Ag Alert March 24, 2021

Vaccine progress reported

Agricultural Market Review

Agricultural organizations inMonterey County reported this week they had achieved a 25% vaccination rate among people expected towork on Salinas Valley farms this spring. Ina joint news release, theorganizations said the vaccination rate came “afterweeks of pressing for supplies of vaccines from the state’s supply, prioritizing the essential workers in the farmand ranch operations thatarecritical tomaintainingour foodsup- plychain to retail andrestaurant outlets.” The farmgroups said theybelievemany more Salinas Valley farmemployees have been vaccinated at clinics held in Santa Cruz County in recent weeks. “Efforts will continue in the coming weeks, withadditional clinics tovaccinate more farmworkers in Monterey County, including temporary workers arriving for

harvest crews,” the organizations said. The groups described the vaccination process as a cooperative effort among the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, Monterey County Vintners & Growers Associat ion, Monterey County Farm Bureau, Coastal Growers Association, Monterey County Cannabis Industry Association and California Strawberry Commission. NotingthatMontereyCounty farmwork- ers have been “hit hard by COVID-19 in- fections andexposure,” the farmorganiza- tions saidelectedofficials andcommunity leaders advocated for farm employees to receive priority for vaccination. The agricultural groups said the effort “demonstrates the commitment by the ag- ricultural sector to keep our farmworkers and their familiesprotectedandhealthy.”

Quotations are the latest available for the week ending March 19, 2021 Year Ago Week Ago Latest Week Livestock Slaughter Steers – 5-Area Average Select & Choice, 1050–1150 lbs., $ per cwt. 105-110 114 113-114 Hogs – Average hog, 51-52% lean, Iowa-Minn. market, $ per cwt. 61.88 87.81 91.46 Slaughter Lambs – $ per cwt. 125–175 lbs. National weekly live sales 151-168.98 159-168 160-280 Field crops – basis prompt shipment Barley – U.S. No. 2, $ per cwt. Truck, Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock No Quote No Quote No Quote Cotton – ¢ per lb., Middling 1 3/32” Fresno spot market 56.99 77.22 77.09 Corn – U.S. No. 2 yellow $ per cwt. trucked 8.90 6.74 6.82 Alfalfa Hay – $ per ton, quality*, FOB Region 1, Northern Inter-mountain 170-200 (P) 190-240 (F/G/P) No Quote Region 2, Sacramento Valley 240-280 (P) No Quote 235 (P) Region 3, Northern San Joaquin Valley 272-295 (P/S) 250-285 (P/S) 250-255 (G/P) Region 4, Central San Joaquin Valley No Quote No Quote 360 (P) Region 5, Southern California 279 (P) 259 (P) 259 (P) Region 6, Southeast Interior 205-230 (P) 225-240 (S) 217-230 (P/S) 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 190 (G) No Quote No Quote

Governor signs sick-leave bill Employers must once again offer ex- pandedpaid sick leave for people affected by COVID-19, under state legislation en- acted late last week. who need to quarantine or isolate be- cause of a COVID-19 diagnosis or expo- sure, as well as those caring for affected family members.

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

36-38

38-41

SenateBill 95, sponsoredby Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, was signed into law byGov. GavinNewsom. Set to expire Sept. 30, the law requires employers to provide as many as 80 hours of paid sick leave for employees

The lawreinstates paid sick leave provi- sions that hadexpiredDec. 31and is retro- active toJan. 20. It exemptsemployersof 25 or fewerpeople, althoughtheseemployers mayoffer supplementalpaidsick leaveand receive a federal tax credit if eligible.

No Quote 11.50 (No. 1) 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. 11.75 (No. 3)

The Produce Safety Rule is Here; ARE YOU READY?

Listen to trusted California ag news on your local stations KMYC 1410 AM MARYSVILLE KPAY 93.9 FM CHICO

Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS), an aliated company of the California Farm Bureau (CAFB), has partnered with the Safe Food Alliance through a California Department of Food and Agriculture grant contract, as their designated training provider for Central and Southern California, to conduct the required Produce Safety training for growers. Presented in a free two-day remote delivery webinar format! What sets Safe Food Alliance, FELS, and Farm Bureau apart is their total of over 100 years of experience and our dedication to providing technical guidance and leadership to the California agriculture community. Most farms are required to have at least one designated supervisor who has been trained in accordance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety rule. Upon completion of the course, attendees will receive an ocial certicate from the Association of Food & Drug Ocials.

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The Food Safety Training Partnership is offering these training courses throughout California. You can find more information and register at foodsafetytrainingpartnership.com, or call 916-561-5672. Supported by California Department of Food and Agriculture

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March 24, 2021 Ag Alert 17