Dedication of first dairy digester in CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program

CDFA Undersecretary Jim Houston speaks at the dedication.

CDFA Undersecretary Jim Houston speaks at the dedication.

CDFA Undersecretary Jim Houston joined the celebration today in Fresno County for the dedication of a new dairy digester at Open Sky Ranch – the first digester in CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program.

The program is one of several at CDFA supported by the state’s greenhouse gas reduction fund, which is made possible by cap-and-trade funding.

Attendees at the dedication of the digester at Open Sky Ranch.

Attendees at the dedication of the digester at Open Sky Ranch.

CDFA contributed $973,430 to this digester project, with Open Sky Ranch providing the remainder of the $1,946,864 total. Biogas from the digester will be used to produce approximately 800 kilowatts of renewable electricity annually, enough to power 600 homes.

Additional digester projects are in various stages of development in California. For more information on those as well as the Dairy Digester Program please visit this link.

 

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What’s organic? A debate over soil may come down to turf – from the New York Times

 

Basil growing in a hydroponic greenhouse.
Basil growing in a hydroponic greenhouse.

By Stephanie Strom

If a fruit or vegetable isn’t grown in dirt, can it be organic?

That is the question roiling the world of organic farming, and the answer could redefine what it means to farm organically.

At issue is whether produce that relies solely on irrigation to deliver nutrients to plants — through what is known as hydroponic and aquaponic systems — can be certified organic. And the National Organic Standards Board, an advisory group that makes recommendations to the federal secretary of agriculture, will get an earful on the topic at its meeting in St. Louis this week.

On one side are the growing number of big and small growers raising fruits and vegetables in these soil-free systems. They say their production methods are no different from those of farmers who grow plants in dirt — and, they add, they make organic farming more sustainable by, for instance, reducing water use.

“Soil to me as a farmer means a nutrient-rich medium that contains biological processes, and that doesn’t have to be dirt,” said Marianne Cufone, an aquaponic farmer and the executive director of the Recirculating Farms Coalition, which lobbies for aquaculture.

Not so, say the farmers who have spent years tending their soil so that it produces the nutrients plants need. They argue that organic production is first and foremost about caring for the soil, which produces environmental benefits that go beyond growing plants.

“Soil has always been the basis of organic production,” said Steve Sprinkel, an organic farmer in Ojai, Calif. “The soil is alive and releasing micronutrients to plants that use their roots to scavenge and forage those things, and so taking care of the soil is the bedrock of organic farming.”

Sales of organic food in the United States hit $40 billion last year, sending grocers scrambling to find enough organic produce to fill their cases. Keeping up with the demand is difficult and expensive, and financiers and entrepreneurs, many of them from Silicon Valley, have started pouring money into these alternative systems.

Whether the soil-free systems help bring down the price of organic products remains to be seen. Equipment like lighting and organic nutrients are expensive — soil growers count on their dirt to deliver some of those nutrients at no cost — and hydroponically and aquaponically grown fruits and vegetables usually are sold for the same price as organic produce grown in dirt.

“It’s like using an intravenous needle to administer exactly what we think the plant needs instead of allowing the plant to get what it needs in the amount it needs out of the ground,” said Dan Barber, a chef in New York and author of “The Third Plate.”

In the end, the decision about whether these growing systems can continue to be certified falls to the United States Department of Agriculture. In 2010, the Organic Standards Board recommended that hydroponic systems be ruled ineligible for organic certification because they excluded “the soil-plant ecology intrinsic to organic farming systems.” At that time, there were only 39 hydroponic growers with organic certification.

The U.S.D.A. has not acted on the board’s recommendation, allowing organic certification of crops grown in hydroponic systems to continue. According to a survey this year, the number of hydroponic growers with organic certification dropped to 30, but there were 22 certified aquaponic growers and 69 certified operations growing plants in containers lined with things like peat moss and coconut husks that do not provide nutrients on their own.

“The recommendation did not adequately address the diversity of practices and systems in the industry,” Miles McEvoy, the official who oversees the U.S.D.A.’s organic program, said in a statement.

Mr. McEvoy noted that the U.S.D.A. had assigned a task force to report on current practices — but that group split into two camps, mirroring the current debate.

The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 states: “An organic plan shall contain provisions designed to foster soil fertility, primarily through the management of the organic content of the soil through proper tillage, crop rotation and manuring.”

“To me, it seems simple and always has been,” said Sam Welsch, chief executive of OneCert, an organic certification business in Nebraska that has refused to certify hydroponic produce. “There are things the law and regulations require you to do to the soil that you cannot do in a hydroponic system.”

The Cornucopia Institute, an organic industry policy group, filed a legal complaint with the U.S.D.A. this month challenging certification of hydroponic produce and citing the federal law and regulations that govern organic farming. “They’ve illegally been allowing this to happen,” said Mark Kastel, co-founder of the organization, “and now millions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure and the industry is circling the wagons to protect it.”

The Organic Trade Association, which represents the industry, is lobbying in favor of allowing certification of hydroponically and aquaponically grown crops. Nate Lewis, its farm policy director, said some parts of the federal organic law were clearer than others.

He points to its language on cattle, saying it is clear the animals must have outdoor access and eat organic feed in order for their meat to be certified as organic. But the law for plants, he said, was not so obvious. “I would not agree that the law on this is black and white,” Mr. Lewis said.

David Chapman, an organic farmer in Vermont who has been a leader of the opposition to certifying produce from the new systems, said he would be driven out of business if the U.S.D.A. declared hydroponically grown tomatoes could be certified as organic.

“Most people have no idea that the organic tomatoes and peppers they’re buying are hydroponically grown,” Mr. Chapman said. “I think most consumers believe those things are grown in the soil, and that farmers like me are taking care of the soil as they grow them.”

Some 24 countries in Europe, including England, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as Mexico, Canada, Japan and New Zealand, do not allow organic certification for hydroponically grown produce.

Mr. Chapman said hydroponic producers there would like access to the American market, where they could label their products organic and charge a higher price. In fact, one big Canadian hydroponic grower, Golden Fresh Farms, began building 20 acres of greenhouses in Ohio this year. “In Holland, they’ve gotten so good at producing tomatoes hydroponically that they’ve destroyed their own market, so they’re desperate for access to the U.S. organic market,” he said.

Driscoll’s, the berry company, is one of the largest hydroponic growers, using the system to grow hundreds of acres of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.

Soren Bjorn, an executive vice president of Driscoll’s, said growing the produce hydroponically was hardly different from what the company does when it grows its berries in sandy soils. “Part of the benefit of that is there’s no disease in the soil, but there’s also very little nutrition in sand,” he said. “So for certain kinds of berries, we add the vast majority of nutrients through irrigation.”

But Driscoll’s takes issue with describing its system as hydroponic. Rather, Mr. Bjorn said, it grows some of its organic berries in containers in beds of peat moss, coconut fiber or mulch. “Hydroponics may also be contained,” but it’s a water-based system, he said, “lettuce floating around on water, for instance.”

Mr. Lewis of the Organic Trade Association said, however, that little distinguishes a container system from a hydroponic system. “There really isn’t much difference,” he said.

Colin Archipley’s farm, Archi’s Acres, grows kale, herbs and other produce hydroponically in greenhouses in San Diego. He is frustrated that there is even a debate over whether his produce is organic.

“The reason this has become such a big deal is that systems like ours are becoming more popular because they’re more efficient, which means farmers are more sustainable and profitable,” he said. “That’s put competition on farmers, specifically in Vermont, and so what this really is about is market protection.”

Link to article

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Consumer tips for roadside stands – from the Fresno Bee’s “Action Line”

By Blair Looney, Better Business Bureau

A reader: I was driving to work this morning and saw a booth space in a public parking lot that said they had meat for sale. It looked comparable to a fireworks booth. The sign on the booth said “10 ribeyes for $10.99.” That is beyond cheap. Is it legal to sell meat in a public parking lot like this?

Action Line: The company that sells the meat would be governed by whatever city, county, state and federal laws are on the books. Meat sales are regulated by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Measurement Standards, (CDFA/DMS).

CDFA/DMS checks packages for the accuracy of the net content statements. There is a “Fair Packaging and Labeling Act” containing requirements including laws against misleading and deceptive packages or advertisements.

According to CDFA/DMS, California spends an estimated $136 billion every year on commodities that are sold by weight, measure and count. So that is the first thing you would want to look into. If they are selling 10 ribeyes for $10, how much does each ribeye weigh? If you feel the pricing, packaging and weight are not accurate, you can contact your county office of weights and measures.

There is also regulation that comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. If the company is operating within city limits, most cities require city licensing. You can check to see if they are registered properly.

But here is my big concern: If they are selling meat in a parking lot, is it refrigerated properly? The USDA and BBB suggest that you check on the dealer. Ask for a brochure. Read the labeling on the package or carton before you purchase anything. Insist of having the phone number of the establishment that inspected the meat. Check for grading information on the product. Make sure you understand the cuts of meat. Ask to see a retail permit or city license.

Again, make sure the meat has been transported in a refrigeration vehicle. USDA advises that you should never buy meat or poultry products that are carried in an unrefrigerated truck or car trunk. The product may be unsafe because bacteria that cause illness multiply rapidly over 40 degrees.

The Federal Trade Commission also has the three-day cooling-off rule that gives you three days to change your mind. You must cancel the purchase within those three days as long as the purchase is in your home, not a location that is a permanent address for the business. This rule does not cover sales of $25 or under.

If you make a purchase and are not satisfied with it, contact the company to see if you can resolve it yourself. Make sure that you act quickly. If the company does not resolve the issue, you may file a complaint at bbb.org as well as the other agencies listed in the column.

Action Line is written by Blair Looney, president and CEO for the Better Business Bureau serving Central California. Send your consumer concerns, questions and problems to Action Line at the Better Business Bureau, 2600 W. Shaw Lane, Fresno, CA 93711 or info@cencal.bbb.org.

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Elementary School in Central Valley partners with school in Sierra foothills to share love of Ag education

California public school students learning about agriculture through activity called "Solution Soup," which also teaches children how to convert fractions to decimals.

California public school students learning about agriculture through an activity called “Solution Soup,” which also teaches children how to convert fractions to decimals.

One of the great challenges of farm-to-school programs is taking the message from rural communities, “preaching to the choir,” if you will, to communities with cultural frames of references other than agriculture. They could be urban communities or communities with geographical differences that make them, by nature, less familiar with farming and ranching.

In September, at the annual conference hosted by the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, we saw just such a partnership come together, and it’s already paying dividends. Second-grade teacher Jami Beck of Three Rivers School, in a community of the same name in the Sierra foothills, watched a presentation by Visalia sixth-grade teacher Julie Cates and struck-up a classroom friendship that has resulted in their students becoming pen pals.

Last school year was Cates’ first year teaching, and she has already made quite an impression. Cates incorporates her passion for nutrition and agriculture into her classroom each week through activities she shares on Twitter. Cates received a $500 Literacy for Life grant from Ag in the Classroom for teachers promoting hands-on agriculture. She used it to establish the #FindYourFavoriteFridays project, allowing her to bring different fruits or vegetables each Friday for students to taste. For her work in this area Cates was named the 2015 Outstanding Educator of the Year by Ag in the Classroom.

“I am in love with agriculture and nutrition education,” Cates said. “I enjoy sharing my passion with students and opening their minds to all agriculture has to offer. I also try to help other teachers learn how they too can make agriculture part of their classrooms.”

Beck, who has been teaching for 12 years, recognizes the importance of teaching students about agriculture. Her community is immediately surrounded by oak woodlands and foothills but lies within California’s top agricultural county, Tulare County, where the most valuable communities produced are milk, cattle and calves, oranges and grapes. However, prior to attending the conference, Beck thought teaching the science aspect of agriculture seemed like a daunting task.

“I was always intimidated when it came to agriculture because I thought you needed to have a strong background in science,” Beck said. “The conference gave me the confidence, connections and resources I needed.”

Conference attendees could almost see the wheels turning in Beck’s mind as she listened to Cates speak. The idea of introducing students to California-grown fruits, vegetables and nuts through was intriguing, and Cates made it sound practical.

Beck was inspired. She immediately returned to her classroom, and before the second-graders entered the room on Monday morning she had created a new bulletin board display titled, “I’m Ag-Excited, are you?” The next day the second-graders experienced their first #TryItTuesdays tasting – an opportunity to experience what may well be new fruits and vegetables for them.

“You should have seen my young students’ faces when they saw the bulletin board. They can’t wait to learn about agriculture,” Beck said.

The students were not the only ones excited to learn more. Cates and Beck met up within three weeks after the conference to attend a seed propagation workshop. Before long, they had developed a new a project tying writing and agriculture together: a pen pal Ag-Venture.

“Dear 6th Grader,” one of Beck’s students wrote. “My name is Alice. I am in second grade. I love Try it Tuesday. My favorite thing so far was honeydew melon. What was your favorite thing to taste? What is your name? Do you like working in your school garden. Your friend, Alice.”

Just like that, new friendships have sprouted between the two teachers and their 40 students. Both teachers have created agricultural experiences within their classroom walls, and they have opened their student’s eyes to the agriculture that surrounds them.

The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom helps connect, inspire and equip teachers throughout the state so they can make agriculture a part of their classroom. Follow @cates_julie and @mrs_jbeck on Twitter to keep up with their journey, and watch their seeds and students grow. For free teaching resources, grants and other agricultural education opportunities, visit LearnAboutAg.org.

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Central Valley farmers grow quality tomatoes with half the nitrogen and a third less water – from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service

tomatoes

How do you cut your water use by a third, cut your nitrogen use in half, maintain your tomato yield and improve your fruit quality?  “With patience, perseverance and by treating your soil like a living ecosystem–which it is,” says Jesse Sanchez.

Sanchez should know. He and Alan Sano have been experimenting with soil enhancements for 15 years on Sano Farms in Firebaugh.  They believe they have hit upon a winning strategy—though their experiments continue.

Today, they grow 50 ton per acre tomatoes with half of the nitrogen (120 units) and a third less water than before.  They also report fewer weeds and better tomato quality.

The soil organic matter (SOM)—the living portion of the soil that turns crop residue into minerals needed by growing plants—has gone from 0.5 percent to 3.0 percent, report Sano and Sanchez.  “The soil is like day and night,” says Sanchez.  “You can dig it with your hands,” he says, cupping a handful to prove his point.

So how do you transition largely inert soil into the ecological powerhouse found on Sano Farms?

Cover crops, reduced equipment passes, and subsurface irrigation have been key, according to Jeff Mitchell , UC Cooperative Extension specialist based at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center . These practices combine to feed and protect the soil microorganisms often ignored in agricultural systems. Mitchell has been coaching the Sano/Sanchez team for over 10 years, witnessing their progress and connecting them with like-minded farmers and organizations.

“Farmers sometimes worry that cover crops will compete with the cash crop for water and nutrients,” says Mitchell.  “We’re starting to see at Sano Farms — looking long term—that the tradeoffs might actually be favorable.”

Sanchez says he terminates the cover crop before the tomatoes are planted, leaving the dead residue to smother weeds and feed the soil microorganisms.

The SOM also builds the sponge that allows the farm to thrive on less water, says Zahangir Kabir, Soil Health Specialist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “A one percent increase in SOM builds your soil’s ability to hold water by 19,000 to 25,000 gallons per acre. Thus, calculating conservatively, Sano Farms’ fields hold 50,000 gallons of water more per acre than they did before.”

You can see this in action at Sano farms. “When it rains here the water soaks into the field. It stays put,” says Sanchez.  “It doesn’t run off like some farms.”

Sanchez, who received a White House Champions of Change Award last summer, says he knows farmers resist change. “But we can’t stop change,” he says. “It’s all around us. If they (farmers) do change the way they work with their soil, they are going to like what they see.”

Sanchez will be a featured speaker at the second annual Latino Farmers Conference taking place on Nov. 15 at the Monterey Hyatt Regency. The event is free but registration is required.

To see Alan Sano and Jesse Sanchez at Sano Farms in Firebaugh watch the YouTube video

Link to news release

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Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory on the leading edge of research beneficial to agriculture

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (lower, third from left) and Senior Advisor Bob Wynn (next to Sec. Ross) with scientists this week at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Livermore.

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (lower, third from left) and Senior Advisor Bob Wynn (next to Sec. Ross) with scientists this week at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.

I was honored to have an opportunity this week to visit the world-class Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and learn about some of the cutting-edge research underway that has value to agriculture.

The Berkeley lab is an example of our lengthy and fruitful partnership with the University of California, which touches on many aspects of agriculture. During our tour we discussed research initiatives on climate change, water efficiency, soil health and urban agriculture. Those are all crucial pieces as we look to position food production to meet the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.

Secretary Ross wears a virtual reality headset to view the inside of a grapevine captured by X-Ray.

Secretary Ross wears a headset to view the inside of a grapevine captured by X-Ray.

The science that was demonstrated was genuinely mind-boggling. One of the amazing things I saw was a project called “Advanced Light Sources.” It’s an advanced X-Ray system in high demand for a number of innovative research projects. It has enabled USDA researchers to actually see inside of grapevines, which has great potential for understanding water management and other issue to improve vine health. I got to see it myself and can confirm that it’s a wondrous innovative achievement.

I continue to be bullish about the future opportunities for California agriculture, even as we work to produce more food using fewer natural resources.  The great work done at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and within the entire University of California system will definitely help us meet that challenge.

 

 

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CDFA, UC Davis team-up on tips to keep bird flocks safe from Avian Flu

Chickens

By Pat Bailey, UC Davis

As leaves begin to fall and sunlight takes on a golden sparkle, you may be noticing increased activity in the skies. It’s that time of year when migratory waterfowl are on the move, heading south from their northern breeding grounds

Their presence in local fields and waterways is a signal for chicken owners to be especially on guard against avian influenza or “bird flu,” commonly found in wild waterfowl. The virus can spread to chickens and other domestic poultry causing significant losses.

Whether you own a large flock or just a few backyard chickens, it is important to keep your birds separated from wild birds, which can carry avian influenza without showing any symptoms of illness.

In chickens, telltale signs of avian influenza include depression, lack of appetite, diarrhea, soft or misshapen eggs, and sudden and increased deaths among the flocks.

While the risk of avian influenza transmission is higher in the fall due to the increased number of waterfowl present, it is important to recognize that waterfowl and other wildlife that carry diseases are a constant risk to our chickens’ health.

For that reason, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and the California Department of Food and Agriculture offer these biosecurity tips aimed at protecting your chickens from bird flu:

1. Wash your hands.

Use soap and water or hand sanitizer before and after working with chickens.

2. Designate a pair of boots or shoes for use only in the coop.

And if you hunt waterfowl, make sure your hunting clothes and equipment are kept separate from your domestic poultry.

3. Prevent wild animals and waterfowl from coming into contact with your chickens.

If you have a pond or other body of water that would attract waterfowl, consider draining it, if that is practical.

4. Isolate new birds.

To reduce the risk of introducing disease into your flock, isolate any new birds for 30 days before adding them in with your birds.

5. Use reputable sources, store feed safely and check the water supply.

Always obtain birds from reputable, disease-free sources that put good biosecurity standards into practice. Purchase feed from clean, dependable sources and store it in containers that are safe from birds, rodents and insects. Provide your birds with clean, fresh water at all times.

6. Place footbaths on a concrete pad or pallet.

If you use a footbath containing approved disinfectants to disinfect shoes and boots, place it on a concrete pad or pallet to prevent dirt from being tracked into it. Make sure to change the disinfectant daily.

7. Report signs of illness.

Report any signs of illness or increased deaths among your flock to your veterinarian or the Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-BIRD (2473).

In addition, necropsies are offered by the veterinary school’s California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System.

For more on poultry care and management, visit the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine-Cooperative Extension Poultry website and the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Avian Health Program website.

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The wonderful world of Ag research – from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack

Vilsack

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack

What if I told you a scientist had recently discovered a way to remove up to 98% of the allergens in peanuts without affecting the flavor, thereby diminishing a severe health threat to some 2.8 million Americans who suffer from peanut allergies?

Or that a small family business is working on a project that could quench the thirst of billions of people around the world with technology that’s capable of taking water from any source and making it safe to drink?

If that sounds a little like science fiction to you, you wouldn’t be alone. But both examples exist today as part of the hundreds of scientific breakthroughs made by USDA and USDA-supported scientists since the start of the Obama Administration.

When people think of USDA, they may not immediately think of cutting-edge science or discovery. But USDA is the world’s largest agricultural research force. USDA employs around 3,000 scientists, economists, statisticians and others, and funds thousands more at land-grant universities and other institutions across the country. Together, their work has helped to shape the lives of billions of people around the world.

Under the Obama Administration, USDA has made a powerful statement about the importance of scientific discovery by strengthening our institutions, building our capacity and leveraging the strengths of our outside partners to do the same. From the farm to the lab to the boardroom, we’ve increased our investment in delivering problem-driven and solutions-based science that empowers farmers, foresters, ranchers, landowners, resource managers, professors and policymakers to help manage the risks we face.

Studies have shown that every dollar invested in agricultural research now returns over $20 to our economy. For our part, since 2009, USDA has invested $19 billion in research both intramural and extramural. As a result of that investment, research conducted by USDA scientists has resulted in 883 patent applications filed, 405 patents issued and 1,151 new inventions disclosures covering a wide range of topics and discoveries since 2009.

Science transfer

USDA also continues to aggressively partner with private companies, universities and others to transfer technology to the marketplace to benefit consumers and businesses alike. Over the years, USDA innovations have created all manner of products Americans use every day, from cosmetics, to insect controls, leathers, shampoos and of course food products. Here is a sample of USDA’s work:

  • Frozen orange juice concentrate
  • Turf used on many NFL and other sports fields across the country
  • “Permanent press” cotton clothing
  • Almost all breeds of blueberries and cranberries currently in production
  • 80 percent of all varieties of citrus fruits grown in the U.S. and
  • The mass production of penicillin during World War II

Still today, our scientists are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and creating new miracles on behalf of the American people year after year. Their incredible dedication underscores the importance of government funding for research so that we can continue to make cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs with real potential for commercial application and growth. In recent years, some of their other discoveries include:

  • A new process to turn old tires into zinc fertilizer
  • A new kind of flour made from chardonnay grape seeds that can prevent increases in cholesterol and weight-gain
  • A portable method for identifying harmful bacteria in food that prevents foodborne illness and safeguards public health
  • A new soil nitrogen test that rapidly and inexpensively determines the total amount of nitrogen in the soil that is available to a plant. The use of this test reduces fertilizer application amounts, reduces costs for farmers, and benefits the environment
  • A new process for pasteurizing shelled eggs that uses radio frequency energy that is 1.5 times faster than the current pasteurization process and that does not affect the eggs’ appearance. This fast new technology should increase the number of pasteurized eggs and reduce the threat of illness from uncooked and undercooked shelled eggs

And there are many more where that came from.

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Galt FFA becomes first California chapter to win national agriculture issues competition – from the Galt Herald

The Galt FFA Ag Issues championship team. From left, Carlos Torres Eliseo Diaz, Saul Ortiz, Madeline Franke, Dane White, Coach, Jose Juarez. Isaac Martinez

The Galt FFA Ag Issues championship team. From left, Carlos Torres,
Eliseo Diaz, Saul Ortiz, Madeline Franke, Dane White- Coach, Jose Juarez.
Isaac Martinez

Galt FFA had 17 members and three advisors travel to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. 16-23. Throughout the week, Galt FFA members participated in national contests, discussed agriculture education and represented the Galt community.

The National FFA Agriculture Issues Forum CDE is a competitive event that tests students’ knowledge of agricultural issues. Teams must design a presentation that addresses multiple viewpoints of a contemporary agriculture issue and present it to various audiences in their community. In addition, teams must win their state competition to qualify. The Galt FFA team made it to the final round and was awarded the National Champion Agriculture Issues team – the first team from California to win the contest in its 22-year history. The team was coached by Dane White and members included Eliseo Diaz, Madeline Franke, Jose Juarez, Isaac Martinez, Saul Ortiz and Carlos Torres.

“This was one of the best experiences of my life,” team member Diaz said. “I am very proud of our team because we worked very hard to give our best presentation. I am a better public speaker and have confidence when presenting to a group. I know that these skills will really help me after high school.”

Galt FFA also had a Poultry Evaluation team compete, representing California FFA and Galt FFA. The competitive event tested the participants’ ability to select top quality poultry and poultry products needed for successful production and marketing. They also participated in oral reasons, a team activity and written exam. The Galt FFA team was the National Reserve Champions. The team was coached by Katie Titus and members included Isabel Bishop (fourth high individual), Michayla Davidson (eighth high individual), Megan Oliveira and Trever Edwards.

“It was really exciting to represent our small town and community at the national level,” Davidson said. “This contest taught me life skills such as public speaking, problem solving and teamwork. I am thankful to have had this great opportunity.”

Galt FFA was honored to receive recognition as a National 3-star Chapter at this year’s National FFA Convention. This is the highest rating an FFA chapter can earn, with fewer than 40 chapters (out of over 3,000) nationwide being accorded this recognition. Chapter officers Arath Chavez and Hannah Cooley were fortunate to walk across stage to represent Galt FFA.

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Chavez. “I am extremely proud of our FFA chapter and all of the members. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you look like, everyone is accepted and a part of the Ag family.”

Galt FFA member Fabian Rodriguez had the distinct honor of participating as one of the 15 students in a round table discussion with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The last remaining original member of President Obama’s Cabinet, Vilsack conversed with the group regarding future careers and opportunities in agriculture. Rodriguez was thrilled to have been asked to participate in such a prestigious panel with peers from across the country.

“It was an honor to meet the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture,” said Rodriguez. “I was excited to share with him what our FFA chapter does and how it has given me many opportunities and positively changed my life.”

The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 649,355 student members as part of 7,859 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential of premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education.

Link to article

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Scientists work to define threat from palm pest – from Ag Alert

Palm trees

By Kevin Hecteman

Southern California, which in recent times ejected the red palm weevil, has a new problem to ponder. It’s the South American palm weevil, which has arrived in the San Diego area from Tijuana and likes to dine on palm trees—both the ornamental and the date-growing kind.

Insect specialists, farmers and others gathered in Bonita last week to discuss the problem.

“One of the first things date palm growers should be doing is getting informed about the situation,” said Mark Hoddle, an entomologist at the University of California, Riverside. “The second thing they could help with is just to be aware of the risks of how this weevil moves around.”

Hoddle described the weevil as a strong flier.

“But movement of live palm material, especially transplants that get moved from potentially infested areas into uninfested areas, could suddenly bring the palm weevil into close proximity to date-growing areas, where currently there are no known breeding weevil populations,” he said.

The third thing, Hoddle said, is keeping an eye out for potentially infested palm trees and bringing those to the attention of agricultural officials for investigation. The UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research, which Hoddle directs, has a website where people can report palm trees that may be infested, at cisr.ucr.edu/palmarum_survey.html.

Albert Keck, who runs Hadley Date Farms in Thermal and chairs the California Date Commission, attended last week’s meeting and described date growers as “very concerned.”

“We don’t want the weevil to get a foothold in the United States and then leapfrog into one of these interior valleys and come into our growing district,” Keck said. “We’re hopeful that it’s still a situation that can be contained.”

A South American palm weevil wreaks havoc by laying eggs in a growing area of the palm tree, Hoddle said; on a Canary Island palm, that would be the apical meristem in the crown, where new fronds grow.

“That’s a large, soft, juicy chunk of meat,” Hoddle said. “If you’re a weevil, it’s the most delicious part of the palm you can get into, and it’s also the most nutritious.”

Female weevils—adults are typically an inch to an inch and a quarter in length—will use their long snouts to drill holes for egg laying. The resulting larvae can grow to 2 inches long, and they feast on the crown. That kills the crown, which in turn kills the tree.

“This could be devastating to the date-growing districts of the state, and it’s just a reminder of how vulnerable we are to these invasive issues,” Keck said.

Dates represented nearly $41 million worth of crops in Riverside County alone last year, according to the county agricultural commissioner’s report.

Keck said that the response to such problems usually, and appropriately, takes an agricultural approach.

“That makes it difficult when you’re trying to reach the urban constituents and why it’s a concern to them,” he said. “Palms are extremely important to our urban, coastal California landscaping. It’s very much an urban issue right now, and we don’t want it to become an ag issue.”

Nick Condos, who directs the Division of Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, talked about potential regulatory responses to the threat; besides trapping and pesticides, these could include quarantines, control methods, outreach and research.

“We have put in a farm-bill request to do a trapping program for exotic palm pests, which would include South American palm weevil,” Condos said.

Details still need to be worked out, he said, as it’s not yet known how far north or east the weevil has spread.

As for a quarantine, Condos said it’s not yet known exactly which varieties of palm are susceptible to weevil infestation. Any quarantine would likely take after a plan drawn in 2012 to combat the red palm weevil in Laguna Beach, though that plan was never activated. Quarantines can be expensive to enforce, Condos said, and can involve steps such as growing nursery stock in an enclosed structure for a year and safely transporting frond trimmings.

“Nobody was rooting for a quarantine right now,” he said. “It was just an opportunity to get all these options out there, let people start thinking about them and what we need to do, to prioritize research to pursue some of these options.”

Hoddle said drooping fronds and a tilted crown are signs a palm tree has weevils. Trouble is, by the time one sees these signs, the tree may be beyond help.

“One of the holy grails for palm weevil research is early detection,” Hoddle said. “How do you know if your palm tree’s infected before you start seeing these very obvious visual symptoms? Right now, there’s no really great early detection technology.”

As if all that isn’t enough, the weevil has a partner in crime: the red ring nematode. If this pest is in the tree, it will find its way into the weevils, which then spread it to other trees. But so far, Hoddle said, the nematode has not appeared in California.

The best chance of containing and eradicating the weevil is when the population is small and localized, he said. The most effective anti-weevil tactics involve using pheromone traps and pesticides simultaneously; traps won’t stop the infestation but will help locate affected trees.

“Then you want to apply the pesticide treatments to those infested palms,” Hoddle said. “That type of multi-pronged approach has been really effective at controlling date-infesting palm weevils in the Middle East, for example.”

Condos said CDFA will encourage palm growers to participate in weevil detection.

“Most of our successful pest responses over the past couple of years have a very large commodity presence,” he said, citing efforts to combat pests threatening citrus crops and winegrapes.

“We really wanted to make sure that (farmers) understood that this isn’t government alone,” Condos said. “They have to be part of the process.”

Link to story at California Farm Bureau Federation web site

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