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MADERA COUNTYFARM BUREAU

Business Member Profi le0

March 2011 Vol. 1, No. 5

Rain & cold worry almond growers

Page 11

March8 MCFB Board of Directors Meet-

ing, 12:00 p.m., MCFB Ben Hayes Hall, 1102 South Pine Street, Madera (559) 674-8871, info @ www.maderafb.com

15 - 17 MCFB Scholarship Inter-views, 6:00 p.m., MCFB Confer-ence Room, 1102 South Pine Street, Madera (559) 674-8871, info @ www.maderafb.com

17 MCFB Worker Pesticide Safety Training, English Session-7:30 a.m., Spanish Session-12:30 p.m., Madera District Fair – Women’s World, 1850 W. Cleveland Ave. Madera, Please RSVP to (559) 674-8871 by Thursday, March 10, 2011. info @ www.maderafb.com

April5 Executive Committee Meeting,

4:00 p.m., MCFB Conference Room, 1102 South Pine Street, Madera (559) 674-8871, info @ www.maderafb.com

CALENDAR

March 2011 Vol. 1, No. 5March 2011 Vol. 1, No. 5AGRICULTURE TODAY

See Conference; Page 2

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REGIONAL CONFERENCE A GREAT SUCCESSSpecial report for MCFB Today

The most pressing agricultural issues facing farmers today were discussed in-depth at the Madera Farm Bureau’s 7th annual conference held on February 25th at the Madera Community College Center. From high-speed rail, water, solar, politics, air quality, and estate taxes, no issue seemed to be left uncovered by the assembled panel of experts.

Featured speaker Roelof van Ark, Chief Executive Offi cer of the California High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), was the main draw for many in attendance. The proposed 800-mile long high-speed rail (HSR) route connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco runs prominently through the San Joaquin Valley, creating great concerns for farmers and communities alike. While admitting that “we haven’t done enough” in terms of outreach to calm the fears generated by the project, van Ark insisted HSR is compatible with agriculture and cites high-speed train corridors around the world where farmers work the land right up to the rails. van Ark also stated the project would take only 20 acres per linear mile, or 16,000 acres for the entire project, challenging recent public statements from some agricultural representatives that 40,000 plus acres of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley alone would be destroyed by the advanced transportation project. van Ark added that the HSRA is “starting up” an agricultural

working group to improve communications with the agricultural community and promised a better understanding of agriculture’s issues and concerns.

Politicians were well represented at the conference and Congressman Jeff Denham of California’s 19th District was very clear with his feelings about the high-speed rail project, “If it’s not on time, not on budget, and not off our ag land, we don’t need it.” Denham added he would much rather see those transportation dollars spent on Highway 99 improvements that are desperately needed, immediately helping agriculture’s transportation needs. Denham added that he has been inundated with work since taking offi ce in January and his biggest priority right now is working on the national budget, but statewide issues such as water and immigration remain very

much on his radar.Newly elected California State Senator

Anthony Cannella of the 12th District also is very concerned with water issues and discussed the many problems associated with California’s water infrastructure built three decades ago for a then-population of 18 million people. Cannella hopes to use his position as the Republican Chair of the Agricultural Committee to bring this issue and others facing Valley residents to the attention of leaders in Sacramento. Like Denham, Cannella considers budgetary matters his “number one priority” but described his joining a bi-partisanship collection of State Senators and Assemblymen known as the “Valley Caucus” as one way to bring local issues such as regulatory requirements and Williamson Act concerns to the state capitol.

Local politicians were in attendance at the conference as well, with welcoming comments by Madera County Supervisor Frank Bigelow and Madera Mayor Pro Tem Brett Frazier setting the tone for the day’s speakers as they discussed their concerns over agriculture in Madera County. Frazier’s remarks included publicly advocating his position on high-speed rail by saying he favored the A-2 line that would parallel the Union Pacifi c rails through the city of Madera as a means of preserving farmland.

Water, which has been the centerpiece

MCFB RIDES CREST OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY“Wanted to tell you how much I liked the

online streaming of your conference. I had planned to go up but unfortunately got tied up…the online viewing was great!”Ryan JacobsenCEO/Executive Director,Fresno County Farm Bureau

The Madera County Farm Bureau’s

annual regional conference not only enlightened and informed those in attendance but also used today’s most advanced technology to bring the conference to the World Wide Web. The MCFB contracted with BusinessStreetOnline.com to stream audio and video live to web users during the February 25th conference, allowing those

who were not able to travel to the Madera Community College Center to watch the program on-line. MCFB also had the Fresno-based media company produce an audio/video archive of the conference that will allow farm bureau members and the general public to view the individual presentations at a later date by visiting the MCFB website at http://www.maderafb.com.

2 | March 2011 Madera County Farm Bureau

Madera County Farm Bureau News New MCFB Members

Farm Bureau Membership Benefits

InsuranceAllied Insurance, Health Net,

Nationwide Agribusiness, State Compensation Insurance Fund,

VPI Pet Insurance

News and EntertainmentAgAlert, California Country Mag & T.V.

VehiclesDodge Trucks, Vans and SUV’s, Vehicle Rentals,

Avis, Budget, Budget Trucks, Hertz

Do-It-YourselfGrainger, Kelly-Moore Paints,

Dunn Edwards Paints

TravelChoice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels

Business ServicesAnderson Marketing, Farm Bureau Bank,

Farm Employers Laborers Service, Land’s End Business Outfitters

Health ServicesClear Value Hearing,

Farm Bureau Prescription discount program, LensCrafters, Preferred Alliance

Contact the MCFB Office at (559) 674-8871or www.maderafb.com for details.

2010 - 2011 Executive CommitteePresident: Tom Rogers

First Vice President: Tom ColemanSecond Vice President: Al Sheeter

Treasurer: Michele LasgoityAssistant Secretary: Michael Naito

Immediate Past President: Jim Erickson

Directors at LargeMathew Andrew

H. Clay Daulton

Craig Farmer

Jay Mahil

Jeff McKinney

Dino Petrucci

Kole Upton

Robert Cadenazzi

Stephen Elgorriaga

Carl Johnson

Neil McDougald

Dennis Meisner

California Farm Bureau - District 9 Director Cathie A. Pierce

California Farm Bureau CommitteePolicy Recommendation – H. Clay Daulton

Air & Environmental Issues – H. Clay Daulton

California Farm Bureau Commodity Representatives

Bee – Ryan CosynsBeef – H. Clay Daulton

Grape – Jay MahilSpecialty Crops – Tom Rogers

Office StaffExecutive Director: Julia D. Berry

Executive Assistant: Normalee G. Castillo

Madera County Farm Bureau Agrigulture Today

1102 South Pine StreetMadera, CA 93637

(559) 674-8871; www.maderafb.com

Advertising/PublishingMid-Valley Publishing

1130 D Street, Reedley, CA 93654

Advertising Sales Cheri Williams(559) 638-2244

Editor Normalee G. Castillo

(USPS 324-600)Periodicals

Postage Paid Madera, CA 93637 And Additional Mailing Offices

Subscription Rates:50 Cents a year for members

Annual dues: $72/$200 per yearSingle copies: 10 cents

POSTMASTERSend address changes to:

Madera County Farm Bureau1102 South Pine Street, Madera, CA 93637

The Madera County Farm Bureau does not assume responsibility for

statements by advertisers or for productsadvertised in Madera County Farm Bureau.

Presidents MessageIt’s March already, and

this year is really moving fast. To be kind, this has been interesting weather. On Sunday, February 27, I had a 28° reading in the almonds, and that was the day after a heavy downpour. I’m not sure what to expect next. I suppose if I did know, I would worry more about that, than not

knowing.We just had our regional conference at the City

College campus on Avenue 12. If you missed it, video will be available on our website: www.maderafb.com . It was a great conference. Our speakers were interesting and informative, and it was well covered by the media. Thank you to all of our speakers and thank you to our sponsors who make it possible to put on this event.

A worker pesticide safety training meeting will be held Thursday, March 17, at the Women’s World building at the fairgrounds. Please RSVP to the office so we know how many will be attending. The cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The English session begins at 8:00 a.m. and concludes at 12:15 p.m., and the Spanish session runs between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Two hours of continuing education credits have been approved for this meeting. Be sure to RSVP and to mark your calendar for that day.

Also coming up on April 14th, Madera Farm

Bureau will host a heat stress training class. The Spanish session will be in the morning and an English session in the afternoon. Certificates of participation from State Fund Compensation will be given to document safety and health training.

The annual growers meeting of the Madera Irrigation District is coming up on March 10 at 11:00 a.m. at Hatfield Hall. They will be covering the 2011 water supply outlook, the Prop 218 election process, winter flooding impacts, San Joaquin River Restoration Program and the water banking project. Lunch will be provided. Call to let them know you will be coming.

And while you’re marking events down on your calendar, put down Sunday, May 1st, that’s the day of our annual Scholarship Winetasting Event….great wine, great food and a great time. Tickets will be $50 again this year.

Something to ponder: With money being talked about in the millions, billions and trillions, this might help put into perspective just how much each of these are. Think about those numbers in terms of seconds. One million seconds is 11 days, 13 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds. A billion seconds is 31 years, 251 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes, and 28 seconds. One trillion seconds is 31,688 years, 269 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 40 seconds. Remember these numbers the next time somebody talks about a billion or a trillion dollars and then think about spending a dollar a second and how long it would take you to do it.

Tom Rogers

NAME CITY P/C

Karla Houweling Madera PEvelyn Martinez Madera CLiet Tran Oakhurst CLester Vanvelson Ahwahnee C

MCFB welcomes the following new voting (producer),

sustaining (consumer) and business support members who

joined in January & February:

TO BECOME A MEMBER CALL

674-8871

of the MCFB’s annual conventions for the past several years, was once again a subject of focus on the day’s agenda. John Broeske, Executive Director of Families Protecting the Valley, spoke at length about successful efforts to bring attention to non-agricultural contributors to the decline of Delta water quality such as pollutants generated by Sacramento’s wastewater treatment plant. Broeske’s comments were complimented by remarks by Kings County Farmer Jim Verboon outlining possible solutions to the Delta’s problems and the challenges of moving Delta water to farmers in the Central Valley

Efforts to control air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley were discussed by Dee Dee D’Adamo, Law Member of the California Air Resources Board. D’Adamo brought news about both the problems and solutions in the fight for local air quality improvement. D’Adamo praised efforts in the agricultural arena to improve air quality such as the decline in ag burning and addressing diesel pumps concerns but said there is certainly “more to do.”

A newer issue facing agriculture is the installation of solar projects on farmland and Madera County Planning Director Norm Allinder joined with Jeff Roberts, Vice President of Granville Homes, to discuss the impacts of such ventures. Allinder described how a new application to install the green technology on a local dairy farm is leaving Madera County’s current position on solar installations in question in terms of the Williamson Act. Roberts provided a developer’s perspective as his company, Granville Homes, is developing a major solar complex in Kern County utilizing ag land that cannot be farmed due to water restrictions.

The conference ended on a positive note with attorney Ken Fransen of Bolen Fransen LLP discussing estate planning opportunities that are now available. Describing the new federal tax legislation that was passed at the end of last year as “the estate tax amnesty bill of 2010,” Fransen laid out several unprecedented options that will be available for the next two years, allowing family businesses such as farming and ranching operations to structure their succession plans to optimize current tax saving benefits.

Madera County Farm Bureau Executive Director Julia Berry was excited by the dynamic presentations by all the speakers, “No one else in the San Joaquin Valley is cohesively addressing relevant agricultural issues like the Madera County Farm Bureau. We feel that this is our duty to our members and the community we serve.” Berry added that the conference certainly lived up to its title, “Changing Times: The Future of Central Valley Agriculture.”

CONFERENCEContinued from Page 1

Madera County Farm Bureau March 2011 | 3

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Let’s Not Waste FoodBy Stewart Truelsen

If you were a finicky eater as a child, you probably remember your parents admonishing you to eat everything on your plate because there was a poor child somewhere in the world who would surely love to trade places with you. This didn’t make the meal any more appetizing; it just made you feel guilty.

There is still guilt attached to wasting food, more so than wasting water or energy. However, most food waste is unintentional; it’s not like littering.

One of the problems is that refrigerators are larger today than generations ago and many families have freezers to store large amounts of food. We also shop at warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club where groceries are sold in larger packaging. We’re stocking more food than ever before and don’t get around to eating all we bought.

Leftovers get pushed to the back of the refrigerator and aren’t recognized again for days or weeks. Even in our pantries, there comes a day of reckoning when outdated cans and jars have to be thrown out.

But food waste is not just a personal issue. It occurs at all levels of the food chain, from farm to retail, and it’s been a concern for millennia. After Jesus miraculously fed the five thousand with just five loaves and two fishes, his disciples took baskets to gather up the broken pieces that were leftover so nothing would be wasted.

In biblical days, the needy were also allowed to glean the fields of any grain left

behind during harvest. Gleaning is still a practice today on a number of farms. Last year in Fulton County, Ohio, Farm Bureau member Tom O’Neill organized a harvest of 250,000 pounds of excess carrots for donation to food banks across the state. The effort was supported by 120 volunteers and provided more than 19,000 meals for local families.

In San Francisco, there is a movement to “re-plate” food. Unwanted sandwiches or similar items are wrapped and left on top of the city’s covered trash receptacles for the homeless to pick up.

America’s food abundance tends to make wasted food seem inconsequential. It isn’t. At the same time, activists have seized on the issue as another example of what they think is wrong with our food system. That’s not true.

By some estimates, a quarter or more of food ready for harvest in the United States goes uneaten. Some of this is unavoidable due to bad weather, but farmers do what they can to minimize losses. Many restaurants are cutting back on wasteful salad bars and buffets. Supermarkets waste less food than we might think, but what about us? One study found that consumers are the single biggest contributor with 40 percent of food waste occurring in the home.

Maybe our parents were right all along. There are hungry people who could benefit from the food we waste and throw away.

Stewart Truelsen is a regular contributor to the Focus on Agriculture series and is author of a new book marking the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 90th anniversary, Forward Farm Bureau.

Fresno County Blossom Trail opens

Fresno County‘s blossom trail is officially open. The county Farm Bureau and other groups sponsor the annual event, which provides information so tourists can view the fruit and nut orchards in bloom. Organizers say the best time to see the blooms is between the end of February and the middle of March. When in bloom, orchards provide a colorful display. Those blossoms become the fruit and nuts consumers purchase and enjoy later in the year.


Robert D. BishelLarry Stanford

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New MCFB DonorsMCFB would like to thank all of our members who help support our work

through their voluntary contributions for the months of January & February.

Changes to diesel rules give options to truck ownersBy Dave KranzCFBF Communications/News Division

Recent changes to state air-quality regulations governing diesel trucks have given farmers and ranchers more time to qualify trucks for the agricultural provisions of the rules, and more options for complying if their trucks don’t meet the mileage limits for agricultural trucks.

“If you’ve reported before, you’ll be a step ahead. But if you did not report before, you can still do it,” said Cynthia Cory, director of environmental affairs for the California Farm Bureau Federation, during a seminar on the truck rules at last week’s World Ag Expo in Tulare.

The California Air Resources Board originally adopted its truck and bus rules in 2008, requiring owners of diesel trucks qualifying for the agricultural provisions to report their trucks by March 31, 2010. But last December, the ARB adopted a number of changes to the regulations—including an extension of the application date for agricultural trucks until March 31, 2011.

“If you did not sign up before, you can still sign up,” Cory said. “As long as you owned those trucks by 2009, and you didn’t sign up by last year, you can still sign up agricultural trucks.”

Qualified agricultural trucks have

additional time to meet requirements to replace diesel engines with newer, cleaner-running models—if they stay under annual mileage limits. The rule delays the compliance date until Jan. 1, 2017, for agricultural trucks:

• With engine dates of 2006 or newer, driving 25,000 miles a year or less;

• With engine dates of 1996 through 2005, driving 20,000 miles a year or less;

• With engine dates earlier than 1996, driving 15,000 miles a year or less.

The extension continues until Jan.1, 2023, for agricultural trucks driven less than 10,000 miles a year. Compliance is also delayed until 2023 for what the ARB calls “specialty agricultural vehicles,” including cotton module movers, water trucks, livestock feed trucks, trucks that exclusively supply agricultural aircraft, and lettuce harvest trucks with self-loading beds. These specialty vehicles do not have mileage limitations but they must be used for these specific purposes.

Trucks qualified for the agricultural provisions must also display an “AG” marking on both doors.

“The idea is for everyone, by 2023, to be driving 2010 engines in California,” Cory said.

That goes for non-agricultural trucks as well, she said, adding that the rule changes

adopted last December provide additional flexibility for owners of trucks that cannot meet the agricultural provisions to comply. The ARB said the amendments would “reduce overall compliance costs by about 60 percent as California recovers from the recession.”

According to the ARB, the amendments exempt about 150,000 lighter trucks from having to retrofit with particulate filters and delay the initial compliance date for retrofitting heavier trucks, allowing them to operate another eight years before being required to meet 2010 emissions standards.

Farm Bureau’s Cory said the changes to the overall truck rule could be useful for farmers, ranchers and agricultural business owners whose trucks might not meet the mileage limits for agricultural trucks.

“Before, most (owners of agricultural trucks) couldn’t even use it,” she said, “but now I’m hoping with that new flexibility, if the ag rule doesn’t work for them that maybe the other part of the truck rule will.”

Full information about the diesel truck rules may be found on the ARB website at www.arb.ca.gov/dieseltruck.

Meanwhile, the board has begun contacting owners of agricultural trucks who registered their vehicles with the ARB last year. Letters from the ARB to those truck owners were due to begin arriving as early as last week, Cory said. These letters will confirm that ARB received the information previously sent and ask for clarification if there were any uncertainties, she said.

By March 31, the ARB said, agricultural fleets “must report information about qualifying vehicles including odometer readings from Jan. 1, 2011.” Paper reporting forms may be downloaded from the ARB website and an online reporting

system has been established at www.arb.ca.gov/trucrsreporting.

“With ag, you have to report because (agricultural trucks) have low-mileage provisions and they have to verify that you’re staying under the mileage,” Cory said. “Every year on Jan. 1, after you get up after your New Year’s celebration, ARB would like you to go out that morning and read your odometer on your trucks, because it’s supposed to be a Jan. 1 odometer reading for the ag mileage.”

In future years, the March 31 reporting date will move up to Jan. 31.

The ARB has also created new compliance rules for logging trucks, requiring owners to begin reporting by January 2012 and to phase in use of 2010 engines beginning in 2014. Logging trucks must also display the “AG” label on both doors.

In addition, the board established provisions for diesel trucks operated exclusively in regions of the state that have attained air standards for nitrogen oxide. In these so-called NOx exempt areas, located in northern and coastal counties, implementation of the regulations has been delayed until 2014 and all engines must have particulate filters by 2016.

“And you have to put an NE sticker on the truck or you have to have a GPS unit, so they can prove you’re not going out of that NOx exempt area,” Cory said.

Earlier this month, the ARB began conducting training workshops to help owners of agricultural trucks comply with the diesel truck rules. The workshops continue through early March at sites around California. A full list of locations, dates and times may be found at www.arb.ca.gov.

(Dave Kranz is editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at [email protected].)

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Summit explores the new realities facing agricultureBy Kate Campbell Assistant Editor

After scrutinizing a host of issues facing California agriculture, organizers of the first California Ag Summit narrowed the list to the three most challenging topics—water, politics and future trends. About 200 farmers, ranchers, business leaders and policy experts heard presentations last week on what these issues mean for California crop production.

Speaking to attendees at the University of California, Davis, Conference Center, summit chairman and environmental attorney Anthony Van Ruiten of Sacramento said the challenges agriculture faces “extend beyond the industry to the education of consumers about what we do. Future trends are not just influenced by demand for specific commodities or land prices, but by trends that influence consumers and what they buy, how they buy it and how that translates to the farm gate.”

In addressing the topic of a changing and dynamic political process, California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger noted that influencing the perceptions of elected officials starts with reaching out to them, bringing them to the state’s farms and ranches, and showing them what goes into growing crops and caring for the land.

Referring to passage of Proposition 2, a 2008 ballot measure that addresses confinement of certain farm animals,

Wenger said, “What that tells us is that the people who are very concerned about where their food comes from and the cost of that food, are the people backing political efforts to change farming practices, often without having spent much time on a farm.

“That situation creates an opening for us,” Wenger continued. “It’s not about who is a Democrat or who is a Republican. It’s not about convenient political alliances. It’s about who wants to understand the issues and constructively work toward solutions.”

He said a disconnect between agriculture and elected officials and consumers creates misunderstandings and ultimately—through poorly conceived laws and regulations—drives up the cost of food for people.

Joining Wenger in a discussion of California’s changing political landscape and the risks for agriculture were Arnie Riebli, an egg farmer from Sunrise Farms in Petaluma, and Modesto egg farmer Jill Benson. Benson said her family’s company, JS West, and other egg producers are seeking ways to comply with Proposition 2—doing so in the face of potential criminal penalties, regulatory uncertainty and the need to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in new facilities.

“The language of the proposition doesn’t provide any specific guidelines for cage size and stocking densities,” Benson said. “Jurisdictional responsibility also is

unclear. We’re working with the California Department of Food and Agriculture now to develop specific regulations, but the compliance deadline is only a few years away.”

Speaking on the future of water in California, State Water Resources Control Board Chairman Charlie Hoppin provided a personal perspective on California water history.

“Although I’m considered a regulator today, when this gig is over, I will return to farming,” said Hoppin, who grows rice in Yolo and Sutter counties.

He said his family arrived in California about 1849.

“They were concerned about starvation. In fact, when they arrived at the Columbia Gorge after following the Oregon Trail, most in their party had scurvy,” Hoppin said. “When they got to California there wasn’t any developed water. They impounded water to grow food and communities were able to survive and grow.”

Hoppin pointed to major projects like the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project for much of the state’s past prosperity. A growing population places

greater pressure on the environment, he said.

“If agriculture and the state are going to flourish in the future, it will require innovative, original thought and a high level of cooperation,” Hoppin said.

The challenge to produce enough food to feed a global population estimated to grow to more than 9 billion persons during the next 50 years will be a greater task than at any other time in human history, said Maureen Mazurek, director of corporate responsibility/sustainability for Monsanto Co.

And demand for food is just part of the challenge, she said. Farmers must at the same time manage environmental impacts and climate change, along with conserving natural resources to improve lives throughout the world.

Global futurist and author Jack Uldrich pointed to emerging technologies that will change the future of agriculture, including information technology, genomics, synthetic biology, robotics and nanotechnology.

Noting that agriculture has always been adept at applying the latest advances in technology to improve both yield and productivity, Uldrich predicted that incorporating these emerging technologies into cultural practices will require looking at the world and farming in a different way.

“Sustainability won’t just be another buzzword in 2020,” he said, “it will be a way of life.”

In addition to the California Farm Bureau and the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, members of the summit organizing committee included representatives from the law firm Best Best and Krieger, Simplot Grower Solutions, Monsanto Co., Union Bank, Ag Seeds Unlimited, Wilbur Ellis, Moss Adams LLP, the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, California Cattlemen’s Association, and Meta Research and Marketing.

(Kate Campbell is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at [email protected].)

California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger speaks to the first California Ag Summit.


With great sadness, the Madera County Farm Bureau memorializes the death of Barbara Pitman, long time Board Member of the Madera County Farm Bureau and a friend to many. Barbara died peacefully at her home on February 14, 2011. Barbara was a third generation Madera County farmer and served faithfully on the Madera County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for fi ve years, including two terms as Treasurer on the Executive Committee. Barbara, a great lover of the outdoors, was always quick with a smile and a pleasant word and her presence will surely be missed. A memorial service was held in February in Madera. Remembrances may be made to the Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA, 22203-1606; or the Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, P.O. Box 9032, Fresno, CA 93790.

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Worker Pesticide Safety TrainingThursday, March 17, 2011

Madera District Fair – Women’s World(1850 W. Cleveland Ave.)

Please Call (559) 674-8871 to RSVP Please RSVP by: Thursday, March 10, 2011

$10 in advance; $15 at the door

Continuing Education credits have been requested

AGENDAEnglish Session7:30 - 8:00 am Registration 8:00 - 8:45 am Melissa Cregan, Ag Commissioner’s Office – Employer Requirements 8:45 - 9:15 am Jose Guillen, Pistoresi Ambulance – Field Level First Aid 9:15 - 9:45 am Tony Serrano & Joe Miller, CA Highway Patrol - Road Safety 9:45 - 10:15 am Christi Moran, State Fund Workmen’s Compensation - Tractor Safety Practices 10:15 - 10:30 am Break 10:30 - 11:30 am Jason Contreras, Pesticide Safety Training 11:30 - 12:15 am TBD, Methamphetamine Lab Detection and Control

Spanish Session12:30 - 1:00 pm Registration 1:00 - 1:45 pm TBD, Methamphetamine Lab Detection and Control 1:45 - 2:15 pm Jose Guillen, Pistoresi Ambulance, Field Level First Aid 2:15 - 3:15 pm Roger Kerneur, CA Growers Lab - Pesticide Training 3:15 – 3:30 pm Break3:30 - 4:00 pm Tony Serrano & Joe Miller, CA Highway Patrol – Road Safety 4:00 - 4:30 pm Sal Espino, State Fund Workmen’s Compensation – Tractor Safety Practices

Growers and their employees who handle pesticides are urged to attend. Topics will include farm safety, pesticide safety practices, methamphetamine lab detection, road safety, protective clothing and equipment, and field level first aid i.e. bee stings, heat stress, etc.

WE HAVE APPLIED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR PRIVATE APPLICATORS, PCAS, QALS AND CCAS FOR THE SESSIONS. EPA BLUE CARDS

WILL BE ISSUED FOR BOTH THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON SESSIONS.

www.maderafb.com cemadera.ucdavis.edu

Settlement on pumping delta water reachedBy Ching LeeAssistant Editor

A settlement has been reached between the state and federal governments, farmers, water contractors and environmental groups to allow more water to be pumped through the delta this spring while still providing protection to the delta smelt.

The temporary agreement, approved last week by U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger, lasts through June and applies to the current water year only. It gives state and federal operators of the delta pumps an interim plan for delivering water to San Joaquin Valley farms and Southern California cities while federal scientists work to revise a new regulatory plan on delta pumping that protects the tiny fi sh.

In December, Wanger invalidated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s regulatory plan, also known as a “biological opinion,” for restricting water exports without adequate scientifi c justifi cation and ignoring avoidable impacts on the

economy. Federal regulators are now developing a new biological opinion.

Since Wanger’s ruling did not establish a new pumping regime, the settlement maintains the essential protections in the biological opinion.

“This settlement does not change the basic requirements of the Endangered Species Act, which prohibits any government action from jeopardizing a listed species,” said Chris Scheuring, managing counsel for the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Natural Resources and Environmental Department. “It is, however, perhaps the best possible short-term development to ease some of the pumping restrictions without damaging the smelt.”

The interim plan eases pumping restrictions somewhat in the south delta, allowing the State Water Project and Central Valley Project to draw more water if the best available science and ongoing real-time assessment of conditions in the delta show that additional pumping would not harm the smelt and its critical habitat.

As part of a new “enhanced coordination process,” water contractors and environmental groups will take part in weekly meetings that will inform the Fish and Wildlife Service’s assessment of delta conditions and risks to the smelt. The new process is aimed at increasing transparency in decisions to limit pumping and provides the court and all stakeholders notice of any changes.

The interim remedy makes clear that it does not affect restrictions designed to protect salmon and pending litigation concerning that biological opinion. Smelt remedies beyond June 30 will be set presumably later this spring, Scheuring noted.

Federal controls over how much water is pumped south of the delta are usually lifted at the end of each June, also the end of the smelt’s spawning period, when the fi sh have traveled a safe distance from the pumps. There have been no pumping restrictions so far this year.

“The settlement is good news for many farmers this year,” Scheuring said. “However, it doesn’t change the fact that we continue to play catch-as-catch-can for delivery of project water to service areas south of the delta. Farm Bureau continues to pursue the long-term solution set in that regard.”

Mark Cowin, director of the California Department of Water Resources, called the settlement “an important step forward to address one of the many complex issues associated with water operations in the delta.”

In a statement, Cowin said, “Environmental organizations, state and federal agencies, water contractors and agricultural interests working together have achieved a reasonable resolution. The Department of Water Resources will now be able to more effectively operate the State Water Project over the next several months in a manner that is protective of delta smelt.”

In another legal development concerning the delta, a pending agreement between the state Department of Fish and Game and the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta could relax size and catch fi shing limits on the striped bass, a non-native, predatory fi sh known to be contributing to low numbers of returning salmon in the delta.

Wanger is scheduled to consider the

agreement on March 17. If he approves the settlement, Fish and Game, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will develop a proposal to change the current striped bass sport fi shing regulation that will allow anglers to keep more of the fi sh they catch.

Also under the pending settlement, the department has agreed to reserve $1 million to support research on predation of protected fi sh species in the delta.

Matt Mahon, spokesman for the coalition, said the case was settled because the state’s own scientists “have said striped bass predation is an issue and they agreed with our position.

“We know their science. We know that they are working in the right direction,” Mahon said. “We don’t know exactly what that’s going to look like once they put pen to paper though.”

In addition to striped bass predation, researchers have cited other causes of declining salmon numbers, including poor ocean conditions, killer whales and seals. Yet regulation in the past has focused on pumping operations in the south delta, Scheuring noted. Federal regulators have all but shut down the commercial salmon fi shery off the California coast in recent years.

According to the settlement, if the coalition agrees with the department’s regulatory proposal, then a recommendation will be made to the Fish and Game Commission to adopt the new rules. If the coalition objects to the proposal, then the settlement ends and the lawsuit continues.

The coalition initially recommended no limits on fi sh take and size. Mahon said he believes Fish and Game will remove some of the restrictions, but it won’t be a complete overhaul as the coalition originally wanted.

“It’ll be a very science-based solution,” he said. “That’s why we are moving forward with this settlement. We believe we’ve reached a place where (Fish and Game is) going to move forward with something that will be benefi cial to the delta and to the smelt populations.”

(Ching Lee is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at [email protected].)

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MADERA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE1. What year did your Company/Business/Farm get started?

2010

2. What kinds of products/produce/merchandise do you sell/grow/distribute? What brands?We sell new/used Dodge Jeep Chrysler cars, trucks and jeeps

3. Who is the target audience for your Company/Business/Farm?Everyone

4. Are you part of a family owned business? Yes, Jay Gill and Amer Muhar

5. What kind discounts do you offer your customers? Any special monthly or yearly sales events?We offer huge discounts on new/used cars and trucks as well as factory rebates and 0% fi nancing through Ally Bank. Farm Bureau members receive an extra $500 rebate on most trucks above all other rebates.

6. What kind of community projects does your company participate in?We support local youth leagues, we also sponsor the Hole-in-One Gold tournament, and we also hold events at the dealership for local schools.

7. What changes have you made in your business to stay up to date with current trends?We have installed a new alignment machine, a new tire machine, and a new smog machine. We are now your one stop full service dealership.

8. Are you concerned with the water issues that we face in the Central Valley? What are your specifi c concerns?We at Madera Chrysler Jeep Dodge are concerned with water issues

because we also farm and understand the issues. We have supported the water issues from day one by attending demonstrations in Sacramento with local water coalitions.

9. What value do you receive from your Farm Bureau membership?The value I receive from Farm Bureau membership is huge most of my new truck customers are Farm Bureau members and I am able to save them extra money on buying dodge trucks.

Business Member Profi le

Madera Chrysler Jeep Dodge Farm Bureau member since 2010.


Free ClassifiedsMCFB MEMBER RATES: Classifi ed ads are FREE to all Madera County Farm Bureau members and must be of a NON-COMMERCIAL nature. Ads are limited to fi ve lines per

member, for a maximum of THREE MONTHS. Send ads directly to: Mid Valley Publishing, 1130 G Street, Reedley CA 93654 - Cheri Williams 559-638-2244 or fax 559-638-5021.NON-MCFB MEMBER RATES: Classifi ed ad rates are $25 for 20 words. Each additional word is $1. Ads must be paid in advance and sent directly to Mid-Valley Publishing,

1130 G Street, Reedley CA 93654 - Cheri Williams 559-638-2244 or fax completed form to 559-638-5021.Madera County Farm Bureau reserves the right to reject, edit or cancel any advertisement at any time in accordance with its policy. Submission of an advertisement to a sales

representative does not constitute a commitment to Agriculture Today to publish the advertisement, nor does publication of an advertisement constitute an agreement for continued publication. All ads must be checked for errors the fi rst day of publication by the advertiser. All advertising is subject to the terms of the current rate card.Classifi ed Ad Deadline for the April issue is Friday, April 1, 2011.

To advertise in our classifi ed section, please fi ll out the form below.

Name:

Address: City:

Phone:

Email:

Ad Copy:

YES! I am a Madera County Farm Bureau MemberMember #:(see address label)

Send ads directly to: Mid Valley Publishing, 1130 G Street, Reedley CA 93654 or fax 559-638-5021.Call 638-2244 to run your classifi ed ad

Rain and cold worry state’s almond growersBy Steve Adler

Two things inevitably occur every February in California—almond orchards burst into bloom and late winter rains fall from the clouds. When the two happen in unison, the outcome is generally not good for setting the year’s almond crop.

Although that’s what has been happening in recent weeks in the Central Valley’s prime almond-producing counties, it may not be doom and gloom. Almond growers say as long as there are some breaks in the storms to allow bees to do their pollinating chores, there is a good chance a decent crop will be set.

And there have been some breaks so far this spring.Additional peril was avoided last weekend when

nighttime temperatures did not dip into the mid-20s as had been feared. While temperatures in the major almond producing counties did drop to 30 degrees and lower, growers managed to avoid extreme temperatures that could have killed the emerging nutlets.

Dave Baker, director of member relations at Blue Diamond Growers, said growers are relieved that temperatures did not reach the predicted lows.

“There were some isolated spots in the Fresno area where temperatures dropped to 27 or 28 degrees and may have caused some minor damage, but overall it looks like we dodged a bullet. Growers were vigilant and their frost-prevention efforts kept orchards protected from any signifi cant losses,” he said.

With intermittent sunshine forecast during the next several days, and no frost, there is renewed confi dence that almond orchards will have a decent set. A more accurate prediction of actual crop size is still several weeks away.

When trees are at full bloom, damage can occur at 28 degrees or lower, depending on the duration of time, said Joe Connell, University of California Cooperative Extension farm advisor in Butte County.

“In this area, we are in full bloom to petal fall, so 28 to 30 degrees could be a problem for us. If a grower has his frost protection system running, he can boost orchard temperatures by three or four degrees and as long as the cold air mass doesn’t drop temperatures down to the low 20s or something terrible like that, growers should be OK,” he said.

Connell said that almonds in the northern part of the state received some good pollination weather during the early bloom before a series of rain events swept through.

“The almond bloom in the Sacramento Valley has very good overlap this year. The early varieties and the nonpareil and the late varieties all came out in a very compact way. Up here, the bloom is strong in most of the varieties as well, because we had a lighter crop last year,” he said.

“We had beautiful weather the previous Saturday and Sunday and bees were busy working on the fl owers at that time,” Connell said. “That was early in the bloom and we know that the early bloom is some of the strongest and has the highest set.”

Baker noted that the bloom in areas other than the north state was less compact, but that bees were able to fi nd several hours of temperatures warm enough to work.

“We have had a fairly wild bloom so far, starting about two weeks ago with rains on and off, but we have had periods of time here and there in most orchards where there was bee activity,” he said. “Orchards in central and southern regions are behind and bloom is progressing very slowly right now. We still have a considerable amount of bloom, probably 40 percent to 45 percent in most locations. So we are getting windows when the bees can work.”

During a sunny day last week, Dave Phippen stood in one of his orchards in Manteca observing the bees fl ying from one almond blossom to another. He pointed out that even though it was only 52 degrees at the time

(a temperature lower than what is needed ideally for bee fl ight), the bees were working hard.

Phippen said the almond bloom will continue for several more days, particularly with some of the later blooming varieties.

“February is one of the wettest months of the year and we bloom then. We are dependent on dry, sunny weather for the bees to pollinate during bloom time. It’s stacked against us right now and it doesn’t look great, but every farmer is optimistic or they wouldn’t farm,” he said.

“Sometimes it is diffi cult to be optimistic and what we are really focused on is that rain is predicted for later in the week,” Phippen said. “The big question is what the weather is going to be like next week. I haven’t looked at the forecast out that far and they aren’t always accurate.”

As far as predicting crop size, it is much too soon to tell, he said.

“I won’t know what I actually have until I harvest. We will get a May estimate, but it is based on grower feelings, what they think it is. It is very subjective. The fi rst objective report from the Almond Board is released at the end of June and it is fairly accurate. So we will have a really good idea at that time,” he said.

Phippen said almond orchards came through the winter in good shape, with suffi cient chilling hours during winter dormancy, as well as abundant moisture.

“We got a lot of foggy days in January and so chill hours look normal and we are happy with that,” he said. “We experienced a very dry January and we started to worry about water again in the state, but what we really should have had our eyes on, in my opinion, is that we burned up all of our dry days and now here we are at bloom time, the two-week period that is absolutely paramount to everything in almond growing, and here we are with very cold, rainy weather.”

(Steve Adler is associate editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at [email protected].)

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USDA funds available to battle EGVMOn Feb 8, it was announced that $16.922

million in emergency funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was made available to prevent the spread of the European grapevine moth (EGVM) in California. This funding will help Central Valley farmers combat the spread of this foreign pest, which was first found in California in 2009.

“Preventing the spread of the European grapevine moth means ensuring the financial security of Central Valley farmers and their families,” said Congressman Jim Costa. “I am pleased the Administration has recognized the seriousness of this threat and continues to provide resources to

detect and prevent its spread.” Barry Bedwell, President of the

California Grape and Tree Fruit League, commented, “This funding is coming at a critical time for our growers to intercept the first flight of the grapevine moth,” said Bedwell. “With the help from our partners in Congress and the Department of Agriculture, we will be able to continue to protect our crop from this pest.”

This funding, made available through USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is dedicated to stopping the spread of the grapevine moth at an early stage. Funds go towards the trapping, detection and surveying of the pest.

Bureau of Reclamation releases federal water allocation forecastAdditional water available for CVP South-of-Delta Contractors

On Jan. 18, the Bureau of Reclamation announced a forecast of the federal water supply allocation of 45 percent for South of the Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) water service contractors.

“This announcement is excellent news for the farmers and communities that rely on water from Reclamation to grow the crops that provide over 50 percent of the food supply for the United States,” said Westlands General Manager Tom Birmingham in a statement. “It reflects the continuing efforts by the Department of the Interior to minimize water supply impacts from the federal government’s biological opinions while complying with its obligation to protect listed species. Compared to the initial allocations in 2009 and 2010 – zero and 5 percent respectively – this forecast will enable farmers to make better informed planting decisions, help to free up the funding they need for bank loans, and put people back to work.”

More good news came on Feb. 7 when Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Conner announced that Reclamation determined the current hydrologic conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, export and operational capability at the C.W. “Bill” Jones Pumping Plant and storage conditions at the San Luis Reservoir provided an opportunity to make available otherwise non-storable Section 215 water for CVP South-of-Delta contractors.

The federal share of San Luis Reservoir,

which totals about 965,000 acre-feet, filled on Feb. 6, and current CVP water demands in the South-of-Delta service area are less than the operational and export capability at the Jones Pumping Plant; therefore, additional water may be made available in the CVP service area to meet other water demands. This announcement means that Reclamation can deliver water to those contractors that enter into a “Temporary Water Service Contract for Surplus Water” with Reclamation.

Section 215 refers to a section in the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (Public Law 97-293) which defines temporary water supplies that are unusually large and not storable for project purposes and, among other measures, allows non-storable water to be applied to lands otherwise ineligible to receive federal water. These conditions are anticipated to last through the month of March. However, beginning March 1, contractors must use all water that was approved for rescheduling from Water Year 2010 prior to taking delivery of any remaining Section 215 water. In addition, the actual amount of Section 215 water made available will depend on actual conditions in the Delta.

The availability of this Section 215 is a separate action unrelated to the water supply outlook announced in mid-January. An official water allocation announcement of Water Year 2011 for the CVP, is planned for mid-February, as required by contract terms. Water supply updates will then be made monthly or more often as appropriate and will be posted on the Reclamation’s Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/PA/water/.

For additional information on the water supply outlook, contact the Mid-Pacific Region’s Office of Public Affairs at 916-978-5100 or e-mail [email protected].

San Joaquin Valley women to be honored at 15th Annual Common Threads Awards Program

Six women representing Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare counties have been selected as the 2011 honorees for the Common Threads Award, which recognizes women from the San Joaquin Valley for their agricultural, philanthropic and community service.

The Common Threads Award recipients for 2011 are: Sandra L. McDougald, Friant (Madera County); Karen Musson, Fresno (Fresno County); Kathy Fletcher, Tulare (Tulare County); Natalie J. Dutra, Hanford (Kings County); Katie Favier, Merced (Merced County); and Mona Pankey, Arvin (Kern County). This year’s luncheon also will pay tribute to the late-Carolee Boele, the former livestock superintendent at the Big Fresno Fair, who died in November 2010.

These six Valley women have strong agricultural backgrounds and are active participants in their counties through philanthropic endeavors and community service. The honorees will be recognized at a special luncheon on Friday, April 8 at the University Courtyard Dining Hall at California State University, Fresno. An educational workshop will kick off the morning’s events in the University’s Henry Madden Library.

The 15th Annual Common Threads luncheon will begin at 11:15 a.m. and will feature award-winning Fresno State

wines, a raffle and the Common Threads Award presentation. Tickets are $35 per person if purchased by April 1; $50 per person after April 1. Space is limited. Net proceeds raised from the luncheon go to the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (Ag Leadership), Ag One Foundation and charities of the honorees’ choice.

Common Threads is a collaborative effort of Ag Leadership, California State University, Fresno’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, and Fresno State’s Ag One Foundation. For ticket information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Emily Clark at Ag Leadership, 831-585-1030; or Christy Melvold at Ag One, 559-278-4266.

Glorious Gardens VMadera County Master Gardeners Spring Garden TourSaturday, April 16, 2011

University of California Cooperative

Extension Madera County Master Gardeners will host their 5th annual Spring Garden Tour on Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 9AM to 1PM. This year’s tour celebrates Madera Garden Living, and each garden has a pool and outdoor entertainment area that show the variety and creativity of different interpretations of outdoor living. Master Gardeners will be present at each garden to answer questions about plant identification, planting techniques, and garden problems. Every garden will have extensive plant labeling to suggest new ideas for landscaping and planting in the Madera County home garden. The gardens also demonstrate practical ideas for water features in the landscape and tour participants can learn about

irrigation, drought-tolerance, and water conservation. The Master Gardeners remind visitors to bring camera, notebook, sun protection, comfortable shoes, and questions. A Garden Shoppe will be open for bargains on plants, garden art, and gifts. All attendees must have a ticket. The tour will go on, rain or shine. Please, no strollers, no smoking, no pets. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 the day of the tour.

An additional special event, the Starlight Preview, will be hosted at the spectacular Peters garden, featuring extensive use of garden lighting and music. Refreshments will be served. The event will take place on Friday evening, April 15, from 6:30 to 8:30. Tickets are $20. A limited number of tickets will be available for this special event.

Tickets may be purchased at: UCCE Madera County office, 328 S Madera Ave, Madera (559 675-7879, x 210) email [email protected], Floral Fantasy 1930 Howard Road, Suite K, madera (559) 673-9051, or Peters Brothers Nursery, 1135 South Granada Avenue, Madera (559) 673-7117.

The Gardens

madera county farm bureau - maderafb.com march (2).pdf · participation from state fund...

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