This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
We are Thrilled to Announce our First
Farm-Inspired Winemaker Dinner of 2026!
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Join us on April 23rd, 2026 at Mighty Cap Mushrooms for an unforgettable evening starting at 4:30pm with a tour of the mushroom farm. Indulge in local wine tastings from End Of The Day and a special chef inspired cuisine by the wonderful John McDevitt. All proceeds support SLO County Farm Bureau!
You can purchase tickets by calling our office at 805-543-3654 or by emailing jblank@slofarmbureau.org.
Tickets are $150.00 and include a farm tour, wine, and dinner with dessert! We are looking forward to this event and hope to see you there! Please feel free to share with family and friends, it will be a wonderful evening!
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In order to obtain an Ag Pass Card, applicants meeting the eligibility criteria must attend a 4-hour in-person training. Current card holders seeking to renew must attend a 1-hour online renewal training. To register for upcoming trainings or receive emails regarding future trainings, please fill out an Ag Pass Interest Form.
In-Person Training (4 hour)*
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2026, 5-9PM, CalFire Training Center (Behind Cuesta College)
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Thursday, April 16th, 2026, 5-9PM, CalFire Training Center (Behind Cuesta College)
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, 5-9PM, Paso Robles Emergency Operations Center 900 Park Street, Paso Robles - Public Safety Center Conference Room (EOC)
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Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, 5-9PM, Paso Robles Emergency Operations Center 900 Park Street, Paso Robles - Public Safety Center Conference Room (EOC)
More Information Here
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* Spots are limited. Registration will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis, once all eligibility criteria have been met.
Online Renewal Training (1 hour)**
Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, 1PM
Thursday, May 7th, 2026, 1PM
**To register for the renewal training session, please email agpass@co.slo.ca.us, and indicate which renewal training session you plan to attend. All renewal applicants must re-meet eligibility requirements and submit a new application and waiver of liability.
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Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority Board of Directors
Charts New Path to Fund Agency
Community Invited to Public Workshop to Evaluate Fee Options
PASO ROBLES, Calif. (February 27, 2026) — The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority (PRAGA) Board of Directors voted unanimously on Wednesday, February 18, to develop groundwater management fees under Water Code Section 10730 to fund state-mandated basin management and keep the agency operational. The move is necessary to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), and will benefit, and be funded by, the public water suppliers and agricultural and commercial property owners who depend on the basin.
Water Code Section 10730 authorizes PRAGA to impose fees on certain users for basin groundwater management, and those fees must be fair and reasonable under Proposition 26.
Continue Reading Here
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Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Stage 2 Webinar Hosted by USDA CA Farm Service Agency
Details
For California Farmers and Ranchers to learn more about the USDA Farm Service Agency's Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.
- Tuesday, Mar 10, 2026
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT
- Online event
Hosted by USDA California Farm Service Agency.
Register Online & Learn More
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Cal Ag Secretary Karen Ross Highlights International Year of the Woman Farmer - California Ag Network | California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross highlighted the International Year of the Woman Farmer during the World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA; a campaign prompted by the United Nations and the CA Grown program to raise awareness and promote the essential global role women hold in the agriculture industry, from production to trade. | | | |
Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan Introduces Nitrogen Pollution Reduction Act to Protect California's Drinking Water | SACRAMENTO- Today, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan introduced the Nitrogen Pollution Reduction Act (AB 2447), sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council's Soil Health Team (NRDC). The bill requires the State Water Resources Control Board and California's regional water quality control boards to establish enforceable limits on nitrogen discharges from agricultural lands. | | | |
CDFA Awards $1.69M for Research, Outreach and Education Projects to Improve Irrigation and Nutrient Management Practices | SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) announces $1.69 million in grant funding for six projects... | | | |
House Ag Committee Starts Farm Bill Mark Up | Why is a long-term farm bill even needed with the provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill? Industry leaders explain their views on the issue. | | | |
U.S. Says Research Funding Into New Farm Practices to Surpass $1 Billion | The United States will invest an additional $200 million in research into new and sustainable farm practices, bringing the total to more than $1 billion, the government said on Friday. | | | |
Rollins pledges to keep battling high farm production costs | Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says she'll keep working to lower farm production costs and uncover what's behind a surge in input prices for American growers. | | | | |
Next Session Date:
March 12, 2026 — Wine grape IPM decisions in a challenging market (1 Hour)
Learn More Here
California Farm Bureau presents the Farm Bureau Extension: Continuing Education Series. Get ready for another year of high-quality Continuing Education designed to keep California agriculture informed, compliant, and ahead of the curve. Our 2026 CE Webinar Series will feature monthly one-hour virtual sessions (9:30–10:30 a.m.) offering DPR and CCA credits, delivered by leading experts. Subject matter experts will share information immediately applicable to your business operations and advance your professional development. CE certificates will be sent for each webinar attended after the successful completion of a simple quiz on the material.
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Navigating NRCS Programs Webinar Series
Your Road Map to Conservation Funding
For Your Ranch
NRCS conservation programs can play an important role in supporting stewardship on working lands, but understanding how to access them — and what participation requires — can feel complex. This four-part webinar series is designed to provide landowners with clear, practical information to help navigate available funding opportunities.
Register and Learn More
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Rooted in Advocacy: California Women for Agriculture Marks 50 Years | SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- In 1975, several women involved in agriculture gathered in the Coachella Valley to discuss how they could educate policymakers and consumers about... | | | |
California Freight Crisis: Wildwood Express Speaks - Interview AgNet West | Wildwood Express reveals the challenges California truckers face-regulations, costs, and driver shortages. Listen to the full interview here. | | | |
World Ag Expo® Celebrates Successful 2026 | TULARE, Calif. -- The 2026 World Ag Expo gathered attendees and exhibitors from around the world in Tulare, California, for the world's largest annual outdoor... | | | |
TFI: Tariffs Likely Slowed US Fertilizer Imports During 2025 | While fertilizer imports into the U.S. were exempt from the various tariffs instituted in 2025, the tariffs appear to have influenced nutrient imports negatively in the second half of the year. In a webinar presented by The Fertilizer Institute, TFI staff discussed the tariffs, what happened in the fertilizer industry in 2025, and what the industry could see in 2026. | | | | | | Stay alert! Did you know the past 5 years were the most destructive wildfire seasons in California history. This is a reminder that wildfires can happen at any time. Stay prepared! Be ready to evacuate early, and make sure you have a 5-minute plan to get out safely and quickly. | | |
| | A new survey of more than 500 California farmers finds that immigration raids and enforcement actions, while rarely happening on farms, fueled fear, labor disruptions and reduced production--especially for labor‑intensive crops such as strawberries and fresh vegetables. | | | |
| | Specialty Crops Acreage Reporting Deadline Approaching - California Ag Network | U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $1 billion in Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program assistance for specialty crops and sugar, commodities not covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. | | | | Check Out Your Local Farmers Market! | |
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North County Farmers Market Schedule:
Monday - Baywood 2:00pm- 4:30pm
Tuesday - Paso Robles 9:30am-12:00pm
Wednesday - Atascadero 3:00pm-5:00pm during the winter time change
Saturdays - Templeton 9:00am-12:30pm
More Information Here!
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About:
Filipponi & Thompson Drilling, Inc. has been serving the central coast from Monterey to Ventura since 1974, providing complete water systems. They specialize in drilling both Domestic and Irrigation wells. They are skilled in constructing top of the line solar and electrical pump systems, as well as submitting water samples. Filipponi & Thompson Drilling, Inc. has worked diligently to build a reputation of integrity, experience and quality customer service. The company’s motto is “No one ever lost business because quality was too high, or service too good.” Upholding these values ensures continued business, which in turn gives Filipponi & Thompson Drilling, Inc. the ability to give back to the community they cherish.
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FILIPPONI & THOMPSON
DRILLING, INC.
(805) 466-1271
Learn More Here!
| | Thank You Farm Bureau Members | | |
Renewing Business Support Members
Laurie Moore
Filipponi & Thompson Drilling
Renewing Agriculture Members
Gary Kanawyer
Canyon Creek Ranch
Renewing Associate Members
William And Shirley Bianchi Living Trust
Robert F Agee
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Strengthening California Cattle Country | A landmark investment helps UC Davis protect herds and train the next generation of food animal veterinarians. | | | |
In the Cattle Markets: Last Fall Highlighted the Cost of Price Risk and 2026 Could Be No Different | LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- In late August 2025, a producer in Arkansas looking to sell 550-pound steers in November could have purchased Livestock Risk Protection (LRP)... | | | |
Factors Slow Rotational Grazing Adoption by Producers: Simple Ways to Make It Work | Rotational grazing has many advantages from improved pasture and soil health to increased producer profitability. Yet producer adaptation of the grazing system has been slow, mainly due to increased labor costs of moving cattle often. There are simple methods to get the benefits of the system without some of the challenges, according to an extension specialist. | | | |
The Silent Threat in Your Pasture: How Anaplasmosis Is Devastating Cattle Herds | Anaplasmosis is a tick- and fly-transmitted bacterial disease that destroys red blood cells in cattle, causing anemia, lethargy, abortions, and sudden death, primarily in mature cows. Producers should work closely with their veterinarian for proper diagnosis, treatment with oxytetracycline, and prevention strategies including fly and tick control and available vaccines. | | | |
Protecting Wine From Wildfire - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST | New research explores if strengthening grape skins can reduce smoke absorption in vineyards. | | | |
Winery celebrates 25 years with tasting room renovation | Estate founded in 2001 plans yearlong celebrations and releases - Calcareous Vineyard is marking 25 years of winemaking in Paso Robles' Adelaida District with the [...] | | | |
NOTEBOOK FEATURE: Sustainable yield and safe yield: Are they comparable terms or distinctly different? | How do SGMA's "sustainable yield" and the long-established legal concept of "safe yield" align-or differ-in practice? In a January webinar presented by the Groundwater Resources Association, panelists Stephanie Hastings of Brownstein Hyatt Shrek, Eric Garner of Best Best and Krieger, Anthony Brown, a hydrologist with Aquilogic, and Derrik Williams, a hydrogeologist with Montgomery and Associates, explored the nuances of these two terms. While similar in definition, sustainable yield and safe yield serve distinct purposes in groundwater management. | | | |
Central Coast Water Board adopts new water quality permits for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant | Press release: Central Coast Water Board adopts new water quality permits for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant | | | | |
SLO County Farm Bureau Members Community Discounts:
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Talley Farm Box - SLO Farm Bureau Members Receive $15.00 off your first Talley Farms Box with Code: SLOFB
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JUSTIN Winery - SLO Farm Bureau Members Receive 20% off sitewide using code SLOFB20
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CAMBRIA Hotel-Templeton - SLO Farm Bureau Members Receive discounted booking rate
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Agricultural & Equipment Discounts
• Grainger
– Special Farm Bureau pricing on industrial/ag supplies
– Free standard ground shipping
• Case IH
– $200–$500 off eligible tractors, hay tools, balers, windrowers
• John Deere (Platinum 1 Rewards Tier)
– Commercial mowers: $200–$1,700 off
– Residential mowers: $50–$150 off
– Utility vehicles: $100–$250 off
– Tractors: $150–$250 off
– Compact construction equipment: $550–$1,400 off
• O’Reilly Auto Parts
– 5%–20% off parts & supplies
– FREE local delivery at many locations
Supplies, Home & Business Discounts
• Dunn-Edwards Paints / Kelly-Moore Paints
– Up to 30% off paint & coatings
• A4 Promotions & Incentives
– Up to 20% off select promotional & branded items
– 50% discount on licensing for CA Grown branding
Health & Emergency Services
• AirMedCare Network
– Discounted air ambulance membership coverage
• Prescription Discount Program
– Up to 75% off medications at 68,000+ pharmacies
• RespondR Emergency Alert Program
– 50% off membership for Farm Bureau members
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Travel, Vehicles & Lodging
Car Rentals:
• Avis — Up to 35% off base rental rates
• Budget — Up to 35% off base rental rates
• Budget Truck Rental — 20% off truck rentals & mileage
• Ford— $500 Cash Reward on select vehicles for active Farm Bureau Members
Hotels:
• Choice Hotels — 20% off Best Available Rate
• Wyndham Hotels & Resorts — Up to 20% off lodging
Family Travel & Entertainment:
• Great Wolf Lodge — Up to 30% off resort stays
• Theme Parks & Attractions — Discounted tickets to select attractions
Energy & Utilities
• AmeriGas Propane
– $0.05 per gallon discount
– FREE service check
– No Run-Out Guarantee
– 24-hour emergency service
Business, Labor & Financial Services
• Farm Bureau Bank
– Member banking services: loans, credit cards, savings, business accounts
• Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS®)
– $100 off annual enrollment
– 20% off FELS products, seminars & publications
Insurance
• Nationwide
– Exclusive member access to discounted insurance programs:
– Home, Auto, Farm/Ranch
– Business & Workers Comp
– Pet, Powersports, Life
| | Farm Bureau Membership Matters | | | | |
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.
| | Thank You Platinum Members | | Thank You Business Support 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. | | | | |
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