Ag Alert. March 22, 2023

Agricultural Market Review

Quotations are the latest available for the week ending March 17, 2023 Year Ago Week Ago Latest Week Livestock Slaughter Steers – 5-Area Average Select & Choice, 1150–1460 lbs., $ per cwt. 137-138 165 163-164 Hogs – Average hog, 51-52% lean, Iowa-Minn. market, $ per cwt. 99.62 78.43 76.92 Slaughter Lambs – $ per cwt. 125–175 lbs. National weekly live sales 182-250 124-145 117-145 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 88.58 78.17 77.02 Corn – U.S. No. 2 yellow $ per bu. trucked 9.20 8.31 8.38 Alfalfa Hay – $ per ton, quality*, FOB Region 1, Northern Inter-mountain 16.50-19 (per bale) 17 (G/P, per bale) 300 (P/S) Region 2, Sacramento Valley No Quote No Quote No Quote Region 3, Northern San Joaquin Valley No Quote 23 (G/P, per bale) No Quote Region 4, Central San Joaquin Valley 325-405 (G/S) No Quote 410 (P/S) Region 5, Southern California 355 (S) 25 (P, per bale) 24 (per bale) Region 6, Southeast Interior 322.50-347 (S) 318 (S) 425 (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 No Quote No Quote No Quote

A study by University of California researchers states that cattle grazing is a cost-effective method to reduce the state’s fuel load to reduce wildfires. The study reports 1.8 million beef cows grazed on 19.4 million acres of rangeland in the state in 2017.

Grazing Continued from Page 11

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

management practices, such as cattle grazing along with other natural re- source objectives and management practices, including prescribed fire,” the UC researchers wrote. They noted that “our findings suggest that land managers can help balance out these dangers in grasslands by using livestock grazing to reduce fuel loads.” As wildfires become more common, cattle grazing must be targeted to help manage the severity of the fires. As cli- mate change increases fire danger, the UC researchers noted in their report, “this is occurring against the backdrop of the decline of the number of beef cows grazing in California.” Much of the grazing in the state is on public land, where policymakers could make fire prevention a high priority. “I think it’s public land managers that are thinking more about targeted grazing for fuel reduction,” Rao said. She said developing effective strate- gies is important, “especially where pub- lic lands are adjacent to or near to hous- ing developments.” (Bob Johnson is a reporter in Monterey County.He may be contacted at bjohn11135@gmail.com.)

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manage over 19.4 million acres of range- land statewide. That year, an estimated 1.8 million beef cattle grazed rangelands in California. Researchers say grazing provided a cost-effective method of reducing fuel loads. They noted, cattle grazing is so re- lied upon for reducing wildfire risk that it is a common feature in regional, state, county and agency management plans. “Since livestock grazing is already in widespread use for wildfire fuel man- agement in California, it is import- ant to understand in greater detail to what extent livestock reduce fuel loads across the state, including how this varies spatially,” the UC researchers wrote, adding that continued research is needed. They also noted that more studies have been done on grazing for fuel reduction for sheep and goats than cattle. Cattle grazing must be coordinated with other fuel management tools to optimize fire management, research- ers say. “To effectively reduce wildfire haz- ards, rangeland managers and plan- ners must strategically coordinate fuel

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

49-52

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No Quote 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

The Produce Safety Rule is Here; ARE YOU READY?

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The Food Safety Training Partnership is offering these training courses throughout California. You can find more information and register at

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foodsafetytrainingpartnership.com, or call 916-561-5672. Supported by California Department of Food and Agriculture

12 Ag Alert March 22, 2023