Cal/OSHA Releases Third (and Most Likely Final Proposed Revision of Indoor Heat Illness Standard | |
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By Bryan Little, Farm Employers Labor Service and CFBF
Cal/OSHA Releases Third (and likely Final) Proposed Revision of Indoor Heat Illness Standard: The long and winding journey (since 2017) of Cal/OSHA's proposed indoor heat illness standard seems to be nearing its end with the release of December 22 of a third revision to the proposal with a 15-day comment period ending January 12, 2024. The sole proposed revision is a tweak to the exposure exemptions in the regulation's scope definition. The change initially seems to exempt work locations in vehicles with air conditioning, or shipping or intermodal containers during loading or unloading operations, but only if employees are exposed to heat in excess of 82 degrees Fahrenheit for less than 15 minutes and any 60 minute period but less than 95 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. Since it is likely that the interior of a parked vehicle or a shipping container will likely exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit, this change offers little regulatory relief for employers who will have to comply with this standard. FELS' parent organization, California Farm Bureau, will offer comments expressing concern about this overly narrow scope exemption. The Standards Board is expected to approve the Indoor Heat Illness Standard at its March 2024 meeting, and the regulation could be effective as early as the Spring of 2024.
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This Week In SLO County Agriculture | |
Community: California Farm Bureau Scholarships due February 15th | |
California Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation- Applications due Feb. 15th | This scholarship is renewable with a completed application each year. To be eligible for the Rustici Livestock and Rangeland Scholarship, students must be attending or entering a two-year or four-year college or university and intend to pursue a career with a focus on rangeland management, with an emphasis towards cattle and sheep ranching in conjunction with good rangeland practices. | | | |  |
SLO Ranch Farms is getting very close to its grand opening | A highly anticipated project in San Luis Obispo is nearing completion and several local businesses are gearing up to finally move in. | | | |
County Government: SLO County Board of Supervisors to Hold Special Meeting on Tuesday Jan. 16th at 6pm | |
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SLO County Board of Supervisors to Hold Special Meeting on Tuesday Jan. 16th at 6pm
The Board of Supervisors will be holding a special meeting to conduct a study session to review the proposed County Ordinance to create a County of San Luis Obispo Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission. Additional Item Documents for the meeting can be found here.
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A Paso Robles mayor's look ahead for 2024 * Paso Robles Press | As we close 2023 and turn to see a new year before us, a significant task to make Paso Robles a better place to live, work, and play for early 2024 will be planning our city’s next two-year budget. | | | | |
Atascadero Mayor's Vision for 2024 * Atascadero News | The Atascadero News is your daily online news source and the only printed newspaper dedicated to Atascadero, since 1916. | | | |
State Government: California Farm Bureau Responds to State Budget Plan | |
California Farm Bureau Responds to State Budget Plan | SACRAMENTO -- California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass commented on the budget plan announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday. The plan maps out a... | | | | |
Newsom unveils plan to cut California climate funding | Facing big deficits, the governor has proposed taking a bigger chunk out of climate programs - about 7% - and spreading the funds over seven years. | | | |
Federal Government: Congressional Leaders Ready Stopgap Bill to Extend Government Funding | |
California U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Laphonza Butler and Bipartisan Colleagues Call on Ag Committee Leadership to Address Long-Term Drought in Farm Bill | California U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Laphonza Butler and Bipartisan Colleagues Call on Ag Committee Leadership to Address Long-Term Drought in Farm Bill | | | | |
Congressional leaders ready stopgap bill to extend government funding | The temporary measure will run to March 1 for some federal agencies whose approved funds are set to run out Friday. | | | |
Business Member Spotlight:
American Riviera Bank
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True Community Banking
What does True Community Banking mean? It means matching our expertise with yours to find solutions for your unique needs.
Get to know American Riviera Bank and everything we believe in. At ARB, you will find:
- Knowledgeable banking experts with products and services to support your unique needs,
- Trusted neighbors, active in your community, and
- Forward-thinkers who support you with valuable tools and resources.
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Produce: Demand Grows for Organic Produce, Despite Inflation | |
Demand grows for organic produce, despite inflation | |
The prospects for organic produce remain strong in these inflationary times, according to leaders of some of the largest grower-shipper operations.
Market strength varies, however, depending on which commodities growers are trying to sell.
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"Our blueberry cultivars are bred for innovation and grower success" | In partnership with the renowned University of Georgia (UGA) Horticulturist Scott NeSmith, California Berry Genetics developed a blueberry seedling program. NeSmith was the head of the UGA... | | | |
Labor: DPR License Renewal Backlog | |
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DPR License Renewal Backlog
The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is currently working through a backlog of individual and business license renewal applications. You may visit the Department’s Renewal Season 2023 webpage to learn more about when your renewal application may be processed.
DPR lists the batch of applications that licensing staff are currently processing, based on the week in which the payment transaction of the application occurred. For example, if your check to pay the application fee for a business license renewal cleared during the week of December 4th, 2023, your application is in the batch being reviewed.
DPR also lists the batch of individual exam applications under review based on the week in which the payment transaction of the application occurred.
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Wildfire: Insurance Crisis: Californians Could Benefit From New Bill | |
Prescribed burns near Atascadero and Santa Margarita scheduled this week | Prescribed burns are scheduled to take place on two trails in San Luis Obispo County beginning Monday. | | | | |
State utility regulator again puts off PG&E settlement over state's 2nd largest wildfire. Here's what's at stake | The majority share of $40 million would be directed to be spent internally on digitizing PG&E's records. | | | | |
Insurance Crisis: Californians Could Benefit From New Bill | California homeowners could benefit from a new federal bill that would create a public reinsurance program for natural disasters. | | | |
Thank You Farm Bureau Members | |
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Renewing Agricultural Platinum Member
JB Dewar, Inc.
Renewing Agricultural Business Support Members
Carson Britz and American Riviera Bank
Renewing Agricultural Members
Grey Ranch, Tony Costa, Hugh Dohi, Johansing Farm LLC, and Mark Fugate
Renewing Associate Members
Patricia Knudson and Joe Dillard
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Featured Member Benefit:
O'Reilly Auto Parts
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Farm Bureau members in California can save anywhere from 5–20 percent off on select parts they use every day such as brake pads and rotors, filters, batteries, belts, hoses and many more commonly replaced automotive and equipment parts. O’Reilly Auto Parts offers a great selection of general automotive, fleet and heavy-duty parts to cover every piece of equipment on your farm or ranch. Enjoy free delivery within a 5 mile radius of your local O’Reilly Auto Parts store and free access to their professional customer website www.firstcallonline.com for parts lookup and ordering, vehicle specs, TSB documents, etc. Use the California Farm Bureau account number to purchase your product. O’Reilly Auto Parts offers cash on delivery, daily charge, weekly charge and monthly charge accounts depending on your individual needs | |
Livestock: Egg Shortages Rise as Millions of Chickens Lost to Bird Flu in California | |
Egg shortages arise as millions of chickens lost to bird flu in California | The Central Valley has lost over a million egg laying chickens in a month and a half. | | |
Farm flock losses climb as avian flu outbreak spreads | Until recently, California poultry farms were largely immune from the impacts of the avian influenza virus, which severely impacted farms in states such as Iowa, America’s largest egg producer. But recent outbreaks at commercial poultry farms in Merced and Sonoma counties have stoked fears of a worsening spread in the Golden State. | | | | |
California grizzlies were smaller in size and not the livestock killers reported in historical accounts, study says | A team of biologists, historians, and Earth and environmental scientists affiliated with multiple institutions in the U.S. has found evidence that contradicts historical accounts of the size and feeding habits of the now-extinct California grizzly bear. | | | |
Vineyard and Wine: January Vit Tech Seminar: 2023 Vintage Recap & Lessons for the Future on January 18 | |
Water: Commentary: Can California Reject a 'Scarcity Mindset' on Water? | |
Commentary: Can California reject a 'scarcity mindset' on water? | During a 2022 press conference outside a desalination plant under construction in Antioch, Gov. Gavin Newsom signaled a potential tectonic shift in how California addresses its water challenges. In a hopeful sign, Newsom said Californians need to move “away from a scarcity mindset to one more of abundance.” | | | | |
Grover Beach City Council members threatened with recall attempt | Upset at the Grover Beach City Council for voting to raise water and wastewater rates to help fund the city's portion of a water reclamation... | | | |
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. | |
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!
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