April 4, 2022
FARM BUREAU THIS WEEK
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In This Edition:
Calendar
Meetings This Week
Spotlight
County
State
Labor & Employment
US
Youth /FFA
Educators & Parents
Classifieds
Other News
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April 29-May 1 Home & Garden Show
May 11 Ag in the Classroom's Farm Day
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Apr 4 7:30am Taxpayers Assn Online
Apr 5 9:00am Board of Supervisors Agenda
Apr 5 6:00pm Placerville Planning Comm Agenda
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It is with a heavy heart, we announce the passing of High Hill Ranch founder, George Visman. Born in Placerville in 1929, George grew up farming the area with his father, right down the road. He proudly served our country in the Air Force, during the Korean War.
After returning from service, he walked up the road from his Father's Farm and for $500, purchased the land that has now become, High Hill Ranch.
George retired from running the ranch full-time, a few years ago. You could still find him every day on his golf cart, chatting with customers, checking the orchards and his favorite duty, quality control of the pies that started it all.
Even though he will be sorely missed, he created a generational legacy that will live on.
If you have any fond memories of George or the early years of High Hill, please share them below.
George Visman 1929-2022
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Urgent!
California has passed a death tax on property that could affect your family.
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is collecting signatures on official petitions to qualify an initiative for the ballot to Repeal the Death Tax.
Parents should be able to transfer property to their children without triggering reassessment and a huge tax increase. Get the petition now and start collecting signatures!
Sign the petition Friday April 8
FARM BUREAU OFFICE
2460 Headington Road, Placerville
or collect signatures from you neighbors and friends this week. Petitions available by calling 530.622.7773.
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Registration open for two day prescribed fire training April 22nd & 23rd, 2022 in Sonora
Motherlode Prescribed Fire Workshop on Prescribed Burning Planning & Implementation. Come learn how to organize everything you need before lighting the match. Workshop Dates:
- Burn Planning & Preparation/burn – Friday, April 22 9am-4pm, Columbia College, Sonora, CA
- Burn Planning & Preparation/burn – Saturday, April 23 9am-4pm, Location nearby, TBD
Description: Prescribed fire is a critical tool for managing working rangelands and forests in the Sierra Nevada. This multi-session, hands-on workshop will focus on landowner-led efforts to reintroduce good fire into working ranch and timber land. The workshop will include development of burn plans for your properties, hands-on burn preparation field day, and participation in a broadcast burn (weather permitting).
Workshop Topics:
- Benefits of prescribed fire
- Permitting
- Planning your burn
- Liability issues
- Tools and equipment
- Burn planning and site preparation
- Personal protective equipment
- Working with neighbors
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Grow For It! Heirlooms
The heirloom tomato has an interesting history. There is evidence that the origins of the tomato are somewhere in the Andes Mountains, on a wild plant with tiny berries that were pretty much overlooked. European explorers probably carried them on their travels along with other plants they discovered. My own grandfather, who was born in Wales and immigrated to the U.S. in the early 20th century, would not eat tomatoes. He thought they were poisonous since they are members of the Nightshade family. (continued)
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Lake levels as of Mar 23-25
Stumpy Meadows Percent full 100%
Folsom Reservoir Percent full 57%
Union Valley Reservoir Percent full 82%
Loon Lake Percent full 48%
Ice House Percent full 77%
Lake Aloha Percent full 72%
Caples Lake Percent full 83%
Echo Lake Percent full 13%
Silver Lake Percent full 48%
Sly Park Percent Full 80.9%
American River Flow 965.4 cfs (up from 525.7)
xx% indicates - reduction xx% indicates - increase xx% unchanged
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Agriculture and Cybersecurity
Senator Hurtado’s SB 892, which seeks to combat cybersecurity attacks against the food, agriculture, water, and wastewater sectors was pulled from its planned March 15 hearing in Senate Government Organizations and amended. As initially drafted, the bill would have required mandatory reporting to multiple California agencies, from these industries to the state for every cyber - attack. After meeting with the Farm Bureau to understand concerns regarding new mandatory reporting on the agriculture industry, the author’s office amended the bill on March 22 to now require the California Office of Emergency Services to create “optional reporting guidelines” for agriculture industry adoption, as well as outreach, education, and potential funding to meet the suggested guidelines goals. The bill has not been reset for hearing, yet.
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Agricultural Employment
Agricultural Employment: Legislation of concern to agricultural employers is beginning to move early in this legislative season. On March 21, the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee (Cortese, Chair) approved SB 1044 (Durazo) that would prevent an employer from taking adverse employment action against an employee who refuses to work during the existence of a natural or man - made emergency if the employee believes the work might be unsafe. As a result, millions of California employers could refuse to work immediately due to the ongoing COVID - 19 pandemic emergency, and employees could refuse to work during a wildfire emergency (for example) even if the wildfire in question is miles away from the worksite. SB 1044 passed on a 4 - 1 vote, though three of the committee’s five members voting expressed concern about the bill’s broad scope and possible unintended consequences. Farm Bureau opposes. The Senate Labor Committee on March 21 also approved SB 1127 (Atkins) which severely curtails an employer’s capacity to manage workers’ compensation claims by drastically reducing the number of days an employer is permitted to evaluate whether to decline to approve a claim from 90 days to 30 days for a claim covered by a presumption of work - relatedness and 60 days for any other claim. SB 1127 passed the committee on a 4 - 1 vote. Farm Bureau opposes.
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Bioenergy and Renewable Portfolio Standard
Senator Caballero’s SB 1109 has been amended and referred to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications. SB 1109 would increase the cumulative rated generating capacity from bioenergy projects to 225 megawatts and would require electrical corporations collectively to procure that amount by December 31, 2023. The bill would require local publicly owned electric utilities serving more than 100,000 customers to procure their proportionate shares of 225 megawatts of cumulative rated generating capacity from those kinds of bioenergy projects. Also, the bill would require any incremental procurement of electricity products from bioenergy resources by a new contract or contract extension of 10 years or longer in duration to be from a resource that meets emission limits equivalent to, or more stringent than, the best available retrofit control technology determined at the time of procurement. Sponsored by the California Biomass Energy Alliance, the bill seeks could increase forest health projects by augmenting existing RPS standards, by providing for a pathway to long term contracts of clean bioenergy.
Assemblymember Devin Mathis’ AB 1956 passed from Assembly Natural Resources with only termed out Assemblymember Mark Stone voting “No”. The bill would create a 5 - year woody biomass rural county collection and disposal pilot program at CalRecycle. The bill would award funding to counties with a population under 250,000 for the purpose of conducting community collection and disposal of woody biomass and other source - separated biomass free of charge. Participating counties would contract with a local compost facility, mulch production facility, or biomass conversion facility to collect and to process or convert the biomass in a way that results in less greenhouse gas emitted than if the biomass had been disposed of. The bill moves to Assembly Appropriations.
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Cannabis and CEQA
Senator Laird’s SB 1148, which provides that the California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the issuance of a state license to engage in commercial cannabis activity has been referred to Senate Business Professions and Economic Development and Senate Environmental Quality. By removing a mandatory CEQA analysis on every cannabis business, the bill could make it easier for farmers to include cannabis as part of their business, and for local jurisdictions to establish cannabis manufacturing and retail industries more readily.
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Commodities
The Senate Agriculture Committee met on Thursday, March 24th to hear two important bills of note. This includes SB 1308 (Anna Caballero, D - Salinas) which would create a 25% purchase preference for domestically produced agricultural products for community colleges, CSUs and K -12 schools. Farm Bureau is evaluating this bill for a potential to include a California - grown preference. Also, the Committee heard SB 982 (John Laird, D - Santa Cruz). This bill would create an organic apple certification program at the Department of Food and Agriculture. Farm Bureau testified in support of SB 982. Both bills passed out of Committee.
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Forestry and Wildfire
Senator Nielsen SCA 8 has been double referred to Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments. This measure would, contingent upon voter approval of a proposition at a statewide general election, revise and recast the California Fire Response Fund and the Special District Fire Response Fund, by among other things, requiring the Treasurer to annually transfer an amount equal to 1% of specified state revenues from the General Fund to the California Fire Response Fund.
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Land Use
The Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee held an informational hearing on the state’s efforts related to 30x30 on Tuesday, March 22nd. The current draft 30x30 report does not propose to include within the definition of “conserved” any acres under Williamson Act contracts, state or federally supported climate smart agricultural practices, agricultural easements, or grazing leases. Farm Bureau staff made public testimony and Assemblymember echoed our concerns.
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Nutrition
The Senate Health Committee will hear a Farm Bureau supported bill,
AB 2153 (Joaquin Arambula, D - Fresno) in the coming weeks. This bill would expand the existing pilot for CalFresh recipients to receive extra funds to buy California - grown fruits and vegetables from certified farmers’ markets, to also include large retail grocers. This bill would provide $40 million for benefits to purchase at small retail stores, $140 million at large retail stores and $60 million for certified farmers’ markets.
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Organic
Assemblymember Brian Maienschien, (D - Poway) has recently introduced AB 2499. This bill would establish a pilot program at the Department of Food and Agriculture to provide incentives (grants, technical assistance, and education) to farmers who wish to transition to organic production. This program would only be eligible for limited resource or socially disadvantaged farmers looking to transition or expand existing acreage. It would also establish the Underserved and Organic Farmer Committee at CDFA to advise on the development of the program. Finally, the bill would require the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to conduct a statewide market analysis of the total economic impact of California’s organic sector by July 1, 2023. Farm Bureau is in the process of analyzing this bill.
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Price of Gas Price Relief Proposal
Last week the Newsom Administration released details about its $9 billion in proposed tax refunds to address rising gas and diesel fuel prices. The Governor’s proposal calls for $9 billion in tax refunds to Californians in the form of $400 direct payments per vehicle, capped at two vehicles. This package also provides $2 billion in broader relief including:
• $750 million in incentive grants to transit and rail agencies to provide free transit for Californians for 3 months. As a result, roughly 3 million Californians per day who take the bus, subway, or light rail won’t have to pay a fare every time they ride.
• Up to $600 million to pause a part of the sales tax rate on diesel for one year.
• $523 million to pause the inflationary adjustment to gas and diesel excise tax rates.
The package also calls for $500 million in active transportation for projects that promote biking and walking throughout the state. Additionally, this proposal fast - tracks a $1.75 billion portion of the Governor’s historic $10 billion ZEV package to further reduce the state’s dependence on oil and save Californians money, including the investments in more ZEV passenger vehicles and building more charging infrastructure throughout the state – especially in low - income communities. The tax refund will take the form of $400 debit cards for registered vehicle owners, and individuals will be eligible to receive up to two payments, capping the refund to a maximum of $800 per individual. An average California driver spends approximately $300 in gasoline excise tax over a year.
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Pesticides
The Department of Pesticide Regulation hosted a webinar detailing next steps and public outreach related to the pesticide mill assessment on March 30th. The mill assessed on a per dollar sales basis on all pesticidal products in California. In 2021, the Department at tempted to adjust the mill assessment from a flat rate of ($0.021/$ sale) to a tiered assessment structure (with a maximum rate of $0.046/$ sale) based on toxicity. This attempt failed, but in lieu of a changed structure, the Legislature offered DPR funds to contract to engage stakeholders, assess weaknesses of the mill assessment structure and provide recommendations, which may likely include a tiered mill assessment. The webinar can be seen on DPR’s YouTube page. More information can be found here.
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Water
A measure that would remove discretion from local management of groundwater by groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA) was amended this week. AB 2201 (Steve Bennett, D - Ventura) would prohibit well construction in a critically over drafted basin without a permit from the GSA. Additionally, the measure would require the GSAs to develop a process for the issuance of a permit in all high and medium priority basins, whether critically over drafted or not. The bill also requires the Department of Water Resources to review the effectiveness of permitting decisions by the GSAs. Since the passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act the California Water Code states, “It is the policy of the state that groundwater resources be managed sustainably for long - term reliability and multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits for current and future beneficial uses. Sustainable groundwater management is best achieved locally through the development, implementation, and updating of plans and programs based on the best available science.” Farm Bureau is working with a large coalition to meet with the author to voice our concerns to the measure.
A measure to implement a recommendation in recent report
by the Planning and Conservation League (PCL) was amended this week. AB 2639 (Bill Quirk, D - Hayward) is one of several bills introduced to implement the PCL/water law professors’ recommendations contained in a recent report entitled, “Updating California Water Laws to Address Drought and Climate Change.” The measure would require the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt a final update to the Bay - Delta Water Quality Control Plan by December 31, 2023. The bill would prohibit the Water Board from approving any new water right permits or extensions of time of existing permits that would increase diversions to surface water storage from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers watershed until the Bay - Delta Plan is complete. Farm Bureau is working with others to oppose.
A measure amended this week would require groundwater sustainability plans to address adverse impacts on domestic wells. AB 2857 (Rebecca Bauer - Kahan, D - Orinda) would also require compensation of domestic well owners and water users for increased energy costs associated with deeper groundwater pumping and increased costs of water delivery from alternative water supplies. As previously stated, the California Water Code says that “sustainable groundwater management is best achieved locally.” This measure seems to suggest otherwise. Farm Bureau is working with others to see that the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act has the time necessary, and the time specifically spelled out in statute to succeed before amended and interfered with.
A measure that would provide the State Water Resources Control Board with authority to allow water diverters options to use remote sensing methodology to measure water diversion and use amounts was significantly amended this week. SB 832 (Bill Dodd, D - Napa) was amended this week to address concerns raised by Farm Bureau and water suppliers, to allow for options using proven ET methodologies to be used in estimating water diversion amounts. The amendments that came out in print this week do not reflect the amendments made by the author and the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, but those errors will be address in Committee on April 5th.
The State Water Resources Control Board mailed early warning letters to approximately 20,000 water right holders this week. The letter highlights the critical water supply conditions and urges right holders to plan for potential shortages by reducing water use and adopting practical conservation measures. The letter also warns right holders to prepare for curtailments in some watersheds if dry conditions continue. A copy of the letter is available online at waterboards.ca.gov/drought/docs/2022/dyl_2022_web.pdf.
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Dropping COVID Case Numbers Prompts New Mask Guidance
Rapidly dropping COVID-19 case numbers in February has prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued revised guidance for the use of face coverings.
On February 25, 2022 CDC issued revised masking guidance recommending that individuals residing in communities with low COVID-19 risk wear a mask based on personal preference; those in communities with medium risk consider masking if they are immunocompromised are at high risk for severe illness, or live with or have social contact with someone with high risk of severe illness and consider masking and pre-testing before gathering with anyone with high risk of severe illness, and in areas of high COVID risk wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status (including in schools) and to consider use of a respirator if immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness.
On February 29, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued revised guidance on masking effective March 1, 2022 dropping the requirement that unvaccinated individuals mask in indoor public settings to a strong recommendation that everyone, regardless of vaccine status, continue indoor masking; mandating universal indoor masking in high-risk settings like schools, day care centers, public transportation, shelters, healthcare settings, and long-term care settings; and terminates universal masking for schools and childcare settings as of March 11, 2022.
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Newsom Issues EO Updating COVID ETS
On March 1, 2022 Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order updating the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in light of California Department of Public Health’s February 29 face covering guidance.
Per the Governor’s order, Section (c)(6)(A) of the ETS (GISO 3205) is suspended and starting March 1 masks will no longer be required for unvaccinated workers indoors but will continue to be strongly recommended for all individuals in indoor settings. Employers will still be required to provide a face covering upon an employee’s request.
The Governor’s order also extends the effectiveness of the current iteration of the COVID-19 ETS through May 5 to allow the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board time to consider the new guidance in anticipation of the new guidance.
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Cal/OSHA Releases Updated COVID-19 ETS FAQs
On March 2, Cal/OSHA published updated COVID Emergency Temporary Standard Frequently-Asked Questions in response to California Department of Public Health’s revised masking guidance on February 28, 2022 and Governor Newsom’s March 1 executive order suspending indoor masking requirements in the ETS.
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Hiring Season is Here!
With Springtime around the corner, California ag employers will be heavily engaged in hiring for the upcoming season. FELS Newsletter subscribers can access at FELS’ website valuable on-line hiring resources including links to forms and checklists that can help make sure you don’t forget something when you’re hiring.
FELS can also help with a Standard Form Employee Handbook or a Custom Employee Handbook. And, if you don’t already have your worksite employee postings or customized plans like your Injury and Illness Prevention Program, FELS can help too. You can call 800-753-9073 or email us at info@fels.net for more information.
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As the high-heat season approaches in California, it is important to take steps to protect outdoor workers from heat illness. Workers are more likely to get a heat illness during heat waves and when they are not yet used to working in hot weather.
When working in these hotter conditions for the first time this year, workers should be closely observed for any signs of heat illness.
Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Standard for Outdoor Workplaces requires this increased observation during heat waves, which applies to parts of the state this week where the temperatures are above 80 degrees and 10 degrees higher than the daily average from the previous five days.
Editor's Note: FELS furnishes Heat Illness prevention compliance resources at FELS' website.
Hiring Season is Here!: Hiring season is here for California ag employers; are you ready?
Savvy FELS Newsletter subscribers will be! Subscribers can access at FELS’ website valuable resources on FELS' website:
· Hiring Resources including links to forms and checklists that can help make sure you don’t forget something when you’re hiring. (NOTE: Hiring Resources is exclusive FELS Newsletter subscriber website contest; please log in to your FELS website account for access.)
UPCOMING FELS TRAININGS & WEBINARS
April 29, 2022 (webinar): Employers' Compliance Requirements Under the California Privacy Rights Act (feat. Seth Mehrten, Barsamian & Moody): The California Privacy Right Act (CRPA) imposes new privacy requirements on employee data owned by employers who have annual revenues in excess of $25 million. Seth Mehrten of FELS Group Legal Services Program partner firm Barsamian & Moody explains these new employer requirements and offers strategies for compliance.
May 19, 2022 (webinar): Employers' Requirements and Enforcement with the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (feat. ALRB Chair Victoria Hassid): Rights to protected concerted activity and other rights protected by the Agricultural Labor Relations Act (ALRA) apply to employees even in non-union workplaces. ALRB chair Victoria Hassid will offer insight into the Board's enforcement of these rights.
April 13, May 10 and June 7, 2022 (in-person training): Mandatory Produce Safety Training: The Food Safety Training Partnership, a cooperative effort of California Farm Bureau, Farm Employers Labor Service, and the Safe Food Alliance, is offering produce safety training required by the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Trainings will be offered in-person in Santa Rosa, Escondido and Salinas. The $35 training fee is substantially subsidized by a grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
FELS Webinar Recordings/Slides Available!
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It):
Video and presentation slides from many past FELS webinars is available at Webinars by Farm Employers Labor Service.
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AMS' Farmers Market Promotion Program & Local Food Promotion Program Grants Program Webinar
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Fresno State Office of Community & Economic Development (OCED), and USDA Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement (OPPE) are partnering to host an AMS’ Local Ag Marketing Program Grants Overview webinar on Tuesday, April 19 from 11 a.m. to Noon PST. The USDA session will have a particular focus on the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). FMPP supports direct to consumer markets like farmers markets and CSAs and the LFPP supports indirect to consumer markets like food hubs and value-added product incubators. The grant programs benefit agricultural systems in collaboration with states, municipalities, tribal governments, universities, and agricultural businesses. The programs are designed to support the economic development for communities and commodities by funding projects that enhance the marketability and competitiveness of U.S. agricultural products.
We look forward to you joining us for this webinar. Please feel free to share this invitation with others who may be interested in joining.
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USDA Encourages Producers to Enroll Grasslands into Special Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages producers and landowners to enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting next week through May 13, 2022. Grassland CRP provides a unique opportunity for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners to keep land in agricultural production and supplement their income while improving their soils and permanent grass cover. The program had its highest enrollment in history in 2021 and is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader effort to equip producers with the tools they need to help address climate change and invest in the long-term health of our natural resources.
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USDA to Provide Payments to Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought or Wildfire
Today, USDA announced the Emergency Livestock Relief Program that producers who have approved applications through FSA’s 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program for losses of grazing acres due to severe drought or wildfire will soon begin receiving ELRP payments to help compensate for increases in supplemental feed costs in 2021.
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USDA Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service will be seeking nominations from fruit and vegetable industry members to fill up to 25 seats on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). The FVIAC provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on issues of importance to the produce industry.
The FVIAC Nominations Toolkit provides:
- An information brochure that outlines who can apply, how to apply, and the expectations of being an appointed representative.
- A series of mock documents to illustrate what a complete nomination package looks like.
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USDA will host a series of Zoom virtual meetings in April. During those meetings, Darrell Hughes will spend time explaining the advisory committee and answering questions about the nominations process. Join a webinar session to learn about the FVIAC and the nominations process: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_njZqO-n-Q06WSSDLup7TWw .
Nomination packages including a cover letter to the Secretary, the nominee's typed resume or curriculum vitae, and a completed USDA Advisory Committee Membership Background Information Form AD-755 must be postmarked on or before May 31, 2022. More information can be found here.
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Looking for stories from students who attended State Leadership Conference for next week's newsletter. |
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2022 Farm Day
Join us virtually to celebrate agriculture while learning about the "99% Club!" California produces 99% of the nation's production of 16 commodities that are enjoyed throughout the United States and the world - almonds, olives, garlic artichokes and kiwis...to name a few!
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Follow Along on our social media channels as we celebrate California's 99% Club and the countdown to California Farm Day! You can also follow the posts on our blog here: https://learnaboutagathome.wordpress.com/
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What's Growin' On? Leading the Nation: Please download and share the digital What's Growin' On? Leading the Nation with your class here: https://cdn.agclassroom.org/ca/resources/wgo/20.pdf. This student newspaper is aligned to California Content Standards for 3-8th grades with a focus on the 99% Club and other commodities in which California leads the nation. We hope will help your students continue to LearnAboutAg!
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El Dorado County https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/edcgov
Placerville City https://www.cityofplacerville.org/jobs
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El Dorado Ag In The Classroom has opportunities on several committees: Program, Finance, Development, and Marketing. If you have interest in serving as a volunteer on one of these please send an email here.
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Is there a story you'd like to share with our members? Let us know at admin@edcfb.com
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Farmers, Activists, Investors Fight Over Treatment of Pregnant Pigs
In West Liberty, Iowa, Mike Deahr houses his 3,000 breeding pigs in small enclosures that keep them from turning around and interacting with others for the first 28 days of their 115-day pregnancy. Whether those enclosures represent the best way to safeguard hogs’ health or the mistreatment of vulnerable animals is at the center of a debate over how pigs in the $43 billion U.S. pork industry are housed. The state of California, animal-welfare groups like the Humane Society of the United States and billionaire investor Carl Icahn are pressing fast-food giants like McDonald’s Corp., meatpacking companies and hog farmers like Mr. Deahr to provide pregnant hogs more space. Animal-welfare proponents say the crates confine sows to the degree that they can barely turn around or walk. “All they can do is stand on a hard, bare floor, eat, and lay down in place,” said Maisie Ganzler, chief strategy and brand officer for Bon Appétit Management Co. Ms. Ganzler, one of Mr. Icahn’s two nominees to McDonald’s board in his proxy contest, said switching to pork raised outside of crates recently increased costs for her institutional catering company, but the move aligned with what her customers wanted. Pork producers and suppliers are resisting, saying such moves would raise meat prices by causing farmers to spend millions of dollars changing their operations, create supply-chain chaos and risk their pigs’ health.
Newsom calls for more aggressive water conservation amid third year of drought
On the heels of the driest ever start to the year in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday issued a sweeping executive order calling on local water suppliers to implement more aggressive conservation measures as reservoirs dwindle and residents backslide in their efforts to cut back. Specifically, the order requires that urban water suppliers activate “Level 2" of their locally customized contingency plans, meaning they must prepare for a shortage of up to 20%. The order also introduces steps to address a frenzy of well drilling in California’s Central Valley and directs state regulators to consider a ban on watering decorative grasses at businesses and public properties, among other measures. Yet the path to Monday’s announcement has already been marked by several grim milestones — including regulators’ decision this month to slash State Water Project allocations from 15% to 5% because of dwindling supplies. As of Monday, statewide snowpack was 39% of average for the date. The water level in Lake Shasta — California’s largest reservoir — was 49% of average.
Newsom broadens drought order – but again stops short of mandatory urban water cutbacks
Gov. Gavin Newsom continued to resist mandatory statewide cutbacks in urban water use, just as he did last year during the recall campaign. Instead, he ordered urban water agencies to implement the second stage of their water shortage contingency plans — protocols that are to take effect when water shortages approach 20%. Newsom administration officials defended the decision not to impose a statewide mandate. ”Each of those own districts have their own plan, we’re not telling them what to do,” Jared Blumenfeld, secretary or the state Environmental Protection Agency, told reporters. While Newsom’s predecessor ordered statewide cutbacks, Blumenfeld said it’s clear that “it’s really important to listen to locals .... One size fits all doesn’t work in California.” It remains to be seen how effective Newsom’s latest move will be. Last year he urged Californians to voluntarily reduce water use by 15% — a plea that has largely been ignored. Last September, for instance, consumption fell by just 4%. In January the conservation rate was just under 6%. Newsom’s directive came, ironically, as rain and snow fell across much of Northern California. But the precipitation was expected to be moderate — and surely wouldn’t be enough to prevent a third straight year of drought.
Commentary: State Auditor needs to investigate water agency over inaccurate data
Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced: In the 2021 water year, California water officials disastrously miscalculated the moisture content of the Sierra Nevada snowpack. Because the Department of Water Resources didn’t know how much water was in the snow, or how much would be absorbed by the parched ground beneath, the department grossly overestimated how much would flow into reservoirs. That led the department to allow nearly 700,000 acre feet – some say much more – to flow to the ocean. Even as dozens of climate scientists predicted drought, California wasted enough water to provide for at least 1.4 million households for a year. The water is long gone, so all we have left are questions. That’s why I have asked the State Auditor to investigate the Department of Water Resources’ operations and management, including the accuracy of its data collection, predictive models, reservoir operations, pumping regimes and the roles of decision-makers.
Avocado prices surge to a 24-year high
Avocado prices jumped to the highest in more than two decades amid tightening supplies in Mexico, the world’s biggest exporter of the fruit, signaling pricier guacamole. An index tracking avocado from the Mexican state of Michoacan, by far the biggest source in the country, climbed 81% this year to 760 pesos ($38) per 9-kilogram box, the highest in data going back to 1998, government figures showed. “Lower availability and supply-side inflationary pressures are the main suspects,” said David Magana, an analyst at Rabobank International. Mexican avocado output is seen dropping by 8% in the 2021-22 crop year from a record high the previous season, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. American importers of the fruit are still catching up from a temporary ban on shipments from Michoacan last month stemming from threats against U.S. inspectors. Mexico accounts for more than 80% of the avocados consumed in the U.S. In California, which feeds about 15% of American demand, production is forecast to rise this year “but clearly not enough to satisfy growing avocado demand in the U.S.,” Magana said.
Supreme Court will hear challenge to California’s law on livestock cages
A voter-approved California law that sets space requirements for cages used to hold pigs and other animals will be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in a challenge by the pork industry, which says the law is hurting pig farmers nationwide and interferes with interstate commerce. The justices agreed Monday to hear a lawsuit by the National Pork Producers Council and the National Farm Bureau Federation, with support from 20 Republican-led states. They want the court to overturn Proposition 12, a 2018 initiative approved by more than 62% of California voters. The measure, which remains partly on hold because of legal challenges, established minimum standards for cages that hold breeding pigs, egg-laying hens and veal calves. Because few pigs are bred for food in California, which consumes 13% of the nation’s pork, “the massive costs of complying with Proposition 12 fall almost exclusively on out-of-state farmers,” lawyers for farming groups told the court.
California plan would pay farmers to grow less to save water
California would pay farmers not to plant thousands of acres of land as part of a $2.9 billion plan announced Tuesday aimed at letting more water flow through the state’s major rivers and streams to help restore the unique habitat in one of North America’s largest estuaries. The agreement, signed Tuesday between state and federal officials and some of California’s biggest water agencies, would result in about 35,000 acres of rice fields left unused — or about 6% of the state’s normal crop each year, according to the California Rice Commission. The result, combined with other measures, would be up to an extra 824,000 acre feet (1 billion cubic meters) of water each year flowing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. One acre foot of water is more than 325,000 gallons, which is usually enough to supply two average households for one year. The money will come from the state and federal governments and the water agencies themselves, which for the first time have agreed to tax themselves to help pay farmers — who often have more senior water rights — not to plant some crops.
Here’s how much the latest rainstorms affected water levels in California’s reservoirs
The storms that rolled across the Bay Area and much of California on Sunday and Monday delivered some of the highest rainfall totals of the calendar year so far, as meteorologists predicted — but that still isn’t much, they said Tuesday. “On a bigger picture, this is one of the biggest storms we’ve had of 2022,” said Matt Mehle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “But we’ve only had a handful of systems actually bring any precipitation to the Bay Area in January and February.” Most of the state’s major water supplying reservoirs did not see any difference at all between Saturday, March 26, before the rain fell, and Monday, March 28, at midnight, after the majority of the rain had come through, according to data from the California Department of Water Resources. Only five — Folsom Lake, Camanche Lake, Lake McClure, Pine Flat Reservoir and Millerton Lake — saw their total percentage of capacity rise, each by about one percentage point.
Carl Icahn Targets Kroger Over Pork, CEO Pay
Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn is seeking two board seats at Kroger Co., pushing the U.S. supermarket giant to make changes among its pork suppliers and to address what Mr. Icahn said was a widening gap between worker and executive pay. Mr. Icahn sent a letter Tuesday to Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chief executive and chairman, criticizing the way pregnant pigs are housed on farms that supply pork to Kroger’s stores, as well as the median pay for workers at the Cincinnati-based company. “I remain very troubled by the glaring oversight of needless distress caused by your company’s policies,” Mr. Icahn wrote in the letter. The letter broadens Mr. Icahn’s efforts to eliminate the use of gestation stalls, small crates that prevent breeding pigs, or sows, from turning around or interacting with other hogs on farms. Last month Mr. Icahn launched a proxy fight for two board seats at McDonald’s Corp., pushing the burger giant to require its own suppliers to change their treatment of sows. The state of California, animal welfare groups like the Humane Society of the United States and Mr. Icahn have all been involved in pressing pork producers, restaurants and retailers to eliminate the stalls’ use, saying they cause hogs unnecessary suffering. On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear agriculture industry groups’ challenge to a 2018 California voter initiative that set minimum animal welfare standards for pork sold within the state.
Wheat and Corn Plunge on Ukraine-Russia Talks Optimism
Benchmark wheat and corn futures tumbled by the maximum allowed in Chicago trading as Russia signaled it may ease its attack in some parts of Ukraine, one of the world’s key sources of grain. Russia said it would cut back military activity near the cities of Kyiv and Chernihiv. A pullback on Russia’s month-old invasion could ease some of the disruptions to global grain markets wrought by the war. Wheat futures sank as much as 8% to $9.72 a bushel, dipping below the $10 mark for the first time since the beginning of the month. Later, wheat erased some of those losses, closing the trading session at $10.1425 a bushel. Corn extended its decline, falling as much as 4.7% to $7.1350 a bushel, a four-week low.
Newsom announces ‘historic’ treaty on river flows. Why MID and TID aren’t celebrating
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a “historic” agreement on Central Valley river flows Tuesday, but key irrigation districts in Stanislaus County were not parties to it. The agreement spells out $2.6 billion in spending over eight years on efforts to protect salmon and other fish. Cities and irrigation districts would sacrifice some of their supplies in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries. The Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts, which divert the Tuolumne River, said in a joint email that they were not involved in the negotiations. And they said they would not have consented to the pact in any case because it would take too much water from current uses. “Despite the harrowing challenges of a third year of drought, an additional 186,688 acre-feet would have been released from the Tuolumne River over the last two years if the (agreement) was in place, accounting for a 71% increase over current regulatory conditions,” the districts said.
It's just scary:' Farmers and ranchers in Anderson and Cottonwood won't get ag water
Due to the ongoing drought, farmers and ranchers who rely on water from the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District, will not receive any water this year, creating a ripple effect through the Shasta County agriculture community. John Currey, the district's general manager, said this year marks the first time in the district's 106-year history that it will be unable to send agricultural water to its 800 customers. He said the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which controls water allocations for many water agencies in the county, can supply less than 20% of the district's typical allotment. Most of the district's customers use water for flood irrigation on about 7,000 acres that is used mainly for cattle pasture and to grow hay, he said. District customers said there will be ripple effects throughout the region, driving up the cost of feed and possibly forcing some ranchers to sell off cattle. "Feed costs are through the roof," said Troy Henderson, ranch manager for Holiday Ranches in Cottonwood. "I don't know how anybody is going to afford to feed a lot of cattle. It's just scary. Damn scary." The source of ACID's water, Lake Shasta, is expected to reach an all-time low this year. The reservoir was about 38% full, or about 49% of average for this time of year, according to the State Department of Water Resources.
Soaring Cost of Diesel Ripples Through the Global Economy
Farmers are spending more to keep tractors and combines running. Shipping and trucking companies are passing higher costs to retailers, which are beginning to pass them on to shoppers. And local governments are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars extra to fill up school buses. Construction costs could soon rise, too. The source is the sudden surge in the price of diesel, which is quietly undercutting the American and global economies by pushing up inflation and pressuring supply chains from manufacturing to retail. It is one more cost of the war in Ukraine. “It’s not just the fuel we put into pickups, tractors, combines,” said Chris Edgington, an Iowa corn farmer. “It’s a cost of transporting those goods to the farm, it’s a cost of transporting them away.”
Corn Is Out, Soy Is In on U.S. Farms Rocked by Soaring Costs
Two crops dominate U.S. farming: corn and soybeans. The former requires massive amounts of fertilizer. The latter requires very little. Which is why the astronomical surge in fertilizer prices -- they’re up some 27% this year and 130% over the past year -- is causing farmers to quickly re-calibrate the amount of each crop they put in the ground this spring. They’ll dedicate about 2 million more acres this year to soy, a Bloomberg survey finds, and about 2 million fewer to corn. The U.S. government is due to release its 2022 crop estimates on Thursday. Some analysts say it’s possible, albeit not likely, that plantings of soy even surpass those of corn. That’s only happened twice in record keeping that goes back almost a century.
On César Chávez day, California farmworkers march to ask Newsom to sign voting bill
On César Chávez Day, a group of about 50 farmworkers, advocates, and community members gathered in Fresno to march in honor of the late labor leader — and to once again ask Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill that would make it easier for farmworkers to vote in union elections. The march was part of a series of events organized by the United Farm Workers and the UFW Foundation in 13 rural and urban California cities in which farmworkers gathered to raise awareness about the Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act, AB 2183, a bill that would give farmworkers the option to vote by mail in union elections. The coordinated marches took place less than a year after the UFW organized a march to the French Laundry — a reference to the pricey meal Newsom had with lobbyists as he asked other Californians to avoid mixed groups and indoor settings during the coronavirus pandemic — after Newsom vetoed an initial version of the bill, AB 616, last September. Last year, Assemblymember Mark Stone, a Democrat from Santa Cruz, authored AB 616, a bill that would allow California farmworkers to vote for a union by mail instead of in-person secret ballot elections conducted on a grower’s property.
As drought saps water supply, California signs $2.6-billion ecological pact
It’s a major source of California’s water supply and a vital habitat for fish, migratory birds and other species. But the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed is also a fragile ecosystem in decline, with human demands for water taking a harsh toll on the environment. With a third year of severe drought straining water resources and pushing endangered salmon and other fish closer to extinction, California officials have announced a controversial $2.6-billion deal with the federal government and major water suppliers that they say will bolster the ecosystem. State officials called the deal an important milestone in their efforts to balance the delta’s ecological needs with the water needs of Californians, and a key step toward larger “voluntary agreements” that can help ensure substantial flows for the health of the estuary. Environmental advocates and salmon conservationists condemned it as a set of backroom deals negotiated out of the public eye that wouldn’t provide nearly enough water for threatened fish or the overall health of the watershed.
Feral pigs are biological time bombs. Can California stem their ‘exponential’ damage?
California’s feral pig population has become a monumental headache for government land managers, farmers, homeowners, conservation biologists and water district officials. But there is no clear way to ease the pain. Making it easier for hunters to kill pigs is a dubious proposition. Going after their food sources would cut a wide swath through California’s fauna and flora. Short of culling their numbers with a full-scale military operation, the porcine pests will continue to do damage. Feral pigs are like roving rototillers, using their snouts and hooves to unearth dirt-dwelling insect larvae and eat acorns, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals and plants. Their feeding patterns not only cause enormous ecological damage, but the end product — their poop — poses an even further threat. In 2006, food safety officials pointed to feral swine as causing an E. coli outbreak in spinach from Salinas Valley.
Food prices are going up — and at levels Americans haven't seen in decades
The United States Department of Agriculture released an update to its Food Price Outlook for 2022 and found that nearly everything one might ingest – whether it comes from the grocery store or restaurant – is going up in price. And yes, that's on top of the price increases consumers have already been forced to endure in the last year. All food prices are now predicted to increase between 4.5 and 5.5%," the USDA's Economic Research Service explained in the March report. While the overall increase is alarming, a closer look at various food categories show just how expensive shoppers can expect items to get, according to the USDA: Beef and veal: +16.2%; Pork: +14%; Poultry: +12.5%; Eggs: +11.4%; Dairy: +5.2%; Fresh fruits: +10.6%; Fresh vegetables: +4.3%; Cereals and bakery products: +7.8%
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2021/2022 Board of Directors
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Ranalli
Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maryann Argyres
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gordon Helm
Jim Davies
Chuck Bacchi
Bill Prosser
Carolyn Mansfield
Norm Krizl
Staff
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El Dorado County Farm Bureau News is a weekly publication for its members. Dues for membership are $185 for agricultural members, $150 for Business Ag Support, $72 for Associate members and $25 for Collegiate. Non-profit postage paid at Placerville, CA. Postmaster: Send changes to 2460 Headington Road, Placerville, CA 95667 El Dorado County Farm Bureau does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products advertised in El Dorado County newsletter, nor does Farm Bureau assume responsibility for statements or expressions of opinion other than in editorials or in articles showing authorship by an officer, director or employee of El Dorado County Farm Bureau or its affiliates.
A private nonprofit organization serving El Dorado County agriculture since 1917.
2460 Headington Road, Placerville, CA 95667
530-622-7773
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