STOPPING METAL THEFT

Legislation Aims to Fight Metal Theft

Copper wiring stripped from irrigation pumps, disappearing brass fixtures, stolen steel pipes—for farmers and ranchers, the chronic theft of metals continues to be a costly problem with no end in sight, according to the California Farm Bureau Federation.

In an effort to tighten regulations and make the resale of stolen metal more difficult, farm groups and law enforcement organizations supported two bills passed by the state Legislature before its adjournment earlier this month. One bill would aid law enforcement in fighting this crime; the other would clamp down on illegal recyclers that buy stolen metal.

Supporters have been encouraging Gov. Brown to sign the measures.

“We have worked for a number of years on metal theft and despite our efforts, there are still really high rates, so we are trying to focus on giving law enforcement more resources so they can address the problem,” said Noelle Cremers, California Farm Bureau Federation director of natural resources and commodities. “There are stringent laws on the books to prevent metal theft and this will help provide resources to make sure that those laws are enforced.”

It is no secret that California farmers, ranchers, water districts, government agencies, businesses and individuals have spent hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to replace stolen metal.

Nic Marchini, a diversified farmer in Merced County whose crops include radicchio and almonds, said he has been hit repeatedly by metal thieves who have vandalized his irrigation pumps.

“Metal theft has gotten worse over the last year,” Marchini said. “The most common metal that they are taking is copper from the irrigation pumps. That seems to be the metal of choice for now. We’ve probably had copper ripped off from over 30 wells multiple times in the last 12 months, equating to over $40,000 in damage, at least.”

Typically, he said, when the copper has been stripped from his pumps, his neighbors have been hit too. “They hit an area real hard and then move on,” Marchini said.

To combat metal theft on a larger scale, Farm Bureau sponsored Assembly Bill 909 by Assemblymember Adam Gray, D-Merced. The bill would create a Metal Theft Task Force Program in the state Department of Justice.

When funded, the program would provide grants to local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys to focus on metal theft and recycling crimes. AB 909 won approval by the Senate 39-0 and the Assembly 77-1.

Richard Wright, president of the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force and a brand inspector with the California Department of Food and Agriculture Bureau of Livestock Identification, said AB 909 would be beneficial for agencies.

“Some counties don’t have the manpower and are not able to check the compliance of recyclers unless they get some information from an investigation, so hopefully this additional funding will allow them the manpower and create a more level playing field,” Wright said.

Fresno County Sheriff’s Ag Task Force Detective Kirby Alstrom confirmed that metal theft remains a problem on farms and ranches, noting that the problem tends to worsen when the price of metals rises.

“When prices climb back up, which they probably will, it will be a major problem again,” Alstrom said. “Metal theft is not really an easy thing to do; it takes some effort. So, if there is another way (thieves) can go that takes less effort on their part, that is where they are going to go.”

In another tactic to slow metal thefts, Farm Bureau and other rural crime-prevention groups support Senate Bill 485 by Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, which intends to slow the proliferation of illegal recyclers. The legislation would ensure that recyclers and junk dealers comply with current law and are properly permitted to operate their businesses.

SB 485 would require junk dealers to prove they are properly permitted to operate prior to obtaining a weighmaster certificate from county agricultural commissioners. The legislation also allows an additional $500 fee to be charged to cover the costs of these inspections.

The bill was approved by the Assembly 77-1 and the Senate 36-0. Gov. Brown has until Oct. 13 to sign or veto bills sent to him by the Legislature this year.

Source: Christine Souza, California Farm Bureau Federation.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:26-07:00September 28th, 2013|

RAISIN GROWERS STILL WAITING FOR PRICE

Fresno County Raisin grower gets the job done.

Raisin Harvest Continues Under Perfect Conditons

Fresno County raisin grower Joel Mendoza picks up his crop in the typical cigarette roll and puts them in the box. It’s the important step of getting the dried grapes out of the field and into more a more protective area.

Raisin growers are still patiently waiting for a 2013 price to be called.

The Raisin Bargaining Association Board of Directors voted unanimously to support another season free from volume regulation managed by the Raisin Administrative Committee. This would be the 4^th consecutive season of 100% free tonnage for the industry.

The Board of Directors recognizes the changes occurring in California agriculture and is confident the vast majority of the raisin industry is supportive of this concept and prepared to make the necessary adjustments to accommodate this marketing policy.

The Board of Directors also made it very clear that the Association has been in preliminary discussions with signatory packers but no offers have been put on the table.

Any prices being mentioned at this point in time are simply speculation. The field price for Natural Seedless raisins is $1,900 per ton. The Board is preparing to negotiate for the new raisin crop on that basis.

While price is the critical element in the negotiations, terms and conditions will be very important as RBA must continue to work with our processors to make certain financing remains viable for the increased value of our raisins.

Payment terms will be an important area of negotiation as we must be prepared to take the necessary steps to protect the $590 million farm gate revenue that has been established this past year.

Finally, members need to be prepared for a 2013 field price agreement that may be announced later than the past few seasons. There will be an adequate inventory as of August 1^st to meet sales requirements through October which may influence our ability to reach any agreement.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:26-07:00September 28th, 2013|

EARLY HLB DETECTION SOUGHT

Researchers Get Closer to Early Detection

Of HLB-Infected Citrus Trees

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Using Volatile Organic Compound sniffers with a suitcase-size gas chromatograph, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as DNA sequencing of known huanglongbing (HLB)-infected citrus trees, scientists are getting closer to a very early diagnosis that could help with early detection and possible cures of the disease.

It’s all happening while quarantines expand in the Central San Joaquin Valley after the HLB vector, the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), has been found on sticky traps or live in trees. None of the collected ACPs have tested positive for HLB. Still, the only known tree that has been positively infected with HLB was a lone tree in a neighborhood in Hacienda Heights, near Los Angeles, in March 2012.

“We are just verifying how accurate these early detection techniques are, and it is being done by scientists at UC Davis and UC Riverside,” noted Beth Grafton Cardwell, director of Lindcove Research and Education Center, and research entomologist at UC Riverside.

The Citrus Research Board focusing on a pre-systematic detection platform is funding all the work. The tested plant tissue is from the infamous Hacienda Heights tree, the only known tree in California ever to be infected with HLB. That tree was eventually destroyed, but not USDA researchers took many samples.

Scientists are collecting material from trees and testing with different antibodies and small RNA to determine if these early detection systems really do work,” Mary Lou Pole, Vice President Science and Technology Citrus Research Board, based in Visalia. “We have found some samples to be suspect-positive, but the only way to confirm this is through the USDA’s PCR test, and of course it comes up negative. And of course that’s the whole point of early diagnostics, and that’s to pick it up before the PCR test.”

Some homeowners have actually taken out about five trees, in total, after they were suspect with the early diagnostics due to early Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) detection.

“The PCR test can only be positive if it tests tissue where the bacteria is, which could be hit or miss, so we are hoping to find a way to early-detect an infected tree with other methods,” said Pole.

“Some other diagnostics include host plant response proteins, which are secreted by bacteria that move systemically throughout the tree,” Pole explained. “So, instead of looking for the bacteria, we are looking for a signature of molecules associated with the bacteria that is moving through the plant.”

“We are getting close to finding a good way to detect early, and information should be coming in near future,” said Carolyn Slupsky, UC Davis Food Science Technology Associate Professor and Nutritionist. “We want to know the metabolic pathways, the changes in the plant, before the plant starts to yellow,” she said.

“Plants are always producing metabolites, and an HLB infected tree will give off a certain pattern of metabolites that can be detected by chemical analysis using magnetic resonance spectroscopy,” Slupsky said.

“We are also working on understanding when the pathogen infects the tree. Ultimately, we want to find a way to kill the bacterial pathogen that causes HLB,” Slupsky said.

Diagnostic tools are being developed that should help in the early detection.

Cristina Davis, professor in the UC Davis Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Abhaya Dandekar, professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, collected samples of VOCs emitted from HLB-infected trees in Florida every month for a year in order to “train” the mobile sensor to recognize the “smell” of HLB.

“The idea is to extract a group of compounds that create the signature for the presence of HLB,” Dandekar said. A software program develops an algorithm that lets the machine know it is detecting HLB. Davis is working with Applied Nanotech, Inc., in Texas to commercialize this artificial nose.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:27-07:00September 28th, 2013|

A NEW PEST, BAGRADA BUG IS NOW IN FRESNO COUNTY

Bagrada Bug Enters Fresno County

The Bagrada Bug, which was discovered in Los Angeles County in 2008 and is now prevalent in all southern California counties, plus Monterey County, has recently been found in Fresno County. According to the University of California this pest has a wide host range of vegetables and ornamentals.

And there is a low threshold for damage because one adult per 10 foot row of seedlings or transplants will cause a stand loss. It’s important to identify the adult Bagrada Bug and closely monitor it during the early 5-6 leaf stage of plants.

There are many different registered control products that are effective for the pest.

Cultural control could include

· consider removing weed hosts

· ensure transplants from nursery materials bug free

· cultivate to destroy bugs, and eggs in soil

· shred and disc crop immediately after harvest

· rotate to non-host crop when possible

The video at the link below describes the Bagrada Bug in more detail. It is by Surendra Dara, a UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor based in Santa Barbara County.

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

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:27-07:00September 28th, 2013|

CALIFORNIA RANGELAND TRUST IN FORWARD-LOOKING PARTNERSHIP WITH RETAILER

California Rangeland Trust Partners with Whole Foods for Donation

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross released the following post about California Rangeland Trust:

As we work together to embrace a future that will require a substantial increase in food production while using fewer natural resources, it is critical that we look for new ways to emphasize the importance of sustainability, which we define as an agricultural production system that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

That’s why I applaud California Rangeland Trust for its partnership with Whole Foods. The retailer has committed to donating five percent of its net sales on September 25th from its stores in Northern California and Reno to the Trust.

I like this partnership because it underscores the importance of ecosystemservices, which are the multiple benefits we gain from farming and ranching, including crop and livestock production. This means that, in addition to valuable open space and wildlife habitat, the management decisions and conservation practices of farmers and ranchers enhance environmental quality, provide recreational opportunities, and offer social benefits.

Ecosystem services match up very well with the work of the California Rangeland Trust -conserving the open space, natural habitat and stewardship provided by California’s ranching families. The Trust has protected more than 275,000 acres of productive grazing lands across the state through the use of conservation easements.

California’s ranching heritage is important to our landscape, our economy and our environment. Ranchlands help to sustain us and feed us, and we’ll benefit from their protection for many years to come. I hope we’ll see more partnerships like this in the future, giving consumers an opportunity to see the connection between food and agriculture and enabling them to do something on its behalf.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:27-07:00September 27th, 2013|

CHAFFEE ZOO VALLEY FARM EXHIBIT

Valley Farm Exhibit Opens At Chaffee Zoo

The entrance to the exhibit designed by Heather Davis, with Chaffee Zoo.

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Today, local agricultural leaders gathered at Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo to enjoy the official opening of the new Valley Farm Exhibit at the former Small Wonder’s area of the zoo.

The area has been transformed into a representative view of local agriculture including fruit trees, rows crops, a chicken coop and new farm animals.

For years to come, the exhibit will be an interactive opportunity for thousands of kids and adults to see the importance of agriculture in the valley. The crop part are of the exhibit was administrated by California State University, Fresno’s (CSUF) Jordan School of Agriculture, along with the Ag One Foundation at CSUF, the Fresno County Farm Bureau and Bennett & Bennett Irrigation.

Current crops in the exhibit are corn, alfalfa, cotton, vegetables, stone fruit, figs, olives, citrus trees and grapes. There are also eggs from the hens in the exhibit. “All of the crops as well as eggs will eventually become feed for zoo animals,” said Terri Mejorado, director of marketing for Chaffe Zoo.

“This is a public outreach for the Plant Science Department at Fresno State to assist the Chaffe Zoo in enhancing their petting zoo of the Valley Farm area,” said Bruce Roberts, professor at the CSUF Plant Science Department, and the advisor of the Food Science Club.

The crowd listens to Scott Barton, Chaffee Zoo Director.

“We’re involved in planting the crops that represent our regional agriculture, and visitors can see what the animals feed on and what’s grown here. Our students will maintain the crops, including year-round replanting. We are also educating the important zoo docents, so that they can answer questions about the crops grown here,” said Roberts.

The Fresno County Farm Bureau was very involved in the planning of the project and planting of the crops. “Fresno County, if viewed as a state, would be #2 in the nation in agricultural production value. Of course, #1 would be California,” said Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen.

Crops Growing at the Valley Farm Exhibit.

“When you talk about agriculture being the economic engine, it’s important to know that every dollar generated on the farm typically generates $3.50 in the local economy,” said Jacobsen. “When you talk about Fresno County, which alone generates $6.6 billion, and then add in Kings, Tulare, Madera and Merced Counties, we are talking about an economic impact of more than $60 billion. Kids in the middle of the urban environment need to understand what we do and how we do it.”

“There is a reason why we do things in a certain way. We have the most advanced technology in the world right here in our own back yard, and it’s important to showcase that at the Valley Farm,” said Jacobsen. “This is a great educational opportunity, and we are pleased to be part of it.”

Visitors to the Valley Farm will learn about growing techniques used in the Central Valley and how agriculture utilizes assets efficiently, such as water, to produce our crops.

“We get to share our agriculture with 640,000 guests, and we’re excited about it,” said Scott Barton, CEO and Director of the Chaffee Zoo. “A lot of people in California do not “get” agriculture and that we grow more than 400 different crops in Fresno County, and we are going to be very happy to tell that story.”

Barton noted that this has been a real partnership with our agriculture community.

CSUF President Joseph Castro

Joseph Castro, CSUF President knows, first hand, the importance of agriculture to Fresno, the Central Valley, the state, the nation and the world. “This exhibit is a great opportunity to introduce to families up and down the valley, how important agriculture is to all of us. The university is very excited about our partnership with the zoo.

The major driver and sponsor of the exhibit is the Fresno-based Gar & Esther Tootelian Charitable Foundation. Karen Musson, managing partner with Gar Tootelian, Inc., noted “that this is one of the most exciting projects that I have ever worked on, and what makes it truly exciting are the partners that came to the table.”

“The whole idea of the Family Farm came from friends who noted that food arrives at the zoo every day for the animals—fresh fruits, vegetables and meat. And we produce all that in the Central Valley, and that was the inspiration of the Valley Farm.

Teachers will bring students to the zoo during the school year, and there are plans for a summertime farm camp.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:27-07:00September 27th, 2013|

CALIFORNIA PUMPKIN SEASON IS ON

Pumpkin Grower Starts A Busy Season

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Bryan Van Groningan

Bryan Van Groningan, with Van Groningan and Sons, a diversified farming operation in the San Joaquin County around Manteca, is busy in his 1,250 acres of pumpkin fields this week. There is a big demand to fill as Halloween and other fall holidays are approaching.

“We planted in May and nearly everything this year has been going very smooth. We did have a hot spell in September that caused some problems on our mini-pumpkins and ornamental gourds that were close to harvest,” Van Groningan said. “We lost about 10 percent of that crop due to cosmetic damage.”

“However, everything else, including our big carving pumpkin fields, are doing very well after a great growing season,” he said. “We have shut the water off of all of our fields in preparation for big harvest throughout the last few days of
September and all through late October.”

“We usually start the harvest of our early plantings just after Labor Day,” noted Van Groningan. “We harvested about three truckloads a day all the way up to Sept. 20 or so. This week we have picked up the volume—shipping 10 to 15 loads a day, and we will increase our shipment steadily all the up to Oct. 25.”

Prices for his crops are usually quite stable, barring any crop failures in the west. Van Groningan said his markets are the western states, including Texas, Arizona and Utah, with about 80 percent of his business in California.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:27-07:00September 27th, 2013|

Any Deal is too late for Dairies Out of Business

Dairy Industry Waiting for CDFA Decision

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

Out of business dairy #1

The dairy industry continues to engage the California Legislature with any information to educate them about the ailing California dairy industry, following a special hearing Sept. 12, with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.

The hearing was to consider a deal that would adjust the whey factor in the 4b cheese milk formula by raising the cap from 75 cents per hundredweight (CWT) to $1 per CWT, and provide an additional surcharge of 46 cents per CWT during the next year on milk going into cheese-making.

Ross must make a decision by 62 days following the hearing date.

Among the witnesses in support of the dairy petition was Dr. Richard Sexton, who is the chair of the Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis. Sexton is also the presiding president of the American Society of Agricultural Economists.

Out of business dairy #2

“We are waiting for a decision from Secretary Ross and continuing to update the legislature on the dire financial situation in the dairy industry,” noted Michael Marsh, Chief Executive Officer with the Modesto-based Western United Dairymen.

According to Marsh, “The value of whey is capped at 75 cents per CWT, which is ridiculous, as we have seen whey values as high as $4 per CWT in other states back when we were getting 25 cents per CWT as our cap.”

“This increase would add an additional $110 million to the pool of California dairy farmers. At the same time, it would notcost consumers a penny as it simply redistributes assets from the cheese makers back to the farmers.” said Marsh.

Out of business dairy #3

“This current process is an outgrowth of our original AB 31 legislation that we introduced last December on the first day of the legislature,” said Marsh. “Since that time, there have been ongoing negotiations between members of the legislature and cheese makers trying to get some relief for the dairy families of our state.”

AB 31was intended to reconnect our cheese price as best we could back to the marketplace. “Unfortunately, CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura, at the request of cheese makers in California in 2007, disconnected the cheese milk price from the marketplace, and we have been struggling ever since to reconnect it. It was unfortunate that Kawamura agreed to transfer wealth from the famers to the cheese makers, given everything else that hit California dairy farmers beginning in 2008,” said Marsh.

“Since the change, there has been a transfer of 940 million dollars from the dairy farmers to the cheese makers. It was just another nail in the coffin for so many dairies that have since gone out of business,” said Marsh.

Out of business dairy #4

We need to close the gap, between what we receive for milk going into cheese making in California and what dairy farmers outside the state receive for the same type of milk,” said Marsh.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:27-07:00September 26th, 2013|

CENTER FOR PRODUCE SAFETY AWARDS SIXTEEN RESEARCH PROJECTS

Two Calif. Research Projects

Awarded CPS Grants

Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli, Executive Director of the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) at the UC Davis, announced sixteen new grant awards valued at $3 million. The research awards are directed at answering critical questions in specific areas of:

Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli

food safety practices for fruit, vegetable and tree nut production
pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest handling
co-management of food safety and the environment.

The objective is to provide the produce industry with practical, translatable research data that can be used at all levels of the supply chain.

The broad range of the projects reflects the commitment of CPS’s Partners in Research (PIR), a cross section of public and private partners. Contributing partners for these projects are:

California Department of Food and Agriculture
California Cantaloupe Advisory Board
California Melon Research Board
California Leafy Greens Research Program
Western Center for Food Safety
California Pistachio Research Board
CPS Campaign for Research.

Two of the sixteen research projects include California researchers:

Linda Harris, University of California, Davis

Assessing postharvest food safety risks and identifying mitigation strategies for foodborne pathogens in pistachios.

Trevor Suslow, University of California, Davis

Remediation and recovery measures to expedite planting or replanting of vegetables following soil contamination by Salmonella enterica.

Research work on these projects will commence in January 2014.

“Each year, submissions to the RFP grow,” said Stephen Patricio, chairman for the CPS Board of Directors. The CPS Technical Committee reviewed 55 proposals, the highest number of proposals received since the initial RFP in 2008. To date, CPS has funded 85 projects valued at $13.6 million.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:27-07:00September 26th, 2013|

CENTRAL COAST GROWER GET SETTLEMENT IN AG WAIVER COMPLIANCE

Water Board approves Settlement in 2012 Central Coast Ag Waiver

By Norm Groot, Executive Director, Monterey County Farm Bureau

Modifications were made to final draft during lengthy State Water Board hearing in Sacramento on Sept. 24th

Monterey County Farm Bureau attended the hearing held to finalize the order of settlement, passed unanimously by the four commissioners present.

A brief overview of the modifications that were inserted into the final order:

Norm Groot

• Growers are required to submit their Annual Compliance Form by October 1st, 2013, using the same version of the form from 2012’s reporting cycle. Additional reporting requirements are NOT added to this filing cycle.

• Tier 2 and Tier 3 growers will be required to report their Nitrate Reporting Risk Level by January 15th, 2014. Growers will report this on their Annual Compliance Form (as an additional module to be added by CCRWQCB staff; no other portion of the form will need to be reported or updated with this reporting requirement. Growers will have a full two months to do this reporting after CCRWQCB posts the module on their website).

• State Water Board staff proposed the reporting of nitrogen in irrigation water by concentration; Board member Steven Moore was persuaded by the “environmental justice” and “enviro” comments that this information should be reported in pounds instead; the rest of the Board agreed with this change.

• A number of modifications were included that affect the cooperative groundwater program and the monitoring of domestic wells and the use of statistical projections of these wells.

• Language for containment structures was modified to include more iterative practices to ‘avoid’ percolation of constituents to the groundwater basin.

A final version of the document will be issued by State Board staff in the coming week.

The environmental jusice and enviro groups expressed, again, their extreme displeasure with the revisions and the Ag Waiver in general. We may see further action by these groups challenging the order of settlement.

Growers are encouraged to complete their Annual Compliance Form filing by October 1st.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:44:27-07:00September 26th, 2013|

Previous 216217218 Next