Fresno Packer Building New Citrus Plant
Sanger-based Kings River Packing Company is building a new 25,000sf citrus packing plant valued at $1.26 million. The plant is at 21095 E Trimmer Springs Rd in Sanger.
USDA Designates California a Drought Disaster Area
Nearly all farmers and ranchers in California are now eligible to apply for low-interest emergency loans because the U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared the state a drought disaster area.
Agricultural operators in all California counties except for San Francisco can now apply for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. The maximum loan amount is $500,000.
The state’s agricultural industry is in a bind because of this year’s very dry conditions. Many ranchers are buying extra feed for livestock to compensate for meager grass growth, and some farmers are fallowing land to cope with the increasing problem of water shortages.
On Aug. 22, USDA designated 24 more counties in California as primary disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
“Just about everyone in California agriculture has been negatively affected by drought this year,” said Val Dolcini, Farm Service Agency state executive director, in an announcement last week about the emergency loans. “California’s diverse farmers and ranchers of all sizes and backgrounds have experienced drought conditions and water shortages and may find help at FSA offices.”
From ACWA
WALNUT PRODUCTION FORECAST DOWN SLIGHTLY
The 2013 California walnut production is forecast at 495,000 tons, down less than 1 percent from 2012’s production of 497,000 tons. This forecast is based on the 2013 Walnut Objective Measurement (O.M.) Survey, which was officially conducted August 1 through August 23, 2013.
The survey found while acreage is up this year, the nut set is at a record low. Nut sets per tree on the Coast is predicted to be at 857 in 2013,down from 1461 in 2102.In the SJ Valley – the nut set is estimated to fall from 1120 in 2012 to 1050 this year..
Bearing acreage is up10,000 statewide this year to 255,000 acres stimulated by high prices per ton paid to growers. Total value exceeded $1.33 billion in 2011 compared to $558 million in 2008. Exports are driving demand.
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