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Hawaii is known for its macadamia nuts. Lawmakers want to keep it that way https://ift.tt/V6o2aQy For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails For decades, tourists to Hawaii have brought home gift boxes of the islands’ famous chocolate-covered macadamia nuts for friends and family, but these days many of the kernels in the package might not be Hawaii-grown. This little-known fact is surfacing at the state Legislature as lawmakers wrestle over legislation that would force macadamia-nut processors of iconic brands like Mauna Loa to disclose whether their products contain nuts from outside the islands. Growers want the measure to protect their crops and farms, while commercial nut brands say what Hawaii needs is more capacity to process mac nuts locally. It’s the latest tussle over labels for agricultural products from a specific geographic area, a topic familiar to Hawaii due to long-running disputes over Kona coffee. It echoes similar challenges faced by maple syrup producers in Vermont and distilleries in Champagne, which have had to fend off sparkling wine producers from other places trying to appropriate the French region’s name. Foreign nuts are being “marketed cleverly as Hawaiian,” said Jeffrey Clark, chief operating officer of a trust that owns Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company. “It’s not clear to consumers what is Hawaii grown and what is foreign grown,” Clark told state lawmakers during a recent committee hearing. “It creates a problem for the farmers here in Hawaii.” The stakes are high for Hawaii’s 600-plus macadamia nut farmers, many of whom have small operations. Combined, they produced $62.7 million in nuts in 2021, just ahead of coffee in value and second only to seed farms that research genetically engineered corn. Growers say they can’t find buyers for their kernel and unharvested nuts are falling from their trees. Some farmers are giving up and trying to sell their equipment. In response, state lawmakers are due to vote on legislation Wednesday that would require consumer packages to disclose when they contain macadamia nuts grown outside of Hawaii. The measure would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, if it becomes law. The governor has not indicated whether he will sign it. Macadamia nut trees are native to Australia and were introduced to Hawaii in 1881 by a Scotsman who managed a Big Island sugar mill. The first major attempt at commercial planting dates to 1948. Chocolate-covered macadamia nuts took off the following decade. In the 1970s and ’80s, Hawaii harvested more than 10 times the amount of the next four major producers combined. But today, Australia, South Africa, China and Kenya all grow more than Hawaii. In 2022, the state’s production plummeted 29% from the year before, according to industry data. Hawaiian Host Group sells macadamia nuts under some of the state’s most venerable brands. Their rectang...

MORE THAN $2 BILLION TO STRENGTHEN SPECIALTY CROPS IN THE U.S. Agriculture Department Secretary Vilsack today announced new programs to help farmers growing fruits, vegetables, and nuts overcome market barriers for their products including necessary pre-market storage access for crops following severe weather events. “From providing high-quality, nutritious, American-grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts to our nation and the world, to serving as economic pillars of their communities, specialty crop producers play a critical role in the success of U.S. agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops and Commodity Storage Assistance programs will be important for producers in every corner of the United States, but they come at an especially critical time for southeastern farmers, who will face a difficult and long recovery after this season’s devastating hurricanes.” Crop Insurance Indemnities In total, USDA has issued more than $6 billion in crop insurance indemnities for the 2024 crop year. Of the $6 billion, nearly $1 billion was paid to agricultural producers impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms in 2024. This includes $792 million through the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsement and the Tropical Storm (TS) option. WHAT ARE SPECIALTY CROPS? Specialty crops are defined by law as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” Specialty crops do not include many of the staple crops that the midwest of the U.S. produces, like wheat, corn, and soy. However, they do include massively popular crops such as the top 20 vegetables consumed in the U.S., all tree nuts, and even the christmas tree. Each year, the U.S. produces $79.8 billion in value just from specialty crops, which amounts to 17.6% of agricultural value produced annually in the U.S. Specialty crops are a higher risk, but produce a higher reward than traditional crops. https://lnkd.in/eYG8-Zpn?

(USA 30.05.24) #avocados Mid-season California avocado crop update published [AG: (mid)season Australia avocado crop & market update?] The California Avocado Commission's https://lnkd.in/gSu6uA3k mid-season update reveals differing crop estimates from growers and handlers. Growers estimate 271.6 million pounds, while handlers predict 250 million pounds for 2024. The survey includes detailed volumes for Hass, Lamb, Gem and other avocado types. Ventura County, especially Santa Paula and Somis, shows significant production. Despite discrepancies, the harvest is expected to meet the 250-million-pound estimate, ensuring promotable volumes for the next 10 weeks. ----- [AG: Bridging the Data Gap - The Need for Comprehensive Fresh Produce Crop & Market Reporting in Australia. It is disappointing that detailed information about our fresh produce industry is not readily available. Considering the significant role fresh produce play in our agricultural industry, having access to comprehensive and timely crop and market data is crucial. Why don't we have a national centralized body or system in place to collect, analyze and share such vital information with our growers, handlers and trade partners? Detailed crop estimates can greatly assist in planning and decision-making, ensuring a smoother flow of fresh produce to market and better financial outcomes for all stakeholders. The absence of such data in Australia raises questions about our commitment to transparency, efficiency and industry support. It's high time we evaluate our data collection and reporting practices to meet the growing demands of our domestic and international markets. Why aren't we prioritizing this? What can be done to ensure our fresh produce industry receives the same level of detailed, reliable crop & market data?] ----- https://lnkd.in/ggn4gV2q

🌾🌾 GROWER STORY Each year, GRDC's GroundCover follows a group of growers from across Australia as they manage the cropping season. Lachie Seears farms with his wife Rebecca, children Hugh and Anneliese, and his parents, Peter and Helen, at Lucindale in south-eastern South Australia. Their 6000ha enterprise comprises cropping (wheat, canola and broad beans), 6500 breeding ewes and 1250 breeding cows and heifers (building towards 2000 breeders). Lachie says: "A dry start to the season prompted us to delay seeding until 22 May. We began by planting our Aquadulce broad beans dry. We plant seeds we have retained and grown for the past 30 years, which suit our conditions well. We sell them for export to Egypt, Morocco and South-East Asia for human consumption. Buyers pay more for larger beans. We sow our broad bean seed with a tyned air seeder set on 222.25mm (8.75 inch) row spacings. On 30 May, 11mm of rain fell, bringing us to about 60mm by 31 May. In comparison, we had received 250mm of rain by 31 May last year. Our May herbicide bill was our lowest on record because of the dry start. The 11mm that fell on 30 May is insufficient to germinate the pasture, weeds and sown seed. We aimed to finish our wheat and canola sowing by the third week in June. Our sowing window extends from the start of May to mid-June. Our finish is slightly later than I would like, but it will not be an issue if we have a kind spring. Wheat is our other main crop. We prefer to grow hyper-yielding feed wheat, such as RGT Accroc, RGT Cesario and RGT Waugh (as a bulk-up), which is sold to domestic dairy farmers. We prefer sowing wheat and canola with a disc machine on 190.5mm (7.5-inch) row spacings. Nick Poole’s work at Field Applied Research Australia, with GRDC investment, has been a game changer for high-rainfall growers. His efforts pointed us to high-yielding and disease-tolerant varieties, effective nitrogen management, the importance of two to three preventative fungicide sprays, and the use of plant growth regulators. Due to decreased livestock prices, we have increased our cropping area this year. Accordingly, we have drilled Roundup Ready® canola into run-down pastures to clean up paddocks where grasses took over." Hear more from our growers this year: https://bit.ly/3Le7Piv 📷 Adrian Gale #GroundCoverOnline #GRDC #GrowerStory #SeasonUpdate

Meat processor secures funding: Gert Jacobie REHO Meat Processors will be fully operational within a few weeks, delivering select beef, lamb, mutton, game, and Wagyu beef in increasing quantities to local and export markets. Once construction work at the facility just south of Rehoboth is completed, about fifty cattle per week will be processed through the facility and made available on store shelves. The aim is to eventually process up to 150 cattle per day, with game and sheep also being processed at the facility. The educator, businessman, and farmer, Mr. Sarel du Toit, who is also the chairman of the DAS Group, revealed more information about the Reho Meat Processors facility just south of Rehoboth during a farmer’s day at the Hartebeestloop Farm, owned by Dr. Joggie Briedenhann, on Saturday. * * * * --- “The Namibian meat industry finds itself in a perfect storm with the prevailing drought, marketing pressures, challenges with Meatco as the national marketing organization, producer prices, the overall market environment, political undercurrents, restrictions on the import of raw materials, high production costs, and challenges with market development. We at DAS have seen an opportunity in these circumstances and have begun to follow the value chain on our own (financial) steam. We believe that by taking an approach where we can control the source (of production inputs), manage value addition, and be market-specific, there is good value in agriculture. Farming alone no longer holds much value.” Mr. Du Toit has been involved in the livestock feed industry in Namibia since the early 1980s, after which he built up his business into a family enterprise with interests in Namibia, South Africa, and Australia. DAS specializes in commodity trading and has farming interests in Namibia. While visitors to the farmer’s day at Hartebeestloop on Saturday were interested in learning more about Wagyu production as the purpose of the capital-intensive slaughterhouses at Rehoboth, Mr. Du Toit’s message was rather one of an alternative processing facility on the B2 route for quality beef and only 10% to 20% space for specialist Wagyu beef. This is obviously determined by grading (on a scale of 4-12 measuring marbling) and exceptional prices are earned on it. Some of Reho Meat Processors’ Wagyu and other meats are already available in the market through Hartlief’s and the Woermann Group. With the emphasis on quality products from Reho Meat from the Mimosa farm and feedlot and other producers, control over the processing, cutting, and marketing of meat products, control over feed inputs, and management of the value chain, the DAS group is convinced that agricultural business remains the foundation that can help sustain the Namibian economy. Saturday’s announcement of a major investment from own capital in one of the three or four meat processing facilities for Namibia by…

🌾🌾 GROWER STORY Each year, GRDC's GroundCover follows a group of growers from across Australia as they manage the cropping season. Andrew Freeth, with parents David and Sue and brother Marc, grows wheat, canola, chickpeas, faba beans and oats, plus 2200 ewes and trade cattle, near Collie and Trangie in central New South Wales. We recorded 77mm of rain in February, 28mm over three days in March and more than 45mm during the first week of April. By 5 April, our Collie farm had adequate moisture for sowing. Our Trangie farm was drier. Accordingly, we didn’t plan on growing canola there. We planned to sow canola at Collie, but less than what was planted last year. The wheat area will also decrease, while the faba bean and chickpea areas will increase. Research by Brill Ag’s Rohan Brill, with GRDC investment, prompted us to try faba beans for the first time last year with good results. Our PBA Nanu faba beans and PY520TC canola were earmarked for late April sowing. Faba beans are planted anywhere there is a risk of waterlogging. If waterlogging didn’t occur, we would probably plant our entire pulse area to chickpeas. Plenty of time before sowing was spent on the sprayer, keeping the paddocks free of weeds. We also unloaded fertiliser and maintained our gear. We developed a cropping plan with our agronomist, Jamie Taylor, from Nutrien in Dubbo. By 5 April, a small amount of winter wheat Illabo had been sown for the first time for grazing and grain. The biomass production is reputed to be better than that of oats. However, Yarran oats provide valuable roughage for our ewes and a crown rot break. We sow using a Gason Para-Maxx bar. This parallelogram system has 33.3-centimetre row spacings. It usually runs on tynes but can take discs when we need to sow into heavy stubble. LRPB Raider, LRPB Stealth and Sunchaser wheat were planned for sowing in the first half of May. We will take a small break before finishing our program with CBA Captain chickpeas. Our cereal varieties were selected for disease tolerance and yield, as our chickpeas generally require multiple fungicide applications to manage disease. Hear more from our growers this year: https://bit.ly/3Kq6Coc #GroundCoverOnline #GRDC #GrowerStory #SeasonUpdate

🌾🌾 GROWER STORY Each year, GRDC's GroundCover follows a group of growers from across Australia as they manage the cropping season. Mitch Henderson, with parents Craig and Pauline, brother Ben, cousin John and their families, grow wheat barley, lentils and oaten hay in Berriwillock, Wilkur and Brim in Victoria’s Mallee. They also rear poultry, using their wheat straw as bedding and then spreading it back onto paddocks as manure in a closed-loop system. Mitch says: Given our subsoil moisture we’re still on track for an average year but spring will have the most bearing on our potential. We have put out enough nutrition to return an average crop, applying (compound fertiliser) Granulock Z down the chute at sowing and about 80 per cent of our nitrogen upfront. We’ve done the other 20 per cent of nitrogen on the barley at Berriwillock, and have top-up program for wheat planned for down south (at Brim and Wilkur) if we deem it beneficial, given the extra potential for rainfall and yield there. Our program is about four weeks behind last year. Frosty conditions put the brakes on crop development and delayed our spray program, and we had already started behind the eight ball with dry sowing conditions delaying germination. In saying that, we knocked broadleaf weeds out of cereals, and sprayed against ryegrass through winter. In September we’ll do in-crop ‘green-on-green’ camera-assisted weed control using a Bilberry system on our Agrifac sprayer, targeting vetch in lentils. Lentils can be downgraded if foreign seed levels are too high, which incurs a penalty and cost, so it’s worth trying to eliminate it. We started to see some lucerne flea in our legumes, so were controlling them in August. Otherwise, we’re getting marsupial pressure. They’re mowing the crop-off and laying on it in big numbers, squashing it. Rodents, on the other hand, have been pretty good this year and we haven’t had to bait. It might be a flow-on effect of our Seed Terminator pulverising weed seeds and reducing their food source. It shows how dynamic our industry is. No two years are the same and you just learn to adapt. Hear more from our growers this year: https://bit.ly/3Z4m2qf 📷 Brad Collis #GroundCoverOnline #GRDC #GrowerStory #SeasonUpdate

What barriers keep organic farmers from greater use of conservation and risk-management programs, such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), risk management through crop insurance, and the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (commonly referred to as Organic Cost Share or just Cost Share)? Researchers at the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University dove in to find out, and wrote “Fitting a square peg in a round hole: Applying U.S. farm policy to organic farms” which was published in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development. If you, or someone you know, needs an understanding of how these programs are working for organic farmers, and what could make them work better, this is a great read! Some highlights: “A significant finding of our work is the significant barrier organic farmers face in the inconsistent and inadequate knowledge that agents possess, resulting in lower use of conservation and crop insurance programs.” “Of particular concern was the lack of consistency across federal agencies about what constitutes good practices and best management practices. For example, there is no agreement between RMA’s good farming practices for crop insurance and NRCS’s best management practices for conservation payments. Farmers must follow the RMA good farming practices to be eligible for crop insurance payments, but competing priorities for organic or conservation programming might put them at fault with RMA.” “Coordinating federal agency requirements—the Organic System Plan for organic certification, best practices for conservation program participation, and good farming practices for crop insurance—would reduce the burden on organic producers.” Thank you, Sara Jean Whelan, Duncan Orlander, Julia Balsam, and Carolyn Dimitri for documenting these issues and offering useful suggestions to make the programs work better for the organic community. (See the comments for a link to the paper.) #Organic #organicfarming #cropinsurance #farmconservation #organiccertification #specialtycrops #grains

Despite ever-increasing input costs — combined with preexisting labor issues and extreme weather conditions that are bordering on becoming the norm — U.S. fruit and nut growers largely remain confident in 2024. This according to data gathered from American Fruit Grower's latest State of the Fruit and Nut Industry survey. Check out some of the stats! https://lnkd.in/eVQr5jQP #agriculture #fruit #nuts #berries #industrytrends #survey #labor #extremeweather #risingcosts #cropprotection #data #growingconfidence Thomas Skernivitz

(USA 21.10.24) #growingproduce Where Specialty Crop Growers Can Gain More Strength in Numbers [AG: The Cost of Silence - How Australia's Growers Are Set Up to Fail] The Congressional Specialty Crops Caucus was reestablished to support U.S. specialty crop growers, including fruits, vegetables and greenhouse products. Specialty crops contribute over $120 billion to the economy and 2.2 million jobs. Despite this, less than 4% of Farm Bill funds target these crops. The caucus aims to advocate for policies that address issues like supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and market access. Co-chaired by Representatives Valadao, Costa, Rouzer, and Slotkin, it focuses on securing federal support for the sector, including grants, research, and risk management. ----- [AG: Australia’s fresh produce industry faces a frustrating and shameful reality: the lack of freely available, up-to-date and relevant information for growers. Despite being supported by 100+ taxpayer-funded industry bodies and associations, our growers are left in the dark while their international counterparts benefit from robust and accessible resources. This glaring oversight stifles innovation and competitiveness, leaving Australian producers at a significant disadvantage. Globally, countries like the United States empower their growers through platforms such as Growing Produce, Produce IQ, Agronometrics, Onion Business and USDA Market News. These platforms provide actionable insights into market trends, pricing, production forecasts, logistics and postharvest strategies. This transparency enables growers to make informed decisions, optimize operations and remain competitive. In stark contrast, Australian growers are denied similar resources, often confronted with information hidden behind paywalls or lost in bureaucratic inefficiency. This lack of access to critical tools hinders the entire supply chain. Market intelligence, production best practices, supply chain insights and global trade trends - all vital for sustainability and profitability - remain out of reach for Australian growers. Without these resources, they struggle to adapt to changing market dynamics, while post-farm gate operators exploit this information gap, reaping profits at the expense of the very growers who fuel the industry. Australia has the means to build a transparent, accessible national information-sharing system, but lacks the vision to act. Industry bodies must centralize open access to information, replacing scattered resources with true collaboration. The current neglect betrays the industry's potential. If we are to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of Australian agriculture, it is time for our industry leaders to act decisively. Growers deserve the tools and knowledge to succeed - anything less is an affront to their hard work and dedication.] ----- https://lnkd.in/ggrGxaHR