From The Fields ®
From the Fields is a firsthand report featuring insights from farmers and ranchers across the Golden State, including members of the California Farm Bureau. If you would like to be a contributor to From the Fields, submit your name, county of membership and contact information to agalert@cfbf.com.
Photo/Lodi Winegrape Commission
Photo/Rob Andrew
Bruce Fry San Joaquin County winegrape grower
David Sasuga San Diego County farmer
Labor is still tight, and it is difficult to attract and retain workers. As a conse- quence, our wages are going up even beyond the mandatory state increase. This is combined with increased costs for fuel, fertilizer and other raw materials, and is further complicated by supply-chain issues. The Omicron variant exacerbated the labor crunch, causing absences, resulting in more overtime, which was combined with California’s new 40-hour workweek for agricultural workers. Farms, nurser- ies and landscapers are competing for the same labor pool. There’s additional competition from other trades and service industries. We raised our prices, but not nearly enough to keep up with the increased costs we are experiencing. This has been incredibly challenging, and it demonstrates that being prepared for the tough times is how you survive. In our case, being prepared among other things meant maintaining a strong balance sheet with minimal debt. Fortunately, the market for herbs and vegetables (our products) and orna- mental plant products (many of our neighbors’) is very strong and the outlook is good. We are definitely beyond the recovery mode and back to a very strong growth scenario. Our product is used primarily in restaurants, so as COVID rules are relaxed, our business is trending upward because of it. With travel increasing and with trade shows and conventions back on the schedule, hotels and restaurants are filling back up, and we are doing our best to supply them.
Bud break in the winegrapes hasn’t happened yet. There might be a little bit starting to show up, but from what I see, it is likely five to seven days later than last year. Everyone in the Lodi area is finishing up pruning. The labor situation is short and shorter than last year. A lot of growers are doing piece work instead of hourly work, because of the cost of the hourly wage, and are trying to keep the pruning cost down. Irrigation is going to start early. Water is a huge concern. Here we are in the third year of drought. In the Lodi area, we got more rain this year than last year or the year before, but we’re still not at normal supplies. We’re still lacking a lot of rainfall. We got some good, deep moisture, but the top (soil) moisture is dissi- pating. The forecast is dry, so there’s nothing coming. It is very concerning, but as a farmer, you have to deal with Mother Nature. Related to the 2021 wine crop, every block seemed to be a little bit different. Some were average and some were a little bit above average, so it was a mixed bag. Wineries are looking to buy grapes, but there’s not a lot available due to those who got a couple-year contract last year, so there’s not a lot of open fruit. Hopefully, that will keep the market strong. It depends on the sales, but many are saying that the market outlook for winegrapes seems to be positive.
Ritta Martin Glenn County rancher
After an optimistic amount of rain late last year, the winter and spring in Glenn County have been extremely dry and warmer than usual, with the exception of the late-February freeze that devastated the almonds. Here on the ranch, we’ve only re- ceived a quarter-inch of rain since Jan. 1. That moisture was quickly eliminated with days and days of north wind. The rangeland feed conditions are more like early May rather than mid-March. At this point, a “Miracle March” will almost be too late, as the desirable native grasses have already gone to seed. Future moisture will drive a strong crop of yellow starthistle. Local ranchers are already making the tough decisions to destock their ranches be- cause the feed and water are gone. The cattle market volatility continues, and we can as- sume the prices will be driven down as dry conditions cause continued sell-off of herds. We’re about a week away from branding spring calves. The native feed has been short, but what we have has been strong; the calves are looking robust. I have a small group of Boer nannies that should kid any time. The rest of the nannies kidded in October and November. I would normally hold on to those kids and market them at around 65 pounds. With the feed conditions this year, though, I will probably have to sell early. This will lighten the feed needed for them, plus make it easier for the nannies to maintain body condition and breed back, without a lot of supplemental feed.
Photo/Ariella Marie Photography
4 Ag Alert March 16, 2022
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