With the largest pistachio crop ever in the west last year coupled with international trade issues, some might be concerned about prices and how to move such a large inventory; however, American Pistachio Growers (APG) reported that the demand is out there at their annual conference, and APG unveiled some exciting new marketing plans for the coming year, including a new market in India. Watch this brief interview with Judy Hirigoyen from APG, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Along with record high pistachio production in the western United States in 2018, a record number of acres were planted to pistachios as well last year. Is this good news or bad news for the pistachio industry? Watch this interview with American Pistachio Growers’ Executive Director Richard Matoian to find out, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
After the US pistachio industry brought in a record high pistachio crop last season, there were concerns as to how recent international trade issues would impact movement of this record crop; however, at the annual conference of American Pistachio Growers, Executive Director Richard Matoian shared positive news on recent domestic and export shipments. Watch Matoian’s brief interview and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
There has been a lot of talk and concern about the retaliatory tariffs impacting the California almond industry, and as almond production continues increasing, just how is this all going to impact the market? Watch this brief interview with Julie Adams from the Almond Board of California as she responds to these concerns, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Growers have until the end of day Feb. 14th to sign up for the USDA market facilitation program created in response to the retaliatory tariffs. USDA is also supporting the California almond industry in other ways. Watch this brief interview with Julie Adams from the Almond Board of California for more information.
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Blue Diamond Growers, a nonprofit grower-owned cooperative and the world’s leading processor and marketer of almonds, begins expansion of its award-winning processing facility in Turlock, CA. Today a groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the 200,000 square foot manufacturing plant recognized as the 2014 Plant of the Year by Food Engineering Magazine. The new addition is part of Blue Diamond’s continued plans to expand value-added product lines and deliver the innovations of new almond products worldwide.
The 52,000 square foot building will be the latest construction of the three-phased project that will eventually yield a total of about 500,000 square feet of building space over the next nine years. This phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2020 and will accommodate growth of the cooperative’s business. The expansion consists of new automated processing and packaging equipment that promote Blue Diamond’s commitment to manufacturing excellence.
“We are pleased to build our partnership with the Turlock community by investing to expand our facilities and workforce,” said Mark Jansen, Blue Diamond President and CEO. “We are creating the healthiest almond products and delivering the benefits of almonds to the world. This project allows Blue Diamond to meet the growing demand for our innovative almond products.”
Blue Diamond Chairman of the Board Dan Cummings of Chico added, “We are thankful to our growers who own this cooperative for entrusting their almonds to us so we can continue to make valuable investments. This project gives them a secure future in the almond business.”
Blue Diamond first announced its plans to build a manufacturing plant in the City of Turlock in April 2012 creating more than a hundred jobs.
“On behalf of the Turlock community, we are tremendously excited about the expansion of Blue Diamond Growers state of the art processing facilities here in Turlock,” said Turlock Mayor Amy Bublak. “We know Blue Diamond has other company locations where they could have placed this expansion, but we are proud they chose Turlock. We look forward to the additional jobs this expansion will bring.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that many Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen temporarily in the coming days to perform certain limited services for farmers and ranchers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recalled about 2,500 FSA employees to open offices on Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18, in addition to Tuesday, January 22, during normal business hours. The offices will be closed for the federal Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, January 21.
In almost half of FSA locations, FSA staff will be available to assist agricultural producers with existing farm loans and to ensure the agency provides 1099 tax documents to borrowers by the Internal Revenue Service’s deadline.
“Until Congress sends President Trump an appropriations bill in the form that he will sign, we are doing our best to minimize the impact of the partial federal funding lapse on America’s agricultural producers,” Perdue said. “We are bringing back part of our FSA team to help producers with existing farm loans. Meanwhile, we continue to examine our legal authorities to ensure we are providing services to our customers to the greatest extent possible during the shutdown.”
Staff members will be available at certain FSA offices to help producers with specific services, including:
Processing payments made on or before December 31, 2018.
Continuing expiring financing statements.
Opening mail to identify priority items.
Additionally, as an intermittent incidental duty, staff may release proceeds from the sale of loan security by signing checks jointly payable to FSA that are brought to the county office by producers.
Information on the locations of FSA offices to be open during this three-day window will be posted:
While staff are available in person during this three-day window, most available services can be handled over the phone. Producers can begin contacting staff on January 17 here.
Additionally, farmers who have loan deadlines during the lapse in funding do not need to make payments until the government shutdown ends.
Other FSA Programs & Services
Reopened FSA offices will only be able to provide the specifically identified services while open during this limited time. Services that will not be available include, but are not limited to:
New direct or facility loans.
New Farm loan guarantees.
New marketing assistance loans.
New applications for Market Facilitation Program (MFP).
Certification of 2018 production for MFP payments.
Dairy Margin Protection Program.
Disaster assistance programs, such as:
Livestock Indemnity Program.
Emergency Conservation Program.
Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program.
Livestock Forage Disaster Program.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish.
While January 15, 2019 had been the original deadline for producers to apply for MFP, farmers have been unable to apply since December 28, 2018, when FSA offices closed because of the lapse in federal funding. Secretary Perdue has extended the MFP application deadline for a period of time equal to the number of business days FSA offices end up being closed, once the government shutdown ends. These announced days of limited staff availability during the shutdown will not constitute days open in calculating the extension. Producers who already applied for MFP and certified their 2018 production by December 28, 2018 should have already received their payments.
The California walnut industry relies heavily on the export market, and so does the focus of much of the efforts of the California Walnut Board and Commission in promoting the industry and building demand. At Malcolm Media’s recent Tree & Vine Expo at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Claire Lee from the California Walnut Commission shared the current impact the international trade dispute is having on California walnut exports and how the Board and Commission are responding. Lee also discussed opportunities for government aid they are seeking under the circumstances. Watch this brief interview with Lee and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Don’t currently receive the magazine? Subscribe for free at: https://malcolmmedia.com/pacific-nut-producer-magazine-subscriptions/.
With increasing production in the California walnut industry, and at the same time being faced with high tariffs in some of the key export markets, growers are much appreciative of the ongoing efforts of the California Walnut Board and Commission building demand for the crop, not only in the export market, but also right here in the States. Check out this brief interview with Jennifer Olmstead with the California Walnut Board and Commission as she explains some of their exciting new domestic marketing campaigns and initiatives. Read more about her presentation at Malcolm Media’s Tree & Vine Expo in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. Don’t currently receive the magazine? Subscribe for free at: https://malcolmmedia.com/pacific-nut-producer-magazine-subscriptions/.
If you missed Richard Matoian’s State of the Pistachio Industry Address at the Annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo, be sure to check out his brief video interview as he shares where the industry currently stands in production and marketing trends. He also discusses the impact of the international trade dispute and its impact on the pistachio industry, and the multiple ways in which USDA may support the industry at this critical time. Watch the video and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
