Agricultura Importada, Sin Reglamento:Lastima al Cultivador Americano

Cuando se trata de agricultura, muchas partes dentro los Estados Unidos vienen a la mente. partes como California, un estado en la Union que produce frutas y vegetales para mas del 80% del mundo. Que es lo que no se viene a la mente Cuando piensas en lugares como California, que pierde muchos ingresos debido a productos importados. Producto que puede ser evaluado a un precio de venta mas bajo debido a los requisitos puestos en el producto.
Producto que viene de paises como Mexico y Peru no son requeridos a tener el mismo reglamento como un cultivo que es de los Estados Unidos. Asi que ,cuando John, un cultivador local del sur de California quiere vender sus esparagos a clientes, el se topa con un problema, la competencia, que ofrece el mismo cultivo por un precio mucho mas bajo.
Cuando un cultivador no es requerido a regular las aplicaciones de su pesticida y herbicida, o encargedo a alcanzar una cierta ordenanza de seguridad, el puede crecer su cultivo de la mannera mas barata cultivadores como John que han cumpido el reglamento puesto por USDA.
Otro problema que factora en el sobre costo que sigue subiendo cada vez mas es un problema persistente, es el costo de labor. Muchos cultivos son bien intensivos en el area de labor a causa de eso, el labor es bien costoso para el cultiivador, aunque solo les tome un par de horas para cultivar. Cuando el quiere vender su cultivo, el es obligado a factorar este costo, asiendo su producto aun mas caro que los productos importados.
A medida que estas cuestiones se vuelven mas relevantes y exigentes, el cultivador estadounidense solo puede esperar que organizaciones como el paso del USDA y el lugar en el mas fuerte, Mas justa mandatos de producto importado. Mientras que una gran cantidad de nuestra cosecha se exporta fuera de ls estados unidos la aplicacion de nuestros reglamentos puede ser dificil y potencialmente peligrosa para el Mercado de exportacion.

Conservacion del Agua: El Surtido en la Costa Oeste

El estado de California, es líder nacional en la agricultura de producción, también se clasifica como un usuario de agua más importantes del país. La agricultura es el usuario principal de la nación en el consumo de agua. El uso de agua en la agricultura es más de 80 mil millones de galones por día. A partir de ahora la parte sur de California continuarán sufriendo hasta que sus restricciones de uso del agua se dirigen, mientras que las granjas al norte del delta tendrá disponibilidad a sus asignaciones federales para todo uso del agua.

Con una población tan grande en los Estados Unidos que continúa creciendo, nos hacen muchas preguntas. ¿Cómo podemos ser más eficiente? ¿Cómo podemos usar menos? ¿Cómo podemos utilizar lo que ya han utilizado? Estas son todas las preguntas en la mente de muchos líderes del gobierno y responsables de la agricultura.

La agricultura es una de las principales industrias del estado, proporcionando uno de cada diez puestos de trabajo. En 2004 el sector agrícola contribuyó 32 mil millones dólares a través de ventas directas a la economia. Cuando el impacto económico global se calcula, la industria es responsable de más de $ 100 millones para la creación de puestos de trabajo y para productos adicionales como el transporte y embalaje.;Mirando por la historia, podemos ver muchas cosas que indican una mejora de la calidad del consumo de agua, sin embargo, todavía no es suficiente. Entre 1980 y 2000 el California Farm Bureau Federation informó que la producción agrícola aumentó en la friolera de 35%. La vista de estos aumentos de producción que sólo tendría sentido que la asignación del agua tendría que ser aumentado, pero esto no es así.

Con una situación grande en la mano, la Coalición del Agua para Granjas de California han creado problemas específicos que necesitamos hacer frente. California necesita un suministro de agua más confiable. Tenemos que tener en cuenta que más servicios de almacenamiento necesarios para incrementar nuestro suministro de agua. . Un mejorado sistema de conducción es necesario llevar agua a su punto de uso y proteger a los peces en peligro de extinción en el Delta. La acción legislativa que ahora se necesita para mover a California en el futuro con un suministro de agua que sea confiable para todos sus ciudadanos.

Organic Agriculture: Cleaner Produce & Cleaner Air?

With the way we live today, we produce very large amounts of Carbon Dioxide among many other hazardous chemicals that get released into the air day after day. Los Angeles has a cloud over itself proving that we as a species are slowly destroying the habitat we live in. Some will argue that this is called Global Warming. Others will contest that the changes in our environment are expected and we will be okay. Either way, we [overall population] are aware that our behavior must change in order to protect the other living organisms in the world. Something we call the “green movement”.
The Rodale Institute, which is dedicated to the promotion of organic agriculture, produced the theory that by replacing our current farmed land which is approximately 3.7 billion acres with organic farming we could in fact reduce the global carbon emission by up to 40 percent. The report was called, “Regenerative Organic Farming: A Solution to Global Warming” which was released in 2008. Since then we have found truths and inadequacies in such predictions.
When we look at the methods organic farming brings to the table, carbon reduction is a large accolade. But, what we have noticed is that climate change by agricultural influences do not limit at carbon dioxide. Methane and nitrous oxide are the primary forms of gasses that affect the atmosphere and climate. Methane, which creates up to 23 times more of an affect than carbon dioxide according to the EPA along with Nitrous oxide pushing way beyond reasonability with 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Composted Manure, which is the main source of fertilizer for row crops impacts our environment most directly, releasing 2.7 percent of it’s carbon as methane before it reaches the field.
As we develop more innovative ways to increase efficiency in growing the Nation’s vegetables and fruit along with row crops for other means of use, we hope that we take into account the environment and what we are releasing out into the air that we breathe day in, and day out. While the Rodale study showed a concern for our current methods, we learn from this study, that many other variables were there that they did not include and we can only look around and wonder, what have we not figured out yet.

California on a Path to Success with Almonds?

In 2008 the California Almond market saw 1.61 billion pounds of almonds. Getting close this year, with more than a 10 million pound difference from 2009, California Almond Growers will be happy to see the 1.53 billion pounds of nuts come out this year, according to federal farm officials.
While the feds say one thing, many county growers in San Joaquin disagree with such numbers, considering they produce 80% of the world’s supply of almonds. In 2008 San Joaquin County boasted $175 million.
Marginal weather including heavy spring rains is why some growers don’t seem as optimistic as the farm officials. With expecting almost .6 billion less in harvest, it is a question as to what will come out of 2010 almonds. With some saying the southern part of CA is receiving a higher, more bountiful crop, time will tell if CA is able to hold true to its high hoped predictions.

California and Water Conservation in 2010

When it comes to water, the world generally doesn’t consider that we are in a problem. Unfortunately, only small areas of our country are realizing the crisis that is going on.

California, the nation’s leader in agricultural production also happens to rank as the nation’s top water user. While looking back on history, many different issues have been brought to attention over the years. One we have never really been concerned about until recently is our water. With the United States using approximately 400 billion gallons of water per day, it isn’t any wonder why we are now asking ourselves, “Where will it all come from?”

Out of that 400 billion gallons of water, about half, is allocated to create energy. With using this water for such uses, is then returned to its source be it river or reservoir.

Currently, Agriculture is the nation’s leading user in water consumption. Using more than 80 billion gallons per day, it is our main source to cut back from. How can we be more efficient? How can we use less? How can we reuse what we have already used? How can we hold rainfall that isn’t being used affectively? These are all questions on the minds of many government leaders and agricultural dependants.
While looking into history, we can see many things that indicate a quality improvement in water consumption, yet it still is not enough. Between 1980 and 2000 the California Farm Bureau Federation reported that crop production increased by a whopping 35%. Seeing these production increases it would only make sense that water allocation would need to be increased, but this is not the case. With growers moving to more economical and efficient irrigation systems, along with using different types of fertilizer products like Ferticell, they have proved that they will succeed through tough times.

That being said, it does eliminate us from the leering loss of water supply. We must still be active to conserve as much water and rainfall as possible to eliminate the risk of even higher spikes in water cost.

If you are interested on how to get more out of your water allocations by increasing your yields, give us a call at (602) 233-2223.

California Agriculture Teams Up with the MVD

With all of the support surrounding the California Agricultural community, its suprising to not have seen this sooner, but it could come at not a better time. With agricultural interests in the younger generation dwindling by, some step of assistance is needed. CDFA Kawamura has induced a new specialized license plate reading, “California Agriculture”.
The license plate will be used to generate educational interests through leadership development and career awareness activities. General registration fees will be lower than the California Ag plate costing $50 to start and $40 per year to renew the plate. Farmers and citizens alike can help support their agricultural followers by putting their California Agriculture plate on autos, commercial vehicles, and trailers.
Unfortunately the demand must be present prior to having the DMV product the plate. A minimum amount of 7500 registrants must apply prior. So please, Californians, get to your DMV and support the youth of tomorrow by getting your Calfornia Agriculture License Plate.
If you are looking for more information about the plate, you can visit www.calagplate.com.

Santa Barbara County Boasts Big Growth

From 2008 to 2009, many families, farms, and business saw terrible drops in wages, sales, and a raise in unemployment. One county though, pushed through recession bound California with flying colors. Santa Barbara County, which reported a 9.1% growth netted a little over $1.2 billion in agricultural production.

Santa Barbara’s cash cow, the strawberry, which rose $35 million since 2008 to $1.2 billion is by far the leading crop for the area. With such a calm climate, Santa Barbara produces a high amount of different crops as well, which has reached higher production. While Broccoli, which dropped $10 million, their wine grapes rose $51 million.

Along with other crops rising in production like Cauliflower, Avocados, Leaf lettuce, and cut flowers, it is nice to see somewhere in CA making a quality profit. Agroplasma says keep it up Santa Barbara!