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Community Alliance with Family Farmers

Community Alliance with Family Farmers. “Everything changes.” Shunryu Suzuki. CAFF‘s BIOS Almond Program 1993-2002, 2008-?. CAFF’s Biological Agriculture Programs. CAFF has been working on the ground with family farmers since 1992

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Community Alliance with Family Farmers

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  1. Community Alliance with Family Farmers “Everything changes.” Shunryu Suzuki

  2. CAFF‘s BIOS Almond Program 1993-2002, 2008-?

  3. CAFF’s Biological Agriculture Programs • CAFF has been working on the ground with family farmers since 1992 • Our programs grew out of local farmers’ desire to reduce agricultural chemical use without sacrificing productivity • We treat organics as a special case of Integrated Pest Management • Farm families and farm workers will be the biggest beneficiaries of reduced chemical use

  4. Hedgerow at John Anderson’s Farm, Yolo Co.: Wild Rose, Toyon, Redbud

  5. HEDGEROWS Definition: Lines or groups of trees, perennial and annual forbs and grassed planted along field edges or other non-crop areas Functions: Beneficial insect and pollinator habitat Wildlife habitat Soil erosion control Weed control Non-point source water pollution reduction Air quality and dust control Barriers Riparian stabilization Windbreak and climate modification Aesthetic value Economic returns Increase in local and regional biodiversity

  6. Five reasons to buy local food • Local food tastes better and it’s better for you • Riper, less time since harvest • Local food supports local farm families and strengthens the local economy • High local multipliers from family farms • Local food preserves farmland, natural ecosystems and biodiversity • Source identified, traceable • Builds community

  7. Active in over 80 schools • Started in 1999 • Program varies from school to school, can include: local fruit & veg in cafeteria farmer visits to classroms school gardens on school farmers markets field trip to local farmers nutrition & sensory education

  8. Some Future Issues in California Agriculture

  9. More Environmental Regulation • Air pollution—diesel engines, farm vehicles, dust • Water pollution—nitrates, chemicals, manure • Animal husbandry—cages, foie gras, slaughter • State becoming more urban means agriculture will not be able to do whatever it wants • GMOs • Fumigants • Aerial spraying

  10. Ag becomes more environmentally sustainable • Solar and other renewable energy • Wineries, nurseries, processors recycle water • Conservation plantings • Organics • Sustainability programs, e.g. wine grapes, almonds • Wildlife habitat, e.g. rice • Carbon sequestration

  11. More local food • More beginning farmers from urban origins • More urban gardens • Cottage food law • Local food infrastructure, such as local food hubs • Aggregation of products for distributors, local restaurants, stores, farm to school • Cold storage • Commercial kitchen • Cut-up of produce, further processing

  12. More local meat and animal products • Sheep and lamb • Goat dairies • Artisan cheese • Salumi • Pastured chicken and eggs • Grassfed beef • Hard to compete with cheap conventional beef • Families want to preserve ranches

  13. Every farm will have a food safety plan • Food Safety Modernization Act • FDA issuing regulations any day now • State will set rules for small farms • Insurance companies will require food safety plans • Raw milk herd shares will be legalized • Testing, basic sanitation requirements • CAFF just hired a full time food safety advisor to consult with farmers

  14. New Direct Marketing Regulations driven by food safety concerns • Define CSAs as farm centric, degree of regulation will depend on potentially hazardous foods • Enforcement at farmers markets, need better coordination among counties • Farm stands • Probably require everyone to register with ag commissioners, one database for traceability • Need to consolidate registrations • Looking for more money for ag commissioners

  15. Williamson Act will return and we will mitigate farmland development

  16. Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program1984-2006 Conversion Summary

  17. Mitigation of Farmland Development • Does CEQA require mitigation of farmland development? Have had mixed court rulings on this • Some local jurisdictions require mitigation, e.g. • Davis (1995)—2:1 (changed in 2004 from 1:1) • County of Yolo —1:1 or $10,100/acre • County of San Joaquin (2006)—1:1 or $8,675/acre • Stockton (2007)—1:1 or $9,600 • Lathrop, Manteca, Tracy (2005)--$2,000/acre • Brentwood, Gilroy, County of Stanislaus

  18. Climate Change will increase the fight over water

  19. Historical Annual Average Temperature for California Source: California Energy Commission. 2009.

  20. Source: 2009 CA Climate Change Adaptation Strategy report. CA Dept. of Natural Resources

  21. Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture • Potentially longer growing seasons- may increase water requirements • Sporadic precipitation events- increase in both occurrence and intensity of events, causing both drought and flood • Increased pest and weed populations, potential for increased pesticide use • Changes in plant growth related to temperature, climate, precipitation and CO2 levels Source: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program. (2008). The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States.

  22. CA Climate & Agriculture Network (CALCAN) www.calclimateag.org

  23. www.agwaterstewards.org • Twitter.com/agwaterstewards • Facebook.com/pages/California-Agricultural-Water-Stewardship-Initiative

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