Western Drought Forces Farmers to Make Tough Decisions
Modern Farmer / June 7, 2021
Droughts in California have been part of agriculture for a very long time…California is a wonderful place for many crops and that has not changed at all.
AIC DIrector Dan Sumner
Which rose first: the price of chicken or corn? Sumner comments on shifting markets
Marketplace / May 11, 2021
“So China has turned to U.S. corn, and that drives prices in the United States,” said agriculture professor Daniel Sumner at University of California, Davis.
He said American farmers have been growing more corn to meet demand, so they have less room for other crops.
“Corn takes land away from wheat. Well, that reduces wheat supply, and you increase the price of wheat as a consequence,” Sumner said.
Drought adds pressure on Central Valley farmers as other factors cause food prices to rise. Dan Sumner comments on drought and food price
Snowpack statewide is only at 59% of its April 1 average, based on electronic measurements according to the California Department of Water Resources. Farmers in the Central Valley producing water-intensive crops such as almonds and tomatoes are already facing some difficult choices. “It’s really serious, particularly in the Central Valley.”
UC Davis Agricultural Economist Daniel Sumner
AIC Director Sumner on a panel on climate economics for California farms
How California farmers view climate change action and adaptation. How carbon pricing and border adjustments will affect farm economics in California. Growing use of electric tractors, trucks, and solar power on California farms.
California Agriculture to 2050: Where are headed and what issues are driving?
Sumner presented data and projections for the long term future of California Agriculture to seed industry professionals at the UC Davis Seed Central Oniline Event on December 10.
La prevención de enfermedades relacionadas con el calor beneficia a todos
The threat of heat illness remains a concern in California agriculture. This video emphasizes that farm workers and farm operators share benefit from measures to mitigate high temperatures. At about 1 min 30 sec. Sumner outlines the economic incentives benefits to farm of reducing the chance of worker heat illness.
Heat-Related Illness Prevention on the Farm Benefits Everyone
The threat of heat illness remains a concern in California agriculture. This video emphasizes that farm workers and farm operators share benefit from measures to mitigate high temperatures. At about 1 min 30 sec. Sumner outlines the economic incentives benefits to farm of reducing the chance of worker heat illness.
Daniel Sumner to testify on November 18 at the State Assembly Committee hearing on the Economic Impact of Wildfires for California Agriculture
The Impact of Wildfires on California Agriculture
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
State Capitol, Room 4202
Panel 1: Overview of the Impact of Wildfires on California Agriculture
- Chief Nick Schuler, Acting Deputy Director for Communications, CalFire o
- Overview of California Wildfires
- Professor Dan Sumner, University of California – Davis
- Economic Impact of Wildfires on Agriculture
- Kevin Masuhara, Deputy Secretary Administration and Finance, California Department of Food and Agriculture
- Emergency Services – Fairgrounds and CA Animal Response Emergency System (C.A.R.E.S)
Panel 2: Examples of Specific Wildfire Impacts on Farms, Farmland, and Farmworkers
- Jamie Johansson, President, California Farm Bureau
- Eddie Campos, No Boundaries Farm
- Dr. Dave Daley, Rancher, California Cattlemen Association
- Karissa Kruse, President, Sonoma County Winegrowers
- Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou, Brisa de Ano Farm
- Arnulfo Solorio, Director, Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation
Panel 3: Agricultural-based Wildfire Mitigation
- Dan Macon, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources/California Woolgrowers)
- Targeted Grazing and Wildfire Fuel Reduction
- Kara Heckert, American Farmland Trust
- Agriculture Land Preservation and Wildfire Mitigation
Closing remarks
Statistical Review of California’s Organic Agriculture, by Wei, Goodhue, Muramoto, and Sumner
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) State Organic Program (SOP) oversees organic agricultural production, milk and dairy food processing, meat and poultry processing, and retail organic production activities. All organic producers, handlers, and processors must complete the organic registration before the first sale of organic products. The registration process collects information on commodity, location, sales value, acreage, and area. Registration by each operation must be annually renewed unless the registration is no longer
needed.This report uses the data provided by individual operations to provide number of growers, acreage, and farm gate sales revenue for the organic industry in California. Tables are constructed for each commodity, commodity group, county, region, and statewide using the CDFA organic registration data from 2013 to 2016. Registrations are aggregated by the year to which the submission applies.