MyFreshFruit.com Publication Articles

August 1, 2008
Certified Crop Advisor Exam
Sacramento, CA. For more information, visit www.cacaa.org
August 1-3, 2008
Monterey Bay Strawberry Festival
Watsonville, CA. For more information, visit www.calstrawberry.com/members/calendar.asp?month=8&year=2008
August 5, 2008
California Raisin Marketing Board
Board of Directors Meeting. Fresno, CA. For more information, visit www.calraisins.org/meeting_notices/8-5-08-full-board.pdf
August 9, 2008
California Fig Advisory Board
5th Annual Fig Fest
California State University, Fresno. For more information, visit www.californiafigs.com/press/index.html
August 10, 2008
Citrus Research Board
Board of Directors Meeting
Double Tree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court, Bakersfield, CA
For more information, visit www.citrusresearch.org/frameset.html
August 10, 2008
Allied Grape Growers 2008 Annual Membership Meeting
Pardini’s Banquet Facility – Fresno, CA. For more information, visit www.alliedgrapegrowers.org/calendar.html
August 10-12, 2008
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Washington Conference
Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.ncfc.org/events
August 12, 2008
California State University, Fresno
Viticulture & Enology Research Center’s Annual Grape Day
Fresno, CA. For more information, visit www.alliedgrapegrowers.org/calendar.html
August 17-18, 2008
California Association of Winegrape Growers
Board of Directors Meeting
Embassy Suites Hotel – Sacramento, CA. For more information, visit www.cawg.org/index.php?option=com events&task=view_detail&agid=35&year=2008&month=07&day=17&Itemid=157
August 25-27, 3008
Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference and Exposition
Monterey, CA. For more information, visit www.pma.com/foodservice/
August 26-28, 2008
United Fresh Produce Association Training for a Recall, Communicating Under Fire Seminar
Clarion Hotel – Yakima, WA. Fore more information, visit www2.unitedfresh.org/forms/MeetingCalendar/
August 27, 2008
California Citrus Mutual Board of Directors Meeting
For more information, contact CCM at 559-592-3790
August 28, 2008
Annual Ventura County Strawberry Production Meeting
Camarillo, CA. For more information, visit www.calstrawberry.com/members/calendar.asp?month=8&year=2008.
September 10 -12, 2008
United Fresh Produce Association
2008 Washington Public Policy Conference
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel – Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www2.unitedfresh.org/forms/MeetingCalendar/

FDA Releases Updated Advice for Packers and Shippers in Wake of Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreaks
In response to the myriad of issues surrounding the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration has added the following Advice for Packers and Shippers of Fresh Produce to their website:
PACKING/COOLING FACILITIES
Maintain packing and cooling facilities in good condition to reduce the potential for microbial contamination.
Remove as much dirt as practicable outside of the packing facility.
Clean pallets, containers, or bins before use; discard damaged containers.
Keep packing equipment, packing areas, and storage areas clean.
Store empty containers in a way that protects them from contamination.
Establish and maintain a pest control program.
Maintain temperatures that promote optimum produce quality and minimize pathogen growth.
Keep air cooling and chilling equipment clean and sanitary.
Keep water and ice clean and sanitary.
Manufacture, transport, and store ice under sanitary conditions.
Worker Health and Hygiene
Train employees to follow good hygienic practices including basics, such as proper handwashing techniques.
Offer protection to workers who may have cuts or lesions that may come in contact with fresh produce.
If employees wear gloves, be sure the gloves are used properly and do not become a vehicle for spreading pathogens.
TRANSPORTATION
Proper transport of fresh produce will help reduce the potential for microbial contamination.
Good hygienic and sanitation practices should be used when loading, unloading, and inspecting fresh produce.
Inspect transportation vehicles for cleanliness, odors, obvious dirt and debris before loading.
Maintain proper transport temperatures.
Load produce to minimize physical damage.
More information is available in the complete Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
To view additional information from the FDA regarding the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, visit www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html#produce
Governor Schwarzenegger Joins Latino Water Coalition to Highlight Need for Safe, Reliable and Clean Water
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger participated in a press conference in late July hosted by the Latino Water Coalition to discuss the urgent need for comprehensive water reform that increases storage, improves conveyance, protects the Delta’s ecosystem and promotes greater water conservation.
“Water is important to everything we care about in California-to our economy, our agriculture, our jobs, our families, our environment and our future-but we have fallen far behind,” Governor Schwarzenegger said. “With a drought, court-ordered water restrictions, an increasing population, and agricultural fields being left fallow because of inadequate water, passing a comprehensive water plan that voters can approve this November is more important than ever before to making sure that California has the water it needs to keep our economy strong and our people working.”
On July 10, the Governor and Senator Dianne Feinstein proposed a compromise plan to the Legislature to update California’s water system that would put the state on the path toward restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, expanding water supplies and promoting conservation efforts that will ensure a clean, reliable water supply for California.
In June, the Governor issued an executive order declaring a statewide drought, which directed his state agencies and departments to take immediate action to address the serious drought conditions and water delivery reductions that exist in California. He also proclaimed a state of emergency in nine Central Valley counties to address urgent water needs: Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern.
California’s current drought has been caused by a number of factors including two years of below-normal rainfall, an eight year drought on the Colorado River Basin and court-ordered restrictions on water deliveries from the Delta.
This year’s drought has already significantly damaged California’s economy. According to estimates by California’s Department of Food and Agriculture, as of July 11, California had lost $245 million in crop losses, with Fresno suffering the largest amount at $73.5 million and Kern at $69.5 million in losses. Due to California’s water shortages, there have been housing and business projects delayed and jobs lost.
The crisis is no less severe for our fisheries and critical environmental resources. In two of the past three years, our once thriving Pacific salmon fisheries have been simply shut down as former salmon strongholds throughout the state have become dangerously imperiled. The populations of Delta smelt and other native Delta fish have collapsed to tiny fractions of their former levels. Threats from aquatic invasive species, toxic discharges and pesticides abound.  Restoring our fisheries and our riparian ecosystems in the face of all these challenges will require bold action.
The $9.3 billion bond proposal that the Governor and Senator Feinstein have proposed includes the following elements from all stakeholders and is a compromise approach that will move California toward a reliable water future:
Increased water storage to ensure our water supply is more reliable year-to-year and we’re able to capture excess water in wet years to use in dry years
Improved water conveyance to reduce water shortages
Restored Delta ecosystem to allow California to take control of its own water systems
Increased conservation and tools to use water more efficiently
Dried Plums Offer Natural Antioxidant Alternatives for Sausages
Formulation of pre-cooked pork sausages with a puree of dried plums were liked by consumers just as much as sausages made with the synthetic antioxidant BHA and BHT, according to research published in this month’s Journal of Food Science.
Moreover, the puree did not adversely affect the flavour profile of the sausages when used at a concentration of three per cent, report researchers from the University of Oriente in Venezuela and Texas A&M University.
Interest is growing in plant-derived food additives as replacements to synthetic antioxidants like butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) to slow down the oxidative deterioration of food.
Indeed, according to Frost and Sullivan, the synthetic antioxidant market is in decline, while natural antioxidants, such as herb extracts (particularly rosemary), tocopherols (vitamin E) and ascorbates (vitamin C) are growing, pushed by easier consumer acceptance and legal requirements for market access.
The new research, funded by the California Dried Plum Board and Texas AgriLife Research, suggests that purees of dried plum, or dried plum mixed with apple, may be used as food ingredients in ready-to-eat meat products, like pre-cooked pork sausages, roast beef and ham.
Typically, the oxidative deterioration of meat and meat products is caused by the degradation reactions of fats and pigments. Oxidation processes in food can lead to organoleptic deterioration in taste, colour and texture.
To view the complete story, visit www.foodqualitynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=86149&c=KrRubAp2pXZd9ux8qelCnA%3D%3D
Parducci Named First Carbon Neutral Winery in U.S.
In the effort to champion sustainability a family-owned winery in Northern California has taken a giant step forward for itself and the wine industry.
Parducci Wine Cellars of Ukiah has become the nation’s first carbon-neutral winery, converting to a 100-percent green power platform that includes solar and wind power.
Walking around the Parducci grounds in Ukiah, marketing and sales coordinator Kelly Lentz says that the company has a long and fascinating story that combines care for the community with land stewardship values.
However, the company’s values have taken on a deeper shade of green since 2004, when former Fetzer winemaker Paul Dolan partnered with the Thornhill family to form Mendocino Wine Co. and purchased Parducci Wine Cellars.
“We’ve been working towards green ever since we bought the company,” Dolan said.
Dolan himself is considered a leader in the sustainability movement, working in both organic and biodynamic wine production. It’s a conversation that he said he’s been involved with for 20 years of his three-decade wine industry career. He’s also written a book on the subject.
So when he had the chance to purchase the area’s oldest winery and take some groundbreaking actions, he jumped at the chance to integrate the ideas he’s developed.
To view the complete story, visit http://capitalpress.com/main.asp?SectionID=94&SubSectionID=801&ArticleID=41044
Parcel Sniff Dog Finds Mislabeled Mangoes; Attorney General’s Office Files Against International Shipper
A parcel inspection dog named C.C., working last year near Ontario International Airport, sniffed out a mislabeled box of mangoes from India. The detection set in motion a year-long investigation culminating in a lawsuit brought by the California Attorney General’s Office against an international shipping company. Bombino Express was the label on the package. The complaint alleges that the company regularly shipped mislabeled produce to skirt state and federal inspection and treatment regulations designed to protect against invasive species.
“This is an important example of the risk we face from invasive species introduction each day in California,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “This type of situation is one of several ways that new spot infestations of exotic pests develop. We are pleased to partner with the Attorney General’s office in the pursuit of this lawsuit, and we salute the excellent work of parcel inspection dogs and their handlers.”
According to state and federal law, fruit imported from India must be treated before being sent to the United States. The packages must then be accompanied by certificates stating that they were treated. This apparently did not occur for the mislabeled mangoes.
C.C. is a Labrador-mix working for the San Bernardino County Agricultural Commissioner’s office in a joint county/state/federal demonstration project aimed at the re-introduction of parcel sniff dogs throughout the state. Currently, Contra Costa County is also using dogs for parcel inspections in the Bay Area, and there are plans to assign dogs this year in San Diego, Sacramento and Fresno counties. Due to early successes with the demonstration project, funding could be made available through the Farm Bill to help expand the program.
C.C. was rescued from an animal shelter in Florida and trained as a parcel sniff dog by the USDA. The dog and her handler, Michael Cochrane, regularly screen parcels shipped into California via Ontario International Airport.

David Haviland
and Jennifer Hashim-Buckey
U.C. Cooperative Extension Kern County
Vine mealybug is one of the most prolific pests of table grapes. Its exponential growth rate and affinity for feeding within clusters close to harvest make its management of highest priority for grape growers dealing with infested vineyards.
Traditionally, vine mealybug is managed with a combination of post-harvest and/or delayed-dormant Lorsban treatments in combination with in-season treatments of the growth regulator buprofezin (Applaud), and neonicotinoids such as Admire or Venom. However, in many cases these treatment programs do not suffice and additional contact insecticides are needed close to harvest to keep the clusters free of mealybugs.
Over the past few years, methomyl (Lannate) has been the product of choice for late-season insecticide treatments aimed at keeping clusters free of mealybugs. This has been due to its contact mode of action and ability to use the product close to harvest when PHIs for other products preclude their use†.
In late May of 2008 we conducted an insecticide trial to evaluate the effectiveness of 1 lb of Lannate, as well as an alternative program of a tank mix of 2.5 oz of Assail 30SG and 12 oz of Applaud 70DF, on vine mealybug. The trial was located in a bearing, two-year old vineyard that was grafted over to ‘Summer Royal’ in 2006. A total of 0.4 acres was divided into 12 plots that were each 2 rows by 10 vines long, and that were each assigned in a randomized complete block design to one of the two treatments or an untreated check. Treatments were applied at 200 GPA on 20 May using an air-blast sprayer. Plots were evaluated prior to treatment, 3 days after treatment (DAT), 8 DAT and 17 DAT by doing timed searches on six or eight vines in the center of each plot. Searches were performed by stripping bark and counting all motile forms of vine mealybug that could be found within 3 minutes.
Results showed that Lannate and the Assail/Applaud tank mix both caused significant reductions in the number of vine mealybugs per 3-minute search on all post-treatment evaluation dates. Comparisons of the two treatments to each other revealed no significant differences, with both knock-down and residual activity very similar.
There are, however, some additional considerations that growers and PCAs should make when interpreting this data for their own use. On one hand, efficacy of these treatments is likely overestimated because 1) bark stripping the trunk during our pre-counts caused increased exposure of the mealybugs to the pesticides than would occur normally, and 2) vines were young and therefore had relatively small amounts of bark compared to mature vines. On the other hand, efficacy of these treatment programs is likely underestimated because 1) at our treatment timing most mealybugs were still under the bark and not as exposed as they would be when mealybugs get up on the leaves and enter the clusters, and 2) timed searches underestimate high mealybug populations. This means that vines with low populations might have every mealybug counted during the 3 minutes, whereas only a portion of the mealybugs can be counted in 3 minutes on a heavily infested vine.
In conclusion, both the Lannate and the Assail/Applaud treatments provided good knock-down of vine mealybug close to harvest. However, these treatments were far from perfect, and should only be utilized as a last resort. This is especially true due to the cost of the Assail/Applaud tank mix, as well as the ongoing regulatory scrutiny of Lannate residues that has the potential to cause table grapes to be removed from the label.
Means in a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P > 0.05, Fisher’s protected LSD) after square root (x + 0.5) transformation of the data. Untransformed means are shown. ■

The 2008 Farm Bill has a tremendous impact on all aspects of the agricultural industry. The following is a synopsis of various titles of the legislation prepared by Professor Carl Zulauf with the Ohio State University Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics.
Title II: Conservation
Reduces maximum acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) from 39.2 to 32 million
Authorizes a pilot program to allow CRP to enroll 1 million acres of wetland and buffer acres
Permits managed harvesting (includes for biomass) and wind turbines on CRP land provided the activity is consistent with environmental goals (including wildlife) — CRP rent is reduced
Creates an incentive program to transition CRP land being returned, in whole or in part, to production by retired or retiring farmers to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers
Increases acres in the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) from 2.275 to 3.0412 million
Redesigns Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) (current Conservation Security Program)
Producer must meet the stewardship threshold for at least 1 priority resource concern
Expands CSP by 12.8 million acres per year
Increases acres in the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) by 1.22 million by 2012
Authorizes additional funds for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Reduces the payment limit from $450,000 to $300,000
Doubles funding for the Farmland Protection Program (FPP)
Creates a Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative to encourage producers to cooperate to meet conservation priorities on agricultural land and nonindustrial private forest land
Funded at 6% of all conservation program spending, excluding CRP, WRP, GRP, and FPP
Directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish technical guidelines that outline science-based methods to measure the benefits of environmental services from conservation and land management activities — a stated priority is guidelines for carbon markets
Guidelines will provide a framework to facilitate participation of farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in markets for environment services
Denies conservation program payments to anyone whose average adjusted gross nonfarm income during the previous 3 tax years exceeds $1 million unless the person’s (entity’s) average adjusted gross farm income is two-thirds or more of average adjusted total gross income
Title III: Trade
Requires a study of the type and quality of commodities and products donated for food aid
Makes organic agricultural commodities eligible for the Market Access program
Modifies export credit guarantee programs to address the World Trade Organization ruling on the U.S. cotton case
Clarifies that the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust should be used for humanitarian emergencies
Creates a pilot program to assess the local and regional procurement of food aid
Establishes an importer declaration program for designated softwood lumber and products
Title IV: Nutrition
Renames the Food Stamp Program the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Increases the funding for SNAP by $7.8 billion over 10 years
Raises minimum benefit to $14 (was $10), then sets it equal to 8% of the Thrifty Food Plan cost for an individual
Increases standard deduction and asset limits; indexes them to Consumer Price Index
Excludes child care expenses and education and retirement accounts when calculating eligibility
Replaces coupons with EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards as of the Bill’s enactment
Existing coupons must be redeemed by the end of 1 year
Authorizes and funds pilot studies of using SNAP to improve health and reduce obesity
Allows schools to specify geographic preferences, such as locally produced, for unprocessed agricultural products
Increases funds for fresh fruits and vegetables in schools (equals $150 million in 2011/12)
Increases section 32 funds for fruits, vegetables, and nuts (equals $206 million in fiscal 2012)
Nearly doubles Emergency Food Assistance funds to purchase commodities for food banks
Title V: Credit
Increases per farmer limit on Farm Service Agency direct farm ownership loans and direct operating loans to $300,000 (each program) — first increase since 1986 (limits were $200,000)
Authorizes a new pilot program for low-income, beginning producers to promote matched savings accounts to purchase land, breeding stocks, fruit and nut trees, and trees for timber
Enhances existing programs for beginning and socially disadvantaged producers and establishes a new program to guarantee loans for contract land sales of $500,000 or less
Title VI: Rural Development
Authorizes funds for numerous infrastructure needs in rural areas — includes water and waste disposal, broadband service in underserved areas, firefighting and emergency medical service
Clarifies the definition of rural for several situations and programs, including the meaning of rural areas near cities of 50,000 or more
Creates a new program to have self-identified rural areas, usually containing more than 25,000 people, collaboratively develop plans for increasing regional investment strategies
Funds grants for a market development program for businesses to add value to agricultural products
Requires a study of rural transportation issues, including capacity and facility investment
Title VII: Research and Related Matters
Adds food and agricultural sciences awards for research and extension to the existing award for teaching
Authorizes an endowment fund, capacity-building grants, and competitive grants for Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities
Amends section on indirect costs for agricultural research, education and extension programs by (a) striking ‘‘a competitive’’ and inserting ‘‘any’ and (b) striking ‘‘19%’’ and inserting ‘‘22%’’
Enhances research, education, and extension programs for organic agriculture, bioenergy and energy efficiency, specialty crops, beginning producers, and agricultural and rural transportation
Requires preparation of a roadmap to set USDA’s research, education, and extension agenda
An Under Secretary, also designated Chief Scientist of USDA, shall organize a new Research, Education and Extension Office to coordinate USDA’s research programs and activities
Creates a new National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to administer competitive grants, traditional land grant (Hatch, Smith-Lever, etc.), and capacity and infrastructure programs
Title VIII: Forestry
Establishes these priorities for private forest conservation: (1) conserve and manage them for multiple use/values, (2) protect them from threats to forest health, and (3) enhance their public benefits
Requires an assessment of a state’s forest resources and identification of long term strategies for them in order to receive Federal funds
Authorizes a community forest and open space conservation program to provide matching funds to local governments to buy private forests that (1) are threatened with conversion to non-forest use and (2) provide public benefits to communities
Addresses issues involving National Forest land and Indian tribes, including reburials and the temporary closure of National Forest land for tribal traditional and cultural purposes
Establishes an emergency program to restore private forests after natural disasters
Title IX: Energy
Amends the federal programs for purchasing preference and labeling (‘USDA Certified Biobased Product’) of biobased products
Actions include requirements for designating such items, including intermediate ingredients and feedstocks, and establishing a deadline for implementing the labeling program
Funds production incentives, loan guarantees, and grants as well as research, development, and education programs for advanced biofuels
Advanced biofuels are fuels derived from renewable biomass other than corn kernel starch
Among various uses, funds can be used for (1) incentives to produce biomass, (2) demonstration and commercial refineries, (3) incentives to produce advanced biofuels, (4) biomass research and development, and (5) biodiesel education
Authorizes funds, grants, and loan guarantees to farmers and small rural businesses to use renewable energy and improve energy efficiency, including energy audits and feasibility studies
Authorizes studies to assess (1) the infrastructure for biofuels and (2) the potential to produce fertilizer from renewable energy
Title X: Horticulture and Organic Agriculture
Requires USDA to conduct a census of specialty crops as part of the Census of Agriculture
Provides $33 million over 5 years for farmer markets, including agri-tourism activities
Mandates $224 million over 5 years for block grants to states to address specialty crop issues
Creates a new plant pest and disease cooperative program between USDA and states for early detection and response activities against invasive species and other plant health threats
Authorizes increases in funding for the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program and the National Organic Program
Requires USDA to collect price, production, and other data for organic commodities
Payments shall be made to producers of the 2007 crop of asparagus for market losses resulting from imports during the 2004 through 2007 crop years
Title XI: Livestock
Reaffirms current law to require retailers (not restaurants) to provide country-of-origin labels by 9/30/2008 for fresh beef, lamb, pork, and fish (farm raised and wild); produce, and peanuts
Adds goat meat; chicken (whole and parts), ginseng, pecans, and macadamia nuts
Addresses labels that designate the county of origin as the U.S., foreign, or multiple
Provides authority to audit anyone who prepares, stores, handles, or distributes the covered commodity for retail sale for the verification of country of origin, but notes that required information is to be generated in the normal conduct of business
Issues addressed regarding production contracts for poultry and swine include (1) conditions under which a producer can cancel a contract, (2) requirements of additional large capital investments during the contract, and (3) arbitration.
Enables a producer to litigate disputes where the principle production occurs (in other words, not at the contracting company’s headquarter)
Permits USDA to approve interstate shipment of state-inspected meat and poultry from small establishments in states that meet federal requirements
Permits USDA to develop a voluntary, fee-based grading program for catfish and other species of farm-raised fish and shellfish if an appropriate petition is received requesting such a program
Title XII: Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance
Authorizes $170 million in assistance for commercial and recreational members of fishing communities affected by the salmon fishery failure in California, Oregon, and Washington
Makes changes in the Small Business Disaster Loan Program
Title XIII: Commodity Futures
Reauthorizes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) through 2013
Addresses CFTC authority over retail foreign currency transactions
Increases criminal and civil penalties for market manipulation
Extends CFTC oversight of significant price discovery contracts traded on exempt commercial markets
Title XIV: Miscellaneous
Several provisions address socially disadvantaged and limited resource producers, including outreach and technical assistance, as well as accurate documentation in the Census of Agriculture
Enables late filers in the Pigford vs. Glickman consent decree to resubmit claims
Directs USDA to create an Office of Advocacy and Outreach for small farms and ranches, beginning farmers and ranchers, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
Creates an Office of Homeland Security within USDA for agricultural biosecurity issues and authorizes research, teaching, and community outreach grants
Establishes Southeast Crescent, Southwest Border, and Northern Border regional commissions
Goal is to leverage public and private sector resources for basic business and infrastructure development
Prohibits the closure or relocation of Farm Service Agency county or field offices for 2 years
Title XV: Trade and Tax Provisions
Excludes Conservation Reserve Program payments to retired or disabled individuals from self-employment taxes
Establishes a tax deduction for the costs of management practices related to recovery plans under the Endangered Species Act
Authorizes a cellulosic biofuel production tax credit of $1.01/gallon through 12/31/2012
Reduces the ethanol incentive from 51¢/gallon to 45¢/gallon beginning in 2009
Extends the tariff on imported ethanol through 2010
If a taxpayer has received direct or counter-cyclical payments, or Commodity Credit Corporation loans; the farming loss that may offset non-farm business income is limited to the greater of $300,000 or the taxpayer’s net farm income over the last 5 years.
Losses that are limited can be carried forward. ■

Dave Sanden, Public Affairs Specialist
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Red Bluff Area Office
When Phil LaRocca first took over what is now LaRocca Vineyards in the highlands of Butte County, it was “pretty much just bare dirt.”
The previous owner had farmed a large vineyard here, and the location was well suited for producing excellent wine grapes. But constant disking for weeds throughout the growing season and other unsuccessful cultivation methods had mostly ruined the land, and he had given up.
Severe erosion on the steep hillsides had washed away the topsoil. Wide gullies and deep ditches had formed throughout the vineyard, and the surrounding forest was encroaching into the unpruned and neglected vines.
The desolated soil was rock-hard, devoid of crucial organic matter. LaRocca says that you could actually watch the water— as it was raining — bounce off the soil. “The gullies formed by erosion were so bad in some spots that you couldn’t drive a tractor over them,” LaRocca said.
The land at that time, nearly 25 years ago, looked nothing like it does today. But when LaRocca looked out at that deteriorated landscape — the crusty brown earth, the gullies, the dead and dying vines — he had a vision. He saw what he knew the land could be— what he would make it— fertile and green.
LaRocca is an organic farmer. His family, who came from Sicily, had always farmed that way. They didn’t call it organic in years past, but that’s what it was. LaRocca’s grandparents and uncles grew fruit and vegetables using traditional methods that relied on farming skill and prevention rather than synthetic chemical products.
LaRocca said that when he started he was the only one in the county operating an organic commercial vineyard. As he searched for help in his restoration project, it seemed that nobody knew quite how to deal with him and organic farming.
LaRocca first teamed up with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in the mid 1980’s. “At that time there wasn’t an NRCS office in Butte County,” LaRocca said. “So I worked with Wendell Gilgert, the NRCS district conservationist in Glenn County, and Fred Thomas, an agricultural consultant in Butte County. Luckily they both had some understanding of organic farming.”
LaRocca said that he initially signed up for cost-share assistance through the old Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP). “ACP funding was very limited,” he said. “But the information that NRCS had available was vast. And if they didn’t have it, they would direct you to it.”
Gilgert and Thomas helped LaRocca to assess his resource issues and to work out a long range restoration plan. “Wendell introduced me to Fred,” LaRocca said. “Fred came out here, and the first thing he said was to take the disk and throw it off a cliff! Together we were able to work out a whole program of composting and cover crops to restore the quality of the soil,” he said.
NRCS helped LaRocca with planning, technical assistance and cost-share assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to restore the land to what it is today: a fertile and productive vineyard capable of producing a variety of premium organic wines in a sustainable way.
“Practices that Phil has implemented include cover crops, lots of composting and mulching to rebuild the soil, an access road, fencing, and management for upland wildlife habitat,” said NRCS Soil Conservationist Gabriel Garbarino, who works closely with LaRocca.
“I started by pulling out brush from the encroaching forest, LaRocca said. “We chopped it up and threw it into the gullies and ditches, composting until we built up the soil. I also composted tons and tons of ruined alfalfa that I got from a neighbor. For more than a year we filled the ditches with rotted alfalfa.”
“In the early days, we were putting on lots of lime,” LaRocca continued. “We had to adjust the soil because the calcium-magnesium ratio was totally out of balance. We were putting on 5 to 6 tons of compost and 5 to 6 tons of lime per acre, and manure, just pouring on whatever I could get my hands on.”
With EQIP assistance, LaRocca established permanent cover crops throughout his 110-acre vineyard. “Through years of experimentation Phil has come up with a carefully tailored mixture of grasses and legumes called the LaRocca Mix,” said Garbarino. “That mixture benefits the soil and vineyard in many ways: holding the soil in place, building organic matter, increasing nitrogen, improving tilth and water percolation, suppressing weeds, and even providing pest control,” he said.
LaRocca likes to share what he’s learned about the benefits of cover crops, especially with students at Butte College where he teaches courses on viticulture, vineyard management, and organic farming methods.
“I have rose clover and crimson clover and two subterranean clovers,” said LaRocca. “I use common vetch, Blando brome, and Zorro fescue. And I also added sour clover  to the mix, which is very expensive and very hard to source. I throw it in the mix because the roots are what they use to make a popular rodenticide. I use it as a gopher preventive, and have seen good results. It’s an extra expense, but I think it’s worth it.”
“I use vetch because it grows so well here,” LaRocca said. “Many vineyards don’t like to use vetch because it crawls into the vines. You’ve got to use common vetch because it’s the lowest growing. The organic matter that you can get off of the vetch is incredible.”
“In the first two years you need to put on a lot of fertilizer,” LaRocca said. “In a good organic system, you should be able to taper off on your fertility. And I got to that point.”
“For years we were putting in compost, lots of it, 5 to 6 tons to the acre,” said LaRocca. “Now we’ve built up so much organic matter that I don’t even shred my prunings. I always leave them on the ground. And if you come back here in May, you will not find a pruning. This ground just eats up the prunings.”
“The health and vitality of Phil’s vineyard is a great example of what can be accomplished through conservation planning and an innovative approach,” Garbarino said. “The years of work that have gone into repairing the soil and the mineral and water cycles are now paying dividends with a vibrant agro-ecological system.”
“NRCS taught me a lot,” said LaRocca. “They introduced me to cover crops, and that’s worth a million dollars. The cost-sharing also really helps.” ■

Imagine using less water and less fertilizers on your crops, yet produce higher yields and healthier plants and trees. That’s the result of a unique partnership between agricultural giants Limoneira Company, The Newhall Land & Farming Company and the second largest green waste recycler in California, Agromin.
Both ag companies use mulch produced by Agromin on hundreds of acres of farmland.
Limoneira, one of California’s largest agribusinesses, partnered with Agromin in 2004 to develop a five-acre green materials recycling facility on Limoneira land in Santa Paula. The facility receives 200 tons of green materials a day from surrounding municipalities, which is then converted into about 125 tons of mulch. The mulch is distributed throughout Limoneira’s lemon and avocado orchards.
“Our trees have healthier root systems because of the nutrients in the mulch,” says Alex Teague, senior vice president at Santa Paula-based Limoneira Company. “Crop production has increased 10 percent and the quality of fruit has improved.”
Since using Agromin mulch, Teague says Limoneira’s water usage is down 32 percent. So is the use of herbicides and pesticides. Erosion is also in check.
The partnership happened almost by accident. Agromin was looking for a new location for one of its facilities. “Limoneira is a leader in sustainable agriculture. When we saw the opportunity to obtain high quality urban mulch from a quality operator, we jumped at the chance,” says Teague. “We are guaranteed, day in and day out, quality materials for our land. Plus, we are helping the environment by keeping waste out of the landfill.”
The Agromin-Newhall Land partnership is relatively new. Formed in 2007, Agromin maintains a seven-acre green materials recycling facility on the Newhall Ranch. Agromin receives about 250 tons a day of green materials, collected locally from Valencia and the Santa Clarita Valley. The facility produces about 100 tons of mulch which is used on 250 acres of Valencia orange and lemon groves.
“Before partnering with Agromin, we used synthetic-based fertilizers to maintain our fruit trees,” says Mike Mendes, general manager of agriculture for Newhall Land. “Now we are reusing a sustainable mulch product and reducing expenses at the same time. By working with Agromin, we only incur the expense of spreading the materials.”
Mendes notes that the company now uses less herbicide since mulch helps prevent weed growth. “Our trees are healthy and the soil fertility has improved. The soil is now full of earthworms,” he says.
Creating a sustainable process was also important to Newhall Land when deciding to use recycled green materials for its agriculture operations. “What was once a waste product is now a valuable resource for our company,” says Mendes. “We’re able to use local green materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill, turn it into mulch, and use it locally in our orchards. We are completing the circle of environmental sustainability.”
Agromin is the green materials recycler for 19 cities in Ventura, Santa Barbara and parts of Los Angeles counties. It receives over 20,000 tons a day of urban green waste (grass clippings, leaves, branches) at its five processing facilities. The materials are then cleaned of plastics, glass, paper and other “non-green” items. It is chopped and spread into long composting rows where it is watered and turned for about 45 days. Tiny microbes transform the green waste into nutrient-rich compost and eventually mulch.
“Facilities onsite at Limoneira and Newhall make it easy to distribute the mulch directly to the orchards,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin’s CFO. “Our three other processing locations distribute products to additional ag companies, municipalities, landscapers and to consumers who can buy in bulk or bag.”
Agromin’s compost complies with the requirements of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). Agromin is one of only five companies in the country that produces plant-only compost products approved by the non-profit organization. OMRI-listed products may be used in certified organic production or food processing according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program.
“OMRI approves the products used to grow or produce organic foods,” explains Camarillo. “Farmers who grow organic products can use our ‘Compost 100’ in their fields as part of their effort to comply with USDA organic standards.” Agromin soil products are also certified by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). The certification means Agromin has met the USCC standards for compost content and its soil products are clean and safe.
“We cannot continue to put synthetic products into the soil and expect it to be healthy,” says Teague. “Using mulch made from urban green waste in a natural fit. It’s common sense to work with Mother Nature not against her.” ■

Sarah Clark Woolf
Westlands Water District
In the last month, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of crops have been abandoned and destroyed in California’s Central Valley because there is not enough water to keep them alive. Hundreds of jobs have been lost. Businesses throughout the valley are beginning to close. Families have been displaced. School enrollments are falling. The need for public services is on the upswing for working families who have lost their livelihood.
The drought currently gripping California has caused cutbacks in water deliveries for two-thirds of the state’s residents – all of them dependent upon supplies pumped through the Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta. But the impact is falling most heavily on the state’s farmers. And the problem is not just the result of a natural phenomenon.
The shortages in natural precipitation have been compounded by judicial rulings that ordered severe cutbacks in the delivery of supplies from the state’s water system in order to protect an endangered species of tiny fish called the Delta Smelt. As a result, hundreds of thousands of acre feet of the state’s freshwater supplies have been left to float out into the ocean.
This combination of environmental and economic crises has helped to focus public attention on the need to fix the state’s broken water system. A special blue ribbon task force composed of many of the state’s leading water experts concluded earlier this year that repairing the environment of the Delta and restoring the reliability of the state’s water delivery system are dual objectives that are inseparably linked. We cannot solve one without also addressing the other.
A comprehensive environmental assessment has been launched. And Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California Senator Dianne Feinstein recently announced a renewed effort to pass a major bond package to begin the process of repairing this critical component of the state’s infrastructure.
California has had droughts before. Why is this crisis so much worse than anything we have faced in the past? Part of the answer is population growth. The existing water system was built to serve a much smaller number of people than now live here – and those totals continue to rise every year.
But it is also true that we are experiencing the consequences of a dramatically changed landscape of ecosystem investment and water system operations since the last major drought to hit California and Congress changed the rules for operating the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) 15 years ago.
In that brief period, the Delta has become the focus of a number of significant planning processes that start with the recognition that the Delta is broken from many perspectives. Fisheries are in decline, water supplies that move through it for the people and farms of California are inadequate and unreliable, water quality issues persist, a major earthquake induced collapse is quite likely, and the ecosystem has become dominated by invasive species – some of which are harmful to the food chain and native fisheries.
Since 1992, when Congress re-ordered the priorities of the CVP a significant amount of change has occurred for the farmers on 3 million acres of irrigated land served by the project and the five million households served by it:

Over $1 billion has been invested in habitat improvements – primarily focused on salmon stressors.
Over $200 million has been spent on scientific research and monitoring.
Over 46,000,000 acre feet of water from the CVP has been prioritized for fishery improvements. That is about 3.1 million acre feet of water annually that is no longer reliably available to support food production or communities.
Over $200 million has been spent for the benefit of the fisheries.
CVP water and power contractors have contributed nearly $460 million to support these environmental restoration efforts.

At the same time:

The 32 water districts from the CVP that receive water south from the Delta have regularly faced 40% water supply reductions, even in wet years.

This year the CVP faces a 60% shortage and the State Water Project (SWP), which serves 20 million Californians, has a 65% shortage.

In Westlands Water District:

100,000 acres have been taken out of irrigated agriculture altogether.
Cropping patterns have shifted in response to water shortages and higher water costs. Over 100,000 acres of the 600,000 acres in the district are now in vegetables and nearly 100,000 acres are planted to permanent crops-primarily almonds.
In this year alone, another 200,000 acres have been taken out of production, and there may be additional reductions in the months ahead.
This year our farmers will pay about $100 per acre foot for their water from the CVP.

These details demonstrate the commitment to fishery concerns that have been made by farmers and the public water agencies that serve them. There is also a widely held belief that we have ignored or done much too little to address the “other stressors” in the Delta impacting our fisheries. Too few resources have been focused on invasive species, the changing food chain and declining nutrients, and toxics, in particular ammonia from urban sewer discharges that surround the Delta, introduced predators, and some 2,000 unscreened and unmonitored water diversions with a combined capacity that exceeds the CVP.
The efforts now under way to repair our broken water system are driven by two common realities. First, we share recognition that the status quo cannot and will not stand and that we face a choice: either we take action to address the ecosystem and water management infrastructure problems or the system will collapse and we will move directly into an environmental and economic disaster. Second, the existing means of conveying water through the southern delta needs to be changed for a variety of reasons and a canal around the Delta should be built to a location that can support an effective screen for separating the water for 25 million Californians and 3 million acres of farm land from the Delta fisheries. That’s essential for the best interests of the fish as well as the public.

More water is flowing to drought-stricken Central Valley farms as a result of new Department of Water Resources (DWR) water transfer agreements. The agreements come after Gov. Schwarzenegger’s State of Emergency proclamation on June 12 for nine counties affected by severe water shortages and his statewide drought proclamation on June 4.
“I continue to push for a comprehensive plan to address California’s water supply issues and the environmental crisis we face in the Delta. The drought has only intensified our need for immediate actions like conservation, increased groundwater storage and financial support for local water agencies and non-profit organizations,” Gov. Schwarzenegger said. “The steps that the Department of Water Resources is announcing today—like expediting $12 million in grants for water conservation—not only represent real action in response to my recent Executive Order, but they demonstrate our unyielding commitment to our immediate water needs and California’s long-term vision to restore the Delta.”
Responding to the Governor’s emergency declaration, up to 50,000 acre feet of groundwater will be pumped into the State Water Project this summer.  This water comes from groundwater wells in the Westlands Water District (WWD) and will be transferred to other parts of the WWD service area that do not have groundwater access.
DWR is lending 37,500 acre feet of water to Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors out of the San Luis Reservoir. An additional 25,000 acre feet is being made available by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for the benefit of both CVP and SWP contractors.
“Thanks to the Governor’s leadership and the tremendous cooperation between water agencies, Central Valley farms will have more water during the peak growing season for many crops,” said DWR Director Lester Snow.  “These actions will help ease what could otherwise be a dire situation for our farms, our economy and our way of life.”
In addition to the water transfers and exchanges, DWR will expedite $12 million in grants to water agencies and non-profit organizations. The funds can be used for water conservation activities including rebate programs, public education and outreach, leak detection, and retrofit of systems for greater water efficiency.  Of the $12 million, $2 million is earmarked for disadvantaged communities and $10 million for other agencies and organizations.
To help communities finance new investments in water management funding DWR has awarded $6.4 million in grant funding to 31 public agencies from the Local Groundwater Assistance Program. Funding will support development of groundwater management plans and programs, installation of groundwater monitoring wells, hydro geologic studies of groundwater basins, development of groundwater models and data storage systems, and many other actions to enhance groundwater management and usage throughout California.  A listing of the agencies and projects receiving grants is posted at: http://www.grantsloans.water.ca.gov/grants/assistance.cfm
DWR and the State Water Resources Control Board will also award up to $58 million to four Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) efforts.  DWR will provide the San Diego County Water Agency up to $25 million and the County of Humboldt up to $2.1 million.  The State Water Resources Control Board previously awarded $25 million to the Santa Barbara County Water Agency and $6 million to the Kings River Conservation District.  The funding will support a wide variety of water management activities including landscape water efficiency projects, recycled water and desalination projects, groundwater recharge facilities, water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, watershed management activities, and design work for new water management facilities.  Additional information about the IRWM program is available at: http://www.grantsloans.water.ca.gov/grants/irwm/integregio.cfm ■

Since June 21, much of Northern California has battled a series of lightening-induced wildfires. Farming communities have been coming together to save animals and crops, attempting to protect their precious assets from Mother Nature’s fury. Of particular concern is the dried plum crop, the majority of which is grown in Butte, Sutter, Yuba, Glenn and Tehama counties. All have been tragically and dramatically impacted by the fires.
Going into this year’s dried plum season, conditions were ideal, according to Richard Peterson, executive director of the California Dried Plum Board (CDPB). While April’s freeze hit the Northern Sacramento Valley hard, he remained optimistic about the potential for this year’s crop. This is the positive outlook the industry needs because three of the last four years have produced record lows. Heat has been the primary culprit to blame for a performance like last year’s 81,000 tons compared to the five-year average of 135,000 tons.
This hopeful attitude has rightfully waned going into the mid-August harvest. Rising temperatures, which have of course optimized fire conditions, have also added another layer of concern for growers. In addition to the weather, industry experts have been anxiously watching the price of both crude oil and natural gas. Since dried plums are mechanically harvested and internally dried, the rising costs of both fuel and natural gas have increased the processors’ anxiety.
Off-setting these concerns has been continued growth in export markets. According to Peterson, 50 percent of California’s dried plums stay within the United States, while the remaining half go primarily to Japan, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia. Domestic demand has been relatively flat, as consumers contend with many other snack options. In an effort to combat the decline, packers such as Sunsweet have launched new products such as “Ones,” which are pre-packaged, single-serving dried plums.
The CDPB has also been promoting the digestive health benefits of its crop. Using online resources like tummywise.com, the board is helping to educate consumers on the myriad of physical advantages of including dried plums in a healthy diet. Peterson also indicated that additional studies are being conducted showing other positive health factors. At Florida State University, researchers have shown that regular consumption of dried plums by post-menopausal women can help reduce the potential for osteoporosis. Two other trials have recently commenced in Greece and the United States to determine how good dried plums are at satisfying hunger. “These positive results indicate that digestive health is the right campaign for us,” says Peterson.
Growers and packers have indicated more recently that this crop just may exceed the predicted 120,000 ton estimate. With harvest around the corner, a bit of good weather may be all these weary-worn farmers need to bring back that early optimism. ■

The California raisin industry is experiencing tremendous positive momentum. Strong harvest numbers and excellent fruit quality coupled with strategic marketing efforts translate into more than a passing grade for this key California commodity.
“All of agriculture has its challenges, and the raisin industry is no different,” said Ron Worthley, President of the California Raisin Marketing Board (CRMB). “But, we also have a lot to be pleased about; we are focused on progress now and for the future.”
Described as a vintage crop due to favorable growing conditions, California raisin growers reported a larger than expected harvest in 2007 with outstanding fruit quality. While it is too soon to predict the 2008 harvest, early season weather has been favorable for this year’s crop, as well. The above-average temperatures in May had no adverse affect on production, and the recent mild days have also been ideal. The wildcard, according to Worthley, will be conditions this fall when hot, dry weather will be critical for adequate drying.
“In terms of quantity for this coming year, grapes are now grown on 233,000 acres and our 2008 harvest numbers depends on how these grapes will be utilized – either by wineries or for raisin production,” said Worthley.
Regardless of the crop size, the current and anticipated volume is such that the free tonnage price will likely cover growers’ investments. In terms of challenges, input costs continue to weigh heavily on growers’ minds. Fuel costs and labor availability are of particular concern and will not be quickly or easily resolved for raisins or any other agricultural entity, says Worthley.
“In light of factors that are largely out of our control, the California raisin industry must focus on what we can control, including strategic marketing programs that create an outstanding environment for increased sales of California Raisins,” said Worthley.
The CRMB is continuing its successful marketing program that highlights California Raisins as a “Wise Choice” for busy, on-the-go moms. The campaign features raisins as a healthy, delicious, portable snack that fits perfectly into the busy lifestyle of today’s families.
Additionally, the CRMB is continuing its longstanding commitment to nutrition research by announcing a newly formed Scientific Nutrition Research Panel that will create a strategic framework for nutritional investigation during the next two years. Simultaneous to its consumer and influencer outreach, the organization continues to interface with trade and industrial audiences as key volume drivers for California Raisins.
To that end, the CRMB has recently launched America’s Best Raisin Bread Contest which concludes in early August 2008. Additional details on the contest, as well as the full range of the California Raisin industry’s marketing efforts, are available on-line at www.LoveYourRaisins.com ■

Even T. Boon Pickens weighs in with a plan and it’s not about drilling for more oil.
In July 2006 gas was at or approaching $3.29 and we ran an article which listed our Top Ten recommendations for putting an end to $3.50 per gallon gasoline. We have since seen prices at the pump here in California climb over $5.00 per gallon, averaging now about $4.50, with little expectation of it sliding back to the good old days of 2006.
I still stand by that list. It is exactly what the President should have done then and can do now if there was truly the will to make a difference. We have posted that list on our website and you can see it with the original article from our July 2006 California Fresh Fruit and Raisin News – visit www.myfreshfruit.com/topten.
A lot has changed since then, just 24 months ago. The cost at the pump has reached an unbearable price. No longer can American business afford to absorb the continuing increase in fuel costs. Subsequently everything has increased in cost as a result of the record price of oil.
It is also evident that at least in the short term biofuels will not and maybe cannot ever have the impact hoped for just a few years ago. The argument over whether it is even a viable alternative is somewhat moot, considering it takes as much energy to generate a gallon of ethanol as it provides. Cleaner? Yes. Cost effective? Not hardly. Part of the future mix? Maybe. But at what price…
From all accounts it looked so promising. Renewable, good for the farmers, good for the environment, good for the country. Yet when you compare the impact versus the benefit over the past 24 months, I would likely take it off my list of top ten solutions for two reasons. First, the cost of production versus the benefit and second, the horrific impact it has had on the cost of feed commodities and the trickle down impact that it has had on the cost of food during the same period of time.
Over the last couple days I have heard several ads by T. Boon Pickens providing some interesting perspectives on what to do about our dependence on foreign oil. He calls the $700 billion dollars we pay for foreign oil a hit to our economy we can’t afford. “It is creating a strangle hold on our country we can’t live with,” says Mr. Pickens.
I visited his website www.pickensplan.com. What he presents is clear, easy to understand and apparently very doable. This guy is no dummy. He not only is one of the wealthiest men in the world, but he has done it in the oil industry. Yet he states clearly that drilling is not the answer. He advocates instead the shifting of the way we utilize the resources we now have available to us.
Everyone should visit the site and get a feel for what this man has to say. If he is correct, this shift in the way and how we use air power for electricity production and natural gas to power transportation could cut our dependency by $300 billion dollars per year – nearly half of the total cost of our current foreign oil purchases. Sound good to you? It does to me. So why aren’t we doing it?
We again call upon our leaders of this country and our states to do what needs to be done. It’s time for leadership. It’s time for some backbone. Maybe it’s time to put Mr. Pickens in charge of the problem. I am sure he is not the only one with good ideas. The key is to put someone in charge willing to find and quickly assess our best options and then get it done; that person is certainly not a politician.
Yes, we will elect a new President in November and we better elect one that is smart enough to know that there is no political solution to this and many problems facing the U.S. government and its people. What we need and must require of those politicians is that they put people in place who are industry savvy with proven economic experience, who, regardless of which way is gets done or who’s ox gets gored, ensures it’s going to get fixed.
That is the least we should expect from our leaders. The solutions are here, the people and the ability to get it done are at our disposal. Thank you Mr. Pickens for bringing your ideas to the table.
What I admire most is that not only did he come forward with a new and viable proposal, but he was and is willing to put his money where his mouth is. He paid the cost of bringing his proposal to the national debate and market place. Most Politicians can’t or won’t do that, and that could make all the difference.
That, for me, invokes a whole different level of trust and some hope to go with it. Are you available during convention time, Mr. Pickens? Minneapolis/St Paul or Denver would be fine. ■

As I write this perspective, I am looking out a second-story window watching a torrential downpour in Melbourne, Australia. A land ravaged by years of drought, the rain is celebrated by those around me. The irony of their circumstances in relation to those recovering from the recent U.S. Midwest flooding is not lost on me.
On this trip I have had the opportunity to speak with farmers, men and women not unlike their counterparts in the United States, whose daily struggles as of late have been the rising cost of fuel, fertilizer shortages, constantly changing environmental regulations and of course, how to keep going. The conversation here, though, turns slightly darker, as one farmer tells of his best mate committing suicide this past year following his seventh consecutive year of insufficient water supplies.
Like us, farming and ranching is all these families have ever known. The total devastation for some by the same issues we face, coupled with the lack of water, has taken many to the breaking point. According to one rancher, suicide incidents in his local farming community have steadily risen as the drought has carried on; for some, there feels like no way out.
In speaking with another local, they talk about the government’s efforts to step in. In Queensland to the north, proposals have been made for farmers to permanently remove their crops and install government subsidized solar panels. It offers a steady source of income, courtesy of the taxpayer, and adds power back into the grid. After nearly a decade of inconsistent, and even no revenue, it’s a deal many are cashing in on.
The conversations here are a quick reminder that it is not just farming in America that is struggling with change and battling issues. The global agricultural community is coming to grips with challenges and for some, those obstacles feel so insurmountable that taking their own life is their only perceived option.
As farmers in the Westlands Water District come to grips with their own water calamity, I consider our current state of affairs in relation to that of Australia. While our circumstances are not nearly as desperate, it certainly won’t take very long for our farming community to articulate the sentiments found here in Melbourne. The difference is that we still have control of our destiny. While Australians have implemented every water-saving measure possible and reprioritized allocations in favor of the farming community, California is still battling the importance of people versus fish.
California could learn a great deal from our comrades Down Under. We still have the opportunity to prevent a catastrophe of this caliber. Sadly, I fear it will take the extreme measure of taken lives before anyone is willing to break the political stalemate and find a more reasonable balance between centuries-old family businesses and endangered species. ■

Produce Veteran Heads Sunkist’s Sales and Marketing Division
Sunkist Growers has named Kevin P. Fiori to lead the citrus marketing cooperative’s domestic and international fresh fruit sales and marketing division. As Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Fiori will succeed Russell L. Hanlin who assumes the presidency of Sunkist November 1, 2008. Fiori, highly regarded in both the agricultural industry and the produce trade, is leaving Dole Food Company where he served for 29 years, most recently as Senior Vice President, Agriculture Operations for Dole Fresh Vegetables.
“Kevin has extensive sales experience with branded commodity products,” said Russ Hanlin, Sunkist’s Executive Vice President and President-Elect. “We could not have found anyone who fit more perfectly into our operations. Kevin has great leadership skills and is a proven team builder. His career includes sales and marketing responsibility for vegetables, fruits and flowers in both the domestic and international markets and he also has valuable expertise in global operations.”
Fiori began his career at Dole as a sales representative in 1979, moving up quickly in Dole Fresh Fruit selling grapes, pineapples, bananas and mushrooms. He left Dole briefly to become the Sales Manager at Ocean Garden, a company owned by the Mexican government, but was quickly recruited back by Sun County Produce, a Dole subsidiary.
He moved to Dole Citrus in 1985, his steady upward progression culminating in a six-year term as Vice President of Sales and Marketing of North America. Following the December 1998 freeze, Dole sold its citrus business and Fiori was named Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Dole North American Fruit in 1999 where he helped open Dole’s South African grape and citrus division.
Fiori returned to Dole Fresh Vegetables as Vice President of Commodity and Foodservice Sales where he grew both the retail and foodservice customer base, increasing the foodservice business by 50%. In 2006, he was named Senior Vice President, Agriculture Operations, responsible for the growing, sourcing and harvesting operations in the U.S., Peru and Mexico.
“I have great admiration for the strength of the Sunkist brand and the capabilities of the team,” said Fiori. “I also feel fortunate to have developed relationships with many within Sunkist’s sales and packinghouse operations and have the greatest degree of respect for their capabilities and character. My wife and I are excited about becoming a part of the Sunkist family.”
Jon Scholl Named American Farmland Trust President
The Board of Directors of American Farmland Trust has named Jon Scholl President to succeed Ralph Grossi, who will be stepping down as President after 23 years.
Scholl, an Illinois farmer, has most recently served as the Counselor to the Administrator for Agricultural Policy at US EPA where he led the development of the first EPA National Agriculture Strategy, agricultural advisory committee, and agency-wide cross media agriculture team. In addition, he helped direct Agency regulations on animal feeding operations, spill prevention, clean air rules and emission reporting requirements; and provided input and counsel to the USDA farm bill team on the conservation provisions of the Administration’s 2007 farm bill proposal.
Prior to that position, Scholl served for 25 years with the Illinois Farm Bureau as Executive Assistant to the President, and in a variety of other positions including director of public policy, director of national legislation, and director of natural resources. In these roles, Scholl gained extensive public policy and legislative experience at all levels of government.
“The Board conducted a thorough search for a worthy successor to our long-standing President, Ralph Grossi, who shaped AFT from its founding in 1980 to become the nation’s leading organization for farmland protection,” said Jay Winthrop, AFT Chairman. “We are delighted to bring a new President of Jon’s caliber on board to lead the organization at this exciting time. As a farmer and former Farm Bureau and EPA official, Jon embodies AFT’s mission at the intersection of agriculture and the environment. Jon is uniquely qualified to build on our tradition of leadership in farmland protection and to lead AFT in the years ahead as we implement a new strategic plan.”
Jon and his family own and operate a corn and soybean farm in McLean County, Illinois. He received his Bachelors degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and more recently received the University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Award of Merit.
“Our farmland is the basis for the most productive agricultural system in the world. Leading the effort to protect it, and to encourage its wise use is a challenge I strongly believe in, and eagerly accept,” added Scholl. Jon Scholl will begin his tenure at AFT on July 7.
IronPlanet Promotes Mike Groves to Senior Vice President of North American Sales
IronPlanet®, the world’s leading online auction company for used construction and agricultural equipment, recently promoted Mike Groves to the position of senior vice president of North American sales. Groves will be responsible for IronPlanet’s continued growth in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“Mike’s extensive experience in the auction business and his command of the industry have been instrumental in IronPlanet’s success and growth,” said Gregory J. Owens, chairman and CEO of IronPlanet. “Under Mike’s leadership we will continue our investment in our North American sales organization as well as business process improvements to ensure that IronPlanet continues to deliver exceptional service and value for our customers.”
Before joining IronPlanet, Groves worked for 11 years in the auction industry as vice president and general manager of Forke Brothers and division manager of Ritchie Brothers. Groves also held the position of regional used equipment manager for Nortrax Southeast.

July 2-6, 2008
United Fresh Produce Association Produce Inspection Training Program
USDA Fresh Products Branch National Inspectors’ Training and Development Center, Fredericksburg, VA. For more information, visit www2.unitedfresh.org/forms/MeetingCalendar
July 10, 2008
Citrus Research Board
Board of Directors Meeting
Double Tree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court, Bakersfield, CA
For more information, visit www.citrusresearch.org/frameset.html
July 10, 2008
Allied Grape Growers 2008 Annual Membership Meeting
Pardini’s Banquet Facility – Fresno, CA. For more information, visit www.alliedgrapegrowers.org/calendar.html
July 10-12, 2008
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Washington Conference
Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.ncfc.org/events
July 17-18, 2008
California Association of Winegrape Growers
Board of Directors Meeting
Embassy Suites Hotel – Sacramento, CA. For more information, visit www.cawg.org/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=35&year=2008&month=07&day=17&Itemid=157
July 25-27, 3008
Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference and Exposition
Monterey, CA. For more information, visit www.pma.com/foodservice/
August 1, 2008
Certified Crop Advisor Exam
Sacramento, CA. For more information, visit www.cacaa.org
August 9, 2008
California Fig Advisory Board
5th Annual Fig Fest
California State University, Fresno. For more information, visit www.californiafigs.com/press/index.html
August 26-28, 2008
United Fresh Produce Association Training for a Recall, Communicating Under Fire Seminar
Clarion Hotel – Yakima, WA. Fore more information, visit www2.unitedfresh.org/forms/MeetingCalendar/
September 10 -12, 2008
United Fresh Produce Association
2008 Washington Public Policy Conference
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel – Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www2.unitedfresh.org/forms/MeetingCalendar/
September 18, 2008
California Avocado Commission
Board of Directors Meeting
For more information, visit www.avocado.org/industry/commission/bd-directors
September 19-20, 2008
California Rare Fruit Growers
2008 Festival of Fruit
California State University, Fullerton. For more information, visit http://festivaloffruit.org/
October 3-4, 2008
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
East Region Meeting
Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.blueberry.org/calendar.htm
October 24-27, 2008
Produce Marketing Association
Fresh Summit International Convention and Exposition
Orlando, FL. For more information, visit www.pma.com/freshsummit/

Schafer Announces Crop Loan, LDP Provisions and Loan Rates
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer announced June 12th USDA has delivered its first actions implementing the new farm bill. Within three weeks of commodity title enactment in the 2008 Farm Bill, USDA is implementing marketing assistance loan and loan deficiency payment (LDP) provisions.
“We know we can rely on America’s farmers and ranchers to grow our food, and they can rely on USDA to have the new farm bill ready,” said Schafer. “The Department of Agriculture is putting into action the thousands of pages of new farm bill law for crop production, research, marketing, nutrition, conservation, food aid and rural development. Expect more follow-on farm bill results from USDA.”
USDA also announced that county loan rates for 2008 crop of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, soybeans, and other oilseeds (sunflower seed, flaxseed, canola, rapeseed, safflower, mustard seed, crambe, and sesame seed), State loan rates by class for 2008 crop of rice, and regional loan rates for 2008 pulse crops (small chickpeas, dry peas, and lentils) were posted today on the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Web site www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=prsu&topic=lor.
With enactment of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, (the 2008 farm bill) national loan rates for the 2008 crops of wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, rice, and pulses are at the following levels in the chart below:
As required by the 2008 Farm Bill, these national loan rates are established at the same levels as those established for the 2007 crop, with the exception of rice. Starting with the 2008 crop, the 2008 farm bill specifies national loan rates for both long grain rice and medium grain rice.
Milled and Rough Rice Loan Rates by Class Updated
For rice stored in commercial warehouses, the whole kernel milled rice loan rates for the 2008 crop are $10.00 per hundredweight for long grain and $9.78 for medium/short grain. The broken kernel loan rate for all classes is $6.67 per hundredweight. National average rough rice loan rates by class are $6.50 per hundredweight for long grain and $6.50 for medium/short grain. USDA computes milled and rough rice loan rates by class using average milling yields and production percentages to ensure that the production-weighted national average rough rice loan rate equals the $6.50 per hundredweight national loan rate.
Regional Pulse Loans Updated
The 2008 crop West Region dry pea loan rate is $6.58 per hundredweight; the East Region dry pea loan rate is $6.14 per hundredweight. The West Region lentil loan rate is $14.23 per hundredweight; the East Region lentil loan rate is $10.74 per hundredweight. These rates average to the national rate based on recent regional production shares.
The West Region includes the Palouse (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) and other states west of the Rocky Mountains (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah). The East Region includes Montana, North Dakota and all other states not in the West Region.
USDA determined that insufficient reliable market information is available to establish regional loan rates for small chickpeas. Therefore, the national rate of $7.43 per hundredweight applies for all producing regions. Under provisions of the new 2008 farm bill, producers of large chickpeas will not be eligible for marketing assistance loans until the 2009 crop year.
Marketing assistance loans provide producers interim financing at harvest time to meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows. A producer who is eligible to obtain a loan, but who agrees to forgo the loan, may obtain a loan deficiency payment if such payments are available.
Other Provisions and Rates
Cotton and peanut loan and LDP provisions and rates will be announced separately. Wool, mohair and honey were announced in January. ■

Antioxidant-rich fruit, vegetables linked to less gullet cancer
The antioxidants, linked to fruit and vegetable intake, were associated with risk reductions over 50 per cent in the occurrence of Barrett’s oesophagus, according to the new study involving 913 people and published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
“This is the first U.S. population-based case-control study that examined the association between intake of antioxidants and the risk of Barrett’s oesophagus,” wrote lead author Ai Kubo from Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
“The study demonstrated that antioxidant intake was inversely associated with the risk of developing Barrett’s oesophagus and that the effects appear to come mainly from dietary sources, rather than from supplemental sources.”
Barrett’s oesophagus is cause by acid reflux, and although it can occur early in life, most sufferers are in their 40s and 50s. Although it has been reported to be a precursor to oesophageal cancer, 90 per cent of patients are said to never develop into cancer, and although some speculation as to dietary and drug history, the reason why this is so is not really known.
To view the complete story, visit www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=85988&c=KrRubAp2pXbjC2g9QHbM0w%3D%3D
Conservation award nominations sought
Nominations are being sought for the 2008 Leopold Conservation Award. The award recognizes California farmers and ranchers who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and sustainable management of natural resources, and includes $10,000 from the Sand County Foundation in partnership with Sustainable Conservation and the California Farm Bureau Federation.
The Leopold Conservation Award is presented in honor of famed conservationist and author Aldo Leopold, who called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage. Nominations are considered in two categories: Crops and Livestock.
The judges will recognize a finalist in each category, and the 2008 Leopold Conservation Award winner will be announced on December 8, 2008 at the California Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in Burlingame, Calif. The deadline for nominations is July 9, 2008. For more information, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org , email suscon@suscon.org  or call (415) 977-0380.
CSWA Workshops on Sustainable Management of Winery Water and Associated Energy Resources
Through its on-going partnership with PG&E, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) is developing a new workshop series that provides key findings of recent studies and a comprehensive guide by Kennedy/Jenks (funded by the American Vineyard Foundation), giving wineries of all sizes self-assessment tools to make improvements in environmental performance and lower overall production costs. Topics include steps to: reduce source water use in cleaning and sanitization; minimize use of cleaning products and other chemicals; decrease the volume and strength of wastewater produced and associated energy required for treatment; lower the water and energy needed for heating and cooling operations; and optimize the effectiveness of land application systems for wastewater treatment.  The next workshop will be held on July 29, 2008 in Napa.  For more details and to register for the workshop, go to the workshop calendar at www.sustainablewinegrowing.org.  Details regarding winery water workshops in other wine country regions will be scheduled and posted on the calendar soon.
Food safety guidelines can overwhelm processors, says group
Maintaining up-to-date knowledge on industry guidelines and developing a strong quality processing system add to the pressures faced by food processors in the current climate of high input costs, claims food safety consultants.
The global sourcing of ingredients and products along with recent factory recalls has led to increased calls from consumers for more rigorous safety programmes and close monitoring of suppliers.
Debra Harrison, chief consultant at Harrison Consulting, told FoodProductionDaily.com that keeping up with guidelines, especially for globally based companies, can be very time consuming and with companies running leaner and budgets tighter, the drive to cut costs while ensuring safety is difficult.
The group said that it offers assistance to US and European food processors of all sizes that need to become familiar with industry guidelines or that need an on-site technical expert for a season.
“Many growers and processors find programs required by industry guidelines and customer requirements overwhelming. We specialize in working with them to set up systems that will be easy to use while meeting consumer and industry expectations,” claims Harrison.
To view the complete story, visit www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=86066&c=KrRubAp2pXYTs6v2uMNQQg%3D%3D
Secretary Kawamura Announces Vacancies on the Shipping Point Inspection Advisory Committee
California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura is announcing seven alternate member vacancies on the Shipping Point Inspection Advisory Committee.
The Shipping Point Inspection Committee is charged with making recommendations to the secretary of agriculture on all matters pertaining to the Shipping Point Inspection Program, the annual budget, and the necessary fees to provide adequate inspection services.
Article 440571 of the Food and Agricultural Code states that the committee is to be composed of fruit and vegetable shippers that use the inspection and certification services of the department. The term of office for a member of the Committee is three years. Members of the committee receive no compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for necessary traveling expenses.
Notification of the committee meetings and their meeting minutes can be found on the department’s Web page: www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/meetings.html
Individuals interested in being considered for appointment as a member or an alternate member should send a letter of consideration and include a letter of recommendation from the industry. Nominations will be accepted until the positions are filled. Nomination material can be sent to Vickie Baker, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Inspection and Compliance Branch, Shipping Point Inspection Program, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or emailed to VBaker@cdfa.ca.gov. For additional information contact Ms. Baker at (916) 445-2180.
Secretary Kawamura Announces Vacancies on the State Apiary Board
The Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship Office of the California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing five vacancies on the State Apiary Board. This advisory board makes recommendations to the CDFA secretary on all matters pertaining to the California apiary industry.

The vacancies on the advisory board are for California beekeepers representing the major geographical divisions of the beekeeping industry. Board members receive no compensation but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration. The term of office for a board member is four years.
The California State Apiary Board was established by the Legislature, which declared that a healthy and vibrant apiary industry is important to the economy and welfare of the state, and that its promotion and protection is in the interest of the people of the State of California.
Recently, the apiary industry has been attacked by various exotic pests, pathogens and Colony Collapse Disorder, which have resulted in significant losses of bees throughout the state and nation. Honey bees pollinate $6 billion worth of crops in California – roughly one-third of the food we eat. Three quarters of the nation’s honey bee colonies are needed to pollinate California’s almond crop alone, so the hives’ health is essential to meet the demands of Californians.
Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment should send a resume to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship Office, Attn: Gerald Miller, 1220 ‘N’ Street, Sacramento, California 95814 by the close of business on July 7, 2008.
For further information on the Apiary Program and committee vacancies, contact Gerald Miller at (916) 651-9449.
Smart Partnership Advances Water Efficiency
The Smart Water Application Technologies initiative, lead by the Irrigation Association, has closed the public review of testing protocols for smart climate-based controllers. This protocol is a major step toward its goal to submit the industry’s first testing protocols to EPA.
Submission of the protocol will allow EPA to consider weather-based controllers as the first irrigation product for its WaterSense® labeling program. To date, 13 products have been voluntarily tested by irrigation manufacturers at an independent testing facility in Fresno, Calif. Only minor revisions to the existing SWAT protocols, now in its 7th draft, are expected in the next month.
“Forwarding an industry developed and accepted protocol for testing smart controllers to the EPA is a large step in the six-year life of the SWAT initiative,” says Brian Vinchesi, SWAT chairman. “Working toward independent third party labeling of irrigation products has always been one of SWAT’s goals. In reaching this goal later in 2008, the entire irrigation industry shows its willingness to work with water purveyors and government agencies to help manage our limited water resources.”
SWAT is also developing testing protocols for soil moisture sensors and soil moisture-based controllers and rain sensors. While advancing industry testing protocols, SWAT has initiated programs to pave the way for product acceptance in the residential and light commercial marketplace. Over the last year, more water agencies and utilities have used customizable SWAT-developed promotional materials. Many agencies and water districts use the SWAT-posting of tested products as a rebate requirement.
To learn more about SWAT, tested products, draft protocols and view promotional material designed for water agencies, visit www.irrigation.org/SWAT/Industry. ■

Following two straight years of below-average rainfall, very low snowmelt runoff and the largest court-ordered water transfer restrictions in state history, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on June 4th proclaimed a statewide drought and issued an Executive Order, which takes immediate action to address a dire situation where numerous California communities are being forced to mandate water conservation or rationing. The lack of water has created other problems, such as extreme fire danger due to dry conditions, economic harm to urban and rural communities, loss of crops and the potential to degrade water quality in some regions.
“For the areas in Northern California that supply most of our water, this March, April and May have been the driest ever in our recorded history,” Governor Schwarzenegger said. “As a result, some local governments are rationing water, developments can’t proceed and agricultural fields are sitting idle. We must recognize the severity of the crisis we face, so I am signing an Executive Order proclaiming a statewide drought and directing my Department of Water Resources and other entities to take immediate action to address the situation.”
Today’s Executive Order directs the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to:

Facilitate water transfers to respond to emergency shortages across the state.
Work with local water districts and agencies to improve local coordination.
Help local water districts and agencies improve water efficiency and conservation.
Coordinate with other state and federal agencies and departments to assist water suppliers, identify risks to water supply and help farmers suffering losses.
Expedite existing grant programs to help local water districts and agencies conserve.

This Executive Order also encourages local water districts and agencies to promote water conservation. They are encouraged to work cooperatively on the regional and state level to take aggressive, immediate action to reduce water consumption locally and regionally for the remainder of 2008 and prepare for potential worsening water conditions in 2009. As part of the Executive Order, DWR will work with locals to conduct an aggressive water conservation and outreach campaign.
In May, DWR’s final snow survey of 2008 showed snowpack water content at only 67 percent of normal and the runoff forecast at only 55 percent of normal. As conditions continue to worsen across California, it underscores the state’s need for infrastructure improvements to capture excess water in wet years to use in dry years like this one.
“This drought is an urgent reminder of the immediate need to upgrade California’s water infrastructure. There is no more time to waste because nothing is more vital to protect our economy, our environment and our quality-of-life. We must work together to ensure that California will have safe, reliable and clean water not only today but 20, 30 and 40 years from now. ■

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed June 12th a state of emergency in the following nine Central Valley counties due to severe water shortages: Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern. When the Governor issued his Executive Order the previous week declaring a statewide drought, he directed his state agencies and departments to take immediate action to address the serious drought conditions and water delivery reductions that exist in California, and the announcement builds on those actions.
“Just last week, I said we would announce regional emergencies wherever the state’s drought situation warrants them, and in the Central Valley, an emergency proclamation is necessary to protect our economy and way of life,” Governor Schwarzenegger said. “Central Valley agriculture is a $20 billion a year industry. If we don’t get them water immediately the results will be devastating. Food prices, which are already stretching many family budgets, will continue to climb and workers will lose their jobs-everyone’s livelihood will be impacted in some way.”
The Governor’s emergency proclamation is based in part on an assessment of the full impact that additional, unexpected cuts recently made by federal water officials to San Joaquin Valley farmers have had in the middle of the growing season. As a result, the Governor’s proclamation directs the Department of Water Resources to work with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to deliver more water now through the State Water Project when it’s needed most. It also orders his Department of Water Resources to transfer groundwater through the California Aqueduct to benefit farmers in the affected counties and the State Water Resources Control Board to review water transfers as quickly as possible.
“We would not be talking about any of this if over the last 40 years California had invested in our water infrastructure. Today we are taking aggressive action to address an immediate crisis, but a comprehensive solution is the only answer to addressing our drought situation in the long term,” Governor Schwarzenegger said.
Beginning with the first Strategic Growth Plan in 2006, the Governor called for a comprehensive plan to address California’s urgent water needs. The Governor renewed that call in his 2008-09 budget by proposing an $11.9 billion water bond for water management investments that will address population growth, climate change, water supply reliability and environmental needs. Specifically, the bond includes:

Water Storage: $3.5 billion dedicated to the development of additional storage.
Delta Sustainability: $2.4 billion to help implement a sustainable resource management plan for the Delta.
Water Resources Stewardship: $1.1 billion to implement river restoration projects.
Water Conservation: $3.1 billion to increase water use efficiency.
Water Quality Improvement: $1.1 billion for efforts to reduce the contamination of groundwater.
Other Critical Water Projects: $700 million for water recycling, hillside restoration for areas devastated by fire and removal of fish barriers on key rivers and streams.
To view the complete text of the proclamation, visit http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/9896/. ■

By Lynne Finnerty
American Farm
Bureau Federation

There have been so many tornados across the United States in the first five months of this year, meteorologists are wondering if 2008 will be a record year. It’s too early to tell, but everyone should get prepared for severe weather and its after-effects.
Protecting against injury or loss of life should be the No. 1 concern when in the path of a severe storm. Also, the American Red Cross advises everyone to assemble disaster kits that include water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, a flashlight and batteries, a food thermometer, cash and any tools and medicines you think you might need.
Retail food costs have gone up because of the high price of oil, soaring global demand for food and weather disasters in several countries. Now is not a good time to have to replace everything in your refrigerator or freezer. By planning ahead, you can save some of your perishables.
So, what should you do? First, get a cooler or two to keep around the house. Cheap Styrofoam ones will work fine. Know ahead of time where you can buy ice in an emergency.
Second, when the power goes out, don’t open the refrigerator or freezer. Threaten the kids with no allowance if necessary to keep them from opening the fridge. Unopened, your refrigerator will keep foods cold for a couple of hours, and your freezer will keep foods almost frozen for up to 24 hours, as long as it isn’t too stuffed.
If it looks like the power will be out for longer than two to four hours, then it’s time to break out those coolers. Pack them with ice and put your milk, dairy products, meats, fish, poultry, eggs and any leftovers in there—unless you’re looking for an excuse to not eat leftovers again.
If you think the power could be out for longer than a day, prepare a cooler for your freezer items, as well.
When the power returns, refreeze or refrigerate foods that are not above 40 degrees. However, perishable foods that have been held at above 40 degrees for more than two hours should be thrown away.
But, what if the power went out or returned while you were asleep or away from home, and you didn’t have a chance to set up any coolers? How do you know how long the power was out? This is where that food thermometer in your disaster kit comes in handy. Use it to check the internal temperature of foods. Pretty much everything except hard cheese, processed cheese, butter and margarine, fresh or canned fruits and fruit juices should be thrown away if it was possibly held above 40 degrees for more than two hours. Never taste food to see if it’s safe, and when in doubt throw it out.
Be storm-ready. Following these tips from the American Red Cross and the Agriculture Department may save you hundreds of dollars at the grocery store. More importantly, they may save you and your family from getting sick long after the storm has passed. ■

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is publishing a final rule to exclude water transfers from regulation under the NPDES permitting program. The final rule defines a water transfer as an activity that conveys or connects waters of the United States without subjecting the transferred water to intervening industrial, municipal, or commercial use. This does not apply to pollutants introduced by the water transfer activity itself to the water being transferred.
Water transfers are activities that divert water between waterbodies, typically through the use of pumps or passive redirection through tunnels, channels, and/or natural stream water features. Water transfers are necessary to allocate water resources to meet the water needs of those downstream in the receiving waterbody. Such needs include public water supply, irrigation, power generation, flood control, and environmental restoration. The Bureau of Reclamation administers significant transfers in western States to provide approximately 140,000 farmers with irrigation water. With the use of water transfers, the Army Corps of Engineers keeps thousands of acres of agricultural and urban land in southern Florida from flooding in former areas of Everglades wetlands. Many large cities in the west and the east would not have adequate sources of water for their citizens were it not for the continuous redirection of water from outside basins. For example, both the cities of New York and Los Angeles are dependent on water transfers from distant watersheds to meet their municipal demand.
Delegation Calls for Investigation into Run Up in Fertilizer Prices
North Dakota Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy today called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate the cause of skyrocketing agriculture fertilizer prices.
“This unprecedented volatility in fertilizer prices is responsible for growing uncertainty and frustration among our nation’s farmers and ranchers,” the delegation writes in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. “Even with currently strong commodity prices, income from farming is barely keeping up with increased farm input costs and, in particular, skyrocketing fertilizer prices.”
In recent months, the price of agricultural fertilizer has risen to record levels. According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service, fertilizer prices in May 2008 were 69 percent higher than they were in May 2007. And the 2007 prices represented an increase in costs of 158 percent compared to May 2000.
While some of the increase may be a result of rising petroleum costs, those factors alone do not fully explain the current escalation in fertilizer prices. The Congressional delegation wants an immediate investigation into the rapid increase in fertilizer prices to assure that farmers and ranchers are not being overcharged.
The Congressional delegation is requesting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture examine energy and transportation costs, availability of raw material, processing capacity, domestic and global demand factors, and industry consolidation. The delegation asked Secretary Schafer to report the USDA’s findings to Congress once the investigation is complete.
“We hope this investigation will provide answers for our family farmers and ranchers who are extremely concerned and trying to understand the inexplicable run up in fertilizer prices,” the delegation says.■

Natural bacterial extracts may offer some assistance to peach and pecan growers in treating fungal diseases such as brown rot in peaches and pecan scab. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Byron, Ga., are using these substances as a safe and effective alternative to chemical fungicides.
ARS entomologist David Shapiro-Ilan and plant pathologist Charles Reilly at the Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Laboratory in Byron developed these natural pesticides to control pecan and peach diseases. Although bacterial methods for controlling fungi are not new, the ARS bacterial compounds have never been used to control disease in these two commodities.
In 2006, the United States produced just over an estimated one million tons of peaches and 100,500 tons of pecans. Various diseases result in annual losses of more than $3.5 million for peach growers and $13 million for the pecan industry.
In these studies, Shapiro-Ilan and Reilly used compounds obtained from two genera of bacteria, Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus. They were found to be effective against common pecan and peach disease organisms that cause significant damage. The two scientists tested compounds from a variety of bacterial strains and species to determine which would be most potent.
The results indicated that X. bovienii and P. luminescens (VS) bacterial compounds generally exhibited the greatest suppression of plant pathogens. Applying 6- to 12- percent dilutions of the bacterial compounds achieved 90 to 100 percent suppression of Phytophthora cactorum lesions on pecan leaves. P. cactorum can cause root, collar and crown rots, as well as foliar and fruit infections.
The researchers also used bacterial compound treatments on pecan shoots to control pecan scab disease caused by Fusicladosporium effusum. The treatments reduced spore formation of F. effusum to levels similar to those by chemical fungicides.
Applications for patents on these treatments have been submitted, and partners are being sought to develop the bacterial metabolites for commercial use.
ARS is a scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ■

Jon Tecklenburg knows how to grow great fruit. As a diversified grower in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, Jon has spent decades perfecting growing techniques on a myriad of crops, including cherries, wine grapes and apples, to name a few. His love and knowledge of plant science has made him an expert in what the fruit needs to perform at its best. That’s why when Agro-K first approached Jon in 1992 about field testing their products, he was only happy to oblige. “They actually asked me to see what I could burn,” recalls Jon, noting the company’s interest in determining the capacity of their products in California’s climactic and growing conditions.
Since that time, Jon has continued his relationship with Agro-K, most recently integrating their Vigor-Cal-Phos™ (VCP™) calcium phosphite product into his cherry operation. When the company introduced VCP™ five years ago, Jon began including it in his irrigation management plan. Their unique manufacturing technique, which links calcium to a highly systemic phosphite ion, creates a foliar calcium spray with superior uptake and mobility within the plant. Calcium is known for its poor mobility within plants, but linking the nutrient to a phosphite ion helps overcome this issue. Furthermore, the systemic phosphite ion creates a “root flush” effect when applied, helping the plant to better forage and bring up more nutrients from the soil. In essence, Vigor-Cal-Phos™ can increase ground fertility efficiency, which is critically important with today’s fertilizer prices. But being a man of science, Jon wanted to see for himself.
Jon has observed in his own orchards that Vigor-Cal-Phos™ has improved the cherry’s skin thickness, making it tougher and more resistant to damage. Cherry firmness also improves. This year another cherry grower in the Southern San Joaquin Valley utilizing Vigor-Cal-Phos™ and Agro-K’s Potassium Dextro-Lac™ reported that not only did his calcium levels increase significantly in the treated block compared to his standard foliar calcium program, but also his fruit pressure readings increased from 355 (grams of force to squeeze the skin 1mm) to 381 where Vigor-Cal-Phos™ was used.
At the same time, Jon has seen increases in both fruit grade and size. This past season, he packed out 90 percent of his cherries at 10.5+ grade, which is exceptional given the fruit’s high potential for bruising and scarring. This year, following a severe wind storm in early May, Tecklenburg was seeing better fruit performance compared to his neighbors not using Vigor-Cal-Phos™. While all suffered wind damage, his was minor and the fruit would still make grade. In addition, Jon had a pack out rate of 78 percent.
Not one to keep good things a secret, Tecklenburg has shared his success with neighboring growers. He’s helped winegrape growers incorporate the product into their operations with positive success. As with cherries, the combination of calcium with the phosphite ion improves calcium mobility within the plant, leading to enhanced cell wall structure and larger, firmer grapes. Calcium is critical to minimizing heat stress in all plants and the mixture helps the plant cope with 100+ degree summer heat. VCP™ also boosts natural tolerance by improving the nutrient balance within the plant.
Tecklenburg says he’s also introduced almond growers to the Vigor-Cal-Phos™ and they too have had noticeable improvements in their crop yield, lowered insect pressure and better natural tolerance. “It truly is a well-rounded product that can give fruit that added boost,” notes Tecklenburg. “If growers are willing to spend a little extra money, I know they will see results in the end; VCP™ more than pays for itself.”
For more information about Vigor-Cal-Phos™ or other Agro-K products, visit www.agro-k.com. ■

After 85 years in the produce business, D’Arrigo Brothers Company has learned a thing or two about what it takes to be successful. And as far as Margaret D’Arrigo-Martin is concerned, the key is vertical integration. “You can not beat the control factor when you are the grower, the packer and the shipper,” says D’Arrigo-Martin, who is part of the third generation to serve the family company.
When the company began in 1927, Andrea and Stefano D’Arrigo had nothing but broccoli seeds from their native Italy and a passion for growing quality, nutritious produce. Since that time, their operation has grown and expanded to the point that two years ago they opened a new, state-of-the-art packing and shipping facility.
The 100,000 square foot building includes 29 loading bays and the most advanced refrigeration and shrink-wrap technologies available on the market today. The facility was built centrally located between their various ranches on 35 acres and enables the company to improve harvest-to-packing-to cooling efficiency time.
As the largest grower and shipper of cactus pear fruit in the United States, D’Arrigo Brothers Company, known under their Andy Boy label, has every reason to find opportunities that give them a competitive edge. This new facility, as well as a second in Gonzales built specifically for packing and processing the cactus pear fruit, has enabled them to streamline and centralize the processing of their various crops. As a staple in the diets of various cultures, including Italian, the company ships large quantities of the fruit to the east coast, Florida and Canada. With that long haul cross country, it is essential that the fruit be harvested efficiently, processed through the plant and off to market as quickly as possible.
“By operating our own receiving-cooling-shipping facility, it enables us to control every step in the process to ensure the quality and timeliness of the product,” notes D’Arrigo-Martin. But she’s also quick to point out that vertically integrating your operation isn’t for the timid. It’s a timely and often costly process, requiring a tremendous capital investment. Patience will also be essential. In building this new facility, the process was delayed over one year. Hang-ups like that can become costly, as building material costs increase and production potentially suffers.
In the end, though, even with the added expense and potential for road blocks, D’Arrigo-Martin contends that the benefits far outweigh these costs. The ability to have greater control over the production, packing and distribution of their products is an essential component to their success in the fresh produce industry. And as the top producer of cactus pear fruit, they probably know what excelling in the business takes. ■

As table grape harvest gets underway in the southern region of California, Jim Howard, director of consumer education for the California Table Grape Commission, is a whirlwind of activity. He is gaining momentum to launch a new global marketing campaign that, for the Commission revolutionizes the promotion of California table grapes. “About one year ago, we came to realize that the time had come to not only have a global product, but also a global brand,” says Howard.
With the realization, the Commission has embarked on a break-neck speed journey to find the best fit for its revelation. The process began with research; what were consumers already telling us about their food preferences and specifically about table grapes? The answers were not a total surprise. Over the past two to three years, Howard explains, consumers have become more engaged in their food choices. They are interested in their food, paying attention to where their food is from and how it was grown. In essence, he says, they have become much more aware and conscientious about the food they choose to purchase.
Armed with that knowledge and a top-of-the-line advertising agency, the Commission set out to “tell the unique story of California grape growers,” says Howard. “We were seeking to develop a unified platform that builds on a singular message that would resonate with today’s consumer.” That message, captured in “Our growing season is five generations long,” strikes at the very heart of consumers’ concerns for quality and craftsmanship in their product.
“We wanted to communicate that this industry is one with heritage and artistry behind the product,” says Howard. Focus has been placed on the fourth and fifth generation farm families still operating today as well as on the unique growing and harvesting techniques still implemented. “We learned, through our independent research, that many consumers did not realize grapes were hand-harvested. We felt it was important to bring to light that fact and use it as an example of the care given when growing California table grapes.”
The extensive research and time given to the message are only one aspect of the magnitude of this campaign. The Commission also sought to maximize its message and ensure that what a Chinese consumer would hear, see and experience regarding California table grapes would be the same as a Canadian shopper. Additional resources were used to determine how best to leverage this new brand.
Previously, the Commission’s marketing efforts were focused towards outdoor mediums, such as billboards. In this new campaign, greater variety is being used to spread the message. While outdoor marketing will still be a component, the Commission has placed additional emphasis on print media, such as advertising in magazines, as well as retail point-of-sale displays. In addition, a new website launched in late May— grapesfromcalifornia.com—allows for consumer interaction and greater investment in the product.
To continue the thread of consistency, the message will not veer when used in retail, food service or direct to consumers. “We want to ensure that the consumer, whoever he or she is, sees the same message worldwide,” remarks Howard.
In an era of new consumer interest in and concern about food products, the California Table Grape Commission is making revolutionary strides to promote its product and brand globally. This new marketing campaign should leverage the evolving consumer attitudes and provide a unified message for California table grapes worldwide. Be sure to check it out the next time you visit a grocery store in Hong Kong; chances are you’ll see “Grapes from California.” ■