Newsom Lifts Some Drought Rules, Irrigation Well Restrictions Remain in Place | |
This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
Community: Lake Lopez Reservoir Spills Over | |
Signups Now Open for SLO County Young Farmer & Ranchers Kickball Tournament on April 29 | |
Like a little friendly competition? Come on out to the SLO County Young Farmers & Ranchers Kickball Tournament on Saturday April 29th 12-4pm at Meadow Park in SLO. Sign up here. The cost will be $50/team with teams of 8-12. There will be prizes to be won and fun to be had.
Don't have a team? No problem! Use that same sign up and we will place you on one. For questions, contact Catie Field at cfield@slofarmbureau.org.
See you on the field!
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Lake Lopez Reservoir spills over | |
After a quarter century, Lake Lopez Reservoir returned to an old habit. Spilling every year since its inception from 1969 until 1987, followed by repeat incidents from 1996 to 1998, the dam overtopped again on March 23 at 4:21 a.m. due to the deluge of rain San Luis Obispo County has received since last December. County Public Works officials were on "spill watch" for roughly a week prior.
"The water will go to the Arroyo Grande Creek and out to the ocean," Public Works Engineer David Spiegel said. "We don't have the facilities to pipe it anywhere or have storage locations like they do in the Central Valley where it floods agricultural lands and let it percolate to the ground."
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Local Government: SLO County Administrative Officer Wade Horton Resigns | |
SLO County Administrative Officer Wade Horton resigns | The San Luis Obispo County Administrative Officer Wade Horton has resigned after more than 5 years of service, county officials announced Tuesday. The County Board of Supervisors accepted Horton's resignation from his position in a closed session Tuesday. | | | | |
SLO County to enroll in Central Coast Community Energy | The last remaining local government to hold out from joining Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) is now opting in to the regional power provider. The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on March 21 to join as a member agency of 3CE.... | | | | |
Settlement reached in court challenge of county supervisorial district map | Previously approved map will be set aside - The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has approved a settlement agreement with SLO County Citizens for Good Government, the League of Women’s Voters, and three other plaintiffs who ... | | | |
California Farm Bureau News: In Brief: California Farm Bureau Legal Services Division March 2023 Newsletter | |
In Brief: California Farm Bureau Legal Services Division March 2023 Newsletter | | |
From the Farm- A Message from Our California Farm Bureau President | |
State Government: California Storm Response and Recovery Update | |
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California Farm Bureau's Farm Bureau at Work-
March 24, 2022
Natural Disasters
Assemblymember Megan Dahle’s AB 1141 will be heard in the Assembly Agriculture Committee next week. This is a reintroduction of her bill from 2021, AB 1103. That bill originally included all agriculture commodities within the statewide Ag Pass Program, but it was later amended to only include ranch and livestock operations. This bill aims to include other crops and commodities into the current Livestock Pass program. AB 1141 would authorize, upon the approval of a county board of supervisors, a county agricultural commissioner, or other designated agency, to establish within the county an agricultural pass program for the purpose of issuing identification documents granting any qualifying agricultural producer or employee of the qualifying agricultural producer, access to the qualifying agricultural producer’s farm or ranch property during or following a flood, storm, fire, earthquake, or other disaster. Farm Bureau supports this measure.
Transportation
AB 1044 by Assemblymember James Gallagher has been amended to include language that would provide an exemption from CA State Resources Board (CARB) regulations for agricultural users. Existing law imposes various limitations on the emissions of air contaminants for the control of air pollution from vehicular and nonvehicular sources. Pursuant to that authority, CARB has adopted a regulation to reduce oxides of nitrogen, diesel particulate matter, and other criteria air pollutant emissions from in-use, diesel-fueled vehicles. AB 1044 would require the state board to exempt agricultural vehicles and specialty agricultural vehicles that do not exceed 10,000 miles of operation annually from any regulation to reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, and other criteria air pollutants from in-use, diesel-fueled vehicles. The bill would also prohibit the state board from adopting any regulation that requires an off-road agricultural vehicle or piece of equipment to satisfy any zero-emission requirement. Farm Bureau supports the Assemblymember’s efforts, and looks forward to engaging on this bill as it moves forward.
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California Storm Response and Recovery Update | California Governor | SACRAMENTO - As California weathers the twelfth atmospheric river since late December, the state's all-of-government emergency response continues to deploy personnel and resources to protect communities and support recovery efforts across the state. "We're continuing to mobilize an all-hands-on-deck response to protect Californians during this latest round of devastating storms," said Governor Gavin Newsom. | | | | |
State Water Board Issues First Five-Year Temporary Groundwater Recharge Permit in Sacramento and Merced Counties | |
Federal Government: Congressman Panetta, Bennet, Marshall, Feenstra Plan Ag Research Bill | |
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California Farm Bureau's Federal Policy News -
March 23, 2023
- Reminder - New WOTUS Rule In Effect, Confusion Remains as U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Rule in Idaho and Texas
- White House Issues Guidance on Corridors and Connectivity
- CAFB Supports Critical Firefighting Legislation
- Secretarial Disaster Designation Issued for Drought
- Biden Administration Proposes Rule to Expand School Lunch Access
- USDA Announces Wildfire Defense Grants
- USDA Feedback Survey Closes March 31
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Congress, Courts Showing Displeasure with WOTUS | |
Federal lawmakers and a federal judge recently sided against the Environmental Protection Agency’s new Waters of the U.S. rule. Micheal Clements shares more.
Clements: A federal judge ruled against the new WOTUS rule this week and Congress is working its way toward disapproving the rule. Courtney Briggs, American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Government Affairs Director, says Congress is exercising its authority under the Congressional Review Act.
Briggs: And they have used that in the House of Representatives to disapprove of the most recently finalized WOTUS rule.
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Congressman Panetta, Bennet, Marshall, Feenstra Plan Ag Research Bill | Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Roger Marshall, R-Kan., last week introduced the Advancing Cutting Edge (ACE) Agriculture Act to support high-risk, high-reward agricultural research and development at the Agriculture Department. Reps. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., and Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, are expected to introduce companion legislation in the House this week. | | | |
Ag Economics: Farm Bankruptcies Fall Again in 2022 | |
Farm Bankruptcies Fall Again in 2022 | Chapter 12 was introduced in bankruptcy law as a temporary measure in 1986 and became permanent in 2005. With 169 filings, farm bankruptcies in 2022 were the lowest since Chapter 12 became permanent in 2005. This comes just three years after the third-highest number of farm bankruptcy filings - 595 in 2019. | | | | |
Missing: New Export Opportunities | America's farmers and ranchers work hard every day to raise a source of food, fiber, and renewable fuel for families all over the world. We rely on trade agreements and global cooperation to get products from our fields to tables worldwide. | | | |
Business Member Spotlight:
Madonna Inn
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Madonna Inn is world renowned for its 110 uniquely themed guest rooms and hot pink décor. Located in the city of San Luis Obispo, and halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Madonna Inn is nestled on a beautiful 1,000-acre ranch. A paved walking and biking path connects Madonna Inn to nearby downtown San Luis Obispo. Hotel guests can enjoy complimentary tennis, basketball, and garden games. All visitors can take advantage of onsite hiking, dining, and boutique shopping. The Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, features an oak pit barbecue, a cocktail lounge, and nightly music and dancing. Serving breakfast lunch and dinner, the Copper Café features classic American favorites. Madonna Inn’s famous mile-high cakes are not to be missed. Also available in the Madonna Inn Bakery are daily baked pies, breads and pastries. Plan to spend a relaxing afternoon at the luxurious day spa. Jewelry, apparel, and signature Madonna Inn items are available in the Shops. | |
Thank You Farm Bureau Members | |
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Renewing Agricultural Business Support Member
Madonna Inn
Renewing Agricultural Member
William Cunha
Renewing Associate Members
Fordens Corp, SLO Chamber of Commerce, Jean Stude, Robert Soto, Jaleah Brynn, Louise Gorfain, Robert McCorkle
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USDA: Residents in rural areas in SLO & SB Counties may be eligible for USDA grants | |
Nationwide Survey for Prospective Farmers, Ranchers and Forest Managers- Take by March 31! | All farmers, ranchers and forest managers are encouraged to take the survey. Existing customers and prospective customers both provide unique perspectives we'd like to hear. We'd especially like to hear from a new audience this year of prospective customers, those who don't know about us or have yet to work with us, and those who were unable to participate in the past. | | | | |
Residents in rural areas in SLO & SB Counties may be eligible for USDA grants | U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development California state director Maria Gallegos Herrera announced on Thursday the availability of grants to help people repair their homes that were damaged by severe weather or natural disasters in 2022. People living in identified counties in California may be eligible for the funding. | | | |
Environmental: Study Offers Insights on Reducing Nitrate Contamination From Groundwater Recharge | |
Are Floating Solar Panels the Future of Clean Energy Production? | Floating solar panels placed on reservoirs around the world could generate enough energy to power thousands of cities, according to a study published last week in the journal Nature Sustainability . Called floating photovoltaic systems, or "floatovoltaics," these solar arrays function the same way as panels on land, capturing sunlight to generate electricity. | | | | |
Study Offers Insights on Reducing Nitrate Contamination From Groundwater Recharge | By Mike Hsu With California enduring record-breaking rain and snow and Gov. Gavin Newsom recently easing restrictions on groundwater recharge, interest in "managed aquifer recharge" has never been higher. This process - by which floodwater is routed to sites such as farm fields so that it percolates | | | |
Featured Member Benefit:
AmeriGas
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Farm Bureau members save $0.05 per gallon on propane deliveries, receive a complimentary service check and a No Run-Out Guarantee
with automatic delivery. Additionally, members have access to:
- 24 hour emergency services
- $100 referral bonus for new customers
- Online bill pay options
- Order deliveries online
Visit AmeriGas at www.amerigas.com for additional information.
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Avocado: California Avocado Growers Expecting a Slightly Smaller Yield, With Larger Fruit Sizing | |
California Avocado Growers Expecting a Slightly Smaller Yield, With Larger Fruit Sizing | California farmers first planted avocados in 1856, lagging behind Florida, yet the Golden State now accounts for about 90% of production in the U.S. Among the hundreds of avocado varieties in existence, California farmers grow seven commercially, with the native hass making up about 95% of the annual statewide crop. | | | | |
Avocados Expected To Become Second Most Traded Tropical Fruit by 2030 | According to a recently issued report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, avocados are likely to surpass pineapples and mangos to become the world's second biggest tropical fruit item in terms of trade volume by 2030, trailing only bananas. | | | |
Produce: Agronometrics in Charts: Price Increases Imminent as Rains Wreck Havoc on Strawberry Production in California | |
Agronometrics in Charts: Price Increases Imminent as Rains Wreck Havoc on Strawberry Production in California | In this installment of the 'Agronometrics In Charts' series, Sarah Ilyas studies the state of the California strawberry industry. Each week the series looks at a different horticultural commodity, focusin... | | | | |
California strawberry growers assess flood damage | Recent flooding in California has caused an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to strawberry farms, according to industry leaders. California Strawberry Commission experts say it is too early to tally the full scope of the destruction, and weather forecasters predict continued rainfall across growing regions through the week. | | | | |
California crops lost after floods; how much of the US will feel the shortage? | Too much thing, rain, is sinking farmers' bottom lines across California's Central Coast. The area some call "America's salad bowl" more resembles a soup bowl as round after round of atmospheric river-fueled storms overwhelmed farmland. We all may start to notice a difference in the grocery store as some staples become harder to find. | | | |
Labor: Cal/OSHA's Oncoming Regulatory Avalanche | |
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Cal/OSHA's Oncoming Regulatory Avalanche
March 26 - Ag Employment News from California Farm Bureau's Farm Employers Labor Service
Extreme snow levels in the Sierra Nevada mountains can create heightened avalanche risk for skiers and back-country travelers. It seems like the much-wished for wind-down of the COVID emergency may be having a similar impact at Cal/OSHA and the Standards Board.
At last week’s Cal/OSHA Standards Board meeting, and this week’s Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee, the agency announced upcoming milestones on regulatory initiatives that had been put on hold (in some cases for several years) as the agency and the board dealt with the COVID emergency:
- Indoor Heat Illness: this regulation has existed in draft form since 2017 and has been the topic of at least six stakeholder meetings and six distinct drafts. The last draft was released in 2019, which was also the date of the last (and most recent) draft of the regulation. The agency’s proposed regulation will be published on March 31, triggering a 45-day comment period ending with the Standards Board’s scheduled May meeting. The last draft from 2019 featured numerous problems, like the lack of an “off-switch” when the regulation would no longer be in effect in a particular workplace after having been triggered on by indoor temperatures exceeding 82⁰F, clear definitions as to how employers with indoor and outdoor operations are to distinguish applicability of the indoor reg with the existing, long-standing outdoor regulation (GISO 3395), and how employers are to monitor and manage multiple “indoor workplaces” found in cars, trucks, tractors and other vehicles driven by employees.
- Workplace Violence: based on an existing regulation designed to deal with violence experienced by healthcare workers particularly in mental health facilities, the proposed standard covering general industry would require employers to adopt a workplace violence prevention plan (not unlike other plans covering heat illness, COVID prevention and other written plan requirements like Injury and Illness Prevention plans and hazard Communication plans) with numerous meticulously specified requirements for employee training, incident recordkeeping (with very low thresholds for required action like harsh looks or utterance of harsh words). The agency intends to bring a proposed regulation to the board, triggering an advisory committee process that could result in a proposed final regulation in late 2023 or 2024.
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What a deluged California means for farmworkers | |
As the latest storm associated with a strong atmospheric river sweeps through California, already strained farmworkers across the state are bracing for yet another setback. The big picture: The rounds of atmospheric river events have decimated crops and reduced work opportunities for many of the state's farmworkers, who lack access to social safety nets.
What they're saying: Hernan Hernandez, executive director of the nonprofit California Farmworker Foundation, tells Axios that lasting structural damages from the rounds of storms are compounding with the loss of work for farmworkers, particularly in Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. ...
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Crucial COVID Updates You Need to Know
March 20, 2023 - California Farm Labor Contractors Association
The COVID-19 non-emergency regulation went into effect last month. Have you updated your prevention policy and procedures? The key changes to the regulation include:
- Daily screening is no longer required.
- Records must be maintained for all COVID-19 cases for two-years.
- Exclusion pay is no longer required (must continue to exclude cases from the workplace until the infectious period concludes).
- A major outbreak is defined as 20 or more cases in a 30-day period within an exposed group (including employer provided housing and transportation) and must be reported to Cal/OSHA.
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Close contact definition (updated June 2022).
- Employees/independent contractors who were on site with a confirmed case during the infectious period must be notified within one business day by a workplace posting and/or written notice.
- Employers can maintain a standalone CPP or include as part of IIPP (download the Cal/OSHA model CPP here).
CDPH also announced changes to Isolation & Quarantine guidance, effective March 13, 2023, including:
- COVID-19 cases should isolate but may leave isolation after 5 days if they are feeling well, symptoms are improving, and are fever-free for 24 hours.
- After ending isolation, infected individuals may remove mask before Day 10 if they test negative twice, at least one day apart.
- Definition of infectious period for symptomatic confirmed cases:
- 2 days before the confirmed case had any symptoms, and through Day 10 after symptoms first appeared AND 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved, OR
- 2 days before and 5 days after the first positive test.
All other recommendations related to quarantine for those exposed remain unchanged, along with the recommendation for individuals with symptoms to stay home and test immediately.
Employers must continue to make testing available to close contacts at no cost and during paid time and continue providing training on COVID-19 as a potential workplace health hazard in accordance with standard IIPP regulations.
The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety provides information and resources to support employers to meet training requirements and help keep their workforces healthy. Visit the website to access posters, videos (Spanish, Mixteco, etc.), discussion guides, and informational handouts on vaccine timing and sick leave.
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Wildfire: California Farm Bureau Signs-On in Support of the Forest Production and Wildland Firefighter Act of 2023 | |
California Farm Bureau Signs-On in Support of the Forest Production and Wildland Firefighter Act of 2023 | | |
Community Wildfire Defense Grant - Funded Proposals | US Forest Service | The Community Wildfire Defense Program assists at-risk communities, including Tribal communities, with planning for and lowering wildfire risks on tribal, state, and privately-managed land. The program comes at a time when the nation faces an ongoing wildfire crisis, and these grants support the Forest Service's plan to confront the wildfire crisis across all lands. | | | |
Livestock: California Climate-Smart Agriculture Survey for Ranchers | |
Vineyard & Wine: Downtown Wineries to Host 'Spring Wine Walk' April 8 | |
Downtown Wineries to Host 'Spring Wine Walk' April 8 | Event features wood and wine pairings throughout the afternoon - Paso Robles Downtown Wineries, also known as the Downtown Wine District, will be hosting their [...] | | | | |
Local winery donates $44,000 to nonprofit | Donation made possible by the sales of 'One Stone' specialty wine - Ancient Peaks Winery has donated $44,000 to Dream Big Darling, a nonprofit organization [...] | | | |
Water: California Ends Some Water Limits After Storms Ease Drought | |
California Ends Some Water Limits After Storms Ease Drought | DUNNIGAN, Calif. (AP) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom ended some of the state's water restrictions on Friday because a winter of relentless rain and snow has replenished the state's reservoirs and eased fears of a shortage after three years of severe drought. | | | |
CFB: California Court of Appeal sides with farmers in precedential water quality cases | PUBLISHED ON SACRAMENTO - In a legal win for California farmers, a state appeals court rejected all arguments brought by environmental groups and sided with the California State Water Resources Control Board, the California Farm Bureau and others related to the Central Valley's Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. | | | | |
Opinion: Why California will still have a water shortage no matter how much it rains this year | During a winter of blizzards, floods and drought-ending downpours, it's easy to forget that California suffers from chronic water scarcity - the long-term decline of the state's total available fresh water. This rainy season's inundation isn't going to change that. | | | |
City of Paso Robles receives $9.73M grant to build recycled water infrastructure | The state of California has awarded the city of Paso Robles a $9,730,000 grant for the construction of the city's Recycled Water Distribution System project. The grant is provided by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board. | | | | |
Western water crisis solutions inevitably end with a lot less for California farms | A modest proposal for western water: Turn off the spigot to the Imperial Valley and let the farms go fallow. In return, provide a water future for Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. Sure, there would be a price to pay. | | | |
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 us to lookup your member number or we can process your membership for you, 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 Platinum Members | | | | |
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