Photo by Brittany App featuring a participant at FARMSTEAD ED Open Farm Days | |
Community Connects with Local Agriculture at FARMstead ED Open Farm Days | |
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By Camille DeVaul; The Paso Robles Press
PASO ROBLES — Over 20 farms opened their gates to the community this past weekend for the FARMstead ED Open Farm Days. The weekend-long event kicked off with the second annual Open Farm Days Kickoff Marketplace in Paso Robles City Park.
Founded in 2014, FARMstead ED is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing the community closer to our local farms. Open Farm Days is their largest fundraising event of the year. The weekend was a chance for farms to open their gates and welcome visitors to participate in tours, demonstrations, tastings, and educational classes. On Friday night, locals and tourists filtered into the park to learn about the week-long event and speak to local farmers and makers first-hand.
FARMstead ED founder Lynette Sonne said of this year’s event, “We were excited to welcome more vendors and guests at this year’s Open Farm Days Kick-off, the Friday Night Marketplace. It was a very diversified representation of our locally grown and made.” ....Continue Reading Below
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This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
Community: Record-High July 4th Cookout Costs: Inflation Hits the Backyard | |
Record-High July 4th Cookout Costs: Inflation Hits the Backyard | Americans will be gathering on the Fourth of July for a day of fireworks, food, parades and more. But as you celebrate with your friends and family this Independence Day, your cookout bill will be a bit higher. | | |
Local Non-profit Harvestly is delivering organic produce to the Central Coast | The local non-profit Harvestly is delivering organic produce to people from Paso Robles to Orcutt. | | | |  |
Farmer's Olympics at Mid-State Fair on Tuesday, July 2023 | Think you've got what it takes to compete in the Farmer's Olympics?! This brand new event is fun for all ages putting your skills to the test! | | |
Cattlemen & Farmers Day on July 18th | One of the most special days of the annual Fair, Cattlemen & Farmers Day pays tribute to our local cattlemen, cattlewomen, and agriculturalists. Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of the Industrial Arts program, enjoy a fabulous BBQ steak dinner with a glass of wine or beer, and find out who wins the coveted Cattleman of the Year, Cattlewoman of the Year and Agriculturalist of the Year! | | | |
State Government: Ag Strikes a Compromise on Boosting Mill Fee | |
Concern grows as state lawmakers approve a $400 million loan to extend Diablo Canyon | Some groups that oppose extending Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant's license are concerned that taxpayers will be on the hook for a large chunk of a $400 million loan to keep the plant running. California lawmakers agreed to the loan earlier this week. | | | | |
Controversial measure overturning oil well restrictions won't be on California ballot | The decision to withdraw the ballot measure means state rules protecting homes and schools near oil and gas wells will go into effect. | | | | |
Governor Newsom signs 2024 state budget supporting fiscal stability and core programs | Governor of California | | | |
Federal Government: 'The Economy is Killing Us': Local Farmers are Struggling and Say Economy is to Blame | |
Supreme Court Decision Restores Balance of Power in Federal Government | Smith: The Supreme Court struck down Chevron deference, which is good news for American farmers and ranchers. Travis Cushman, deputy general counsel for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the most important takeaway from the case is a restored balance of power at the federal level. | | | | |
Debt Use by U.S. Farm Businesses, 2012-2021 | This report examines farm debt by lenders from 2012 through 2021, as well as other attributes, such as the use of different loan types (real estate and non-real estate) among different types of farm businesses. | | | | |
'The economy is killing us': Local farmers are struggling and say the economy is to blame | According to the U.S. The Department of Agriculture, net farm income will decrease by 27.1% in 2024 from 2023; the largest year-to-year drop in history. | | | |
Produce: Cal Poly Strawberry Field Day is Set for Aug. 8th | |
USDA Expands Insurance Options for Specialty and Organic Growers | WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding crop insurance options for specialty and organic growers beginning with the 2025 crop year. USDA's... | | | | |
Strawberry field day set for Aug. 8 | Hundreds of strawberry growers, researchers and industry members are expected to turn out for the Cal Poly Strawberry Center Field Day Aug. 8. | | | |
Labor: Agriculture-Appropriate English-Languagre Training is Back by Popular Demand | |
Do You Know What to Do When the Union Files a Card Check Petition? | |
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Cal/OSHA's New Indoor Heat Illness Standard:
The new Indoor Heat Illness standard is here; what will you need to do? David Hornung, Cal/OSHA's Heat and Agriculture Program Coordinator will give our viewers the low-down! David will focus on the outdoor heat illness prevention regulation and the new indoor heat illness regulation, emphasizing how these measures are intended to protect agricultural employees from heat-related illnesses. Additionally, David will share various free resources to aid employers in compliance with these regulations.
When: July 12, 2024
Where: Your phone, tablet, laptop, desktop or favorite internet-enabled device!
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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!! English at Work:
FELS and our partners at English at Work, a project of the National Immigration Forum, are excited to offer agriculture-appropriate English-language training in cooperation with the California Employment Training Panel.
English at Work supports English learner employees looking to improve their English and digital literacy and communication skills at work and agricultural employers looking to upskill, retain, and promote their key employees. Through a contract from the California Employment Training Panel, we can serve qualified employees in food supply chain occupations in California with industry-specific English training at no charge to them or their employers through May 2025.
Ana Negoescu, NIF's Assistant Vice President, Business Engagement and Inclusion Programs gave viewers an overview of the program and information about how you can offer this valuable, relevant, agriculture-appropriate English-language training to your employees!
When: July 16, 2024
Where: Your phone, tablet, laptop, desktop or favorite internet-enabled device!
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State inspectors are supposed to visit all farmworker housing to ensure its safety. Some used FaceTime instead | As more guest workers have come to California, state regulators haven't ensured that farms are providing safe housing to their workers. | | | | |
Continuing Education through Farm Bureau Extension- Free for Members | |
Business Member Spotlight:
PG&E
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Find the best rate plan for your business.
Finding the best rate plan based on your energy usage and operations is easy with our Online Rate Comparison Tool. Compare rates and start saving Large Business (pge.com).
Make your business More Productive
Check out cash incentives and financing options for installing energy-efficient equipment with the Agricultural Energy Savings Action Plan program.
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Thank You Farm Bureau Members | |
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New Agricultural Member
Stewart Jenkins
Renewing Agricultural Members
Chris Wineman, Donald Clark, Leslie Stemper, Larry Filipe, William Alley, Timothy Twisselman, and OSO Libre Ranch Inc
Renewing Associate Members
Bruce Beaudoin and Creston Enterprises LLC
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Wildfire: Legislative Efforts Tackle Western Wildfires | |
Legislative efforts tackle Western wildfires | Water Lines: Lawmakers introduce bills to promote forest management. | | | | |
Fireworks reported in area prior to start of Paso Robles vegetation fire, fire officials say | Fireworks are being investigated as a possible cause of a vegetation fire that broke out Sunday night in Paso Robles. | | | |
Featured Member Benefit:
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
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Stretch your entertainment dollars at major amusement parks and attractions with a variety of discounts. For website links, discounts codes and coupons, call the member help desk at (800) 698-FARM.
Purchase your tickets online to receive $8.00 off on Good-Any-Day tickets at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Available February-October.
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Livestock: Santa Barbara County Fair June Newsletter | |
Santa Barbara County Fair Newsletter June 2024 | | |
AFBF Appreciates Packers and Stockyards Act Updates | American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA's release of the Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets proposed rule, intended to improve fairness and competition in the livestock, meat and poultry sectors. This is the fourth rule issued by USDA to address fairness and competitiveness in livestock markets under the Packers and Stockyards Act. | | | | |
'Lab-grown' meat cultivated from cells - with no need to raise and slaughter an animal - is starting to show up in restaurants in Singapore and the U.S. But can it be made cheaply enough to displace animal agriculture? | | | |
Vineyard and Wine: July 16th- Vineyard Team Tailgate to Discuss Successful SGMA Plans | |
Paso Robles vineyard estate listed on market for $3 million | Old vineyard cleared, property is now on the market as a 'blank slate for a new vineyard endeavor' - A 24-acre estate at 115 Booker [...] | | | | |
Tailgate | Successful SGMA Plans | Want to know what is new with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)? Get the latest information on implementation, cost, land repurposing, fallowing, and demand management for sustainability plans in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. | | | |
Water: SLO County will Release Reservoir Water into the Salinas River. Here's Why | |
Pismo Beach to explore funding options for water supply project | Multiple agencies in the Five Cities area of San Luis Obispo County are backing out of a project to create a new clean water supply for the region. It's called Central Coast Blue. | | |
Drinking water of almost a million Californians failed to meet state requirements | Almost 400 suppliers, two-thirds in communities of color, don't meet safety and reliability standards. Fixing them would cost billions. | | | | |
SLO County will release reservoir water into the Salinas River. Here's why | Winter rainfall caused a "live stream flow" in the Salinas River, but that's since stopped. | | |
Water is lifeblood of California communities - but it hasn't always run smooth in SLO | A 1929 Daily Telegram story highlighted the concerns of local businesses about a very pressing concern: low water pressure. | | | |
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. | | | | |
