San Luis Obispo County Agriculture News
December 10, 2021
San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau Named 'County of the Year' by the California Farm Bureau
San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau has been named "County of the Year" by the California Farm Bureau.

SLO County received the award at the 103rd California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting on December 6 in Garden Grove, CA. County farm bureaus across the state were judged for excellence in policy implementation, leadership, member services, agricultural promotion and public relations. 
 
“Our members, board of directors, and staff stepped up this past year to advocate for our industry,” explained Brent Burchett, executive director of San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau. “We brought our local agricultural community together to address serious challenges facing our farmers and ranchers on issues ranging from wildfire insurance and property tax protections to water regulations and access to vaccines for agricultural workers.” 
 
San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau received the County of the Year Award in its agricultural membership class of 500 to 799 members. Other counties in the class included Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Mendocino, Ventura, Yolo and Yuba-Sutter. 
 
Burchett said the recognition has special meaning as it comes just as San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau kicks off its 100th anniversary in 2022.  
 
“In 1922, this community recognized the importance of giving agriculture a greater voice when it formed a county Farm Bureau,” Burchett said. “The strength of Farm Bureau is that we bring the entire farming, ranching and agribusiness community together. There are dozens of great organizations who support specific commodities, but uniting as a Farm Bureau amplifies our industry’s voice in the public policy arena.” 

Image caption: SLO County Farm Bureau Executive Director Brent Burchett and President Hilary Graves, and California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson. Courtesy of California Farm Bureau.
SLO County Farm Bureau awarded county of the year from...

On Monday, the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau was awarded county of the year by the California Farm Bureau. The award recognizes the nonprofit organization's policy advocacy to groups including the board of supervisors, chamber of commerce,...

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www.ksby.com
This Week In SLO County Agriculture
This Issue Includes: 
  • Community News: The Tribune - Storm Door Is Open For SLO County - And December Rain Is On The Way;
  • County News: Board of Supervisors Meet December 14;
  • California Farm Bureau News: Morning Ag Clips - Jamie Johansson Elected To 3rd Term As California Farm Bureau President;
  • State Government News: SLO Tribune - 'Death Tax' Hurts SLO County Farmers, Ranchers, Small Businesses, and Homeowners;
  • Federal Government News: CNBC - GOP Rep. Devin Nunes Resigns From Congress To Become CEO Of Trump's Media Company;
  • Business Member Spotlight: Speedling;
  • Featured Member Benefit: New American Workforce;
  • Labor News: AgAlert - Commentary: How Supporting Citizenship Can Help Our Workforce;
  • Livestock News: Morning Ag Clips - Certification Allows Beef Providers To Market Beef Raised With Reduced Emissions;
  • Environmental News: Get Assistance on Applying for Healthy Soils Program Funding on December 15;
  • Water News: New Times SLO - New Groundwater Plan Will Help SLO Basin's Water Levels;
  • Vineyard & Wine News: Paso Robles Daily News - Best White Wines In Paso Robles For The Holidays In 2021;
  • Produce News: FDA - FDA Proposes Changes To Food Safety Modernization Act Rule To Enhance Safety Of Agricultural Water Used On Produce;
  • Ag Economics/Trade News: KTLA - Port Of Long Beach Director Talks Cargo Ship, Container Backlog; and
  • Wisdom From The Farm & Ranch.
Community News: The Tribune - Storm Door Is Open For SLO County - And December Rain Is On The Way
Season rainfall total reaches 2.19-inches, freeze watch...

This morning, the Paso Robles Water Yard recorded .05-inches of rain, bringing the total to 2.19-inches for the season. Next week North County could see considerable amounts of rain, up to two inches in total, according to Weather Underground....

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pasoroblesdailynews.com
Storm door is open for SLO County - and December rain is ...

After an uncharacteristically dry November, rain is on the way this month, starting with showers on Thursday, ramping up next week and likely continuing through the Christmas holiday. "The storm door is wide open for California," said John...

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www.sanluisobispo.com
Announcements December 2021 | Center for Sustainability

Upcoming Events Congratulations to the 6 Cal Poly students who have been selected to receive a CFS scholarship to attend the 2022 EcoFarm Conference in January. We are looking forward to seeing you there! Please see below for links to other...

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cfs.calpoly.edu
County News: Board of Supervisors Meet December 14
San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Meets Tuesday, December 14 at 9am.
Review the agenda items here and watch the meeting here. Items of interest to agriculture include: 
 
  • Item 12 - Submittal of a resolution to set aside the approval of the application of 13350 River Road, LLC (Formerly Helios Dayspring) for a Conditional Use Permit (DRC2018- 00036) and direct the Department of Planning and Building to prepare an Environmental Impact Report. District 1. 
  • Item 16 - Submittal of a report on the implementation of Sustainable Groundwater Management Act efforts in eight local groundwater basins. All Districts. 
  • Item 20 - Request to receive and file a 60-day update on current drought conditions and related management actions for the Board’s review of the continuing need for the July 13, 2021, proclamation of local emergency pursuant to Government Code section 8630. All Districts. 
California Farm Bureau News: Morning Ag Clips - Jamie Johansson Elected To 3rd Term As California Farm Bureau President
Jamie Johansson elected to 3rd term as California Farm...

PUBLISHED ON ORANGE CO., Calif. - James D. "Jamie" Johansson has been elected to a third consecutive two-year term as president of the California Farm Bureau, the largest membership organization in California agriculture.

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www.morningagclips.com
Johansson calls for protecting agriculture

At the top of Jamie Johansson's Christmas wish list is a functioning crystal ball. Addressing an in-person Annual Meeting for the first time in two years, the California Farm Bureau president said that when people ask him what farmers and...

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www.agalert.com
State Government News: SLO Tribune - 'Death Tax' Hurts SLO County Farmers, Ranchers, Small Businesses, and Homeowners
'Death tax' hurts SLO County's farmers, ranchers, small...

OPINION AND COMMENTARY By Tom J. Bordonaro Jr. and Paul Dictos - In November 2020, California's Constitution was changed with the narrow passage of Proposition 19 - quietly bringing back the death tax for the first time in 35 years. While Prop. 19...

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www.sanluisobispo.com
At SLO Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 State of the State event on Dec. 2, Senator John Laird and Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham discussed the outcomes of redistricting, legislation to keep an eye out for in 2022, and their plans for the future of the Central Coast.

Click the video preview above to watch a recording.
California Farm Bureau's Friday Review - December 10, 2021
Newsom: Omicron COVID lockdowns unlikely

What a difference a year makes. On Wednesday, not long after the country's first known case of the omicron COVID-19 variant was confirmed in San Francisco, Gov. Gavin Newsom held a press conference to promote vaccines and booster shots - and to...

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calmatters.org
Federal Government News: CNBC - GOP Rep. Devin Nunes Resigns From Congress To Become CEO Of Trump's Media Company
GOP Rep. Devin Nunes resigns from Congress to become CEO ...

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., will resign from Congress to become chief executive of former President Donald Trump's fledgling social media company next month, the group said Monday. Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence...

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www.cnbc.com
Four bills from House Agriculture Committee pass in the...

PUBLISHED ON WASHINGTON - Four bipartisan bills drafted and moved out of the House Agriculture Committee, H.R. 5290; H.R. 5608; H.R. 5609; and H.R 4489, passed in the House of Representatives. Below are the bills which passed...

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www.morningagclips.com
Weekly Agriculture - Dec. 6 Federal Ag Policy News

First in MA: The Biden administration has only appointed 22 state directors for the Agriculture Department's Farm Service Agency and Rural Development branch, out of more than 100 open spots - a major delay compared to the Trump administration's...

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www.politico.com
Fed funds to benefit county farmers - The Sun-Gazette...

These projects focus on increasing sales of specialty crops by leveraging the unique qualities of specialty crops grown in California; increasing consumption by expanding the specialty crop consumer market, improving availability

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thesungazette.com
USDA prepares for upcoming 2022 Census of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) mails the National Agricultural Classification Survey (NACS) this month to more than a million potential U.S. agricultural producers,...

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www.morningagclips.com
Business Member Spotlight:
Speedling
At Speedling we are motivated by our customers’ success. We understand the vegetables in our greenhouses are the same veggies at home on our table. We take pride in knowing the flowers we grow will be seen in stores across the country. We understand our EPS facility’s hard work gives local fish farmers the containers they need to ship their products across the country and expand their business.

Over 50 years of experience as an industry leader gives us the knowledge and ability to provide for our customers’ ever-growing needs. Speedling’s inverted pyramid technology changed the way the world grows transplants; the cell design allows for us to produce high-quality transplants for seeded vegetables, ornamentals, and vegetative propagation products.

Every day we look to improve, innovate and achieve our goal of providing quality products at the best possible price for our customers. The agricultural industry is unique in its camaraderie, the desire to see success across the industry – we want to be a part of your success. At Speedling, we are here to help you grow.
1040 N Thompson Ave | Nipomo, CA 93444
(805) 489 - 8500 speedling.com
Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Thank You Farm Bureau Members
Renewing Business Support

Renewing Members
Pismo Oceano Vegetable Exchange, Timothy Smith, Las Piletas Ranch LLC, Babe Farms Inc, Julia Fourl, Fred Campbell, Michael Zohns, Margaret Allan, Deborah Deis, Jeanne Helphenstine, Twisselman Trading Company, John Peschong
Featured Member Benefit: New American Workforce
In partnership with the National Immigration Forum’s New American Workforce, employees of Farm Bureau members who are eligible for U.S. citizenship receive exclusive access to citizenship services including an online, application portal and free legal assistance to facilitate in completing the N-400 Citizenship application. Detailed information and tips are provided through citizenship portal along with help desk access for navigating technology and services. While the USCIS application filing fees still apply, fee waiver eligibility and other options can be explored with legal provider as part of consultation. 

Encourage your employees to visit the citizenship portal to learn more about the process and begin the citizenship application today! For more information and to answer any questions, please contact the Help Desk at: citizenship@immigrationforum.org. 
Labor News: AgAlert - Commentary: How Supporting Citizenship Can Help Our Workforce
Farm Bureau, Immigration Forum partner on citizenship effort

The California Farm Bureau and the National Immigration Forum announced a partnership today to support California farmers and ranchers wanting to help their agricultural employees become U.S. citizens. Under the program, the Farm Bureau will...

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www.appeal-democrat.com
Commentary: How supporting citizenship can help our...

California Farm Bureau and the National Immigration Forum's New American Workforce are teaming up to make citizenship services available to employees of California Farm Bureau members who may be eligible for U.S. citizenship. New American...

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www.agalert.com
Labor a top issue as state agriculture group meets in...

The latest tractors, implements and pesticides were all on display Monday as the Washington State Tree Fruit Association opened its annual meeting and horticulture expo in Yakima. But while equipment and technology is important to growers and...

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www.yakimaherald.com
Livestock News: Morning Ag Clips - Certification Allows Beef Providers To Market Beef Raised With Reduced Emissions
Livestock Mandatory Reporting Extension, Contract...

The House on Dec. 8 passed a pair of livestock bills supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation. One of the measures would extend Livestock Mandatory Reporting,...

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www.fb.org
Certification allows beef providers to market beef...

PUBLISHED ON STILLWATER, Okla. - Low Carbon Beef, a cattle certification program that enables beef farmers and ranchers to earn premiums by reducing carbon emissions of their cattle operation, today announced it has secured...

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www.morningagclips.com
The Drive In Five Pilot Episode | Beef Checkoff

The Beef Checkoff program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products.

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www.beefboard.org
Environmental News: Get Assistance on Applying for Healthy Soils Program Funding on December 15
Healthy Soils Program - Funding Available for Farmers & Ranchers
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 5 p.m. PT on Friday, February 25, 2022 or until available funds are expended, whichever is earlier. 
 
As of December 2, 2021, CDFA has awarded $6.85 million (10%) of the available funds. 
 
Don't delay, submit an application today by visiting the HSP Incentives Program website.
Healthy Soils Application Assistance - Dec. 15 by Zoom

Are you interested in applying for a Healthy Soils Grant to help you implement conservation practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases and improve soil health? Join us for this free workshop! Technical assistance...

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www.us-ltrcd.org
Snow may vanish for years at a time in Mountain West...

A new study provides a glimpse into the future of Western U.S. snow and the picture is far from rosy: In about 35 to 60 years, mountainous states are projected to be nearly snowless for years at a time if greenhouse gas emissions continue...

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www.washingtonpost.com
Federal-State Work Group Launches On-farm Compost Resource

The Federal-State On-Farm Compost Work Group is pleased to announce the launch of an On-Farm Compost Resource Website offsite link image . The resources on this website include information and tools to help farmers and ranchers compost....

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www.nrcs.usda.gov
Q&A: California's newly appointed pesticide regulation...

SACRAMENTO - California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Dec. 2 announced the appointment of Julie Henderson, 59, as director of California's Department of Pesticide Regulation, or DPR.

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www.capitalpress.com
Advertise With San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau
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.
Water News: New Times SLO - New Groundwater Plan Will Help SLO Basin's Water Levels
Nature Conservancy Reviews Groundwater Sustainability Plans Across California, Calls Paso GSP 'Incomplete in Meeting Environmental Beneficial Uses'
“The Nature Conservancy carefully reviewed all 30 GSPs available at the time, submitting comments to GSAs on their draft plans, as well as providing comments to final plans submitted to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in 2020. TNC’s goal in reviewing the plans was to ensure that SGMA’s requirements to consider and address nature were fully realized. Of the Plans reviewed, TNC determined that only three sufficiently addressed nature. The remaining 27 were either incomplete or inadequate in their consideration of the environment.   
 
Understanding the complexity of groundwater management, SGMA is designed as an adaptive management process, through which management plans and actions should improve over time as data gaps are filled and uncertainty is reduced. The goal of this report is to help GSAs improve their GSPs as they respond to feedback from the state or in the process updating their plans every five years. This report summarizes the findings of TNC’s review using eight Sustainability Metrics to determine how well each GSP accounts for and proposes to manage groundwater for the needs of nature. These Sustainability Metrics are based on elements of SGMA that require nature be considered in GSPs. … ”   
 
Read the report from The Nature Conservancy here: SGMA Signals: Managing groundwater for nature.
Arroyo Grande Subbasin GSP Public Workshop and Draft...

The County of San Luis Obispo and the City of Arroyo Grande are jointly developing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the sustainable management of the Arroyo Grande Subbasin. The County received state grant funding to develop a GSP in...

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mailchi.mp
New groundwater plan will help SLO Basin's water levels

San Luis Obispo County approved a sustainable water plan that would help quench the unusually parched region and ensure its wells have enough water for years to come. The county and the city of SLO...

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www.newtimesslo.com
Oil, ag parry accusations they use too much water during ...

The second year of an extraordinary drought has revived a debate over whether two pillars of Kern's economy, oil and ag, are using more than their fair share of the state's precious water supplies. A coalition of environmental...

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www.bakersfield.com
Where is the water going?

This piece is by SJV Water, which is part of a collaboration that includes the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), California Health Report, Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism, Circle of Blue, Colorado Public Radio, Columbia...

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www.kvpr.org
EPA Muddying the Waters Again

Not only are the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers repealing the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, but while they work on a new rule, they are reverting to outdated regulations that have caused decades of confusion and litigation.

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www.fb.org
Vineyard & Wine News: Paso Robles Daily News - Best White Wines In Paso Robles For The Holidays In 2021
Best white wines in Paso Robles for the holidays in 2021

With the holiday season upon us, we invited our local wineries to help us with their top wine recommendations. We were impressed with their submissions. When you celebrate this season and plan your Christmas dinner, consider pouring some of our...

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pasoroblesdailynews.com
Salinity 101 - Science and Management of Increasing...

Join us for a tailgate at Chamisal Vineyards, 9 am - 11 am. Salinity 101 - Science & Management of Increasing Salinity in a Drier Climate. Discussion and demonstration on salinity/sodicity, soil/water chemistry, and standard mitigation practices....

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vineyardteam.app.neoncrm.com
Produce News: FDA - FDA Proposes Changes To Food Safety Modernization Act Rule To Enhance Safety Of Agricultural Water Used On Produce
Arizona and California LGMA programs meet and exceed...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 6, 2021 - On December 2, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the release of a proposed revision to Subpart E (Agricultural Water) of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR).

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www.producebluebook.com
FDA Proposes Changes to Food Safety Modernization Act...

The FDA issued a proposed rule that aims to enhance the safety of produce and if finalized would require certain farms to evaluate potential contamination risks for the water used on crops before harvest and take additional mitigation measures to ...

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www.fda.gov
Ag Economics/Trade News: KTLA - Port Of Long Beach Director Talks Cargo Ship, Container Backlog
House Passes Farm Bureau-Backed Bill to Address Maritime ...

Passed on Dec. 8 by the House, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (H.R. 4996) would take key steps to resolve maritime supply chain obstacles that are increasing costs for U.S. agricultural exporters and preventing U.S. shippers from capturing export...

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www.fb.org
Port of Long Beach director talks cargo ship, container...

Health officials from a number of California counties say they're seeing early signs of a rebound in coronavirus cases related to Thanksgiving, an upturn some worry could be the beginning of the state's fifth COVID-19 surge.

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ktla.com
Wisdom From The Farm & Ranch
Cowboy Logic
By Michael Martin Murphey

There's a great American hero, we all look up to
When the times are hard and the chips are down
He knows just what to do
Now a cowboy's got a set of rules that he lives by day to day
If you ask for his advice, he'll more than likely say

If it's a fence, mend it, if it's a dollar bill, spend it
Before if burns a hole down in them jeans
It it's a load, truck it, if it's a punch, duck it
If she's a lady, treat her like a queen

That's cowboy logic, every cowboy's got it
It's in the way he lives his life and the songs he sings
That's cowboy logic, every cowboy's got it
He's got a simple solution to just about anything

If it's a job, do it, put your back in to it
'Cause a little bit of dirt's gonna wash off in the rain
If it's a horse, ride it, if it hurts, hide it
Dust yourself off and get back on again

That's cowboy logic, every cowboy's got it
It's in the way he lives his life and the songs he sings
That's cowboy logic, every cowboy's got it
He's got a simple solution to just about anything

An old cowboy and a young buckaroo were workin', ridin' fence
The old hand was testin' the kid on his skills and common sense
He said, "Son, if you seen three men in a pick-up"
"Dressed alike from boot to hat?
"Could you tell which one was the real cowboy just from where he sat?"

The kid scratched his head awhile and then he said
"Well, there just ain't no way to know"
The old hand grinned and then he said
"Kid, you've still got a ways to go":

"The real cowboy's the one in the middle"
"He ain't there just by fate"
"'Cause first he don't have to drive"
"And then he don't have to mess with the gate"

That's cowboy logic, every cowboy's got it
It's in the way he lives his life and the songs he sings
That's cowboy logic, every cowboy's got it
He's got a simple solution to just about anything
Farm Bureau Membership Matters
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.
Thank You San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau
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