SBCFB Weekly Newsletter

July 17, 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

YOUR FARM BUREAU HAPPENINGS

Don't Miss Out!


Make sure it is on your calendar!


AUGUST 17, 2024


4:00 pm - Cocktails

5:00 pm - Dinner

6:00 pm - Live Auction


To Sponsor Celebrate Harvest Click Here

2024 Celebrate Harvest Dinner & Live Auction



With great pleasure, the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau once again hosts 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!

Farm Bureau Extension: 2024 CE Series

July 2, 2024 the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) issued a “Notice of Modifications to Text” proposing modifications to previously proposed regulatory changes in 3 CCR section 6434.


This proposed regulation will require almost all agricultural use notices of intent (NOIs) to be electronically submitted to CalAgPermits a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the application (and 48 hours in advance of the start of soil fumigation applications). Once in effect, the regulation will also support the statewide implementation of a notification system to provide information to the public on planned agricultural applications of restricted material pesticides. A video demonstration of the system, called ”SprayDays California," is available on DPR’s YouTube channel.


 DPR is accepting written comments, which can be submitted online through DPR’s public comment portal, by mail, or provided by email to dpr23003@cdpr.ca.gov, between July 2 through August 1. Two in-person public hearings and one virtual public hearing have also been scheduled.

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.


• 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.


N 95 Respirators are available to Protect Farm Workers from Wildfire Smoke at SB County Agricultural Commissioner's Office

The Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office has N95 respirators available for voluntary use by outdoor agricultural workers to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke. We have a limited supply, and are limiting distribution to 200 respirators per company at this time. They will be available on a first come, first served basis until our supply is exhausted. Respirators may be picked up between the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at our Santa Barbara, Buellton or Santa Maria offices. When the supply is exhausted, we will send another update via email and Facebook.

The California Code of Regulations, Title 8 (8 CCR) section 5141.1 requires that where the current Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 is equal to or greater than 151, but does not exceed 500, employers must provide a sufficient number of respirators to all employees for voluntary use in accordance with 8 CCR section 5144. Those respirators must be NIOSH-approved devices that effectively protect the wearers from inhalation of PM2.5, such as N95 filtering facepiece respirators. Additionally, where the current AQI for PM2.5 exceeds 500, respirator use is required.

Please contact one of our local Agricultural Commissioner’s offices if you have questions.

Sunny Brucker Recognized in California

Farm Bureau Member Spotlight

In this week's MemberSpotlight, California Farm Bureau recognizes Sunny Brucker from Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau!

Sunny, a dedicated board member, was born and raised on his family's farm, gaining firsthand experience with the challenges of farming and agriculture from an early age. His passion for advocacy led him to join the Farm Bureau to support not only his family's farm but also his role as an agricultural consultant and his fellow farmers, who face the same struggles in feeding America.

Sunny’s passion for agriculture drives his commitment to support and represent the farming community, emphasizing the importance of advocacy for the challenges faced by those in the community.

Thank you, Sunny, for your dedication and contributions to agriculture! Become a Farm Bureau member today! For more information, visit cfbf.com/join.

Strong Opposition Defeats Assembly Bill 2797 that Would Have Ended Landline Support

Last week, AB 2797 was pulled from the Senate Energy, Utilities & Communications Committee hearing, effectively terminating consideration of the legislation for the remainder of the year. AB 2797 was the legislation sponsored by AT&T that would have set up a path for the company to eliminate its support for landlines or its Carrier of Last Resort obligations. Introduction of the legislation coincided with the rejection by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) of AT&T’s application there to obtain the same result. CAFB had participated in the CPUC proceeding and also was on record opposing AB 2797. The next stop in this saga will be debate regarding the elements to be considered in the CPUC’s Rulemaking 24-06-012 which will receive input by stakeholders regarding changes to the Carrier of Last Resort rules.

 

Sixth Annual Santa Barbara County Farm Day August 24

The sixth annual Santa Barbara County Farm Day is set for Saturday, August 24. Farm Day is a free event that allows the public to take behind-the-scenes tours of local farms and agricultural organizations, and participate in tractor/trailer rides, tastings, giveaways and kid-friendly activities. Participating locations are in Santa Maria, Santa Ynez Valley, Orcutt, Lompoc and Gaviota. Last year, Santa Barbara County Farm Day attracted over 5,000 visitors.

Tour hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees can tour farms and ranches that produce specialty crops including green leaf vegetables, walnuts, organic vegetables, berries, wine grapes as well as livestock. Through a Farm Day Trail Map, the public selects which farms to visit and then maps out their day’s driving itinerary.

“As a grower, Farm Day is important because it gives us the opportunity to connect with our local community,” says Jeff Lundberg, Babé Farms president and CEO. “We often hear from first-time Farm Day attendees who say they had no idea these types of specialty vegetables were grown locally. Farm Day allows us to answer questions, help educate, and share our story.”

Santa Maria-based Babé Farms, involved in Farm Day since 2019, grows, packs and ships an assortment of gourmet vegetables year-round including over 70 different varieties of specialty greens, colorful root vegetables and baby head lettuce. During Farm Day, attendees can select an assortment of free vegetables from a farmer’s market-style farmstand, get an up-close look at farming equipment and machinery and learn about farm operations.

Read Full Article

Firefighters Share the Callenges They are Facing While Fighting the Lake Fire

More than 3,400 fire personnel have been battling the Lake Fire near Los Olivos in tough conditions. Here's what they had to say. Courtesy of KSBY

Read Full Article

Department of Pesticide Regulation Research and Alliance Grants & a Request for Feedback

DPR's 2025 Research and Alliance Grants Program Solicitation Periods Open Soon!

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is announcing its upcoming grant solicitation periods for the 2025 Research and Alliance Grants Programs. This year, DPR is offering grant funding to support the state's goal to transition to systemwide adoption of safer, more sustainable pest management, aligned with the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap objectives.

Read the full article here


The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has released modifications to its proposed pesticide application notification regulation. Once in effect, the regulation will support the statewide implementation of a first-of-its-kind system to provide advance information on the planned applications of restricted material pesticides used in agriculture. Restricted materials are a highly regulated category of pesticides that have greater potential than other pesticides to cause harm to people, animals, the environment, or other crops...


Read More Here

FEATURED MEMBER BENEFIT

California Grown Branding and Licensing

Are your products labeled California Grown? Farm Bureau members in California now have access to a 50 percent discount on California Grown branding and licensing for their agricultural commodities. The purpose of the California Grown brand is to increase awareness and consumption of California agricultural products among California consumers. California Farm Bureau Federation, a California Grown member, is partnering with California Grown to further promote the brand and as a result, Farm Bureau members have access to a significant discount. If you are interested in the program and are looking for more information about the California Grown branding, please go to the California Grown website at www.californiagrown.org or phone (916) 441-5302.

FEATURED BUSINESS MEMBER

Coastal Vineyard Care Associates

We are winegrowers who appreciate fine wine.

 

Whether we are farming vineyards for luxury-priced wines or wines that will be competitively priced, our endgame is to grow fruit that demonstrates the purity of flavor and place. Located in the California Central Coast, we work collaboratively with domestic and international consultants to ensure our viticultural directives are well-informed and employ the newest technological advancements and research.


To learn more of what we do visit,

https://www.coastalvineyardcare.com/





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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

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.