Aaron Barcellos

There is a serious decline of farmers in California, and possibly the nation. How can the next generation of farmers begin?

California asparagus growers hang on despite acreage decline. Ever-increasing labor costs in California and free trade that led to a surge in cheaper, duty-free asparagus imports from Mexico have pushed the state’s asparagus industry to the brink of extinction. But a handful of growers and packers continue to hang on, with some even expressing a ray of optimism. “I think we’ve felt better about it the last two years,” said Aaron Barcellos, a partner in the family-owned A-Bar Ag Enterprises near Firebaugh. “Last year and this year, the markets, for whatever reason, haven’t had the (imported) grass, and we’re finding better markets.” California asparagus production topped 37,000 acres in 2000 before it started to decline, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures. The state now has probably fewer than 1,000 acres of commercial asparagus, according to industry estimates. Read more in Ag Alert: bit.ly/41Aobui #News #AgAlert #CAFarmBureau #Asparagus #AcreageDecline #Agriculture #Imports #Firebaugh

California asparagus is far superior, if you can find it. But it's definitely worth the hunt. A handful of California growers hang on. Read more: @turlockfruit" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">agalert.com/california-ag-… @NeillCallis @ABar85

In 10 years, wearing a polyester shirt will be looked at the same way smoking a cigarette is today. Both stink and both are harmful to your body. #plantnotplastic

In 25 years no one is going to remember a phone call. No one is going to remember what an opinion writer at The Athletic wrote. No one is going to remember a morning show segment . No one is going to remember a state of the union address. No one is going to remember what any Canadian journalist wrote. But this photograph will still be there. And that's all this is about.

@JoeDelBosque @AdamGrayCA The unfortunate reality of Reclamation not using real time data in the water allocation process, it puts the burden on farmers to guess how much water we will have each year. Leading to all of the fallow acres which negatively impact the disadvantaged communities farmers support

@JoeDelBosque @AdamGrayCA The reason farmers have so much additional water to reschedule is due to Reclamation being overly conservative in last year’s initial allocation similar to this year. These low allocations do not allow farmers to put this water to beneficial use leaving thousands of acres fallow

.@SenMikeLee says consolidation in the agriculture market is squeezing America’s farmers out. “Farmers are facing mounting pressure from market consolidation that’s been squeezing them from both sides, creating a bottleneck.” “The companies that farmers buy from keep raising prices on essential supplies, while the buyers they sell to keep negotiating down what they’ll pay.” “Farmers are caught in the middle, watching their margins shrink year after year.” “Just two companies now control about 90% of corn seed genetics.” “Four firms produce roughly 75% of the nitrogen fertilizer used in this country.” “In cattle, four meat packers handle about 85% of fed cattle slaughter capacity in America.”

I’m not against imports or trade. I’m against one sided trade that gives foreign competitors big advantages over domestic producers. I’m against imports being labeled as products of the USA. I’m against subsidizing foreign governments in exchange for them taking our markets with our money. I’m against exploiting labor and environment in foreign countries while we have to live under much stricter regulations. Nothing to do with the beef issue, but I’m against using slave labor while many demand reparations for slavery. Most importantly, I’m against dependence on foreign, often hostile nations for our essential resources, especially food. If we crush our own producers with cheap imports, which is evident by the sharp decline in the cattle herd, we end up reliant upon a system that can quickly turn on us in the event of conflict (see China and rare earth magnets.)

@dearborndenim Where do you source your cotton?

I manufacture jeans in the USA.

If Trump would have just called it a 25% Carbon Tax….

@RepDuarteCA13 @NatResources @RepBentz @RepLaMalfa @RepMcClintock @RepVinceFong @RepDavidValadao Well done! Congressman Duarte’s statement on California water situation was right on point. Thanks for bringing some light to how the lack of water to the valley directly negatively impacts disadvantaged families and communities!

Pacific Ocean precipitation and a vast Sierra Nevada watershed. The world’s most fertile soils. A Mediterranean climate. Our Valley should be the Western Hemisphere’s Garden of Eden, but only the misguided environmental extremists and the politics of Washington and Sacramento could screw up this setting. #CA13 Watch the full @NatResources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife & Fisheries field hearing here: naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/event…

This debate speaks volumes about the state of the Republican and Democratic parties. Both absolutely without leadership and too easily influenced by the loud far right and left voices. I’ve never felt less represented as a voter.

Asparagus the canary in the coal mine story for California Ag. Many thanks to @theCindyCarcamo and @latimes for helping to tell our story. @NeillCallis

@NickHorob Send

I created this farm loan calculator a while back to be able to see per-acre P&I. It was previously limited to 30 yrs of amort but I've updated that to 40 ys (😬). To get this spreadsheet, reply with SEND and I'll DM it to you (be sure to follow me so I can DM you).

@AgWriterVLBoyd @NeillCallis Don’t quite give up on us yet! Hopefully, you will see Peacock brand asparagus in stores close to you for a few more weeks! #fresh #californiagrown

Sad the Calif. asparagus season is ending. Short and sweet but the quality was there. I had to buy some of the last 'gras of the season. YUM!! Listen to Aaron Barcellos talk about his family's asparagus operation. It starts about 8:15 dailynews.myaglife.com/podcast/episod… @ABar85 @NeillCallis

California #asparagus picked, packed, hydrocooled and shipped to grocery stores in only a few days. Can't get much fresher unless you cut it yourself. I always look for California map on bunch tags to know it's from two CA farm families @NeillCallis @ABar85 #buylocal

Big thanks to @AgWriterVLBoyd for taking the time to come see our asparagus operation and helping to tell our story! Enjoy that fresh asparagus! #californiagrown#fresh

@AgWriterVLBoyd Thanks for the shout out! Look for our California Peacock label in stores. Guaranteed to be fresher and much better quality than imported asparagus!

No comparison. California asparagus (on left) is much thicker and fresher than skinny 'gras from Mexico (skinny bunch on right) Thicker asparagus also is much more tender and not as woody. It's what's for dinner tonight #CAgrown @ABar85 #asparagus