By Ian Le May, president, California Fresh Fruit Association

It’s easy to ignore system update notifications on our phones. With all of the pressures on growers today—drought, regulations, port closures, supply chains to name a few—the issue of upgrading technology to improve agricultural labor and output is put off as easily as delaying updates to newer versions of iOS. However, current conditions have growers stressed to the point where a little mechanization or automation can make the difference between staying in business and fallowing the family farm.

AgTech has the potential to deliver those savings and increase flexibility. However, farmers throughout the Golden State need to take a more proactive approach to cultivate growth for our individual laborers and update the agricultural system to ensure California’s agricultural longevity and economic well-being.

The recent investment of $65.1 million by the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge to build the F3 – Fresno-Merced Future of Food initiative will put into practice the foundational transition principles to upskill our region’s agricultural workforce and build new agrifood technologies that will expand opportunities for ag-skilled laborers and farms of all sizes. Growers and employees will want to work with researchers and industry to elevate AgTech implementation and innovation.

Humans are irreplaceable

The agricultural industry lacks consistent language that acknowledges the skills of the people who work in our fields, orchards, and ranches. The term “farmworker” does not adequately convey the incredible expertise of those who work in food production, processing and packing and who are correspondingly responsible for ensuring grocery stores remain stocked with the produce we take for granted.

AgTech offers our industry an opportunity to move beyond our outdated operating system and upgrade our human-computer interactions to provide safe, flexible, and environment-specific hardware (machinery to support) and software (systems to support) to a skilled workforce, our employees, that connects, decides, and uses their own unique skills and experiences to expedite production.

Agriculture has made advances in processing and packing to improve efficiency, but in the field, more could be done to use the three human components that have been irreplaceable: the mind, eye, and hand.

There are several areas ripe for assisting employees, and they are the most labor intensive and hardest to replace: blossom thinning, pruning and small fruit removals. Research at the University of California, Merced’s AgAID Institute funded by USDA is using the agricultural knowledge of tree-trimming laborers to inform artificial intelligence models and eventually the robotic systems to cut the right stems for optimal growth. These small-scale, singular interventions can make a tedious, costly pass through a field more efficient.

Yes, some positions will be lost. Those tasks—not the people—will be replaced through humans in-the-loop approach to AI, where people help computers make decisions. AgTech jobs reduce the most painful and dangerous activities, and tech can do things humans just cannot, like augmented computer vision that looks for diseases in fruits. But picking ripe fruit and gentle handling in a basket needs people.

AgTech offers our industry an opportunity to diversify our workforce and create lucrative career paths for thousands of students with degrees in computer science and engineering or cognitive and information sciences. Thanks to recent investments by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, UC Merced is working with regional partners and community colleges to build the Fresno-Merced Future of Food Innovation Initiative that will create new career pathways in the digital transformation of agriculture.

The future of ag is in AgTech

AgTech is about promoting safety, efficiency, and health for our farms and our employees.

Instead of crop dusters, drone pilots can track and support plant health. Instead of hauling fruits down an aisle, robots can carry heavy loads to the truck. Instead of trimming vines, human-in-the-loop AI systems can support accurate and precise pruning cuts.

Hands-on fieldwork in the agriculture industry is not going anywhere, but it is due for an upgrade to make the whole industry operate with more efficiency and to support the state’s growing economy, specifically in these two key areas of farm labor and AgTech.

Read more on the Agri-Pulse web site

CDFA invites all Californians to join in celebrating October as National Farm to School Month.

Supported by the National Farm to School Network, this is a month for thousands of schools, early care education sites, farms, communities, and organizations across the country to celebrate food education, school gardens, and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients.

It’s also a time for the CDFA Farm to School Program to celebrate grantees of the California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program. Through the support of Governor Newsom and the California Legislature, $8.5 million in grant funding was awarded to 60 farm to school projects across the state in 2021. This funding is supporting local and regional farm to school projects that promote nutrition education, sustainable food production and procurement, and high-quality student experiences. Stay tuned for CDFA announcements coming soon about grantees in the 2022 California Fam to School Incubator Grant Program that will support projects that cultivate equity, nurture students, build climate resilience, and create scalable and sustainable change.

California is a leader in farm to school efforts as First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and CDFA Secretary Karen Ross convened the Farm to School Interagency Working Group and Advisory Committee to establish an equitable, resilient and scalable California farm to school movement. These groups’ efforts led to the release earlier this year of “Planting the Seed: Farm to School Roadmap for Success.” The roadmap offers tips to connect children to locally sourced whole foods in the cafeteria, classroom and garden, and it also provides critical resources to cultivate healthier, climate-smart, and more equitable communities.

“CDFA is proud to be one of the many statewide partners supporting farm to school efforts to connect students from every background with healthy, locally grown food to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables,” said Secretary Ross. “This leads to enhanced academic achievement, a lifelong relationship with nutritious food, and a connection to California’s many farmers and ranchers.”

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross welcomed Western Cape of South Africa agricultural minister Ivan Meyer today during his visit to California. Minister Meyer’s trip is dedicated to strengthen the existing collaboration between California and the Western Cape, and to further a recently-signed Memorandum of Understanding on climate concerns.

California and the Western Cape have committed to expanding exchanges of information as well as on-farm practices and technologies to support a robust and climate resilient agricultural sector. Additionally, the partners have committed to work collaboratively to further international engagement by sub-national governments on climate smart agricultural initiatives, with an emphasis on Mediterranean governmental entities.

CDFA deputy secretary Kevin Masuhara was recognized this week for his years of service to agriculture with the James A. Graham Award from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). The award is given annually for outstanding work by state employees providing service to farmers and ranchers.

Masuhara is Deputy Secretary for Administration and Finance at CDFA, serving the people of California and all of agriculture through leadership development, process improvement, emergency preparedness, and equity advancement. In addition, he serves as Chief Operating Officer for the department overseeing an organizational structure of more than 1,700 employees located throughout California.

Masuhara’s past assignments at CDFA have included management positions involved with dairy pricing policy, oversight of agricultural commodity board activity, pest detection and exclusion programs, and liaison to California’s 58 counties carrying out regulatory programs at the local level.

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross: “Congratulations to Kevin for this richly-deserved recognition. I wish to express my gratitude for his professionalism, dedication and leadership. He is a trusted confidant and role model for the Department as he has helped us adapt to changing times and kept us on point as we continue to serve agriculture and the people of California, most notably through his commitment to equity and making sure it’s the way we do business.”

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) joins the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in recognizing today as the third annual International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.

In a world where the number of people affected by hunger is rising and tons of edible food are lost and/or wasted every day, curbing food loss and waste is essential. Food loss and waste puts unnecessary pressure on the environment, resulting in natural resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions.

CDFA’s commitment to helping Californians reduce food loss and waste includes the CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program promoting human food byproduct diversion to create animal feed; the CDFA Rendering Program promoting the process of breaking down animal byproducts for industrial uses; the CDFA Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation promoting compost through the Alternative Manure Management Program and Healthy Soils Program; and the CDFA Office of Farm to Fork increasing food access points.

Visit the FAO website for additional resources and publications about the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.

Visit the CDFA Food Recovery website to watch an Understanding Food Recovery and Food Upcycling video that relays how CDFA is involved in food recovery, as well as how all Californians can join the effort:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMAw7gR0L6s

(*Figures mentioned in this video may have changed since the video was created in 2020. Please reference the cited sources for accuracy.)

As drought and climate change continue to pose challenges for farmers and ranchers in the Central Valley and all of California, a family farm in Oakdale, Stanislaus County, may offer a window to the future with a water-efficient cactus farm. Meet Darlene Ruiz and her father, Salvador Ruiz, a former farmworker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB7YA_pXTz4

Video in Spanish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT1QLa3WNHw

CDFA’s Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program–referenced in the video–funds energy efficient refrigeration units in corner stores, small businesses, and food donation programs to stock California-grown fresh produce, nuts, dairy, meat, eggs, minimally-processed foods, and culturally appropriate foods.

The Ruiz cactus farm is an example of the essential contributions made by Latinos in California, as well as the type of water-efficient farming that fits California’s hotter, drier climate.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is making $500 million in grants available to increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes on U.S. farmers caused by the war in Ukraine.

“Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is creating a resilient, secure and sustainable economy, and this support to provide domestic, independent choices for fertilizer supplies is part of that effort,” Vilsack said. “USDA believes in the growth of innovative, local businesses owned and shared by people who can best serve their own unique community’s needs, fill gaps, and build opportunities. Recent supply chain disruptions have shown just how critical it is to invest in the agricultural supply chain here at home. The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program is one example of many Biden-Harris Administration initiatives to bring production and jobs back to the United States, promote competition and support American goods and services.”

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program is part of a whole-of-government effort to promote competition in agricultural markets. The funds are being made available through the Commodity Credit Corporation.

Grants will be used to support independent, innovative and sustainable American fertilizer production to supply American farmers. Funds also will expand the manufacturing and processing of fertilizer and nutrient alternatives in the U.S. and its territories.

The program will support fertilizer production that is:

Independent, and outside the orbit of dominant fertilizer suppliers. Because the program’s goal is to increase competition, market share restrictions apply.

Made in America. Products must be produced by companies operating in the U.S. or its territories, to create good-paying jobs at home, and reduce the reliance on potentially unstable, inconsistent foreign supplies.

Innovative. Techniques will improve fertilizer production methods and efficient-use technologies to jumpstart the next generation of fertilizers and nutrient alternatives.

Sustainable. Ideally, products will reduce the greenhouse gas impact of transportation, production and use through renewable energy sources, feedstocks and formulations, incentivizing greater precision in fertilizer use.

Farmer-focused. Like other Commodity Credit Corporation investments, a driving factor is providing support and opportunities for U.S. agricultural commodity producers.

Eligible entities are for‐profit businesses and corporations, nonprofit entities, Tribes and Tribal organizations, producer‐owned cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, and state or local governments. Private entities must be independently owned and operated to apply.

The maximum award is $100 million. The minimum award is $1 million. The grant term is five years.

The Department will begin accepting applications in the coming days via www.grants.gov. Notably, there will be two opportunities for submission.

The Department plans for a 45-day application window for applicants to receive priority for projects that increase the availability of fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphate or potash) and nutrient alternatives for agricultural producers to use in crop years 2023 or 2024.

The Department will also offer an extended application window, providing an additional 45 days (90-day application window) to receive applications for financial assistance to significantly increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes. This extended application window will support applicants who need more time to make additional capacity available.

The Department is hosting two informational webinars:

Potential applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to attend a webinar on Oct. 4, 2022, to learn more about the program. Pre-registration is required. To register, visit: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_dTRONOeRRVu2aTEvGjwx6A.

Potential applicants and other stakeholders are also encouraged to attend a webinar on Oct. 6, 2022, to learn about application requirements. Pre-registration is required. To register, visit: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_dUsGJWFZQtGuh_BWcC7EZQ.

Potential applicants and stakeholders may email questions to fpep@usda.gov.

For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/fpep or www.farmers.gov/global-food-insecurity.

CDFA was joined today by CalFire and the University of California division of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the 55th Annual California Native American Day on the West Steps of the State Capitol. CDFA provided information about integrated pest control practices to protect California’s agriculture, including citrus pest and disease prevention, in addition information about department grant programs, and the Farm to School Program.

This was the first in-person California Native American Day since 2019. This year’s theme, “Stand Strong Together,” celebrates and honors the historical and cultural contributions of California Native Americans. The California Tribal Chairpersons’ Association is the host organization for Native American Day, working in partnership with the Native American Heritage Commission and the Native American Day Planning Committee

CDFA’s Produce Safety Program works to ensure that California farmers understand how to implement all food safety practices required by the federal Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule.

As part of PSP’s Educate, Implement and Regulate strategy to accomplish this, three PSP inspectors recently gave a Produce Safety Rule presentation in Spanish to more than 50 organic growers at a workshop hosted by the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) in Salinas. After the 30-minute presentation, PSP inspectors fielded questions from attendees particular to their small organic farms.

“Thank you CDFA for the Produce Safety Rule workshop,” ALBA posted to its Facebook page (@albafarmers). “It’s important to understand new policies and learn how to stay in compliance. The ultimate goal is to prevent any contamination.”

“Gracias CDFA por el taller de reglas de seguridad de productos agrícolas frescos de hoy. Es importante comprender las nuevas pólizas y aprender a cumplirlas. El objetivo final es prevenir cualquier contaminación.”

Note — In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, CDFA wishes to acknowledge the extensive work of ALBA to create opportunities for farmworkers through training in organic farm management, helping them advance their careers or pursue the dream of farm ownership. CDFA Secretary Karen Ross visited ALBA yesterday in Salinas and in the photo below speaks with a grower in the training program tending to kale and broccolini.