Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Tag: CASP

  • Almond Board Helps Growers with NRCS Funding Applications

    The Almond Board of California (ABC) has introduced a new feature in its California Almond Stewardship Platform (CASP) that streamlines the process for growers applying for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

    The new CSP report in CASP is designed to facilitate the initial visit to NRCS offices. While it doesn’t change the paperwork required by NRCS, it helps start the conversation with NRCS conservationists by translating the practices implemented on the farm into NRCS practice codes. “This translation makes it easier for NRCS staff to understand the grower’s operation(s) and assess their eligibility for the CSP program,” said Michael Roots, ABC’s manager of field outreach and education.

    The new feature is designed to add value to the CASP system, which already helps growers self-assess their orchards. ABC worked closely with NRCS and CASP-partners SureHarvest to ensure the report’s usefulness for both growers and NRCS offices. By having this new report, growers will be well-equipped when beginning conversations with their local NRCS office about funding for conservation practices.

    Roots noted that the summary report creates an easy snapshot of a grower’s operation, possibly identifying other potential funding opportunities. “By simplifying the initial visit and providing a comprehensive overview of farm practices, the report opens doors to various incentive programs that can benefit growers and enhance their operations.”

    The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) provides assistance for growers who are looking to implement soil health practices. Roots said that a lot of growers are already doing some of these practices and could find funding to help expand those efforts. “The CSP program offers per-acre payments to growers for implementing practices that enhance soil health and overall farm sustainability,” he said. “These practices can include cover cropping, planting hedgerows and dust reduction on farm roads, as well as others. While the specifics of eligible practices are best understood by consulting local NRCS offices, the CSP program aims to reward growers for their efforts in maintaining and improving their stewardship practices.”

    Roots emphasized the importance of contacting local NRCS offices to understand the current status of funding and application acceptance. “Given the fluctuations in funding availability, reaching out to local offices can provide clarity on whether new applications are being accepted and what steps growers can take to prepare their applications”.

    Beyond the new CSP report, the California Almond Stewardship Platform offers numerous benefits to growers. After taking the initial self-assessment, the Platform provides tools like irrigation and nitrogen calculators, comparison reports, and a data share option that allows growers to share their data with handlers to help their conversations with buyers. These features help growers optimize their practices and contribute valuable data to the almond industry’s story.

    For growers interested in learning more about CASP and the new CSP report, visit AlmondStewardship.org. To check the availability of NRCS programs and start the application process, contact your local NRCS office.

  • Almond Board Simplifies CASP Process for Growers

    A valuable industry assessment program has been streamlined to make it easier for almond growers to enter and update data. Changes to the CASP program – which now stands for the California Almond Stewardship Platform – were announced in December at The Almond Conference 2022 and came after feedback from some growers about the length of time it often took to fill out the online self-assessment.

    The CASP program was developed by the Almond Board of California over a decade ago as a method for almond growers to share and compare data about their orchards and farming practices. That aggregated information in the self-assessment, in turn, is often used by handlers and others who market California’s multibillion-dollar annual almond crop to educate and reassure consumers that growers are implementing critical practices in areas such as water usage, air quality, soil health, pollinators and carbon recapture.

    The original CASP online self-assessment process included 620 questions, which now have been cut in half after the update.

    “It was really time to restructure it a little bit and put it on a diet,” said Tom Devol, Senior Manager of Field Outreach and Education at the Almond Board of California. “It had gotten a bit heavy. It was taking growers a lot of time to do and was a big commitment.”

    Growers often spent five or six hours responding to the questions and sometimes had to enter the same information more than once. That is no longer the case, Devol said.

    “I just worked with a grower who completed it in an hour and a half, from start to finish,” he said. “Now, we’ve grouped questions, so when you set up an orchard, you never look at those questions again. You put the information in for that orchard – how it was planted, when it was planted, those kinds of questions – and when you reassess in two or three years … you never have to look at that again. Those questions are pre-done.

    “And we did the same thing with the farming operations. So the common practices that you use across the whole farming operation, you really only need to address those questions one time and then in future assessments, they’re already completed for you.”

    Devol said rationale behind CASP has evolved since it was created.

    “When CASP was first envisioned, it was predominantly an education tool,” he explained. “But over time, there’s been a lot more pressure from the market. ‘How are you growing your crops? Are you exhibiting good stewardship? Are you using current practices?’

    “The handlers are the ones facing those questions. The growers aren’t selling the crop directly to the buyer; it’s the handler who’s doing it on their behalf. … By completing your grower self-assessment, you’re assisting your handler in marketing your product.”

    Devol recommends that growers update their information at least every three years.

    “It’s really a continuous improvement program if you think about it. We’re really trying to see where we’ve learned new practices that we’re starting to adopt into the orchard,” he said. “Not many people change their practices every year, but over time, you’re going to pick up a new thing – we’re going to try this, we’re going to change the way we do that.

    “Handlers like to see that data done every year because they’re using the aggregate data to help demonstrate to their buyers what their group of growers are doing. So they have a different motivator.”

    Devol reassured growers that no individual orchard information ever is shared.

    “It’s aggregate data. It’s secure. Nobody can see your data,” he said. “These handlers just get an aggregate group of data about what their growers are doing.”

    Growers who have participated in the past and want to update their data, as well as others who want to enroll in the CASP program, should go to www.almondstewardship.org. On the website, growers can set up an account or ask to have their password sent to them, if they’ve forgotten it.

    Devol said he and the Field Outreach and Education team are available to answer any questions or provide help. They can be reached at fieldoutreach@almondboard.com.

    “We really want you to succeed,” Devol said. “We want it to be simple to use. We don’t want it to be painful for you.” — Article & Image Courtesy of the Almond Board of California

  • Blue Diamond Growers Earns Second Green Business Certification in Turlock

    Following a comprehensive certification process, the Blue Diamond Growers plant in Turlock, Calif., has earned distinction by becoming Green Business Certified by the Modesto Chamber of Commerce’s California Green Business Network, Stanislaus County program.

    The achievement marks the second such honor for the 111-year-old almond cooperative this year as the Blue Diamond Growers’ Salida facility was recognized as Green Business Certified in April. The Green Business Certified honor goes to companies that achieve a verified set of standards, including reducing water use, conserving energy, preventing pollution, increasing recycling, avoiding waste, encouraging alternative transportation, and partnering with other local vendors.

    “Blue Diamond Growers has a long-standing commitment to implementing sustainable practices across all of our facilities and in our almond orchards, too,” said Mark Jansen, president and CEO of Blue Diamond Growers. “This recognition further demonstrates that we are committed to doing our part to build a healthier and more sustainable future for our local communities through adopting new technologies and practices that improve our sustainability efforts. We are proud to have not one, but two facilities to have earned this honor and important recognition.”

    The Green Business Certified recognition was awarded at a ceremony on June 3, organized by the Modesto Chamber of Commerce at the Turlock facility on Washington. The ceremony was attended by Blue Diamond leadership as well as Congressman Josh Harder, Turlock Mayor Amy Bublak, and several other state and local dignitaries.

    The 250,000-square-foot plant located at 1300 N. Washington Road in Turlock is celebrating its eighth anniversary this month and is currently under the direction of Site Leader Zach Lewis. In 2014, the facility was named “Plant of the Year” by Food Engineering Magazine. The state-of-the-art Turlock plant specializes in processing almonds (blanching, roasting, slicing, dicing, slivering, etc.) to be used by major global food customers in cereals, snack bars, yogurt toppings, baked goods and candies. The Turlock location also prepares the beverage base for Blue Diamond Growers’ Almond Breeze® Almondmilk and produces Blue Diamond Growers’ Almond Flour and other value-added almond products.

    In addition to the sustainability efforts at the Blue Diamond Growers’ manufacturing facilities, the co-op emphasizes sustainable field practices, including irrigation management, pest management, and bee health. Blue Diamond Growers actively participates in the California Almond Sustainability Program (CASP), led by the Almond Board of California, to collect grower-submitted production practice information. CASP helps growers find ways to improve the efficiency of their farming operations.

    To further underscore its ongoing commitment to improved sustainability, Blue Diamond Growers recently hired Dr. Daniel Sonke, who spoke at today’s event, as the new Director of Sustainability. In this role, Dr. Sonke is leading global sustainability efforts across all segments of the Blue Diamond Growers’ business. He will be responsible for integrating company performance with Blue Diamond Growers’ sustainability pillars of economic viability, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.

    About Blue Diamond

    Blue Diamond Growers, a grower-owned cooperative representing over 3,000 of California’s almond growers, is the world’s leading almond marketer and processor. Established in 1910, it created the California almond industry and opened world markets for almonds. Blue Diamond is dedicated to delivering the benefits of almonds around the world and does so by providing high-quality almonds, almond ingredients and branded products. Headquartered in Sacramento, the company employs more than 1,800 people throughout its processing plants, receiving stations and gift shops. To learn more about Blue Diamond Growers, visit www.bluediamond.com and follow the company on Facebook,Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.