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San Luis Obispo County Agriculture News

February 10, 2025

www.slofarmbureau.org

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 Last Thursday we got the chance to host Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Farm Bureau Executive Directors at our office in SLO for a meeting with Karen Morrison, the CA Department of Pesticide Regulation(DPR), Chief Deputy Director and Science Advisor! We feel fortunate to make these connections and be able to better help our communities and members when it comes to pest management and regulations.




The SLO County Farm Bureau Team


This Week In SLO County Agriculture

In This Week's Issue:

  • Community: Save The Date - 22nd Annual Crab Feed at the Paso Robles Event Center
  • Local Government: Paso Robles City Council Appoints New Planning Commissioner 
  • State Government: Congressman Says Trump's Tariffs Hurt California Businesses and Farmers
  • Federal Government: AFBF President Duvall Shares Agriculture Challenges with Senate
  • Environmental: 2025 Agricultural Vehicle, Equipment, and Infrastructure Survey 
  • Produce: Study Finds Skyrocketing Cost of Regulatory Compliance for California Lettuce Growers
  • Labor: Effect of California Immigration Crackdown on $2B Citrus Harvest 
  • Business Member Spotlight: Astound Business Solutions
  • Thank You Farm Bureau Members
  • Featured Member Benefit: O'Reilly Auto Parts
  • Livestock: Bird Flu Drives Egg Prices Up, No Relief in Sight 
  • Vineyard and Wine: BlendFest on the Coast : February 20th-23rd 
  • Water: 'This is a lifesaver': Rain Assists Local Farmers as Regional Drought Continues
  • Fire: California Community Wildfire Protection Plan Webinar
  • Farm Bureau Membership Matters

February 3rd Most-Read

  1. ‘Trump's Coming’: California Farmworker Groups Rattled by Threatening Postcards
  2. Nipomo battery storage facility near Highway 101 will soon be completed
  3. President Trump Overturns Electric Vehicle Mandate
  4. Bonipak Mourns Cornerstone, Co-Owner Patrick Ferini
  5. Chamber announces winners of Roblan of the Year, Beautification of the Year
  6. Separating Fact from Fiction in California’s Ag Industry
  7. ‘California drops 'Clean Fleets' ban on diesel trucks
  8. Trump wants to break California’s sanctuary state law: 5 things to know
  9. FDA escalates Walmart broccoli recall to highest threat level: Risk of 'death'
  10. Artificial intelligence is bringing nuclear power back from the dead — maybe even in California

SLO County Farm Bureau Calendar of Events:

  • February 10th - Farm Bureau Women Monthly Meeting at Cowboy Pizza in Templeton at 10:30am, RSVP to Jeanne Myers at r4mranch@aol.com
  • February 11th - SLO Young Farmers and Ranchers Meeting & Social at Etto Pasta in Paso Robles - Please RSVP HERE!
  • February 12th - SLO County Farm Bureau Sportsman Raffle Calendar - 1st Drawing of the Month
  • February 21st - Adelaida Farm Center Monthly Meeting, Social, and Potluck at 6:00pm
  • February 22nd - 22nd Annual Crab Feed at the Paso Robles Event Center
  • February 25th - SLO County Farm Bureau Board Meeting - 5:00pm at the SLO County Farm Bureau Office - Please RSVP!
  • February 28th - SLO County Farm Bureau Sportsman Raffle Calendar - 2nd Drawing of the Month

Community: Save The Date - 22nd Annual Crab Feed at the Paso Robles Event Center


Join us on Saturday, February 22nd at 4:00pm at the Paso Robles Event Center for an All You Can Eat Crab Feed supporting the SLO County Foundation for Agriculture Awareness, Inc. and The Heritage Foundation.


Tickets can be purchased from Devon Pitts by calling 805-674-3771 or emailing devonpitts13@gmail.com. 

UC Master Gardeners host free workshop on seeds, irrigation in Paso Robles

Workshop will cover seed selection, growing seedlings, and transplanting them into a garden - The UC Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County will host [...]

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State Farm requests 22% emergency rate hike for California homeowners

If the increase is approved by the California Department of Insurance, the rate change will be effective upon renewal on or after May 1.

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Local Government: Paso Robles City Council Appoints New Planning ommissioner

Former Paso Robles city manager receiving more than $360k in settlement agreement with City

Paso Robles' former city manager will receive more than $350,000 as part of a mutual settlement agreement with the city.

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Paso Robles City Council appoints new planning commissioner

Mark Koegler reappointed, Sharon Roden selected after five applicants interviewed - The Paso Robles City Council has reappointed Mark Koegler to the Planning Commission and [...]

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State Government: Congressman Says Trump's Tariffs Hurt California Businesses and Farmers

California Assembly approves $50M to defend immigrants and protect state policies from Trump plans

California's Democratic-dominated Assembly endorsed up to $50 million in funding Monday to defend the state's progressive policies against challenges by the Trump administration.

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Congressman says Trump's tariffs hurt California businesses and farmers

Trump delays tariffs after widespread criticism from business leaders - President Donald Trump announced a delay in implementing 25% tariffs on imported goods from Canada [...]

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California Farm Bureau stands with agricultural workers and farmers, calls for workforce stability amid reported concerns

Read the latest press releases from the California Farm Bureau Federation, covering news on California agriculture and family farms.

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Federal Government: AFBF President Duvall Shares Agriculture Challenges with Senate

AFBF President Duvall Shares Agriculture Challenges with Senate

America's farmers and ranchers need a new, modernized farm bill, a strengthened farm safety net, and open trading markets. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall traveled to the Capitol to emphasize those priorities to the Senate Agriculture Committee today as he testified in the hearing

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Upcoming Deadline for USDA's Latest Census of Agriculture Subset Survey

Producers of specialty horticulture products have until February 14th to reply to USDA's latest Census of Agriculture subset survey focused on

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Trump says he will announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs

President Donald Trump said he will announce on Monday that the United States will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada and Mexico.

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NASDA Sets Federal Policy Priorities for 2025 - AgNet West

NASDA has announced its top five policy priorities for 2025. The organization's Board of Directors selected these key issues to guide their ..

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Environmental: 2025 Agricultural Vehicle, Equipment, and Infrastructure Survey 

PG&E using the help of A.I. to position crews near potential power outages during storms

PG&E is using A.I. technology and it's helping crews know where to be before the storms hit on the Central Coast

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Sunshine starts off the week ahead of a late-week atmospheric river

Inches of rain is headed our way, starting Wednesday and through Friday we can expect a large scale strong system.

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2025 Agricultural Vehicle, Equipment, and Infrastructure Survey 

The Air Resources Board (CARB) and California Energy Commission are working with California Farm Bureau on the 2025 Agricultural Vehicle, Equipment, and Infrastructure Survey. 


This survey will continue to support incentive programs and air quality planning efforts at CARB and can help inform energy and infrastructure planning at CEC and CPUC for future electrification needs across the state. The 2025 agricultural survey covers all on-road vehicles and off-road agricultural equipment of all fuel types, including electric equipment used by producers in the field, custom operators, and first processing facilities. 


Receiving accurate and representative data across the state and from different commodities is critical to painting the right picture for CARB and others about energy needs. The data will be modeled by the Energy Commission and then used by utilities for future planning around grid upgrades. Be prepared. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes and requires input of your equipment, etc. 


Results from the previous survey informed the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars of subsequent incentive funding across California, including state, federal, and regional incentive programs. As before, all of the data is anonymous and confidential. Identifying information will never be seen by a government body. A Spanish version of the survey will be available in January. 

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Produce: Study Finds Skyrocketing Cost of Regulatory Compliance for California Lettuce Growers

Ag Alert - Study Finds Skyrocketing Cost of Regulatory Compliance for California Lettuce Growers

During the past seven years, the cost to California lettuce growers of complying with the state’s environmental, labor and food safety regulations has increased by a whopping 63.7%

Read More

Valent Midwinter Strategies for Managing Pests and Weeds in Orchards

January is the time when orchard growers are preparing for the season ahead. Valent Field Market Development Specialist Todd Burkdoll provides

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AgroLiquid Expert Discusses Fertilizer Budgeting and Long-Term Crop Management

In a recent interview, Dylan Rogers, a sales account manager for AgroLiquid in California, shared insights on fertilizer budgeting and long-..

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'Eggs are my business': Egg shortage impacting local breakfast restaurants

Local café owners say they've had to find creative solutions to keep up with the rising cost of eggs.

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California Avocado Harvest for 2025 - Avocado AgNet West

The California avocado harvest for 2025 is projected to reach 375 million pounds, marking the largest crop since 2020. This optimism is driven

Read More

Almond Update: Almond Board Secures Additional Funding to Boost Global Market Development

The Almond Board of California has secured an additional $6 million in federal funding from the second round of the USDA RAPP program. This ..

Read More

Labor: Effect of California Immigration Crackdown on $2B Citrus Harvest

Widespread Workforce Disruptions Not Observed - AgNet West

Despite reports of unease among farm workers in California, the California Farm Bureau has not observed widespread workforce disruptions. The

Read More

Labor groups sue over the dismantling of USAID

Labor organizations have sued the federal government on behalf of foreign service workers over the gutting of USAID.

Read More

Effect of California immigration crackdown on $2B citrus harvest? Here's what experts say

A United Farm Workers video on social media shows workers picking oranges as the harvest continues.

Read More

Business Member Spotlight: Astound Business Solutions


A Proven Partner for Businesses Nationwide


As a national telecommunications provider, Astound keeps businesses connected with dependable fiber infrastructure and advanced solutions that are delivered over a diverse, carrier-grade network that we own and maintain, providing the speed, bandwidth and reliability businesses need to support their growing data demands.



Learn More Here!


Astound Business Solutions

711 Tank Farm Rd

Suite 210

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

805-548-8000

Thank You Farm Bureau Members

New Business Support Agricultural Members

Old Creek Ranch Inc

Renewing Business Support Agricultural Members

Connor Whiteford (Whiteford Ag)

Renewing Agriculture Members

Total Telco Specialists Inc

Jill Heely

Oceano Packing Co

Tyson Davis

James Spitzley

French Camp Vineyards

Peter Orradre

New Collegiate Members

Samantha Albiani

SLO County Farm Bureau Business Support Member List

Featured Member Benefit: O'Reilly Auto Parts

Welcome Farm Bureau members!


Farm Bureau members in California can save anywhere from 5-20% on select parts they use everyday 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 not just general automotive, but fleet and heavy duty parts as well to cover every piece of equipment on your farm or ranch.



Members can obtain the account number by calling their local county Farm Bureau office or via the member help line at 800-698-3276. The discount may also be applied to online orders at O’Reilly’s professional customer website, firstcallonline.com, by Farm Bureau members who have established an account at their local O’Reilly Auto Parts store.


Learn More Here!

Livestock: Bird Flu Drives Egg Prices Up, No Relief in Sight 

CattleFax Forecasts Continued Strong Demand and High Price Outlook for Cattle Producers

The popular CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, shared expert market and weather analysis .......

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Bird Flu Drives Egg Prices Up, No Relief in Sight

The cost of eggs in the United States has surged in recent months, largely due to the ongoing bird flu outbreak that has led to the culling of

Read More

Vineyard and Wine: BlendFest on the Coast : February 20th-23rd

Ep 120: Not Your Usual Wine Tour - Toasting Tin City featuring Toast Wine Tours | Giornata Wines | Etto - Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance

🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we're exploring new ways to experience Paso Robles beyond the tasting room. Adam sits down with Kristina Horton, owner of Toast Tours, who is redefining how visitors sip and explore Paso with guided wine tours, insider experiences, and ...

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BlendFest on the Coast : February 20th-23rd

Experience a taste of Paso Robles Wine Country on the beautiful California coast. Paso Robles BlendFest on the Coast will take place Feb. 20-23 in San Simeon and Cambria with a selection of exciting events. Paso Robles’ winemakers love to blend wine, mixing varieties to craft something unique and delicious. BlendFest celebrates rule-breaking, traditional, and unconventional wine blends throughout the weekend.


Blendfest is the only event dedicated to blended wines. The event showcases the scenic beauty of the coast with the renowned wines of Paso Robles.

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Water: 'This is a lifesaver': Rain Assists Local Farmers as Regional Drought ontinues

'This is a lifesaver': Rain assists local farmers as regional drought continues

As the ongoing drought continues, the rain has assisted farmers in the county who are growing crops in the winter season.

Read More

Newsom orders more water for California farmers and towns

Gov. Newsom has ordered officials to store more water for "people and agriculture." Meanwhile, Trump's tariffs may hit California wallets.

Read More

DAN WALTERS: Colorado River poses another California water conflict that Trump will affect

By Dan Walters, Cal Matters President Donald Trump's intrusion into California's long-running conflict over water management - essentially favoring farmers over wildlife habitat - has drawn massive media and political attention. Trump ordered federal water managers to release more water for farmers but the increased flows have so far been largely symbolic because farmers use little water during the winter but need more during the growing season.

Read More

New Farmer-Focused Survey Reveals Barriers to Sustainable Groundwater

FRESNO, Calif. -- Ten years after the historic passing of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the results of a new survey conducted by a cross-campus...

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Fire: California Community Wildfire Protection Plan Webinar

Introducing the California Community Wildfire Protection Plan Webinar on Tuesday, February 18th at 3:00pm

The California Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Toolkit is now available on the CAL FIRE website. The California CWPP Toolkit provides important guidance and resources for communities to develop and implement CWPPs across the state.

Read More

Newsom wants to speed up a delayed rule to make California homes more fire-resistant

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will order state officials to advance implementation of a state rule aiming to make homes more fire resistant during wind-driven wildfire after years of delay.

Read More
 

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.

Join or Renew Your San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau Membership

Thank You Platinum Members

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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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