Ag Alert March 13, 2024

Ag Alert is the newspaper of the California Farm Bureau Federation, reaching Farm Bureau agricultural and collegiate members. Agricultural members are owners and decision-makers on California farms and ranches. The California Farm Bureau Federation is a non-governmental, non-profit, voluntary membership organization whose purpose is to protect and promote agricultural interests throughout the state of California and to find solutions to the problems of the farm, the farm home and the rural community. Farm Bureau is California's largest farm organization, comprised of 53 county Farm Bureaus. Farm Bureau strives to protect and improve the ability of farmers and ranchers engaged in production agriculture to provide a reliable supply of food and fiber through responsible stewardship of California's resources.

Climate-risk rule Farms urge state to follow SEC on disclosure requirements

Ag Alert is online at AgAlert.com next week The March 20 edition of Ag Alert ® will be the second of six online-only editions published in 2024. The other 40 editions of the newspaper appear online and in print. The next print issue will be published March 27.

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www.cfbf.com • www.agalert.com MARCH 13, 2024

Trees & Vines

special report

By Caleb Hampton California farmers are scaling down their processing tomato acreage this year as processors enter the planting season with boosted inventory. The state’s tomato processors planned to contract for 11.6 million tons this year, down about 10% from the 12.9 million tons they contracted for in 2023, according to a January report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Every grower for the most part has been reduced,” said Mike Montna, president and CEO of the California Tomato Growers Association. Planted acreage was project- ed to fall from 255,000 last year to 232,000 this year, according to USDA, with growers aiming to produce 50 tons per acre. In 2023, California growers harvested their largest tomato crop in several years after winter storms replenished water supplies. Processors looking to bolster in- ventory that was depleted during drought years paid a record-high price. After that crop, Morning Star, the state’s largest tomato processor, said in a December statement that “inventory levels have been buffered, and a respectable car- ryover stock is anticipated for 2024.” Meanwhile, experts in the sector report- ed softened demand for processed tomato products as consumer habits shifted in re- sponse to inflation. Individual growers and nurseries that supply tomato transplants reported scaling down tomato production by as much as 25% this year, depending on factors such as water availability and proximity to canner- ies. Some nurseries said acreage appeared to be down more steeply in the central and northern parts of the Central Valley. “A lot of the biggest processors are in the southern part of the state. With the acreage reduction, there’s a lot more flexibility for them to contract acres closer to their facilities to save on freight costs,” said Jonathan Deniz, product development manager for TS&L Seed Co. in Yolo County, See TOMATOES, Page 14 Farms cut tomato acres, await price as planting starts

Almond trees bloom at Nickels Soil Laboratory in Arbuckle, a working farm used for research. Because the farm relies on income from crop sales, it faces funding shortfalls as revenue drops and costs rise. It seeks financial support, such as for the fungicide being applied above, donated by Syngenta.

Research farm seeks help as income falls

By Ching Lee Use of micro-irrigation may be com- monplace in California orchard sys- tems today, but the practice of apply- ing precise water to individual plants rather than broadcasting with sprin- klers may not have taken off if not for the research trials conducted decades ago at the Nickels Soil Laboratory in Colusa County.

The privately owned research farm in Arbuckle is often credited with helping to propel the state’s tree nut industry to the powerhouse it is today. Through its demonstration research projects, Nickels showed growers management techniques that allowed them to produce higher yields on marginal soils. This led to dramatic ex- pansion in acreage and changed the agri- cultural landscape of the Central Valley.

Just as growers have faced tough times in recent years as the price of almonds and walnuts has plummeted, research funding for Nickels has depleted because of shrinking crop revenue. That’s because the so-called “soil lab” operates as a 200- acre working farm, sustaining its research largely through sales of almonds, walnuts and table olives.

See NICKELS, Page 19

n e w s p a p e r

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How California’s budget mess may harm agriculture

By Christopher Reardon California rightly celebrates its techno- logical innovations and cultural diversity, as well as its robust economic standing,

Supported Agriculture programs. Additionally, these areas often host agricultural research institutions, University of California Cooperative Extension services and innovation hubs that play a crucial role in advancing ag- ricultural practices in disseminating knowledge and supporting farmers with the latest technologies and research. We will know more about California’s budget picture when a revised state bud- get comes out in May. But Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal in January would cut statewide spending on water-re- lated programs from $8.7 billion in 2022 to $7.3 billion. Funding for water recycling and groundwater remediation would drop from $622 million to $348 million. Additionally, the proposal strips away $79 million from sustainable agriculture programs. It is important to consider potential impacts of the budget crisis on California agriculture and our rural communities. Agriculture is truly more than just one sector in the vast economy of the Golden State. It is a cornerstone and driving force in America’s agricultural landscape. From economic prosperity and job cre- ation to environmental stewardship and global influence, the importance of agri- culture in California extends far beyond farm fields. That is why a stable budget en- vironment that strikes a balance between current obligations and long-term invest- ment is important to all of us. As we celebrate the abundance that graces our tables, let us acknowledge and champion the farmers and agricultural communities that ensure our food supply and support a resilient future. (Christopher Reardon is director of governmental affairs for the California Farm Bureau. He may be contacted at creardon@cfbf.com.)

which approaches that of Germany, the world’s 4th- ranked economy. Agriculture is a key component of California’s eco- nomic engine, with its farm prowess ex- tending far beyond the Golden State. In 2022, California

Christopher Reardon

Farms fan out near the confluence of the Sacramento and Feather rivers. The California budget crisis could result in massive funding cuts in water programs and sustainable farming initiatives.

agricultural production totaled $59 bil- lion, up by $13.8 billion from 2017, with the state producing more than one-third of America’s vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts. The impact of this agricultural abun- dance of more than 400 crops—from leafy greens to almonds, citrus to winegrapes, strawberries to tomatoes—is profound. California agriculture is a critical driver of economic growth, providing jobs, income and stability, particularly in rural areas. Yet, California is currently in the throes of a budget mess—and that isn’t good news for the state’s critical agriculture sector. This year, the state is facing a $38 billion budget deficit that is expected to worsen. This is on top of a $31 billion fiscal deficit in 2023. While there is much to celebrate in California, there are storm clouds on the horizon related to fiscal mismanagement in Sacramento and potential future regula- tory requirements impacting our farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses. Continued budget deficits could affect issues such as the implementation of ze- ro-emission vehicles, electrification of farms and ensuring adequate resources

to keep investing in needed water manage- ment projects. The budget crisis could also impact future investment in research and innovation, which would limit advance- ments in crop technology that could en- hance future farming practices. Cuts are looming for the state’s Healthy Soils, Livestock Enteric Methane Emission Reduction, Pollinator Habitat and State Water and Efficiency and Enhancement programs. These monies provide grants to meet some of the challenges California agriculture is addressing on issues of water, air quality and climate change. It is important to provide continued support for these programs through the California Department of Food and Agriculture. This is because the preserva- tion of biodiversity, soil health and water quality is not just a goal but a fundamental aspect of California’s agricultural ethos, aligning with the state’s broader commit- ment to environmental sustainability. California’s commitment to farming practices sets a national standard for en- vironmental stewardship. Farmers in the state embrace innovative techniques, such

as precision agriculture and water conser- vation measures to ensure the responsible use of natural resources. In addition, connections between ag- riculture and surrounding communities foster a resilient economy, ensuring that prosperity extends beyond the farm gate. Besides the bounty of food produced by our farms and ranches, California agriculture supports employment in food processing, transportation, marketing and research. Agriculture contributes to the vitality of our communities, especially in rural California, where small towns provide the home base for many farms, ranches and agribusinesses. The economic livelihood of these communities is closely tied to the success of local agriculture. Agriculture often shapes the identity and culture of rural communities. The traditions, practices and festivals associated with farming contribute to a strong sense of community and shared values. These connections also extend between rural communities and local food systems, supporting farmers markets, farm-to-table initiatives and Community

VOL. 51, NO. 10

March 13, 2024

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2 Ag Alert March 13, 2024

Federal climate regulation softens risk disclosure rules

Newsom called the deadline for imple- mentation “infeasible,” and stated the reporting protocol could result in incon- sistent reporting. “I am concerned about the overall fi- nancial impact of this bill on businesses, so I am instructing CARB to closely mon- itor the cost impact as it implements this new bill and to make recommendations to streamline the program,” Newsom stated. Newsom also signed Senate Bill 261, the Climate‐Related Financial Risk Act, which requires companies doing business in California with more than $500 million in

annual revenue to submit reports that di- vulge how climate change threatens their business starting in 2026. The governor’s initial 2024-25 budget proposal pauses spending for implemen- tation of the two climate laws. “Farmers and ranchers are committed to addressing the challenges of climate change,” said Christopher Reardon, di- rector of governmental affairs for the California Farm Bureau. “But these regu- lations only increase the burdens to those

By Christine Souza California is the first state in the U.S. to pass laws that eventually require large cor- porations to publicly disclose greenhouse gas emissions and their climate risks. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission followed suit last week. But it approved a weakened federal regula- tion that drops a proposed requirement for companies to report emissions from their supply chains and customer use of their products. Since the federal rule was first proposed two years ago, the American Farm Bureau Federation, California Farm Bureau, busi- nesses groups, companies and others opposed the Scope 3 emissions reporting requirements. Scope 3 are indirect emis- sions that occur in the value chain, includ- ing upstream and downstream emissions. Opponents argued that compliance cost and difficulty providing the data would be a burden, especially for farmers, who pro- vide most raw products that go into the food supply chain. AFBF said in a statement the onerous reporting requirements could disquali- fy small, family-owned farms from doing business with public companies, putting those farms at risk of going out of busi- ness. The organization said, “Regulations intended for Wall Street should not extend to America’s family farms.” “Farmers are committed to protect- ing the natural resources they’ve been entrusted with, and they continue to ad- vance climate-smart agriculture, but they cannot afford to hire compliance officers just to handle SEC reporting require- ments,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “This is especially true for small farms that would have likely been squeezed out of the supply chain.” In addition to relaxing reporting of Scope 3 emissions, the federal rule reduc- es reporting requirements for Scope 1, or direct emissions, and Scope 2, indirect emissions from the production of energy a company acquires for use in its opera- tions. Companies are given discretion to report such emissions that they believe are significant. SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a state- ment the federal rule is specific on what companies must disclose and requires climate-risk disclosures to be included in a company’s SEC filings, such as an- nual reports. “These final rules build on past re- quirements by mandating material climate risk disclosures by public com- panies and in public offerings,” Gensler said. “The rules will provide investors with consistent, comparable and deci- sion-useful information, and issuers with clear reporting requirements.” With the approval of the federal rule, at- tention turns to California. Last fall, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, which applies to businesses with total annual revenues

exceeding $1 billion. The law requires the California Air Resources Board to develop and adopt the nation’s first requirements for large corporations to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, carbon in supply chains and climate risks by Jan. 1, 2025. In his Oct. 7, 2023, signing statement,

See CLIMATE, Page 13

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March 13, 2024 Ag Alert 3

Search for fresh herbs inspires greenhouse business By Cyndee Fontana-Ott

who introduced Pete’s Living Greens. Suzette and Leo first met on the job at Hollandia Flowers. As the daughter of a dentist and dental hygienist, Suzette Overgaag didn’t know much about green- houses or farming. “Coming from that kind of area and then going into this business was extremely dif- ferent and really cool,” she said. “The tradi- tions and culture the Dutch have—I feel so blessed to know and be a part of it.” The couple struck out on their own in the late 1980s with dreams of developing a family farm. They built a greenhouse and originally planned to plant roses—until they discovered it would cost six figures to buy the plants. The Overgaags switched to hothouse cu- cumbers until they could save enough cash for roses. Cucumbers, however, proved to be a strong crop while a flood of imports softened the market for roses. The couple grew cucumbers until im- ports began to eat into that market. Around the mid-1990s, they decided to search for another crop—and that’s when Suzette Overgaag had an epiphany about herbs. “What the stores need is herbs that stay fresher longer,” she told Leo. “Then the consumer has time to use them.” He embraced the idea and cleared

Nearly 30 years ago, Suzette Overgaag stared at fast-fading herbs from the gro- cery store and decided there should be a better option. She and her husband, Leo Overgaag, created North Shore Greenhouses, more familiarly known as North Shore Living, a business in the Coachella Valley that grows and sells living herbs and greens. Cultivated largely in two big, automated greenhouses, the 19 different varieties are sold with attached roots in pots and/or clamshell packaging. “It smells fresher, it tastes fresher and it looks fresher,” Suzette Overgaag said. “When you look at the difference between cut and bunched and living, it’s a different product completely.” From humble exploratory beginnings in a small greenhouse, North Shore has evolved into more than 10 acres of hydro- ponically grown greenhouse space and more than 130 employees. North Shore’s primary business is young, tender herbs such as basil, thyme, mint, sage and chives—all of which are showcased in recipes on its website. The Overgaags’ middle daughter, Brittney Bubb, is the creative director, a recipe de- veloper and website photographer. This greenhouse operation is located in Riverside County in Thermal. The company

North Shore Greenhouses span more than 10 acres and employ more than 130 people. The Coachella Valley facilities, founded by Suzette and Leo Overgaag, produce 19 different herbs.

uses sustainable practices ranging from so- lar power to reused water to geothermal en- ergy; it is recognized as a sustainable grower for its earth- and employee-friendly prac- tices, such as awarding scholarships to the children and grandchildren of employees. Much of the unique greenhouse technology draws on Leo Overgaag’s

expertise and family background. Both of his grandfathers owned greenhouse oper- ations in Holland; his father brought that knowledge to the United States when the family immigrated in the 1960s. The com- pany founded by Leo’s father, Hollandia Flowers, became Hollandia Produce and was later taken over by his brother, Pete,

See HERBS, Page 5

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4 Ag Alert March 13, 2024

Leo and Suzette Overgaag own North Shore Greenhouses, which grows young, tender herbs, which are sold with roots still attached for freshness. Basil is the company’s top seller.

Herbs Continued from Page 4

you start a process where they start wilting, drying out, decaying,” Leo Overgaag said. While cut herbs may only stay fresh for a few days after purchase, living herbs can last an average of one to two weeks. “You can use fresh herbs in your salad just like any green,” Suzette Overgaag said. “There’s just so many different ways that you can use them,” she said, adding this includes chopping and combining herbs with butter or adding to vinegars, oils, cocktails or water. “We are trying to come up with some better ways of com- municating that.” Another bonus is that many herbs of- fer health benefits. Some herbs are load- ed with antioxidants, help with digestion and are flavorful alternatives to extra salt, fat or sugar. For the company, the most popular herb is basil followed by mint, rosemary, thyme, dill and chives. Those are the top sellers, but North Shore also produces herbs such as sorrel, tarragon, lemon basil and mar- joram. “We try to innovate all the time,” Suzette Overgaag said. One new innovation is a product line called Counter Culture, a trio of different herbs packaged in a waterproof container. Customers can display the collection on the windowsill or counter and use what they need. The three varieties of herbs are generally timed to the season, Suzette Overgaag said. “I really wanted this new product to be sustainable,” she said. “It will actually last a long time, but you can throw it away and it is recyclable. That’s really important to me. You want to be as good a steward as you can be in providing a product.” (Cyndee Fontana-Ott is a contributing writer for California Bountiful ® , where this article first appeared in the January/ February 2024 issue.)

greenhouse space for a small yearlong pilot. “I wanted to go through all four sea- sons to make sure we wouldn’t have any surprises when we started growing them,” he said. Based on that success, the couple scaled up production to sell to retailers. The busi- ness continued to grow as Leo Overgaag harnessed and adapted the latest in green- house technology for use in the company. They built the first greenhouse specif- ically for herbs in 1999, and cucumbers were retired about a decade ago. In ad- dition to Bubb, the Overgaags’ other chil- dren—Ashley and Tony—also work at least part-time for the company. Most North Shore herbs are grown in two highly automated greenhouses pow- ered mostly by solar panels and warmed on cool nights by geothermal energy. Beneficial insects such as ladybugs, rath- er than pesticides, are the soldiers in pest control. The Overgaags said such mea- sures make sense both from a business and sustainability standpoint. The company germinates plants from seed. In the two main greenhouses, seed- lings are placed individually into 25-foot- long gutters that move along a mechanized system. The plants are touched only a few times by human hands. Crops are grown hydroponically—in peat moss rather than soil—and use roughly 70% less water than field crops. Any leftover drops are recycled. During the growth cycle, herbs are tend- ed and slowly moved from one side of the greenhouse to the other signaling they are ready for harvest. They are then packaged, sorted and prepared for shipment. The Overgaags said there is plenty of difference between cut and living herbs. “As soon as you cut the stems off the plant,

A SPECIAL GROWERS’ REPORT OF AG ALERT ® CALIFORNIA Trees & Vines

Researchers advise on treatments for nut pest threats By Bob Johnson Growers of California nut crops, including pistachios, face a new threat from Carpophilus truncatus, a beetle species that University of California researchers say has been discovered in every county in the San Joaquin Valley.

UC researchers are working on guides to help nut growers identify Carpophilus beetles but have not begun work to establish management practices or treatment thresholds. The pest is not the only threat California researchers are targeting. Wilson is part of a team working on a trap for leaf-footed pests, which are usually out of the orchard before damage is visible. One of those insects, Gill’s mealybug, has been a familiar pest in pistachios for a quarter century. Mealybugs reduce yields in infested clusters. “The more mealybugs you have, the smaller your kernels because the mealybugs use carbohydrates that would have helped the nuts grow,” said David Haviland, UCCE farm advisor in Kern County. Management strategies are changing because buyers in the European market will not accept use of neonicotinoids, which can be harmful to bees. “Centaur is viable if your nuts are not going to the European Union,” he said. Haviland suggested a treatment threshold based on the expected yield and price, the cost of treatment and the number of mealybugs early in the season. He suggested if the expected yield is 3,000 pounds an acre at $2 per pound and spring monitoring shows one See PESTS, Page 7

Populations of an exotic insect that can drill through nut shells and lay eggs, producing larvae that feast on pistachio, almond and walnut kernels, are spreading throughout the San Joaquin Valley. “We have documented infestations in almonds, pistachios and walnuts, and in every county in the San Joaquin Valley,” said Houston Wilson, associate University of California Cooperative Extension specialist at UC Riverside. Wilson offered an overview on the challenge as nut crop researchers discussed insect pests during the Pistachio Industry Annual Conference in Monterey last month. The new beetle pest could prove particularly difficult to control. “Australians have been dealing with Carpophilus for 10 years,” Wilson said. “Chemical controls are difficult because of coverage issues.” The Carpophilus beetle is a known pest of almonds in Australia, where growers have been dealing with infestations for almost a decade. Other reports indicate similar Carpophilus beetles infesting walnuts in Argentina and Italy. Orchard sanitation is an important management tool, but Australian farmers found that Carpophilus beetles emerged even from mummies buried 3 feet below the orchard floor.

6 Ag Alert March 13, 2024

Pests Continued from Page 6 mealybug every 10 clusters, a $60 applica- tion would pencil out. “In late March, the crawlers move to- ward the new food, and this is your first op- portunity to control,” Haviland said. “Late May or early June is your second chance to control.” It is essential to avoid spreading mealy- bugs with the use of equipment. “On their own, a mealybug does not move more than a tree a year,” Haviland said. “Clean your equipment.” Navel orangeworms are the most im- portant pest in pistachios because they damage the nuts directly and increase the rate of the toxic fungus aflatoxin. Researchers say preliminary studies on the use of cover crops and sheep grazing are showing promise as additional tools to combat the emergence of this pest from mummies on the orchard floor. A combination of pheromone mating disruption, monitoring and selective pes- ticide applications can also reduce navel orangeworm to acceptable levels. Pheromones and sanitation go a long way toward managing the pest, but there are limits. “If you want to do a program with less spraying, you’re going to spend more money on monitoring,” said Joel Siegel, entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Spraying saves time.” “There was a correlation between cover crop biomass and reduced emergence of navel orangeworms from mummies on the orchard floor,” Wilson said. “We also found a reduction in mummies where sheep grazed. It was positive data, and we want to pursue this.” Bob Klein, manager of the California Pistachio Research Board, recalled the steps the industry has taken since he start- ed a quarter century ago. “We had 200 growers then and now we have 1,600,” Klein said. “One of the prob- lems was we didn’t have many research people to work on pistachios.” The meteoric growth of tree nuts this century means there is always a source of food for navel orangeworms. “When I got here, sanitation was known to be important for navel orangeworm,” Klein said. “Because of all the acres we have in almonds and pistachios, we have a landscape change in management.” Areawide control of navel orangeworm has become essential because different varieties of almonds and pistachios are vulnerable to damage at different times during the season. “Late August to October is when pis- tachios are typically vulnerable to navel orangeworms,” Siegel said. “You have to be really good on your damage in September because it’s going to double or triple in October.” For the nonpareil almonds, researchers said infestations in the spring are more likely to cause crop damage. (Bob Johnson is a reporter in Monterey County. He may be contacted at bjohn11135@gmail.com.)

Navel orangeworm, left, emerges from mummies on orchard floors to damage nut crops. The Carpophilus beetle, below, drills through shells and lays eggs in nuts.

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March 13, 2024 Ag Alert 7

Ex-cop and a nurturing nursery forge a bonsai bond By Linda DuBois

from physical and emotional disabilities. Nanson also accompanies Nagatoshi on travels to the world’s largest bonsai events and nurseries and to Japan to learn from the world’s greatest masters. At the nursery, those new to bonsai can find everything they need to get started, such as the seedlings, pruners, wires, pots, fertilizers and soil mixes. Occasionally, Nagatoshi buys seedling trees from other nurseries, but often he starts new plants with cuttings from his older plants or seeds he’s collected. He teaches weekly workshops at the nursery and sometimes teaches abroad in places such as Mexico, South Africa, South America, Australia and New Zealand. Participants bring their own plants and can ask for advice from Nagatoshi and more advanced students. Nagatoshi designs his classes so each student will learn to take any plant—even one dug up from a backyard—and mold it into a beautiful bonsai. His No. 1 tip? “Patience is very import- ant,” he said. “Some people picture grab- bing a plant and turning it into a bonsai the next day. It takes many years sometimes to develop into a nice bonsai. “There are a lot of technical things to learn,” he said, but, like his father, he doesn’t adhere to strict rules.

At Fuji Bonsai Nursery in the Sylmar community of Los Angeles, nursery own- er Roy Nagatoshi teaches classes on the basics of working with bonsais, miniature trees that caretakers keep small by growing them in pots and trimming their roots and turn into living art pieces through thought- ful pruning and shaping. He instructs visitors on how and where to cut the bonsai branches and how to fer- tilize the tree, trim the roots, repot it and wire the branches to shape it. Along the way, he encourages his nursery class stu- dents to relax and concentrate on nothing but appreciating and nurturing the trees in front of them. One of his longtime students is Gary Nanson, a former South Central Los Angeles homicide detective. In the early 1980s, Nanson stopped into the nursery when he was in Sylmar to conduct a search warrant nearby. Shigeru Nagatoshi, Roy Nagatoshi’s father who founded the nurs- ery in 1965, greeted Nanson. They struck up a conversation, and the elder Nagatoshi, who has since passed away, seemed to sense that the police vet- eran needed relief from stress. He invited him to return to the nursery on a Saturday, for what turned out to be a bonsai class. “Shig walked up to me and said, ‘Policeman, your life is awful. You need calmness in your life. Sit here,’” Nanson

Former homicide detective Gary Nanson, far right, and Los Angeles County nursery operator Roy Nagatoshi, center, have partnered for decades in extolling spiritual benefits of raising bonsai trees.

recalled. “He put a little tree in front of me. He said, ‘First bonsai tree. Keep it your whole life.’” To this day, when Nanson works on a bonsai, he said, “My soul just kind of qui- ets. The world slows down. I’ve also come to appreciate that not only are we creating beautiful artwork, but we’re also growing something, a natural tree that can last 100 years or longer.

“When I collect or grow a tree, I look to see how it bends, where the strength is, where the front is and how I can display it. I ask a lot of questions and look at it for a long time before I start messing with it.” Nanson stayed involved with the nurs- ery long after Roy Nagatoshi took over in 1998. The two became good friends and, eventually, Roy Nagatoshi entrust- ed Nanson with leading Saturday bonsai classes for military veterans who suffer

See BONSAI, Page 17

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8 Ag Alert March 13, 2024

Grants offered to help farms sell healthy foods to schools

County, a past grant recipient, said in a statement that the farm “feels strongly about providing healthy, nutrient-dense organic food for our community.” “We feel very happy the schools are highlighted for this cause and are thrilled to be a part of this program and to contrib- ute,” the statement noted. The CDFA Office of Farm to Fork received funding through the California Budget Acts of 2020, 2021 and 2022 to establish and continue the California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program. The program awarded $8.5 million to 60 farm-to-school

projects in 2021 and $25.5 million to 120 projects in 2022. CDFA Farm to School Program staff is conducting weekly Zoom sessions about the grant program request for applications. People may register for the Zoom sessions via the links under “Grant Info Sessions & Weekly Q&A Sessions” at www.cdfa. ca.gov/caf2sgrant/. To apply or register for informational webinars, visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/ caf2sgrant/. For more information or assistance, email cafarmtoschool@ cdfa.ca.gov.

To advance farm-to-school projects statewide, the California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork announced it is accepting applications for up to $52.8 million in grant funding. The deadline to apply for the 2023-24 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program is April 4. Through a competitive grant process, funds are available through multiple fund- ing tracks: Track 1, the California Farm to School TK-12 Procurement and Education Grant; Track 2, the California Farm to School Technical Assistance Grant; Track 3, the California Farm to Early Care and Education Grant; and Track 4, the California Farm to School Producer Grant. The amount of funds awarded depends on the number of applications received. The California Farm to School Producer Grant is for food producers and pub- lic-serving distribution enterprises to sell California-grown or -produced foods to the state’s school food market. Farmers are encouraged to apply for producer grant funding for the program, which helps build economic connections between farms and schools while enhancing healthy food of- ferings for students. “Our Farm to School Incubator Grant Program offers a triple bottom-line win for farmers, local economies and kids,” CDFA Secretary Karen Ross said in a statement. “Farmers win in developing lasting rela- tionships with local schools and students, local economies win in school food pro- curement dollars staying closer to home, and kids win through gaining the nutrition of California-grown or -produced food.” To be eligible for program grants, ap- plicants must show evidence of an estab- lished relationship with each California School Food Authority or childcare center operator of the Child and Adult Care Food Program to which they intend to sell food. Grant funding prioritizes small to mid-sized food producers, military vet- erans and socially disadvantaged or

limited-resource food producers. The program also focuses on producers us- ing climate-smart agriculture practices and systems including certified organic or transitioning to certified organic, or other regenerative approaches. McGrath Family Farmers Inc. in Ventura

www.californiabountiful.com LOCAL STATIONS KOTR/My11 Salinas/Monterey Sat. 5 p.m. KSBY/6 Santa Barbara/ Sat. 6:30 p.m. San Luis Obispo KVPT/18 Fresno/Visalia Sun. 11:30 a.m. SATELLITE TV RFD-TV: Dish Ch. 231, DirecTV Ch. 345 Sun. 8 a.m.* A Farm Bureau Production

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March 13, 2024 Ag Alert 9

California Farm Bureau proudly endorses Nationwide ® for insurance and financial services

Farm Bureau thanks the following Nationwide appointed agents * for their support

Not all listed agents may offer both insurance and financial services

ALTURAS BILL MADISON - MODOC INSURANCE SERVICES 530-233-3432 #0551952 ALTURAS DOLBY INSURANCE SERVICES 530-233-2616 #055006 ANGELS CAMP SANGUINETTI & CO INSURANCE BROKERS 209-736-2200 #0552394 APTOS SCURICH INSURANCE SERVICES 831-661-5697 #0436405 BAKERSFIELD CLIFFORD & BRADFORD INSURANCE 661-283-8100 #0673141 BAKERSFIELD WALTER MORTENSEN INSURANCE/ MURRAYS COUNTRYSIDE INSURANCE SERVICES INC. 800-210-3276 #0H85347 CHICO AVRIT INSURANCE AGENCY 530-891-1302 #0F06687 CHICO DAHLMEIER INSURANCE AGENCY INC. 530-342-6421 #0F89850 CHICO SWEENEY & SELLAND INSURANCE SERVICES 530-487-8200 #8421174 CHOWCHILLA PACIFIC AG INSURANCE 559-665-3434 #0C84245 INSURICA CA 661-834-6222 #0D44424 CALIFORNIA

CITRUS HEIGHTS MURRAYS COUNTRYSIDE INSURANCE SERVICES INC. 916-659-9030 # 0H85347 CLEMENTS MURRAYS COUNTRYSIDE INSURANCE SERVICES INC. 209-727-2083 # 0H85347 COLUSA CCI INSURANCE SERVICES, INC. 530-458-8831 #0I13157 CORCORAN PACIFIC AG INSURANCE 559-992-1245 #084245 CRESCENT CITY WESTERN VALLEY INSURANCE ASSOCIATES, INC. 707-465-5999 #0649647 FRESNO BARLOCKER INSURANCE SERVICES 559-431-3380 #0134713 FRESNO DALENA/BENIK & ASSOCIATES 559-448-9580 #253862 HANFORD JAMES G. PARKER INSURANCE & ASSOCIATES 559-589-2221 #0554959 HANFORD PACIFIC AG INSURANCE 559-584-3391 #611681 HOLTVILLE COOPERSWEST INSURANCE AGENCY 760-356-2986

LOS BANOS WESTERN VALLEY INSURANCE ASSOCIATES, INC. 209-826-5667 #0649647 MANTECA BASI INSURANCE A DIVSION OF HUB INTERNATIONAL 209-823-6886 #075776 MARYSVILLE FARM WEST INSURANCE SERVICES 530-741-0441 #0B99774 MERCED BARLOCKER INSURANCE SERVICES 209-383-0220 #134714 MERCED FLUETSCH & BUSBY INSURANCE 209-722-1541 #0358327 OAKDALE BASI INSURANCE A DIVSION OF HUB INTERNATIONAL 209-847-3065 #075776 OAKDALE STEWART KRIESE INSURANCE AGENCY INC. 209-847-8025 #0F60672 OROVILLE DAHLMEIER INSURANCE AGENCY INC. 530-533-3424 #0F89850 PETALUMA DON RAMATICI INSURANCE INC. 707-782-9200 #0449871 PORTERVILLE WALTER MORTENSEN INSURANCE/

STOCKTON SANGUINETTI & CO. INSURANCE BROKERS 800-350-7700 #0552394 TRACY DENNIS ALEGRE INS. AGENCY, INC. 209-835-7663 #0E44203 TURLOCK WESTERN VALLEY INSURANCE ASSOCIATES, INC. 209-634-9031 #0649647 TURLOCK WINTON-IRELAND, STROM & GREEN INSURANCE AGENCY 800-790-4875 #0596517 WILLOWS DAHLMEIER INSURANCE AGENCY INC. 530-934-3361 #0F89850 WILLOWS HUTSON INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 530-934-7500 #0H65133 WOODLAND ARMSTRONG & ASSOCIATES INS. SERVICES 530-668-2777 #0B50501 WOODLAND JACK CRAMER INSURANCE 530-662-1076 #0684453 YUBA CITY FARM WEST INSURANCE SERVICES 530-741-0441 #0B99774 YUBA CITY MURRAYS COUNTRYSIDE INSURANCE SERVICES INC. 530-645-6259 # 0H85347 YUBA CITY ROSE INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 530-673-8862 #0553715

#0E32771 LIVE OAK BUTTES INSURANCE AGENCY 530-695-2151 #0530743

INSURICA CA 559-781-5200 #0D44424 SHINGLE SPRINGS

MURRAYS COUNTRYSIDE INSURANCE SERVICES INC. 530-676-6442 #0H85347

* Agents: Want to show your support of Farm Bureau? Call CAFB at 916-561-5570 to learn how to participate in future ads.