April 2023

By: Noah Wicks, AgriPulse

The Bureau of Reclamation is laying out two sharply different alternatives for future Colorado River water cuts: Prioritize reductions based on water rights seniority — California’s preferred option — or distribute cuts evenly across all Lower Basin water users.

The agency included both options in a draft environmental impact statement on Tuesday amid gridlock in state discussions over plans for cutting between 2 million and 4 million acrefeet of water to preserve operations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead.

The proposals highlight the fault line that has become apparent during state-level discussions over the future of the river. Officials from California, the

Merced County Farm News

Bureau of Reclamation weighs new options to address Colorado River water shortages

largest user of water on the river, have previously expressed support for using the “first-come, first-served” system that has governed water rights in the river for decades. Negotiators from neighboring Arizona, under pressure to save the low-priority Central Arizona Project, prefer for cuts to be distributed evenly throughout the basin.

Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau told the New York Times Tuesday that he was “pretty comfortable” the equal distribution approach would protect water levels and comply with the law. But Interior spokesperson Melissa Schwartz stressed to Agri-Pulse that the department is not leaning toward any particular option.

The agency has “no preferred alternative,” Schwartz says.

The seven states that rely on the Colorado River were previously tasked with deciding how and where cuts should be made under the threat of unilateral action from the Bureau of Reclamation. These states, however, have already blown past two deadlines without a unanimous agreement.

California is the river’s largest water user, with a 4.4-million-acre-foot allocation. Many of the state’s water users have long-standing rights to water from the river, and California water

Spring

By: Merced County

officials have tightly guarded their current level of access in negotiations.

J.B. Hamby, chairman of the Colorado River Board of California, said in a statement Tuesday that the board “remains committed” to reaching a consensus with other states in the basin. He didn’t say which approach he supported.

Arizona is allocated around 2.85 million acre-feet of water annually, though it has already lost 592,000 acrefeet of that. Most of these cuts came from the Central Arizona Project, a 336-mile aqueduct system that delivers Colorado River water to central and southern Arizona.

Congressional approval of the aqueduct in 1968 required Arizona’s lawmakers to make one concession: In a time of drought, the Central Arizona Project would be the first lower basin user to take cuts. But because it is a primary water source for the fastgrowing metropolitan regions of Phoenix and Tucson, as well as for tribes in the region, state officials are worried about water levels dropping low enough to cut off access to the reservoir entirely.

The Arizona Department of Water Resources said Tuesday it is “encouraged” by Reclamation’s decision to release a draft environmental impact

statement, saying long-term action is “necessary” for protecting the system.

“As we have said in the past, burdens associated with managing risks on the Colorado River must be shared across all sectors and by all water users,” the agency said.

The “rights-based approach” also seems to have support from the Family Farm Alliance, a group of farmers, ranchers and irrigation districts focused on irrigation-related issues.

The alliance's executive director, Dan Keppen, said in a statement to AgriPulse that the organization believes the use of water resources must “be based in existing state and interstate water law.”

“A commitment to work within the framework of existing appropriative systems, rather than pursuing a new system that circumvents current water rights allocation and administration, provides the only certainty required to make responsible, long-term water management decisions,” Keppen said.

In previous discussions, Arizona officials have called for California to take a larger share of cuts due to its large allocation. California publicly offered to make a 400,000-acre-foot reduction in January, but the state opposes larger

See 'Colorado River' Page 4

Snowpack Runoff Notice

April 4, 2023 - Due to recent storm events in early 2023, areas of Merced County have been inundated with flood waters. Saturated soils and increased runoff anticipated from snowpack are expected to result in continued flooding potential as new storm events come through Merced County in the coming weeks.

Given the foregoing, the County hereby provides notice that the waterways within the County of Merced, including Mariposa Creek, Owens Creek, Burns Creek, Bear Creek, Fahrens Creek, Miles Creek, Dutchman Creek, Deadman Creek, Romero Creek, Quinto Creek and Garzas Creek are at imminent risk of flooding and inundation of land, roads, or structures due to the unprecedented recent storm

events and anticipated snowpack runoff. Waterways may be added or removed as circumstances merit. Persons or entities may divert water as provided in the Governor’s Executive Order N-4-23.

After years of severe drought, Merced County welcomes the opportunity to recharge flood waters to both mitigate the effects of drought and prevent additional flooding impacts to health and safety.

from the Director's Desk

Breanne Vandenberg

Our last month has been filled with several legislative meetings. MCFB sent a

delegation to the Capitol during California Farm Bureau’s Capitol Ag Conference at the end of March. Representing our organization were Dante Migliazzo, Gino Pedretti III, Bob Vandenberg, Denelle Flake and myself. Speakers for the conference portion of the event included State Water Board Vice Chair DeeDee D’Adamo and California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis. Following the conference portion, we made our way to the Capitol building to start our lobbying efforts. It seemed fitting that we were lobbying on a day that rained throughout our time in Sacramento.

We were scheduled to meet with five offices including both of our assemblymembers – Assemblywoman (Asm) Soria and Assemblyman (Asm) Alanis. The other meetings were with the offices of Asm Diane Papan (D - San Mateo), Asm Wendy Carrillo (D – Los Angeles) and Asm Chris Holden (D –Pasadena). In each of these meetings we are advocating for and against various bills. Each of these meetings took a different tone, however it is always our task to make agriculture relatable.

Our end hope is that they will reach out to our office for bills that impact agriculture and to create long-standing relationships for the future.

In each of these meetings we offer the opportunity to tour Merced County agriculture. Asm Soria’s staff quickly contacted us to set up a tour for the following week. Not allowing a good opportunity go to waste, we jumped on the phone to ensure it would happen. Delays in planting made a true agricultural tour difficult so we opted to view our waterways and the impacts that we’ve occurred due to the flooding events. Thanks to Sheriff Warnke and the Merced County Aviation Unit, Asm Soria and district director Gilbert Felix were taken up to check out the San Joaquin River, the Merced River, the Eastside Bypass, Hwy 59 at Mariposa Creek and other impacted locations. The tour was well received as it was impactful to see the landscape from that vantage point.

Following the aerial tour, we were able to visit Joe Sansoni’s property where some of the initial breaks occurred. The aerial tour also allowed

for a viewing of this location. Thanks to Joe and Ezio Sansoni and Joe Scoto for detailing the days that led up to the break, the work that was done to protect more devastation and the conversation on the basic needs to keep our channels clean.

Conversations also turned to the projections for continued releases from Friant, leading to potential flooding for those near the San Joaquin River from now through July. Those along the Merced River may also be subject to the same flooding. While we do not want to create alarm for landowners in these areas, we do want to ensure you know of the complications that may arise in the near future. For those that have dairy or livestock, please begin to think of a plan of attack. Projections are only projections, but evacuations may be necessary when the time comes. Property owners will need to make the best decisions with the options given at that time. We hope you do not have to make those decisions however we will be here if you do.

from the President's Corner

Joe Sansoni

Thank you to all who attended our 105th Annual Meeting and dinner! It was great to see such good attendance and engagement from our membership. We truly are fortunate here in Merced County to have such an amazing Farm Bureau staff and Board of Directors. Thank you to Breanne, Lorraine, Denelle, and Alexxis for the great work you all do! And thank you to the Board members for your efforts and direction each month throughout the year. I appreciate each and every one of you and the individual talents and perspectives you bring to the Farm Bureau table. We have an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience among our ranks and I am honored to be your President for another year.

Last month we transitioned to a hybrid format with our monthly newsletter, with every other month being available digital only on our website and the alternate months in print. If you

need help accessing the digital content please call the office and talk to Denelle or Alexxis. Last month I wrote about the membership challenges we are facing as a local County Farm Bureau. Because of the new format, some (or possibly many) of you may have missed my March President’s message ahead of Annual Meeting, but I feel it is very important for all members to consider, so I’m re-stating part of it verbatim this month in the following paragraph:

I feel like this is an appropriate time to address some of the challenges MCFB and other County Farm Bureaus are facing when it comes to membership. The demographic of agriculture is slowly but surely changing across the nation, and it hits here close to home too. Little by little, smaller farms are selling out, going out of business, or being absorbed by larger farming companies or neighboring operations. Often it’s a result of an older generation coming to the end of their active days and not having anyone in succession to take over. In other situations it simply doesn’t make economic sense to keep a small operation going, especially if it is not diversified or has insufficient equity to sustain itself through downturns in the crop economy. This has of course already been happening throughout the past few decades and is to be expected, however it is a trend that is picking up speed at an alarming rate. Here in California’s Central Valley we are facing yet another unique challenge to all farming operations but especially smaller ones as SGMA regulations come online while our precious water resources are simultaneously being

squandered much of the time due to hopelessly outdated environmental ideologies and practices. (I know we’ve had a record rainfall winter so far in 2023 but don’t think for a second that we are out of the woods regarding drought and water scarcity for agriculture.) Smaller farming operations simply don’t have the land or capital resources to be able to fallow a third or more of their acreage in a dry year and keep going. They will become victims and fall by the wayside. It’s a harsh and unfortunate reality. So how does all this relate to membership challenges for Farm Bureau? It’s pretty simple. The same amount of acreage will be managed (whether fallow or productive in a given year) by an ever-decreasing number of stakeholders. All those small farming operations were a membership each…sometimes multiple memberships within one family. As they sell out or get absorbed, the membership gets diluted and the revenue to Farm Bureau diminishes a little bit more each year. Some of the large scale or investment farming operations that absorb smaller operations do not even maintain Farm Bureau memberships. This is a problem that is facing every single county Farm Bureau in the state, and has been generating quite a bit of discussion locally within our own MCFB board as well as at the state level at CFB. The reality is that at some point very soon we will be forced to either raise dues substantially, or else implement a completely new type of dues structure entirely, such as by a per acre basis. If we do nothing, Farm Bureau will slowly but surely reach a point of insolvency both at the local as well as state level. Folks, we simply cannot allow that to happen! Many members think that the $275 annual dues are already steep enough. However, consider the fact that Farm Bureau is your primary line of

political and regulatory defense, direct farm support across a multitude of issues, and lobbying at local, state and national levels. Sure, there are plenty of crop-specific and brand-specific advocacy groups working to benefit their grower members as well, but Farm Bureau is the one entity that ties it all together and works closely with other organizations for the benefit of ALL in agriculture! I encourage anyone who reads this to think about it and reach out to myself, any of our board members or staff with ideas and feedback on this issue that could help us define a fair and workable path that would ensure the sustainability of our great organization.

A special thank you also to Sheriff Vern Warnke, Merced County DA Nicole Silveira, and Supervising DA Investigator Jay Struble for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet with us at our most recent “Coffee Talk” at Scoto Bros ranch in Merced. We covered multiple topics in lurid detail, including ag and rural crime issues, what to do if you are a victim, what you can do to protect yourself and your property, post-flooding issues and what’s being done to hopefully prevent future catastrophic flooding, among other issues. These individuals truly care about our County and its residents and are very passionate and dedicated to their professions!

Please get yourselves set up to be able to access our newsletter in its online format! This is the only time I’ll be repeating the same message from one month to the next. I have plenty of material to expand on each month, so I hope you’ll all be able to read it for whatever it’s worth.

Happy Spring and happy planting! I hope and pray for success, health and prosperity for all of us and our families. Keep plowing and keep hope alive!

Merced County Farm Bureau’s Mission Statement

Merced County Farm Bureau is an independent, nongovernmental, grassroots organization that advocates for the men and women who provide food, fiber, and nursery products for our community, state, and nation.

Merced County Farm Bureau exists for the purpose of improving the ability of individuals engaged in production

agriculture to utilize California resources to produce food and fiber in the most profitable, efficient and responsible manner possible, guaranteeing our nation a domestic food supply.

Merced County Farm Bureau supports policies and legislation that promote and protect our Country’s number one industryagriculture for future generations and the security of our nation.

Colorado River

continued from page 1 cuts.

Arizona, Nevada and the Upper Basin states found common ground in late January with a proposed “Consensus-Based Modeling Alternative,” after failing to agree on a solution last August.

The plan would require Arizona to reduce its use by 93,000 acre-feet, Nevada to reduce its use by 10,000 acrefeet and California to reduce its water use by 147,000 acre-feet if the elevation of Lake Mead dropped below 1,030 feet. If Lake Mead’s elevation were to fall below 1,020 feet, Arizona would lose 75,000 acre-feet, Nevada would lose 8,000 acre-feet, and California would lose 117,000 acre-feet.

But California water officials were dissatisfied with this proposal and presented their own plan, which aimed to keep Lake Mead’s elevation at 1,000 feet and Lake Powell’s at 3,500 feet by discontinuing the use of “operational neutrality” — or making operational determinations based on a formula that does not include cuts to the system that take effect in the upcoming year. The

California plan also calls for making changes to Lake Powell operational tiers and releases and modifying shortage conditions.

Ahead of Tuesday's release of the draft environmental impact statement, the Biden administration announced more than $340 million in projects aimed at conserving water in the basin.

As much as $233 million is going to the Gila River Indian Community, with $83 million going to a water pipeline project that will reuse about 20,000 acre-feet of water per year in Lake Mead.

More than $54 million will go to 14 projects in the basin that will improve water delivery and storage infrastructure, water treatment and improve hydropower generation. The Bureau of Reclamation is also working on an agreement with California’s Imperial Irrigation District to conserve 250,000 acre-feet of water per year from 2023 through 2026.

Some $36 million is designated for water conservation in California’s Coachella Valley, and another $20 million is designated for four small projects in California and Utah for both surface water and groundwater storage.

Merced County Farm News

Published monhtly by Merced County Farm Bureau

Phone (209) 723-3001

Fax (209) 722-3814 646 S. Hwy 59, Merced CA 95341

Email: dflake@mercedfarmbureau.org (USPS 339-500)

Entered as Second Class matter, Jan. 20, 1948 at the US Post Office in Merced, CA. Subscription is included in membership. Singles issues are 50 cents. Merced County Farm News is printed by Wesco Graphics, 410 E. Grant Line Road, Suite B, Tracy, CA 95376

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Merced County Farm Bureau, P.O. Box 1232, Merced, CA 95341; telephone (209) 723-3001; FAX (209) 722-3814. Merced County Farm Bureau does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products advertised in Merced County Farm News, nor does Farm Bureau assume responsibility for statements or expressions of opinion other than in editorials or in articles showing authorship by an officer, director or employee of the Merced County Farm Bureau or its affiliates.

Merced County Farm Bureau Staff

Breanne Vandenberg

Executive Director

Lorraine Passadori

Program Director

Denelle Flake

Farm News Editor/Project Specialist

Alexxis Rudich

Project Assistant/ESJ Grower Relations

Board of Directors

Pres: Joe Sansoni 761-9284

1st VP: Alan Sano 559-905-1240

2nd VP: David Barroso 652-6437

Sec/Treas: Tim Lohman 988-3545

Past Pres: Eric Harcksen 620-1953

District 1

Sean Davis 769-1804

Joe Maiorino 564-6791

District 2

Bob Vandenberg 704-5568

District 3

Mike Martin ............................ 675-1907

Chad Perry 675-4474

District 4

Jean Okuye 756-2421

Galen Miyamoto 761-5366

District 5

Brent Chipponeri 652-3473

John Van Ruler .......................648-3877

District 6

Dante Migliazzo 769-9525

Bill Arnold. 761-0542

District 7

GIno Pedretti III 756-1612

Tom Roduner 769-9353

District 8

Julie Giampaoli 201-8434

Joe Scoto 761-0489

Directors at Large

Jim Johnston 564-7551

Jeff Marchini 769-9116

Bob Giampaoli ....................... 769-4973

Dan Dewees 658-4343

Louie Bandoni 761-0625

Michael Serrano 485-1935

Mariposa County Farm Bureau Staff

Sweet Potato Joe from page 1

the former Florence Cardoza of Merced in 1942.

By: Cameron Zuber, Orchard Crops Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Merced and Madera Counties

While we cannot control the amount of precipitation nor when it occurs during the fall and winter, this can dictate when to start irrigating deciduous trees at the beginning of the season as the amount and timing of precipitation affects the amount of water in the soil that is available to trees. Irrigation is needed when the soil moisture is depleted to a point where trees begin to be too water stressed. Water is depleted in the soil from two processes, soil evaporation and plant transpiration which are combined into the term evapotranspiration.

After the war, and during his life as a sweet potato farmer, he served as President of the California Sweet Potato Council, and US Sweet Potato Council, where he was a Director for over 20 years. He was the first California farmer to attend the National Sweet Potato Convention, among other industry firsts. Joe served as President of the Merced County Farm Bureau, and was on the Board of Directors of the Nisei Farmers League. He formed the California Sweet Potato Growers Co-op in Livingston, along with several other local growers, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

and 2021 the soil moisture at a shallow depth was 2.0 and 1.2 inches of water per foot of soil depth, respectively. Basically, at a similar point in time the gas tank in 2020 had nearly twice as much gas as it did in 2021.

The amount of evapotranspiration was similar for this period. Using CIMIS measurements in April, almond evapotranspiration was 3.2 inches in 2020 and 3.9 inches in 2021. However, for this site in 2020 the irrigation was started in early May, while in 2021 it began at the end of March. This difference in start times was primarily based on the difference in soil moisture for those years.

known as the “Voice of Livingston.” From 1946 to 1996, he announced all the Livingston High School football games, lending his strong voice to the community by also announcing everything in Livingston from parades to radio programs. He served on the Livingston Elementary School Board and the Merced County Recreation Commission for many years. Joe’s acting skills even benefited the Livingston Little Theater Group, where he starred in several productions, most notably as Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey”.

and booster for over fifty years. This led to his being appointed the third Area Commissioner of Baseball. All of these years of being involved in baseball in Livingston culminated in the community baseball field being renamed the “Joe F. Alvernaz Baseball Field,” something he was so proud of.

depth, taking into account the depth of the tree’s roots is important. For woody tree crops, there is a misperception that the rootzone is similar to the height and size of the above ground portion of the tree. This is incorrect, as the majority of a tree’s roots tends to spread out and only go to about 1.5- to two-foot deep for older trees.

great grandchildren.

Considerations towards the start of irrigation for deciduous trees

His light on earth has dimmed, but heaven is brighter as he has joined Florence, the true love of his life.

Deciduous trees enter a dormancy period in the fall where minimal evapotranspiration occurs. Eventually, leaves emerge, evapotranspiration increases, and water is depleted in the soil. To understand when the soil become too dry, and thus when to start

His interests and community involvement were very diversefrom serving as a founding member of the Livingston Medical Group, to past-President of Livingston Rotary, to being

If irrigation were started at the same time for both years three to four inches of water may have been wasted in 2020 because there was enough water in the soil to supply the water demand of the trees. Three to four inches is approximately 81,000 to 109,000 gallons of water for each acre of land.

His love of baseball began at an early age and became a life-long interest that manifested itself into a devotion to the sport for over eighty years. He organized the first kid’s hardball team in Merced County in the early 50’s. He was particularly fond of American Legion Baseball, serving as a coach, sponsor, announcer

When heading into the growing season it is important to understand how much water may be in your soil, how this may differ year-to-year, and how this affects when to start irrigation. Monitoring soil moisture depletion or plant water stress can provide more site-specific information to inform management choices on when to begin irrigating this season. This then circles back to the original comment at the start of the article, at which point should you start irrigation?

an almond research site in Parlier, CA, provides an example on why understanding the amount of water in soil heading into the growing season is important. At the end of March in 2020

While many trees can survive extremely dry soil conditions, productivity declines. Therefore, determining the allowable depletion is recommended, but no single allowable depletion amount can be recommended for all situations as many factors, like root depth, soil texture, and weather, play a big role on how trees respond to a specific soil moisture. However, when speaking generally, a recommendation of 50% allowable depletion is considered reasonable. Each soil texture can hold a different amount of water that is available to trees. A safe level to start irrigating is when your soil’s available soil moisture is depleted by 50% from its maximum available soil moisture amount.

As soil moisture is typically given as an amount of water per foot of soil

Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Mabel Alvernaz, brothers, Arthur and John Alvernaz, and sister, Mary Geyer. He was also predeceased by his oldest son, Joey Alvernaz, in 1980 and by his wife of 64 years, Florence, in 2007.

To begin understanding when to start

He is survived by five children, Judy Blevins, James (Colette) Alvernaz, and Benjamin (Debbie) Alvernaz of Livingston; Cecelia (James) Simon of San Diego, and Susan (Randall) Wilson of Mariposa, a sister, Cecelia Luker of Atwater, 17 grandchildren and 13

irrigation at the beginning of the year, first determine the soil moisture at that time. Then the allowable depletion based on your soil type and the suspected depth of tree roots. Once that point is reached begin irrigating. Determining that point can be done my monitoring soil moisture, calculating loss of soil moisture (i.e., evapotranspiration), or monitoring plant water stress.

So long to our Dad, coach, neighbor and everyone’s friend. He will be deeply and painfully missed, yet celebrated, honored and never forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to Grace Nursing Home in Livingston or to the Joe F. Alvernaz Memorial Fund to benefit youth baseball in Livingston.

Sweet Potato Joe was the Farm Bureau President from 1983-1986 and hired long-time staff member Lorraine Passadori when she showed up in her clown costume for the interview. Agriculture lost a strong advocate that will truly be missed. We will continue to keep his family in our thoughts and prayers.

Table of different soil types’ range, average, and 50% allowable depletion of available soil moisture. Table adapted from UC ANR Almond Production Manual, 1996.

USDA Expands Eligibility, Enhances Benefits for Key Disaster Programs

By: USDA

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made updates to several conservation, livestock and crop disaster assistance programs to give more farmers, ranchers, and tribes the opportunity to apply for and access programs that support recovery following natural disasters. Specifically, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded eligibility and enhanced available benefits for a suite of its programs. These updates will provide critical assistance to producers who need to rebuild and recover after suffering catastrophic losses of production and infrastructure due to natural disasters.

FSA has updated the following programs: The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP), the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).

“As I meet with producers across the country, I have gained a better understanding of the ways in which our programs work—and the ways in which they can be improved to better support all producers, especially those who are working to rebuild their operations after a disaster,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “This set of updates to our disaster assistance programs reflects FSA’s commitment to listening to producers and responding to their needs wherever we have the authorities to do so. We are confident that these changes will increase the both the accessibility and efficacy of our disaster assistance programs, consistent with our goal to build equity into the fabric of our work at the FSA.”

Conservation Disaster Assistance

Updates

FSA updated ECP to:

• Allow producers who lease Federally owned or managed lands, including tribal trust land, as well as State land the opportunity to participate.

• Provide advance payments, up to 25% of the cost, for all ECP

practices before the restoration is carried out, an option that was previously only available for fence repair or replacement. The costshare payment must be spent within 60 days.

Additionally, Congress also authorized the Federal government to pay 100% of the ECP and EFRP cost for damage associated with the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire in New Mexico. This fire burned over 340,000 acres from April 2022 to June 2022 and was the largest wildfire in recorded history in New Mexico. ECP and EFRP cost-share assistance is typically capped at 75%. This policy change for 100% cost-share applies only to those locations impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

ECP and EFRP provide financial and technical assistance to restore conservation practices like fencing, damaged farmland or forests.

Livestock Disaster Assistance Updates

FSA also expanded eligible livestock under ELAP, LFP and LIP. Specifically, horses maintained on eligible grazing land are eligible for ELAP, LFP and LIP. Many family farms and ranches use their forage to raise horses to augment their other agriculture endeavors. FSA recognizes that animals maintained in a commercial agriculture operation, add value to the operation and could be available for marketing from the farm. FSA regulations have been updated to include these animals as eligible livestock

Horses and other animals that are used or intended to be used for racing and wagering remain ineligible.

Ostriches are also now eligible for LFP and ELAP. FSA is making this change because ostriches satisfy more than 50% of their net energy requirement through the consumption of growing forage grasses and legumes and are therefore considered “grazing animals”.

This change for ostriches is effective for the 2022 program year for both LFP and ELAP. ELAP requires a notice of loss to be filed with FSA within 30 days of when the loss is first apparent. Because this deadline may have passed for 2022, FSA is extending the deadline for filing notices of loss through March 31, 2023.

LIP and ELAP reimburses producers for a portion of the value of livestock, poultry and other animals that died as

a result of a qualifying natural disaster event or for loss of grazing acres, feed and forage. LFP provides benefits for grazing losses due to drought and eligible wildfires on federally managed lands.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance

NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. Basic NAP coverage is equivalent to the catastrophic level risk protection plan of insurance coverage, which is based on the amount of loss that exceeds 50% of expected production at 55% of the average market price for the crop.

Previously, to be eligible for NAP coverage, a producer had to submit an application (Form CCC-471) for NAP coverage on or before the application closing date. For 2022, if a producer has a Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification (Form CCC-860) on file with FSA, it will serve as an application for basic coverage for all eligible crops having a 2022 application closing date and all NAPrelated service fees for basic coverage will be waived for these producers.

FSA will notify all eligible producers who already have the CCC860 certification form on file of their eligibility for NAP basic coverage for 2022. To potentially receive NAP assistance, producers who suffered losses due to natural disasters in 2022 should file an acreage report as well as a notice of loss with the FSA at their local Service Center.

Producers who are interested in obtaining NAP coverage for 2023 and subsequent years should also contact their local FSA county office for information on eligibility, coverage options and applying for coverage.

Reporting Losses

Producers impacted by a natural disaster should report losses and damages and file an application with their FSA county office. Timelines for reporting losses and applying for payments differ by program.

For LIP and ELAP, producers will need to file a Notice of Loss for livestock and grazing or feed losses within 30 days and honeybee losses within 15 days. For LFP, producers

must provide a completed application for payment and required supporting documentation to their FSA office within 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the grazing loss occurred.

For NAP, producers should contact their local FSA office for guidelines on submitting a notice of loss and filing an acreage certification.

More Information

The updates to these programs build on other Biden-Harris administration efforts to improve disaster assistance programs, including additional flexibility in obtaining Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) basic coverage for socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource and veteran farmers and ranchers.

Previous enhancement to the ELAP provide program benefits to producers of fish raised for food and other aquaculture species as well as cover above normal expenses for transporting livestock to forage and grazing acres and transport feed to livestock impacted by qualifying drought. And earlier updates to the LIP payment rates better reflect the true market value of non-adult beef, beefalo, bison and dairy animals.

Yesterday, FSA announced it would begin accepting applications for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and the new Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) on Jan. 23, 2023, through June 2, 2023. ERP Phase Two is designed to fill gaps in the delivery of program benefits not covered in ERP Phase One and improves equity in program delivery to underserved producers. PARP will help address gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses. Learn more in the Jan. 9, 2023 news release.

Additional Resources

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help producers and landowners determine program or loan options. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent. For FSA and Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, contact the local USDA Service Center.

WOTUS rule now blocked in 26 states

By: Steve Davies, Agripulse

The Biden administration’s rule defining “waters of the U.S.” is no longer in effect in more than half the country as the result of a district court injunction issued Wednesday. Twenty-four states “have persuasively shown that the new 2023 Rule poses a threat to their sovereign rights and amounts to irreparable harm,” Senior U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland said in his order. A judge in Texas has already issued an injunction preventing enforcement of the rule in that state and Idaho, while a judge in Kentucky rejected an injunction request from Kentucky.

The states are supported in the North Dakota litigation by ag trade groups such as the American Farm Bureau

Federation and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

“Cattle producers in 26 states now have some additional certainty while this rule is being litigated and we are optimistic that the Supreme Court will provide nationwide clarity on the federal government’s proper jurisdiction over water,” NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer, said.

The high court has yet to issue its opinion in the Clean Water Act Sackett case, involving two Idaho landowners.

“There is no urgency to implement the 2023 rule,” Hovland said. “The Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett will be issued by June 2023 and will likely address many of the unresolved legal issues and jurisdictional determinations at the heart of this lawsuit.”

Hovland agreed with the arguments made by the states, at times quoting at

length from their filings to show the WOTUS rule lacks clarity and will be costly to implement.

“There is little that is intelligible about the 2023 Rule and the broad scope of its jurisdiction,” Hovland said. “The EPA’s interpretation of the 2023 Rule does not provide any clarity nor equate with an intelligible principle to which the states can easily conform. And the rule does not provide fair notice to the states as to what will be considered ‘waters of the United States.’”

EPA “thought the 2023 Rule was consistent with the pre-2015 enforcement regime,” Hovland said. “However, the 2023 Rule and the EPA’s pre-2015 practice are at odds in several key ways.”

He also said it is “unclear whether the EPA provided full notice and comment on all relevant aspects of the new 2023 rule.”

Quoting from a Supreme Court decision from last year that found EPA exceeded its authority in issuing a rule covering power plant emissions, Hovland said “federal agencies are not permitted to exercise regulatory power ‘over a significant portion of the American economy’ or ‘make a radical or fundamental change to a statutory scheme’ through rulemaking without clear authorization by Congress.”

In addition to Texas and Idaho, which were covered by an earlier court decision, the states where the WOTUS rule is now enjoined are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

CDFA and State Board of Food and Agriculture launch Ag Vision for the Next Decade

By: Office of Public Affairs, CDFA

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the California State Board of Food and Agriculture are announcing a bold plan for the future: Ag Vision for the Next Decade.

Ag Vision centers on growing opportunity – for farmers and ranchers, farmworkers, individuals and communities – and demonstrating leadership on climate action. The plan will guide areas of focus for CDFA and serve as a catalyst for action. And it’s not just a plan for agriculture, but something to benefit every Californian.

Ag Vision was developed using a robust and inclusive process and focuses on five priority areas:

• Fostering climate-smart, resilient, and regenerative food systems —Support farmers and ranchers to be leaders on climate change and support efforts that improve agriculture’s impact on the environment. Also, encourage wise stewardship of water and natural resources, eliminate waste, and promote regenerative practices that enhance ecosystems and improve the land.

• Building healthy, local

communities — Invest in local and socially disadvantaged communities – with emphasis on the diverse populations who often work at and with, and live adjacent to California farms – while supporting equity and the California economy through nutritious, California-grown farm products. From the need to provide access to clean drinking water to challenges related to housing and workforce development, agriculture is not only a good neighbor, but is taking a action on these issues.

• Driving next-generation talent and tools — Support workforce development programs aimed at attracting, supporting and providing high-quality jobs and leadership opportunities for a diverse agricultural workforce, while also driving research and real-time feedback from farmers and ranchers to stimulate and accelerate innovation to solve problems and build opportunities. Expand investment to meet current agricultural labor needs and opportunities for career advancement and upskill of the existing workforce.

• Enhancing understanding of agriculture — Support engagement

with rural and urban audiences on the value of California agriculture. Capitalize on the scientific and agronomic expertise of the Department, collaborate with other agencies in the administration, and with farmers and ranchers to highlight community, sustainability and opportunities that working lands provide.

• Collaborating on smarter regulations — Work with other state agencies, stakeholders and the administration to explore and support smarter regulations that rethink ways to both meet public obligations and support farmers with simplified, less expensive regulatory compliance, reporting and implementation.

“Ag Vision is a plan for every Californian, from those who care about the land and landscape and making it better for the future, to those who work with or live around farming communities,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “It’s a plan for those curious about their food and health, as well as those who care about climate action, to foster more climate smart, resilient and restorative food systems. While the plan is intended to guide the actions of CDFA, we can’t do it alone.

To bring Ag Vision to life we need private and public entities, community leaders, and diverse stakeholders to come together to advance the vision through collaboration, partnerships and action.”

Ag Vision was created with multiple inputs from a diverse set of agricultural stakeholders. One-on-one interviews were held with members of an Ag Vision task force representing the diversity of geographic regions and crops grown in California, and members of the State Board of Food and Agriculture. Seven virtual roundtable discussions occurred with various segments of California agriculture – from dairy and livestock farmers to berry growers and tree nut producers – along with processors and supply chain partners and historically underserved farmers.

“California is the fifth largest agricultural economy in the world and with that comes the responsibility to enable a framework where farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and communities can thrive,” said Jenet DeCosta, state board member and Ag Vision committee chair. “Through Ag Vision, the farming community will further its positive impact to make an even bigger difference to people in our communities, state and around the globe.”

Why Sen. Feinstein’s absence is a big problem for Democrats

By: Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s monthslong absence from the Senate to recover in California from shingles has become a vexing problem for Democrats who want to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees to the federal courts. Now there is some pressure from within her party, and her state, to resign.

With frustration mounting among Democrats, Feinstein on Wednesday asked to be temporarily replaced on the Senate Judiciary Committee while she recuperates. The statement came shortly after a member of California’s House delegation, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, called on her to step down, saying it is “unacceptable” for her to miss votes to confirm judges who could be weighing in on abortion rights, a key Democratic priority.

It will not be easy to temporarily replace Feinstein on the influential committee. Republicans could block such a move, given that the full Senate must approve committee assignments.

The conundrum for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stems from his party’s fragile hold on power. Democrats are clinging to a 51-49 majority in an aging Senate where there have been several absences due to health issues this year.

A look at the politics surrounding Feinstein’s absence, and how Democrats are navigating the situation:

EXTENDED ABSENCE

Feinstein, 89, has been away from the Senate since Feb. 27, just two weeks after she announced she would not run for reelection in 2024.

Her office disclosed March 2 that she had been hospitalized in San Francisco and was being treated for a case of shingles. “I hope to return to the Senate later this month,” she said in a statement at the time.

Now, six weeks later, Feinstein’s office will not give a timeline for her return, even as Congress comes back into session Monday from a two-week recess.

It is unclear how long Feinstein expects to be away from Washington or whether she might resign before the end of her term. She has already faced questions in recent years about her cognitive health and memory, and has appeared increasingly frail. But she has

defended her effectiveness.

STALLED JUDGES

Since February, Feinstein has missed more than 50 votes. Her absence on the Judiciary Committee means that Democrats can only confirm judges who have some Republican support because Democrats only have a one-seat majority on the panel.

The committee chairman, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has acknowledged that the pace of confirmations has slowed.

“I can’t consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee,” Durbin told CNN.

There are currently 12 federal judge nominees whom Democrats say they have been unable to advance because of Feinstein’s absence. It is not clear how many would have Republican support.

AN UNUSUAL REQUEST

Feinstein’s request to be temporarily replaced on the panel is uncommon and the politics at play are complicated.

Committee assignments are generally approved easily in the full Senate at the beginning of each two-year session. Replacements are generally only made when a senator dies or resigns.

To change the committee membership, Democrats will have to hold a vote. While committee rosters are generally approved by a voice vote, just one Republican objection would trigger a roll call. Because of Senate rules, Democrats probably would need 60 votes to replace Feinstein — meaning at least 10 Republicans would have to help Democrats and support the move.

That is far from assured. Judicial nominations are a high-stakes matter for both sides, and the process has become steeped in partisanship.

Republicans have so far stayed quiet. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has said he will return from his own medical absence on Monday, after a head injury in a fall last month.

CALIFORNIA POLITICS

Feinstein’s February announcement that she will retire from Congress when her term ends next year has triggered a scramble for her seat in a strongly Democratic state where a Democrat is nearly assured of winning the seat.

Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff have already launched Senate campaigns to succeed Feinstein.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in 2021 that he would

nominate a Black woman to fill the seat if Feinstein were to step aside before her term ends. Khanna has endorsed Lee, who is Black.

Other Californians — including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — have come to Feinstein’s defense.

Pelosi told a San Francisco TV station that she’s “seen up close and firsthand her great leadership for our country, but especially for our state of California. She deserves that respect to get well and be back on duty.”

Pelosi suggested sexism has played a role in the way Feinstein has been treated.

“I don’t know what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way,” Pelosi said. “I’ve never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way.”

A STORIED CAREER

Feinstein has been a political trailblazer since she was the first

woman to serve as president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the 1970s. She was first elected to the Senate in 1992.

She was the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee, privy to the nation’s top secrets, and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat. While she often has worked across party lines, she faced criticism in recent years from Democrats who said she was letting Republicans off easy in bruising judicial fights.

Feinstein infuriated liberals in 2020 when she closed out confirmation hearings for now-Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett with an embrace of the then-Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and thanked him for a job well done.

A month later, she announced she would remain on the committee but step down as the senior Democrat.

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2023 Scholarship Recipients

Kendall Borba Atwater High School MCFB Scholarship

Trenton Hall Atwater High School Arthur R Nutcher Scholarship

Guadalupe Millan Solorio Atwater High School MCFB Scholarship, Farm Worker's Children Scholarship & YF&R Scholarship

Christina Dillsaver Buhach Colony High School MCFB Scholarship

Maxwell Murphy El Capitan High School MCFB Scholarship

Garret Gomes Gustine High School Arthur R Nutcher Scholarship

Kaitlin Dores Gustine High School MCFB Scholarship & Arthur R Nutcher Scholarship

Emma Woods Gustine High School MCFB Scholarship

Mackenzie Spielman Golden Valley High School MCFB Scholarship

Cecilia Aguilar Le Grand High School MCFB Scholarship, Farm Worker's Children Scholarship & Arthur R. Nutcher Scholarship

McKayla Aiken Hilmar High School MCFB Scholarship

Reena Grewal Livingston High School MCFB Scholarship & Arthur R. Nutcher Scholarship

Merced County Farm Bureau Heritage Members

Platinum Heritage Members

Gold Heritage Members

Grimbleby Coleman CPAs Holt Ag Solutions

Minturn Nut Company

Valley Pacific Petroleum Services Inc.

Turlock Irrigation District

Atwater FFA Students Earn Honors and Qualify for State Championship

By: Atwater FFA

The Atwater High School FFA students continue to showcase their skills and compete among thousands of other high school agriculture students throughout the state. This past week, Atwater FFA students competed in the FFA Parliamentary Procedure Regional Finals at Columbia College, the Merced College FFA Field Day, and the Clovis FFA Field Day.

The Atwater FFA Novice and Advance Parliamentary Procedure teams qualified for the California FFA Parliamentary Procedure State Final Championships to be held at Fresno State University on April 21st – 23rd with top finishes at the regional finals held at Columbia College. The advanced team placed 2nd overall with a team comprised of Allison Garner, Kendall Borba, Alexa Bracamontes, Alany Guzman, Bryce Nickerson, Josh Medeiros, Sydney Nickelson, Katrina Andujar, Hailey Herforth, and Ella Boyenga. The Atwater FFA Novice Parliamentary Procedure team placed 3rd overall with a team comprised of Gizselle Avila, Grant Williamson, Hailey Azevedo, Hallie Billings, Isabella Silva, Katelyn Medeiros, Paisley Garcia, and Kayleigh Trindade. The purpose of this contest is to encourage students to learn to effectively participate in a business meeting and to assist in the development of their leadership skills. Nineteen schools throughout California competed at the event.

The Atwater FFA Vegetable Crops team placed 1st overall at Merced College with a team comprised of Nathali Vasquez (1st overall), Nicole DeLeon (2nd overall), Oscar Prado (4th overall), Sebastian Parra (5th overall), and Kimberly Valdovinos,. The Vegetable Crops contest is designed to create interest and promote understanding in the vegetable crop industry by providing opportunities for recognition through the demonstration of skills and proficiencies.

The Atwater FFA Milks Quality and

Dairy Foods team was comprised of Ryan Marshall (2nd overall), Brianna Duran (3rd overall), and Danica Christofferson placed 5th overall. The contest tests students in their knowledge and skills in milk quality (tasting), cheese identification, dairy vs non-dairy foods, and a written exam on the dairy industry.

The Atwater FFA Ag Mechanics team placed 8th overall at Merced College with a team comprised of Nic Presto (5th overall), Adrian Silva, Maverick Shepherd, and Marcos Padilla . The Ag Mechanics contest involves hands on application skills in woodworking, electrical, oxy-fuel welding & cutting skills, tool identification, and a written exam on all aspects of agriculture mechanics. Jose Barreto also competed as a team alternate.

The Atwater Veterinary Science team comprised of Maricela Perez (7th overall), Guadalupe Millan, Jasmine Monge, Gizselle Avila-Gomez, and Maritza Vargas-Higareda placed 10th overall at the Clovis FFA Field Day. This contest has students working in teams and demonstrating their technical competency with small and large animals by completing a written exam, critical-thinking scenario questions, identifications and hands-on practicums.

“The FFA judging season is an opportunity for students to showcase their life, industry, critical thinking, and communication skills through handson, skill-based applications among their peers from all over California at major colleges and state universities,” said FFA advisor Taylor Helton. “Atwater High School continues to be a top contender and recognized throughout the state as a major player at the year’s competitions.” The competitions continue with Reedley College, Fresno State University, and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo scheduled in the coming two months.

For more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website.

Atwater High School FFA Advanced Parliamentary Procedure team students Bryce Nickerson, Sydney Nickelson, Joshaua Medeiros, Allison Garner, Hailey Herforth, Alany Guzman, Kendall Borba, Alexa Bracamontes, and Katrina Andujar placed 2nd overall at the regional finals qualifying for the state championships later this month at Fresno State University.

How to Prepare for Card Check: California Farm Bureau, California Farm Labor Contractors Association, Farm Employers Labor Service, and Merced County Farm Bureau invite you to join them for an important labor seminar on Tuesday , April 2 5th from 1 0 :30 AM – 12 :30 PM regarding AB 2183, the agricultural employee unionization card check legislation that went into effect on January 1, 2023. Presented by Barsamian and Moody, Attorneys at Law, this seminar will walk through the statutory changes to the Agricultural Labor Relations Act, including what is card check, labor peace elections, the administrative penalties, and appeal bond requirements in the new law. The seminar is intended for owner - operators, managers, human resources personnel, and farm labor contractors (FLCs) . FLC representatives are encouraged to attend.

Spanish language interpretation and devices will be available for attendees. If you will need Spanish language translation, please register, and indicate the Spanish language option to ensure enough listening headsets can be provided. (Please note that the content of the seminar will not constitute legal advice or counsel.)

The seminar is at no cost to attend but RSVPs are required. Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Time: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Location: Merced County Farm Bureau, 646 S. State Highway 59, Merced

To register for the seminar in Merced on April 25, please use the following link: tinyurl.com/2ae8czt8 or call (209) 723-3001

California high-speed rail project’s future shaky without funding boost

By: Natalie Hanson, Courthouse News Service

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN)

— California’s high-speed rail project has reached a critical point as lawmakers must decide whether to seek more federal aid to finish the first segment, under construction in the state’s agricultural center.

When California voters first passed Proposition 1A greenlighting the project in 2008, the initial price tag was pegged at about $33 billion with a completion date of 2018. The cost estimate has since climbed to $128 billion and the completion year has been pushed from 2033 to no certain date, according to the High Speed Rail Authority.

State Assembly members got a new report Wednesday from the authority, which is now under the auspices of an inspector general, to decide what to do next.

The authority's CEO Brian Kelly asked lawmakers to let him seek a long-term financial commitment from the Biden administration and explore funding options to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The federal government approved starting the project in the Central Valley, to avoid right-of-way issues and spark economic development in economically disadvantaged areas with poor air quality.

With skyrocketing costs and declining projections for ridership, Kelly's proposal was met with skepticism. The entire project has a $10-$12 billion funding gap, and the segment connecting Merced to Bakersfield could cost between $3 billion and $10 billion to finish. In a 2018 report, the state auditor said the authority began construction despite knowing the risks of doing so before completing critical planning tasks.

While the state and then-Governor Jerry Brown said funds generated by the cap-and-trade program on carbon emissions will be siphoned off to support high-speed rail, it remains unclear how much that program can generate.

Assemblymember Vince Fong, a Republican from Bakersfield and the

only committee representative speaking for the Central Valley, is a vocal critic of the project.

“I live in this community, and I’ve seen the difficulties and chaos from this project. I’m seeing the destruction,” he said. “I would make the argument right now that even though we’re fatigued … we stop this project and put resources to other uses.”

Assemblymember Bill Essayli, a Republican from Corona, said he wants to see accountability for the authority’s performance because what is being built and what it costs is not aligned with Proposition 1A.

“If this was done in the private sector with this type of deception, we’d call it investment fraud,” Essayli said.

The project’s peer review group chairman, Louis Thompson, recommended that the Legislature get an independent analysis of the project, or request the Legislative Analyst’s Office to analyze ways to fill funding gaps.

“The project has always been over promised and underfunded,” Thompson told the committee.

The Legislative Analyst's Office principal fiscal and policy analyst Helen Kerstein reminded the lawmakers that Prop 1A funds — a general obligation bond — and 25% of state cap-and-trade dollars go to the project, or between $750 million to $1 billion per year. The Legislature can reallocate or change the appropriated funds for the project at any time, she said.

The authority has not been as successful in securing federal funds, having applied for $1.6 billion in the last two years and received only $50 million. It’s also uncertain how many people would use a high-speed system in the Central Valley.

“People are traveling differently, and the state’s population has not grown as robustly as was assumed originally,” Kerstein said.

Assemblymember Corey Jackson, a Democrat from Moreno Valley, said he supports high-speed rail but thinks it's time for lawmakers to take a firmer hand.

“I don’t think history’s going to judge us well from the decisions we’re making on this project right now," Jackson said.

Pressured to answer more questions, Kelly said, “I don’t BS the Legislature.

We can do this in bites to advance the concept. But the benefits of the system are still significant. Today, 100% of the design is done, 96% of the right of way is done and we have a much better definition of what’s in front of us.”

Some lawmakers thought the project has gone too far for the state to back out.

“I understand we’ve never fully funded this project,” Assemblymember Luz Rivas, a San Fernando Valley Democrat, said. “I feel the decision we made last year to release the remaining bond funds was an indication that we think it’s good enough.”

Assemblymember Philip Ting, a San Francisco Democrat and committee cochair, said that when the Golden Gate Bridge and BART were constructed, the headlines were also bleak with uncertainty about cost overruns. He said if the state has committed to the Central Valley track, they should stay committed to connect the Bay Area to Los Angeles.

“The challenge for us is, what does commitment look like?” Ting asked.

He noted that Governor Gavin Newsom will have to be actively involved throughout the process. In 2019, Newsom gave a State of the

State address that seemed to indicate his concerns about the project. But in 2022 he convinced the Legislature to appropriate the $4.2 billion remainder of a $9.95 billion bond issue voters approved in 2008, by securing $3.65 billion from the state’s budget surplus for local projects in return for freeing bond dollars.

Assemblymember Laura Friedman — a Democrat from Glendale and also a committee co-chair — said the Biden administration may not have congressional support to consistently fund the project.

“There’s certainly a lot of very loud voices in the public that want to see this project completed, but without presenting to the public the tradeoffs that might entail, it’s hard to have the public dialogue,” Friedman said.

Asked if he recommends moving forward with the project as it stands, Thompson did not answer but said lawmakers must consider why it is so different from the proposal voters approved in 2008.

“You should step back and see what you’re getting for your money,” he said. “This should not be postponed forever.”

Byproduct Feeding Practices Important to California’s Sustainability

By: Jennifer Heguy – UCCE Stanislaus, Merced & San Joaquin, Rúbia Branco Lopes – UC Davis, Noelia Silva-del-Rio –UC Davis & UC ANR & Ed DePeters – UC Davis Animal Science

Nearly 41% of the California lactating cow ration is composed of byproducts. That number was calculated from responses to a 2022 survey of California dairy nutritionists. The data set represents approximately 936,700 lactating cows (26 returned surveys); 87.5% of those cows were housed in the San Joaquin Valley. Only 4% of lactating cows (38,100 cows) did not consume byproducts.

Our objectives were to quantify byproduct usage in dairy rations and to identify feeding trends and opportunities. Below are selected results from the study.

We asked a series of questions about byproduct inclusion rates of nutritionists’ lowest and highest

byproduct fed herds, as well as the average inclusion rate across all their herds. These values, as reported by nutritionists, are presented in Table

1. Average inclusion rate for the state was determined by weighting the nutritionists’ “all herds” responses by number of lactating cows they fed. The result was a 41% average inclusion rate of byproducts in lactating rations. The range in byproduct feeding amounts was large. Ninety-six percent (96%) of nutritionists reported replacing both forages and concentrates with byproducts. In lactating diets, the three byproducts most frequently used to

replace forages were almond hulls, citrus, and soybean hulls. Citrus, whey, and millrun were most frequently reported as concentrate replacements. Every nutritionist selected value (worth the price) as a reason for including byproducts. Less chose price (they’re cheap; 38%) and availability (65%). Nutritionists reported increased byproduct feeding rates in the last five years (68%); 80% thought feeding rates would increase in the next five years. Byproduct feeding is not a new practice. The wide range in feeding levels suggests it is possible to feed more byproducts on some dairies. Water

regulation and reduced water availability will impact California’s ability to produce forages. Summer 2022 saw rail disruptions prevent concentrates from entering the state. Byproduct feeding strategies may help mitigate feedstuff disruptions while contributing to the sustainability and resiliency of the California feeding program.

Thank you to the California dairy nutritionists who participated in the survey and to the California Dairy Research Foundation for funding this project. If you have any questions about this work, you can reach me at jmheguy@ucdavis.edu.

2023 Bud Swift Memorial Carcass Contest

Sponsored by: Mariposa County Farm Bureau and Merced/Mariposa Cattlemen’s Association

Rules for Carcass Contest 4-H, Independent Youth, FFA

• Required ownership of animal is 120 days

• The initial weigh-in will be held on Saturday, May 13,2023 at 9:00 am at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds. The animals will be weighed, ear tagged and photographed with the exhibitor.

• The second and final weigh-in will be held when you check your animal in at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds for the Jr. Livestock show and auction. A final photograph will be taken after the judging of the market/showmanship

classes.

There are two equally weighted parts of this contest that will be evaluated for the final placing.

The Carcass Grid System

The carcass portion of the contest centers on the industry standard for producing beef. The carcasses are evaluated on fat thickness, intramuscular fat, and muscling in determining the quality and yield grade.

Rate of Gain

The time period for the Rate of Gain component will begin May 13, 2023 and will conclude at the second weigh-in at the Mariposa County Fair.

The overall project winner is

determined by taking 50% from the results of the carcass grid system and 50% of the Rate of Gain results. These two components are blended to determine the overall winners.

Contest Placing and Monies

Carcass Grid System Contest

1st $200.00 2nd $150.00 3rd $100.00

4th $50.00

Overall Carcass Score

1st $200.00 Plus Jacket/Vest 2nd $150.00 Plus Jacket/Vest 3rd $100.00

4th $50.00

Please contact the Mariposa Farm Bureau office at (209) 742-5875 or email mcfarmbureau@sti.net for more information.

Congratulations to the 2022 Bud Swift Memorial Carcass Contest winners. Paisley Allison winner, Fallon butler (accepting Laten butlers check) and Emmett Wise

Spicy Seasons

Fire in 2022 has been followed by devastating snow fall and torrential rains in 2023. Don’t get me wrong, we have been wishing, hoping and praying for rain throughout these long, dry, dusty years of drought. Man, oh man, did we get rain, snow sleet and hail, more than we could have ever imagined!

from the Mariposa CFB

Danette Toso

It has been said that “Variety is the spice of life.” The seasons and weather patterns in Mariposa County over the last few years have been spicy, dicey, and not playing nicely! The weather extremes have been grueling, exhausting, maddening, and dangerous. The disastrous Oak

As the rain fell, and winds blew, the temperature dropped, and snow soon blanked the county with its winter beauty. Unfortunately, the white, sparkling beauty quickly became a dangerous beast, snow bounding many, many residents. Countless trees that were ravaged by the Bark Beetle fell across driveways, on barns, outbuildings, homes and fences. The high winds, and tremendous weight of the snow was just too much for many structures to bare. When the snow quit falling, tragically, many homes were deemed a total loss. Many roofs collapsed under the weight of the heavy snow, and ceilings fell to the floors. As in all Mariposa disasters and emergencies, neighbors stepped in to help neighbors in need. The many county departments did an outstanding job of

keeping our residents healthy and safe. The teamwork was truly remarkable, and I am grateful to everyone that stepped up and went above and beyond for our residents.

Little did we know that there was more variety in store for us. Suddenly, the temperatures began to rise, and the rain began again with a vengeance. The snow started to melt very quickly, and we were faced with heavy flooding. The Governor declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County and the White House followed suite. FEMA was called in and almost

400 residents without insurance applied for disaster assistance, and the clean up process is well underway. Hopefully, we will see the light at the end of the tunnel soon. We have been hit hard by natural disasters in the past few years, and we just keep pushing through. We’re all hoping and praying for a milder, calmer, less spicy season, a fire safe season for Mariposa County!

In this spring season, I encourage farmers, ranchers and conservators to invite friends, neighbors and family members to join the collective voice of the Farm Bureau. Together, we can make our organization stronger than ever, one member at a time.

From small farms to large commercial operations, the INSURICA Agriculture Experts have grown up in agricultural communities.

We’ve designed insurance programs to provide broad and flexible coverage for both your personal and business needs.

Mariposa County Business Member Directory

REPAIRS

Merced County Business Member Directory

Businesses Supporting the Farm Bureau

To be included in the directory, join Merced County Farm Bureau as a business member by calling 723-3001.

Farms, Inc. 383-5225 J & F Fertilizer 854-6325

La Follette Enterprises, Inc. 632-1385

Mass Energy Works. ................ (530) 710-8545

Machado Feed Company 658-5943

Maciel & Co 777-0911

Mid Valley Ag Service 394-7981

Modern Dairy ..................................... 722-7452

Modesto Dairy Supply 669-6200

Silva & Sons Custom Spreading 667-2566

Stone Family Spreading 756-1491

FARM EQUIPMENT

The Pollination Connection ..... (877) 970-BEES (2337)

FOOD PROCESSING

A V Thomas Produce 394-7514

Dallas Distributing Co 394-2803

Del Rio Nut Company ........................ 394-7945

The Morning Star Company 826-8000

Minturn Huller Co-op (559) 665-1185

REAL ESTATE

Parreira Almond Processing Co. 826-1262

Sensient Natural Ingredients (800) 558-9892

Yosemite Farms 383-3411

HARVESTING & HAULING

Baldes Hay Co (559) 718-9714

Bertuccio Hay 761-6247

Castillo Brothers Hay 392-3817

Diamond J Farms .............................. 564-0870

Minturn Huller Co-op (559) 665-1185

Northern Merced Hulling 667-2308

Wallace & Son 382-0131

IRRIGATION, WELLS, & SEPTIC

Allison Sierra, Inc. ............................. 966-4082

Agri-Valley Irrigation 384-8494

Dickey's Pump Service 394-3112

Irrigation Design & Construction, LLC387-4500

Pacific Southwest Irrigation .............. 460-0450

Precision Aqua 756-2025

Quality Well Drillers 357-0675

Rain for Rent/Westside Pump (559) 693-4315

Robal