California Asparagus Production and USDA Protein Purchases

California Asparagus Production and USDA Protein Purchases

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.

**With high labor costs and intense competition from Mexico, California asparagus production continues to drop.

California peaked at 36,000 acres of asparagus in 1999, but acreage dropped from 22,500 in 2006 to 2,800 in 2022.

Still, growers like Jim Durst of Durst Organic Growers stand by the crop, saying he markets his asparagus as California-grown, appealing to those seeking high-quality local produce over imports.

**The USDA plans to purchase various protein items to support American Agriculture and to feed kids and families, with potential materials like dairy, meat, fish, and poultry items.

The funds, provided through USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation, will support nearly $1 billion to purchase food for emergency food providers like food banks.

Interested parties shall be responsible for ensuring they have the most up-to-date information.

**The American Farm Bureau Federation urges the USDA to accept the National Milk Producers Federation Federal Milk Marketing Order petition.

AFBF says the petition is long-overdue to ensure consumers can access fresh dairy products while protecting dairy farmers from potentially harmful market conditions.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall calls on USDA to hold a hearing and asks the department to go further than a recent NMPF petition.

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