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Agriculture - page 3

Farms, agricultural businesses, crops and the region’s farming economy.

The Almond Blossom Cruise Is a Modesto Must

in Agriculture/Arts & Entertainment

A FRUIT TREE, around February, has a knack for stopping any flower fan in their beauty-seeking tracks. After all, a person wants to pause and admire this painting-perfect sight, which includes barky limbs bursting with frilly pink blossoms (and when we say “pink,” we mean just about every shade of pink a person can imagine). Where, though, can you go to see a profusion of pink-a-tude, and several trees, or even rows of trees, in full-on February splendor? Venturing to where such specimens are cultivated is one primo idea, a place like Modesto. So many Central Valley farms are at their showy best during the second month, so much so that Visit Modesto created a map for those visitors and locals eager to take an Almond Blossom Cruise.

Continue Reading on NBC Los Angeles

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TID Lands $20 Million Grant to See If Placing Solar Panels Atop Canals Makes Sense

in Environment/Agriculture
An artist rendering shows how solar panels might be placed atop the California Aqueduct in western Stanislaus County. SOLAR AQUAGRID LLC
An artist rendering shows how solar panels might be placed atop the California Aqueduct in western Stanislaus County. SOLAR AQUAGRID LLC

The Turlock Irrigation District plans to use a $20 million state grant to demonstrate solar panels atop canals.

TID would be the first water agency in the nation to try such a thing if its board votes Tuesday to accept the money.

The panels would feed electricity into transmission lines already along the canals, helping TID boost the renewable sources for its 103,000 or so power customers. The devices also would shade the water, possibly reducing evaporation losses for farmers.

The pilot project grew out of a study last year at the Merced and Santa Cruz campuses of the University of California. Researchers said installing canal panels throughout the Central Valley could get the state halfway to its goal for climate-safe power.

Continue Reading on The Modesto Bee

Despite Removals, Almond Acreage Estimate Shows Increase

in Agriculture/Business & Economy

Stanislaus County’s top-producing crop continued to grow in acreage throughout the state in 2021, though final estimates are slightly lower than they were at the beginning of the year. 

According to Land IQ’s 2021 Standing Acreage Final Estimate, total standing almond acreage increased to 1,662,633 total acres in 2021, up from 1,552,754 total acres the year prior. Despite the over 100,000 acre increase, the final bearing acreage estimate represents a decrease from the initial estimate released in the spring. 

Land IQ’s initial estimate for total bearing acreage in April 2021 – which reflects standing acreage that will be productive during the 2021/2022 harvest – was 1,323,722 acres.  This estimate takes into account both young orchards coming into production and orchards removed or estimated to be removed. The final estimate for bearing acreage represents a 14,000 acre decrease from that number. 

The 2021 final acreage estimate is 352,875 non-bearing acres (defined as those orchards planted in 2019, 2020, and 2021), 1,309,759 bearing acres (defined as anything planted in 2018 and earlier) and 1,662,633 total acres (defined as total standing acres during the growing season of 2021).

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

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Trump Told California to Sweep the Forest Floors. What’s Biden’s Plan to Combat Wildfires?

in Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Gov. Gavin Newsom stood side by side, in a forest that burned badly a year ago, pledging to work together against California’s raging wildfires.

Vilsack, acknowledging criticisms that the U.S. Forest Service hasn’t done enough to fight fires, said the Biden administration was ready to spend billions beefing up the agency.

“We’re partners,” Newsom said during an appearance last week with Vilsack at the Mendocino National Forest.

Continue Reading on The Fresno Bee

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Pair of Weekend Fires

There were a couple of fires of note in the region as temperatures are rising this season. There was a

Turlock Mom Unlocks Benefits of Almonds Through Skincare Business

in Agriculture/Business & Economy

Name of business: Bloom & Butter

Type of business: Skincare products

Location: www.bloomandbutter.com

Contact information: @bloom.and.butter on Instagram

Specialty: 100% natural, cold-pressed almond oil

History of business:

Almonds are a nutritious nut which have become synonymous with the Central Valley, but one Turlock resident has turned their benefits into a skincare product which has customers glowing.

Tara Tickenoff is a mother to three and when she’s not taking care of her children, she’s working at her part time job or helping her husband with one of his several businesses — one of which produces almond cooking oil. When Tickenoff learned about all of the perks of almonds from her husband, she began using a cold-pressed version of the nut’s oil as a way to ward off stretch marks during her most recent pregnancy. 

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

TID’s Online Tools Make Irrigation a Breeze for Farmers

in Agriculture

It’s now even easier for local farmers to order water and plan their irrigation thanks to Turlock Irrigation District’s new Online Water Tools — a 21st century approach to one of the area’s longest-standing practices. 

Development for the new online program began last December, and the new tools for farmers were rolled out in March. While TID has offered online water ordering to customers for a few years now, External Affairs Department Manager Josh Weimer said the organization wanted to improve the process and make it more mobile friendly, as well as provide other useful features to farmers.

Continue Reading on Ceres Courier

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The World of Renewables This Week

US EV maker Mullen Automotive issued Q1 figures completing its purchase of Electric Last Mile Solutions for $105 million in cash, announced in November,

State Warns Farmers to Prepare for Dry Summer

in Agriculture/Weather

Despite some recent rainfall, state officials issued bleak warnings to farmers this week which caution them to prepare for water shortages this summer.

The California Department of Water Resources on Tuesday announced that cities and farms belonging to the State Water Project can now expect to receive just 5% of requested supplies this year, down from the projected 10% allocation anticipated in December. Just the day before, the State Water Resources Board told water users to start taking precautions now for water shortages expected later in the year.

“We are now facing the reality that it will be a second dry year for California and that is having a significant impact on our water supply,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “The Department of Water Resources is working with our federal and state partners to plan for the impacts of limited water supplies this summer for agriculture as well as urban and rural water users. We encourage everyone to look for ways to use water efficiently in their everyday lives.”

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, nearly 91% of California is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought. While some may have been hoping for a “March miracle” to bring some much-needed rainfall, there wasn’t nearly enough precipitation this month to make a difference.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Farmers Seek Options for Wood Disposal, California Farm Bureau Federation Reports

in Agriculture/Environment

Grape grower Chris Gillespie looks over one of many piles of recently removed zinfandel vines at his Acampo farm. Gillespie and his father, Curt, say no viable option exists for disposal of these vines other than burning, because of the steel wires enmeshed in the vines. The California Air Resources Board has voted to phase out most agricultural burning in the San Joaquin Valley by 2025.
Photo/Kevin Hecteman

March 8, 2021 – By Kevin Hecteman – Curt Gillespie and his son Chris have tall piles of grapevines awaiting disposal at their Acampo farm. The piles won’t be going anywhere for a while.

There has been an uptick in vineyard removals in the area, resulting in a backlog of burn requests being made to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

Now, the California Air Resources Board has voted to require virtually all agricultural burning to be phased out by Jan. 1, 2025. The board’s action, taken unanimously last week, affects eight counties under the jurisdiction of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern.

Continue Reading on Sierra Sun Times

Reducing Dust During Almond Harvest—a Big Goal of the Industry

in Agriculture/Environment

Brian Wahlbrink is with Sperry Farms in Stanislaus County and Vice Chairman of the Almond Board as well as being the chair of the Almond Board’s Harvest Working Group—focused on reducing dust.

“This is the real gritty and dirty group, who gets the pleasure of focusing on the major goal of trying to reduce harvest dust by 50% by 2025. But I think we’ve already learned that progress is never a straight line,” said Wahlbrink. “You know, when it comes to these initiatives, I’ve loved being involved with this group. It’s such a diverse group. We have such an exciting future. We have growers, handlers, researchers, and there’s eight orchard equipment companies on this group. It’s remarkable,” he said.

“We had eight competing companies come into this room and talk about the betterment of the industry. It’s really amazing. And I so appreciate everybody doing that. And we have so much participation. You know, this year, the main focus was the existing equipment. We were talking about conditioners. We were talking about the Low-dust harvesters,” noted Wahlbrink.

Continue Reading on AGinfo

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Modesto’s Farmers Market Provides Breath of Fresh Air for Community

in Agriculture

Stanislaus County residents can support local vendors while taking a break from quarantine at the Modesto Certified Farmers Market. The market is open on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m to 1 p.m. and will be open through January. 

The quarantined lifestyle has taken a toll on many people, but as Stanislaus County struggles to get back to business as usual, people are looking for safe alternatives to safely engage in the community. The Farmers Market is an outdoor market with plenty of space for social distancing and vendors are required to follow all health guidelines. What the Farmers Market also provides is an opportunity to get out of the house and get some fresh air while shopping for local organic food. 

Modesto native Sabrina Rodriguez said, “It’s a good way to start a Saturday morning, hanging out with your friends in your community, especially if you’re looking for some real nutrition.” Rodriguez and her friend Khali Ybarra are both Modesto resident who regularly attend the Farmers Market to get out and socialize. Rodriguez loves the coffee with honey and cinnamon that is sold by one of the vendors and Ybarra enjoys the fresh flowers and oils offered at different booths.

Continue Reading on CSU Signal

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