SBCFB Weekly Newsletter
June 12, 2024
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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.
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YOUR FARM BUREAU HAPPENINGS | |
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.
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Feedback Sought for a Potential
Pesticide Disposal Event
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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!
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Need to Renew Your Membership or Want to Join?
We can make that easy for you!
Click here to Renew or Join today!
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Thank you to our Silver Members! | |
Thank you to our Business Members! | | | | |