August 2023

By: Jessica Mulholland, Managing Editor, CalChamber

On Monday, July 31, the California Department of Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw officially certified that beginning January 1, 2024, California’s minimum wage will increase from $15.50 per hour to $16 per hour for all employers, regardless of size.

Per California’s Labor Code, once the state’s minimum wage reaches $15 per hour — which already has occurred, as the current minimum wage is $15.50 per hour — the California Director of Finance must determine on or before August 1 of each year whether to adjust

County Farm News

California’s 2024 Minimum Wage Increases to $16 Per Hour

the minimum wage for inflation and, if so, calculate the increase.

The director calculates the increase by applying whichever of the following two options would result in the smaller increase:

A 3.5 percent increase; or

The actual rate of change per the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI).

For the 12-month period from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, the department’s calculations showed that the CPI increased by 6.16 percent compared to the 12-month period from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, meaning the minimum wage will increase by 3.5 percent — to $16 per hour — on January 1, 2024.

This hourly increase also affects the minimum salary requirements for fulltime exempt employees, which currently is $64,480 per year ($5,373.34 per month). Beginning January 1, 2024, the minimum salary for a full-time exempt employee will be $66,560 per year ($5,546.67 per month).

Employers also must keep in mind that some cities and counties in California have adopted their own local minimum wage rates that are separate from the state rate. If the ordinance where employees are performing work requires a higher minimum wage rate than the state minimum wage rate (such as Berkeley, Los Angeles, Milpitas and

San Francisco, to name just a few), the local rate must be paid. Keep in mind that only the state minimum wage — not local minimum wages — determines the minimum salary requirements for exempt employees.

Looking ahead, a measure that is eligible for the November 2024 ballot would, if passed by California voters, further accelerate the pace of minimum wage increases. If passed, by January 1, 2025, for employers with 26 or more employees, the statewide minimum wage would increase to $18 per hour, and employers with 25 or fewer employees would pay the same wage on January 1, 2026.

USCIS Releases New Form I-9

Form I-9 documentation remotely under a DHS-authorized alternative procedure rather than via physical examination.

By: Bryan Little, FELS

The U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) has released a new Form I-9 that is substantially different from the prior version:

The revised Form I-9:

• Reduces Sections 1 and 2 to a single-sided sheet.

• Is designed to be a fillable form on tablets and mobile devices.

• Moves the Section 1 Preparer/ Translator Certification area to a separate, standalone supplement that employers can provide to employees

when necessary.

• Moves Section 3, Reverification and Rehire, to a standalone supplement that employers can print if or when rehire occurs or reverification is required.

• Revises the Lists of Acceptable Documents page to include some acceptable receipts as well as guidance and links to information on automatic extensions of employment authorization documentation.

• Reduces Form instructions from 15 pages to 8 pages; and

• Includes a checkbox allowing employers to indicate they examined

Employers may begin using the new form immediately, but the pre-existing form can be used until October 31, 2023. Employers must use the "Edition 8/01/23" version (bottom left corner) beginning November 1, 2023. It is not necessary to replace valid existing Forms I-9 with the new Form, but you must use the new Form for new hires as of November 1.

You can find the new Form I-9 here: www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/ document/forms/i-9.pdf

You can find instructions for the use of the new form here: www.uscis.gov/ sites/default/files/document/forms/i9instr.pdf

from the Director's Desk

Breanne Vandenberg

Last month I detailed the issues that our cotton growers are facing due to lygus. At the time of the last article, a meeting had been held to inform our elected offices of the topic. Since then, we were able to pull together a field tour that included Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria and staff from both Congressman Duarte and Senator Caballero’s offices. In addition, several of our directors, members,

Ag Commissioner, and others were in attendance. We are appreciative of the time and effort to make the tour worthwhile.

Attendees were able to see lygus firsthand, learning of the economic impacts that it brings. We were also able to cover their lifecycle, the limitations of available products and what other crops are impacted by this pest. Days later, DPR released Sefina on an emergency order allowing for it to be used from August 4 to August 19 for both lygus and whitefly. We do want to recognize that this is a step in the right direction, however more is needed. Product availability may allow a grower a third shot, however it will most likely miss the timeframe of combating

lygus but also too early for whitefly complications. We look to move the conversation forward for the remainder of this season, ensuring our growers have available products for next year.

We have also attended several meetings surrounding the 2024 Farm Bill, the water quality coalition and have been watchful of our local elected offices. We are bringing back our staff tours that invite county and city staff to visit our fields and understand the impacts we face. This has been a good conversation and learning experience for all and we are thrilled to see it come back again. Many thanks to Via Trailways for transportation for the day.

We hope your season is going well and look forward to seeing you soon!

Summer Heat and Corn Production

By: Giuliano C. Galdi, UCCE Merced

Many have been wondering if the current string of 100°F + days are atypical for Merced.

So far in 2023 (as of August 1st), the Merced area has recorded 11 days when the daytime high temperature was greater than 99°F.

Long-term monthly CIMIS data show July to be the hottest month, with an average of 10 days over 99°F since 1951 (Figure 1). That means 2023 is basically the average of the past 72 years. August, June, and September follow with 7, 5, and 4 days, respectively. Even October had one day in which the thermometer registered 100°F in 1991. The total number of days at or above 100°F has actually been trending downward (Figure 2).

But what do these extremely high-temperature days mean for corn production in the Valley?

The ideal temperature for corn is in the range of 77-91°F during the day and 62-73°F during the night. Research shows that an average temperature above 86°F can reduce yields, and the negative impact on the crop varies according to its stage of development and soil moisture availability.

Young corn plants tend to overgrow heat stress as long as they are not killed during extended periods of time when exposed to temperatures above 99°F. However, pollination can be negatively impacted when temperatures are above

90°F, especially if this occurs with low relative humidity. Temperatures above 95°F may be enough to decrease pollen production, and can even desiccate exposed silks or kill pollen when over 100°F. While this information may sound scary for growers in the San Joaquin Valley, pollination is rarely affected here because it happens in the morning when temperatures are usually below these damaging thresholds. In addition, the pollination process lasts several days, so there are many opportunities for pollination to occur.

As corn grain yields are mainly determined by the number of kernels set during silking (when silks are visible outside the husk), any stress during this phase can have a negative impact on grain production. High temperatures during this period may lead to kernel abortion and reduce the success of pollination. When growing corn for silage, unsuccessful pollination decreases overall yield but increases the plant’s sugar content, crude protein, and crude/digestible fiber.

Irrigation management is particularly important during summer heat waves. Higher temperatures increase plants’ transpiration rates and water consumption. If water is not present to meet the crop’s water requirement, drought stress leads to stomatal closure, which ultimately decreases photosynthesis, pollination, and overall yields. While we know that an increased number of extremely hot days

during the growing season can impact corn production, historic weather data has shown that 2023 is not breaking any records (yet) as far as the number

of days above 99°F. Provided the crop is not water stressed, corn production should not be negatively impacted by the hot weather any more than average.

Fig. 1 (top): Average number of days when the maximum temperature exceeded 99°F per month. Fig. 2 (bottom): Total number of days when temperatures exceeded 99°F per year.

*Data collected from UCIPM California Weather Database

**Weather station located in Merced-CA

***Data from the period between 1951 and 2023 (July)

from the President's Corner

Joe Sansoni

Ihope everyone has managed to get through the weeks of grueling triple digit heat we’ve had lately! We are in for a few more days of triple digits here and there in August, but from what I see on the long-term forecast, most of August and into September is supposed to be warm-to-hot but not nearly as brutal as multiple days of 105114 strung together. Of course, it is the Valley…it gets brutally hot every year! Yet it seems we are never quite ready for the really hot days, especially when they last for a week or more. The heat is good for crop development. Considering that most all crops are late this year due to the wet, prolonged winter and mild spring, heat will hopefully help catch things up a bit so we aren’t pushing harvests too late into the year. As an almond grower I am, at this point, mildly concerned about the fact that the crop seems to be about a solid month behind schedule. I say mildly because I’m hopeful that the weeks of continued warm/hot and dry weather ahead of us, combined with deficit irrigation will eventually catch things up in the field. However, the crop has developed very slowly this year, due to the late season cycles as well as the light crop. This has

kept the trees from stressing and kept them in a vegetative growth stage all through the growing season. The hull split is very late this year… first time in my career that I have applied a first-round hull split spray on a block on August 1st! What a weird year it has been from the very beginning! I am praying that we can catch things up in the field and will be done with harvest before the threat of any early fall rains appear… however with this year’s track record so far, I am bracing myself for a late harvest season that could easily and quickly turn very ugly come late September. My dad, Ezio, who was 8 years old when my grandfather planted our family’s first almond orchard in January of 1947, has commented that this year reminds him of the almond growing seasons of the past. Harvest didn’t normally start until well into September – even for Nonpareils – and often ran deep into November. I’m really hoping we can speed things along faster than that timeframe as no almond grower is a fan of dealing with wet almonds or trying to harvest in wet conditions. With almond prices as depressed as they are, any causes of additional or unanticipated costs are extremely stressful and unhelpful to growers, so naturally the thought of being charged drying fees for a crop that many are already upside down is stomach-turning. I’m going to predict that unless prices increase significantly very soon (not probable), any significantly wet nuts will likely be abandoned in the field this year and written off as a loss. The most valuable almonds in the market at the moment are the in-shell varieties, so timely harvest with proper and vigilant crop protection is vital to be able to produce those. The longer the crop hangs on the trees, the more additional sprays are required to combat

navel orangeworm, and the less likely we are to make inshell grade. Many growers are cutting corners and costs this year even more so than they have in the past 3-4 seasons, and choosing to not apply sprays that they normally would. This is going to add even more worm pressure to the crop state-wide, and of course across fence lines too. A grower who is trying his or her best to produce high quality will have a much tougher time and incur more expenses doing so if their neighbor(s) are not doing the same. I’m predicting there will not be many high-quality almonds produced this year, due the cutbacks across the board, from skipped sprays to cutbacks in fertilizer and amendment applications as well. With input costs so high, and prices where they are currently ($1.05-1.15/lb most varieties, $1.801.85/lb inshell Nonpareil) it’s easy to understand why growers would think the additional sprays aren’t worth it. However, as always in farming, some hedging of bets is always at play for those who are willing to gamble. For instance, a grower who cut no corners at all is likely sitting at loss numbers on the averages at the moment…but if the whole industry comes up short on high quality and especially inshell almonds, they stand to potentially profit from a surge in pricing and demand for high quality product. Cutting corners never

pays off, however for many there’s no other choice this year.

As I’ve observed different crops and planting cycles throughout the county, it appears that most all crops are facing the same challenge this year. Even the wheat harvest has been late and prolonged this year...at our grain storage facility we are still waiting to receive trucks from fields that haven’t even been cut yet! Typically we are all wrapped up by late July. There will be many late-planted fields across many different commodities pushing the envelope to get harvested and brought in before the weather turns on us. I hope and pray that everyone has a bountiful and successful harvest no matter what they grow or produce, and that markets and prices for all crops will increase to a profitable point very soon, as there has been much volatility and depression across all crop commodities this season. As I have harped about in the past, in order for agriculture to be healthy and sustainable, its producers must be able to survive economically! There are enough economic factors both domestically and globally that impact agriculture to write many more articles and even entire books about. Let us all hope and pray together that the world events and economic impacts that are driving so much of the uncertainty and depression affecting our ag markets and economy will begin to turn around soon.

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

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.

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

Tom Murphy | 209.353.2700 | tmurphy@INSURICA.com | INSURICA.com

EVALUATIONS

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: David Barroso 652-6437

2nd VP: Tim Lohman 988-3545

Sec/Treas: Dante Migliazzo 769-9525

Past Pres: Eric Harcksen 620-1953

District 1

Matt Jasso 270-1981

Joe Maiorino 564-6791

District 2

Mike Davis 387-4151

Bob Vandenberg 704-5568

District 3

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

John Johnston 489-8462

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

Bob Giampaoli 769-4973

Louie Bandoni 761-0625

Michael Serrano 485-1935

Jesse Penick 678-8887

Tom Murphy 353-2700

Alan Sano 559-905-1240

Mariposa County Farm Bureau Staff

Danette Toso Executive Director

Jay

2023 California Agriculture In The Classroom Conference

The California Agriculture in the Classroom Conference is September 22-24, 2023! Our goal? Make agriculture come alive in classrooms throughout the state! Learn exciting ways to teach K-12 students where their food and fiber come from. The conference includes hands-on activities, farm, and ranch field trips, the ever-popular farmer panel, an exciting author panel, exhibits, and collaboration with other educators. Dynamic presenters and speakers enhance the experience and make the Ag in the

Classroom Conference a must-attend event!

"We think every teacher should attend this conference!"

– 2022 Conference Attendees

" I enjoy the Ag in the Classroom Conference for the expansion of awareness that enables the educators and students to learn more about their environment (earth), and their place in it. Students always gain insights and appreciation for agriculture’s role in our daily lives."

– 2018 Conference Attendee

Attendees will explore California’s prolific food and fiber industry and enrich their current curriculum at the same time! Participants will receive teaching resources designed to meet California’s academic standards. The annual event will energize classroom teachers, administrators, afterschool coordinators, and community volunteers to bring agriculture into their classrooms and programs.

The California Agriculture in the Classroom Conference aims to help educators teach K-12 students about the

importance of agriculture to California’s economy and environment and to their health and lifestyles. The conference is hosted by the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.

Conference registration is available online here!

The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to increase awareness and understanding of agriculture among California’s K-12 educators and students.

Controlled Burns and Fire Management Practices found in the UC Cooperative Extension Archive

By: Rebecca Gourevitch, UC Merced Library

This summer, we are looking at ways UC Cooperative Extension has played a role in wildfire prevention and management across California. UC Merced Library’s California Agricultural Resources Archive (CARA) contains archival resources created by UCCE advisors and specialists over the last 100 years, including efforts to practice controlled burns.

For example, found in the archive is an undated document produced by Mariposa Farm Advisor John Anderson and the Mariposa Range Management Association to inform landowners about laws, regulations, and best practices when conducting controlled burns.

Photographs of a controlled burn on Wagner Ranch, like the image below, are found in the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension Collection and have been digitized and placed online in Calisphere.

Found in the Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo Counties, UC Cooperative Extension collection, are studies and

observations of the effects of fire on the landscape. A 1960 press release from the Agricultural Extension Service, describes how a 45,000-acre rangeland wildfire on private land in San Luis Obispo County, became an opportunity for private and public parties to take advantage of the good soil underneath the burned brush. Once useless for ranchers because of overgrowth, a team reseeded the land with grasses and legumes beneficial for cattle grazing.

Another document describes the response of California’s imposing oak trees in fires. Importantly, the various species of Oak tree respond differently.

This corresponding image illustrates a fire break near a lonely Oak.

The practice of controlled burning has a long history in California. Local indigenous tribes in the region have used fire in land management practices for millennia.

Honorable Ron W. Goode, Tribal Chairman of the North Fork Mono Tribe, has practiced controlled

burning for many years and he spoke to UC last year about cultural burning as wildfire prevention. Cultural burning is important “not only because of its spiritual and cultural importance to Indigenous communities, but because the burns are designed to cultivate the biodiverse, sustainable growth that make landscapes more resilient.”

To view digitized UC Cooperative Extension collections, visit our online repository in Calisphere.

Image: Wagner burn, 1956, Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension Records, UC Merced, UC Cooperative Extension Archive

Image: Fire Break Around an Oak Tree, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, UC Cooperative Extension Records, UC Merced, UC Cooperative Extension Archive.

Sweet Potato Joe from page 1

Hilmar FFA at the California State Fair

the former Florence Cardoza of Merced in 1942.

By: Nathan Sequeira, Hilmar FFA Reporter

Last month, Hilmar FFA students have had the opportunity to exhibit their Ag Mechanics projects at the 2023 California State Fair. These students put countless hours in their projects and spent a great deal of time preparing for the fair. In construction and management of these projects students learned responsibility, the importance of attention of detail, time management and commitment. Students that are enrolled in the Welding & Fabrication class had shop projects exhibited at the fair. At the California State Fair, students were recognized for their achievements. The show team consisted of the following members: Jackson Takhar, Jesus Cervantes, Bruce Vazquez, Carson Ferreira, Hayden Huff, and Aiden Souto. Each student gave a presentation and was interviewed by set of judges. Jesus Cervantes received Best of Division on his custom BBQ Smoker and

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.

Carson Ferreira was named the Overall Outstanding Ag Mechanics Exhibitor at the California State Fair!

Hilmar FFA was well represented taking home many awards.

Ag Mechanics

• 2nd Place Chapter GroupCalifornia State Fair

• Jackson Takhar – Almond Crowder, 1st Place CA State Fair

• Jesus Cervantes – Custom Smoker BBQ, 1st Place CA State Fair

• Bruce Vazquez – Custom Smoker BBQ, 2nd Place CA State Fair

• Carson Ferreira – 12’ Orchard Float, 1st Place CA State Fair

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”.

• Hayden Huff – Nut Crowder, 1st Place CA State Fair

• Aiden Souto– 4’x8’ Santa Maria Style BBQ Trailer 2nd Place CA State Fair

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

With the help of the Hilmar and surrounding communities, these opportunities are made possible for Hilmar FFA students. “Thank You” for your continued support as students are eager to begin shop and livestock

projects, and come up with new ideas for next year!

The Hilmar High School Agriculture Education Department and FFA strives to fulfill the mission of the National FFA Organization which is as follows: “To make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential

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

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.

Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Mabel Alvernaz, brothers, Arthur and John Al vernaz, 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.

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

for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through Agricultural Education.”

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

For more information on the Hilmar High School Agriculture Department and Hilmar FFA, please log on the website www.hilmarffa.com or follow us on social media.

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.

Show Team L to R: Jackson Takhar, Jesus Cervantes, Bruce Vazquez, Carson Ferreira, Hayden Huff, Aiden Souto

The Summer Leading to New Beginnings

By: Madyson Wilhelm, Merced FFA Chapter Reporter

On July 19th-21th, 2023 three of our incoming seniors attended the California FFA Change Makers Summit in Fresno, CA at the California State University, Fresno. This was an exciting time for our seniors as they joined the first inperson summit catering to incoming seniors. At this summit, they learned valuable information about different agriculturally based jobs in order to plan for their life after high school and information to share with the newest members of our chapter. They were also inspired by speeches from FFA alumni about their time in FFA and what it’s like working in an agricultural field and college life. Our members also spent time engaging with FFA members from chapters across the state, building bonds and friendships. The questions they were asked to ponder the whole conference were “Why FFA? Why Ag? (or not Ag) and Why you?” Our members were privileged to tour a local food bank where they learned how agriculture supports even the most vulnerable throughout our communities.

Natalie Tubbs shared, “I enjoyed my experience at the Change Makers Summit. I learned leadership skills and how to be open and branch out of my shell. I really do recommend that next year's seniors take this opportunity and have some fun while learning new things. As a Senior, I now have more leadership skills, and I feel more open to answering questions and guiding incoming first-year students to strive in our chapter along with our sophomores and juniors! This experience was one of a kind, and meeting with other seniors from different chapters was incredible. The seven sessions taught us much about the agriculture pathways and why they are so important to the future.”

In other exciting news, our 20232024 Officer team had an exciting end of the month as they came together for the annual Officer retreat at Lake McSwain. This retreat is beneficial to our officers and advisors as new and old officers come together to bond and grow as a team and get to brainstorm about the upcoming year. During the retreat, we not only got to plan our year and work, but we also got to bond as a team. One

of the best parts of retreat is always the team-building activities which included decorating cakes blindfolded to work on communication, playing the fishbowl game which got a little competitive but also teaches us to be a team player.

During our structured activities, we discussed what leadership and personal growth means to us, set our goals as a leader and goals for personal growth. We also brainstormed ideas for this year's theme and meeting.

Preslee Hunter, returning officer and our current Chapter Treasurer, shared, “I had a great time at the retreat this year! It was great to get to know all my fellow officers better while making unforgettable memories. We all have great ideas for the year to come. We can’t wait to get more members involved and excited about FFA. I know that this year is already off to a great start, and our officer team will greatly impact our chapter and its members”. Our Chapter Sentinel, abd first time officer Ethan Vega, said, “ When I arrived, I was welcomed, and my team and I formed an instant bond. We got the opportunity to get to know each other

and get used to working together. My team and I benefited greatly from this experience, and it was a great way to kick off this upcoming school year.”

On behalf of the Officer team and advisors, we would like to give a big thank you to the McGarry family for the

use of their houseboat. We genuinely appreciate your support not just this year but through the years and the opportunity to have our retreat at such a fun place. For more information about Merced FFA, visit our website: www. mercedffa.org

Picture of 2023-2024 officer team at retreat. From left to right: Charli Auldridge, Preslee Hunter, Madyson Wilhelm, Liliana Lopez, Christian SantaMaria, Ethan Vega, and Esteban Castaneda.

New U.S. Senate bills are aimed at helping farm laborers

By: AgDaily Reporters

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla from California has introduced a pair of bills intended to allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to better meet the needs of farm and food system workers. The first one, the Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act, would create the USDA Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce to serve as a liaison and a resource for farm and food system workers. The second, called the Voice for Farm Workers Act, would expand the role and staff of the USDA Farmworker Coordinator to allow for increased collaboration within the Department, with farm workers, and with relevant stakeholders.

Padilla’s legislation addresses key priorities from the USDA Equity Commission Interim Report, which notes that the Farmworker Coordinator position has not been adequately funded or sustained, and recommends that the USDA fund and elevate roles for professional staff solely dedicated to farm workers’ concerns and perspectives.

Here are more on the bills: Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act

This legislation would establish a new Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce within the USDA to uplift the voices of farm workers and food system workers at the federal level. The Office would serve as a link between these workers and the USDA, providing a platform for their concerns and interests and helping develop recommendations and new initiatives for the Department.

The bill would also create a Farm and Food System Worker Advisory Committee of relevant stakeholders — such as farm and food system workers, labor unions, civil rights advocates, higher education, women farm worker or food system groups, and non-profits — to better represent these workers’ interests and perspectives. Building upon the USDA Equity Commission recommendations, it would also set up a Farm and Food System Workforce Interagency Council, comprised of representatives from various federal agencies to improve coordination, planning, program development, and policymaking across cabinet-level leadership.

In addition, the Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act would require the Office to summarize its efforts to improve the work and livelihood of farm and food system workers in an annual publicly available report examining, for example, how climate change affect the food system and recommendations for improving access to USDA programs and initiatives.

Voice for Farm Workers Act

The USDA Farmworker Coordinator position, established in the 2008 Farm Bill, serves as a dedicated liaison for the Department and farm workers nationwide but has lacked the sufficient staff and resources to adequately address farm workers’ needs. This legislation would strengthen the Coordinator position with new resources and staffing capacity to improve the ability of the Coordinator to act as USDA’s primary point of contact on farm worker issues, coordinate and advise on farm worker serving programs across the Department and federal agencies, and support farm workers and farm worker-oriented community-based organizations to better access USDA programs.

Specifically, the Voice for Farmworkers Act would expand the Farmworker Coordinator duties to allow for the Coordinator to create recommendations for new initiatives and programs, conduct further outreach and research related to farm workers, and collaborate within the Department on programmatic and policy decisions related to farm workers. In addition, it would integrate additional entities for the Farmworker Coordinator to consult with such as institutions of higher education, local education agencies, and community-based nonprofit organizations.

Furthermore, the bill would allow the USDA to employ the staff necessary to assist the Farmworker Coordinator carry out their responsibilities to better meet the needs of our nation’s farm workers. Background

Senator Padilla considers himself a longtime champion for farm and food system workers in California and across the country. He had recently reintroduced the Fairness for Farm Workers Act, legislation to update the nation’s labor laws to ensure farm workers receive fairer wages and compensation.

“Our farm and food system workers feed the nation and sustain our economy. Too often, lack of access to language services, outreach, and USDA programs leaves them vulnerable to challenges including food and housing insecurity, lack of health care access, and inadequate job protections,” Padilla said. “These bills would equip the USDA with important tools to integrate workers’ key priorities and viewpoints, including enhancing collaboration across the Department, with the federal government, and with key outside stakeholders.”

The two bills announced this week are cosponsored by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is also a cosponsor of the Voice for Farm Workers Act.

Both bills have been endorsed by the United Farm Workers, United Food

and Commercial Workers International Union, Union of Concerned Scientists, Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, HEAL (Health, Environment, Agriculture, and Labor) Food Alliance, Farmworker Justice, Rural Coalition, Farmworker Association of Florida, National Resource Defense Council, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, National Employment Law Project, and National Education Association.

“Farm and food system workers are the backbone of our country, working tirelessly to put food on our tables. We must ensure that their voices are represented in government so we can address their concerns and needs. These bills will not only help amplify their voices within the federal government, but will also ensure we provide the resources to meet their needs. I am proud to fight for our nation’s farm and food system workers and push for their voices to be heard,” Gillibrand said.

Rep. Cammack: Farm bill will be ‘biggest political dogfight in modern history’

By: Sara Wyant, AgriPulse

When it comes to discussing the challenges ahead in passing a new farm bill, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., does not mince any words.

“This will be the biggest political dogfight in modern history,” she told participants at the International Sweetener Symposium in Napa, California, on Monday.

The farm bill has a “long and storied history of being bipartisan” but it’s also controversial in some circles, Cammack said, and there are several organizations who plan to target the legislation and make opposition to the bill a “key vote” in their congressional ratings.

She said there are already 30 to 40 House members from each political party who have said they won’t support a new farm bill. In addition, she expects whatever farm bill that might come out of the House Agriculture Committee to be subjected to “potentially thousands of amendments” on the House floor.

The House Rules Committee, working with the GOP leadership, will ultimately determine what amendments are made in order for floor debate.

When it comes to the U.S. sugar program, she expects “attacks from all angles,” including amendments that would gut the sugar program.

“I’m venturing a couple of dozen amendments that will be going after the sugar industry,” she added.

The Florida Republican said many of her fellow members are driven by politics rather than policy and are engaged in what she described as “angertainment” from members on both the right and the left.

“You say something crazy, you do something outrageous, because it turns into clicks and shares on social media and you

get the perception that you're fighting,” she said. “And as a result, we get worse policy outcomes that don't help Americans, just enrich campaigns.”

She encouraged conference participants to frame the farm bill as being about “food security as national security,” because it’s harder for members to vote against national security.

“It starts with picking up the phone and calling your member of Congress and then calling the one next to your district and then the one just west of your district and then just south of your district and exercise the influence that you have. Because nobody knows the

policies better than you.”

Cammack stressed, “We’ve got one shot every five years to hold together the most critical industry in America.” Yet, she expressed doubt that a farm bill will be completed this year.

“My personal sense is that we will do a temporary extension and begin work on passing a new farm bill at the beginning of next year.”

The timing will depend, in part, on how long it takes Congress to finalize all of the appropriations bills and keep the government funded.

House Republican leaders gave up trying to pass the fiscal 2024 Agriculture funding bill ahead of the August recess

after they were unable to satisfy demands from a band of hard-line conservatives who are seeking deeper cuts in spending.

Delaying action on the FY24 bill, which would fund USDA, FDA and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, puts off potential fights over amendments targeting farm programs and could also delay floor action on a new farm bill.

Asked if she thinks there will be a government shutdown this fall, she said, “Yes.”

“Do I want one? No. But I think it's going to be a direct result of this angertainment elevating the narrative to just a breaking point,” she told Agri-Pulse.

New State Budget Maintains Water and Natural Resources Funding in an Uncertain Economy

By: Gokce Sencan, Public Policy Institute of California

When it comes to state funding for water and natural resource projects, California has typically turned to general obligation bonds as the first resort. These bonds enable the state to borrow funds and pay them back over many years using General Fund dollars. The historic budget surpluses of recent years have shaken up this long-standing arrangement: awash in tax revenue, the state seized a rare opportunity to directly allocate large sums of General Fund dollars for water and natural resources. After two years of largesse, however, that funding source may be drying up—and we may see a return to general obligation (GO) bonds.

In the past two fiscal years, California took advantage of budget surpluses to allocate more than $12 billion from the General Fund to multi-year water and natural resource investments. With the recent budget shortfall, the state made some modest cutbacks (7%). Here’s the current breakdown:

Water: In fiscal years 2021–22 and 2022–23, the state allocated $8.7 billion through 2025 to support various projects, including dam safety, flood protection, water recycling, restoration of freshwater ecosystems, drought resilience, and implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. This year’s budget retains $8.1 billion of this funding, with cuts ($632 million) to drinking water and wastewater, water recycling, Salton Sea restoration, and water conservation.

This year’s budget also repurposed some funds from previous years. This includes a one-time allocation of $436 million for flood management in the Tulare Basin and flood resilience for at-risk communities. Other new and repurposed funding includes lead in school water supplies ($25 million), stream gage maintenance and reactivation ($24 million), and fish screens ($17 million).

Forests and wildfires: In 2021–22 and 2022–23, the state committed $2.8 billion (including $755 million

from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund) over four years to forest resilience and wildfire intervention. The funds are for new programs, like post-fire reforestation, as well as ongoing programs, and they represent a significant increase for forest health and wildfire resilience (in contrast to wildfire response). In this year’s budget, this funding was reduced by 2%, with minor cuts to the Climate Catalyst Fund, land stewardship programs, and green workforce training.

Nature-Based Solutions: The Nature-Based Solutions budget packages in 2021–22 and 2022–23

allocated $1.6 billion in funding to new initiatives such as climate-smart land management, youth and tribal programs, and ongoing programs such as conservancies, land acquisition, and wetland and floodplain restoration efforts. This year, the budget was reduced to $1.4 billion (–10%), with cuts to climate-smart land management and conservation programs and conservancies.

Thus, for now, the state budget for water and natural resources seems to have weathered the storm of economic uncertainty and continues to be a funding priority. Additional federal funding for drought resilience in California and the western US— particularly from the Bipartisan Infrastructure

Law and the Inflation Reduction Act (totaling $15.4 billion)—is also providing a temporary boost to waterrelated investments. Looking ahead, there are signs that both the Newsom administration and the legislature are pivoting back to using GO bonds as the main state funding instrument. There are currently two water and climate bonds in the legislature, SB 867 ($15.5 billion) and AB 1567 ($16 billion),

which will likely be consolidated before being put to a vote by the legislators.

If a consolidated version is approved by two-thirds of legislators in both chambers by end of session (September 14th), the bond would appear on the March 2024 ballot. Both the latest state budget and discussions about a new bond signal that water and climate issues continue to be top of mind for state policymakers.

Should California use bonds for budget deficits?

By: Dan Walers, CalMatters

California’s state budget is under stress from stagnating tax revenues, leading Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators to make some hard choices about priorities and enticing them to adopt alternative strategies to maintain spending.

The recently adopted 2023-24 budget contains examples of both and as the income/outgo squeeze continues, as a recent Department of Finance projection indicates, the search for new strategies will become more intense.

One of those strategies emulates the federal government’s chronic addiction to borrowing money to cover operating deficits. The 2023-24 budget includes several examples, including directly tapping the state’s special funds for loans and indirectly borrowing from employers by forcing them to repay the state’s $18 billion debt to the federal government for unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the Legislature returns to the Capitol in mid-August for the last month

of its 2023 session, one of its unfinished chores is to decide how many bond issues to place on the ballot for two 2024 elections.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and various lawmakers have collectively proposed something north of $100 billion in bonds, which is far more than either voters or financial markets are likely to swallow. Newsom has indicated that he wants a $26 billion lid on bond issues, telling reporters at a recent press conference, “A number of legislative leaders have come to – ‘Hey, support this, support my bond, this bond.’ We have to work together on what the priorities are going to look like for November.”

Some of the proposals are for things that have traditionally been financed with borrowed money, such as school construction and water projects. But there’s a disturbing trend in other proposals — using borrowed bond money to operate programs and services that are usually backed by budget appropriations.

It’s disturbing because it violates

what should be a bedrock principle of bond financing, which is to use it only for projects with long-term benefits, such as construction.

California has generally adhered to that principle but has deviated occasionally, such as issuing long-term bonds in 2004 to pay off billions of dollars in short-term budget debt which threatened to destroy the state’s credit rating. Another example is two voterapproved bond issues totaling $8.5 billion to finance stem cell research.

One of the bond measures floating around the Capitol this year would borrow $5.2 billion to deal with the state’s epidemic of opioid addiction through treatment and education. It’s being pushed by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a Los Angeles Democrat who chairs the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

The committee has blocked bills that would impose harsher penalties on sellers of fentanyl, a particularly deadly opioid, and Jones-Sawyer contends that non-criminal approaches would work better.

The crisis is real but borrowing money that would have to be repaid by taxpayers over decades, with hefty interest payments, to finance short-term services is a slippery slope. Given the likelihood that California will be seeing budget deficits for the foreseeable future, approval of an opioid treatment bond would encourage advocates for other social service and medical services to seek similarly expedient financing.

California has no shortage of debt now. The state treasurer’s office says that as of July 1, the state was on the hook for $121 billion in principal and interest on bonds it already has issued. That doesn’t count the $18 billion owed to the feds for unemployment insurance, the $82 billion in unfunded liabilities for state employee health care or at least that much in unfunded liabilities for state worker pension obligations.

There is good debt and there is bad debt. In winnowing through the competing bond proposals for placement on the 2024 ballot, Newsom and legislators should remember the difference.

Newsom signs order to expedite California levee repair ahead of the next wet winter

By: Sharon Udasin, The Hill

In anticipation of potentially recordsetting rainfall and snow for the second consecutive winter, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday signed an executive order to prepare for the next wet season.

The order serves to expedite levee repairs and debris removal to help communities that were inundated with precipitation this winter to get ready for what could come, according to the governor’s office.

“The State has experienced over 30 atmospheric rivers since December 2022, resulting in compounding and cumulative impacts across California, including record or near record amounts

of snow in the Sierra Nevada,” the order states.

Damaged levees provide weaker protection from high water levels, while debris and vegetation in river channels decrease capacity to move these flows, the governor’s office noted.

“Removal must expeditiously occur before the next rainy season begins in fall 2023 in order to mitigate the risk of additional flooding and allow for continued recovery efforts,” the order reads.

Following the signing of the order, public agencies will be able to streamline their emergency repair work — particularly in the San Joaquin River, the Tulare Lake Basin, the Salinas River and the Pajaro River regions.

The order suspends certain laws and regulations that required agencies to comply with specified environmental and resource protection requirements, for the sake of accelerating the repairs and removals.

Among the moratoriums are lake and streambed alteration laws and regulations implemented by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as waste discharge requirements overseen by the California Water Board, per the order.

The executive order also suspends the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) — environmental impact assessments required by section 21000 of the Public Resources Code — as far as the emergency repair and removal work

is concerned.

This pause in the application of CEQA to such work comes after Newsom last month signed into law a package of bills that aim to cut red tape associated with infrastructure projects. Within that package were measures to address cumbersome elements of CEQA, regardless of opposition from some of his Democratic colleagues and environmental groups to parts of his agenda.

The executive order signed on Friday, however, emphasizes that all the suspensions apply only to the repair or replacement of existing conveyance and flood-control infrastructure, as well as to debris and sediment removal and vegetation management.

Bill Introduced to Protect Family-Owned Business From the Death Tax

By: Sara VanderPoel, Ag Center News

Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA) and Mike Kelly (PA) recently introduced legislation that would update IRS Code Section 2032A—making things a lot better for farmers faced with paying estate taxes.

If passed, the Preserving Family Farms Act would modify the current tax law and allow farmers and ranchers to pay estate taxes based on the land’s value for agricultural use.

“Outdated provisions in our tax laws are punishing family farms and causing them to split up or sell the land upon which they have spent generations working and building up,” Panetta

says. “My Preserving Family Farms Act would ease the burden on these operations, by ensuring that farms are appraised by the value of their business, rather than for development.”

Background Information:

In the Tax Reform Act of 1976, Congress recognized the burden of the Death Tax on agricultural producers and therefore created Section 2032A as a way to help farmers keep their family farms. But over the years, the benefits of Special-Use Valuations have been crippled as the cap on deductions has failed to keep pace with the rising value of farmland.

Although the current 2032A reduction is 55% higher than the

value established two decades ago, the USDA estimates that cropland values have increased by 223%. Similarly, agricultural land values – including on-farm buildings – have also risen dramatically, increasing by 241% during this same period. Due to the rapid inflation of farmland values, the 2032A deduction is no longer aligned with the needs of modern agriculture – nor does it accomplish Congress’ intended goal of providing protection to producers who are most vulnerable to the estate tax.

The Preserving Family Farms Bill has already been endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and multiple state-level groups. Though

a similar bill introduced in the last congressional session died in the Ways and Means Committee, supporters are hoping for a different outcome.

“California’s farms and ranches are overwhelmingly family operations, and protecting family agricultural traditions requires an estate tax structure that supports family farm succession,” said California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson. “The Special Use Valuation that farm families can use to reduce estate taxes needs to be adjusted to reflect the rising values of agricultural properties. Let’s protect our family farms from being lost to burdensome taxes and keep our agricultural lands in production.”

More Time Requested for Review of EPA’s Vulnerable Species Pilot Program

By: Brian German, Ag News Director, AgNet West

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a draft white paper in support of its Vulnerable Species Pilot program. EPA identified mitigation measures for 27 species that are considered vulnerable to pesticide exposure. The comment period for the proposal closed on August 6. One of the concerns shared by several industry stakeholders was the lack of time available to submit feedback.

CropLife America noted that the comment period did not provide “sufficient opportunity to review the draft guidance, solicit input from its members, and develop constructive comments.” The American Soybean Association (ASA) also asked for additional time to provide feedback.

“This 152-page proposal is one that requires significant consideration to provide meaningful feedback to the agency,” ASA explained.

“The extent of acreage designated as avoidance area, and the numbers

of affected industries and individuals, it is critical that those affected by this proposal have the opportunity to assess and comment on the proposal,” the Oregon Department of Agriculture explained in its comments. “The current timeline does not provide sufficient opportunity for meaningful engagement from a significant segment of the affected individuals and industries.”

California Citrus Mutual (CCM) also raised concerns with the Vulnerable Species Pilot program. However, these concerns were related to HLB mitigation and other potential threats from invasive species. CCM is encouraging EPA to consult state agencies to “ensure that existing mitigation practices are considered with respect to the impacts of invasive pest pressures.”

The species identified as being vulnerable in California are the Buena Vista Lake ornate shrew, the Palmatebracted bird’s beak, and two vernal pool fairy shrimp. Altogether, approximately two million acres in California stand to be greatly impacted by the habitat Pesticide Use Limitation Areas put forth in the proposal.

from the Mariposa CFB

Danette Toso

The excitement is building in Mariposa County as we gear up for the 85th Mariposa County Fair. Every Labor Day weekend fair enthusiasts come from near and far to enjoy the festivities. There is always something for everyone with a wide variety of foods, sweets, arts and crafts, carnival, destruction

Roof Chickens

derby, rodeo, junior livestock auction, and much, much more. We even have a Labor Day parade scheduled for Saturday, September 2nd routed through the middle of our beautiful historic town.

The fair will kick off Friday September 1st with poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine judging. The Fosters Family Fun Night begins at 6:00 pm with Dachshund races, stick horse races, kids bounce horse race, and ultimate cowboy & cowgirl contest. Saturday, September 2nd opens with more livestock judging and closes with the ever popular destruction derby and the Chad Bushnell Band. Sunday September 3rd begins with local team roping, Dairy and Boer Goat judging, with the Diaper Derby in the afternoon followed by the Jr. Livestock Auction. The rodeo will begin at 8:00 pm, followed by the Shotgun Jefferson Band. Sunday’s festivities include a calf branding contest, Round Robin Showmanship, Amateur Showmanship, team penning, watermelon seed spitting contest, mutton busting, Roger Perry Band,

and concludes with the Gilly Girls Band.

The fair is a wonderful opportunity to support our hardworking, dedicated 4-H and FFA members. These kids work tirelessly on their projects, and the experience teaches them a multitude of life skills. Come on over

to Mariposa County and enjoy our unique, historic county fair. I hope to see you there, and as always, 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.

Mariposa County Business Member Directory

Businesses Supporting the Farm Bureau

REPAIRS

Merced County Business Member Directory

Businesses Supporting the

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

BUSSINESS

F A R M 2 U D A Y O C T O B E R 5 , 2 0 2 3

Presenters & Volunteers Needed Presenters & Volunteers Needed

SAVE THE DATE

T h e 2 0 2 3 F A R M 2 U D a y i s s c h e d u l e d f o r T h u r s d a y , O c t o b e r 5 , 2 0 2 3 a t t h e M e r c e d F a i r g r o u n d s . D u r i n g t h i s e v e n t t h i r dg r a d e r s f r o m M e r c e d C o u n t y w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n a n e d u c a t i o n a l d a y w h e r e t h e y w i l l h a v e a c h a n c e t o l e a r n f i r s t h a n d a b o u t a g r i c u l t u r e a n d n u t r i t i o n .

W e a r e c u r r e n t l y l o o k i n g f o r p r e s e n t e r s t o s h o w c a s e p l a n t s , a n i m a l s a n d f a r m m a c h i n e r y a n d a d d i t i o n a l v o l u n t e e r s t o a s s i s t w i t h s t u d e n t s a n d t e a c h e r s w h o w i l l b e v i s i t i n g d u r i n g t h e e v e n t .

To participate please contact Merced County Farm Bureau PO Box 1232, Merced, CA 95341 Office: 209.723.3001 Fax: 209.722.3814

dflake@mercedfarmbureau.org