Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order to protect the state’s water supplies from the impacts of climate-driven extremes in weather. After years of prolonged drought, recent storms resulted in the wettest three-week period on record in California. The storms have been followed by an unseasonably dry February, however, and the state could see a return to warm and dry conditions during the remaining weeks of the wet season – just as heavy rains in fall 2021 gave way to the driest January-February-March period in over 100 years. 
 
While recent storms have helped replenish the state’s reservoirs and boosted snowpack, drought conditions continue to have significant impacts on communities with vulnerable water supplies, agriculture, and the environment. The latest science indicates that hotter and drier weather conditions could reduce California’s water supply by up to 10% by the year 2040. 
 
The frequency of hydrologic extremes that is being experienced in California demonstrates the need to continually adapt to promote resiliency in a changing climate. To protect water supply and the environment given this new reality, and until it is clear what the remainder of the wet season will hold, the executive order includes provisions to protect water reserves, and replace and replenish the greater share of rain and snowfall that will be absorbed by thirstier soils, vegetation and the atmosphere.
 
The order helps expand the state’s capacity to capture storm runoff in wet years by facilitating groundwater recharge projects. It also continues conservation measures and allows the State Water Board to reevaluate requirements for reservoir releases and diversion limitations to maximize water supplies north and south of the Delta while protecting the environment. Additionally, the order directs state agencies to review and provide recommendations on the state’s drought response actions by the end of April, including the possibility of terminating specific emergency provisions that are no longer needed, once there is greater clarity about the hydrologic conditions this year.
 
The text of the executive order can be found here.

Leveraging the more than $8.6 billion committed by Governor Newsom and the Legislature in the last two budget cycles to build water resilience, the state is taking aggressive action to prepare for the impacts of climate-driven extremes in weather on the state’s water supplies. In the 2023-24 state budget, Governor Newsom is proposing an additional $202 million for flood protection and $125 million for drought related actions.
 

From the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service

The 2022 crush totaled 3,620,595 tons, down 6.7% from the 2021 crush of 3,880,141 tons. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 1,885,875 tons, down 7.2% from 2021. White wine varieties crushed totaled 1,463,787 tons, down 8.6% from 2021. Tons crushed of raisin type varieties totaled 103,812, down 24.8% from 2021, and tons crushed of table type varieties totaled 167,121, up 54.9% from 2021.

The 2022 average price of all varieties was $910.80, up 5.7% from 2021. Average prices for the 2022 crop by type were as follows: red wine grapes, $1,150.58, up 7.2% from 2021; white wine grapes, $682.07, up 1.0% from 2021; raisin grapes, $314.27, up 7.8% from 2021; and table grapes, $215.64, up 17.9% from 2021.

In 2022, Cabernet Sauvignon surpassed Chardonnay as the variety with the largest percentage of the total tonnage crushed at 15.4%. Chardonnay accounted for the second largest percentage of the total crush at 14.4%. Raisin grape varieties crushed for wine accounted for 2.9% of the total crush and table varieties crushed for wine were 4.6% of the total crush.

District 13 (Madera, Fresno, Alpine, Mono, Inyo Counties; and Kings and Tulare Counties north of Nevada Avenue (Avenue 192)), had the largest share of the State’s crush at 1,149,339 tons. The average price per ton in District 13 was $357.48.

Grapes produced in District 4 (Napa County) received the highest average price at $6,847.19 per ton, up 12.2% from 2021. District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) received the second highest average price at $2,858.39 per ton, up 6.4% from 2021.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon average price of $1,892.40 was up 13.8% from 2021 and the Chardonnay average price of $1,014.63 was up 3.9% from 2021. The 2022 average price for French Colombard was $330.64, up 1.9% from 2021, while the Zinfandel average price was up 0.7% from 2021, at $651.06 per ton.

The entire Grape Crush Report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov/ca.

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joined former CDFA and USDA secretary Ann Veneman this week for a circular bioeconomy roundtable discussion with local government, civic and academic leaders at Modesto Junior College as well as other activities. The discussion focused on the Stanislaus 2030 Investment Blueprint and the Northern San Joaquin Valley BioEconomy, Agriculture & Manufacturing (BEAM) Initiative.

By definition, a circular bioeconomy utilizes renewable resources that are sustainably managed, recovered, and reused as much as possible. In agriculture, that includes converting organic byproducts from crops, food and beverage processing to products for commodity inputs, soil amendments, renewable energy, and other potentially useful bioproducts that create value.

At the meeting, the Almond Board of California presented an overview of its almond byproduct research and the development and exploration of market opportunities.  

The discussion was followed by bioeconomy site visits to an Aemetis biofuel production facility and a site visit to a dairy digester project funded by a CDFA grant. The renewable natural gas generated at the dairy goes into a pipleline at the Aemetis site for treatment and distribution by a utility company.

The secretaries also visited Travaille and Phippen Company to learn more about almond hulling and shelling operations that creat reliable sources of biomass as a key driver of the region’s bioeconomy initiative.

“This is exactly what we need for the future,” said Secretary Ross. “This is about solving problems and finding productive solutions for our renewable resources, and about creating sustainable, community-inclusive economic growth and jobs support families in the rural communities of the Central Valley.”

Read more here

The Department of Pesticide Regulation, in partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, will host webinars on February 28 and March 2 to provide information on the recommendations in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for urban and agricultural environments.

The webinars will provide an overview of specific recommendations for urban and agricultural environment and include perspectives shared by members of the Sustainable Pest Management Work Group on the consensus process for the development of the Roadmap.

No registration is required to attend the webinars and all four webinars will include simultaneous interpretation in Spanish.

Webinars on February 28 will address the Roadmap’s recommendations for urban pest management.

• From 10-11 a.m. Join by clicking the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84472009083
• From 5:30-6:30 p.m. Join by clicking the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84877108929

Webinars on March 2 will address the Roadmap’s recommendations for agricultural pest management.

• From 10-11 a.m. Join by clicking the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88165556715
• From 5:30-6:30 p.m. Join by clicking the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87996623083

DPR opened a public comment period on the prioritization and implementation of next steps outlined in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap. The planned webinars are intended to help inform public comments. The comment period will close at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2023. Comments can be sent to alternatives@cdpr.ca.gov or by mail to 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, CA 95812. Comments received will be considered as part of the state-level coordination on implementing the recommendations in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap.

California farmers and ranchers are reminded that the deadline to complete the 2022 Census of Agriculture is just a few days away. CDFA and the USDA National Agricultural Statistics service urge all producers in the state to take the time to fill out their census forms by February 6^th to ensure an accurate representation of the agricultural community. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.

“This is a comprehensive survey that goes out to approximately 70,000 agricultural producers here in California, and is an objective collection of data that guides important decisions over the next five years — decisions that will have a direct impact on farming and ranching operations, communities and the industry as a whole,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Producers are asked to respond to make sure their voices are heard. ”

The Census of Agriculture remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and U.S. territory. U.S. Farm operations of all sizes are included.

Producers who have submitted their completed ag censuses may disregard any additional ag census letters and forms. Whether producers responded online or by mail, they can verify their reports were received by going to agcounts.usda.gov, entering their survey codes, and checking the submitted date under the status column of the My Surveys tab. The status update is not always immediate. The update can take a few minutes up to several days, especially if the questionnaire was returned by mail.

NASS will release the results of the ag census in 2024. Visit www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus, for more information.

For more information in Spanish and Hmong, visit:

Spanish 2022 Census of Agriculture

Hmong 2022 Census of Agriculture

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced a redesign of its Human Foods Program to focus on protecting and promoting a safe, nutritious U.S. food supply that more quickly adapts to an ever-changing and evolving environment, while centralizing authority under a single leader, a deputy commissioner, who reports directly to the FDA commissioner.  

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross: “CDFA appreciates its partnership with FDA on a number of issues, especially food safety and the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act.  I applaud Commissioner Califf’s announcement today creating the FDA Human Foods Program.  His vision for a unified Human Foods Program with a single leader reporting directly to the Commissioner unifies the important functions of food safety and nutrition which should result in an agile, effective program.  I am excited about the proposal to create a Center for Excellence in Nutrition to help consumers with the information they need to make better food choices for health and quality of life, as well as the establishment of an Office of Integrated Food Safety System Partnerships as an acknowledgement of the state and local regulatory partners who share a passion for protecting food safety and consumer protection.    

“Organizational change is challenging and takes time.  This is just the first step. FDA has talented, dedicated staff and I am optimistic the formation of an Implementation and Change Management Group will include seasoned professionals as well as the next generation of leaders who can help develop the structure, appropriate lines of authority, adequate resources, and technologies to make FDA an even better consumer protection agency.”

Link to FDA Fact Sheet on redesigned Human Foods Program

As relatively new farmers in California, Steven Turley and Vinnie Sassone continue to learn the importance of responsible water management. Coming from the eastern US where droughts aren’t as common, they didn’t have the same reliance on irrigation they do now in southern Monterey County. It wasn’t as significant a consideration, Turley said. Having owned their vineyard in the San Antonio Valley since late 2018, the co-owners have not known any condition other than drought, but it seems to intensify with each passing year, according to Turley.  

CDFA interviewed Steven Turley about the experience:  

What does this drought mean for you and your farm, and what did you have to do to adapt to it? 

The greatest change we had to make has proven to be a benefit. Previously, this vineyard had been farmed for quantity, using large amounts of water to increase the yield. During our first year of production here, we decided to greatly decrease the water used on the vines, resulting in smaller fruit with a better juice-to-skin ratio. For winemakers seeking a higher-quality grape, this meant we needed to find a different type of buyer for the fruit, one that was looking specifically for grapes grown to produce an artisanal type of wine. For this reason, we can increase our price per ton. 

What are the biggest challenges you face adapting to ongoing drought? 

There is a greater sense of urgency to conserve water. This includes close monitoring of the irrigation distribution system. More time must be spent in the vineyard searching for and repairing any leaks and making sure each plant is getting the water it needs – no more, no less. 

Another challenge is the constant fear of having our well run dry. With each passing year, we hear of another neighbor having their well run dry, this would be disastrous for any farmer relying on a consistent supply of water. 

Has the drought provided you with any silver linings or happy discoveries you may not have otherwise found? 

As previously mentioned, while the drought has forced us to cut back the amount of water used, the result has been a higher quality grape for winemaking.  

Another important silver lining has been an education in water conservation. The drought led us to seek ways to monitor our usage, which led us to install a new weather station, well water meter, groundwater moisture sensors, and new valves, all Wi-Fi controlled. We received a SWEEP grant for those items, which made it all possible. 

What would your advice be to other farmers for reducing water use and improving efficiency? 

Education is key. Talk to other farmers about how they are reducing their water usage. Perhaps join a group of other farmers who are producing the same crop. There is also a lot of information on water conservation available from state agencies. It might also be beneficial to have a conversation with your buyers. Learning what their expectations are in terms of the final product might lead you to some decisions on what your farming practices will be for that year. 

With all the recent rain, it would seem like a good thing for farmers – is that the way you see it? How have the recent storms impacted some of your water savings practices? 

The recent rains are very welcome here. In addition to raising the water table in our well, there is nothing like natural rainwater to create a pH/acid balance within the soil. We have found that during the drought, the pH in our grapes has been high while the acid is low, and adjustments must be made in the winemaking process. It will be interesting to see, but we suspect that with all the rain this year, there will be a better balance, requiring fewer adjustments.