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.

Water Delivery Discussion: Stand Up for Agriculture

On Wednesday, March 24th, 2010, some of the top agricultural water specialists will be meeting to help sort out some of the largest issues with the California Water Delivery. After limping through the last three years, water conservation is at the top of every discussion, media board, and farmer’s mind.

With so many farm workers losing their jobs and farmers going belly-up, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has scheduled a meeting this week to discuss the federal and state water delivery allocations.

Representatives from the Westlands Water District, San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority, Australian Water Officials from the State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, and Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project all plan on attending and will provide presentations of some sort.

It’s important to note that this meeting will be open to the public and the media. Anyone concerned with this issue, which is every farmer in California, in our opinion should attend to put out the voice for California Agriculture. A large attendance of California farmers would be a large voice as to say, “We’re standing up for Ag!”

The meeting will be held March 24th, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture at 1220 ‘N’ Streeet., Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814. [Link to Google Maps]

If you do attend, feel free to leave a comment detailing how the meeting went in your own opinion!

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

California farmers are getting a big helping hand from the USDA due to the new Environmental Quality Incentives Program which is allowing farmers who qualify and that are interested to apply for funding.
Registration has already begun and will continue through April 9th, 2010. Farmers in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, Tulare, San Joaquin, and Stanisluas Counties will be eligible to receive portions of the ten million dollars set aside to those most directly affected by the current California drought.

For more information you may go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/EQIP/

Final EIR: Apple Moth Battle

The light brown apple moth, the agricultural demon that was found in Manteca has created quite a rush for those in the area. The California Department of Food and Agriculture reported that the eradication program was “less likely” to cause human harm or environmental damage than not taking the action. Reasoning was that if the infestation had spread, more harsh chemicals and pesticides would have been required.

It was stated that if the moth were to become established, that a production loss of over $100 million could be the result of inaction.

The CDFA has considered that using pheromone twist ties on areas where the moth’s breeding occurs will best serve in disrupting the wild moth breeding activity.
The agencies final EIR is available at www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PDEP/lbam/envimpactrpt.html. If you would like more information you can contact Yolo County Agriculture Commissioner John Young (530) 666-8148.

$2 Billion Spent a Year On the Medfly Now Falling On the California Farmer

With all of the issues currently happening for the California farmer, news like this isn’t very welcome. The Mediterranean fruit fly (below) has infested the state of California since September 2009 and now is quite an issue on the Board of California Agriculture.

Board officials are estimating that a yearly cost to control the Medfly is ranging around the $2 billion mark. The Medfly, destroys crops and creates a large issue for California farmers. With anywhere between 60 to 70 day pesticide treatment periods, that are required by law, if a crop is found to be infected causes quite a problem. Certain crops are able to survive for this quarantined period and crop loss almost seems imminent.

The executive director of the San Diego Farm Bureau, Eric Larson has stated that the core area farms will experience sever financial losses. With the Medfly creating large farm management issues, Larson agrees that something serious must be done to stop the Medfly from inhabiting the fears of California farmers.

With a 79 sq-mile quarantine increasing to 148 sq-miles in less than a month, Escondido is nearly covered. It has not been established as to how many farmers have been or are going to be affected but the big question is, who is going to foot the bill? With the state’s deficit larger than ever, $2 billion is a big bill to swallow and Larson fears that the farmer will end up paying for it. With over 260 fruits and veggies being restricted from moving and the Medfly being able to cover over 4.5 miles over their life expectancy, the issue is serious and could cost the nation over $280 million in crop loss.

With one farm reporting losses over $14,000 in 2009, the question still remains the same, when will the Mediterranean fruit fly haunt our dreams no more?