SLO County Department of Planning & Building staff released a "Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for the Paso Basin Land Use Planting Ordinance" on Thursday. The public has until September 13, 2021 to submit comments to the County. County staff will hold a virtual scoping meeting on September 1, 2021 at 6:00pm .

Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process, scoping is designed to examine a proposed project early in the Environmental Impact Review review process, and is intended to identify the range of issues pertinent to the proposed project and feasible alternatives or mitigation measures to avoid potentially significant environmental effects.

As currently drafted, the new proposed planting permit system is designed to be a permanent replacement to the existing Agricultural Offset Program in the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin. This week's County Board of Supervisors meeting (Agenda Item 46) included discussion on how landowners with current offset clearances would be transitioned into the new permitting system. You can watch the August 10 board meeting here and read the staff report here.

From the County:

PROJECT WEBSITE: www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Planning-Building/Grid-Items/Community-Engagement/Active-Planning-Projects/Paso-Basin-Land-Use-Ordinance.aspx 

The public is invited to join the next virtual Groundwater Sustainability Commission (GSC) meeting on August 18, 2021, from 3:30 pm-5:30 pm via Zoom. The GSC voted to reschedule the August 11th GSC Meeting to August 18th at the June 21st GSC Meeting. The key topic for this meeting is the Public Draft of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan. A separate email will be sent later this week notifying you that the Agenda Packet is available and can be viewed on the Portal using the link below.

Learn more about this public meeting or register at:

GSC Regular Meeting

August 18, 2021, at 3:30 PM via Zoom

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

Passcode: 648017

To join the meeting from your phone:

Dial +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 987 6641 5135

Passcode: 648017

Signed into law in 2017, California’s AB 1066 agricultural overtime regulations will begin affecting operations with 25 or fewer employees this upcoming January 1, 2022. Because nearly all sheep producers are small employers, they will be profoundly effected by this change.

Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding of the sheep industry, California’s Department of Industrial Relations has interpreted sheepherders’ workweek as being on-call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hence, ranchers will be required to pay sheepherders overtime premiums based on a 168-hour work week. As one would expect, they do not work 168 hours a week; instead, they average 6-10 hours per day, depending on the time of year. Producers’ wage costs will rise by over 50 percent, which will exceed wage costs in neighboring states by 40 to 80 percent.

Continue reading and send a letter to Governor Newsom by clicking here.

California Farm Bureau's Friday Review - August 13 Edition

We are a farmer-owned cooperative proudly serving the Central Coast’s farm, home and ranch needs for over 65 years. Check out our department pages to learn more about our products and services. Stop by one of our locations in Buellton, Santa Maria, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, and Paso Robles to say hello. Whether you’ve got 100 rolling acres in Paso Robles or a small patio in Pismo Beach, Farm Supply has everything you need for the farmer in you!

Whether you have a small back yard in Morro Bay or 40 acres in Paso Robles, for over 65 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 decor, Farm Supply is staffed with knowledgable experts ready to help with any project—big or small. With locations in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria and Buellton, Farm Supply has something for the farmer in everyone.

Providing expert advice and services for tree, vine, grain, and specialty crops, at Farm Supply we pride ourselves on customer service. Traditional or organic farming, wherever you may be, you can find one of our five store locations to help supply your farm or ranch needs.

(805) 543 - 3751 farmsupplycompany.com

Advanced Emission, Sunrise Olive Ranch LLC, PG&E

C & J Darway Inc, Peachy Canyon Winery, JoAnn Ernst, Wyatt Mello, Joe Dana, Robert Tullock

Wage and hour litigation continues to plague California employers - Ag employers are no exception. Seth Mehrten of FELS Group Legal Service Plan partner law firm Barsamian & Moody will conduct a two-part workshop on wage-and-hour law and regulations impacting California agricultural employers, including topics like minimum wages, overtime, meal and rest period requirements, and more. This webinar will cover the most frequently litigated wage and hour issues and discuss specific strategies that employers can implement to proactively manage their wage and hour compliance.

This two-part webinar will take place September 23 & 24 at 10 a.m.

Register and learn more here.

Our weekly E-News is sent out every Friday to our membership and local leaders. If you're interested in an effective, low-cost advertising campaign ($150 a month) please give us a call or send an email to SLO County Farm Bureau Executive Director Brent Burchett.

mjbizdaily.com

Join SLO County Farm Bureau now or renew your membership online. Go to slofarmbureau.org to join, or download the membership form PDF. Have your renewal notice available to speed up the process; you will need to enter your membership number, name and ZIP code. Renewal dues may be paid online or over the phone by credit card.