Droves of San Luis Obispo Countians made the trek to Tulare this week for the 2022 World Ag Expo. The Expo was cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Pictured above, SLO County Farm Bureau members Kiah Burchett, Ethan Twisselman, Garrett Twiseelman and Joel Twisselman checked out the latest farm equipment . The 3-day event generates $52 million of economic impact. See "World Ag Expo by the Numbers" for more info. | |
Small Farms Need Help—And A Definition | |
The image above is from a presentation to the California State Board of Agriculture on Feb. 1 by Gary Keough, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, entitled “California’s Farm Typology – USDA Census Data.” Note that GCFI stands for Gross Cash Farm Income. Learn what's included in the GCFI definition here. | |
This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
Community: February 18 Vaccine Clinic for Agricultural Workers in Paso Robles | |
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Attention SLO County Employers: COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Designed for Agricultural Workers Will Be Friday, Feb. 18 in Paso Robles from 2-4pm
Thank you to Farm Bureau member Luis Ramirez of Jaguar Farm Labor for helping organize this event. Doses available include First, Second and Boosters. While the flyer says the deadline to sign up is Feb. 11 (today), employers should still contact County Public Health staff Demetrio Morales-Salazar ASAP if they are interested in bringing their workers to the event, as the County may be able to accomodate.
Download the flyer in English and Spanish here.
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Agriculture experts say warm temperatures won't affect crops | Beachgoers are taking advantage of the warm, sunny winter days on the Central Coast, but farmers aren't celebrating this seemingly perfect winter weather. "We would like to see this being a cloudy day with a lot of rainfall. | | | |
Gallo Viticulture Internship |
Answering Agriculture's Critics | We had our work cut out for us with a recent New York Times opinion video. It was so disappointing to see a respected media outlet present a distorted picture of agriculture without so much as acknowledging that farmers play an essential role in stocking America's pantries. | | | |
County Government: SLO County Board Of Supervisors Meets February 15 | |
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SLO County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday, February 15. To review the agenda and watch the meeting click here, and see detail on agenda items here. Items of interest to agriculture include:
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Item 23 - Request to approve a resolution appointing Groundwater Sustainability Director Blaine Reely as the Alternate Director to the Los Osos Basin Management Committee and authorizing the Groundwater Sustainability Director or designee to submit the executed Resolution to the Los Osos Basin Management Committee. District 2;
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Item 30 - Request to 1) provide direction to staff on proposed language for a County Charter to be submitted to the voters regarding the appointment process for County elected positions and 2) provide other direction as appropriate. All Districts;
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Item 32 - Hearing to consider a Temporary Commercial Outdoor Entertainment License Application from Spartan Race, Inc. for an event to be held at Santa Margarita Ranch. District 5;
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Item 35 - Submittal of the following: 1) The quarterly update on the PG&E Diablo Canyon Power Plant Decommissioning Project permitting and Environmental Impact Report preparation. 2) A presentation by the authors of the Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study titled, “An Assessment of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant for Zero Carbon Electricity, Desalination, and Hydrogen Production.” District 3;
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Item 36 - Request to authorize processing of a General Plan Amendment and Ordinance Amendment application to amend the land use designation of a 15.06-acre parcel from Agriculture (AG) to Residential Rural (RR) and to create a Planning Area Standard intended to regulate future density and development on the property located at 6686 Monte Road, San Luis Obispo Planning Area. District 3.
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Who will represent the new District 2? Here's a round-up of the supervisor candidates so far | The primary election is still four months away, but three candidates are already in the race to represent the county's recently reconfigured District 2. The current contenders are, in order of their campaign announcements: * District 2 Supervisor Bruce Gibson, of Cayucos, current chairman of the board. | | | |
Arroyo Grande delays decision on tiny homes on wheels | The Arroyo Grande City Council tabled an ordinance on Feb. 8 that would have amended accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations and established guidelines for tiny homes on wheels. But the long meeting had an unusual beginning. Four of the five City Council members, including Mayor Caren Ray Russom, recused ... | | | |  |
Citizens group to appeal SLO County judge's ruling on redistricting map | A San Luis Obispo County citizens' group fighting a recently adopted redistricting map will appeal a judge's decision to allow its use in upcoming elections. SLO County Citizens for Good Government will file an appeal in San Luis Obispo Superior Court in a continuing attempt to keep the Patten map from being implemented prior to the June 7 supervisor primary elections in Districts 2 and 4. | | | |
State Government: Sacramento Bee - This California Republican Will Announce 2022 Bid For Governor Against Gavin Newsom | |
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California Farm Bureau's Friday Review - State Legislative and Governmental Affairs Feb. 11
- Air Quality
- Agricultural Employment
- Budget
- Cannabis
- Commodities
- Forestry & Wildfire
- Insurance
- Pest Management
- Taxation
- Water
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Assemblyman (and Insurance Commissioner candidate) Marc Levine Introduces Bill Limiting Fire Insurance Policy Cancellations
Current law prohibits an insurer, for one year after the declaration of a state of emergency, from canceling or refusing to renew a residential property insurance policy solely because the property is in an area in which a wildfire occurred. AB 1755 requires an insurer to issue a policy to a homeowner who has hardened their home against fire, regardless of the home’s location, on and after January 1, 2025. The bill has not been referred to a committee yet.
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This California Republican will announce 2022 bid for governor against Gavin Newsom | Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle on Tuesday will announce a bid for California governor, according to a top California Republican Party official. Dahle, 56, served in the Assembly between 2012 and 2019 before winning a special election to the state Senate. He lives in Bieber and is a farmer and small business owner. | | | | |
What Statewide Ballot Measures are Coming for the November 2022 Election? | A number of referendums or initiatives may appear on the 2022 ballot. California-based political consultants Swing Strategies has put together a list of potential measures and their current status. You can also track their status on the California Secretary of State's website here. | |
Federal Government: Politico - USDA's Climate Pilots Have Landed | |
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Get Your Message in Front of Over 2,000 San Luis Obispo Countians!
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.
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Business Member Spotlight:
Astound Business Solutions
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Digital West, now Astound Business Solutions, was founded in 1999 by Tim Williams, who continues to lead the company today. Tim’s original vision was to bring better Internet service to local businesses in the greater Central Coast region of California. Over a decade later, Digital West has expanded across North America and overseas, offering colocation, managing Wide Area Networks, delivering fiber connectivity and providing cloud services.
We believe that all sectors of the community need to be strong for the community to thrive: businesses, higher education, government and non-profits. That’s why, in addition to helping grow the economic vitality of the San Luis Obispo through our service to businesses and work with local municipalities, we place a high value on giving back. Each year, through corporate and in-kind giving, event participation and employee volunteerism, we support a wide range of local charities, technology initiatives and community organizations.
Digital West works with thousands of businesses of all sizes, at every stage of growth, in a wide variety of industries, and we’ve seen it all! Though the nature of their work and IT needs differ, these businesses still share many commonalities. Chief among them is an ongoing struggle to manage their IT infrastructure — Internet connectivity, network management, office productivity or basic tech support.
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1998 Santa Barbara Ave #200 | San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 548-8000 digitalwest.com
24 Hours A Day 7 Days A Week
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Thank You Farm Bureau Members | |
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Renewing Business Support Members
Cal West Rain Inc, Whiteford Ag, Pacific Premier Bank, The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, Astound Business Solutions Powered by Digital West
Renewing Members
Dana Byrd, Richard Ziel, Mark Fugate, James Righetti, Cees Dobbe, Cauley Family LP, Paul Clark, Peter Orradre, Monte Soto, Ben Higgins, William and Shirley Bianchi Living Trust, Wayne Lamb, Bruce Nenadal
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Livestock: SLO County Rancher Seth Scribner Helps California Lead National Policy Discussion on Cattle Marketing | |
2022 CRCC Rangeland Summit | The Atlas will serve as a tool for the public and how it should reflect a continuum of conservation actions in the America the Beautiful initiative, recognizing that many uses of lands and waters can be consistent with the... | | | |
Cattle herd shrinking, higher prices to follow | The USDA's Jan. 1 Cattle Inventory report places the total number of cattle and calves at 91.9 million head, down 2% from a year ago, confirming that the industry is still amidst a contractionary phase in the cattle cycle, according to Jason Franken... | | | |
Cattlemen's Beef Board elects new officers | PUBLISHED ON DENVER, Colo. - Cattle producers Norman Voyles, Jr., Jimmy Taylor and Andy Bishop are the new leaders of the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). This officer team is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff throughout 2022. | | | |
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SLO County Rancher Seth Scribner Helps California Lead National Policy Discussion on Cattle Marketing
From California Cattlemen’s Association’s Feb. 7, 2022 Legislative Bulletin (Edited)
Last Wednesday, all eyes were on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Live Cattle Marketing Meeting and the policy that would come out of the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention held in Houston this year. At the standing room only meeting, California was well represented as seven producers voted on behalf of CCA with additional producers from the state and CCA staff in attendance.
Once the time for new business on the agenda was reached, California was the first of any state to speak, with CCA Price Discovery Subcommittee Chair and San Luis Obispo County Rancher Seth Scribner offering an amendment for a current NCBA resolution to include opposition for any government mandates. CCA’s decision to push for no mandates was a result of the CCA Price Discovery Subcommittee’s months of work studying the markets and deliberating over possible solutions to fix disparities. CCA leadership ultimately determined that having the government involved in regulating how ranchers market their cattle and conduct their business is a step too far.
Dozens of producers from across the country spoke both in opposition and in support of the amendment during the discussion period. Through a roll call vote membership voted, as reported by Agri-Pulse, “to specifically state their opposition to cash trade mandates, adding clarity to an explicit part of a bill being pushed by a bipartisan group of senators on Capitol Hill.” The vote final was 146 in support of the policy and 41 in opposition, and the policy was approved at the NCBA Board of Directors meeting on Thursday.
To hear CCA President Tony Toso speak more about the live cattle marketing meeting, CCA’s preparation for it and the continued work CCA will be doing on cattle market issues, listen to today’s episode of the Sorting Pen podcast “Sorting through CCA’s decision to keep the government out of cattle marketing.” NCBA’s Director of Government Affairs and Market Regulatory Policy Tanner Beymer also comes on the episode to give further details about the meeting and discuss what’s next for NCBA’s work to improve cattle markets. Read more from CCA.
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U.S. pork producer to resume shipments to California after farm animal law delayed | Seaboard Foods, the second-biggest U.S. pig producer, said on Tuesday it is preparing to resume shipments of fresh pork to California customers after a state court delayed enforcement of a new law aimed at ensuring more humane treatment of farm animals. | | | |
Industry leaders optimistic for the future of U.S. cattle and beef industry | PUBLISHED ON HOUSTON - The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) recently welcomed Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie, and British Ambassador... | | | |
Produce: The Packer - Supply Chain Gridlock Causes $2.1B Loss To California Agriculture | |
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Supply chain gridlock causes $2.1B loss to California agriculture
According to a recent study analyzing the effects of the 2021 supply chain gridlock and resulting shipping container shortage on California agriculture, the value of California’s containerized agricultural exports fell by an estimated $2.1 billion, or about 17%.
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Inflation gobbles up fresh produce, driving up price of Super Bowl guacamole | In the past year, inflation swerved around grocery stores like a wobbly shopping cart, slamming into the meat department, milk, eggs and even toothpaste. Fresh fruits and vegetables were largely spared. Until recently. The percentage increase in produce prices from November to December, according to the U.S. | | | |
Labor: New COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Bill (AB 84) Signed by Gov. Newsom | |
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UCIPM Pesticide Safety Workshop -- Train The Trainer
The University of California Pesticide Management is hosting a Zoom train-the-trainer refresher class in both English and Spanish on Friday, February 25. This course is a review of annual training topics for fieldworkers and handlers. For additional information click here.
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Wage theft is a serious issue in California. Here's who it impacts most, how to get help | Wage theft - a term used to describe pay violations - occurs at an alarmingly high rate in California and it continues to be a prevalent issue within the Central Valley's key industries. | | | |
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2022 brings new requirements for California agricultural employers. What do you need to know to be in compliance? California Farm Bureau's Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS) is hosting a free live webinar on February 14.
Topics covered will include:
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FELS Chief Operating Officer Bryan Little will brief you on important legislative actions taken by the California Legislature in 2021 impact ag employers.
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Carl Borden of California Farm Bureau's Legal Affairs Division will review changes in the California minimum wage and overtime requirements for ag employees that will become effective for employers of 25 or fewer employees in 2022.
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Paul Yossem, Regional Vice President Private Sector Retirement Plans for California Farm Bureau Premier Partner Nationwide (invited) will inform you of the upcoming June 2022 deadline to enroll your business with the CalSavers employee retirement savings program and an alternative offered by Nationwide for Farm Bureau members, the new Farm Bureau Retirement Plan.
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Last, Seth Mehrten of Farm Employers Labor Service Group Legal Services Program partner Barsamian & Moody (invited) will walk you the ever-evolving Cal/OSHA ETS and changes that will become effective in January 2022.
When: February 14, 2022, 10 AM
Where: Online via Zoom
Registration: You can register here for February 14
Cost: FREE!
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Free Webinar: H-2A 101:Understanding the Nuts and Bolts
From California Farm Labor Contractors Association
Tuesday, February 15 from 10:00 - 11:00 am - Due to a dwindling labor pool, the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program has seen explosive growth in California. The number of H-2A workers in the state has doubled in the last five years and is projected to increase exponentially. Could the H-2A program be right for you? Learn the fundamentals of how it works with a specific focus on issues relevant to FLCs in California, why it can be a win/win solution to your labor needs, and expert advice to make the program effective and profitable for your operation. Presenter: Tom Bortnyk, Senior Vice President and General Counsel with másLabor. Register here.
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New COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Bill (AB 84) Signed by Gov. Newsom | California's latest COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Bill ( AB 84) was signed into law on February 9, 2022 by Governor Newsom. ... | | | |
Environmental: Guest Column - Article Elevated Misinformation About Pesticide Regulation | |
Answering burning questions on biochar | PUBLISHED ON WASHINGTON - Biochar is similar to charcoal and can be added to soil with the goal of improving its quality. It can help increase nutrient and water retention. However, what happens in soil impacts fungi and plants that live there, and it is not always clear how they will react to biochar. | | | |
Are electric trucks ready for California's real world of work? | Electric trucks big and small are key to automakers' and California's goals to cut emissions of climate concern from transportation, which contributes nearly one-third. But are these vehicles up to the job? That all depends on what job they're doing. | | | |
Guest column: Article elevated misinformation about pesticide regulation | Ventura County farmers farm food, the Environmental Working Group farms clicks. Unfortunately, the Ventura County Star has elevated misinformation about the important role of pesticide regulation in Ventura County and the extraordinary efforts undertaken by the County Ag Commissioner, farmers, and farmworkers to keep our community safe. As The Star's Feb. | | | |
Ag organizations react to USDA climate-smart agriculture investments | WASHINTON - Editor's note: The below statements were released following the USDA's announcement of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity. You can find out more about this initiative in the USDA's press release, here. American Farm Bureau Federation: Farm Bureau Commends New Climate-Smart Pilot Projects American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA's announcement of the Partnership for... | | | |
Floral: AgAlert - Flower Demand Likely 'Through The Roof' | | |
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Flower demand likely 'through the roof' | Sohaila Murtaza is well along in her preparations for one of the flower business' biggest days of the year. One thing she needs is something in which to put the blooms people will be buying for their sweethearts-and that's been a bit of a challenge. | | | |
Vineyard & Wine: SLO County Farm Bureau Featured on Paso Wine Hour | |
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Paso Wine Hour - Ag and Wine: Stronger Together
Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance's Paso Wine Hour this week featured SLO County Farm Bureau and members Molly Scott and Doug Filipponi. The Paso Wine Hour includes three personalities joining in from the cellar, winery, home, or vineyard. Happening every Thursday from 3 – 4 p.m. and is hosted by Paso Wine’s own Christopher Taranto.
Watch the 1-hour video here
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Big is Beautiful for California's 2021 Grape Harvest | Wine-Searcher News | © Wine Institute | Cabernet saw a bigger harvest in California last year, but Sauvignon is in short supply. California had a 2021 wine grape harvest that was 8.7 percent larger than disaster-plagued 2020, but it was still the second-smallest crop of the last decade. | | | |
IGGPRA Annual Member Meeting | It is time to reflect on another successful year with the Independent Grape Growers of Paso Robles at our Annual Member Meeting. Please join us Feb. 26th at La Bellasera Hotel for dinner, wine, and community! Dinner will be provided by Enoteca restaurant. | | | |
Water: Paso Basin Annual Report Posted For Public Comment | |
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California’s Drought-Relief Dreams Are Quickly Drying Up
As recently as Christmas, it looked like California’s devastating drought could—if not fully disappear—at least be on track for serious improvement by spring. That’s no longer the case. California’s snowpack was promisingly high at the start of the year after Pacific storms in October and December delivered...
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Ag groups seek halt to WOTUS rewrite in light of SCOTUS review | Just stop. That's the message agricultural groups have for the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers as they seek to come up with a new definition of "waters of the U.S." In comments submitted to the agencies, numerous farm groups and state ag agencies cited the Supreme Court's | | | |
Erratic weather requires new water policy approach | What happened - or didn't - weatherwise during the last two months starkly reminds us of the erratic nature of California's vital water supply. After months of severe drought, the state saw record-shattering storms in December, creating a hefty mountain snowpack while replenishing seriously... | | | |
When will rain return? Why SLO County skies have been so clear and dry in recent weeks | We may not see a persistent and deep marine layer until March, and here's why. Over the years, many Central Coast residents who live along the shoreline have commented on the reduced amount of coastal stratus clouds and the fog and drizzle they can create. | | | |
Paso Basin Annual Report posted for public comment | For additional information on the Paso Basin, please visit the County's SGMA web page by The Paso Robles Subbasin Water Year 2021 Annual Report has been posted to the County's website. The public comment period for the Water Year 2021 Annual Report is open until February 18, 2022 . | | | |
ALVARADO & SWANSON: Calif. voters backed $7.5bil bond for dams. Here's where things stand 7 years later. | In November 2014, California voters approved Proposition 1: The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act. The $7.5 billion bond dedicated $2.7 billion for the public benefits of new water storage projects. Some ask, "Why have no new... | | | |
Forget new dams. A healthy aquifer is better for family farms and the environment | OPINION AND COMMENTARY Most of the people who fight over water fall into two categories: Water users and water protectors. The opposing sides really have more in common that they might believe. Agricultural water users enjoy and appreciate our ... | | | |
Transportation: Morning Ag Clips - American Agricultural Exports Shattered Records in 2021 | |
American agricultural exports shattered records in 2021 | PUBLISHED ON WASHINGTON - The American agricultural industry posted its highest annual export levels ever recorded in 2021, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced today. The final 2021 trade data published by the Department of ... | | | |
Farmers call for port investment at Capitol hearing | As congestion at West Coast ports continues to impede movement of California agricultural exports, stopgap measures such as a new container yard in Oakland may begin to speed the flow of farm goods to overseas customers. | | | |
Why the White House called out Oakland on Twitter | The White House gave Oakland, Calif., a nod last week. The federal government applauded the Port of Oakland's effort to help with the global supply chain crisis by addressing a bottleneck in its process for exporting goods - mainly fresh fruits, nuts, dairy and meat from California's Central Valley - to other parts of the world. | | | |
Senate introduces ocean shipping reform bill | The U.S. Senate introduced on Thursday its version of legislation aimed at promoting U.S. exports while curbing carriers' power over both container service and equipment fees charged to shippers. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) is similar to legislation that passed overwhelmingly late last year in the U.S. | | | |
Tax and Insurance: Hayashi Wayland - Update On California’s Passthrough Entity Elective Tax | |
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Update on California’s Passthrough Entity Elective Tax
Hayashi Wayland – Feb. 9, 2022
Last year, California passed Assembly Bill 150 (AB 150), which allows qualified S Corporations, Partnerships, or LLCs to pay tax on their individual, trust, or estate owners’ share of the entity’s qualified net income at the entity level. The entity owners could claim a credit for the tax paid by the entity on their California personal income tax return.
As a result, shareholders, partners, or members of passthrough entities were able to reduce their federal taxable income by the amount of CA tax paid by the passthrough entity and could claim up to 100% of the California credit on their California personal return, subject to limitations.
In November we sent an eblast on this topic and reached out to some HW clients for year-end planning. While many benefitted from AB 150, the law was enacted with four limitations:
- Qualified S Corporations, Partnerships or LLCs that had any Partnerships as owners did not qualify to pay the elective tax even on behalf of other individual owners
- The credit the owners claimed on their California personal income tax return did not reduce below California’s 7% tentative minimum tax
- S Corporations, Partnerships or LLCs could not pay the elective tax on behalf of owners that were single member LLCs (SMLLCs) even if the SMLLCs were directly owned by individuals, trusts or estates
- The qualified net income for purposes of computing the elective tax did not include guaranteed payments made to partners
The California Governor signed Senate Bill 113 earlier today and removed these four limitations. We will be evaluating the benefit to our clients as we prepare their 2021 tax returns. The elective tax for the 2021 tax year will be due on March 15, 2022. Contact Hayashi Wayland here.
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Protect your finances and your future
Join California Farm Bureau and Nationwide for an educational webinar where you’ll learn strategies and tips to help you manage your financial future with confidence.
For more detailed questions about your personal financial needs, consider calling 855-863-9636 for a complimentary one-on-one consultation with a licensed Nationwide representative.
Protecting your farm and family with life insurance
Protect your family and your farm by learning how to match different types of life insurance to your varying needs.
Whether you're a new farmer just starting out or you've spent many decades growing your operation, life insurance can serve as an important tool in protecting your family and your business. Learn how different types of life insurance can help cover debt obligations, provide a future source of tax-free income or help ensure a smooth transition of your farm operation to the next generation.
Click the link below to watch on your schedule.
View the on-demand webinar: Understanding life insurance
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Farm Bureau Membership Matters | | |
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We cannot support your freedom to farm and ranch without your membership.
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.
We're here to help! Call us if you need us to lookup your member number or we can process your membership for you, at 805-543-3654.
All California county Farm Bureau memberships are processed through the California Farm Bureau Federation, but please reach out to our SLO County office if you need your membership number or have questions.
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Thank You Platinum Members | | | | |
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