually and through the Association, have been actively involved in securing immigration reform, including obtaining legalization for current agricultural workers. The U.S. agricultural industry has partnered with the UFW for this express purpose. CLICK HERE if you wish to understand the requirements of the ALRB’s access regulation.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact WG’S Vice President and General Counsel, Jason Resnick.

Special thanks to Rob Roy, who authored the original article from which this piece was adapted with permission of VCAA.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:24-07:00October 3rd, 2013|