The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a significant increase in the number of certified organic operations, continuing the trend of double digit growth in the organic sector. According to new data, there are now 21,781 certified organic operations in the United States and 31,160 around the world.

“Organic food is one of the fasting growing segments of American agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As consumer demand for organic products continues to grow, the USDA organic seal has become a leading global standard. The increasing number of organic operations shows that USDA’s strong support for the vibrant organic sector is helping to create jobs and opportunities in rural communities.”

According to data released by the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP), the number of domestic certified organic operations increased by almost 12 percent between 2014 and 2015, representing the highest growth rate since 2008 and an increase of nearly 300 percent since the count began in 2002. The total retail market for organic products is now valued at more than $39 billion in the United States and over $75 billion worldwide.

Along with consumer demand for organics, increasingly they are asking for local foods. Under Secretary Vilsack, USDA has supported providing consumers a stronger connection to their food with more than $1 billion in investments to over 40,000 local and regional food businesses and infrastructure projects since between 2009. Industry data estimates that U.S. local food sales totaled at least $12 billion in 2014, up from $5 billion in 2008. More information on how USDA investments are connecting producers with consumers and expanding rural economic opportunities is available in Chapter IV of USDA Results on Medium published today.

USDA has also established a number of resources to help organics producers find technical and financial resources to help them grow domestically and abroad. The site www.usda.gov/organic creates a one-stop-shop for operators, and USDA has made market and pricing information for approximately 250 organic products available free of charge through USDA’s Market News. In 2015, USDA made more than $11.5 million available to assist organic operations with their certification costs.

The data announced today are publicly available as part of the recently launched Organic Integrity Database, a modernized system for tracking certified organic operations.  Additional information about USDA resources and support for the organic sector is available on the USDA Organics Resource page.

Link to entire news release

The California State Fair has announced the recipients of its prestigious awards, including Agriculturalist of the Year. The State Fair annually recognizes the accomplishments and service of key individuals or organizations through a series of awards that are publicly recognized and honored at the Friends of the California State Fair Gala, which will be held this year on Thursday, June 23.

The 2016 AGRICULTURALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD will be presented to Sarbjit “Sarb” Johl. Johl first came to Sutter County from India in 1966, at the age of 13. He began farming with his father in 1976, after graduating from Yuba City High School and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He served as Chairman of the Sacramento Growers Cooperative, a cling peach co-op, from 1986 to 1993 and has also served as a board member of the California Canning Peach Association. He was founding partner of the Sacramento Valley Walnut Growers LLC., a walnut processing and marketing enterprise, and has served as Chairman of that organization since 2006. In addition to serving on the Northern California Growers Association, for 12 years, he has been a Trustee of the Butte-Yuba-Sutter Water Quality Coalition, and is currently the Chairman of the Cling Peach Board.

The 2016 GOLDEN BEAR AWARD is presented to Gail Kautz. A member of the California State Fair and Exposition Board of Directors from 1987 to 1995, Kautz is actively involved in her family’s farming operation, John Kautz Farms, in Lodi, California. She was the first woman Chair of the California State Fair Board in 1993, and received the Ag Progress Award in 1996 for her outstanding contribution to Agriculture. The Ironstone Concours Foundation, which Kautz started, donates $5,000 annually to the California State Fair Scholarship fund. She has consistently devoted her time to several organizations through the years, including the California State Fair Agricultural Advisory Committee, for which she served as Chair in 2006-07. Her active involvement in the agriculture industry has earned her many awards, including Lifetime Honorary Member of the California 4-H, Lifetime Honorary State Degree from the Future Farmers of America, and the California Farm Bureau Bountiful Award. She is also a member of the San Joaquin County Agricultural Hall of Fame.

The 2016 AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS AWARD is proudly presented to Judy Culbertson, Executive Director of the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. A native of Courtland, California, where she grew up on a 5th generation pear orchard, Judy gained firsthand experience in the industry managing her family’s packing plant. She also worked for the California Farm Bureau, assisting with the development of agricultural education projects and activities prior to joining the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. Her current vision for the foundation is to ensure that every student develops an appreciation and curiosity to learn about where their food and fiber comes from. Culbertson is a current member and past chair of the California State Fair Agricultural Advisory Council.

The 2016 WINE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is granted to G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski. A nationally-known wine educator and consultant, Pooch has devoted more than 30 years to the pursuit of educating consumers and trade members alike in all aspects of the wine industry. He has served as Chief Judge and Consultant to the California State Fair’s annual Commercial Wine Competition and has judged several of the most prestigious wine competitions throughout the country. He is widely regarded as a wine industry expert and has given lectures and seminars on the subject throughout North America. He is also President/Owner of the University of Wine, in which capacity he has trained restauranteurs, wholesalers/distributors, retailers, and winery personnel.

The 2016 VINEYARD OF THE YEAR AWARD is deservedly bestowed toVineyard 1869/Original Grandpere. Located in Amador County, Vineyard 1869/Original Grandpere is the oldest Zinfandel vineyard in America, as documented in a deed from a U.S. Geological Survey dated in 1869. Initially planted from hardy stock, its ancient vines survived catastrophe inflicted by both man and nature over the course of the ensuing 140+ years. Purchased in 1984 by Scott and Terri Harvey, the vines have been lovingly coaxed back into producing small yields of elegant, complex, first-growth Zinfandel by Scott, a highly regarded California winemaker who was trained in Germany.

The 2016 TECHNOLOGY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR, INDIVIDUAL, is awarded to Eric Brown, President and CEO of California Telehealth Network, an organization that increases access to acute, primary and preventive care in rural America. Eric’s 15 years of experience in the cable television industry have included valuable contributions in the field of network affiliate relations and the management of multiple broadband system marketing and operations. He has previously served as Chairman of the California Cable and Telecommunications Association (CCTA) and is a recipient of the prestigious National Cable and Telecommunications Association Vanguard Award for excellence in cable operations. He has also received the cable industry’s CTAM Chairman’s Award for excellence in cable marketing.

The 2016 TECHNOLOGY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR, ORGANIZATION, is awarded to Emergency Call and Tracking System (ECaTS). ECaTS is the first universal 911 Call Reporting System that leverages the ubiquitous nature of the Internet to provide secure, real-time reporting to the 911 industry.  In developing a product that gathers data on more than 350,000 calls per day to produce insights that not only identify the data, but establish how that data was produced, the company has brought private sector business intelligence analytics to the public safety industry, epitomizing the virtues of what it takes to confront the challenges of “Big Data” within the 911 industry.

These awards will be presented at the annual Friends of the California State Fair Gala on Thursday, June 23, 2016. Funds raised from the Gala support Friends of the California State Fair student scholarships. Prior to the dinner and awards ceremony, the Best of California Tasting will feature award-winning wine, beer, cheese and olive oil from the State Fair competitions. To support the celebration please email gala@calexpo.com.

About the California State Fair 
For more than 160 years, the California State Fair has showcased the best of the Golden State. Cal Expo was dedicated as a place to celebrate California’s achievements, industries, agriculture, diversity of its people, traditions and trends that shape the Golden State’s future. The 2016 California State Fair will take place July 8-24.

Link to news release

A previous Sierra snowpack survey.

By Steve Scauzillo

When Frank Gehrke trudged up to Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada on Wednesday he found what was missing at this time last year: Snow.

The annual spring snowpack survey conducted by Gehrke for the California Department of Water Resources revealed a snowpack depth of 58.4 inches, for 95 percent of the station’s historical average.

The manual measurement is a vast improvement from zero last year, when Gehrke plunged his measuring pole into dirt, revealing an overall water content from all snow in the Sierra Nevada at 5 percent of the April 1 historical average, the lowest amount ever recorded.

Typically at its deepest on April 1, the sun will melt the snow, slowly replenishing low level reservoirs that feed the State Water Project. On a typical year, California gets one-third its water supply from the snowpack melt.

One month ago, the snowpack at Phillips Station was 58.3 inches deep, according to the DWR. The department recently raised the allocation of water to be released from the state aqueduct from 5 percent to 40 percent.

“This will improve conditions for reservoir storage,” Gehrke said, adding a caveat that drought conditions remain in many parts of the state, including Southern California.

Before Gehrke’s survey on Wednesday, electronic snowpack readings were 97 percent in the Northern Sierra and Trinity area; 88 percent in the Central Sierra and 72 percent in the Southern Sierra, for a statewide average of 87 percent of normal, vastly superior to last year but not at 100 percent or above.

The readings were a disappointment when considering predictions of well-above average snowfall and rain from the large El Nino parked in the central Pacific.

Precipitation in eight northern California stations is at 51.9 inches, about 125 percent of average to date, but far from the 1997-1998 El Nino rain year totals of 82.4 inches, the department reported.

Snowpack surveys by the Department of Water Resources in late March and early April are indicators of how much water California will reap from the melting snowpack, which in normal years provides about 30 percent of the state’s water.

Reservoir levels are increasing. At Lake Oroville, levels are at 113 percent of historical average, or about 85 percent of capacity, said DWR officials. Lake Shasta is at 109 percent of historical average and 88 percent capacity.

“The water levels as compared to last year are much, much better,” said DWR’s Jan Frazier. But not enough to end a four-year drought. “We’ve been running on a deficit for so long, that we are still in drought. We have not broken the drought, although water levels are much better,” Frazier said.

Levels at Southern California reservoirs are much lower. At Castaic Lake, which stores water bought from Northern California, levels are 45 percent of historical average and only 40 percent capacity. Lake Perris is 43 percent and 36 percent, respectively.

Link to article

Note – The Department of Water Resources’ latest snow survey results are expected later today.

Charlie Creek Bridge at Shasta Lake.

A plant science professor at Cal Poly Pomona received a $416,343 state grant (A CDFA Specialty Crop Block Grant) to study how to grow lettuce with less nitrogen fertilizer and water.

Professor David Still said the grant will help him identify the genes in lettuce that govern nitrogen and water use. According to Still, water has become scarcer with the current drought and the nitrogen in fertilizers is linked to greenhouse gas and can cause groundwater pollution.

“The lettuce industry has never had to face these issues, using less water and less nitrogen,” Still says.

California farmers gross about $2 billion annually from the production of lettuce, which is grown along the Central Coast, the San Joaquin Valley and desert regions of southern California. Growers use different cultivars of lettuce in each of these regions because of the climatological differences between them.

“There is not a ‘one size fits all’ for lettuce production,” Still says.

Still wants to improve upon particular genetic traits in lettuce. For example, developing seeds that germinate under stress, such as heat or increased salinity, will help adapt the crop to global warming.

Heat in particular leads lettuce to “bolt” or transition from a vegetative stage to the flowering stage, which is a problem in hotter climates like Arizona. The research should identify the genes that increase the ability of lettuce to resist bolting, Still says.

In addition, Still’s lab is working to create more nutritious lettuce. For example, the outer leaves of iceberg lettuce are more nutritious than the inner leaves, because the genes need light, Still says. Research may be able to identify and adjust those genetic properties that would increase the nutritional value of the inner leaves, he says.

The project is expected to take a number of years, because the breeding cycle of lettuce is usually between eight to 10 years, Still says. Researchers will conduct their work under the conditions that lettuce would be grown commercially, he says.

The goal of the research project is not to release a new cultivar, but to identify genes and characteristics that will improve performance and develop the genetic markers that will allow industry plant breeders to improve their cultivars, Still says.

“We are doing the research. They can do the development,” he says. “We do it for the knowledge. The primary consideration is figuring out how it works.”

The research findings can be published and released to other industries and private breeders, Still says.

Link to article

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has announced it is awarding 21 counties a total of $6.7 million in grants to help with sustainable groundwater planning. The Proposition 1 Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program provides funding for county projects that will develop groundwater plans consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) enacted by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. in 2014.The awards were made to counties with high and medium priority groundwater basins, some of which are in critical over-draft.

DWR received 23 grant applications requesting a total of approximately $7 million. Adding the matching funds provided by the grant award recipients, approximately $13 million will be dedicated to projects in counties that need to begin long-term planning for sustainable groundwater management.

According to Laura McLean, Senior Engineering Geologist with the Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program, DWR gave priority to proposals that will benefit disadvantaged communities, address critically overdrafted basins, address basins exhibiting stressed conditions, and proposals to enact ordinances to address groundwater sustainability. “This funding will help counties address long-term planning goals, better understand what’s coming in and going out of their aquifers, and get the much- needed jumpstart on addressing the new regulations,” says McLean. “More funding will certainly become available to help groundwater sustainability agencies moving forward. We aim to complement the timeline requirements of the law as we continue to streamline our grant processes to get the money out as quickly as possible.”

Colusa County is among the 21 counties across California receiving funding and plans to use the funding to advance groundwater sustainability through policy and technical refinement. Mendocino County plans to use the funds for the initial groundwater sustainability plan development, and Kings County’s proposal will include developing a groundwater model for its critically over-drafted groundwater basin.

The funding provides the means for local communities to create long-term sustainable groundwater management plans for California’s groundwater basins. On average, groundwater makes up over one-third of California’s water supply and over one-half of the supply during drought years. When groundwater basins are critically over-drafted, chronically lowered groundwater levels, seawater intrusion, and land subsidence can result.

The SGMA requires basins in conditions of critical overdraft to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan two years prior to other high-and-medium priority basins, stressing the need for funding to implement sustainability plans and take steps to rehabilitate basins as soon as possible.

DWR announced draft funding recommendations in January and considered public comments on the proposals. DWR staff is working with grantees on detailed work plans for their respective projects including efforts to develop groundwater ordinances and develop plans that protect basins, their beneficial uses, and facilitate basin-wide sustainability. Over next several months DWR will continue to work with counties regarding budgets and schedules for the funds, which counties can expect to receive as soon as June 2016.

Link to news release

“Food and Charity,” an award-winning kickoff event for the 2015 Our Promise campaign

California State Government’s Our Promise campaign, an opportunity for all state employees to practice charitable giving at work, is coming off a successful 2015 campaign that saw 37,000 employees contribute more than $6.2 million in assistance.

Each year Our Promise takes time to recognize state agencies for exceptional achievement in managing segments of the larger state campaign. For 2015 CDFA, Caltrans and CalVet were honored with the Collaborative Excellence Award for a joint kickoff event, “Food and Charity,” held last September.

State employees may consider a number of non-profit organizations for charitable giving.

The event was in the O St. parking lot shared by CDFA and CalVet and featured local area food trucks as well as more than 30 non-profit organizations providing information about their services to the community.

Our Promise was established in 1957 to provide a single charitable fundraising drive in the state community. This year the campaign celebrates its 59th year providing California state employees with the opportunity to use payroll deduction to support nonprofits of their choice.

The University of California, Davis, held onto its top spot in veterinary science in the latest QS World University Rankings released today. As the No. 1 university in veterinary science, UC Davis is renowned for applying a “One Health” approach to addressing critical health concerns on a local and global scale.

“The people and programs of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine are dedicated to providing innovative and compassionate clinical care, making groundbreaking discoveries and teaching the next generation of leaders in veterinary medicine,” said  Michael Lairmore, the school’s dean since 2011. “This recognition is also a reflection of the dedication of our philanthropic partners who provide generous gifts that help fund novel research, improved facilities and student scholarships.”

For the fourth consecutive year, UC Davis came out among the top-ranked universities in agriculture and forestry, taking second place in the ranking this year. Also in the QS rankings, UC Davis was featured among the world’s elite institutions in 32 of the 42 subjects featured. Those subjects include environmental sciences, 13th; biological sciences, 31st; and earth and marine sciences, 34th.

“The QS rankings reaffirm our international standing, and that our faculty and researchers are respected the world over for their work throughout the globe,” Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi said.

QS rankings are based on reputational surveys and research citations. This year, QS evaluated 4,226 universities, qualifying 2,691 and ranking 945 institutions.

The veterinary school, also ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report, is home to a robust research program, which last year totaled more than $56 million. The school annually provides clinical services to more than 50,000 animal patients in 34 specialties. UC Davis serves as a strong leader in veterinary medical education, providing nearly 550 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students annually with a curriculum built on sound educational theory designed and delivered by prominent faculty members.

Link to complete UC Davis news release