Environmental Information for the
California Almond Industry

Almond Industry Headline Environmental News  Oct. 30, 2007

   Air Quality

  • Air Quality Regulations in Development for On-Road Diesel Trucks - - Newly proposed air quality regulations could dramatically alter the fleet of heavy-duty diesel trucks on California’s roads and highways, including those used to transport harvested agricultural products such as almonds. The California Air Resources Board is proposing new regulations on diesel-powered on-road heavy duty trucks in California to reduce air pollution causing emissions. The new regulations would move the Air Board toward achieving mandates in the California Diesel Risk Reduction Plan to reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter (<PM2.5) and ozone forming nitrogen oxide (NOx). The plan was adopted in 2000 and calls for a 75-percent reduction in particulate matter emissions by 2010, and an 85 percent reduction by 2020. <more> November 2007 California Almonds Newsletter  
     

  • Grower input is critical on proposed new soil fumigant restrictions - - By Gabriele Ludwig, Senior Manager, Global Technical & Regulatory Affairs, Almond Board of California. Proposed new state and federal regulations could have immediate and far-reaching effects on how and to what extent preplant soil fumigants are used in almonds and other California crops. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Pesticide Regulation are currently seeking public comment on two separate proposed soil fumigant regulations. These rules are likely to limit fumigant use during certain periods and require new application methods and mitigation measures. Most critical in the short term, DPR has proposed rules to sharply reduce soil fumigant air emissions that are thought to contribute to smog-forming ozone in areas with poor air quality, which includes the San Joaquin Valley, Southeast Desert and Ventura County. The regulations must be issued by Jan. 1, 2008 to bring DPR in compliance with a federal judge’s ruling last fall. <more> Oct. 12,2007 Western Farm Press
     

  • State air board approves new air-quality measures. Plan should help farmers meet future emissions deadlines - - The California Air Resources Board has approved its 2007 State Implementation Plan to improve air quality and announced new measures that should work to help farmers meet future deadlines in cutting emissions. At a Sept. 27 meeting in Diamond Bar, the board approved two regional plans to help meet federal mandates for emissions standards for the South Coast and the San Joaquin Valley. Both plans focus on ground-level ozone and particulate matter emissions. Target dates for compliance are 2014 for PM 2.5 and 2023 for ground-level ozone in areas like the San Joaquin Valley that are federally designated as "extreme" for air pollution. The federal ozone attainment deadline remains at 2023 for the San Joaquin Valley, but new Air Resources Board proposals will fast-track efforts to reach 90 percent compliance by 2018. <more> Oct. 11, 2007 Capital Press
     

  • Ludwig Selected to CURES Board - - The Almond Board of California's Gabriele Ludwig has been selected to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Coalition for Urban/Rural Environmental Stewardship (CURES). CURES is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 to support educational efforts focusing on the proper and judicious use of pest control products. The group’s mission includes education and implementation of practical measures in the field and home to reduce the impact of inputs on water quality. The Almond Board has been a long-time supporter of CURES and its activities. November  2007 California Almonds Newsletter
     

  • Almond Industry Looks at Climate Change Regulations - - New regulations are likely to drive agriculture toward sustainable farming practices focused on reducing the impacts of energy and fertilizer use on greenhouse gas emissions. AB 32, passed by the state legislature in 2007, mandates a 25-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, reducing current emissions to pre-1990 levels. Production agriculture has been identified as the fourth largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the state. While 80 percent of current statewide greenhouse gasses come from energy consumption, researchers and regulators believe production agriculture contributes 8.4 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in California. Already, grower groups are looking for ways to develop and incorporate sustainable farming practices that may have a positive impact on those estimated greenhouse gasses. <more> Sept. 13, 2007 California Almond News
     

  • Valley NRCS air quality specialist earns national award for efforts - - John Beyer, state air quality coordinator with the Natural resources Conservation service in Fresno, has been awarded the USDA’s Secretary 2007 Honor Award for protecting and enhancing the nation’s natural resources base and environment. The announcement was made by Acting USDA Secretary Chuck Conner at a recent ceremony in Washington DC.  Beyer was cited for his work in successfully pioneering agricultural air quality conservation measures in California that offer technical and policy models to USDA conservationists nationwide. “John Beyer was called upon to do something new for NRCS: find ways for California’s agricultural community to improve air quality in a way that would satisfy federal and state regulators and was acceptable to producer,” said NRCS State Conservationist Ed Burton. Beyer’s efforts have been especially noteworthy in programs that have helped farmers achieve compliance regarding PM-10 emissions. “His work has resulted in 6,000 farmers implementing conservation measures that removed 130,000 tons of emissions from the sky,” said Burton. “His work also meant cleaner air in a geographic location that reports one of the highest incidences of respiratory disease in the U.S.” A resident of Madera, Beyer is retiring this month after working for NRCS since 1971. Oct. 16, 2007 NRCS Press Release
     

Water Quality

  • Almond Board of California Hosts Water Availability Seminar Nov. 13 in Modesto - - The Almond Board of California on Nov. 13 in Modesto is hosting a panel of experts to discuss water availability issues facing the Central Valley.  Recent court decisions related to protecting the endangered Delta Smelt in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and restoring salmon to the San Joaquin River—coupled with drought and population growth in California—are putting unprecedented strain on the future availability of agricultural surface water. This seminar will provide an opportunity for growers to learn from the experts just how these water challenges will affect California agriculture and the almond industry in particular. Speakers for this event will include: * Mike Wade, Executive Director, CA. Farm Water Coalition, presenting the statewide perspective on the water issues;* Todd Manley, Director, Government Relations Northern California Water Association, discussing the Sacramento Valley perspective; * Bill Harrison, General Manager, Del Puerto Water District, presenting the North San Joaquin Valley perspective; * Jim Beck, General Manager, Kern County Water Agency, discussing the issues affecting water availability for the South San Joaquin Valley. The seminar will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007 from 1-4 p.m. at the State Theatre of Modesto, 1307 J Street.  If you are interested in understanding how water issues affect you, please R.S.V.P. your interest in attending by e-mailing Debye Hunter at dhunter@almondboard.com or by calling her at 209.343.3230.  Please respond by Nov.  1, 2007.  The Almond Board of California administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture.  Established in 1950, the Board’s charge is to promote the best quality almonds, California’s largest tree nut crop.  For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit www.AlmondsAreIn.com. Oct. 24, 2007 Almond Board of California Press Release

Endangered Species

  • EPA Updates Website on Pesticides and Endangered Species Protection Program - - U.S. EPA has updated and redesigned its Pesticides and Endangered Species Protection Program website to make it easier for visitors to find relevant information about the program and to reflect enforceable limitations on pesticides that will be put in place through its Endangered Species Protection Program (ESPP).  Visit http://www.epa.gov/espp/ to view the website that now includes a more streamlined interface and more visible and useful links on the homepage, allowing the user to quickly navigate through the many different topics.  Topics include: Endangered Species Protection Bulletins; Risk Assessment; Effects Determinations, and Species Information Aug. 28, 2007 EPA Press Release
     

Crop Protection

  • New Lab Methods Speed Testing of Fumigant Emissions - - A simpler, quicker way to track pesticide emissions from agricultural fields has been devised by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. Using low-cost laboratory tests and mathematical models, research leader Scott Yates and colleagues at the U.S. Salinity Laboratory in Riverside, Calif., are able to evaluate--and even predict--fumigant emissions. With a ban looming on methyl bromide, a pre-plant soil fumigant widely used by fruit and vegetable growers, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulators are evaluating various emissions-lowering fumigation alternatives. Each potential methyl bromide replacement will require its own set of regulations, based on findings from complex field studies. <more> Oct. 4, 2007 ARS Press Release 
     

  • Dispelling myths swirling around pesticides - - By Richard Cornett, WPHA Communications Director. It’s kind of interesting to note the items you come across on the Internet while searching for other things. For instance, while doing research on pesticides I ran across an article by John Stossel of “20/20” TV fame. You might know Stossel — he’s the in-your-face reporter who has a way of boiling down controversies into their essential ingredients and then confronting the interviewee with simple straight talk and direct questions. He’s also a New York Times best-selling author who has a popular book out called “Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity.” It was the excerpts from the book that I found fascinating, especially the segment about myths dealing with pesticides. In one portion there’s an interview with Dr. Bruce Ames, who is a UC Berkeley professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center. This seemed rather odd to me because most people attending this liberal enclave are perceived to be staunch environmentalists who would like nothing better than to see pesticides banished entirely from Mother Earth. <more> Oct. 16, 2007 Western Farm Press

General Industry News

  • 2007 almond crop - excellent quality nuts, good yields, and no reported thefts - - In a nutshell, the 2007 California almond season now winding down included good growing weather, minimal disease and pest pressures, decent prices, good to superior quality nuts, and no reported almond thefts. “It’s a good almond crop. It may not surpass the (NASS) estimate (1.33 billion pounds) but it will still be an exceptionally good crop,” said Don McKinney, almond grower and president of the Kerman, Calif.-based Central California Almond Growers Association (CCAGA). “Prices are relatively good considering the crop size. We don’t see a big swing from $1 to $4 like what happened over the last few years. It’s good for the industry to be stabilized. Supply and demand are in good harmony right now.” <more> Oct. 30, 2007 Western Farm Press
     

  • The Almond and the Bee. A global biological process begins with Joe Traynor and his brokering of bees for California's most valuable horticultural export - - Every year about mid-January, Joe Traynor says goodbye to his wife, moves out of his house and sets up shop in a second-floor apartment on the other side of Bakersfield. In a small room with a rumpled bed, he manages to get a few hours of sleep most nights. Three phones ring persistently. Traynor is a bee broker for apiarists and almond growers. For six weeks every year Traynor - under the auspices of Scientific Ag Co., the company he founded in 1973 - concentrates on honeybee pollination of California almond trees. This unassuming man has become the best-known middleman in the business, a respected intermediary in the largest managed pollination event in the history of the world. <more> Oct. 15, 2007 SF Chronicle
     

  • Mixed nuts. 2007 almond crop high on quality, but small size a problem - - California’s 2007 almond harvest is a mix of big and small. Growers are bringing in a record 1.33 billion-pound crop, but individual nut sizes are running smaller than normal. Dave Baker, director of member relations for Blue Diamond, said this year's harvest started about two weeks earlier than last year. The crop "looks good" and the nonpareil crop appears on track to meet estimates. <more> Oct. 11, 2007 Capital Press

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