Post-Redistrcting, Congressman Jimmy Panetta Meets With SLO County Agriculture Stakeholders | |
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New political district maps were finalized by the California Redistricting Commission in late December, and prospective candidates have already begun making decisions about 2022. SLO County is now split between two Congressional districts (pictured at right), with northern SLO County to be in the new 19th District that extends along the coast all the way to Santa Cruz, and southern SLO County will be in a new 24th District that extends to Ventura.
Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) currently represents the old 20th District, and announced in late December he will seek re-election in the new 19th District. Panetta has held the seat since 2017. Pictured above, SLO County Farm Bureau President Hilary Graves and Executive Director Brent Burchett met with Panetta on Thursday to discuss local agriculture issues. No other candidates have announced for the 19th Congressional seat, which leans Democrat by party registration numbers.
Implications of the new district maps were also evident this week with current State Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham announcing he will not seek re-election for the newly created 30th State Assembly District, which now extends North from Santa Maria to Santa Cruz. Cunnigham's old district consisted of SLO County and the northern portion of Santa Barbara County. Portions of southern SLO County communities (Oceano, Nipomo, and Cuyama) will now be in a new 37th State Assembly District that runs to the city of Santa Barbara. Two Santa Barbara County Democrats announced campaigns for the seat this week.
SLO County Farm Bureau and other community stakeholders advocated unsuccessfully to the California Redistricting Commission in 2021 to keep SLO County intact in new Congressional and state legislative districts.
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This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
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This Issue Includes:
- Community: Farm Bureau Campaign School is Feb. 25;
- COVID-19: Latest on Testing in SLO County;
- State Government: Newsom's 'California Blueprint' Budget Includes $750 Million for Drought;
- County Government: Ag Commissioner's Weed Management Report;
- Federal Government: American Farm Bureau Establishes 2022 Policies;
- Business Member Spotlight: Solterra Strategies;
- Social Media Post Of The Week: Cal Poly Branding Season Wraps-Up;
- Labor: New Ag Employment Rules for 2022;
- Livestock: The Power of Showing Livestock and Staying Positive;
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Water: Opinion - Spend Infrastructure Dollars on Projects, Not Process;
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Vineyard & Wine: 2021 Wine Industry Person of the Year;
- Produce: When Agtech Dares Mighty Things; and
- Ag Economics: Ag Tractor, Combine Unit Sales Finish 2021 Up Double Digits in U.S., Canada.
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Executive Director Report
Here are a few things we worked on this week:
- Monitored the Jan. 11 SLO County Board of Supervisors meeting;
- Participated in the SLO County Farmworker Taskforce Meeting regarding COVID-19 outreach;
- Discussed local issues with Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg;
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Gave input to Congressman Salud Carbajal's staff on electric vehicles in agriculture ahead of the Jan. 12 U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture hearing, “Implications of Electric Vehicle Investments for Agriculture and Rural America”;
- Participated in the SLO Food System Coalition Steering Committee meeting;
- Discussed local policy issues with SLO Chamber of Commerce CEO Jim Dantona;
- Attended a joint meeting of the Central Coast Water Authority and San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District regarding a SWP Water Management Tools Study;
- Met with Congressman Jimmy Panetta;
- Gave an update on agriculture issues on the Tom & Becky Show on 98.1 KJUG; and
- Met with National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration staff and agriculture stakeholders regarding the proposed Chumash Marine National Sanctuary.
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Community: Farm Bureau Campaign School is Feb. 25 | |
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California Farm Bureau Scholarships Open Now for High School and College Students
The California Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation is excited to announce that applications open for 2022 scholarships. Students only need to submit one application for the scholarships. The Foundation was organized to give aid to students with a desire to pursue a career in the agricultural industry. Scholarships are awarded annually based upon academic achievement, career goals, extracurricular activities, determination, leadership skills, and a commitment to study agriculture.
Application deadline is February 1st. Apply here.
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Interested in running for public office? Farm Bureau is here to help! | |
If you are interested in attending this free campaign training at California Farm Bureau headquarters on Friday, February 25, please email SLO County Farm Bureau Executive Director Brent Burchett at bburchett@slofarmbureau.org or call 805-543-3654. No previous experience is necessary and participation does not obligate you to run in election.
SLO County Farm Bureau staff will be attending this event, and carpooling and accommodations may be available to Farm Bureau members.
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Join SLO County Farm Trail! | JOIN US on the SLO County Farm Trail! For 6 years we have been celebrating our locally grown and made, introducing guests to the FARMsteading skills and practices that make you who you are. | | |
CAFF: Add Your Farm to the California Farm Directory | Community Alliance of Family Farmers: It's free to add your farm and only takes a few minutes. | | | |
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Urgent Advisory – Tree Nut Theft
Western Agricultural Processors Association participated in the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force Meeting in Santa Nella and learned the tree nut industry has once again experienced the theft of two loads of finished product tree nuts. One was almonds and one was pistachios, and were destined to locations in the central U.S. Both loads were believed to be stolen using “fictitious pickup’ though details are still coming in. We send this as an urgent reminder to remain diligent especially at this time without outbound loads. As a reminder, we developed the following recommended deterrent measures:
All pick-up appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and require:
- Pick-up #
- Driver’s name and D/L #
- Trucking Company Name
- Verify paperwork upon arrival
- Take photographs of driver, truck and trailer
- Take photographs of license plates and VIN#
- Take thumbprint of driver
- Post warnings at truck entrance
- Install high definition surveillance cameras
- Utilize GPS tracking devices
This is a sophisticated crime. Please be proactive and prepared. The last time this hit, more than 40 loads of tree nuts were stolen. The Association is already in contact with law enforcement officials. For more details on how these thefts work, please visit the “Issues” section of the WAPA website, and be sure to adopt, implement and verify the above procedures are in place. Should you experience any suspicious activities, please notify your county sheriff’s department and our office at (559)455-9272.
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COVID-19: Latest on Testing in SLO County | |
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COVID-19 Testing Resources
Community Health Centers does offer COVID-19 vaccines to non-CHC patients at two locations In San Luis Obispo County. Non-CHC patients may be vaccinated at:
- CHC Fair Oaks (1057 E. Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande) on Fridays between 8 am and 3:45 pm.
- CHC Templeton (1330 Las Tablas Road, Templeton) on Wednesdays between 8 am and 3:45 pm.
Although walk-ins may be vaccinated, CHC recommends that persons call CHC ahead of time to ensure that the clinic has not reached its maximum patient capacity for the day. CHC Fair Oaks-(805)270-1700 and CHC Templeton (805)542-6700
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COVID-19 Testing Resources: Please direct persons seeking testing locations and asking questions about testing to the Public Health website: https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/COVID-19-Testing.aspx
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COVID-19 Boosters- Two Changes: There are two recent changes to administration of boosters.
- Eligibility for Pfizer boosters has dropped to age 12
- The time period between primary series and booster for both Moderna and Pfizer has been shortened to 5 months instead of the previous 6 months
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SLO County Public Health Offers COVID-19 Testing Recommendations as Tests Remain Limited | 1/13/2022 - Public Health urges residents to "save your test" for the right moment, avoid ER for routine testing San Luis Obispo, CA ... | | | |
State Government: Newsom's 'California Blueprint' Budget Includes $750 Million for Drought | |
Newsom's California Blueprint Includes $750 Million for Drought | Governor Gavin Newsom has released his 2022-23 state budget proposal, the California Blueprint. The $213 billion... | | | |
Republicans Call for Investment in Water Projects with State Surplus | State Republicans are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to invest in water projects with California's expected financial surplus. In a letter, the nine lawmakers point out that the construction of additional water storage is the most sensible course of action given the state's financial and ... | | | |
County Government: Ag Commissioner's Weed Management Report | |
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SLO County Weed Management Update
January 12, 2022
Marty Settevendemie, Agricultural Commissioner / County Sealer, Department of Agriculture / Weights & Measures
In FY 2021, our roadside program was derailed by COVID and late rains and we were limited on Roadside spraying as we could not put two people without vaccinations in a closed cab. We targeted complaint sites on Bitterwater, La Panza, Pozo, Cross Canyon, Adelaida and Huasna. We treated about 31 miles of roads and about 36 net acres for Yellowstar thistle. Efforts last season were focused on extensive surveys on 276 miles of roads (many remote) to identify treatment priorities in FY2122.
So far in the 2022 season, we have had early rains and staff are able to meet COVID restrictions pertaining sharing a closed cab. We have already treated 64 miles of roads and about 16 net acres of Yellowstar thistle. Bitterwater, Huasna, Pozo, Ranchita Canyon, Chimney Rock, Cross Canyon, Vineyard Canyon and Indian Springs are some of the roads sprayed in November and December.
Our 4WD spray truck has been rebuilt with updated valves and pumps. This truck has 2: 50-gallon direct mix tanks that can be used for roadside treatment but is frequently used to treat different weeds that can be reached off road with the 300 ft hand wand.
The department received a grant to survey, map, treat, and provide outreach for infestation of Jubata cortaderia (jubata grass) in and around the Los Osos Township. This was a $37,000 grant that ended Dec 31, 2021. Several unknown populations of Jubata grass were discovered and over 2000 acres were surveyed. Large parcels were targeted for survey and treatment in this project and outreach activities were conducted in the residential areas. Treatment and removal activities were conducted on 160 gross acres. The grant was fully expended, and we were able to acquire a Polaris 850 quad with a hand wand fitted with 75 ft of hose allowing us to reach many difficult to treat sites. This quad has been used on other weeds projects, greatly expanding our ability to treat in remote areas. We are hoping for future funding to continue work on this project.
The department received another noxious weed grant from CDFA in 2021 that entails the survey, mapping, treatment of noxious weeds in the County Parks system. The department will also work collaboratively with County Parks staff to develop best management practices to control weeds identified in the County Parks system. Staff have already surveyed and mapped weeds in 17 parks.
The Ag Department has joined forces with the Public Works department in a restoration project in Arroyo Grande Creek. The department has been involved in several noxious weed treatments and also targeting English Ivy infestations in A.G. Creek.
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Federal Government: American Farm Bureau Establishes 2022 Policies | |
American Farm Bureau Establishes 2022 Policies | Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation's 103rd Convention adopted policies to guide the organization's work in 2022. Key topics ranged from milk pricing and beef market transparency to urban agriculture. "Delegates from all 50 state Farm Bureaus and Puerto Rico came together today to demonstrate the power of grassroots leadership," said American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. | | | |
USDA sends more dollars for school meals | The Agriculture Department has bumped up payments for school meals to help with rising costs as schools struggle with supply chain woes. - The American Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention is underway in Atlanta, with President Joe Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack set to address the group today. | | | |
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Business Member Spotlight:
Solterra Strategies
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Solterra Strategies was born out of a desire to tell delicious stories. With so many voices in the wine, food and tourism communities how do you get your company to stand out?
Our collective experience is one of sorting through the piles of ideas, finding the ones that stick and communicating your story in an exciting way to keep the buzz about your business growing. Identifying your unique value proposition and developing your brand begins the process of telling the story. Then utilizing public and media relations garners credibility with your customers. Building brand ambassadors through trade relation and forming strategic partnerships furthers your reach while digital marketing and social media builds engagement with your audience.
Like any business, the perception of your brand is what sets you apart from your competition. It sounds simple, but it can be challenging, and we’re here to help. It’s what we do.
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1405 Spring Street #203 | Paso Robles, CA 93446
805.591.4884 | solterrastrategies.com
Monday - Friday 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
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Thank You Farm Bureau Members | |
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Social Media Post Of The Week:
Cal Poly Branding Season Wraps-Up
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calpolybeefunit: Lots of irons in the fire with Cal Poly’s first week of school finishing up and the Serrano branding underway this weekend. Putting a cap on Cal Poly’s branding season, we were able to brand and vaccinate our purebred calves with the help of the beef unit employees and enterprise members. Thank you to everyone that came out and helped at all our brandings this year! | |
Labor: New Ag Employment Rules for 2022 | |
Newsom proposes expanding food assistance benefits to older undocumented Californians | Undocumented immigrants don't currently qualify for the state's food assistance programs, but Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed expanding these benefits to undocumented people age 55 and older. Newsom proposed spending about $35 million to expand CalFresh eligibility as part of his draft budget released Monday... | | | |
Health coverage for all immigrants in California: Newsom plan | California would be the first US state to provide health coverage to all immigrants within its borders, regardless of how they arrived in the state, under a new budget plan proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday. Newsom’s proposal would use part of California’s booming budget surplus to provide healthcare coverage through the state’s system... | | | |
Nearly 50k noncitizen immigrants let into U.S. last summer haven't reported to officials | A report provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) showed that nearly 50,000 out of roughly 104,000 noncitizens released into the U. S. by immigration officials during a five-month period last summer have failed to report back to initiate their immigration proceedings. The report came in response to a letter Sen. | | | |
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February 2, 2022 Webinar: CalSavers Sign-Up Deadline Coming Soon: Are You Ready?
CalSavers, California's mandatory employee opt-out retirement savings program is gradually being applied to smaller and smaller employers; in June 2020, employees of 5 or more employees will be mandated to register with CalSavers if they are not already furnishing their employees with an IRS tax-favored retirement savings option. Jonathan Herrera, Outreach & Marketing Manager for the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program will brief attendees on the CalSavers program, employer registration, and employer responsibilities. Paul Yossem, Regional Vice President Private Sector Retirement Plans for California Farm Bureau Premier Partner Nationwide, will inform attendees about the California Farm Bureau’s Multiple Employer Plan (MEP), partnering with Nationwide to exclusively offer to CAFB agricultural members.
February 2, 2022, 10 AM (Zoom)
Register here. Cost? FREE!
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February 7 & 14, 2022: New Ag Employment Requirements for 2022: 2022 brings new requirements for California agricultural employers. What do you need to know to be in compliance?
Please join FELS for this unique hybrid in-person presentation at Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and Zoom for on on-line audience! FELS Chief Operating Officer Bryan Little will brief you on important legislative actions taken by the California Legislature in 2021 impact ag employers. Carl Borden of California Farm Bureau's Legal Affairs Division will review changes in the California minimum wage and overtime requirements for ag employees that will become effective for employers of 25 or fewer employees in 2022. Paul Yossem of Nationwide (invited) will inform you of the upcoming June 2022 deadline to enroll your business with the CalSavers employee retirement savings program and an alternative offered by Nationwide for Farm Bureau members. Last, Seth Merhten of Farm Employers Labor Service Group Legal Services Program partner Barsamian & Moody will walk you the ever-evolving Cal/OSHA ETS and changes that will become effective in January 2022.
February 7 & 14, 2022, 10 AM (Zoom)
Register here for February 7; here for February 14. Cost? FREE!
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Changes for Employers: What's New in 2022?
Courtesy of California Farm Labor Contractors Association
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The IRS mileage rate for travel reimbursements increased to 58.5 cents/mile (up from 56 cents). Here
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The Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) under the H-2A program increased to $17.51/hour (up from $16.05). Here
- Minimum Wage Increases
- For 26 or more employees: $15.00/hour
- For 25 or fewer employees: $14.00/hour
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The minimum wage for exempt employees: $5,200/month ($62,400/year) Here
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Wage Order 14 requires overtime to be paid after 8.0 hours daily & 40 hours weekly. Double time pay applies after 12.0 hours in a single workday. The overtime exemption for small employers for irrigators ended 01/01/2022 (ended for large employers in 2019). Here
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The California Family Rights Act (AB 1033) ensures job-protected family leave includes time off to care for parents-in-law (as well as newborns, newly adopted children, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings). Applies for employees with 12 months of service and 1,250 hours in the prior 12-month period. Note that time off is not required to be paid. Here
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The Silenced No More Act (SB 331) prohibits settlement agreements from preventing the disclosure of factual information regarding any claims of harassment or discrimination on any protected basis. Here
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The intentional theft of wages in an amount greater than $950 from any single employee, or $2,350 from two or more employees in any consecutive 12-month period punishable as grand theft, which can be a misdemeanor or felony and result in imprisonment in a county jail for up to three years. Here
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SB 606 created two new categories of workplace health and safety violations: “enterprise-wide” and “egregious”. Cal/OSHA can issue an enterprise-wide violation when there is evidence of a pattern or practice of the same violation involving more than one of the employer’s worksites. Additionally, Cal/OSHA can issue an egregious violation when the employer has intentionally made no reasonable effort to eliminate a known violation; committed willful violates that resulted in worker fatalities, a worksite catastrophe, or a large number of injuries or illnesses; or committed willful violations resulting in persistently high rates of worker injuries or illnesses. Here
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SB 807 extended record retention requirements for personnel records of applicants and employees to four years from the date the record was created. The deadline for DFEH to complete any investigation and issue a right-to-sue notice for employment discrimination was also extended to two years. Here
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Livestock: The Power of Showing Livestock and Staying Positive | |
The power of showing livestock and staying positive | MARYSVILLE, Kan. - Nineteen-year-old Staci Kmetz beams a smile for the camera, standing alongside her is grand champion heavyweight market lamb, Foxtrot, who had just sold for a record-breaking sum of $30,100 at the Fayette County Fair's 4H Livestock Auction in Pennsylvania. | | | |
Bay Area rancher believed killed by bull | BYRON - A bull apparently killed a Northern California rancher and then was shot dead when it threatened first responders, authorities said. The incident occurred Thursday afternoon in rural Contra Costa County, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. | | | |
Advertise With San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau | |
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Get Your Message in Front of Over 2,000 San Luis Obispo Countians!
Our weekly E-News is sent out every Friday to our membership and local leaders. If you're interested in an effective, low-cost advertising campaign ($150 a month) please give us a call or send an email to SLO County Farm Bureau Executive Director Brent Burchett.
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Water: Opinion - Spend Infrastructure Dollars on Projects, Not Process | |
Agriculture seeks clarity in revisions to U.S. water rules | Farmers and ranchers are advocating for a federal "waters of the United States" rule under the Clean Water Act that is clear and concise and maintains exemptions for normal agricultural activities. Upon review of the previous Navigable Waters Protection Rule done during the Trump administration... | | | |
Here is a plan to create more water for California | Former Congressman Tom Campbell's recent commentary "Why the delay on critical water storage projects," published on these pages on January 3, criticized the California Water Commission's ongoing failure to build the water storage projects that were approved by voters in 2014. | | | |
Opinion: Spend infrastructure dollars on projects, not process | The historic enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides a "once-in-a-generation" funding opportunity to support the modernization of our Western water infrastructure and restoration of our forested watersheds. The IIJA targets billions... | | | |
Spaceship-sized detection system could help determine future of CA water supply | SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- If it looks like something that could transport you into the future, in a sense it is. A spaceship-sized hoop suspended from a helicopter is actually part of an advanced water detection system. The information it's gathering, could help determine the future of California's water supply ... | | | |
California Water Institute releases water management report - Fresno State News | The California Water Institute published a report explaining how the first groundwater sustainability agencies were created and the organizational and governance challenges they navigated.A three-bill legislative package referred to as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act created a... | | | |
Major Milestone to Achieving Sustainable Groundwater Management | This month, California's efforts toward improving the management of our state's critical groundwater supply is taking an important step forward. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is releasing the determinations and written assessments for dozens of plans submitted for review in 2020. | | | |
Vineyard & Wine: 2021 Wine Industry Person of the Year | |
Vineyard-specific climate projections help growers manage risk and plan adaptation in the Paso Robles AVA | California's wine grape growers will face increasing challenges under a changing climate as most production occurs near the boundaries of current varieties' climatic thresholds. As part of this study, we developed a method for transforming downscaled climate information from the publicly available Cal-Adapt database into useful and useable climate projections for vineyard managers and advisors in the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area. | | | |
2021 Wine Industry Person of the Year! | "I'm a serial entrepreneur and seeing other entrepreneurs and businesses thrive is what I love the most about getting involved. I'm a true believer in the saying: a rising tide lifts all boats," notes Billy Grant. | | | |
Biological and chemical pruning wound protectants reduce infection of grapevine trunk disease pathogens | Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are currently considered some of the most important challenges for viticulture, curtailing vineyard longevity and productivity in nearly every raisin, table and wine grape production region in California and worldwide. Pruning wounds provide the main entry point for fungal pathogens responsible for these diseases; pathogens enter the wounds following precipitation events. | | | |
Produce: When Agtech Dares Mighty Things | |
When agtech dares mighty things | PUBLISHED ON IRVINE, Calif. - In the most recent episode of Voices of the Valley, the podcast hosted by Dennis Donohue, the Director of Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, and Candace Wilson, CEO of GreenVenus, Turlock Fruit Company General Manager Neill Callis talks about the intersection of space tech and agtech. | | | |
Western Growers: PAGA Update | A significant change may be on the horizon for California's Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA). On December 15, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court granted review of a case titled Viking River Cruises, Inc. v. Moriana (2020). Viking River is a 2020 California Court of Appeal decision reaffirming California's long-standing ruling ( Iskanian v. | | | |
Ag Economics: Ag Tractor, Combine Unit Sales Finish 2021 Up Double Digits in U.S., Canada | |
Increased efficiency has replaced input intensification as primary source of growth in ag output | Since the 1960s, global agricultural output by volume has increased at an average annual rate of 2.3 percent, fluctuating between 2 and 3 percent on a decade-to-decade basis. In the latest decade (2011-19), the global output of total crop, animal, and aquaculture commodities grew an average rate of 2.08 percent per year. | | | |
Ag Tractor, Combine Unit Sales Finish 2021 Up Double Digits in U.S., Canada | Nearly 360,000 total tractors and combines left dealer lots in 2021 in North America. U.S. and Canadian unit sales of ag tractors and combines finished 2021 with gains of more than ten percent in nearly every segment in both countries according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).U.S. | | | |
Farm Bureau Membership Matters | | |
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We cannot support your freedom to farm and ranch without your membership.
Join SLO County Farm Bureau now or renew your membership online. Go to slofarmbureau.org to join, or download the membership form PDF. Have your renewal notice available to speed up the process; you will need to enter your membership number, name and ZIP code. Renewal dues may be paid online or over the phone by credit card.
We're here to help! Call us if you need some assistance with membership, at 805-543-3654. All California county Farm Bureau memberships are processed through the California Farm Bureau Federation, but please reach out to our SLO County office if you need your membership number or have questions.
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Thank You San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau
Platinum Members
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