In response to the federal government’s recent decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, China has ordered retaliatory tariffs on about $2 billion worth of U.S. food and agricultural exports, which could have a significant negative impact on California’s farmers and ranchers.

China, the world’s most populous country, is an important and growing market for California’s agricultural exports. In 2016 alone, our farmers and ranchers sent $2 billion worth of products to the East Asian nation.

The retaliatory tariffs increase the costs of U.S. exports, making our products less affordable for Chinese consumers. While other countries doing business in China will continue to enjoy lower tariffs, our farmers and ranchers will likely experience greater competition and a slowdown in sales. The tariffs will also have a chilling effect on the substantial growth that California’s agricultural exports–including wine–have experienced in China throughout the past decade. Future trade opportunities could be lost as it becomes more difficult for our producers to secure and grow new Chinese markets.

The increased tariffs impact four of California’s top five agricultural exports to China, including pistachios, almonds, wine, and oranges and orange products. These four commodities accounted for $1.34 billion worth of exports to China in 2016.

In addition, the new tariffs target nine of California’s top 10 fruit and nut commodities (by overall international export value). The list includes wine, walnuts, pistachios, table grapes, oranges, strawberries, raisins, lemons and dried plums.

USDA-FAS report: China Imposes Additional Tariffs on Selected US-Origin Products

California Agricultural Exports report

By Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler 

March’s powerful storms may have saved California from having one of the worst wet seasons on record, but the state’s Sierra snowpack still remains well below average.

April 1 is considered the official end of the California’s rain and snow season. On Monday, the Sierra Nevada snowpack was 52 percent of average, according to readings from automated snow sensors the state Department of Water Resources has placed around the massive mountain range that spans California’s eastern border.

“A good March, but certainly not a great March, and by no means even close to the ‘March Miracle,'” Frank Gehrke, director of snow surveys for the Department of Water Resources, told reporters Monday after conducting a snowpack reading near Echo Summit. His measurement showed snow-water content at just below half of its long-term average at that location.

The Sierra snowpack often is called the state’s largest reservoir. As it melts during the state’s dry, hot months, the water flows into the massive network of reservoirs that ring California’s Central Valley. They store the water and release it to cities and farm throughout the year.

But a lower-than-average snowpack doesn’t necessarily mean California water supply is in dire shape as the state heads into its dry season.

Thanks to water held over from last winter, most of the state’s reservoirs still are in decent shape. As of Monday morning, the state’s largest reservoirs were right at average, according to state Department of Water Resources data.

Much of that is water is from the deluges of 2017, which filled lakes to the brim and prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to declare California’s record-breaking five-year drought at an end.

Shasta and Folsom are above average for this time of year. Folsom is 129 pct of average. Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir, is 105 percent. The only large reservoir in California that’s significantly below average is Oroville, the state’s second largest. It’s being kept at 60 percent full, about a quarter less than it normally would be this time of year.

State water managers have intentionally kept Oroville lower this winter in hopes they could avoid using the lake’s spillway, which is under construction. The spillway failed dramatically in February 2017, prompting a frantic two-day evacuation of 188,000 people below the dam.

Last month’s rainfall gave Sacramento a major boost in local precipitation. March brought 5.37 inches of rain to the city.

An average March in Sacramento is 3.02 inches. Still, March’s soaking wasn’t enough to erase the city’s dry winter. Sacramento stands at 77 percent of average.

It’s much worse in Southern California, where Los Angeles sits at a mere third of average. Even with so little rain in the southern half of the state, the situation hasn’t become desperate. Southern California receives much of its water from the Colorado River and Northern California.

Diamond Valley Lake, a key Southern California drinking water reservoir almost as large as Folsom Lake, filled last winter from water pumped from the north state. On Monday, it was 89 percent full.

Rain is expected to return to the north state this week. The National Weather Service says there’s a 20 percent chance of rain on Thursday in Sacramento. Rain is likely Friday, and could continue on Saturday and Sunday. Californians shouldn’t expect much snow from the storm. So far, the forecast is for a warm storm with snow only at high elevations.

Karla Nemeth, director of Department of Water Resources, attended the Echo Summit snow survey on Monday. She said that while last winter’s heavy storms brought the state out of a long drought, this winter showed that Californians need to be prepared for the next one.

We’ve got one word for all Californians: Conserve,” she said.

Link to article 

By Ertharin Cousin

During the week that Ag Day was celebrated in California–last week–the California Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom teamed up with Sacramento Kings coach Dave Joerger for the first “Farm Day” in Sacramento.  CDFA Secretary Karen Ross was invited to participate and meet the school children attending the event. 

Ag Alert story by Ching Lee

More than 1,500 students, teachers and others from the greater Sacramento region converged on the grounds of the California Farm Bureau Federation in Sacramento to learn about agriculture by way of show and tell.

Hosted by the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom with the Dave Joerger Foundation, Sacramento Farm Day allowed fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders from 16 Sacramento-area schools the opportunity to see, smell, touch and taste different aspects of California agriculture.

More than 20 different stations representing agricultural products and topics such as wool, cotton, beef, bees, invasive species and healthy food choices provided hands-on educational displays. Future Farmers of America students from Delta High School in Clarksburg brought a variety of livestock to last week’s event.

Elementary schools participating in the event were largely those with high numbers of children from low-income families, or Title 1 schools, CFAITC Executive Director Judy Culbertson said.

Calling the event “a huge success,” Culbertson said Sacramento Farm Day couldn’t have been possible without the support of the different organizations, partners and staff that helped.

Some 100 volunteers, including from CFBF staff, Zenith, Center for Fathers and Families and Central Valley Farmland Trust, were among those who pitched in. The event also received donations from Earth Tower Gardens, Raley’s, Green Acres, Sacramento Kings Foundation and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

Secretary Ross with Sacramento Kings coach Dave Joerger (center) and California Farm Bureau Federation president Jamie Johansson.

Joerger, head coach of the Sacramento Kings, and California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross were among speakers at a lunchtime program that featured a demonstration of herding dogs.

“Students from the area gained firsthand experience in seeing where their food and fiber come from,” Culbertson said. “Agricultural education is more important now than ever before. Thanks to our partners, we are able to show students that agriculture is much more than driving tractors and feeding the cows. It involves science, math, creativity, art and more.”

The event marked the first Farm Day in Sacramento. Farm Day originated in San Francisco in 1980; the idea was to bring the farm to the city and to urban students who otherwise would not be able to experience agriculture up close.

Today, more than 25 Farm Days are held annually throughout the state. They’re hosted by county Farm Bureaus, county fairs and high school agriculture programs, Culbertson said. CFAITC provides resources and materials for the various Farm Days.

CFBF jumped on board this year by providing the property, staff, volunteers, insurance and other resources “allowing us to do what we wanted to do, to make it a big success,” Culbertson said.

Photo by Leah Mills, San Francisco Chronicle

By Mike Wilson

California farmers Megan Brown and Paul Grieve

On Ag Day last week, the Center for Land Based Learning hosted a screening of a wonderful film, “Farmers for America,” created by Graham Meriwether and narrated by the excellent Mike Rowe. It’s a film I hope more organizations will bring to their local communities because it is such an important topic, and it poses some essential questions. Who will our farmers be? How can we support new and beginning farmers?

It was an honor to meet Graham and two California farmers in the film – Paul Grieve of Primal Pastures in Murietta and Megan Brown of Table Mountain Ranch in Butte County. The film captures the goodness of farmers and rural people – their connection to the land and love of community. It also addresses the challenges of farming and the stark reality of how dependent small towns across the rural landscape are on local farmers supporting local businesses, churches and schools.

The film shows hope and opportunity through the heartfelt desire of young people and returning veterans. They have a passion for farming and growing healthy food. Many of them are intent on building in their communities by selling directly to consumers through farmers’ markets and social media connections that will allow them to develop relationships with their customers and neighbors.

Please check out the film at: http://www.leaveitbetter.com/farmers-for-america/

I hope you’ll consider hosting a screening in your area soon.

“Real food” is the rallying cry of Generation Z grocery shoppers, according to a recent report from The NPD Group.

Gen Z, those born between 1997 and the present, represent 27 percent of the U.S. population. They have higher consumption rates of organic foods and beverages than any other group, NPD said, and were taught to value food based on nutrition and function, not just in terms of taste.

“Food marketers should understand that this generation grew up knowing that food is much more than sustenance; food represents culture and therefore is an expression of who they are,” said David Portalatin, food industry adviser for NPD and author of Eating Patterns in America. “This generation was raised to be real and true to themselves, and they expect the same from their foods and beverages.”

Many assume Gen Z is a carbon copy of the millennial generation, and while they have similarities, the differences will “require grocers and food manufacturers to fine-tune their messages,” NPD said. Gen Zs are similar to millennials in their demand for authenticity, freshness and purity in their products, but more than millennials, Gen Z consumers say clean eating improves their quality of life and that fresh foods play a key role in their lifestyle. And they aren’t just saying that. Gen Z accounts for some of the heaviest use of organic and non-G.M.O. foods, according to NPD.

Gen Z consumers also differ from millennials in their attitude toward large brands. While millennials tend to favor smaller, niche, local brands, Gen Zs choose brands based on different criteria.

“In many ways Gen Z consumers think of themselves as having a personal brand with a story and values by which to live,” NP said. “They seek brands that support their story, and they are willing to use them regardless of a brand’s size.”

Gen Zs also approach snack foods differently. The generation’s on-the-go lifestyle lends itself to more read-to-eat foods that may be incorporated into or in between traditional meals.

“Snacking is just can extension of who this generation is,” Mr. Portalatin said. “They’re more likely than any other generation to incorporate snack foods as a part of … breakfast, lunch or dinner. In fact, they’re doing this at a rate 53 times more on a per capita basis annually than any other generations.

“Generation Z was born into the world of foodie culture. They’re growing up with a keen understanding of the purpose for food and the role that it plays in a well-lived life. They have the potential to be perhaps the most influential generation we’ve ever seen on consumers’ eating and drinking behaviors.”

Link to story

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement (OPPE) today announced up to $8.4 million in available funding for training and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers. Funding is made through the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (also known as the 2501 Program).

“The USDA is committed to reaching all farmers and ranchers,” said OPPE Director Diane Cullo. “Through the 2501 program, the USDA is building lasting relationships among these farmers and ranchers, the local organizations that serve them, and the USDA’s local, state, regional, and national offices.”

The 2501 Program was originally authorized by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. 2501 grants seek to enhance the equitable participation of socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers in USDA resources and programs, such as Farm Service Agency loans or grants through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). Projects may focus on conferences, training sessions, educational materials, or new programs to help these farmers and ranchers thrive and succeed.

Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, networks, or coalitions of community-based organizations; 1890 or 1994 institutions of higher education; American Indian tribal community colleges or Alaska Native cooperative colleges; Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education; other higher education institutions; Indian Tribes or national tribal organizations. Eligible entities must have experience in providing agricultural education or other agricultural-related services for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers.

The deadline for applications is May 15, 2018. See the request for applications for full details. Learn more about this funding opportunity through two teleconferences on March 28, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. EST and April 25, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. EST. To join each session, call 1-888-455-1685 and use passcode 7087935.

Examples of FY 2017 funded 2501 projects include a grant to the National Hmong American Farmers, Inc., to provide technical and direct assistance to Hmong farmers in central California who face barriers to successful farming due to poverty and cultural and linguistic isolation. A Florida State University project reached veterans with workshops, online agricultural courses, and 15 farm apprenticeships and managerial apprenticeships at private farms.

Link to USDA news release

By David Castellon

Fresno State researchers have concluded that non-farm workers and businesses that contribute to strawberry production, packing and distribution in five Southern California counties generate more than $2.7 billion in revenues annually.

The study, commissioned by the California Strawberry Commission, was conducted by economists who determined that a wide range of businesses in the counties support the state’s fourth largest crop.

The report, titled “Southern California Economy: Contributions from the Strawberry Supply Chain,” surveyed businesses in Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, Orange and Riverside counties.

“Our research found that strawberries and Southern California’s urban economy are strongly linked and benefit one another,” Annette Levi, a professor and chair of university’s Agricultura Business Department, said in a press release from the Strawberry Commission. “We were surprised at the interdependence between rural farming and jobs in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.”

“What made this research so unique is that it provides a micro-view of a crop’s supply chain within an urban setting,” said Levi, who conducted the research with her Fresno State colleague. “It has long been assumed that California agriculture has a major ripple effect on the urban economy. This study documents how one crop, strawberries, plays a major role in supporting non-farm businesses.”

Other parts of the state where strawberries are commercially produced weren’t included in the study. On the whole, California produces nearly 90 percent of U.S.-grown strawberries.

KEY FINDINGS

-Non-farm urban strawberry value-chain businesses generate nearly $3 billion in economic returns in Southern California.

-Growers in the region contribute another $1 billion of economic activity in the
Southern California counties, for a total of nearly $4 billion in economic returns.

-The supply chain in the Southern California
urban centers has a diversity of companies
providing products and services for the
strawberry industry, including packaging,
precooling, shipping, processing, retailing
and more.

-A number of businesses often boast of a
diverse workforce that includes an equal
number of women and men — many of
whom are Latinos and Asians – with a wide
range of educational backgrounds.

Link to report