It’s National Tomato Day! California produces nearly all the processing tomatoes in the United States. In 2022, California growers led the nation in tomato production with 1.5 million tons, at a value of nearly $1.2 billion.
As we celebrate one of California’s signature crops, we took a closer look at River Vista Farms, one of the leading tomato growers in Colusa County. This family-owned farm has been producing tomatoes for several generations.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the California State Board of Food and Agriculture are announcing a bold plan for the future: Ag Vision for the Next Decade.
Ag Vision centers on growing opportunity – for farmers and ranchers, farmworkers, individuals and communities – and demonstrating leadership on climate action. The plan will guide areas of focus for CDFA and serve as a catalyst for action. And it’s not just a plan for agriculture, but something to benefit every Californian.
Ag Vision was developed using a robust and inclusive process and focuses on five priority areas:
“Ag Vision is a plan for every Californian, from those who care about the land and landscape and making it better for the future, to those who work with or live around farming communities,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “It’s a plan for those curious about their food and health, as well as those who care about climate action, to foster more climate smart, resilient and restorative food systems. While the plan is intended to guide the actions of CDFA, we can’t do it alone. To bring Ag Vision to life we need private and public entities, community leaders, and diverse stakeholders to come together to advance the vision through collaboration, partnerships and action.”
Ag Vision was created with multiple inputs from a diverse set of agricultural stakeholders. One-on-one interviews were held with members of an Ag Vision task force representing the diversity of geographic regions and crops grown in California, and members of the State Board of Food and Agriculture. Seven virtual roundtable discussions occurred with various segments of California agriculture – from dairy and livestock farmers to berry growers and tree nut producers – along with processors and supply chain partners and historically underserved farmers.
“California is the fifth largest agricultural economy in the world and with that comes the responsibility to enable a framework where farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and communities can thrive,” said Jenet DeCosta, state board member and Ag Vision committee chair. “Through Ag Vision, the farming community will further its positive impact to make an even bigger difference to people in our communities, state and around the globe.”
NOTE: a webinar is scheduled for 1 pm tomorrow, April 6, to share more about Ag Vision. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84592921932
Passcode: CalAg2023!
To learn more about Ag Vision and the future of California agriculture, please visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/agvision/.
Watch this video about California agriculture and Ag Vision
Vea este video sobre la agricultura de California y Ag Vision
All interested parties are invited to register for the State of the Science Summit: Feed Strategies to Reduce Enteric Emissions, May 2-3, 2023, in the UC Davis Activities & Recreation Center Ballroom. The summit will be cohosted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
The summit will include informational presentations and panel discussions with leading experts in methane mitigation and animal science, connecting the dots between the scientific and regulatory aspects of feed strategies to reduce enteric methane emissions with perspectives from across the state, nation and world. The purpose of the summit is to identify opportunities for collaboration and research that can help the dairy and beef industries meet climate goals.
CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI) will present successful efforts toward methane reduction through OEFI’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program and Alternative Manure Management Program, as well as current and future research efforts toward viable solutions to reduce enteric methane emissions.
Scheduled speakers include CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and CAES Dean Helene Dillard. Joining them will be CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie, leading academic researchers, CDFA staff, cattle and dairy producers, and industry representatives.
The tentative agenda includes panels on:
Lunch will be provided both days. Registration costs $200. If unable to attend in person, a virtual registration option is available at a discounted price. Online registration is open until April 14.
Plan Takes Aim on Building Opportunity for California and Climate Action
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84592921932
Passcode: CalAg2023!
Learn more about farming and ranching in California and around the country
With ongoing heavy rain and snow bringing flooding to the Central Valley and posing a risk of more in the weeks ahead, CDFA is offering a web page featuring a substantial number of relief and support resources from state and federal partners, from tax relief and additional financial assistance to mental health and housing resources for impacted farmworkers.
We will continue to monitor the range of resources available and will update the page as needed.
From the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom:
WHAT TO KNOW: Climate change has made California’s dry and wet spells more extreme and unpredictable – after the three driest years on record, recent rain and snowfall have dramatically changed conditions in many parts of the state. The state has also advanced actions to boost storage and supply. Today’s action eases drought emergency provisions that are no longer needed while maintaining others to support impacted communities statewide.
Harnessing water captured and stored from recent storms, the state also announced a major increase in expected State Water Project deliveries to local agencies – now an anticipated 75% allocation.
YOLO COUNTY – Governor Gavin Newsom today rolled back some drought emergency provisions that are no longer needed due to current water conditions, while maintaining other measures that support regions and communities still facing water supply challenges, and that continue building up long-term water resilience. Amid climate-driven weather whiplash, the state has taken action to boost water supplies through groundwater recharge, stormwater capture, reservoir storage, and more.
Today’s action comes as the state announced increased water deliveries to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians, now expecting to deliver 75% of requested water supplies – up from 35% announced in February, and the highest since 2017.
While recent storms have helped ease drought impacts, regions and communities across the state continue to experience water supply shortages, especially communities that rely on groundwater supplies that have been severely depleted in recent years. Today’s order is responsive to current conditions while preserving smart water measures:
A copy of today’s executive order can be found here.
WHAT GOV. NEWSOM SAID: “We’re all in this together, and this state has taken extraordinary actions to get us to this point. The weather whiplash we’ve experienced in the past few months makes it crystal clear that Californians and our water system have to adapt to increasingly extreme swings between drought and flood. As we welcome this relief from the drought, we must remain focused on continuing our all-of-the-above approach to future-proofing California’s water supply.”
Since Governor Newsom announced the 15% voluntary conservation goal, Californians conserved 600,000 acre-feet of water – representing 1.2 million households’ yearly usage.
The Governor today visited the Dunnigan Groundwater Recharge Project in Yolo County, where he highlighted the state’s work to accelerate and increase groundwater recharge to make the most of winter storms. California is working to expand groundwater recharge by at least 500,000 acre-feet in potential capacity as part of our water supply strategy.
Leveraging the state’s long-term water supply strategy and more than $8.6 billion committed by Governor Newsom and the Legislature in the last two budget cycles to build water resilience, California is taking aggressive action to prepare for hotter and drier conditions driven by climate change that could reduce the state’s water supply by up to 10% by 2040. In the 2023-24 state budget, Governor Newsom is proposing an additional $202 million for flood protection and $125 million for drought-related actions.
Here are other actions that Governor Newsom and the Legislature have taken to boost water supply, expand storage, and improve infrastructure:
CDFA leadership attended a ribbon cutting this month to mark the activation of a large solar energy system at the Denali Imperial Western Products (IWP) facility in Coachella. Partly funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission, this new system will provide enough power to cover one-third of the electricity used at the facility. It is estimated to reduce energy usage by 35% and reduce carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to taking 140,000 cars off the road each year.
Denali is a nationwide organic waste management company, and the Coachella facility models its processes after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Hierarchy. Each year, Denali IWP handles hundreds of thousands of tons of bakery waste, salvaged and distressed pet food, recalled and off-spec human grade food, and used cooking oil. This landfill diversion avoids landfill emissions of 672,840 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, based on the CalRecycle Waste Diversion Greenhouse Gas Calculator.
The facility transforms agricultural organic waste into cattle feed and the used cooking oil (UCO) is refined into biodiesel. In 2022, Denali IWP converted UCO into more than 10 million gallons of biodiesel and produced more than 33,000 tons of bakery and cottonseed animal feeds, mostly supplied to California dairy farms.
Denali IWP’s work contributes to fulfilling the mandates of California Assembly Bill (AB) 32 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as legislation requiring businesses to recycle organic waste and reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfills.
“CDFA is proud to celebrate our partners in animal food production reducing energy costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy projects like these,” said Virginia Jameson, CDFA Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands, who attended the ceremony. “We congratulate Denali’s Imperial Western Products for their innovative thinking and encourage other partners to do the same.”
News release from Governor’s Office
As California weathers the twelfth atmospheric river since late December, the state’s all-of-government emergency response (including CDFA) continues to deploy personnel and resources to protect communities and support recovery efforts across the state.
“We’re continuing to mobilize an all-hands-on-deck response to protect Californians during this latest round of devastating storms,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “With communities from San Diego to Siskiyou County reeling from recent storms, the state is working closely with federal and local partners to provide immediate relief and support the ongoing recovery.”
Since the start of severe winter storms in late February, Governor Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency in 43 counties. At Governor Newsom’s request, President Biden issued a Presidential Emergency Declaration authorizing federal assistance to support storm response and recovery efforts.
The Administration is working to maximize federal aid to storm-impacted communities as state and county officials conduct preliminary damage assessments and tally totals for financial losses to determine if California meets the criteria for a Major Disaster Declaration from the federal government. Earlier this year, California secured a Major Disaster Declaration in response to severe storms that began in late December.
All-In State Response
California’s emergency response to the widespread storm impacts has involved nearly every part of the state government. Assistance on the ground includes:
Caltrans and CHP
CAL FIRE
California National Guard
Cal OES and Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA)
Department of Water Resources (DWR)
Department of General Services (DGS)
California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
CDSS is working with local officials to help coordinate food, water, and other supplies such as cots and blankets to ensure that people impacted by the storms have what they need.
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA)
LWDA is coordinating with local partners and nonprofits to identify unmet needs and provide resources to residents in Monterey and Merced counties, including distributing information on disaster assistance for immigrants, facilitating interpreter services for outreach to Indigenous communities, and ongoing efforts to drive resources through community organizations that are mobilizing to provide assistance.
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and State Water Board
Staying Safe During the Storms
All Californians have an important role in keeping themselves and their communities safe during ongoing severe weather.
California’s annual celebration of agriculture returned to the (soggy) west steps of the State Capitol today, bringing together farmers, ranchers, agricultural enthusiasts and leaders around this year’s theme: “Cultivating Community & Opportunity.” Thanks to everyone who came out to share the bounty of California’s agricultural community – and especially to California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom for her uplifting words about kids, nutrition, agriculture, and optimism.
Thanks also to our emcee Aida Mollenkamp (above, at microphone) for guiding our stage program with a little bit of “California Grown” flavor, and to our rodeo queens for braving the weather and leading the pledge of allegiance: Kendall Castle, Folsom Pro Rodeo Queen 2022; Julia Kalika, Miss CCPRA 2023; Lilly Butler, 2022 Amador County Rodeo Queen; Lilly Ekberg, Miss Marysville Stampede; and McKensey Middleton, Miss Rodeo California 2023.
