Ag Alert Feb. 16, 2022

Expo Continued from Page 1

weather, and it seems people are hap- py to get out and walk around.” Despite the sunnyweather andpositive atmosphere of the show, many spoke of dry conditions, rising costs and low com- modityprices expected toaffect this grow- ing season. “One big concern is high input costs, particularly fertilizers and chemicals that havebeen increasing,” saidDavidMagaña, tree nut and produce senior analyst for Rabo AgriFinance. “Some fertilizers are up 200%year over year, and that is putting pressure onmargins. There are concerns about the impact of logistic bottlenecks and supply chain (issues) on exports.” Magaña, who last week announced the release of a new, five-year walnut market outlook report that includes estimates on production, shipments and prices, said trendsaffectingall treenuts include logisti- cal challengesandashortageofemployees. Water and chal lenges caused by Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requirements, Magaña said, will put extrapressureonnut crops and suggested that plantingswill increase in thenorthern partof thestate.Headdedthat growerswill likely replant oldorchardswithhigh-value varieties, such as Chandlers in the case of walnuts. Sustainability, he said, will “con- tinue toplayan increasingly relevant role.” Workhas alreadybegunonplans for the nextWorldAgExpo, Feb. 14-16, 2023. Itwill be the event’s 55th edition. (Chr i s t ine Souza i s an ass i s tant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouza@cfbf.com.)

World Ag Expo chairman Steve Wilbur says people turned out “to see the machines, open the cab door (and) climb up in the seat. It’s a fun time.”

Tu l a r e Coun t y c o t t o n f a rme r Steve Wilbur, chairman of this year’s International Agri-CenterWorld Ag Expo, said, “I’veattendedeverysingleshowsince the first one in 1967, and I’ve loved every single one. It’s my toy store,” adding, “It’s a tire-kicking show. People are here to see themachines, open thecabdoor, climbup in the seat and talk to factory representa- tives. It’s a fun time.” Highlights at the expo also included “ride and drives,” demonstrations, agri- cultural tours and numerous seminars. Shannon Douglass, first vice president of theCaliforniaFarmBureauand founder and director of CalAgJobs, took part in a seminaronwomen inagriculture. Shewas joined by California Department of Food andAgriculture Secretary KarenRoss and other professionals to discuss eachwom- an’s agricultural journey and the future roleofwomen in the industry. Douglass, a farmer and rancher inGlennCounty, said there is increaseddiversity amongattend- ees to the expo. “For showattendees to bemore diverse just shows that we are more diverse in California agriculture than ever before, and that is welcome,” Douglass said, add- ing that theeventwasalsoadrawfor young people interested in agriculture. Pleased that the event was held in per- son, 15-year-old Cody Orton fromSanger

said, “It’s a great show, and I’mexcited it’s back. My grandpa, a lot of his friends are farmers, and I’ve been around ranchers mywhole life.” Orton, who works on a ranch and is considering a career in agriculture, said he was impressed by new technology and equipment. Many at the gathering, Wilbur said, are business-minded and interested in shop- ping or investing in equipment and tech- nology. To highlight the latest emerging technology, eachyear, theexpoannounces its top-10newproductwinners,which this year includedanautonomous, high-preci- sion, zero carbon emission robot for veg- etable crops, a battery-powered electric tractorandaniPhoneapplicationthatuses artificial intelligence to take and trackwa- ter potential in grapevines. Santa Barbara County avocado and cit- rus farmer Sheldon Bosio, who was at the event for the first time, said, “I think there

was a lot of interest by growers looking at what equipment was available and differ- ent applications that they coulduse. Itwas a lot of comparison (shopping),whereour price isnowcomparedwithwhere itwas a year or two ago, and will this equipment helpme increasemy output?” What caught Bosio’s attention were displays of grinding equipment for or- chard removal. “A lot of orchards are being taken out because of water issues or are being re- planted, so, how do you efficiently take those out?” said Bosio, president of the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau. “Some of those were million-dollar ma- chines. You can have a one-man or two- man show with an expensive piece of ag equipment and be equivalent in your la- bor costs.Withminimumwage increases andovertime costs,mechanizedmachin- ery is great for agriculture.” Chris Scott, senior account man- ager for Innvictis Crop Care, said the mood among farmers at the expo was positive. He said, “We have beautiful

Agricultural Market Review

Saving Farms Saving Profits Saving Futures

Quotations are the latest available for the week ending February 11, 2022 Year Ago Week Ago Latest Week Livestock Slaughter Steers – 5-Area Average Select & Choice, 1050–1150 lbs., $ per cwt. 113.22-114 135-137 136-140 Hogs – Average hog, 51-52% lean, Iowa-Minn. market, $ per cwt. 73.24 85.17 89.08 Slaughter Lambs – $ per cwt. 125–175 lbs. National weekly live sales 165.41 232-317.02 215-236 Field crops – basis prompt shipment Barley – U.S. No. 2, $ per cwt. Truck, Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock 11 No Quote No Quote Cotton – ¢ per lb., Middling 1 3/32” Fresno spot market 81.96 95.15 95.95 Corn – U.S. No. 2 yellow $ per cwt. trucked 6.78 7.77 8.01 Alfalfa Hay – $ per ton, quality*, FOB Region 1, Northern Inter-mountain 190-240 (G/P) No Quote No Quote Region 2, Sacramento Valley 240-260 (G/P) 330 (P) No Quote Region 3, Northern San Joaquin Valley 260-300 (P/S) No Quote No Quote Region 4, Central San Joaquin Valley No Quote 332 (S) 315-330 (G) Region 5, Southern California 259 (P) 340 (P) 280-310 (P/S) Region 6, Southeast Interior 205 (P/S) 265-315 (P/S) No Quote Oat Hay – $ per ton, quality*, FOB Northern California, dairy No Quote No Quote No Quote Oats – U.S. No. 2 white, $ per cwt. Statewide, trucked price 200 (G) No Quote No Quote

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Dry Beans – Grower FOB prices Baby Limas, $ per cwt, (sacked) Large Limas, $ per cwt. (sacked) Blackeye, $ per cwt. (sacked)

No Quote No Quote No Quote

Rice – Milled No. 1 Head, FOB No. Calif. mills Medium grain, $ per cwt. Wheat – U.S. No. 2 or better, winter, $ per cwt. 13% protein, Los Angeles, trucked price

38-40

48-51

11.90 (No. 3) No Quote Provided by the California Farm Bureau as a service to Farm Bureau members. Information supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market News Branch. * ADF=Acid detergent fiber; (S) = Supreme/<27%ADF; (P) = Premium/27-29; (G) = Good/29-32; (F) = Fair/32-35. No Quote

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16 Ag Alert February 16, 2022