Blog posts by Guest Blogger

Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, March 6, 2023

With their pastures starting to grow and new government assistance programs being rolled out, California organic dairy farmers are beginning to see a glimmer of relief. Skyrocketing production costs, especially for organic feed, have pummeled organic dairies during the past two years, forcing some to sell their cows and leave the business. Their plight got the attention of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which last month offered up to $100 million in financial aid through the newly created Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program. Perhaps more importantly, their economic hardships…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, March 6, 2023

New federal investments in the USDA’s conservation programs make this year the best in recent memory to secure a new contract through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Thanks to last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making available $850 million for its oversubscribed conservation programs including EQIP, CSP, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The increased funding levels begin in fiscal year 2023…
Written by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Rodale Institute offers a micro-grant program specifically targeted to support projects and consulting for small-scale Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) farmers. Applications are due by February 28, 2023. Any U.S. small-scale BIPOC farmer who is currently organic or wishes to pursue organic transition is eligible to apply for a maximum grant of $2,000. Student, intern, and apprentice farmers involved in an organic operation are also eligible. Grant funding is focused on needs such as tools, equipment, training, consulting, or anything that ensures the farmer’s success. Funding should…
Written by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Erin DiCaprio, associate professor of cooperative extension at the Department of Food Science and Technology at University of California, Davis has summarized information and resources for assessing crop food safety after a flooding event. The publication includes links to the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement flood fact sheet and also a presentation made by Trevor Suslow, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension specialist.  *** This blog was written by Michael D. Cahn, Farm Advisor, Irrigation and Water Resources with UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County.  It was originally published in the…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, February 13, 2023

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Blong Xiong announced that 41 counties in California are accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages to eligible farmland, fences, and conservation structures or other installations from the recent severe storm. ECP signup will begin on February 13, 2023, and end on April 14, 2023.  Producers with damage from storm events must apply for assistance prior to beginning reconstructive work. Producers must complete FSA’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and…
Written by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Beginning January 1, 2023, all growers with ranches located in Groundwater Phase 1 Areas must start maintaining records for all nitrogen applied to crops, total nitrogen removed during harvest, and irrigation management information. This information will be used to submit the Irrigation and Nutrient Management Plan (INMP) summary report, which is due March 1, 2024. Beginning January 1, 2023, all growers with ranches located in Groundwater Phase 2 and 3 Areas must start maintaining records for all nitrogen applied to crops. This information will be used to submit the Total Nitrogen Applied (…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, November 21, 2022

Underscoring more than a half century of pioneering work in organic farming, University of California President Michael V. Drake announced today that UC Santa Cruz will be designated as an Agricultural Experiment Station (AES).  UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced are the first campuses to receive this designation in 50 years and join UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and UC Riverside as AES campuses.  “Both UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced have long conducted research on agricultural issues, so it is appropriate that these campuses also receive this designation and have their work recognized as contributing to…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, November 21, 2022

Growers of organic vegetables and strawberries across California are invited to attend an online training to learn how to manage nitrogen fertilization. The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) is offering the three-part Nitrogen Planning and Management in Organic Production of Annual Crops Workshop on November 29, December 5, and December 12. Growers, certified crop advisers, pest control advisers, and other agricultural professionals who are interested in learning about nitrogen management in organically farmed crops are encouraged to enroll. The workshop is also…
Written by Guest Blogger on Wednesday, September 21, 2022

As regenerative agriculture is reshaping how food is grown, a panel of organic industry leaders will address the trends and standards of regenerative organic marketing and certification at the Organic Grower Summit 2022, presented by Western Growers and the Organic Produce Network (OPN), slated for November 30–December 1 in Monterey, California. “Regenerative Organic Marketing and Certification—What Lies Ahead?” will feature panelists representing an organic grower, a regenerative organic certifier, and one of the nation’s largest marketers of organic food offering their insights on growing…
Written by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Dr. Brian Hogg at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service based in Albany, California, is seeking sites for research on a parasitic wasp that his team recently discovered attacking bagrada bug eggs in California.  The wasp can attack eggs in soil, where the bagrada bug lays most of its eggs, and is almost certainly helping to control bagrada bug. The wasp develops within bagrada bug eggs and is quite tiny.  Dr. Hogg’s research team has found the wasp at several sites in California, but they do not know how widespread it is. They are monitoring the wasp’s…
Written by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Español Written By Guest Blogger SACRAMENTO, August 29, 2022 – The California Department of Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting grant applications for its Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) Program and its Proactive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Solutions Program, both administered by the agency’s Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA).   The goal of the BIFS program is to fund on-farm demonstration and evaluation of innovative, biologically based farming systems that employ integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. CDFA is responsible for supporting…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, August 29, 2022

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting grant applications for the Conservation Agriculture Planning Grants Program (CAPGP) administered by its Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI). The application period will close on October 23, 2022, at 5 p.m. PT. Detailed information, including webinars that review the application process and requirements and program guidelines can be found on the program website at www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/planning. CAPGP is a new program that will fund the development of plans to help farmers and ranchers identify actions…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, August 22, 2022

Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the details of a $300 million investment to support organic and transitioning farmers, and to address targeted organic market challenges. The Organic Transition Initiative is consistent with many recommendations made to USDA by the National Organic Coalition (NOC) to increase support for organic agriculture to help build a more ecologically sound, resilient, and climate-friendly food and farm system. “We applaud the Secretary for this public commitment to organic agriculture, and for recognizing that organic farming is critical to building a…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, August 1, 2022

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in partnership with the California Department of Public Health, California Natural Resources Agency, and California Environmental Protection Agency, is leading listening sessions with all farm bill stakeholders to inform California’s priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill. See the calendar of listening sessions below. The 2023 Farm Bill is an opportunity for California farmers and ranchers to influence national agricultural policy to maximize the benefits for all Californians—from farmers and ranchers to consumers. Although California…
Written by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Market Volatility and Pantry Loading Subsiding, Industry Growth Shifting Back Toward Historic Trends, According to Organic Trade Association's Latest Industry Survey Following an unprecedented year marked by pantry loading and supply shortages, the latest Organic Industry Survey from the Organic Trade Association (OTA) shows consumers returned to more stable, buy-as-you-need shopping patterns in 2021. Between 2020 and 2021, organic sales surpassed $63 billion, with $1.4 billion (2 percent) total growth over the year. Food sales, which accounts for over 90 percent of organic sales, rose to $…