Ag Alert. August 24, 2022

California milking herds have been declining since 2014, even as cow numbers were growing nationally. Analysts say regulations and rising land values contribute to the trend, with young people choosing not to go into dairy farming.

Feed Continued from Page 11

In their presentation at the Western Alfalfa and Forage Symposium in Reno last November, they reported that California’s milking herd has largely been declining since 2014. They said the California trend was inconsistent with the pattern nationally, which saw cow numbers grow during the same period.

There are many reasons for the state’s declining number of dairy cows: urban encroachment, rising land values, strict environmental regulations and a growing number of young people from dairy fami- lies deciding there are easier ways to make a living, Sousa and LaMendola said. They noted another major reason is California dairies’ heavy reliance on purchased feed, which costs more in California than in the Midwest. While rising feed costs have not yet trig- gered a widespread move to reduce dairy herd sizes in California, the situation is volatile, Sousa and LaMendola said. “A lot of things go into the decision to reduce herd sizes—feed prices, milk pric- es and demand for milk,” Sousa said. Dairy farmers in the Midwest grow more of their own feed and commonly have enough to sell the excess. Sousa’s family is among California pro- ducers who are able to grow more of the feed needed for its operation. “We grow a lot of our own feed in Stanislaus County, and that has helped insulate us,” he said. Feed alternatives to corn also have

79720 “It lowers the feed cost quite a bit,” Higginbotham said. “But that feed is in short supply because they are sending it to the Central Valley.” (Bob Johnson is a reporter in Monterey County. He may be contacted at bjohn11135@gmail.com.) What you see: One of Higginbotham’s clients, Moonglow Dairy in Moss Landing, reduc- es costs by feeding cows broccoli, straw- berries and artichokes from local fields, and apple pulp from the Martinelli’s pro- cessing plant in Watsonville. What you see: become more expensive over the past year. The price of alfalfa this year has been as much as 35% higher than last year and 50% above the five-year average. Soybean prices have been 18% more than a year ago and 37% above the five- year average. Higginbotham cautioned dairy farm- ers not to try to save a few dollars by pur- chasing lower-quality forage. “You should focus on forage quality. The more digestible the forage, the less other feed you have to buy,” he advised. “If you can maximize forage quality, you can save a few dollars.” What we see:

Late last year, Sousa and Western United Dairies Director of Economic Analysis Tiffany LaMendola cautioned that reliance on feed grown in the Midwest was the industry’s Achilles’ heel, causing dairies to grow more slowly in California than other production areas.

What

The Produce Safety Rule is Here; ARE YOU READY?

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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. ALL TRAININGS BEGIN AT 8 AM September 7, 15 and 21:

California Farm Bureau Harvest Room 2600 River Plaza Drive, Sacramento October 5: Glenn County Farm Bureau 831 5th Street, Orland November 15: Yolo County Farm Bureau 69 West Kentucky Ave., Woodland

What you see:

What we see:

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.

What you see:

What we see:

Purina ® Omolene ® Fee The textured feed you’ Keep your horse perfo nutritious fuel sources for gastric support and retailer, or visit purinam

Purina ® Omolene ® Feeds, now with Outlast ® Supplement. The textured feed you’re used to has changed for the better. Keep your horse performing with confidence with the same nutritious fuel sources, now with Outlast ® Supplement for gastric support and proper pH. Talk to your local Purina retailer, or visit purinamills.com/omolene © 2019 Purina Animal Nutrition LLC. All rights reserved. Feed shown is Omolene ® 200 Horse Feed. Other feeds may vary.

Purina ® Omolene ® Feeds, now with Outlast ® Supplement. The textured feed you’re used to has changed for the better. Keep your horse performing with condence with the same nutritious fuel sources, now with Outlast ® Supplement for gastric support and proper pH. Talk to your local Purina retailer, or visit purinamills.com/omolene

HALF MOON BAY HALF MOON BAY FEED & FUEL 650-726-4814 hmbfeedandfuel.com

HANFORD SANCHEZ FEED & SEED 559-582-1787 Find us on Facebook!

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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

12 Ag Alert August 24, 2022

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