solano county farm bureau news€¦ · fsa can help farmers and ranch-ers with a range of disaster...

SOLANO COUNTY

Nov. / Dec. 2017VOL. 96, NO. 6

FARM BUREAU NEWS

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE PAIDRed Bluff, CA 96080

Permit # 22

“The Heart of California Agriculture”

IN THIS ISSUE...

Wolf kill .........................4Ford offer.....................8Almond conference ...9

Ready!As with many other crops, the walnut harvest is on now aroundthe state. The nuts are a big part of the Solano economy.

If you divert and use waterfrom a surface water sourcesuch as a lake, creek, stream,or river, OR you divert waterfrom a subterranean stream thatflows in a known and definitechannel, California law requiresyou to report your diversion anduse to the State Water Board,Division of Water Rights. Wateruse reports are filed on an

Deadline for SB88 implementation loomsannual basis and documentdiversions made during theprior calendar year.

If you’re diverting 10 acre-feet or more of non-exemptsurface water annually, youshould have answered ‘yes’ toboth questions. January 1, 2018is the last deadline for theinstallation of a measurementdevice or method for water

users in the “Small DiverterTier” (direct diversions ordiversion to storage between10 and 100 acre-feet peryear).

California began requiringwater rights holders to fileStatements of Diversion andUse for surface waterdiversion in 1966. At the time,there were many exceptions,including significantexemptions for water users inthe Delta. Until Senate Bill X7-8 was signed into law in 2009,the State Water Board hadlimited jurisdiction and therewere no significantconsequences for failing to

(see SB88, page 5)

Nov/Dec 2017 SCFB NEWS

300 Main Street - Suite CVacaville, CA 95688

Executive Director: Lisa ShipleyPhone ........707-449-8044Fax .........707-449-8050www.solano.cfbf.com

E-mail: [email protected]

Opinions expressed in this newspaper may not reflect theofficial position of the Solano County Farm Bureau.

Solano County Farm Bureau Newspublished every other month by the

Solano County Farm Bureau.Please send address changes toSCFB, 300 Main Street - Suite C

Vacaville, CA 95688

Solano County Farm Bureau

Solano County Farm Bureau NewsCoordinator ...........John Gentry

Editorial and Advertising .......707-449-8044

Bruce BrazeltonWilliam Brazelton

Chelsea DeusenberryJeff DittmerSean Favero

Charlie HamiltonJennifer HouseDerrick LumJoe Martinez

Bobbie MorielJohn Pierson

Troy Sanderson

SCFBDirectors

2017

Available for allyour real estate needs.

Farmers in every growingregion of California continue toreport difficulty hiring enough,employees to work in a varietyof agricultural occupations—including planting, cultivatingand harvesting food and othercrops—according to a surveyconducted by the CaliforniaFarm Bureau Federation. Thesurvey, conducted duringsummer 2017, showed that 55percent of responding farmershad experienced employeeshortages. Of those farmerswho hire employees on aseasonal basis, 69 percentreported shortages of varyingdegrees. Problems have beenmore acute among farmerswhose crops require the mostintensive hand labor, such astree fruits and grapes.

The findings are consistentwith results from a similar 2012survey conducted by CFBF, inwhich over half of allrespondents reportedshortages. In 2017, farmersagain report that fewer potentialemployees are applying for

California farmers continue to strugglewith employee shortages

Agricultural Labor Availability Survey Results—2017seasonal harvest jobs, despiteincreased recruiting efforts,higher wages offered and otherincentives.

In an effort to betterunderstand the direct impactsand implications of theworkforce shortages, CFBFposted a brief, voluntary surveyon its website, www.cfbf.com,asking farmers to provideinformation about whether theywere experiencing employeeshortages, the extent of theshortages and how they hadresponded to any shortagesthey experienced. Availability ofthe survey was publicized in theweekly Farm Bureaunewspaper, Ag Alert®, viaemail to Farm Bureau membersand by individual county FarmBureaus.

In all, 762 farmers andranchers throughout Californiaresponded to the survey.Survey results showed thatdespite raising wages,increasing benefits, convertingto less laborintensive crops,investing in mechanization and

other efforts, California farmemployers have experiencedcontinued employee shortages,and have continued to alter theirproduction practices inresponse to the shortages,which stem in part from a lackof agricultural labor reform atthe federal level.

The survey respondentsincluded farm employersgrowing a diverse range ofcrops and commodities acrossthe state, including both labor-intensive crops and those thatdo not require significantemployee involvement. A largemajority of the respondentsgrow tree fruit, winegrapes ornuts; respondents also includedgrowers of table grapes,vegetables, rice, wheat, corn,hay and nursery crops, as wellas dairy and livestockproducers.

99th Annual CFBFMeeting is Dec. 3-6

(see MEETING, page 4)

Registration is now avail-able online and through ButteCounty Farm Bureau. Attend-ees can register for the entireconference or the individualsections you wish to partici-pate in. We encourage allmembers to come and par-ticipate in our AnnualMeeting events. Events In-clude: Sunday, December3rd - YF&R DiscussionMeet, Industry Trade Showand Welcome Reception(You’re invited & welcome)

Monday, December4th - Opening General Ses-sion, Issue Breakout Ses-sions, Industry Trade Show,and Awards Banquet (Allmembers are invited and wel-come to attend and partici-pate)

Tuesday, December5th - Delegate Session &Policy Development (Onlyregistered delegates are ableto participate in policy discus-sion, but delegate session is

2017 Nov/Dec SCFB NEWS

Support the folks who support

Farm Bureau!

USDA offers opportunities to helpCalifornia producers rebuild andrecover; assessments underway

The U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) is targeting $4 million to helpfarmers, ranchers, and forest land own-ers in California recover from the recentwildfires. USDA’s Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS) will is-sue waivers for those interested in theEnvironmental Quality Incentives Pro-gram (EQIP) to enable recovery workto begin immediately. This is one of sev-eral disaster assistance program availablethrough USDA to support recovery effortsfor individuals and communities.

NRCS will immediately begin ac-cepting applications for its EQIP Cata-strophic Fire Recovery fund pool to as-sist producers in covering the cost ofcertain rehabilitation practices, such ascreating check dams in drainages, usingdamaged trees to slow runoff, repairingculvert systems, and planting tree seed-lings. NRCS is waiving the standard30-day application ranking period andis accepting applications for this initialfund pool through November 6, 2017.

“NRCS is committed to getting as-sistance out as soon as possible, and weare cutting some red tape to allow peopleto get to work immediately,” said CurtisTarver, NRCS California acting stateconservationist. “We encourage pro-ducers to visit their local USDA servicecenter to submit an application and workwith staff to begin recovery.”

NRCS is also offering technical andeducational assistance to fire-impactedlandowners faced with erosion andflooding in a damaged watershed.NRCS conservationists have expertisein erosion, hydrophobic soils, and theuse of measures (such as sand bags,mulching, etc.) to mitigate damage to thelandscape.NRCS, Farm Service Agency (FSA),and Risk Management Agency (RMA)in California are planning to meet withlandowners, partners and other agen-cies to assess damages and discuss

technical and financial assistance. Pub-lic workshops will be scheduled oncethe fires are contained.

FSA can help farmers and ranch-ers with a range of disaster assistanceincluding compensation for livestockdeath and feed losses, risk coverage forspecialty crops, and repair of damageto agricultural and private forest land.For example, the FSA Emergency Con-servation Program provides funding andtechnical assistance to rehabilitate farm-land damaged by natural disasters. Oneof the helpful practices under this programafter a wildfire is fence restoration.

“FSA has a number of programs tohelp wildfire-impacted producers getback on their feet,” said JacqueJohnson, Acting California FSA Execu-tive Director. “I want to encouragefarmers and ranchers to contact theirlocal FSA office to find out about re-sources available to them.”

FSA’s suite of safety-net programsto help producers recover from eligiblelosses, includes:• Livestock Indemnity Program;• Emergency Assistance for Livestock,Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Pro-gram; and• Tree Assistance Program.

Additionally, producers located incounties that receive a primary or con-tiguous disaster designation are eligiblefor low-interest emergency loans to helpthem recover from production andphysical losses.

Compensation is also available toproducers who purchased coveragethrough the Noninsured Crop DisasterAssistance Program, which protectsnon-insurable crops (including nativegrass for grazing) against natural disas-ters that result in lower yields, croplosses or prevented planting.

Federal crop insurance protectsproducers against losses due to naturalperils, such as wildfires. The program,

administered by RMA, offers severalplans for crops and livestock in Califor-nia. Those who purchased Federal cropinsurance will be paid for coveredlosses. Federal crop insurance benefitsnot just our rural economy, but the fi-nancial strength of the nation, by helpingAmerica’s farmers and ranchers over-come unexpected events and catastro-phes. Producers with coverage shouldcontact their insurance agent for ques-tions regarding claims.

USDA assists communities with re-building efforts following imminent haz-ards to life and property caused by natu-ral disasters. Through the EmergencyWatershed Protection (EWP) Program,NRCS works with local governmententities and Tribes in impacted countiesto remove debris, stabilize streambanks,fix water control structures, among otherpractices.

“EWP allows us to provide imme-

diate assistance to communities to miti-gate potential hazards to life and prop-erty resulting from the fires,” said Tarverwith NRCS. “It is work we can do witha local sponsor to help a damaged wa-tershed channel water and mitigate ero-sion so that lives and property are pro-tected and additional hardships are notheaped upon the devastated community.”

With the high potential for winterrains, burned areas are at greater riskfor erosion and mudflows and EWP-type services are key to preventing fur-ther damage. The program requires lo-cal government bodies or other spon-sor to assist with on-the-ground workincluding concrete barriers and debrisbasins, mulching, straw wattles, andother damage control measures.

For more information on availableNRCS, FSA or RMA assistance, con-tact a local field office, or visitwww.usda.gov


Officials confirm cow killed by wolvesThe California Department

of Fish and Wildlife has con-firmed the state's first gray wolfkill since the species returnedto California in 2011.

The kill has prompted callsfrom ranching advocates to al-low management of wolves asthey become established in thestate and acquire a taste forlivestock. Gray wolves are pro-tected under the state and fed-eral Endangered Species Acts,making it illegal to "take" theanimal, including hunting, pur-suing, capturing or killing.

“Frustratingly, current Cali-fornia law provides ranchersand CDFW very few tools fordeterring and managingwolves,” California Cattlemen’sAssociation President DaveDaley said. “Under current law,we have extremely limited op-tions for protecting our live-stock.”

The confirmed kill tookplace on private land in west-ern Lassen County, where arancher reported seeing fivewolves near a heifer's carcass.Depredation was suspectedbecause the rancher reportedseeing the same heifer—a 600-pound yearling—alive the pre-vious evening, according toCDFW.

State and federal wildlifeofficials concluded the animalwas killed by a wolf becausethe locations and extent of thepre-mortem bite wounds wereconsistent with that of a wolf“It’s important for Californiansto understand the full implica-tions of the wolf’s return,” Cali-fornia Farm Bureau FederationPresident Paul Wenger said.“CDFW has been more thanwilling to notify the public whenit identifies a new pack or whenwolves have pups. People need

to recognize wolves not as cutewoodland creatures but aspredators that kill.”

CFBF and CCA havesued the California Fish andGame Commission to over-turn its decision to list the graywolf as an endangeredspecies in California, whichwould allow more flexibility inwolf management attack.

The predator left physicalevidence near the carcass, in-cluding kick marks, wolf tracksand disturbed ground consistentwith a struggle, the report said.There were numerous pre-mortem bite marks on theanimal's right front shoulder,both rear flanks and legs.

Officials said they know thepredator was a wolf because ofthe location and nature of thebite marks, many of which weremore than an inch deep, the re-port noted.

Based on GPS-collar loca-tions, CDFW said there is evi-dence that a wolf known asLAS01F was at the carcass lo-cation for at least six hours thenight the cow died.

Although there has been noother recent wolf depredationin the area, officials said"LAS01F and other membersof the Lassen Pack have repeat-edly visited and/or fed on cowcarcasses in the same meadow/pasture in recent weeks," citingfour other depredation investi-gations. A probable kill by theShasta Pack was reported in2015.

Because of protectionsgray wolves receive under stateand federal law, NoelleCremers, director of natural re-sources and commodities forthe California Farm BureauFederation, said there are lim-ited options for ranchers to pro-

tect livestock.The options allowed in-

clude the use of flags alongfence lines, which can deterwolves for a limited time, shesaid. Guard dogs can be effec-tive, she noted, but they work

better for sheep than for cattle.Having a range rider is recom-mended, she said, but they areusually not present at nightwhen wolves most often preyon livestock. Removing deadlivestock, which will attractpredators, also is helpful.

"Once wolves decide theywant to kill livestock, there'svery little that can be done," shesaid.

Certain wolf packs, sheadded, teach their young thatlivestock is a good source offood and those packs repeat-edly depredate. Removingthose packs, she said, providesthe longest-lasting protection forlivestock.

"We expect wolves to kill,"she said. "They're acting true totheir nature. What Californiaranchers need is a better plan

to protect their livestock, wherethe Department of Fish andWildlife actually commits tomanaging wolves."

Specifically, Cremers saidranchers would like more flex-ibility in deterring and manag-

ing wolves. She noted that un-der current law, ranchers are noteven allowed to chase away awolf with their vehicles if theysee one near their livestock.

But the state's wolf man-agement plan emphasizes non-lethal methods for minimizinglivestock losses and says itwould evaluate delisting the spe-cies under the state ESA afterthe wolf population reacheseight breeding pairs for two suc-cessive years.

Cremers said the depart-ment should do more to informthe public about wolf kills, notjust publicize when wolf packsare identified, collared or havepups.

"I want the public to rec-ognize that wolves are not cutecreatures; they are predatorsthat kill," she said.

open for viewing to all mem-bers)

Wednesday, Decem-ber 6th - Delegate Session& Officer Elections (Onlyregistered delegates are ableto participate in policy dis-cussion and elections, butdelegate session is open forviewing to all members)

Hotel AccommodationsHyatt Regency - OrangeCounty11999 Harbor BlvdGarden Grove, CA 92840Call: 714-750-1234 Dis-counted hotel prices of$169/night Online HotelReservations Room ratesare valid from November 30- December 7, if you wish toextend your stay Dis-counted rates only avail-able until November 6,2017

Discounted DisneylandTickets Available SpecialOffer - Twilight ThemePark TicketsAdmission toeither park after 4:00 pm -Not available to the public1-day, 1-park $791-day, Park Hopper $112Single & Multi-DayTicket Options Available

For more informationplease Email CFBF [email protected] Call us!(916) 561-5591

(MEETING, continued)

FromSCFB

HappyHolidays!


Solano County Farm Bureau

Support the SCFBbusiness members

Business DirectoryAg Equipment/ServiceButton Transportation ............................. (707)678-2377Garton Tractor ........................................ (707)425-9545Gates Ranch/Custom Cutting & Wrap.. ... (707)448-3867Green Valley Tractor ............................... (707)425-8933Holt of CA ............................................. (707)396-3000Sterling May Equipment Co ................... (916) 791-1578Wilkinson International ............................ (530)662-7373Auto Dealers/Parts/ServicesAble Chevrolet Pontiac Buick ................. (707)374-6317ContractorsOak Plumbing… .................................... (707) 447-4384Farms & RanchesBluegreen Farms LLC .......................... (631)-459-6778Johnson Farms ....................................... (408)926-3133Farm & Feed SupplyHigby’s ................................................... (707)678-9007FinancialBank of Rio Vista ................................... (707)374-5711First Northern Bank of Dixon .................. (707)678-4422Farm Credit West (Woodland) ................ (530)666-3333Travis Credit Union ................................. (707)469-1632InsuranceRohwer Insurance Agency ...................... (707)678-9216Professional ServicesArcher & Ficklin-Comm Brokerage ........ (707)678-1092Blankinship Assoc. Envir Consult ............ (530)757-0941P G & E ................................................. (707)423-2443Reynolds Law LLP ................................. (707)425-1255Vacaville Chamber of Commerce ............ (707)448-6424SMUD ................................................... (916)732-6088Propane/ PetroleumAllied Propane ........................................ (707)678-8500Sheldon Gas Co ..................................... (707)425-2951Real EstateBouzos Properties .................................. (510)772-2435California Outdoor Properties ................ (707) 469-0112Ron Stevenson – Century 21 .................. (530)681-1092ire Sales / ServiceLes Schwab Vacaville ............................. (707)447-4384Reliable Tire Service ............................... (916)372-6675

comply and no incentive forwater rights holders to reporttheir diversions. Senate Bill X7-8 introduced civil liability topersons failing to file ormisrepresenting their diversion,gave jurisdiction to the StateWater Board to imposepenalties, and removed manyexemptions. The regulations formonitoring (i.e. measuring)under SB X7-8 were vague,and allowed water rightsholders to claim a measurementdevice to be “not locally costeffective”, a term which was notspecifically defined in the billtext. “Not locally cost effective”was interpreted broadly. As aresult, many diverters claimedthis exemption and reported anestimated monthly value ofwater use on their Statement ofDiversion and Use. In 2016,Senate Bill 88 was signed intolaw and established specificguidelines for the measurementof diversions, removed the “notlocally cost effective”exemption, and assigneddeadlines for compliance.

In reaction to the adoptionof SB X7-8, many water userswho had not submittedStatements “got legal”.According to former DeltaWatermaster Craig Wilson, in2009, about 10,000 Statementswere on file; only 250 of which

were from diverters in theDelta. In 2010-2011, about6,700 new Statements werefiled, including over 2,000 fromthe Delta alone. I expect theadoption of SB88 will producea similar influx of newStatements. New Statements,referred to as “InitialStatements” generally comefrom riparian users who have anunderstanding of their right todivert water under ripariandoctrine, but are not familiarwith the processes required tolawfully utilize the right. Someriparian users are slow to claimtheir right until a change inpolicy threatens their operation.Ripariant water users who havenot already done so, shouldconsult with a water right expertbefore submitting an InitialStatement of Diversion andUse to the State Water Board.Submitting an Initial Statementwill establish your claim in theState Water Boards waterrights management database(“eWRIMS”), but it will notconfirm the claim or grant aright.

Do SB88 requirementsapply to your diversion? Unlessyour diversion is under 10 acre-feet per year or fits within intoone of a few uncommonscenarios, the answer is ‘Yes’.If you are diverting water, buthave not submitted an InitialStatement, you are out of

compliance with both SB88and California Water Code.Failing to file Statements canresult in a fine of $1,000 plus$500 for each day the violationcontinues if not corrected within30 days of notification of theviolation. Failure to comply withSB88 can result in additionalfines of up to $500 per day foreach day the violation occurs.If you have filed an InitialStatement and are not yet incompliance with SB88, youmay still be able to have arequest for additional timeapproved, and should actquickly to meet compliance. Ifyou do not have a claim on filewith the State Water Board,you should consider having ameasurement device or methodinstalled/implemented andcertified so that you meet SB88requirements prior to InitialStatement submittal.

More information aboutSenate Bill 88 can be found onthe State Water ResourcesControl Board website (https://goo.gl/bMttgy). Keep in mindthat to meet SB88requirements, even straight-forward compliance methodssuch as installing a flow metermust be done per manufacturerspecifications, the instrumentmust properly calibrated, andthe method must be certified bya qualified individual.

(SB88, continued)

A bill was signed byGovernor Jerry Brownrequireingstate agencies andinstitutions to purchase Cali-fornia grown agriculturalproducts if the price is nomore than five percent higherthan outside products. Thebill was introduced by As-sembly Member Anna Ca-

Bill signed so CA agencies but CA productsballero of Salinas.

School districts would berequired to purchase Californiagrown products so long as theydidn’t cost any more than out-side products. California farm-ers have significantly highercosts of production due toCalifornia’s stringent regula-tions and our state should sup-

port our farmers and farm em-ployees by purchasing productsfrom farmers meeting those highregulatory standards.

Farm Bureau was in sup-port of the measure.


Thanksgiving isweeks away, but itis a busy time forcommercial turkeyproducers. Theyare in full harvest ofturkeys destinedfor roasting pansthis holiday season.The seasonalslaughter rates forturkey remain fairlysteady all year, butbeginning in October those rates rise overthe six to eight weeks ahead of Thanks-giving.

Frozen birds sold whole for Thanks-giving can be produced anytime duringthe year and accumulate in cold storageahead of Thanksgiving. Fresh birds, how-ever, have a much shorter shelf life andso the timing of placements and hatchingbecomes all the more critical to reach themarket at just the right time. A turkeyegg incubates for 28 days and then thechick is placed into a grow-out facilitywhere it grows to slaughter weight. Henstake about 12 to 14 weeks to reach alive weight of 15 to 20 pounds, which willdress out at a 12- to 16-pound whole

It’s turkey time

turkey. The highly seasonal nature of tur-key consumption drives the seasonality ofevery other statistic related to production.

Turkey placements have been up thisyear, and much higher than seasonal trendswould suggest in the first quarter of 2017.Further, cold storage values have been con-sistently between 10 and 17 percent higherthan last year. Some of that build-up couldbe related to the surge in turkey exports seenthis year. Year-to-date (data through July)turkey exports are up 10 percent, with largegains seen in Mexico and Canada. Importshave been sluggish so far this year, running48 percent below year-to-date. Canadaand Chile are the largest shippers to the U.S.Combined, they’ve shipped 14.7 millionpounds less of ready-to-cook turkey to theU.S. so far this year. In contrast, Mexicohas bought 28.5 million pounds more tur-key than last year through the first sevenmonths of the year. Mexico handily buysmore than 50 percent of U.S. annual tur-key exports.


According to U.S. censusdata, the average age of afarmer is 57. While few areplanning to retire at that time,farmers and ranchers shouldbegin thinking about how theywould like to live in retirementand how that can be achieved.Financial planning can beintimidating, so here are somethings to consider as you beginto think about the retirement inyour future and what thatmeans to your farm.• Knowing how much moneyis enough. Considering therising cost of living, increasedhealth care costs and possibledecreases in Social Securitybenefits, farmers and rancherscan see a lower standard ofliving in retirement. Realisticand effective financial planningcan help solve for these issuesand lead to a more securelifestyle in retirement and peaceof mind. Keep these principlesin mind: spend less than youmake, budget to save at least10% of your net income,manage credit wisely, payyourself first and avoidprocrastination.• Plans and portfolio. One ofthe best and most efficientways of acquiring wealth is to

Planning for the future of the farm: Land As Your Legacytake advantage of retirementplans established under IRSregulations for the self-employed. They include IRAs,Keogh Plans and SimplifiedEmployee Pensions (SEPs).Beyond a single plan, considercreating a diverse portfolio ofinvestment assets. The key is tostart early and investcontinuously at a level of riskthat is appropriate to yoursituation.• Land and equipment.Determine your plan for yourland and equipment. Farmersand ranchers may want to sellthese assets in order to generateincome or they may go to thenext generation of owner/operator. Each option has manyconsiderations including taxesand more planning in the formof business successionplanning.• Renting or selling out. Ifyou consider renting your landand operation you should createa plan to transition from anoperating farm or ranch to anincome-producing investment.This also comes with additionalconsiderations like determininghow much rental income will beneeded to fund retirement and

estate planning for theextended future of yourbusiness and assets. Whenselling, the best way todetermine the farm or ranch’svalue may be to get anappraisal based on the amountof acreage, the value ofmachinery or equipment in theoperation and the crop orlivestock the farm is able tosend to market. The appraisermight help pinpoint problemsthat could negatively affect theproperty’s value and maysuggest changes to improvethe operation and its overallvalue. Be sure to keep yourfiles in good order, such as taxreturns, licenses, permits andemployee records.

Lastly, it’s important toenlist the help of qualifiedprofessionals who don’t havea stake in final decisions.Qualified professionals mayinclude your banker, youraccountant, your personalattorney or a financial or estateplanner. If you would like tohelp in finding a qualifiedprofessional to speak with,contact the Nationwide

® Land

As Your Legacy®

team atLAYL@nationwide,com ortoll-free at 1-855-529-2729.

Farm Bureau members in California can qualify for dis-counts when buying Ford trucks, cars and SUVs, and Lin-coln luxury vehicles. The California Farm Bureau Federationand the Ford Motor Company have partnered to offer Cali-fornia members a new benefit, which offers $500 Bonus Cashtoward the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2017/2018Ford vehicle, and $750 toward the purchase or lease of aneligible new 2017/2018 Lincoln vehicle.

“We’re excited to offer this new benefit to Farm Bureaumembers,” CFBF President Paul Wenger said. “The Ford F-150 has been the nation’s best-selling truck for 40 years anda key part of many farm and ranch operations. With the FarmBureau discount, a full range of Ford and Lincoln vehicles willbecome even more of a good deal.”

To qualify for the Ford member benefit, you must be aneligible member of a county Farm Bureau in California for atleast 30 consecutive days and must show proof of member-ship. Farm Bureau members may download and print a Fordor Lincoln program certificate from fordspecialoffer.com/farmbureau/ca or lincolnspecialoffer.com/farmbureau/ca. Toprint the certificate, members must enter their Farm Bureaumembership number and primary ZIP code. The certificateshould be provided to a local Ford or Lincoln dealer beforebeginning the vehicle purchase process.

“Ford Motor Company remains dedicated to expandingour Farm Bureau association and we are extremely pleasedto include the California Farm Bureau,” said Kevin Cour, di-rector of U.S. retail operations for Ford. “Ford continues tosupport the ever-important sector of agriculture and farming,to help this vital group of hard-working Americans get equip-ment that works as hard as they do to feed the nation and theworld.”

For more information on the Ford and Lincoln member-ship benefit, visit the CFBF website at www.cfbf.com/mem-ber-benefits and select the Vehicle Discounts and Rentals link.

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protectfamily farms and ranches on behalf of more than 48,000 mem-bers statewide and as part of a nationwide network of morethan 6.2 million Farm Bureau members.

Ford Motor Co., based in Dearborn, Mich., designs,manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars,trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles,provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Co.and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autono-mous vehicles and mobility solutions. For more information,see www.corporate.ford.com.

Ford, Lincoln provide discountsto Farm Bureau members

T FARMFACT S

Botanically, the kiwifruit is aberry. A ripe kiwi fruit can lastin the refrigerator for 1-2weeks. Kiwifruit slices canbe used as a natural meattenderizer, and it has twice thevitamin C of an orange. Cali-fornia produces around 98%of the kiwifruit grown in theU.S. New Zealand devel-oped a gold version - thesame size but it is not fuzzyon the outside and yellow onthe inside.


SCFBCookin’Corner

Uncle John’s Beef Stew2 pounds cubed beef stew meat3 tablespoons vegetable oil4 cubes beef bouillon, crumbled4 cups water1 teaspoon dried rosemary1 teaspoon dried parsley1/2 tsp ground black pepper3 large potatoes, peeled, cubed4 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces1 large onion, chopped4 stalks celery, cut to 1 inch pieces2 teaspoons cornstarch2 teaspoons cold water

In a large pot or dutch oven, cook beef in oil over me-dium heat until brown. Dissolve bouillon in water and pourinto pot. Stir in rosemary, parsley and pepper. Bring to a boil,then reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 hour.

Stir potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion into the pot. Dis-solve cornstarch in 2 teaspoons cold water and stir into stew.Cover and simmer 1 hour more.

Each year, The Almond Conference promises networking opportunities, the latest infor-mation related to growing almonds and research findings, industry trends, and a trade showwith close to 300 exhibitors showcasing the latest and greatest technologies – and this year willprove to offer just that and more!

The Conference and trade show will be held Dec. 5-7 at the Sacramento ConventionCenter. An overview of the agenda can be found on AlmondConference.com. The agendaillustrates more than 50 educational sessions focusing on production research, marketing, foodsafety, regulatory issues and other key areas of almond production. Here is a sneak peak ofsome sessions that will be featured at the three-day event:• Tools for Better Irrigation• Almond Biomass – The Real, Weird and Wonderful Opportunities for Greater Utilization• Produce Safety Rule for “Farms” – How to Comply and What About the Grower Exemp-tion?• Investing Across the Globe• What You Should Consider Before You Grow

Aside from an intense line-up of educational sessions, this year’s Conference will includespecial guest’s you won’t want to miss!General Session Keynote Speaker

Daniel Lubetsky, founder and CEO of KIND Snacks, will be speaking with conferenceparticipants about the journey his company has been traveling in the development of nutritiousKIND Bars and the importance of almonds as a healthy snack food in American diets. Mr.Lubetsky will address the conference at the opening plenary session at 8:00 a.m. on Dec. 6.Featured Speaker, Steve Forbes

Steve Forbes, Editor-In-Chief of Forbes and two-time presidential candidate, is using hismedia platform to drive awareness and networking in the Ag Tech sector by bringing togetherthe innovators from Silicon Valley and the Salinas and Central Valleys. For three years running,his company has organized the Ag Tech Summit in Salinas, which serves as a melting pot forinnovative ideas and individuals. Steve has also traveled the world meeting with companiesand governments concerning water use efficiency and agricultural policy that can drive higherproductivity to feed the world’s swelling population. Following his luncheon presentation, Mr.Forbes will be available for a book signing. Steve Forbes will speak at Wednesday’s luncheonon Dec. 6. Tickets for this luncheon may be purchased at AlmondConference.com

The annual Gala Dinner is always a fun way to close out The Almond Conference! Thisyear’s event, Dec. 7, will feature a social hour, dinner, live auction benefitting the CaliforniaFFA Foundation and a short program recognizing industry leadership.

Following the program, “The Futurist” Adam Trent will wow attendees with his skill, per-sonality and humor. Returning to his roots as a solo headliner, “The Futurist” will bring his bestacts from the Broadway show The Illusionists, along with never-before seen material. Trent’sperformance promises to be an immersive entertainment extravaganza of magic, comedy andmusic that’s perfect for the entire audience. According to the New York Theater Guide, AdamTrent is “so amazing, it’s hard to put into words. Your eyes will deceive you, your heartbeat willrace, and your mind will be blown!”

Rounding out the night, cover band, Apple Z, will hit the stage. Voted the “Best CoverBand” in Sacramento for the past three years (SAMMIES - Sacramento Area Music Awards),Apple Z is sure to get you on your feet! Sporting a roster of seasoned musical veterans fromevery genre yet known, Apple Z is making friends and getting folks off their seat and onto thedance floor for a night they won’t forget! Tickets to the Gala Dinner may be purchased atAlmond Conference.com

Registration for The Almond Conference is free and open to anyone in the almond indus-try. To register, please visit AlmondConference.com. We look forward to seeing everyone inDecember in Sacramento!

Almond Conference offers education sessions

T FARM FACT SIn 1962, a California produce dealer began importing NewZealand gooseberries to satisfy a lone shopper. The dealerrenamed the product “kiwifruit” By the late 1960s, Californiabegan producing its own kiwifruit in the Delano and Gridleyareas.


Funding avail-able for 2018

EQIPAttention growers!

Funding opportunities areavailable for projects on yourfarm or ranch that conservewater, build soil health, es-tablish wildlife habitat, im-prove rangeland conditions,or protect water quality.Start a farm conservationplan now to increase irriga-tion efficiency, provide cleanwater sources to livestock,or assess your crop’s nutri-ent management plan. Call usto see if your project quali-fies for funding!

Now is the time to beginyour conservation plan andapply for funding. Applica-tions are accepted at anytime. To be considered forthe first round of funding in2018, please submit appli-cations by December 8,2017. Applications receivedafter December 8 may notbe considered until laterfunding rounds.

Funding is providedthrough the Natural Re-sources Conservation Ser-vice, from the Environmen-tal Quality Incentives Pro-gram (EQIP). The moneycomes from the FederalFarm Bill.

For more information orto apply, Solano Countygrowers should contact theVacaville NRCS Field Officeat 810 Vaca Valley Parkway,Suite 104, or call 707-448-0106 extension 3. For moreinformation on NRCS pro-grams, visitwww.ca.nrcs.usda.gov.

Apply as soon as pos-sible for the emergency fund-ing, the first evaluation datewill be November 6.


275 Sale Lane • Red Bluff

CA Lic. # 01707128

Bert OwensBroker/Owner

Cell: 530-524-4900

Sam MuddBroker/Owner

Cell: 530- 949-4054CA Lic. # 01710463

530-529-4400

Northern California AgricultureReal Estate Specialists

AGLAND

Investment Brokerswww.aglandbrokers.com

231 +/- acres of winter range on the (S) bank of Thomes Creek, a yearround creek. Improvements include barn, corral, reservoir, spring &perimeter fencing. Nicely suited for winter livestock ranch, pavedcounty road access.

Thomes Creek Range LandPaskenta, California

NEW - $395,200

1,960 AC, land suitable for almonds, pistachios, olives, walnuts orprunes. Six deep irrigation wells test pumped in 2015, combinedyield estimated at 10,200 GPM. A unique opportunity remove theEucalyptus & plant orchards typical to Tehama Co.

Orchard Potential (N) of Stoney Creek

$16,562,000

Attention Farm Bureau members:receive a 50% discount off first office visit fee.

The Department of Agri-culture is offering $5 million ingrants to schools through theUSDA Farm to School Pro-gram. The program has beenawarding grants to schools andcommunities since 2013. Farmto School refers to efforts thatbring locally or regionally pro-duced foods into school caf-eterias.

USDA says that also in-cludes hands-on learning ac-tivities such as school garden-ing, farm visits, and culinaryclasses, and the integration offood-related education intothe regular, standards-basedclassroom curriculum.

Schools, Native American

USDA Offering $5 Million in Farm to School Grants

If you missed NationalPumpkin Day on October26th, don’t fret, you can stillhave some pumpkin pie atThanksgiving.

Scientists believe thatpumpkins originated in NorthAmerica about 9,000 yearsago. Today, we recognize thisautumn decoration and foodin a variety of recipes, com-petitions, and festivals.

Within recent years, whitepumpkins have become morepopular in the United States.The United States produces1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins,with Illinois producing morethan any other state.

tribes, farmers and other or-ganizations may be eligible toapply for up to $100,000 forplanning, implementing ortraining on the farm to school

programs.Applications are due by

December 8th, 2017. Applica-tion information is availableonline at www.fns.usda.gov.

Did you missNational

Pumpkin Day?


[email protected]

Todd RenfrewOffice: (707)455-4449Cell: (707)365-5064Fax: (707)455-0455

w We specialize in buyingand selling the finest

recreational, hunting, fishing,equestrian, farm and

ranch properties.

If you see farmequipment

moving on theroads...

give them abrake!

Processing tomatoes have been a big part of Solano County agri-culture for many years. In fact, for 2016, it was the fourth largestcrop with a value of nearly $34 million. However, looking in thepantry and finding these tomatoes is, well, priceless!

Now that’s home work!

SolanoFarm

Bureau

solano county farm bureau news€¦ · fsa can help farmers and ranch-ers with a range of disaster...

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