madera county farm bureau · 2019-12-12 · 2 | december 2019 madera county farm bureau madera...

By Ana Swanson and Emily CochraneDec. 1, 2019

WASHINGTON — House Demo-crats return to Washington on Monday facing a difficult choice: Should they hand President Trump a victory in the midst of a heated impeachment battle or walk away from one of the most progressive trade pacts ever negotiated by either party?

The Trump administration agreed

with Canada and Mexico on revisions to the North American Free Trade Agreement one year ago, but the deal still needs the approval of Congress. A handshake agreement with the ad-ministration in the coming days would give the Democratic caucus a tangible accomplishment on an issue that has animated its base. It could also give Democrats a chance to lock in long-sought policy changes to a trade pact they criticize as prioritizing corpora-tions over workers, laying the ground-work for future trade agreements.

Those factors have coaxed Democrats to the table at an improbable moment, when Washington is split by parti-san fights and deeply divided over an

impeachment inquiry. After months of talks, including through the Thanksgiv-ing break, both sides say they’re in the final phase of negotiations. But Demo-crats insist the administration must make more changes to the labor, envi-ronmental and other provisions before Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California will bring legislation implementing the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agree-ment to a vote.

“By any standard, what we’ve already negotiated is substantially better than NAFTA,” said Representative Rich-ard E. Neal of Massachusetts, who is heading the Democratic group negoti-

December 2019 Vol. 9, No. 12agriculture today 2020 New Laws

workshopSee 2 for Details

Madera CountyFarM Bureau

Trump’s Trade Deal Steals a Page From Democrats’ PlaybookThe president has made a trade agreement that caters to his opposition — and that’s why it stands a chance of passing Congress.

Cpr aNd First aid traiNiNg

See Page 10 for Details

By JAMES [email protected], Monterey Herald

MONTEREY – Passed on an 18-12 vote of the House Judiciary Commit-tee, the Farm Workforce Moderniza-tion Act, a bipartisan bill spearheaded by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, and five others, has been rec-ommended for a full vote of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The Farm Workforce Moderniza-tion Act is a critical, bipartisan step

forward for both our farmers and farmworkers that will help ensure the continued success of our agriculture and America,” said Panetta in a press release. “I am proud to have worked on this bill with Chairwoman (Zoe) Lof-gren and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I urge House leadership to protect our existing farmworkers and promote an enduring workforce for ag-riculture by scheduling our bipartisan bill for a floor vote.”

The bipartisan legislation, led by

Lofgren, D-San Mateo; Panetta; Dan Newhouse, R-Washington; Mike Simpson, R-Idaho; Doug LaMalfa, R-Oroville; and Mario Diaz Balart, R-Florida, is not guaranteed a vote.

“But we are hopeful it will be brought to the floor for a vote soon,” said Sarah Davey Wolman, a Panetta spokesperson.

The Farm Workforce Moderniza-tion Act would help alleviate some of the stresses faced by local agriculture

Farm Workforce Modernization Act passes House Judiciary Committee

CALENDARDecember13 Pesticide Continuing Education Workshop @ MCFB 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

23- 31 MCFBOfficeclosedin observance of holidays

January1-3MCFBOfficeclosedin observance of holidays

16 MCFB Board of Directors Meeting 1:00p.m. @ MCFB

23 CPR & First Aid Training- Spanish Session 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

24 MCFB Board of Directors MCFB 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

30 CPR & First Aid Training- English Session 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

See MODERNIZATION ACT; Page 6

See TRUMP'S TRADE DEAL; Page 8

2 | December 2019 Madera County Farm Bureau

Madera County

Farm Bureau news2019 Executive Committee

President: Nick Davis 1st Vice President: Michael Naito 2nd Vice President: Laura Gutile

Treasurer: Jennifer Peters Secretary: Scott Maxwell

Appointed by President: Steve Massaro Appointed by President: Dennis Meisner

Appointed by President: Tom Rogers Appointed by President: Jason Erickson

Directors at LargeRyan CosynsClay Daulton

Stephen ElgorriagaClay Haynes

Michele Lasgoity

Jay MahilNeil McDougaldJeff McKinneyPat RicchiutiChris Wylie

Fresno Madera YF&R Chair Cory Broad

California Farm Bureau - District 9 Director Tom Rogers

California Farm Bureau Committee Energy, Air, and Climate- Clay Daulton

Agriculture Labor- Jay Mahil, Nick Davis Federal Economy & Farm Policy- Scott Maxwell

Marketing, Organics and Food Safety- Tom Rogers Pollinator & Crop Production- Ryan Cosyns

OfficeStaff Executive Director: Christina Beckstead

Executive Assistant: Kristen Sargent

Madera County Farm Bureau 1102 South Pine Street

Madera, CA 93637 (559) 674-8871; www.maderafb.com

Advertising/Publishing Mid-Valley Publishing

1130 G Street, Reedley, CA 93654

AdvertisingSales Debra Leak (559) 638-2244

Editor Kristen Sargent

Periodical Postage Paid at Fresno, California 93706

POSTMASTER Send address changes to:

Madera County Farm Bureau 1102 South Pine Street, Madera, CA 93637

The Madera County Farm Bureau does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products

advertised in Madera County Farm Bureau.

Nick Davis,President

I’m pleased to announce for the first time in Madera County Farm Bureau’s his-tory (at least as far back as any direc-tor can remember), our Farm Bureau Board participated in a retreat. Di-rector Chris Wylie

hosted the board at his family’s cabin in Shaver Lake. The retreat was organized and moderated by Amy Wolfe, President and CEO of AgSafe. In the weeks leading up to the retreat, Amy assigned homework to each director. The assignment was to answer a series of questions about the Madera County Farm Bu-reau Organization. These questions weren’t YES, NO or multiple choice, rather, they were thought-provoking, and required critical thinking and mind-power to answer appropri-ately. Very few questions could be answered with one or two words while others required a paragraph. Amy then compiled and organized our answers for review and discus-sion at the retreat.

Our focus at the retreat was to perform a SWOT analysis, which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. As a result of this analysis, we learned and believe our organization is strong in many areas. But also learned we have several opportuni-ties for improvement, including the services we offer members, the communication platforms we use to promote agriculture and opportuni-ties to strengthen industry affiliate partnerships as we continue to fight for farmers and ranchers and their passion to farm. As difficult as it was talking about our organiza-tion’s weaknesses, the conversation painted a colorful picture of where we have been as an organization, where we are at this moment in time and where we want to be in the near future. I’m proud to have had

president’s Message

To BECoME A DoNoR CALL 674-8871

new MCFB donorsMCFB would like to thank all our members who

help support our work through their voluntary contributions for

the month of October

Karen Andrew

William D. Bates

Espino Bennett Vineyards LLC

Allen A. Cosyns

Azteca Milling/Valley Grain

To BECoME A MEMBER CALL 674-8871

NAME CITY P/C/B

new MCFB MembersMCFB welcomes the following new Agricultural (producer),

Associate (consumer) Collegiate, and Business Support members who joined in October

Western Resource Strategies Woodland B

Stefani Dias Atwater C

John T. Silva Madera P

Farm Bureau Membership

BenefitsInsurance

Nationwide Travel Insurance,Nationwide

Agribusiness,VPI Pet Insurance

News and Entertainment

AgAlert,California Country

Mag & T.V.Vehicles

Avis,Budget,

Ford,Do-It-Yourself

GraingerKelly-Moore

Paints,Dunn Edwards

Paints,Case IH,

CAT,Grainger and

Western Square Ind.,O'Reilly Auto

Parts

TravelChoice Hotels,

Wyndham HotelsBusiness ServicesAnderson Marketing,

Farm Bureau Bank,Farm Employers Laborers Service,

A4 PromotionsHealthServices

Clear Value Hearing,

Farm Bureau Prescription

Discount Program,LensCrafters,

Preferred Alliance

Contact the MCFB Office

at (559) 674-8871 or

www.maderafb com for details.

See PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE; Page 10

Madera County Farm Bureau December 2019 | 3

BUSINESS MEMBER DIRECTORYBecome a Madera County Farm Bureau Business Member

Business Support: $450/yr. Applies to any company who receives income from the local farming industry or a company who does not, but supports local farming

• Agricultural Member Voting Rights and Benefits • Eligibility to provide benefits to MCFB members • Discounted advertising in our monthly newsletter • Free job postings in our E-Newsletter • Name, phone number, and website in our Business Member directory (print and online)

ACCOUNTING

Moss Adams970 W. Alluvial Ave., Ste. 101Fresno, CA 93711(559) 432-2346www.bpfcpa.com

AGRICULTURE/FREIGHT TRUCKING

Mazon Trucking, Inc.(559) 673-1552Email: [email protected]

AG INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & SERVICES

Agrigenix403655 Brickyard Drive, Ste. 105Madera, CA 93636(559) 753-2900www.agrigenix.net

D &D Ag ServicesP.O. Box 1246 Madera, CA 93639(559) 871-2290

Fresno Equipment Company4288 S. Bagley Ave.Fresno, CA 93725(559) 486-8020www.fresnoequipment.com

G3 Enterprises Inc.502 E. Whitmore Ave.Modesto, CA 953581-800-321-8747www.g3enterprises.com

GAR Tootelian Inc.8246 S. Crawford Ave.Reedley, CA 93654(559) 638-6311gtipros.com

H.M. Holloway, Inc.12806 Road 26, Ste. 3Madera, CA 93637(559) 662-8820www.hmholloway.com

Madera Ag Supply Inc.23400 Road 24Chowchilla, CA 93610(559) 665-2300www.maderaagsupply.com

Madera County Ag Commissioner332 S. Madera Ave.Madera, CA 93637(559) 675-7876www.maderacounty.com

Pica Trade Co., Inc.www.specialtyfood.com

Star Pump Company5588 Road 16Madera, CA 93637(559) 673-2917starpumpcompany.com

NutrienFresno: (559) 233-0585Madera: (559) 674-6741www.nutrien.com

Pacific Distributing907 Helms LaneModesto, CA 95350(209) 480-2863www.orchard-rite.com

Stanislaus Farm Supply Co Inc.624 E. Service RoadModesto, CA 95358(209) 538-7070www.farmsupply.coop

TECO Hardware880 S Pine StreetMadera, CA 93637(559) 673-3504Email: [email protected]

TEP10700 Road 30Madera, California 93637www.tep-ag.com

Thiel Air Care Inc.P.O. Box 605Chowchilla, CA 93610(559) 665-7830Email: [email protected]

WiseConn Engineering4589 N. Marty Ave., Ste. 102Fresno, CA 93722(559) 326 7613www.wiseconn.com

ATTORNEYS

Sagaser Watkins & Wieland PC5260 N. Palm Ave., Ste. 400Fresno, CA 93704(559) 421-7000www.sagaserlaw.com

AUTOMOTIVE

Advanced Automotive, LLC311 S. Pine StreetMadera, CA 93637(559) 661-8744

Gill Auto Group1100 S. Madera Ave.Madera, CA 93637(559) 674-5661www.gillautogroupmadera.com

J’s Car Wash904 N. D StreetMadera, CA 93637

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION, CONSULTANTS

Tesoro Viejo Inc.www.tesoroviejo.com

TSB Ag Inc.P.O. Box 58Madera, CA 93639

COMPOST/LANDSCAPING PRODUCTS

Recology Organics(800) 208-2370www.recology.com/organics

CONSERVATION

California Farmland Trust8788 Elk Grove Blvd.Building 1, Ste. IElk Grove, CA 95624(916) 687-3178www.cafarmstrust.org

DISPOSAL & RECYCLING

Mid-Valley Disposal, LLC15300 W. Jensen Ave.Kerman, CA 93630(559) 567-0532www.midvalleydisposal.com

FARMS

Cressey RiverFagundes Fagundes FagundesForebay FarmsTF FarmsP.O. Box 2717Merced, CA 95344Email: [email protected]

Laura’s NutsLaura Gutile(559) 706-5586

Parichan Farms Inc.8344 Road 33Madera, CA 93636Email: [email protected]

Triangle T Partners LLCP.O. Box 109El Nido, CA 95317(559) 665-5319

Valley Pride Farming5 E. River Park Place E., Ste. 101Fresno, CA 93720Email: [email protected]

FARM MANAGEMENT

Agriland Farming Company Inc.23400 Road 24Chowchilla, CA 93610(559) 665-2100www.agrilandfarming.com

FIGS

California Fig Advisory Board1925 Howard RoadMadera, CA 93637

FINANCIAL

Central Valley Community Bank7100 N. Financial Dr.Fresno, CA 93720(559) 323-3472www.cvcb.com

HULLER/ PROCESSORS

Horizon Nut Company26487 N. Highway 99Tulare, CA 93274(559) 685-3663www.horizonnut.com

Sierra Valley Almonds850 Commerce DriveMadera, CA 93637(559) 661-8800svalmonds.com

INSURANCE

Foster & Parker1643 N. Schnoor Ave., Ste. 103Madera, CA 93637www.fosterparker.com

Nationwide1-877-669-6877www.nationwide.com

INTERNET

Unwired Broadband(844) 719-FAST(3278)[email protected]

PETROLEUM & PROPANE PRODUCTS

Valley Pacific Petroleum1633 E. Mineral King Ave.Visalia, CA 93292-69371-800-266-3782www.vpps.net

Van De PolP.O. Box 1107Stockton, CA 95201-1107https://vandepol.us

REAL ESTATE

Miracle Realty17073 Road 26Madera, CA 93638(559) 674-0091miracle-realty.com

SECURITY

Zaks Security1906 Howard RoadMadera, CA 93637559-673-4525

WATER, IRRIGATION & ENERGY

Aanonson Sprinkler Company19254 Golden State Blvd.Madera, CA 93637559-673-4261www.aanonsonsprinkler.com

Chowchilla Water DistrictP.O. Box 905Chowchilla, CA 93610(559) 665-3747www.cwdwater.com

Deerpoint Group Inc.1963 Independence Dr., CA 93637(559) 224-4000deerpointgroup.com

*Bold listings indicate Friend of Farm Bureau members. For information on Friends of Farm Bureau please contact our office at (559) 674-8871

interested in advertising? contact: DEBRA LEAk at Mid-Valley publishing (559) 638-2244


8798

ShreddingBurseyAlmonds • Walnuts • Pistachios • Citrus

Madera, CA(559) 352-0926

By

1504

8

Dr. Daniel Sumner of UC Davis (left) addressing the California State Board of Food and Agriculture.

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Office of Public Affairs, Planting Seeds Blog CDFA

At its monthly meeting today, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture heard a cautiously opti-mistic appraisal of agriculture’s future through 2050 from economist Dr. Daniel Sumner, director of the Agri-cultural Issues Center at UC Davis. Dr. Sumner believes that net farm income will continue to grow, even though it may experience ups and downs, and that growth specifics will hinge on the management of five key cost factors:

Labor: Because of the relatively high cost of labor in California, there is a crucial need for innovation to offset that disadvantage. Fruit and vegetable commodities that remain highly labor intensive will face challenges, although guest workers and innovation may pro-vide some relief. Commodities that can

cost-effectively manage labor intensity will be more competitive.

Water: Drought, climate change and groundwater regulation are likely to mean a decrease in water avail-able for irrigation. By 2050 effective regulations may minimize the loss of agricultural productivity and lead to a more economically sustainable water system with moderate investment in infrastructure to store and move water. Regulatory change must include innovative policy and rules to secure property rights, and markets to allow for water transfers and groundwater recharge.

Climate Change: The changing cli-mate is likely to drive changes in crop production, especially shifting locations and planting crops or varieties better suited to new climate conditions. We may also expect shifts in locations of crops globally by 2050, so California

farms may face new competition for some traditional crops and may switch to crops that had been grown previous-ly in warmer areas. We can also expect different pest pressures. Nonetheless, no unmanageable changes seem to be likely by 2050, given the close attention of researchers and growers.

Regulations: California regulations raise costs of agricultural production in California relative to some competi-tors, especially competitors in the rest of the United States and in developing countries. California agriculture may mitigate some costs of regulations, in areas like technology or land prices that fall below where they would otherwise be to accommodate higher production costs.

Research and Development: Glob-ally, farm productivity is increasingly reliant on private-sector R&D, but the role of public research and extension

remains vital in many situations. Cali-fornia has a long history of having the world’s top public agricultural research enterprise, which has delivered tan-gible benefits to California producers and consumers. Given the challenges ahead, including challenges to adapt to climate change and regulations, re-newed investment seems vital, but the

California agriculture in 2050 – where we are headed and why

By Jeannette WarnertNov 21, 2019 Source: University of California Divsion of Agriculture and Natural Resources

The ecosystem services of land-scapes in California are essential to the state's future, but many people

take them for granted.In addition to direct economic

outputs, working landscapes – farms, rangelands, forests and fisheries, to name a few – sequester carbon, capture water, support wildlife, offer picturesque views and make space for hiking, skiing, boating and other recreational activities.

Related: Calif.'s working landscape generates $333 billion in sales

“We need to put a value to eco-system services, from an economic standpoint, that incentivizes people who own and manage these land-scapes so they can continue to man-age them for everyone's benefit,” said

UC: Study shows Calif. must value ecosystem servicesWhen ecosysteM serVices haVe been Monetized, proper coMpensation can be

calculated, ensuring benefits like clean Water, fresh air and a liVable cliMate

See 2050; Page 11

See STUDY; Page 7


Jason Tikijian, Office Manager/Controller12501 Road 19, Madera, CA 93637Email [email protected]

Office 559-664-8863Fax 559-664-8221

• Orchard/Vineyard Removal• Grinding • Ripping

• All Aspects of Land Devlopment



John Yergat, President12501 Road 19, Madera, CA 93637Email [email protected]

Office 559-664-8863Cell 559-960-6791Fax 559-664-8221

Jason Tikijian, Office Manager/Controller12501 Road 19, Madera, CA 93637Email [email protected]

Office 559-664-8863Fax 559-664-8221





John Yergat, President12501 Road 19, Madera, CA 93637Email [email protected]

Office 559-664-8863Cell 559-960-6791Fax 559-664-8221 61

31

California's working landscape and the industries associated with agricul-ture and natural resources contribute significantly to the state's economy, according to a new study by the Cali-fornia Community Colleges Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research, California Economic Summit and the University of California's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“When people think of California's economy, they think of entertain-

ment, information technology and other industries. They may not think of working landscape,” said Glenda Humiston, University of California vice president, agriculture and natural resources. “People may be surprised to learn that California's working land-scape accounts for 6.4 percent of the state's economy, supports more than 1.5 million jobs and generates $333 billion in sales.”

Results of “California's Working

Landscape: A Key Contributor to the State's Economic Vitality” were announced Nov. 7 by Humiston and Karen Ross, California Department of Food and Agriculture secretary, during the Ecosystem Vitality and Working Landscapes session at the California Economic Summit at the DoubleTree by Hilton Fresno Convention Center in Fresno.

To measure the economic impact of the working landscape, research-ers from the Centers of Excellence, California Economic Summit and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources analyzed federal data associated with employment, earnings and sales income of the nine segments that are essential to the working landscape: agricultural distribution, agricultural production, agricultural processing, agricultural support, fishing, forestry, mining, out-door recreation and renewable energy.

Their analysis of 2018 data from the North American Industry Classifica-tion System showed the value of the working landscape in California comes in ahead of the health care, real estate, retail and construction industries. The top five economic drivers were gov-ernment (21.9 percent), manufactur-ing (10.2 percent), information (9.3 percent), professional, scientific and technical services (7.5 percent), and finance and insurance (6.4 percent).

The researchers found the nearly 70,000 businesses associated with the working landscape paid $85 billion to workers in 2018 and generated $333 billion in sales income. In terms of job numbers, earnings, sales in-come and number of establishments, four segments dominate: agricultural

distribution, agricultural production, agricultural processing and agricultural support.

Agricultural production provides the greatest number of jobs, more than 325,000, and generates the second highest sales income, $61 billion in 2018. Although agriculture accounts for 79 percent of working landscape sales income, it is important to note that other working landscape segments are still sizeable when compared to the

rest of the nation.In addition to evaluating the contri-

bution of the industries to the state's economy, the researchers measured the importance and impact of the nine working landscape segments by region. For example, some segments, although relatively small in terms of employment or sales income, are cornerstones of lo-cal economies and play a critical role in the livelihoods of communities.

California’s working landscape generates $333 billion in sales, 1.5 million jobs

A worker harvests peaches. Agricultural production provides the greatest number of working landscape jobs, more than 325,000 in 2018.

Although agriculture accounts for 79 percent of working landscape sales income, it is important to note that other working landscape segments are sizeable. Forestry provides more than 86,000 jobs and $23.1 billion in sales income to California.

Credit: UC ANR

See JOBS; Page 12


1501

3Next up in our CFBF series, is

Stephanie Younger. Stephanie joined the Farm Bureau team almost two years ago as the Program Director for Leadership Farm Bureau and Young Farmers and Ranchers.

Leadership Farm Bureau (LFB) is a leadership development program spon-

sored by the California Farm Bureau Federation and is the one program in Farm Bureau that is specifically designed to invest in you, the Farm Bu-reau leader. Each program and session builds upon the previous, to provide perspective and training in the areas of personal development, human behav-ior, public speaking, working with the media, political advocacy, government structure, key political issues and, of course, the Farm Bureau organization and structure.

Right now, Stephanie is working on the November session for the current LFB class. “For the first time in three years, the LFB class will be taking an out-of-state trip. We will be heading to Washington to discuss issues that im-pact both Washington and California, like trade,” said Stephanie.

What should future LFB classes look forward to? Stephanie hopes to ex-pand the program’s offerings by adding things like a class project, incorporating leadership resources, and establishing an alumni association.

On the Young Farmers and Ranch-ers front, Stephanie is getting ready to

present the Achievement Award and Excellence in Agriculture at the CFBF Annual Meeting, this coming Decem-ber 8-11, in Monterey.

Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) are active agricul-turists --between the ages of 18 and 35 and involved in production, bank-ing, business, and many other areas of the industry. YF&R develops leader-ship skills while volunteering time as active, vital members of the county Farm Bureaus. As a member of Young Farmers and Ranchers your voice will join those of your peers to speak out for agriculture. As you develop your skills and knowledge, your efforts will help Farm Bureau to effectively represent all farmers and ranchers.

The Achievement Award Program is designed to recognize those Young Farmers & Ranchers who have excelled in their farming/ranching operations and honed their leadership abilities to superiority.

The contestants are evaluated on a combination of their farming opera-tion growth and financial progress of operation, Farm Bureau leadership, as well as leadership outside of Farm Bureau. More specifically, the judges look for excellence in management, growth and scope of the enterprise and self-initiative that have been displayed throughout the operation. A contes-tant’s participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations is a definite point-getter from the judges.

The Excellence in Agriculture Award Program is designed as an opportu-nity for Young Farmers & Ranchers,

while actively contributing and grow-ing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture, to earn recog-nition. Participants are judged on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

As Stephanie put it, “we are looking for inspiring, passionate applicants who are thinking outside-the-box.”

In chatting with Stephanie, it was very clear she has a passion for her programs. “I love getting to work with future leaders, who have a passion to overcome challenges. It is reward-ing connecting them to people in the industry and resources to help them succeed.” Stephanie said with a smile, “I get to work with people who all want to be leaders, what could be better.”

Stephanie’s message to Farm Bureau members, “take the time to get to know the young people in these programs. Be a mentor, but be honest about the chal-lenges we face in this industry. These future leaders might have the answers our industry needs.”

I asked Stephanie what made her want to join the CFBF team; previ-ously she worked for the Center for Land-Based Learning as the Director of Youth Program Farms Leadership that works to connect youth to agricul-ture. According to Stephanie, “CFBF gives me the opportunity to work with young motivated leaders, plus I love the agriculture engagement – it is a differ-ent kind of fulfillment.”

For more information about Leader-ship Farm Bureau or Young Farmers & Ranchers, visit: https://www.cfbf.com/

Meet CFBF: Stephanie Younger

Stephanie Younger, Program Director for Leadership Farm Bureau and Young Farmers and Ranchers, is inspired to work with young motivated leaders.

ModerNiZatioN aCtContinued from Page 1

businesses. It addresses issues, such as labor and immigration, that affect the $4.26 billion ag industry in Monterey County where it is the top economic engine.

The bipartisan effort was negotiated over eight months with input from agricultural stakeholders and labor organizations and was introduced with the support of 26 Democrats and 23 Republicans.

Lofgren said farmworkers across the

nation are living and working with uncertainty and fear which contributes to the destabilization of farms across the U.S.

“Our bill offers stability for Ameri-can farms by providing a path to legal status for farmworkers. In addition, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act addresses the nation’s future labor needs by modernizing an outdated system for temporary workers, while ensuring fair wages and workplace conditions,” said Lofgren.


0065

48

It’s probably safe to say that you’ve thought about (or maybe it’s more ap-propriate to say ‘dreamed about’) what you will do when you retire. Play golf every day. Wine-tasting in Napa. Travel to exotic locales. But when you retire the sky isn’t always the limit. The limit will be determined by how you’ve planned and prepared for that time.

Planning for retirement isn’t easy and it’s especially difficult for self-employed individuals. They spend years and years building their business. Some may expect to sell it and live off the proceeds

into their golden years, while others may have a different transition plan in mind. Sometimes those plans actually work! But, often, a little more is involved.

The other tax-qualified retirement plans

You may be familiar with 401(k) plans. They allow employees and self-employed individuals to save without having to pay income taxes on the earn-ings (until they’re paid out). They also allow companies to take a tax deduction for contributions to the plan and you can defer your own earnings from self-

employment (or wages) before those amounts are taxed. But, did you know that there are lots of other tax-qualified plans that operate much like a 401(k) plan. Traditional, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs are options for self-employed in-dividuals as are SIMPLE 401(k), 401(a) defined contribution plans and 401(a) defined benefit plans. Each provides for tax deductible contributions, tax-de-ferred growth and taxable distributions. Individuals may also find that some plans provide flexibility in the timing and amount of contributions.

Knowing what type of plan is right will depend on a few things –

• Whether the business owner has employees other than a spouse

• What the owner’s earned income is from the business

• Whether the business’s earnings are consistent from year-to-year, and

• Whether the business owner believes the company will grow and there will be additional employees in the future

There are other ways to save but some

Options and considerations for a business owner when planning their retirement

stUdYContinued from Page 4

Stephanie Larson, UC Cooperative Extension rangeland advisor in So-noma County.

When ecosystem services have been monetized, proper compen-sation can be calculated, ensuring benefits like clean water, fresh air and a livable climate are protected for future generations.

In November, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources released a report at the California Economic Summit in Fresno on the value of California's working landscapes. The report determined the state's work-ing landscapes generate $333 billion in annual sales and 1.5 million jobs. That number does not include eco-system services.

Value probably higher“The value of ecosystem services is

probably higher than the $333 bil-lion direct economic contribution of working landscapes outlined in the report,” said Glenda Humiston, Uni-versity of California vice president for agriculture and natural resources. Humiston is chair of the economic summit's working landscape task force. “The problem is, when we don't have that quantified, it's hard to make investments to make sure those ecosystem services are main-tained.”

Humiston said that, in time, sys-tems can be developed for the public to support the ecosystem services they enjoy.

“You might have a small surcharge on binoculars,” she said. “That

money could be used to protect bird habitat so birders can go somewhere to see birds. Water districts might assess a surcharge on your water bill to pay for the forested watersheds where they are getting your water. There are many different mecha-nisms to do this. We're trying to figure out what would be the best mechanism.”

During the summit, a team of re-searchers, policymakers and industry professionals launched a new phase of work to calculate with scientific accuracy the value of ecosystem services. Larsen is a member of the leadership team, along with execu-tive director of the Central Valley Partnership Dan O'Connell and Sequoia Riverlands Trust director of pubic planning and policy Adam Livingston.

The team is working with part-ners to secure funding and technical support to integrate data sets already available from the Council of Gov-ernments' Rural-Urban Connections Strategy into an open source, state-wide system for mapping ecosystem services.

Once the tool is established, the team will be ready to pilot test it in four areas of California that provide ecosystem services.

“I love this concept,” said Kenny Spain, economic development spe-cialist with the Headwaters Fund in Humboldt County and a member of the task force. “It's a valuable tool.”

See OPTIONS; Page 12


8858

trUMp's trade deaLContinued from Page 1

ating with the administration. “Labor enforcement, in my judgment, is the last hurdle.”

A spotlight on the people reshaping our politics. A conversation with voters across the country. And a guiding hand through the endless news cycle, telling you what you really need to know.

The deal presents a dilemma for Democrats because it contains mea-sures they have supported for years, from requiring more of a car’s parts to be made in North America to rolling back a special system of arbitration for corporations and strengthening Mexi-can labor unions.

In borrowing from the Democrats’ playbook, the revised pact reflects Mr. Trump’s populist trade approach — one that has blurred party lines and ap-pealed to many of the blue-collar work-ers Democrats once counted among their base. It also reflects a broader backlash to more traditional free trade deals, which have been criticized for hollowing out American manufacturing and eliminating jobs.

“Taken as a whole, it looks more like an agreement that would’ve been negotiated under the Obama admin-istration,” said Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio and a former trade representative during the George W. Bush administration, who supports the pact. “There are some aspects to it that

Democrats have been calling for, for decades.”

In fact, it goes so far to the left of traditional Republican views on trade that some congressional Republicans only grudgingly support it — or may vote against the final deal.

Senator Patrick J. Toomey of Penn-sylvania, one of the most ardent Re-publican critics of the deal, has called the pact “a complete departure from the free trade agreements we’ve pursued through our history” and urged fellow Republicans to vote it down.

“If we adopt this agreement, it will be the first time that I know of in the history of the Republic that we will agree to a new trade agreement that is designed to diminish trade,” Mr. Toom-ey said at a hearing in July, sitting next to a large red sign that said: “NAFTA > U.S.M.C.A.”

Still, most Republicans have sup-ported the pact and urged rapid action. If the deal is not approved soon, propo-nents fear it could become the target of more frequent attacks by Democratic presidential candidates, making it even more difficult for Democrats in Con-gress to vote for the pact.

Mr. Trump has spent weeks accusing Ms. Pelosi of being “grossly incompe-tent” and prioritizing impeachment over a trade deal that could benefit workers. “She’s incapable of moving it,” Mr. Trump said last week, warning that a “great trade deal for the farm-ers, manufacturers, workers of all types,

including unions” could fall apart if the Democrats don’t take action.

President Trump sought to blame Ms. Pelosi, warning that a “great trade deal for the farmers, manufacturers, workers of all types, including unions” could fall apart if Democrats don’t act.

While long demonized by Mr. Trump, Democrats and labor unions, NAFTA has become critical to com-panies and consumers across North America, guiding commerce around the continent for a quarter century. Entire industries have grown up around the trade agreement, which allows goods like cars, avocados and textiles to flow tariff free among Canada, Mexico and the United States.

But Mr. Trump and other critics have blamed the deal for encouraging companies to move their factories to Mexico. The president has routinely called NAFTA the “worst trade deal ever made” and promised during his campaign that he would rewrite it in America’s favor — or scrap it alto-gether.

The revised pact took over a year of rancorous talks to complete, resulting in a complex 2,082-page agreement covering a wide range of topics. While much of it simply updates NAFTA for the 21st century, it also contains changes intended to encourage manu-facturing in the United States, includ-ing by raising how much of a car must

be made in North America to qualify for zero tariffs.

The new agreement requires at least 70 percent of an automaker’s steel and aluminum to be bought in North America, which could help boost United States metal production. And 40 to 45 percent of a car’s content must be made by workers earning an average wage of $16 an hour. That $16 floor is an effort to force auto companies to ei-ther raise low wages in Mexico or hire more workers in the United States and Canada, an outcome Democrats have long supported.

It also rolls back a special system of arbitration for corporations that the Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has criticized as al-lowing companies to bypass the Ameri-can legal system and Trump adminis-tration officials describe as an incentive for companies to send their factories abroad.

The pact also includes, at least on paper, provisions that aim to do away with sham Mexican labor unions that have done little to help workers by requiring every company in Mexico to seek worker approval of collective bargaining agreements by secret ballot in the next four years.

Some Democrats are skeptical that the Mexican government will allocate the necessary funds to ensure that

See TRUMP'S TRADE DEAL; Page 9

Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that a deal on the new North American trade pact was close, but that a vote on it could slip into next year.Credit...Erin Schaff/The New York Times


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companies are complying with these changes. But if the rules are enforced, Democrats say they may help stem the flow of jobs to Mexico and put Ameri-can workers on a more equal footing.

Several sticking points remain, including a provision that offers an advanced class of drugs 10 years of protection from cheaper alternatives, which Democratic lawmakers say would lock in high drug prices.

Other Democratic proposals aim to add teeth to the pact’s labor and envi-ronmental provisions. Democrats want to reverse a change made by the Trump administration that they say essentially guts NAFTA’s enforcement system. They are also arguing for additional resources that would allow customs of-ficials to inspect factories or stop goods at the border if companies violate labor rules.

Mr. Neal told reporters late last month that he believed House Demo-crats could soon work out their dif-ferences with Robert Lighthizer, Mr. Trump’s trade representative.

“Labor enforcement, in my judgment, is the last hurdle,” said Representative Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, who is heading the Democratic group nego-

tiating with the Trump administration over the trade deal.Credit...J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press

Ms. Pelosi, who has continued to suggest that she wants to “get to yes” on the deal, responded to Mr. Trump’s rebuke last week by saying that she needed to see the administration’s commitments in writing before moving forward.

The agreement still has skeptics, including labor leaders and others on the left.

“Unless Donald Trump agrees to add stronger labor and environmental standards and enforcement, and secures progress on labor reforms in Mexico, NAFTA job outsourcing will contin-ue,” said Lori Wallach, the director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch. “And the Big Pharma giveaways Trump added must go: They make U.S.M.C.A. worse than NAFTA.”

But Democrats say that if the ad-ditional changes they are seeking get made, the deal would be more progres-sive than the original NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership — both of which were negotiated by Democratic administrations. Mr. Trump pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership within days of taking office.

Jesús Seade, Mexico’s chief negotiator for the United States-Mexico-Canada

Agreement, said many tweaks Demo-crats want are “improvements.”

“If the amendments suggested are ac-ceptable improvements, then there’s no reason we should not be shaking hands next week,” he said on Friday, after meeting with Canadian officials.

Some congressional Republicans, who generally oppose unions and be-lieve the deal’s new rules could burden auto companies, have been taken aback by how far the administration has gone to woo Democrats.

At a private lunch on June 11 at the Capitol, Republican senators peppered Vice President Mike Pence with ques-tions about why the administration was not lobbying Democrats harder to back the deal. Mr. Pence claimed that it already had the support of 80 Demo-crats, a high number that caught some Republicans by surprise, according to a person familiar with the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“What’s in it for Pelosi?” asked Sena-tor Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska.

Mr. Pence responded that the pact had the most aggressive labor and au-tomotive standards ever put in a trade agreement — an admission for some Republicans in the room that it was the worst trade agreement they had been asked to support.

Jennifer Hillman, a trade expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, said many of Mr. Lighthizer and Mr. Trump’s views on trade “are basically borrowing what Democrats have said for many, many years.”

“To the extent that Trump gained votes in the industrial Midwest, it was by espousing Democratic trade ideas,” she said.

Throughout the negotiations, Mr. Lighthizer has kept up a steady dia-logue with labor unions like the United Steelworkers and Democrats like Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Neal and Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio. At times, Mr. Light-hizer appeared more at odds with con-gressional Republicans and traditional allies like the Chamber of Commerce, who he said should give up “a little bit of the sugar” that had sweetened trade agreements for multinational corpora-tions.

“If you can get some labor unions on board, Democrats on board, main-stream Republicans on board, I think you can get big numbers,” Mr. Light-hizer said in January 2018. “If you do, that’s going to change the way all of us look at these kind of deals.”


Todd FitchetteFeeding damage in almonds can occur from nearly all life stages of the Brown marmorated stink bug. The insect is known to enjoy a wide horticultural host range that includes many crops produced in California.

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Office of Public Affairs, Planting Seeds Blog CDFA

What started as a nuisance pest in big cities is now causing crop damage in California

Todd Fitchette | Nov 11, 2019 Western Farm Press

A relatively new insect known to cause feeding damage in peaches and almonds is expanding its territory throughout the state, according to an entomologist with the University of California.

Mostly seen as a nuisance pest throughout the United States and in places like downtown Sacramento, the Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) can cause feeding damage on develop-ing fruits and nuts, mostly from March to July, leading primarily to nut drop in almonds from March to May, says UC Integrated Pest Management Adviser

Jhalendra Rijal.Though the bugs can be found in

great populations in urban and subur-ban areas, their existence is largely a nuisance in those cases since they are not harmful to humans or pets, though they can produce a malodorous chemi-cal.

Particularly troublesome to agricul-ture, adults and all immature stages, except the first instar, can actively feed on developing fruit, leading to severe damage, Rijal says. Because they have a wide plant host range, control can be difficult.

The University of California reports that the BMSB is known to feed on over 100 different host plants in Asia, including tree fruit, vegetables, shade trees and leguminous crops. Elsewhere in the United States where the pest is well-established it is known to actively

feed on stone fruit, lima beans, pep-pers, tomatoes, field corn, soybean, blueberries, grapes and pecans. Its wide host range coupled with an absence of natural enemies makes the pest one of concern throughout agricultural and within urban landscapes.

Identifying the insect can be tricky because other stink bug species look similar, Rijal says. Adult BMSB are about one-half to two-thirds of an inch long, and unlike other stink bug spe-cies, have white band marking on their antennae and legs.

Bugs can be collected for identifica-tion. Simply collect them in a sealed container, note where the insects were found, and deliver it to the local Coop-erative Extension office for identifica-tion.

Typical population spikes happen

from summer into fall. The pest will infest late season hosts before overwin-tering in a variety of locations, includ-ing under the peeling bark of older or dead trees, or in homes. Insecticides can help control the pest, though they are largely more effective on over-wintering generations than summer generations.

First detected in Pennsylvania in the late 1990s, widespread economic loss spanning the Mid-Atlantic states was reported in 2010. The pest is now established in 16 California coun-ties, including much of the northern half of the San Joaquin Valley. Several Sacramento Valley counties including Glenn, Butte, Sutter, Yolo and Sacra-mento also have established popula-tions. Detections have been confirmed across southern California, except for Imperial County, where to date they have not been found.

Brown marmorated stink bug spreads in california

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61prognosis is uncertain at best. This may mean that more of the R&D effort will shift to private funding and industries unwilling to support such effort will fall behind. The good news is that Califor-nia is well suited to embrace food and farm trends and anticipate complex customer demands.

Dr. Sumner states that these five fac-tors will affect all industries and regions to varying degrees and will drive the supply side of California agricultural adjustments between now and 2050, and he believes that overall demand for California Ag products will re-main strong as long as income growth continues and consumers continue to make specific choices based on diet and on-farm practices.

2050Continued from Page 4

Brain German Ag Net WestNOVEMBER 8, 2019

The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is mov-ing quickly on implementing lighting requirements for agricultural operations working at night. The concept for up-dating nighttime regulations for light-ing dates back to 2014, but the rule has been making progress quickly with only 15 days allowed for public comment.

“We can expect to see this before the Standards Board for final approval either end of this calendar year/begin-ning of 2020, in which case this will be the law of the land,” said AgSafe President and CEO Amy Wolfe. “Best case scenario, this standard takes effect July 1 of next year, so this is our reality next harvest.”

The lighting requirements define nighttime hours as the time between

when the sun sets and when the sun rises. The new rule lats out three spe-cific rules for agricultural employers to follow: the provision of Class 2, high-visibility garments to employees, ensur-ing employees are wearing the provided clothing, and the provision of appropri-ate lighting to be defined by working conditions. Along with the lighting standard, the proposed rule also re-quires a particular training session to be performed every time employees are deployed into a field at night.

The rule for lighting requirements calls for a ten footcandle area of lumi-nation when employees are working around equipment. The requirement also dictates that employees will need to be provided with a personal light source such as a headlamp to ensure conditions meet the lighting threshold in the event they move out of range from the fixed lighting equipment.

Wolfe noted that employers should begin preparing now for the types of equipment they will need to invest in, such as lighting, clothing, and methods for measuring light.

“Employers now have to be able to read light. Just like with the heat standard, we have to have a mechanism to show that we can take temperature,” said Wolfe. “You need to be buying a

light meter that’s either made by Davis, Sper, or Extec, because now you’re using the same equipment that Cal/OSHA enforcement will be using.”

Wolfe also noted that the light me-ters will need to have a range between 50,000 and 400,000 lumens, “with some additional maximum-resolution and basic accuracy parameters.”

New Lighting Requirements for Agriculture Arriving by Next Harvest


Taylor Hillman, Ag Net WestNOVEMBER 11, 2019 ENVIRONMENT, FUNDING

The agriculture industry believes the allocations for the exploration into a chlorpyrifos alternative in California are inadequate. The Department of Pes-

ticide Regulations (DPR) has dedicated $2.1 million and a taskforce to finding substitutes for growers who use chlor-pyrifos in their farming operation. The chemical is scheduled for deregistration at the end of 2020.

California’s new budget has addition-

al funding to the effort, totaling around $5 million. Still, Western Agricultural Processors Association’s Director of Regulatory Affairs Jodi Devaours said that investment and timeline are just simply not enough. “Anyone who knows anything about what it takes to bring a new chemistry online knows that there are tens-of-millions of dol-lars that go into an individual product,” she said. “Also, there are years of studies and tests that need to be done to go through the federal process.”

That timeline lengthens out, even more, when you take into account California regulations. Devours said, of course, it’s positive to see those funds going into research, but a systematic change is needed in the duration of the process. “There really needs to be an evaluation at the state level as to how we can expedite these registra-tions, making sure they go through the proper channels, but making sure they get to the farmers a little bit quicker,” she said.

Chlorpyrifos Alternative Funding and Time Not Enough

optioNsContinued from Page 7

JobsContinued from Page 4

might be more practical than othersThere are some time-tested savings

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The Los Angeles/Orange County region, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Joaquin Valley have the greatest concentration of jobs for agricultural distribution, agricultural processing, agricultural support, mining and renewable energy. The San Joaquin Valley leads in agricul-tural production, followed by the Central Coast. Los Angeles/Orange County has the most forestry, fishing and outdoor recreation jobs.

This report does not include eco-nomic values for ecosystem services provided by California's working landscape such as clean water, nutri-tious food and a livable climate, or intangible goods that contribute to human well-being, such as rec-reation, aesthetic inspiration and cultural

To read the report “California's Work-ing Landscape: A Key Contributor to the State's Economic Vitality,” visit http://ucanr.edu/WorkingLandscape. A one-page executive summary is available at http://bit.ly/2WTA7Vz.

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