Posts Tagged: Q

Bird flu's impact on egg and milk markets varies

Egg prices soar while dairy prices remain stable as H5N1 spreads through California

Consumers have faced reduced egg supplies and high egg prices. A recent article by University of California, Davis agricultural economists explore the reasons for reduced egg supplies and high egg prices and assess what producers and consumers can expect now that the bird flu, or H5N1, has spread through poultry farms and California dairies.

The authors find that California egg production in December 2024 was 30% lower than in January 2022, while national production, which is the source of most of California's retail supply, had declined by much less. California milk production is also decreasing as the virus sweeps through California dairies, but has not driven up consumer prices because of major differences in the relevant markets. 

“Despite California producing more than 15% of U.S. milk, H5N1 has had little or no impact on milk prices because the disease has not substantially affected national milk production,” said co-author Daniel Sumner, a Distinguished Professor with the UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. “Most California milk is used for storable, processed products like cheese, milk powders and butter that enter a large global market.”

Avian influenza has been around for decades. But in early 2022 a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) hit flocks of egg-laying hens across the United States, leading to almost continuous outbreaks across multiple states. These outbreaks, and the subsequent loss of hens due to the disease and the long-standing “depopulation” program intended to eradicate the disease, have led to the loss of more than 60 million U.S. egg-laying hens from 2022 through 2024. In California, the disease led to the destruction of around 10.6 million laying hens, with another 1 million table-egg pullets (young hens about to start laying) also destroyed.

Production decreases coincided with the rising egg prices that jumped in 2022 and again dramatically at the end of 2024, with national wholesale egg prices clearing $5 per dozen and California egg prices rising above $7 per dozen. California's regulations state that only cage-free eggs may be produced or sold here, raising average prices in normal times and accounting for higher volatility in egg prices for California consumers.

In August 2024, H5N1 was detected in California dairies and spread rapidly. As of late January 2025, nearly 75% of California herds had been infected. In contrast to its high mortality in birds, H5N1 has mostly produced more mild symptoms in dairy herds. Individual cows are typically asymptomatic after around a month, and milk production, which may fall temporarily by 20% or 30%, takes a few more months to recover. Importantly, even in infected herds, a large share of cows shows no loss of milk production. The authors estimate that California milk production fell by 6.4%, 10.3%, and 8.4% in October, November and December 2024, compared to what would have occurred without the disease.

While consumers may not feel the effects of H5N1 through rising dairy prices, affected dairy producers have experienced major losses in net returns, which will continue as their herds recover in 2025.

To learn more about the effects of bird flu on California farmers and consumers, read the full article by Olena Sambucci, Daniel A. Sumner and Erica A. Van Fleet: “Avian Influenza and the Economics of California Eggs and Milk: Some Early Assessments,” ARE Update 28(3): 1–4. UC Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics, online at https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1740696665/21242/.

ARE Update is a bimonthly magazine published by the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics to educate policymakers and agribusiness professionals about new research or analysis of important topics in agricultural and resource economics. Articles are written by Giannini Foundation members, including University of California faculty and Cooperative Extension specialists in agricultural and resource economics, and university graduate students. Learn more about the Giannini Foundation and its publications at https://giannini.ucop.edu/.

Gift extends UC Davis pistachio research on new scions, rootstocks

Rod Stiefvater of Oro Vista Farms donates money, farm resources

Warming weather, water scarcity and a loss of winter fog threaten pistachio production in California's southern San Joaquin Valley, potentially disrupting one of the state's most valuable crops.

The University of California, Davis, is enhancing and expanding its Pistachio Breeding Program after a generous gift from philanthropist and pistachio farmer Rod Stiefvater, who is donating more than $335,000 over three years to develop new rootstocks that thrive under changing climate conditions.

Stiefvater is also donating plots in Kern County on his Oro Vista Farms property for UC Davis researchers to plant rootstocks and scions and conduct trials, all under the care of his seasoned farm managers and workers.

“I view it as a way to give back to the industry that has provided for my financial success in ways that I never dreamed possible,” Stiefvater said. “They'll receive daily attention to whatever needs arise, whether it be planting or irrigation or whatever. All those sorts of things we can handle and handle very efficiently.”

The gift establishes the Louise Ferguson and Craig Kallsen Pistachio Research Fund for new varietal pistachio research in Kern, Kings and Tulare counties. Ferguson is a UC Davis Professor of Cooperative Extension with a focus on pistachio, olive, citrus, fig and other crops. Kallsen was a Cooperative Extension farm advisor for Kern County who retired in 2023. Both have close relationships with Stiefvater and others in the pistachio industry.

“What is so uniquely valuable here is the opportunity to leverage the expertise of experienced professionals who understand how to manage this material,” Ferguson said. “There's no way we could purchase what he's giving us.”

Pistachio breeding

The Pistachio Breeding Program is currently led by associate professor Patrick J. Brown and associate professor of Cooperative Extension Giulia Marino, both in the Department of Plant Sciences.

Brown will focus on breeding, and Marino will evaluate pistachio rootstocks and varieties. A third person, funded by the gift, will help with the evaluation of the material located on Oro Vista test plots in the southern San Joaquin Valley, as well as test plots previously established by Kallsen and Professor Emeritus Dan Parfitt.

The Oro Vista location provides the college with a chance for research in the Bakersfield area, where the majority of California's nearly $3 billion in pistachio crops are grown. The area is drier, warmer and saltier than up north.

“This would be an extension reaching further south but would hopefully add to the diversity of the test plots,” Stiefvater said. “What you want to be able to do is to have both rootstocks and tops that will thrive in different climatic conditions. If you have a long-term crop or a permanent crop, you're always looking to have that sort of flexibility.”

Pistachios evolved in the high desserts of Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan, growing at about 3,500 feet. California trees typically grow at altitudes below 100 feet, Ferguson said.

The mountains and winter rains of the southern San Joaquin Valley brought a cool fog, helping the crop grow. But those foggy days are not as plentiful as they once were, and that can harm production.

“Now that we have no fog, we have radiant heating from the sun directly onto the tree,” Stiefvater said. “It may not continue to be economical to grow pistachios down here in the southern San Joaquin Valley. So obviously, that's a major concern of mine and the industry.”

Relatively new crop to California

Pistachio as a crop arrived in California in the 1970s, and today it ranks as the sixth most valuable commodity in the state, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The industry needs more varieties to thrive long term. Pistachios are a popular snack and serve as a rich source of healthy fats, protein, fiber and other beneficial nutrients.

“This land from Rod sort of fills a gap in the cultivar release process,” Brown said, adding that growers want to see how varieties grow in commercial environments rather than solely in university settings. “This is a really key step in getting things out there.”

Plant material from Parfitt and Kallsen's research plots will be moved to Oro Vista and evaluated for performance, yield and disease, as well as for beneficial traits such as resilience under warming temperatures or low water quantity and quality, Marino said.

“It's really very precious material that needs to be preserved, so having the possibility to put it all in one location would be a huge facilitation for us,” she said.

Being able to monitor yield and quality over time is also helpful because conditions – like very wet or cold seasons – can change from year to year and affect whether one variety is used or another. “If a tree is not productive or doesn't have good nut quality, no grower will plant it,” Marino said. “That is also important.”

Working together

Industry partners, including the California Pistachio Research Board, play key roles in funding and advancing research, as does philanthropy from individual donors. Funding and crop management gifts, like the kind from Stiefvater, play a critical role in bridging support for public research while also providing a key connection to industry, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean Helene Dillard said.

“This gift from Rod will have a tremendous effect on the success of the Pistachio Breeding Program and the industry itself,” Dillard said. “Only by working together can we meet the challenges of a changing climate and safeguard the future of this valuable crop.”

Ferguson and others hope this new partnership could serve as a model for future collaborations. “We're hoping that if this is successful, we would garner support from other members of the industry, in addition to Rod, and perhaps establish a larger fund,” Ferguson said.

To make a gift to the Pistachio Breeding Program or the Department of Plant Sciences contact Jennifer Martinez at jelmartinez@ucdavis.edu or 530-902-5985 for more information.

This story was originally published on the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences news site.

Date production workshop set for April 23 in Palm Desert

 

Scientists to present date research on irrigation, nutrients, disease, pests and regulations

The 2025 California Date Palm Workshop will be held on April 23 in Palm Desert at the UC Riverside Palm Desert Center. Anyone who is interested in growing dates is welcome to attend.

"This workshop brings together researchers, growers and stakeholders to discuss recent research data on the ‘state of the date' crop in California,” said workshop organizer Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial, Riverside and San Diego counties.

The international date research workshop runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Scientists will share the latest research and information on various aspects of date production, including irrigation and nutrient management, disease and pest management, and laws and regulations.

Abdelouahhab Zaid, secretary general of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will speak about the development of date palm cultivation regionally and internationally.

Ricardo Salomon-Torres, research professor at Universidad Estatal de Sonora San Luis Río Colorado, will discuss the status of the date palm industry in Mexico.

Montazar will discuss irrigation management. Mark Hoddle, UC Cooperative Extension biological control specialist based at UC Riverside, will give a presentation on South American palm weevil in California. Spider mites, date nutrition and the aspergillus species causing black mold of dates are among other topics that will be discussed.

“We also will have a grower panel discussion on the concerns and the needs of the California date industry,” Montazar said. “This event is such a great opportunity to showcase how impactful date palm production and agriculture is in the low-desert region.”

Participation is free, but registration is requested at https://ucanr.edu/datepalm2025. Onsite registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the UCR Palm Desert Center at 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92211.

For more information, contact Ali Montazar at amontazar@ucanr.edu or Kristy Kneiding at kkneiding@datesaregreat.com.

California producers: Climate change is real; we could use a little help

Surveys point to pathways to support farmers, ranchers

How can farmers and ranchers continue to grow our food while facing challenges of a changing climate, increasingly scarce water, land use pressures and rising costs? More than a decade of research is revealing important ways universities, government agencies and other support organizations can help our food producers develop resilience to these challenges and remain profitable.

Leslie Roche is a professor of Cooperative Extension, based in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences. She helps lead a statewide team, including other University of California scientists and UC Agricultural and Natural Resource specialists, that is using surveys and interviews with people in the state's agricultural sector to learn what folks need to stay strong.

Researchers aim for their results to shape the state's education and extension efforts in the near future. With the largest farming economy in the United States, California's efforts to help producers has national implications.

How to help our food producers?

Despite their confidence and resourcefulness, both ranchers and farmers reported wanting more help from government agencies, such as crop insurance and programs to protect their farms. Some producers surveyed didn't even know that disaster assistance is available,

What they said about their needs:

• Producers want more information about how to adapt to climate change, tools such as weather stations to help them make decisions, and to learn new skills to help them deal with challenges in their operations.
• Computer-based tools that let producers gather data, look at their risks and possibilities, and make decisions about complex problems will help them keep their operations viable.
• Science-based solutions that are offered must be tailored to the conditions individual producers face, mesh with the strategies they already prefer and be cost-effective. Otherwise, producers are unlikely to adopt them.

The statewide team's work is getting noticed, Roche said: Material from one of the rancher focus groups will be presented at the 2025 annual conference of the Association of International Agricultural and Extension Education.

Farmers: Climate change can affect operations

A survey of 341 California farmers “showed that most believe climate change is real, and many think action is needed,” according to a paper led by Samuel Ikendi, a Roche colleague based at UC Merced. “Farmers are especially worried about how climate change affects water, temperatures, and natural disasters,” Ikendi wrote.

Farmers wanted more information on how to adapt and to learn how to use online tools to better understand climate information.

They're already taking action: More than half of those surveyed (54 percent) are changing their irrigation practices, for example.

Protecting and improving the soil is an important course of action:

• About 48 percent are reducing their disturbance of the soil or adopting no-till cultivation practices.
• Nearly 47 percent are building up organic matter in the soil and/or applying amendments such as manure and compost.
• Nearly 40 percent are using mulch on their crops.

Ranchers: “We can do this!”

Ranchers have confidence in their abilities to get through these tough times, relying on hard experience and drawing on trusted relationships in their communities, according to a paper by Roche and colleagues. That research served as the basis for much of what has been published.

Related links

Read more about the surveys and interviews conducted by Roche and the statewide team:

The Roche team plans to help ranchers stay strong despite drought by creating programs that draw on the respondents' own hard-won wisdom.

Surveys also offer insights into the toll that wildfire takes on producers' physical and mental health, and suggests avenues for supporting their ability to adapt.

Climate-smart agricultural practices can help farmers adapt as temperatures warm.

This story was first published on the UC Davis Plant Sciences site.

Five agtech companies selected to grow with VINE Connect

Five agtech startups have been selected to participate in the VINE Connect Program, which vets and connects emerging agricultural technology with growers to accelerate the adoption of practical, farm-ready solutions. The program, run by UCANR Innovate, Farmhand Ventures, and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), will host a public field day on April 10 at the UC Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Camarillo, where these companies will demonstrate their technologies on farm.

"Our goal with VINE Connect is to ensure farmers have access to technologies that solve their problems," said Hannah Johnson, industry lead at UCANR Innovate. "These startups are developing solutions that can directly impact labor efficiency, water conservation and a farmer's bottom line. The VINE Connect Field Day is an opportunity for growers to see these tools in action and provide feedback in real time."

California farmers face ongoing challenges including labor shortages, water constraints and climate pressures. VINE Connect brings together technology developers with the farming community to help new companies refine their products based on feedback from growers, making them more practical.

The selected startups were chosen for their potential to address key challenges facing California agriculture:

• Ag-Bee – Ag-Bee uses autonomous aerial drones to assist farmers with precision crop monitoring, pollination support and targeted chemical application. Their drone technology helps reduce the need for manual field scouting, saves time and enables more precise input application.
• L5 Automation – L5 Automation specializes in automated systems tailored for unstructured environments, with a primary focus on agriculture. Their flagship service offers automated strawberry harvesting, using advanced robotics to determine optimal picking times based on fruit readiness rather than human schedules.
• Lumo –Lumo is a precision irrigation company that develops smart valves and software that automate water distribution and help growers achieve block-level precision. With built-in flow meters, real-time fault detection and AI-driven insights, farmers are able to reduce water waste, save time, improve sustainability and optimize crop quality and yields.
• Verdi Ag – Verdi provides an affordable, customizable platform that allows growers to automate precision irrigation and other farm management tasks. Designed to be easy for everyday farmworkers to use, their system integrates with popular sensors and provides tools that allow growers to remotely monitor their equipment for leaks and breaks, down to the specific row.
• Verdant Robotics – Verdant Robotics has developed the SharpShooter, a multi-function, precision application system that combines computer vision, artificial intelligence and robotics. The only system of its kind that aims before it shoots, the SharpShooter hits targets that are difficult to reach -- from small weeds to large crops -- at speed. This advanced platform enables ultra-precise input application, reducing labor costs, minimizing chemical use and improving crop outcomes.

The VINE Connect program supports startups by facilitating direct engagement with farmers, enabling them to refine their technologies based on real-world needs. Participants benefit from networking opportunities and expert guidance to help transition from early-stage development to broader market adoption.

"Startups need direct engagement with growers to make sure their solutions fit the realities of the farm," said Connie Bowen, founder and managing partner of Farmhand Ventures. "This program is designed to bridge that gap, bringing together technology developers and farmers in a way that encourages collaboration and accelerates adoption."

"California farmers face enormous challenges, from labor shortages to climate pressures, and technology plays a critical role in keeping farms competitive and sustainable," added Gabe Youtsey, chief innovation officer at UCANR Innovate. "The VINE Connect Field Day is about making sure the most promising innovations get the real-world exposure they need to be useful and accessible to growers."

The VINE Connect Field Day event is free to attend, and registration is encouraged. Farmers, industry professionals and journalists can learn more and register at https://thevine.io/event/vine-connect-field-day-ventura.

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