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The Farm Bureau Women spent their weekend raising money benefitting local scholarships through the sale of donated antiques and goods at the Three Speckled Hens Show in Paso Robles. Great work Ladies!
Photo by: @threespeckledhens
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Glen Speck Students Get Hands On Opportunity to Learn About Their Agricultural Community | |
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By Lindsie Hiatt, KSBY
Since the event started 27 years ago, AG Day has become a tradition at Glen Speck Elementary School in Paso Robles, teaching students about local agriculture.
From milking stations to livestock demonstrations to horseshoe fitting and cow roping, students get to learn about agriculture in a hands-on format.
Kindergarten teacher Ann Mihelic took over the event when the original founder, Judy Honerkamp, retired.
community
“Judy had such a passion for teaching students and the staff about the importance of agriculture in our community and where food comes from and where animals, you know, how animals are raised and just bringing that community together,” Mihelic said.
Mihelic has been involved in the event for decades and has since kept AG Day, and the educational spirit it embodies, alive.
“It is very fun, and that's why I keep doing it, because I also have a passion to keep them educated and understanding,” Mihelic said. “They don't all know where their food comes from. They think, the grocery store!”
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This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
Community: Tickets Now Available for Open Farm Days on June 21st-23rd | |
Hidden Creek Movie Fundraiser Event- Thursday, May 23 at 6pm | |  |
Open Farm Days - SLO Co Farm Trail - 6/21-6/23 | Savoring summer on the SLO Co Farm Trail is what Open Farm Days are all about.Open Farm Days is a self guided tour of the SLO CO Farm TrailVarious farms across the trail will be open to ticketed guests on Saturday & Sunday to explore, tour, taste and learn all about our local agriCULTURE. | | | | |
CA Mid-State Fair announces 2-fer Tuesday tickets during May | Officials with the California Mid-State Fair announce a 2-fer Tuesday ticket special during the month of May. | | | |
County Government: Register for Upcoming Ag Pass Trainings | | |
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SLO County farm stands face uncertainty following complaints | Farm stand owners across San Luis Obispo County have been receiving visits from county officials following a set of complaints. | | | |
State Government: SB-1479 and AB-2635 California Agritourism Protection Act - Withdrawn | |
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CFBF's Farm Bureau at Work- April 26, 2024
Insurance
The California Department of Insurance held a workshop regarding its proposed regulations to allow insurers to use catastrophe modeling in their rating plan submissions. California Farm Bureau joined a coalition of agriculture, construction, business, and insurance groups in support of the regulations, but with a suggested emphasis on ensuring that wildfire fuels mitigation measures (landscape scale, community, and private property defensible space and home hardening) data be included in the modeling to ensure that rate plans properly reflect the risk reduction investments. These regulations are part of a strategy being pursued this year by the Department of Insurance to restore access to affordable property insurance through a combination of updated rate model regulations, inclusion of reinsurance costs in rating plans, and commitments by insurers to write policies in distressed regions. The Commissioner is being given wide latitude by the Legislature to move multiple regulations this year in response to the market crisis, as reflected by the few numbers of significant bills related to that crisis.
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SB-1479 and AB-2635 California Agritourism Protection Act - Withdrawn
By CA Agritourism News
Both of the agritourism liability bills have been withdrawn. SB-1479 introduced by Senator Alvarado-Gil and AB-2635 introduced by Assemblymember Irwin, aimed to limit civil liability for agritourism operators for injuries or damage that result from the inherent risk of agritourism activities, provided that the operator posts specific warning signs and is not negligent. Both sponsors elected to withdraw the bills due to amendments that would have weakened the language of the bills to an unsatisfactory result. Updates will be provided should the bills be reintroduced in the future.
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Temporary farmworkers get more protections against retaliation and other abuses under new rule | Temporary farmworkers are getting more legal protections against employer retaliation, unsafe working conditions, illegal recruitment and other abuses. | | | |
Federal Government: National Agritourism Survey Seeks Input From Farms That Welcome Visitors | |
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CFBF's Weekly Federal Policy News- April 26, 2024
- New Federal Order for Cattle After Detection of Bird Flu Particles in Milk
- Webinars on Recently Finalized ESA Rules
- Two CA Reps to Co-Chair Newly Founded Specialty Crops Caucus
- EPA Announces an Update on the Herbicide Strategy Process
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National Agritourism Survey Seeks Input From Farms That Welcome Visitors | UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- U.S. agricultural and aquaculture operators who welcome visitors - whether for on-farm education, direct sales, entertainment, recreation, special events and more... | | | | |
USDA Begins to Survey Farmers' Yield Estimates in 2024 - California Ag Network | As the 2024 crop season moves forward, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to determine acreage, yield, and production estimates throughout the growing season. "Each year, the agriculture industry anticipates USDA's Crop Production reports, which provides monthly survey-based estimates of U.S. | | | |
Environmental: Thousands of Acres of Ranchland East of Santa Margarita to be Preserved Forever | |
California wants to harness more than half its land to combat climate change by 2045. Here's how | State officials unveiled 81 targets to transform millions of acres in the Golden State into landscapes that can absorb more carbon than they release by 2045. | | | | |
Thousands of acres of ranchland east of Santa Margarita to be preserved forever | On April 19, the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County completed an $18.4 million conservation easement for the preservation of Camatta Ranch. | | | | |
CalCAN: California Sets Its First Climate Targets for Agriculture | SACRAMENTO -- The State of California has reached another milestone on the journey towards climate resilience by releasing new targets for scaling nature-based climate solutions across... | | | |
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CA Farm Labor Contractor Association- Pay Data Reporting Reminder
Best Practices: How to Collect Employee Information for Pay Data Reporting
By Western Growers
Upcoming pay data reporting obligations in California have many employers struggling to gather and report employee race and ethnicity data. As a reminder, the filing deadline for employers with 100 or more employees is May 8, 2024.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for reporting accurate pay data is the question of how employers are to gather the required information. The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) offers guidance on this issue through its FAQs. According to the CRD, employee self-identification is the preferred method of identifying race/ethnicity information. Employers can offer employees the opportunity to self-identify during the onboarding process or during a survey period initiated by the employer ahead of the reporting period. It is important to note that any survey provided to employees must make clear that participation is voluntary. Read the full article with sample survey language here.
Additional Resources for Employers
Under California law, private employers with 100 or more payroll employees are required to file an annual Payroll Employee Report. In addition, private employers with 100 or more labor contractor employees are required to file a separate annual Labor Contractor Employee Report.
The Civil Rights Department has created a Pay Data Reporting Excel Templates and a resource page for employers to utilize.
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Harvesting dignity: The case for a living wage for farmworkers | Guest Commentary | Guest Commentary: By lifting wages for farmworkers, we can contribute to a more sustainable agricultural industry. | | |
DOL Tops 3,000 Pages of Regulations in 18 Months | The U.S. Department of Labor today released yet another rule that mires farm families in excessive compliance costs while disregarding privacy concerns for farmers and their employees. With this addition, DOL sets itself apart as the agency most committed to burying farmers and other H-2A employers in a mountain of regulations. | | | | |
Bilingual class sets farmers up for business resilience | After his immigrant father founded an organic farm in Salinas 15 years ago, Juan Murillo went to work in the field to support his father’s dream of operating a farming business. | | |
Local farmworkers march for fair wages and better working conditions | Over 100 people took to the streets of Santa Maria on Sunday to support farmworkers' rights and celebrate May Day. | | | |
Business Member Spotlight:
Whiteford Ag
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Services
We want all of our customers to experience the exceptional level of professionalism when working with Whiteford Ag. All of our services exist to make your life easier and stress-free. You can trust us to provide you with the best service, on and off the farm. Infused in the foundation of our company, experience stress-free planning with the highest quality customer service. Get in touch to learn more.
Spraying:
- 30 ft boomless sprayer
- 25 ft hand wand nozzle
- Spot Spraying
Tractor
- Mowing
- Box Scraper
- Loader Bucket
Brush Clearing
- Mower
- Chainsaws
- Hand Tools
Firewood
- Wood for sale
- Wood cleanup
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Thank You Farm Bureau Members | |
Featured Member Benefit:
A4 Promotions & Incentives
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A4 Promotions & Incentives
Brand your business or showcase your Farm Bureau pride with A4 Promotions & Incentives.
Members can receive up to a 20 percent discount on select customizable items.
For more information or to order call (916) 361-3682.
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Livestock: Bill Allowing Kids to Pull Animals from Fair Auctions (and Slaughter) Faces Opposition | |
California Department of Public Health HPAI Letter | | |
Dairy cattle must be tested for bird flu before moving between states, agriculture officials say | U.S. agriculture officials say dairy cattle moving between states must be tested for the bird flu virus in an effort to track and control the growing outbreak. | | | | |
Bill allowing kids to pull animals from fair auctions (and slaughter) faces opposition | Columnist Teri Sforza writes that, yes, future farmers know it's living meat, not a pet. But sometimes they change their minds. | | | |
Vineyard and Wine: Hope Family Wines Achieves Sustainability Milestone with 50 Grower Partners | |
Tailgate | The Ins & Outs of Developing a New Vineyard Site | There are a lot of things to consider when you are developing a vineyard site. Walk a recently developed vineyard at SIP Certified Niner Wine Estates and learn how veteran growers choose a site, consider soil types, select rootstocks, design trellis systems, determine ideal plant material, incorporate soil amendments, and care for young vines. | | | | |
Hope Family Wines Achieves Sustainability Milestone with 50 Grower Partners | Press Release - Four-Year Goal Nears Completion with More Than 99% of Fruit Supply Now Sustainably Certified | | | |
Water: Central Coast Blue Project on Hold as Local Cities Consider Withdrawal | |
Central Coast Blue project on hold as local cities consider withdrawal | A recycled water project called Central Coast Blue is on hold, and now local cities are exploring new ways to secure water. | | | | |
Bill would convert prime ag land to solar | Legislation would allow landowners to exit Williamson Act contracts. | | | |
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 | |
SLO County Agriculture News is distributed by SLO County Farm Bureau for information purposes only. Stories written by SLO County Farm Bureau may be reprinted with attribution. Some outside story links may require site registration. Opinions expressed in stories, commentaries or editorials included in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of SLO County Farm Bureau. For information on advertising opportunities, please email info@slofarmbureau.org or call our office at 805-543-3654. | | | | |
