Food Continued from Page 3
dependently owned food processing, dis- tribution and aggregation infrastructure. Investments include: up to $375 million in support for independent meat and poul- try processors; up to $100 million to sup- port development of trained processing workers; $200 million to help specialty crops with food safety program expenses, and up to $600 million in financial assis- tance for food supply-chain infrastruc- ture such as cold storage. To increase infrastructure to help
gather, move and hold food, Vilsack an- nounced $400 million to create regional food business centers that will provide coordination, technical assistance and capacity building support to small and midsize food and farm businesses. He also announced $60 million for farm-to- school programs and up to $90 million to prevent and reduce food loss and waste. The framework dedicates millions of dol- lars in nutrition programs for underserved families, as well as other programs that are
aimed at addressing food insecurity. USDA also intends to improve access to markets for consumers by investing $155 million in grants and loans to those offering healthy food in underserved communities. To learn more about the Food System Transformation Framework, visit www. usda.gov. (Christine Souza is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouza@cfbf.com.)
programs to boost local food production and help small, midsize and beginning farmers with up to $300 million in a new initiative to support farmers transitioning to organic production and up to $75 mil- lion to support urban agriculture, includ- ing outreach and training. Monterey County organic farmer Javier Zamora of Watsonville, owner of JSM Organics, spoke of the framework’s in- vestment in organic farmers to help those transitioning to organic production. “Now that I feel a little comfortable that my business is moving forward, I can share with others what the resources are and where to go and get (them),” Zamora said. “How can you make something happen if you don’t have the tools?” Zamora also said, “A part of this program will help us connect with end consumers who are sometimes not educated on who is producing the food and where it’s com- ing from.” To build resiliency in the food supply chain, Vilsack announced framework pro- grams that encourage investments in in-
HIT ME ALYBUG WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Fertilizer Continued from Page 6
vegetables are already managed using UC’s CropManage software, which makes irrigation and fertilizer recommendations based on crop type and age, soil test and weather-station information. Regional Water Quality Control Board records show there is a wide variation in the amount of fertilizer that is applied to major vegetable crops. That means some growers have already taken the obvious steps to improve nitrogen efficiency. “We’ve been at this for the last five years or so,” Bianchi said. “We can save a per- cent or two, but if we cut more than 10%, it would hurt the crop.” A quick soil test can estimate available nitrate nitrogen in the soil in minutes. Precise management of drip irrigation sys- tems is the key to applying only as much fertilizer as the crop needs. Smith and Cahn emphasized careful monitoring of residual soil nitrates and ac- counting for them in making fertilizer ap- plication decisions, and careful irrigation water applications to reduce nitrate loss. “These are the two key practices that can help growers efficiently manage nitrogen applications and minimize over applica- tion that is now so costly,” they wrote. The quick test lets a grower estimate on a color-coded test strip how much nitrate nitrogen is already available in the topsoil. “The day of or the day before, we moni- tor to decide if we’re going to put fertilizer on,” Bianchi said. “We’ve been doing a lot of quick testing, making sure we’re putting the right amount of nitrogen on. We also use a synthetic surfactant to keep the ni- trogen in the root zone.” (Bob Johnson is a reporter in Monterey County. He may be contacted at bjohn11135@gmail.com.)
New Sequoia ® CA insecticide hits mealybug (and leafhopper) like a ten-ton brick. It comes from a unique class of chemistry – the sulfoximines – and has never been used in grapes. The different mode of action makes Sequoia CA an excellent rotation partner in full-season IPM programs with other classes of chemistry. And Sequoia CA fits perfectly into pest management programs that rely on beneficial insects. Mites aren’t flared and secondary pests stay… secondary. To learn more, contact your pest control advisor.
Visit us at corteva.us ® TM Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Sequoia CA is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2021 Corteva
June 8, 2022 Ag Alert 9
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