California Farm Bureau's Ag Alert 'From the Fields' Article Features Member Daryn Miller | |
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By Daryn Miller, Monterey County vineyard manager and San Luis Obispo County citrus and avocado farmer; From California Farm Bureau Federation
It has been hot in southern Monterey County, where some of our vineyards are. It’s not anything we haven’t seen, just a little earlier than we usually get with the heat. We started increasing irrigation frequency and durations last week. I think everybody is scrambling to get some longer irrigation events in as we are expecting high evaporative losses through the heat wave.
The heat is likely going to have some impact on the size of the crop. The crop is already looking lighter, and this might impact that a bit. It will cause more stress on the vines earlier in the season. It will likely speed up ripening for an earlier harvest than last year.
Normally, when we get this much heat, it pushes our schedule up. Last year, we didn’t get too many 90- to 95-degree days until maybe August. This year is definitely warmer so far.
We have harvested about 40% of our avocado crop. We’re continuing to up our irrigation volumes and duration and trying to irrigate more frequently. Main limiting factor is how much water production we have from our wells. We try to get around as much as we can.
Using more automation has helped us irrigate the avocados more frequently with shorter durations. When you get over 90 to 95 degrees, you really have to be on it with irrigation frequency.
There’s not too much risk to avocados until temps approach 94 degrees or warmer. If anything, it’s going to help size the fruit and get it into the bigger-size curves. The trees will thrive so long as they’re well irrigated. At this point in the season, as long as you’re ahead of the curve on irrigation, we’re not going to be dropping much fruit, and hopefully the newly set fruit sticks on the tree.
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This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
Community: In Triple Digit Heat, How One Local Lavendar Farm is Working to Stay Cool | |
In triple-digit heat, how one local lavender farm is working to stay cool | A small lavender farm in San Miguel, Hambly Farms, has adapted to the triple digit temps to ensure the business thrives amidst the heat. | | | |  |
UC Cooperative Extension offers a forest stewardship workshop series in SLO County | Forest landowners in San Luis Obispo County or any resident interested in oak woodlands resilience can expand their knowledge with the Forest Stewardship Workshop series... | | | | |
AgWest Introduces New Monthly Report on Agriculture | SPOKANE, Wash. -- AgWest Farm Credit is introducing a new monthly market report covering the state of major agricultural commodities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho,... | | | |
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Farm Bureau Launches Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence | Yearsley: There's two main areas for the Veteran Farmer Award of American Farm Bureau that we're really looking for, and that is involvement in agriculture, so in some way, they have been working in an agricultural related enterprise, business, farm, ranch, something related to agriculture, and that they have been involved and an attribute to their local community. | | | |
County Government: Candidate Filing Period Open for November 5th General Election | |
Candidate filing period open for November 5 General Election * Atascadero News | The Atascadero News is your daily online news source and the only printed newspaper dedicated to Atascadero, since 1916. | | | | |
SLO County Board of Supervisors approves new vote counting machine despite backlash | San Luis Obispo County will have a new voting counting machine for the upcoming election, but it's not without backlash from some members of the community. | | | |
State and Federal Government: AFBF Statement on Failed Assassination Attempt | |
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California Farm Bureau's State, Federal, and Legal News - July 15, 2024
State Affairs
- Wolf Compensation Funding
- CARB Phases Out Forklifts
Federal Policy
- USDA Proposal Clarifies Unfair Practices Under the Packers & Stockyards Act
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Trump is fine after an assassination attempt at his rally | The FBI identified the gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa. One person at the rally was killed and two others wounded before Secret Service agents killed the shooter. | | | | |
AFBF Statement on Failed Assassination Attempt | American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today commented on the failed assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump yesterday at a political rally in Pennsylvania. "We condemn in the strongest terms the failed assassination attempt against former President Trump. | | | |
Produce: Suspects Caught Stealing 500 Pounds of Avocados from Nipomo Farm | |
Addressing INSV in Leafy Greens Has Been A Herculean Effort | The effort to try and mitigate the impacts of impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) has been a tremendous undertaking in recent years... | | |
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. | | | | |
Suspects caught stealing 500 pounds of avocados | Avocados were estimated to be worth between $3,000 and $5,000 - San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office deputies, along with members of the sheriff's rural [...] | | |
California Invasive Species Advisory Committee Meeting - July 17, 2024 | The California Invasive Species Advisory Committee meeting agenda for Wednesday, July 17, 2024 is available for download at the Invasive Species Council of California website, located here: The meeting will be held in-person at the California Department of Food and Agriculture headquarters auditorium and remotely via webinar. | | | |
Business Member Spotlight:
Speedling
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Feeding the world and making it a more beautiful place, since 1968
At Speedling we are motivated by our customers’ success. We understand the vegetables in our greenhouses are the same veggies at home on our table. We take pride in knowing the flowers we grow will be seen in stores across the country. We understand our EPS facility’s hard work gives local fish farmers the containers they need to ship their products across the country and expand their business.
Over 50 years of experience as an industry leader gives us the knowledge and ability to provide for our customers’ ever-growing needs. Speedling’s inverted pyramid technology changed the way the world grows transplants; the cell design allows for us to produce high-quality transplants for seeded vegetables, ornamentals, and vegetative propagation products.
Every day we look to improve, innovate and achieve our goal of providing quality products at the best possible price for our customers. The agricultural industry is unique in its camaraderie, the desire to see success across the industry – we want to be a part of your success. At Speedling, we are here to help you grow.
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Thank You Farm Bureau Members | |
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Renewing Agricultural Members
Launnie Ginn
Renewing Associate Members
Lynne Althouse
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Wildfire: Firefighters Share the Challenges They are Facing While Fighting the Lake Fire | |
Firefighters share the challenges they are facing while fighting the Lake Fire | More than 3,400 fire personnel are battling the Lake Fire near Los Olivos in tough conditions. Here's what they had to say. | | | | |
Governor Newsom talks about California wildfire response | This year, the state has already seen more than 207,000 acres burned in the state, a disproportionately higher number than in recent years at this point of the year. | | | |
Wildfire Smoke a Risk to Crews in the Field | Ag employers are reminded to update their emergency action plans and brief crews about emergency response to wildfire smoke... | | | | |
County braces for a long fire season | Paso Robles broke a 17-year-long record on Saturday, July 6, after experiencing temperatures up to 114 degrees near the Paso Robles Airport, surpassing its previous... | | | |
Featured Member Benefit:
AmeriGas
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Farm Bureau members save $0.05 per gallon on propane deliveries, receive a complimentary service check and a No Run-Out Guarantee with automatic delivery. Additionally, members have access to:
- 24 hour emergency services
- $100 referral bonus for new customers
Visit AmeriGas at www.amerigas.com for additional information.
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Livestock: Free Virtual Media Training for Ranchers- How to Capture the Content You See Daily | |
NCBA Concludes Successful Summer Business Meeting | SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Grassroots members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) concluded a successful Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, CA. Cattle producers... | | | | |
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Virtual Media Training for Ranchers
How to Capture the Content you see Daily
| How to Capture the Content you see Daily Whether you want to know how to take better images and videos for your personal or business social media pages or learn how to contribute to our content, join us for this free, one-hour training. | | | |
Vineyard and Wine: Successful SGMA Plans Vineyard Team Tailgate Postponed to August 6th | |
Recent Advances in the Management of Vineyard Powdery Mildew and Botrytis Plus Insect Pest Management | IGGPRA provides a networking forum to promote cooperation and collaboration between Paso Robles and International growers, grape buyers, vintners, and vineyard suppliers | | | | |
POSTPONED: Vineyard Team Tailgate | Successful SGMA Plans- New Date: Aug. 6th | Want to know what is new with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)? Get the latest information on implementation, cost, land repurposing, fallowing, and demand management for sustainability plans in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. | | | | |
Celebrating Excellence: Get to know the San Luis Obispo County Wine Awards Winners * Paso Robles Press | Paso Robles Press is the daily online news source and weekly print newspaper for the Paso Robles area, serving the community since 1889. | | | |
Water: Pismo Beach is the Only Agency Left on the Central Coast Blue Water Project | |
Pismo Beach is the only agency left on the Central Coast Blue water project | The Central Coast Blue water recycling project was hit with some major roadblocks after two of the three agencies funding it pulled out. Now, Pismo... | | | | |
How to Save California's Groundwater, the 'Dark Matter' of Our Water World | DAVIS, Calif. -- As California suffers its fourth year of drought, much of the attention is focused on the state's groundwater - a critical source... | | | |
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 | |
SLO County Agriculture News is distributed by SLO County Farm Bureau for information purposes only. Stories written by SLO County Farm Bureau may be reprinted with attribution. Some outside story links may require site registration. Opinions expressed in stories, commentaries or editorials included in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of SLO County Farm Bureau. For information on advertising opportunities, please email info@slofarmbureau.org or call our office at 805-543-3654. | | | | |
