Agriculture

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is pleased to announce what is believed to be the first-ever Ecosystem Services Database, which is now available at http://apps.cdfa.ca.gov/EcosystemServices .

Ecosystem Services are defined as the multiple benefits we gain from farming and ranching, including crop and livestock production.

Many of these benefits extend into environmental stewardship and conservation. For example, the maintenance of wildlife habitats, biodiversity enhancements on working lands, renewable energy use and production, increased nutrient cycling and storage, soil enrichment, water conservation, and support for pollinating insects are some of the benefits.

A more comprehensive list of ecosystem service benefits in agriculture can be found at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/EnvironmentalStewardship/EcosystemServices.html .

"California's working farms and ranches are an important part of our natural landscape," said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. "The commitment to ecosystem services demonstrates clearly that beyond the productivity of fields and pastures, resource management decisions by farmers and ranchers provide us with wildlife and pollinator habitat, contribute to clean water and air, provide recreational and tourism connections, and much more."

The database contains nearly 400 farms and ranches. It is intended to easily communicate to a broad audience the multiple benefits provided by agriculture in California.

The database can be queried by key word, county, crop type and type of ecosystem service. An interactive map allows users to view where the services are taking place.

The purpose of the database is twofold. It helps the department discuss the multiple benefits provided by California agriculture, and it assists growers, ranchers and stakeholders who want to learn more about ecosystem services.

Question: I plan to head to the coast to try some abalone diving next weekend but need to clarify a few of the abalone regulations before I make the trip.

First, I will take all abalone with a legal ab iron but want to also carry a knife. Would this be a problem?

Second, if my buddy and I want to spearfish and take abs on the same day, can we carry our guns while taking the abs or do we have to make separate trips to and from the car?

Finally, if our abs are separated into individual bags (one for mine and one for his), can both bags be clipped onto a single float tube while we finish spear fishing or would that violate the separate possession regulation? Thanks! (Andrew M.)

Answer: You are allowed to carry a knife while diving for abalone but you may not use a knife in place of an abalone iron for taking abalone.

The main reason for this rule is because abalone are hemophiliacs and even the slightest cut to the foot when attempting to remove them from the rocks may cause them to bleed to death.

This is a problem especially for abalone short of the legal size limit that must be released. Abalone irons are designed with rounded corners and wider and thicker bases to prevent injuries.

As far as spear guns, you are allowed to carry one while abalone diving (unlike when diving for spiny lobster where this is not legal). Each person’s abalone must be kept in separate identifiable bags, but the bags can both be clipped to the same tube.

Fishing on CSU campuses?

Question: While fishing on a reservoir located on the Cal Poly SLO campus recently, a Cal Poly professor approached us and asked us to leave. This reservoir receives water flow from Lake Santa Margarita where the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) stocks the fishery.

The reservoir isn't listed as a regulated fishery with special conditions. I believe it is public land, and licensed California anglers have a right to fish there. The professor disagrees.

Who's right? (Brian H., San Luis Obispo)

Answer: Fishing access to reservoirs is generally controlled by the person or entity that owns the land on which the reservoir is located.

According to local CDFW Patrol Lieutenant Todd Tognazzini, Cal Poly may be conducting studies or engaging in other activities on the reservoir that are inconsistent with fishing.

The best thing to do is check with the Cal Poly Police Department for clarification. They can probably provide you a current law they would enforce related to fishing there.

Archery during rifle season?

Question: I hunt archery exclusively, though sometimes I am not able to fill my tag. If I don't fill my tag during the archery season, can I still use my archery tag and hunt during the rifle season? (Jonathan E.)

Answer: It depends upon what type of tag you have. If you have an archery only (AO) tag or a premium archery tag, then it may only be used for archery take.

If you have a general zone tag, it may be used with archery equipment during the early archery season, and then with all legal big game methods such as a rifle, crossbow or archery during the later general season.

Gaffing salmon

Question: Is it legal to use a gaff to land salmon?

On a fishing Web site I follow, some guys are recommending using a gaff if the net is busy and two fish need to be landed at the same time. I can't find the section in the saltwater regulation book to answer my question.

Can you help? I’m just trying to stay legal. (Ralph C.)

Answer: In ocean waters, gaffs may only be used to land salmon that are of legal size. If a fish is short and a gaff is used, the angler is in violation (CCR Title 14, section 28.65(d)).

In inland waters, only anglers fishing from a boat in the Sacramento River main stem below Deschutes Road Bridge can use a gaff (that measures 3 feet or less) to land legal-sized fish (CCR Title 14, section 2.06).

It’s best to release any short salmon as close to the water as possible to give them the best chance for survival.

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

2013winerapeharvest

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – With autumn quickly approaching, Lake County winegrape growers are beginning this year’s harvest of varietals, having started in some vineyards as early as mid-August.

Several of the area’s growers are reporting the 2013 crop promises to deliver high-quality fruit from Lake County vines.

David Weiss of Bella Vista Farming said the weather has been good for grapes this year.

“As a result, it could be a very good quality vintage,” he said.

Weiss has already started harvesting Sauvignon Blanc in the Kelsey Bench area.

He said a warmer spring “got things going sooner,” and while there have been a couple of heat spikes, they were anticipated spikes so growers were able to irrigate without a problem.

Since then, the area has enjoyed nice, mild warm days and dry conditions, which have contributed to an earlier harvest across all varietals this year, he said.

Along with the weather, light crops found in certain areas – he cited one vineyard in the Big Valley region – contribute to the early harvesting period.

He looks to harvest a small hillside vineyard of Viognier on Mount Konocti and other Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in Big Valley this week.

Despite some lighter vineyards and an “average” Sauvignon Blanc crop, the winegrapes are better than last year and the quality is “very nice,” said Weiss.

Also beginning harvest in the Kelsey Bench area, winegrape grower Myron Holdenried said he is seeing a “very nice crop” coming out of the area’s vineyards.

They are mature and well-balanced, he noted, commenting on the flavors of the Sauvignon Blanc he has started to pick.

“We were able to irrigate through the heat spells,” he said. “I don’t see any damage to the fruit as a result of weather.”

Holdenried estimates harvest will take him through late October and will include eight different varietals.

He said he also anticipates a good year with the harvest being about a week earlier than usual.

In the mountains of the Lower Lake region of the Red Hills AVA, the Cabernet Sauvignon is “thriving,” according to Tracey Hawkins who, along with her husband Mitch, grows Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc at Hawk and Horse Vineyards.

“We are in the final days of veraison (transition from berry growth to berry ripening),” reported Tracey Hawkins. “We are seeing large, loose clusters with beautiful berries of about average size.”

She said Cabernet Sauvignon is about 90 percent through veraison while Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc are almost complete.

She indicated very few berries lack their deep indigo color and random samples showed sugars between 18 to 20 degrees brix.

Calling the growing season “a thing of beauty,” Hawkins said she and her husband are pleased with this year’s maturation. “We saw slightly late flowering and bud break, but a heat spike in July began to move things along.”

She said the high elevation area has experienced a fairly consistent cycle of warm days and cool nights.

“Our hearty mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon is thriving,” Hawkins said.

In 2012, Lake County experienced a 20-percent rise in winegrapes’ gross value, from $40 million in 2011 to $47.9 million last year, according to the Lake County Department of Agriculture’s annual crop report.

Production for the year was up by 800 tons from the previous year. Lake County vineyard acreage remains steady at about 8,400 acres.

Susan Stout writes for the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Farm Bureau’s Sunday Morning Breakfast will take place on Sept. 8.

Kelseyville Lion’s Club will cook up breakfast with selections including pancakes, scrambled eggs, and biscuits with gravy and sausage.

Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Even if you are in the middle of harvest or if you have to eat and run, come on by because takeouts will be available.

Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit Farm Bureau’s scholarship fund as well as our farm-focused programs.

In addition to breakfast, there will be the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to enter a drawing to win half a hog. Farm Bureau will purchase a hog at the upcoming Lake County Fair Junior Livestock Auction from a local 4-H or FFA member. The lucky winner of the drawing does not have to be present to win.

The breakfast will be held at the Kelseyville Lion’s Club, located at 4335 Sylar Lane in Kelseyville.

Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at the door or before the event at the Lake County Farm Bureau office.

For more information, contact Claudia Street, executive director, at 707-263-0911, visit www.lakecofb.com or find them on Facebook.

The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) invites veterans and their friends to view the latest video produced by the California Department of Food and Agriculture for their Growing California video series titled “From Service to Harvest” about veterans turning to farming after their military service is complete.

The video can be viewed above.

As noted in the video, the Farmer Veteran Coalition can help veterans plan for their new careers as a farmer. The Farmer Veteran Coalition can be found at www.farmvetco.org or by calling 530-756-1395.

CalVet offers farm loans to eligible California veterans to acquire a farm property that will provide a livelihood for the veteran and his or her family.

Veterans may qualify for the purchase of a farm which is an acceptable agricultural property as determined by CalVet.

One of the basic requirements for a CalVet Farm Loan is that CalVet be assured that the veteran, performing as an average farmer under average conditions, can operate the farm on a sound financial basis.

For more information on CalVet Farm Loans call 866-653-2510 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Follow CalVet on www.Facebook.com/mycalvet and www.twitter.com/mycalvet .

autumnpearcheesecake

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Dessert makers are again invited to celebrate the pear harvest by entering the Kelseyville Pear Festival’s annual Pear Dessert Contest.

Experienced cooks and beginners alike are encouraged to enter their favorite pear dessert.

The desserts must be ready to eat and may contain any variety of pears. The pears can be fresh, canned, frozen or dried.

The entries must be accompanied with a legible copy of the recipe that includes the name of the dessert and the entrant with a contact phone number. The entries must be in a disposable container.

To be considered in the judging, desserts must be delivered to the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, Friendship Hall, between 11 a.m. and noon on Friday, Sept. 27. Judging will follow at 2 p.m.

Winners will be announced at the Kelseyville Pear Festival. Grand prizes are gift certificates to local restaurants.

All recipes become the property of the Kelseyville Business Association and the Pear Festival Committee for future publication and promotion.

For an application go to www.kelseyvillepearfestival.com/events/contests .

LCNews

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