California Dairy Industry Headline News

A news service of Western United Dairymen
1315 K Street, Modesto, CA 95354 (209) 527-6453.
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Thursday, May 23, 2013 

State/Federal News and Politics

• Calif. dairymen hang whey value hopes on state Senate - - In an attempt to capture more of the whey value in their milk, California dairymen hope the state Senate will give them better results than the Assembly. Supporters say a bill aimed at reducing the price disparity California producers receive for their milk sold to cheese manufacturers and similar milk going into cheese vats in federal milk marketing orders is being watered down in the Assembly. But the Assembly is moving the bill along, giving dairymen hope they can get some meaningful language in the legislation in the Senate, said Michael Marsh, CEO of Western United Dairymen.  <more> May 23, 2013 Capital Press  
   

• Republican win shaves Democratic supermajority in Senate - - The Democratic supermajority in the state Senate thinned a bit Tuesday when Republican farmer Andy Vidak captured more than 50 percent of a special election vote to win in a heavily Democratic San Joaquin Valley district. Vidak had nearly 52 percent of the votes in the low-turnout election early today, with some provisional and mail ballots yet to be counted. His opponent, Democrat Leticia Perez, a Kern County supervisor, conceded shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning. The election was called when Democratic Sen. Michael Rubio unexpectedly resigned early this year to become an executive in Chevron Corp. It was conducted in the 16th Senate District, which no longer exists, because Rubio was elected from that district in 2010. Vidak will have to seek re-election in the new 14th Senate District, which was created by an independent redistricting commission. <more> May 23, 2013 Sacramento Bee
   

• California bill to establish task force to tackle metal thefts - - State lawmakers want to crack down on the chronic problem of metal theft by setting up a task force to help local law enforcement and district attorneys catch and prosecute thieves. Under a California Farm Bureau Federation-sponsored bill carried by Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, the panel created as part of the Board of State and Community Corrections would eventually provide grants to local agencies to focus on metal theft and recycling crimes. As it's proposed now, the task force wouldn't receive state funding but would seek federal grants and industry contributions to achieve its goals, said Noelle Cremers, the CFBF's director of natural resources and commodities. <more> May 23, 2013 Capital Press

• Immigration Overhaul Wins Panel’s Backing in the Senate - - The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws on a bipartisan vote, sending the most significant immigration policy changes in decades to the full Senate, where the debate is expected to begin next month.  The 13-to-5 vote came as the committee reached a deal on one of the final snags threatening the legislation — and agreed to hold off on a particularly politically charged amendment, which would have added protections for same-sex couples. <more> May 23, 20123 NY Times
   

• House feels the heat on immigration reform - - Committee approval of a sweeping Senate immigration overhaul has put pressure on the House, where Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and top leaders have been pushing a bipartisan group of lawmakers to produce its own bill. House veterans fear that momentum this week in the Senate could leave them behind, all but forcing the lower chamber into considering the Senate bill before their effort has a chance to come to fruition. On Wednesday, the House group was stalemated as the eight lawmakers faced a self-imposed, end-of-the-week deadline to resolve disagreements over healthcare provisions in their bill. <more> May 22, 2013 Los Angeles Times 
   

• Conservative economists endorse immigration reform bill - - More than 100 conservative economists will call on Congress to approve an immigration overhaul, highlighting the potential economic benefits. The letter by the American Action Forum, to be released Thursday, is the latest volley from conservative economic thinkers, who have been divided on the immigration overhaul legislation making its way through the Senate. <more> May 23, 2013 Los Angeles Times 
   

• Schumer introduces pilot 'Dairy Block Grant Program' - - As an amendment to the Farm Bill now being considered on the Senate floor, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer is pushing for a dairy block grant concept to be tested in a $5 million pilot that would be similar to the popular specialty crops grant program. This would help dairy farmers to access technical expertise related to productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship. This would particularly cater to smaller dairy farmers who don’t have the resources to independently hire outside consultants for these needs. If created, the pilot program would allow states to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to receive funding that could then provide technical assistance to individual dairy farmers. This block grant program could allow farmers to bring in animal nutritionists to customize cow feeding programs or specialists on housing and breeding, which would help boost milk production. These grants could also be used to bring in consultants on nutrient management to aid farmers in efforts to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements or an individual who can help farmers write and execute business plans. <more> May 23, 2013 WBNG News  
   

• Senate rejects farm bill amendments aimed at changing cuts to food stamps - - The Senate rejected two amendments to the farm bill Tuesday that would have changed the $4 billion-worth of cuts to food stamps. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) introduced an amendment that would have cut at least an additional $12 billion for the supplemental food assistance program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. His amendment failed on a 40-58 vote. “My goal is simple to restore integrity to the supplemental food assistance program,” Roberts said ahead of the vote. <more> May 21, 2013 The Hill
   

• White House urges Senate to cut crop insurance in farm bill - - The U.S. Senate should cut crop insurance subsidies, the most expensive part of the farm safety net, by $1 billion a year before it passes the new farm bill, the White House said on Monday. The five-year farm bill would cost about $500 billion, with three-fourths of the money going to food stamps for the poor. Senators could vote on the bill within a week. The House was expected to debate its version in June. Both bills cut traditional subsidies by substantial amounts and put much of the savings into an expansion of federally subsidized crop insurance. They also cut conservation and food stamps. The House would make the biggest food stamp cuts in a generation, $20 billion, compared to $4 billion in the Senate. <more> May 21, 2013 Reuters
   

• Nutrition group weighs in on aspartame in milk: It's not needed - - The petition from the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation to allow aspartame and other “safe and suitable” sweeteners in milk and 17 other dairy products has left a sour taste in the mouths of consumers across the country. However, as the debate rages on, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AOND) is taking a stance against the petition. Aspartame in milk is unnecessary, they say. <more> May 22, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• USDA issues final COOL rule - - USDA has issued the final rule for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, goat meat, wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities, peanuts, pecans, ginseng and macadamia nuts. The latest rule amends the regulations for muscle cut covered commodities derived from animals slaughtered in the United States. Labels will be required to specify the production steps of birth, raising and slaughter of the animal from which the meat is derived. In addition, the rule eliminates the allowance for commingling of muscle cuts from different origins. The cost of implementing the requirements will be incurred by the primary packers and processors of the meat and retailers subject to COOL requirements. <more> May 23, 2013 Brownfield Ag News

   

   

   

    

Pricing/Commodity News

• April Dairy Cow Culling Up - - The United States Department of Agriculture reported this afternoon that April dairy cow culling totaled 268,000 head, up 12% over April 2012. April culling was slightly less than March, however, down 6,000 head, or 2%. The per day kill was down even more, since there was one more business/working day in April than in March (assuming slaughter plants operated on Good Friday). Year-to-date, culling is up 52,000 head, or 2.5%. <more> May 23, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Ethanol industry may rebound this year - - Until last week, only 15% of the corn crop in Iowa (the leading corn growing state in the nation) had been planted. Then came a week of good weather. Iowa farmers responded by launching an invasion of farm machinery into their fertile fields. As of Sunday, 71% of the corn crop had been planted according to The Associated Press. The same scene played out in all of the key grain states to the extent that the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its weekly crop progress update that 71% of the corn crop had been sown in those states as well. This figure isn't far off from the 79% average farmers planted by this time over the past five years.  State by state, the numbers are impressive. In addition to the 71% of corn planted in Iowa, 75% of this year's seed has been sown in Illinois, along with 70% of the crop in Missouri, Kansas, and Minnesota. <more> May 22, 2013 MSN.com

Environmental News

• Senate rejects GMO labeling amendment -- The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected an amendment that would allow states to require labeling of genetically modified foods. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, said his amendment was an attempt to clarify that states can require the labels, as several legislatures have moved toward putting such laws into place. Both the Vermont House and Connecticut Senate voted this month to make food companies declare genetically modified ingredients on their packages. The Senate rejected the amendment on a 71-27 vote during debate on a wide-ranging, 5-year farm bill that includes generous supports for crops like corn and soybeans that often are genetically modified varieties. Senators from farm states that use a lot of genetically modified crops strongly opposed the amendment, saying the issue should be left up to the federal government and that labels could raise costs for consumers. <more> May 23, 2013 AP
   

• Minimizing groundwater nitrates with proper fertigation - - As many of California’s growers face expected tighter regulations on nitrates in groundwater, Fresno State University unrolled a series of ambitious seminars on water use efficiency, concentrating in the first workshop on fertigation and how to minimize the amount of nitrates entering the groundwater. The seminar opened with an outline of the serious health threats posed by nitrates in the drinking supply of the San Joaquin Valley. It concluded with some tips on how to target the root zone of plants with needed water – and accompanying nitrogen – and how to avoid going past that root zone, how to protect water sources and how to prevent backflow and spills of fertilizer. <more> May 22, 2013 Western Farm Press
   

• $500 million cap-and-trade loan to state hits wall of opposition - - Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to shift $500 million in cap-and-trade fees levied on business for greenhouse emissions into the state budget ran into bipartisan opposition Tuesday. The two Democrats and one Republican on a Senate budget subcommittee denounced Brown's plan, which was included in a revision of his state budget last week. The $500 million loan to the general fund is designed to partially offset the Brown administration's forecast that revenues will dip below earlier projections in the 2013-14 fiscal year by $1.8 billion, but members of the committee said it made little sense since the same budget proposes to repay some of the state's "wall of debt," which is mostly money owed to schools. <more> May 21, 2013 Capitol Alert
   

• California's third carbon auction raises $280 million - - California's third carbon-allowance auction raised more than $280 million as polluters bid for the right to emit greenhouse gases, state officials said today. The California Air Resources Board released results of its third carbon auction, which was held last Thursday. Carbon credits that let polluters emit greenhouse gases this year sold for $14 a ton. Allowances for 2016 sold for the minimum $10.71 a ton. The state-run auctions are an essential piece of the California cap and trade market, which is designed to reduce carbon emissions. More than 400 big industrial polluters are required to cap their emissions at certain levels. If they exceed the cap, they have to buy credits, either from the state or from other market participants. <more> May 21, 2013 The Sacramento Bee 
   

• Scientists visit Fresno to discuss San Joaquin Valley water woes - - The Valley's water issues were part of the prestigious Geological Society's first meeting here in decades, said Robert Merrill, an emeritus professor of geology at Fresno State. The three-day meeting, which ended Wednesday, attracted scientists from as far away as China, Japan and Turkey. The gathering was arranged with the help of John Wakabayashi, a Fresno State geology professor. <more> May 22, 2013 Fresno Bee  

Stories Of Interest
 

• Chocolate milk a top post-workout food - - A new list from AskMen.com shows the top 10 best foods to eat after working out. Chocolate milk tops this list, and another dairy item is also suggested. Chocolate milk, especially those that have been fortified with protein such as Rockin’ Refuel, provides gym-goers with 48 grams of carbohydrates and 20 grams of whey protein – the perfect ratio for workout recovery. “Although making your own recovery drink is preferred by some guys, the convenience of having an all-in-one sports recovery drink handy after your workout simply can't be beat,” the article says. At No. 4, AskMen also suggests cereal with skim milk. <more> May 21, 2013 Dairy Herd Network 
   

• Another reason for adults to drink milk - - Dairy products play a key role in developing countries, and a new study shows that in India milk trumps tea as a tool to stave off obesity and keep waistlines trim. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE, looked at the Body Mass Index, waist circumference and dietary habits of more than 6,000 men and women living in India. Researchers concluded that men and women who consumed at least one portion of “plain” milk daily were less likely to have a high waist circumference than those who didn’t. <more> May 21, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• The Future Of Food Partnership Deepens Commitment To Alleviate Hunger Through Increased Focus On Nutrition - - Food security – specifically, domestic hunger – is a major issue affecting one in six Americans today, including more than one in five children. National Dairy Council, Feeding America and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics formed the Future of Food Partnership in June 2012 to help solve this problem by improving domestic food and nutrition security. The Future of Food partnership is focused on increasing the availability of nutritious, safe and affordable foods across the country through innovative efforts to help alleviate hunger. In the next month, the partnership will award the first ever nutrition initiative grants of $10,000 each to 10 food banks within the Feeding America network. These grants are designated to support nutrition education and increased access to dairy products and other in-demand nutrient-rich foods. <more> May 23, 2013 PerishableNews.com 
   

• Old MacDonald had a crowdfunded farm - - More than anything, Rebecca Bloomfield wants her own organic farm. To accomplish this though, in a social media age — without much capital — she has to be something else first: a crowdfunding guru. Just as she taught herself to grow organic food, she's also taught herself how to organically raise money for her future farm in Ontario, Canada, via crowdfunding — soliciting donations over social media with a video she hopes will tug on heartstrings and wallets alike. Even future farmers are turning to crowdfunding for cash. Just like other small-business owners who don't want to — or can't — take out a bank loan, there are new options for the social-media savvy. <more> May 22, 2013 USA Today

Meetings of Interest to CA Dairy Industry

• Flat screen TV tops June 3 WUD golf tourney raffle prizes - - A flat screen television donated by WUD Board President Tom Barcellos is one of the top raffle prizes to be awarded at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen's federal political action committee.  The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television! The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments and dinner. A registration form can be downloaded by clicking here and will be mailed to members next week. May 10, 2013 WUD Friday Update

   

• Ag air quality conference at UC Davis June 27-28 - - An agricultural air quality conference jointly sponsored by UC Davis and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District will be held June 27-28 at the UC Davis conference center. The conference’s major focus will be on discussing a “risk-based” strategy proposed by the SJVAPCD as an alternative to the current federal/state air quality regulatory framework.  The SJVAPCD is also currently one of only two areas in the nation (South Coast AQMD being the other) classified as “extreme” non-attainment for ozone. Sessions include: * The Scientific Foundation for a Risk-Based Approach to Particulate Controls. * Development of the Risk-Based Approach to Air Quality Policy and Public Health. * - Evolution Towards Low-Risk Pesticides. * Applying the Approach to Policies - Potential Applications & Research Gaps.  *Policy Efficacy of the RB/MP Approach: Opportunities and Constraints. Optional Tours include * Bovine Bubbles. * Anaerobic BioMass Digester. * Olive Oil Center & Tasting Registration information is available at  https://sites.google.com/site/ucdavisaqaq/home  May 6, 2013 UC Davis Notice

California Dairy Families: Making a Difference Today for Tomorrow's Generations

Visit our Video Channel .Watch WUD members talk about how they meet the environmental challenges facing the California dairy industry. Hear about their pride in their farming heritage and the contributions they make to their communities. Also visit the California Milk Advisory Board's website which features many WUD dairy families talking about the rewards and heartaches of dairy farming.

Commodity Price Information

• Daily Prices from Chicago Mercantile Exchange
• Weekly Prices and Commodity Market Updates
• Monthly Pool Report
• USDA Hay Report
• USDA Grain Report
• USDA Feedstuffs Report
• USDA Market News and Transportation Data

Other Dairy News Sources

• Blimling & Associates

• Cheese Market News

• Cheese Reporter Magazine

• CowsandCrops.com

• CWT Program

• Dairy and Food Market Analyst weekly newsletter

• DairyForums.com

• Dairy Today

• Dairy Herd Management  

• Dairy MAX - representing Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas dairy producers

• Hoard's Dairyman

• Progressive Dairyman

• Western Dairy Business

• World Dairy Expo Dairy Blog

• WUD Headline News Archives

• WUD Legislative Report Card
  
   

Dairy Producer Blogs That We Like

• A Dairyman's Blog
• A Dairy Goddess's Blog
• A Day in the Life of a Farm Vet
• Dairy Moos. Moosworthy Information Straight From The Dairy Farm

• The Durrer Family: Our life on a Real California dairy farm

• The Wife of a Dairyman
• On the Udder Hand Blog
• The Dairy Mom Blog

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013 

Pricing/Commodity News

• Hearing on milk prices highlights lack of agreement - - Dairy farmer organizations and processors have not yet reached an agreement on how to update the state's milk pricing formula and, more specifically, on how to establish a whey value that would be satisfactory to both sides. During a hearing held by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in Sacramento Monday, dairy farmer groups and dairy cooperatives stuck by a proposal they have introduced through Assembly Bill 31, to establish a milk pricing formula for dry whey that would bring California prices closer in line with what's paid to dairy farmers under the federal milk marketing order. CDFA called the hearing to consider temporary changes to all classes of milk, after receiving a request from leaders of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, which held a hearing earlier this month to consider AB 31. <more> May 21, 2013 Ag Alert  
   

• Dairy farmers renew price hike push - - Dairy farmers Monday urged the state yet again to boost minimum prices they get from processors. Western United Dairymen, based in Modesto, and allied groups asked the California Department of Food and Agriculture to increase the price for milk that is made into cheese. They said dairy farmers continue to go out of business because of a mismatch between milk prices and production costs, especially that of feed corn. <more> May 20, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Producers want cheese makers to pay their fair share into pool - - Dairy producers wanting the California Department of Food and Agriculture to raise minimum prices for milk going to cheese makers took a different tack in their argument at a CDFA hearing on Monday. Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross called the hearing to consider extending emergency price relief on all classes of milk put into effect after a Dec. 21 hearing. Producers have been largely unsuccessful in petitioning CDFA for the past three years to increase the value of dry whey in the Class 4b pricing formula, contending the 4b price has lagged the Class III price for milk going into cheese vats in federal orders by as much as $2 per hundredweight. <more> May 21, 2013 Capital Press

   

• WUD testifies in favor of raising Class 4b price - - The California Department of Food & Agriculture hosted a hearing, May 20, to consider temporary adjustments to the state's minimum milk pricing formulas. Western United Dairymen CEO Michael Marsh requested a temporary 13.8¢/lb. increase in the Class 4b milk solids-not-fat price – used in the state's Class 4b formula – during the hearing. To read the entire testimony, please click here. “The impact of our proposed change would result in an approximate 50¢(/cwt.) increase in the overbase price, Marsh said. “While this is not enough to recoup the immense losses incurred in the recent past, it will not only help bridge the gap between cost of production and milk revenues, it will provide a much-needed closer relationship between Class III and Class 4b prices. The temporary increase proposed for Class 4b is to get to what the producer side of the industry has been advocating for almost three years: a fair pool value from cheese making revenues.” WUD is the largest dairy producer trade association in California, representing approximately 900 of the state's dairy families.<more> May 21, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• Cropp: Dairy Situation and Outlook - - Milk production is likely to increase in the last half of 2013, but strong exports should support prices, according to the latest Dairy Situation and Outlook from Bob Cropp, professor emeritus with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Milk prices are much improved over a year ago. With cheese prices averaging higher in May than April, and steady dry whey prices, the May 2013 Class III price will be near $18.60/cwt., compared to $17.59/cwt. for April and $15.23/cwt. for May a year ago. Cheese prices should improve by mid-summer and fall pushing the Class III price above $19.00/cwt., August through October. If milk production improves by fall as now anticipated, the Class III price will fall, but should stay above $18/cwt. for the remainder of the year, and should not fall below $18 until the first quarter of 2014. <more> May 21, 2013 Dairy Business
   

• April milk production up 0.3 percent - - Milk production in the top 23 dairy states rose by 0.3 percent in April compared to the same month a year earlier, according to the “Milk Production” report released by the USDA on Monday. Across all 50 states, milk production increased by 0.2 percent. Once again the Upper Midwest states posted healthy gains, with Wisconsin up 1.3 percent, Minnesota up 1.8 percent and Michigan up 1.3 percent. California, the country’s No. 1 milk-producing state, reported yet another decline this month, dropping 0.2 percent. The report is slightly bullish as total milk production ended slightly greater than expectations, says Dave Kurzawski, dairy analyst with FCStone in Chicago. <more> May 20, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• CWT accepts nine export requests - - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted nine requests for export assistance from Bongards Creameries, Dairy Farmers of America and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) to sell 3.016 million pounds of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered May through September 2013. Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 56.826 million pounds of cheese, 51.727 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 31 countries on six continents. May 21, 2013 Brownfield Ag News

State/Federal News and Politics

• Farmers hope immigration bill yields more foreign ag workers - - Walk the aisles of any neighborhood grocery store today and you’re as likely to find tomatoes picked in Sinaloa, Mexico, as Central California or oranges from Sao Paulo, Brazil, as Bradenton, Fla. Farmers across the country warn that shoppers will find even more imported food on their store shelves if Congress fails to pass immigration legislation that would guarantee them enough workers to milk their cows and harvest their fruits and vegetables. “The bottom line is people need to decide whether they’d rather import their labor or import their food,” said Randall Patterson, a China Grove, N.C., farmer who grows strawberries, cucumbers and watermelons among his crops. <more> May 21, 2013 The Sacramento Bee
   

• Special CA Senate election results tonight - - The special election to fill the California Senate Seat left vacant by the resignation of Michael Rubio is being held today. Election results will be available after 8 p.m. at the Secretary of State's website http://vote.sos.ca.gov/returns/state-senate/district/16/
   

• Conservatives, tea party leaders seek to block immigration bill - - Top conservative leaders, along with tea party activists from across the nation, have crafted a letter of opposition to the Senate’s bipartisan immigration overhaul. The open letter to the Senate, which will be released Tuesday, marks the first large-scale attempt to halt the bill as it gains momentum with a key Senate committee vote expected this week. Those signing the letter include influential conservative commentators – Erick Ericksen, Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin and Michele Malkin – as well as tea party leaders and talk radio hosts from around the country. <more> May 20, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Veteran Senator Emerges as Player on Immigration Overhaul - - As proponents of a new immigration overhaul cast about for a Republican ally to help give their bill an extra boost, they have focused on a 79-year-old lawmaker with new hipster glasses (from Costco), black Nike sneakers (for his bad arches) and, perhaps most important, a deep and complicated relationship with immigration policy: Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah. Members of the bipartisan group of eight senators who drafted an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws see Mr. Hatch as a potentially influential partner. He was an original co-sponsor of the Dream Act for younger immigrants and has shown a willingness to embrace other immigration legislation as well. Though he ran to the right during a primary challenge in the 2012 election, they believe he might be brought back into the fold now that he is safely ensconced in his seventh Senate term. <more> May 20, 2013 The New York Times
   

• Senate votes to make small cut to food stamps in farm bill - - The Senate has voted to keep a $400 million annual cut — or roughly a half of 1 percent — to the food stamp program in a farm bill it is considering this week. Food stamps now cost almost $80 billion annually. The chamber rejected by a 58-40 vote an amendment by Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas to expand the cuts to $3.5 billion a year. Senators also rejected, 70-26, an amendment by Democratic Sen. Kristen Gillibrand of New York to eliminate the cuts entirely. <more> May 21, 2013 AP
   

• Egg bill chances dimming in Congress - - Federal standards for the welfare of egg-laying hens suffered a defeat when they failed to make it into the farm bill legislation voted out of the agriculture committees in the U.S. House and Senate. The full Senate was debating its version of the farm bill this week. Attempts at floor amendments likely will fail but the standards could come back to life when the farm bill reaches the joint House-Senate conference committee, said Bradley Miller, national director of the Humane Farming Association in San Francisco and an opponent of the federal standards. <more> May 21, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Beginning Farmers, Ranchers to Discuss Career Opportunities with the State Board on June 4- - The California Department of Food and Agriculture will discuss opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers at its upcoming meeting on June 4th in Sacramento. The meeting is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street - Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814. California is home to a number of non-profit programs aimed at developing the next generation of farmers and ranchers. From returning veterans to aspiring farm workers and even consumers looking for new career opportunities – programs are in place to encourage the first steps in entering a farming career. The upcoming meeting is an opportunity for recent graduates of farm training programs to discuss their experiences with the board and offer suggestions to encourage more individuals to become farmers. <more> May 21, 2013 CDFA news release

Environmental News

• Gov. Brown orders streamlining of water transfers - -  Gov. Jerry Brown has issued an executive order he says will help California's agriculture industry by streamlining the approval process for water transfers in the state. The order, issued on Monday, directs state water officials to expedite the review and processing of voluntary transfers of water and water rights. <more> May 21, 2013 AP
   

• Gov. Brown Issues Executive Order to Streamline Approvals for Water Transfers to Protect California’s Farms - - With near record-low precipitation in California this year, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today (May 20) issued an Executive Order to streamline approvals for voluntary water transfers to assist California’s agricultural industry. “Agriculture is vital to the health of California’s economy, and this order ensures we’re doing what’s necessary to cope with a very dry year,” said Governor Brown. The Governor’s Executive Order directs the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to expedite the review and processing of voluntary transfers of water and water rights consistent with current law. Under the order, DWR will coordinate State Water Project operations to alleviate critical impacts to San Joaquin Valley agriculture. <more> May 21, 2013 CDFA news release

Stories Of Interest
 

• Tech Talk: Take social mobile - - Dino Giacomazzi on the importance of dairy producers using social media: "Social media is about telling how you care for animals and manage natural resources. Your story is the true story of agriculture—not the one being told by PETA." <more> May 21, 2013 DairyToday
   

• Bovine respiratory disease assessment tool on horizon at UC Davis - - Developing and validating a standardized scoring system for bovine respiratory disease tops the priority list for a team of veterinarians and scientists at the University of California – Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Animal Science. The research team, with the assistance of dairy managers and staff, are knee-deep in a project that targets prevention, diagnosis and treatment of bovine respiratory disease in dairy calves. It is being funded by University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources and is a subsidiary of a large USDA project titled “Integrated program for reducing bovine respiratory disease complex in beef and dairy cattle.” <more> May 17, 2013 Progressive Dairyman
   

• High crop prices entice farmers to expand planting into old golf courses, wildlife preserves - - Clark Kelly plans to spend a lot of time on the links this spring. The Illinois farmer is plowing the Hend-Co-Hills Golf Course near tiny Biggsville into a cornfield. He’s not the only one turning over soil in unlikely places. Across the Midwest, farmers are planting crops on almost any scrap of available land to take advantage of consistently high corn and soybean prices. Growers are knocking down old barns, tearing out fencerows and digging up land that had once been preserved for wildlife. Some are even suspected of tearing into pioneer cemeteries. <more> May 20, 2013 AP
   

• Paramount Citrus, Sun Pacific end long 'Cuties' partnership - - Paramount Citrus, one of the state's leading suppliers of fruit sold under the Cuties brand, is changing the name of its easy-peeling fruit. The company announced Monday that it is ending its nearly decade-long partnership this summer with fellow citrus grower Sun Pacific in Exeter. As part of the breakup, Sun Pacific has acquired the Cuties trademark for an undisclosed sum. The dissolution should come as no surprise to those in the citrus industry. Paramount and Sun Pacific are the two largest growers of mandarin and clementine varieties in the state. Along with Fowler Packing, the trio has invested millions in developing the market for the Cuties brand. Paramount and Fowler Packing alone grow, process and market more than 60% of the nation's mandarin crop. <more> May 20, 2013 Fresno Bee

Monday, May 20, 2013 

State/Federal News and Politics

• WUD testifies in favor of raising Class 4b price - - Western United Dairymen CEO Michael Marsh today testified in Sacramento in favor of a temporary price increase on the Class 4b formula for Class 4b milk solids-not-fat - - thirteen and eight tenth cents ($0.138) per pound. Marsh in his testimony at the CDFA hearing said, “The impact of our proposed change would result in an approximate 50 cent increase in the overbase price. While this is not enough to recoup the immense losses incurred in the recent past, it will not only help bridge the gap between cost of production and milk revenues; it will provide a much needed closer relationship between Class III and Class 4b prices. The temporary increase proposed for Class 4b is to get to what the producer side of the industry has been advocating for almost three years: a fair pool value from cheese making revenues.” To read WUD’s entire testimony, please click here.  May 20, 2013 WUD News

   

• WUD Board supports moving Farm Bill - - The Western United Dairymen Board of Directors at its meeting Friday unanimously supported a motion to move the Farm Bill forward. The Board again directed staff to continue work on a dairy title that will benefit California dairy families.
  The Board also noted that included in the House version of the Farm Bill passed out of committee was a revised version of an amendment offered by Representative Steve King (R-Iowa) that had been offered in Committee mark-up last summer. Rep. King’s original amendment offered last summer would have jeopardized California’s ability to enforce its higher nutritional standards for fluid milk. The Board appreciated that Rep. King had reached out to WUD to resolve the negative impact his original amendment would have had on California dairy families.The Senate version of the Farm Bill is scheduled for debate on the Senate floor on Monday, May 20. House leadership plans for the Farm Bill to be on its floor for debate next month. Following passage from each chamber, the differing versions will move to a conference committee to be reconciled. No date has been set for conference. May 17, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• State dairymen seek bigger share of whey windfall  - - California dairy farmers and cheese processors are fighting again over milk prices. It's not Grade A, homogenized, pasteurized milk that's at issue in the state Capitol. Rather, agriculture lobbyists are focused on the price of whey, a milk byproduct probably best known to consumers who've read the Mother Goose nursery rhyme about little Miss Muffet eating her "curds and whey." Once thrown away as waste, whey has become a valuable commodity, left over from processing cheese and then used in hundreds of foods, including baby formula and protein powder. Whey has become a profit center for cheese makers that invest in processing equipment. Financially distressed dairy owners want a bigger share of the whey windfall. They're asking lawmakers to overhaul the California Department of Food and Agriculture's complex milk-pricing formula. <more> May 20, 2013 LA Times
   

• Senate Farm Bill introduced on Senate floor - - The Senate farm bill was introduced on the Senate floor today and Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow touched on each part of the bill, including what is likely to become the most controversial topic — food stamp cuts — when the Senate and House bills come together. Stabenow says the Senate farm bill continues to build on the integrity that’s already there by cracking down on food stamp/nutrition program abuses and misuse,” And we made sure our changes would not remove one single needy family. It’s not about hurting folks, about making sure that there is not abuse – and that’s what we address.” <more> May 20, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Disagreement over milk supply management continues - - Proponents of the Dairy Security Act, included last week in farm bills passed by the House and Senate ag committees, say they are pleased the proposal remained intact. But opponents of the milk supply management portion of the bill anticipate a different outcome when the House bill is debated on the floor and say they have a good chance of prevailing when the farm bill goes to conference committee, said Jerry Slominski, the International Dairy Foods Association's senior vice president for legislative and economic affairs. Dairymen and processors seem united on the bills' proposal to create insurance to protect dairymen's margin between the price of their milk and feed costs. However, milk supply management has remained controversial, with processors staunchly opposed to it. <more> May 20, 2013 Capital Press 
   

• State Senate campaigns head into the final stretch - - After all the advertisements, fliers, phone calls and door knocks, the 16th state Senate District special election comes down to Tuesday. The math is simple: Because of expected low turnout, whoever can do a better job of getting the party faithful to turn out is going to win. That’s the consensus of experts watching the race play out since Michael Rubio’s resignation opened the seat in late February and set off a scramble for candidates. The Republican Party threw its weight behind Hanford farmer Andy Vidak. The Democratic Party lined up behind newly-elected Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez. Toss in Democrats Francisco Ramirez and Paulina Miranda and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Mohammad Arif, and you have a five-way rumble for a seat that will be up for re-election in 2014. <more> May 18, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Nutrition and dairy face major farm bill fight - - After offered amendments and heated debates on dairy and nutrition programs, the House Agriculture Committee passed a new, $940 billion farm bill 36-10 on a largely partisan vote. Democrats, deeply unhappy with some $20 billion in cuts to food stamps (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) proposed by Republicans, weren’t persuaded after nine hours of back-and-forth – including frequent quoting of Bible verses and theologically-based arguments from both sides – to vote for the bill. The scrum also included Democrats railing against the nutrition program cuts while funding for recent wars and foreign nation-building has reached into the trillions of dollars. <more> May 20, 2013 Delta Farm Press
   

• Agriculture amendment breaks some eggs - - Pigs, chickens, the U.S. Constitution — and a dose of olive oil — all got thrown together in a House farm bill markup that took a remarkable turn from the barnyard to the judicial bench late Wednesday night. “I’m one of these country lawyers, which is no lawyer at all,” Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) was candid to say at the outset. But that didn’t stop him or most of the House Agriculture Committee from plunging into an hour-long debate on the constitutional fine points of the interstate commerce clause and state laws excluding eggs or meat that don’t meet local production standards. Well “fine points” may be a stretch. “Let’s be honest folks. You can dress the pig up anyway you want but at the end of the day it’s a pig,” said Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), offering his legal analysis as a trained veterinarian. Before the dust settled, the committee had adopted a far-reaching amendment that infuriated animal welfare groups, delighted the pork and beef lobbies and broke more than a few eggs. <more> May 17, 2013 Politico
   

• Larger Union That Enforces Immigration Opposes Bill - - A labor union representing 12,000 federal officers who issue immigration documents will join forces on Monday with the union representing deportation agents to publicly oppose a bill overhauling the immigration system that is making its way through the Senate, arguing that the legislation would weaken public safety. The two unions represent a total of 20,000 employees in the Department of Homeland Security who would play a central role in carrying out the ambitious legislation, either by reviewing applications from millions of immigrants who could gain new legal status through the bill or by expelling illegal immigrants who did not qualify. <more> May 20, 2013 The New York Times
   

• Flat screen TV tops June 3 WUD golf tourney raffle prizes - - A flat screen television donated by WUD Board President Tom Barcellos is one of the top raffle prizes to be awarded at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen's federal political action committee.  The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television! The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments and dinner. A registration form can be downloaded by clicking here and will be mailed to members next week. May 10, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Study: Chocolate Milk, Soda Among Foods That May Have More Calories Than Reported - - Do your kids love chocolate milk? It may have more calories on average than you thought. Same goes for soda. Until now, the only way to find out what people in the United States eat and how many calories they consume has been government data, which can lag behind the rapidly expanding and changing food marketplace. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are trying to change that by creating a gargantuan map of what foods Americans are buying and eating. <more> May 20, 2013 CBS News

Pricing/Commodity News

• Milk production up a little in April - - Milk production in the U.S. in April totaled 17.27 billion pounds up 0.2 percent from April of 2012. This is the first year-over-year increase since January. Milk production in the 23 major dairy sates was 16.1 billion pounds up 0.3 percent from a year ago. Of the 23 major milk producing states, 13 saw an increase in production compared to last April, 3 were unchanged and 7 saw a decline. Cow numbers and production per cow are not available due to sequester budget cuts. California milk production in April totaled 3.626 billion pounds down 0.2 percent from April. Wisconsin production increased 1.3 percent to 2.31 billion pounds in April. New York saw a 1.7 percent increase to 1.13 billion pounds, Idaho production increased 0.5 percent to 1.11 billion pounds and Pennsylvania held steady with a year ago at 904 million pounds. May 20, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• U.S. Corn Crop Seen Reaching Record Even With Slow Planting - - Corn production in the U.S., the world’s largest grower, may reach a record this year on yield gains even after wet weather curbed planting to the slowest pace in three decades, the U.S. Grains Council said. With normal rainfall, the trendline yield may reach 163 bushels an acre, pushing the harvest to the highest ever, Kevin Roepke, manager for global trade, said in an interview today. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates output will rise to an all-time high of 359.2 metric million tons, assuming average yield rebounds to 158 bushels from 123.4 bushels last year, when the crop suffered from the worst drought since the 1930s. Corn futures are headed for the first monthly gain in four after the USDA said that about 28 percent of the crop was planted as of May 12. That’s the slowest pace for the 19th week of the year since at least 1980, USDA data show. <more> May 20, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• Corn Planting Now 71% Complete - - Farmers planted an astounding 43% of the nation’s corn crop during the week ending May 19, getting nearly three-quarters of intended acreage planted. After being woefully behind schedule through mid-May, farmers are now only eight percentage points behind the 5-year average pace. “Corn and spring wheat planting were higher than trade expectations at 71% and 67%, respectively, while soybean planting at 24% came in as expected,” said Rice Dairy senior feedgrains analyst Jerry Gidel. “The northern states’ and Iowa’s progress were a big surprise.” <more> May 20, 2013 Feedstuffs
   

• Danone looks to milk China demand surge - - Danone has struck two deals with the China Mengniu Dairy Company in a bid to take advantage of surging demand for internationally-branded milk and yogurt. The French dairy giant, which owns the Activia yogurt brand, hopes the joint ventures with Hong-Kong listed Mengniu will help it gain wider distribution across China, where a series of food safety scares have prompted consumers to hunt for trustworthy dairy products. <more> May 20, 2013 CNN Money

Environmental News

• Delta plan a concern for local officials - - A new plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta aims to protect the future of the major waterway, but it does little to relieve the concerns of local government officials. It's been two years since the Delta Stewardship Council began the process of approving the Delta Plan. On Thursday, the council of seven unanimously adopted the plan and also certified the final Programmatic Environmental Impact Report and regulations that will implement the policies of the Delta Plan. "The plan works to guide the actions of state and local government agencies in a common direction," said Phil Isenberg, the council's chair and former Sacramento mayor, during a press conference. "For the next 100 years, every Californian has to conserve water all the time." <more> May 18, 2013 Vacaville Reporter 
   

• Farm waste may demand return of biofuels - - Imagine a world where leftover corn, wheat and wood chips could power your car. That's the aim of cellulosic ethanol, a budding sector of the renewable fuel industry that finds itself struggling to reassert itself in a world of renewed popularity for oil and gas. The process aims to transform agriculture waste, most of which would normally be discarded, into a renewable source of fuel. The process is heralded by ethanol advocates as a way to revive interest in a sector whose profile has declined recently. With the U.S. producing more natural gas and shale—and with critics questioning the wisdom of using food to power cars—enthusiasm for biofuels has fallen. <more> May 19, 2013 NBC News 
   

• Germany: At trade talks, U.S., E.U. ready for fight on genetically modified crops - - Many Europeans see American farming and its reliance on genetically modified crops as more Frankenstein than Farmer in the Dell. Now, the opposition here to U.S. agricultural practices is threatening to become a major battle in discussions starting next month that could sweep away trade barriers between the United States and Europe. Many here worry that a trade pact would ease regulations that have made it difficult for genetically modified crops and products to reach European shores. Genetically modified crops are broadly unpopular in Europe, and farmers and environmentalists fear that if trade restrictions are lowered, both genetically modified seeds and U.S.-grown genetically modified products would quickly take over European farmland and grocery stores. <more> May 17, 2013 Washington Post Germany 

Stories Of Interest
 

• Does farming make you fat? - - Is your job making you fat? For transportation workers, that answer is a resounding "yes," but for farmers, the answer is "maybe.” New data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which took into account a random sample of 138,438 employees aged 18 or over, found that one in four farming, fishing or forestry workers are obese. “This group performs best on two of the top predictors of obesity -- healthy eating and exercise, which is likely due to the physical nature of their work,” Gallup concluded. Gallup also named "farming, fishing or forestry" as the best occupation for exercising at least 30 minutes daily and eating healthy through the day. However, safety remains an issue. <more> May 17, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• Laton sisters grow agricultural roots at family's alfalfa farm - - Sisters Hannah and Holly Johnson didn't plan on being farmers, at least not now. More than a year ago, Hannah was consumed with her marketing career and Holly was fulfilling some wanderlust, traveling across the country in her Chevy truck. But life threw them a curve and the Johnsons' lives veered in a new direction when they relocated to Laton to care for their ailing 84-year-old father and his 50-acre alfalfa farm. The fact that neither knew anything about growing alfalfa -- or even had an inkling that they would add "farm fresh egg producers" to their résumés -- didn't faze them. <more> May 19, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Modesto area grass-fed beef making inroads in industry - - Seth Nitschke runs cattle on grassland in Mariposa County, far from the Midwestern feedlots he used to frequent. He is part of the grass-fed beef movement, keeping the cattle on pasture all their lives rather than sending them to distant feedlots to be fattened on grain before slaughter. The meat costs more for consumers, but Nitschke said it's well worth it. "Grass-fed beef is like a good cabernet," he said, "which means it has a good, strong flavor and finishes well." The niche is only 3 percent of the beef industry, which relies heavily on feedlots to produce meat at high volume and affordable prices. <more> May 19, 2013 Modesto Bee

Friday, May 17, 2013 

State/Federal News and Politics

• Senate panel focuses on enforcement in immigration bill - - Senators kept the bipartisan immigration bill largely unchanged Thursday after dispatching dozens of proposed amendments even as they punted many of the thorniest issues to next week. The day's session at the Senate Judiciary Committee revolved largely around the elusive issue of enforcement: how to prevent immigrants from remaining in this country after having entered illegally or overstaying their visas. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the eight authors of the sweeping bill, argued that a strict employment verification system would be among the best tools for clamping down on illegal immigration. <more> May 16, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Bipartisan U.S. House Group Produces Tentative Immigration Plan - - A bipartisan group of U.S. House members has reached a tentative agreement on a comprehensive revision of the U.S. immigration system, according to three lawmakers, as a Senate committee proceeds with its own plan. “We have an agreement in principle,” Texas Republican John Carter said as House members left a negotiating session yesterday in Washington, while withholding details. Lawmakers will begin drafting legislation to be introduced in early June. The House measure will differ “in a lot of areas” from the Senate’s proposal, Florida Republican Representative Mario Diaz-Balart told reporters. He said the deal was the first step in “a very difficult process.” Kentucky Democrat John Yarmuth also told reporters there was a tentative agreement. <more> May 17, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• Illegal immigrants would be harder to deport under Assembly bill - - A California lawmaker is making a renewed push to limit the detention and deportation of immigrants who are in the country illegally after his legislation was vetoed last year by Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill, authored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), was approved by the Assembly with a 44-22 vote on Thursday. It now goes to the state Senate. The measure (AB 4) would limit local law enforcement from working with federal authorities to detain illegal immigrants except in cases involving a serious or violent crime. <more> May 16, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Farm bill clash centered on retooled insurance program for dairy farmers - - With the overdue farm bill festering again in Congress, Republicans and Democrats have resumed clashing over whether the government should regulate the milk supply by penalizing farmers who produce too much. Farmers will need to enroll in that supply management program if they wish to participate in a retooled margin insurance program, included in House and Senate versions of the bill approved this week by each chamber’s agriculture committee. The Senate version calls for roughly $23 billion in cuts to farm and nutrition programs over the next decade, while the House bill calls for cuts of about $40 billion. The margin insurance program for dairy farmers was part of the farm bill that failed in 2012 amid election-year politics; though it passed in the Senate, it never made it to a full vote in the House. Resuming the debate this summer, lawmakers will seek to get a final bill approved by Sept. 30, when an extension of the 2008 farm bill expires. <more> May 17, 2013 Watertown Daily Times
   

• Brown's revised budget gives CDFA slight increase - - The $96.4 billion revised budget proposal that Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled May 14 increases spending for the California Department of Food and Agriculture after several years of cuts. The governor's proposed $61.9 million general fund allocation to CDFA is unchanged from the rosy fiscal outlook he presented in January, and the ledger sets aside $2.5 million for research to combat the Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening. "That comes through assessment dollars on a larger citrus crop than was expected," agency spokesman Jay Van Rein said. The proposal for fiscal 2013-2014 represents a slight increase for CDFA from the $60.3 million the department received for the current fiscal year. The agency's overall budget for 2013-2014 is projected at $215.2 million, up slightly from the January ledger. <more> May 17, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Unmanned aircraft could be a good thing in agriculture - - A number of states have introduced legislation and three have passed bills prohibiting the use of unmanned aircraft in their states. But there are proponents who say unmanned aircraft could be used for all sorts of good including agriculture. Gretchen West is executive director of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, a non-profit trade association with 7,500 members from around the globe. She says the unmanned aircraft technology started decades ago and has been developed mainly for the military but we are now seeing a shift into the civil market, law enforcement, federal agencies and such. West says they would like to see the technology move into the commercial market and believes agriculture will be a big use. <more> May 17, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Flat screen TV tops June 3 WUD golf tourney raffle prizes - - A flat screen television donated by WUD Board President Tom Barcellos is one of the top raffle prizes to be awarded at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen's federal political action committee.  The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television! The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments and dinner. A registration form can be downloaded by clicking here and will be mailed to members next week. May 10, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Judge to hear lawsuit over high-speed rail bonds - - State officials on Thursday agreed to drop a request to consolidate all lawsuits challenging California's use of voter-approved high-speed rail bonds, allowing a trial seeking to stop their sale to begin later this month. Opponents of the $68 billion bullet train project and attorneys for the California High-Speed Rail Authority submitted their agreement to a Sacramento County Superior Court judge. That allows Judge Michael P. Kenny to begin hearing arguments May 31 in a lawsuit filed in 2011 by Kings County. The county claims the current high-speed rail plans do not comply with the requirements voters approved in 2008, when they passed Proposition 1A to sell nearly $10 billion in bonds for the project. <more> May 16, 2013 AP

   

Pricing/Commodity News

• Lee Mielke - Will farm bill's dairy title help dairy farmers? - - The farm bill took center stage on Capitol Hill this week and resulted in a war of words. The Senate Agriculture Committee marked up its version on Tuesday and included the controversial Dairy Security Act. The action drew praise from the National Milk Producers Federation, author of much of DSA's contents. "We commend the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for approving a farm bill to transform dairy policy, while making necessary improvements in other farm and nutrition programs," NMPF CEO and president Jerry Kozak, said. The DSA provides "the best combination of effective risk management for dairy farmers, while minimizing program costs to the taxpayer." <more> May 17, 2013 Capital Press 

Environmental News

• Court clears the way for genetically modified alfalfa - - Roundup Ready Alfalfa, a genetically modified type of alfalfa that is not affected by the herbicide Roundup, is not a “pest plant” and thus cannot be banned by the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says. The Plant Protection Act does not regulate the type of harms that the organic farmers and environmental groups complained of, the appellate court says. The concerns included the possibility that Roundup Ready Alfalfa will cross-pollinate with and alter the genetic structure of conventional alfalfa plants. The farmers and environmental group say such contamination will harm the multi-billion dollar organic food industry. <more> May 17, 2013 Central Valley Business Times 
   

• Delta management plan OK'd - - fficials on Thursday approved a broad plan to govern the Delta through the end of the century, despite objections from environmentalists, Delta residents and Stockton officials. The Delta Stewardship Council approved its plan unanimously, as well as an accompanying environmental impact statement, after three years of deliberation. The most controversial issue in the Delta, Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed $14 billion twin tunnels, will be added to the plan approved Thursday if the tunnels are eventually approved by wildlife agencies. <more> May 17, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• Council Adopts final Delta Plan - -  After eight drafts, almost 100 public meetings, and nearly 10,000 individual comments, the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) Thursday (May 16) adopted a comprehensive management plan for the Delta. The Council also certified the final Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), and adopted regulations that will implement the policies of the Delta Plan. The Delta Plan is California’s plan for the Delta and is intended to be a single enforceable blueprint that requires and encourages sustainable actions now, and lays a strong foundation for future projects and programs that will improve statewide water supply reliability, provide a vibrant and healthy ecosystem, and preserve, protect and enhance the rural, agricultural and recreational characteristics of the Delta. The Plan will eventually include the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) when the BDCP is completed and successfully permitted. <more> May 16, 2013 Delta Stewardship Council press release

Stories Of Interest
 

• Behind the tradition: Indy 500 milkmen ready to deliver - - The iconic Indianapolis 500 is about a week away, and as the buzz surrounding the popular event grows louder, two Indiana dairymen and the winner’s bottle of ice, cold milk are ready for their close-up. WXIN News in Indianapolis, Ind., featured dairy farmers Ken Hoeing and Duane Hill who will continue the Indy 500 tradition of delivering a pint of milk to the winning driver. <more> May 16, 2013 Dairy Herd Network 

Thursday, May 16, 2013 

State/Federal News and Politics

• House immigration group announces 'agreement in principle' - - A bipartisan group of House negotiators said Thursday it has reached an “agreement in principle” on comprehensive immigration reform legislation. “We have an agreement in principle,” Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) said as he and five other members of the group emerged from a two-hour meeting late Thursday afternoon. Democrats confirmed the deal, and lawmakers said they would meet again next week to put the finishing touches on the legislative text. Carter had said he hoped to formally introduce legislation by the first week of June, before the Senate passes the bipartisan Gang of Eight bill that is now moving through committee. <more> May 16, 2013 The Hill
   

• Will Immigration Reform Help Immigrant Farm Workers? - - Farm jobs. The pay is usually low and the work is grueling. That's why no one should be surprised by a study released on Wednesday looking at immigration and agriculture in North Carolina. The upshot: Almost no U.S.-born workers are taking farm jobs in that state. And even during the recession, native workers weren't more likely to seek employment in agriculture. That means that growers need an easy-to-use guest worker program that will give them access to immigrant guest workers with too much expense or red tape. That's the recommendation of the report, which was drafted by two pro-immigration reform groups, the Partnership for a New American Economy and the Center for Global Development. <more> May 15, 2013 ABC news
   

• House Panel OKs Farm Bill With Food Stamp Cuts - - The House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday approved a sweeping farm bill that would trim the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program. The panel rebuffed Democratic efforts to keep the food stamp program whole, as debate on the farm bill turned into a theological discourse on helping the poor. The House bill would cut about $2.5 billion a year — or a little more than 3 percent — from the domestic food aid program, which is used by 1 in 7 Americans. The committee rejected a Democratic amendment to strike the cuts 27-17, keeping them in the bill. <more> May 16, 2013 AP
   

• Deep divide in Congress over domestic food aid - - The House and Senate Agriculture Committees have laid the groundwork this week for reducing the size of the federal food stamp program, approving farm bills that would shrink the food aid and alter the way people qualify for it. The two chambers are far apart on how much the $80 billion-a-year program should be cut, however - reflecting a deep ideological and at times emotional divide on the role of government in helping the poor. Resolving those differences will be key to passage of the massive five-year farm bill that lawmakers are attempting to push through for the third year in a row. The far-reaching bill costs almost $100 billion annually over five years and would set policy for farm subsidies, rural programs and food aid. <more> May 15, 2013 AP
   

• Flat screen TV tops June 3 WUD golf tourney raffle prizes - - A flat screen television donated by WUD Board President Tom Barcellos is one of the top raffle prizes to be awarded at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen's federal political action committee.  The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television! The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments and dinner. A registration form can be downloaded by clicking here and will be mailed to members next week. May 10, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Senate approves Boxer's water bill - - In a rare display of bipartisanship on major legislation, the U.S. Senate passed Sen. Barbara Boxer's water resources bill Wednesday. The $12.5 billion bill, which includes a long-sought authorization for levee improvements in Sacramento, drew overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans. The vote was 83-14.  "This type of a bill is not easy to get through. Every state has its own needs," Boxer said. "We were able to meet the needs of the entire country."  <more> May 16, 2013 Sacramento Bee

   

   

Pricing/Commodity News

• New Zealand - Milk Powder Auction Prices Rise to Second-Highest on Record - - Whole milk powder auction prices rose to the second-highest on record as New Zealand’s most widespread drought in at least 30 years curbs supply. Powder for July delivery rose 2.8 percent, according to a trade-weighted index on the Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd.’sGlobalDairyTrade website. The near-term contract for New Zealand product rose to $6,151 a metric ton. The record was $6,283 on April 16. Prices have surged 93 percent this year as a drought declared across the entire North Island including Waikato province, the country’s biggest milk producer, curbed milk collection. The nation may receive near-normal rainfall through July, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said last week.  <more> May 15, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• First Quarter Volumes of U.S. Dairy Exports Recover from Soft Q4 - - U.S. dairy exports improved in the first quarter of 2013 after lagging in the second half of 2012. Pricing relationships began to improve for U.S. suppliers in February as product availability from Oceania was constrained by drought. U.S. export volumes of dry ingredients (milk powder, whey products, lactose), cheese and butterfat topped 412,000 tons in Q1, up 11.3% from the fourth quarter of 2012, and up 1.6% from a year ago. <more> May 16, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Cold spring stunts upper Midwest hay crop - - A hay shortage is looming for producers in the Upper Midwest after a cold spring hit the region’s alfalfa crop hard. Dairy farmers, in particular, are affected by this "winter-kill," according to Fox 11 News in Wisconsin. The degree of this year’s winter-kill may mean there won’t be enough hay from alfalfa to go around, forcing livestock producers to replace it with other grains. <more> May 15, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• Prices for Farmland Show Moderation - - The rise in prices for agricultural land slowed somewhat to start the year in parts of the U.S. Farm Belt, new reports showed, signaling a boom in land values might be moderating as commodity prices cool and incomes for farmers are expected to weaken. The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank said in a report Wednesday that prices for nonirrigated farmland in its region rose 3.4% in the first quarter from the fourth quarter of 2012. That was much slower than the 7.7% quarter-to-quarter increase recorded for the same region a year earlier. <more> May 15, 2013 The Wall Street Journal

Environmental News

• Brown taps cap-and-trade money - - Gov. Brown’s rewritten budget borrows $500 million from California’s cap-and-trade auctions and diverts the money for use in other state programs – a move that drew immediate fire from clean-air advocates. The administration said the $500 million represents a one-time loan and will be paid back, with interest. Tapping the money was proper, the administration said, because the state needs more time to set up programs to coordinate the investments of the auction proceeds and nobody can predict how much the auctions will raise in the future. The agencies need “further time to design and develop their programs to ensure that when the programs receive funds they will further the purposes of (the law) and maximize long term greenhouse gas reductions,” the administration wrote in paperwork accompanying the revised budget, which was released Tuesday. The budget, which must be approved by the Legislature, reflects income tax revenue collected by the April 15 deadline. <more> May 16, 2013 Capitol Weekly
   

• California short on key state water workers, officials say - - California officials say the state cannot retain enough trained workers to efficiently run and maintain its complex water delivery system, a problem that has consequences for cities and farms statewide. State pay for some key jobs, they say, has fallen so far behind the industry's standard that the Department of Water Resources serves as a farm system for private utilities and other government entities. The problem costs taxpayers extra tens of millions of dollars each year to move water around the state, officials say, because facilities aren't managed efficiently.  <more> May 16, 2013 Sacramento Bee
   

• Delta Plan to be adopted today - - With the Delta Stewardship Council expected to adopt the final “Delta Plan” at its May 16-17 meeting in Sacramento, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Golden Gate Salmon Association say a new analysis shows that the prized Central Valley salmon fishery is “limping along” at only 20 percent of the population goal required by state and federal law. The Delta Plan recommends improved efficiency, more storage, the development of other local water supplies, protection of Delta farmlands and communities, and the improvement of Delta levees. It will also incorporate as state law the yet to be completed Bay Delta Conservation Plan. That plan, urged on by Gov. Jerry Brown, is expected to call for construction of massive 35 mile long twin tunnels buried 150 feet beneath the heart of the Delta to siphon water out of the Sacramento River before it can flow naturally into the Delta. <more> May 16, 2013 Central Valley Business Times
   

• Water group blasts Delta Plan - - The “Delta Plan,” to be adopted Thursday as state law by the Delta Stewardship Commission, is fatally flawed, says a nonprofit water group based in Santa Barbara. “We find the Final Delta Plan utterly deficient. It is nothing more than a continuation of the policy that has systematically destroyed the largest estuary on the west coast of the continental United States and instigated the state’s water wars,” says the California Water Impact Network. “As such, it is not a solution to our water crisis, but a disastrous adherence to the status quo.” The group notes that the Delta Plan ignores simple arithmetic: that the amount of water pledged to various users exceeds by five times the amount of water normally available from the combined Sacramento, Trinity and San Joaquin river basins. <more> May 16, 2013 Central Valley Business Times
   

• Dry farming draws interest of small growers in Central Valley - - A centuries-old farming technique called dry farming - once the order of the day in the Central Valley - is once again drawing the interest of some of the region's farmers. The technique is as simple as it is risky. Dry farming relies solely on rainwater to keep crops growing throughout a dry season. Used for centuries in the Mediterranean region to grow crops like olives and grapes, the technique is not for the faint of heart. A year such as this, with a dry winter, can devastate crop output and put an onerous dent in a farmer's wallet. <more> May 16, 2013 The Sacramento Bee

Stories Of Interest
 

• PETA's "Got zits?" billboard breaks out in Milwaukee - - I have a strange fascination with PETA. I’m not even a vegetarian, and I find many of their practices completely ridiculous, and yet, they have my attention. Their latest stunt is no exception. The hardcore animal rights organization launched a national billboard campaign last week in Kansas City and it went up in Milwaukee this week. The "Got zits?" billboard was prompted by a recent study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that claims there is a connection between acne and dairy products. Hence, the billboard shows a teen with a pimple-covered face, a milk mustache and the words, "Got zits? Studies Show: Milk and Cheese Trigger Acne. Ditch Dairy." <more> May 15, 2013 OnMilwaukee.com 

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 

State/Federal News and Politics

• House Agriculture panel keeps farm bill dairy program opposed by Boehner - -  The House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday began a marathon markup of its $940 billion 2013 farm bill by voting to keep a dairy supply program opposed by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). Boehner and other House leaders last year kept a farm bill from coming to the House floor in part over the program’s inclusion. Boehner referred to the complex dairy supply management program in the bill as “Soviet-style.” An amendment to gut the dairy program, sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), was defeated on a 20-26 vote. The program is crucial to committee ranking member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), however, and his block of rural Democrats that will be needed to pass any farm bill. Peterson noted Wednesday that Boehner has been lobbying members to change the dairy program — a sign he could be preparing for a floor fight, unlike last year. <more> May 15, 2013 The Hill  
   

• House Ag Committee defeats Goodlatte-Scott amendment - -  The Goodlatte-Scott amendment was the first amendment defeated when the House Ag Committee started markup of its version of the 2013 Farm Bill, May 15, according to Bob Gray, with the Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperative. U.S. Rep. Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Scott (D-Ga.) joined in offering the amendment, which would have stripped the Market Stabilization provision from the Dairy Security Act. Following spirited debate and a roll call vote, Goodlatte/Scott went down to defeat, 26-20. The amendment would have removed Subtitle D Part I (Dairy Producer Margin Protection and Dairy Market Stabilization Programs) and replaced it with a stand-alone "Dairy Producer Margin Insurance Program." Six Republicans on the Committee joined 20 Democrats to vote against the amendment. <more> May 15, 2013  DairyBusiness Update
   

• NMPF pleased with vote - - The head of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) praised the House Ag Committee vote in support of the Dairy Security Act (DSA). “The committee’s decision to once again reject an amendment by Reps. Bob Goodlatte and David Scott that would have undermined the House Farm Bill’s dairy safety net is gratifying to the thousands of dairy farmers across the country who support the DSA,” said Jerry Kozak, NMPF CEO and president. “Dairy farmers have labored for four years to develop the reforms contained in the DSA. We have worked with leaders of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to construct a new safety net that offers dairy farmers more effective protection than current policy,” Kozak said. “We appreciate the fact that House Agriculture Committee members are concerned with fashioning the best dairy policy possible, and we are heartened by their decision today to back the DSA. The House committee has now twice rejected the Goodlatte-Scott effort to undermine establishment of a workable national dairy policy.” <more> May 15, 2013 DairyBusiness Update
   

• IDFA & DBA: Disappointed, not finished - - The defeat of the Goodlatte/Scott Amendment was a stinging defeat for the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). However, Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice president for legislative and economic affairs, said he expects the Goodlatte-Scott measure to resurface when the Ag Committee’s farm bill proposal comes to the floor of the full House. “IDFA is very encouraged by the growing support for the bipartisan, compromise Goodlatte-Scott approach to dairy policy, particularly from important dairy states like Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania,” Slominski said. “The House vote was much closer than last year, and the amendment is clearly gaining momentum as it heads to the House floor.” The amendment was supported by an overwhelming majority of the Republicans on the committee, including Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), the chair of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over dairy programs. <more> May 15, 2013 DairyBusiness Update
   

• Jerry Brown pushes for 'smooth and rapid' path to citizenship - - Gov. Jerry Brown called Monday for a "smooth and rapid" path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, telling U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a letter that he is working to find state money that may be used to implement potential changes to the nation's immigration system, including employment requirements and assistance learning English. "In order to avoid dire consequences for our state, comprehensive immigration reform must occur this year and the resulting path to citizenship must be smooth and rapid," Brown said in a letter to Feinstein ahead of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today on a bipartisan immigration bill. The Democratic governor said California and the nation "are choosing to accept the undocumented workers who have entered our country illegally because neither industry nor the workers themselves were ever given any viable option to fill our labor demands legally." <more> May 14, 2013 Capitol Alert
   

• Dianne Feinstein wins vote to ban drones within three miles of border - - As the Senate Judiciary plowed through dozens of amendments to its giant immigration overhaul, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., won a vote to limit the Border Patrol’s use of drones to within three miles of the Mexican border. Feinstein said drone technology is growing “beyond our ability to manage how they are used,” citing privacy concerns, especially in California, where she said “you have millions of people” living close to the border in San Diego and El Centro. Feinstein also aligned with the committee’s conservative Republicans to push for biometric identifiers such as fingerprints or iris scans on visa documents. These would track entries and exits primarily from airports to help prevent visa overstays. People who enter the country legally through airports and then overstay their visas constitute a large portion of the illegal immigrant population. <more> May 15, 2013 San Francisco Chronicle
   

• Flat screen TV tops June 3 WUD golf tourney raffle prizes - - A flat screen television donated by WUD Board President Tom Barcellos is one of the top raffle prizes to be awarded at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen's federal political action committee.  The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television! The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments and dinner. A registration form can be downloaded by clicking here and will be mailed to members next week. May 10, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Kings County fights for its lawsuit against high-speed rail - - Kings County opponents of high-speed rail are battling the project's leadership to avoid merging the county's lawsuit into a case on the issuance of bonds to build tracks through the San Joaquin Valley. Hanford farmer John Tos, Hanford homeowner Aaron Fukuda and the Kings County Board of Supervisors have a court date coming up in Sacramento on May 31 for the lawsuit they filed against the California High- Speed Rail Authority in 2011. That lawsuit alleges the high-speed rail project, as currently proposed, violates the requirements of Proposition 1A, the $9.9 billion bond measure approved by California voters in 2008. <more> May 14, 2013 Fresno Bee

   

Pricing/Commodity News

• Milk pricing could go federal under Valadao bill - - Dairy operators wanting to bypass California’s milk pricing system and switch to a federal milk marketing order would get their chance under a bill sponsored by Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford. Valadao’s bill, introduced in March with support from Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno; Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock; and Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, was included last week in the proposed 2013 Farm Bill package. The bill would give dairy operators the option of petitioning the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to abandon California’s regional pricing scheme and join the federal milk marketing order, a move local dairy owners say would raise prices. They say California is $1.50-$2 per hundredweight below prices in surrounding states. <more> May 14, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Global Dairy Trade prices decline again - - Global Dairy Trade auction at Fonterra on Wednesday saw prices decline for the second consecutive sale. Overall prices declined 2.1 percent from the May 1st sale. Rennet Casein was the only product to see an increase over the last sale, up 3.7 percent. Anhydrous milk fat slipped 0.2 percent, whole milk powder was 1.7 percent lower, skim milk powder declined 2.8 percent, butter milk powder fell 5.1 percent and butter dropped 12.4 percent. There were no sales of cheddar cheese, milk protein concentrates or lactose. <more> May 15, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Corn at $4 or $10: Plan Ahead for Both- by Patrick Patton, Stewart-Peterson Inc. - - If April showers (and snow) bring more uncertainty about 2013 crops, what does uncertainty bring? For dairy producers, it can be ongoing uneasiness or a set of strategies that cover your feed needs no matter what the markets do. We’re still preparing our clients for a potentially wide price range for 2013 corn and soybeans. Corn could be $4 or $10 in 2013, and soybeans could be $269/ton or $476/ton in 2013. "Oh, that’s helpful," you might say. You might like a little bit narrower price range to use in your planning. <more> May 13, 2013 Dairy Today 

Environmental News

• Water allocation from Millerton cut again - dry spell cited - - Continued dry conditions have caused the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to reduce the allocation of water to east San Joaquin Valley farmers from 50% to 45%. The adjustment was announced Tuesday and affects high priority water use for about 15,000 farmers in the Friant Water Authority. The first 800,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River runoff is high-priority. It is more expensive and more crucial to keeping crops alive than the lower-priority water, which often is used to recharge underground water levels for wells. <more> May 14, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Turlock Irrigation District board approves increase in water allowed to farmers - - Farmers in the Turlock Irrigation District got a small boost Tuesday in the amount of water available this year. The district board voted 3-2 to raise the cap to 34 vertical inches per acre, up from the 30 inches approved in February amid concern about low rainfall and snowpack numbers. The level still is much less than the 48 inches per acre — four acre-feet — that farmers typically can get when water is adequate. <more> May 14, 2013 Modesto Bee

Stories Of Interest
 

• Cal Poly Announces New Duties for Two Administrators - - Dave Wehner, dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) since 2002, will become the university’s interim vice president for strategic initiatives, the university announced Wednesday. Andrew Thulin, currently head of Cal Poly’s Animal Sciences Department, will serve as interim CAFES dean. A national search for a permanent successor as dean will be held near the end of these interim appointments, which are expected to last for approximately 12 to 18 months. The appointments are effective July 1. “Thanks to Cal Poly’s past success, we have significant new opportunities to partner with donors and others in the private sector on some potentially key initiatives,” Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said. “We need to make good decisions about what fits within our mission, what is fundable, and what we can successfully implement. <more> May 15, 2013 Cal Poly press release
   

• Monsters love milk, too - - Mike and Sully, the stars of Disney’s “Monsters, Inc.” and upcoming “Monsters University” movies, are sporting a new look for the latest ‘got milk?’ campaign – milk mustaches. The campaign draws on the two furry stars as they go back to their college days. For the popular duo, milk doesn’t only encourage learning in the classroom but also fuels a day of "scaring." The new ad is being released in advance of the “Monsters University” release on June 21 says, “Scare up some protein. Monster days start with milk at breakfast.” <more> May 14, 2013 Dairy Herd Network

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Farm bill passes Senate Ag Committee virtually unscathed - - The Senate Agriculture Committee powered through its approval of its farm bill mark, approving the measure by a 15-5 vote and setting up for a more heated debate on the commodity and nutrition titles when the full Senate takes up the bill as soon as June. Senate Agriculture Committee chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D., Mich.) allowed for discussion within her committee, but in the end, very few amendments were passed during the nearly 3 hour mark-up. As expected, the greatest concerns lied in the inclusion of target price supports to appease southern interests and the new ranking member Sen. Thad Cochran (R., Miss.) and nutrition funding, with discussion that the cuts are too much, and others suggesting the cuts should go deeper. <more> May 14, 2013 Feedstuffs
   

• Dairy Security Act Part of Senate Mark-Up - - Praise for Senate Agriculture Committee action this morning on the Farm Bill came rolling in from advocates of the Dairy Security Act (DSA), which includes both dairy margin insurance and a market stabilization program. Inclusion of DSA in the Senate version is no surprise, since it was included in last year’s farm bill efforts. "We also urge members of the House Agriculture Committee, during their markup of the farm bill tomorrow, to approve the Dairy Security Act and oppose an effort by Rep. Bob Goodlatte that aims to weaken the bill’s protection of dairy farmers," says Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. "The Dairy Security Act is the best approach to providing milk producers an effective safety net, while avoiding a scenario that Goodlatte’s amendment could cause where dairy margins are low for long periods, hurting farmers and taxpayers alike." <more> May 14, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Senate Ag Committee marks up farm bill; retains DSA - - The U.S. Senate Ag Committee marked up its version of the 2013 Farm Bill Tuesday, including language from the Dairy Security Act in the proposal. The House Ag Committee is scheduled to mark up its version of the farm bill on Wednesday. “We commend the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for approving a farm bill to transform dairy policy, while making necessary improvements in other farm and nutrition programs,” said Jerry Kozak, CEO and president of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “The dairy title of the committee’s bill contains the long-awaited reforms offered by the Dairy Security Act, which provides the best combination of effective risk management for dairy farmers, while minimizing program costs to the taxpayer.” <more> May 14, 2013 Dairy Business
   

• IDFA: Opposition to Dairy Supply Management mounts - - As the House and Senate Agriculture Committees prepare to write a new farm bill this week, the list of organizations opposed to a proposed dairy program continues to grow. Nearly 150 organizations and businesses across the food chain, from farmers and food manufacturers to food retailers and consumers, have signed letters to members of Congress urging them to oppose the “Dairy Market Stabilization Program” (DMSP). This program is designed to raise milk prices by establishing federal regulations to periodically limit the U.S. milk supply when farms are growing. The DMSP is a controversial proposal that is part of the Dairy Security Act, a bill sponsored by Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN) that is included in drafts of the next Farm Bill. Both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees will consider the draft bills this week. <more> May 14, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• House farm bill has plenty for California growers - -  The House bill, for instance, would allow California dairy producers to petition the U.S. Department of Agriculture for entrance into the federal milk marketing order system. If the producers filed that petition, approval by two-thirds of the producers in a vote would be required. Marketing orders, among other things, establish the pricing formula that determines how much milk processors pay for the milk they use. California operates under its own system, and California producers have complained about being paid less than producers in other states, who are part of the federal marketing order system. “It’s time dairy producers, farmers and ranchers in every state have a say in the dairy pricing system,” Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, said last week. <more> May 14, 2013 McClatchy  
   

• House immigration group at impasse  - - The House’s bipartisan immigration group is at a crippling impasse, and top aides and lawmakers are unsure if they’ll ever come to the agreement they’ve sought for four years, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the discussions. With the Senate advancing its own bill his week, the House group’s problems are multifaceted and help explain the long delay in releasing legislation. The most polarizing disagreement is over a so-called “trigger” that would eliminate the legalization process for 11 million illegal immigrants if an employment verification program — called E-Verify — is not in place in five years. Most Democrats consider that trigger too harsh, but Republicans insist on it. <more> May 14, 2013 Politco   
   

• Gang of 8 looks to defend guest worker plan - - The Senate Gang of Eight has largely controlled the Senate Judiciary Committee’s immigration markup, and the group’s next step: shielding a painstakingly negotiated agreement for a new guest worker program. This week, the gang will have to fend off amendments from both the right and left to fiddle with the program, either to appease businesses or insert stronger protections for labor. Much as they did with border security measures last week, the four members of the gang on the Judiciary Committee, who brokered the immigration deal will aim to band together and defeat changes that could prove fatal to the overall bill. <more> May 13, 2013 Politico
   

• New I-9 form for employers released - - By Anthony P. Raimondo - - All employers in the United States must use the new I-9 form for all new hires beginning in May 2013.  Employers are not required to complete new forms for employees who are already working, but must use the new form for all new hires. To download the instructions for employment eligbility verification, please click here. The form makes mostly cosmetic changes, but does require some additional information that was not required on the previous form.  Most significant, the list of acceptable documents for employment eligibility verification has not changed.  There is also a new Handbook for Employers (M-274) that answers common I-9 questions.  Critical steps to I-9 compliance are as follows: Take your time!  Many employers rush through the form and do not fill it out completely or correctly.  Make sure you have read the instructions, and understand how to fill out the form.  Make sure you give the employee a copy of the instructions when you give them a copy of the form – it is required by law. <more> May 13, 2013 WUD News
   

• Flat screen TV tops June 3 WUD golf tourney raffle prizes - - A flat screen television donated by WUD Board President Tom Barcellos is one of the top raffle prizes to be awarded at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen's federal political action committee.  The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television! The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments and dinner. A registration form can be downloaded by clicking here and will be mailed to members next week. May 10, 2013 WUD Friday Update

• Somatic Cell Count in DHI Herds Averaged 200,000 in 2012 - - Each year, test-day data from all herds enrolled in Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) somatic cell count (SCC) testing in the United States are examined to assess milk quality on a national basis. During 2012, the SCC in DHI herds averaged 200,000 cells/ml. This compares to 217,000 in 2011; 228,000 in 2010; 233,000 in 2009; 262,000 in 2008; and 276,000 in 2007. National average test-day herd SCC has declined every year since 2005, and every year except one since 2001. <more> May 14, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Immigration advocates ask Obama to suspend some deportations - - Immigration advocates called on President Obama on Monday to suspend deportations of undocumented workers who would qualify for legal status under a comprehensive immigration bill being debate in the Senate. With an estimated 1,100 illegal immigrants per day being deported from the United States, the advocates said Obama has a moral obligation to stop breaking up families when lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow most of the nation’s 11 million undocumented immigrants to apply for legal status. “The president is not and cannot be a bystander in the process,” said Pablo Alvarado, executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. “This is the moment for him to intervene.” <more> May 13, 2013 The Washington Post

Pricing/Commodity News

• Corn planting races to 28 percent - - Farmers took advantage of the break in wet spring weather in a rush to plant crops before the next round of rain. The USDA’s latest Crop Progress report showed that 28 percent of the nation’s corn has been planted, compared to 12 percent last week. This is lower than the five-year average of 65 percent and significantly behind last year’s speedy pace of 85 percent. All reporting states made progress from last week -- thanks to a window to dry weather. <more> May 13, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• CWT assists with 933,000 lbs. of cheese export sales - - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted four requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and Foremost Farms to sell 932,556 lbs. of cheddar cheese to customers in Asia and North Africa. The product will be delivered May through October 2013. So far in 2013, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 53.810 million lbs. of cheese, 51.727 million lbs. of butter, 44,092 lbs. of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 lbs. of whole milk powder to 31 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.626 billion lbs. of milk on a milkfat basis. That is more than USDA’s projected increase in milk marketings for all of 2013. May 14, 2013 Dairy Business Update

Environmental News

• USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Sign-Up - - Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today reminded farmers and ranchers that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up beginning May 20 and ending on June 14. Vilsack also announced the restart of sign-up for continuous CRP, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative, the Highly Erodible Land Initiative, the Grassland Restoration Initiative, the Pollinator Habitat Initiative and other related initiatives. Sign-up for continuous CRP began on May 13 and will continue through Sept. 30, 2013. <more> May 14, 2013 USDA press release
   

• Reclamation cuts water allocation for Friant Division - - After reviewing the manual snow survey data from the California Department of Water Resources that was provided the week of May 6, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is cutting Friant Division allocations. The Friant Division Class 1 water supply allocation is being decreased from 50 percent to 45 percent. Class 2 water remains at 0 percent.  The first 800,000 acre-feet of water supply is considered Class 1 and the next 1.4 million acre-feet is considered Class 2. The latest information on upstream operations, canal demand schedules, and the San Joaquin River Restoration Program flow release schedule have also been incorporated into the change in allocation. <more> May 14, 2013 Central Valley Business Times

Stories Of Interest

• Bright Harvest: Local farms bursting with ripening fruits - - The hot valley sun has started beaming down on area farms, ripening fruits such as blueberries, cherries, apricots and strawberries. Through fall, fresh and locally produced fruits will fill farm stands and markets. Fruit harvested in Merced County brings in a gross return of $132 million, according to the county agricultural department's latest annual crop report. That's nowhere near the more than $1.1 billion provided by the county's top farm commodity, dairy, but agricultural officials say such crops are an important part of the area's economic landscape. <more> May 13, 2013 Merced Sun-Star

Monday, May 13, 2013 

State/Federal News and Politics

• California Dairy Leaders Class XII selected - - A new year for Western United Dairymen’s highly regarded California Dairy Leaders program is underway with the selection recently of the members of Class XII. This year’s group includes five women and one man. This will be the twelfth year for the nationally recognized leadership development program designed to provide an in-depth study of the major issues faced by California dairy families. California Dairy Leaders Class XII members are: * Elysha Bergwerff, Bergwerff Farms Inc., Escalon. * Melissa Lema, Western United Dairymen, Sacramento. * Deanna Martin, USDA Farm Service Agency, Stockton. * Katherine Nissen, Nissen Dairy Inc., Escalon. * Paul van Puijenbroek, De Snayer Dairy, Lodi. * Cristina Vieira, A & C Vieira Dairy, Turlock. The first session of the year will be held May 28-30 in South San Francisco for an introduction to leadership by Dr. Neil Koenig, a hands-on media training workshop, social media overview and industry leaders discussing their roles in dairy promotion, advertising, marketing, and research. Subsequent sessions will cover: state regulatory processes and legislative advocacy on location in Sacramento; the California pricing system and how it relates to national dairy pricing; and the gamut of environmental issues facing the state’s dairy farmers. The highlight of each year’s program is a trip to Washington, DC, for a quick immersion in federal legislative processes. All sessions will cover the main topics and relate them to customers and communities beyond the farm gate. The mission of the California Dairy Leaders program is to develop informed producers who will provide the next generation of leadership in organizations such as Western United Dairymen. The California Dairy Leaders Program would like to acknowledge the financial assistance and support of this program by the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation. For more information on PDPF, go to www.dairyfoundation.org. May 10, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• New I-9 form for employers released - - By Anthony P. Raimondo - - All employers in the United States must use the new I-9 form for all new hires beginning in May 2013.  Employers are not required to complete new forms for employees who are already working, but must use the new form for all new hires. To download the instructions for employment eligbility verification, please click here. The form makes mostly cosmetic changes, but does require some additional information that was not required on the previous form.  Most significant, the list of acceptable documents for employment eligibility verification has not changed.  There is also a new Handbook for Employers (M-274) that answers common I-9 questions.  Critical steps to I-9 compliance are as follows: Take your time!  Many employers rush through the form and do not fill it out completely or correctly.  Make sure you have read the instructions, and understand how to fill out the form.  Make sure you give the employee a copy of the instructions when you give them a copy of the form – it is required by law. <more> May 13, 2013 WUD News
   

• Immigrant raid rumor fuels fear in Central Calif - - The rumor spread like wildfire via phone calls, text messages and social media postings and has persisted now for more than three weeks: Immigration agents are rounding up unauthorized workers in Central California farming communities. In Madera, Dinuba, Reedley and parts of Fresno, streets emptied out, soccer games were cancelled and usually bustling businesses saw few customers. Area farmers say their employees are scared, with some not coming to work. Children are missing school. The disruption has become so widespread and unrelenting that local law enforcement and business leaders took the unusual step of holding a news conference Friday to try to reassure the community that no raids have occurred. <more> May 11, 2013 San Francisco Chronicle
   

• Valley farm-labor shortage boosts wages for workers - - Fears of a potential farm labor shortage have caused San Joaquin Valley growers to boost wages to as much as $10 an hour this year to attract and keep workers for the harvest season. With the farm-labor pool already tight and crops ready to be picked, growers are scrambling to secure their supply of workers. "It is getting very competitive out there and employers are having to offer incentives to find the labor they need," said Oscar Ramos, a grape farmer and Kingsburg-based farm-labor contractor. "And one of those incentives is higher wages." <more> May 10, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Debate over amnesty looms over efforts to reform immigration laws - - In 1986, lawmakers decided the problem of illegal immigration had to be dealt with. More than 3 million people were living in the United States after crossing the border illegally or overstaying their visas. A new law signed by President Ronald Reagan gave legal status and a path to citizenship to most of those unauthorized residents — helping many secure a slice of the American dream but also giving fuel to critics who sought to turn "amnesty" into a pejorative. Less than 30 years later, the number of immigrants living in the country illegally is thought to have nearly quadrupled, and the freighted baggage of amnesty looms over new efforts to reform the nation's immigration laws. With four times as many people potentially eligible, today's mass legalization would occur on a much larger scale. <more> May 12, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• NMPF Praises Dairy Provisions in House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill - - “The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is pleased that the Farm Bill unveiled today by the House Agriculture Committee contains dairy program reform provisions based on the Dairy Security Act (DSA). These are the same provisions that were included in last year’s bill that the committee approved. The DSA updates the badly frayed dairy safety net, and it enjoys strong support among dairy farmers nationwide. “In addition to providing dairy farmers an effective safety net, the DSA is fiscally responsible. The alternative to the DSA, expected to be offered by Reps. Goodlatte and Scott, is unfortunately not fiscally responsible and could return us to the bad old days of huge price-depressing dairy surpluses. Goodlatte-Scott would guarantee cheap milk for processors while dulling market signals to farmers through margin insurance payments. If milk prices fall sharply or feed costs soar – both common occurrences in recent years – government costs of the dairy program could spiral out of control. <more> May 10, 2013 NMPF press release
   

• Are dairy producers trying to sneak artificial sweeteners into our milk? - - The dairy lobby is trying to pollute our milk! According to an ad campaign now appearing on city buses in Washington, D.C., milk producers would like to make the pure mammary secretions of industrial cattle into “an artificially sweetened junk food.” The industry has petitioned the FDA for a change in the “standards of identity” for milk and 17 other dairy products, and if milk producers get their way, they’ll be allowed to dose our children on the sly with deadly aspartame. Or so the ads suggest. <more> May 13, 2013 Slate
   

• Obama’s Calorie Display Rules Delayed by Grocer Blowback - - The lobbyist for grocers including Kroger Co. (KR) and Safeway Inc. (SWY) is calling on President Barack Obama to curtail a U.S. health law provision that mandates the companies display the calorie content of all their foods. The Food Marketing Institute, an Arlington, Virginia-based trade group, said Obama should step in before the Food and Drug Administration puts the new rules into effect, intervening as he has with other provisions of the Affordable Care Act that carry unintended consequences. <more> May 9, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• Flat screen TV tops June 3 WUD golf tourney raffle prizes - - A flat screen television donated by WUD Board President Tom Barcellos is one of the top raffle prizes to be awarded at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen's federal political action committee.  The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television! The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments and dinner. A registration form can be downloaded by clicking here and will be mailed to members next week. May 10, 2013 WUD Friday Update

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Pricing/Commodity News

• Little change expected in milk prices - - Only minimal shifts were reported in milk price estimates for 2013 in the USDA’s latest "World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates" report. The report, released on Friday, showed that Class III milk prices are expected to average $17.80 to $18.30 per hundredweight this year, compared to last month’s estimate of $17.85 to $18.35. Prices for both Class IV and All Milk are raised slightly. “The Class III price is lowered as lower whey prices more than offset greater cheese prices. Class IV is up reflecting higher prices for butter and nonfat dry milk,” the report said. The expected corn price shows a significant downward adjustment from last month. The range is now projected to be $4.30 to $5.10 per bushel, down sharply from the record $6.70 to $7.10 for 2012-2013. May 10, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• U.S. Expects Record Corn Crop - - Corn futures prices fell after the U.S. government forecast a record harvest this autumn and said domestic supplies would more than double by next year. In a monthly crop report Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projected that U.S. corn stockpiles would climb to 2 billion bushels next summer, slightly higher than analysts had expected and up from an expected 759 million bushels this summer. The government's forecast would mark the highest level of late-summer corn stockpiles in the U.S. since 2005. The USDA predicted that this fall's corn harvest would total 14.1 billion bushels, a 31% increase over last year, when the worst U.S. drought in decades withered crops across the Farm Belt. The government's projected corn harvest would break the current record of 13.1 billion bushels set in 2009. <more> May 12, 2013 Wall Street Journal 

Environmental News

• Fracking issue brings Senate foes together - - Partisan political operatives for Republican Andy Vidak and Democrat Leticia Perez are keen to paint each one in a bad light. But the two leading candidates in the 16th state Senate District race are in virtual lock step on at least one issue: They both think fracking is a good thing. Fracking is the drilling practice of injecting pressurized water and chemicals into the ground to break up rock to free the oil and natural gas trapped inside. It’s been around for decades, but it’s come into the spotlight recently because new horizontal drilling methods and deeper drilling technologies are promising to bring fracking into more widespread use. <more> May 9, 2013 Hanford Sentinel 
   

• Environmental Review to Delay Two Engineered Crops - - Genetically engineered crops that could sharply increase the use of two powerful herbicides are now unlikely to reach the market until at least 2015 because the Department of Agriculture has decided to subject the crops to more stringent environmental reviews than it had originally intended. The department said on Friday that it had made the decision after determining that approval of the crops “may significantly affect the quality of the human environment.” The crops in question are Dow Chemical’s corn and soybeans that would be resistant to the herbicide 2,4-D and Monsanto’s dicamba-resistant cotton and soybeans. <more> May 10, 2013 The New York Times
   

• Delta Plan, years in making, nears vote - - When it comes to the Delta, all you hear about these days are tunnels. But a much broader plan to be voted on this week will govern the estuary long after most of us are dead. After three years, tens of thousands of public comments and tens of millions of dollars spent, the Delta Stewardship Council is poised to adopt a new vision for the estuary - one that is supposed to balance the state's water needs with the fragile environment while also protecting the Delta as a unique place. The legally enforceable Delta Plan could determine where we live, how our cities grow, the health of our farm-based economy and the very nature of the landscape around us. <more> May 13, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• 20,210 pages in sneak peek of Delta tunnel plan's EIR - - A comprehensive environmental review of Gov. Jerry Brown's twin tunnels project was released Friday. And if any electronic document can make a "thud" when it hits your computer, this one did. The review is 20,210 pages long. It will offer the most specific details yet about the project, how it will be built and how it will impact Delta residents. "This is a work in progress," Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin said in a prepared statement. "Releasing these documents early, before the start of a formal public comment period, will help us assess impacts. "We will modify the plan wherever possible to minimize disruption, dislocation, and any negative impact to Delta residents." <more> May 11, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• Steinberg 'trial balloon': New legislation to govern Delta tunnels? - - California's Senate leader has floated a controversial idea to resolve mistrust threatening Gov. Jerry Brown's plan for two giant water diversion tunnels in the Delta: legislation to govern the tunnel operations. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, floated the idea in a speech Wednesday at a conference held by the Association of California Water Agencies in Sacramento. He said that perhaps a long-delayed water bond, now targeted for the 2014 ballot, could include language to "operationalize the rules of the game" for the tunnels. He also suggested amending the state constitution to achieve the same effect. <more> May 10, 2013 The Sacramento Bee
   

• Boxer seeks Sacramento levee funding in water bill - - In contrast to contentious debates over issues such as guns, immigration and the federal budget, a bill to address critical water infrastructure – including flood protection for Sacramento – looked like it might have an easier time getting through a divided U.S. Senate. The Water Resources Development Act, co-sponsored by Sens. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, and David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican, would authorize funding for Army Corps of Engineers projects, including dams and levees, ports and inland waterways, and coastal protection and restoration. <more> May 12, 2013 The Sacramento Bee

Stories Of Interest
 

• Sonoma County Farm Uses Social Media to Cut Food Waste and Increase Profits - - Agriculture may be one of the biggest economic drivers in California, but the latest farm census from the USDA found that, among the state’s small farms, more than half do not turn a profit. One family farm in Sonoma County is using social media to try to change that and reduce food waste at the same time. That farm is Bloomfield Farms in Petaluma. On a recent Sunday evening, after employees had returned from a weekend selling at Bay Area farmers markets, general manager Nick Papadopoulos headed over to one of the barns. He walked into the cooler only to find two pallets of produce that had come back unsold. Papadopoulos headed back to his shipping container-turned-office, opened up his laptop and updated the farm’s Facebook status. “I’m going to put breaking
   

• Joe Joe Charles' wish comes true in Waterloo, Ill. - - Plenty of people flee cities and suburbia for a whiff of fresh country air, but the people who tend to crave it aren't typically 5-years-old. Then again, most 5-year-olds haven't spent more than 120 days of their little life locked away from it in a hospital. "He was diagnosed at 2-years-old with Neuroblastoma," explained Angela Charles, Joseph's mom. So when Make-A-Wish came calling, it was a silver lining that Joe Joe's parents knew would include shades of green because he's always had a tender spot for tractors. "When I heard he wanted to be a farmer, I was like are you kidding me? I would have picked Disney World or Justin Bieber in a second," said Linda Mathews, a woman who led the charge in making Joe Joe's wish come true. <more> May 3, 2013 KSDK news

Friday, May 10, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• House Committee on Agriculture releases new farm bill draft - -  The House Agriculture Committee released a new farm bill draft today, with a preliminary score of $39.7 billion in savings over ten years. The language in the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM) is largely similar to the bill passed through committee last year, with larger cuts in the nutrition title and minor changes in farm safety net programs. In 2012, the House Agriculture Committee passed a farm bill with $35 billion in savings, which the Congressional Budget Office later scored about $10 billion lower. The areas of most significant savings in the draft bill released today include $20.5 billion from the Nutrition Title, $6.9 billion from the Conservation Title and $13.8 billion from the Commodity Title and Crop Insurance Title combined. <more> May 10, 2013 AgriPulse
   

• House GOP rolls out new farm bill - - Republicans rolled out their newly drafted House farm bill Friday, claiming nearly $40 billion in savings over the next decade — much of it from food stamps but also reflecting a major rewrite of commodity programs for producers. The release followed on the heels of Senate Democrats unveiling their own farm bill Thursday evening and sets the stage for back-to-back markups next Tuesday and Wednesday in the Senate and House Agriculture committees. <more> May 10, 2013 Politico
   

• Immigration bill survives first day of debate in Senate committee - - After eight hours of debate, the bipartisan Senate immigration bill emerged mostly intact Thursday, despite Republican-led efforts to make substantial alterations in the first of what is certain to be many long committee meetings to work through the 844-page proposal. Senators on the Judiciary Committee spent most of the day on a question that has baffled immigration reformers: how to determine when the border with Mexico would be declared secure. The answer is crucial, because only then would the legalization process start for the estimated 11 million people in this country illegally. <more> May 9, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Big test for immigration bill brings hope to backers - - Senators who back a sweeping immigration law said Thursday they were heartened by the first big test of the proposal in which members of both parties were allowed to make changes to the bill. The Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee adopted eight amendments offered by Republicans and 13 from Democrats. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said some of the Republican amendments have helped strengthen the bill and should encourage more GOP members of Congress to consider voting for it. <more> May 9, 2013 USA Today
   

• NMPF Welcomes Senate Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Draft - - “We are pleased that the dairy title of the Farm Bill released today by the Senate Agriculture Committee contains the Dairy Security Act (DSA), just as it was included in last year’s Senate Farm Bill. The DSA is the best approach for providing a cost-effective safety net for dairy farmers, and we commend Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-MS) for their efforts to pass the DSA into law. The DSA provides the right combination of effective risk management for dairy farmers while minimizing program costs to the taxpayer. “NMPF is part of a coalition of more than 50 state and national farm groups that have been working since 2009 on replacing outdated dairy programs that don’t work, with a new safety net that reflects that realities of dairy farming in the 21st century. Dairy farmers throughout the U.S. support the proposal that the Agriculture Committee will be reviewing next week, and urge members of the committee – and their counterparts in the House Agriculture Committee, which will also review the DSA next week – to pass this critical legislation.” May 9, 2013 NMPF press release
   

• Flat screen TV tops June 3 WUD golf tourney raffle prizes - - A flat screen television donated by WUD Board President Tom Barcellos is one of the top raffle prizes to be awarded at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen's federal political action committee.  The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television! The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments and dinner. A registration form can be downloaded by clicking here and will be mailed to members next week. May 10, 2013 WUD Friday Update

• Katie Couric gets cozy with daughters in ‘got milk?’ ad - - Just in time for Mother’s Day, talk show host Katie Couric was treated to a special breakfast in bed that included a milk mustache. Couric and her daughters joined together for the got milk? advertisement, which featured Couric and her daughters sharing a bed while sporting the famed milk mustaches. According to USA Today, Couric was originally asked to be part of the campaign when her daughters were younger. After putting it off, she felt that now was the time. <more> May 9, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

Pricing/Commodity News

• WASDE Report Forecasts Record U.S. Milk Production in 2014 - - U.S. milk production for 2014 will reach a record high as lower feed costs and relatively strong milk prices support higher output on the nation’s dairy farms, according to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report released today by USDA. U.S. dairies are projected to produce a record 204.6 billion pounds of milk next year, the WASDE report noted. That’s up from the 201.8 billion pounds expected for this year. The 2014 estimate is also sharply higher than 2012’s 200.3 billion-pound milk production, and 2011’s 196.2 billion-pound output. <more> May 10, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• California June Class 1 prices up - - California’s June Class 1 milk price is $20.84/cwt. for the North and $21.12/cwt. for the South, up $1.45 and $1.46, respectively, from May. The June 2013 prices are $4.03 and $4.04 more than June 2012, respectively, and they're the highest since December 2012. Through the first six months of 2013, Class 1 prices averaged $19.85/cwt. for the North, up from $17.83/cwt. (+$2.02) for the same period a year ago. The South average, at $20.13/cwt., is up from $18.10/cwt. (+$2.03) a year ago. The federal order June Class I base price will be announced May 22. May 10, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• May 1 hay stocks at record low - - All hay stored on U.S. farms on May 1 totaled 14.2 million tons, down 34% from a year ago and the lowest May 1 stocks level on record. Based on estimates contained in USDA’s May 10 Crop Production report, hay disappearance from Dec. 1, 2012-May 1, 2013 totaled 62.4 million tons, compared with 69.3 million tons for the same period a year earlier. Among individual states, record-low May 1 hay stocks levels were established in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Vermont and Wisconsin. With the exception of California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island and South Carolina, hay stocks as a percent of production decreased from last year nationwide. Last year’s historic drought led to a substantial decrease in hay production, and therefore beginning stocks for many states. In many areas, the limited availability of native feedstuffs forced producers to feed their grazing beef herds earlier than normal. Additionally, a cold, wet spring has limited pasture growth causing prolonged dependence on supplemental roughage and feedstuffs in portions of the Midwest. May 10, 2013 Dairy Business Update

Environmental News

• Governor Girds for Battle Over Delta Fix - - “I’m gonna do everything humanly possible to get it done.” That was Governor Jerry Brown’s vow to the state’s water managers on Wednesday, asking for both their patience and their support. He was referring, of course, to his ambitious proposal for tunnels to bypass the environmentally beleaguered Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, switching yard for the biggest portion of California’s water supply. “We’re gonna have a reliable water supply. We’re gonna build a big project. We’ve got the federal government moving along with us,” declared the Governor. The last remark may have been partially a reference to the agreement his administration signed Wednesday with federal agencies to set a formal deadline of October 1, for release of a draft version of the long-awaited Bay Delta Conservation Plan. <more> May 9, 2013 KQED
   

• Senate water bill could see smooth sailing in Senate, despite critics - - Amid sharply partisan exchanges over guns, immigration and the federal budget, the debate that began in the Senate this week over a water resources bill seems relatively tame. This is the same Senate where it usually requires 60 votes to get anything done. And while Senate Democrats and Republicans praised each other for their work on the Water Resources Development Act, the bill also must pass the House of Representatives, where bipartisan agreement is even harder to achieve. <more> May 10, 2013 The Sacramento Bee
   

• State posts environmental evaluation of Bay Delta Conservation Plan’s draft - - An evaluation has been posted on the Internet to give the public a preliminary view of Gov. Jerry Brown’s efforts to build mammoth twin tunnels stretching 35 miles beneath the heart of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The draft is written by ICF International (NASDAQ: ICFI) of Fairfax, Va., which is described as a management, technology, and policy consulting firm. If built as touted, the twin tunnels would suck water out of the Sacramento River before it could flow naturally into and through the Delta. <more> May 10, 2013 Central Valley Business Times
   

• ACID looks at selling water to San Joaquin Valley farmers - - A statewide drought could pay off for the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District. A group representing agricultural irrigation districts in the San Joaquin Valley has offered to buy water from the district, which would enable the district to raise $475,000 from selling the water this summer. But some customers say the district is likely to face turbulence Wednesday when the board of directors considers the issue. <more> May 9, 2013 The Record Searchlight
   

• Drought marches to the West - - Rain and snow over the past several weeks have helped beat the drought into remission across much of the Corn Belt, but as 48 percent of the country remains in moderate or worse drought, more states brace for another year of drought. In the thirsty heartland, in particular, some states are split between improving and worsening drought. According to the latest Drought Monitor report, 23 percent of Kansas and 9 percent of Oklahoma remains under exceptional drought. The spread of this drought in both states has been doused with welcomed rain and even been eliminated in some eastern counties. <more> May 9, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• Agricultural pioneers battling water scarcity - - It takes more than a few lakes full of water to simply grow what we eat, and another sea-full to process it before we put into our mouths. So, it’s no surprise that entrepreneurs and agricultural pioneers are eager to find new ways to feed the world’s growing appetite at the same time that scarcity of water and costs for its use are growing. It explains why many with ties to California’s water industry gathered in Clovis this week for a two day conference with the theme “How Water Efficient Technologies Will Secure Our Future Food Supply.” <more> May 10, 2013 Western Farm Press

• Stories Of Interest

  Cal Poly Dairy Tech Expert Receives American Dairy Products Institute Award of Merit - - Phil Tong, director of the Dairy Products Technology Center at Cal Poly, was recognized with the Award of Merit from the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI). The award was established to recognize those who have made a significant difference in the processed dairy products industry. This is the 21st time the award has been presented and the first time it has been given to an individual whose principal body of work has been at an academic institution. “I have been fortunate to have worked with so many dedicated colleagues and students at Cal Poly,” said Tong, “and many other individuals from other universities, companies and dairy industry organizations over the years. Without the financial support we have received from our nation’s dairy producer organizations and dairy processors, the work would never have been possible. So this award really is a reflection of a team effort and common goals for the university and the dairy industry.” For more information on the Dairy Products Technology Center, go to www.dptc.calpoly.edu . May 10, 2013 Cal Poly press release
   

Thursday, May 9, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Group of Conservatives Backs Action on Immigration  - - More than two dozen conservative leaders have signed on to a statement supporting action to overhaul the nation's immigration laws and calling legislation pending in the Senate an "important starting point." In a statement being released Thursday, the officials say: "Simply opposing immigration reform should not be the conservative response to this problem. We believe conservatives should be leading the way on this issue by supporting legislation that upholds conservative principles." <more> May 9, 2013 AP
   

• Immigration reform divides Republicans - - The immigration reform bill crafted by a bipartisan group of senators has deeply split the Republican minority even as lawmakers prepare to take the first votes on the proposal Thursday. Alabama's Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, a conservative former prosecutor with a courtly drawl, has emerged as the leading opponent of the bill. He is aiming at his GOP colleagues with unusual zeal, and calls out the architects of the bill as, essentially, dishonest. <more> May 8, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Study: Valley could gain from immigration reform - - A new study by the University of Southern California showed that roughly eight percent of Central Valley residents are undocumented immigrants, a population that could help boost the region's economy given a swift path to citizenship. The study, conducted by USC's Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII), estimates California to account for 23 percent of the nation's undocumented immigrants at roughly 2.6 million. Under a new proposal presented last month by eight U.S. senators led by John McCain (R-Arizona) and Chuck Schumer (D-New York), those living here illegally would be offered a 13-year path to citizenship. <more> May 8, 2013 The Business Journal
   

• NMPF: Senate Ag Committee retains DSA in farm bill draft - - The Senate Ag Committee’s draft version of a new farm bill includes Dairy Security Act language, according to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).   “We are pleased that the dairy title of the Farm Bill released today by the Senate Agriculture Committee contains the Dairy Security Act (DSA), just as it was included in last year’s Senate Farm Bill,” said Jerry Kozak, NMPF president and CEO. “The DSA is the best approach for providing a cost-effective safety net for dairy farmers, and we commend Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) for their efforts to pass the DSA into law. The DSA provides the right combination of effective risk management for dairy farmers while minimizing program costs to the taxpayer.” <more> May 9, 2013 DairyBusiness Today
   

• USDA Announces Farm Payments Scheduled to Resume - - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia announced today that farm payments, which had been temporarily suspended due to sequestration, are scheduled to resume today, May 8. This includes payments for the 2011 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE), the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) and the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC). Producers should be advised that program sign-up periods currently underway have the following enrollment deadlines: 2013 Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program – June 3rd; 2011 SURE – June 7; and the 2013 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program – August 2nd. Producers should contact their local Farm Service Agency office as soon as possible for appointments to enroll in these programs before the deadlines. May 8, 2013 USDA press release
   

• USDA Announces Final Call for 2012 Census of Agriculture - - With the window to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture officially closing on May 31, the U.S. USDA is urging California farmers and ranchers not to miss this opportunity to be counted and help determine the future of farming in America. USDA has already received more than 2 million completed Census forms. The Census of Agriculture, conducted only once every five years, is the only source of consistent and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. Farmers and ranchers can also return their forms by mail or online by visiting a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov   Federal law requires a response from everyone who receives the Census form and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential. For more information about the Census, including helpful tips on completing your Census form, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov   or call 1-888-4AG-STAT (1-888-424-7828). May 9, 2013 USDA press release
   

• Another TV station takes on HSUS deception - - WZTV Fox 17 in Nashville, Tenn., reports that the Dickson County Humane Society receives no money from the Humane Society of the United States, despite desperate need. According to WZTV, the Dickson County Humane Society, located west of Nashville, occupies two make-shift buildings that are falling apart and the roof is leaking. The National HSUS, meanwhile, is flush with cash. <more> May 8, 2013 Dairy Herd Network

Pricing/Commodity News

• MILC payments to restart - - USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) administrator Juan Garcia announced farm payments, which had been temporarily suspended due to sequestration, are scheduled to resume. This includes payments for the 2011 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE), the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) and the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC).   On March 4, FSA began a temporary suspension of FSA program payments in order to assess the impact of sequestration and determine the least-disruptive process possible for carrying out required cuts. <more> May 9, 2013 DairyBusiness Update 
   

• Bill Gates: Ag Productivity Is Key to Reducing World Poverty - - Investing in agriculture is essential if the fight against world poverty is to succeed, according to Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who spoke at an International Agriculture and Food Security Briefing sponsored by Farmers Feeding the World, a Farm Journal Foundation Initiative, and the Senate Hunger Caucus. "It’s been proven that of all the interventions to reduce poverty, improving agricultural productivity is the best. All the other different economic activity—yes it trickles down. But nothing as efficiently as in agriculture," Gates said to a packed conference room in the U.S. Senate office building. <more> May 9, 2013 Ag Web 

Environmental News

• Water bond supporters push storage - - The California water bond is back on the agenda, and with it the tantalizing possibility of more water storage for San Joaquin Valley farmers. You might be forgiven for not remembering the massive $11.1 billion legislative package that cleared the state Legislature in 2009 in what was hailed as a bipartisan triumph. It was slated to go on the ballot for voter approval in 2010, but then the economy crashed. It was delayed until 2012, but the economy was still in the tank, so it was delayed again. Now, it’s slated to go on the ballot in November 2014 — and it faces the same problem of voter skepticism. A recent poll had only 40 percent of voters approving it at its current size. So it’s back to the drawing board in the Legislature, which is likely to cut it down by $2 billion-$3 billion. <more> May 8, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Twin tunnels formal plan 5 months away - - The state and federal governments announced Wednesday that a formal draft of the Delta twin tunnels plan will be finished by Oct. 1. Portions of the plan have already been released, but these are merely previews to the formal plan, which will be subject to public comment and, most likely, litigation. Officials had previously hoped to have the plan by July. Last month, Gov. Jerry Brown wrote to new U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, asking that the work be expedited. Water agencies have been pressing the state to move forward, but federal scientists still have concerns whether the project will help fish as advertised. <more> May 9, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• Controversial Delta plan due by Oct. 1 - - What could be the next major battle in California’s unending water wars is scheduled for Oct. 1. That’s the formal deadline adopted by the Brown and Obama administrations to release of the draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and accompanying environmental documents for public review and comment. Already the battle lines are being drawn. “One calamitous storm or natural disaster — driven by climate change — could jeopardize the entire Delta, destroy its ecosystem and cut off water to 25 million Californians,” warns Gov. Jerry Brown, speaking in support of the BDCP plan, the centerpiece of which is a plan to build water tunnels beneath the Delta. <more> May 8, 2013 Central Valley Business Times

• Dairy steals the spotlight in Al Roker broadcast - - Al Roker – celebrity meteorologist, television star and dairy farmer? Weather may have brought Roker to the Hatcher Family Dairy in College Grove, Tenn., but it was dairy farming that stole the show. The dairy was the first stop for Roker’s new “Wake up with Al” television series, and the Hatcher family put the host to work. From the milking parlor to calf feeding, Roker may soon take a new gig as a dairy farmer. “I never thought I would be driving a tractor. Life is pretty good here at the farm.” <more> May 8, 2013 Dairy Herd Network 
   

• UC Davis named number-one ag school in the world - - The University of California, Davis, is No. 1 in the world for teaching and research in the area of agriculture and forestry, according to rankings released today by QS World University Rankings. This is the first year that the organization — which provides annual rankings in 29 other subject areas — has produced rankings in agriculture and forestry. “We are thrilled and excited by this evaluation, and it is gratifying to see that the ranking data validate the breadth and depth of our agricultural programs, which represent a variety of disciplines,” said Mary Delany, interim dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. <more> May 9, 2013 CDFA Planting Seeds blog
   

• Wal-Mart Invests $16.3 Million in China Food Safety - - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is investing 100 million yuan ($16.3 million) to strengthen food-safety management in the retailer's China-based stores, as Chinese officials crack down on violations in response to public outrage over a string of food scandals. The Bentonville, Ark., retailer plans over the next three years to use the investment to expand food inspection, supply-chain management and supplier training, it said in a statement. Mobile food-safety labs, which Wal-Mart has been pilot testing for the past six months in China, will be expanded to run third-party food-quality tests at 70 stores across China's southern Guangdong province, up from 33 stores, the statement said. <more> May 9, 2013 Wal l Street Journal
   

• Win Michael Marsh’s money at June 3 golf tourney  - - Golfers will have an opportunity to win $100 when they go up against Western United Dairymen CEO Michael Marsh in a closest-to-the-hole competition at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. Marsh, noting the recent sharpening of his skills to the likes of Aussie, Adam Scott, and Tiger Woods, said that competitors may need to card a hole-in-one if they hope to pocket his cash. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen’s federal political action committee. The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television. The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Lawmakers plan to start drafting farm bill next week - - Congress will begin writing a new, $500 billion farm law next week, the head of the Senate Agriculture Committee said on Tuesday, even as calls mounted for deeper cuts in farm subsidies and food stamp spending. The Senate panel has scheduled a bill-drafting session for May 14. Its House of Representatives counterpart, unofficially, aims to start writing its version on May 15. The bills are expected to boost crop support rates, expand the crop insurance program, reduce the scope of land-idling programs and cut spending on food aid to the poor. <more> May 7, 2013 Reuters
   

• Gillibrand optimistic on farm bill authorization - - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is predicting New York farmers will like the changes contained in a five-year farm bill Congress could approve later this year. The Senate approved a farm bill a year ago that included many measures favored by New York farm groups, but it was never signed into law because of inaction by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.  <more> May 7, 2013 USA Today
   

• Republicans question security in immigration bill - - Republican senators criticized border security provisions in a new immigration bill Tuesday, arguing that the landmark legislation can't pass Congress unless the measures are strengthened. "If in fact the American people can't trust that the border is controlled you're not going to be able to pass this bill," said Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. "You're going to have to do a lot more on border control." Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., voiced similar concerns at a committee hearing to examine border security provisions of the bill, which is to face its first votes on Thursday before a different panel, the Judiciary Committee. Amendments are expected to be offered during the Judiciary session to boost the border provisions of the bill, which was introduced last month by four Democratic and four Republican senators. <more> May 7, 2013 AP
   

• California has 2.6 million illegal immigrants, USC study finds - - California has 2.6 million residents who are in the country illegally and thus would be heavily impacted by any immigration reform legislation, a massive new study by the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration concludes. The state's undocumented population is about a quarter of the nation's, and about 72 percent comes from Mexico. The study also found that California's illegal immigrants have $31.5 billion in income but individually earn less than half of U.S.-born workers, even though 74 percent of working-age immigrants are in the labor force. <more> May 7, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Dan Walters: Immigration reform has big stakes in California - - Some form of legalization would have mixed impacts on California, the report indicates. While it would free up now-illegal residents to improve their educations and job skills, leading to higher incomes and paying more taxes, it could also make them eligible for more social and health services. They are here, they're going to be here, they play integral roles in the economy and the larger society, and no matter how the reform debate turns out, California must acknowledge the reality and deal with it forthrightly. <more> May 8, 2013 The Sacramento Bee  
   

• More than 50 Dairy Organizations Urge Passage of Dairy Security Act - - More than 50 state and national dairy organizations, including the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), sent a joint letter today to members of the House Agriculture Committee, urging that panel to include the Dairy Security Act (DSA) in upcoming Farm Bill. The House Ag panel is expected to begin drafting a Farm Bill next Wednesday. The letter, which can be found online, said that dairy producers need "a financially-sound risk management program to help farmers better manage margin volatility," noting that the economic conditions that led to the development of the DSA after the dairy depression in 2009 – low milk prices and high feed costs generating terrible margins – were experienced again by America’s dairy farmers last year, when feed costs soared to record levels as milk prices dropped. <more> May 8, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Tennessee TV station looks into HSUS - - You've seen the ads tugging at your heart strings. Abused animals that need your help. The Humane Society of the U.S. asks you to donate to help those animals. While the National Humane Society does help animals through legislation and rescue efforts, in a state that euthanized 7000 last year, you might be surprised to learn there's little help where some say it's needed most. A dozen dogs left in the filth of hoarding. "Hoarding is a major, major problem all across Tennessee and one of the biggest reasons is we don't have enough animal shelters to handle the numbers of dogs there are," says HSUS Tennessee Director Leighann McCollum. Shelters, the backbone of our animal rescue team. "The hardest part is truly the fundraising effort," says Ex-Director of the Humane Society of Dickson County Billy Higgins. <more> April 30, 2013 WZTV FOX 17 news 

Pricing/Commodity News

• Cheese market 'uncertain' - -  Cash cheese held steady on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Wednesday after blocks declined a nickel on Tuesday. Butter slipped another three-quarter cent and Grade A nonfat dry milk lost 3 cents. Ag Market News says retail sales are uncertain for cheese right now, that 23-cent barrel-to-block spread last week prompted buyers to hold-off, fully expecting the margin to narrow but how? Would barrels go up or blocks go down. The spread has now narrowed to 13 cents but that still is wider than it should be and indications are buyers are still holding-off. <more> May 8, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Snapshot: January’s U.S. Milk Mailbox Prices - - In January 2013, mailbox milk prices for selected reporting areas in Federal milk orders averaged $20.18 per cwt., reports the California Department of Food and Agriculture in its May 2013 "California Dairy Review." That January average is down $1.32 from the December 2012 average, and up $0.88 from the January 2012 average. <more> May 8, 2013 Dairy  Today
   

• MILC Payments Restart - - The software used to make Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) payments was taken offline March 1 as the sequester effectively halted the payment process, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. But as of today, May 8, County FSA offices are again authorized to begin making payments under the program. <more> May 8, 2013 Dairy Today

• Tillamook creamery sues Cargill in enzyme dispute - - The Tillamook County Creamery Association has filed a lawsuit against one of its suppliers over an allegedly faulty cheese ingredient. The cooperative claims that in 2011, Cargill sold it 200 gallons of defective rennet, a set of enzymes that cause milk to coagulate into solids and liquids. "As a result, the cheese produced from use of defendant Cargill's rennet did not meet quality specifications and could not be sold as aged white cheddar cheese," the complaint said.  The creamery claims to have produced more than 900,000 pounds of cheese with the defective rennet. The lawsuit seeks at least $2.5 million in compensation, claiming Cargill breached its contract and other allegations. May 8, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Pacific Ethanol pumps a profit - - Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) of Sacramento say it had gross profit was $800,000 for the first quarter of 2013, compared to a gross loss of $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2012. The $8.3 million increase is attributable to improved commodity margins, it says. Net sales were $225.5 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $197.7 million for the first quarter of 2012. The increase in net sales is primarily attributable to a higher average price per gallon of ethanol sold. The average price per gallon of ethanol sold was $2.60 for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $2.34 in the first quarter of 2012. <more> May 8, 2013 Central Valley Business Times 

Environmental News

• Leopold Conservation Award winner shares honor with the agricultural industry - - The timeworn water tower that stands in front of the Giacomazzi Dairy in Kings County is a hallmark of the farm’s endurance. It proclaims, “Since 1893.” Dino Giacomazzi, the fourth generation to run the operation, said cows have been producing milk and the land producing feed every single day of the ensuing 120 years. In order to maintain the family business in times of mounting environmental pressures and tightening economics, Giacomazzi became a leader in developing completely new production paradigms for dairy industry feed production in the San Joaquin Valley. Last year, he received the prestigious Leopold Conservation Award for California, and last week he hosted a luncheon at his rural Kings County dairy to raise awareness of efforts being made around the San Joaquin Valley to boost agricultural sustainability. <more> May 8, 2013 UC Agriculture & Natural Resources blog
   

• Take that ‘carbon footprint’ down another shoe size - - Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculure renewed support for dairy producers to become more environmentally sustainable. Now, some of these resources are being directed to one Upper Midwest university. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the University of Wisconsin-Madison will receive $9.9 million from the USDA over the next five years to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint by finding climate solutions. “We’re going to do everything we can at the USDA to equip our farmers and producers to be able to deal with whatever the challenges may be,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is quoted as saying. <more> May 7, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• Stanislaus County farmers asked to sign up for pollutant monitoring program - - The Stanislaus County Farm Bureau will put in extra hours to help farmers sign up for a program that could save them money on water monitoring. Monday is the deadline to join the East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition, which monitors pollutants from irrigated land in Stanislaus, Merced and Madera counties east of the San Joaquin River. <more> May 7, 2013 Modesto Bee 
   

• Oakdale Irrigation District to sell more water to Westlands - - The Oakdale Irrigation District board agreed Tuesday to sell more water to drought-wracked farms west of Fresno, as long as its customers are not left short. The board voted 5-0 to sell up to 40,000 acre-feet from the Stanislaus River to the Westlands Water District, which is dealing with severe cutbacks in federal deliveries. The price is $175 per acre-foot, up from the $100 discussed earlier and far more than what OID farmers pay. <more> May 7, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Water Sales Net $4M - - South San Joaquin Irrigation District has what much of California wants - - water. Many urban water agencies and rural irrigation districts in the Golden State are clamoring for more water on the heels of this week’s announcement that the Sierra snowpack is only at 17 percent of normal levels. The Sierra snowpack is essentially the state’s largest water reservoir covering almost 40 percent of California’s needs. “The phone has been ringing off the hook,” noted SSJID General Manager Jeff Shields. Interest in SSJID water has been coming from cities, regional water districts in urban areas, irrigation districts, underground water banks, and large scale farming operations The SSJID board has already approved the transfer of 40,000 acre feet of water to the Bureau of Reclamation and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority. <more> May 7, 2013 The Escalon Times

• What We Talk About When We Talk About the Central Valley - - By Willy Blackmore, food editor, TakePart - - Two essays published in the same week offered very different takes on one of America’s most important agricultural regions. The valley may be sinking, but Klikenborg’s dire assertion that “Every scenario for the future of the valley must begin with what is now a biological desert, a place where only a handful of species are allowed to thrive,” feels overstated. The produce farms here are diverse, as are the approaches to agriculture—conventional, organic, biodynamic. Asking if we’re doing right by our arable land is a question worth asking, but suggesting, as Klinkeborg seems to, that this key farming region is nearly post-apocalyptic, is to go far beyond oversimplifying the debate. The Central Valley undeniably has its problems, but I don’t want to have the experience, like Didion did with her floods and without her showers, of what it’s like when the fields run completely dry. <more> May 7, 2013 Takepart.com 
   

• Vegans accused of bullying agriculture students online - - Some agriculture students at a Northern California high school are complaining about being bullied on Instagram and other social networks by students who are vegans. “[One student] keeps posting about goats and sheep and pigs and dead pictures and them being slaughtered,” said agriculture student Katie Velon, who attends Elk Grove High School near Sacramento. The online allegations also include angry words for the school's agriculture program, saying it “leads to the slaughtering of animals.” Other messages describe how animals are drained of blood while their hearts are still beating. But the agriculture students say they’re proud of what they do and of what they’re learning. <more> May 7, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Wake up with Al (and some cows) in Tennessee - - Al was tasked with more than just the weather this morning, taking on new tasks like milking and feeding cows, bottling milk, and placating some hungry sheep. It was the first stop on his new "Wake Up With Al" series that will take him on the road and into viewers' homes. Al was working way, way off-site in College Grove, Tennessee at the Hatcher Family Farm, where he went all "Green Acres" and got to work in the creamery, tweeting several pictures of his new side gig as a dairy farmer. There, he met some livestock with familiar names, like "Al" and "Matt." <more> May 8, 2013 TODAY Show
   

• A growing commodity: Female-run farms on the rise - - The changing economy and Americans’ newfound interest in local, organic and artisanal foods are driving a revival of farming in this country, and the ranks of new farmers include more women than ever. The number of female farmers has been on the rise for more than a decade, and experts expect that new census figures from the USDA this year will show even larger numbers of women turning to agriculture for a career. Beth Holtzman, outreach education coordinator at the Women’s Agriculture Network at the University of Vermont, said changes in the way we count farmers and consumer food trends are contributing to those statistics. <more> April 26, 2013 Dansville Online
   

• China - Mengniu to Buy Modern Dairy Stake to Control Milk Quality - - China Mengniu Dairy Co. (2319), the country’s largest dairy producer, agreed to buy 26.9 percent of China Modern Dairy Holdings Ltd. (1117) for HK$3.18 billion ($409 million) to gain greater control of milk supplies amid food safety concerns in the country. Mengniu Dairy will pay HK$2.45 a share for the Modern Dairy stake, the company said in a filing to Hong Kong’s stock exchange today. That’s 12 percent less than the stock’s closing price yesterday. The two sellers were companies controlled byKKR & Co. (KKR) and CDH China Fund III LP, according to the statement. <more> May 8, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• Win Michael Marsh’s money at June 3 golf tourney  - - Golfers will have an opportunity to win $100 when they go up against Western United Dairymen CEO Michael Marsh in a closest-to-the-hole competition at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. Marsh, noting the recent sharpening of his skills to the likes of Aussie, Adam Scott, and Tiger Woods, said that competitors may need to card a hole-in-one if they hope to pocket his cash. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen’s federal political action committee. The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television. The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Assembly panel considers bill on milk pricing - - A bill that would have established a formula for determining the whey value in the California milk pricing system to bring prices closer to those paid under the federal milk marketing order has been amended, to allow California dairy farmers and processors to work on an agreement. The Assembly Agriculture Committee voted unanimously last week to keep Assembly Bill 31 moving, so the parties could continue to work on agreed-upon language before the end of the month, the deadline for moving a bill out of its house of origin. Nearly 100 supporters of the bill attended the hearing to urge passage of AB 31 in its original form, but committee members expressed concern about moving the bill forward without a resolution from producers and processors. <more> May 7, 2013 Ag Alert

• Dairy Companies Oppose New Farm Bill Restrictions - - More than 30 dairy foods manufacturers – including some of the largest food companies in the United States – have sent letters over the past week to members of the House and Senate, including key agriculture committee members, calling on them to oppose government-imposed limits on milk supply. Instead, they urge legislators to adopt the Dairy Freedom Act, a bipartisan compromise alternative offered by two House Agriculture Committee members, Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and David Scott (D-GA). The manufacturing companies are members of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), which has been the leading opponent of the Dairy Market Stabilization Program, a supply management provision included in the Dairy Security Act, part of the Farm Bill versions proposed by the committees last year. <more> May 7, 2013 Dairy Today

• Heritage study on immigration bill’s cost sets off squabble among conservatives - - A bipartisan Senate immigration bill would cost the government a net $6.3 trillion over the next 50 years to provide benefits for millions of people now living in the U.S. illegally, the Heritage Foundation said in a report Monday, setting off a fierce dispute with fellow conservatives who attacked the study as flawed and political. The Heritage study said immigrants granted new legal status under the bill would eat up more than $9 trillion in health, education, retirement and other benefits over their lifetime, while contributing only around $3 trillion in taxes. Republicans and conservative groups who support the bill quickly countered that the study failed to measure broader economic benefits from an immigration overhaul, including a more robust workforce that would boost the gross domestic product. <more> May 6, 2013 AP

• G.O.P. Opponents Plan Immigration Bill Attack - - Republican opponents of legislation to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws are readying an offensive intended to hijack the newly released bill as the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday begins a review that will offer the clearest sign yet of how difficult a path the legislation faces. With the committee expected to spend at least three weeks on the legislation, Republican critics could offer hundreds of amendments to try to reshape the overhaul. They include proposals that could lengthen the timeline for a pathway to citizenship and that could tamper with an already fragile deal negotiated between business and labor groups for a guest worker program. Anticipating an onslaught, Democrats are preparing a robust defense in an effort to keep the legislation largely intact. <more> May 6, 2013 The New York Times

• Immigration advocates list ‘Gang of Hate’ - - A Senate committee is scheduled to begin debating amendments on a comprehensive immigration reform bill this week and already the rhetoric around the hot-button issue is heating up. A coalition of liberal advocates was out with a statement Monday calling opponents to the proposal the “Gang of Hate,” a play off the nickname of the “Gang of Eight” bipartisan group of senators that developed the legislation. America’s Voice, a leading immigration advocacy group, listed Republican Sens. Jeff Sessions (Ala.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), John Cornyn (Tex.), Ted Cruz (Tex.), and David Vitter (La.) in the group of haters, saying they have embraced an anti-immigration strategy that “drove the GOP to the brink of the demographic cliff and put them in the position they are in today.” <more> May 6, 2013 The Washington Post

• New farm bill leans on food stamps - - With new leadership promises of floor time, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas is back with a retooled farm bill that sets a goal of $38 billion in 10-year savings while tilting more to the right by demanding greater cuts from food stamps. In a short interview with POLITICO, the Republican chairman was decidedly cool toward President Barack Obama’s plan to revamp the Food for Peace program overseas. At the same, remembering the alfalfa fields of his own farm boyhood in Oklahoma, Lucas didn’t rule out using the Farm Bill debate to expand forage for the stressed bee population – a hot environmental cause that could help him win friends in the battles ahead on the House floor. <more> May 6, 2013 Politico

• Bus Ads to FDA: Don’t Approve 'Diet Milk’ for Kids - - Starting Monday, employees of the Food and Drug Administration who go to work by bus will see giant ads urging the public health agency not to allow aspartame in kids' milk without accompanying labels. Aspartame is already allowed in flavored milk but comes with a note that the milk is "reduced-calorie." The ads come after the FDA opened up a petition from two dairy industry groups, the National Milk Producers Federation and International Dairy Foods Association, who say the use of aspartame over real sugar can help curb childhood obesity and shouldn't require special labeling. The petition is open for public comment until May 21, and the bus ads will run until that date. <more> May 6, 2013 U.S. News

• Dairy abuse video causes worker education push - - More education for dairy employees on animal welfare is planned following an undercover video at a south-central Idaho dairy showing mistreatment of animals, an associate professor and extension dairy specialist at the University of Idaho says. "I look at it as an opportunity to educate our workers and provide the materials for them to do a good job," Mireille Chahine told The Times-News (http://bit.ly/16ILCBh ). She said animal welfare classes will be added this summer at the University of Idaho extension office in Twin Falls. The facility already offers classes on feeding, dairy production and milking. In January, a former employee at Bettencourt Dairies' Dry Creek Dairy in Hansen pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal abuse after an undercover video shot by an animal rights group showed workers stomping, dragging and beating cows inside a milking barn. <more> May 6, 2013 Capital Press

• USDA Announces Final Call for 2012 Census of Agriculture - - The last day to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture is May 31 and the US Department of Agrilculture (USDA) wants farmers and ranchers to respond. More than 2 million forms have been submitted thus far. "Our nation needs your help to ensure that decisions about U.S. agriculture accurately represent you, your communities, and your industry," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "For every 158 people in America there is one farm. I urge you to take action today and respond to the Census - your country is counting on the information to help ensure a continued supply of food, fiber and fuel for generations to come." <more> May 6, 2013 KOMU-TV

Pricing/Commodity News

• 2012 dairy slaughter second biggest on books - - Little or no profits in the milk-production sector in the second half of 2012 and strong cull prices drove dairy cow slaughter to the highest level in 26 years. At 3.1 million in 2012, it was the second highest slaughter on record, said Tiffany Hora, statistician with USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Last year's dairy cow slaughter was eclipsed only by the 1986 slaughter, which was 3.6 million and fueled by a federal whole-herd dairy buyout. <more> May 7, 2013 Capital Press

• Corn planting crawls to 12 percent as drier weather returns - - Corn-planting activity has picked up in some parts of the country, but major states such as Iowa and Illinois are still lagging behind. The USDA’s latest Crop Progress report, released on Monday, some farmers were able to get into the fields before rain and snow slowed planting to a crawl. This week the nation’s corn planting progress was reported at 12 percent, 7 percentage points higher than last week’s report and the largest gain in planting seen yet this year. All states now have at least some corn in the ground. North Carolina (89 percent) and Texas (70 percent) still have the highest percentages of planted corn. <more> May 6, 2013 Dairy Herd Network

• Corn Prices Turn Lower as Clouds Part on Harvest - - Corn prices slid 3% as forecasts for drier weather in the Midwest eased concerns about planting delays for this year's crop. Forecasts Monday indicated farmers who have been unable to plant corn due to cold, wet weather likely will have opportunities this week or next to sow their crops. Rains this past weekend in the Midwest also weren't as widespread as had been expected. The slower-than-normal pace of corn planting this spring has sparked concerns that this fall's harvest could be smaller than expected, leading to tighter supplies. <more> May 6, 2013 The Wall Street Journal

• Early China Buying Boosts Dairy Market - - Imports from key customers were mostly higher in early 2013, led by record purchases from China, the U.S. Dairy Export Council reported in its recent "Global Dairy Market Outlook" newsletter. In January-February, China imported 231,378 tons of milk powder, whey products, cheese and butterfat, up 12% from the prior year. Gains were driven by a 50% increase in purchases of whole milk powder (WMP) vs. last year. In addition, cheese imports were up 21%. This offset declines in purchases of skim milk powder (SMP), whey and butterfat. <more> May 7, 2013 Dairy Today

• CWT assists with 1.9 million lbs. of cheese export sales - - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted six requests for export assistance from Bongards and Darigold to sell 1.896 million lbs. of cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. The product will be delivered May through November 2013. So far in 2013, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 52.877 million lbs. of cheese, 51.727 million lbs. of butter, 44,092 lbs. of AMF, and 218,258 lbs. of whole milk powder to 31 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.617 billion lbs. of milk on a milkfat basis. That is more than USDA’s projected increase in milk marketings for all of 2013. May 6, 2013 Dairy Business Update

Environmental News

• Water worries intensify as dry year turns drier - - It's going to be a long, hot summer—that's a given in California's interior valleys. What isn't known, farmers say, is how well billions of dollars' worth of food crops will weather the heat amid severe irrigation water cutbacks. The season's final survey of the Sierra Nevada snowpack, conducted last week, found only 17 percent of average levels. At the same time, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation reported its water transfer pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta were operating at about 20 percent of capacity, due to the dry conditions combined with restrictions intended to protect fish species. San Luis Reservoir, a summer supply pool for both the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project, stood only about 50 percent full. <more> May 7, 2013 Ag Alert

• Water war between Klamath River farmers, tribes poised to erupt - - For decades this rural basin has battled over the Klamath River's most precious resource: water that sustains fish, irrigates farms and powers the hydroelectric dams that block one of the largest salmon runs on the West Coast. Now, one of the nation's fiercest water wars is on the verge of erupting again. New water rights have given a group of Oregon Indian tribes an upper hand just as the region plunges into a severe drought. Farmers and wildlife refuges could be soon cut off by the Klamath Tribes, which in March were granted the Upper Klamath Basin's oldest water rights to the lake and tributaries that feed the mighty river flowing from arid southern Oregon to the foggy redwoods of the Northern California coast. <more> May 7, 2013 Los Angeles Times

• Capitol Alert: White House 'deeply concerned' about Boxer's levee bill - - It seemed like it could be a slam-dunk in a Congress that can't agree on much of anything. But California Sen. Barbara Boxer's bipartisan effort to pass legislation to fund flood control, navigation and storm recovery projects hit a snag Monday when the White House issued a statement highly critical of the bill, which Boxer's Environment and Public Works Committee approved unanimously in March. The Water Resources Development Act, which authorizes projects such as the Natomas Levee Improvement Program, was expected to move to the Senate floor for debate Tuesday, but the fate of some of its more controversial provisions wasn't clear. <more> May 6, 2013 San Luis Obispo Tribune
   

• 2nd Global Cheese Technology Forum to be held October 2013 in Reno - - Cheese and whey production in the US West and its place in the global economy will be the theme for this year’s Global Cheese Technology Forum (GCTF) being held October 22-23, 2013 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, NV. The conference is being organized collaboratively by the Dairy Products Technology Center (DPTC) at California Polytechnic State University, the Western Dairy Center at Utah State University and The American Dairy Products Institute. It is designed to be a forum for discussion of topics of importance to industry leaders in the western USA and anyone with an interest in technology and the global cheese and whey industry. Topics will include subjects such as Cheese & Whey Challenges, Keeping Plants and Products Clean, Cheese Technology, Meeting Workforce Needs, Innovations in Whey Processing and Global Insights. A full agenda is available on the GCTF website at http://www.globalcheesetechnologyforum.org. For the latest information and to register, visit the conference website: http://www.globalcheesetechnologyforum.org. Questions can be directed to Laurie Jacobson at (805) 305-5056 or ljacobso@calpoly.edu. May 6, 2013 Cal Poly press release

• Win Michael Marsh’s money at June 3 golf tourney - - Golfers will have an opportunity to win $100 when they go up against Western United Dairymen CEO Michael Marsh in a closest-to-the-hole competition at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. Marsh, noting the recent sharpening of his skills to the likes of Aussie, Adam Scott, and Tiger Woods, said that competitors may need to card a hole-in-one if they hope to pocket his cash. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen’s federal political action committee. The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television. The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments.

Monday, May 6, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• AB 31 passage forces stakeholders to continue working together --  Assemblymember Richard Pan’s (D-Sacramento) AB 31, which casts a safety net for California’s dairy farmers, brought nearly 100 dairy farmers to the State Capitol on Wednesday for a hearing in the Assembly Agriculture Committee. Many of the dairy farmers in attendance have farms going back five and six generations. All of them said the same thing—California dairy farmers no longer talk about growth, they talk about survival. “My dairy farm is surviving because I have generations of equity,” said Turlock dairyman and former WUD president Ray Souza. “However, even for those of us who have been in the dairy business for generations, the last five years have been the toughest.” The committee voted 6-0 to approve the bill. The bill’s original language has been removed. That language would have set the California Class 4b dry whey factor at no less than 80% of the federal order Class III whey factor. In its place is “intent” language that the Chair said was intended to get the issues addressed by new policies developed jointly by dairy producers, processors, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture as well as the CDFA Dairy Future Task Force. Western United CEO Michael Marsh was generally upbeat after the hearing, expressing hope that the bill will bring processors to the table. “What this is going to do is allow the bill to move. The challenge is the cheese processors have refused to negotiate with us for over 10 years, despite our repeated attempts to dialogue. The cheesemakers have to negotiate with us in good faith; hopefully they heard the Chair’s direction loud and clear.” he said. <more> May 3, 2013 WUD Friday Update  
   

• Dairymen disappointed with watered-down whey bill - - A bill in the California Assembly addressing state pricing for milk used to manufacture cheese is still afloat, but supporters say the Ag Committee stripped it of any meaningful reform. The revised bill passed unanimously in the Assembly Ag Committee May 1. While the bill passed, it wasn't the same bill dairymen supported, said Rob Vandenheuvel, manager of Milk Producers Council. The original bill, AB 31, introduced by Assemblyman Richard Pan, would have mandated the whey value in California's 4b pricing to be no less than 80 percent of that value in Class III pricing in federal milk marketing orders. The disparity between the two values has meant about $2 per hundredweight of milk less for California's dairymen compared with dairymen in federal orders. <more> May 6, 2013 Capital Press
   

• California Ag Committee Punts on Milk Pricing Bill - - California dairy farmers received some good news and some bad news from their state Assembly Ag committee last week, says Rob Vandenheuvel, general manager of the California Milk Producers Council. The Ag Committee unanimously passed AB 31, which deals with the state’s milk pricing regulation (good news). But it stripped out any language requiring California’s Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to align the state’s regulated cheese price with Federal Milk Market Order prices. Instead, the Ag Committee included a list of "Legislative Intent" language, which would give CDFA "temporary authority" to consider emergency price adjustments. <more> May 6, 2013 Dairy Today 
   

• House will pass farm bill, Rep. Lucas predicts  - - The House will pass a five-year farm bill this summer, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) predicted Monday. Lucas’ comments come after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) on Friday told his conference through a memo that the House will take up a farm bill. “Of course I have very pleased that the Majority Leader would list that as one of the items we would do this summer," Lucas told The Hill in an interview. "That was one of the things I was never able to secure a year ago.” Lucas produced a farm bill last year, but it never made it to the House floor. Given Cantor's support, he said 2013 would be different. <more> May 6, 2013 The Hill.com  
   

• Senate Democrats embrace farm bill in battle to retain their majority - - Senate Democrats are moving to farm legislation that they think could bolster several red-state incumbents who are seeking reelection in 2014. Last year, the Senate passed a five-year farm bill 64 to 35 only to see it die in the House because conservatives opposed the funding levels for food stamps. Democrats believe the failure of the farm bill helped them retain the majority in the 2012 election, and are hoping for a repeat as they enter the 2014 election cycle. “There is no question that the House refusal to take up farm bill helped Democrats retain the Senate,” said one senior Senate Democratic aide. "Democrats see an opportunity to make headway in red states and rural America." <more> May 4, 2013 The Hill
   

• Could immigration bill set off another backlash? - - As a Senate committee prepares to begin voting this week on far-reaching immigration legislation, advocates are watching warily to see whether relatively tame opposition balloons into the kind of fierce resistance that killed Congress' last attempt to overhaul the system. Last time around, in 2007, angry calls overwhelmed the Senate switchboard and lawmakers endured raging town hall meetings and threats from incensed constituents. The legislation ultimately collapsed on the Senate floor. "I've been through this battle, and it's ugly," said former Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., who supported the bill. "My phones were jammed for three weeks and I got three death threats, one of which I turned over to the FBI. So it's rough business." <more> May 6, 2013 AP
   

• Union battle heats up at local Marquez plant - - The fight is on. Marquez Brothers International, with a cheese plant in Hanford, has faced down market challenges to dominate the Hispanic dairy product industry. But while many food processors in the region have already faced worker efforts to unionize, Marquez has never had a union drive. Until August last year, that is, when workers at the Hanford plant voted to join the Teamsters Local 517, based in Visalia. It’s been acrimony and conflict ever since. Contract negotiations are at an impasse, with the Teamsters accusing the company of stalling and the company accusing the Teamsters of using strong-arm tactics. Many employees have been caught in the middle of the fray. <more> May 4, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Egg Bill Goes Way of Humpty Dumpty and Takes a Fall  - - Backlash from livestock groups and fellow senators has likely prompted Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., to put the egg bill back in the carton. The egg bill is language struck from an agreement reached by the United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States that would establish a national standard for confinement of egg-laying hens. The bill would supersede state standards for cages, some of which have come from HSUS-led voter initiatives. Stabenow is a co-sponsor of the legislation in the Senate, along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. But the egg bill has had critics since UEP and HSUS struck their agreement in 2011. Other livestock and poultry groups have been appalled at the idea of Congress and the federal government implementing a national standard for livestock or poultry. <more> May 6, 2013 Progressive Farmer
   

• Bill would create 'Made in California' label - - A "Made in USA" label has long been seen as an advantage in marketing a product. Now there are in-state manufacturers that want to see the adoption of an official label that declares Made in California. State Sen. Ellen M. Corbett (D-San Leandro) has introduced legislation SB 12 to require Go-Biz, the governor's business development office, to come up with a plan — including the new label — to promote California-manufactured products. The bill, now before the Senate Appropriations Committee, would enhance California's reputation for making environmentally safe and energy efficient products, Corbett said. <more> May 6, 2013 LA Times
   

• USDA Announces Final Call for 2012 Census of Agriculture - - The last day to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture is May 31 and the US Department of Agrilculture (USDA) wants farmers and ranchers to respond. More than 2 million forms have been submitted thus far. "Our nation needs your help to ensure that decisions about U.S. agriculture accurately represent you, your communities, and your industry," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "For every 158 people in America there is one farm. I urge you to take action today and respond to the Census - your country is counting on the information to help ensure a continued supply of food, fiber and fuel for generations to come." <more> May 6, 2013 KOMU-TV 
   

• Feinstein denies husband's ties to rail bidder - - California Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s husband has no financial ties to the lowest-bidding partnership to design and build the first segment of the state’s $68 billion high-speed rail system, an aide said. The California High Speed Rail Authority has tentatively selected a team spearheaded by Sylmar-based Tutor Perini to build the 29-mile segment from Madera to Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley. The partnership submitted the lowest bid at $985 million. Feinstein’s husband, the multimillionaire Richard Blum, once had financial ties to Tutor. But the Democratic senator’s office said neither Blum nor his firm maintain any affiliation or financial investment in Tutor Perini, or any other derivation of the company. <more> May 3, 2013 U-T San Diego

Pricing/Commodity News

• March dairy export values jump - - The value of U.S. dairy product exports jumped in March, nearly hitting $500 million and just below the May 2012 record. It marked the 24th time in the past 25 months exports topped $400 million, and the second-highest monthly total ever. At $498 million, exports were up 15% from February 2013’s total of $434 million, and up 3% from the March 2012 total of $484 million. At $293 million, the value of March 2013 imports was up 23% from February 2013, and up about 14% from March 2012. The March dairy trade surplus was $205 million. Fiscal year 2013 (FY ’13, October 2012 through March 2013) exports total $2.601 billion, down about 1% from the same period in record-setting FY ’12. FY ’13 imports total $1.698 billion, up about 7% from the same period in FY ’12. The FY ’13 dairy trade surplus stands at $903 million. At $91 million, March 2013 cheese imports were up 8% from February 2013 and up7% from March 2012. FY ’13 cheese imports total $608 million, up 8% from the same period in FY ’12. May 6, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• March U.S. alfalfa exports a record - - U.S. alfalfa exports set a monthly volume record in March 2013, at 189,553 metric tons. It was the sixth consecutive month above 150,000 metric tons, according to USDA’s Foreign Ag Service. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the top market, at 69,394 metric tons; followed by China, at 49,175 metric tons; and Japan, at 42,455 metric tons. U.S. exports of other hay totaled 156,465 metric tons in March, the seventh consecutive month above 150,000 metric tons. Japan, South Korea and UAE were again the top three markets. May 6, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• U.S. corn planting remains well behind average - - Producers did make some progress last week, but nationally, the U.S. corn planting pace remains considerably slower than average. As of Sunday, 12% of the crop is planted, compared to 5% a week ago, 69% a year ago, and the five year average of 47%, with 10 of the 18 top producing states at or below the national average. 3% of corn has emerged, compared to 29% last year and 15% on average. <more> May 6, 2013 Brownfield Ag News

Environmental News

• Ag air quality conference at UC Davis June 27-28 - - An agricultural air quality conference jointly sponsored by UC Davis and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District will be held June 27-28 at the UC Davis conference center. The conference’s major focus will be on discussing a “risk-based” strategy proposed by the SJVAPCD as an alternative to the current federal/state air quality regulatory framework.  The SJVAPCD is also currently one of only two areas in the nation (South Coast AQMD being the other) classified as “extreme” non-attainment for ozone. Sessions include: * The Scientific Foundation for a Risk-Based Approach to Particulate Controls. * Development of the Risk-Based Approach to Air Quality Policy and Public Health. * - Evolution Towards Low-Risk Pesticides. * Applying the Approach to Policies - Potential Applications & Research Gaps.  *Policy Efficacy of the RB/MP Approach: Opportunities and Constraints. Optional Tours include * Bovine Bubbles. * Anaerobic BioMass Digester. * Olive Oil Center & Tasting Registration information is available at  https://sites.google.com/site/ucdavisaqaq/home  May 6, 2013 UC Davis Notice
   

• Fish vs. Farmer Fight for Water a “Balancing Act” - - Farmers say a State Water Resources Control Board proposal to send vast quantities of water down local rivers, reducing available irrigation water, will destroy the Central Valley's economy. But the needs of farmers must be balanced against those of fishermen and the environment, Water Board officials told a large crowd at a Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder meeting Wednesday. More than 70 people attended the meeting, held at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center. Many were farmers, who spoke of the potential impacts to their livelihood should proposed changes proceed. <more> May 5, 2013 Turlock City News
   

• Boxer: Water resources bill crucial to Bay Area and California - - A bill aimed at ramping up water projects nationwide is vital to the economic health of the Bay Area and all of California, Sen. Barbara Boxer told maritime business and government leaders Friday. The Water Resources Development Act, Senate Bill 601, reauthorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deal with water issues ranging from harbor restoration to flood prevention. It cleared the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works -- of which Boxer, D-Calif., is chairwoman -- in March with bipartisan support. And the full Senate is expected to vote on it next week. <more> May 3, 2013 San Jose Mercury News
   

• Dry winter could lead to a cruel summer for Valley growers - - A dry winter forced farmers in the Westlands Water District to run their wells far more last summer than they usually would. The underground water table dropped a staggering 48 feet. After another dry winter in California, Westlands farmers this summer will pump even more water, probably enough to fill 80% of Millerton Lake. Even so, many thousands of farmland acres will be left to grow tumbleweeds, and some crops already planted will wither. <more> May 5, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Oakdale Irrigation District water sale to grow? - - The Oakdale Irrigation District board Tuesday will consider increasing the amount of water it is selling this year to drought-stressed areas to the south. The Westlands Water District, one of the largest of the suppliers hit by sharp cutbacks in federal water deliveries, is seeking water beyond what the OID sold this spring. The price would be the same — $100 per acre-foot, far more than the OID's farmers pay. <more> May 5, 2013 Modesto Bee

• China’s Dairy industry moves to rebrand amid crisis - - China's dairy industry is attempting to rebrand itself due to plummeting consumer confidence and competition from foreign brands. Chinese consumers have been purchasing increasing amounts of milk powder from foreign countries due to decreased confidence in domestic brands caused by a 2008 food safety scandal. Several countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Germany, have introduced quota measures to cope with China's growing demand for milk powder, the Shanghai Securities News reported. Dairy industry expert Wang Dingmian attributed the increased foreign purchases to lower prices and weakened confidence in the domestic dairy industry. <more> May 6, 2013 China Daily
   

• ‘Plumped’ poultry fight advances - - The battle over "plumped" poultry — fresh chicken and turkey injected with saltwater and other substances — has moved to the state Capitol. The California Poultry Federation, based in Modesto, is backing a bill that would forbid these products in public schools and state-owned buildings. The bill is a strike at out-of-state producers that make substantial use of plumping. Some California poultry has added salt and other ingredients in marinades, but the federation points out that they are not plumped. <more> May 3, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Dying bees raise alarm for humans - - To say the honeybee is under attack worldwide is not an alarmist pronouncement. It is the terrible truth, and as far as I can tell, few people outside our nation's multibillion-dollar agricultural realm have a really good understanding of the staggering importance of that pronouncement and what it could portend for our food supply and the environment. Basically, this is a tale with profound implications far beyond the honey you put on your biscuit at breakfast: The health woes of the honeybee are an indicator of stresses we have placed on our environment – with the bees being much like the canary in the mine. <more> May 5, 2013 The Sacramento Bee
   

• Win Michael Marsh’s money at June 3 golf tourney  - - Golfers will have an opportunity to win $100 when they go up against Western United Dairymen CEO Michael Marsh in a closest-to-the-hole competition at the 11th annual North Valley Fed-PAC Golf Tournament Monday, June 3, at Diablo Grande Golf Course. Marsh, noting the recent sharpening of his skills to the likes of Aussie, Adam Scott, and Tiger Woods, said that competitors may need to card a hole-in-one if they hope to pocket his cash. All proceeds from the popular event will benefit Western United Dairymen’s federal political action committee. The four-person scramble gets underway with a noon shotgun start. The day culminates with a dinner at which awards and prizes will be presented. The grand prize for the raffle is a flat screen television. The cost is $150 per player and includes green fees, golf cart, practice balls, lunch, tee prizes, refreshments.

Friday, May 3, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• California dairy producers win support in whey struggle - -  May Day was a good day for California dairy producers – and an unusually crowded one for members of the State Assembly’s Ag Committee. At a May 1 public meeting to gather input and hear public comments on Assembly Bill 31, which would more closely align the value of whey in the state’s Class 4b (cheese) pricing formula with Class III (cheese) whey values in Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs), the meeting room was jammed with an estimated 100 dairy farm supporters of the measure. Another 100 or so had to wait outside. After brief formal presentations were given to the six-member panel from invited parties representing both sides of the issue, approximately 50 other people took turns at the microphone to voice their support. Afterward, committee members voted 6-0 in favor of the measure. Although it is a purely symbolic endorsement that has no legal power, it does keep the bill moving forward to be considered by the full Assembly. <more> May 3, 2013 Hoards Dairyman
   

• California ‘whey factor’ bill has ‘intent’, not policy - - The California Assembly Ag Committee approved an amended AB 31 on a 6-0 vote, May 1. However, the form of the bill that left room 126 of the Capitol contained “intent” rather than policy. And, whether the vote is judged as a decision akin to Solomon, or just the proverbial “kicking the can down the road” could play out over the next three weeks. Removed was the original language, introduced last December by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), that would have set the California Class 4b “dry whey factor” at no less than 80% of the federal order Class III "dry whey factor." Also removed was a whey factor exemption on the first 3 million lbs. of milk purchased by cheese plants per month, designed to protect small cheese processors – unable to capture revenues from whey – from higher milk procurement/processing costs. In its place, committee chair Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) inserted language intended to get dairy producers, processors, the state's Dairy Future’s Task Force and the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) to come up with new policy to address the Class 4b dry whey factor and processor exemption. <more> May 3, 2013 Dairy Business
   

• Dairies must invest to meet new consumer demands  - - By David Ahlem vice president of dairy procurement and policy for Hilmar Cheese Co. - - California's dairy community is at a crossroads. The dairy industry is well positioned to take advantage of growing global demand for milk and milk proteins. To capture this opportunity, industry and economic experts have urged California to reform its highly regulated milk pricing system.  For decades, California's Milk Marketing Order (MMO) system has artificially sustained a way of doing business that is otherwise unsustainable. It has discouraged the innovation and investment that would make the industry more competitive in the free market. Under this system, the value created from the sale of the finished products is pooled and redistributed to all dairy farmers. This system has allowed large dairy-farmer-owned cooperatives, which control more than 80% of the state's milk, to reap the rewards from investments made by others. As a result, these entities have not made investments to remain competitive with the changing demand for milk and dairy products. Instead of focusing on consumer demand, the MMO system has created an industry dependent on artificial price-setting and revenue redistribution instead of what the market dictates.  <more> May 3, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Milk-pricing system is harming California's dairies  - - By Cathleen Galgiani, Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee - - California is esteemed for many things, but few are as iconic as our "Happy Cows." Few are as treasured as the "grown and produced in California" labels that proudly represent the family farms that helped shape our state's cultural and economic foundations. Unfortunately, a tangle of antiquated price-setting methods is putting dairy farms, small and large, in peril. The rules governing the milk price paid to dairy farmers allow cheese companies to pay dramatically less for milk in California than in other states, which threatens the existence of hundreds of California's local, family-run dairies. Nearly 400 dairy farms already have closed in California in the past five years. Last year alone saw 105 family dairies shuttered. Meanwhile, California's remaining 1,500 dairies are fighting for survival, strapped with soaring feed costs and shackled by an unfair pricing structure within the state's milk marketing order. <more> May 3, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Sen. Rubio says new immigration bill needs stronger border provisions to pass Senate - - Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio says a new immigration bill he helped write needs stronger border security provisions or it will fail in the House and may even have trouble getting through the Senate. Rubio, who is the chief emissary to conservatives on the contentious legislation, said in a radio interview and in an opinion piece being published in Friday’s Wall Street Journal that he’s been hearing concerns in recent days that more work is needed to boost the bill’s language on the border and he said he’s committed to trying to make those changes. In his Wall Street Journal piece, Rubio cited “triggers” in the bill that aim to make new citizenship provisions contingent on border security accomplishments. <more> May 3, 2013 AP
   

• Immigration reforms important to Tulare County farmers, farmworkers - - In a peach grove north of Traver, a group of men work to remove some of the undeveloped fruit from the trees so other fruit on the branches will grow bigger by the time the trees are ready to be harvested. Most of the men are from Mexico, several of whom came into the U.S. illegally to find farm jobs here. It’s hard work, made harder and more dangerous by the risks and costs the men incurred crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. But across the country, work is under way to change that, as the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee issued earlier this year its lengthy reform bill. <more> May 3, 2013 Visalia Times Delta
   

• Proposal for Changes in Food Aid Sets Off Infighting in Congress - - A proposal by the Obama administration to overhaul the international food aid program has set off a jurisdictional fight among members of several House and Senate committees, threatening to derail the most significant change to the program since it was created nearly 60 years ago. The $1.4 billion annual program provides emergency food supplies to disaster-stricken regions across the globe. The United States provides over half of the world’s food aid. <more> May 2, 2013 The New York Times
   

• Obama nominates Froman as new U.S. trade representative - - President Obama announced the nomination of Mike Froman as U.S. trade representative today. Froman held a post as White House chief international economic affairs advisor since Obama took office in 2009. During his announcement in the White House Rose Garden Thursday morning, Obama said Froman “has established himself as one of the world’s foremost experts on our global economy.” <more> May 2, 2013 Agri-Pulse

Pricing/Commodity News

• Cheese up, butter down on the CME - - Cash cheese up, butter and nonfat dry milk down at the close on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Friday. The powder market finally reacting to Wednesday’s Global Dairy Trade auction which saw the first overall decline in prices since December 4th.  <more> May 3, 2013 Brownfield Ag News  
   

• Lee Mielke: Political wrangling over milk continues - - Legislation recently introduced in the House by Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and David Scott, D-Ga., got another thumbs ups, this time from dairy producers in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, members of the Dairy Policy Action Coalition. A DPAC press release said the bill would "offer dairy farmers a new milk insurance package almost identical to the Dairy Security Act included in failed farm bill attempts but without a controversial milk supply management program. Called the Dairy Market Stabilization program, the proposal would have tied margin insurance protection, desperately needed by dairy farmers, to government-mandated limits on milk production through new regulations." <more> May 3, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Zen-Noh Hay ramps up its game - - A major hay exporter is shaking up the industry in the Pacific Northwest by paying growers for hay within two days of delivery and opening a mammoth hay storage facility. Zen-Noh Hay Inc. hosted about 250 hay growers, brokers, transportation providers, community leaders and dignitaries from Japan at a prime-rib dinner and grand reopening of its Port of Pasco plant on May 2. Hitomi Narikiyo, president and CEO of Zen-Noh -- Japan's National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations -- and John Williams, president and CEO of Zen-Noh Hay and Zen-Noh Grain, spoke before guests toured the facility. Port of Pasco commissioners and Pasco Mayor Matt Watkins joined Narikiyo and Williams in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting of two new buildings totaling 345,150 square feet and costing almost $4.6 million. <more> May 3, 2013 Capital Press
   

• CDFA issues call for May 20 hearing on milk prices - - The CDFA has issued a call for a public hearing Monday,  May 20 to consider temporary amendments to the Stabilization and Marketing Plans for Market Milk for the Northern California and Southern California Marketing Areas (Plans). The hearing will be held on May 20 at 8 a.m. in the Department Auditorium, 1220 N Street, Sacramento. The hearing will consider proposed amendments to the Class 1, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b prices. Specific proposals that would amend the provisions contained in Article III, Section 300, paragraph (H) of the Plans will be open for consideration at the hearing. The hearing notice can be downloaded by clicking here. May 1, 2013 CDFA Notice

Environmental News

• Bad news: Calif. snowpack 17 percent of normal - - The man in charge of surveying California's snowpack to measure the amount of water that will flow into storage reservoirs over the next few months had bad news Thursday. "I'm finding nothing. Seriously, there is no snow on the course at all," said Frank Gehrke, chief surveyor for the Department of Water Resources. The survey showed the water content of what little snowpack does remain at 17 percent of normal, an ominous situation for a state that depends on a steady stream of snowmelt to replenish reservoirs throughout the summer. For nearly a century the state has been taking snow measurements at select areas across the Sierra Nevada in an attempt to gauge how much water will be available for farmers and city dwellers. <more> May 2, 2013 AP
   

• California Water Supply To Be Drawn From Storage To Meet Demand - - The final California snow survey is bad news for the millions of residents and farmers who rely on the snowpack for their water. The reading was just 17 percent of normal following one of the driest winters on record, California Department of Water Resources (DWR) officials announced Thursday. DWR projects it will only be able to deliver 35 percent of requested amounts from the State Water Project to the 29 agencies that purchase the water. The last time the allocation was that low was in 2008. Collectively, the agencies supply a third of the water used in households and on farms across California as the snowpack melts into streams, reservoirs and aquifers. <more> May 3, 2013 KPBS
   

• Merced Irrigation District's irrigation sale off to slow start - - Heading into a likely bone-dry growing season, irrigation officials are offering a new program for farmers who are willing to pay for extra water. Farmers have placed orders for only about half of the available supply, but irrigation officials said the pilot program has been "extremely successful" and will continue into the future. "It's still open," said Merced Irrigation District General Manager John Sweigard. "If more people inquire, we'll do everything we can to meet their needs." <more> May 3, 2013 Merced Sun-Star
   

• PG&E provides $450K grant for Fresno State - - Pacific Gas and Electric Co. on Thursday presented a $450,000 grant to Fresno State farm operations for demonstration projects involving new water and energy management technologies. The demonstrations will take place at the university’s new Agriculture-Water-Energy Center. The presentation took place during the 2013 Bluetech Valley Conference on how water efficient technologies will secure future food supplies. Robert Calrson, head of PG&E’s energy solutions and service, made the presentation that will help ag students and farmers throughout the area in learning better water and energy management techniques. <more> May 2, 2013 The Business Journal 

• Study Finds No Single Cause of Honeybee Deaths - - The devastation of American honeybee colonies is the result of a complex stew of factors, including pesticides, parasites, poor nutrition and a lack of genetic diversity, according to a comprehensive federal study published on Thursday. The problems affect pollination of American agricultural products worth tens of billions of dollars a year. The report does not place more weight on one factor over another, and recommends a range of actions and further research. Honeybees are used to pollinate hundreds of crops, from almonds to strawberries to soybeans. Since 2006, millions of bees have been dying in a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder. The cause or causes have been the subject of much study and speculation. <more> May 2, 2013 The New York Times
   

• Almond crop projection for 2013 announced - - The federal government today projected the California almond crop at an even 2 billion pounds this year, just shy of the record harvest of 2.03 billion pounds in 2011. The estimate, announced at the Modesto headquarters of the Almond Board of California, is based on a telephone survey of 305 growers. The harvest, which will start in August, will help growers meet the growing demand for almonds around the world. California accounts for about 75 percent of the supply. The 2013 projection is up 6 percent from the 2012 harvest of 1.89 billion pounds. Almonds are second only to milk for gross income among farm products in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. <more> May 2, 2013 Merced Sun-Star
   

• A day in the strawberry fields seems like forever - - A bout 30 minutes into my job as a picker, the strawberry fairy left her first gift. On one of the beds of berries that seemed to stretch forever into the Santa Maria marine layer, Elvia Lopez had laid a little bundle of picked fruit. She and the other three dozen Mexican immigrants in the field were bent at an almost 90-degree angle, using two hands to pack strawberries into plastic containers that they pushed along on ungainly one-wheeled carts. They moved forward, relentlessly, ever bent, following a hulking machine with a conveyor belt that spirited away their fruit. But Lopez, a 31-year-old immigrant from Baja California, knew I was falling behind. And she responded with an act of kindness. Like the other women, Lopez wore a cap, several layers of clothing and a bandanna over her face to protect her from dust — and, she said, to keep her complexion nice. <more> May 3, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Kellogg profit falls on higher costs but company stands by full-year outlook - - Kellogg has a plan to get adults to eat more cereal: pile on the nutrients. The Battle Creek, Mich.-based company says it’s introducing Raisin Bran with omega-3 and a multigrain version of Special K later this month as it works to boost struggling cereal sales in North America. Such offerings are intended to appeal specifically to higher-income people and baby boomers, CEO John Bryant said in a conference call with analysts. Overall cereal sales have lagged in the U.S. for years as Americans increasingly reach for foods that are easier to eat on the go. But Bryant noted that the category is very fragmented and that particular groups are dragging down results. <more> May 2, 2013 AP
   

• Drones Hit New Turf: U.S. Farmland - - Farmers are starting to investigate the use of drones for a decidedly nonmilitary purpose: monitoring crops and spraying pesticides. As the spring growing season unfolds, universities already are working with agricultural groups to experiment with different types of unmanned aircraft outfitted with sensors and other technologies to measure and protect crop health. Oregon State University plans to use the unmanned vehicles to monitor the school's potato crop and those of a commercial potato grower. Both crops, located near Hermiston, Ore., are expected to sprout in coming weeks. The university last month ran its first test-flight. <more> May 1, 2013 The Wall Street Journal 

Thursday, May 2, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• California lawmakers seek consensus on whey pricing - - An Assembly panel unanimously approved a watered-down whey pricing bill May 1 and asked producers and processors to come to the bargaining table to reach solutions.  An overflow gathering of dairymen from around the state listened nervously as the Agriculture Committee considered Assembly Bill 31, which seeks to bring California's pricing formula for milk going to cheese vats more in line with producers' operating costs. However, language mandating that California whey bring at least 80 percent of the price for similar milk nationwide was gutted from the bill late April 30 as committee chairwoman Susan Talamantes Eggman and others expressed hope that producers and processors would come up with a formula they agree on. The deadline to move policy proposals to the Senate is May 21, giving proponents about three weeks to develop new bill language.  Western United CEO Michael Marsh was generally upbeat after the hearing, expressing hope the bill will bring processors to the table.  "The challenge is the cheese processors have refused to negotiate with us," he said. "What this is going to do is allow the bill to move." <more> May 2, 2013 Capital Press  
   

• Oil and soda taxes advance in California Legislature - - Two controversial tax measures advanced Wednesday in the California Legislature — a penny-per-ounce levy on soda and a charge on oil pumped from the ground in the state. The Senate Health Committee members approved a bill by state Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) that would charge the tax on sweetened beverages, including sodas, in hopes of reducing obesity among young people. The $1.7 billion that would be raised would go to a Children’s Health Promotion Fund to support a statewide program to prevent obesity in children. Monning said the tax in SB 622 would also reduce consumption of high-calorie drinks by children. <more> May 1, 2013 Los Angeles Times 
   

• Milk regulators reject lowering somatic cell threshold - - The National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipments - a group of state regulators overseeing milk safety rules - has again rejected a proposal to lower the maximum level of somatic cell counts in milk. National Milk Producers Federation had again proposed lowering that count from 750,000 cells per millimeter of milk to 400,000 cells. Somatic cell counts measure the number of white blood cells in the milk produced by a cow to fight infection, primarily mastitis. When levels approach 1 million, there is a higher likelihood of having elevated levels of bacteria in the milk. <more> May 2, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Michael Carvahlo: Fate of valley dairy farmers in balance - - May is shaping up to be a crucial month for California's dairy farmers. After numerous delays, committees on both sides of Capitol Hill are planning to reconsider a multiyear farm bill that could determine if dairy farmers in our area survive or fail. The nation's consumers also have a stake in this effort. If Washington doesn't pass a farm bill this year, consumers could again face the possibility of government-induced high milk prices in 2013. This so-called dairy cliff was delayed, but not done away with, at the start of this year. <more> May 1, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Most Americans remain in the dark on immigration bill - - For all the attention given so far to efforts in Congress to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws, nearly four in 10 Americans say they don’t know enough about it to have an opinion, and fewer than one-quarter could correctly answer a couple of basic questions about it, a new poll shows. The survey, by the Pew Research Center, underscores an important fact in the immigration debate – most of the public has not yet tuned in. A bipartisan proposal negotiated by eight senators has gathered considerable strength, and Senate debate is scheduled to start next week, but because so many Americans remain unengaged, predictions about the bill’s fate almost certainly remain premature. <more> May 1, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Poll: Citizenship support slips - - Support for a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants has declined from last month, a new poll found. Fifty-two percent of Americans backing granting illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship, compared with the 59 percent who supported such action in an April 4 poll, according to a Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday. Eleven percent think they should stay but not be granted citizenship, and 30 percent think they should not be able to stay. The rest were unsure or didn’t answer. Among Republicans, 36 percent think they should be allowed to stay and eventually apply for citizenship; 15 percent think they should stay but not be granted citizenship; and 42 percent think they shouldn’t be able to stay. Among Democrats, 69 percent think they should stay and be granted citizenship; 8 percent think they should stay but not be granted citizenship; and 18 percent think they shouldn’t stay. The rest are undecided or didn’t answer. <more> May 2, 2013 Politico 
   

• Obama to Pitch Immigration Overhaul in Mexico - - President Barack Obama is headed to Mexico with a domestic ambition at the top of his travel agenda. To sell his immigration overhaul back home, he needs a growing economy in Mexico and a Mexican president willing to help him secure the border. Obama was to fly to Mexico City on Thursday to meet with President Enrique Pena Nieto, eager to promote Mexico’s economic success and the neighboring country’s place as the second largest export market for U.S. goods and services. <more> May 2, 2013 AP
   

• Fierce lobbying counters White House push for food aid reform - - A White House plan to modernize the major U.S. food aid program, by donating cash rather than American-grown food, is in trouble after fierce lobbying by farm groups, food processors, shippers and others who set out to sink the idea months before it was unveiled in President Barack Obama's fiscal 2014 budget. The administration, which needs congressional approval to make the changes, is discovering that only a few lawmakers are prepared to publicly support the effort to send cash abroad to make the distribution of aid faster and more efficient. <more> May 1, 2013 Reuters

Pricing/Commodity News

• CDFA issues call for May 20 hearing on milk prices - - The CDFA has issued a call for a public hearing Monday,  May 20 to consider temporary amendments to the Stabilization and Marketing Plans for Market Milk for the Northern California and Southern California Marketing Areas (Plans). The hearing will be held on May 20 at 8 a.m. in the Department Auditorium, 1220 N Street, Sacramento. The hearing will consider proposed amendments to the Class 1, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b prices. Specific proposals that would amend the provisions contained in Article III, Section 300, paragraph (H) of the Plans will be open for consideration at the hearing. The hearing notice can be downloaded by clicking here. May 1, 2013 CDFA Notice
   

• Milk Powder Auction Prices Decline for First Time This Year - - Whole milk powder fell for the first time this year amid signs that New Zealand’s most widespread drought in at least 30 years may ease, according to Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. Powder for July delivery declined 4.8 percent, according to a trade-weighted index on the company’s GlobalDairyTrade website. It was the first fall since Dec. 18. The near-term contract for New Zealand product fell to $6,001 a metric ton from a record $6,283 on April 16. Prices have surged 89 percent since Jan. 2 as a drought declared across the entire North Island including Waikato province, the country’s biggest milk producer, curbed milk collection. The nation may receive near-normal rainfall through June, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said last month. <more> May 2, 2013 Bloomberg  
   

• Crop forecaster reduces U.S. corn outlook by 30 million bushels - - Crop forecaster Lanworth on Wednesday trimmed its estimate of U.S. corn production due to wet weather that will likely cut planted acreage this spring. Lanworth said it expected the harvest of the 2013/14 corn crop to be 13.90 billion bushels, down from its previous estimate of 13.93 billion. "Recent cool and wet weather continues to delay planting and lowers likely corn planted area by 1 percent to 96.2 million acres," the forecaster said in a research note. "The wet weather also raises Lanworth's median corn yield outlook slightly, offsetting the acreage losses." <more> May 1, 2013 Reuters
   

• Cheese production down slightly in March - - Total cheese production in the U.S. in March was 954 million pounds down 0.2 percent compared to a year ago. Italian type cheese production was up 1.3 percent at 416 million pounds and American-type cheese production increased 1.4 percent to 384 million pounds.  A 10.7 percent decline in Swiss along with lower production in a few other specialty varieties more than offset the increases. Wisconsin cheese production totaled 249.646 million pounds in March up 2.7 percent from a year ago.  California total cheese production in March was 194.3 million pounds down 2.4 percent from March of 2012.  <more> May 2, 2013 Brownfield Ag News

Environmental News

• Bill to change California's environmental review law advances - - A bill that would make changes to California's landmark environmental review law moved forward in the state Senate Wednesday, as Democrats rejected a GOP-backed proposal as "too broad and comprehensive a change." Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg defended his Senate Bill 731, which passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee Wednesday, as an attempt to cut down on project delays the business community has long blamed on the California Environmental Quality Act without undermining the environmental protections the 1970 law provides. He acknowledged that the current bill is a work in progress. <more> May 1, 2013 Capitol Alert
   

• Bill would let MID count Exchequer Dam power as 'green' - -  Under newly proposed legislation, the Merced Irrigation District could see an easing of green-energy requirements, a move officials say would benefit local ratepayers' pocketbooks. Under California law, power utilities have to provide 33 percent of their energy from renewable sources by the end of 2020. Power providers also must hit benchmarks of 20 percent renewable energy by 2014 and 25 percent by 2017. As only about 5 percent of the district's energy comes from green power, meeting those requirements likely will mean significant rate hikes for consumers, said General Manager John Sweigard. <more> May 2, 2013 Merced Sun-Star
   

• River flows not only way to aid salmon, state says - - State water officials said Wednesday that their plan to aid salmon could involve more than simply boosting river flows at the expense of farmers. They said streambed improvements and other options could be part of the effort to build back salmon numbers on the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers. "We are actively looking at nonflow measures that can be taken," said Dorene D'Adamo of Turlock, who was appointed in March to the State Water Resources Control Board. About 75 people turned out at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center to hear about the plan. Of most concern to farmers is a tentative proposal to increase the February-through-June flows on all three rivers to 35 percent of the natural conditions before they were diverted. <more> May 1, 2013 Modesto Bee 
   

• Air district's annual report cites progress, challenges - - The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has always had a difficult story to tell. Each year district officials assert that significant progress has been made in improving the valley's air quality. And each year, Bakersfield is listed among cities with the worst air in the nation. <more> April 30, 2013 Bakersfield Californian 
   

• Earth's greenhouse gas levels approach 400-ppm milestone - - The ratio of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere is flirting with 400 parts per million, a level last seen about 2.5 million to 5 million years ago, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. The Institution this week launched a daily Keeling curve update, showing the saw-toothed upward diagonal of rising carbon dioxide levels since the late 1950s. <more> May 1, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Conservation Stewardship Program Funding Available - - The Natural Resources Conservation Service's Conservation Stewardship Program will provide $175 million in funding for up to 12.6 million additional acres of enrollment, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday. The CSP offers producers payments in return for maintaining a high level of conservation on their land and who agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. Improvements to meet requirements can include intensive rotational grazing, intercropping and wildlife friendly fencing. "It's about conservation activities on the entire operation focusing on multiple resource concerns," Vilsack explained. Though applications are accepted all year, those interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by May 31 to be eligible for this year's funding. <more> May 1, 2013 California Farmer

• Salma Hayek: Milk part of 'perfect' breakfast - - For actress Salma Hayek, there’s little that is more important than starting the day with a healthy breakfast. And to meet the nutritional needs of her family, she turns to milk – the “perfect protein.” “I think it’s crucial to have a breakfast that is going to make you think clear and have energy throughout the day,” Hayek said in a behind-the-scenes look at her latest ‘got milk?’ campaign photo shoot.  <more> May 1, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• Ethanol Plant Faces Wrecking Ball - - When the New Energy Corp. ethanol plant in South Bend, Ind., was idled by its bankruptcy filing last November, people nearby hoped a buyer would restart operations, and not just for its 90 jobs. The plant had sucked six million gallons of water a day from the surrounding swamplands, and without its pumps, water pooled in nearby basements. But the winning $2.5 million bid at the bankruptcy auction came from buyers who plan to sell the plant for scrap. The South Bend facility was the country's first major ethanol plant when it opened in 1984, and now it could be the first to get dismantled after filing for bankruptcy. Several other small towns in the Midwest could face a similar scenario as the ethanol industry begins to emerge from one of the toughest markets in its three-decade history. <more> April 30, 2013 The Wall Street Journal 
   

• Egg industry lawyer: HSUS 'caved' on legislation - - The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) “caved” on federal legislation regulating cage size, Joe Miller, general counsel at Rose Acre Farms, said yesterday at the annual Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit in Arlington, Va. Rose Acre Farms, the second-largest egg producer in the nation, is also a member of the United Egg Producers (UEP), which reached a cage size agreement with HSUS last year. <more> May 2, 2013 Agri-Pulse

Meetings of Interest to CA Dairy Industry

• Farm bill focus at Western agriculture conference in Davis May 14 - - Agricultural leaders and economists will discuss the new Farm Bill and its impacts on agriculture in the West May 14 at an all-day conference at the UC Davis Conference Center. Karen Ross, secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture and former U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture chief of staff, and Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, will share their insights on what the Farm Bill is likely to mean for agriculture in the western states. “The Farm Bill affects every California commodity,” said Daniel Sumner, director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center and conference coordinator. “Growers, lenders, agribusiness executives, policy advisors, agricultural leaders, university professionals, students and everyone who values comprehensive and objective information about the upcoming Farm Bill and U.S. farm policy are invited to participate in the conversation.” <more> April 10, 2013 Western Farm Press

California Dairy Families: Making a Difference Today for Tomorrow's Generations

Visit our Video Channel .Watch WUD members talk about how they meet the environmental challenges facing the California dairy industry. Hear about their pride in their farming heritage and the contributions they make to their communities. Also visit the California Milk Advisory Board's website which features many WUD dairy families talking about the rewards and heartaches of dairy farming.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• AB 31 approved unanimously by Assembly Ag Committee - - Assembly Bill 31 was approved by the Assembly Agriculture Committee today on a 6-0 vote. The committee heard from nearly 50 people who spoke in support of the bill as California dairy families stepped to the microphone to express their support for the bill authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and sponsored by Western United Dairymen. The bill would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. May 1, 2013 WUD News
   

• CDFA issues call for May 20 hearing on milk prices - - The CDFA today issued a call for a public hearing Monday,  May 20 to consider temporary amendments to the Stabilization and Marketing Plans for Market Milk for the Northern California and Southern California Marketing Areas (Plans). The hearing will be held on May 20 at 8 a.m. in the Department Auditorium, 1220 N Street, Sacramento. The hearing will consider proposed amendments to the Class 1, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b prices. Specific proposals that would amend the provisions contained in Article III, Section 300, paragraph (H) of the Plans will be open for consideration at the hearing. The hearing notice can be downloaded by clicking here. May 1, 2013 CDFA Notice

   

• Ferndale dairy producer selected as regional winner in national “Farm Mom” contest - -  Mary Ann Bansen, a Western United Dairymen member from Ferndale, has been named Monsanto’s 2013 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year regional winner for the Southwest. One of five regional winners, Bansen was selected by judges from American Agri-Women and Monsanto in recognition of the contributions she makes to her family, farm, community and the agricultural industry. Along with the four other regional winners, Bansen’s nomination will be featured on www.AmericasFarmers.com through May 11, where online voting will determine the national winner. Ballots can be cast at http://www.americasfarmers.com/farmmom/vote.aspx Mary Ann and her husband, Pete, are owners and operators of Bancrest Dairy, a pasture-based dairy farm that has been in the Bansen family for almost 100 years. <more> May 1, 2013 Monsanto press release
   

• Vidak looks to move from farm to Senate - - Andy Vidak wears a cowboy hat, farms cherry orchards near Hanford and runs a lettuce cooling operation in Fresno County. Now the longtime San Joaquin Valley farmer is taking on a very different challenge — running to represent Kings County in the 16th state Senate District. Vidak may never have held public office, but he’s been a well-known persona on the political scene ever since he ran against — and almost beat — Democrat Jim Costa in the 2010 20th Congressional District election. <more> April 29, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• State Board Revisits Water Transfers, High-Speed Rail, and Ag Labor at May 7 Meeting  - - The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will revisit several key agricultural policy issues on Tuesday, May 7th in Sacramento. The meeting is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street - Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814. The agenda includes an in-depth discussion on agricultural water transfers, specifically focusing on how the permitting process can allow for the timely movement of water. On high-speed rail, the board will revisit the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s outreach and public engagement efforts with agricultural interests concerning route alignment and mitigation. In addressing agricultural labor, the board will be updated on the current status of federal immigration reform from farm and labor leaders. The agenda concludes with a discussion on the California Agricultural Vision - a policy framework which addresses opportunities for California’s future. <more> May 1, 2013 CDFA news release
   

• USDA expands SNAP access at farmers markets - - The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday announced a $4 million plan to increase the use of federal food credits at farmers markets. The initiative will expand wireless access to qualified retailers that do not already accept payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, which provides financial assistance to help people with little to no income purchase food. Congress’s 2012 spending plan authorized the $4 million to help markets buy or lease wireless point-of-sale equipment to connect sellers with SNAP. The funding will be available through Sept. 30. <more> April 30, 2013 Washington Post
   

• Schwarzenegger lends muscle to immigration discussion - - Arnold Schwarzenegger uses his own improbable rise from bodybuilder to action hero to California governor as an argument for immigration reform. As a teenager in his native Austria, Schwarzenegger saw the United States as the only place he could achieve his outsized dreams. The 11 million immigrants now in the country illegally are not so different from his younger self, he told an audience Tuesday at the USC think tank that bears his name. "These are all very hardworking people. They have a dream. They want to make their dream a reality," he said. Then, Schwarzenegger turned the stage over to two U.S. senators at the epicenter of the immigration debate in Washington. The conversation turned to the practical matter of vote-getting. <more> April 30, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Bills to protect California immigrant workers introduced - - Now, as an advocate for victims of human trafficking, Angela is backing legislation, SB516, that would make it illegal for California employers to hire foreign workers who are brought to the U.S. by labor contractors not registered with the state. Contractors would also be prohibited from charging fees to workers for recruitment -- and would be required to disclose the terms and conditions of employment. The bill is part of a two-bill package touted Tuesday by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, aimed at protecting immigrant workers. <more> May 1, 2013 San Jose Mercury News

Pricing/Commodity News

• Dairy profitability shows some improvement in April - - It’s nothing to shout about, but the USDA’s milk-feed ratio did move in a positive direction in April. According to the USDA’s “Agricultural Prices” report released on Tuesday, the preliminary milk-feed ratio for April is 1.56, up from 1.48 in March. This marks an upward swing after four straight months of decline.  The all-milk price used in calculating the ratio also rose, climbing from $19.10 per hundredweight in March to $19.30 in April. <more> April 30, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• Cull cow prices lower, but still strong - - Estimated U.S. April 2013 cull cow prices (beef and dairy combined) averaged $81.70/cwt., down $1.20/cwt. from March’s revised estimate, and $3.80/cwt. less than April 2012. Current trend: April’s price decline follows four consecutive monthly increases. May 1, 2013 Dairy Business Update 

Environmental News

• Science, values join forces as dairy groups mark continued commitment to air research - -  Dairy farmers have long understood their important responsibility to steward the land and natural resources such as air and water. Conservation, preservation, re-use and recycling are fundamental values among farm families, many of whom have operated sustainably on the same land for generations. While these values are an essential foundation, good dairy farm management decisions also depend on having reliable information. That’s why dairy organizations from across the western U.S. gathered this month in Boise, Idaho to continue their years-long push for improved science and management strategies for dairies. Held every two years since 2005, the Western States Dairy Air Quality Symposium has become a tradition in which dairy leaders, the nation’s leading scientific researchers, and regulators discuss the latest research and opportunities. <more> May 1, 2013 Dairy CARES Newsletter
   

• California Fracking Moratorium Clears Key Committee in Assembly - -  A California Assembly panel approved a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing by oil and natural-gas producers until the most populous U.S. state assesses health and environmental concerns.  The bill by Adrin Nazarian, a Los Angeles Democrat, is opposed by the oil industry through the Western States Petroleum Association, which says hydraulic fracturing has been used safely for more than 60 years. Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee approved the measure 5-3 on a party-line vote late yesterday. Democrats control the Legislature.  Nazarian’s bill would require the secretaries of the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency to lead a study to determine whether fracking can be done without risk. <more> May 1, 2013 Bloomberg News
   

• As 'Fracking' Debate Heats Up, Weighing Risks Key to Possible Monterey Shale Boom - - Could California be on the verge of a new gold rush? That’s the finding of a new study from USC about the potential economic impact of oil that lies deep beneath the Central Valley, known as the Monterey Shale. But extracting that oil isn’t easy, and it would require the use of a number of advanced techniques, including hydraulic fracturing.  And that’s attracted concerns from environmental groups and state regulators. Valley Public Radio’s Joe Moore reports on some recent developments in the fracking debate. <more> May 1, 2013 Valley Public Radio
   

• San Joaquin Valley farmers lag as nitrogen program signup deadline looms - -  With a deadline less than two weeks away, officials say hundreds of regional farmers have not signed up for the state's mandatory "nitrogen budgeting" program aimed at improving groundwater quality. "There's people saying, 'I'm tired of this, and I don't want the water board involved with my operation, and I'm going to chance it,' " said Amanda Carvajal, executive director with the Merced County Farm Bureau. However, that's not a position endorsed by local farm bureaus. "They will ultimately have to get in," Carvajal said. "It's a no-choice operation. At some point, we have to work together on this." <more> May 1, 2013 Merced Sun-Star
   

• Where Might Funding For Safe Drinking Water Flow From? - - For the past 35 years, Sandra Garcia has picked grapes, plums and peppers on San Joaquin Valley farms. But when she returns to her home in the small, Tulare County community of Poplar, she’s reminded of agriculture’s impact on her drinking water. She can’t drink it because it contains unhealthy levels of nitrates. And she can’t cook with it, because boiling water can concentrate the nitrate level. It’s a serious health issue for infants and pregnant women. Garcia is among more than 250,000 people in the Tulare Lake Basin and the Salinas Valley who are at risk for nitrate contamination of their drinking water. That’s according to a UC Davis report that was submitted to the legislature last year. The report also found that agriculture fertilizers and animal waste applied to cropland were the source of an estimated 96 percent of nitrate pollution in groundwater in these areas. <more> May 1, 2013 Valley Public Radio
   

• Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by May 31 - - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will provide nearly $175 million in funding for up to 12.6 million additional acres of enrollment this year. “The Conservation Stewardship Program is different than other USDA financial assistance programs,” said Vilsack. “CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. It’s about conservation activities on the entire operation focusing on multiple resource concerns.” <more> May 1, 2013 NRCS press release
   

• Washington dairies ask for dismissal of manure lawsuits - - Five dairies in Washington's Yakima Valley have filed a motion to dismiss lawsuits against them brought by the Community Association for Restoration of the Environment and the Center for Food Safety. Plaintiffs allege that manure is a solid waste and when applied on land or stored is leaching nitrates and contaminating groundwater in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The plaintiffs want manure classified as a solid waste and dairies treated as open dumps, such as municipal landfills, and regulated under that law, said the dairies' attorney, Hugh O'Riordan, of Givens and Pursley. <more> May 1, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Dan Walters: Maneuvers accelerate on California water plan - - Earlier this week, Gov. Jerry Brown's point man on the highly controversial proposal to bore tunnels beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta found himself in political hot water. Gerald Meral, a veteran environmentalist who served in Brown's first governorship, was quoted as saying during a private meeting that the project, known formally as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, "is not about, and has never been about, saving the Delta. The Delta cannot be saved." <more> May 1, 2013 The Sacramento Bee
   

• Delta water protection bill moving through Legislature - - A proposal that would force the Department of Water Resources to prove that its water projects would actually result in reducing dependence of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta before going ahead with them is moving slowly through the state Legislature. The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water has voted 7-2 to approve Senate Bill 449, authored by state Sen. Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, which, if it were to make it into law, would prohibit the DWR from allocating state funds for water projects that are unable to demonstrate that they are reducing their dependence on the Delta. <more> April 29, 2013 Central Valley Business Times
   

• Mounting criticism for Bay Delta water diversion plan - - Opposition to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan appears to be growing among elected officials, with Woodland's representative in the state Senate calling it "worse and worse." "I think there's some very serious problems with the BDCP, and they're just becoming worse and worse," said state Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis. "There isn't a day or a week that goes by when there isn't a serious concern raised about either the fisheries, the cost, the construction, the process, the exclusion of the Delta counties from participation. These concerns just keep growing and growing. And they're never responded to." The remarks came after last Friday's statement, signed by Wolk and eight other state legislators from Northern California including Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis, condemning the project as a water grab and calling for it to be halted immediately. <more> May 1, 2013 Daily Democrat
   

• Top House lawmakers want better look at pesticide effects -- Two House committee chairmen called for a return to the drawing board yesterday after the release of a report saying federal agencies should use “a common scientific approach” in determining the possible effects pesticides could pose to endangered or threatened species. The report, “Assessing Risks to Endangered and Threatened Species from Pesticides,” was issued by the National Academy of Science’s National Research Council (NRC) and found that EPA, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) should use risk assessment approaches that address problem formulation, exposure analysis, effects analysis, and risk characterization. <more> May 1, 2013 Agri-Pulse

• California Farmer magazine ends its run - - California Farmer, a 160-year-old agriculture magazine that took on lending institutions during the 1980s farm financial crisis, delved into the state's water controversies and even devoted one cover to marijuana production, published its last issue this month and has closed its Bay Area doors. Penton Media, the company that publishes California Farmer, said the magazine wasn't as profitable as its other publications. The company plans to fold coverage of the state's agriculture news into its Western Farm Press publication, which is distributed throughout the West, said spokesman Chris Meyer. Nonetheless, California ranchers, farmers and agriculture policymakers say the demise of California Farmer is a loss to the state.  <more> May 1, 2013 SF Chronicle
   

• The Milk Man: A day in the life(style) of a key player in Wisconsin's dairy industry - - With a few smooth movements, Dave Pribek backed the long, silver trailer of his milk truck to within a few feet of the milk house Wednesday afternoon on a Brussels-area farm. His only audience, a lone cow watching from behind a metal gate. That scene plays out — with some variation — an average of 20 times a day for the Kewaunee County-based milk truck driver and business owner. Around the state and the nation, milk haulers like Dale and Dave Pribek — owners of Pribek Trucking in West Kewaunee — serve as the link between farm and processing plant, and ultimately consumers. It’s a largely unsung job, but one that plays an enormous role in one of Wisconsin’s most-important industries. <more> April 21, 2013 Green Bay Press Gazette
   

• Hummus Is Conquering America - - Prodded by the largest U.S. hummus maker, farmers in the heart of tobacco country are trying to grow chickpeas, an improbable move that reflects booming demand for hummus. Sabra Dipping Co., a joint venture of PepsiCo Inc. PEP -0.32% and Israel's Strauss Group Ltd., wants to cultivate a commercial crop in Virginia to reduce its dependence on the legume's main U.S. growing region—the Pacific Northwest—and to identify new chickpea varieties for its dips and spreads. For Sabra, which makes hummus at a plant near Richmond, Va., a secondary source of supplies could help protect the company if a chickpea shortage occurred because of crop failures in Washington or Idaho. <more> April 30, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• World Dairy Expo names new GM - - World Dairy Expo named Scott Bentley as the new general manager, effective June 3. In his new role, Bentley will lead World Dairy Expo staff in the strategic planning and implementation of the largest dairy-focused event in the world. Most recently, Bentley served as global supply manager at ABS Global, DeForest, Wis.. He previously held positions as global dairy product manager, district sales manager and in dairy sire acquisition. Prior to that, Bentley was field service manager at the American Jersey Cattle Association. “Center of the Dairy Universe” is the theme for World Dairy Expo 2013, Oct. 1-5, in Madison, Wis. Visit www.worlddairyexpo.com   for the latest schedule details, or follow Facebook at http://facebook.com/worlddairyexpo .  May 1, 2013 Dairy Business Update

Meetings of Interest to CA Dairy Industry

• Farm bill focus at Western agriculture conference in Davis May 14 - - Agricultural leaders and economists will discuss the new Farm Bill and its impacts on agriculture in the West May 14 at an all-day conference at the UC Davis Conference Center. Karen Ross, secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture and former U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture chief of staff, and Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, will share their insights on what the Farm Bill is likely to mean for agriculture in the western states. “The Farm Bill affects every California commodity,” said Daniel Sumner, director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center and conference coordinator. “Growers, lenders, agribusiness executives, policy advisors, agricultural leaders, university professionals, students and everyone who values comprehensive and objective information about the upcoming Farm Bill and U.S. farm policy are invited to participate in the conversation.” <more> April 10, 2013 Western Farm Press

California Dairy Families: Making a Difference Today for Tomorrow's Generations

Visit our Video Channel .Watch WUD members talk about how they meet the environmental challenges facing the California dairy industry. Hear about their pride in their farming heritage and the contributions they make to their communities. Also visit the California Milk Advisory Board's website which features many WUD dairy families talking about the rewards and heartaches of dairy farming.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol.

  Western Milling is coordinating a bus to take interested dairy producers to the hearing. The bus will be leaving from the Visalia Holiday Inn (9000 W. Airport Drive) at 8 a.m. on May 1.  Please call DeAnna Fitzgerald at (559) 302-1078 to reserve your seat.

  Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• AB 31 committee hearing can be heard on-line  - - The state Assembly Agriculture Committee hearing tomorrow on Assembly Bill 31 can be listed to online. The committee meets in the Capitol at 1:30 p.m. to listen to testimony on the bill. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) is the first item on the agenda, scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. To listen to the hearing, go to the Assembly Daily File at http://assembly.ca.gov/dailyfile and scroll down the page to find the Agriculture Committee listing and click on “listen to this hearing.”  
   

• Stakes Are High in May 1 Hearing on California Dairy Pricing Proposal - -  The stakes could hardly be higher for the two main sectors of California’s dairy industry. The state’s dairy producers and processors each say their very survival is at stake if AB31, the proposed legislation to change the state’s pricing system, doesn’t go their way. "This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967," says Tom Barcellos, president of Western United Dairymen (WUD), which sponsored the bill. "If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to [dairy producers] are fair and competitive." Processor interests, however, say the bill would ruin the ability of the state’s cheese-makers to compete nationally or globally while giving farmers false hopes for the future. <more> April 30, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Local supporters of dairy bill heading to Sacramento - - At the age of 66, Ed Fletcher figured he would put in another few years running the dairy his family built southeast of Tulare and then retire. But after nearly five years of dairies getting low prices for their milk, the continued reluctance of state officials to take action and ongoing debts totaling about $1 million, Fletcher and his brother, Rob, decided to get out of the business. Earlier this month, the brothers sold off 650 heifers, and on April 15, they sold their remaining 798 milking cows to a neighboring dairy, which now is renting the Fletcher Dairy to house those cows and milk them. For his part, Fletcher said that if AB 31 had been enacted into law in California a year ago, it might have helped him stay afloat long enough for the milk market to improve, and he might have stayed in business. But the legislation is coming too late for him. <more> April 30, 2013 Visalia Times-Delta
   

• Utah prosecutor dismisses suddenly high-profile ‘ag gag’ case - - One day after the case made headlines, Draper prosecutors have dismissed a misdemeanor against an animal-welfare activist who filmed a Utah slaughterhouse. Prosecutors on Tuesday dropped the case against Amy Meyer, who had faced a class B misdemeanor for agricultural-operation interference. Prosecutors filed the charge in Draper’s justice court Feb. 19 after Meyer used her cellphone to film the Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing Co. 11 days earlier. The case was the first to be prosecuted under Utah’s "ag gag" law, which passed the state Legislature in 2012. Under the law, it became illegal to film an agricultural operation while trespassing or entering the premises on false pretenses.<more> April 30, 2013 Salt Lake Tribune
   

• Border Patrol struggles to measure what it can't see - - Kathy Gomez estimates that U.S. Border Patrol agents catch 75% of the migrants who try to run through the strawberry fields at her farm near the border with Tijuana. Farther east, Miguel Diaz thinks the number hits 90% at his junkyard near the base of Otay Mountain. But in the San Diego backcountry, rancher Bob Maupin says that, of the migrants who skirt his 250 acres, only 10% get arrested. Across the Southwest, the rate at which the Border Patrol stops illegal crossings has long been the stuff of coffee shop speculation. In Washington, an effort to make those numbers precise is about to become the thread on which the fate of millions will hang. <more> April 29, 2013 Los Angeles Times

Pricing/Commodity News

• Corn Prices Surge on Planting Fears - - Corn prices jumped 6.2%, their biggest percentage gain in nearly 10 months, amid fears that cold, wet weather in the Midwest would delay planting of this year's crop. Corn prices hit a one-month high as weather forecasts Monday projected rainfall in coming days in major corn-growing states such as Iowa and Illinois. The planting delays are sparking concerns that this year's corn crop could be smaller than expected. Later planting makes corn plants more vulnerable to damage from summer heat during the crop's main growth stage. <more> April 29, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• New Zealand - Fonterra Pilot Program to Give Farmers Milk Price Certainty - - Fonterra, the New Zealand-based dairy giant, is piloting a new "Guaranteed Milk Price" (GMP) scheme that will provide farmers with the opportunity to have more certainty in their milk price. The pilot will mean farmers can choose to lock in a milk price announced at the beginning of a season for up to 75 per cent of their milk supply. Fonterra’s Managing Director of Group Optimisation and Supply Chain, Ian Palliser says the past few years have confirmed that volatility in commodity prices is here to stay. <more> April 30, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• March MILC: 75.5¢/cwt.  - - With the April 30 USDA Ag Prices report providing the final feed cost adjuster, USDA announced a March 2013 Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) payment of 75.456¢/cwt. MILC payments were about 52¢/cwt. in February and about 12¢/cwt. in January. April 30, 2013 Dairy Business Update

Environmental News

• Board hears concerns about water proposal - -  Proposed water quality regulations raise concerns for southern San Joaquin Valley farmers and communities that depend on both surface and groundwater supplies. A Fresno workshop to explain the new rules for wastewater discharge from irrigated lands drew about 75 people from local agriculture and valley communities. During opening remarks, members of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board said the workshop aimed to explain the proposed rules, which they said are intended to sustain agriculture—not make it go away—by protecting water quality for the future. The regulatory proposal, however, has been challenged in court by environmental groups, and Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley has issued a tentative ruling that may put the new regulations on hold. Although not binding or final, the tentative ruling found the environmental impact report that underpins the proposed monitoring program "inadequate" and calls for a new report to be prepared and circulated for public comment. <more> April 30, 2013 Ag Alert
   

• The consensus seems to be: Let somebody else fix the delta - - Confidential surveys of water officials, water users and others involved with the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta offer some telling insight on why the delta is stuck in a perpetual quagmire. When it comes to fixing the hub of California’s water system, most parties would prefer it if someone else made the sacrifices. The surveys, conducted last year by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California and discussed in a new institute report, found that there was general agreement with scientists about the nature of the problems that have pushed several of the delta’s native fish species to the brink of extinction: altered and diminished water flows, water pollution, loss of fish and wildlife habitat, invasive species and fishery management. <more> April 29, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Scientists' thoughts on tunnels revealed - - Many Delta scientists agree that restoring habitat for fish and establishing more natural river flows are crucial to fixing the estuary, but some are reserving judgment on Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed twin tunnels, a survey being released today finds. Almost one-quarter of the 122 scientists who participated in the confidential survey declined to offer an opinion on the tunnels, the Public Policy Institute of California said. These scientists are well-versed in the Delta, having written peer-reviewed studies about the estuary. The survey was taken last summer. Since then, more specifics have been released about the tunnels and how they would be operated. <more> April 30, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• California officials split on how to divvy up $500 million in clean-energy funds - - The fight over Proposition 39 didn't end at the ballot box. Six months after voters overwhelmingly approved a change in the corporate tax code that's expected to net the state an additional $1 billion in revenue for five years, lawmakers are wrangling over how to spend an estimated $500 million a year the measure earmarks for energy efficiency projects. The ongoing debate, which pits Gov. Jerry Brown against legislators and the initiative's deep-pocketed supporters, involves what types of projects should get priority for funding and what the criteria for receiving grant or loan money should be. <more> April 30, 2013 The Sacramento Bee
   

• River runoff proposal subject of May 1 meeting in Modesto -  - The State Water Resource Control Board’s proposal to send more water down the San Joaquin River to protect fish and wildlife will be on the agenda Wednesday May 1 in Modesto when the Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder group meets. State Water Board staff will describe the Water Board’s Bay-Delta planning process and the recent proposal to modify San Joaquin River flow objectives to protect fish and wildlife. The Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in its draft form would require regional irrigation districts to leave 35 percent of mountain runoff in the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers from February to June. The presentation will include a description of the process and information the Water Board will use to inform its decisions. The Water Board is interested in speaking to people in the region who have an interest in, and could be affected by, the Water Board’s future actions regarding the flow proposal. The presentation will be by Les Grober, Assistant Deputy Director, Hearings and Special Programs Branch, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board. The meeting is set for 3 to 5 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Rooms D & E, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto. The Middle San Joaquin River Watershed includes the Lower Merced, Lower Tuolumne, Lower Stanislaus and the San Joaquin River from the Merced River to the Stanislaus River. . For more information about the Watershed Group click here: https://sites.google.com/site/eaststanrcd/watershedproject or contact Chester Anderson at: chester@eaststanrcd.org   or (209) 581-7558. April 23, 2013  Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder notice

• Drink up: USDA study finds that stink bug odor compounds in cattle feed don’t transfer to milk - - Scientists with the U.S. Agriculture Department have some tasty news for milk drinkers. They say dairy cows that were given feed contaminated with brown marmorated stink bugs produced milk with no detectable stink bug odor. Researchers found no detectable odor in milk from cows that either ate stink bugs or had stink bug odor compounds placed into their stomachs. <more> April 29, 2013 AP
   

• National Dairy Board nominees sought - - For nominating forms and information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/dairy.  April 30, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• California bullet train groundbreaking faces new obstacles - - California's bullet train agency is facing a series of new regulatory and political problems that could jeopardize its July construction kickoff, which already has been delayed more than six months. The new challenges are coming from a private railroad that controls a key right of way, a legislative committee delving into contracting issues and a powerful federal agency asserting authority over the project. The rail agency is beginning to make purchase offers for land around Fresno and says it still plans to start building this summer. <more> April 29, 2013 Los Angeles Times

Meetings of Interest to CA Dairy Industry

• Farm bill focus at Western agriculture conference in Davis May 14 - - Agricultural leaders and economists will discuss the new Farm Bill and its impacts on agriculture in the West May 14 at an all-day conference at the UC Davis Conference Center. Karen Ross, secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture and former U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture chief of staff, and Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, will share their insights on what the Farm Bill is likely to mean for agriculture in the western states. “The Farm Bill affects every California commodity,” said Daniel Sumner, director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center and conference coordinator. “Growers, lenders, agribusiness executives, policy advisors, agricultural leaders, university professionals, students and everyone who values comprehensive and objective information about the upcoming Farm Bill and U.S. farm policy are invited to participate in the conversation.” <more> April 10, 2013 Western Farm Press

California Dairy Families: Making a Difference Today for Tomorrow's Generations

Visit our Video Channel .Watch WUD members talk about how they meet the environmental challenges facing the California dairy industry. Hear about their pride in their farming heritage and the contributions they make to their communities. Also visit the California Milk Advisory Board's website which features many WUD dairy families talking about the rewards and heartaches of dairy farming.

Monday April 29, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol.

  Western Milling is coordinating a bus to take interested dairy producers to the hearing. The bus will be leaving from the Visalia Holiday Inn (9000 W. Airport Drive) at 8 a.m. on May 1.  Please call DeAnna Fitzgerald at (559) 302-1078 to reserve your seat.

  Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Pro-AB 31 video airing on You Tube - - The Yes on AB 31 effort has posted a video featuring past WUD President Ray Souza, a Turlock dairyman, as he discusses the importance of protecting the legacy of California dairymen and women. To view the video, please click here. “If we lose the Pan bill (AB31) we will just continue the cycle of losing dairy farms,” says Souza in the three-minute video. AB 31 recognizes that California is the only state that doesn’t pay the dairy farmer for the whey they produce.  Consequently California dairy farmers are paid less than their counterparts in any other state. AB 31 will bring balance back to the marketplace. Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) points out, “I don’t think any of us want to live in a California where we no longer have family dairy farms.”  April 23, 2013 WUD News

  Cathleen Galgiani: California cows may be happy; producers are not - - California is esteemed for many things, but few are as iconic as our "Happy Cows." Few are as treasured as the "grown and produced in California" labels that proudly represent the family farms that helped shape our state's cultural and economic foundations. Unfortunately, a tangle of antiquated price-setting methods is putting dairy farms small and large in peril. The rules governing the cost paid to farmers for milk allow cheese companies to pay dramatically less for milk in California than in other states and threaten the existence of hundreds of California's local, family-run dairies. Nearly 400 dairy farms have closed in California in the past five years. Last year alone saw 105 family dairies shuttered. <more> April 28, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• California dairymen urge support for whey value bill - - With a hearing on increasing the whey value in California' milk pricing formula set for May 1 in the California Assembly, dairy groups have been urging producers to contact Ag Committee members to rally support. The bill, AB 31, would require the dry whey value for 4b milk, used to manufacture cheese, be no less than 80 of its value in Class III pricing in federal orders. The issue has been at the forefront since January 2010, gaining heat as the spread between Class III and Class 4b widened and California dairyman have been struggling to stay afloat. California's 4b price has been about $2 per hundredweight lower than the Class III price for more than two years for a total loss of $800 million since 2010, according to the dairy organizations. Both Western United Dairymen and Milk Producers Council have been urging dairymen to call and fax Assembly members, saying the legislation is critical to ensure the survival of California's remaining dairy producers. <more> April 29, 2013 Capital Press
   

• UFW opposes House immigration bills - - Immigration bills introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte are under attack from the United Farm Workers of America as a rollback to the old Bracero program at the expense of farmworker protections.  Goodlatte, R-Va., introduced an agricultural guestworker bill and an E-verify bill -- House Resolutions 1773 and 1772 -- on April 26, saying he favors handling immigration in parts to get them right rather than collectively in a comprehensive bill. The E-verify bill would replace the current I-9 employment eligibility system with electronic eligibility verification phased in over time. Agricultural workers would be subject to an E-verify check within 24 months of enactment. <more> April 29, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Alternative “Dairy Freedom Act” introduced - - Virginia Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte and Georgia Democratic Congressman David Scott have introduced their alternative dairy plan for the next farm bill. The Dairy Freedom Act has the same margin insurance concept as the Dairy Security Act but without the supply management provision. The Goodlatte Scott plan offers free margin insurance protection for producers for up to 4 million pounds of milk production, above that producers would pay a premium for the additional coverage dependent upon the dollar value of the margin between the all-milk price and feed costs. The Dairy Security Act provides margin insurance but does give the government the ability to put a lid on milk production if prices get too low. <more> April 29, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Another missed opportunity to improve milk quality - - The bureaucrats punted again.For the seventh time in 16 years, the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) has turned down a request to upgrade the standard for somatic cell count. The NCIMS, made up of state regulators who oversee milk-safety rules, last week turned down a request from the National Milk Producers Federation to lower the SCC legal limit from 750,000 cells/mL to 400,000, starting in 2015. In previous years, similar proposals by the NMPF or the National Mastitis Council also were voted down. One possible explanation: The regulators who make up NCIMS are primarily responsible for milk safety and somatic cell count is not a milk-safety issue. <more> April 26, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• State Senate District 16 candidates adjust for low-turnout contest - - It's been a little more than two months since Bakersfield Democrat Michael Rubio abruptly resigned his 16th District state Senate seat, and already voters are casting ballots to pick his replacement. With the election wrapping up on May 21, there is no time, political experts say, for candidates to woo voters from other parties or chase those who rarely vote. Rather, in what is widely expected to be a low-turnout election held far outside the normal campaign season, candidates need to keep it simple by motivating like-minded voters and then making sure they cast ballots. <more> April 28, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Democrats Land Buzzy Recruit in Another Obama-GOP House District - - House Democrats have landed a recruit to run against Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., in the Central Valley's 10th Congressional District. Farmer and beekeeper Michael Eggman announced Tuesday that he will seek the seat, which was one of 17 in the country to split its votes between a Republican congressman and President Obama in 2012. And Eggman said in a telephone interview that he will have support from Washington. "I've been in contact with them and they're supportive of my campaign," Eggman said of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. A DCCC spokesperson said the committee was excited about his candidacy. Eggman grew up in Turlock, Calif. and said he lived in the Washington area for a time during and after college, but not in a political capacity -- he worked in marketing and sales for a bank and a health insurance company. He returned to California 10 years ago after his mother died to help run the family farm. <more> April 29, 2013 National Journal

Pricing/Commodity News

•  Cheese production up 2.8% in April - - Cheese production in the U.S. in April 10.9 billion pounds up 2.8 percent compared to April of 2012. Italian-type cheese production was 1.1 percent higher than a year ago at 4.63 billion pounds while American-type cheese production was up 3.1 percent at 4.36 billion pounds. Butter production in April totaled 1.86 billion pounds up 2.8 percent from April of last year. Other dairy product production in April (compared to a year ago):* Nonfat dry milk 1.76 billion pounds (+17.7%) * Skim milk powders 381 million pounds (-14.7%) * Dry whey 999 million pounds (-1.1%) * Lactose 1.03 billion pounds (+2.6%) * Whey protein concentrate 441 million pounds (+2.4%) * Regular ice cream 899 million gallons (+1.2%) * Lowfat ice cream 467 million gallons (+12.3%) * Sherbet 46 million gallons (+1.4%) * Frozen yogurt 74 million gallons (+18%) Individual state production numbers are not being collected due to the budget sequester. April 29, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• U.S. Dairy Exports Increase in Early 2013 - - U.S. dairy exports continued to improve in February, posting their highest levels since second quarter of 2012, says the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Overall volumes were up for the second straight month -- 8% higher vs. January on a daily-average basis, USDEC says in the April 23 edition of its "Global Dairy Market Outlook" newsletter. Value rose for the fourth straight month, and 9% above January. Pricing relationships were more favorable for U.S. suppliers in February, and anticipated tight supply from competing exporters has buyers looking to the U. S., says USDEC. Nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NDM/SMP), cheese, butterfat, lactose and fluid milk volumes all are trending higher. <more> April 29, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• February fluid sales down - - February 2013 packaged fluid milk sales totaled 4.12 billion lbs., down 4.4% from February 2012, according to last week’s Dairy Market News. However, sales were not adjusted for calendar composition or Leap Year considerations, as in previous reports. Calculated on a daily basis, February 20313 fluid sales were down about 0.9% from a year earlier. February sales of conventional products, at 3.96 billion lbs., were down 4.4% (unadjusted for Leap Year); organic products, at 165 million lbs., were down 6.2%. Organic represented about 4.0% of total sales for the month. January-February 2013 total packaged fluid milk sales, at 8.69 billion lbs., were down 2.9% from the same period a year earlier (unadjusted for Leap Year). Year-to-date sales of conventional products, at 8.34 billion lbs., were down 2.8%; organic products, at 354 million lbs., were down 3.9%. Organic represented about 4.1% of total sales. April 29, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• CWT assists with 2 million lbs. of cheese and butter export sales - - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted eight requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold), Michigan Milk Producers Association, Swiss Valley Farms and Upstate Niagara Cooperative (O-AT-KA) to sell 925,942 lbs. of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese and 1.102 million lbs. of butter to customers in Asia and North Africa. The product will be delivered May through October 2013. So far in 2013, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 50.982 million lbs. of cheese, 51.727 million lbs. of butter, 44,092 lbs. of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 lbs. of whole milk powder to 31 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.599 billion lbs. of milk on a milkfat basis. That is more than USDA’s projected increase in milk marketings for all of 2013. April 29, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• 5% of U.S. corn planted - - USDA reports producers made very little corn planting progress last week due to continued wet, cold weather in many key growing areas. As of Sunday, 5% of the U.S. corn crop is planted, compared to 4% a week ago, 49% a year ago, and the five year average of 31%. All of the 18 major U.S. corn producing states are behind their respective average paces, with 11 at 5% or less, including 7 at 1% or less. That slow planting pace is also having an impact on emergence – 2% of corn has emerged, compared to 14% last year at this time and 6% on average. <more> April 29, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Food prices increase in 2013 not as severe as first forecast: USDA - - U.S. food prices are seen rising about 3 percent this year, less than previously forecast, as increases in meat, dairy and cereal and bakery products are not as sharp as initially predicted, according to the government. The U.S. Agriculture Department revised the increase in food prices to 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent from an earlier forecast of between 3 and 4 percent. The lion’s share of the jump is expected in the first half of 2013, especially for most animal-based food products due to higher feed prices. For most food categories not directly affected by the 2012 drought, however, inflation is expected to be at or even below normal levels, USDA said. <more> April 26, 2013 Des Moines Register

Environmental News

• Congressional Democrats demand resignation of state resources official - - Five Congressional Democrats have demanded the resignation of a top official in Gov. Jerry Brown's administration for comments the official allegedly made about the future of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The controversy surrounds Jerry Meral, deputy director of the state Natural Resources Agency, who allegedly told officials that Brown's water plan was never about saving the delta and that in fact the delta could not be saved. That contradicts statements made by Brown who has said his plan would include measures to restore the delta, the confluence of the two rivers and the San Francisco Bay, which serves as the primary source of drinking water for most of the state's residents. <more> April 29, 2013 LA Times  
   

• California judge dismisses Endangered Species Act lawsuit - - A U.S. District Court judge in California has ruled that two environmental activist groups did not prove the EPA awarded federal registrations for a host of crop protection chemicals that put endangered species at risk in a lawsuit they filed in 2011. In granting a motion to dismiss the groups’ “Mega” lawsuit, Judge Joseph C. Spero said the plaintiffs – the Center for Biological Diversity and the Pesticide Action Network North America – had not alleged specific government actions sufficient for the lawsuit to proceed. The judge gave the plaintiffs 30 days to file an amended complaint or 60 days to appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Jeff Miller, a conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, said the two organizations were weighing their options but had not decided on a response. <more> April 29, 2013 Delta Farm Press
   

• A possible new way to manage water and snow in thirsty California - - Even with about 150 people taking samples across the state and the help of satellites and sensors buried in the ground, it’s a highly uncertain way to gauge much of the water supply for a thirsty state, where every drop is precious and expensive to move. According to one study, the predictions are off by 18 percent at least half the time. That could change dramatically if an experiment in snowpack measurement underway this month proves promising. <more> April 28, 2013 The Washington Post
   

• Sen. Boxer finds herself at odds with environmentalists - - Barbara Boxer has long been one of the Senate's environmental champions, racking up perfect scores for each of the last five years on the League of Conservation Voters' report card on key votes. But the Californian now finds herself on the opposite side of an issue from her usual environmental allies and some of her fellow Democrats. Environmentalists are upset because she is pushing legislation that would impose deadlines for environmental reviews of water projects, a move they see as "tilting the scales" toward rushed approvals. <more> April 28, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Delta tunnel project to radically change Sacramento County landscape - - Wilson and his neighbors are in the cross hairs of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to solve decades of California water conflict. The plan calls for two giant water diversion tunnels served by three intakes and a vast web of additional infrastructure. The plan has been in the works for seven years as a way to resolve long-standing tensions between statewide water demand and stress on the Delta. The estuary helps meet the water needs of 25 million people and 3 million acres of farmland, primarily south of the Delta. The tunnels are intended to make that freshwater demand less harmful to imperiled fish. The plan also calls for 100,000 acres of habitat restoration. But the megaproject is giving rise to life-altering questions for people who live in the Delta, a mosaic of 70 islands and 1,000 miles of waterways that is the largest estuary on the West Coast of the Americas. <more> April 28, 2013 The Sacramento Bee
   

• River runoff proposal subject of May 1 meeting in Modesto -  - The State Water Resource Control Board’s proposal to send more water down the San Joaquin River to protect fish and wildlife will be on the agenda Wednesday May 1 in Modesto when the Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder group meets. State Water Board staff will describe the Water Board’s Bay-Delta planning process and the recent proposal to modify San Joaquin River flow objectives to protect fish and wildlife. The Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in its draft form would require regional irrigation districts to leave 35 percent of mountain runoff in the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers from February to June. The presentation will include a description of the process and information the Water Board will use to inform its decisions. The Water Board is interested in speaking to people in the region who have an interest in, and could be affected by, the Water Board’s future actions regarding the flow proposal. The presentation will be by Les Grober, Assistant Deputy Director, Hearings and Special Programs Branch, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board. The meeting is set for 3 to 5 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Rooms D & E, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto. The Middle San Joaquin River Watershed includes the Lower Merced, Lower Tuolumne, Lower Stanislaus and the San Joaquin River from the Merced River to the Stanislaus River. . For more information about the Watershed Group click here: https://sites.google.com/site/eaststanrcd/watershedproject or contact Chester Anderson at: chester@eaststanrcd.org   or (209) 581-7558. April 23, 2013  Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder notice

• New demand for milk rekindles old controversy - - Albany lawmakers have trumpeted that boosting milk production is needed to meet demands for the state’s Greek yogurt boom. But educators say an artificial growth hormone some farmers inject into cows to do that, rBST, is getting a negative reception among consumers who spot labels on milk when they grocery shop, a trend that has created a challenging environment for farmers who wish to use it. Most of today’s dairy processors and bottlers tout “rBST-free” labels on milk jugs and cartons or labels with the message “Our farmers pledge not to use artificial growth hormones.” But research has not determined any chemical difference between rBST — recombinant bovine somatotropin — and the naturally occurring version of the protein hormone present in all cows, bovine somatotropin, said Michael E. Van Amburgh, professor of animal science at Cornell University, Ithaca. <more> April 28, 2013 Watertown Daily Times
   

• Scientists to Engineer Hornless Dairy Cows - - A herd of cows blandly chewing their cud in a grassy field seems like an unlikely source of danger, but the pastoral scene apparently has a dark side, so scientists are now trying to genetically engineer some hornless dairy cows. According to the Daily Mail, removing the horns from dairy cows would cut back on the risk of injury to farmers and other animals. Farmers currently burn off the horn buds of baby cows to prevent horns from developing, but the process is unpleasant and painful for the animals. Farmers were previously able to get rid of the horns on some varieties of beef cattle through selective breeding, but have been unable to do the same for dairy cows without affecting the milk supply. Instead, scientists are going to take a crack at it. <more> April 28, 2013 The Daily Meal
   

• Hanford West rail route takes center stage - - In their battle against high-speed rail, Kings County opponents have put most of the attention on the proposed alignment swinging east of Hanford through orchards, farms, homes and dairies. But now that the California High-Speed Rail Authority is recommending the Hanford West alignment between Hanford and Armona, a whole new crop of opponents is rising up. The word “crop” is no accident. Many are farmers who have in some cases farmed ground for decades, watching walnut trees mature year after year, planting trees and otherwise enjoying the quite rural life. Now they’re in a uproar over the Authority’s eventual plans to slice tracks through their property. <more> April 27, 2013 Hanford Sentinel 
   

• Michael Pollan: Genetically Modified Foods Offer Consumers “Nothing” - - Few Americans were aware of the dangers of industrial farming and processed food before Michael Pollan published his best-selling books “In Defense of Food” and the “Omnivore’s Dilemma.” A hero to the locavore and organic movements, Pollan has never shied away from expressing his opinions on what to eat, where to eat and the proper way to raise and harvest what we eat. In his new book “Cooked," Pollan urges more Americans to home-cook their meals. Cooking, he says, will lower obesity rates and re-connect individuals with “the material world.” Eating the right foods are as important as eating foods that are not genetically modified, Pollan argues in the accompanying clip. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are “plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology, or genetic engineering,” according to The Non-GMO Project, a nonprofit organization that tests food products for GMOs. <more> April 29, 2013 Yahoo Finance
   

• Judge hits Fresno-based raisin marketing group - - The future of the California Raisin Marketing Board may be in jeopardy after a Sacramento County Superior Court judge ruled that the organization was not created legally. Judge Raymond Cadei's decision was hailed by lawyers representing a group of dissident growers and packers who have been trying to dismantle the board for several years. They challenged the California Department of Food and Agriculture, claiming the board did not meet the appropriate requirements when it formed 15 years ago. The Fresno-based board is responsible for promoting California raisins through advertising and marketing campaigns. But some farmers have complained about paying for marketing that they don't agree with. <more> April 27, 2013 The Fresno Bee

Friday, April 26, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol.

  Western Milling is coordinating a bus to take interested dairy producers to the hearing. The bus will be leaving from the Visalia Holiday Inn (9000 W. Airport Drive) at 8 a.m. on May 1.  Please call DeAnna Fitzgerald at (559) 302-1078 to reserve your seat.

  Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Pro-AB 31 video airing on You Tube - - The Yes on AB 31 effort has posted a video featuring past WUD President Ray Souza, a Turlock dairyman, as he discusses the importance of protecting the legacy of California dairymen and women. To view the video, please click here. “If we lose the Pan bill (AB31) we will just continue the cycle of losing dairy farms,” says Souza in the three-minute video. AB 31 recognizes that California is the only state that doesn’t pay the dairy farmer for the whey they produce.  Consequently California dairy farmers are paid less than their counterparts in any other state. AB 31 will bring balance back to the marketplace. Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) points out, “I don’t think any of us want to live in a California where we no longer have family dairy farms.”  April 23, 2013 WUD News

  Will fight over new bill spill California's milk? - - California's happy cows are divided over a new bill that would change the price of milk. Dr. Richard Pan, a Sacramento Democrat, has introduced Assembly Bill 31, which would force the state’s Secretary of Food and Agriculture to set milk prices based on the Legislature’s direction. The secretary has unilateral power under existing law to set milk prices based on economic factors. Dairy interests have disputed the bill’s impact. The Dairy Institute of California claims the proposal will hurt the state’s vaunted cheese industry by artificially raising prices. The group is worried about losing money to Wisconsin, another state with a large cheese industry. But the Western United Dairymen, a Modesto dairy group, wants the bill passed to help improve economic conditions for California’s milk producers. They say cheese producers should share some wealth to help the state’s strapped dairies. <more> April 25, 2013 Sacramento Business Journal  

  Dairy Bill AB31 up for Debate - - The California Assembly Ag Committee is set to debate on Wednesday May 1, Assembly Bill 31, a proposal that supporters say would make California dairies more competitive. Assemblyman Richard Pan, a Democrat representing the Sacramento/Lodi area, said the legislation will give Ag Secretary Karen Ross the authority to change a flawed dairy cost structure that allows cheese makers to pay far less for milk in California than in other states. Gary Conover, director of government relations for Western United Dairymen, which is sponsoring the bill, discussed the bill with AgNet West radio network. <more> April 25, 2013 AgNet West Radio  
   

• Goodlatte introduces bills to bolster farm worker program - - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., today introduced two bills that aim to provide a “workable” temporary agricultural guest worker program and to ensure that the nation’s farm workers are documented. The Agricultural Guestworker “AG” Act (H.R. 1773), with six Republican co-sponsors, seeks to remove barriers and excessive paperwork farmers face in hiring foreign workers while seeking to protect farmers from abusive litigation. “Today’s introduction of the AG Act is one piece that brings us closer to solving the immigration puzzle,” Goodlatte said. “While it is important that we reform our immigration system as a whole, we must look at each of the individual issues within the larger system to ensure that we get immigration reform right.” <more> April 26, 2013 Agri-Pulse
   

• NMPF Reaction to Introduction of Goodlatte-Scott Dairy Freedom Act - - “Goodlatte and Scott’s misnamed Dairy Freedom Act is nothing more than an unacceptable attempt by dairy processors to assure themselves access to a sea of taxpayer-subsidized cheap milk. Congress rejected this approach last year, and should do so again this year. What processors claim is a compromise is nothing more than a costly ruse that will hurt farmers and taxpayers alike. <more> April 26, 2013 NMPF press release
   

• House Panel Set to Offer Several Immigration Bills - - The House Judiciary Committee announced Thursday that it would introduce a series of bills beginning this week to overhaul the nation’s immigration system. The move was designed to keep the committee in the middle of the debate over the issue, which is now percolating on Capitol Hill, and to press a bipartisan group in the House that has been working in private on its own broad legislation. Representative Robert W. Goodlatte, Republican of Virginia and the chairman of the committee, said the first of several proposals in the coming weeks would create a guest worker program for agriculture and require employers to use an electronic verification system to check the immigration status of employees. <more> April 25, 2013 The New York Times
   

• High-speed rail agency changed bidding standards - - When the California High-Speed Rail Authority put the first stretch of its statewide train system out for bids last year, the agency set a high technical standard for five contracting teams courting the more than $1 billion construction contract. In March 2012, the authority's board decreed that even if all five teams submitted bids, only the three most "technically competitive" firms could compete based on cost to build the 29-mile segment in Madera and Fresno counties. The teams with the lowest technical scores would be dropped and their price envelopes returned unopened. That rule, however, didn't stick. In August -- months before contractors submitted bids -- the authority's executive staff quietly altered the process without formal action by the board. <more> April 25, 2013 Fresno Bee 

Pricing/Commodity News

•  Hay outlook hangs on weather, milk price - - Whether livestock and dairy producers will see relief from high hay prices is going to depend on the weather, but the current outlook suggests they won't soon get the break they're seeking. Parts of seven western states have had limited rainfall, and alfalfa production as a whole is likely to be down, said hay expert Seth Hoyt, publisher of the Hoyt Report. "I don't see the market dropping any further than it already has on new crop alfalfa hay in California and a few new crop contracts in other parts of the West," he said. <more> April 23, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Heavy rains eased drought across nation’s heartland, but muddy fields mean planting delays - - As spring rains soaked the central United States and helped conquer the historic drought, a new problem has sprouted: The fields have turned to mud. The weekly drought monitor report, released Thursday by National Drought Mitigation Center in Lincoln, Neb., showed the heavy rains that also caused some flooding in the last week brought drought relief to the upper Midwest, western Corn Belt and central portions of the Plains. Farmers may be thankful the land is no longer parched, but it’s too wet to plant in corn country and freezing temperatures and lingering snow have ruined the winter wheat crop. <more> April 25, 2013 AP
   

• China’s demand for milk sees it become New Zealand’s top export market for first time - - China’s thirst for quality milk has seen it become New Zealand’s top export market for the first time. Neighboring Australia had long been New Zealand’s biggest market. But figures released Friday by Statistics New Zealand show that in the first quarter of 2013, exports to China were up 32 percent from a year earlier to 2.3 billion New Zealand dollars ($2 billion). Meanwhile, exports to Australia were down 7 percent to NZ$2.2 billion. <more> April 25, 2013 AP

Environmental News

• Valley groundwater rule draws fire from both sides - - A far-reaching plan by the state to protect a large part of the San Joaquin Valley's groundwater drew criticism from farmers who say it is too costly and from environmentalists who say it doesn't go far enough. About 75 people representing growers, community members and agriculture leaders voiced their concerns Thursday during a workshop held by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board in downtown Fresno. The proposed rules that have been in the works for years would create a system for monitoring groundwater and controlling discharges of contaminants such as fertilizers and pesticides. The rules cover 850,000 acres of farmland in the broad Tulare Lake Basin, the nation's richest farming region. <more> April 25, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Governor urges fast review of Delta tunnels - - Gov. Jerry Brown wants federal officials to expedite review of the controversial Bay Delta Conservation Plan, his proposal to build two giant water diversion tunnels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. In a letter to the U.S. secretaries of Interior and Commerce, Brown called on the agencies to release an environmental impact statement and Federal Register notice on the project this summer. The intent is to ensure this process coincides with his own administration's plan to release a state-level environmental impact report and associated planning documents. <more> April 25, 2013 The Sacramento Bee
   

• Don Curlee: Victim mentality hinders water use - - Folks living north of Sacramento, some of them farmers, occasionally accuse farmers and others living further south of stealing their water. Hogwash! It is not unusual for those in the San Francisco Bay Area and neighboring communities to join the chorus of victim mentality as well. The volume can be overwhelming. <more> April 25, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Machado to step down as Delta panel chief - - Former state Sen. Michael Machado is stepping down as chief of the Delta Protection Commission, apparently ending two decades of involvement in state government. Much of that time was spent defending the Delta and attempting to untangle California's complicated water problems. Most recently, Machado's commission wrote a plan for the Delta touting its rich agriculture, recreation and tourism benefits. The plan called for strengthening Delta levees as an alternative to building Gov. Jerry Brown's twin tunnels. <more> April 26, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• River runoff proposal subject of May 1 meeting in Modesto -  - The State Water Resource Control Board’s proposal to send more water down the San Joaquin River to protect fish and wildlife will be on the agenda Wednesday May 1 in Modesto when the Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder group meets. State Water Board staff will describe the Water Board’s Bay-Delta planning process and the recent proposal to modify San Joaquin River flow objectives to protect fish and wildlife. The Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in its draft form would require regional irrigation districts to leave 35 percent of mountain runoff in the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers from February to June. The presentation will include a description of the process and information the Water Board will use to inform its decisions. The Water Board is interested in speaking to people in the region who have an interest in, and could be affected by, the Water Board’s future actions regarding the flow proposal. The presentation will be by Les Grober, Assistant Deputy Director, Hearings and Special Programs Branch, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board. The meeting is set for 3 to 5 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Rooms D & E, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto. The Middle San Joaquin River Watershed includes the Lower Merced, Lower Tuolumne, Lower Stanislaus and the San Joaquin River from the Merced River to the Stanislaus River. . For more information about the Watershed Group click here: https://sites.google.com/site/eaststanrcd/watershedproject or contact Chester Anderson at: chester@eaststanrcd.org   or (209) 581-7558. April 23, 2013  Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder notice

• Yvonne Holt: Dairy farming is incredibly complicated - - I have been very appreciative of all of the field trips organized by my agriculture instructors for their classes. It has been eye-opening to learn what I did not know. These field trips ranged from vegetable farms to fruit orchards to beef ranches to pig farms to processing and packaging plants. The scope of machines, products, pieces and parts just to produce and package food is staggering. It's not just as simple as a cow producing milk. The cow needs to be housed and fed daily. The barns need to be cleaned regularly. Bedding needs to be removed and replaced. Clean drinking water needs to be provided. Cow food is not as simple as a field of grass. We may wish grass could be the only source of nutrition for a milking cow, but the soil here in the Central Valley does not contain all the needed minerals and nutrients for optimum cow health, hence the various ingredients mixed into cow feed. <more> April 25, 2013 The Modesto Bee
   

• Central Valley seen as friendly to business - - The Central Valley area was rated the third-best region in California for friendliness to small business based on a survey of small business owners by Thumbtack.com. The Central Valley trailed only the Bay Area and the Central Coast regions. The state received an overall “D” grade , up from an “F” in 2012. California’s highest grade was a “C+” for its small business training and networking programs. Within California, more than a third of small businesses rated obtaining and keeping health insurance as “very difficult.” “Given the enormous size and importance of California’s economy, it is particularly important that state and local officials listen to the concerns of the state’s small business owners and provide them with an environment conducive to growth and success,” said Sander Daniels, co-founder of Thumbtack.com. April 25, 2013 The Hanford Sentinel

Thursday, April 25, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol.

  Western Milling is coordinating a bus to take interested dairy producers to the hearing. The bus will be leaving from the Visalia Holiday Inn (9000 W. Airport Drive) at 8 a.m. on May 1.  Please call DeAnna Fitzgerald at (559) 302-1078 to reserve your seat.

  Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Pro-AB 31 video airing on You Tube - - The Yes on AB 31 effort has posted a video featuring past WUD President Ray Souza, a Turlock dairyman, as he discusses the importance of protecting the legacy of California dairymen and women. To view the video, please click here. “If we lose the Pan bill (AB31) we will just continue the cycle of losing dairy farms,” says Souza in the three-minute video. AB 31 recognizes that California is the only state that doesn’t pay the dairy farmer for the whey they produce.  Consequently California dairy farmers are paid less than their counterparts in any other state. AB 31 will bring balance back to the marketplace. Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) points out, “I don’t think any of us want to live in a California where we no longer have family dairy farms.”  April 23, 2013 WUD News  

• AB 31 would aid dairy farmers and cost consumers nothing - - By Michael Marsh, CEO, Western United Dairymen - - Three hundred eighty-seven family businesses have shut their doors in the past five years. The employees were laid off, the equipment sold and what once were hubs of frenetic commerce are now overgrown with weeds. These closed family businesses were California dairy farms. A solution ensuring the survival of the remaining 1,500 California family dairies will cost consumers nothing. Milk prices in California and outside our state are regulated. The reasons for these regulated prices are similar. Government intervention was requested by farmers to stem abusive business practices employed against them by milk processors. Plants need to prosper. Farmers need to prosper, too. Keeping dairy affordable is important to California consumers. AB 31 ensures that affordability. <more> April 25, 2013 Bakersfield Californian  
   

• California’s pricing system is killing its dairies - - The greatest milk-producing machine the U.S. dairy industry has ever seen is breaking down. Doomsday feed prices and apocalyptic milk price volatility in 2009 exposed a fatal flaw in the “California style” business model of growing no feed. They also triggered a landslide of debt that buried many of the state’s producers and turned survival into a daily struggle. It transformed their financing world as well. Today, monthly profitability is more critical than most California producers could have ever imagined. Every penny per hundredweight and per ton matters. And yet, the state’s complex milk pricing system that fueled meteoric growth for 40 years not only isn’t helping producers, but some say it is killing them. <more> April 25, 2013 Hoard’s Dairyman
   

• Dairy Security Act alternative again introduced - - Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R., Va.) and Congressman David Scott (D., Ga.) again introduced the Dairy Freedom Act as an alternative to the Dairy Security Act, one of the most controversial components of the farm bill in the House. “The Dairy Freedom Act represents a true compromise on dairy policy. We all agree on the need to reform and improve our current dairy policies – and our bill would do just that.  The Dairy Freedom Act would provide producers with a viable safety net, without supply management or new administrative fees for dairy farmers," the two said in a statement. <more> April 25, 2013 Feedstuffs   
   

• Senate ag chairman now sets farm bill mark up for May - -Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said today that she plans to hold a markup of a new farm bill in May, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., signaled that he intends to bring it to the Senate floor that same month. Stabenow told the Senate Rural Democratic Summit that she intends to hold a markup in May, but she did not give a specific date. Earlier Stabenow told senators she intended to hold a markup in April, but that has not happened. Congress is scheduled to take a week-long recess starting Friday. The House Agriculture Committee has scheduled a markup on May 15. <more> April 25, 2013 Capital Press   
   

• Outcomes at National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments Disappointing to NMPF - - For the second time in two years, state public health and agriculture department officials participating in the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) turned down a proposal to reduce the maximum allowable level of somatic cell counts in milk. A lower level of somatic cells indicates higher quality milk. At its meeting in Indianapolis this week, the NCIMS voting delegates – a group of state regulators overseeing milk safety rules – considered a proposal sponsored by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) to reduce the maximum threshold of allowable somatic cells in milk at the farm level from the current 750,000 cells/mL, down to 400,000, starting in 2015. But on a close vote, the delegates rejected the proposal, meaning that the status quo threshold of 750,000 will remain for domestic milk production – putting the U.S. “behind the curve when it comes to milk quality standards,” according to Jerry Kozak, NMPF President & CEO. <more> April 25, 2013 NMPF press release 
   

• Astronaut Jose Hernandez still undecided about taking on GOP Rep. Jeff Denham again  - -  In 2012, GOP Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, was the only incumbent Republican on the Democratic target list t0 survive. But the challengers are starting to line up in this Stanislaus and San Joaquin County district as local farmer and beekeeper Michael Eggman announced he was running this week. Mike Barkley, a Democrat who ran in 2012,also plans to run again. Still on the sidelines: Democrat Jose Hernandez — whose inspirational story of growing up in the fields and becoming an astronaut drew national attention?  He told The Chronicle Wednesday that he “hasn’t decided yet. “I’m just not there yet,” Hernandez said from Mexico, where he was on an engineering consulting business trip. He expects to make a decision “by late summer or early fall.” <more> April 25, 2013 SF Chronicle  
   

• State Sen. Cannella’s stances may woo Latinos - - Republicans fearful of political blowback if they support national immigration reform could learn from state Sen. Anthony Cannella - an antiabortion, evangelical Christian Republican who represents a Central California district where 45 percent of the voters are Latino. Cannella, a former mayor of Ceres (Stanislaus County), backed a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and tougher border enforcement before those issues became popular nationally. He also supports a measure before the Legislature that would allow some undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license. In 2011, he was the only California Republican to support the state's version of the Dream Act - before President Obama announced he would allow some rights for undocumented immigrants whose parents brought them into the country when they were children. <more> April 25, 2013 SF Chronicle  
   

• Driver's license bill for unauthorized immigrants moves forward - - A bill to allow unauthorized immigrants in California to apply for drivers licenses is winding its way through the state Assembly after passage in the transportation committee this week. The bill, by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, is now before the Assembly Appropriations Committee. It was approved by the Assembly Transportation Committee Monday. AB 60, The Safe and Responsible Act, would allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to grant licenses to qualified applicants who provide an Individual Taxpayer Identification number. <more> April 24, 2013 U-T San Diego
   

• Boxer, DeFazio Introduce Bill to Require Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods - - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to clearly label genetically engineered (GE) foods so that consumers can make informed choices about what they eat. “Americans have the right to know what is in the food they eat so they can make the best choices for their families,” Senator Boxer said. “This legislation is supported by a broad coalition of consumer groups, businesses, farmers, fishermen and parents who all agree that consumers deserve more – not less – information about the food they buy.” <more> April 24, 2013 Press Release of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
   

• USDEC Testifies On TPP Trade Agreement - - The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) testified before the Senate Finance Committee yesterday regarding its support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement negotiations and the need for a positive dairy outcome in those trade discussions. "USDEC supports these negotiations, as it has all the recent agreements that have helped expand our increasingly export-dependent sector," said USDEC President Tom Suber, who was one of four witnesses to testify at the hearing on the challenges and opportunities of the TPP. "Today, we are pleased that the pieces are in place that this agreement, properly negotiated, could deliver large and lasting benefits across U.S. dairy sector. It is important to recognize, however, that if the Administration brings back an unfair result, the U.S. dairy industry will have no choice but to oppose Congressional approval of this agreement." <more> April 25, 2013 Ag Web
   

• Guilty Verdict In Chowchilla Dairy Murder - - Two separate Madera County juries have convicted two men of first-degree murder and attempted murder for a January 2008 double shooting at a Chowchilla dairy. Jesus Reynoso Flores, 25, and Jose Antonio Flores-Ventura, 27, both of Chowchilla, face life in prison without the possibility of parole when they are sentenced in June, the Madera County District Attorney announced on Tuesday. Evidence presented in the trial showed that on Jan. 19 2008 both men went to the Coelho Dairy in Chowchilla to rob the milkers following their payday, the DA's office said. <more> April 23, 2013 KMPH news

Pricing/Commodity News

• Undersupplied Dairy Market Takes Off  - - Milk powder prices are up more than 50% since early March, and butterfat and whey prices have posted double-digit increases. The dairy market situation and psychology has shifted dramatically in just the last six weeks, as the widely reported New Zealand drought sent Oceania prices rallying to record highs, reports the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Writing this week in USDEC’s “Global Dairy Market Outlook” newsletter, staffers Alan Levitt, Marc Beck and Brad Gehrke say milk powder prices are up more than 50% since the beginning of March, and butterfat and whey prices have posted double-digit increases. Rising Oceania prices have pulled U.S. and European prices higher as well. <more> April 25,2013 TheGlobalDairy.com
   

• March Culling Slows Slightly--or Has It? - - Dairy farmers sent 4,000 fewer dairy cows to slaughter in March compared to year earlier levels, the United States Department of Agriculture announced this afternoon. Keep in mind, though, there was one more business day in March 2012 compared to March 2013. On that basis, about 400 head/day more cows were marketed in March this year. Culling on a daily basis was also running about 100 head more in March 2013 than February 2013. Year-to-date, some 27,000 more cows have been slaughtered than in 2012. That’s about a 3.4% increase. April 25, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• CWT: Strong Q1 results spur call for increased support - - The 2013 Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) Export Assistance program got off to a strong start in the first quarter (Q1) of 2013, according to CWT chief operating officer Tim Tillison. As a result, CWT leaders are asking member co-ops to double the financial support they provide to help export U.S. dairy products. According to a summary in a quarterly Export Assistance Update, CWT received 513 requests from 10 member cooperatives during Q1 2013. Of those, CWT counter offers were accepted on 280. The 176 accepted cheese offers will result in 47.1 million lbs. of cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese exports to 20 different countries on six continents through September 2013. This is a 28% increase over the 2012 Q1 accepted cheese bids. <more> April 25, 2013 Dairy Business
   

• Opinion: Delivering 'Big Ethanol' a reality check on RINs - - The adverse impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard on consumers, a range of industries and the environment are becoming increasingly apparent to lawmakers and Americans across the nation. In response, the corn ethanol lobby is shouting propaganda in an attempt to divert attention from its faulty information and brittle arguments. But it is time for Big Ethanol to have a reality check. <more> April 25, 2013 Politico

Environmental News

• USDA renews sustainability efforts with dairy industry - - “Significant resources” will be committed to helping dairy producers become more environmentally sustainable over the next several years, now that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has renewed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the dairy industry. Since signing the first MOU in December 2009, nearly 180 awards have been made to help finance anaerobic digesters. Additionally, during this period, USDA awarded approximately 140 REAP loans and grants to help dairy farmers develop other types of renewable energy and energy-efficiency systems. Also, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has provided $257 million in funding since 2009 that has helped more than 6,000 dairy farmers plan and implement conservation practices. <more> April 24, 2013 Dairy Herd Network 
   

• River runoff proposal subject of May 1 meeting in Modesto -  - The State Water Resource Control Board’s proposal to send more water down the San Joaquin River to protect fish and wildlife will be on the agenda Wednesday May 1 in Modesto when the Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder group meets. State Water Board staff will describe the Water Board’s Bay-Delta planning process and the recent proposal to modify San Joaquin River flow objectives to protect fish and wildlife. The Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in its draft form would require regional irrigation districts to leave 35 percent of mountain runoff in the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers from February to June. The presentation will include a description of the process and information the Water Board will use to inform its decisions. The Water Board is interested in speaking to people in the region who have an interest in, and could be affected by, the Water Board’s future actions regarding the flow proposal. The presentation will be by Les Grober, Assistant Deputy Director, Hearings and Special Programs Branch, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board. The meeting is set for 3 to 5 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Rooms D & E, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto. The Middle San Joaquin River Watershed includes the Lower Merced, Lower Tuolumne, Lower Stanislaus and the San Joaquin River from the Merced River to the Stanislaus River. . For more information about the Watershed Group click here: https://sites.google.com/site/eaststanrcd/watershedproject or contact Chester Anderson at: chester@eaststanrcd.org   or (209) 581-7558. April 23, 2013  Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder notice

• Is dairy farming really one of the worst jobs in America? - - No one ever said that being a dairy farmer was easy, but according to a new job rankings report from CareerCast.com, it’s one of the worst jobs in the country. Ranked No. 195 of 200, dairy farming sits firmly among the worst jobs in America. “A dairy farmer provides a necessary service to food consumers,” the report said. “But the work is especially challenging. Larger farms streamline production, which forces smaller farms out of business and results in an anticipated 8% decline in the profession by 2020.” <more> April 24, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• All you can't eat, pigs will - -  With a satisfied grin, farmer Bob Combs watches the big truck slowly dump its greasy load, a Niagara Falls of yesterday's kitchen leftovers that sends off a sickening spray as it splashes into a metal bin. The greenish-brown concoction — with hot dogs, corn, bright-orange carrots and bits of lobster bubbling to its surface — is ready to start a new culinary chapter. Just 24 hours earlier, these food scraps, albeit in decidedly more appetizing form, were served up to customers at lavish all-you-can-eat buffets on and off the Strip. Now a new, less finicky clientele awaits: 2,500 pigs on Combs' hog farm, a ramshackle spread of pens just 10 miles from the resort city's gleaming hotel restaurants. A nose-insulting stench permeates the air. <more> April 18, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• California FFA elects new leaders - - Nipomo High School student Riley Nilsen was elected state FFA president on the closing day of the annual state FFA leadership conference. Serving with Nilsen will be Valerie Canas of Santa Maria, state FFA vice president; Gabrielle Franke, Galt, state FFA secretary; Gage Willey, East Nicolaus, state FFA treasurer; Sheldon Overson, McArthur, state FFA reporter and Hunter Berry, San Jacinto, state FFA sentinel.  California's Star Farmer for 2013 is Roy Yates from the Lodi-Central FFA chapter. This award recognizes the top agriculture program as well as leadership skills. Yates maintains a cow-calf operation. Matthew VanderPoel from the Tulare FFA chapter is the California Star In Ag Placement, an award that recognizes excellence in a work setting. VanderPoel works on his family's 1,200 cow dairy operation. <more> April 25, 2013 Capital Press

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol.

  Western Milling is coordinating a bus to take interested dairy producers to the hearing. The bus will be leaving from the Visalia Holiday Inn (9000 W. Airport Drive) at 8 a.m. on May 1.  Please call DeAnna Fitzgerald at (559) 302-1078 to reserve your seat.

  Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Pro-AB 31 video airing on You Tube - - The Yes on AB 31 effort has posted a video featuring past WUD President Ray Souza, a Turlock dairyman, as he discusses the importance of protecting the legacy of California dairymen and women. To view the video, please click here. “If we lose the Pan bill (AB31) we will just continue the cycle of losing dairy farms,” says Souza in the three-minute video. AB 31 recognizes that California is the only state that doesn’t pay the dairy farmer for the whey they produce.  Consequently California dairy farmers are paid less than their counterparts in any other state. AB 31 will bring balance back to the marketplace. Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) points out, “I don’t think any of us want to live in a California where we no longer have family dairy farms.”  April 23, 2013 WUD News  

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• Assembly Agriculture Committee set to debate Assembly Bill 31 - - California is on course to losing 100 dairies each year. Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) has proposed new legislation to remedy an unfair cost-setting scheme that threatens to force hundreds of California’s local, family-run dairies to shut down. Assembly Bill 31 will allow the state Agriculture Secretary to change a flawed dairy cost structure that now allows cheese makers to pay far less for milk in California than in other states. “This legislation will fix an unfair set of rules that allows cheese producers to enjoy comfortable profits while dairy farmers risk losing everything,” said Gary Conover, Director of Government Relations for Western United Dairymen. “AB31 will level the playing field for dairy farmers, protect California’s spot as the nation’s top milk producer, and preserve our rich history of supporting family-run farms.” <more> April 24, 2013 YESAB31 press release
   

• Bill is Tougher on Crossings - - The Senate immigration bill introduced last week calls for tripling the number of criminal prosecutions of migrants who illegally enter the U.S. along the busiest border area, but the court that handles cases there already has an overloaded docket and a chronic shortage of resources. Before 2005, migrants apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol were returned to their country or processed through civil immigration courts. As part of George W. Bush's strategy to get tough on border policy, he launched a program dubbed Operation Streamline mandating that those arrested for unlawful entry would be prosecuted in criminal court and, if convicted, face a prison sentence. First-time crossers face criminal misdemeanor charges, punishable with up to 180 days in prison; repeat offenders face felony charges and longer sentences. <more> April 23, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• Antibiotics Report Ignores Food Safety Facts - - A recent Environmental Working Group (EWG) report blames antibiotic use in food animals for the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This report overlooks important data and the facts about food safety. Consumers can remain confident that strict government regulations and industry practices ensure the safe and precise use of antibiotics to protect public health. The EWG report is an interpretation of the 2011 Retail Meat Annual Report of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), a joint project of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In releasing these data, the FDA warned that the data were not comprehensive enough to show trends in resistance. <more> April 24, 2013 Dairy Today

Pricing/Commodity News

• CWT Assists with 2.2 Million Pounds of Export Sales - - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 9 requests for export assistance from Darigold, Foremost Farms, and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell 965,625 pounds (438 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, and 1.257 million pounds (570 metric tons) of butter to customers in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered May through October 2013. Year-to-date CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 50.056 million pounds of cheese, 50.625 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of AMF, and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 30 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.567 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. That is more than USDA’s projected increase in milk marketings for all of 2013. <more> April 24, 2013 Dairy Today

Environmental News

• USDA and Dairy Producers Renew Agreement to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Increase Sustainability of Dairy Production - - Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today renewed a historic agreement with U.S. dairy producers to accelerate the adoption of innovative waste-to-energy projects and energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms, both of which help producers diversify revenues and reduce utility expenses on their operations.. The pact extends a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009. "Through this renewed commitment, USDA and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy will continue research that helps dairy farmers improve the sustainability of their operations," Vilsack said. The Secretary signed the agreement this afternoon at the White House and was joined by representatives of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and Dairy Management, including Thomas P. Gallagher, CEO of the center. One objective of the MOU is to increase the construction of anaerobic digesters and explore innovative ways to use products previously considered waste streams from dairy production, processing and handling. <more> April 24, 2013 USDA press release
   

• Valley Flunks Air Test - - One major air pollutant got better and one got worse, but both are still worthy of an "F" grade in the eyes of the American Lung Association. The association's annual State of the Air report, released today, shows considerable improvement for San Joaquin County in the number of days considered hazardous for summertime ozone pollution. Tiny particulate matter, however - a serious health hazard during the wintertime wood-burning season - got worse. The report considers the years 2009 through 2011. <more> April 24, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• Turlock council passes a right-to-farm ordinance - - The City Council passed one ordinance but failed an accompanying resolution, both of which were presented as a condition of its recently settled lawsuit brought by an environmental group. The lawsuit, filed by the Davis-based California Clean Energy Committee in October over the city's general plan, was settled this month. As one of the agreements, the council has to consider — although not necessarily pass — a right-to-farm ordinance and a measure requiring developers to conduct energy-efficiency reviews. The council passed the right-to-farm ordinance by a 4-1 vote, with Councilwoman Amy Bublak dissenting. But the members voted against a resolution requiring developers to conduct energy-efficiency studies for all structures greater than 50,000 square feet. <more> April 24, 2013 Modesto Bee 
   

• River runoff proposal subject of May 1 meeting in Modesto -  - The State Water Resource Control Board’s proposal to send more water down the San Joaquin River to protect fish and wildlife will be on the agenda Wednesday May 1 in Modesto when the Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder group meets. State Water Board staff will describe the Water Board’s Bay-Delta planning process and the recent proposal to modify San Joaquin River flow objectives to protect fish and wildlife. The Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in its draft form would require regional irrigation districts to leave 35 percent of mountain runoff in the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers from February to June. The presentation will include a description of the process and information the Water Board will use to inform its decisions. The Water Board is interested in speaking to people in the region who have an interest in, and could be affected by, the Water Board’s future actions regarding the flow proposal. The presentation will be by Les Grober, Assistant Deputy Director, Hearings and Special Programs Branch, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board. The meeting is set for 3 to 5 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Rooms D & E, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto. The Middle San Joaquin River Watershed includes the Lower Merced, Lower Tuolumne, Lower Stanislaus and the San Joaquin River from the Merced River to the Stanislaus River. . For more information about the Watershed Group click here: https://sites.google.com/site/eaststanrcd/watershedproject or contact Chester Anderson at: chester@eaststanrcd.org   or (209) 581-7558. April 23, 2013  Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder notice
   

• Groundwater regulation informational meetings set for Modesto, Merced and Madera - - The East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition (ESJWQC) is co-hosting with local county Farm Bureaus three informational meetings on the new groundwater regulations impacting irrigated agriculture in the northern San Joaquin Valley region.  Attending each meeting will be Regional Water Board staff who will describe new requirements adopted by the agency on December 7, 2012. With the addition of groundwater to the existing surface water program, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board now considers any irrigated crop in the Central Valley to have potential to discharge nitrogen fertilizer into groundwater aquifers. All growers need coverage for those discharges either through a coalition or individual permit with the Water Board.  A draft individual permit was recently released and could be adopted as early as June 2013.  The adopted regulations and related documents can be seen at  www.esjcoalition.org/generalOrder.asp The meeting dates and locations are: * Thursday, April 25, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. Coalition staff will be available from 9 am to 4 pm daily at each venue with formal one-hour presentations at 10 am and 1 pm each day. <more> April 16, 2013 ESJWQC press release
   

• Cattle Waste Feeds New Profits for NY Dairy Farmer - - Doug Young is betting $1.8 million that he can make money from the waste produced by his 1,800-dairy-cow farm near Union Springs, New York. That’s the price tag for a “digester,” which converts cattle waste into fertilizer, enables the sale of carbon credits and yields energy he can sell back to the grid. Those products should bring in about $800,000 in annual profit opportunities through new revenue streams. The fertilizer alone will cut costs growing the more than 3,000 acres of corn, alfalfa and wheat he uses to feed his herd, the 56-year-old farmer said in an interview. Young, with other dairy farmers, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture today will renew a pledge made in 2009 to promote environmentally friendly -- and money-making -- practices. <more> April 24, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• Texas-Oklahoma water war could impact much of West - - A water fight erupted inside the Supreme Court Tuesday, and the justices had a hard time choosing sides. On one side was Texas, accused of trying to divert water from Oklahoma under terms of a four-state compact that entitled each state up to 25% of a stretch of the Red River's bounty. On the other was Oklahoma, asserting that Texas can get the water from within its borders or elsewhere. The battle is being watched closely by other states with interstate compacts similar to the one the two states share with Arkansas and Louisiana. There are more than two dozen compacts nationwide, mostly in the West, and at least nine with similar provisions. <more> April 23, 2013 USA Today

• Study: chicken, ground beef are riskiest meats - - An analysis of more than 33,000 cases of foodborne illness shows that ground beef and chicken have caused more hospitalizations than other meats. The report by the Center for Science in Public Interest says chicken nuggets, ham and sausage pose the lowest risk of foodborne illness. The group used government data on 1,700 outbreaks over 12 years to analyze salmonella, E. coli, listeria and other pathogens that were definitively linked to a certain meat. <more> April 23, 2013 AP

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol.

  Western Milling is coordinating a bus to take interested dairy producers to the hearing. The bus will be leaving from the Visalia Holiday Inn (9000 W. Airport Drive) at 8 a.m. on May 1.  Please call DeAnna Fitzgerald at (559) 302-1078 to reserve your seat.

  Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Pro-AB 31 video airing on You Tube - - The Yes on AB 31 effort has posted a video featuring past WUD President Ray Souza, a Turlock dairyman, as he discusses the importance of protecting the legacy of California dairymen and women. To view the video, please click here. “If we lose the Pan bill (AB31) we will just continue the cycle of losing dairy farms,” says Souza in the three-minute video. AB 31 recognizes that California is the only state that doesn’t pay the dairy farmer for the whey they produce.  Consequently California dairy farmers are paid less than their counterparts in any other state. AB 31 will bring balance back to the marketplace. Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) points out, “I don’t think any of us want to live in a California where we no longer have family dairy farms.”  April 23, 2013 WUD News  
   

• Dairy bill draws controversy - - A dairy bill in the state Assembly that would raise milk prices is highlighting a fight between producers and processors. The bill, currently in the Assembly Agriculture Committee, is being strongly supported by dairy operators who have seen months of losses due to drought and high feed costs. Producers say the price they are paid is being undervalued because it doesn’t include the value of whey, a cheese byproduct that was once thrown away but is now manufactured into a wide variety of protein-based consumer products. AB 31, sponsored by Western United Dairymen, would raise the whey component of the price to reflect prices paid to other states under the federal milk marketing order. “We just can’t survive anymore with our current pricing system, and AB 31 brings our prices into closer alignment with the prices in other states,” said Hanford dairy farmer Dino Giacomazzi. <more> April 23, 2015 Hanford Sentinel 
   

• Assembly Ag chair’s brother to challenge Rep. Denham - - A beekeeper who is the younger brother of a Democratic state legislator has announced plans to run against GOP Rep. Jeff Denham in a Central Valley swing seat next year.  Turlock Democrat Michael Eggman, whose sister is Stockton Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, chairman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, has managed finances for his family's Turlock farm for 10 years. In a news release about his candidacy, he emphasized his longtime ties to communities in the 10th Congressional District and his experience as a farmer. "Farmers, small businesses and our Valley families are hurting and we are really disgusted about the inability of our elected leaders to work together on the issues facing us," he said in a statement. "I'm not a politician, I'm a small family farmer so people will know where I stand and can trust that I'll put our communities first." <more> April 23, 2013 Sacramento Bee  
   

• Jim Dickrell: Immigration Reform’s Bare-Knuckle Brawl - - It would be easy to get caught up in irrational exuberance surrounding the Senate’s "Gang of Eight" immigration reform that was announced last week. "Immigration reform has entered the promised land, with dairy at the top of the list," says one prominent immigration attorney, who will remain unnamed on the chance that things turn sour. The announcement, despite months and years of debate in Congress and the country, is really just the beginning salvo. Don’t get me wrong. The Senate package is a huge win for U.S. dairy farmers. "Dairy will be the single biggest winner in agriculture," says Craig Regelbrugge, co-chairman of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform. But there’s still a long, hard road to go. <more> April 19, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Republican lawmakers show their division on immigration reform - - The divide within the Republican Party over immigration reform was on full view Monday, as top party leaders made a case for overhauling the laws even as conservative senators argued that the Boston bombings showed the need to go slow. Momentum appeared to be on the side of the reformers. They have amassed an unusually robust alliance of business, labor and faith leaders that on Monday included the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who said "now is the time" to fix the immigration system. <more> April 22, 2013 The Los Angeles Times
   

• Immigration plan's ag jobs provisions considered in D.C. - -  A proposal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein to legalize up to 1.1 million undocumented farmworkers got its first hearing on Capitol Hill on Monday as a Senate committee spent the day examining various aspects of a sweeping immigration-reform bill. Feinstein, a California Democrat, wrote the farmworker provision in the 844-page bill along with Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah and Marco Rubio of Florida. Bennet and Rubio are members of the “Gang of Eight” — four Democratic and four GOP senators — which wrote the overall bill unveiled last week. The Senate Judiciary Committee, where Feinstein is a senior member, is the first congressional panel to study the entire bill. Monday marked the second of at least three hearings by that panel; the third hearing is today. The committee has to approve the bill before it can advance. <more> April 23, 2013 Visalia Times-Delta  
   

• Four Senators Who Could Derail the Immigration Deal - - With one hearing down, another in full swing Monday and one more to go, the Senate Judiciary Committee is the first crucible for a comprehensive immigration overhaul bill. And in that cauldron will be the heat-bringing Republicans who likely will do everything in their power to stop the legislation from passing, trying to puncture holes in a delicate agreement forged by a bipartisan group of eight senators. Only two of the four “gang of eight” Republicans serve on the Judiciary panel, and Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., are far outnumbered by GOP detractors on the committee.  So who will have the harshest words about the bill in the hearings and expected May markup? These guys Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. and Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa. <more> April 23, 2013 Roll Call  
   

• Import workers or food, U.S. farm bloc says of immigration debate - - The United States will become more reliant than ever on imported food if it does not pass immigration reforms to assure there are enough workers to harvest fruit and vegetable crops and milk cows, a farm coalition told senators on Monday. The Agriculture Workforce Coalition pointed to estimates that thousands of U.S. farms could go out of business, slashing farm income by as much as $9 billion a year without an adequate labor supply. Some 60 to 70 percent of the estimated 2 million hired workers on U.S. farms are undocumented laborers. Growers say they are unable to hire enough American workers or guest workers from overseas to perform what is often back-breaking work. <more> April 22, 2013 Reuters 
   

• Rail settlement includes farmland mitigation plan - -  Now that county Farm Bureaus in Madera and Merced counties have reached a settlement with the California High-Speed Rail Authority regarding the Merced-to-Fresno section of the project, those affected say they expect property appraisals to come next. Madera County Farm Bureau President Tom Coleman said he expects the rail authority will soon start sending appraisers out to properties to conduct land valuations. "Our biggest concern is that the authority follows through with what it has committed to, and that is to provide mitigators or facilitators," Coleman said. "As a result of this settlement, (the rail authority) is supposed to now have people available to consult with the landowners, both prior to and after an appraisal, to help walk them through the process and be an advocate. This is not something that happens every day and landowners are concerned that they get all of the information that they should." <more> April 23, 2013 Ag Alert

Pricing/Commodity News

• Market Watch Diary: Reasons for Dairy Demand Growth - -  By Jerry Dryer, Dairy Today Contributor - - Critics frequently charge me with cheerleading—writing while under the influence of too much optimism about the dairy foods business. I readily plead guilty. That’s right. I’m guilty of hanging out with optimists—i.e. capitalists investing in what they see as the bright future of the dairy business.  And now, in the court of public opinion I’d like to name numerous accomplices—other folks who are optimistic about the future of the dairy business. First, a name we all know: Chobani, as in Greek yogurt. The company was in such a rush to capitalize on opportunities in the marketplace that it built a brand new plant from the ground up in 12 months. Located in Idaho, the plant is meant to augment the supply already being produced at the company’s recently enlarged New York plant. <more> April 23, 2013 Dairy Today  
   

• Dairy Enters a ‘Bull-Oriented’ Market - - University of Wisconsin dairy economists predict a recovery period for dairies. Despite the slow arrival of spring in the Midwest and the nation's large supply of milk, the dairy outlook is optimistic, say the University of Wisconsin’s Bob Cropp and Mark Stephenson. The two dairy economists, speaking in their monthly "Dairy Situation and Outlook" podcast, say softening corn prices, rising prices for dairy products and strong export demand point to a "bull-oriented" market. "The second half of the year ought to be a recovery period" for dairies, Stephenson says. <more> April 23, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Study examines types of fluid milk purchases in changing economies - - Many studies have shown the elasticity of milk prices and consumer purchasing decisions: In general, when retail milk prices go up, consumption goes down. A new report from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) evaluates fluid milk purchasing decisions during the peak of the most recent recession, 2007-2009. The study found the relationship between retail prices and household incomes impacted the type of fluid products purchased, but had less impact on stifling overall volume. This study, by USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) researchers Diansheng Dong and Hayden Stewart, examined household purchases of fluid milk products in response to declining personal incomes and higher retail price changes. It focused on types of fluid milk based on three levels of fat content, two package sizes, and organic vs. conventional milk. <more> April 23, 2013 Dairy Business
   

• 2012 Dairy Cow Culling Up 6.4% - - The United States Department of Agriculture reports this week that 187,000 more cows were sent to slaughter through federally-inspected plants in 2012 than 2011, a 6.4% increase. But the numbers come as little surprise, given strong cull cow prices and drought-fueled feed prices. <more> April 23, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Leading lender to Modesto farmers sees earnings rise - - American AgCredit, a leading lender to farmers in the Modesto area and beyond, reported $107.3 million in earnings last year. The figure was 16 percent more than 2011 and resulted in $45 million in dividends to the member-borrowers who own the association. The dividends, which topped $34.8 million in 2011, amounted to 1 percent of the members' loan balances. In effect, they saved 1 percentage point in interest on what they borrowed. <more> April 22, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Crop insurance indemnities nearly $17 billion in 2012 - - Crop insurance indemnities have risen to a record $17 billion for 2012 crop year, the U.S. Agriculture Department said in its latest report issued on Monday. The figure, which was up more than $700 million from the prior week, pushed the total for 2012 to $16.99 billion. The number is higher than 2011 when a series of natural disasters ranging from a freeze in Florida to drought in Texas prompted insurance companies to pay out a record $10.8 billion to farmers, short of the $12 billion they collected in premiums. <more> April 22, 2013 Des Moines Register

Environmental News

• River runoff proposal subject of May 1 meeting in Modesto -  - The State Water Resource Control Board’s proposal to send more water down the San Joaquin River to protect fish and wildlife will be on the agenda Wednesday May 1 in Modesto when the Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder group meets. State Water Board staff will describe the Water Board’s Bay-Delta planning process and the recent proposal to modify San Joaquin River flow objectives to protect fish and wildlife. The Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in its draft form would require regional irrigation districts to leave 35 percent of mountain runoff in the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers from February to June. The presentation will include a description of the process and information the Water Board will use to inform its decisions. The Water Board is interested in speaking to people in the region who have an interest in, and could be affected by, the Water Board’s future actions regarding the flow proposal. The presentation will be by Les Grober, Assistant Deputy Director, Hearings and Special Programs Branch, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board. The meeting is set for 3 to 5 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Rooms D & E, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto. The Middle San Joaquin River Watershed includes the Lower Merced, Lower Tuolumne, Lower Stanislaus and the San Joaquin River from the Merced River to the Stanislaus River. . For more information about the Watershed Group click here: https://sites.google.com/site/eaststanrcd/watershedproject or contact Chester Anderson at: chester@eaststanrcd.org   or (209) 581-7558. April 23, 2013  Middle San Joaquin Watershed Stakeholder notice
   

• Tulare County farmers' water cut even more - - The tough water year Gamdur Gill was expecting is getting worse. Gill, who grows almonds and grapes on his farms south of Earlimart, heard the news last week that spring and summer water allotments for him and other farmers who get their water from the Friant-Kern Canal were being cut — again. Back in February, the U.S Bureau of Reclamation announced that Friant-Kern customers would get water equal to to just 40 percent of their normal allotments for the year because of the Valley’s unusually dry winter and a spring that also is starting out dry. <more> April 23, 2013 Visalia Times-Delta
   

• Valley's West Side water shortages get screen time in Modesto - - A documentary about water shortages on the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley will be shown Friday evening at Modesto Junior College. "The Fight for Water: A Farm Worker Struggle" tells of 2009 cutbacks because of drought and fish protections. It was made by Juan Carlos Oseguera of Newman and features actor-comedian Paul Rodriguez, who helped organized a march. The screening will be at 6:30 p.m. in Forum 110 on the MJC East Campus. Admission is free. Oseguera, an MJC graduate, will answer questions afterward. The screening is sponsored by MEChA, or Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán. April 21, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Groundwater regulation informational meetings set for Modesto, Merced and Madera - - The East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition (ESJWQC) is co-hosting with local county Farm Bureaus three informational meetings on the new groundwater regulations impacting irrigated agriculture in the northern San Joaquin Valley region.  Attending each meeting will be Regional Water Board staff who will describe new requirements adopted by the agency on December 7, 2012. With the addition of groundwater to the existing surface water program, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board now considers any irrigated crop in the Central Valley to have potential to discharge nitrogen fertilizer into groundwater aquifers. All growers need coverage for those discharges either through a coalition or individual permit with the Water Board.  A draft individual permit was recently released and could be adopted as early as June 2013.  The adopted regulations and related documents can be seen at  www.esjcoalition.org/generalOrder.asp The meeting dates and locations are: * Tuesday, April 23, Madera County Farm Bureau  * Wednesday, April 24, Merced County Farm Bureau * Thursday, April 25, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. Coalition staff will be available from 9 am to 4 pm daily at each venue with formal one-hour presentations at 10 am and 1 pm each day. <more> April 16, 2013 ESJWQC press release

• Officer delivers milk amid Boston manhunt - - Last week’s manhunt for a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing forced officials to shut down parts of Boston, keeping residents inside their homes until the lockdown was lifted. Amidst the frantic and desperate search, there was a moment of compassion. The photo shows a Brookline police officer carrying two gallons of milk to a local family with young children who found themselves stranded without milk amid the lockdown. <more> April 22, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• Lawyer says federal inspection found no issues at New Mexico horse slaughterhouse - - About 5 miles from this southeastern New Mexico town’s famed UFO museum, tucked between dairy farms, is a nondescript metal building that could be home to any number of small agricultural businesses. But Valley Meat Co. is no longer just another agricultural business. It’s a former cattle slaughterhouse whose kill floor has been redesigned for horses to be led in one at a time, secured in a huge metal chute, shot in the head, then processed into meat for shipment overseas. It’s also ground zero for an emotional, national debate over a return to domestic horse slaughter that has divided horse rescue and animal humane groups, ranchers, politicians and Indian tribes. <more> April 23, 2013 AP

Monday, April 22, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol. Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Fears of terrorism threaten immigration bill - - A top Republican senator, citing the Boston bombings, warned Friday against rushing ahead with a reform of the country's immigration laws, as concerns about terrorism appeared to revive conservative opposition to the proposal. “Given the events of this week, it’s important for us to understand the gaps and loopholes in our immigration system,” Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. “While we don’t yet know the immigration status of the people who have terrorized the communities in Massachusetts, when we find out, it will help shed light on the weaknesses of our system. How can individuals evade authorities and plan such attacks on our soil? How can we beef up security checks on people who wish to enter the U.S.? How do we ensure that people who wish to do us harm are not eligible for benefits under the immigration laws, including this new bill before us?” <more> April 19, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Advocates of immigration reform fight back against push for delay - - The Senate’s leading supporters of overhauling the nation’s immigration system sought Sunday to blunt a conservative effort to slow the pace of debate over their bill, saying the Boston Marathon bombings are a reason to move quickly to make changes. “What happened in Boston and international terrorism I think should urge us to act quicker, not slower,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a member of a bipartisan group of eight senators who last week introduced a bill that would rewrite U.S. immigration laws, including for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. <more> April 21, 2013 The Washington Post
   

• Vidak has only one path to victory - - The 16th Senate District race will likely be decided one month from today. If Kings County Republican Andy Vidak wins outright with more than 50 percent of the vote, he will deliver the California Democratic Party an embarrassing setback. But if Vidak doesn't win in May, he doesn't win at all. <more> April 20, 2013 The Bakersfield Californian
   

• Cochran Brings Southern Perspective to Senate Agriculture Committee - - Mississippi’s Thad Cochran, the new ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, could be the wild card among the congressional players involved in writing a farm bill that could have a chance of being signed into law this year. He took the top GOP seat at the start of the 113th Congress after asserting his seniority on the panel to move Pat Roberts of Kansas out of the spot. The change means not only new leadership but also a regional shift in power that is likely to alter the Senate farm bill’s direction. <more> April 20, 2013 Roll Call

Pricing/Commodity News

• USDA, Dairy Industry Still Arguing Over Changes In Milk Pricing - - The push for change continues among dairymen wanting to do away with what they say is an "antiquated" milk-pricing system that has long limited their profits. But disagreements within the industry continue to prevent what many say truly needs to be done; throwing out the existing four-class milk system. Talks of a new pricing system have been under way for about five years or more, and this month, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, have stressed the need for the next farm bill to include a change in how prices are set. <more> April 21, 2013 The Greeley Tribune 
   

• Milk production down nationally - - Nationally, 16.4 billion pounds of milk was produced in the 23 major dairy states, down a slight 0.1 percent from March 2012, but 11 percent more than last month (which only had 28 days on the calendar). California continues to have the highest total production with about 3.67 billion pounds. Kansas has the greatest increase in year-to-year output as that state produced 251 million pounds of milk in March, up five percent from the same month last year. Due to sequestration, USDA data is not providing figures on the number of cows on state dairy farms. Last month, Wisconsin was milking about 1.27 million head of dairy cattle during the month, with total production averaging 1,700 pounds per cow for the month. The national per-cow average was 1,772 pounds per animal, according to last month's report. April 22, 2013 USDA Notice

Environmental News

• Court ruling muddies farmers' Fresno meeting on protecting groundwater  - - The state was poised for one last workshop this week with anxious farmers about landmark groundwater rules covering a $15 billion swath of California agriculture. Now a tentative court ruling jeopardizes the state's environmental studies on the contentious rules, and maybe the rules themselves. Farm leaders want to hold off the workshop and keep negotiating on the rules in the new state order as they have for years. But the workshop still is scheduled to convene at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Radisson Hotel, 2233 Ventura St. in downtown Fresno. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board wants to explain the rules and have a further dialogue with farmers. <more> April 22, 2013 Fresno Bee  
   

• EPA says California failed to spend safe drinking-water funds - - A federal official announced Friday that California hasn't spent $455 million of safe drinking-water funds -- a fraction of which would fix many small-town water problems in the San Joaquin Valley. The state could lose some of these federal funds if the problem isn't addressed, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The federal money is sorely needed in the Valley where contamination threatens the drinking water of 250,000 people in rural towns. But residents often face years of delay to get through the state bureaucracy for funding. The EPA has spent years unsuccessfully trying to get the state to document expenditures of the money provided by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA regional administrator. <more> April 19, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Politics and policy collide in fight over water - - Phil Isenberg is a former state lawmaker, mayor of Sacramento and big-time lobbyist -- someone who’s been in a lot of political street fights but whose latest battle may be his biggest. The 50-year veteran of California politics heads the Delta Stewardship Council and he is now the guy with his hand on the future of the state’s water system. Isenberg, 74, says the question of what to do with California’s water in the Delta “has been debated for 55 years and that nothing stops Californians from arguing about water.” The inference is that the arguments might go on forever. <more> April 19, 2013 Capitol Weekly
   

• Washington State fines first dairy under manure law - - The state has fined a Lower Valley dairy for applying manure to an empty field without crops that would otherwise absorb the nitrates and prevent them from seeping into the groundwater. In what’s said to be the first such action under a 2009 law, the Department of Agriculture issued a $250 civil penalty last month against Jacob Veldhuis after citizen complaints brought inspectors to the property earlier this year. Veldhuis has since paid his fine and fixed the problem, said Ginny Prest, program manager for dairy nutrient management program. <more> April 17, 2013 Yakima Herald-Republic
   

• Valley's West Side water shortages get screen time in Modesto - - A documentary about water shortages on the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley will be shown Friday evening at Modesto Junior College. "The Fight for Water: A Farm Worker Struggle" tells of 2009 cutbacks because of drought and fish protections. It was made by Juan Carlos Oseguera of Newman and features actor-comedian Paul Rodriguez, who helped organized a march. The screening will be at 6:30 p.m. in Forum 110 on the MJC East Campus. Admission is free. Oseguera, an MJC graduate, will answer questions afterward. The screening is sponsored by MEChA, or Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán. April 21, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Agencies seek to bolster water supplies in SJ Valley - - A federal agency is looking for ways to augment water supplies south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, where farmers have been grappling with a devastating lack of water. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced it is taking advantage of water banking and transfer opportunities to add to users' supplies after further cutting allocations in the San Joaquin Valley last month. The bureau has been working with the California Department of Water Resources on measures to improve water availability, such as additional groundwater pumping and a pact to receive about 24,000 acre-feet from the Yuba River. <more> April 22, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Farm Beat: Nature, farming a delicate balance - - Farmers have a complicated relationship with soil, water and other resources. They use them to make a profit, and yet they need to sustain them so they can produce crops in future years. The 43 years since the first Earth Day have not brought a mass conversion to organic farming. That's still a tiny part of the business. But farmers I know have no problem using practices that, while not organic, can arguably be called sustainable. They monitor pest levels and spray only when truly needed. They apply fertilizer at the times in the growing season when it would do the crop the most good. <more> April 19, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Groundwater regulation informational meetings set for Modesto, Merced and Madera - - The East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition (ESJWQC) is co-hosting with local county Farm Bureaus three informational meetings on the new groundwater regulations impacting irrigated agriculture in the northern San Joaquin Valley region.  Attending each meeting will be Regional Water Board staff who will describe new requirements adopted by the agency on December 7, 2012. With the addition of groundwater to the existing surface water program, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board now considers any irrigated crop in the Central Valley to have potential to discharge nitrogen fertilizer into groundwater aquifers. All growers need coverage for those discharges either through a coalition or individual permit with the Water Board.  A draft individual permit was recently released and could be adopted as early as June 2013.  The adopted regulations and related documents can be seen at  www.esjcoalition.org/generalOrder.asp The meeting dates and locations are: * Tuesday, April 23, Madera County Farm Bureau  * Wednesday, April 24, Merced County Farm Bureau * Thursday, April 25, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. Coalition staff will be available from 9 am to 4 pm daily at each venue with formal one-hour presentations at 10 am and 1 pm each day. <more> April 16, 2013 ESJWQC press release

• Smile! Dairy keeps teeth healthy - - The key to a healthy smile may include more than just brushing and flossing. According to Health Magazine, it may also include a glass of milk or piece of cheese. In an article featured on Yahoo!, Health Magazine pointed the best and worst foods for your dental health. Among the best choices was dairy. Dairy is a primary dietary source of calcium, which is good for teeth. And calcium is the key ingredient in the mineral hydroxyapatite, which strengthens tooth enamel as well as bones. <more> April 22, 2013 Dairy Herd Network

Friday, April 19, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol. Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Frank Lucas to move on farm bill - - House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) said Thursday that he will move ahead a farm bill markup May 15 despite pressure from the Republican leadership to take more time first and consider tougher changes in the food stamp program to win over conservative votes. Lucas told POLITICO that he was fully prepared to hold listening sessions first with the Republican whip’s office over the next month. But he wants to keep to his schedule and produce a bipartisan bill together with his ranking Democrat, Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson. “They suggested I take a little more time,” Lucas said of a meeting Thursday with Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and his top staff. “I said I wanted to go May 15 but would be happy to hold the listening sessions to hear what my colleagues think.” <more> April 18, 2013 Politico
   

• Ag leaders optimistic about immigration deal - - For Manuel Cunha, president of Fresno-based Nisei Farmers League, the tentative farmworker immigration agreement reached in the U.S. Senate last week is a huge step forward. But it’s a fragile one. For more than 10 years, Cunha and other San Joaquin Valley agricultural leaders have pushed without success for comprehensive immigration reform that would include a guest worker program and a shot at citizenship for the thousands of undocumented agricultural workers in Kings County. The last good chance it had of passing was early in the first term of President George W. Bush in 2001, Cunha said. <more> April 17, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Boston bombings shadow immigration bill - - The Boston Marathon bombings cast a shadow Friday over the start of debate on legislation to remake the U.S. immigration system, as some Republicans argued that the role of two immigrant suspects raised questions about gaps in the system. There was no suggestion that the two suspects, brothers who had lived in Dagestan neighboring Chechnya in southern Russia, had entered the U.S. illegally. And authors of a sweeping new immigration bill, which got its first hearing Friday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, argued that their legislation would improve U.S. national security because the estimated 11 million people now living here illegally would have to come forward and undergo background checks. Still, a number of Republicans seized on the events in Boston to raise questions about the existing immigration system and the changes proposed in the new bill. <more> April 19, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• Next in immigration debate: Sorting through the specifics - - Now that the behemoth immigration bill pitched by the so-called Gang of Eight has been filed, activists – and their lawyers – on both sides of the issue have been poring over the 844-page document and uncovering concerns they want addressed.  Immigrant advocates worry about a thorny path to citizenship, difficult triggers that might block thousands of people from legalization, the elimination of diversity visas and the lack of same-sex benefits. Those on the other side worry about promises to secure the border that might not be kept, triggers that may not be enforced and increased competition for jobs. <more> April 18, 2013 he Sacramento Bee
   

• Valley farmers reach key settlement with bullet train agency - - A group representing Central Valley farmers said Thursday it reached a settlement with the California High-Speed Rail Authority in a lawsuit that was one of the biggest obstacles to the state's $68 billion bullet train project. If a judge accepts the agreement, it would be a significant victory for Gov. Jerry Brown and other supporters of what would be the nation's first high-speed rail system. <more> April 18, 2013 AP
   

• Food poisonings up from raw milk, poultry bacteria - - Bacteria commonly linked to raw milk and poultry is causing more and more food poisonings, health officials said Thursday. Cases of campylobacter grew by 14 percent over the last five years, a government study found. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report was based on foodborne infections in only 10 states — about 15 percent of the American population. But it is seen as a good indicator of food poisoning trends — the CDC refers to it as "the nation's annual food safety report card." <more> April 18, 2013 The Wall Street Journal

Pricing/Commodity News

• March Milk Production Down 0.3% - - USDA released its abridged milk production estimate for March this afternoon, noting that production was down 0.3% from a year ago (and down 0.1% in the 23 major dairy producing states). Because of sequestration funding cutbacks, USDA is not surveying dairy farms and does not have milk cow number or production data. The milk production data is based largely on Federal Milk Marketing Order statistics and state statistics. California production was down 3.3% in March from year earlier. <more> April 19, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Analysts: Dairy proposals comparable - - Authors of a new analysis comparing the Dairy Security Act and the Goodlatte-Scott amendment say neither proposal trumps the other and both would offer effective protection against catastrophic loss. But dairy groups lobbying for their preferred proposal to overhaul federal dairy policy contend the analysis demonstrates the advantages of their bill and the shortcomings of the other. Both proposals offer subsidized margin insurance for income over feed costs, and the industry is generally supportive of that concept. The difference, and the sticking point, is that DSA contains a voluntary milk-supply-management plan, called the Dairy Market Stabilization Program, and the G-S amendment does not. <more> April 19, 2013 Capital Press
   

• NY says it's No. 1 in yogurt output, tops Calif. - - New York says it's now the cream on top of the country's yogurt production. State statistics show New York producers churned out 692 million pounds of yogurt last year to take the top spot. California was No. 2 after producing 587 million pounds. New York yogurt plants have nearly tripled production in the last five years — the same span that saw milk production rise by 1 billion pounds to over 13 billion, making it the nation's fourth largest milk producer. <more> April 18, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• Lee Mielke: Trade, policy and immigration reform impact dairy industry - - The USDA's latest Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook lowered its 2012-13 corn price forecasts slightly from March to $6.65-$7.15 per bushel. Higher world grain production and lower estimated U.S. domestic feed use were given as the reason. Soybean meal was also lowered slightly from last month to $415-$435 a ton. The lower price for concentrate feeds along with a slightly higher expected all milk price will improve producer margins somewhat, the Outlook said, but not enough to boost herd size. Herd size was projected at 9.195 million head, for 2013, unchanged from March's forecast and below 2012. Output per cow was lowered in April to 21,945 pounds, based on lower February milk per cow data. <more> April 19, 2013 Capital Press
   

• APHIS gets petition from Monsanto on genetically engineered alfalfa - - USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today released a notice that it has received a petition from the Monsanto Company and Forage Genetics International seeking a determination of non-regulated status of alfalfa designated as event KK179, which has been genetically engineered to express reduced levels of guaiacyl lignin (G lignin). This reduction in G lignin leads to reduced accumulation of total lignin in alfalfa forage, the principal feed product derived from alfalfa, APHIS said. The petition states that this alfalfa event is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk and, therefore, should not be a regulated article under APHIS’ regulations. APHIS said the petition has been submitted in accordance with regulations concerning the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. <more> April 19, 2013 Agri-Pulse
   

• Cattle on feed down 5% - - Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in U.S. feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.9 million head on April 1, 5% less than a year earlier. March placements totaled 1.90 million head (1.82 million net), up 6% from a year earlier. March fed cattle marketings totaled 1.77 million, down 8%. April 19, 2013 Dairy Business Update

Environmental News

• Modesto Irrigation District to consider proposed merger with Turlock Irrigation District - - The intriguing idea of merging the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts is resurfacing, this time with the MID board chairman's support. "I think it could save us in the long run," Nick Blom said Thursday. "We are duplicating a lot of administrative stuff (and other functions). Maybe if we work together, it could be done more efficiently." Blom's counterpart at TID, Michael Frantz, said he's willing to take a look, but would go along only if consolidating would help TID customers. <more> April 18, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Looming Merced River water fight will test Rep. McClintock's political sway - - A politically difficult bill allowing the expansion of Lake McClure will now test whether Rep. Tom McClintock has learned how to move the levers of California water. As chair of the House water and power subcommittee, McClintock, R-Elk Grove, can showcase his favorite issues. He did so Thursday, presenting to another House panel his legislation allowing potential expansion of Lake McClure by the Merced Irrigation District. But as he enters into his second term as panel chairman, and his fourth decade in political life, the 56-year-old McClintock remains largely unproven in his ability to pass a congressional bill into law. The Lake McClure legislation offers another shot, albeit one with definite challenges that face the broader California congressional delegation anytime water arises. <more> April 18, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Groundwater regulation informational meetings set for Modesto, Merced and Madera - - The East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition (ESJWQC) is co-hosting with local county Farm Bureaus three informational meetings on the new groundwater regulations impacting irrigated agriculture in the northern San Joaquin Valley region.  Attending each meeting will be Regional Water Board staff who will describe new requirements adopted by the agency on December 7, 2012. With the addition of groundwater to the existing surface water program, the Cemtral Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board now considers any irrigated crop in the Central Valley to have potential to discharge nitrogen fertilizer into groundwater aquifers. All growers need coverage for those discharges either through a coalition or individual permit with the Water Board.  A draft individual permit was recently released and could be adopted as early as June 2013.  The adopted regulations and related documents can be seen at  www.esjcoalition.org/generalOrder.asp The meeting dates and locations are: * Tuesday, April 23, Madera County Farm Bureau  * Wednesday, April 24, Merced County Farm Bureau * Thursday, April 25, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. Coalition staff will be available from 9 am to 4 pm daily at each venue with formal one-hour presentations at 10 am and 1 pm each day. <more> April 16, 2013 ESJWQC press release

• Tragic Plant Explosion Highlights Importance of Fertilizer Safety - - The Fertilizer Institute Thursday responded to the deadly April 17 explosion of the West Fertilizer Company plant in West, Texas, providing background on the agricultural fertilizers believed to be involved in the blast. Ford West, TFI president, said the group's thoughts and prayers are with those in West, Texas, and his group would monitor the situation and update facts as needed. TFI noted that it is a member of the Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response program, which supports training for emergency responders in 27 states, including Texas. The group explained that nitrogen fertilizers, such as anhydrous ammonia, require specific standards for handling, application and storage. <more> April 19, 2013 California Farmer
   

• California high-speed rail bidding rules were changed - - State high-speed rail officials acknowledged Thursday that they changed their rules for selecting a builder for the bullet train's first phase in the Central Valley, a shift that subsequently made it possible for a consortium led by Sylmar-based Tutor Perini to be ranked as the top candidate despite receiving the lowest technical rating. The California High-Speed Rail Authority announced last week that the Tutor Perini-Zachry-Parsons joint venture was the top-rated contender among five bidders seeking to build the initial 29 miles of track between Madera and Fresno. While it offered the lowest price at $985.1 million, the Tutor Perini team's technical score ranked last. Ferrovial and Acciona, two Spanish firms with significant high-speed rail experience, had the highest technical mark but bid almost $1.4 billion. The rail agency board is expected to select a contractor in the coming months after additional negotiations. <more> April 18, 2013 Los Angeles Times

Thursday, April 18, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• California farmworkers may win fast track to legal residency - -  As many as 400,000 California undocumented farmworkers may get a fast track to legal status under a potential landmark accord between the agricultural industry and the United Farm Workers union. The agreement, hashed out with key guidance from U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D- Calif., stands to be a major component in sweeping immigration legislation introduced Wednesday in the Senate. The potential symbolism of the deal was underscored Wednesday as ag industry leaders and a longtime adversary – the UFW – praised the plan in a joint press conference in Washington, D.C. The deal would allow undocumented people who worked steadily in agriculture in recent years to receive a "blue card" legal work permit while speeding up prospects of achieving permanent legal residency. It would also establish a new agricultural guest worker program with wage protections. <more> April 18, 2013 Sacramento Bee  
   

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol. Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Visalia Milk Co-Op Poised For Expansion  - - Is there too much milk or not enough? Not enough going to the right market says Visalia-based California Dairies Inc CEO Andre Mikhalevsky. ”Right now we can process only 60% of our members milk.” That means 40% goes to fluid milk where the profits are not that high with little room for expansion, he says. Instead,“the best return for our members is to dry the milk and ship it for export” says Mikhalevsky.”We can make a lot more money.” Top destination – China where they need a boat load of baby formula. <more> April 18, 2013 Sierra2thesea.com
   

• Turlock dairywoman donates $1 million to UC Merced - - Successful businesswoman Margo Souza, 74, can think of a million reasons to go to college. Now, she's turning those reasons into action by donating $1 million to UC Merced. The money will be used to establish a leadership center in Souza's name inside UC Merced's office of student life. It was a college degree that opened doors for Souza, a Turlock native who spent 24 years as a nurse and 30 years in the dairy industry. Souza made a name for herself as the president and chief executive officer of Turlock's Circle H Dairy Ranch Inc., finding success in a key Central Valley industry typically dominated by men. The pioneering dairywoman said helping students find their voice through leadership training is something that's very close to her heart. <more> April 17, 2013 The Modesto Bee 
   

• Senate Immigration Bill Would Benefit Dairies - - The U.S. dairy industry would benefit from the landmark agreement known as the "Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act" introduced in the U.S. Senate April 17, industry sources say. "Dairy will be the single biggest winner in agriculture" because the bill offers provisions for a year-round flow of workers and allows employers to keep their existing workforce, says Craig Regelbrugge, co-chairman of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform. Among the features in the 844-page proposal is a provision that establishes a "blue card" that allows experienced agricultural workers to remain in the U.S. <more> April 18, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Dairy groups back Senate immigration reform bill - - A bill to reform immigration policy introduced in the Senate Wednesday is being backed by dairymen. The bill provides three things Idaho Dairymen's Association has pushed for all along, said Charlie Garrison, a D.C. lobbyist for IDA, Western United Dairymen and other dairy groups. The dairymen's first priority in immigration issues is legalization of the current workforce, and the proposed legislation provides that, he said. It also provides for year-round labor and a guestworker program for future needs, he said. The House has not introduced immigration reform, he said, but is working on legislation that reflects the needs of agriculture and more specifically dairy producers. <more> April 18, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Pelosi hopeful immigration reform will pass by August - -  House Minority Leader Pelosi said Congress should be able to get a comprehensive package over the finish line before the August recess. Pelosi said she expects the House bill to be "very much like" the Senate proposal. She was also quick to note that Democrats aren't happy with every provision of the Senate package, but suggested her caucus could rally behind such a bill in the name of bipartisan compromise. "Don't get me wrong. It's not a bill that I would have written. It's not something that all of our members are quick to embrace because it is a compromise," Pelosi said. "And as a compromise, it's the boldest common denominator, the best that we can do, and it's very good."  <more> April 18, 2013 The Hill
   

• Democrats look to Bakersfield school trustee for Valadao challenge - - Local and national Democrats think a Bakersfield City School District member might make the perfect challenger for first-term congressman David Valadao, a Hanford Republican. Andrae Gonzales is currently the board’s president pro tem. Democrats call him an “up-and-comer.” Even Bakersfield Republican political consultant Stan Harper calls him “viable” and “bright.” The question is: Can he unseat Valadao in the 21st Congressional District? Democrats are still unhappy that they failed to even put up a fight for the seat last November. They hold a 15-percentage-point registration advantage in the district over the rival Republicans, but Valadao thumped Fresno Democrat John Hernandez, 58% to 42%. <more> April 17, 2013 Fresno Bee Newsroom Blog
   

• Calif. Reacts as 'Gang of 8' Files Immigration Bill - - On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers known as the "Gang of Eight" formally filed an 844-page immigration bill on the U.S. Senate floor. California has much at stake in the outcome, and not just because the state is home to many of the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally. The bill includes a 13-year pathway to citizenship, new visa programs for low-skilled and high-skilled workers, tweaks to family-based visas and a greater emphasis on employment and education skills. <more> April 17, 2013 The California Report
   

• Conservatives See a Turning Tide on Immigration - - Hours after a bipartisan group of eight senators introduced a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s immigration system, conservative radio talk show hosts took over two floors of a Capitol Hill hotel on Wednesday and denounced the proposal on the country’s drive-time airwaves as nothing more than a reward for lawbreakers. On a Florida station, WFTL, the host Joyce Kaufman called it “pure amnesty.” Jim Sharpe, a talk show host on KFYI in Phoenix, promised that “Arizonans are still not taking this sitting down.” On Denny Schaffer’s show in New Orleans, callers demanded deportations. “I see nothing wrong with putting them on a bus and shipping them back to wherever they came from,” a caller named Alan told Mr. Schaffer. “The law’s the law.” But even some of the talk show hosts most vehemently opposed to illegal immigration said they were worried that times have changed. <more> April 17, 2013 The New York Times 

Pricing/Commodity News

• Mixed week for dairy markets - - Dairy Market News notes last week’s increase in the average weekly price for cash cheese barrels and blocks was the largest weekly increase since September 24th. Some wondered if the pace was too fast and that the market had topped-out…barrels declined on Tuesday on news cheese makers had all the milk they wanted last week and even got some below Class price. But that has changed, the cash price moved higher on Wednesday and held steady on Thursday. Processors say extra milk is harder to find this week plus there is considerable discussion about drought ending New Zealand’s milk production year early. And while the overall average price increased less than one percent at the Global Dairy Trade auction on Tuesday, skim milk powder was the only product to decline, everything else was steady or higher. April 18, 2013 Brownfield Ag News

Environmental News

• Air-quality solutions despite the activists - - After being sued by an environmental group five years ago, the issue of air quality became front-and-center at DeRuyter Brothers Dairy in Outlook, Wash. So, when a voluntary monitoring program began in the area, DeRuyter was one of 12 farms that signed up. “It worked out really well,” Genny DeRuyter told those attending the Western Dairy Air Quality Symposium on Wednesday. “I was startled when I finally got my report card (from the people who came out to the farm to evaluate best-management practices related to air quality),” she said. “We had a score in the mid-90s - that’s a passing grade of ‘A.’” The DeRuyters appreciated knowing they were doing the right thing after being caught off guard by the activist lawsuit ? a suit that was later dropped. <more> April 17, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• Friant water allocation cut - - After reviewing the manual snow survey data from the California Department of Water Resources that was provided the week of April 8, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has determined that because of persistent dry conditions, an additional 5 percent reduction to the Friant Division allocation is necessary. In consultation with the Friant Division contractors and in consideration of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program release schedule, the bureau decreased Friant Division Class 1 water supply allocation from 55 percent to 50 percent. Class 2 water remains at 0 percent. Friant Division includes Friant Dam, 17 miles northeast of downtown Fresno, and Friant-Kern Canal that stretches 127 miles through Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties. <more> April 17, 2013 The Business Journal
   

• Jerry Brown starts push to revamp California's environmental law - - As Gov. Jerry Brown toured China over the last week, he repeatedly contrasted that nation's speedy construction of modern transportation systems and other key public works with what he characterized as a lack of vision back home. A pillar of his plan to let the "bulldozers roll" on big projects in California has been an overhaul of the state's landmark environmental law, which can tangle development in litigation for years. Yet before he even boarded his return flight, the governor said he was giving up on any substantial revision this year of the 40-year-old law, which he says stands in the way of progress. <more> April 17, 2013 The Los Angeles Times

• NIAA Opposes "Humane Education;” Supports Animal Welfare - - Domesticated animals deserve respect and care. That’s animal welfare—and a priority of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, an organization comprised of livestock, equine, poultry and aquaculture producers, producer organizations, veterinarians, extension personnel, academicians, scientists, Federal and state regulatory agencies and allied industry. Jim Fraley, Livestock Program Director for Illinois Farm Bureau and co-chair of NIAA’s Animal Care Council, stresses that animal welfare and animal rights, however, are not the same. Significant discussion was devoted to this topic during NIAA’s annual conference in Louisville, Ky., April 15-17. In the end, NIAA’s membership agreed on two key items: 1) NIAA believes in animal welfare and does not believe in animal rights; and 2) Today’s children and future generations should understand the importance of animal welfare and not confuse animal welfare with animal rights. During its annual conference, NIAA members adopted a position that public schools should not stir confusion regarding the difference between animal welfare and animal rights by allowing extremist animal rights groups to present their views which can be erroneously perceived as facts. Concern about what public schools should or should not allow regarding animal welfare and animal rights education arose when NIAA members learned about a California school system that allowed a movie involving animals to be shown and followed up the movie with a discussion focusing on how cruel it is to eat fish. “Those of us in animal agriculture do not believe that extremist animal rights groups should be allowed to dictate information children are exposed to—or will be exposed to—at our public schools regarding animal welfare,” Fraley states. April 18, 2013 NIAA press release
   

• The future of food - - The students filed into our living room and took their places at our big table, all of them sustainable agriculture majors at Unity College in Maine. Some had long dreadlocks, and all were casually dressed, with women slightly outnumbering the men. Groups like this often visit our household to talk about small-scale farming, and this time I asked them a question that is often asked of my husband and me: “Why do so many young people today want to farm?” Not all of our visitors did, as it turned out, but most intended to work somewhere in “the food system” and were passionately involved in agriculture as a branch of knowledge. Many said they had been initially drawn to the subject by their mistrust of the nation’s food supply and a desire to be independent from it. “There is no more important work than feeding people,” one said. “It’s meaningful work.” <more> April 17, 2013 The Washington Post

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Agriculture Workforce Coalition praises immigration plan - - A collection of farm groups known as the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, of which Western United Dairymen is a founding member,  today voiced  their support for the immigration reform package introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators Tuesday. National Milk Producers Federation president and CEO Jerry Kozak says there are four key items essential to dairy producers: * Establishing a blue card for experienced agricultural workers. This provides a means for farmers to keep their existing workforce, including those who may not be legally documented. Dairy farmers should not lose experienced, loyal employees as part of this effort. * Creating a new visa system for future workers that is easy to use and affordable. Current efforts won’t be worth it if the resulting product is too cumbersome, costly, and confusing for farmers to use.* Assuring the future flow of new workers so that as the economy and jobs shift and evolve. Dairy farmers must have a means to recruit and hire new dairy workers for a long period of time. * Eliminating the seasonality element of any ag visa program such as H2A, which prevented U.S. dairy farmers from using it. Dairy farmers need relief from having to demonstrate the seasonal or temporary nature of employment. <more> April 17, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• All Farmers Would Use E-Verify Under Immigration Bill - - Under the framework released Tuesday for the potential Senate immigration bill, all farmers who hire would have to use the E-Verify employment system within four years to check on prospective employees. Details in the framework highlight the path to legalization of an estimated 11million people now living in the country illegally. For everything to work, the bill would create a metric for defining whether the country has a secure southern border to go along with a $3 billion border security program to upgrade surveillance, additional Border Patrol agents and drones to operate along the border and federal lands. <more> April 16, 2013 DTN Ag Policy Blog 
   

• NMPF Praises Senate Agreement on Immigration Reform - - As a bipartisan group of Senators introduced legislation this morning dealing with comprehensive immigration reform, members of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) held a press conference Wednesday highlighting the crucial stake American agriculture, including dairy farming, has in the debate. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), which is a founding member of the AWC, has made fixing the broken immigration system one of its highest priorities over the past decade. NMPF’s President & CEO Jerry Kozak told press conference attendees that "what we’re working with lawmakers to do is not merely fixing a broken system, but scrapping an old set of unworkable rules and replacing it with something better." <more> April 17, 2013 Ag Web 
   

• Immigration bill filed in Senate; opponents hope to use delays to kill it - - A bipartisan group of lawmakers formally filed an 844-page immigration bill on the Senate floor early Wednesday, setting the stage for months of public debate over the proposal. Leading Capitol Hill opponents of the proposal to overhaul the nation’s immigration system are coalescing around a strategy to kill the bill by delaying the legislative process as long as possible, providing time to offer “poison pill” amendments aimed at breaking apart the fragile bipartisan group that developed the plan, according to lawmakers and legislative aides. <more> April 17, 2013 Washington Post
   

• Senate immigration bill looks promising despite some unease - - Complete satisfaction with the Senate's bipartisan immigration proposal was hard to find Tuesday as details of the bill became known, but despite reservations, a growing consensus was developing in favor of the proposal as the best chance in a generation to achieve comprehensive immigration reform.  Republicans, in particular, largely held their fire on the issue, as the party's elected officials warmed to the prospect of getting more resources for border security in exchange for a path to legal status for the 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization. President Obama, after meeting at the White House with two of the bill's top architects, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), pledged to "do whatever it takes" to achieve an immigration overhaul. <more> April 17, 2013 LA Times
   

• Eight Potholes for 'Gang of Eight' Immigration Bill - - The “gang of eight” senators rolling out a bipartisan immigration overhaul this week are gearing up for the battle to formally be joined at the Senate Judiciary Committee and ultimately on the floor this summer. The senators are expressing optimism that a bill resembling their package will ultimately become law, and President Barack Obama reiterated on Tuesday his commitment to getting a deal passed.  “If we fail this time, I don’t know when anybody would take this up. I mean, I said last time this was the last best chance in a decade. This may be the last chance forever,” gang of eight Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Tuesday. Here are just eight of the potholes that lie ahead for the immigration bill: <more> April 17, 2013 Roll Call  
   

• How the immigration deal got made - - The meeting was supposed to be a half-hour update for immigration reform proponents — but they weren’t about to let the Democratic senators get off that easily. The advocates were furious that Democrats might cave to Republican demands to make the pathway to citizenship contingent upon border security benchmarks, including the sign off of governors from southwestern states. They felt locked out of the process. And now, they had no idea what the negotiators were trading away just weeks before the Gang of Eight’s immigration bill was slated to be publicly released. The intense back-channel talks between members, staffers and outside groups have produced the most sweeping immigration bill in six years. The legislation comes after weeks of tense member-level meetings — often with powerful special interests they had to keep at bay in order to craft a fragile, bipartisan coalition. The deal required painful compromises, suffered near breakdowns and endured cooling-off periods, including when the group walked away from the negotiating table for part of the Easter recess before re-engaging in the horse trading. <more> April 17, 2013 Politico
   

• California bill to thwart animal investigations is killed - - A bill that would have limited undercover farm animal abuse investigations has been pulled by its author amid stiff and growing opposition. Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, had carried the bill for the California Cattlemen's Association, which said it sought to quickly end abuse. Patterson pulled the bill Wednesday just three hours before it was to be voted on by the Assembly Agriculture Committee. Patterson's bill would have required anyone collecting evidence of abuse to turn it over to law enforcement within 48 hours, which animal advocates say does not allow enough time to show a pattern of illegal activity under federal humane handling and food safety laws. <more> April 17, 2013 AP
   

• California Animal Welfare Bill Creates Controversy, Critics Call It 'Ag-Gag' - - A number of states have recently passed laws that seek to restrict journalists and animal rights activists from filming inhumane practices inside slaughterhouses. These so-called “Ag-gag” laws have drawn harsh criticism from animal welfare groups. Now, a new bill from a Fresno lawmaker that aims to mandate the swift reporting of animal abuse has some crying foul. Valley Public Radio’s Ezra Romero reports. <more> April 17, 2013 KVPR
   

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol. Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Over 30,000 comments on artificial sweeteners in chocolate milk - - A proposal to put artificial sweeteners in chocolate milk has generated controversy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that it has received more than 30,000 comments on the issue to date. “Based on these comments, we’re seeing a fair amount of confusion about what the labeling change would actually mean,” says Mary Poos, deputy director of FDA’s Office of Nutrition, Labeling and Dietary Supplements. Much of confusion has to do with labeling and whether non-nutritive or artificial sweeteners would be included on the label. <more> April 16, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• USDA Starts New Program to Track Farm Animals - - The federal government has launched a new livestock identification program to help agriculture officials to quickly track livestock in cases of disease. It is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's second attempt at implementing such a system, which officials say is critical to maintaining the security of the nation's food supply. An earlier, voluntary program failed because of widespread opposition among farmers and ranchers who described it as a costly hassle that didn't help control disease. <more> April 17, 2013 AP

Pricing/Commodity News

• New White Paper Demonstrates Advantages of Dairy Security Act Over Alternative Approach Offering Only Margin Insurance - - A new analysis released today by a group of university economists demonstrates that the Dairy Security Act (DSA) – the farm bill proposal advocated by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) – provides the most effective economic safety net for farmers. The DSA provides catastrophic risk insurance, helps enhance farmer revenue, and does so in a way that minimizes government outlays. That assessment was generated by the Midwest Program on Dairy Markets and Policy, a team of six economists who specialize in farm bill analysis. It includes doctoral student John Newton (in the photo) and Dr. Cameron Thraen of Ohio State University; Dr. Marin Bozic of the University of Minnesota; Drs. Mark Stephenson and Brian Gould of the University of Wisconsin; and Dr. Christopher Wolf of Michigan State University. <more> April 16, 2013 NMPF press release
   

• IDFA: Goodlatte-Scott ‘more responsible’ - - A new study, “Goodlatte-Scott vs. the Dairy Security Act: Shared Potential, Shared Concerns and Open Questions,” shows consumers and taxpayers will bear the brunt of “bad” dairy policy, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).    The study compares the short-term impacts for dairy farmers of two major dairy safety-net programs currently being considered by Congress: the Dairy Security Act (DSA) as proposed by Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and an alternative proposal sponsored by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and David Scott (D-Ga.).  It concludes that both approaches are “effective in providing catastrophic risk insurance” for stable and growing dairy farms. <more> April 17, 2013 IDFA press release

Environmental News

• New burn fee by Bay Area Air Quality Management District - - A new $98 fee for an open burn permit will be required by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District effective July 1, 2013. Open burning is generally prohibited in the BAAQM with the exception of 17types of fires which are regulated under the Open Burning regulation. Each regulated fire type may only be conducted during its permissive burn period. More information on the regulations concerning open burning can be found at http://www.baaqmd.gov/Divisions/Compliance-and-Enforcement/Open-Burning.aspx   April 16, 2013 BAAQM Notice
   

• Second group sues to stop California's cap and trade carbon auction  - - A second group filed suit today challenging California's cap and trade carbon auction, calling it a giant tax that wasn't properly approved by the Legislature. The lawsuit was filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a conservative organization based in Sacramento, on behalf of a group of businesses. An affiliate of the California Chamber of Commerce filed a similar lawsuit last fall, as the carbon program was getting underway.  "The 'cap and trade' auction program is a new state tax that will generate billions of dollars of revenues for the state on the backs of California taxpayers. Because it was not passed by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the Legislature, it is unconstitutional. Case closed," said Pacific Legal staff attorney Ted Hadzi-Antich in a prepared statement. <more> April 17, 2013 Sacramento Bee  
   

• Westlands offers plan to retire 24,000 acres for solar power - - The Westlands Water District is forging ahead with efforts to plan a solar energy park on thousands of acres of poor farmland in Kings County. The water district is partnering with Westside Holdings LLC to prepare a detailed environmental impact report and master plan for the proposed 24,000-acre Westlands Solar Park. The environmental work sets the stage for private solar companies to build individual projects to generate electricity on farmland the district has earmarked for retirement because of poor drainage and high levels of salt in the groundwater and the soil. <more> April 16, 2013 Fresno Bee

• Groundwater regulation informational meetings set for Modesto, Merced and Madera - - The East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition (ESJWQC) is co-hosting with local county Farm Bureaus three informational meetings on the new groundwater regulations impacting irrigated agriculture in the northern San Joaquin Valley region.  Attending each meeting will be Regional Water Board staff who will describe new requirements adopted by the agency on December 7, 2012. With the addition of groundwater to the existing surface water program, the Cemtral Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board now considers any irrigated crop in the Central Valley to have potential to discharge nitrogen fertilizer into groundwater aquifers. All growers need coverage for those discharges either through a coalition or individual permit with the Water Board.  A draft individual permit was recently released and could be adopted as early as June 2013.  The adopted regulations and related documents can be seen at  www.esjcoalition.org/generalOrder.asp The meeting dates and locations are: * Tuesday, April 23, Madera County Farm Bureau  * Wednesday, April 24, Merced County Farm Bureau * Thursday, April 25, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. Coalition staff will be available from 9 am to 4 pm daily at each venue with formal one-hour presentations at 10 am and 1 pm each day. <more> April 16, 2013 ESJWQC press release
   

• ‘The Fight for Water: A Farm Worker Struggle’ documentary to screen at Modesto Junior College on April 26 - - "The Fight for Water: A Farm Worker Struggle," an 80-minute film documentary that depicts the human drama of 2009 California Water Crisis, will be having a "Special Presentation" screening at Modesto Junior College on April 26  at 6:30 pm in the East Forum Building 110.   The filmmaker Juan Carlos Oseguera will be in attendance for a Q & A after the film.  He holds a film degree from San Francisco State University and is also an alumni of MJC.  M.E.Ch.A of MJC will be hosting the event.  Admission is free. The film highlights the human impact a federal ruling had on a farm working community, in the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley, when its water supply was shut off and the unity they staged in order to fight for their water. Oseguera, who happened to reside in the impacted part of the valley, set out to film this event and document their struggle in 2009 as a historical account not to be repeated again.  Actor/comedian Paul Rodriguez, who helped organize a water march, is featured in the film as well. The film screening is made possible through the support of the Associated Students of MJC and Power Services, Inc.  For questions about the film screening, contact M.E.Ch.A member Carlos Falcon at (209) 614-4689.   For information about the film, visit the film's official website at www.thefightforwaterfilm.com.  The film will also screen at CSU Fresno on May 2  at 5 pm in the University Center 200.  For information about that screening, contact Dr. Cristina Herrera at cherrera@csufresno.edu.  April 17, 2013 Fight for water press release
   

• Colorado River tops 2013 endangered waterways list - - Drought and demand are pushing the Colorado River beyond its limits - with the needs of more than 40 million people in seven Western states projected to outstrip dwindling supply over the next 50 years, according to an endangered rivers list released Wednesday. The annual top-10 list by Washington, D.C.-based American Rivers points to a three-year federal Bureau of Reclamation study that warned last December that the river won't always be able to serve all the residents, businesses, ranchers, Native Americans and farmers who rely upon it. Already, the Colorado River is drained of nearly every drop by the time it reaches Mexico, American Rivers spokeswoman Amy Kober said. <more> April 17, 2013 The Sacramento Bee

• Ice Cream’s Identity Crisis - - Back then, we knew something was up if our mother returned from ShopRite with a half-gallon of Breyers ice cream. It meant that another 8-year-old first communicant had feigned an understanding of transubstantiation. It meant that someone was celebrating her first birthday, or that someone had seen his last. Most of all, it meant a reprieve from the cheaper fake version of ice cream that usually defiled our freezer, a store-brand ice milk that tasted like nothing so much as frozen sadness. Ice milk represented dessert as punishment. But in certain working-class homes, the Breyers brand lent a momentary class that lasted as long as room temperature would allow, in part because it was “All Natural.” <more> April 15, 2013 The New York Times
   

• Builder contends low bid for high-speed rail in Valley realistic - - The contractors who joined up to submit the low bid to build California's first stretch of high-speed rail line in the central San Joaquin Valley have plenty of experience on large -- and expensive -- U.S. and international public works projects. The bid of $985.1 million from Tutor Perini Corp. of Sylmar, Zachry Construction of Texas and Pasadena-based Parsons Corp. was well below the $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion forecast by California High-Speed Rail Authority engineers for the first 28-mile segment from Madera through Fresno. The Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons bid was about $100 million below the next lowest proposal -- so low, in fact, that it prompted fears of a lowball bid with the potential for change orders that could drive up the final pricetag for the project. <more> April 16, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Organics sprout money for local companies - - As popularity of organic produce grows, so do support businesses like organic nutrients, herbicide, fungicide and liquid fertilizer providers. Organic chemical formulations are considered vital in getting the most out of organically certified farmland and the products that are grown. The words organic and chemicals would not seem to jive, but it all depends on the chemical and its purity that makes it not only safe for the soil, but an improvement for many soils. That is in contrast to synthetic products that could be harmful to beneficial insects and bacteria. Organic chemicals are naturally occurring, but must still be tested for contaminants. And as with all farm chemicals, application of organic chemicals must be done strictly according to directions. <more> April 16, 2013 The Business Journal

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Senators unveil immigration reform bill - - A group of Democratic and Republican senators on Tuesday unveiled long-awaited landmark legislation to remove the threat of deportation for millions of illegal immigrants and give them an opportunity to eventually become U.S. citizens. Under the proposal, undocumented immigrants who came to the United States before December 31, 2011, and had stayed in the country continuously could apply for "provisional" legal status as soon as six months after the bill is signed by the president. But beyond that, they would have to wait a decade or more for full citizenship which would entitle them to federal benefits, while the government works on further securing U.S. borders and enforcing the new immigration law. <more> April 16, 2013 Reuters
   

• Immigration bill would be largest such effort ever attempted - - After months of negotiations, a bipartisan group of eight senators is poised to offer a sweeping bill to rewrite the nation's immigration laws this week, taking advantage of a changed political alignment that, for the first time in nearly a generation, appears to have opened the way for comprehensive legislation. The bill would chart a 13-year path to citizenship for most of the 11 million people in this country without proper legal status, spend billions of dollars more on border security, create new legal guest worker programs for low-income jobs and farm labor, require new verification measures for most companies hiring new workers and significantly expand overall immigration to the U.S. for the next decade, according to an outline obtained by The Times' Washington bureau. The legalization program would amount to the largest such effort any nation has attempted, affecting more than three times as many people as the Reagan-era immigration reform law. <more> April 15, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• FDA tries to quell public uproar over milk label petition - - After receiving a torrent of negative comments, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is clarifying the intent of a comment request by the agency on a petition regarding artificially sweetened milk. In February, the FDA released a notice explaining a petition asking to end a requirement to have “low calorie” or “reduced calorie” labels prominently displayed on milk products that contain artificial sweeteners. The milk industry claims the labels could have the unintended effect of discouraging children from trying healthier milk products. The petition from International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation are asking to nix the notification on the front of the package, and instead require that the artificial sweeteners only remain listed on a products’ ingredients list. <more> April 15, 2013 The Hill
   

• Chinese markets are a work in progress for California agribusiness - - As a dinner cruise carried Gov. Jerry Brown and a group of businesspeople, friends and campaign donors down the Huangpu River this past weekend, Michael Rue, a rice farmer from Marysville, sipped from his wine glass and saw in the Shanghai skyline a potentially lucrative market for his grain. Rue and representatives of California's berry, beef and dairy industries have been engaged for the past week in China in a campaign to expand their access to a growing market. Yet as Brown winds down his weeklong trade mission - speaking enthusiastically in city after city about California-Chinese trade - the work of Rue and a small, agriculture-based subgroup of Brown's party suggests how difficult certain elements of the relationship remain. <more> April 16, 2013 The Sacramento Bee 
   

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol. Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe Expected to Sign Raw Milk Bill - - His office in Little Rock is putting out the word that Gov. Mike Beebe will sign House Bill (HB) 1536, allowing the “incidental sale” of raw milk in Arkansas. The Arkansas raw milk bill, once thought to be dead, was resurrected for two quick floor votes that by Thursday had put it on Beebee’s desk for signature. Until now, Arkansas banned sales of raw milk in the state. It only allow farms to sell up to 100 gallons of unpasteurized goat’s milk each month. HB 1536 is patterned after existing state law in that it allows only on-farm sales of up to 500 gallons of raw milk each month. These are referred to as “incidental sales.” Under HB 1536, “whole milk” is defined as an unpasteurized product produced on an Arkansas farm. The bill dictates that the “whole milk” should come from “healthy cows, properly fed and kept” that produce a proper mix of butterfat and non-fat solids. <more> April 12, 2013 Food Safety News
   

Pricing/Commodity News

• Have we found the top in cash cheese? - - Cash cheese barrels declined a penny on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Tuesday while blocks held steady. Cash butter, nonfat dry milk and Class III futures were higher. The biweekly Global Dairy Trade auction in New Zealand on Tuesday saw the overall average price increase just 0.6 percent, that is the smallest increase since last December and substantially less than 14.2 percent increase on April 2nd. <more> April 16, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Regional changes in hay production already happening - - Harvested hay acreage has changed in recent years, and it goes beyond the drought impacts of the past two years.  Lingering winter weather this year is exaggerating the impacts of limited forage supplies for beef producers. Drought in 2011 and 2012 reduced U.S. hay production and increased hay demand, leaving the country with very limited forage supplies at this time. On December 1, stocks of all hay were down nearly 28% from a 2001-2010 average prior to the drought. <more> April 16, 2013 Beef Today
   

• CWT assists with 4.2 million lbs. of cheese and butter export sales - - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted 28 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Foremost Farms USA, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell 1.984 million lbs. of cheddar cheese and 2.222 million lbs. of butter to customers in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered April through September 2013. So far in 2013, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 49.090 million lbs. of cheese, 49.368 million lbs. of butter, 44,092 lbs. of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 lbs. of whole milk powder to 30 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.531 billion lbs. of milk on a milkfat basis. That is equal to more than 90% of USDA’s projected increase in milk marketings for all of 2013. April 16, 2013 Dairy Business Update

Environmental News

• New burn fee by Bay Area Air Quality Management District - - A new $98 fee for an open burn permit will be required by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District effective July 1, 2013. Open burning is generally prohibited in the BAAQM with the exception of 17types of fires which are regulated under the Open Burning regulation. Each regulated fire type may only be conducted during its permissive burn period. More information on the regulations concerning open burning can be found at http://www.baaqmd.gov/Divisions/Compliance-and-Enforcement/Open-Burning.aspx   April 16, 2013 BAAQM Notice
   

• Groundwater regulation informational meetings set for Modesto, Merced and Madera - - The East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition (ESJWQC) is co-hosting with local county Farm Bureaus three informational meetings on the new groundwater regulations impacting irrigated agriculture in the northern San Joaquin Valley region.  Attending each meeting will be Regional Water Board staff who will describe new requirements adopted by the agency on December 7, 2012. With the addition of groundwater to the existing surface water program, the San Joaquin Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board now considers any irrigated crop in the Central Valley to have potential to discharge nitrogen fertilizer into groundwater aquifers. All growers need coverage for those discharges either through a coalition or individual permit with the Water Board.  A draft individual permit was recently released and could be adopted as early as June 2013.  The adopted regulations and related documents can be seen at  www.esjcoalition.org/generalOrder.asp The meeting dates and locations are: * Tuesday, April 23, Madera County Farm Bureau  * Wednesday, April 24, Merced County Farm Bureau * Thursday, April 25, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. Coalition staff will be available from 9 am to 4 pm daily at each venue with formal one-hour presentations at 10 am and 1 pm each day. <more> April 16, 2013 ESJWQC press release
   

• Federal agencies still have concerns about Delta tunnels - - Federal wildlife agencies still have serious concerns about how two giant water diversion tunnels proposed in the Delta may harm imperiled species such as salmon and Delta smelt. In comment letters made public Thursday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service praised Gov. Jerry Brown's administration for making progress on many concerns they raised in so-called "red flag letters" released last year. But the agencies also said the Bay Delta Conservation Plan still presents a number of major concerns, some of which they labeled "critical." <more> April 15, 2013 The Sacramento Bee 

• Grown Up Grilled Cheese: California Dairy Offers a Sandwich Trio for National Grilled Cheese Month - - April is National Grilled Cheese Month and the cheese experts at the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) are celebrating the cult-like devotion to this classic favorite by offering three inventive and delicious ways to serve it up. The classic grilled cheese sandwich has been continuously reinvented in the last century to include an increasing variety of ingredients like prosciutto, bacon, truffle oil and even tomato marmalade. However, the starring ingredient in any grilled cheese sandwich is, of course, the cheese. Cheese options are endless and offer a simple way to create a signature sandwich. California, the number one dairy state, offers a wide variety of cheeses available nationally under the Real California Cheese seal, ranging from Monterey Jack and smoked Gouda to aged Cheddar and queso quesadilla, all of which are ideal for creating the perfect sandwich. <more> April 16, 2013 California Milk Advisory Board press release  

   

• April 22 town hall seeks input on new UC Davis Ag Dean selection - - UC Davis is holding a town hall meeting April 22 at the Kearney Ag Center in Parlier to gather comments from the farming community on characteristics most important for the University to consider in recruiting and screening candidates for the position of Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for UC Davis. The event is co-hosted by CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and John Harris of Harris Ranch. The town hall will be held from 10-30 a.m. to 12:30 pm at the Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 9240 S Riverbend Avenue, Parlier. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP to UCDTownHall@storbeckpimentel.com. Further information is available from Linda Fairfield at (530) 752-3954. April 15, 2013 UC Davis notice

   

• National Ag Science Center farm to table dinner June 6  -- The National Ag Science Center’s Second Annual Farm to Table Dinner will be held June 6 at Four Seasons Farms, 1600 California Avenue, in Modesto. A multi-course dinner, accompanied by local wines, will be served with local, farm fresh ingredients artistically prepared by the chefs of Greens Market. Tickets are $60 per person. The deadline to purchase tickets is May 24. For more information email The National Ag Science Center at events@agsciencecenter.org  or call 209-521-2902. April 16, 2013 National Ag Science Center notice
   

• 6th Annual ‘TASTES Seminars’ Appeal to Teachers Statewide - -  The National Ag Science Center will host its annual Teacher Agricultural Science Technology Education Seminars (TASTES) for educators interested in incorporating agriculture and science into the classroom. This series of one-day seminars will provide teachers with affordable, standards based science experiences which can easily fit into grade level lesson plans. Teachers will receive transportation, lunch and hands-on resources and materials to for the classroom. The events take place on June 3-5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stanislaus Culinary Arts Institute  in Oakdale. The series will conclude with a “Farm To Table” Fundraiser Dinner at Four Seasons Farms in Modesto on June 6 from 6:00 PM — 8:30 PM. The cost of attending the seminars ranges from one day participation for $25 to two days for $40, or three days for $55. Those who participate in at least two days can receive Fresno State University credit. For more information and to register visit www.agsciencecenter.org.  Questions? Call (209) 521-2902 or email Admin@agsciencecenter.org.  Registration deadline is May 13. April 16, 2013National Ag Science Center notice

Monday, April 15, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Accord reached on farmworkers for immigration bill - - Agreement was reached late Friday between farm labor unions and growers on one of the last major components of a sweeping immigration bill being drafted in the Senate — a deal that would set the terms of wages, visas and working conditions for migrant agriculture workers. The accord, struck after weeks of touch-and-go talks between representatives of industry leaders and workers and brokered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), would establish a new "blue card" for migrant workers already in this country without legal permission, and allow up to 336,000 visas for farmworkers. The three-part package is hugely important for California's agriculture industry. <more> April 12, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• WUD praises agreement on immigration reform - - Western United Dairymen today welcomed an agreement on immigration reform reached by the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC), the United Farm Workers (UFW) and key Senators engaged in the process. WUD is a founding member of the AWC, an organization working toward a viable solution for America’s farmers and ranchers to have access to a legal workforce now and in the future. "The framework and objectives of this agreement represent a major step toward ensuring that," said WUD CEO Michael Marsh.  “The coalition is committed to including an agricultural guest worker program and supporting the general framework negotiated in any final immigration reform package,” explained Marsh. As members of Congress begin the process of drafting legislative language, we look forward to working with them to ensure that the bill details reflect the goals and intent of this framework agreement.” Marsh praised Sen. Dianne Feinstein for her many years of work on immigration reform. “Senator Feinstein has been a tireless advocate on behalf of California’s dairy families in trying to find a comprehensive solution,” said Marsh. He also thanked Senators Marco Rubio, Orrin Hatch and Michael Bennet for helping to foster this agreement between agriculture employers and farm workers. April 12, 2013 WUD press release
   

• Farm, labor groups reach key immigration reform agreement - - Dairy and agricultural organizations are praising an agreement on immigration reform reached by the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC), the United Farm Workers (UFW) and key Senators engaged in the process. The framework and objectives of the agreement represent a positive step toward providing America’s dairy farmers access to a legal workforce now and in the future, according to Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). NMPF is a member of AWC. Michael Marsh, CEO of Western United Dairymen (WUD), a founding member of AWC, praised U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Orin Hatch (R-Utah), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) for helping foster the agreement. Rubio and Bennet are members of the Senate “Gang of 8,” a bipartisan group working on immigration reform. Other members of the group include Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) , John McCain (R-Ariz.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). <more> April 15, 2013 Dairy Business
   

• Washington Week Ahead: Immigration package arriving soon - - As lawmakers presumably pay their taxes today, agriculture stakeholders will be closely watching this week for the introduction of a comprehensive immigration reform package that looks to reshape the farm worker program. An apparent agreement between a group of senators, labor unions and farm groups includes a plan to replace the current H-2A program, and to provide a path to legal status for undocumented farm workers. The new program would set a formula by which wages for the workers would increase each year with a cap and a floor. It would set a cap of 112,000 3-year visas each year. <more> April 15, 2013 Agri-Pulse
   

• Focus on Dairy Farmers in Immigration Debate - - When the letter arrived at Jeff True’s dairy farm here in western New York, it was, he recalled, “like getting sucker punched right in the gut.” A federal audit had found that 12 of his 14 workers were immigrants who had provided Mr. True with false work documents, the letter said. The immigration authorities ordered him to dismiss those workers. Mr. True, whose family has been dairy farming for two centuries, scrambled around the clock with his relatives to milk their 1,100 cows, hire and train new workers and keep the farm in business. Most of his workers are immigrants from Latin America, and he now dreads that he could receive another letter at any moment. “My biggest fear is my labor is not going to be here tomorrow,” he said. “Most of us live in fear of that every day.” <more> April 12, 2013 New York Times 
   

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol. Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Orange County Register Editorial: California dairies in distress - - Many dairy farmers in California are suffering, and some are moving from the state. "At the World Ag Expo, a behemoth trade show held last month in Tulare County, nine states had recruitment booths on the ground's Dairy Center," the Los Angeles Times reported. The number of dairy cows in the state has dropped "from a peak of 1.88 million in 2008 to 1.82 million in 2012." California still leads the country in milk production, at an estimated 3.2 million pounds in February, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wisconsin is second, at 2.3 million pounds. There are several reasons for dairy departures, which have been going on for two decades, Rachel Kaldor told us; she's executive director of the Dairy Institute of California. Especially in the Chino basin, northeast of Orange County, she said, "Dairy farmers have been exiting for quite a few years." Although some have moved within the state, especially to Kern County, others have left California. <more> April 15, 2013 Orange County Register   
   

• Visalia milk co-op poised for expansion - - Is there too much milk or not enough? Not enough going to the right market, says Visalia-based California Dairies Inc. CEO Andre Mikhalevsky. “Right now we can process only 60 percent of our members’ milk.” That means 40 percent goes to fluid milk where the profits are not that high with little room for expansion, he says. Instead,“the best return for our members is to dry the milk and ship it for export,” says Mikhalevsky. “We can make a lot more money.” Top destination: China, where they need a boat load of baby formula. Agreeing with this view is CDI board member John Moons who runs a dairy just a few miles west of Highway 99. “With the leadership of Mr. Mikhalevsky, we’re going to take our co-op to the next level.” <more> April 12, 2013 Visalia Times-Delta
   

• Fresno County shields dairy industry from high inspection fees - - Fresno County leaders lent a hand to the struggling dairy industry last week, agreeing to help cover the rising cost of local milk inspections. Higher inspection costs, driven in part by a new state surcharge for dairy oversight, are prompting some counties to raise inspection fees for milk producers to more closely reflect expenses. Fresno County health officials had requested the Board of Supervisors boost inspection fees by nearly 50%. But Fresno County supervisors settled on an 18% fee hike at Tuesday's board meeting, deciding it was worth kicking in county funds to prevent any more harm to dairy farmers. "We soon won't have to do any inspections because we won't have any dairies," said Supervisor Judy Case, noting that higher fees could have been the final straw for an industry that has taken several blows. <more> April 13, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Vidak aiming for first-round knockout in Senate race - - The Andy Vidak-Leticia Perez matchup in the 16th state Senate District race is starting to get interesting. Vidak released a poll conducted by a Republican polling firm this week showing him getting 45 percent of the vote, compared to 21 percent for Perez. Vidak, a Hanford cherry farmer, gained notoriety for barely losing to Jim Costa in the 20th Congressional District 2010 general election. Perez is an up-and-coming politician from Bakersfield who in 2012 became the first Latina ever elected to the Kern County Board of Supervisors. The primary election is May 21 in the district that includes all of Kings and parts of Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties. <more> April 12, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Sweeteners in Milk Lead to Label Fight - - The U.S. dairy industry is clashing with several consumer groups over an unusual request that regulators allow low-calorie chocolate milk to be sold without declaring prominently on the label that it is reduced-calorie. Dairy-industry groups submitted a petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to drop special labeling requirements for chocolate, vanilla and other flavored milks that contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Currently, those products must say "reduced calorie" or "less sugar" on the front of the packaging. Otherwise, they can't be called milk. Many companies, from soft-drink to potato-chip makers, promote low-calorie products to target a growing market of weight-conscious consumers. But the dairy industry says it wants to avoid having to make such claims because they are a turnoff for kids and require very specific reductions in sugar or calorie content. The industry wants flexibility to use its own formulas and simply disclose sugar substitutes in the ingredients. <more> April 14, 2013 Wall Street Journal 

Pricing/Commodity News

• USDA Predicts Higher Milk Prices for 2013 - - USDA raised its estimates for 2013 dairy prices, boosting the All-Milk price to nearly $20 per cwt. in its April 10 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. Lower forecasted milk production and improved domestic product demand led USDA to raise the projected 2013 All-Milk price to $19.45-$19.95 per cwt. That’s up from the $19.00-$19.60 estimated in the March WASDE report. Class III price projections rose to $17.85-$18.35 per cwt., up about 30 cents per cwt.  <more> April 15, 2013 Dairy Today  
   

• 2% of U.S. corn crop planted - - USDA’s first national corn planting update of 2013 shows the pace well behind the five year average. As of Sunday, 2% of the U.S. corn crop is planted, compared to 16% a year ago and the five year average of 7% with nine of the top 18 growing states yet to have even 1% of the crop planted. North Carolina and Texas are the only major corn states to be at or ahead of their respective averages. <more> April 15, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Global dairy markets to remain strong into the summer - - Global dairy markets are set to remain strong into the summer but UK farmers may not see the full benefits because of the way the domestic market operates, according to a leading market analyst. Patty Clayton, a senior analyst at DairyCo, said the market is currently characterised by strong demand and tight supplies, with little prospect of any immediate change. Ms Clayton told an NFU dairy producer representative summit, in Warwickshire, that continued growth in China is driving global demand, with imports of milk products up 30per cent in the last quarter of 2012 and a staggering  68 per cent, year on year, in January. <more> April 15, 2013 farmersguardian.com

Environmental News

• Tulare Lake Basin waste discharge workshop April 25 in Fresno - - The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board will hold a workshop to discuss the Tulare Lake Basin area waste discharge requirements (WDRs) being developed for discharges from irrigated lands. This is an opportunity to learn what the draft regulations look like and to comment on them. The workshop will be held April 25 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 2233 Ventura Street, Fresno. More information is available on the Board’s website by clicking here.. April 15, 2013 Water Board Notice
   

• Dan Walters: Senate committee makes rational decision about electricity - - One committee of one legislative house recently did something rarely seen in the California Capitol. It made a rational decision about electricity. The Legislature has decreed that by 2020, California's private and public utilities must acquire a third of their juice from "renewable" sources such as solar, wind and geothermal. the definition of "renewable" excludes hydroelectric, except for very small installations. Why? Stripped of all the weasel words, it's because the environmental groups that press the Legislature don't like dams on rivers – a purely ideological reason that has nothing to do with greenhouse gases. And that's why the 8-1 vote of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee for Senate Bill 591 is so noteworthy. The measure by Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, would allow the Merced Irrigation District to sell power from its New Exchequer Dam on the Merced River, built in 1967, to its customers. <more> April 15, 2015 Sacramento Bee
   

• Federal scientists say revised Delta plan is improved - - Federal scientists reported "significant improvement" this week in the latest slimmed-down version of Gov. Jerry Brown's twin tunnels plan but also warned that the plan could still harm some of the same fish species it is supposed to protect. The scientists' comments demonstrate that despite efforts to move the Bay Delta Conservation Plan forward at a rapid clip, a great deal of work remains to be done. After all, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service - along with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife - must eventually sign off on the tunnels if they are to be built at all. <more> April 13, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• Young salmon finding their way in San Joaquin River - - Donald Portz performs surgery in a parking lot at Lost Lake near Friant Dam. Within minutes, his patients are awake and taking the swim of their lives in the San Joaquin River. Portz is a federal fisheries biologist, one of many scientists and engineers working on an epic project -- reviving California's second-longest river and rebuilding the nation's southern-most salmon runs. Sometimes, that means standing next to a pickup near the river and surgically inserting tiny transmitters, or tags, into resilient juvenile salmon. "We might lose one fish in a thousand," Portz said. "With these tags, we will be able to track these fish all their lives." <more> April 15, 2013 Fresno Bee

• Monday Q&A: O'Brien's Modesto cheesemonger - - Josiah "Joe" Baird is Modesto's minister of cheese. From his perch near the entrance of the Dale Road location of O'Brien's Market, the friendly and popular cheesemonger preaches the gospel of bries, bleus, cheddars and all things moldy and aged. Baird's altar is an impressive array of imported and domestic cheeses — some of which cost more than $30 a pound, pricier than filet mignon. Shoppers are educated through Baird's encyclopedic knowledge of hundreds of varieties of cheese — a repertoire acquired through years in the business. He's traveled with distributors in Europe — the world's cheese capital — and has worked closer to home with local cheesemakers to help develop and market their products. Baird has worked hard, and he's achieved a degree of local fame among foodies who love fine cheese. We asked him to answer a few questions about cheese in general and his job and expertise in particular. <more> April 14, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Documentary showcases rescue of chickens from Turlock-area farm - - The plight of some 50,000 chickens left to starve at a Stanislaus County egg farm more than a year ago and the rescue of the surviving hens is chronicled in the new documentary "Turlock." Released in February, a year after the discovery of the widespread neglect at A&L Poultry west of Turlock, the documentary was filmed for Animal Place. The farm animal sanctuary and animal rights activist group from Grass Valley organized the rescue and wanted to document the incident and successful rescue of more than 4,000 hens. More than 40,000 chickens died — a third because of starvation, the rest euthanized because they were in poor condition. <more> April 13, 2013 Modesto Bee

Friday, April 12, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• ACTION ALERT! WUD members urged to contact Ag Committee in support of AB 31 - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos is calling on WUD members to contact members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and urge passage of AB 31which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. The legislation sponsored by WUD and authored by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D- Sacramento) will be heard by the committee on Wednesday May 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol. Other bill supporters include California Dairies, Inc., Land O' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Milk Producers Council, California Dairy Campaign, California Grain and Feed Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. “Now is the time for our members to speak up and ask the committee members to support this very important legislation,” said Barcellos. “This is the most important dairy legislation before the legislature since the inception of milk pooling in 1967.  If passed, this bill will ensure that prices paid to us are fair and competitive.” WUD members can download a copy of a sample support letter by clicking here. The letter provides a template for members to use but they are urged to customize the letter before faxing it to the committee members. Letters should be faxed to the Committee Chair Assemblymember Susan Eggman as well as all of the other committee members. <more> April 12, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Senators reach deal on farm workers - - Senators writing a landmark immigration bill broke a logjam between farmworker unions and growers Thursday, reaching a tentative agreement on future agricultural visas and pay scales for foreign farmworkers, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Labor unions and agricultural industry leaders had been stuck for three weeks on how to legally bring foreign labor into the United States to pick crops and tend livestock at competitive wages. The issue, which is critical to California and other major farming states, became a major stumbling block in bipartisan efforts to craft a comprehensive immigration bill. <more> April 11, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• WUD praises agreement on immigration reform - - Western United Dairymen today welcomed an agreement on immigration reform reached by the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC), the United Farm Workers (UFW) and key Senators engaged in the process. WUD is a founding member of the AWC, an organization working toward a viable solution for America’s farmers and ranchers to have access to a legal workforce now and in the future. "The framework and objectives of this agreement represent a major step toward ensuring that," said WUD CEO Michael Marsh.  “The coalition is committed to including an agricultural guest worker program and supporting the general framework negotiated in any final immigration reform package,” explained Marsh. As members of Congress begin the process of drafting legislative language, we look forward to working with them to ensure that the bill details reflect the goals and intent of this framework agreement.” Marsh praised Sen. Dianne Feinstein for her many years of work on immigration reform. “Senator Feinstein has been a tireless advocate on behalf of California’s dairy families in trying to find a comprehensive solution,” said Marsh. He also thanked Senators Marco Rubio, Orrin Hatch and Michael Bennet for helping to foster this agreement between agriculture employers and farm workers. April 12, 2013 WUD press release
   

• RFS Reform Act proposal would eliminate biofuels mandate  - -  Legislation was proposed Wednesday by four U.S. Congressmen that would ease what they believe are the impacts of the ethanol mandate “and protect consumers, energy producers, livestock producers, food manufacturers, retailers and the U.S. economy.” The Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act, introduced by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Steve Womack (R-Ark.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), would eliminate the biofuels mandate, beginning in 2014, and rescind the requirements of blending up to 15 percent ethanol into the fuel supply. The proposal would prohibit corn-based ethanol from being used to meet the RFS, and reduce the total size of the RFS by 42 percent over the next nine years. A coalition of 13 food groups expressed support for the proposed legislation which they believe will protect food makers and consumers from unnecessary food price increases. <more> April 12, 2013 Cattlenetwork  
   

• USDEC and NMPF commend U.S. decision to welcome Japan into TPP talks - - The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) applaud the United States’ decision to welcome Japan into Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade negotiations. “Japan greatly enhances the potential value of the TPP to U.S. dairy producers and processors,” says Jaime Castaneda, senior vice president for strategic initiatives and trade policy, USDEC and NMPF. “Japan is the third-largest economy in the world and already a major dairy importer. Reducing excessive tariffs and removing non-tariff barriers to trade will significantly increase U.S. dairy export opportunities, which helps drive overall U.S. dairy industry growth.” <more> April 12, 2013 NMPF news release
   

• Worker safety stressed as valley awaits summer's heat - - The state is reminding farmers and other outdoor employers of rules to protect workers from heat. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health plans meetings in the Modesto area and elsewhere to prepare for the warm months ahead. The rules are not just for heat waves. The requirement for a shaded rest area, for example, kicks in when the temperature reaches 85 degrees. <more> April 11, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Farmer says his strawberry harvest depends on immigration bill - - On Thursday lawmakers reached a bipartisan breakthrough on immigration reform. Four Republican and four Democratic senators agreed on elements of a bill that would put illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship. It would also create visas for migrant farm workers -- a deal that can't come soon enough for California farmers. It's peak season for Southern California strawberries. The weather is perfect and so is the ripe, red fruit. But as Edgar Terry surveys his Ventura County fields, he sees red ink. Terry, a farmer, says he is going to have to throw a lot of his crop away. <more> April 11, 2013 CBS News
   

• Bypassing Boswell - - The proposed high-speed rail route that swings eastward around Corcoran would avoid major impacts to downtown Corcoran and J.G. Boswell Co. facilities, but it’s not sitting too well with three sisters whose country homes would be taken out. Charlene Hook, Darlene Rodriguez and Karen Allen thought they were living the ideal rural life. The three live within a half mile of each other near canals and fields east of Corcoran. They can see each other from their front yards. But then came the April 4 recommendation from California High-Speed Rail Authority staff that the Authority pick a route bypassing Corcoran on the east side on a line that will cut through the three sisters’ homes. <more> April 11, 2013 Hanford Sentinel

Pricing/Commodity News

• Dairy prices continue to trend higher - - A solid finish to a strong week in the cash dairy markets on Friday, cheese barrels up a quarter-cent to $1.755, blocks increased 1.5 cents to $1.8375, butter up a half-cent to $174, Grade A nonfat dry milk up a penny to $1.78 and Extra Grade gained 2 cents to $1.68. For the week, cash cheese barrels up 6.25 cents, blocks up 7.5 cents, butter increased 3 cents a pound, Grade A nonfat dry milk gained 9.75 cents and Extra Grade is 9 cents higher. Class III futures for April through July increased an average 13 cents per hundredweight.  Since March 28th, cash cheese barrels have increased 15.75 cents and blocks are 14.5 cents higher. <more> April 11, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Lee Mielke: Global forecast sees tighter supply, improved U.S. demand - - The Agriculture Department's latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report lowered its 2013 milk production forecast by 100 million pounds from last month, to 201.8 billion pounds, due to lower milk per cow in the first quarter. 2012 milk output totaled 200.3 billion, up from 196.2 billion in 2011. With slightly lower forecast 2013 milk production and improved domestic product demand, price forecasts for cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk and whey were raised. As a result Class III and Class IV milk price forecasts are higher. <more> April 12, 2013 Capital Press
   

• CNY dairy farmers seeing business boost from Greek yogurt - - After a 10 year decline in the demand for milk, Central New York dairy farmers are seeing a boost in business thanks to the growing popularity of Greek yogurt. Beth Meyer, of the American Dairy Association, says the success of Greek yogurt companies like Chobani has helped turn around the dairy industry in New York State. "Anything that gets more people into the dairy category, more people eating dairy is a great thing for us," Meyer says. <more> April 11, 2013 CNY Central

Environmental News

• Quick agreement sought on nitrate-groundwater issue - - Several attorneys who focus on California food and agriculture issues believe there is good reason for the private and public sectors to work together to quickly find a mutual solution on the controversial nitrate-groundwater issue. Attorneys with the Sacramento, Calif. law firm Downey Brand suggest that if the issues are left to existing regulatory structures and inadequate funding mechanisms that a failure to reach an early comprehensive answer could lead to significant short- and long-term consequences for California agriculture. This could include stricter regulation on cultural practices and costly litigation borne by agriculture. <more> April 12, 2013 Western Farm Press
   

• Cattlemen Air Concerns as EPA Nominee Goes Before Senate - - Yesterday the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on the confirmation of Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after the departure of former administrator Lisa Jackson earlier this year. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) said it hopes that if McCarthy is confirmed, that she will work to develop a more positive working relationship with the agriculture industry. <more> April 12, 2013 Beef Today
   

• EPA nominee calls climate change 'one of greatest challenges' - - Combating climate change is "one of the greatest challenges of our generation," according to Gina McCarthy, who has been nominated to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The U.S. faces negative economic exposure from rising global temperatures and the EPA has the regulatory duty to address the problem under the Clean Air Act, said McCarthy, who currently runs EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "We're doing it in common sense steps to ensure the economy can continue to grow," she said during a Senate confirmation hearing on April 11. <more> April 12, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Water issues to be explored at Central Valley conference - - Some of the nation’s top water technology companies, entrepreneurs, industrial water users, researchers and professionals are expected for the second annual BlueTechValley Water Conference, scheduled for May 1-2 at the Clovis Memorial Building in the Fresno suburb of Clovis. The purpose of the conference is to provide the opportunity to collectively explore and discuss new innovations, developments and trends relating to current water issues in the food industry, with a special focus on fresh produce. <more> April 12, 2013 Central Valley Business Times
   

• Obama Releases 2014 Budget; Proposal Includes Bay-Delta Restoration Funding - - President Obama sent his 2014 budget plan to Congress on Wednesday. The $3.8 trillion proposal would increase funding for the departments of Interior and Energy and reduce budgets for the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency. Here’s a brief recap of the numbers. <more> April 10, 2013 Association of California Water Agencies news

• Rosa Brothers hits it big at Fresno food expo with People's Choice Award - -  Getting fresh milk products from local dairies takes three simple steps. The process starts with the milking cows at the dairy. The milk is then transported to a near-by creamery for processing and bottling, ending at consumers’ hands soon after. In Rosa Brothers’ case, the process starts at the family dairy in Hanford and continues at the south Tulare milk processing plant. The local effort is getting noticed. Rosa Brothers’ glass bottled milk products (including strawberry, chocolate and root beer flavored milk) were selected as the People’s Choice Award of New Products at the Fresno Expo held last month. <more> April 12, 2013 Visalia Times-Delta
   

• MilkPEP’s new strategy to boost sales - - Most people who work in the dairy industry are familiar with the iconic “got milk?” milk mustache campaign, but fewer know that research is the driving force behind MilkPEP’s approach to program activities ranging from targeting to messaging and creative execution. Often, the research conducted to guide our consumer campaign also provides our processors with important and actionable insights that can help guide product development, inform marketing and drive sales. In keeping with our mission to positively impact milk consumption at breakfast, MilkPEP engaged the New York-based ExactCast team to deliver insights that can jumpstart consumption of milk at breakfast. <more> April 11, 2013 DairyFoods.com
   

• British Dairy Farmer Creates Pure Milk Vodka - - While U.K. retailers are rationing baby milk powder and breast milk is being turned into jewelry, it seems that milk in all forms is proving to be a hot commodity.  And now one British dairy farmer is using the white stuff to make vodka. Jason Barber has created the world’s first pure milk vodka from a herd of 250 grass-grazed cows at his farm in West Dorset, England, according to the Daily Mail. The dairy farmer makes his vodka, Black Cow, by separating the milk into curds and whey.  The curds are used to make cheese, and the whey is fermented into a beer.  That milk beer is then distilled and treated with Barber’s secret blending process to make a distilled spirit, which is then triple filtered before being bottled. <more> April 12, 2013 TIME, United Kingdom
   

• Shanghai – an Excellent Market for California Agriculture - -  by Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary - - For the agricultural sector in particular, we have seen dramatic growth and continuing success. Ag exports to China are increasing impressively – up 25 percent last year in reaching a value of more than $1.7 billion. Almonds increased 41 percent; pistachios were up 27 percent; wine was up 52 percent; walnuts were up 10 percent; citrus increased 17 percent; table grapes were up 20 percent; dairy products were up 54 percent; and raisins were up 65 percent. These are very encouraging gains and an indicator of the importance of working closely with our Chinese partners to understand what consumers are looking for, and to ensure market access. <more> April 12, 2013 CDFA Blog  

Thursday, April 11, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

•   Whey value bill Assembly Ag Committee hearing moved to May 1 - - The Assembly Agriculture Committee has moved the hearing for AB 31 from April 17 to Wednesday, May 1. The hearing on AB 31 by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) will begin at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol. The legislation sponsored by WUD would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. If the bill is approved by the Ag Committee, it will move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for fiscal review. If successful, the bill will move on to the Assembly floor for consideration by the 80-member chamber. In introducing the legislation, Assemblyman Pan said, “I am proud to partner with dairy farmers to author legislation so new, innovative uses of whey result in income for dairies so they can remain competitive and expand the availability of dairy products. We need to ensure that dairy farmers can be paid for their products at rates that reflect their costs and the true market value of dairy products so California dairies can survive and create jobs in California." April 10, 2013 WUD News 
   

• Poll: Majority backs pathway to citizenship - - A majority of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally, according to a new poll. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released Wednesday night found that a total of 64 percent of adults either somewhat favor or strongly favor including a pathway to citizenship in immigration reform. Among Latinos surveyed in the poll, 55 percent said they strongly favor a pathway to citizenship, while 27 percent somewhat favor a pathway to citizenship. Meanwhile the poll found that 35 percent of adults strongly or somewhat oppose a pathway to citizenship. <more> April 11, 2013 The Hill 
   

• Costa, Valadao join on renewable fuels reform bill - - On Wednesday, Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, joined in introducing legislation to revise the federal government’s renewable fuel standard. The federal standard is currently a boon for the Midwestern corn ethanol industry, as nearly 40 percent of the nation’s corn crop goes into ethanol production. For others, critics say, the current mandate isn’t so good. The bill, a reprise of one introduced last Congress, eliminates corn-based ethanol requirements and caps the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10 percent. The bill is backed a wide array of food and agricultural organizations, including California Dairies, Inc. and the California Poultry Federation. “Putting food into our fuel tanks is hurting dairymen and women, livestock producers, consumers, and businesses across the nation,” Costa said. “We can’t afford this. It’s time for real, wholesale change.” <more> April 11, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Obama Proposes Cuts to Farm Subsidies - - With farm incomes at near record levels, the Obama administration is proposing sharp cuts to agriculture subsidies in the 2014 fiscal year budget plan it unveiled Wednesday. Net farm income is forecast to increase 13.6% this year to $128.2 billion, the highest inflation-adjusted amount in 40 years, according to administration. Its proposal would cut $37.8 billion in farm subsidies over 10 years. Most of the savings would come from cutting the direct payment subsidy program that sends checks to farmers regardless of their need for the money. The administration also said it wants to reduce crop insurance subsidies. <more> April 10, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• E-Verify Would Gain in Immigration Overhaul - - U.S. companies will have to embrace a little-known and potentially complex online system to verify their workers' legality if Congress accepts immigration overhaul legislation currently under consideration. Some large companies endorse the use of an electronic status check to fix the nation's broken immigration system. Others worry about its accuracy and its potential delays. Stephen McNeilly, owner of Service Proz Inc., said he uses the system, called E-Verify, to check employees at his various landscaping, maintenance and pest control businesses in Illinois and Florida. The upside: It is easy to use, he said. The problem is it can take as much as two months to get a response about a worker's status, he said. <more> April 10, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• Immigration rally at Capitol as senators race to finish bill - - The bipartisan group of senators pushing to finish a sweeping  immigration bill met late Wednesday as thousands of advocates gathered outside the Capitol, many waving American flags, to lend urgency to the effort.  The first draft of the bill is 1,000 pages, but the eight senators have yet to sign off on all its provisions. Disputes over agricultural workers and border security that had once appeared resolved remain in flux. “We are closer now than we have been in 25 years for serious immigration reform,” Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said after a briefing over sandwiches and chips with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the House. “This president is behind it. And there is a strong, growing bipartisan effort in the Senate to support it. We hope that the House will do the same.” <more> April 10, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Dairy Leader Program application deadline Friday - - The deadline to apply for Western United Dairymen’s highly successful California Dairy Leaders Program is Friday, April 12. Designed to train the next generation of California’s dairy leaders, the leadership program consists of several sessions devoted to developing a better understanding of the economic, legislative, marketing, and environmental issues facing the industry. Eligible participants must be actively involved in milk production, able to spend the necessary time in class as well as studying resource materials, and able to commit to travel to locations such as Sacramento and Washington DC. The year-long program kicks off in the spring. The program will cover in depth environmental issues, state and federal legislative processes, dairy pricing and economics, biotechnological developments, marketing and promotion, and public relations skills. Participants will develop and enhance their leadership skills through workshops on communications, business etiquette, negotiation skills, time management, and team building. Instructors are recognized experts in their field.  Enrollment will be limited to ensure one-on-one instruction. This year, applications will also be accepted from individuals in allied industries. Only a single allied member may be selected for the program in any given year. The program enrollment fee and letters of recommendation are to be submitted with the application. Industry members can download applications by clicking here. Allied member applications can be downloaded by clicking here. Call Western United Dairymen at (209) 527-6453 for further information.

Pricing/Commodity News

• NMPF: Economic Analysis Says Dairy Security Act Works to Increase Dairy Farm Revenue - - The benefits of adopting the Dairy Security Act (DSA) as part of the next farm bill will be obvious to farmers and policy makers as Congress begins assembling new agricultural policy this spring, according to speakers here at the National Dairy Producers Conference. During a two-hour long session Monday reviewing the prospects of the Farm Bill in general – and the outlook for the Dairy Security Act in particular – panelists agreed that the risk management approach embodied in the Dairy Security Act provides a cost-effective safety net for farmers. University of Minnesota economist Marin Bozic who participated in the discussion in Indianapolis, reported that farmers who enroll in the DSA will find that the program “works as catastrophic risk insurance. It reduces extreme margin risk, as it pays you the most when you need it the most.” <more> April 9, 2013 NMPF news release
   

• February dairy export values - - The value of U.S. dairy product exports remained steady in February, topping $400 million for 23nd time in the past 24 months. At $434 million, exports were down 2% from the January 2013 total of $441 million, and virtually unchanged from February 2012’s total of $437 million. At $239 million, the value of February 2013 imports was down 17% from January 2013, and down about 2% from February 2012. The February dairy trade surplus was $195 million. Fiscal year 2013 (FY ’13, October 2012 through February 2013) exports total $2.103 billion, down about 2% from the same period in record-setting FY ’12. FY ’13 imports total $1.405 billion, up about 5% from the same period in FY ’12. The FY ’13 dairy trade surplus stands at $698 million. At $85 million, February 2013 cheese imports were up 13% from both January 2013 and February 2012. FY ’13 cheese imports total $517 million, up 9% from the same period in FY ’12. April 11, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• February U.S. alfalfa exports remain strong - - February 2013 U.S. alfalfa exports declined slightly from January, but remained above 150,000 metric tons for a fifth consecutive month, according to USDA’s Foreign Ag Service. February alfalfa hay exports totaled 150,494 metric tons. China took over as the top monthly importer, with 46,429 metric tons, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), at 44,962 metric tons; and Japan, at 37,289 metric tons.  U.S. exports of other hay totaled 164,036 metric tons in February, the sixth consecutive month above 150,000 metric tons. Japan, South Korea and UAE were again the top three markets. April 11, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• Fonterra Milk Supply Tumbles on Worst N.Z. Drought in 30 Years - - Milk supplies in New Zealand, the biggest dairy exporter, dropped for a second month in March as the country’s most widespread drought in at least three decades curbed production and boosted prices to a record, according to Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. (FCG) Milk collection slumped 16.3 percent last month from a year earlier and declined 2.3 percent in February, Auckland-based Fonterra, the world’s largest dairy shipper, said in a statement today, without providing details. Collections were 2.8 percent ahead of a year earlier in the 10 months to March 31 at 1.3 million kilograms of milk solids, it said. A drought across the entire North Island may cost NZ$2 billion ($1.7 billion) as the conditions threaten economic growth, the government estimates. <more> April 10, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• Milk prices expected to keep inching upward - - Class III milk price estimates for 2013 were up slightly in the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report from the USDA. The report, released on Wednesday morning, showed that Class III milk prices are expected to to average $17.85 to $18.35 per hundredweight this year, compared to last month’s estimate of $17.55 to $18.15. Class IV and All Milk prices are also expected to rise. <more> April 10, 2013 Dairy Herd Network

Environmental News

• California’s Fracking Bonanza May Fall Short of Promise - - California and oil producers such as Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY) may not be able to realize their dream of hydraulic fracturing generating billions in revenue from the Monterey shale deposit traversing the state.  Earthquakes in the most-populous U.S. state have left the 1,750-square-mile formation disjointed and too unpredictable to make drilling economic, even with improving fracking technology, said Jason Marshall, the California Conservation Department's chief deputy director. The agency regulates the industry.  “None of the companies that have tried it so far have had significant success, and it doesn’t appear to be widespread,” Marshall said by e-mail. “It may take an advancement in technology or methodology to unlock the oil production potential of the formation.”  <more> April 11, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• Kings County Supes approve letter criticizing water board - - Kings County supervisors on Tuesday authorized staff to protest proposed new groundwater regulations for farmers. The rules, feared by local farmers because of their potentially high cost, have been proposed by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to prevent agricultural fertilizer from contaminating groundwater with nitrates. Nitrate contamination has made the water undrinkable in several disadvantaged San Joaquin Valley communities. The main source of nitrates in the Valley is agricultural fertilizers that have been applied for decades, according to a 2012 study by the University of California, Davis. Supervisor Richard Fagundes, a lifelong farmer, disputed that finding. <more> April 10, 2013 The Hanford Sentinel
   

• Brown urges China to cut air pollution - - Less than 48 hours after landing in Beijing, Gov. Jerry Brown appealed to an audience in this heavily polluted city today to step up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expanding for a global audience on a case he has made for decades in California. "The problem of dealing with climate is not an optional kind of problem," Brown told about 200 people at Tsinghua University in Beijing. "It's mandatory. There is no escape. … Nature doesn't play games." The speech was the most explicit yet in a series of public events Brown arranged to highlight environmental policies while on a week-long trade mission to China. <more> April 11, 2013 The Sacramento Bee

• PETA drones a trophy prize for US hunters - - PETA intends to monitor American hunters with drones. Be careful what you wish for. PETA has announced plans to film U.S. hunters with drones, declaring it "will soon have some impressive new weapons at its disposal to combat those who gun down deer and doves." PETA President Ingrid Newkirk, in full rut, said: "Slob hunters may need to rethink the idea that they can get away with murder, alone out there in the woods with no one watching." Apparently close to buying a CineStar Octocopter, which can fly for approximately 20 minutes with a small camera, PETA plans on sending the drone "over factory farms, popular fishing spots, and other venues where animals routinely suffer and die." Bet on it, American hunters will be waiting on incoming PETA drones and there won't be many return flights. <more> April 10, 2013 Western Farm Press

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

•   Whey value bill Assembly Ag Committee hearing moved to May 1 - - The Assembly Agriculture Committee has moved the hearing for AB 31 from April 17 to Wednesday, May 1. The hearing on AB 31 by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) will begin at 1:30 p.m. in room 126 at the Capitol. The legislation sponsored by WUD would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states. If the bill is approved by the Ag Committee, it will move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for fiscal review. If successful, the bill will move on to the Assembly floor for consideration by the 80-member chamber. In introducing the legislation, Assemblyman Pan said, “I am proud to partner with dairy farmers to author legislation so new, innovative uses of whey result in income for dairies so they can remain competitive and expand the availability of dairy products. We need to ensure that dairy farmers can be paid for their products at rates that reflect their costs and the true market value of dairy products so California dairies can survive and create jobs in California." April 10, 2013 WUD News 
   

• Immigration talks bog down over numbers - - Senate negotiations to overhaul the nation's immigration laws have stumbled over the hiring of half a million migrant farmworkers each year — an issue that is crucial for California's vast agricultural industry, which employs more farm labor than any other state. A dispute over how many visas to issue to foreign farmworkers, and how much to pay them, looms as the chief remaining obstacle to completion of a draft bill, the focus of intense negotiations on Capitol Hill since November's election. <more> April 9, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Senate’s Gang of Eight to announce immigration deal - - The Senate’s immigration Gang of Eight plans to announce a deal within a week but a committee markup is not expected until at least the week of May 6, providing a long period for debate and changes, Senate aides said Tuesday. Aides said the legislative proposal could be released as soon as Thursday, but is more likely to be ready early next week. The schedule outlined by the aides is meant to satisfy Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has said repeatedly that he wants a full debate and amendment process, to maximize the chances that the final vote is an overwhelming majority. <more> April 9, 2013 Politico
   

• Taping of Farm Cruelty Is Becoming the Crime - - On one covert video, farm workers illegally burn the ankles of Tennessee walking horses with chemicals. Another captures workers in Wyoming punching and kicking pigs and flinging piglets into the air. And at one of the country’s largest egg suppliers, a video shows hens caged alongside rotting bird corpses, while workers burn and snap off the beaks of young chicks. Each video — all shot in the last two years by undercover animal rights activists — drew a swift response: Federal prosecutors in Tennessee charged the horse trainer and other workers, who have pleaded guilty, with violating the Horse Protection Act. Local authorities in Wyoming charged nine farm employees with cruelty to animals. And the egg supplier, which operates in Iowa and other states, lost one of its biggest customers, McDonald’s, which said the video played a part in its decision. <more> April 6, 2013 The New York Times
   

• Name game: Dairy faces challenges on several fronts - - In late March, a British court ruled that Chobani could not market “Greek yogurt” in the United Kingdom unless the yogurt is actually made in Greece. It’s the latest skirmish over product naming, origin and identity that has the U.S. dairy industry embroiled on several fronts. It’s not surprising that the Chobani decision would occur in a European Union (EU) nation. The EU is mounting an offensive to restrict U.S. exports of feta, mozzarella, parmesan, Romano and cheddar cheese due to “geographical indications.”  Basically, it’s saying Romano cheese can only come from Italy, feta cheese from Greece, and so on. <more> April 9, 2013 Dairy Herd Network
   

• Dairy Leader Program application deadline April 12 - - The deadline to apply for Western United Dairymen’s highly successful California Dairy Leaders Program is April 12. Designed to train the next generation of California’s dairy leaders, the leadership program consists of several sessions devoted to developing a better understanding of the economic, legislative, marketing, and environmental issues facing the industry. Eligible participants must be actively involved in milk production, able to spend the necessary time in class as well as studying resource materials, and able to commit to travel to locations such as Sacramento and Washington DC. The year-long program kicks off in the spring. The program will cover in depth environmental issues, state and federal legislative processes, dairy pricing and economics, biotechnological developments, marketing and promotion, and public relations skills. Participants will develop and enhance their leadership skills through workshops on communications, business etiquette, negotiation skills, time management, and team building. Instructors are recognized experts in their field.  Enrollment will be limited to ensure one-on-one instruction. This year, applications will also be accepted from individuals in allied industries. Only a single allied member may be selected for the program in any given year. The program enrollment fee and letters of recommendation are to be submitted with the application. Industry members can download applications by clicking here. Allied member applications can be downloaded by clicking here. Call Western United Dairymen at (209) 527-6453 for further information.

Pricing/Commodity News

• Projected milk output reduced slightly; stronger prices forecast - - USDA’s World Ag Supply & Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, released April 10, reduced projected 2013 milk production estimates by about 100 million lbs. from a month earlier. 2013 production and marketings were projected at 201.8 billion lbs. and 200.8 billion lbs., respectively. If realized, 2013 production and marketings would be up just 0.7% from 2012. The 2013 increase was cut largely due to a small reduction in first-quarter milk production per cow. Cow number estimates were unchanged from a month ago. With slightly lower forecast 2013 milk production and improved domestic product demand, price forecasts for cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk and whey were raised. As a result, the Class III price average was forecast in a range of $17.85-$18.35/cwt.; with the Class IV price projected in a range of $18.10-$18.70/cwt. The projected all milk price for 2013 is also higher, at $19.45-$19.95/cwt. <more> April 10, 2013 Dairy Business
   

• Corn Traders Brace for a Long Slump - - The corn market was upended last month when the U.S. government reported unexpectedly high domestic supplies. Now many investors are bracing for the prospect that the once-hot commodity will enter a prolonged period of ample stockpiles and lower prices. Corn futures tumbled 13% over two days after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said March 28 that existing corn supplies were much higher than analysts had forecast. That marked the biggest two-day price drop since at least 1959, according to the Chicago Board of Trade. The USDA on Wednesday will update its forecast for how much corn the U.S. will have on hand before this fall's harvest. Analysts expect the government to raise its estimate by about 30%. <more> April 9, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• CWT assists with cheese and butter export sales - - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted two requests for export assistance to sell 50,706 lbs. of cheddar cheese and 661,387 lbs. of butter to customers in Asia and the Middle East. The product will be delivered June through October 2013. So far in 2013, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 47.106 million lbs. of cheese, 47.145 million lbs. of butter, 44,092 lbs. of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 lbs. of whole milk powder to 30 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.464 billion lbs. of milk on a milkfat basis, equal to 90% of USDA’s projected increase in milk marketings for all of 2013. April 10, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• Coverage, Analysis of the April 10 USDA Reports - - See all of the report data, coverage and analysis of the April 10 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates and Crop Production reports. <more> April 10, 2013 Ag Web

Environmental News

• EPA release of CAFO info draws fire  - -  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is asking environmentalists to return confidential data about feedlots, dairies and other operations, but a cattle industry group says the request is "too little, too late."  The EPA has acknowledged that data about confined animal feeding operations -- called CAFOs -- was turned over to environmentalists under a Freedom of Information Act request earlier this year. In a statement, the EPA said "the majority of the data was already publicly available through state databases, websites and federal and state permits, or is required to be released under federal or state law." <more> April 10, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Brown visits China, California-Quebec carbon trade deal advances -- As he brings his message of carbon reduction to top officials in China, Gov. Jerry Brown moved another step closer to broadening California's carbon-trading market Tuesday. Before crossing the Pacific, the governor sent a letter to the state Air Resources Board enabling it to move ahead with plans to link California's carbon-trading market with one in the Canadian province of Quebec. <more> April 9, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• LOIS HENRY: Delta tunnel plans have water districts on edge - - As details of the governor's plan to run water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta through twin tunnels continue to emerge, water districts in Kern that rely on that state water are having to make some tough decisions. Some districts, including Kern Delta Water District, have already opted out of the planning phase, known as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), after having spent hundreds of thousands thus far on studies without any guarantee of more water or even just a certain supply. <more> April 10, 2013 The Bakersfield California
   

• Klamath irrigators to face delay in water deliveries - - Citing low water levels in Upper Klamath Lake, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has announced a delay in the start of the irrigation season for Klamath Basin farmers. The length of the delay for starting water deliveries, the bureau said last week, depends on the quantity and timing of inflow into the lake. The bureau said it will release a detailed operations plan for the current water year that extends through next February, once it receives a final biological opinion related to Klamath Project operations from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The final biological opinion is expected to be completed next week. <more> April 10, 2013 Ag Alert

• Farm bill focus at Western agriculture conference in Davis May 14 - - Agricultural leaders and economists will discuss the new Farm Bill and its impacts on agriculture in the West May 14 at an all-day conference at the UC Davis Conference Center. Karen Ross, secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture and former U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture chief of staff, and Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, will share their insights on what the Farm Bill is likely to mean for agriculture in the western states. “The Farm Bill affects every California commodity,” said Daniel Sumner, director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center and conference coordinator. “Growers, lenders, agribusiness executives, policy advisors, agricultural leaders, university professionals, students and everyone who values comprehensive and objective information about the upcoming Farm Bill and U.S. farm policy are invited to participate in the conversation.” <more> April 10, 2013 Western Farm Press
   

• California beef coupon promotion underway - - The California Beef Council (CBC) is partnering with 71 small chain and independent retailers in California on a beef coupon promotion from April 10-23, 2013. The 71 retailers signed on to participate in the promotion when it was announced in February.  Participating retailers will have $2-off Instant Redeemable Coupons (IRC) on packages of fresh beef for the two-week promotion period. In addition to the IRCs, retailers were provided with Quick Response (QR) code labels to include on beef packages. When scanned with a smartphone, the QR code links to a grilling video, grilling tips and recipes on the www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com  Web site. The CBC also provided Confident Cooking with Beef brochures and a retail beef cuts chart poster to display near the meat case to help draw attention to beef during the promotion period. As part of the partnership, retailers will provide the CBC with beef movement results for the two-week promotion as well as the two weeks prior and post-promotion for evaluation purposes. They will also complete and submit an evaluation form to the CBC to help gauge the promotion’s effectiveness. April 10, 2013 CBC press release
   

• Wine sales hit a new high - - U.S. wine sales hit a record 360 million cases in 2012, up 2 percent, with an estimated retail value of $34.6 billion, the Wine Institute reported. California wineries accounted for nearly 58 percent, or 208 million cases, of the domestic wine market, although the state's production was down nearly 4 percent because of supply constraints. Including exports, California wine shipments in 2012 totaled 250 million cases, down from nearly 261 million cases in 2011. <more> April 10, 2013 Stockton Record

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Feinstein: Tentative deal on immigration ag workers -- A tentative deal has been reached to resolve a dispute between agriculture workers and growers that was standing in the way of a sweeping immigration overhaul bill, a key senator said Tuesday. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who's taken the lead on negotiating a resolution, didn't provide details, and said that growers had yet to sign off on the agreement. The farm workers union has been at odds with the agriculture industry over worker wages and how many visas should be offered in a new program to bring agriculture workers to the U.S. But Feinstein said she's hoping for resolution in the next day or two. "There's a tentative agreement on a number of things and we're waiting to see if it can get wrapped up," Feinstein said in a brief interview at the Capitol. "I'm very hopeful. The train is leaving the station. We need a bill." <more> April 9, 2013 AP
   

• Should AB 31 become law? Yes: This plan to help California dairy farms will cost you nothing - - By Michael Marsh, CEO, western United Dairymen - - Three hundred eighty-seven family businesses have shut their doors in the past five years. The employees were laid off, the equipment sold and what once were hubs of frenetic commerce are now overgrown with weeds. These closed family businesses were California dairy farms. A solution ensuring the survival of the remaining 1,500 California family dairies will cost consumers nothing. Milk prices in California and outside our state are regulated. The reasons for these regulated prices are similar. Government intervention was requested by farmers to stem abusive business practices employed against them by milk processors. <more> April 8, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• LA Times Editorial: A spat between dairies and cheese makers puts the focus on how the state regulates milk - - Although the recession drove many businesses into bankruptcy, times have been particularly hard for the state's dairy farmers. Almost 400 California dairies have closed in the last five years — 105 in 2012 alone — plagued by soaring prices for feed and an antiquated regulatory system that keeps their prices artificially low, at least in the farmers' view. The right solution for the long term would be to scrap the current approach in favor of a market-based one, but there's little political will to take such a disruptive step. Instead, policymakers are debating ways to help dairymen at the expense of cheese makers — and their customers. The government has long meddled with the markets for agricultural products in an effort to sustain farmers, but its role in dairy products is extreme. The federal government and numerous states set minimum prices that milk bottlers and dairy processors — the companies that make cheese, butter and other products from milk — pay for the raw milk they buy. Processors can opt out of the federal system, but in California, all buyers of Grade A milk must pay the minimum price applicable to the category of product they're making. Cheese makers pay the lowest price, bottlers the highest. <more> April 9, 2013 LA Times
   

• CalChamber calls out 32 "job killer" bills this year - - The California Chamber of Commerce is out with its annual list of "job killer" bills today, bestowing the title on 32 pieces of legislation authored by legislative Democrats. Measures to raise the minimum wage, increase penalties on polluters, ban disposable food containers, put a stop to hydraulic fracturing and lower the vote requirement for tax increases were among those CalChamber has labeled "job killers." "California policy makers should keep their focus on the number one issues affecting their constituents - economic recovery and job creation," said a statement from the group's president Allan Zaremberg, who is in China this week with Gov. Jerry Brown. <more> Sacramento Bee April 9, 2013  
   

• Dairy Leader Program application deadline April 12 - - The deadline to apply for Western United Dairymen’s highly successful California Dairy Leaders Program is April 12. Designed to train the next generation of California’s dairy leaders, the leadership program consists of several sessions devoted to developing a better understanding of the economic, legislative, marketing, and environmental issues facing the industry. Eligible participants must be actively involved in milk production, able to spend the necessary time in class as well as studying resource materials, and able to commit to travel to locations such as Sacramento and Washington DC. The year-long program kicks off in the spring. The program will cover in depth environmental issues, state and federal legislative processes, dairy pricing and economics, biotechnological developments, marketing and promotion, and public relations skills. Participants will develop and enhance their leadership skills through workshops on communications, business etiquette, negotiation skills, time management, and team building. Instructors are recognized experts in their field.  Enrollment will be limited to ensure one-on-one instruction. This year, applications will also be accepted from individuals in allied industries. Only a single allied member may be selected for the program in any given year. The program enrollment fee and letters of recommendation are to be submitted with the application. Industry members can download applications by clicking here. Allied member applications can be downloaded by clicking here. Call Western United Dairymen at (209) 527-6453 for further information.

Pricing/Commodity News

• No Clear Winner in Dairy Bills - - Analysis of the two competing Farm Bill dairy titles shows no clear economic winner. Sometimes the Dairy Security Act (DSA), which includes a market stabilization program, provides more net revenue. Other times, the so-called Goodlatte/Scott amendment (G/S) which contains no market stabilization program, provides more.  The analysis is presented by Marin Bozic, a University of Minnesota dairy economist. But the work was done in collaboration with Michigan State, Ohio State and the University of Wisconsin. The analysis was based on March 15, 2015 futures prices. The economists assumed 75% participation in both programs. For a 150-cow dairy, the returns under DSA range from $59/cow to $82 depending on the level of supplemental margin insurance selected. Under G/S, they range from $64 to $98. <more> April 9, 2013 theglobaldairy.com   
   

• Milk Powder Climbs to Fresh Record as Drought Hits N.Z. Supply - - Whole milk powder climbed to a record as New Zealand’s most widespread drought in at least 30 years curbs supply in the world’s largest exporter, according to Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. Powder for June delivery gained 12.8 percent, according to a trade-weighted index on the company’s Global Dairy Trade website. The near-term contract for New Zealand product rose to $5,998 a metric ton. The previous record was $5,313 on March 19. A drought declared across the entire North Island including Waikato province, the country’s biggest milk producer, may cost NZ$2 billion ($1.7 billion) as the dry conditions threaten economic growth, the government estimates. Growth in milk volumes will probably be unchanged this year after expanding 6 percent in the six months through January as the drought hurts production, Fonterra chief executive officer Theo Spierings said March 27. <more> April 9, 2013 Dairy Today 
   

• Bullish On Dairy - - by Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today - - There’s no other way to put it: Doug Wilson is bullish on dairy. Wilson is CEO of Cooperative Resources International (CRI), the holding company/cooperative of Genex and AgSource. Wilson spoke at CRI’s 20th annual meeting late last month in Bloomington, Minn. In his report to members, Wilson doesn’t ignore the hurdles dairy farmers face with feed prices, globalization and price volatility. But Wilson is convinced U.S. agriculture—farmers and the businesses that supply them—is poised for a prosperous future. Global food demand, due to growing populations and rising incomes—will increase 70% over the next 40 years. <more> April 9, 2013 Dairy Today   
   

• Corn Boom Goes Bust With U.S. Sales in Record Drop - -  The record collapse in U.S. corn exports and shrinking domestic demand are leaving more grain in silos, spurring a bear market just eight months after drought drove prices to an all-time high.  Stockpiles will be 836 million bushels (21.2 million metric tons) on Aug. 31, or 32 percent more than the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast last month, according to the average of 35 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Export sales from the world’s largest grower and shipper fell 54 percent in the year that began Sept. 1, heading for the biggest annual drop in government data that starts in 1960.  The USDA says output will rebound as farmers plant the most acres in 77 years. Futures fell 23 percent from their peak in August, joining wheat and soybeans in bear markets as global food costs tracked by the United Nations fell for five consecutive months. <more> April 9, 2013 Bloomberg News

Environmental News

• Fracking bill passes CA Senate committee - - A bill to more tightly regulate the drilling process called hydraulic fracturing passed the California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on a 6-2 vote Tuesday. Fracking, as the extraction technique is commonly called, has become a flash point for environmental advocates as the process has become more commonplace in recent years.  California is in the incipient stages of regulating fracking -- shooting a mix of chemicals, sand and water deep underground. Skeptics argue that fracking could endanger public health by contaminating water public water supplies. Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, the author of Senate Bill 4, called the bill a needed mechanism for holding the energy industry accountable. <more> April 9, 2013 Sacramento Bee
   

• Farmers urged not to put off joining effort to cut nitrates -- The deadline is fast approaching for farmers to sign up under the state's groundwater-quality management program, which requires growers to keep "nitrogen budgets." Preliminary data suggest that hundreds, if not thousands, of commercial agricultural landowners have yet to sign up under the program. Farmers in the Eastern San Joaquin River Watershed who are not registered by May 13 could face fines and penalties, according to officials with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. "We'd be looking at a formal order telling them they need to get regulatory coverage," said Joe Karkoski, chief of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program for the regional water board. "Then if they fail to do that, we could issue fines." <more> April 9, 2013 Merced Sun-Star
   

• Environmental stewardship classes offered in Merced in April 23 and April 30 - - The California Dairy Quality Assurance Program is offering free classes in environmental stewardship in Merced April 23 and April 30. The workshops will be held Tuesday, April 23 and Tuesday April 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Merced County Cooperative Extension Classroom, 2145 Wardrobe Avenue, Merced. The two-part series of classes (three hours each), known as the Environmental Stewardship Short Course, will be taught by Dr. Deanne Meyer, livestock waste management specialist at UC Davis. This will be the only six-hour class offered in water quality by CDQAP this year. Producers can attend all or part of the Short Course to meet the education requirements. The classes cover environmental issues, regulatory requirements and management practices for dairy producers. For producers interested in certifying their facility, the same person from the dairy facility must attend all six hours of water quality education. <more> April 9, 2013 WUD news
   

• Modesto Irrigation District proposal to raise ag water rates fails - -  A proposal to raise farmers' water bills by 10 percent failed this morning at the hands of a sharply divided Modesto Irrigation District board. But farmers could face an even steeper increase in coming weeks or months. The issue is framed by contention over a longstanding practice of electricity customers paying extra to keep irrigation rates artificially low. Board member Larry Byrd, a rancher, despises the polarizing argument and questions the rationale used to calculate the perceived subsidy. <more> April 9, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• West Side farmers to benefit from water agreement - -  In the face of major cuts to their water supply, West Side farmers received good news this week after two irrigation districts agreed to sell Stanislaus River water that will be available to many local farm water districts. Oakdale Irrigation District’s board of directors agreed Tuesday, April 2, to sell up to 40,000 acre-feet of river water to the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority and the state Department of Water Resources. South San Joaquin Irrigation District’s board agreed to sell the same amount to those agencies on March 26. The agreement will aid the water authority’s 29 agencies in the western San Joaquin Valley and San Benito and Santa Clara counties, including most irrigation districts on the West Side. The extra water comes during a critically dry year when West Side farmers have only been allowed to draw up to 20 percent of their full federal Central Valley Project water allotments from the Delta-Mendota Canal. <more> April 9, 2013 Patterson Irrigator

• Pistachio growers' $1.5M gift to fund Fresno State position - - Pistachios will be given more attention at Fresno State thanks to a $1.5 million gift to establish a new faculty position at the university. The grant, given by the California Pistachio Research Board, will create an endowed professorship in pistachio physiology and pomology position in Fresno State's Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. Specifically, the faculty member, yet to be selected, will be Fresno State's go-to expert when dealing with the molecular and biological components of pistachios and the science of cultivating the crop. <more> April 9, 2013 Fresno Business Journal  

Monday, April 8, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Should AB 31 become law? Yes: This plan to help California dairy farms will cost you nothing - - By Michael Marsh, CEO, western United Dairymen - - Three hundred eighty-seven family businesses have shut their doors in the past five years. The employees were laid off, the equipment sold and what once were hubs of frenetic commerce are now overgrown with weeds. These closed family businesses were California dairy farms. A solution ensuring the survival of the remaining 1,500 California family dairies will cost consumers nothing. Milk prices in California and outside our state are regulated. The reasons for these regulated prices are similar. Government intervention was requested by farmers to stem abusive business practices employed against them by milk processors. <more> April 8, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Immigration talks between California farm groups hit impasse - - They met behind closed doors over the past four months in the Capitol Hill office of California's senior senator, carving out details of what could be a landmark change for agriculture-based immigration. Now, however, California growers and farmworkers have hit an impasse, and they are running out of time to agree on a program that could affect hundreds of thousands of farmworkers nationwide. "Our window is closing quickly," said Tom Nassif, president of the Western Growers Association, which temporarily pulled out of talks with the United Farm Workers after both sides refused to budge on minimum wages and other regulations for a new temporary visa program. The stalled talks threaten to leave agriculture out of the comprehensive immigration bill expected next week from a bipartisan Senate group. But U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-San Francisco, said in an emailed statement Friday "we are close to a resolution, and it is my intention to wrap this up next week." <more> April 6, 2013 San Jose Mercury News
   

• Immigration Reform: The Coming Fight Over The Low-Skilled Worker Visa - -  At the heart of a soon-to-be-released bipartisan compromise on immigration reform is a controversial proposal that would create several new government bureaus and offices to oversee a new generation of legal, low-skilled immigrants—as many as 200,000 a year when the program gets up and running. The proposal tries to address the ultimate cause of illegal immigration: not merely porous borders or unscrupulous employers, but the immutable fact that jobs here pay better here than ones back there. When Washington has tried to end illegal immigration in the past, Congress has ignored that simple labor market reality. This time, surprisingly, instead of trying to stop the illegal flow of low-skilled foreign workers to unfilled American jobs by increasing penalties and enforcement, the bipartisan bloc of Senators proposes to legalize it, in part. <more> April 8,2013 Time.com
   

• Immigration proposal could be delayed - - A bipartisan Senate group on immigration legislation is attempting to craft an agreement so secure that the eight members will oppose amendments to its core provisions, an arrangement that could delay the introduction of a bill, people familiar with the negotiations said. The senators had said they hoped to present their proposals this week, but Republican members expressed skepticism about that timetable Sunday. The group continues to negotiate issues related to new visa programs for agricultural and high-tech workers and has not reached agreement on a guest-worker program for low-skilled foreign laborers, said the individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. <more> April 8, 2013 Washington Post
   

• All about immigration: Green cards? Citizenship? - - This may be the year Congress decides what to do about the millions of immigrants living illegally in the U.S. And this may be the week when a bipartisan group of senators makes public details of the overhaul plan it has been negotiating for months. But what will that be? Why now? And who are all these immigrants, once you get past the big round numbers? Here is a big dose of facts, figures and other information to help understand the current debate over immigration. <more> April 6, 2013 AP 

• Water supply forecast drops for Valley's east-side growers - - The dry winter has forced more farm water cutbacks in the San Joaquin Valley -- this time for 15,000 east-side growers. The growers, who get water from Millerton Lake, learned Friday they will get only 55% of their highest-priority water. In February, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation had forecast 65%. Two weeks ago, the bureau dropped the west-side allotment from 25% to 20% as federal officials cope with the second subpar winter in a row. East Valley water leaders say the allocation cutbacks do not surprise them. <more> April 5, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Relief, resolve greet recommended rail route - - For local residents opposed to high-speed rail, it’s been an open question about which group of people would feel the brunt as the California High-Speed Rail Authority considered two possible routes through Kings County — one west and one east of Hanford. Turns out it will mostly likely be those living, running businesses and owning property along the alignment between Hanford and Armona. That was the route California High-Speed Rail Authority staff recommended to board members on Thursday, with a final vote expected at the next board meeting on May 2. That means dairies, farmers and residents along the potential alignment east of town will be spared. Authority staff said that possible route has more negative impacts. The route west of Hanford was selected in part to deliberately avoid dairies, because they are high-value agricultural operations that are difficult to split up or relocate. <more> April 5, 2013 Hanford Sentinel  
   

• Dairy Leader Program application deadline April 12 - - The deadline to apply for Western United Dairymen’s highly successful California Dairy Leaders Program is April 12. Designed to train the next generation of California’s dairy leaders, the leadership program consists of several sessions devoted to developing a better understanding of the economic, legislative, marketing, and environmental issues facing the industry. Eligible participants must be actively involved in milk production, able to spend the
  necessary time in class as well as studying resource materials, and able to commit to travel to locations such as Sacramento and Washington DC. The year-long program kicks off in the spring. The program will cover in depth environmental issues, state and federal legislative processes, dairy pricing and economics, biotechnological developments, marketing and promotion, and public relations skills. Participants will develop and enhance their leadership skills through workshops on communications, business etiquette, negotiation skills, time management, and team building. Instructors are recognized experts in their field.  Enrollment will be limited to ensure one-on-one instruction. This year, applications will also be accepted from individuals in allied industries. Only a single allied member may be selected for the program in any given year. The program enrollment fee and letters of recommendation are to be submitted with the application. Industry members can download applications by clicking here. Allied member applications can be downloaded by clicking here. Call Western United Dairymen at (209) 527-6453 for further information.

Pricing/Commodity News

• Gillibrand, Collins pushing milk-pricing reform bill - - Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, plan to introduce a bill on Tuesday to reform the federal milk marketing order system. The bill is part of a comprehensive plan to provide a fair safety net for farmers and improve dairy product inventory reporting and transparency, said Bethany Lesser, Gillibrand's director of communications. But the senators are likely face an uphill battle on federal order reform, due to processor opposition and producer apprehension. <more> April 8, 2013 Capital Press 

Environmental News

• Tulare County farmers expect to depend on well water - - Ron Jacobsma certainly wasn’t expecting good news during Friday’s Friant Water Authority meeting in Visalia. That joint meeting of the authority’s Advisory Committee and Policy and Legislative Committee included an informal announcement by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that the overall allocation of water during the spring and summer months to the farms and communities getting water from the Friant-Kern Canal would be about 35 percent of the historical average. That’s down from the 40 percent allotment the bureau announced in February. <more> April 6, 2013 Visalia Times-Delta
   

• State water tunnel plans call for rerouting of 3 Delta highways for years - - The state of California's proposal to build two massive water diversion tunnels beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a major undertaking by itself. But the current plans also call for rerouting and reconfiguring three state highways to handle a decade of heavy construction traffic. Conceptual engineering documents obtained by The Bee illustrate detours on Highway 160 in Sacramento County around each of three huge water intakes proposed for the project, called the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. <more> April 7, 2013 The Sacramento Bee

• The Iron Lady's remarkable U.S. legacy - - Margaret Thatcher shaped a generation of liberals and conservatives, tugging the left to the middle and enjoying a civic canonization of sorts on the right. And that’s just in the United States. Thatcher, who succumbed to a stroke Monday at 87, arguably impacted the course of American politics more than any other elected foreign leader in modern times. Along with her comrade-in-arms Ronald Reagan, the former British Prime Minister ushered in a free market consensus in the 1980s and 1990s that liberals eventually concluded had to be accommodated not thwarted. <more> April 8, 2013 Politico 

Dairy Meetings  

• Western Dairy Air Quality Symposium in Boise April 16-17 - - Western States Dairy Producers Trade Association is sponsoring the 2013 Western Dairy Air Quality Symposium in Boise on April 16-17. The purpose of this symposium is to have a round-table exchange on the status of air quality research, demonstration projects, and pending regulations in the west, and to plan for coordination of research efforts among states and groups. This symposium brings together researchers, regulators and policy advocates from universities, USDA, EPA, regional air regulatory agencies and industry organizations. The hotel reservation deadline is March 21. Registration is $75 per person. Registration information is available by contacting Kathi Schiffler at (209) 527-6453 or kschiffler@westernuniteddairymen.com.  Feb. 22, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Environmental stewardship classes offered in Merced in April 23 and April 30 - - The California Dairy Quality Assurance Program is offering free classes in environmental stewardship in Merced April 23 and April 30. The workshops will be held Tuesday, April 23 and Tuesday April 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Merced County Cooperative Extension Classroom, 2145 Wardrobe Avenue, Merced.  The two-part series of classes (three hours each), known as the Environmental Stewardship Short Course, will be taught by Dr. Deanne Meyer, livestock waste management specialist at UC Davis. This will be the only six-hour class offered in water quality by CDQAP this year. Producers can attend all or part of the Short Course to meet the education requirements. The classes cover environmental issues, regulatory requirements and management practices for dairy producers. For producers interested in certifying their facility, the same person from the dairy facility must attend all six hours of water quality education. <more> March 8, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• 14th MJC Dairy Springer Heifer Sale April 13- - Modesto Junior College will host its 14th Springer Heifer Sale on Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. All the heifers included in the sale were donated by local dairy families who support the growth and development of the MJC dairy program. Students began working with the group of heifers during the fall of 2012; breaking, grooming, and learning about conformation features. Top A.I. Holstein bulls including Planet, Super, Metior, Iota, and Shan along with Jersey bulls Zegion and Attorney, were used as service sires. Of the springers included in the sale, 22 are scheduled to calve the end of October. The primary benefit of the program is to give students a “hands-on” approach to raising heifers. Income from the project funds future heifer programs, scholarships, facility upgrades and many dairy club activities. For more information email hobbyb@mjc.edu

California Dairy Families: Making a Difference Today for Tomorrow's Generations

Visit our Video Channel .Watch WUD members talk about how they meet the environmental challenges facing the California dairy industry. Hear about their pride in their farming heritage and the contributions they make to their communities. Also visit the California Milk Advisory Board's website which features many WUD dairy families talking about the rewards and heartaches of dairy farming.

Friday, April 5, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• WUD President Barcellos outlines need for whey value bill on FoxBusiness News - - Western United Dairymen President Tom Barcellos spoke to a national TV audience yesterday in an interview on FoxBusiness News outlining the need for passage of AB 31, (click here to view the video) which would more closely align the whey value in the California 4b formula with the regulated minimum price for whey found in surrounding states.  The bill will be heard on April 17 by the Assembly Agriculture Committee at 1:30 p.m. in Room 126 at the Capitol. The legislation is authored by Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento.) April 5, 2013 FoxBusiness News
   

• Path to Citizenship Divides Congress and, Polls Show, Confuses Country - - A path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally has become central to the debate on overhauling the immigration system, but recent polls have indicated that many Americans are still making up their minds on the issue, with doubts persisting about what such a path would mean in practice. The debate could move into high gear next week when a bipartisan group in the Senate is expected to introduce a broad bill, including proposals to allow immigrants here illegally to gain legal status and eventually become citizens. A bipartisan group in the House is also in the final stages of preparing a comprehensive bill. In six nationwide nonpartisan polls released since January, at least 70 percent of Americans said they supported options allowing those immigrants to remain in the country with some form of legal status. Generally only about one-quarter of those polled said the immigrants should not be allowed to stay. <more> April 4, 2013 The New York Times
   

• Plan Eyes Fast Green Cards for Farmworkers - - Farmworkers in the U.S. illegally could earn a green card in as few as three years – much sooner than other unauthorized immigrants – under a bipartisan Senate immigration plan. The proposal would allow agricultural workers to gain permanent legal status, otherwise known as a green card, in three to 10 years, depending on how long they commit to working in the farm industry, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The Senate plan allows most other immigrants in the U.S. illegally to qualify permanent legal status after a decade. <more> April 5, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• Legislation needs deal on visas for farm labor - - An immigration deal for the farmworkers who harvest the bulk of U.S. fruits and vegetables poses one of the most-elusive, and -essential, challenges to an attempt by lawmakers to recast the nation’s immigration laws. As negotiators near agreement on future visas for lower-skilled and higher-skilled workers, programs for largely seasonal, lower-paid agricultural laborers are being negotiated by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the United Farm Workers and groups representing companies. An estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States. About 25 percent of the farm work force is unauthorized — that’s more than 300,000 workers without papers — according to a Pew Hispanic Center study in 2009. <more> April 5, 2013 Bloomberg News
   

• Conservative groups back immigration reform - - High-profile conservative groups are taking on an unexpected cause: passing immigration reform. A diverse mix of the Washington consultant class is cutting TV ads, revving up the grassroots and advising lawmakers on messaging and strategy in hopes of getting a bill across the finish line this year. The surprising effort is a new element to the immigration debate — and one that could influence Republican lawmakers reluctant to support the cause. <more> April 5, 2013 Politico
   

• Fresno rail meeting gives Valley opponents a platform - - More than 200 people crammed their way into Fresno City Hall on Thursday, making the most of their chance to tell the California High-Speed Rail Authority how they feel about plans for a statewide high-speed train system and proposed routes through the San Joaquin Valley. Board members heard from planners about four options being considered for a Y-shaped junction in the Chowchilla area, where high-speed rails from the Bay Area would merge with the main north-south line through the Valley. <more> April 4, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Paul Martin honored for WUD service at convention - - Paul Martin, former Western United Dairymen Director of Environmental Services, was recognized at WUD’s annual convention for his many years of service to the association. He was presented  by WUD President Tom Barcellos with a plaque commending his service as director of environmental services at Western United Dairymen from 2000 to 2012. Martin in September 2012 was appointed by Gov. Brown as deputy director of permit assistance in the Governor’s
  
  Click here to view the WUD Convention 2013 photo album.
  
  Office of Business and Economic Development. The agency is tasked with streamlining services for business leaders and enhancing job creation, economic development and international trade statewide.  He was a field representative for Western United Dairymen from 1999 to 2000 and owner and operator of Paul and Jill Martin Dairy from 1976 to 1999. Martin was a partner at Claude Martin and Son Dairy from 1969 to 1976. He is a member of the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Air Quality Task Force and serves on the Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. April 5, 2013 WUD news
   

• Dairy Leader Program application deadline April 12 - - The deadline to apply for Western United Dairymen’s highly successful California Dairy Leaders Program is April 12. Designed to train the next generation of California’s dairy leaders, the leadership program consists of several sessions devoted to developing a better understanding of the economic, legislative, marketing, and environmental issues facing the industry. Eligible participants must be actively involved in milk production, able to spend the
  necessary time in class as well as studying resource materials, and able to commit to travel to locations such as Sacramento and Washington DC. The year-long program kicks off in the spring. The program will cover in depth environmental issues, state and federal legislative processes, dairy pricing and economics, biotechnological developments, marketing and promotion, and public relations skills. Participants will develop and enhance their leadership skills through workshops on communications, business etiquette, negotiation skills, time management, and team building. Instructors are recognized experts in their field.  Enrollment will be limited to ensure one-on-one instruction. This year, applications will also be accepted from individuals in allied industries. Only a single allied member may be selected for the program in any given year. The program enrollment fee and letters of recommendation are to be submitted with the application. Industry members can download applications by clicking here. Allied member applications can be downloaded by clicking here. Call Western United Dairymen at (209) 527-6453 for further information.

Pricing/Commodity News

•  Ethanol’s Discount to Gasoline Widens Below-Average Inventory - - Ethanol strengthened against gasoline a day after a U.S. Energy Information Administration reported record low inventory for this time of year. The spread tightened 2.63 cents to 47.57 cents a gallon as the Energy Department’s analytical arm said stockpiles of the fuel last week rose 0.2 percent to 17.5 million barrels, from the lowest level since the week ended Dec. 9, 2011. Inventories are 22 percent lower than a year ago. “There’s a lot of demand in the front for prompt product,” said Jim Damask, a manager at StarFuels Inc. in Jupiter, Florida. “They must be ripping right through supply.” <more> April 4, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• Corn, Soybean Prices Continue Downward Spiral - - Agricultural commodity prices were mixed this week as both corn and soybean prices were lower, while wheat prices were modestly higher. Spot corn prices were down just over $.65 per bu. this week, ending the week at $6.29, their lowest close since last June 2012. Prices continue to react to last week’s bearish USDA stocks data along with continued weak demand. New crop December 2013 corn prices were down only $.03 ½ per bu. at $5.38 ½. <more> April 5, 2013 Ag Web
   

• Lee Mielke: Milk prices have bottomed out for year - - Farm milk prices slipped for the fifth month in a row but have likely bottomed out for 2013. The USDA announced the March Federal order Class III price at $16.93 per hundredweight (cwt.), down 32 cents from February but $1.21 above March 2012, $1.91 above California's 4b cheese milk price even with the state's temporary price increase, and equates to $1.46 per gallon. The March Class IV price is $17.75, unchanged from February and $2.40 above a year ago. <more> April 5, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Fluid milk sales continue to slip - - There were 4.4 billion pounds of packaged fluid milk products sold in the United States in January, 1.4 percent less than in January of 2012. After adjusting for the calendar, sales were 2.1 percent below a year ago. Total sales of conventional fluid milk products was down 1.4 percent while total sales of organic fluid milk products decreased 1.8 percent compared to January 2012. Sales of organic milk products totaled 189 million pounds in January, down 1.8 percent from a year ago. USDA Ag Market News says organic whole milk sales were up 7.2 percent at 51 million pounds. The national weighted average advertised price of a half-gallon of organic milk was $3.59 last week, down 6 cents from two weeks ago. That is $1.55 above the average price for a half-gallon of conventional milk. The price spread was $2.35 two weeks ago. April 5, 2013 Brownfield Ag News

Environmental News

• Democrats urge Brown to consider alternative to water project - - A group of nearly two dozen Democrats is challenging Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to build a massive water project in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. On Thursday, 22 lawmakers from districts throughout the state released a letter urging the Brown administration to consider an alternative to the most ambitious water supply project proposed in California in decades. Brown's still-evolving proposal calls for the construction of two massive tunnels beneath the delta to transport water south, in addition to the restoration of tens of thousands of acres of delta habitat. Opponents, including farmers and a number of conservation groups, argue that the plan could sully irrigation water, endanger fish and rob the ecosystem of needed flows. <more> April 4, 2013 Los Angeles Times 

• Antibiotics, Farm Animals and You - - Farmers and ranchers share consumer concerns about antibiotic-resistant bacteria and are continuously improving herd health practices to minimize risk. About a third of livestock antibiotics used today are not used at all in human medicine. And in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration’s Guidance 209 and 213, antibiotics important to human medicine used for growth purposes will be eliminated from farm use within three years. There is no proven link to antibiotic treatment failure in humans because of antibiotic use in animals for consumption — a critical point that is often missed. <more> April 4, 2013 The New York Times
   

• Protein tops list of nutrition trends - - Protein is more important than ever, which is evident in the latest nutrition trends from the Dairy Council of California. Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal found that shoppers are reaching for products that promote protein. See, “When the Box Says 'Protein,' Shoppers Say 'I'll Take It'.” And the trend will likely continue to dominate the dairy consumer, too. “Milk protein is positioned positively as a high-quality protein,” the Dairy Council of California wrote. “The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recently recommended a new method of measuring protein quality, which showcases dairy’s protein profile even more strongly.” Protein is just one of the hot food trends in 2013. <more> April 4, 2013 Dairy Herd Network

Dairy Meetings  

• Western Dairy Air Quality Symposium in Boise April 16-17 - - Western States Dairy Producers Trade Association is sponsoring the 2013 Western Dairy Air Quality Symposium in Boise on April 16-17. The purpose of this symposium is to have a round-table exchange on the status of air quality research, demonstration projects, and pending regulations in the west, and to plan for coordination of research efforts among states and groups. This symposium brings together researchers, regulators and policy advocates from universities, USDA, EPA, regional air regulatory agencies and industry organizations. The hotel reservation deadline is March 21. Registration is $75 per person. Registration information is available by contacting Kathi Schiffler at (209) 527-6453 or kschiffler@westernuniteddairymen.com.  Feb. 22, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Environmental stewardship classes offered in Merced in April 23 and April 30 - - The California Dairy Quality Assurance Program is offering free classes in environmental stewardship in Merced April 23 and April 30. The workshops will be held Tuesday, April 23 and Tuesday April 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Merced County Cooperative Extension Classroom, 2145 Wardrobe Avenue, Merced.  The two-part series of classes (three hours each), known as the Environmental Stewardship Short Course, will be taught by Dr. Deanne Meyer, livestock waste management specialist at UC Davis. This will be the only six-hour class offered in water quality by CDQAP this year. Producers can attend all or part of the Short Course to meet the education requirements. The classes cover environmental issues, regulatory requirements and management practices for dairy producers. For producers interested in certifying their facility, the same person from the dairy facility must attend all six hours of water quality education. <more> March 8, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• 14th MJC Dairy Springer Heifer Sale April 13- - Modesto Junior College will host its 14th Springer Heifer Sale on Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. All the heifers included in the sale were donated by local dairy families who support the growth and development of the MJC dairy program. Students began working with the group of heifers during the fall of 2012; breaking, grooming, and learning about conformation features. Top A.I. Holstein bulls including Planet, Super, Metior, Iota, and Shan along with Jersey bulls Zegion and Attorney, were used as service sires. Of the springers included in the sale, 22 are scheduled to calve the end of October. The primary benefit of the program is to give students a “hands-on” approach to raising heifers. Income from the project funds future heifer programs, scholarships, facility upgrades and many dairy club activities. For more information email hobbyb@mjc.edu

Thursday, April 4, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• White House supports accelerated pace on immigration bill - - White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday that the administration would support an accelerated process in the Senate to vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill if a bipartisan proposal is offered this month as expected. Carney was reacting to reports that Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has said he wants to speed up the amendment process, known as markup, for a bill being drafted by an eight-member group that is expected to include a path to citizenship for the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants. “We’ll leave it to the chairman and other leaders in the Senate to decide on the process, but the president has made clear that he believes there is no reason to delay this process, no reason to postpone it,” Carney said en route to Denver, where Obama was schedule to deliver remarks on efforts to curb gun violence. <more> April 3, 2013 The Washington Post
   

• Calif. bill requires developers to preserve farmland - - A group that promotes farmland preservation is backing a bill in the Legislature that would force developers to compensate for their conversions of agricultural land. Assembly Bill 823 would require builders to match the acres converted from farmland to development with conservation easements that would preserve other plots of land in perpetuity. The bill would allow no exemptions for solar panels or state development projects, nor does it exempt land that was left fallow because of a lack of water. <more> April 4, 2013 Capital Press
   

• Dairy Security Act Would Have Increased Farm Milk Prices More Than $1.00 Per Cwt. - - Milk prices for Midwest dairy farmers would have been more than $1.00 per cwt. higher last year if the proposed federal Dairy Security Act (DSA) program had been available to them, a national dairy industry official told cooperative farm leaders gathered here Wednesday for the Minnesota-Wisconsin Dairy Policy Conference. Jim Mulhern, Chief Operating Officer for the National Milk Producers Federation and a Wisconsin native, said a farmer with 200 cows, who purchased margin coverage at a level of $6.50 per cwt., would have received more than $44,000 in additional payments in 2012 under the Dairy Security Act that is now pending before Congress. <more> April 4, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Ryan Gosling stands up for cows, joins PETA in urging milk producers to stop dehorning animals - - He’s not milking his fame, but Ryan Gosling is lending his name to the cause of cows. The 32-year-old actor sent a letter this week to the National Milk Producers Federation urging the group to advocate against the industry practice of removing calves’ horns. He asks that they help stop what he calls a “barbaric practice” by requiring farmers to breed naturally hornless cattle. The letter was released Wednesday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Gosling has worked with the group before in its campaign urging KFC to adopt more humane methods of slaughtering chickens. <more> April 3, 2013 AP
   

• Despite years of advocacy, some farmworker housing still deplorable - - The stories that Dario Gutierrez, a native of Mexico City, would hear before arriving in Oxnard two years ago prompted him to make the dangerous trek to the United States illegally. People here, he recalls hearing, earn enough to live comfortably. “Dicen que aquí se barre el dinero en la calle.”—They say here, people can sweep money off the streets.  The saying has prompted flows of people from Mexico and other parts of Latin America to migrate north for work in California’s bountiful agriculture industry. They hope for upward mobility. But the reality for many toiling in the $44.3 billion industry is different. Poor pay, which characterizes the farmworker labor force, has left many struggling to find adequate and safe housing. <more> April 4, 2013 HealthyCal.org
   

• Dairy Leader Program application deadline April 12 - - The deadline to apply for Western United Dairymen’s highly successful California Dairy Leaders Program is April 12. Designed to train the next generation of California’s dairy leaders, the leadership program consists of several sessions devoted to developing a better understanding of the economic, legislative, marketing, and environmental issues facing the industry. Eligible participants must be actively involved in milk production, able to spend the
  
  The current Dairy Leader class was recognized at the WUD convention last week. Click here to view the WUD Convention 2013 photo album.
  
  necessary time in class as well as studying resource materials, and able to commit to travel to locations such as Sacramento and Washington DC. The year-long program kicks off in the spring. The program will cover in depth environmental issues, state and federal legislative processes, dairy pricing and economics, biotechnological developments, marketing and promotion, and public relations skills. Participants will develop and enhance their leadership skills through workshops on communications, business etiquette, negotiation skills, time management, and team building. Instructors are recognized experts in their field.  Enrollment will be limited to ensure one-on-one instruction. This year, applications will also be accepted from individuals in allied industries. Only a single allied member may be selected for the program in any given year. The program enrollment fee and letters of recommendation are to be submitted with the application. Industry members can download applications by clicking here. Allied member applications can be downloaded by clicking here. Call Western United Dairymen at (209) 527-6453 for further information.

Pricing/Commodity News

•  California’s Quota Quandary - -  As California’s dairy producers consider adopting a Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO), they’ve made one thing clear: They’re not willing to relinquish their quota entitlements, valued statewide at $1 billion. Quota has been part of California’s state milk pricing system for more than 40 years. Owning quota entitles producers to as much as $1.70 per cwt. of additional income. "[Quota] selling prices move with each transaction made," says Eric Erba, senior vice president with California Dairies Inc. (CDI). Most recent prices are about $420 per pound, but typically range from $400 to $500. But how to incorporate quota into California’s FMMO has raised questions, since no other federal order area except Virginia, includes a similar pricing entitlement. <more> April 4, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• NASS to provide milk production estimates, but not cow numbers, milk per cow - - Partial monthly U.S. milk production estimates will resume for the remainder of fiscal year 2013 (FY ’13), USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced April 3. The monthly Milk Production report had been suspended to meet budget sequestration requirements. NASS will not conduct two remaining quarterly milk producer surveys normally scheduled to obtain the information. Instead, NASS will use only various sources of administrative data to establish the monthly milk production estimates. Therefore, dairy cow and milk per cow statistics that were provided in previous reports will not be available. A scientifically based statistical survey will be necessary in the longer term, NASS said. <more> April 4, 2013 Dairy Business
   

• March base milk prices mixed - - The March base milk prices were mixed, Class II base comes in at $18.82 per hundredweight, up 33 cents from February and $2.62 above March of last year. The Class III base is down 32 cents from February at $16.93 but $1.19 above a year ago. Class IV base for March milk is $17.75, unchanged from February and $2.40 above a year ago. Component prices per pound: butterfat $1.7476, protein $2.8204, nonfat solids $1.3395 and other solids at $0.4179. Cash cheese prices continued their push upward on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Thursday. Barrels gained 2 cents, blocks increased 4.5 cents. There were ten sales, five for barrels and five for blocks but the market was set by five unfilled bids. Cash butter gained a nickel and Grade A nonfat dry milk increased 3.25 cents. April 4, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Corn-Price Drop Won’t Deter Sugar Buys for Ethanol, Vilsack Says - - Corn’s 25 percent drop from a record reached in August won’t affect possible purchases of sugar for use in ethanol as the government tries to stem a sweetener glut, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. A projected record corn harvest won’t influence the U.S. Department of Agriculture as it decides whether to purchase sugar for use in ethanol plants, potentially increasing a glut of the grain while decreasing sugar inventories, Vilsack said yesterday in an interview. The agency is required to manage sugar supplies under federal law, and biofuel use is one tool to prop up prices that are approaching levels at which the government is required to buy up inventories, he said. <more> April 2, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• Analysts predict sustained drop in feed prices, weather willing - - Last week's USDA report showing that more corn will be planted this year and the amount in storage was more than anticipated sent prices tumbling by more than 15 percent in a few days. That was bad news for corn farmers, who had been reaping near-record prices, but it also sent a wave of optimism through the livestock industry, which has struggled with high feed prices. Corn is not only a major ingredient in livestock feed, but it drives the prices of soybeans and other commodities used in feed. At 97.3 million acres, corn planting intentions are a little higher than last year's planted acreage and 6 percent above 2011. If realized, this year's corn acreage will be the largest since 1936, said Darrel Good, ag economist with the University of Illinois. <more> April 4, 2013 Western Farm Press

Environmental News

• Merced researcher: Cows' diet can hurt soil, groundwater - - When it comes to a cow's diet, many dairy farmers err on the side of caution, often feeding their cows more salts and other minerals than are necessary, according to a report in the Journal of Dairy Science. While ingesting unnecessary minerals may have little direct effect on cows, inadequate amounts of these essential nutrients can cause a host of health problems and reduce productivity. However, the practice of overfeeding salts and other minerals to cows can negatively affect soil and groundwater quality, according to report author Alejandro Castillo, a University of California Cooperative Extension researcher in Merced. <more> April 3, 2013 Merced Sun-Star
   

• Foes of governor’s tunnel scheme to hold funeral - - Opponents of Gov. Jerry Brown's scheme to build giant tunnels that would drain water from the Sacramento River before it could flow naturally into the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta say they hope to give away a coffin on Thursday. The intended recipient is Natural Resources Agency Deputy Director Jerry Meral, the Brown Administration's leader for the twin tunnel project that opponents say will drain the Delta and doom salmon and other Pacific fisheries. <more> April 2, 2013 Central Valley Business Times
   

• Irrigation wastewater may be answer to damaged soils - - What has been the poster child of good intentions gone horribly wrong – the disposal of the selenium-laden water that drains from irrigated field on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley – may finally have an answer. Farmers used to drain irrigation wastewater into Kesterson Reservoir, a series of holding ponds that were part of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. But selenium levels in the water became so high that waterfowl were killed by it so the storage facility was closed in 1987. Since then, farmers have been keeping the wastewater — which also contains salt and traces of arsenic, boron, and molybdenum — in evaporation ponds on their own land, which takes around 10 percent of the crop land out of production. <more> April 4, 2013 Central Valley Business Times

• 14th MJC Dairy Springer Heifer Sale Oct. 16 - - Modesto Junior College will host its 14th Springer Heifer Sale on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. All the heifers included in the sale were donated by local dairy families who support the growth and development of the MJC dairy program. Students began working with the group of heifers during the fall of 2012; breaking, grooming, and learning about conformation features. Top A.I. Holstein bulls including Planet, Super, Metior, Iota, and Shan along with Jersey bulls Zegion and Attorney, were used as service sires. Of the springers included in the sale, 22 are scheduled to calve the end of October. The primary benefit of the program is to give students a “hands-on” approach to raising heifers. Income from the project funds future heifer programs, scholarships, facility upgrades and many dairy club activities. For more information email hobbyb@mjc.edu. April 4, 2013 MJC Notice
   

• Of rumps, butts and shanks: Meat industry trying to cut through confusion with new labels - - Don’t know your pork butts from your rump roasts? It may be getting a little easier. The American meat industry is rolling out a refresh of the often confusing 40-year-old system used for naming the various cuts of beef, pork, lamb and veal. That’s because the system — the Uniform Retail Meat Identification Standards, or URMIS — was designed more for the needs of retailers and butchers than for the convenience of harried shoppers more familiar with Shake ‘n Bake than boneless shank cuts. The bottom line is that meat counter confusion isn’t good for sales. So after nearly two years of consumer research, the National Pork Board, the Beef Checkoff Program and federal agriculture officials have signed off on an updated labeling system that should hit stores just in time for prime grilling season. <more> April 3, 2013 AP
   

• Pizza Hut menu getting cheesier - - "Consumers always want more cheese." That’s what Wiley Bates III, Executive Chef at Pizza Hut, said as his Crazy Cheesy Crust pizza hits stores this week. This newest menu item was specially designed to bring the most cheese to consumer, according to a report featured on a Yahoo! finance blog. Each pizza slice features two edible pockets of a gooey, melted cheese mix of Asiago, Romano, Fontina, Provolone and mozzarella. <more> April 3, 2013 Dairy Herd Network

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Road map to citizenship has support among small-business owners  - - Business owners often have a tricky relationship with the idea of giving immigrant workers a path to citizenship. On the one hand, employers (usually) want to keep their workers happy and working hard, which often means seeing their families more than once a year. On the other hand, workers who have citizenship have less incentive to stay with one employer, and may leave tough, low-paying jobs for other work, leaving employers in the lurch. “If the guest workers did become citizens, some of them would probably stay, they enjoy the farm work, and like working outside,” said Rusty Barr, a farmer featured in a Sunday story about immigration reform. “But I think the majority would just exit the agricultural sector and look for other employment.” Various proposals being discussed in Congress would lead to some sort of amnesty for immigrants currently in the United States, and a path to citizenship for guest workers who have come to work in the U.S. for a certain period of time. But there are some signs that more and more business owners and conservatives are coming around to the idea of a path to citizenship for immigrants. <more> April 3, 2013 LA Times
   

• WUD spells out key immigration reform principles at Modesto meeting - - Former Western United Dairymen President Ray Souza, a Turlock dairyman, spelled out WUD’s support for key immigration reform proposals before a packed house at an immigration forum yesterday in Modesto. Souza was invited to speak at the listening session hosted by Congregations Building Communities, Rep.  Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) and special guest Congressman Trey Gowdy, Chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee. WUD is a founding member of the Agricultural Workforce Coalition (AWC), the broad-based group working with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to draft a workable solution for the labor needs of U.S. agriculture.  Souza told the audience AWC has developed key principles to guide efforts to negotiate agriculture provisions for immigration reform legislation. Those principles include legalization of the current workforce that includes a commitment to a number of days of future employment in agriculture and a guest worker program that recognizes both the seasonal and year-round needs of a widely varied agricultural economy.  The AWC also proposes that the guest worker program offer both contract and at-will employment opportunities, again to address the broad-based needs of U.S. agriculture. <more> April 3, 2013 WUD News
   

• Ideas, emotions flow at Denham's immigration forum in Modesto - -  About 1,500 people turned out at a Modesto church Tuesday for a forum on immigration, most of them in support of eventual citizenship for people who entered the country illegally. Speakers told two congressmen about the hardship of living and working in the United States while worrying that they might be deported. "I am an undocumented student, raised in a low-income home by a single mother," said Estefani Hermosillo, a student at Modesto Junior College. "… We're in need of immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship."  Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, took part in the forum at St. Stanislaus Catholic Community church with Rep. Trey Gowdy, a Republican from South Carolina who is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. <more> April 3, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Senate immigration bill would set up a new permanent agriculture worker program - - Sweeping immigration legislation taking shape in the Senate will aim to overhaul the nation’s agriculture worker program to create a steady supply of labor for farmers and growers, who rely more than any other industry on workers who are living in the country illegally. Farm workers already here would get a speedier path to legal status than other immigrants here illegally, and a likely new visa program would make it easier for foreign workers to come to the U.S. Policymakers aim to install such workers in place of the half or more of the nation’s farm labor workforce estimated to be in the country illegally. <more> April 3, 2013 AP
   

• Labor shortage doesn’t improve pay for many farmworkers - - Employers say there are just not enough farmworkers to pick the fruits and vegetables. “There’s a grower who was bringing in 40 workers to pick lemons from Arizona,” said Daniela Ramirez, coordinator with House Farm Workers! Her group works primarily to assist workers obtain adequate housing. “Right now, the labor supply is fairly tight,” says Nick Frey, president of the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission. “The people who are documented and have their lives here—their children grow up and go to college. Some will come back and work for us as line packers but others move on to other careers,” Frey, who himself is the son of a farmer, told the California Health Report. “That’s not too uncommon in American agriculture.” <more> April 3, 2013 HealthyCal.org
   

• In Mexican Villages, Few Are Left to Dream of U.S. - - All across Mexico’s ruddy central plains, most of the people who could go north already have. In a region long regarded as a bellwether of illegal immigration — where the flow of migrants has often seemed never-ending — the streets are wind-whipped and silent. Homes await returning families, while dozens of schools have closed because of a lack of students. Here in El Cargadero, a once-thriving farm community of 3,000, only a few hundred people remain, at most. <more> April 2, 2013 New York Times – Mexico
   

• Madera County supervisors drop lawsuit against high-speed rail agency - - A divided Madera County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to drop the county's lawsuit against the California High-Speed Rail Authority. The county was one of several parties that sued the state agency last year over its environmental approval of the Merced-Fresno portion of the proposed statewide rail system. Manuel Nevarez, appointed to the board last month by Gov. Jerry Brown and a vocal supporter of high-speed rail, tipped the supervisors' scales. <more> April 2, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Dairy Leader Program application deadline April 12 - - The deadline to apply for Western United Dairymen’s highly successful California Dairy Leaders Program is April 12. Designed to train the next generation of California’s dairy leaders, the leadership program consists of several sessions devoted to developing a better understanding of the economic, legislative, marketing, and environmental issues facing the industry. Eligible participants must be actively involved in milk production, able to spend the
  
  The current Dairy Leader class was recognized at the WUD convention last week. Click here to view the WUD Convention 2013 photo album.
  
  necessary time in class as well as studying resource materials, and able to commit to travel to locations such as Sacramento and Washington DC. The year-long program kicks off in the spring. The program will cover in depth environmental issues, state and federal legislative processes, dairy pricing and economics, biotechnological developments, marketing and promotion, and public relations skills. Participants will develop and enhance their leadership skills through workshops on communications, business etiquette, negotiation skills, time management, and team building. Instructors are recognized experts in their field.  Enrollment will be limited to ensure one-on-one instruction. This year, applications will also be accepted from individuals in allied industries. Only a single allied member may be selected for the program in any given year. The program enrollment fee and letters of recommendation are to be submitted with the application. Industry members can download applications by clicking here. Allied member applications can be downloaded by clicking here. Call Western United Dairymen at (209) 527-6453 for further information.

Pricing/Commodity News

•  Despite sequester, NASS to provide partial milk production estimates - - USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will provide an estimate of U.S. milk production each month through September 2013, which is the end of Federal Fiscal Year 2013, the agency announced today. NASS will use various sources of administrative data to establish the monthly milk production estimates rather than incorporating information from the two remaining quarterly producer surveys, as is presently done. <more> April 3, 2013 Agri-Pulse
   

• California milk production costs up 10 straight quarters - - California 2012 fourth quarter (Q4) statewide weighted average total milk production costs were estimated at $18.55/cwt., up $1.12/cwt. compared to the same quarter in 2011, according to the April 2013 California Dairy Review. Including an allowance for management and return on investment, total costs were estimated at $20.08/cwt., up $1.07/cwt. from a year earlier. Based on previous California Dairy Review information, the Q4 of 2012 represented the 10th consecutive quarter in which California dairy producer total costs and total costs plus allowances increased from the previous quarter. Since Q2 of 2010, total costs were up $5.57/cwt.; total costs plus allowances were up $5.65/cwt. April 3, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• Dairy Pricing Reform Act proposed - - New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced the Dairy Pricing Reform Act with co-sponsor Susan Collins of Maine. The aim is to restructure the USDA’s pricing system for dairy and is based on Gillibrand’s proposal in last year’s Senate-passed Farm Bill. According to her news release, the bipartisan measure would require the USDA to study different methods of price determination “including competitive pay pricing or shifting from a 4 class system to a 2 class system.” Gillibrand says New York dairy farmers are being driven out of business with the lack of a comprehensive plan for long-term support and certainty. She says the bill will provide a “fair safety net for small producers” while improving “inventory reporting and transparency.” Gillibrand says the Senate is expected to take up the farm bill in the next few weeks. April 3, 2013 Brownfield Ag News

Environmental News

• Oakdale Irrigation District OKs water sale for West Side farmers  - -  The Oakdale Irrigation District board voted Tuesday to sell water to help West Side farmers for one year and to permanently serve about 7,200 acres just east of its boundary. The 5-0 votes came with no objections from the audience. The eastward annexation still needs approval from the Stanislaus Local Agency Formation Commission, possibly in July. The district will sell 40,000 acre-feet of its Stanislaus River water to the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority, made up of numerous irrigation districts from the Tracy area to Fresno County, and the California Department of Water Resources. <more> April 3, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Latinos, legislators protest lack of water - - Sky-high unemployment could return to the Westside of the San Joaquin Valley due to drought and pumping cutbacks, speakers said today at a press conference hosted by the California Latino Water Coalition. Speakers warned of a return to 2009 conditions, when joblessness soared to more than 40 percent in some Westside towns and food aid had to be handed out. The problem then is the same problem now — a combination of drought and regulatory restrictions that have prevented pumps from operating at full capacity in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The pumps send water to the Valley for agricultural use during the summer months. Westside agricultural water agencies said they lost about 800,000 acre-feet of water to the ocean this winter because of pumping cutbacks to prevent the Delta Smelt fish from being killed. This means more dusty fields, fewer crops and fewer jobs. <more> April 2, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Farmers work to cope with water supply cut - - Growers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley say they may need to fallow more land, seek out supplemental water and reduce employees' hours in the wake of cutbacks on deliveries of water from the federal Central Valley Project. "We've already fallowed 250 acres, and now we're scrambling to find extra water," said Joe Del Bosque, who farms southwest of Firebaugh. "Our districts are doing a lot of that for us, trying to find water." If he must fallow more ground, Del Bosque said, it may be necessary to lay off workers or to do what he did in 2009 when water deliveries were low: reduce farmworker hours from six days a week to five. "One day a week is a big deal," he said, adding that he hopes he won't have to take that step. "It was a big deal for furloughed government workers, and it's a big deal for farmworkers. That may not show up in the unemployment statistics, but there is a definite impact." <more> April 3, 2013 Ag Alert

• Federal Court to Animal-Rights Legal Circus: Pay Up - - In a Friday filing, United States District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan found that Feld Entertainment — the parent company of the Ringling Brothers circus — was entitled to attorneys’ fees in a longstanding litigation by a series of animal rights and animal liberation groups. To call it longstanding is almost an understatement: Sullivan dismissed the suit in late 2009, which was affirmed by a circuit court in 2011, finding that a number of animal rights groups lacked the legal authority to file suit claiming — and perhaps paid a plaintiff to claim — that Feld was engaged in elephant cruelty. Now, the judge has ruled that “this case was groundless and unreasonable from its inception” and the animal rights plaintiffs must pay Feld’s legal fees. And while the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) — which was deeply tied to the animal liberationist side of the case — wasn’t held liable, the judge left open the question of whether the nation’s richest animal liberation group might find itself on the hook at a later date should Feld choose to re-argue that portion of its case. (One of the original plaintiffs that may have to pay up as a result of this finding, the Fund for Animals, was absorbed into the HSUS corporate empire during the case.) <more> April 3, 2013 Consumer Freedom
   

• New commercials to emphasize milk's sleeptime benefits - - “What? Don’t like interrupted dreams? There may just be a drink for that.” That’s the point of a new a new "got milk?" advertising campaign warning what could happen if you skip out on a pre-slumber glass of milk – interrupted dreams. The pair of commercials for the campaign were directed by Jeff Goodby of the San Fransisco-based Goodby, Silverstein and Partners. <more> April 2, 2013 Dairy Herd Network

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Dairy farmers talk about legislation to affect prices - - Dairy farmers, meeting in Sacramento amid continued financial woes for many farms, agreed the current milk pricing system is not working for them and that they need other options. As to what those options might be, farmers attending the annual convention of Western United Dairymen last week talked about the plight of California dairies and potential solutions—including two pieces of legislation. Members of the organization generally expressed support for Assembly Bill 31, which Western United Dairymen sponsored and helped to draft. It would require the California Department of Food and Agriculture to bring the state dry whey value in Class 4b milk within 80 percent of the whey value used in the federal milk marketing order. The Assembly Agriculture Committee is scheduled to discuss the bill on April 17. Farmers said they also like the concept of House Resolution 1396, federal legislation that would allow California dairy farmers to petition the U.S. Department of Agriculture for consideration in joining the federal milk marketing order. The petition would require approval by a two-thirds majority of California producers to move forward—a process that could take one to two years. <more> April 2, 2013 Ag Alert
   

• White House 'encouraged' by Senate progress on immigration - - The White House said Monday it was "encouraged" by progress on bipartisan immigration reform in the Senate, but cautioned that lawmakers were "not there yet" on an agreement. "We are encouraged by the continuing signs of progress that we are seeing in the Senate as the Group of Eight and the Senate more broadly works on comprehensive immigration reform," White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday.  He added that the administration was also pleased by reports of a deal between the AFL-CIO and Chamber of Commerce, which cleared one of the last hurdles blocking a bipartisan accord on immigration reform. <more> April 1, 2013 The Hill
   

• Valley farm water cutbacks: Small cities see food lines again - - With severe irrigation water cutbacks this year, food lines again will form with unemployed workers and their families on the San Joaquin Valley's west side, local leaders said Monday. Two congressmen and farmworkers joined them in a downtown Fresno news conference to tell the public that the cutbacks will cost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in the California economy. The news conference was arranged by the Latino Water Coalition, a group formed in 2007 to advocate for water improvements in California. Coalition members attended from the cities of San Joaquin, Mendota, Parlier, Orange Cove, Huron and Fowler. <more> April 1, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Staff Favor Rail Route West Of Hanford - - Staff of the California High Speed Rail Authority are recommending the board approve a west side alignment through Kings County with a”potential” station just west of Hanford. A report was released today. The board will hear the staff recommendation and testimony from interested parties at their April 4 meeting in Fresno. Kings County and its municipalities have stayed silent on the key choice that would route the 200 mph bullet train either to the east of Hanford or to the west of the city, each impacting farm properties in the way. Staff says the west alignment is $800 million less than the eastside route and has fewer impacts. <more> April 2, 2013 Sierra2theSea
   

• Convention photos on-line - - Another successful Western United Dairymen convention wrapped up Friday in Sacramento and we snapped a lot of photos of all of the convention’s activities. From the workshops and membership dinner at the California Auto Museum on Wednesday to the graduation of the Dairy Leader Class and presentations by leading industry experts on Thursday and the closing delegates’ business meeting on Friday, we captured photos of all of the meeting highlights. Click here to view the WUD Convention 2013 photo album.

  Mary Cameron was honored by WUD at the annual banquet for her many years of service to the California dairy industry. Josh Golden, district director for Assemblyman Rudy Salas, presented Mary with a legislative resolution commemorating her service to the industry.

   

Pricing/Commodity News

•  March California 4a/4b prices decline - - The March 2013 California Class 4a milk price is $17.87/cwt., down 14¢ from February, but $2.54 more than March 2012. It brings the first-quarter 2013 average 4a price to $17.65/cwt., $1.98 more than the same period in 2012. The March 2013 California Class 4b price is $15.02/cwt., down 39¢ from February, but $1.35 more than March 2012.  The first-quarter 2013 average 4b price is $15.42/cwt., up $1.65 from 2012. Federal order March Class II, III & IV prices are announced April 3. April 2, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• 2013 hay acreage steady, but dairy states may see declines - - While corn and soybeans got most of the attention, USDA’s Prospective Plantings report, released March 28, indicated U.S. producers intend to harvest 56.4 million acres of all hay in 2013, up slightly from 2012. Hay acreage is expected to decline from last year across most of the East, Southwest and Great Lakes regions. Record low acreage is expected across several New England states, as well as Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In contrast, Montana is expecting to harvest 2.7 million acres of hay in 2013, up 500,000 acres (+23%) from 2012. In the 23 major dairy states, largest acreage declines will be in Virginia (-105,000 acres); California and Colorado (-100,000 each); Wisconsin (-70,000); Colorado (-50,000); Iowa (-40,000); and Florida (-30,000). Missouri (+140,000) and Texas (+100,000) will post large acreage increases. On a percentage basis, largest “dairy state” acreage declines will be in Florida and Ohio (-9% each); Virginia (-8%); California (-6%); and Vermont and Wisconsin (-5%). To see the full Prospective Plantings report, visit http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/ProsPlan/ProsPlan-03-28-2013.pdf   April 2, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

• Global Dairy Trade prices hit all-time high - - What is being described as the worst drought in 30 years pushed prices to an all-time-high on the Global Dairy Trade auction in New Zealand on Tuesday. The average product price increased 14.2 percent compared to the last sale on March 19th. This is the eighth consecutive increase in the auction’s average price. The butter price did decline 2.7 percent from two weeks ago, butter milk powder increased 0.8 percent, rennet casein was 4.4 percent higher, cheddar cheese increased 6.6 percent, anhydrous milk fat was 6.7 percent higher, the whole milk powder price was up 7 percent and skim milk powder jumped 27.8 percent from the last auction. The average winning price is now the highest ever for the platform which began in July of 2008. <more> April 2, 2013 Brownfield Ag News
   

• Corn Enters Bear Market on Signs of Ample Supply in U.S. - - Corn plunged the most in 24 years, entering a bear market, as bigger-than-expected U.S. stockpiles and increased planting signal ample supplies. Wheat tumbled to a nine-month low and soybeans dropped. U.S. corn inventories on March 1 totaled 5.399 billion bushels, the Department of Agriculture said March 28. While down from a year earlier, that’s still above the 4.995 billion forecast by analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. Farmers will plant 97.282 million acres this year, the most since 1936, the USDA said. Prices reached the lowest since June today. <more> April 1, 2013 Bloomberg
   

• EPA's Push For More Ethanol Could Be Too Little, Too Late - -  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could soon issue a final ruling that aims to force oil companies to replace E10, gasoline mixed with 10 percent ethanol, with E15. This move could come just as widespread support for ethanol, which is made from corn, appears to be eroding. Mike Mitchell was once a true believer in ethanol as a homegrown solution to foreign oil imports. He owns gas stations, and he went further than most, installing expensive blender pumps that let customers choose E15, E20 and all the way up to E85. The result was a variation on the old adage, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." "We're environmental people and we kind of jumped on the bandwagon early, and it bit us," Mitchell says. <more> April 1,2013 National Public Radio
   

• CWT accepts 28 export assistance requests - - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 28 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold), Michigan Milk Producers Association, United Dairymen of Arizona and Upstate Niagara Cooperative (OAT?KA) to sell 5.899 million pounds of Cheddar cheese and 1.636 million pounds of butter to customers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Oceania. The product will be delivered April through September 2013. Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 47.055 million pounds of cheese, 46.484 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 30 countries on six continents. April 2, 2013 Brownfield Ag News 

Environmental News

• Public meeting Thursday on Delta water tunnels - - The public is invited to a meeting Thursday in Sacramento on the state's proposal to build two giant water diversion tunnels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan proposes to divert a portion of the Sacramento River using three new intakes and fish screens near Courtland, each nearly a half-mile square. These would serve two 40-foot-diameter tunnels, built 150 feet underground and running 35 miles from the intakes to existing diversion canals near Tracy. <more> April 1, 2013 The Sacramento Bee
   

• Dan Walters: Reservoirs should stay in water bond - - The bad news is that a dry winter means the Sierra snowpack is only half of its statistical normal as the annual spring runoff begins. The good news is that we're still living off the unusually wet winter we had two years ago and major reservoirs – Shasta, Trinity, Oroville and Folsom – on the Sacramento River and its tributaries, plus the off-stream San Luis Reservoir, have very healthy leftover supplies, thereby cushioning the effects of the current shortfall. That's what dams and reservoirs are supposed do, in case anyone has forgotten why water users and taxpayers spent billions of dollars to construct them decades ago. <more> April 2, 2013 The Sacramento Bee

• USDA, Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding Sign Genetic Evaluation Agreement - - Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding last week signed the Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement, allowing for the transition of genetic evaluation calculations. The agreement also maintains the industry cooperator database and focuses USDA-Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory's mission on research. For 30 months, several dairy industry representatives, including individuals from artificial breeding organizations, dairy breed associations, milk recording organizations, dairy record processing centers, private industry, universities and USDA-ARS, collaborated to create this agreement that addresses the future of dairy cattle genetic evaluations and management benchmarks. <more> April 1, 2013 California Farmer

Monday, April 1, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Lobbying to intensify as committees begin considering bills - -  California businesses and other special interests quickly learn that playing politics in the ornate chambers of California's Capitol building is more like a barroom brawl than a civics lesson about how bills become laws. Here's a peek behind the everyday chaos in Sacramento as businesses dispatch hired-gun lobbyists to vie for lawmakers' attention and votes. The numbers are daunting: This year, 1,526 registered lobbyists are stalking the halls and hearing rooms in the service of 2,410 clients. And there's more activities in state agencies all over Sacramento. Last year, businesses, local governments and other interests spent $277.5 million here lobbying. On Tuesday, the pummeling ratchets up as legislative committees start considering the first of 2,233 bills awaiting their attention. <more> April 1, 2013 LA Times
   

• Rep.  Denham hosting listening events on immigration policies, jobs, schools - - Rep.  Jeff Denham  (R-Turlock) will be holding listening events with special guest Congressman Trey Gowdy, Chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee, in San San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties this week.  Topics will range from creating fair and respectful immigration policies, to helping to create good paying jobs, and improving schools.  The events will be held on April 2 at 4:30 p.m., at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church located at 1200 Maze Blvd in Modesto, and on April 3 at 8 a.m. at the Place of Refuge located at 486 Button Avenue in Manteca.  For more information, please call (209) 579-5458 or click here.  April 1, 2013 Rep. Denham Notice
   

• Convention photos on-line - - Another successful Western United Dairymen convention wrapped up Friday in Sacramento and we snapped a lot of photos of all of the convention’s activities. From the workshops and membership dinner at the California Auto Museum on Wednesday to the graduation of the Dairy Leader Class and presentations by leading industry experts on Thursday and the closing delegates’ business meeting on Friday, we captured photos of all of the meeting highlights. Click here to view the WUD Convention 2013 photo album.

  Mary Cameron was honored by WUD at the annual banquet for her many years of service to the California dairy industry. Josh Golden, district director for Assemblyman Rudy Salas, presented Mary with a legislative resolution commemorating her service to the industry.

  Dairy processors say the state is competing to seize global opportunities - - It’s only a 3-cent differential, but it speaks volumes about California’s dairy export advantage. Freight rates between California and Beijing, China today amount to 7 cents per pound, compared to 10 cents per pound between California and Chicago. That overseas shipping benefit is just one indicator of the global opportunities for California’s dairy industry shared by a panel of dairy processors today at the Western United Dairymen’s 2013 Convention in Sacramento, Calif. Led by Matt McKnight of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), three speakers representing California Dairies Inc. (CDI), Leprino Foods Co. and Hilmar Cheese Co. repeatedly emphasized the demand and value that the global market holds for the U.S. dairy industry, particularly in California. All agree that exports were critical to their companies’ future. <more> April 1, 2013 Dairy Today  
   

• Dairies in California consider incentives to move out of state - - Other states have long poached California manufacturers and jobs. Now they're coming for the cows. Seizing on the plight of the state's dairy industry, which is beset by high feed costs and low milk prices, nearly a dozen states are courting Golden State dairy farmers. The pitch: cheaper farm land, lower taxes, fewer environmental regulations and higher prices for their milk. At the World Ag Expo, a behemoth trade show held in Tulare County last month, nine states had recruitment booths on the ground's Dairy Center. South Dakota sent its governor, Dennis Daugaard, to make a personal appeal for his state. <more> March 30, 2013 Los Angeles Times 
   

• Immigration talks: Business, labor are said to agree on terms of new guest-worker program - - Labor and business leaders have agreed in principle on the details of a new visa program for low-skilled foreign workers, clearing the last major hurdle for a bipartisan Senate proposal to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws, a person involved in the negotiations said Saturday. The agreement came late Friday after several days of negotiations between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO, the country’s largest labor organization, as well as the eight senators involved in drafting the comprehensive immigration bill. <more> March 30, 2013 Washington Post
   

• Labor, business reach immigration deal - - Senate negotiators cleared the last major hurdle to reaching a bipartisan immigration reform deal Saturday as labor and business groups signed off on a visa program for future low-skilled workers, according to sources familiar with the talks. The agreement marks a major breakthrough and significantly improves the odds of passing a larger immigration bill because it brings two powerful Washington interests on board on an issue that contributed to the defeat of past reform efforts. <more> March 31, 2013 Politico
   

• Labor advocates say farmers discriminate against Americans - - The U.S. needs guest workers because Americans won’t work on farms -- at least, that's the argument made by many in agriculture as they negotiate over the controversial H-2A program, which allows farmers to bring in predominantly Mexican laborers to pick cotton and trim trees. But labor advocates say there’s a group of Americans who have been trying to work on farms, only to be displaced by H-2A workers, who are less likely to complain about poor working conditions because their visas are dependent on their employers. <more> April 1, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• For U.S. farmers and Mexican workers, it's tough being legal - - There are millions of undocumented workers in America, and thousands of employers who illegally hire them. But Rodolfo Benito Coy Garcia and Rusty Barr play by the rules. Barr is an employer and Garcia his employee, one who travels from Mexico to spend 10 months of the year planting, fertilizing and harvesting Christmas trees in this tiny mountain town near the Tennessee state line. Much of the debate over immigration reform has focused on the millions of undocumented workers living in the United States. But many say fixes must also be made to the programs that bring tens of thousands of guest workers to America every year to work at farms, hotels and restaurants. <more> March 30, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• At least six running for 16th state Senate District seat - - The May special election to fill a Valley state Senate seat that could alter the political balance in Sacramento could come down to at least six people, among them a Visalia native now living in Hanford. Friday was the deadline to file as a candidate and provide supporting documents to become a candidate to represent California’s 16th state Senate District. <more> April 1, 2013 Visalia Times-Delta
   

• State Board to Discuss Agricultural Outlook with Federal and State Leaders - - The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss the economic, trade, and policy outlook for California’s $43.5 billion agricultural sector on Tuesday, April 2nd in Sacramento. The meeting is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street - Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814. “California’s agricultural production and exports are at an all-time high," said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “However, changes within the global and domestic markets can have a significant impact on the future prospects of our farmers and ranchers. It is an important and timely discussion to have as the federal budget and the farm bill remain unresolved.” California has more than 81,500 individual farms, 75 percent of which are on less than 100 acres. The state leads the nation in dairy, tree-nut, and fresh fruit and vegetable production. In addition, California agriculture employs an average of 385,300 individuals per year. California’s agricultural economy is vital not only to the economy of the state, but too the nation as well. <more> March 28, 2013 CDFA press release 

Pricing/Commodity News

•  S.J. farmland values growing well - -As food commodity prices have risen, so has the value of land used to produce the crops. Midwest farm values have nearly doubled since 2009, boosted by the price of corn and soybeans, according to recent news reports. And the interest in farmland, driven by global food demand, with money from institutional, private and foreign investors, as well as farmers looking to expand their operations, is being felt in the Central Valley and San Joaquin County as well. Although less dramatic than gains seen in other regions, a recent report showed prices rising for nearly all types of farms, except for dairy. <more> March 31, 2013 Stockton Record
   

• California hay producers seek more rain to increase yields - - Like many farmers, hay producers in northern and central California are hoping for a wet April as they await their first cuttings. "If we get a rain in the next few days, we should be all right," said grower Ivar Amen, who owns a farm supply store here. "We've got to get some rain." Producers hope for abundant yields this season to make up for a slight drop in acreage. California producers intend to harvest hay from 1.45 million acres, down 6 percent from last year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service's plantings report. <more> April 1, 2013 Capital Press

Environmental News

• UC Davis: Farmland greenhouse gas emissions underestimated - - Changes in agricultural practices could reduce soil emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide and the atmospheric pollutant nitric oxide, according to a new study by scientists at the University of California, Davis. "Agriculture is the main source of nitrous oxide globally, so this study is a starting point to help us understand how to manage and control it," says UC Davis professor of soil biogeochemistry William Horwath, whose lab conducted the study. The study was an effort to understand the sources of nitrous oxide and nitric oxide by different microbial processes, especially following the application of certain fertilizer nitrogen types. <more> April 1, 2013 Central Valley Business Times  
   

• California water outlook: Sierra snowpack dry and getting drier, 52 percent of historic norm - - It's been so dry this spring in California that, as they say in Texas, the trees are whistling for the dogs. State water officials on Thursday announced that the Sierra Nevada snowpack -- a key source of drinking water for millions of people -- is at an anemic 52 percent of its historic average. That's the lowest reading for the beginning of April of any time since 2007, which was the start of a three-year drought. Only two years during the past 20 have had less Sierra snow at this time of year, 1994 and 2007. "We're seeing a lot of melted-out spots, a lot of grass and rock where we normally see snow," said Dave Rizzardo, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources in Sacramento. <more> March 28, 2013 San Jose Mercury News
   

• Will twin tunnels water project float? - - Gov. Jerry Brown’s ambitious tunnels designed to ship water partly underground to Southern California would be tall enough to comfortably fit an adult giraffe, wide enough for three freeway lanes and have ample room to carry enough water to serve 35,000 homes on a typical day. But the barriers to Brown’s project may be even more immense. There is the $14 billion price tag. Powerful state and federal environmental regulators have to be convinced. History has not been an ally. And those whose lives could be upended are defiant. <more> March 30, 2013 San Diego U-T
   

• Northern California House members slam Delta plan - - Soon after Gov. Jerry Brown this week unveiled more details of his draft plan to restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, members of Congress from Northern California reacted no differently than they had earlier this month when the first part of it became public - they threw cold water on it. The lawmakers called Brown's $23 billion Bay Delta Conservation Plan "flawed," "rushed," "reckless" and "expensive." They questioned the science behind the proposal, as well as its environmental impact. But the lawmakers' core concern appeared to be that the plan diverts too much water from the Delta through twin 35-mile tunnels to supply Central and Southern California. <more> March 29, 2013 Capitol Alert

• Chobani in flap over 'Greek' yogurt label - - Chobani, one of the region’s biggest employers, has been ordered by a British judge to stop labeling its dairy product manufactured in the United States as “Greek” yogurt. Following a seven-day trial in England, High Court Judge Michael Briggs ruled this week that Chobani has been misrepresenting its product to British consumers by using labeling that calls the product “Greek yoghurt.” “Yoghurt” is the British spelling for the product spelled “yogurt” in the United States. <more> March 31, 2013 The Daily Star 
   

• USDA, Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding Sign Genetic Evaluation Agreement - - Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding last week signed the Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement, allowing for the transition of genetic evaluation calculations. The agreement also maintains the industry cooperator database and focuses USDA-Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory's mission on research. For 30 months, several dairy industry representatives, including individuals from artificial breeding organizations, dairy breed associations, milk recording organizations, dairy record processing centers, private industry, universities and USDA-ARS, collaborated to create this agreement that addresses the future of dairy cattle genetic evaluations and management benchmarks. <more> April 1, 2013 California Farmer
   

• Identifying Johne's Disease with Accuracy - - Detecting the costly, contagious Johne's disease in cattle is now easier, thanks to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists. Johne's disease, also known as Paratuberculosis, is estimated to cost the U.S. dairy industry more than $220 million each year. It also affects sheep, goats, deer and other animals, causing diarrhea, reduced feed intake, weight loss and sometimes death. <more> April 1, 2013 USDA
   

• Bee colony decline stings Tulare County almond growers - - Charlie Pitigliano and his family may own their almond grove, but the Pixley-area farmer knows that without millions of helpers, those trees wouldn’t produce any nuts. “The bee is our backbone of the almond industry — besides water, of course,” he said. The insects spread pollen from almond bloom to almond bloom in their hunt for nectar, and that pollen allows those blooms to become nuts. But for Pitigliano and some of his fellow almond growers in Tulare County and other parts of California, the honey bees they need have been in short supply. <more> March 30, 2013 Visalia Times-Delta 

Friday, March 29, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• For illegal immigrants, broad support for legal status, not citizenship - - Nearly three in four Americans say that illegal immigrants should be allowed to remain in the country legally, but fewer than half say they should be allowed to apply for citizenship. Those are the key findings of a new national poll, released Thursday, that reflects a positive shift in attitudes toward immigrants now in the United States. The survey, conducted March 13-17 by the Pew Research Center, comes as lawmakers in Washington are attempting to craft a comprehensive plan to deal with some 11 million people who are thought to be in the country illegally. <more> March 28, 2013 Los Angeles Times

• Organized labor says closer to deal on immigration reform - - .S. labor unions said on Thursday they were closer to resolving problems with wages for future unskilled immigrant workers like janitors and housekeepers - an issue that has stalled progress on a U.S. Senate proposal to overhaul the immigration system. "We have moved off poverty level wages and are moving forward and are working on a standard that will protect U.S. workers," said Andrea Zuniga DiBitetto, legislative representative for the biggest union the AFL-CIO. <more> March 28, 2013 Reuters
   

Pricing/Commodity News

• Prices Plummet on High Acreage Forecast - - This week’s USDA reports provided two pieces of price-plunging news: larger-than-expect grain stocks and record acreage estimates. Following Thursday’s Prospective Plantings and Grain Stocks report, prices head south, way south. Corn prices dropped the most in nine months, which caused a domino effect for soybean and wheat prices. <more> March 29, 2013 Dairy Today

• Milk Rout Ending on Worst N.Z. Drought in 30 Years - - Milk futures are poised to end their longest slump since 2008 in Chicago as drought reduces production in New Zealand, the largest exporter, forcing China and other buyers to import more from the U.S. Overseas shipments may rise 5 percent this year from an all-time high in 2012, the Arlington, Virginia-based U.S. Dairy Export Council predicts. Futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange will jump as much as 18 percent to $20.50 per 100 pounds by year-end, the highest since December, according to the median of 10 analyst estimates in a Bloomberg survey. <more> March 28, 2013 Bloomberg

• Farmers anticipate big corn acreage - - This week’s highly anticipated Prospective Plantings report from USDA offers the first indication of what we can expect from the 2013 corn crop. As expected with corn prices as high as they are, farmers intend to seed a lot of acres to corn – 97.3 million acres by USDA’s survey-based estimates. That estimate is up slightly from last year’s corn acreage and would represent the highest U.S. planted acreage since 1936. Last year, of course, farmers also planted historically large acreage to corn, but severe drought reduced average yields to around 123 bushels per acre, resulting in a harvest of 10.8 billion bushels that fell well below expectations. <more> March 28, 2013 Dairy Herd Network

• Grain markets drop on USDA reports - - The release of USDA's prospective plantings and grain stocks reports on Thursday drove corn futures down the limit to $6.95 per bushel and dragged wheat and soybean prices with them. Markets responded to large planting intentions and stocks on hand that were considerably higher than the market expected, said Darrel Good, ag economist with the University of Illinois. The reports are good news for livestock producers. New crop corn prices are now substantially lower than old crop prices, about $1.50 a bushel, he said. <more> March 29, 2013 Capital Press
   

Environmental News
 

• Air pollution linked to birth defects in San Joaquin Valley, study says - - Researchers have linked air pollution and birth defects among pregnant women in the San Joaquin Valley, according to a study by Stanford University School of Medicine. The study looked at women between 1997 and 2006, including 806 whose pregnancies were impacted by birth defects and 849 not impacted. Researchers determined that the women who spent their early weeks of pregnancy living in areas with worse air pollution had a higher risk of having a birth defect in their babies. <more> March 28, 2013 Los Angeles Times

• Brown administration cites low snowpack to tout water plan - - Officials in Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration say another dry winter underscores the need for the state to overhaul its water system. “The security of California’s water supply is threatened,” said Natural Resources Secretary John Laird in an email statement, citing the “urgent need to continue work on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.” The snowpack in the Sierra Mountains, the source of the bulk of California’s water supply, is about half of what it should be, according to snow surveying crews. Brown’s $23.7 billion water plan, first introduced publicly last year, includes the construction of two new massive tunnels that would divert as much as 67,500 gallons of water per second around the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Northern California and bring that water to the southern half of the state. The plan has spurred bipartisan opposition from environmental groups and farmers who rely on the Delta for water. March 28, 2013 Los Angeles Times

• Garamendi proposes rival Delta water plan - - Saying it’s time for Californians to think in a comprehensive way about water, Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, is proposing a plan to do just that. It comes out just as members of Congress and others are decrying a plan backed by Gov. Jerry Brown that would siphon off much of the water from the Sacramento River before it could enter the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta and ship it via massive tunnels to the state and federal irrigation projects south of the Delta. <more> March 28, 2013 Central Valley Business Times
   

• Mystery Malady Kills More Bees, Heightening Worry on Farms - - A mysterious malady that has been killing honeybees en masse for several years appears to have expanded drastically in the last year, commercial beekeepers say, wiping out 40 percent or even 50 percent of the hives needed to pollinate many of the nation’s fruits and vegetables. <more> March 28, 2013 New York Times

• Americans’ interest in high-protein foods has soybean farmers experimenting with edamame - - small but growing number of farmers have been experimenting with an edible soybean as they look to capitalize on Americans’ interest in adding non-meat proteins to their diets. The United States is one of the world’s top soybean producers, but most beans grown here are used to make cooking oil and feed farm animals. They aren’t eaten whole. Now, some farmers from Arkansas to Minnesota are planting a type called edamame, which is commonly used in Asian cuisine. <more> March 29, 2013 AP

Thursday, March 28, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• California's High-Speed Rail Authority sues everybody, invites you to argue case in court - - If you're reading this, consider yourself served. The state of California has filed a civil case against everyone -- literally, the whole world -- seeking to validate $8.6 billion in voter-approved bonds for its $69 billion high-speed rail project. The lawsuit, titled "High-Speed Rail Authority v. All Persons Interested," is meant as a pre-emptive strike so the state can confirm that it's definitely legal to issue some of the bonds needed to begin bullet train construction this summer. By citing a somewhat obscure California civil code, the state can use the "sue now or forever hold your peace" strategy to prevent a string of future lawsuits and, instead, deal with the legal issues in one fell swoop. Anyone interested in trying to block the project can sign up with the court, put their endless hours of "Law & Order" watching to use, wear their best suit and show up at a hearing to argue their case. <more> March 28, 2013 Mercury News

• Fran Florez drops state Senate bid - - Shafter Democrat Fran Florez announced on Wednesday that she was pulling out of the race for the vacant 16th District state senate seat. In a written statement, Florez says she's stepping aside to protect party unity. Fellow Kern County Democrat Leticia Perez, who announced her candidacy shortly after Florez, has been endorsed by a group of state Senate Democrats, including Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg.  Others running for the open 16th District seat include Kings County Republican Andy Vidak and Hanford Democrat Alfred Benavidez. In February, Michael Rubio announced that he was vacating the 16th District seat immediately to take a job with the Chevron Corporation. A special election will be held May 21st. March 27, 2013 KMJ news

• Dairymen weigh alternatives to suspended NASS reports - - Dairymen and market analysts are concerned over the suspension of the National Agricultural Statistics Service's monthly milk production report through the end of the fiscal year due to the sequester, but the move hasn't provoked much industry reactions aimed at getting it reinstated. In the meantime, one other option has surfaced -- to use checkoff dollars and information to compile the report.  USDA personnel in its office of communications would not say whether the agency has had calls from the industry or lawmakers regarding the suspended report, only that there has been a lot of interest across all aspects of the dairy industry. <more> March 28, 2013 Capital Press

• Sequestration halts milk production reports - - Automatic budget cuts under sequestration have prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to suspend milk production reports that serve as an important source of production, disposition and income information for an already struggling dairy industry. The USDA also suspended the July cattle report, potato stocks reports and the June rice stocks report. Michael Marsh, chief executive officer of Western United Dairymen in Modesto, expressed disappointment in the suspension of milk production reports. “The USDA acts as a clearing house for dairy information on a national basis,” Marsh said. “Data compiled and disseminated by the USDA is critical in the marketing decisions made by producers and processors.” <more> March 27, 2013 The Business Journal
   

• Former U.S. ag official Shirley Sherrod says racism hurts small farmers - - Shirley Sherrod, whose forced resignation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture made her an accidental symbol of race relations nationally, said Wednesday that racism still permeates Washington and America's small towns and small farms bear a brunt. Speaking at a gathering of Hmong farmers in Fresno, Sherrod said federal agricultural programs don't offer the same benefits to growers in minority communities. <more> March 27, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

Pricing/Commodity News

• Lee Mielke: Corn prices drop - - Market watchers got a surprise Thursday in USDA's latest Grain Stocks report. Corn demand was lower than expected and prices came under fire, down the 40-cent limit, "providing dairy producers an opportunity to buy feed at lower prices," said the Daily Dairy Report's Sarina Sharp in the week's "Daily Dairy Discussion." March 1 corn stocks totaled 5.4 billion bushels, down 10 percent from March 1, 2012, and the lowest inventory since 2004, according to Sharp. Soybean and wheat inventories of 1 billion bushels and 1.23 billion bushels, respectively, were slightly larger than expected. Wheat and soybean futures also moved lower. <more> March 28, 2013 Capital Press

• Corn growers intend to plant over 97 million acres - - Growers intend to plant 97.3 million acres of corn in 2013, according to reports released today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The USDA report is based on approximately 80,000 farmer surveys and is the first indication of planting intentions for this year. “If realized, this will represent the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 when an estimated 102 million acres were planted,” noted the report. The expected 97.3 million acres of corn is up slightly from what farmers planted last year and six percent higher than 2011. <more> March 28, 2013 Agri-Pulse

• California farmers cut planting plans - - Faced with cuts in contracted irrigation water because of a dry winter, California farmers are scaling back planting plans for 2013 for virtually all field crops, according to a report Thursday from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. <more> March 28, 2013 Central Valley Business Times

• Record-high combined corn and soybean acreage predicted - - U.S. farmers intend to plant a record-high combined 174.4 million acres of corn and soybeans in 2013, according to estimates Thursday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. If realized, corn will represent the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 (102 million planted acres) and for soybeans the fourth highest acreage on record. Corn growers intend to plant 97.3 million acres in 2013, up for the fifth consecutive year, slightly higher than last year and 6 percent higher than in 2011.  <more> March 28, 2013 Central Valley Business Times

• Cull cow prices improve - - Estimated U.S. March 2013 cull cow prices (beef and dairy combined) averaged $82.90/cwt., up $2.00 from February’s revised estimate, but $1.13/cwt. less than March 2012. Current trend: Since slipping somewhat during September-November 2012, March marked the fourth consecutive monthly increase in cull cow prices, and the highest monthly average since June 2012. March 28, 2013 Dairy Business Update
   

Environmental News

• Latest piece of Delta tunnel plan looks at environmental effects - - The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem, particularly endangered fish species, could benefit from Gov. Jerry Brown's $23 billion proposal to build two massive tunnels to move water from Northern California to farms and cities in other parts of the state, according to the second piece of his plan released Wednesday. Environmentalists and others, however, remain skeptical, saying it's essentially the same plan as before but with more chapters. Chapter 5 of the "draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan" detailed what impact the tunnels and subsequent changes to the estuary could have on the region's 57 native fish and wildlife species, particularly the endangered Delta smelt and Chinook salmon populations. <more> March 28, 2013 Contra Costa Times

• Bay Delta Conservation Plan documents reveal details, stir concerns - - The state's $23 billion plan to restore native fish in the Delta would continue killing some of those fish at the same rate in drought years, according to a new pile of documents released Wednesday on the project. The documents are part of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, a project led by the California Department of Water Resources. It aims to restore endangered fish and improve reliability of freshwater supplies diverted from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. <more> March 28, 2013 The Sacramento Bee

• Indiana Dairy Finds Way to Let Cows Power Trucks - - Here at one of the largest dairy farms in the country, electricity generated using an endless supply of manure runs the equipment to milk around 30,000 cows three times a day. For years, the farm has used livestock waste to create enough natural gas to power 10 barns, a cheese factory, a cafe, a gift shop and a maze of child-friendly exhibits about the world of dairy, including a 4D movie theater. All that, and Fair Oaks Farms was still using only about half of the five million pounds of cow manure it vacuumed up from its barn floors on a daily basis. It burned off the excess methane, wasted energy sacrificed to the sky. But not anymore. <more> March 27, 2013 New York Times
   

• Agriculture majors face future with confidence - - People are never going to stop needing food. That simple truth is what drives the agriculture industry and keeps students studying the field from worrying about the economic pressures that may soon face it. Agriculture science is seeing a surge at universities; the major’s popularity has led to both a broader field of study and curriculum changes to better prepare students for the field. <more> March 26, 2013 USA Today College

• Fewer People May Be Getting Sick from Contaminated Food - - The best of the data crunchers are saying it’s a whole lot safer to eat food in America now than it was at the beginning of the last decade. But you still may want to be careful if you’re dining out at a restaurant, or eating at a prison cafeteria. Food safety risks are the subjects of two new reports from respected and reliable sources: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the consumer watchdog Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The bottom line in each of the reports is remarkably similar. CDC says, “The number of foodborne disease outbreaks reported in 2009 and 2010 declined 32 percent compared with the preceding five years.” <more> March 26, 2013 Food Safety News
   

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Joining a federal order raises issues for Calif. dairy producers - - While California dairymen don't need legislation to petition the USDA to join the federal milk marketing order system, they would need some legal language to roll parts of California's order system advantageous to them into the federal order. Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., last week introduced HR1396, which provides for the inclusion of California as a separate federal milk marketing order. California's state milk marketing order operates differently than federal orders, said Michael Marsh, CEO of Western United Dairymen, the state's largest dairy producer organization with about 900 members. <more> March 27, 2013 Capital Press

• Minimum-wage bill could harm California economy, trade group says - - Proposed legislation to raise the state minimum wage could eliminate tens of thousands of jobs and harm the California economy, a small-business advocacy group said. The measure, AB 10, could wipe out more than 68,000 jobs over 10 years and cost $5.7 billion in lost production of goods and services, according to a study released Tuesday by the National Federation of Independent Business. More than 63% of the lost jobs would be in the small-business sector, NFIB researchers said. The bill, introduced in December by Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Salinas), would increase the minimum hourly wage to $8.25 in 2014 from $8 now. The legislation would further increase it to $8.75 in 2015 and $9.25 in 2016. <more> March 27, 2013 Los Angeles Times

• High-speed rail's strongest backers now express reservations - - The California bullet-train project has collided with farmers, political conservatives and wealthy suburbanites who would like to see the $68-billion system killed. Now it is facing tough criticism from an unlikely quarter: within the ranks of high-speed rail's true believers. Some longtime backers of the project are objecting to political compromises that they say undermine legal safeguards for the massive investment, notably a design that would move passengers between urban destinations faster than air travel, as well as requirements intended to prevent a half-built system. Among those raising objections is a Bay Area high-speed rail trailblazer who for decades played a pivotal role in building public and political support for the system. <more> March 26, 2013 Los Angeles Times

• Montana Passes Raw Milk Bill With “Big Sky” Size Loophole - - When it comes to dairy production, Montana is not even among the top 30 states, but it may soon be selling the most dangerous raw milk in America. Only four people in the vast state will be responsible for regulating the raw milk supply there, and there won’t be much in the way of rules. Missoula Republican Champ Edmunds, who is exploring a run for the U.S. Senate in 2014 against Democrat Max Baucus, has succeeded in getting his “small herd exemption” bill through the Montana House of Representatives on a stunning 96-to-3 vote. State Rep. Edmunds may be taking a page from Montana’s other U.S. Senator, Democrat Jon Tester, who made advocacy for small farms his hallmark. <more> March 27, 2013 Food Safety News

• DHI test-day SCC averages decline again - - USDA’s Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory released its annual assessment of Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) somatic cell test-day results. Nationally, average test-day herd SCC during 2012 was 200,000 cells/milliliter (cells/mL), down 17,000 cells/mL from 2011. Average test-day herd SCC has declined every year since 2005 and every year except one since 2001. Forty-two states had lower average SCC than reported in 2011; 5 states had higher averages (Arizona, Louisiana, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Texas). One state, Louisiana, had an average test-day SCC above 400,000 cells/mL. <more> March 27, 2013 Dairy Business

• Census of Agriculture Helps Grow Your Farm Future - - Planting season is here and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is providing California farmers and ranchers a final chance to sow a seed for their future by responding to the 2012 Census of Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture, conducted only once every five years,is the only source of consistent and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. It looks at farms, value of land, market value of agricultural production, farm practices, expenditures, demographic data, marketing information and other factors that affect the way farmers and ranchers do business. The information is used by town planners, policy makers, agribusinesses and others to help make important decisions for California communities. California farmers and ranchers can return their forms online by visiting a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov, or by mail Federal law requires a response from everyone who receives the Census form and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential. For more information about the Census, including helpful tips on completing your Census form, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 1-888-4AG-STAT (1-888-424-7828). The Census of Agriculture is your voice, your future, your responsibility. March 27, 2013 NASS news release

Pricing/Commodity News

• Drought in New Zealand drives U.S. dairy prices higher - - Drought in New Zealand and flat milk production in the U.S. drove prices higher last week for U.S. dairy products. Block cheese prices on the CME cash market jumped 9 cents a pound to $1.70 last week and barrels increased 7.5 cents a pound to $1.66. Class III futures prices for June jumped 70 cents per hundredweight of milk to $18.85 and are up over $19 per hundredweight for July through September. U.S. prices responded to prices at last week's Global Dairy Trade auction, with buyers showing concern over the drought in New Zealand, analysts say. <more> March 27, 2013 Capital Press

• Anderson opens new LA area hay processing facility - - leading U.S. hay exporter, Anderson Hay & Grain Co. Inc. of Ellensburg, Wash., has opened a new hay processing and shipping facility close to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. A renovated 220,000-square-foot warehouse with three hay presses for making small, half-cut bales and big bales is now the largest hay processing facility close to a port in the Pacific Southwest, said Mark T. Anderson, company president. <more> March 27, 2013 Capital Press

• Is the farmland price bubble poised to burst? - - Record-high prices for corn, soybeans, wheat and other commodities have left growers flush with cash to purchase more land. And what the farmers don't pay for out of their own pockets, historically low interest rates provide them with easy and cheap access to money to close the deal. The favorable mix of both cash and credit has provided fuel to drive up land values across the Midwest, stoking fears of a bubble ready to burst. In Iowa, where rich soil, favorable weather and ethanol and livestock production help foster demand for limited growing space, farmland values have soared 90 percent since 2009. An acre of farmland that a decade ago sold for an average of $2,275 now goes for $8,700, according to Mike Duffy, an economist at Iowa State University who watches land prices. <more> March 24, 2013 USA Today

Environmental News

• Dry Weather Forces Cuts in Federal, State Water Supply Allocations in California - - Continued dry weather conditions in Northern California have prompted federal and state agencies to further reduce this year's water deliveries via the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced an update to the 2013 Central Valley Project allocations it released in February that cuts supplies to agricultural water service contractors in the south Sacrament-San Joaquin River Delta from 25 percent to 20 percent of their contracted levels. The federal and state agency actions were announced March 22. Allocations for the south-of-delta municipal and industrial contractors dropped from 75 percent to 70 percent of their historic use, under Reclamation's March update. <more> March 27, 2013 Bloomberg

• Next mountain snowpack measurement isn’t likely to bring good news - - The California Department of Water Resources will conduct its next snow survey on Thursday, and the news isn’t expected to be good. Officials with the agency report that electronic sensors in California’s mountains show that snow levels are, on average, about 46 percent below the normal average for this time of year, and the measurements done by hand are likely to confirm this. Not that this should come as a surprise to anyone, as snow and rainfall over the winter were well below seasonal averages across most of California, including the Valley. <more> March 26, 2013 Ag Alert

• River-flow plan threatens farms, opponents say - - Farmers, political leaders, small business owners and irrigation district officials packed a Sacramento hearing last week to comment on a proposal before the State Water Resources Control Board that they said threatens severe economic and environmental consequences in parts of the northern San Joaquin Valley. The plan would limit diversions from the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced river watersheds with the intent to increase river flows and help boost recovery of fisheries in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries. The proposal would cut water supplies for the Modesto, Turlock and Merced irrigation districts by an estimated 15 percent to 25 percent a year from February to June, reducing available surface water deliveries to nearly 1 million acres of irrigated farmland. <more> March 27, 2013 Ag Alert

• Modesto council agrees to abide by county ag preservation policy - - The Modesto City Council decided Tuesday night not to adopt a farmland preservation policy different from what a growth-guiding agency approved last year. The council voted 6-1, Mayor Garrad Marsh dissenting, to simply inform landowners seeking annexation about the new policy of the Stanislaus Local Agency Formation Commission. That body requires that for every acre of Stanislaus County farmland annexed to a city for new homes, another acre is preserved for farmland. <more> March 26, 2013 Modesto Bee

• Stanislaus County irrigation leaders fear for supply of groundwater - - Local irrigation leaders are increasingly worried about a sudden uptick in foothill demand for well water, saying thousands of acres of newly planted almonds could devastate the region's groundwater supply. Modesto Irrigation District board member Larry Byrd publicly suggested a radical solution Tuesday — selling river water to out-of-district growers in wet years, when the district has extra, and using proceeds for canal improvements. Retired hydrologist Vance Kennedy of Modesto sparked the unscheduled discussion during a section of the MID board meeting reserved for public comment. Excessive pumping with little replenishment could cause "an environmental disaster," he said. <more> March 26, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• California Milk Advisory Board Wins National PR Industry Awards - - The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), in conjunction with its public relations agency Ketchum, recently was recognized with two national public relations awards for community relations efforts surrounding their "Real Seal Appeal" schools program. The campaign was named Community Relations Campaign of the Year by PRWeek and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Community Affairs Program of the Year by PRNews. The PRWeek Awards are considered one of the industry’s highest honors, recognizing best practices and creative excellence in campaigns. Not only did the campaign win in the PRWeek Community Relations category, it was also nominated as one of five finalists for Best Overall Campaign of the Year. <more> March 27, 2013 Dairy Today

• California Dairy and TidyMom Partner to Help Parents Ease the Morning Scramble - - Research shows that 40 percent of children do not eat breakfast daily.[1] The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), representing more than 1,600 California dairy families, understands the importance of a healthy breakfast and has partnered during National Nutrition Month with Cheryl Sousan, founder of TidyMom.net, to help ease the morning scramble and ensure the day starts off right. The Dairy Mornings partnership is inspired by the CMAB’s Make Us Part of Your Family campaign that uses whimsical California cows in family settings to promote California dairy products by showing how dairy is an important part of everyday family life, including breakfast. <more> March 26, 2013 California Milk Advisory Board

• NMPF launches ’See It? Stop It!’ animal care initiative - - The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) joined the Center for Food Integrity and the U.S. pork sector to jointly launch “See It? Stop It!SM Animal care starts with you,” a proactive demonstration of agriculture’s commitment to farm animal care. The initiative empowers, and in fact, demands that if signs of animal abuse, neglect, mishandling or harm are witnessed, anyone working on a farm or in a farm setting has an obligation to report it immediately. The initiative combines well with the dairy industry’s National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible ManagementTM to ensure the well-being of animals in our care, according to Betsy Flores, NMPF’s senior director of Animal Health and Welfare. Additional information about the program, including an employer checklist, guidance for integrating the program into existing animal well-being programs, posters for use in barns and guidance on employee training is available at www.SeeItStopIt.org. March 27, 2013 Dairy Business Update

• TU grad takes helm at Tulare County Fair - - Angie Avila remembers marching in the Tulare County Fair parade as a freshman playing the clarinet for the Redskins band in 1960. Five decades later, Avila will get a chance to enjoy the parade from a much different point of view — as the fair’s chief executive officer. Avila, who’s also the Kings County Fair CEO, was appointed the Tulare County Fair’s interim top administrator earlier this month — and will remain until a permanent replacement is found, likely until the end of the year. <more> March 27, 2013 Visalia Times Delta

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Curtain rises Wednesday on WUD convention in Sacramento  - - A full lineup of practical workshops, celebrity speakers and insights by dairy industry professionals awaits those attending the annual Western United Dairymen convention on March 27-29 at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento. Wednesday - The convention kicks off on Wednesday, March 27, with a day of workshops on subjects ranging from solar energy to labor and Cal-OSHA updates. Wednesday morning workshops begin at 10 a.m. and include discussions of wastewater and land application solutions; labor and employment requirements for ag employers, commodity risk management tools; the economics of profit in California dairies; time-varying pricing for agricultural energy customers; solar production on California dairies and a labor roundtable. The evening’s festivities include a wine and cheese social beginning at 4:30 p.m., followed by the membership dinner at the California Auto Museum. <more> March 22, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Proposed bill could change milk pricing in California - - In California, six members of the House introduced a bill that would allow farmers from the state to enter into the federal milk marketing system. The bill would let California dairy producers petition the Agriculture Department to join the rest of the country in their milk pricing arrangement. If the petition were filed, the Agriculture Department would then hold an industry vote. Two-thirds of producers must vote in approval of the change for the move to succeed. How did California end up with its own milk pricing system in the first place? Inequities and instability in the milk market led the California Legislature to establish its own pricing regulations back in 1935. Two years later, the federal government followed suit with a national system to provide some strength and consistency in the dairy industry for farmers, dairy processors and consumers. <more> March 26, 2013 Hoard’s Dairyman
   

• Milk must move farther to serve south-state plants  - - With more dairies disappearing from Southern California and a shrinking milk supply to serve processing plants in that region, dairy farmers and their cooperatives say they are now moving their raw product much longer distances at greater cost to accommodate those markets. "We have been deficit in milk production relative to our customers' needs for quite some time," said Eric Erba, senior vice president and chief strategy officer of California Dairies Inc., the state's largest dairy cooperative. "It's just that now instead of being able to pull milk from, say, southern Kern County to satisfy all the customers' needs, we're having to pull it from occasionally northern Tulare County." He noted the cooperative has lost a number of dairies in Southern California, but its customers are requiring at least as much milk as they used to. Meanwhile, there are no new dairies being developed or planned south of Kern County, where the milk deficit is. Since dairy farmers typically pay the cost of hauling their milk to the plant, their inclination has been to ship to plants closer in vicinity, leaving plants in urban centers such as the Los Angeles basin with an inadequate milk supply, said Michael Marsh, CEO of Western United Dairymen. <more> March 26, 2013 Ag Alert
   

• Obama presses Congress to act quickly on immigration reform - - President Barack Obama urged Congress on Monday to summon the "political courage" to quickly pass immigration reform. Speaking at a naturalization ceremony for 28 new U.S. citizens at the White House, Obama said he was pleased with steps made toward reforming immigration laws, he wants the process to be complete within months. "I expect a bill to be put forward. I expect the debate to begin next month," he said. "I want to sign that bill into law as soon as possible." Obama pointed to the accomplishments of many of the 28 people who had just become U.S. citizens and said immigrants had reinvigorated the labor force and benefited businesses. <more> March 25, 2013 Reuters
   

• ICE agents' union wants to slow immigration overhaul - - The head of the union representing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents is calling on a bipartisan group of senators to slow down the push for an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws. Chris Crane, the head of the National ICE Council, wrote Tuesday to the so-called "Gang of Eight" — the lawmakers trying to negotiate a deal to overhaul the nation's immigration laws — that they should hear from ICE agents before they complete their immigration proposal. <more> March 26, 2013 USA Today  
   

• Candidate for Rubio's Senate seat will have to move to stay in race - - The race for the seat of former state Sen. Michael Rubio took a twist Monday when Kern County elections officials told Bakersfield Democrat Leticia Perez that she couldn't compete because she didn't live in the district. The notice, which was awkwardly timed with Perez's campaign kick-off in Fresno, was unexpected. The elections office said earlier that she qualified because of a technicality in county elections procedure. But Perez's campaign manager said the surprise phone call from Kern County officials late Monday would not deter Perez's bid for office and that she'd seek a new residence in the district before Friday's filing deadline. <more> March 25, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Big Agriculture flexes its muscle - - Congress holds the purse strings, but who holds Congress these days when it comes to farm policy: the meatpackers and Monsanto? So it seemed last week as lawmakers sent the White House an updated budget for the Agriculture Department complete with industry-backed orders on how Secretary Tom Vilsack should run the place. The Post-it notes from the packers were hard to miss. Alarmed that automatic spending cuts this month will slow plant operations, the meat lobby won a last-minute Senate amendment that cuts from a new White House-backed school breakfast program in order to ensure there will be enough money to keep food safety inspectors on the job this summer and avoid disruptions. At the same time the industry went in the opposite direction, denying funds in the Ag budget for implementing reforms sought in the 2008 farm bill to provide greater protection for less powerful ranchers and farmers who raise the animals for slaughter. <more> March 25, 2013 Politico
   

• Milk Producers Plan Revisions For Dairy Care Program - - With the recent addition of several major cooperatives in the National Dairy FARM Program (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management), more than two-thirds of the nation's cows will be covered by the industry's animal well-being effort, according to the National Milk Producers Federation. NMPF started the FARM program three years ago to provide a consistent, national, verifiable means of showing consumers and the food value chain how dairy products are produced. The number of cooperatives and processors subscribing to the program has continued to grow, and now includes farms producing 70% of America's milk supply. <more> March 25, 2013 California Farmer

Pricing/Commodity News

•  CWT assists with 11.1 million lbs. of cheese, butter and AMF export sales - - Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted 28 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Foremost Farms USA, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Michigan Milk Producers Association, United Dairymen of Arizona and Upstate Niagara Cooperative (O-AT-KA). The requests cover sales of 7.108 million lbs. of cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese, 3.942 million lbs. of butter and 44,092 lbs. of anhydrous milk fat (AMF) to customers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and North America. The product will be delivered April through September 2013. So far in 2013, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 41.156 million lbs. of cheese, 44.849 million lbs. of butter, 44,092 lbs. of AMF and 218,258 lbs. of whole milk powder to 28 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.359 billion lbs. of milk on a milkfat basis, or the annual milk output of 64,700 cows. March 26, 2013 Dairy Business Update

Environmental News

• River-flow plan threatens farms, opponents say - - Farmers, political leaders, small business owners and irrigation district officials packed a Sacramento hearing last week to comment on a proposal before the State Water Resources Control Board that they said threatens severe economic and environmental consequences in parts of the northern San Joaquin Valley. The plan would limit diversions from the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced river watersheds with the intent to increase river flows and help boost recovery of fisheries in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries. The proposal would cut water supplies for the Modesto, Turlock and Merced irrigation districts by an estimated 15 percent to 25 percent a year from February to June, reducing available surface water deliveries to nearly 1 million acres of irrigated farmland. A "preferred alternative" presented to the board by its staff would retain 35 percent of the combined watersheds' unimpaired flows in the water courses. If adopted, the proposal could also curtail existing water rights. <more> March 26, 2013 Ag Alert
   

• CURES wins IPM Innovator Award - - The Coalition for Urban Rural Environmental Stewardship (CURES) has been awarded the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Innovator Award by California Department of Pesticide Regulation.  Director Brian Leahy singled out CURES for including elements of IPM in all its surface water stewardship programs for pesticides used in agricultural and urban settings.  Leahy said CURES was recognized for demonstrating unique and outstanding leadership in the promotion of IPM and the development of creative practical solutions to protect water quality and public health in California. Established in 1997, CURES is a nonprofit organization with the mission to create and deliver science-based solutions and education to ensure that tools to manage pests and grow plants are used in ways that protect people and the environment. CURES works with producers, industries, academic institutions, regulators, environmental advocates, and other public interest groups, and provides a collaborative platform for projects that help farmers, homeowners, and urban pest managers adopt IPM practices that reduce water pollution and protect worker health. CURES provides IPM technical and financial assistance and outreach in both agricultural and urban settings in addition to providing financial assistance and oversight for practices that minimize, recycle, or clean up water that leaves agricultural lands.  More information is available on CURES website at www.curesworks.org  or by contacting Parry Klassen, executive director, at pklassen@unwiredbb.com  or (559) 288-8125. March 26, 2013 DPR Press Release
   

• Mark Grossi: Federal water cutback called ‘crippling blow’ - - The federal government reduced irrigation water projections for west San Joaquin Valley farmers last week — only the third time I remember it ever happening. The 5% cutback — from a 25% water allocation to 20% — has been called a crippling blow to agriculture. The cutback has resulted from a below-average winter, the second in a row. Plus, the state and federal water projects were forced to curb water pumping at the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to protect dwindling delta smelt. Some 800,000 acre-feet of water were lost in the process. You can imagine the strong feelings when the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation dropped its forecast last week. <more> March 25, 2013 Fresno Bee Newsroom Blog
   

• New water technology a home run at Fresno State - - With water rates threatening to double in Fresno, and a cry for more ‘green’ business activity throughout the state, the decision by Fresno State to utilize a new, locally grown technology that demonstrates water savings in the 35-50 percent range seemed to make good sense. The university tried a new locally invented and developed water management technology involving hydrogel injection known as Aqua Cents® in areas bordering the softball field. “It’s a matter of teaching our lawns to drink differently,” said Bob Boyd, associate vice President for facilities management at Fresno State, after seeing initial demonstrations of the water management technology. “Our students value the aesthetics, recreational opportunities, and social environment lawns provide, but we must balance those benefits with increasing water costs.” <more> March 25, 2013 The Business Journal
   

• More than half of nation’s rivers in poor condition - - More than half – 55 percent – of thousands of stream and river miles across the country are in poor condition for aquatic life, according to a new, first of its kind report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. California’s Central Valley, through which flow the state’s two largest rivers – the Sacramento and the San Joaquin – is rated as “very degraded” in the report. <more> March 26, 2013 Central Valley Business Times

• DairyBusiness West adds Jones as editor - - DairyBusiness Communications is pleased to announce the addition of David Jones to its editorial content team. David’s primary role will be Editor of DairyBusiness West. He will work with dairy producers and industry professionals throughout the Western half of the country to provide helpful and important information to the readers of DairyBusiness West. He will also contribute to all of the DairyBusiness digital and broadcast media. David grew up on his family's dairy farm in Stevinson, Calif. He worked in many roles on the farm including calf management, feeding, milking and feed production. David’s activities in the dairy industry have included successful FFA dairy judging and public speaking competitions, collegiate level dairy judging and Dairy Challenge participation, as well as sale committee marketing roles. After graduating with degrees in Dairy Science and Ag Communications from California Polytechnic University, David joined Accelerated Genetics as the Communications Coordinator in Baraboo, Wis. While in college David also was the editor of the Ag Circle Magazine and held several communications internships, including work with Holstein World. <more> March 26, 2012 DairyBusiness West   
   

• Modesto Junior College to host “Capital Readiness 2013” Event April 4 - -  Modesto Junior College will host a “Capital Readiness 2013” seminar on Thursday, April 4 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Founders Hall, Room 155 on East Campus located at 435 College Ave in Modesto. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. There is no charge for the seminar. Campus parking passes are $1 and can be obtained at various ticket dispensers located in student parking lots.  California Community Colleges Chancellor Brice W. Harris announced that his office has entered into a partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to increase access to training and higher education for rural citizens, support and enhance the agriculture industry and strengthen the state’s rural economy. This FREE “Capital Readiness” event will provide small and family operated farm owners, agriculture-related small business and small business owners in rural communities with information on how to access capital to grow their business and improve their local economy.  <more> March 26, 2013 Stanislaus Farm Bureau  
   

• Are Agriculture's Most Popular Insecticides Killing Our Bees? - - Environmentalists and beekeepers are calling on the government to ban some of the country's most widely used insect-killing chemicals. The pesticides, called neonicotinoids, became popular among farmers during the 1990s. They're used to coat the seeds of many agricultural crops, including the biggest crop of all: corn. Neonics, as they're called, protect those crops from insect pests. But they may also be killing bees. <more> March 25, 2013 Valley Public Radio  
   

• Dairy veterinarians urged to return pharmaceutical survey - - Recently, California dairy producers herd veterinarian received a survey from UC Davis on use of pharmaceutical products in dairy animals.  The goal of the survey is to gather data on pharmaceutical use with an objective to identify categories of drugs and frequency of use.  The dairy industry requested and is funding the survey in order to better understand on-farm use of pharmaceuticals. Please encourage your veterinarian to complete and return the survey.    A reminder notice is going out to veterinarians should they need to contact the researchers. Should you need more information, please contact Dr. Deanne Meyer at dmeyer@ucdavis.edu. March 22, 2013 UC Davis notice

Monday, March 25, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• Curtain rises Wednesday on WUD convention in Sacramento  - - A full lineup of practical workshops, celebrity speakers and insights by dairy industry professionals awaits those attending the annual Western United Dairymen convention on March 27-29 at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento. Wednesday - The convention kicks off on Wednesday, March 27, with a day of workshops on subjects ranging from solar energy to labor and Cal-OSHA updates. Wednesday morning workshops begin at 10 a.m. and include discussions of wastewater and land application solutions; labor and employment requirements for ag employers, commodity risk management tools; the economics of profit in California dairies; time-varying pricing for agricultural energy customers; solar production on California dairies and a labor roundtable. The evening’s festivities include a wine and cheese social beginning at 4:30 p.m., followed by the membership dinner at the California Auto Museum. <more> March 22, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Senators hammering out details of immigration bill as business, labor wage dispute flares - - A last-minute dispute over wages for lower-skilled workers flared Friday as senators scrambled to sketch out a deal on a sweeping immigration bill before Congress takes a two-week recess. The public clash between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO underscored the high stakes involved in legislation that would dramatically reshape the U.S. immigration and employment landscape, putting 11 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship while allowing tens of thousands of new high- and low-skilled workers into the country. <more> March 22, 2013 AP
   

• Is there an economic case for ending all guest worker programs? - - Employers and workers’ advocates alike are calling for reforms to the temporary guest worker programs that allow seasonal farmworkers and others to come work in the U.S. for parts of the year. But some observers are proposing a different economic argument: abolishing guest worker programs altogether. After all, these jobs, especially on farms, are so difficult that no Americans want to do them. Maybe if farmers weren’t given the opportunity to import cheap labor, they’d be able to create better jobs, argues Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington, D.C., think tank. <more> March 24, 2013 Los Angeles Times
   

• Thousands march in Fresno for immigration reform - - A sea of people wearing red T-shirts and waving flags marched through southeast Fresno neighborhoods on Sunday shouting "si se puede" in support of immigration law reform and to honor labor leader Cesar Chavez. Thousands of people -- undocumented farm workers, their American-born children, social activists and college students on spring break -- participated in the nearly three-mile march that started at St. Anthony Mary Claret Church on South Chestnut Avenue after the Palm Sunday mass. The march was one of five organized statewide by the United Farm Workers of America, a labor union with about 1,000 members in Fresno and Madera counties, and a handful of other organizations. <more> March 24, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Valadao, 5 others seek to put California dairies into federal pricing program - - California's huge dairy industry, which has played by its own set of rules since the 1930s, could partially end its unique way of doing business under new legislation pushed this week by Rep. David Valadao and five other Central Valley lawmakers. Valadao, R-Hanford, cited lost revenues and hard times while introducing a bill late Thursday that would open the door for California dairy producers to eventually enter a federal milk-marketing system. The six lawmakers, echoing the views of industry leaders, say it may be time for a change. "Put us on a level playing field," Valadao said. "We're desperate now." Valadao's bill would allow California dairy producers to petition the Agriculture Department for entrance into the federal milk-marketing order system. If the producers go ahead and file that petition, the Agriculture Department would hold an industry vote. Approval by two-thirds of the producers would be required for the move to succeed. <more> March 22, 2013 Fresno Bee  
   

• Central Valley dairies struggle to stay afloat - - With more than a hundred California dairies having gone out of business last year, milk producers and industry advocates continue to search for an answer to the high feed costs and low milk prices plaguing the state's dairy farmers. "It's very dire," said Lynne McBride, executive director of the California Dairy Campaign. "Dairies continue to exit. Whenever a dairy closes, it has a ripple effect on that community and all the related businesses." The state lost 105 dairies last year, and a total of 290 over the past four years, bringing the total down to 1,563 farms, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture. <more> March 22, 2013 Merced Sun-Star

• Vidak racks up endorsements in 16th state Senate race - - The race for the 16th state Senate District is turning into a three-way contest, with Andy Vidak cornering Republican support. Vidak was endorsed by the 11-member Senate Republican caucus this week. He was also endorsed by the Kings County Republican Party. On Thursday, Kerman Mayor Gary Yep bowed out of the race and endorsed Vidak, leaving him as the only Republican running. Vidak will face two high-profile Democrats from Kern County — Shafter City Councilwoman Fran Florez and Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez. <more> March 23, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Editorial: Cattlemen's misguided bill could hurt efforts to stop animal abuse - - In early 2008, the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. in Chino issued a recall for more than 143 million pounds of raw and frozen beef products, following the release of video footage showing that plant workers were abusing "downed" cows, including using forklifts to prod the animals to their feet. Many in the California cattle industry were outraged by the footage, obtained through an investigation conducted by the Humane Society of the United States. The California Cattlemen's Association condemned the practices at Hallmark/Westland and supported legislation to outlaw the slaughter and transportation of non-ambulatory cattle. Four years later, however, the California Cattlemen's Association is pushing legislation that could well have the effect of intimidating whistle-blowers and preventing journalists from investigating claims of animal abuse. <more> March 24, 2013 The Sacramento Bee 

Pricing/Commodity News

• MILC Payments Won’t Be Sequestered - - Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) payments won’t fall under sequestration rules, according to a report in The Friday Facts, published last Friday by Dairylea Cooperative. "However, due to the Congressional notification period, the March payment may be delayed by 30 days," Dairylea reported. The Februay MILC payment could be 43¢/cwt, according to preliminary estimates based on current Futures prices and calculations made by the University of Wisconsin.  According to these same estimates, MILC payments could also be forthcoming in March (60¢/cwt), April (66¢/cwt), May (25¢/cwt) and June (14¢/cwt). March 25, 2013 Dairy Today
   

• Corn Falls With Demand Weaker Than Expected - - U.S. corn prices fell 0.9%, pressured by weaker demand for the grain in cash markets. Buyers of physical corn, such as grain elevators, cut back this past week amid historically high prices and a recent influx of supplies from farmers, who sold corn stored from last fall's harvest. That put pressure on futures prices Friday as analysts saw the cutback as a sign that corn demand was softer than believed. Corn for May delivery declined 6.75 cents to settle at $7.2625 a bushel at the Chicago Board of Trade. Supplies of corn in the U.S. are tight after last year's severe drought decimated crops. <more> March 22, 2013 The Wall Street Journal
   

• Crop insurance claims total $16B after widespread US drought; cost stirs debate in Congress - - Farmers will be paid a record $16 billion in crop insurance claims for 2012 because of the widespread drought, a staggering amount that has critics calling for changes to what they say is an inefficient taxpayer subsidy the government cannot afford. While farmers buy crop insurance from private companies, the federal government subsidizes their premiums and picks up the tab for losses over a certain amount. One analyst estimates the federal tab for 2012 will come to about $11 billion. <more> March 22, 2013 AP

Environmental News

• Feds cut Valley water allocation to 20% - - Already reeling from a paltry allocation of federal water from the Central Valley Project, farmers on the west side of the Valley were stung Friday when their anticipated supplies were cut even further. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that the past couple of months of dry weather prompted a decrease in water allocations to contractors south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta to 20% of the contracted supply. In February, the bureau had estimated the allocation at 25%. The earlier allocation was based on pumping restrictions in the delta to protect threatened fish species under the federal Endangered Species Act. But dry weather from January through March prompted federal officials to classify the Sacramento and San Joaquin river supplies as critical based on reduced river flows into the delta. <more> March 22, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Valley officials, politicians call water decision all wet - - Politicians and water officials reacted with dismay to water cuts announced Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The reduced allocation drew an outcry not only from the Westlands Water District, which includes about 600,000 acres on the Valley's west side, but also from members of California's congressional delegation. "The water supply reductions facing farmers will devastate the local communities," said Thomas Birmingham, Westlands' general manager. "We understand that the most recent cut imposed by Reclamation is the result of record dry conditions but this reduction is being imposed after the loss of hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water during a record wet December." <more> March 24, 2013 The Bakersfield Californian
   

• California's water future going from bad to worse - - Today’s announced cutbacks in water deliveries from the two major water supply systems in California are “making a bad situation even worse,” according to Mike Wade, executive director of the California Farm Water Coalition. “Farmers were already looking at reduced water supplies caused primarily by federal regulations to protect fish in the Delta,” he said. “More than 800,000 acre-feet of water was taken earlier this year from farmers and folks who live in our cities because of the regulations.” State Water Project officials had previously announced a 40 percent delivery of water to its users. Water deliveries from the Central Valley Project were even lower at 25 percent. Today’s announcements cut each of those deliveries by 5 percent.  “The announcements made earlier today are making a bad situation even worse,” Wade said. “California’s water delivery system is broken and action needs to be taken to fix it in order that people are not penalized from an unreliable system. <more> March 22, 2013 California Farm Water Coalition
   

• Groundwater nitrate issue continues to dominate - - It was the 65th annual California Weed Science Society conference, but fertilizer was on the mind of many there in Sacramento earlier this year. It takes nitrogen to grow crops and weeds, and it was N that drew the first questions for Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, a keynoter at the event. Nitrogen use has been elevated to the No. 1 spot on the list of issues confronting California agriculture with the release about a year ago of a University of California study that cited nitrates in groundwater as a major contaminant of drinking water. <more> March 25, 2013 Western Farm Press
   

• Calif. farmers team up to convert beets to ethanol - - Amid the vast almond orchards and grape fields that surround Five Points in California's Central Valley, a once-dominant crop that has nearly disappeared from the state's farms is making a comeback: sugar beets. But these beets won't be processed into sugar. A dozen farmers, supported by university experts and a $5 million state grant, are set to start construction of a Fresno County demonstration plant that will convert the beets into ethanol. If the demo project in Five Points succeeds, the farmers will build the nation's first commercial-scale bio-refinery in nearby Mendota to turn beets into biofuel. <more> March 23, 2013 AP

• Petaluma FFA National Champion Dairy Cattle Judging Team is “Scotland or Bust” this Summer - - Last October 2012, at a nationwide competition, Petaluma FFA won the Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event at the 85th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team will now continue on, not only to represent California but also the United States at the Royal Highland Livestock Exposition in Edinburgh, Scotland to compete in the International Competition this June. The team consists of Alexandra Gambonini, Francesca Gambonini, Jessie Jones and Regina Pozzi.  The event components of this competition include an evaluation of six classes of dairy cattle, oral reasons, herd record evaluation and a dairy management team activity. Petaluma FFA is now raising funds to send their Dairy Judging Team to compete in Scotland.  On Monday, April 29th, 2013, they are having a Pasta Feed Fundraiser at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma.  Doors are open from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, with pre-tickets sales at $12/person and tickets sold at the door for $15/person.  For more information on pre-sale tickets and/or sponsoring the Petaluma FFA Dairy Judging Team in their adventure “Scotland or Bust”, please contact Stacey Gambonini at (707)481-2457/calpenney@hughes.net  or Kim Arntz at karntz@petk12.org.  March 25, 2013 Petaluma FFA press release

   

• UC Davis Animal Medicine Club offers up musical video in contest - - The UC Davis Food Animal and Reproduction Medicine Club is in the running to win a new Easi-Scan Ultrasound Machine from BCF Technology. The club entered a contest to win this coveted prize a month ago and has made it to the FINAL round.  Now they need help by having supporters click on this link, watch their funny music video and cast their vote for them by liking their video. Voting deadline is midnight on March 31.   March 25, 2013 UC Davis notice
   

• Dairy veterinarians urged to return pharmaceutical survey - - Recently, California dairy producers herd veterinarian received a survey from UC Davis on use of pharmaceutical products in dairy animals.  The goal of the survey is to gather data on pharmaceutical use with an objective to identify categories of drugs and frequency of use.  The dairy industry requested and is funding the survey in order to better understand on-farm use of pharmaceuticals. Please encourage your veterinarian to complete and return the survey.    A reminder notice is going out to veterinarians should they need to contact the researchers. Should you need more information, please contact Dr. Deanne Meyer at dmeyer@ucdavis.edu. March 22, 2013 UC Davis notice
   

• Kings County Farm Bureau hires new executive director - - Diane Friend, Corcoran farmer and agribusinesswoman, was named this week as the Kings County Farm Bureau’s new executive director. The position has been vacant since former executive director Michele Costa left in October last year. Friend, who manages a farm in Corcoran, teaches ag business classes at College of the Sequoias and lives in Tulare, is the third woman in a row to occupy the position. Diana Peck was executive director before Costa. “I feel like I’ve come home,” Friend said. “I’ve got a lot of friends here.” Her farm bureau responsibilities include running a live video-conference program that teaches dairy and cotton facts in an interactive format to K-6 grade schoolchildren all over the U.S. <more> March 23, 2013 Hanford Sentinel

Dairy Meetings  

• Practical workshops, guest speakers on tap at WUD convention March 27-29 in Sacramento - - A full lineup of practical workshops, celebrity speakers and insights by dairy industry professionals await those attending the annual Western United Dairymen convention on March 27-29 at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento. Wednesday The convention kicks off on Wednesday March 27 with a day of workshops on subjects ranging from solar energy to labor and Cal-OSHA updates. Wednesday morning workshops begin at 10:00 a.m. and include discussions of wastewater and land application solutions; labor and employment requirements for ag employers, commodity risk management tools; the economics of profit in California dairies; time-varying pricing for agricultural energy customers; solar production on California dairies and a labor roundtable. The evening’s festivities include a wine and cheese social beginning at 4:30 p.m., followed by the membership dinner at the California Auto Museum. <more> March 15, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Dairy pioneer Mary Cameron to be honored at WUD convention - - Pioneering California dairy producer Mary Cameron of Hanford will be honored at Western United Dairymen’s annual convention in Sacramento for her many years of service to the dairy industry.  The first female director on the WUD board of directors, Mary served from 1994 to 2003. She has played a groundbreaking leadership role since she began her first dairy in Artesia in 1955. She moved her dairy to Hanford in 1974 and was honored in 2003 with a Common Threads award recognizing her efforts to promote the industry. Mary will be recognized on Thursday night, March 28. To view the complete convention agenda, please click here.   To learn more about the convention to be held at the Sheraton Grand in downtown Sacramento March 27-29, please click here   March 18, 2013 WUD News
  
   

• Need an answer for a labor question? Attend convention session Wednesday March 27 - - California’s leading dairy labor expert will answer your questions in a “Labor Roundtable” workshop at the Western United Dairymen’s convention on Wednesday, March 27. Attorney Anthony Raimondo of McCormick Barstow LLP will host a question and answer session with convention attendees starting at 1:00 pm. Submit your questions in person or send them in advance to Heidi Savage by fax to (209) 527-0630 or by email to hsavage@westernuniteddairymen.com.  March 15, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• “Chobani Effect” comes to California  March 28- - John Winnie, Chobani’s Director of Operations for Idaho will be speaking at the Western United Dairymen annual meeting in Sacramento on Thursday, March 28. Winnie, a graduate of the New Hampshire Technology Institute in Concord, will present “The Chobani Story: The Billion Dollar Yogurt Startup.” Chobani announced its plans to construct a new processing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho just over a year ago. The company whisked through Idaho’s permitting process and constructed the plant in just under one year. The impact to producer milk prices in Idaho has been rapid and amazing. Idaho’s producer milk prices, dominated by cheese processing, witnessed an almost immediate upward surge with the announcement of Chobani’s decision to build in Idaho. Idaho’s milk checks that had long languished at the bottom of comparative state prices, have since boomed upward with the advent of new competition in the Idaho market for producer milk. Attendees will hear about a truly amazing success story at the WUD annual meeting as “The Chobani Effect” comes to California. March 15, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Noted state political journalist Walters to speak at WUD Convention - - The dean of California’s political reporters, Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee will provide his unique insights on the current political landscape when he talks to the Western United Dairymen’s convention on Thursday, March 28. Walters’ “State of the State” comments will offer the perspective of a journalist who has been in the profession for more than a half-century.  Walters has the distinction of having covered Jerry Brown’s first term as governor in 1975 when he joined The Sacramento Union's Capitol bureau, and later covering Brown’s return to Sacramento as governor in 2011. In 1981, he began writing the state's only daily newspaper column devoted to California political, economic, and social events. In 1984, he and the column moved to The Sacramento Bee. He has written more than 7,500 columns about California and its politics and his column now appears in more than 50 California newspapers. <more> Feb. 28, 2013 WUD News
   

• WUD 2013 Convention keynote speaker offers unique look at milkshakes - - Greg Forbes Siegma is the keynote speaker at WUD’s annual convention on Thursday, March 28 in Sacramento.  The Silhouette Man by Jillip Paxson is based on the true story of a man’s efforts to use his love of milkshakes to bring a diverse community together. The First Thirty (student edition of the book) was NSDLC 2007 Multicultural Relations Book of the Year. Greg is the real-life educator upon whom the story is based. In addition to speaking at others’ events, he has hosted hundreds of events, meals and milkshake outings to try and build bridges between people of different ages, cultures and backgrounds. In 2005, he was honored at Princeton University as one of America’s top social entrepreneurs under 40. In 2007, Entrepreneurship Week USA recognized him as one of its Trailblazers in Business. He has been featured by media like Good Morning America and The Washington Post.  His website is www.GregForbes.com 
   
   

• Western Dairy Air Quality Symposium in Boise April 16-17 - - Western States Dairy Producers Trade Association is sponsoring the 2013 Western Dairy Air Quality Symposium in Boise on April 16-17. The purpose of this symposium is to have a round-table exchange on the status of air quality research, demonstration projects, and pending regulations in the west, and to plan for coordination of research efforts among states and groups. This symposium brings together researchers, regulators and policy advocates from universities, USDA, EPA, regional air regulatory agencies and industry organizations. The hotel reservation deadline is March 21. Registration is $75 per person. Registration information is available by contacting Kathi Schiffler at (209) 527-6453 or kschiffler@westernuniteddairymen.com.  Feb. 22, 2013 WUD Friday Update
   

• Environmental stewardship classes offered in Merced in April 23 and April 30 - - The California Dairy Quality Assurance Program is offering free classes in environmental stewardship in Merced April 23 and April 30. The workshops will be held Tuesday, April 23 and Tuesday April 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Merced County Cooperative Extension Classroom, 2145 Wardrobe Avenue, Merced.  The two-part series of classes (three hours each), known as the Environmental Stewardship Short Course, will be taught by Dr. Deanne Meyer, livestock waste management specialist at UC Davis. This will be the only six-hour class offered in water quality by CDQAP this year. Producers can attend all or part of the Short Course to meet the education requirements. The classes cover environmental issues, regulatory requirements and management practices for dairy producers. For producers interested in certifying their facility, the same person from the dairy facility must attend all six hours of water quality education. <more> March 8, 2013 WUD Friday Update

Friday, March 22, 2013

State/Federal News and Politics

• California milk producers seek benefits of federal pricing program  - -  California’s huge dairy industry that has played by its own set of rules since the 1930s could partially end its unique way of doing business under new legislation that’s united lawmakers throughout the state.  Citing lost revenues and hard times, six House members from the rural Central Valley introduced a bill this week opening the door for California dairy producers to eventually enter a federal milk marketing system. The lawmakers, echoing the views of industry leaders, say it may be time for a change. “Put us on a level playing field,” Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., said in an interview Friday. “We’re desperate now.”  Valadao’s bill would allow California dairy producers to petition the Agriculture Department for entrance into the federal milk marketing order system. If the producers go ahead and file that petition, the Agriculture Department would hold an industry vote. Approval by two-thirds of the producers would be required for the move to succeed. <more> March 22, 2013 McClatchy Newspapers
   

• Bill introduced to change California milk pricing - - Two groups representing California farmers and dairy operators are putting their support behind a congressional bill that would allow California to be included in the federal system for milk pricing. The bipartisan “California Milk Marketing Order Act” was introduced Thursday by representatives Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and David Valadao, R-Hanford. Currently, the prices dairies in the state get every month for their milk is set by California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross. <more> March 22, 2013 Visalia Times Delta
   

• Gillibrand introduces modified dairy proposal - - U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced a new bill, the “Dairy Income Fairness Act,” that would modify the terms of the margin insurance and the supply/growth management programs proposed in the Dairy Security Act (DSA). According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the bill, S. 605, would replace current dairy programs with a version of the Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Market Stabilization Program (DMSP) found in the Dairy Security Act (DSA). The Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program payment trigger would be raised from $16.94/cwt. to $18.85/cwt. and phased out nine months after enactment of the bill. <more> March 22, 2013 Dairy Business 
   

• 'First Look': Senate candidate Vidak pitches 'common sense solutions' - - Andy Vidak, the Republican candidate for the 16th District Senate seat, said he's gathering strong endorsements, working on fundraising and pitching "common sense solutions" in his bid for the post. The cherry farmer from Kings County called in to the simulcast "First Look with Scott Cox" Thursday morning. Show host Scott Cox said he thinks government was designed to be run by "regular people," adding, "I'll cast my lot with the cherry farmer from Hanford but that's just me." Vidak, for his part, said, "All I want to do is help the district. I'm not looking for a job. I don't need a job." <more> March 21, 2013 Bakersfield Californian
   

• Foreign citizens making big investments in U.S. in exchange for green cards - - Sitting around the long, wooden kitchen table in their farmhouse on a Sunday afternoon, Rene and Judith Dekker were tired-eyed from rising before dawn to tend to their 1,200 dairy cows. Their two older kids were packing up for the drive back to college — Bart wanted to know whether Mom had ironed his dress shirt, while Susanne gently scooped her live goldfish into a plastic bag. Mathias, 16, had algebra homework, and Benny the chocolate Lab bounced around outside. They looked like any other family here in rural Michigan, but they are Dutch citizens. And they are faces of a fast-growing U.S. visa program in which foreigners can gain permanent residence by investing $500,000 in a U.S. project that creates at least 10 jobs. Through the program, known as EB-5, the Dekkers have a half-million-dollar stake in the Marriott Marquis Hotel rising in the District next to the Washington Convention Center. <more> March 22, 2012 Washington Post
   

• Senate immigration plan would stress merit - - Senators working on a comprehensive immigration plan are quietly talking about letting people into the United States by giving more weight to potential job skills and less weight to family connections than now exists -- a departure from the current system and one sure to rile immigrant advocates while pleasing business interests. The system would award points for a person's various characteristics, and it would place greater emphasis than the current system on future immigrants' ability to make long-term economic contributions. A bipartisan group of senators is nearing agreement on a comprehensive immigration bill that would put illegal immigrants on a 13-year path to citizenship, officials with outside groups keeping up with the talks told the Associated Press on Thursday. <more> March 21, 2013 Fresno Bee
   

• Undercover Activist Vows to Fight 'Ag Gag' Laws - - A longtime activist who caught criminal animal cruelty on videotape at an Idaho dairy farm said he's not going to be deterred by the aggressive push by some state lawmakers to restrict the use of undercover cameras. "We'll find a way. There's going to be a way we keep doing this," the veteran investigator told ABC News. The activist, who has requested ABC News refer to him as "Pete," worked as an employee at Bettencourt Dairies in Idaho for three weeks last year on behalf of the animal rights group Mercy for Animals. As detailed in an ABC News report last week, Pete recorded employees beating, kicking and dragging dairy cows around the farm – animal abuse violations that resulted in criminal charges against three workers. <more> March 21, 2013 ABC News
   

• Dairy veterinarians urged to return pharmaceutical survey - - Recently, California dairy producers herd veterinarian received a survey from UC Davis on use of pharmaceutical products in dairy animals.  The goal of the survey is to gather data on pharmaceutical use with an objective to identify categories of drugs and frequency of use.  The dairy industry requested and is funding the survey in order to better understand on-farm use of pharmaceuticals. Please encourage your veterinarian to complete and return the survey.    A reminder notice is going out to veterinarians should they need to contact the researchers. Should you need more information, please contact Dr. Deanne Meyer at dmeyer@ucdavis.edu.  March 21, 2013 UC Davis survey
   

• Annual labor survey available online - - The annual Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS) survey is out again and ready for participation from dairy producers. This survey’s purpose is to develop a reference on California market conditions and takes into consideration only the wage rates which respondents pay their employees within the state of California. It is important that all information entered be accurate in order to have true results. The survey can be completed online at www.fels.net/survey.  A user portal page provides for data entry as well as access to reports from prior years. In addition to the online access, Western United Dairymen has provided members with hard copies of the survey inside its Friday Update newsletter. The forms should be completed and returned to the WUD office by April 1. Please complete the survey in either of the two ways listed. In order to access the online survey, go to www.fels.net/survey  and select Western United Dairymen (WUD) from the dropdown list of participating organizations. No password if required. Select “begin survey”. March 5, 2013 FELS Notice

Pricing/Commodity News

• NASS Suspends Certain Statistical Estimates and Reports Due to Sequestration - - USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is suspending a number of statistical surveys and reports for the remainder of the fiscal year due to reduced funding caused by sequestration. Before deciding upon the program suspensions, NASS reviewed its survey programs against mission- and user-based criteria as well as the amount of time remaining in the fiscal year to conduct the surveys with the goal of finding available cost savings and maintaining the strongest data in service to agriculture. The decision to suspend these reports was not made lightly, but it was nevertheless necessary, given the funding situation. <more> March 12, 2013 news release
   

• Cattle on feed down 7% - - Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in U.S. feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.9 million head on March 1, 7% less than a year earlier, according to USDA’s Cattle on Feed report, released March 22. February placements totaled 1.48 million head (1.42 million net), down 14% from a year earlier and the lowest for February since USDA started recording placements in 1996. February fed cattle marketings totaled 1.64 million, down 7%. March 22, 2013 Dairy Business
   

• Drought, planting choices create worst hay shortage since 1964 - - When we think of crops hit hard by the drought, corn and soybeans come to mind. But dry hay production is at its lowest level in four decades. Good for sellers, not for buyers. Experts say the hay shortage started when farmers chose to use more of their hay pastures to plant high-priced corn and beans. "It's been working that way from the acreage standpoint for several years. Then you add the drought, it really wiped it out," said owner of the Rock Valley Hay Auction, Paul McGill. <more> March 21, 2013 KTIV-TV

Environmental News

• Delta water plan decried by valley officials - - Officials responsible for delivering water and energy to city dwellers and farms punched holes Thursday in a state plan to give more Sierra Nevada runoff to fish. Speakers told a state board in Sacramento that a game-changing Bay-Delta Plan threatens to stymie hydroelectric power during heat waves, would devastate farms in the Northern San Joaquin Valley and could create water shortages for Bay Area customers. Officials said studies on the water releases are seriously flawed because they don't account for the complexity of operating dams such as New Melones on the Stanislaus River and Don Pedro on the Tuolumne, which generate energy for hundreds of thousands of people and support the valley's agricultural economy. <more> March 22, 2013 Modesto Bee
   

• Visalia and Tulare Irrigation District reach historic agreement - - The city of Visalia says it has reached a historic agreement with the Tulare Irrigation District to save water. Officials say the deal will bring more water to farmers southwest of Visalia, and increase Visalia's water supply.  As Visalia works on a $140 million update to its wastewater treatment facility, they were looking for someone to take some of the excess treated water that will result from the project. <more> March 20, 2013 KFSN-TV
   

• Busload of Merced County residents fight water plan - - The state wants to limit the amount of water three North Valley irrigation districts can take from their tributaries, as a way to help increase the fish population. But that plan is expected to cost the region's economy tens of millions of dollars each year. Mario Bandoni is a fourth generation farmer whose family grows about 300 acres of almonds in Merced County. He's concerned a plan by the state water resources control board could threaten his livelihood and hurt the area's already struggling economy. "As everybody knows, agriculture is one of the driving forces in the state, and it's a multi-billion dollar industry, so you're not only you're taking jobs away from the farmers, the farm workers, any industry involved with agriculture," Bandoni said. <more> March 20, 2013 KFSN-TV

• Fonterra launches world’s first 100% light proof milk bottle - - Fonterra has launched a ‘world-first’ bottle in New Zealand, that it says will protect milk from light and keep it fresher and tasting better for longer. The triple-layer bottle technology developed over three years was the first packaging of its kind for fresh milk and cream, and was a ‘game changer’ for the dairy industry, said Fonterra managing director of brands Peter McClure said at the launch in Auckland. “This is absolutely without a doubt Fonterra's biggest innovation yet.” <more> March 22, 2013 FoodBev.com
   

• Where the goats roam - - On Sixth Avenue, about 10 miles north of Hanford, sits a tidy dairy set back from the road. At a distance, it could pass for any of dozens of cow dairies in Kings County, except the four-footed beasts on this one are small, curious, agile, wear chew-proof metal tags and eat just about anything. Summerhill Dairy, with 1,200 milking goats and another 800 dry goats, is one of the few goat dairies in the county. Owner Johnnie de Jong would like to keep it that way. The transplanted dairyman from southern California has been milking goats for 14 years now, and he’s carved out a nifty little niche for himself. <more> March 20, 2013 Hanford Sentinel
   

• Horse-Slaughter Advocate’s Video Spurs Cruelty Investigation - - An employee of a New Mexico company that has sparked outrage for its plans to slaughter horses is being investigated for animal cruelty in connection with a video in which he taunts animal welfare advocates while killing a horse. Tim Sappington, 54, may face charges over the video, said Bobby Pierce, the deputy director of the New Mexico Livestock Board, an Albuquerque-based law enforcement agency. Sappington is the only employee of Valley Meat Co. near Roswell, which is seeking to become the first company to run a horse-slaughter plant in the U.S. since 2007. <more> March 22, 2013 Ag Web

Dairy Meetings