SBCFB Weekly Newsletter

September 11, 2024

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Thank You To Our Sponsors!

AgWest Farm Credit, Alexander Pump Service, Inc., All American Drilling, Aquatrex, Coastal Ag, Ellwood Ranch, Garey Store and Deli, Helena, Hometown Insurance Services, Litle Construction Inc., Nielsen Building Materials, Rarig Construction Inc., SAR Water & Construction

PURCHASE CALENDARS HERE

2024 SBCF 3rd Annual Golf Tournament & Ball Drop

The Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and GAATE Foundation is excited to announce our 3rd Annual Golf Classic at the beautiful Glen Annie Golf Course will be held this year on Friday, October 11, 2024. Make sure to mark your calendars and tee up your friends for a fun day out on the golf course.

 October 11, 2024

11:00 am - Range Opens

11:30 am - Registration & Lunch

1:00 pm - Tee Off Time & Ball Drop

6:00 pm - Dinner & Awards

 

Download Sponsorship and Registration Form

 

From California State Farm Bureau

Merced County farmer Scott Hunter of Hunter Farms samples Monterey almonds prior to harvest last week. He and other farmers say high heat could mean the state’s 2024 crop may be lighter than the 2.8 billion-pound estimate released in July by the U.S Department of Agriculture.  To diversify his farm, Merced County farmer Scott Hunter ventured into agritourism by starting a pumpkin patch, which grows more than 70 varieties of pumpkins and gourds. Photo/Christine Souza



As prices drop, almond growers diversify to other crops

As almond prices have dropped, growers say they are focused on their bottom lines, looking for ways to diversify their crop portfolios and identify other income to shore up narrowing profit margins. Fresno County farmer Matt Efird, who grows almonds, pistachios, walnuts, canning peaches and feed crops, said, “If a grower can have a diversified portfolio, that’s the way to go because you can hopefully cover the lows with income from other crops.” The average almond price per pound has fallen from $2.45 in 2019 to $1.40 last year. 


Read More HERE

House panel hears concerns over water supplies for agriculture

 

California’s role in U.S. food security took center stage last week at a hearing in the Central Valley, where lawmakers and industry experts discussed impacts of environmental regulations on agricultural water needs. Jason Phillips, CEO of the Friant Water Authority, said regulatory decisions and legislative inaction have forced the state away from water abundance. “These decisions have been taking water away from farms and communities,” Phillips testified at a Santa Nella hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.


Read More HERE

Farm Bureau Extension: 2024 CE Series

California Farm Bureau presents the Farm Bureau Extension: 2024 Continuing Education Series held virtually. Join throughout the year for webinars featuring content that meets your pesticide continuing education (CE) requirements. Subject matter experts will share information immediately applicable to your business operations and advance your professional development. CE certificates will be sent for each webinar attended after the successful completion of a simple quiz on the material.


Classes are presented via Zoom and held during the mid-morning hours on the specified dates. Check below for class dates. Cost is free for members and $400 for non-members.


• Sept 12 - Application Inspection

• October 10 - Choosing the Right Pesticide

• Nov 14 - Preventing Common Violations


Click here for more information

Health & Safety on the Farm and Ranch


September 24 - Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) Training

October 1 - Hazardous Ag Materials (HAM) Training

November 5 - Farm Equipment Safety

November 19 - Rural Road Safety


Click Here for more information

Form for Sponsorship

USDA Launches Online Debt Consolidation Tool for Farmer and Rancher Viability

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Debt Consolidation Tool, an innovative online tool available through farmers.gov that allows agricultural producers to enter their farm operating debt and evaluate the potential savings that might be provided by obtaining a debt consolidation loan with USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) or a local lender.


Read More HERE

Study uncovers another devastating effect of California Wildfires

A groundbreaking USGS study analyzed soil and sediment erosion in the year following a big wildfire, for the years between 1984 and 2021. Courtesy of SFGate


As wildfires sweep across California at greater frequency every year, a new study has uncovered another devastating effect of the annual disasters. Erosion in the state after a wildfire has increased dramatically in the past 37 years, according to recent U.S. Geological Survey research

The groundbreaking study analyzed soil and sediment erosion in the year following a big wildfire, for the years between 1984 and 2021. The concerning acceleration continues unabated as climate change leads to a growth in both yearly wildfires and record wet years. 

“We anticipated that we would also see some increase [in erosion], but we were surprised at the degree to which that increase has occurred,” said Helen Dow, a research geologist with the USGS. 



Read more HERE

USDA is Accepting Applications for Expanded ELAP to Help Dairy Producers Offset Milk Loss Due to H5N1


Farm Service Agency

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as H5N1infection in their dairy herds. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP through the rule-making process to assist with a portion of financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds having a confirmed positive H5N1 test. Positive test results must be confirmed through the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). 


Read More HERE

National Farm Safety and Health Week - Daily Themes and AgriSafe Webinars


AgriSafe is hosting webinars each weekday of NFSHW24. You’re invited to join in for all of them or just pick the ones that interest you most. Thanks to our generous sponsors, these webinars are FREE and open to the public.

 

Monday, September 16: Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety

Tuesday, September 17: Health and Wellness

Wednesday, September 18: Generations of Farming

Thursday, September 19: Confined Space

Friday, September 20: Reporting Ag Injuries


Click Here for more information

#CBODirect #EvacuateEarly #DisasterPrep #WildfireSafety

Disaster Plan Disaster Kit


Enroll in the mentorship program HERE

FEATURED MEMBER BENEFIT

Supporting Producers Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Case IH represents more than 175 years of industry experience. With a global presence in more than 160 countries, we are recognized today as a global leader in powerful, reliable and highly efficient equipment that helps producers meet the challenges of modern agriculture.


At Case IH, our mission is to support you as you grow food, fiber and fuel for the world. We bring you innovative products and market leading technology and agricultural solutions and services to increase productivity. We take on challenges for you. We make life easier for you. We provide you with peace of mind. That’s what we do. We’re Case IH.


SAVE UP TO $500 ON CASE IH FARMALL & MAXXUM TRACTORS, HAY TOOLS, MORE

California Farm Bureau members save $500 per unit on the purchase or lease of Case IH Maxxum® and Vestrum® tractors; self-propelled windrowers and large square balers. A $200 per unit incentive is available for Case IH Farmall® C series utility, U series utility, A series utility and 100A series tractors; Farmall® C series compact and Farmall® A series compact tractors; Farmall N series and Farmall V series tractors; Other hay tools, including round balers, small square balers, disc mower conditioners and sicklebar mower conditioners. For a complete list of eligible Case IH equipment discounts, click HERE.

FEATURED BUSINESS MEMBER

WHO WE ARE


At Poor Richard’s Press, we cater to businesses on California’s Central Coast (San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Paso Robles) as well as all across the USA. offering a full spectrum of tailored design, print, mail, apparel, and promotional services aimed at empowering your brand and ensuring your message resonates clearly and effectively with your audience. You can visit our printing services shop here.


Created by Emmons Blake in 1946, using an old print setup from the then decommissioning Camp Roberts, Blake Printing became Poor Richard’s Press under the leadership of his son Richard Blake.

Our mission is to empower individuals, companies, and brands through the creation of high-quality products and services. With over 75 years in business, we aim to inspire through collaboration while leveraging our knowledge of past, present, and future trends.


We are passionate about offering our clients products and services that are essential and valuable. We believe in entrepreneurship, free enterprise, and that profit is vital to the long-term success of an organization. We believe in sharing our company’s financial success by partnering and supporting youth and organizations that seek to better our communities. We evaluate performance against these objectives.


To learn more of what we do click HERE.

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Thank you to our Silver Members!



Ballard Adobes, LLC

Thank you to our Business Members!

Auto

Larry's 8 Day Auto Parts



Rio Vista Chevrolet


Banking

AgWest Farm Credit


American Riviera Bank


Community Bank of Santa Maria


Contractors

Santori Woodworking Inc.


Clay's Septic & Jetting Inc.


LaPointe Trucking


Energy & Utilities

Pacific Gas & Electric Company


Equipment Rental & Sales

Milpas Rental


Quinn Company


Farms & Ranches

Acquistapace Farms


Innovative Produce


Martinez Orchards, Inc.



Red Blossom Sales Inc.


Ricci Farms





Farm Supplies

Farm Supply


Jim's Supply Co.


Floral

Johanne's Flowers, Inc.


Insurance

Holmes & Holmes Insurance Agency


Hometown Insurance


Labor

Growers Ag Labor LLC


San Lucas Ag Service


Management

Coastal Vineyard Care Associates


Hampton Farming Company


Market

El Rancho Market


Non-Profit

People's Self-Help Housing


Santa Barbara County Food Bank


Petroleum

JB Dewar, Inc.


Valley Pacific Petroleum Services Inc.


Printing

Poor Richard's Press


Rodent Bait & Equipment

Wilco Distributors, Inc.