California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: Vegetables West Magazine

  • Irrigation Strategies to Avoid Heat Damage to Cool Season Vegetables

    Currently, we are experiencing a prolonged heatwave on the central coast.  Heatwaves have become a recurring phenomenon in recent years, especially in late summer. With thousands of acres of cool season vegetables in the ground, irrigation will be critical for keeping crops cool and for supplying enough moisture to meet their water needs.

    Crops can be kept cool by maximizing evapotranspiration (ET).  As liquid water vaporizes heat is lost from the surfaces of leaves and soil and from the surrounding air, which cools the temperature of the crop.  Under water stress leaf stomates close during the hottest period of the day (11 am to 4 pm) and the temperature of the plant tissue can rise above the temperature of the surrounding air.  If the temperature becomes too great leaves and other plant parts may become scorched.

    Since most ranches have a limited number of wells and personnel to irrigate, it is challenging to assure that each field has adequate soil moisture to prevent plants from overheating.   A good strategy is to irrigate just enough to refill the soil profile to the rooting depth of the crop.

    To prioritize which fields to irrigate one should consider the water holding capacity and existing level of moisture of the soil, as well as rooting depth and developmental stage of the crop.  For example, a lettuce crop near maturity with a high ET demand, growing on a sandy textured soil that feels dry, should probably be irrigated soon.  A young lettuce crop with a low ET demand, growing on silt loam soil that still feels moist, likely can be irrigated later without suffering heat damage.

    Another consideration for prioritizing which fields to irrigate are recent field operations.  A recently transplanted vegetable field may need to be irrigated first but may not need a long irrigation to re-saturate the soil around the roots.  A crop that was recently cultivated may have pruned roots, and therefore may need water soon to prevent wilting under these hot conditions.

    Table 1 estimates how much moisture is available to a vegetable crop between saturation and moderately dry or dry conditions for different soil textures.  This table can be a guide for how much water should be applied to re-saturate the soil.  For example, applying 0.42 inches per foot of rooting depth will bring a moderately dry silty clay soil back to saturation.  Applying more than this amount of water will likely over-saturate the root zone.

    Table 1. Estimated plant-available moisture for different textured soils.

    Also, estimating the cumulative crop ET since the last irrigation can guide how long to irrigate. Reference ET values between south Salinas and Soledad during this hot spell have been as high as 0.27 inches per day.  If the crop has a full canopy, 0.25 to 0.3 inches for each day since the last irrigation would be a good rule of thumb for how much water to apply as long as the total does not exceed the water holding capacity of the soil.

    Lastly, one needs to convert the amount of water to apply to an irrigation run-time.  To make this calculation one needs to know the application rate of the irrigation system. For impact sprinklers, the application rate can be estimated using Tables 2-4.  Note that pressure and nozzle size have a significant effect on application rate.  For drip, the irrigation time will depend on the tape discharge rate and pressure, as well as the spacing of drip lines.  Assuming that the drip system is operated at the pressure recommended by the manufacturer (usually 8 to 10 psi) one can use Table 5 to approximate the application rate.  For example, for one drip line of medium flow tape (0.45 gpm/100 ft) on 40- inch wide beds the application rate of the drip system is 0.13 inches per hour. If there are several drip lines per bed then multiply the application rate in the table by the number of drip lines.

    The appropriate run-time can be estimated by dividing the amount of water to apply by the application rate of the irrigation system.  For example, to apply 0.6 inches of water to a field with drip using medium flow tape the water would need to run for 4.6 hours:

    Hours to operate the irrigation system = 0.6 inches of water/0.13 inches per hour = 4.6 hours

    Summary

    Irrigating the right amount of time to bring the soil back to saturation will maximize crop ET during these hot days, and hopefully prevent any heat damage to crops.  Also, consider visiting the CropManage website (cropmanage.ucanr.edu) for further guidance on scheduling irrigations. This online tool can assist growers in quickly estimating how much water to apply to meet crop water needs.

    Table 2.  Sprinkler application rate for varying pressures and nozzle diameters for a solid set spacing of 30 × 30 feet (Rainbird 20JH).
    Table 3.  Sprinkler application rate for varying pressures and nozzle diameters for a solid set spacing of 30 × 33.3 feet (Rainbird 20JH).
    Table 4.  Sprinkler application rate for varying pressures and nozzle diameters for a solid set spacing of 30 × 40 feet (Rainbird 20JH).
    Table 5.  Drip application rates for varying bed widths and tape flow rates estimated for 1 drip line per bed.  Multiply the rate in the table by the number of drip lines per bed to determine the actual application rate.  (For 3 drip lines on an 80-inch bed multiply by 3)
    “— By Michael Cahn, UCCE Farm Advisor, Monterey County”

  • California Farmland Trust Elects & Appoints New Leadership

    With a passion for preserving California’s farmland, California Farmland Trust (CFT) is proud to share the results of those elected to serve our Board of Directors as well as new board member appointments.

    “We’re honored to have such well-known and well-respected individuals serve on the CFT board” shared Charlotte Mitchell, CFT Executive Director. “Our board members each bring professional skills and a passion for agriculture that serve in furthering our mission and protecting farmland.”

    Newly Elected Officers

    Jon Harvey, President

    Jon Harvey retired from Cisco as a Hardware Engineer Manager and is now a ski patroller at Sugar Bowl. A former board member of Brentwood Ag Land Trust (BALT), Harvey joined the CFT board in 2018, following the BALT and Central Valley Farmland Trust merger that formed California Farmland Trust. Harvey became immersed in land conservation at a young age, when he recognized the connections between his appreciation for wildlife, a family history of farming, and his love for fresh food.

    Patrick Johnston, Vice President

    Patrick Johnston lives in Brentwood where his family has farmed since 1923. He is currently a partner in Dwelley Family Farms, growing both conventional and organic fruits and vegetables. He was a board member of the Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust, until its merger with Central Valley Farmland Trust to form CFT.

    Maxwell Norton, Secretary

    Maxwell Norton is a retired Farm Advisor with the UC Cooperative Extension, and a founding member of the Merced County Farmland and Open Space Trust, which later formed the Central Valley Farmland Trust.  He is the Past President of the Merced County Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the California Association of Farm Advisors and Specialists, and Past Chairman of Merced County Economic Development Task Force.

    Ken Oneto, Treasurer

    Ken Oneto resides in Elk Grove where he grows cherries, walnuts, dry beans, tomatoes and wine grapes on the family farm.  He is a graduate of the California Ag Resources Training Program and the Ag Leadership Program.  He was a founding member of the Sacramento Valley Ag Land Conservancy which helped to form the Central Valley Farmland Trust, and currently serves as the President of the Sacramento County Farm Bureau.

    Newly Appointed Board Members

    Ryan Jacobsen

    Ryan Jacobsen resides in Fresno, where he currently serves as the CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. He is the first board member to serve the organization from Fresno County.  Jacobsen currently serves as president of the Fresno Irrigation District Board of Directors, secretary/treasurer of the Kings River Water Association and president-elect of the Rotary Club of Fresno. He is also the host of the television show, Valley’s Gold.

    Theresa Kiehn

    Theresa Kiehn is the Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of AgSafe. Her career also included a tenure with the Great Valley Center, where she supported the formation of the Central Valley Farmland Trust. In addition to her current role, she serves on the Turlock Farmers Market Board of Directors, the Salas Family Foundation, is a member of Modesto Downtown Rotary and is engaged in a variety of capacities with her faith-based community.

    The California Farmland Trust is a California Non-Profit 501(c)(3). Our mission is to help farmers protect the best farmland in the world. To date, we have protected 16,708 acres of farmland on 77 family farms. To learn more visit us: www.cafarmtrust.org

  • New CA Blackeye Varieties Show Resistance to Cowpea Aphid

    Field trials in the Central Valley with two new varieties of blackeye beans, CB74 and CB77, show impressive resistance to cowpea aphids compared to standard CB46, CB5, and CB50 lines. Four varieties of blackeyes including CB46, CB77, CB74, and CB5 were seeded into a blackeye CB50 field, in single lines on 30-inch beds in the Sacramento Valley in May 2020 (Photo 1). By mid-summer, CB50, CB46, and CB5 were heavily infested with aphids (photo 2), whereas CB74 and CB77 were clean (photo 3).

    Photo 1. Blackeye variety trial, Sacramento Valley, 2020; left to right, CB46, CB77, CB74 (early maturing), and CB2 compared to the standard CB50 line planted in the field on the far left.

    Cowpea aphids are serious insect pests of blackeyes. These aphids can quickly colonize plants and cause injury by direct feeding and injecting toxic saliva into plants, leading to stunted growth or death of plants. Sticky honeydew released by the aphids can stimulate black mold growth on plants, reducing photosynthesis and plant health. Cowpea aphids also vector a number of viral mosaic diseases that can cause serious losses in many crops. Biological control cannot be relied on because natural enemies often appear when cowpea aphid infestations are already high and causing serious damage. Applying pesticides early in the season prevents cowpea aphid infestations but beneficial insects can be destroyed, leading to outbreaks of other insect pests. Thus, the development of cowpea aphid resistant blackeye lines is an important breakthrough in managing this pest.

    Photo 2. Heavy cowpea aphid pressure on blackeye bean CB46 leading to significant yield and quality losses.

    Blackeye beans, also known as cowpeas, or blackeye peas in southern states, are an important food crop worldwide. In California, about 8,000 acres are grown annually for dry or canned blackeye bean markets. These new blackeye bean lines are being developed by the UC Riverside blackeye breeding program, led by Drs. Phil Roberts and Bao Lam Huynh, with support from the California Dry Bean Advisory Board and the US AID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research (formerly Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Grain Legumes). The aphid resistance and other traits have been introgressed into California Blackeye elite backgrounds using natural selection and new molecular markers to expedite the breeding process. Compared to standard varieties, CB74 and CB77 also have more stable yields resulting from heat tolerance, better tolerance to lygus bugs, and equivalent resistance to Fusarium wilt and root-knot nematodes.

    Photo 3. Adjacent CB77 blackeye plants show high levels of resistance to cowpea aphid infestations.

    Blackeye variety observation trials are being conducted in fields by UCCE Farm Advisors Rachael Long, Sarah Light, and Nick Clark in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, in collaboration with local farmers. More information on blackeye beans can be found in the Blackeye bean production manual for California, UC ANR 21518, http://beans.ucanr.edu/files/226601.pdf. The lead UC bean breeders hope to have these lines available to farmers within the next few years. – By Rachael Freeman Long, UCCE Farm Advisor

  • Broomrape: a Parasitic Weed in CA Processing Tomato

    Figure 1: Branched broomrape infestation in a processing tomato in California.

    Branched broomrape (Phelipanche ramosa), a weedy parasitic plant that can cause devastating damage to many economically important wide range of broadleaf crops including tomato, cabbage, potato, eggplant, carrot, pepper, beans, celery, peanut and sunflower has recently re-emerged in fields in Central Valley counties in California. This weed utilizes a modified root, called haustorium, to fuse into a host plant root and extract nutrients and water which can greatly reduce productivity or even kill the host depending on the level of infestation, susceptibility of the host, and environmental conditions. Tomato is highly susceptible to branched broomrape. In the United States, California accounted for over 90% of the 12 million tons of tomatoes grown in 2018. Studies in Israel showed that at extreme infestation levels broomrape can cause processing tomato yield losses as high as 70%. The annual losses in tomato due to broomrapes in Israel and Turkey are estimated at $5 and $200 million, respectively. Up to 80% crop loss due to branched broomrape has been reported in tomato in Chile which is highly concerning given the similarity in production systems and broomrape species with California.

     
    Figure 2: A close view of a flowering branched broomrape

    Branched broomrape is currently classified in California as an “A” pest, that is, “an organism of known economic importance subject to California State enforced action involving: eradication, quarantine regulation, containment, rejection, or other holding action”. As a potentially severe economic pest and as a California “A-list” pest, establishment and spread of a branched broomrape in California tomato production regions could cause severe consequences for individual growers and for the entire tomato industry. Currently, discovery of broomrape in a commercial tomato field leads to a hold order and crop destruction without harvest. In addition to branched broomrape, several fields have been reported with infestations of Egyptian broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca), a Q-listed species (that is, having a temporary “A” classification pending determination of permanent rating by California State), causing similar industry and grower concerns.

     
    Figure 3: Hundreds of tiny branched broomrape seeds (0.2 – 0.4 mm) and the single capsule from which the seeds were sourced.

    In the United States, branched broomrape was first reported in 1890, and since then, over 150 occurrences of branched broomrape have been documented. In recent times, reports of branched broomrape in the United States have been increasing; from 7 occurrences in 2015 to 65 in 2019. Branched broomrape has been documented in Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and California. In California, the first reported case of branched broomrape was in Butte County (1903) and later in Alameda County (1929). Other counties in California with reported branched broomrape detections include Colusa, Sacramento, San Benito, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, Ventura and Yolo.

    Figure 4: Distribution of branched broomrape in California as of November 10, 2019. Data source: Calflora and GBIF 2019

    A severe infestation of branched broomrape in the Sacramento Valley in 1959 prompted an intervention that involved soil fumigation with methyl bromide to target the soil seedbank; this was as an industry-led effort funded through a legislative marketing order program. Branched broomrape became a less significant problem after that effort which involved research, intensive field surveys, and fumigation of infested fields and equipment from 1973 to 1982 that cost over $1.5 million. However, this parasitic weed has recently been detected in several tomato fields in Yolo, Solano (Egyptian broomrape) and San Joaquin Counties. The cause of the re-emergence of the problem remains unclear, although re-introduction or recurrence from long-dormant seed in the soil and subsequent spread have been speculated.

    Figure 5: A branched broomrape plant attached to a volunteer tomato root in a processing tomato field in mid-June.

    The re-emergence of branched broomrape in California is of concern to the processing tomato industry as: 1) the experience in other regions of the world has demonstrated the extreme vulnerability of tomato to branched broomrape parasitism, 2) broomrapes seem likely to rapidly establish and spread in California because of the similarity to the species’ native climate, (3) repeated cultivation of processing tomato in the same fields, (4) the cultivation of a wide range of hosts (e.g. carrot, sunflower, safflower) in California, (5) intensive agricultural practices that could rapidly spread broomrape seeds to uninfested fields, (6) the production of copious number of minute seeds could easily disperse via machinery and irrigation water in the highly mechanized and irrigated cropping systems of California, (7) seed longevity (> 20 years) allows the parasite to persist even in the absence of any hosts, and (8) the major part of the parasite’s lifespan occur underground, making it inaccessible to conventional means of weed control such as cultivation and contact herbicides, (9) some of the important management tools (e.g. herbicides known to be effective in controlling broomrapes) are not yet registered or tested in California, (10) regulatory and environmental challenges with soil fumigation practices.

    Research efforts are currently being made to further understand, and develop detection and control approaches for branched broomrape in tomatoes and other specialty crops in California. For more information about branched broomrape in California, please see:

    http://tomatonet.org/branchedbroomrape

    http://tomatonet.org/img/uploadedFiles/Broomrape/CTRI_2019_NEWSLETTER.pdf

    https://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/news/broomrape-eradication-high-priority-uc-researchers

    – Article By O. Adewale Osipitan, Brad Hanson, Matthew Fatino & Mohsen Mesgaran (UC Cooperative Extension)

  • More Eligible Commodities for USDA Coronavirus Aid

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11th, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these tough times.

    “President Trump is standing with America’s farmers and ranchers to ensure they get through this pandemic and continue to produce enough food and fiber to feed America and the world. That is why he authorized this $16 billion of direct support in the CFAP program and today we are pleased to add additional commodities eligible to receive much needed assistance,” said Secretary Perdue. “CFAP is just one of the many ways USDA is helping producers weather the impacts of the pandemic. From deferring payments on loans to adding flexibilities to crop insurance and reporting deadlines, USDA has been leveraging many tools to help producers.”

    Background:

    USDA collected comments and supporting data for consideration of additional commodities through June 22, 2020. The following additional commodities are now eligible for CFAP:

    • Specialty Crops – aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (french parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga, and yuca/cassava.
    • Non-Specialty Crops and Livestock – liquid eggs, frozen eggs and all sheep. Only lambs and yearlings (sheep less than two years old) were previously eligible.
    • Aquaculture – catfish, crawfish, largemouth bass and carp sold live as foodfish, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical fish, and recreational sportfish.
    • Nursery Crops and Flowers – nursery crops and cut flowers.

    Other changes to CFAP include:

    • Seven commodities – onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts and watermelons – are now eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding for sales losses. Originally, these commodities were only eligible for payments on marketing adjustments.
    • Correcting payment rates for onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons.

    Additional details can be found in the Federal Register in the Notice of Funding Availability and Final Rule Correction and at www.farmers.gov/cfap.

    Producers Who Have Applied:

    To ensure availability of funding, producers with approved applications initially received 80 percent of their payments. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will automatically issue the remaining 20 percent of the calculated payment to eligible producers. Going forward, producers who apply for CFAP will receive 100 percent of their total payment, not to exceed the payment limit, when their applications are approved.

    Applying for CFAP:

    Producers, especially those who have not worked with FSA previously, are recommended to call 877-508-8364 to begin the application process. An FSA staff member can help producers start their application during the phone call.

    On farmers.gov/cfap, producers can:

    • Download the AD-3114 application form and manually complete the form to submit to their local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically or by hand delivery to their local office or office drop box.
    • Complete the application form using the CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center.
    • If producers have login credentials known as eAuthentication, they can use the online CFAP Application Portal to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center.

    All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap. For existing FSA customers, these documents are likely already on file.

    All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Our program delivery staff will be in the office, and they will be working with our producers in the office, by phone and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

  • Regenerative Organic Certified™ (ROC™) Standard Is Open For Business

    The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), a group of experts in farming, ranching, soil health, animal welfare, and fair trade, is proud to announce that the Regenerative Organic Certified™(ROC™) certification standard for food, fiber, and personal care products has completed its pilot phase and is now open for general certification. Additionally, the ROA is thrilled to announce the availability of the first ROC products in the marketplace.

    Before being eligible for ROC, farms must first hold USDA organic certification. ROC then adds further criteria to ensure soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness, making it the highest standard for organic agriculture in the world. By choosing an ROC product, consumers can know at a glance that their purchase supports farm workers, soil health and pasture-based animal welfare. The new certification also has three levels—bronze, silver, and gold. The levels require farms and businesses to phase in more rigorous regenerative organic practices over time.

    The Regenerative Organic Alliance was formed in 2018 to promote regenerative organic farming as the highest standard for agriculture around the world. ROA exists to heal a broken system, repair a damaged planet, and empower farmers and consumers to forge a brighter future through better farming. And the time is now: COVID-19 has quickly revealed the underlying risks and inequalities in the global food system. Many farmers, doctors, and scientists agree that fixing our broken food system and adhering to regenerative organic practices is one of the tools we have to improve human health, as shown in a new white paper recently released by Rodale Institute and The Plantrician Project.

    The ROA first established the Regenerative Organic Certified standard in 2018, then conducted a pilot program the following year to test the standard on real farming operations around the world. The intent of the pilot was to gather participants’ feedback in order to improve the process and the standard’s criteria. With the initial pilot program completed, the ROA will increase the number of approved certifiers and will begin certifying new brands, effective immediately in partnership with their program manager, NSF International.

    “The journey to become Regenerative Organic Certified has been unique for each of our pilot program participants, with significant learnings along the way,” said Elizabeth Whitlow, Executive Director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance. “The success that these leading, regenerative organic businesses have achieved in only one year is proof that ROC is not only a viable and attainable certification, but that indeed we are shaping the future of agriculture supply chains and consumer demand for truly regenerative organic products. I look forward to growing the certification in the years ahead with many more brands.”

    Consumers can now find the first group of Regenerative Organic Certified products wherever organic products are sold. In addition, PatagoniaProvisions.com has shifted their website to now serve as the definitive e-commerce source for ROC products, ROC pilot products, and products “on the road” to becoming certified, from many different brands and product categories.

    Several participants from the 2019 ROC Pilot Program have earned the first ROC designations, demonstrating their commitment to the environment, soil health, animal welfare and fair labor standards. The first brands and farms to display the Regenerative Organic Certified label include:

    • Apricot Lane Farms: Avocado Oil from Moorpark, CA
    • Dr. Bronner’s: Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil from Serendipol Ltd. in Sri Lanka
    • Nature’s Path: Oats from Legend Organic farm in Saskatchewan, Canada
    • Grain Place Foods: Popcorn and Cornmeal from Marquette, NE
    • Patagonia Provisions: Regenerative Organic Chile Mango from Sol Simple, Masaya, Nicaragua
    • Lotus Foods: Brown and White Basmati Rice from Rohini, India
    • Sol Simple: Banana from Masaya, Nicaragua
    • Other farms and businesses that received certification with products forthcoming:
      • Tablas Creek Vineyards: Paso Robles CA
      • Herb Pharm: Williams OR
      • Guayaki Yerba Mate: Misiones, Argentina

  • UnitedAg Celebrates 40 Years of Ag Healthcare

    UnitedAg is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its founding in 1980. In celebration of its achievements, UnitedAg will host a series of virtual events throughout the year to share with its members the challenges and milestones of the last 40 years.

    UnitedAg’s CEO and its Board pictured with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.

    “Reflecting on the past 40 years, we at UnitedAg are filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment. With the help of meaningful relationships, support, and feedback from our membership, we have made an instrumental impact in the Agricultural Healthcare industry in a powerful and meaningful way,” said Kirti Mutatkar, President and CEO of UnitedAg.

    In 1980, the members of UnitedAg intuitively knew they needed a unique health plan to meet the needs of the agricultural workforce within the state. They sought a health plan that would operate on a non-profit basis, offer a diversity of plan designs, and offer customer service designed to accommodate the needs of the ag employees. These employers created UnitedAg Benefit Trust (an ERISA multiple employer welfare arrangement) that grew from 6 small farms to more than 1,000 companies, associates, cooperatives, and partnering agricultural associations.

    The goal of UnitedAg is to be the most member-centric innovative health benefits provider for agriculture. They believe in always seeking creative ways to improve the healthcare experience of its members. Throughout the years, UnitedAg has developed an array of innovative benefits and services to meet the needs of the ever-changing agricultural industry. Today, UnitedAg proudly represents over 55,000 farmworkers and has grown to over $198 million in annual contributions.

    UnitedAg celebrates the grand opening of its second Health & Wellness Center in Santa Maria.

    “We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each member of our UnitedAg family for your steadfast support. Your individual and collective contributions have played an integral part in our on-going success and impact in the agricultural industry,” said Veronica Urzua-Alvero, Vice-Chair of UnitedAg.

    As UnitedAg kicks off its 40th year, the organization looks back at all that they have achieved for the agricultural industry and look forward to the new opportunities that await:

         •   The 40th Anniversary Virtual Happy Hour – UnitedAg hosted a series of virtual happy hour events as an opportunity for members to network, connect, and share memories.

         •   Anniversary Edition Quarterly Newsletter – This special edition of the Quarterly Newsletter will feature memorable moments throughout the 40 years. The newsletter will be available for members in late July.

         •   Memorable Moments – The anniversary video will look back at UnitedAg’s history as well as feature anniversary wishes from long-standing members.

         •   Annual Silent Auction – Benefiting UnitedAg’s Education Foundation, the virtual silent auction will take place on August 14 through August 20.

         •   The Annual Health Benefits Forum – The annual virtual health forum will take place Thursday, August 20, at 9:00 am. This year marks the 7th anniversary of this special event at which top health industry leaders will present the latest health trends.

         •   CFO Forum – Coming early October, the member-focused forum will feature a panel of financial experts. They will offer advice on what they are seeing, what employers can expect, and what the short and long-term impacts of COVID could be for employers.

    Josephine Goodrich, UnitedAg Founder William C. Goodrich & UnitedAg President/CEO Kirti Mutatkar

    A.J. Cisney, Chairman of UnitedAg said, “I have been so fortunate to be involved with United Ag for the last eight years. To witness such transformational growth while keeping the focus on our members has been fun to watch. The culture of service and innovation is second to none. Simply put, nobody in the industry does it better. The foundation that was laid 40 years ago was strong, and we’ve continued to build on it every year since. It has been my honor to serve as Chairman during such an exciting time. Happy Anniversary United Ag! I can’t wait to see what we accomplish next.”

    About UnitedAg

    UnitedAg, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2020, is a multi-commodity member-owned agricultural trade association dedicated to providing innovative healthcare solutions for a strong and healthy agricultural industry. Headquartered in Irvine, Ca., UnitedAg is committed to bringing innovative solutions to agribusiness by meeting its member’s employee health benefits needs, advocating for ag with lawmakers, and helping members comply with regulations. For more information, visit www.unitedag.org, Facebook, and Twitter @UnitedAgOrg.

  • USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification

    USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for federal funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program(OCCSP). Applications for eligible certification expenses paid between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020, are due Oct. 31, 2020.

    “For producers producing food with organic certification, this program helps cover a portion of those certification costs,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “Contact your local FSA county office to learn more about this program and other valuable USDA resources, like farm loans and conservation assistance, that can help you succeed.”

    OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Eligible expenses for cost-share reimbursement include application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage.

    Changes in Reimbursement

    Due to expected participation levels and the limited funds available, FSA revised the reimbursement amount available through fiscal year 2023. Certified producers and handlers are now eligible to receive reimbursement for up to 50 percent of the certified organic operation’s eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $500 per scope.

    This change is will allow a larger number of certified organic operations to receive assistance.  If Congress authorizes additional funding, FSA may provide additional assistance to certified operations that have applied for OCCSP, not to exceed 75 percent of their eligible costs, up to $750 per scope.

    The changes to the payment calculation and maximum payment amount are applicable to all certified organic operations, regardless of whether they apply through an FSA county office or a participating state agency. State agencies that are interested in overseeing reimbursements to producers and handlers in their states must establish new agreements with FSA for fiscal 2020.

    Opportunities for State Agencies

    Today’s announcement also includes the opportunity for state agencies to apply for grant agreements to administer the OCCSP program in fiscal 2020. State agencies that establish agreements may be able to extend their agreements and receive additional funds to administer the program in future years.

    FSA has not yet determined whether an additional application period will be announced for state agencies that choose not to participate in fiscal 2020. States that would like to administer OCCSP for multiple years are encouraged to establish an agreement for fiscal 2020.

    FSA will accept applications from state agencies from Aug. 10, 2020 through Sept. 9, 2020.

    State Agencies must submit the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 and 424B) electronically via Grants.gov, the Federal grants website, at http://www.grants.gov.

    More Information

    To learn more about organic certification cost share, please visit the OCCSP webpage, view the notice of funds availability on the Federal Register, or contact the FSA county office at your local USDA Service Center. All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors may also be required to wear a face covering during their appointment.

    To learn more about USDA support for organic agriculture, visit usda.gov/organic.

  • Pollinator Partnership Announces Three New Designations for Bee Friendly Farming

    Pollinator Partnership (P2) is proud to announce enhancements and improvements to its Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) program to better recognize engage and support BFF participants and pollinators everywhere. The new BFF program will have three categories that allow them to engage with all participants at a finer scale while addressing their goals: Bee Friendly Farming Certified, Bee Friendly Farming Partner and Bee Friendly Farming Garden.

    Bee Friendly Farming Certified designation will apply to large-scale commercial farms, ranches, wineries and other land-use businesses that grow food and other resources. This certification will require compliance at registration and every third year to be validated in the seven specific criteria required to qualify. “From habitat to cover crops to best management practices, the Bee Friendly Farming Certified mark will identify farms engaged in science-based Bee Friendly Farming practices,” said BFF Coordinator Miles Dakin. “This enables us to enhance grower and pollinator benefits through greater engagement in nutrition, habitat, biodiversity and other guidelines.”

    Bee Friendly Farming Partner includes sponsorship from individuals and companies, as well as apiarists, who do not actively manage their own landscapes but wish to support the BFF program. Multiple tiers of sponsorships are available to provide the resources necessary to build and maintain the BFF program.

    The third category of recognition, Bee Friendly Farming Garden, includes smaller landscapes, community gardens and homeowners who voluntarily adhere to the seven criteria of Bee Friendly Farming actions. By separating and reorganizing these distinct members, BFF can better recognize the different contributions by farmers, apiarists, home gardeners, community members and commercial sponsors to support vital pollinators.

    Photos courtesy of Geoffrey Thurner, California State University Fresno

    “After conversations with long-standing participants, environmental groups, grower associations and sponsors, we saw a clear need to further refine the BFF experience and to add a level of scrutiny and permanence to the certification aspects of Bee Friendly Farming,” said Laurie Davies Adams, President of Pollinator Partnership, parent organization of Bee Friendly Farming. “This new tri-level approach will still recognize existing affiliates as BFF Partners, while taking a great step forward for the dedicated agricultural community that seeks rigorous and validated certification of its adherence to best practices for pollinators. In all instances, BFF will provide excellent guidelines for all levels of BFF practitioners.”

    The three categories have slightly different criteria and benefits. Some currently certified historic BFF participants may fall into a different category and will be contacted about the changes.

    Visit www.beefriendlyfarming.org for more information on Bee Friendly Farming and to learn how you can participate.

    ABOUT POLLINATOR PARTNERSHIP (P2) Established in 1997, the Pollinator Partnership is the largest 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the health, protection, and conservation of all pollinating animals. P2’s actions for pollinators include education, conservation, restoration, policy, and research. P2’s financial support comes through grants, gifts, memberships and donations from any interested party. P2’s policies are science-based, set by its board of directors, and never influenced by any donor. To make a donation or for information on events during Pollinator Week visit www.pollinator.org.

  • Research Gives Possible Answers to Increase Pollinator Populations on Farms

    Many living creatures live in soil. Though their sizes range from microscopic soil microbes to larger animals like gopher turtles, they all call soil their “home.” Included in these ground-dwelling species are bees – vital in the pollination cycle of about 90% of plant life.

    Rebecca Lybrand and her team at Oregon State University are studying the interaction between the bees and soil in agricultural settings.

    According to the recently-published paper, bees contribute $15 billion to crop value annually. They pollinate about three-quarters of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts within the United States alone. Declines in honeybee colonies are a critical threat to agriculture and the global food supply.

    “Growers who are interested in attracting alternative pollinators, such as wild bees, face a major challenge,” says Lybrand. “There are not many studies about what habitats are best for these wild bees.”

    Pollinators are widely affected by human land use. Creating buildings, parking lots and other “anthropogenic changes” disrupt the natural habitats of animals and plants. Agricultural disturbance also affects bee communities. Interestingly, above-ground bee species are nine times more affected by agricultural intensification than ground-dwelling species.

    In some cases, growers have been able to build “bee beds” in their farm setting. In the 1950s, they started to design moist, salty soil areas to attract ground-nesting bees that helped increase alfalfa yields in Washington state.

    Lybrand’s study looked at physical and chemical properties of soils collected from active bee and sand nest wasp sites in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. They compared soil properties among seven farm sites to identify similarities and differences.

    The Willamette Valley has wet winters with warm, hot summers. The team first found agricultural sites that contained ground-nesting bees. They collaborated with farmers who observed ground-nesting bee activity around their fields.

    The nests are only identified by rather small holes (only 3-5mm). The team only collected data if they observed bees entering the nest. Nests and holes can remain even after the bees leave. At the study site, they specified the type of bee to the family level (i.e. “bee” versus “genus” and “species”.) But they also collected some bees to bring back to the lab for further identification.

    The data the team collected in the field included soil temperature, pH, and soil texture. They also collected soil samples to bring back to the lab for analysis.

    Findings from the study included that active nesting sites were present in locations with little to no rock cover and low vegetation. Nesting sites were found in areas with low organic matter coverage. The slope of the land didn’t seem to have any influence, nor did a north/south-facing aspect.

    “One of our observations confirmed that active emergence holes remained open throughout the year,” says Lybrand. “They didn’t swell shut during the wetter, cooler seasons – despite having clay in the soils that might cause shrinking and swelling.”

    An interesting finding from the research is that the team found lipids in the soil nest linings. The lipids may provide a type of waterproofing for the nests and their inhabitants.

    “Because the large majority of wild bee species nest in the soil, studies about how to best attract them to farms are important,” says Lybrand. “Soil scientists and entomologists can partner with growers to identify soil habitats that support and attract more of these pollinators to agricultural lands. Improving our understanding of the connections between agriculture and the soils that bees, crops, and living organisms rely on to survive is important. Our research also provided a framework for studying ground-nesting organisms – an area of soil science that is underrepresented.”

    Looking to the future, Lybrand says, “future research should also integrate methods that identify bees and/or wasps to the species level. That would allow for interpretations of the results from an ecological point of view. Another question to follow up on could be the nature and purpose of the lipids found in the soil nest linings, to confirm their actual role.”

    This research was published in Soil Science Society of America Journal. Funding for this project came from an Agricultural Research Foundation grant via Oregon State University.

    American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Crop Science Society of America: Collectively, these Societies represent more than 12,000 individual members around the world. The scientists’ memberships build collaborating partnerships in the agronomy, crops, and soils science fields for the advancement of knowledge.