Celebrate Local Agriculture on July 17 with the San Luis Obispo County Farm Trail |
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Tour, taste, and learn about local agriculture during the SLO Co Farm Trail’s 2021 Open Farm Day on Saturday, July 17. Ticket holders will savor summer through a self-guided tour featuring over 15 farms and ranches and some two dozen producers and purveyors. This inaugural event will benefit Glean SLO, the SLO Food Bank, and the Great AGventure.
This family-friendly experience is an up-close chance to learn about agriculture through demonstrations, tastings, and farm tours. Local farms will be swinging open their gates to showcase everything from bee keeping to olive growing, while local ranchers will introduce you to goats, alpacas, sheep, pigs, and more, while local purveyors will showcase their locally made using our locally grown. Relax at picnic spots, shop at pop-up markets, and enjoy tastings of food and potent potables. For an additional charge, farm fresh brunch boxes and tasty lunch options featuring local fare are also available, as is an elegant table-to-farm Greenhouse Dinner.
Early bird tickets start at $30, and are available through June 14. After that, tickets start at $35 ($40 the day of the event) until sold out. Children under 12 are free. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to farmsteaded.com.
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FARMstead ED: Bringing folks together with our locally grown via agricultural experiences and gatherings. San Luis Obispo County based FARMstead ED serves as a conduit between visitors and farmers, educating folks on the importance of sustainable practices, local land, and craft. FARMstead ED curates’ opportunities for both tourists and townies to learn about everything from meat to mixology and to truly experience locally grown and made through a variety of different hands-on workshops and Table to Farm dinners all over the county.
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This Week in SLO County Agriculture |
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In This Issue:
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COVID-19 News: The Tribune - SLO County Moves Into COVID Yellow Tier - a Week Before State Fully Reopens;
- State Government News: California Farm Bureau's Friday Review;
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Federal Government News: American Farm Bureau - Farm Bureaus Send Letter to Administration Urging Action to Address Surge of Undocumented Immigrants;
- Community News: Young Farmers & Ranchers Kickoff Social is July 7;
- Business Member Spotlight: Coastal Tractor;
- Featured Member Benefit: Dungarees;
- Labor News: CFLCA Cal/OSHA Passes Amended COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard - What Changed?;
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Livestock News: AgAlert - Commentary: Grazing Provides Important Service on Public Lands;
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Vineyard & Winery News: WBAL - California Man Lucky to be Alive After Being Found Stuck Inside Farm Equipment for Two Days;
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Produce News: AgNet West - Lemon Demand Growing, But Domestic Producers Face Challenges;
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Water News: Brownstein Water - GSAs Shooting 50% on GSPs - DWR Releases First GSP Assessment Results for High Priority Basins; and
- Wisdom From the Farm & Ranch.
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June 4th Most Read Stories:
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Executive Director Report
Here are a few things we worked on this week:
- Met with Supervisor Debbie Arnold;
- Assisted two members with questions on the Paso Basin Planting Ordinance and current Ag Offset Program;
- Participated in the weekly SLO County Farmworker Outreach Task Force;
- Participated in the JW Brabeck Youth Legacy Fund “Buyer’s Coalition Committee” committee meeting regarding fundraising for the California Mid-State Fair Youth Livestock Auction;
- Discussed wildfire insurance issues with a member;
- Met with Supervisor Bruce Gibson;
- Attended California Climate Investments Webinar: Funding for Farmers;
- Participate in a Focus Group for the State Route 227 & Los Ranchos Road Intersection Operational Improvements Project with the SLO Council of Governments
- Participated in Paso Chamber of Commerce Government Advocacy & Policy Committee;
- Participated in SLO Chamber of Commerce Leadership SLO's Government Day.
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Platinum Member Spotlight |
Thank you Farm Supply Company for being a strong supporter of local agriculture and our community since 1950!
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COVID-19 News: The Tribune - SLO County Moves Into COVID Yellow Tier - a week before State Fully Reopens
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SLO County moves into COVID yellow tier - a week before...
San Luis Obispo County moved into the yellow tier of coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday, a week before the state is expected to lift most coronavirus-related limits. San Luis Obispo County is now in the least restrictive tier under California's...
Read more
www.sanluisobispo.com
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Five days, 100 vaccine doses and a wildfire of...
One woman tests the power of presence in a California farmworker community where distrust is fuel for disinformation.
Read more
www.washingtonpost.com
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SLO County Mobile COVID-19 Vaccines Available
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San Luis Obispo - 6/15: Shower the People/Unitarian Church, J&J (Vaccines 9:30am – 12:30pm)
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Location: 2201 Lawton Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (near the intersection of Broad and South Street)
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Arroyo Grande - 6/17: AGHS #2, Pfizer 2nd Dose (Vaccines 3:00-6:00pm)
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Location: 295 Valley Rd, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
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Nipomo - 6/17: Nipomo HS #2, Pfizer 2nd Dose (Vaccines 3:00-6:00pm)
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Location: 525 N Thompson Ave, Nipomo, CA 93444
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San Miguel - 6/18: Lillian Larsen Elementary, CHC Health Fair, Pfizer 1st Dose (Vaccines 1:00pm – 6:00pm)
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Location: 1601 L St, San Miguel, CA 93451
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Paso Robles - 6/18: Oak Park Living #2, Pfizer 2nd Dose (Vaccines 4:00pm – 7:00pm)
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Location: Oak Park 2 Community Room: 30th St. and Pine St. Paso Robles CA 93446
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State Government News: California Farm Bureau's Friday Review
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STOP AB 616 - FarmTeam Action Alert
The California Senate may soon consider legislation that will strip California farm employees of the right to a secret ballot election supervised by the Agricultural Labor Relations Board to choose representation by a union. Civil rights icon Cesar Chavez fought hard for the right for farm employees to decide the question of union representation, but union advocates now want to water down the protections of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act by allowing union organizers to harvest mail-in ballots months before the employee in question is employed by any farmer and direct those “ballots” against any farm employer they wish to target.
Please act today to stop AB 616. Click the link to send your message: Stop AB 616
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Family Farmers Return from State Capitol with High Hopes ...
Earlier this month, CAFF traveled (virtually) to the State Capitol in Sacramento to meet with legislators during CAFF's Week of Action. Over three days, farmers and ranchers participated in meetings with 19 legislators to advocate for critical...
Read more
www.caff.org
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How California can create a more equitable food system | ...
Adrian Mondragan is a second-generation small-scale organic farmer on the Central Coast, working amid some of the largest growers in the state. He grew up in a low-income Hispanic farming family, and proudly launched his Watsonville-based farm,...
Read more
calmatters.org
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California Farm Bureau's Friday Review for June 11, 2021
This week's State Legislative and Governmental Affairs Update includes:
- Agricultural Employment: AB 616, AB 857, SB 331, SB 410, SB 685;
- Budget: AB 128, SB 128;
- Climate Change: Funding for Farmers Webinar, CNRA Virtual Workshops;
- Commodities: AB 535;
- Public Lands and Wildlife: AJR 5;
- Waste: AB 332;
- Water: AB 252, AB 2642;
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Federal Government News: American Farm Bureau - Farm Bureaus Send Letter to Administration Urging Action to Address Surge of Undocumented Immigrants
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Judge pauses loan forgiveness program for farmers of color
A federal judge has halted a loan forgiveness program for farmers of color in response to a lawsuit alleging the program discriminates against white farmers. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach in Milwaukee issued a temporary...
Read more
apnews.com
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Farm Bureaus Send Letter to Administration Urging Action ...
The American Farm Bureau Federation joined all 50 state Farm Bureaus and the Puerto Rico Farm Bureau in sending a letter urging the Biden administration to address the surge of undocumented immigrants entering the United States. Chad Smith has...
Read more
www.fb.org
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Biden nominee for public lands boss faces GOP opposition
President Joe Biden's nominee to oversee vast expanses of U.S. public lands was criticized Tuesday by Republicans over her past involvement in partisan politics as a longtime Democratic aide and environmentalist,...
Read more
apnews.com
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Community News: Young Farmers & Ranchers Kickoff Social is July 7 |
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The California Farm Bureau Retirement Plan (MEP) Webinar
June 24 from 3-4pm.
Are you ready for the new state retirement plan mandate that may apply to you as soon as June 30, 2021? If not, Nationwide may be able to help.
Nationwide partnered with the California Farm Bureau (CAFB) to support their creation of a new multiple employer retirement plan, or MEP, that is available to all CAFB Agricultural members with employees, even those that already sponsor a retirement plan. This MEP is a 401(k) plan that provides a cost-efficient method to comply with the law. The first registration deadline under this new mandate was September 30, 2020, and it applied to employers with more than 100 employees. The law will expand and apply to smaller employers during the next two years so that by 2022, all California employers with five or more employees will be required to either: 1) Sponsor their own retirement plan, (e.g., a SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, or 401(k)), or 2) Facilitate automatic payroll deduction to enroll their employees in the CalSavers retirement program. Those employers who do not comply will be subject to significant penalties, based on their employee headcount.
Please note: Employers with 51 or more employees, the deadline to comply with the new state retirement plan mandate is June 30, 2021. We encourage you to take action right away to ensure adequate time to set up the plan prior to this deadline.
Click here to sign up and learn more!
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SLO County Workforce Development Board Seeking Agriculture Industry Representative
The Workforce Development Board is a federally mandated board comprised of public and private sector representatives to provide leadership and develop local workforce policy. The Workforce Development Board of San Luis Obispo County has 21 seats, the majority of which must be filled with representatives from the business community. Members are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. For more information about the Workforce Development Board click here.
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Pandemic Doesn't Slow Down Ag Entrepreneurs
Now in its eighth year, the In this article, FBNews catches up with previous Challenge participants to find out where they are now, how they were affected by the pandemic and how participating in the Challenge continues to benefit them.
Read more
www.fb.org
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June 2021 Agriculture Events| Cal Poly
A College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) Program Preparing leaders in sustainability through education, research, outreach, and operations. To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is...
Read more
cfs.calpoly.edu
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Business Member Spotlight:
Coastal Tractor
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Coastal Tractor has been in business serving the Central Coast of California since 1971. We have been family owned and operated for 3 generations and run by vegetable farmers. Farmers know that they'll be treated fairly, whether they're a first-time customer or someone the salesman knows by name.
We specialize in vineyard and vegetable equipment with manufacturers like New Holland, Woods, Rhino, Bush Hog, Kawasaki and more. Farmers know that they will get top of the line service for their top of the line machinery.
Coastal Tractor is committed to serving our customers with the best quality and service possible. Thank you for visiting our website and we hope to see you at one of our three locations serving the Central Coast.
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2348 Golden Hill Road | Paso Robles, CA 93446
Monday - Sunday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
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Featured Member Benefit:
Dungarees
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Dungarees carries a massive inventory of premium men’s and women’s work wear brands, including one of the largest selections of Carhartt in the nation.
As a California Farm Bureau member, you receive:
- 10% discount on orders under $200
- 15% discount on orders over $200
- 20% discount on orders over $500
- Free shipping on all orders over $55 (contiguous U.S. only)
Featured brands include Carhartt, CAT, Wolverine and YETI. It’s another great benefit of your Farm Bureau membership.
Visit dungarees.com to start shopping. Enter the discount code on the last page of checkout to receive your discount. Call 1-800-698-3276 or SLO County Farm Bureau at 805-543-3654 to get the discount code.
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Thank You Farm Bureau Members |
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New Business Support Member
Renewing Business Support Member
Renewing Members
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Labor News: CFLCA Cal/OSHA Passes Amended COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard - What Changed? |
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On June 9, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board withdrew revisions to the November 2020 COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) they initially approved on June 3 (see the Dept. of Industrial Relations June 9 press release here. You may recall that this proposal made minor concessions to employers dealing with vaccinated employees, but required all employees to be vaccinated to use of this regulatory relief and would have required extensive provision of N95 respirators that could be in short supply this summer as outdoor employers struggle to comply with the wildfire smoke regulation.
THIS ACTION HAS THE EFFECT OF LEAVING THE NOVEMBER 2020 ETS IN EFFECT UNCHANGED including onerous social distancing, outbreak management, face covering, and employer-provided housing and transportation requirements. The Board’s actions make no accommodation to the growing number of California employees who have received vaccines.
California Farm Bureau sent a letter to Governor Newsom this week calling on him to rescind the ETS entirely. The Standards Board is scheduled to meet again on June 17; in order to have a revision of the November 2020 ETS that the Board can consider under the requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act, Cal/OSHA will have to release a proposal tomorrow, June 11. This means either the Cal/OSHA will have to propose (and the Board approve) substantial changes to the ETS, something they have been hesitant to do; or withdraw it entirely (which the Board has shown no inclination to do); or the Governor will have to act by Executive Order to remedy the disconnect between his campaign to re-open California in June 15 and the ongoing distancing, face covering, testing and other onerous requirements of the ETS.
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Impacts of New COVID Rules On Ag Labor
Hosted by California Farm Labor Contractors Association.
Free due to funding from UC Davis Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
June 17 from 2 - 3 pm Register here
Translated in Spanish
Cal/OSHA recently made significant revisions to the COVID-19 prevention regulation; reducing requirements for masking, distancing, quarantine, and testing for FULLY VACCINATED employees. But how can employers verify vaccination status? Can employees be designated to crews or certain jobs with different rules based on their vaccination status? What do these changes mean for workers’ comp, paid sick leave, and local regulations? Can employers require workers to be vaccinated? Join us for a review of recommended labor-management practices; how to navigate privacy and discrimination concerns; and get expert answers to your questions.
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Livestock News: AgAlert - Commentary: Grazing Provides Important Service on Public Lands
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Comment: Grazing provides important service on public lands
Take a drive through the countryside in many states, and chances are you'll catch the familiar sight of cattle roaming pastures and rangeland. As you move West, the rangeland gets...
Read more
www.agalert.com
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Livestock owners see hay supplies cut due to drought
Poor crop yields and less hay being grown in California have diminished availability of the fodder, with dairy farmers and livestock ranchers facing sticker shock as they scramble to secure enough supply to feed their animals.
Read more
agalert.com
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Additional cattle markets legislation introduced in U.S. ...
Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-4) introduced the Optimizing the Cattle Market Act of 2021 in the U.S. House. The legislation builds on a growing consensus among cattle producers, industry leaders, and Members of...
Read more
www.morningagclips.com
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Vineyard & Winery News: WBAL - California Man Lucky to be Alive After Being Found Stuck Inside Farm Equipment for Two Days
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Machines Can Help Wine Grape Industry Survive Labor Shortage
Wine grape growers in California and elsewhere face increasing labor costs and severe labor shortages, making it difficult to manage and harvest a vineyard while maintaining profitability...
Read more
www.ucdavis.edu
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[June Seminar] Meet Our Speakers
Learn about mildew and vertebrates in the vineyard with these great speakers! >> 1 Hour of DPR Continuing Education Credits Approved! << MEET OUR SPEAKERS FOR THE JUNE SEMINAR
Read more
mailchi.mp
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NorCal winery sues grape company for alleged...
A winery in Lake County is suing a grape growing company for allegedly selling them smoke-tainted grapes, according to the North Bay Business Journal. Langtry Farms claims that grapes delivered to them by Santa Rosa-based Torick Farms (a company...
Read more
www.sfgate.com
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Independent grape growers donate to local homeless shelters
Recently the Independent Grape Growers of the Paso Robles Area (IGGPRA) donated over 80 meals to help support the clients of ECHO Homeless Shelters in Paso Robles and Atascadero. The event was an offshoot of an IGGPRA member program.
Read more
pasoroblesdailynews.com
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Get to Know the Santa Margarita District
The Santa Margarita Ranch American Viticultural Area (AVA) is quite possibly the most unique of all the 11 Paso Robles districts. It is at the southern boundary of the over 600,000-acre area that is the Paso Robles AVA, nestled up against the...
Read more
pasowine.com
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California man lucky to be alive after being found stuck ...
California man lucky to be alive after being found stuck inside farm equipment for two days Wednesday, June 09 2021 ABC News Radio A man is lucky to be alive after he was rescued from being stuck for two days inside farm equipment at a California ...
Read more
www.wbal.com
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Boutique family winery MEA Wine opens its first tasting...
When Atascadero resident John Merrick first planted a small vineyard on his west Paso Robles ranch a decade ago, ...
Read more
www.newtimesslo.com
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Produce News: AgNet West - Lemon Demand Growing, But Domestic Producers Face Challenges
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Calavo adjusting size profile on Peru avocados
For its 2021 Peruvian avocado season, Calavo Growers Inc., based in Santa Paula, CA, is expecting to handle about the same volume as it did in 2020, but with a much better size distribution. "We've had many fruitful discussions with our suppliers ...
Read more
theproducenews.com
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Lemon Demand Growing, But Domestic Producers Face Challenges
Market conditions for lemons have been trending in a positive direction in recent years. However, there are still come obstacles for California producers to reap the benefits of increased demand. Professor of Public Policy at UC Riverside, Bruce...
Read more
agnetwest.com
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Water News: Brownstein Water - GSAs Shooting 50% on GSPs - DWR Releases First GSP Assessment Results for High Priority Basins
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GSAs Shooting 50% on GSPs - DWR Releases First GSP Assessment Results for High Priority Basins
The wait is over for some Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) released the first Groundwater Sustainability Plan assessments for four basins yesterday, June 3, 2021.
water.bhfs.com
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State Releases Video on Assessment of First Four Groundwater Sustainability Plans
The California Department of Water Resources will host a live question and answer webinar on June 24. To register, click here.
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State Knocks 'Deficiencies' in Cuyama Valley Groundwater ...
Environment Dropping Well Water Levels, Threats to Water Quality and Wetlands Need More Study, Officials Say Siding with Cuyama Valley conservationists, the state Department of Water Resources this month sent a local agency back to the drawing...
Read more
www.independent.com
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From Shasta to Nacimiento, shriveled reservoirs show...
Instead of being flush with newly melted snow, Folsom Lake is the driest it's been in springtime since the epic drought of 1977. Water levels are so low that temporary pumps probably will be installed to help move water out of the stricken reservoir.
Read more
www.sanluisobispo.com
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California Water Challenges...the Impact on Agriculture -June 22, 2021
Join the California Chapter, American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers for a three-hour webinar focusing on water challenges and agriculture in the Golden State.
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Drought restrictions are back in Pismo Beach. Here's...
Drought restrictions are back in San Luis Obispo County. On Tuesday, Pismo Beach became one of the first local cities to declare a "moderately restricted water supply condition," meaning residents will once again be asked to conserve water,...
Read more
www.sanluisobispo.com
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Biden moves to restore WOTUS
The Biden administration began legal action Wednesday to repeal a Trump-era rule that ended federal protections for hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, leaving them more vulnerable...
Read more
www.morningagclips.com
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California, 'America's garden,' is drying out " Yale...
California, along with much of the rest of the western United States, is once again mired in drought. In fact, California has experienced significant drought conditions in 13 of the 22 years (60%) since the turn of the century. A 2020 study in...
Read more
yaleclimateconnections.org
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Have you submitted your annual water reports?
State Water Resources Control Board - June 10, 2021
The July 1 deadline to submit Supplemental Statements of Water Diversion and Use (statements) or Reports of Groundwater Extraction is about three weeks away. As of June 7, 2021, only 40 percent of statements and 50 percent of groundwater extraction reports have been filed for the 2020 report year.
Please plan accordingly to ensure you submit your statement or groundwater extraction water use information by the deadline of July 1, 2021. Water rights holders are required to submit their 2020 water use information electronically through the Report Management System, which is available here.
Please note the deadline for 2020 water use reports related to appropriative rights, stockpond certificates, and registrations were due on April 1, 2021. If you have not submitted your water use information, it is overdue, and you may be subject to enforcement. Please submit your 2020 water use information now.
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Wisdom From the Farm & Ranch |
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Cowboys' Prayer
O Lord, I've never lived where churches grow;
I've loved creation better as it stood
That day you finished it, so long ago.
And looked upon your work and called it good.
Just let me live my life as I've begun!
And give me work that's open to the sky;
Make me a partner of the wind and sun.
And I won't ask a life that's soft and high.
Make me as big and open as the plains;
As honest as the horse between my knees;
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains;
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze.
Just keep an eye on all that's done and said;
Just right me sometime when I turn aside;
And guide me on the long, dim trail ahead --
That stretches upward towards the Great Divide.
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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 some assistance with membership, 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 San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau
Platinum Members
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