Ag Alert March 13, 2024

Tomatoes Continued from Page 1

As of Monday, CTGA was still negoti- ating with processors on pricing for this year’s crop. The price was expected to come down from the record $138 per ton processors paid last year. In 2022, the price was $105 per ton. “We have to find the right balance be- tween (lower demand) and still reflecting the risk of growing tomatoes,” Montna said. Compared to some field crops, tomatoes are expensive to grow and come with great- er risks, including heat stress, rain events, and pest and disease pressures. And as with other crops, input costs have surged. From 2017 to 2023, the cost of planting, growing and harvesting processing to- matoes increased 76%, rising to around $6,000 per acre, according to a study by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Nurseries, which have also seen input costs rise, said they were selling tomato transplants this year for 5% to 8% more than last year. The companies were impacted last year by the increased cost of natural gas, which they use to heat their greenhouses. Gas prices have declined, but “everything else has gone up,” Nicks said. For farmers, making planting decisions before tomato pricing is settled “is not ideal, but it does happen,” said Yerxa, who serves as a CTGA board member. Having ordered his transplants in January, he added he was counting on negotiators to arrive at a price “that’s appropriate for the growing season.” With tomato plantings down, other crops are expected to make up the acre- age. Yerxa said he plans to grow a mix of cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe and squash on the ground he took out of toma- to production. He said he expected other tomato farmers might plant more safflow- er, corn and cotton this year. “Each ranch has their own things they can and can’t do,” he said. (Caleb Hampton is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at champton@cfbf.com.)

which supplies tomato transplants to farmers across the state. Nicole Nicks, general manager at Westside Transplant in Merced County, said farmers in water districts that rely on the federal Central Valley Project were planting “a little bit less acreage” than growers in other areas because of uncer- tain water allocations. “When there’s a little bit more water available, we might still see an increase in acres planted,” Nicks said, referring to expectations that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation could increase water alloca- tions this spring for farmers. Some ground that was taken out of tomato production last year after flooding refilled the historic Tulare Lake dried out and was ready to be farmed again, Montna said. Otherwise, he said he expected tomato acreage would be reduced “pretty much across the board.”

California farmers delivered one of the state’s largest tomato crops in recent years to processors last year. With bolstered inventory, processors contracted less tomato acreage from farms this year.

Industry professionals said processors appear to be shifting delivery schedules earlier in the year to avoid risks that can impact crop quality at the tail end of har- vest season and to minimize spending

on late-season premiums processors pay farmers to compensate for those risks. “They’ve cut the tonnage from the late deliveries,” Deniz said, adding that he ex- pected many canneries could be done pro- cessing tomatoes by mid-October. Last spring, widespread flooding de- layed plantings, and cool weather led to a late harvest that extended into November. Growers and nurseries said planting conditions looked better this year. “The biggest difference from last year to this year is going to be the weather and our ability to get the crop going on time,” said Erik Wilson, northern sales representative for AgSeeds Unlimited in Yolo County, which supplies and plants tomato trans- plants. “Weather can be unpredictable, but in general, it looks more favorable.” Planting began at the southern end of the valley in late February and is expected to begin around March 18 at the northern end of the valley, according to growers and nurseries. Mitchell Yerxa, who grows tomatoes and other crops in Colusa and Sutter counties, said he was contracted to grow 850 acres of processing tomatoes this year, down from 1,000 acres last year.

WARM UP WITH PRE-SEASON SAVINGS! 0% FOR 60 MONTHS 1 OR A FREE LOADER. 2 WARM UP WITH PRE-SEASON SAVINGS! 0% FOR 60 MONTHS 1 OR A FREE LOADER. 2

STEP INTO GREATER COMFORT—AND SAVE. Make short work of your to-do list with a New Holland WORKMASTER™ or Boomer™ compact tractor. Buy now and warm up with pre-season savings, like 0% financing for 60 months 1 or a FREE loader 2 . Whatever model you choose, you’ll get efficient power in a naturally comfortable, easy-to-operate design. Hurry, offers end March 31, 2024. Stop in today for complete details or visit nhoffers.com STEP INTO GREATER COMFORT—AND SAVE. Make short work of your to-do list with a New Holland WORKMASTER™ or Boomer™ compact tractor. Buy now and warm up with pre-season savings, like 0% financing for 60 months 1 or a FREE loader 2 . Whatever model you choose, you’ll get efficient power in a naturally comfortable, easy-to-operate design. Hurry, offers end March 31, 2024. Stop in today for complete details or visit nhoffers.com Dealership Name Main Street Address, City, ST Zip www.dealer.url.com 000.000.0000 MADERA GARTON TRACTOR INC. 559-674-2496 www.gartontractor.com FAIRFIELD GARTON TRACTOR INC. 707-425-9545 www.gartontractor.com FRESNO GARTON TRACTOR INC. 559-485-9090 www.gartontractor.com MERCED N&S TRACTOR 209-383-5888 www.nstractor.com

MODESTO GARTON TRACTOR INC. 209-538-0911 www.gartontractor.com STOCKTON GARTON TRACTOR INC. 209-948-5401 www.gartontractor.com TURLOCK GARTON TRACTOR INC. 209-632-3931 www.gartontractor.com

NEWMAN GARTON TRACTOR INC. 209-862-3760 www.gartontractor.com

SANTA ROSA GARTON TRACTOR INC. 707-586-1790 www.gartontractor.com TULARE GARTON TRACTOR INC. 559-686-0054 www.gartontractor.com WOODLAND GARTON TRACTOR INC. 530-615-2828 www.gartontractor.com

STRATFORD N&S TRACTOR 559-947-3301 www.nstractor.com

UKIAH GARTON TRACTOR INC. 707-468-5880 www.gartontractor.com

1 For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Eligible equipment limited to dealer inventory in stock. Previous retail sales are not eligible. Down payment may be required. Offer good through March 31, 2024. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. standard terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Taxes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. 2 For commercial use only. Receive a free new, New Holland loader (up to a $6,250 value) with the purchase of a new, New Holland WORKMASTER™ compact tractor or Boomer™ compact tractor. Offer applies to eligible products purchased by March 31, 2024 at participating New Holland dealers. Offer is nontransferable. Offer subject to change or cancellation by CNH Industrial at its discretion. ©2024 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Eligible equipment limited to dealer inventory in stock. Previous retail sales are not eligible. Down payment may be required. Offer good through March 31, 2024. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. standard terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Taxes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not in- cluded in suggested retail price. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. 2 For commercial use only. Receive a free new, New Holland loader (up to a $6,250 value) with the purchase of a new, New Holland WORKMASTER™ compact tractor or Boomer™ compact tractor. Offer applies to eligible products purchased by March 31, 2024 at participating New Holland dealers. Offer is nontransferable. Offer subject to change or cancellation by CNH Industrial at its discretion. ©2024 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

14 Ag Alert March 13, 2024