California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Industry News

  • High Winds & Very Warm Conditions to Hit So Cal Avocado Groves

    California Avocado Commission: The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an alert concerning high wind gusts and well-above normal heat for the Los Angeles and Oxnard regions.

    NWS notes that moderate to strong Northwest to North winds (15 – 30 mph with gusts of 30 – 50 mph) may occur through Friday, with the strongest winds (gusts as high as 65 mph) expected on Wednesday night and Thursday. The strongest and most widespread winds are predicted for the I-5 Corridor, Montecito Hills and Gaviota Pass, with winds likely to push into the San Fernando Valley and LA Basin. The wind prone areas of Santa Barbara County, Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita Valley also are expected to have gusty conditions.

    These windy conditions could lead to downed trees and branches, possible power outages, damage to portable temporary shelters, and hazardous driving conditions due to cross winds and dust. Fire weather concerns are rated “minimal” due to high fuel moistures.

    Beginning Friday, through next Monday or Tuesday, NWS also is predicting extended “very warm” conditions with max temperatures of 85˚F – 95˚F. The hottest days are expected to be Friday and Saturday, with temperatures 15 – 20 degrees above normal. Low temperatures will range from 55˚F – 65˚F and minimum humidities will vary from 12 – 25 percent.

    To ensure that California avocados maintain their superior quality it is imperative that growers manage their trees and harvest their fruit according to best management practices as outlined below.

    IRRIGATION

    Growers should be irrigating their trees now, in advance of the above normal temperatures and warm dry winds, to ensure that their trees are fully hydrated. It is recommended that an additional 50 percent of the budgeted amount of water be applied the days prior to the forecast winds and above normal temperatures. A well-watered tree will tolerate the stress of high temperatures and drying winds much better than a tree that is suffering from water stress. Signs of heat damage to trees include fruit drop, shoot damage, leaf burn and in severe cases leaf drop.

    HARVESTING

    Every attempt should be made to harvest fruit when temperatures are below 90 °F, and no harvesting should take place when temperatures exceed 95 °F. Temperature in the shade should be monitored during harvesting and, when possible, harvesting crews should be moved to the coolest, least exposed areas of the grove.

    Field bins should be placed under the trees while being filled to protect the harvested fruit from sunburn. Once filled, bins should be moved to a shade structure (open-sided roofed building), or covered with bin covers or light-colored tarps if they cannot be immediately transported to the packinghouse. Never leave filled bins exposed to the direct sun. The surface layer of fruit can easily heat up to more than 15 °F above ambient temperature when exposed to direct sun. Acute sunburn will only show on fruit after it is packed and is a major quality detractor.

    To avoid water loss and decreased fruit quality do not hold fruit too long after harvest. Transport fruit to the packinghouse at least once per day, if not twice daily. Bins should not be left in the grove for more than 8 hours after harvest. Cover bins during transport to avoid sunburn and to reduce water loss.

  • Bill and Carol Chandler Honored as the Agriculturalists of the Year

    In celebrating the tradition and innovation of the State’s number one industry, agriculture, the California State Fair Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Agricultural Advisory Council, selects Bill and Carol Chandler as the Agriculturalists of the Year.

    The Agriculturalist of the Year award is presented to an individual or individuals who have contributed extensively, in a professional capacity, to California’s agricultural industry. Award criteria stipulates the individual or individuals must have demonstrated leadership and clearly represented the industry over a number of years in one or more of the following areas: finance, government, production agriculture, education, labor, research, communications, trade and public service.

    As a couple, Bill and Carol Chandler, contribute to the education and growth of the agriculture industry by serving the farming community in a variety of roles. Each in their own right continue to serve at local and statewide levels. Their peers recognize their commitment and leadership.  “They are a dynamic couple who have demonstrated a true commitment to not only farming, but to family and their community,” said Cathleen Galgiani, State Senator.

    “They truly are an unmatched duo when it comes to participating in leadership roles to articulate the value and need of the marvelous bounty of food, fiber and fauna that our state produces,” said Barry Bedwell, California Agriculture Leadership Foundation.

    Bill is a third-generation farmer in Fresno County. Bill and Carol grow grapes, peaches, plums, nectarines and almonds on the family farm in Fresno County, which was founded in the 1880s by Bill’s grandfather, W.F. Chandler. Their sons, John and Tom, recently joined the family farming business.

    Bill, a graduate of the University of California, Davis in Agriculture Production has had a long history of involvement in California agriculture. He has served and continues to serve and be recognized on a number of boards and commissions over the years, including:

    California Association of Winegrape Growers, Nisei Farmers League, Fresno County Farm Bureau, California Cling Peach Advisory Board, Freestone Peach Association, California Fresh Fruit Association, U.C. Davis Foundation Board, U.C. Davis Fresno County Alumni Scholarship Chair, Cal Aggie Alumni Association Director, and U.C. President’s Agriculture Advisory Committee.

    A graduate of Class 6 of the California Agriculture Leadership Program, Bill is also involved in his community as a board member of the Sequoia Council of Boy Scouts of America and is the recipient of the Silver Beaver award.

    Carol is a partner in Chandler Farms. Carol is actively engaged in the business administration portion of the farming operation. Prior to joining the family farm, Carol taught in the San Joaquin Valley, including Fresno City College. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Davis, and her Master’s Degree from California State University, Fresno.

    Carol is a past State President of California Women for Agriculture, a member of the Board of Directors of Western Growers Association, Fresno State Board of Governors, the Central Valley Community Foundation and American Agri-Women. She is also a member of the CSU Fresno Water Task Force and serves on the UC President’s Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources. Carol previously served on the California State University Board of Trustees, University of California Board of Regents, California Post-Secondary Education Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets, Grape & Tree Fruit League, and the Fresno County Fair Board.

    Recognized by the California State Legislature as Woman of the Year in 1992 and 2002, Carol has further been acknowledged for her outstanding contributions to agriculture and education as the recipient of the Tapestry Award presented by Common Threads for outstanding achievements in agriculture, and as the Agriculturalist of the Year by the Fresno County Chamber of Commerce.

    The Chandlers will formally be honored at the California State Fair Gala, an evening supporting the California agriculture award winners and the Friends of the California State Fair scholarship program on Thursday, June 25, 2020. Those interested in attending and honoring Bill and Carol Chandler can purchase tickets at https://calexpostatefair.com/gala/.

     

  • USDA COVID-19 Food Assistance Program to Support Farmers

    Summary

    By Schramm, Williams & Associates, Inc. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the $19 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to support farmers and ranchers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is comprised of two major elements: direct payments to farmers and ranchers and commodity purchase and distribution.

    • Direct Payments Program – Provides $16 billion in direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19.
    • Purchase and Distribution Program – $3 billion of agricultural products, including meat, dairy, and produce will be purchased to support producers and provided food to those in need. USDA will work with local food and regional distributors to deliver food to food banks, as well as community and faith-based organization to provide food to those in need.

    CFAP uses funding authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), USDA’s existing CCC funding, and Section 32 authority.

    Direct Assistance Program

    Source of Funds

    This program is funded using the $9.5 billion emergency program secured in the CARES Act and $6.5 billion in Credit Commodity Corporation (CCC) funding.

    Payment Allocations

    USDA will provide $16 billion in direct payments to farmers and ranchers including:

    • $2.1 billion for specialty crops producers
    • $500 million for others crops

    Payment Calculations

    Producers will receive a single payment determined using two calculations:

    1. Price losses that occurred January 1 – April 15, 2020.
    2. Producers will be compensated for 85% of price loss during that period.
    3. The expected losses from April 15 through the next two quarters.
    4. Will cover 30% of expected losses.

    Limitations

    • The payment limit is $125,000 per commodity with an overall limit of $250,000 per individual or entity.
    • Qualified commodities must have experienced a 5% price decrease between January and April.

    Expected Timeframe

    Program Sign-up: Beginning in Early May

    Payment Distribution: End of May or early June

    Food Purchase and Distribution Program

    Commodity Procurement

    It will begin with the procurement of an estimated:

    • $100 million per month in fresh fruits and vegetables;
    • $100 million per month in a variety of dairy products;
    • $100 million per month in meat products.

    Distribution

    The distributors and wholesalers will provide a pre-approved box of fresh produce, dairy, and meat products to food banks, community and faith-based organizations, and other non-profits serving Americans in need.

    Additional Food Purchasing

    In addition to the two targeted programs, USDA will utilize other available funding sources to purchase and distribute food to those in need.

    • USDA has up to an additional $873.3 million available in Section 32 funding to purchase a variety of agricultural products for distribution to food banks. The use of these funds will be determined by industry requests, USDA agricultural market analysis, and food bank needs.
    • The FFCRA and CARES Act provided an at least $850 million for food bank administrative costs and USDA food purchases, of which a minimum of $600 million will be designated for food purchases. The use of these funds will be determined by food bank need and product availability.

     

    Further details regarding eligibility, rates, and other implementation will be released at a later date.

  • USDA COVID-19 Food Assistance Program to Support Farmers

    Summary

    By Schramm, Williams & Associates, Inc. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the $19 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to support farmers and ranchers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is comprised of two major elements: direct payments to farmers and ranchers and commodity purchase and distribution.

    • Direct Payments Program – Provides $16 billion in direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19.
    • Purchase and Distribution Program – $3 billion of agricultural products, including meat, dairy, and produce will be purchased to support producers and provided food to those in need. USDA will work with local food and regional distributors to deliver food to food banks, as well as community and faith-based organization to provide food to those in need.

    CFAP uses funding authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), USDA’s existing CCC funding, and Section 32 authority.

    Direct Assistance Program

    Source of Funds

    This program is funded using the $9.5 billion emergency program secured in the CARES Act and $6.5 billion in Credit Commodity Corporation (CCC) funding.

    Payment Allocations

    USDA will provide $16 billion in direct payments to farmers and ranchers including:

    • $2.1 billion for specialty crops producers
    • $500 million for others crops

    Payment Calculations

    Producers will receive a single payment determined using two calculations:

    1. Price losses that occurred January 1 – April 15, 2020.
    2. Producers will be compensated for 85% of price loss during that period.
    3. The expected losses from April 15 through the next two quarters.
    4. Will cover 30% of expected losses.

    Limitations

    • The payment limit is $125,000 per commodity with an overall limit of $250,000 per individual or entity.
    • Qualified commodities must have experienced a 5% price decrease between January and April.

    Expected Timeframe

    Program Sign-up: Beginning in Early May

    Payment Distribution: End of May or early June

    Food Purchase and Distribution Program

    Commodity Procurement

    It will begin with the procurement of an estimated:

    • $100 million per month in fresh fruits and vegetables;
    • $100 million per month in a variety of dairy products;
    • $100 million per month in meat products.

    Distribution

    The distributors and wholesalers will provide a pre-approved box of fresh produce, dairy, and meat products to food banks, community and faith-based organizations, and other non-profits serving Americans in need.

    Additional Food Purchasing

    In addition to the two targeted programs, USDA will utilize other available funding sources to purchase and distribute food to those in need.

    • USDA has up to an additional $873.3 million available in Section 32 funding to purchase a variety of agricultural products for distribution to food banks. The use of these funds will be determined by industry requests, USDA agricultural market analysis, and food bank needs.
    • The FFCRA and CARES Act provided an at least $850 million for food bank administrative costs and USDA food purchases, of which a minimum of $600 million will be designated for food purchases. The use of these funds will be determined by food bank need and product availability.

     

    Further details regarding eligibility, rates, and other implementation will be released at a later date.

  • California Olive Oil Day 2020 Recap

    Roughly 150 olive oil industry members were present at third annual California Olive Oil Day held in early March.  The day started at 9 a.m. with a session focused on maximizing grower profits through grove management. Leandro Ravetti, Technical Director at Modern Olives spoke about irrigation management in olive orchards for oil production. His presentation included important information on the best times to irrigate, frequency of irrigation, and soil and plant monitoring.

    Ravetti also stressed the importance of careful site and variety selection as well as grove design prior to planting, noting that these practices can help growers increase profitability in the long term.

    William Krueger, Farm Advisor Emeritus of Glenn County, provided the group with information on canopy management in olive orchards for oil production. Krueger’s talking points included row orientation, best hedging practices to increase sunlight exposure for super high-density groves, how to prune modern high density, proper times to prune and mechanical options.

    The session on grove management was followed by Q&A with an industry panel who spoke to their own orchards and experiences. Panelists included Ravetti and Krueger as well as Lizandro Magana, Director of Farming at California Olive Ranch and Jeff Colombini, an olive grower in Lodi. The session was moderated by Adam Englehardt.

    The next session of the day dealt with disease management to prevent reduced yields and improve quality. First to present was Dr. Florent Trouillas, Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis and Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Trouillas presented on the biology and control of Neofabraea in California and as well as his investigation into the occurrence and distribution of olive anthracnose in California.

    Through his research, Trouillas found that anthracnose was not present in commercial olive orchards in California. As for his research on Neofabraea, he discovered that the disease is emerging in California but remains limited to super high-density orchards at this time. This may be due to mechanical harvesting in SHD orchards, since the disease requires wounds on leaves and twigs to spread.

    Next Dr. James Adaskaveg from the Department of Plant Pathology at UC Riverside presented his research on epidemiology and management of olive knot and evaluation of new fungicides for the control of olive leaf spot/peacock spot. Adaskaveg recommended preventative care as the best means of managing these diseases. Since olive trees are most susceptible to olive knot and peacock spot at a point of injury, like that which occurs after mechanical harvesting and pruning, he recommended that trees be sprayed with a treatment the same day as the damage occurs.

    Dr. Askaskaveg also spoke about several new products that are in the process of being registered for use in California — an effort that has been made possible through research funded by the OOCC.

    During the Q&A portion of the session Adaskaveg, and Trouillas were joined by Paul Busalacchi, Director of Ag Operations at Corto and John Post, President, Agricultural Advisors to answer attendees’ questions.

    The final session featured Dan Flynn, Director of the UC Davis Olive Center who referred to California olives as “the crop of the future”. Flynn gave an update on the Olive Center as well as a recap of the year’s research. He also challenged growers to double yields by the year 2030, which some growers stated they thought was an achievable goal. His plan to help the industry achieve this included implementing a benchmark assessment of current production, conveying best practices in the New Olive Oil Production Manual and pushing higher yields through field research.

    All presentations from California Olive Oil Day can be found on the Research page of the OOCC website under the Research Presentations tab or downloaded below.

    Irrigation Management in Olive Orchards for Oil Production Canopy Management in Olive Orchards for Oil Production

    Biology and Control of Neofabraea in California and Investigating the Occurrence and Distribution of Olive Anthracnose in California

    Epidemiology and Management of Olive Knot and Evaluation of New Fungicides for Control of Olive Leaf Spot/Peacock Spot

    UC Davis Olive Center 

  • Updated Regs on Bulk Citrus Movement into HLB Quarantine Area

    Effective April 13, 2020, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will revoke Quarantine Commodity (QC) permit number 1486. QC 1486 originally authorized the intrastate movement of bulk citrus fruit from the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Bulk Citrus Regional Quarantine Zones 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7, into the Huanglongbing (HLB) quarantine area, without meeting the ACP-free performance standard.

    The motion to revoke QC 1486 was unanimously passed by the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee (CPDPC) at a committee meeting on March 11, 2020. CDFA subsequently approved the motion and will begin its implementation this month.

    “While the committee understands this revocation represents a change for a limited number of our industry partners, we have made this science-based decision because we believe the overall benefit these actions will have in protecting the industry against the spread of ACP and HLB will outweigh the added mitigation steps required of our growers and packers,” said Jim Gorden, chairman of the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program.

    Upon the effective date, all shipments of bulk citrus fruit into the HLB quarantine area, Bulk Citrus Regional Quarantine Zone 6, must meet the ACP-free performance standard, which includes field cleaning by machine or a preharvest treatment, and must be accompanied by the ACP-free declaration form. To download the ACP-free declaration form, please visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/pdfs/acp/ACPFreeDeclarationForm.pdf.

    Prior to shipment, growers must also notify the appropriate county agricultural commissioner’s office to which they will be shipping bulk citrus, as stated in the grower’s compliance agreement.

    “The committee based it’s response on the risk-based model, which indicated that movement of unmitigated fruit into the HLB quarantine presents a higher risk than we initially thought,” said Keith Watkins, chairman of the operations subcommittee of the CPDPP. “By potentially shipping psyllids into an area known to have HLB, we’re essentially throwing gasoline on the fire. These changes will not only create more uniform mitigation requirements, but allow us to future proof these regulations for any future HLB detections in new areas of the state.”

    Steps like this are critical in the fight to save California’s citrus industry from ACP and HLB, which has been found in residential areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties at an increasing rate. Now more than ever, it is important for the citrus industry to work together in preventing the spread of this harmful pest and disease.

    To review the full document for citrus growers and grove managers in an ACP bulk citrus regional quarantine zone or HLB quarantine area, please click here.

    For questions regarding this regulatory advisory, please contact Keith Okasaki at Keith.Okasaki@CDFA.ca.gov

  • Daily Avocado Consumption Improves Focus

    A diet including daily avocado consumption improves the ability to focus attention in adults whose measurements of height and weight are categorized as overweight or obese, a new randomized control trial found.

    Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign conducted the 12-week study, published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology.

    “Previous work has shown that individuals with overweight and obesity are at higher risk for cognitive decline and dementia in older age,” said kinesiology and community health professor Naiman Khan, who led the study. “We are interested in whether dietary approaches may have benefits for cognitive health, especially in midlife.”

    The Hass Avocado Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture supported this work.

    Avocados are high in lutein, a dietary component associated with cognitive benefits. Though avocado consumption’s benefits have been studied in older adults and children, no randomized controlled trials had studied its cognitive effects on adults with overweight or obesity, despite 70% of the American adult population falling into that category, said graduate student Caitlyn Edwards, the first author of the study.

    In the new study, the researchers provided 12 weeks of daily meals to 84 adults with overweight or obesity. The meals were identical in calories and macronutrients, but one group’s meals included a fresh avocado every day, while the control group had no avocado in their meals.

    At the beginning and end of the study, the participants completed three cognitive tests to measure attention and inhibition. In addition, the researchers measured lutein levels in the participants’ serum and in their retinas, which is associated with the lutein concentration in the brain.

    Graduate student Caitlyn Edwards and professor Naiman Khan performed the first randomized control trial looking at the cognitive benefits of avocado consumption for overweight or obese adults (Photo by L. Brian Stauffer).

    They found that the participants whose diets included avocados improved their performance on one of the cognitive tests, called the Flanker task, which measures attentional inhibition – the ability to maintain focus on the task at hand even in the face of distraction. However, there was no difference in the other two cognitive tests.

    “It could be that nutrients in avocados have a specific action in the brain that supports the ability to do this task in particular, or they could be more beneficial for certain cognitive abilities over others,” Khan said. “It’s also possible that with a longer study or different tests, we could see other effects. Other studies have found broader effects in other populations, so it is interesting to see a more specific benefit for this population.”

    Another unexpected finding was that, while the participants who ate avocados had higher levels of lutein at the end of the study, the changes in lutein levels were not correlated with their cognitive changes.

    “Avocados also are high in fiber and monounsaturated fats. It is possible that these other nutrients may have played a role in the cognitive effects we saw, but we focused on the lutein in our analyses,” Edwards said. “Future analyses may focus on other nutrients found in avocados, or avocado consumption’s impact on other measures such as weight status, inflammation and potential changes in the microbiome.”

    Although this study focused on avocados, other dietary sources of lutein, fiber and unsaturated fats – such as green leafy vegetables or eggs – also have potential cognitive and health benefits. The researchers say their study shows that small dietary changes, such as eating avocados, can have measurable impacts on cognitive performance, even when other health behaviors remain the same.

    “Our mission is to give people options. There are multiple ways people can eat to optimize brain health,” Khan said. “What we’re learning is that avocados may be one of those fruits that may be neuroprotective in certain ways. This work provides some evidence behind one option people have from a plethora of healthful foods that we can consume.”

    Editor’s notes: To reach Naiman Khan, email nakhan2@illinois.edu.

    The paper “Effects of 12-week avocado consumption on cognitive function among adults with overweight and obesity” is available online. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.12.006

  • Central Valley UC Farm Advisor’s Commitment to Help Hmong Farmers Prosper

    Keeping current on government regulations, agricultural marketing news and crop research advances can be challenging for California farmers, especially for those who speak English as a second language.

    Hmong farmers in the San Joaquin Valley can tune in at 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons to listen to farm-related news delivered to their radios in their native language from Michael Yang, UC Cooperative Extension small farms and specialty crops agricultural assistant for Fresno County.

    For the past 22 years, Yang has hosted the one-hour Hmong Agriculture Radio Show on KBIF 900 AM in Fresno to promote prosperity in the largely immigrant, small-scale Southeast Asian farming community. Yang provides advice on crop production and marketing.

    “Fresno County has a large number of small and diversified farms; we have over 1,300 Southeast Asian farms and over 900 are Hmong farmers, according to a survey we did in 2007,” Yang said. “I used to help 250 to 300 farmers every year, in the past couple of years it’s grown to about 400 farmers.”

    Hmong farmers sell sugarcane and other Asian produce in local markets, but the speciality crops command higher prices at farmers markets in larger urban areas of the state

    Yang not only speaks their language, he shares their culture and history. After his father was killed for assisting the U.S. during the Vietnam War, Yang, his mother and three younger brothers spent 4 years of his childhood fleeing on foot through the jungles of Laos, subsisting on vegetation and wildlife, to reach safety in Thailand. The refugee family eventually made it to Fresno, where they took up farming.

    The Hmong farmers grow Asian specialty crops including eggplant, lemongrass, long bean, squashes, bittermelon and moringa that they sell at farmers markets or to restaurants. Connecting Southeast Asian farmers to sell their produce at farmers markets has been a vital role for Yang, who serves as a translator and cultural interpreter between the immigrant farmers and farmers market managers. He explains the requirements for participating in the farmers markets and helps the farmers with paperwork and communication. Some growers drive as far as San Diego to get a higher price for their produce; the price can be three times as high at farmers markets in larger cities compared to Fresno.

    Sales of Asian specialty crops grown by Hmong and other Southeast Asian farmers in Fresno County are valued at about $17.5 million annually, according to the Agricultural Commissioner of Fresno County.

    Although Yang and colleague Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, UC Cooperative Extension small farms advisor, offer workshops and field days to share information, the radio show is an important information source because farmers can listen to the show while they work in the field. Because Hmong Agriculture Radio Show is such a critical tool for bilingual outreach, Dahlquist-Willard continually seeks grants to pay the $75 per show to the radio station. Of the 69 Hmong farmers who responded to a 2015 UC Cooperative Extension survey, 80% said they regularly listened to Yang’s radio show.

    “With the help of our Hmong Agricultural radio outreach, I have Hmong farmers calling our office for assistance from Tulare County up to Stanislaus County,” Yang said.

    In 2015, during the drought, Yang and Dahlquist-Willard began helping desperate farmers who were running out of irrigation water.

    “Wells were starting to dry up. Some Hmong farmers were reportedly calling suicide hotlines,” Dahlquist-Willard recalled. “For the ones with dry wells, it could cost $20,000 to $50,000 to drill a new well.” That is money that most of the farmers, who typically cultivate less than 50 acres, didn’t have.

    Eighty-seven percent of the Hmong farmers said their utility bills had risen during the drought. Yang, Dahlquist-Willard and Xai Chang, a young Hmong farmer working with UCCE, helped the farmers get a free PG&E rate analysis, which could help the farmers choose the best electric rate for their irrigation practices to lower the expense. The UCCE team also searched for financing to deepen wells for farmers who had difficulty qualifying for USDA loans and helped them apply for grants from the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program. With additional help from small farms assistant Jacob Roberson, the UCCE small farms team in Fresno has assisted 36 small-scale Hmong, Latino, and African-American farmers to implement SWEEP projects on a total of 846 acres. The small-scale growers have used SWEEP dollars to invest in technologies like energy efficient pumps, drip irrigation systems and flow meters to save water and reduce their energy costs.

    “Michael helped me get a grant to buy a new pump for drip irrigation,” said Xiong Pao Her, who grows about 100 crops throughout the year – including ginger, broccoli rabe, fennel, garlic, green onions, napa cabbage and kale – in Sanger. “It saves me water.”

    Obtaining land to farm can be difficult for small-scale farmers so the UCCE agricultural assistant connects farmers looking to rent land with landowners, and serves as a bridge for the language and cultural gaps between the two, according to Dahlquist-Willard.

    “There was an elderly couple and their daughter wanting to rent land to a Hmong family, and Michael sat down at the table with all the parties and helped them work out a lease agreement, such as requirements for liability insurance,” she said. “Land isn’t as available to rent as it used to be, but when it was, Michael would get frequent calls from landowners asking if he knew any farmers who would be interested in renting their land. The number of Southeast Asian farmers who have had a successful lease agreement or a successful farmers market stand because of Michael’s help is probably very large.”

    Recently Yang and Dahlquist-Willard partnered with California State University Fresno to produce a pesticide-safety video series for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. “We hope the videos help more farmers understand pesticide regulations and avoid fines, as well as improve their safe handling, selection and effectiveness,” said Yang.

    It’s not the first time Yang, who has been working for UC Cooperative Extension since 1993, has helped farmers navigate government regulations. Between 2005 and 2008, individual Hmong and Hispanic farmers were being fined between $14,000 and $26,000 for noncompliance with state labor regulations. To provide farmers with a clear understanding of the labor laws, Yang and Richard Molinar, then UCCE small farm advisor, partnered with a variety of community organizations to present information to farmers in English, Spanish, Lao and Hmong at community meetings, on the radio and television, and in trade magazines and newspapers.

    “Without the support provided by the UCCE, hundreds, if not thousands, of Hmong farmers would have been added to the victim list for not knowing or understanding the laws. The UCCE has gone many extra miles to fill gaps between enforcement agencies and the Hmong farming community,” Toulu Thao, a Hmong activist, said at the time.

    To help farmers decide which crops are most profitable to plant, Yang collaborated in the past with UC colleagues to estimate production costs for some Asian vegetables including sinqua, moqua, opo, longbean, bittermelon, oriental eggplant and lemongrass.

    Yang currently advises Hmong growers on about 200 crops and continues to learn about new ones as farmers market customers ask the growers to produce fruits and vegetables from other cultures.

    – By Pamela Kan-Rice, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

     

  • FSA Adjusts Farm Loan, Disaster, Conservation and Safety Net Programs

    FSA Services Available by Phone Appointment Only: USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices are open by phone appointment only until further notice, and FSA staff are available to continue helping agricultural producers with program signups, loan servicing and other important actions. Additionally, FSA is relaxing the loan-making process and adding flexibilities for servicing direct and guaranteed loans to provide credit to producers in need. FSA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only. While our program delivery staff will continue to come into to the office, they will be working with our agricultural producers by phone and using email and online tools whenever possible.

     

    “FSA programs and loans are critical to America’s farmers and ranchers, and we want to continue our work with customers while taking precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “We recognize that farm loans are critical for annual operating and family living expenses, emergency needs and cash flow through times like this. FSA is working to find and use every option and flexibility to provide producers with credit options and other program benefits.”

    FSA is delivering programs and services, including:

    • Farm loans;
    • Commodity loans;
    • Farm Storage Facility Loan program;
    • Disaster assistance programs, including signup for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (this includes producers now eligible because of losses due to drought and excess moisture in 2018 and 2019);
    • Safety net programs, including 2020 signup for the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs;
    • Conservation programs; and
    • Acreage reports.

    Relaxing the Farm Loan-Making Process

    FSA is relaxing the loan-making process, including:

    • Extending the deadline for applicants to complete farm loan applications;
    • Preparing Direct Loans documents even if FSA is unable to complete lien and record searches because of closed government buildings. Once those searches are complete, FSA would close the loan; and
    • Closing loans if the required lien position on the primary security is perfected, even for loans that require additional security and those lien searches, filings and recordings cannot be obtained because of closed government buildings.

    Servicing Direct Loans

    FSA is extending deadlines for producers to respond to loan servicing actions, including loan deferral consideration for financially distressed and delinquent borrowers.

    FSA will temporarily suspend loan accelerations, non-judicial foreclosures, and referring foreclosures to the Department of Justice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will make the determination whether to stop foreclosures and evictions on accounts under its jurisdiction.

    Servicing Guaranteed Loans

    Guarantee lenders can self-certify, providing their borrowers with:

    • Subsequent-year operating loan advances on lines of credit;
    • Emergency advances on lines of credit.

    FSA will consider guaranteed lender requests for:

    • Temporary payment deferral consideration when borrowers do not have a feasible plan reflecting that family living expenses, operating expenses and debt can be repaid; and
    • Temporary forbearance consideration for borrowers on loan liquidation and foreclosure actions.

    Contacting FSA

    FSA will be accepting additional forms and applications by facsimile or electronic signature. Some services are also available online to customers with an eAuth account, which provides access to the farmers.gov portal where producers can view USDA farm loan information and payments and view and track certain USDA program applications and payments. Customers can track payments, report completed practices, request conservation assistance and electronically sign documents. Customers who do not already have an eAuth account can enroll at farmers.gov/sign-in.

    FSA encourages producers to contact their county office to discuss these programs and temporary changes to farm loan deadlines and the loan servicing options available. For Service Center contact information, visit farmers.gov/coronavirus.

  • How Drones Can Help Farmers

    Have you seen a drone buzzing by in a park and wondered what all the fuss is about? These flying vehicles may seem like just an upgrade to the remote-controlled helicopters of yesteryear. But drones are receiving a lot of attention for good reasons.

    Drones can help people, including farmers and scientists, look at and analyze pretty much anything. When it comes to farm fields, they can help track flooding, hail damage, or even plant health — fast.

     

    “The easiest advantage of drones is that they can be a huge time saver,” says Jason de Koff, an extension professor at Tennessee State University. “Rather than going out and scouting fields on foot or by truck, they can scout them with a drone in a lot less time and pinpoint specific areas that they might want to visit for closer inspection.”

     

    But drones aren’t a toy, and they take training to use safely. In fact, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires drone pilots get certified to use drones legally. That’s why de Koff offers a webinar series through the American Society of Agronomy so farmers and researchers can learn about drones.

    Those FAA requirements are all about safety. Drones can only fly during daylight, to make sure they’re visible. And pilots must be able to see their drones at all times. Drones are also limited to flying under 400 feet to prevent them from colliding with airplanes. And drones can’t be flown near people who aren’t part of a flight. So, if someone buzzes their drone too close to you, they’re breaking the rules.

     

    Getting a remote pilot license takes more than just knowing what not to do. Weather is a big factor. If it’s raining or snowing, flying is impossible. But a professional drone can handle windy conditions. Plus, de Koff teaches how to read airport charts. These maps give drone pilots the info they need to stay away from passenger planes.

     

    In his course, de Koff covers these rules to prepare would-be drone pilots to take the FAA test. He also discusses the confusing world of commercial drones. More drones are becoming available all the time, which makes it hard to know which one to buy and how much to spend.

     

    “A good drone can cost around $1,200 to $1,800,” says de Koff. The toys that cost just a couple hundred dollars aren’t very useful to pros. “Purchasing a used or refurbished drone or an older model can help reduce the initial cost but still provide a lot of the same features.”

     

    There’s only so much you can learn about drones online. That’s why de Koff also takes drones around Tennessee so farmers can try them out firsthand.

     

    “Farmers get the chance to fly a drone,” says de Koff. “And then I talk about different uses in agriculture, drone regulations and then different types of drones and options as well as cost.”

     

    So, it takes a lot of work — and a good amount of money — just to start flying. But it can pay off for farmers and ranchers, and the scientists who want to help them. Ranchers can keep close eyes on their herds using drones to keep animals safe. Or drones can help farmers spot diseases on their crops. That knowledge could help farmers spray pesticide only at the time and place it’s needed.

     

    Plus, farms are bigger than they used to be. So, it can be hard for a farmer to see all their land. Farmers can use drones to keep up with their operations.

     

    But maybe the most exciting possibility is the chance to study how plants grow. Special cameras attached to drones can acquire a lot of information from a picture of fields. “Software is available that can take images captured by the drone and measure things like plant health, plant populations, plant cover,” says de Koff.

     

    That wealth of information can help scientists help farmers. Researchers could use that special software to tell when drought is starting to slow plant growth. Then water could be used where it’s needed most. Or software could automatically track how many weeds are in a field. Eventually, phone apps might be available that analyze drone images and give farmers the information they need to keep their farms running smoothly.

     

    So, with a little know-how — and the right license — farmers can turn to drones to grow food more efficiently. That’s better for their business, for consumers, and for the environment. Knowing how useful they are, you’ll never look at a drone the same way again.

     

    Learn more about de Koff’s recent webinar series by visiting the American Society of Agronomy.