SBCFB Weekly Newsletter

June 12, 2024

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

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.


• June 13 - Integrated Pest Management

• July 11 - Vertebrate Pest Control

• Aug 8 - Personal Protective Equipment

• Sept 12 - Application Inspection

• October 10 - Choosing the Right Pesticide

• Nov 14 - Preventing Common Violations


Click here for more information.


YOUR FARM BUREAU HAPPENINGS


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

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.


DOWNLOAD SPONSORSHIP FORM



Save the Date!

AUGUST 17, 2024

4:00 pm - Cocktails

5:00 pm - Dinner

6:00 pm - Live Auction

2024 Celebrate Harvest Dinner & Live Auction

With great pleasure, the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau is pleased to once again host an evening in celebration and showcase of Santa Barbara County’s agricultural bounty. Please join us Saturday, August 17th for a fun night of drinking & dancing, delicious locally grown food, and an amazing live auction!

We are proud to celebrate the hands that feed us!

Oak Tree Seedlings Available

Oak Tree Seedlings are available starting May 29th. Call or stop by the Farm Bureau Office in Buellton to retrieve your Oak Tree Seedlings!

190 Industrial Way

Buellton, CA 93427

805-688-7479

farmsbc@hwy246.net

The Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau Oak Tree Education Program has oak seedlings available free of charge to Santa Barbara County residents! 


Teri Bontrager, Executive Director, worked with the Agriculture and Horticulture classes at Santa Maria, Righetti and Santa Ynez High Schools this year planting approximately 6,000 acorns. The schools have done an outstanding job all year of caring for the seedlings and now they are ready to find new homes. 


The seedlings are in small crates of 36 seedlings each.

Feedback Sought for a Potential

Pesticide Disposal Event

Are you are a pest control operator with a physical location in Santa Barbara County?
Do you have old or unwanted pesticides that you need to dispose of?
 The Santa Barbara County Agricultural/Weights and Measures Department is soliciting feedback for a potential Pesticide Disposal event. We are in the early stages of requesting funding to help our local growers and Pest Control Operators with the cost to dispose of unwanted pesticides. To prepare a grant application, we are requesting feedback on the estimated amount of unwanted pesticides in the county. 
 If you are a pest control operator in Santa Barbara County and have any unwanted pesticides, including unregistered, banned, and/or restricted materials, please complete this online survey or complete and return the attached survey form by June 21, 2024.
 If we are able to secure funding, our department will contact you regarding the status of the program, eligibility, and next steps. There will be no enforcement associated with this event. This event is not for the disposal of empty pesticide containers or for the disposal of household pesticide products.
 Please see the attached flyer for more information regarding the disposal event and the survey. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact our office.
 Thank you, Noah Beyeler, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner

Pesticide Disposal Survey Form 

Santa Barbara County Pesticide Disposal Event Flyer

Cover Crop Benefits May Outweigh Water Use Concerns in California

Cover crops are planted to protect and improve the soil between annual crops such as tomatoes or between rows of tree and vine crops, but growers may be concerned about the water use of these plants that don't generate income. "Cover crops are one of the most popular practices we see farmers employ through our healthy Soils Program," said ...

Read Full Article Here

Labor: Protect Workers from High Heat

When working in these hotter conditions for the first time this year, workers must be closely observed for any signs of heat illness. Cal/OSHA's heat illness prevention standard applies to all outdoor worksites. To prevent heat illness, the law requires employers to provide outdoor workers fresh water, access to shade at 80 degrees, and, whenever requested by a worker, cool-down rest breaks in addition to regular breaks. Employers must also implement and maintain a written prevention plan and provide effective training for supervisors that includes recognizing the common signs and symptoms of heat illness, and what to do in case of an emergency.

 In certain industries, like agriculture, when the temperature at outdoor worksites reaches or exceeds 95 degrees, Cal/OSHA's standard requires additional protections. The industries with additional high-heat requirements are agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas extraction, and transportation of agricultural products, construction materials or other heavy materials. High-heat procedures include ensuring employees are observed regularly for signs of heat illness and establishing effective communication methods so workers can contact a supervisor when needed. Courtesy of CA Dept. of Industrial Relations


Read the Heat Illness Prevention Standard

Judge Upholds $1.89 Million Penalty for Adulteration & Mislabeling of Organic Fertilizer

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing that an administrative law judge has upheld a penalty of $1.89 million plus investigative costs against Agro Research International, LLC, for adulteration and mislabeling of registered organic fertilizing material AGRO GOLD WS. The product was found to contain the synthetic herbicides diquat and glyphosate, both of which are prohibited from use in certified organic agriculture production.

 

Read the Full Article Here

California's New Workplace Violence Standard: What Employers Need to Know and How to Prepare

From Morris & Garritano


In the linked webinar, we cover the elements that must be incorporated into the Workplace Violence Prevention Plan as specified by SB553.

Photo courtesy of Cal OSHA


View the Video Here


FEATURED MEMBER BENEFIT

O'Reilly Auto Parts with First Call

Farm Bureau members in California can save anywhere from 5-20% on select parts they use every day such as brake pads and rotors, filters, batteries, belts, hoses and many more commonly replaced automotive and equipment parts. O’Reilly Auto Parts offers a great selection of not just general automotive, but fleet and heavy duty parts as well to cover every piece of equipment on your farm or ranch.

Enjoy free delivery within a 5 mile radius of your local O’Reilly Auto Parts store and free access to our professional customer website firstcallonline.com for parts look up and ordering, vehicle specs, TSB documents, etc.

Use the special Farm Bureau Account Number to take acMembers can obtain the account number by calling their local county Farm Bureau office or via the member help line at 800-698-3276. The discount may also be applied to online orders at O’Reilly’s professional customer website, firstcallonline.com, by Farm Bureau members who have established an account at their local O’Reilly Auto Parts store.

FEATURED BUSINESS MEMBER

Farm Supply Company

Whether you have a small backyard in Morro Bay or 40 acres in Paso Robles, for over 72 years, Farm Supply has been the Central Coast's local retail store for all your home, farm, and ranch supply needs. From irrigation equipment to pet supplies to clothing and home Farm Supply has something for the farmer in everyone.


San Luis Obispo County Farm Supply Company, Inc. (FSC) was established in 1950 as an agricultural supply cooperative to serve the members of the Farm Bureau. With little more than an 18-by-20-foot room with $400 worth of inventory, the first Farm Supply Company store was located on Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo. Established to sell fertilizer at reasonable prices and to distribute post-war surplus equipment, Farm Supply was vital for local agriculture. Until the late ‘60s a large part of Farm Supply’s business was selling to and servicing local dairies.


We’ve come a long way since 1950, and with any luck, here’s to many more years of serving the farmer in everyone! 

Need to Renew Your Membership or Want to Join?

We can make that easy for you!



Click here to Renew or Join today!


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

American Riviera Bank


Community Bank of Santa Maria


Contractors

Santori Woodworking Inc.


Clay's Septic & Jetting Inc.


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 Company


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.


Rodent Bait & Equipment

Wilco Distributors, Inc.