The following information is provided as a service to VCAILG members.

News and Updates March 1, 2021

Comment period closing March 4 Last week's VCAILG newsletter provided an update on the Conditional Waiver renewal and the one-year extension that is being proposed through the issuance of a draft order (if you missed it, you can access a copy of the newsletter here). As was covered in the newsletter, a one-year extension of the current Conditional Waiver means that individual, edge-of-field sampling requirements could be triggered for certain growers as watershed-specific Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) compliance dates come due and are not yet being achieved at the representative water quality monitoring site. VCAILG will be submitting a comment letter in response to the draft order and include a request to delay implementation of individual sampling requirements in the one-year extended Waiver due to COVID-19 impacts affecting the agricultural community, as well as to allow the time necessary to reevaluate the program and develop effective, efficient alternatives in the next full-term Conditional Waiver. It's important that the Regional Board hear from individual growers as well, particularly concerning how COVID-19 has affected your farming operation. Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 pm on March 4, and can be submitted electronically to Snejana Toneva at snejana.toneva@waterboards.ca.gov. Oral public comment may also be provided during the April 8 Regional Board meeting.   VCAILG is available to assist any agricultural representative in developing their comments, and can provide a comment letter template and list of talking points on request. Please email Jodi Switzer at Jodi@farmbureauvc.com if you're interested in receiving these resources.

Upcoming education events Nitrogen Management Plan Self-Certification Training Webinar Hosted by: VCAILG

Date/Time:

This training program will be split into two sessions.   Tuesday, April 6     9:00 am - 12:00 pm and Wednesday, April 7  9:00 am - 12:00 pm Attendees must participate in both sessions to receive education credit and qualify to take the online certification test (attendees will have 24 hours after the second session concludes to complete the test). Each session will open 30 minutes early, at 8:30 am, to allow attendees to test their connection and access to the GoToTraining webinar link.

Growers are invited to participate in a Nitrogen Management Plan (NMP) training, to acquire the credentials needed to develop self-certified plans for their farms. The Conditional Waiver requires that growers in Responsibility Areas (RAs) subject to nutrient Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) that are not yet met, or where nutrient benchmark exceedances have been detected, develop an NMP. The map below identifies the RAs where this requirement applies and indicates the associated color-coded deadline for developing the plan.

Two additional RAs were added to the NMP implementation schedule as part of the October 2020 Water Quality Management Plan update: RA 11 (McGrath Lake Coastal) and RA 16 (Boulder Creek). Both are shown in green with a deadline of the end of April 2021. Note: This workshop is intended for growers, and their representatives, who are looking to learn more about nitrogen management planning and/or intend to self-certify their plans. If you are only looking to fulfill the annual 2-hour continuing education requirement, we will announce additional education opportunities soon.   Agenda here   **6 Hours of VCAILG CEUs pending Regional Board approval.

Register Here

BMP funding assistance programs The Ventura County Resource Conservation District (RCD) is currently accepting applications the following programs:

IIMRLN Provides FREE soil moisture monitoring equipment FREE expert irrigation and fertilizer planning assistance Get FREE Nutrient Management Plans Apply at https://www.vcrcd.org/iimrln

CCWAMMP Irrigation, Nutrient, and Sediment Project Incentives Covers 60%-90% of Project Costs Focus Area is Calleguas Creek Watershed Apply at  https://www.vcrcd.org/ccwammp

For more information on either of the programs, including how participation can help growers meet BMP and Nitrogen Management Plan requirements, contact Jamie Whiteford at 805-764-5132 or jamiewhiteford.vcrcd@gmail.com. For more information on the assistance programs offered through NRCS, including a free conservation plan developed specifically for your farm or ranch, contact Dawn Afman, District Conservationist, at (805) 984-2358 x101 or by email at dawn.afman@usda.gov.

Contact Information If you have questions, contact:    Jodi Switzer or Griselda Barrera (habla Español) Email: vcailg@farmbureauvc.com  Phone: (805) 289-0155

Background on the Conditional Waiver

In April 2016, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted a Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Irrigated Agricultural Lands, which will be in effect until April 14, 2021. Education is a cornerstone of the Ag Waiver program. All owners or operators of irrigated agricultural lands are required to attend at least 2 hours of water quality education annually. One of VCAILG's primary responsibilities is to connect our members with educational opportunities and to report member attendance to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.    To better coordinate and offer a wider range of classes/trainings/workshops/events, an Education page on the Farm Bureau website lists all approved and planned education opportunities. The  Education page will be updated regularly when registrations open, new classes become available, and locations, dates and times are confirmed. Please use this one-stop tool to plan which classes best meet your and your staff's educational needs. As listed on the page, you will find that a number of regular workshops hosted by University of California Cooperative Extension and other partners will now provide VCAILG education credit.    Although joining VCAILG is voluntary for Ventura County commercial farmers, compliance with the Conditional Waiver is mandated by the state, which can fine property owners who don't comply. If you do not join VCAILG, you may alternately choose to file as an individual and work directly with the Regional Board (contact Snejana Toneva at (213) 576-7159 or snejana.toneva@waterboards.ca.gov) to fulfill the Conditional Waiver requirements.    In 2006, VCAILG was established to help you and your fellow growers and/or landowners comply with this regulatory program in the most cost-effective way. Managed by Farm Bureau of Ventura County, VCAILG helps you comply with the regulations by conducting water-quality monitoring on your behalf, contracting with labs and field crews, and preparing and submitting all required documents and reports. Your compliance cost is reduced by sharing program expenses with other members. Although your annual program assessment still represents a significant business expense, we have calculated that it would cost you more than 60 times as much to comply as an individual.

If you appreciate the cost-saving service Farm Bureau provides you through its management of the VCAILG program, we encourage you to become a dues-paying member of the organization. You can learn more about our many other programs, services and activities on our website. To learn more about joining Farm Bureau, contact membership coordinator Cheri Iadevaia at (805) 289-0155 or cheri@farmbureauvc.com.

VCAILG Steering Committee Edgar Terry, Chairman I Craig Held I Jesse Gomez Paul DeBusschere I Mike Friel I Jurgen Gramckow I Gus Gunderson John Mathews I Jason Cole I Kelle Pistone I Rob Roy I Jared Bouchard  Craig Underwood I Mike Sullivan I John Krist   Staff Griselda Barrera I Jodi Switzer I Ashli Desai I Amy Storm VCAILG | (805) 289-0155 | 5156 McGrath St., Ste. 102 | Ventura | CA | 93003