From San Luis Obispo FFA's Instagram: "Cal Poly’s Western Bonanza is underway and we have about 10 students showing beef, sheep and swine plus several alumni involved in putting on this great Livestock show! Wishing you all a smooth successful show and experience!" The two FFA students pictured are Erin Garnsey and Paloma Smith. | |
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Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week. It’s a time to share what FFA is and the impact it has on members every day.
The California Association FFA is a high school youth leadership and career development organization that is a state association of the National FFA Organization, a federally chartered corporation under Public Law 105-225. The California Association currently serves over 95,000 student members in 338 schools, from urban schools in Los Angeles and the Bay Area to rural schools all across the state. San Luis Obispo County alone has 10 FFA Chapters! The California FFA Association is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through Agricultural Education.
To learn more about National FFA Week click here.
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This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
Community: The Tribune - San Luis Ranch Announces Marketplace For Shops, Restaurants And More. Here's A Look | |
San Luis Ranch announces marketplace for shops, restaurants and more. Here’s a look | A commercial center featuring restaurants and shops, a public museum and an organic farm is coming to the San Luis Ranch development now under construction along Highway 101. The planned Agricultural | | | |
Nationwide News: What to do when neighbors borrow farm equipment | When her husband, Mike, passed away in 2020, Jolene Palmer was faced with the task of harvesting the Fairfax, Minnesota, farm family's corn crop—but she wasn't alone. Neighboring farmers eagerly volunteered their time and equipment—58 people, 12 combines, 12 grain carts and 28 semis, to be exact—to help her get the crop in the bin. | | | |
SLOCBA MCLE - The Law of the Unhoused: The Law and Policy Debated | California is in the midst of a crisis, with the unhoused population growing at an alarming rate. San Luis Obispo County is no different. Attorney Gregory Gillett and former State Senator, Sam Blakeslee will discuss their recent analysis of | | | |
Three restaurants in one city now close on Mondays due to a rise in food prices | Labor and food prices continue to rise across the country, and in one California county, more businesses are making the difficult decision to make significant changes to save money. Three restaurants in the California city of Bakersfield have announced that they won't be open on | | | |
Beekeepers using tracking devices to protect precious hives | WOODLAND, Calif. (AP) - For a few frenzied weeks, beekeepers from around the United States truck billions of honeybees to California to rent them to almond growers who need the insects to pollinate the state's most valuable crop. | | | |
County Government: Board Of Supervisors Meet March 1 | |
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SLO County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday, March 1. 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 9 - Submittal of a resolution adopting the Notification of Intent to Comply with the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Regulations. All Districts.
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Item 13 - Submittal of resolutions to levy benefit assessments for costs of San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Zones 1, 1A, 4, 16, and 18 for FY 2022-23. Districts 1, 2, and 4.
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Item 17 - Submittal of the Fiscal Year 2022-23 County and State Budget update. All Districts.
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Item 21 - Hearing to consider an appeal (APPL2021-00015) by Janis Blattner of the Planning Department Hearing Officer’s approval of a Minor Use Permit (DRC2019-00131) to establish up to 22,000 square feet of indoor (mixed-light) cannabis cultivation canopy within 27,500 square feet of greenhouses; a maximum of 5,500 square feet of ancillary nursery and a maximum of 5,500 square feet of ancillary processing (i.e., drying only) within the proposed greenhouses; ancillary transport; a 2,350 square foot utility and storage structure for processing; and a 22-kilowatt-hour ground-mounted, grid-tied solar system. Additional development includes the installation of security fencing and equipment, water tanks, landscaping, parking and access improvements, and demolition of an existing hay barn. The project would result in approximately 72,000 square feet (1.7 acres) of ground disturbance on an approximately 40.7-acre site, including 6,558 cubic yards of cut and fill. A parking modification is requested to reduce the required number of parking spaces from 55 to 5. The project is within the Agriculture land use category and is located at 10150 Bar Bb Lane, Arroyo Grande, in the Huasna-Lopez Sub Area of the South County Planning Area. District 4.
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WRAC Meeting - March 2, 2022 | Hi WRAC and Water Resources Stakeholders, The next WRAC meeting will be at 1:30pm Wednesday, 3/2/2022, held online via Zoom. The Committee will receive presentations from Regional Water Quality Control Board staff, the SLO Beaver Brigade, among other items. Thanks and see you next week. | | | |
Noises coming from proposed energy facility site frustrate neighbors | Just off Highway 1, halfway between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay, Linda Mahnken lives on Canet Road. Nestled near the base of Hollister Peak, Mahnken raises farm animals on her property. "We had lambs on Jan. 5 and I had to spend the night out in the barn [with them], and it's usually nice and quiet and peaceful," Mahnken said. | | | |
State Government: California Farm Bureau's "Friday Review" - State Legislative and Governmental Affairs Feb. 25 | |
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California Farm Bureau's Friday Review - State Legislative and Governmental Affairs Feb. 25
- Today, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation released draft regulations regarding the use of neonicotinoids. Farm Bureaus staff is still in the process of reviewing the draft regulations, but it would establish new and more stringent standards for neonicotinoid application methods, rate restrictions, application timing restrictions, and application rate limits by active ingredient and crop type. Generally speaking, more stringent mitigations are required for crops more attractive to bees and prohibited during “bloom.” Highly afflicted crops may include almonds, cherries, citrus, cotton, grapes (wine and table), strawberries, tomatoes (fresh and processing) and walnuts. The regulation is in response to findings that both foliar and soil use of neonicotinoids have resulted in residue in nectar and pollen, thus their use poses a hazard to bees. The Department will be accepting comments on the draft regulation until April 26th and will be hosting a public hearing on April 25th. Read more in this week's Friday Review.
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Federal Government: WGN - Where's My refund? 2021 Tax Returns May See Delays | | |
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Where's my refund? 2021 tax returns may see delays | by: Sarah Darmanjian Posted: / Updated: ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10) - Tax preparers throughout the Capital Region talked about months-long delays in people's tax refunds last June. Customers who had their tax returns filed in February were still asking, " Where is my refund? " four months later, according to multiple preparers. | | | |
USDA: Morning Ag Clips - USDA Commits $215 Million To Enhance The American Food Supply Chain | |
San Luis Obispo County Farm Service Agency Monthly Update | View as a webpage / Share Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year have until March 15, 2022, to sign a contract. The U.S. | | | |
USDA commits $215 million to enhance the American food supply chain | U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is making available up to $215 million in grants and other support to expand meat and poultry processing options, strengthen the food supply chain, and create jobs and economic opportunities in rural areas. | | | |
Advertise With SLO County Farm Bureau | |
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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:
Whiteford Ag
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Whiteford Ag is owned and operated by 6th generation Santa Margarita native Connor Whiteford. Whiteford Ag is a Central Coast agricultural service company to help with your moving, spraying and brush removal needs. Armed with innovative ideas, deep community roots, and a devotion to rural California, Connor Whiteford and his family deliver exceptional results with a strong work ethic and sincere customer service.
Whiteford Ag is committed to supporting your legacy, and promoting the vision for your land, company, and family's future. Reach out today to start talking about how we can better assist you.
We want all of our customers to experience the exceptional level of professionalism when working with Whiteford Ag. All of our services exist to make your life easier and stress-free. You can trust us to provide you with the best service, on and off the farm. Infused in the foundation of our company, experience stress-free planning with the highest quality customer service. Get in touch to learn more.
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Thank You Farm Bureau Members | |
Feature Member Benefit: Caterpillar | |
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Ever consider a skid steer loader as your next multipurpose farm vehicle? The CatⓇ 262 skid steer loader is $1,000 off with a Farm Bureau membership and sports 74.3hp, an operating capacity of 2,700lbs, and a 49.2in wheelbase. View the full list of discounted models at Cat.com/FarmBureau. #FBPays #CatAgriculture #MemberDiscount
*Offer excludes buckets and forks.
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Produce: Vegetables West - California's Vegetable Value Down 15% From 2020 | |
Figuring Out the Overriding Flavor Factor for Strawberries | What makes some strawberries taste better than others? It is an age-old question, according to Marvin Pritts, a Professor of Horticulture at Cornell University. Variety and time of harvest are frequently cited as reasons, he says, but growers also speculate about soil nutrient levels, frequency of pesticide application, and weather. | | | |
California's Vegetable Value Down 15% from 2020 - Vegetables West Magazine | The value of California's 2021 utilized vegetable production dropped 15% to $7.24 billion compared to 2020's value of $8.55 billion according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Pacific Regional Field Office. Despite the decrease in state's overall total value of utilized production, crops showing an increase included asparagus, snap beans, cabbage, celery... | | | |
California Giant Berry Farms expecting giant volumes | California Giant Berry Farms says it is expecting giant volumes of a full berry patch led by the vigorous Florida and Southern California strawberry production. "Florida strawberries are currently hitting their peak. We're seeing a week-over-week increase in top quality fruit, and we're expecting solid volumes out of Florida through late March," said J.T. | | | |
In California, the Search for the Ultimate Wild Fig Heats Up | David Burke grasps a rusty ladder fixed to the outside of an abandoned 60-foot concrete grain silo towering above a field in Tehama County, California. Using round holes in the concrete as footholds, he climbs ten or more feet, straight into a cluster of dense green foliage. | | | |
Avocado Imports from Mexico Resume | Avocado imports from Mexico have once again resumed according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Shipments of avocados from Michoacán, Mexico had been suspended after an inspector from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) had been threatened. | | | |
Labor: California Farm Bureau Farm Employers Labor Service Updates | |
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It): Past FELS Webinars/Webinar Videos/Presentation Slides:
February 23, 2022: COVID Paid Sick Leave is Back! Are You Ready? California has reinstated COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave – 80 hours of paid leave for an employee to recover from COVID-19 or care for a family member with COVID. The new COVID sick leave mandate is retroactive to January 1, 2022, and that means you will need to be ready for demands to pay for sick leave for COVID-related absences in January and February that you didn’t know you’d have to pay for! What will the new COVID paid sick leave mandate require California agricultural employers to do? Catherine M. Houlihan of FELS Group Legal Services Program partner firm Barsamian & Moody will brief you on the ins-and-outs of the new COVID paid sick leave mandate and help you prepare for COVID sick leave requests.
When: Wednesday, February 23, 2022; 10 AM
Registration: You can register here.
Cost: FREE!
DIR Furnishes SB 114 COVID Paid Sick Leave Model Workplace Posting: The Department of Industrial Relations has posted "2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave: Effective February 19, 2022" at it's website. Employers are required to post this information by Labor Code Section 247, and while employers are not required to use the model notice any alternative notice must include all the information included in the model notice. The requirement to furnish SB 114 COVID paid sick leave and the posting requirement become effective on February 19, 2022. The Department has not yet furnished promised guidance or frequently-asked questions (FAQ); as of the date of publication of the model notice, DIR's website bears the following statement: "The Department of Industrial Relations is updating webpages to provide full details on the new 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave law. The new law is expected to take effect on February 19, 2022. Please check back for updates, including FAQs and workplace postings." (February 16, 2022).
CDPH Updates Masking Guidance: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued updated masking guidance along the lines described earlier (see Indoor Mask Mandate to Expire, February 11, 2022, below). As noted previously, employers must now revert to implementation of the January 14, 2022 version of the Cal/OSHA ETS, which requires masking for all employees when required by CDPH orders (such as the order that just expired); when an employee is returning to work after having COVID-19 or a close contact with a COVID-19 case in compliance with ETS return-to-work requirements, and when riding in employer-provided transportation unless all riders are fully vaccinated. CDPH's February 16 order revision did not change the definition of "fully vaccinated;" a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after administration of a one-dose vaccination or two weeks after the administration of the second shot of a two-dose vaccination. (February 17, 2022)
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Nationwide Health and Safety trainings:
Health and Safety on the Farm and Ranch: Trainings Presented by Nationwide address risk management topics and more throughout the year. Many topics are presented in both English and Spanish. Trainings are held via Zoom. HAM Training is held at select County Farm Bureau offices and the CAFB headquarters in Sacramento. For class schedule and to register: Click Here.
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2-Hour Online Harassment Prevention Training
for Supervisors on Tuesday, March 1
English 8:30-10:45 am Register here Spanish 12:30-2:45 pm Register here
From California Farm Labor Contractors Association - This two-hour online seminar fulfills the supervisor training requirements on harassment prevention in compliance with SB 1343 and SB 1087. The session provides practical and interactive education on the rights and responsibilities of supervisors to prevent and report any type of harassment, bullying, retaliation, or other forms of related discrimination. Multiple attendees can participate on a single connection. Participants will leave understanding:
- What sexual harassment is and how to prevent it
- How to manage discrimination/harassment based on gender identity and/or sexual orientation
- What workplace bullying is and ways to eliminate it
- How to properly report and manage harassment issues
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Supreme Court hears arguments over 'public charge' rule - Roll Call | Posted February 23, 2022 at 3:08pm The Supreme Court grappled Wednesday with the unusual legal maneuvers the Biden administration used to wipe out a Trump-era immigration rule and whether to let some Republican-led states continue the court fight to save it. | | | |
Environmental: The Tribune - One SLO County Spot Hit 15 Degrees Last Night. Here's How Cold It Got And What's Ahead | |
One SLO County spot hit 15 degrees last night. Here's how cold it got and what's ahead | Another morning of freezing cold temperatures hit San Luis Obispo County Thursday morning, with one location plunging to 15 degrees. But, Thursday was the worst day of the cold snap along the Central Coast, and there is promise of warmer weather around the corner. | | | |
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Living in a ‘period of discovery’ when it comes to sustainability
Packaging for produce reflects the complexity and range of the fruits and vegetables our industry brings to market every day. This is a dynamic environment where new farming technologies and processes are constantly in motion to set the stage for potential transformation in
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Preserving rooftop solar helps California achieve its land conservation goals. Here's how | OPINION AND COMMENTARY You can't think about the Golden State without thinking about sunshine. The two are tied together - people have moved to California for our weather. Those of us who were born here, including the furry, feathered and scaled, love the | | | |
Ocean Plastic Is Bad, but Soil Plastic Pollution May Be Worse | Expanding Producer Responsibility Those concerned with agricultural plastics in the soil are looking to address the problem from several fronts. Acknowledging that there is no silver bullet, the FAO report outlines a variety of recommendations that span several different policy arenas, including eliminating the use of the most problematic agricultural plastics, investing in biodegradable substitutes, | | | |
How Politics, Society and Tech Shape the Path of Climate Change | Politics and society largely dictate climate policy ambitions and therefore the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions, yet climate change models and projections rarely include political and social drivers. A study from the University of California, Davis, simulated 100,000 possible future policy and emissions trajectories to identify relevant variables within the climate-social system that could impact climate change in this century. | | | |
Vineyard & Wine: AgAlert - Crushing It - Grape Tonnage Increases In 2021 Harvest | |
Ready to wine and dine? Blendfest on the Coast is back in SLO County and here are details | A coastal celebration of Paso Robles-area wines is set to return on the weekend of Feb. 24 through 27, as Blendfest on the Coast combines food, wine, excursions and experiences, just as | | | |
California's fine wine surge | In a bull market for fine wine, California is on the charge. Prices for the top wines from the Golden State rose by 32% in 2021, according to Liv-ex, with an ever expanding number of producers entering the fray. | | | |
Crushing it-grape tonnage increases in 2021 harvest | Johnnie White is anything but crushed by the news contained in the 2021 grape-crush report. "It's a grower's market," said White, a Napa County vineyard manager and member of the California Farm Bureau Board of Directors. "There's lots of wineries looking for fruit. | | | |
Speed, precision on display as local vineyard workers compete in revived pruning contest | The best of the best of local vineyard workers gathered Wednesday morning to compete for the top prize in a revived pruning competition that values a prized skill and spotlights the speed and precision of field hands in Sonoma County's signature industry. | | | |
Local wine grape grower purchases new 30-acre vineyard | Bill Gibbs, owner of G2 Vineyard and Heart Stone Vineyard in the Willow Creek AVA, just announced the purchase of a new vineyard to be known as "G3." This 30-acre property, also located in the Willow Creek AVA, is dedicated to growing mostly ultra-premium Bordeaux varietal grapes. | | | |
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Researchers work to solve smoke-exposure puzzle
February 23, 2022
By Kevin Hecteman, AgAlert
Years of wildfires impacting Western winegrape growers have farmers, winemakers and researchers looking for answers to smoke exposure, which damages crops and worsens wine quality.
They may need to be patient, as answers to the complex issue are likely years away.
"Everybody now has to make decisions on very limited amount of data," said Anita Oberholster, an associate specialist in enology at the University of California Cooperative Extension in Davis.
The question Oberholster gets most often is how to measure smoke exposure risk. Burning wood releases volatile phenols that can be absorbed through the skin of the grape within hours and attach themselves to sugars, which down the road can ruin the wine's flavor.
"Unfortunately, this is very, very difficult to predict," she said, adding it will take years to figure out because "you need hundreds of data points to do this." Some varietals seem to be more susceptible than others, and "the one that stands out a little bit is pinot noir," Oberholster said. "We don't specifically know why."
The volatile phenols that can give wine a palate-demolishing smoky character also occur naturally in grapes, and the exact point at which a grape goes bad is the subject of intense research.
"Does pinot noir seem more susceptible just because it has a simpler matrix?" Oberholster asked. "Is the matrix such that there's less masking of the smoke compounds that's in there so it stands out more?" Determining threshold levels in different varieties will give a better idea of that, she added.
Farm Bureau members can continue reading here with their membership number. If you do not know what your membership number is call or email our office at 805-543-3654 or at info@slofarmbureau.org
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Water: AgAlert - Agencies Working To Sustain Groundwater | |
US won't deliver water to California farmers amid severe drought | Federal officials at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation did not initially allocate any water to farmers and irrigation contractors in California for 2022 as the state enters its | | | |
H20 and the Central Coast: The critical connections between water, jobs and housing | A fairly decent start to this year's rainy season quickly dried up. The Central Coast of California is a story of ebbs and flows, wet years and drought. From man-made | | | |
Agencies working to sustain groundwater | A new era of groundwater management in California continues to take shape as local agencies develop and implement plans that identify how they intend to achieve groundwater sustainability goals over the next 20 years. | | | |
Drought conditions worsen in California | Unless a March miracle occurs - and meteorologists don't see one coming - a third consecutive year of drought is in the cards for the Golden State. (CN) - The two large storms that broadsided California in October and December brought optimism that the dry weather that has | | | |
California and the American West is thirsty. But is seawater desalination 'a silver bullet' to solve the water crisis? | The California Coastal Commission next month will decide whether to approve a private company's application to build a $1.4 billion seawater desalination facility in Huntington Beach. Many countries with limited access | | | |
Water crisis demands action, not a new commission | As severe recession wracked California 13 years ago, it revealed a serious flaw in the state government's revenue system. Over several decades, the state had become increasingly dependent on taxing a relative few affluent Californians whose taxable incomes, largely from investments, tended to have | | | |
Wildfire: Paso Robles Daily News - Paso Robles Places New Wildland Fire Engine In Service | |
Paso Robles places new wildland fire engine in service | Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services recently took delivery of its first "Type III" fire engine in the department's history. The Paso Robles City Council approved the purchase of the fire apparatus built by Pierce Manufacturing INC. on February 16, 2021. | | | |
PG&E's trust to pay wildfire victims is millions short; bill proposed would bail them out, but how? | SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Will the state now help bailout a PG&E fire victim trust fund that is coming up millions of dollars short on what was promised to victims? Proposed legislation would fully fund the trust but the bill is lacking important details like how the Trust will be funded. | | | |
Wildfires are getting more extreme and burning more land. The UN says it's time to 'learn to live with fire' | CNN | Wildfires have intensified around the globe, providing a stark reminder of how the climate crisis is upending lives and inflicting billions of dollars a year in damage. And it will only get worse, according to dozens of global fire experts. | | | |
Tax and Insurance: ABC - Democratic Leaders Reluctant To Halt California Gas Tax Increase Set To Take Effect In July | |
Democratic leaders reluctant to halt California gas tax increase set to take effect in July | Amid record-high gas prices, California's Democratic legislative leaders said Wednesday they are reluctant to adopt Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposal to halt a gasoline tax increase scheduled to take effect in July because the resulting $500 million goes to vital programs. "I certainly have concerns" | | | |
Gas prices soar to record levels in California amid Ukraine crisis, tax hikes | The state average could reach $5 a gallon soon, experts say. Analysts are warning motorists in California to hold on to their wallets as a host of factors will take already record-high gas prices to new levels. The state averaged $4.742 a gallon on Tuesday, about $1.20 more than the national average, according to AAA. | | | |
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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
Nationwide Investment Services Corporation (NISC), member FINRA, Columbus, OH. Nationwide Retirement Institute is a division of NISC. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, Nationwide is on your side, Land As Your Legacy and other marks displayed in this message are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, unless otherwise disclosed. Third-party marks that appear in this message are the property of their respective owners. © 2020 Nationwide.
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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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