Local Farmers & Ranchers Asked to Help San Luis Obispo County Qualify for Federal Disaster Aid | |
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San Luis Obispo County remains under a local, state and federal emergency declaration. SLO County was not among the three California counties included in a federal “Major Disaster Declaration” on Sunday. The SLO Tribune reported that county, state and federal elected officials continue to push for that additional declaration for SLO County to open up additional aid funding.
The local agriculture community should take three steps to report damages from the January 2023 storms. Details are described below. While SLO County Farm Bureau does not administer disaster relief programs, we are here to help! Please contact our office if we can answer any questions at 805-543-3654 or email info@slofarmbureau.org
- Step 1: Contact the USDA Farm Service Agency office in Templeton at 805-434-0396
- Step 2: Report Agricultural Damage Estimates to the County of San Luis Obispo for FEMA
- Step 3: Report Property Damages (non-agricultural) to the County of San Luis Obispo for FEMA
Step 1: Contact the USDA Farm Service Agency office in Templeton
The first step farmers and ranchers in SLO County should take is to call the USDA Farm Service Agency office in Templeton at 805-434-0396. Note that some FSA staff have been unable to travel to the office due to storm damage, so calling may be preferable to coming in-person to the office. FSA will ask for your name, mailing address, phone number and email address. FSA staff will send the disaster application information and fact sheets with program information. Information on applicable programs are summarized below, and you can access background information on USDA Disaster Programs at farmers.gov/recover
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland, replace or repair fences damaged by natural disasters and to carry out emergency water conservation measures during periods of severe drought. Our local FSA staff in Templeton also provided the following guidance:
- Farmers and ranchers are advised to take a lot of pictures of all damages when it is safe to do so. Examples include mudslides, debris in cropland and grazing land, erosion, and damage to access roads, fencing, corrals, barns, etc. These pictures should be submitted with your application to FSA.
- This Emergency Conservation Program is for Cropland including vineyards, orchards, hay, grain, vegetables and other row crops, and grazing land.
- Farms of all sizes should apply. The Adjusted Gross Income cap of $900,000 does not apply for ECP program. This means if your AGI is over $900,000.00 you are eligible to apply for the program.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP)
- The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides financial assistance to eligible producers for livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish losses – such as death, feed, grazing, and associated transportation costs – due to disease and certain adverse weather events or loss conditions.
- The program addresses losses not covered by other USDA disaster assistance programs. Our local FSA staff in Templeton also advises that if your hay or other feed was damaged by water take pictures of the damage when safe to do so.
Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides benefits to livestock owners and contract growers who experience livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by specific adverse weather, disease, or animal attacks. Our local FSA staff in Templeton also provided the following guidance:
- Take photos of livestock deaths when it is safe to do so.
- Eligible livestock must: (1) Have been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation on the day they died; and (2) Not have been produced or maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation. Excluded livestock includes wild free-roaming animals, pets or animals used for recreational purposes, such as hunting, roping or for show.
Step 2: Report Agricultural Damage Estimates to the County of San Luis Obispo for FEMA
On Sunday, January 15, the County of San Luis Obispo working with the County Department of Agriculture / Weights & Measures released an agriculture-specific FEMA damage estimate form online. Find it here. By completing this form you are helping SLO County qualify for a USDA disaster declaration and possible subsequent aid. If you need assistance completing this form, call the County Agriculture Department at 805-781-5910.
Step 3: Report Property Damages (non-agricultural) to the County of San Luis Obispo for FEMA
In addition to reporting agriculture damages, all property owners are being asked by the County of San Luis Obispo to report damages on RecoverSLO.org (direct link to the form is here)
Other Resources and Information:
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Evacuation Orders: As of today, January 16 there is currently one area under Evacuation Order in San Luis Obispo County and two areas under Evacuation Warning. Find the latest information here.
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Road Closures: A significant number of local roads remain closed. Find the latest list here. The County reported a number of incidents where drivers have become stranded, suffered significant damage to their vehicles, and impeded disaster response activity by ignoring road closure signs. Even when no standing water is present, roads designated as closed may be at risk of collapse.
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Volunteer to Help: In addition to the ongoing hard work of our first responders and County staff, we’ve seen neighbors helping neighbors across SLO County. If you are interested in volunteering with relief efforts signup here.
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Donate: The Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County has activated a Disaster Support Fund in response to recent storms, floods, and earthquakes in California. 100% of contributions will support efforts to respond to the disasters. Donate here.
- Community Alliance of Family Farmers has a statewide California Family Farmer Emergency Fund that is accepting contributions. More information online here or contact CAFF staff Amber Schat at amber@caff.org
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This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
Community: SLO County Residents Face Mud and Flood Damage After Storms | |
Announcements January 2023 | Center for Sustainability | |
Cal Poly
1. Develop your Personal Fire Qualification Plan for Prescribed Burning webinar: 1/19
2. 2023 Ag Showcase: 1/25-27
3. Pruning Clinic and Workshop, CA Rare Fruit Growers: 1/28
4. Social Justice Teach-In: 2/9
5. Aspire to Grow Conference: Diversity and Innovation in Food and Agriculture: 2/22
6. Change the Status Quo: Social Justice Leadership Conference: 2/25
San Luis Obispo & Central Coast
7. Eat Local Bonus Program, City of SLO: through January
8. Regenerative Agriculture Field Day, McGrath Family Farm, Camarillo: 1/12
9. Morro Bay Bird Festival: 1/13-16
10. EcoFarm Conference, Pacific Grove: 1/18-21
11. Improving Soil Health with Compost and Vermiculture Tailgate, Vineyard Team: 1/20
12. Ranch Education Program, Cuesta College: begins 2/9
13. Mushroom Discovery Workshops, SLO Botanical Garden: 2/17-19
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SLO County Residents Face Mud and Flood Damage After Storms | Tire tracks in the mud on Pecho Valley Road in Los Osos headed left onto Montana Way, where a roll-away container brimmed with ruined furniture, rugs, and other household items. On the next street up-Vista Court-residents and volunteers from the community used shovels and wheelbarrows to move mud out of houses and backyards into a cul-de-sac still grappling with the impacts of a mudslide that hit the neighborhood on Jan. | | | |
State Government: Rule Banning Older Trucks is a Challenge for Agriculture | |
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California Farm Bureau's Farm Bureau at Work-
January 13, 2022
Agricultural Employment
The Governor’s proposed 2023-24 budget provides $11.7 million special funds and 42 positions in 2023-24 and $6.5 million special funds ongoing to help address wage claim processing times and automate portions of the claims processing activities within the Wage Claim Adjudication unit.
The Agricultural Labor Relations Board has submitted a Budget Change Proposal (BCP) requesting an additional $1.113m to fund three new attorneys and three new field examiners to implement the Card Check bill signed by Governor Newsom (AB 2183). It is unclear if this BCP anticipates workload changes that could result if the Legislature passes revisions to AB 2183 jointly announced by the Governor, the California Labor Federation, and the United Farm Workers when the Governor signed AB 2183.
Water Resources
The 2021 and 2022 Budget Acts committed $8.7 billion over multiple years to support drought resilience and response designed to help communities and fish and wildlife avoid immediate negative impacts because of extreme drought, while continuing to advance projects and programs that prepare the state to be more resilient to future droughts and floods.
The 2023-24 Budget maintains $8.6 billion (98 percent) of previously committed funding to minimize the immediate economic and environmental damage from the current drought and support hundreds of local water projects to prepare for and be more resilient to future droughts. The 2023-24 Budget includes $194 million in General Fund reductions across various programs.
In addition, the 2023-24 Budget also includes new investments to continue supporting the state’s drought response, accelerate implementation of the state’s water supply strategy, and increase flood preparedness and response.
The Department of Water Resources receives new budget funds, primarily to address flood risk. The missing component in the 2023-24 Budget is stormwater capture and storage investment, to better bifurcate the state’s flood protection and water storage roles.
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Rule Banning Older Trucks is a Challenge for Agriculture | As of Jan. 1, under a newly implemented state rule, large trucks and buses made before 2010 are prohibited from operating in California. The rule, which includes restrictions on the big rigs that transport much of the state’s agricultural produce, is the final phase in a set of clean air regulations passed by the California Air Resources Board in 2008. | | | | |
Amid Flooding Concerns, Californians Reminded to Prepare for Large Animal Evacuations | From a blog post by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services As a series of strong, winter storms continue to bring rain, wind, and continued flooding to many parts of the state, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is reminding all Californians about the -importance of preparing your entire family - and that includes your pets. | | | |
Federal Government: American Farm Bureau Federation Sets 2023 Policy Priorities | |
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California Farm Bureau's Federal Policy News-
January 12, 2023
- American Farm Bureau Federation Holds Annual Meeting in San Juan
- Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two Applications Begin January 23rd
- McCarthy Finally Wins Speakership
- USDA Secretary Announces Several Initiatives to Benefit Farmers & Ranchers at AFBF Convention
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Overview of Title II Conservation Programs in the Farm Bill | First incorporated into a farm bill in 1985, the conservation title is what some would consider the original Green New Deal. Its voluntary conservation initiatives give farmers and ranchers flexibility to adopt practices in a market-based approach. | | | | |
American Farm Bureau Federation Sets 2023 Policy Priorities | Delegates of the American Farm Bureau Federation set the 2023 policy objectives for the organization Tuesday. Micheal Clements shares more on the priorities discussed by more than 300 delegates. ... | | | | |
Recently, the 118 th Congress was sworn in. These elected officials, chosen by the American people in November, will spend the next two years debating the issues that matter most to all of us. Voters sent 81 people to Congress for the first time. | | | |
Business Member Spotlight:
Cal West Rain Inc.
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Cal-West Rain began serving the needs of growers in 1989. Our commitment to providing the highest quality standards in design, integration, equipment, automation and customer service remains the benchmark by which we measure our success. As a locally-owned company, our reputation means everything to us. As such, customer satisfaction continues to drive our business practices as it did over three decades ago when Larry Isheim and Jim Martin founded the company | |
Thank You Farm Bureau Members | |
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Renewing Agricultural Platinum Member
Brazil Trust Real Estate Holdings
Renewing Agricultural Members
Danilu Ramirez and Jason Domingos
Renewing Associate Member
Samata Management Inc
Renewing Collegiate Member
Cody Domingos
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Featured Member Benefit:
CAT
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Cat: Mini excavators, huge discounts
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Get up to $1,000 off a mini excavator by visiting Cat.com/FarmBureau today!
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Environmental: Enviros Challenge Bid To Keep Calif. Nuclear Plant Running | |
What offshore wind power could mean for California (when turbines eventually start spinning) | Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter . It's Thursday, Jan. 12. I'm Ryan Fonseca. The Pacific Ocean contains a potential windfall of clean, renewable energy. Last month, the federal government took a major step to harness that power. | | | | |
Enviros Challenge Bid To Keep Calif. Nuclear Plant Running - Law360 | Environmental groups are asking the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s requests for licensing actions to keep its Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant operating on California's coast beyond scheduled shutdown dates in 2024 and 2025. | | | |
Produce: California Rains May Push Promotional Pricing on Organic Citrus | |
California Rains May Push Promotional Pricing on Organic Citrus | Bigger fruit and healthier citrus trees. Those are the two upsides for organic citrus following the deluge of rain California has seen. "Because of the heat we had last fall, the size structure of citrus was affected so this rain helps us regain some of that. | | | | |
The 13 Food Shortages To Expect In 2023 - The Daily Meal | The United States in the 21st century is a place of abundance. We've come to expect almost every possible item, including food, and especially staple items, to be available at every corner market, supermarket, and warehouse store virtually any day of the year, and often at any time of day. | | | |
Labor: Parents Employing Their Children in California | |
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Parents Employing Their Children in California
Carl Borden, California Farm Bureau and Farm Employers Labor Service - Senior Counsel
Employing minors in agricultural employment can be complicated, and parents have some leeway in employing their own minor children.
California’s child-labor laws do not prohibit or prevent the employment of a minor at agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, or domestic labor during the time the public schools are not in session, or during other than school hours, when the work performed is for or under the control of his parent or guardian and is performed upon or in connection with premises owned, operated, or controlled by the parent or guardian. Cal. Labor Code, § 1394, subd. (a).
Under section 1394, the employment relationship between the parent and child is irrelevant. What is relevant is whether the work performed by the child is for or under the control of the child’s parent or guardian and is on or in connection with premises owned, operated, or controlled by the parent or guardian.
Accordingly, the parent need not be operating the farm or other ag business as a sole proprietor. If the child is working both under the parent’s control and on premises owned, operated, or controlled by the parent, the child-labor laws do not apply to the child during non-school hours.
But the situation under Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order No. 14-2001, which sets minimum standards for wages, hours of work, and working conditions in agricultural occupations, is different.
A complete exemption from Order 14, Section 1(B), applies to “to any individual who is the parent, spouse, child, or legally adopted child of the employer.” Accordingly, the employment relationship between the parent and child is key.
“Child … of the employer” is limited to where the child’s parent is a sole proprietor and thus “the employer.” This exemption does not apply where the employer is a subchapter S or other corporation owned or controlled by the parent, a partnership in which the parent is a partner, or perhaps even a limited liability company of which the parent is the sole member (even though the Internal Revenue Service considers such a single-member LLC as a disregard entity for tax purposes).
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What Does Union Card Check Mean for Employers? Virtual Seminar
Presented by FELS and California Farm Labor Contractors Association:
Governor Newsom signed AB 2183, the ‘card check bill’, going into effect January 2023. What do these changes to the union election process under the Agricultural Labor Relations Act mean for your business? Understand the alternatives for union elections from secret ballot to mail-in to card check, and the new regulations employers may be held to for allowing union agents access, maintaining employee records, challenging ballot cards, posting bonds, and retaliation presumptions. Learn about future changes we can expect from the deal the Governor made with the UFW, how the ALRB is preparing, and what employers can do to be ready for these changes. Patrick Moody of FELS Group Legal Services Partner firm Barsamian & Moody will explain.
When: Wednesday, January 25, 1:30 PM
Where: Your desktop, laptop, tablet, phone, or your favorite web-connected digital device
Free registration with code FELS23
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Livestock: Egg Prices Exploded 60% Higher Last Year. These Food Prices Surged Too | |
Commentary: In defense of alfalfa: Important crop gets a bad rap | Egrets and other birds visit an alfalfa field in Yolo County. Despite the crop's importance to wildlife and dairy and beef production, it is often a target of water critics. By Mike Wade California is the most populous state in the nation and the nation's biggest agricultural producer. | | | | |
Egg Prices Exploded 60% Higher Last Year. These Food Prices Surged Too | CNN Business | Eggs, milk, butter, flour ... if you were making pancakes last year, it would have cost you. Food prices surged in 2022. Grocery prices remain stubbornly high (and nearly double the rate of overall inflation) at 11.8% year over year, according to data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | | | |
Vineyard & Wine: One Thing the California Storms are Good for: Vineyards | |
Urban winery in Bakersfield always on the hunt for sources of exceptional grapes | There's an old joke among winemakers: "How do you make a small fortune in the wine business? "Start with a large fortune." Reporter Steven Mayer can be reached at 661-395-7353. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter: @semayerTBC | | | | |
One Thing the California Storms are Good for: Vineyards | California is weathering another wet, stormy week. Many communities across the state are struggling with severe flooding. At least 17 people have died. And the rain is far from over: Another series of atmospheric rivers is expected to hit before early next week. | | | | |
Chardonnay Marc: A 'trifecta' of health, taste and sustainability | PUBLISHED ON DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis researchers are providing more insight into how grape skins and seeds, which usually go to waste during the making of chardonnay wine, may be a valuable and healthful ingredient in new food products. | | | |
Water: In a Drought, California is Watching Water Wash Out to Sea | |
Snowpack, storms lift water-supply hopes | California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth, snow survey engineers Andy Reising and Anthony Burdock, and Water Supply Forecasting Manager Sean de Guzman conduct the first snowpack measurement of 2023 at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. By Peter Hecht Barely more than a year ago, California's first seasonal snowpack survey provided promising results-a deep-snow measurement totaling 160% of average. | | |
Madera farmers push back on tighter pumping restrictions, county agrees to keep status quo - SJV Water | Facing heated pushback from growers, Madera County officials decided to maintain current groundwater pumping allotments for the next two years rather than reduce allocations over that time. At its Jan. | | | | |
In a Drought, California is Watching Water Wash Out to Sea | Severe Weather in California Heavy storms have flooded parts of California, but the state has been unable to capture billions of gallons of water that are flowing unchecked into the ocean. Los Angeles is embarking on an ambitious new program to change that. | | |
Nearly all of California exits the worst drought categories in U.S. Drought Monitor | The latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor showed an extraordinary sight: Deep splotches of dark red and purple signifying the worst levels of drought have been erased from California's map almost completely. On Thursday, 0% of the state was in exceptional drought, and only a tiny portion of far Northern California, 0.32%, was in extreme drought. | | | |
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 | | | | |
