SBCFB Weekly Newsletter

October 21, 2026

We apologize for the late newsletter this week - it was held up due to a clerical error on our end. Thank you for your patience, and we hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Strong Roots Early Registration Prize Drawing!

To be automatically entered in a drawing to win one of three valuable prizes, register by Friday, October 30th. The drawing will be held on, and the winners will be notified, November 16th.

Prizes are:

Grand Sierra Resort Spa Package
Annual Meeting Room Upgrade at Grand Sierra Resort (three night maximum)
California Farm Bureau Gift Basket

Find Out More HERE

No purchase necessary. Limited to persons at least 18 years of age who reside in California. One entry per person.

Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau Member Benefit

Located in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, Eagle Eye Firearms Inc. is a full-service firearms dealer, manufacturer, and hunting outfitter serving sportsmen, hunters, and shooting enthusiasts throughout California. Founded in 2012, the company specializes in custom rifles and handguns, firearm sales and transfers, ammunition, optics, gunsmithing services, and hunting-related gear. Eagle Eye Firearms is committed to providing knowledgeable customer service, quality products, and expert guidance for both new and experienced firearm owners. The shop is also an authorized California Department of Fish and Wildlife licensing agent, offering hunting and fishing licenses for outdoor enthusiasts.

Just one session left in this year's series!

November 12 — Safe Pesticide Use Around Bees (1 hr L/R)

Wildfire Preparedness

One prepared home can help protect an entire neighborhood.

Creating and maintaining defensible space is one of the most effective ways to reduce wildfire risk and help protect your community.

Defensible space tips:

Zone 0 (0–5 feet): Remove combustible materials such as leaves, mulch, and firewood from around your home.
Zone 1 (5–30 feet): Trim vegetation, remove dead plants, and keep grass short.
Zone 2 (30–100 feet): Reduce excess vegetation and create space between trees and shrubs.

Prepared communities recover stronger. Talk with neighbors about emergency plans, evacuation routes, and local resources before disaster strikes.

Learn more about ways to help protect your home from wildfire:

firefightersonyourside.org

2026 Voter Guide

Get the PDF HERE

Imagine This… Story Writing Contest

Read More HERE or email alyssa@learnaboutag.org

Ag Rep Director Position Opening

Santa Ynez Water Group is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Director and Alternate Director positions on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Management Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency.

To qualify, a candidate must:

Be an owner or representative of an owner of property located within the boundaries of the EMA GSA and involved in Commercial Agriculture (as defined in the JPA), and which produces at least 2 acre-feet per year of groundwater from within the boundaries of the EMA GSA to support Commercial Agriculture on said property.
Be a resident and registered voter within the boundaries of the EMA GSA; and
Not be party to any pending litigation against the EMA GSA, other than as a party to a groundwater rights adjudication affecting the EMA GSA (no such adjudication is pending).

Please be aware that the Agricultural Director and Alternate Director positions on the JPA Board are public official designations, where individuals appointed to these positions are subject to the requirements of the Fair Political Practices Act, Public Records Act, Brown Act, and other applicable public laws and regulations. If you are interested in applying for the Agricultural Director and/or Alternate Director position, please email santaynezwatergroup@gmail.com to receive an application. All applications must be completed and submitted to the Santa Ynez Water Group by 5:00 PM PST on October 30, 2026.

Farm Bureau Hosts Webinar Series on Data Center Development

On Oct. 16, California Farm Bureau hosted a webinar examining the growth of data centers and their potential impacts on California agriculture, water resources and energy infrastructure. The presentation explored the significant water and electricity demands of artificial intelligence data centers compared to traditional facilities, along with potential economic development opportunities. The discussion also addressed concerns about farmland conversion, resource availability and how infrastructure costs may be distributed.

A follow-up webinar will be held Oct. 30 from 12 to 12:30 p.m., focusing on considerations for communities evaluating proposed data center projects and recently enacted legislation affecting data center development and operations.

Read More HERE

As Flood Preparedness Week Begins, DWR Calls on All Californians to Prepare for an El Niño-Driven Winter

As California marks the start of Flood Preparedness Week, a record-setting El Niño is raising the odds of a wetter-than-average winter and heightened flood risk statewide. With major storms possible in the months ahead, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is calling on all Californians to take simple steps now to prepare for flooding emergencies.

“Now is the time to prepare for emergencies, and the strong El Niño conditions anticipated this winter make preparation more important than ever,” said DWR Director Tom Gibson. “While DWR and our partners are taking proactive steps to prepare for extreme weather, true preparedness begins at home. Taking just a few steps today can protect your family during severe storms.”

Read More HERE

Growers harvest short pistachio crop as costs mount

Pistachios are harvested at a Madera County orchard. The 2026 pistachio crop was already expected to be smaller because of an “off” year in the trees’ alternate-bearing production cycle. A March heat wave further reduced the crop by sterilizing much of the male-shed pollen and causing increased kernel blanking.

A March heat wave and the natural tendency of pistachio trees to alternate-bear combined for a perfect storm that may reduce the 2026 harvest to less than half the record 2025 crop.

While the market has responded with higher grower prices, they may not make up for the short crop, said Jeff Nichols, vice president of supply chain and grower relations with Nichols Farms in Hanford.

“It’s a challenge for the industry overall because the crop is half of what was expected, but the (grower) price isn’t going to double,” he said. “Overall, the crop revenue to the grower is going to decrease.”

Read More HERE

US Acres Sprayed by Drones up 59% from 2024

American agriculture has a long history of adopting technology to improve productivity and efficiency. From advancement in seed genetics, to the precision technology that guides equipment down the field with remarkable accuracy, innovation has led to growing more food while using fewer resources. Agricultural drones are one of the latest examples, with treated acreage skyrocketing from roughly 3.7 million acres in 2023 to 16.4 million acres in 2025.

Beginnings

While drones are viewed as modern technology, their use in agriculture goes back decades. The first commercial drone was used in agriculture in 1987 when Yamaha released the R-50 unmanned helicopter to help rice farmers apply pesticides and combat labor shortages in Japan. This initial application demonstrated that unmanned aircraft could perform agricultural tasks effectively, particularly in areas where traditional equipment faced limitations.

Read More HERE

Stay ahead of fire hazards on your dairy farm with these steps

The following information is provided by Nationwide®, your approved insurance and financial services company.

Fire is a universal hazard on today’s dairy farms, whether large or small. Even the smallest equipment malfunction, spark in a haystack or electrical wiring problem can turn to a costly, damaging fire.

“When I started in this business, our biggest dairy claims were from fire and wind. All these years later, our biggest claims are from fire and wind,” said Nationwide Agribusiness President Brad Liggett. “When it comes to the risk fire poses to dairy farms, nothing has changed. It’s still the biggest risk out there when it comes to dairy farmer property losses.”

In most cases, the actual risk of loss from fire often depends on the size of a dairy farm, how it’s operated and the risk management strategies and tools in place. There are a few fire prevention steps dairy farmers can take to help minimize the chances they’ll face property losses and business disruptions from fire.

Minimize fire losses with the right attention and steps

Fire accounts for 45% of dairy insurance claims, according to Nationwide Senior Dairy Consultant Dan Rice. But those losses can be minimized with the right attention and steps by dairy farmers and their employees. Often, those actions and their effectiveness depend on a farm’s size, Rice said.

Read More HERE

FEATURED MEMBER BENEFIT

AVIS

PAY NOW™ AND SAVE UP TO 35% OFF AVIS RENTALS

California Farm Bureau members can save up to 35 percent off Avis base rates with PAY NOW* for max savings with an Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number. In addition, enjoy additional offers** like dollars off, a complimentary upgrade, or a free weekend day. Visit www.Avis.com/CAFB or call 1 800-331-1212 to make a reservation.

Avis Car Rental operates one of the world's best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,450 locations in more than 165 countries.

If you have member benefit questions, please call 916-561-5500 or visit your local FB office.

*Discount rates may vary between 10 and 35 percent, depending on time of year, availability, selection of PAY NOW™, and other factors.

**Farm Bureau discount may NOT be stacked with other AWD corporate or membership discounts.

Learn More HERE

FEATURED BUSINESS MEMBER

Grainger

Farm Bureau members get special member prices on selected categories and brands from Grainger, PLUS get free standard parcel shipping on all standard Grainger products.

Get started with your price savings using 3 easy methods:

Present the California Farm Bureau account number at time of purchase, go to https://www.grainger.com/farmbureau to establish a new Grainger.com® account using that account number; or call Grainger customer service at 1-800-472-4643 to update your existing Grainger account with the Farm Bureau organization account number.

To be sure you get your Farm Bureau member prices, always reference California Farm Bureau’s organization account number when visiting your local branch, making a telephone order, or when setting up your personal account online.

Learn More HERE