-June 9.2-22-
ELECTION HEADLINES
– Kings sees 19% turnout: Kings County saw a 19% voter turnout in the June primary, better than the state average at 16% at this count.Tulare County reported just a 10% turnout.
– Valadao vs Salas this fall: The race for the congressional seat in the 22nd district will feature Democrat Rudy Salas vs GOP’s David Valadao this fall, the top vote getters in this week’s primary.
– Verboon, Neves, Robinson to lead BOS: Kings County Board of Supervisors will seat Doug Verboon, Joe Neves and newcomer Rusty Robinson as a result of this week’s election.
– Hurtado vs Shepard in State Senate District 16 race: Melissa Hurtado easily beat out Nicole Parra on the Democrat side and will face off with Republican David Shephard this fall.
– Firefighter measure fails Measure F, titled The Kings County Fire and Emergency Services Initiative, that would have established a half-cent sales tax increase to be used for the Kings County Fire Department, was turned down by voters by a two-thirds margin.
Milk/beef prices heading lower?
Two huge Kings County ag commodities are enjoying high prices for producers but the market expects both milk and beef prices to moderate going forward.
As for beef, Rabobank says “the first signs of softening consumer confidence are apparent in most markets, with wholesale prices for beef coming under pressure even though production costs are higher. A downward adjustment of cattle prices and upstream input costs will be needed to restore processor margins and to maintain beef’s competitiveness with consumers. We expect ongoing adjustments of consumption and margins in all markets as we head into Q3 2022.” For now, cattle values are significantly higher this year, with steer prices netting 17.5% more at slaughter than last year.
And for number one Kings crop- milk- dairy farmers are happy to see all-time high milk prices at $25.21 per 100 pounds of milk -over $6 higher compared to last year. Meanwhile margins may be moderating, says Western United Dairymen, based on nearby futures prices. July grain contracts slipped while third quarter Class III and Class IV futures climbed to $24.47 and $25.85 per hundredweight. Lower milk output around the world is spiking prices higher
But these lofty dairy product prices may erode consumer’s appetites and dairy futures price are trending down in a break for costomers.In May USDA said the” all-milk price forecast for 2023 is $23.55 per cwt, $2.20 lower than 2022 projection.Higher milk supplies projected in 2023 and relative stable demand are expected to contribute to lower prices for the main dairy products compared to 2022 projections” says USDA. The agency projects the national dairy herd to increase.
Foster Farms sells
Valley-based Foster Farms, a family-owned poultry producer, has sold its operations to a conglomerate -Connecticut-based Atlas Holdings announced on June 7. Foster Farms acquired many of the ranches in Kings County, formerly owned by family-based Zacky Farms. Afterward, Foster Farms indicated it wanted to reopen and modernize the ranches and raise chickens including free range. We will see if they follow through under the new owners.
Processing tomato production expected down on drought
As of May 15, California’s tomato processors reported they have or will have contracts for 11.7 million tons of processing tomatoes for 2022. This production estimate is 4.1% lower than the January intentions forecast of 12.2 million tons, but 8.9% above the final 2021 contracted production total.
The May contracted acreage of 234,000 is 4.5% below the January intentions forecast of 245,000 acres, but 5,000 acres more than last year’s final contracted acreage. Fresno County remained the top California county in contracted planted acreage for 2022 with 50,000 acres. King’s cotton plantings stand at 27,000 acres, down from 29,800 in 2021.