University of California Agricultural Issues Center Update.
February 2012

We study topics such as international markets, invasive pests and diseases, the value of agricultural research and development, agricultural policy and the rural environment among others. The issues are often global, but we emphasize implications for agriculture and natural resources in California.

The audience for AIC research and outreach includes decision makers in agriculture and government, scholars and students, journalists and the general public.

AIC activities and news.

• An Excel spreadsheet of 2010 California Agricultural Export Data has been developed by AIC researchers William A. Matthews, Georgi Gabrielyan, and AIC director Daniel A. Sumner. The following tables are included, as is the methodology. Past years data can also be found on the same page.
  1. California agricultural product export values and rankings, 2008-2010
  2. California Share of U.S. Agricultural Exports by Category and Commodity, 2009-2010
  3. Major Destinations for California Agricultural Exports, 2009 and 2010
  4. Major California agricultural exports to the top 15 destinations, 2009 and 2010
  5. Major California agricultural exports to the European Union, 2009 & 2010
  6. Ratio of California farm quantity exported to farm quantity produced, 2009 and 2010
  
  
  
• The Bioeconomics of Honey Bees and Pollination
  A model of beekeeping that incorporates within- and between-year dynamics in the honey bee population.
  Antoine Champetier, Daniel A. Sumner, James E. Wilen, 2012.
  
  
  
• “Honeybee die-off shouldn't sting”
  "It shouldn't be a significant item on the radar screen of consumers," said AIC director Daniel Sumner.
  CNNMoney, 2/7/2012.
• The Measure of California Agriculture  (MOCA)
  Jonathan Barker, Jessica Vergati and Marcia Kreith continued developing the 2011 edition of AIC’s flagship publication, “The Measure of California Agriculture (MOCA).” The latest quantitative details on California agriculture have been gathered and summarized to provide an overview of unifying forces and trends and document the relationship of California agriculture to the U.S. and world economy. In addition to providing updated data, MOCA has been expanded to include sections on federal crop insurance and agricultural research and development in the United States and world. Also new to MOCA, AIC estimated the economic effects of Southern California agricultural production and processing. Online publication of “The Measure of California Agriculture, 2011” and a companion “Highlights” brochure is anticipated this spring.
  
  
  
• California Agriculture and Global Challenges: Resources, Prices and Prospects 2012
  AIC Director Dan Sumner’s presentation for the California Ag Summit. January 27, 2012.
  
  
  
• “State's farmers positioned to meet food challenges”
  A report on the second annual California Ag Summit citing AIC director Dan Sumner. Ag Alert  2/1/2012.
  
  
  
• Regulatory and Subsidy Responses to Variability in North American Agriculture
  AIC director Dan Sumner’s presentation for the Conference on Growing Forward in a Volatile Environment January, 2012, Ottawa.
  
  
  
• The U.S. Wine Market in a Global Context (U.C. Perspective)
  Presentation by AIC researcher Jim Lapsley, Jan 2012 at the UC Davis Masters of Wine program.
  
  
  
• The Economic Returns to Public Agricultural Research in Uruguay
   AIC Associate Director Julian M. Alston, José E. Bervejillo and Kabir P. Tumber.
  Paper using newly constructed data to model and measure agricultural productivity growth and the returns to public agricultural research conducted in Uruguay over the period 1961–2010.
  
  

• AIC researcher Bill Matthews is working on a grant studying the domestic and international market potential of the California olive industry. He has attended the Olive Conference in Dixon, CA on January 19 and a hearing of the California Senate subcommittee on Olive Oil Production and Emerging Products at the state capital on January 27 titled " Challenges Facing California's Olive Oil Industry".
  
  
  
• Outlook for 2012 remains positive for most crops
  "Coming out of a robust water year in 2011, the lack of rain and snowpack so far this winter has been worrisome, said Dan Sumner, a UC Davis, agricultural economist and director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center.
  "Weather is the wild card here," he said. "If we get normal weather, I see this being a pretty good year for agriculture." AgAlert 1/11/2012.
  
  
  
• Dairy Economics: Plan ahead for the roller coaster ride!
  AIC Director Dan Sumner’s presentation from 2012 California State Holstein Convention January 27, 2012 in Petaluma, California.
  
  
  
• Cattle producers face a high-priced future, experts say
  ... $130 per hundredweight for much of November, explained Dan Sumner, director of the Agricultural Issues Center at the University of California-Davis.
  Capital Press 12/9/2011.
  
  
  
• AIC staff profile: Jessica Vergati.
  Jessica is currently a Junior Specialist at AIC, having started in 2010 as a student research assistant while finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Management at UC Davis. She is currently working on  The Measure of California Agriculture  (MOCA) and other projects such as fruit price margins.  Jessica anticipates continuing to work in an agribusiness related area before getting her Master’s degree. Her other interests are varied, including fencing (we’re not talking cattle enclosures).
  
      

Agricultural Issues Center. University of California, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616
Tel: 530-752-2320     -     Fax: 752-5451     -     agissues@ucdavis.edu     -     http://aic.ucdavis.edu