County puts ‘public safety’ on ballot
By: Jonathan Whitaker, Merced County Times
As previously reported in the Times, Merced County leaders have been mulling putting a sales tax measure on the November ballot to shore up deficiencies in staffing and services within the Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office, and County Fire.
Well, during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, they made it official, with an unanimous vote on the dais, and with enough time to meet election ballot deadlines.
They are calling it the “Public Safety Stabilization Act Special Sales Tax” — a countywide 1/2 cent per dollar increase on sales tax for the next 30 years. Proponents say the measure could generate up to $25 million annually.
Eighty percent of the annual revenue collected would be specifically for “county public safety expenses” — 52 percent for the Sheriff’s Department, 15 percent for the D.A.’s Office, and 33 percent for the Fire
Department.
The remaining 20 percent of the annual revenue collected would be for “City and Town Program Allocations — funds to be distributed in proportion to each city’s share of the total population living in the county’s incorporated areas. No city shall receive less than $250,000 per year. Tax revenue may also be used for administrative costs. And an oversight committee would be formed to ensure guidelines are being followed and to offer recommendations on spending priorities.
District Attorney Nicole Silveira called the measure “a long-term solution” if it passes. Sheriff Verne Warnke called it a “tool.”
“I hate the idea of answering the phone, and we don’t have anybody to send,” the Sheriff said. “I’m hoping we can definitely move forward and allow our citizens of this county to make their voices heard about it.
Supervisor Daron McDaniel offered gushing praise over the new tax plan
that will go before voters.
“I think this is absolutely one of the most important tax measures that we’re going to bring since I have been on this board,” he said.
Seconds later, McDaniel doubled down: “I think this is more important than anything else that we brought forward to the public.”
Supervisor Josh Pedrozo was a bit more subdued when he commented: “Now is the right time to do this, I think. … I think it’s really important after going through fire station closures, and seeing the number of deputies we have patrolling, and the amount of cases the D.A.’s Office is handling, I think it’s imperative that we support this … I know nobody likes taxes, but I think it’s important.”
Sheriff Warnke has said his department is operating at a 25 percent deficit with regard to the number of deputies on patrol across the
county’s far-reaching territory. Meanwhile, the county is set to close two of its Cal Fire stations, while others are facing consolidation.
The public safety need appears to be there, but will county voters go for it?
As a special tax, the measure would require 2/3 of the votes cast to be in favor in order for it to be passed and go into effect. According to a survey sent to county residents in May, more than 62 percent said they would support the half-cent tax to help address public safety staffing shortages.
If passed in November, the public safety sales tax would go into effect April 1, 2025. Payments to departments would follow some time in June.
Last week MCFB submitted comments to the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) on their Proposed Statewide Notification System. MCFB has been engaged on this topic since DPR rolled the proposal out in 2022. We have then kept abreast of the subsequent pilot programs that occurred in the counties of Stanislaus, Riverside, Santa Cruz and Ventura. You may remember a column from me on the topic where I explained of our concerns. The program remains predominantly unchanged from that original proposal. We remain concerned that an individual can request information by simply imputing an address that falls within Merced County. You read that correctly. An individual that lives outside the county but wants to have greater details about the restricted material being sprayed in a particular area, can access it if they input a local address. I should be clear that they will be provided with information within 1 square mile of the address they have provided. We’ve raised concerns that
information may be obtain by individuals wanting to remove agriculture from the landscape. In addition, we also believe that providing the information to the public with no follow up information will create additional fear and concern amongst community members. Many do not understand the precautions that agriculture takes or the time and tests the material has been through to date. I also want to note some upcoming events for MCFB. On a quick request, we have been able pull together a workshop focusing on Card Check. Bryan Little of FELS will be our presenting speaker and will cover what owners can and cannot do. We will host this meeting in our office on August 20 and you can find additional details including time and how to register by reviewing page 8 of the Farm News. Please note that this is a Farm Bureau member only workshop.
This month will kick off our Candidate Nights and we have invited in those that are in contention for a seat. Through these meetings, our board takes the time to listen to each candidate in a debate setting followed by additional discussion and, ultimately, decide if they should endorse a particular candidate for office. There are also a host of state ballot measures that will be on the November ballot. I would expect that some may have direction from California Farm Bureau should they have an impact on agriculture. You should also be on the watch for a ballot measure
titled the Merced County Public Safety Stabilization Act Special Sales Tax Measure that was approved for the ballot by the Board of Supervisors at the August 6th board meeting. This would be for a ½% (1/2 cent per dollar) cent sales tax for two areas - law enforcement and fire protection services. If approved, the measure would sunset in 30 years. You can review the video of the board meeting or find any presentations made during that meeting online at the county’s website. Please feel free to call our office with any questions.
Another month has passed as I sit here and write this article. It has been a busier month than I expected. As we have all been busy on our operations, Merced County Farm Bureau has been busy as well. On August 1st a special delegate meeting was held in Sacramento. Harvest is in full swing and keeping everyone busy. Those of us with kids are busy getting them ready for school and fall sports to resume, and no one can ignore the soap opera that is national politics.
On August 1st myself, Dante Migliazzo, Tim Lohman, Joe Sansoni and Breanne Vandenberg attended a special delegate meeting in Sacramento to address California Farm Bureau’s due’s structure. It was a well-attended meeting with approximately 115 delegates representing counties from across California. We had good constructive discussion about dues. It was decided that our dues will increase as a result of the rising cost of doing business and to address budget shortfalls at the state level. The affect this will have on our membership will be detailed shortly.
As harvest season begins for our almond and silage growers, we are working long hours to get the job of feeding a hungry world done. As harvest begins marking the end of our growing season, another school year begins that just reminds us of the cycle we
go through every year. We are fortunate to be able to provide for a hungry world and the younger generation is just a reminder of why we do what we do. Let’s all be a little extra careful as we move about and be aware of all the extra equipment and school buses and traffic. Some commodity markets have seen a little rebound that should all be welcome news to our growers.
At our August Board Meeting we will be hosting our candidate night. The format will be a debate type format where we will get the opportunity to ask questions and determine how those vying for our votes will represent us. Both Congressman John Duarte and Democrat candidate Adam Gray are expected to attend. We will have other candidates in the following months. Just as we thought that national politics could not get any worse, it does. We had an all but successful assassination attempt on a former president and current presidential candidate. As details of the incident emerge, we can only come to the conclusion that it was gross incompetence or intentional, time will tell (hopefully). This incident took the life of a local Pennsylvania firefighter and came within centimeters of killing the leading presidential candidate on live TV. If that wasn’t enough, not long after the current president, who we are often told is as competent as
ever, decided not to run for re-election. Thus, installing the current Vice-President of the United States as the Democrat Party nominee for President of the United States. I do find it ironic that the party that says we must elect them to save democracy, completely ignores democracy and installs a candidate that received exactly 0 votes in the Democrat primary. The legacy of Kamala Harris has in California is not a good one. As we look at the rampant crime and lawlessness in this state, we must remember that this is a result of her policies when she served as Attorney General and Senator of this state. We can also look no further that the condition of San Francisco and see the results of her time as District Attorney there. We still have about 80 days until election
day, we can only guess what will happen before then, stay tuned. On our November ballots we will also get a chance to vote on proposition 36, which has been promoted by good District Attorneys across California, including our own in Merced County. This proposition will help fix the damages caused by Proposition 47 and the definition and threshold of certain crimes.
As always, your local Merced County Farm Bureau Staff and directors are here to assist in any way that we can, so feel free to reach out. I have a feeling by next month’s article there will be a lot to discuss. From candidate night results, due structure changes and of course whatever crazy direction and turns this election season takes us. Stay safe, until next month!
Let’s talk about
California state senator who switched parties stripped of leadership position, all committees
By: Ashley Zavala, KCRA 3
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
Democratic leaders in the State Senate on Monday removed State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil from all committees.
Alvarado-Gil last week announced that she was flipping her party affiliation from Democratic to Republican.
Alvarado-Gil was the chairwoman of the Senate's Human Services Committee. The Senate's daily file showed she was no longer on that committee, plus five others that she had been assigned to. That includes Agriculture, Business & Professions, Government Organization, Insurance, and Military & Veterans committees.
In a statement, Democratic State Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire said, "Given Senator Alvarado-Gil's party affiliation change, we have removed her from committees and will be reevaluating the balance of our Democratic and Republican committee memberships in the days ahead to ensure they reflect the balance of representation in the Senate."
The senator has said she
was expecting to lose her leadership position. There are about three weeks left in the legislative session.
"This is yet another act of retribution by the Democratic Caucus," Alvarado-Gil said in a statement. "There’s still plenty of work for me to do, and I continue to fight for the people of California regardless if I’m on a committee or not. My goal now is to get my bills to cross over the finish line and get them signed by the governor.”
Alvarado-Gil's change in party affiliation comes as the district she represents, which encompasses parts of the Central Valley and Northeastern California, shows Republican voters outregister Democrats.
Alvarado-Gil has said the Democratic party's handling of crime in the Legislature pushed her to change parties. When KCRA 3 asked what drew her to the Republican party, she did not say but stated that the other option -changing her affiliation to Independent - would not have been a reflection of her district or her values.
She would not say who she is voting for President.
The senator is up for reelection in 2026.
Ready To IGNITE A New Path
By: Kamilia Mendoza, Merced FFA Chapter Reporter
As the year 20232024 closes for the Merced FFA Chapter a new one has flourished. New beginnings but never forgetting the past as it acts as a lighted torch to our new path. July starts the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year and it has been filled with many new things for the Merced FFA Chapter! Everyone in the Merced FFA Chapter is excited to welcome two new teachers to our FFA Family. Mr. Michael Thomas and Ms. Kailey Stone have already bought so much energy and opportunity to the department. The Officer Team and I are looking forward to the year ahead with them!
July started with members attending the Change Makers Summit Conference hosted by California FFA. The California FFA website provides the following description of the conference: The last line of the FFA motto reads, "Living to Serve." As growing leaders, we look to serve others in any capacity we can. The Change Makers Summit focuses on career skills, agricultural issues and leveraging personal abilities into workplace success! This conference focuses on "SERVE: accepting one's self as a leader, developing strong relationships with others and giving back to their communities and the world." I asked Preslee Hunter, the 2024-2025 Merced FFA President about her time at the conference and she shared with me that the Change Makers Summit
was a wonderful conference that allowed her to focus on the skills that she needs to lead the Chapter and the new officer team for the upcoming school year.
The month of July also brings about the opportunity for the annual officer retreat in which the new officer team gets together to plan the upcoming year! As our new Officer Team arrived at retreat, it had to quickly be canceled due to the unfortunate Pedro wildfire. Although slightly bummed due to the cancellation, our team worked together to overcome this challenge and look at the bright side, filling our day with pure positivity. We adjusted our location of the retreat and were still able to have two productive days of bonding and planning. When we were done planning the schedule for 2024-2025 school year, we worked together to make an introduction video introducing the 20242025 Chapter Officers and Theme! If you would like to watch the video, visit our chapter website www. mercedffa.org! The time spent together sparked the idea for the theme: Ignite. Ignite as defined by the Oxford DIctionary means to arouse or inflame (an emotion or situation). The officer team encourages their members this year to ignite your spark, your path, and your legacy in FFA!
As we head into August head first, we
are prepared for whatever comes to us! We know we've got each other's backs as we planned the year and bonded
as a team making us stronger together and ready to face any challenge that comes Merced FFAs way!
The 2024-205 Officer team (Left to Right starting top row) Kamila Mendoza, Preslee Hunter, Madyson Wilhelm, Tyler Horn (front row) Christian SantaMaria, Abby Mua, Lilee Hunter
Atwater FFA “Paving the Way” During Leadership Retreat
By: Marissa Vargas, Atwater FFA
“Paving the Way” was selected as the 20242025 Atwater FFA theme as advisors and chapter officers gathered at Sugar Pine Cabin near Sonora, California for their annual Atwater FFA Chapter Officer Leadership Retreat on July 23th-25th. The primary goals of the three day retreat is to set goals and objectives to best serve students and members with unlimited opportunities towards personal growth, skills, leadership, and career exploration.
“Our officer team starts the school year with focus, vision, and enthusiasm in leading their organization and our students,” said FFA advisor Maddie Zittel. This year’s officer team hopes to expand student engagement, expand leadership opportunities, and create a culture that increases connection among peers.
“This year’s theme represents “paving the way” in implementing those goals and objectives while continuing to expand, influence, and develop opportunities for current and future agriculture students and FFA members,” said Atwater FFA Secretary Gianna Fragulia.
Leadership retreat highlights included staying in a cabin in the mountains, swimming in a lake, and a variety of team building activities. This is a new leadership opportunity
among all of the newly elected chapter officers.
“The opportunity to be part of a team with the goal of representing and serving its members is a responsibility we look forward to and take pride in as a team,” said FFA President Gannon Gossman.
The Atwater High School agriculture program was recognized as one of the state’s Outstanding Secondary Agriculture Program by the California Agricultural Teachers’ Association (CATA) this summer. “We have tremendous support from our school administration, school district, and our community in supporting FFA and agriculture education as a way to get students involved and provide individuals with purpose, direction and self-confidence in life,” said agriculture instructor and FFA advisor Taylor Helton.
The new officer team is looking forward to the opportunities and rewards the upcoming 2024-2025 school year holds for them.
This year’s officer team includes Gannon Gossman, President; Iker Chargoy, Vice President; Gianna Fragulia, Secretary; Owen Reed, Treasurer; Marissa Vargas, Reporter; Grant Williamson, Sentinel; Eric Villalobos, Historian; and Callie Sanders, Parliamentarian.
For more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website www. AtwaterFFA.org .
The 2024-225 Atwater FFA Officer Team of Marissa Vargas, Gannon Gossman, Owen Reed, Eric Villalobos. Gianna Fragulia, Iker Chargoy, Grant Williamson, and Callie Sanders gather together during the annual chapter officer retreat held this year in Sonora, CA.
Atwater High School agriculture students Grant Williamson and Callie Sanders help lead their officer team in selecting this year's chapter FFA theme during the annual FFA chapter officer retreat.
Atwater FFA chapter officers Gannon Gossman, Owen reed, Iker Chargoy, Callie Sanders, Eric Villalobos, Marissa Vargas, and Grant Williamson strengthened team building skills at the Motherlode Escape Room in Sonora, CA.
Long-awaited Sites Reservoir nears finish line
By: Dan Keppen, Farm Progress
The long-envisioned construction of Sites
Offstream Storage Reservoir in northern California is getting closer to the finish line.
Over the last six years, the Sites Project Authority— the lead agency for the project —has worked with its participants, government partners, and statewide stakeholders to design an offstream reservoir that would benefit all of California.
Last year – 2023 - marked several existing milestones for the project. Sites qualified for a $2.2 billion low-interest loan, and the Final Environmental Impact Report was certified. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature certified Sites for streamlined judicial review. Sites was awarded $110 million in federal funding from, bringing the total federal funding committed to the project through the end of 2023 to $244 million.
Now, the project is moving into the final planning stages and heading toward construction. This is welcome progress, as California needs Sites Reservoir now more than ever.
I’ve engaged in the slow, sometimes halting progress of Sites Reservoir in a variety of roles over the past 25 years.
As the manager of a Sacramento Valley flood control agency, folks around me started talking about Sites and other ambitious infrastructure projects following three federallydeclared flood disasters that
occurred between 1994-1997.
Sites was one of a handful of storage projects that made the cut as the CALFED BayDelta program investigated water supply enhancement projects. I served on the California Department of Water Resources Off-Stream Storage Advisory Committee in the late 1990’s during my time at the Northern California Water Association and Bureau of Reclamation, which oversaw that effort.
Even at that time, the concept of developing a Northern California offstream storage reservoir to effectively serve as water availability insurance during dry years was an old idea. The vision for Sites was first brought forth in the 1950s!
My current employer -the Family Farm Alliancehas been on record for over a decade in support of this project, and we’ve sent witnesses back to Capitol Hill to testify in support of this project.
The approach used to advance Sites in recent years is an innovative and modern one that goes beyond water supply and
flood protection by adding flexibility and generating a much-needed new water source for improved water quality, seasonal fish flows, climate change and drought relief. Sites would provide an additional tool for water managers to effectively balance competing demands and provide reliable water to support California’s environment and economy.
The persistence of Sites’ diverse proponents paid off, seven decades after the project was envisioned.
In California and elsewhere in the West, it
usually takes extreme drought or extreme flooding to drive policy makers towards meaningful solutions. Those extreme events are happening with increased frequency. Sites is a rainfed flexible storage solution that will adapt to future climate conditions, which are predicted to bring more precipitation in the form of rain.
Sites Reservoir is closer than ever to becoming a reality. I am proud to support this project that will provide water for generations of Californians to come.
AUGUST 24TH 2024
9 A M - 1 2 P M 4 - H C L A S S R O O M 2 1 4 5 W A R D R O B E A V E
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R O J E
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ATTENTION
Farmers and Farm Employees who need to renew their DL-267 Endorsement or acquire their initial endorsement.
The Agricultural Hazardous Materials Transportation Program is being offered by the Farm Bureau and Nationwide Insurance. This class is for persons 21 years or older and have a current California Class C drivers license.
Due to new requirements, once a person completes the course, they must:
• Submit completed training record along with a completed CHP application
• Await paperwork return from CHP
• Pay any applicable DMV fees
• With returned CHP paperwork apply for DL-267 certificate from the DMV
This California farm supplied rice to chefs and home cooks for 97 years. Now, it’s shutting down
By: Elena Kadvany, The San Francisco Chronicle
Koda Farms, whose heirloom rice has been prized by chefs and home cooks alike for almost a century, is shutting down.
The closure of the familyowned farm in Merced County, which Keisaburo Koda started 97 years ago, was first reported by the New York Times. His grandchildren, thirdgeneration farmers Robin and Ross Koda, run the farm today. The rising costs of farming in California, from fertilizer to insurance and labor, have put undue pressure on the small operation.
“It’s time,” Robin Koda told the Chronicle on Monday. “Over the years, the challenges have become more than we want to handle.”
Koda Farms’ heirloom rice is a staple in many of the country’s top restaurants, a product so beloved many chefs vividly recall the first time they tasted it, even years later. The family produces varieties from brown rice to sweet glutinous rice for its mochiko flour, and famously spent a decade developing a new Japanese-style heirloom variety called Kokuho Rose. Bred specifically for the farm’s soil and climate in the 1960s, Kokuho Rose remains enduringly popular today. It’s the rice of choice for chefs like Sylvan Mishima Brackett of Rintaro in San Francisco and Brandon Jew of San Francisco’s Michelin-starred
restaurant Mister Jiu’s. Jew’s 2021 cookbook features a photograph of Robin Koda in the rice fields and a tribute to the “sweet, floral” rice and its legacy in California.
Robin and Ross Koda are in their 60s. They have no succession plan: “I would never tell my kids they have to farm because it’s just an unforgiving, relentless profession,” Robin Koda said. But thanks to trademarks that their grandfather obtained decades ago, Koda Farms’ products will live on. The Kodas licensed five of their trademarks to Western Foods, a grain manufacturer in Woodland (Yolo County), Robin Koda said. Western will continue to produce their rice under strict licensing agreements that mandate quality standards.
“This is a golden opportunity to preserve the integrity of the product,” Robin Koda said. “They will continue to meet the hallmarks that our grandfather set in place.”
Keisaburo Koda, a former school principal, immigrated to the U.S. from Ogawa, Japan, in 1908. He plied various trades — wildcatting for oil, working in laundromats and opening a tuna canning company — before going into rice farming. Amid anti-Asian sentiment and the California Alien Land Law of 1913, which prevented Chinese, Japanese and other Asian immigrants from owning or leasing agricultural land, he had to look farther and
farther south in California, beyond the more established farmland of the Sacramento Valley, to find someone who would sell him land, Robin Koda said. He bought the South Dos Palos (Merced County) land that would become Koda Farms under his American-born sons’ names.
The Koda family was displaced to Colorado because of Japanese internment during World War II, forced to temporarily hand over the farm to a new operator until their release in 1945. When they returned, just 1,000 acres of the “worst soil” remained, Robin Koda said. They moved about a mile down the road and started over.
Keisaburo helped pioneer new rice techniques, including sowing seeds with airplanes, and became known as the “Rice King of California.” Koda Farms operates its own seed nursery, drying and milling facilities, which has helped preserve quality over the decades, Robin Koda said. He died in 1964.
Bay Area chefs were devastated by the news of Koda Farms’ closure. Theirs was the “childhood rice” of Brackett, who has been serving it at Rintaro since he opened the CaliforniaJapanese restaurant in 2014. Gaby Maeda, chef at Friends and Family in Oakland and formerly of the Michelinstarred State Bird Provisions in San Francisco, was first exposed to the company as a fourth-grader growing up on
Oahu, Hawaii, learning in a school cooking class how to make mochiko chicken with Koda Farms’ sweet rice flour.
“That blue star on the white box will always be the most iconic thing,” she said, referring to the rice flour’s packaging. Her family’s rice cooker was often filled with half white rice, half Koda Farms brown rice. She used the rice flour again as a young chef at State Bird Provisions to create a savory mochi dish that became a yearslong menu staple.
“We never tried any other flour because if it’s perfect the way it is, don’t change it,” Maeda said. “They’ve (had) such a huge impact on so many different restaurants around the country.”
C-Y Chia, co-owner of the recently closed Lion Dance Cafe in Oakland, has been cooking with Koda Farms’ rice since the restaurant’s early popup days. The mochiko rice flour was essential to Lion Dance Cafe’s popular nian gao dessert, a chewy coconut cake. Not only was the product top-tier, Chia felt connected to the history behind it.
“The people behind companies matter. It’s sad that the conditions have become such that they cannot continue and carry on with their legacy,” Chia said. “There’s definitely a bit of grieving (and) a bit of fear — it’s an indicator of how bad things have gotten.”
The closure, chefs said,
Koda Farms
continued from page 14
is another reminder of the sharply rising costs affecting the entire food industry.
“Unfortunately, everything is temporary in life but you get so used to a certain quality,” Maeda said. “When it’s gone — that’s why it’s so important to not take farms for granted.”
Western Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Western President Miguel Reyna told the New York Times that the company will farm some Kokuho Rose rice in Dos Palos as well as in the Sacramento Delta region, but will move all processing and packaging to Northern California. Some of Koda’s Blue Star Mochiko and Diamond K rice flours may also be processed at Western’s mill in Arkansas.
Under the licensing agreements, Koda Farms’ packaging will mostly remain intact — including the photograph of Keisaburo Koda standing in the rice fields that decorates many of the company’s bags of rice.
2023 1st place winner
Prizes
1st place $1,000
2nd place $500
Open now through September 22 ENTER YOUR PHOTO!
Submit photos of fresh food, rural scenery, animals, crops, harvests, life, work, family or any inspiring photo captured on the farm or ranch.
Enter up to fi ve high-resolution photos for the general contest and one photo for the People’s Choice category at cfbf.com/photocontest.
3rd place $250
People’s Choice $100
Honorable Mentions $50 (six winners)
Budding Artists (ages 13 & younger)
1st place $250 2nd place $100
Voting for the People’s Choice category will be open from Sept. 24–30.
The contest is open to amateur photographers who are Farm Bureau members. Participants who are not Farm Bureau members can visit cfbf.com/join to learn about becoming a member. Go to cfbf.com/photocontest for contest rules.
Cayden Pricolo, Merced County
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers Mentorship Program
Enroll in a New Program Aimed at Preserving California’s Agricultural Heritage.
Beginning farmers and ranchers in California face many challenges in sustaining their agricultural operations. This program provides no-cost mentoring services from experienced farmers and ranchers to facilitate knowledge transfer.
Who can become a mentor?
Farmers (including specialty crop growers) and ranchers with more than 10 years of experience operating a production agriculture business in California can become mentors.
Benefits of becoming a mentor:
• Receive incentive pay ($50/hr) for up to six hours of time invested in mentoring a beginning farmer and/or rancher.
Who can become a mentee?
• Share knowledge, skills, and experience to help guide the long-term success of a beginning farmer and/or rancher in California.
Farmers (including specialty crop growers) and ranchers with one to 10 years of experience operating a production agriculture business in California can become mentees.
Benefits of becoming a mentee:
• Learn from experienced farmers and ranchers through six hours of mentoring.
• Attend biannual workshops alongside subject matter experts and peers.
• Enjoy annual subscriptions to the Ag Alert® weekly newspaper and Farm Bureau Extension classes.
• Work towards self-declared goals such as adopting new management practices, scaling production and distribution, learning established and emerging marketplaces, improving business accounting and finance fundamentals, and more.
To enroll as a mentor or mentee, complete an online application at cfbf.com/EOR. Information from the online application will be used to match mentors and mentees.
Funding for this Project was made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.
California’s great debate resumes about how to cope with volatile swings in tax revenues
By: Dan Walters, CalMatters
For the last two decades, California’s governors and legislators — and lobbyists for countless groups with stakes in the state budget — have engaged in a running debate over ever-increasing volatility in tax revenues.
As the revenue stream grew, personal income taxes became the dominant source. The state’s highest-income taxpayers generated half those taxes largely from profits on their investments, which can vary widely year to year.
Moreover, as revenues became less predictable the state’s spending became less flexible. For example, a 1988 ballot measure, Proposition 98, requires that about 40% of state revenues be spent on public schools and community colleges.
When revenues plummeted during the Great Recession and the state faced historically large budget deficits, thenGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders created a commission to recommend solutions to revenue volatility.
The commission debated for months but was hopelessly divided over whether to overhaul the tax system to de-emphasize income taxes or increase budget reserves to cushion periodic decreases in revenues. Its report, favoring the former approach, was promptly filed away and largely forgotten.
A few years later, Schwarzenegger’s successor, Democrat Jerry Brown
confronted the lingering deficits from the Great Recession’s sharp revenue declines. He covered the gaps with a temporary tax increase approved by voters in 2012, primarily income taxes on the wealthy, and proposed a “rainy day fund” to ease the impact of future revenue downturns.
Voters approved that approach in 2014 and the reserve, along with other smaller reserve funds for specific purposes, amassed substantial balances, roughly $30 billion, during the ensuing half-decade.
Gov. Gavin Newsom used reserves a bit in 2020 to offset a revenue decline during the COVID-19 pandemic and, when facing a nearly $50 billion budget deficit this year, he and the Legislature turned to them again.
Initially Newsom proposed a $13.1 billion draw from reserves, but the final 202425 budget approved in June took just $5.1 billion from the rainy fund and envisions another $7.1 drawdown in 2025-26. It also largely drains two other reserves, including one for schools.
This year’s deficit resulted from a massive overestimate of revenues by Newsom’s administration in 2022, rather than an economic turndown, and some critics have
complained that misusing reserves this year could leave them unable to cope with a recession.
The wonkish debate over budgets, reserves and revenue volatility resumed this week during an Assembly Budget Committee hearing — specifically over whether the state needs a larger rainy day fund.
Newsom, whose 2022 projection of a huge budget surplus from explosive revenue gains proved to be incredibly wrong, now wants the state to avoid spending estimates of windfall revenues until they are actually in the bank — a prudence that should have been adopted many years ago.
However, his proposal and/or increasing rainy day reserves run afoul of groups that believe the state should be spending more on support
for poor Californians rather than setting more money aside.
Scott Graves of the leftleaning California Budget & Policy Center warned legislators that “significantly raising the cap for the rainy day fund could tip the balance too far in the direction of saving, leaving less revenue to meet the immediate needs of Californians. This would make it harder to address poverty and inequality and to create an equitable California where everyone can share in the state’s prosperity.”
The hearing essentially sets the stage for a potential 2026 ballot measure to revise the state’s budget reserve, but it could also renew the revenue aspect of the perpetual debate, because in 2030 the latest extension of Jerry Brown’s 2012 income tax increase will expire.
California DPR Announces Pesticide Registration and Renewal Fee
By: Bergeson & Campbell PC, JD Supra
On July 29, 2024, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced that it will move forward with an emergency rulemaking package to revise the fees for pesticide registrations and renewals in late August with a proposed effective date of no later than October 1, 2024. DPR states the fee increase is necessary to meet current baseline funding needs and the new positions approved as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 20242025 budget.
DPR states that the Governor’s Proposed 20242025 Budget, released in January 2024, included 31.2 positions to support its pesticide registration
program and goals to expand the availability of safer pest management alternatives. This proposal was built on the FY 2023-2024 budget’s addition of six positions to address the most critical needs of DPR’s registration program. On June 29, 2024, the Governor signed the final 2024-2025 State Budget. This included the Governor’s proposed budget for DPR contingent upon the passage of AB 2113, which was signed on July 2, 2024.
As discussed in our April 19, 2024, blog, on April 23, 2024, DPR held a webinar to discuss the proposed fee increases and accepted written comments from April 23, 2024, until May 17, 2024. DPR states it will provide
a complete response to comments as a part of the emergency rulemaking notice it anticipates releasing in late August. According to DPR, after careful evaluation of all comments received, it will separate the notification and amendment fee amounts by proposing a lower fee for notifications ($100). The amendment fee will
remain $300, as discussed in the April 2024 webinar. DPR states it will move forward with an emergency rulemaking package to revise the fees in the regulation. The regulation changes for pesticide registration fees are necessary to cover the cost of the entire registration program. DPR will increase the following fees:
Additional California Notices to Stakeholders will be released to announce the emergency regulations and effective date.
State of the Agriculture Industry: California farmers face uncertainty, diminishing profitability
By: Elisha Machado, ABC 10
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
— California farmers help feed the nation. The state produces around half of the country's fresh produce. But right now, they're faced with a number of challenges from increased production costs to changing demand and diminishing profitability.
The topics were discussed with the California State Board of Food and Agriculture Tuesday at a state of the industry panel discussion.
"There's a lot of uncertainty in agriculture in California," said Don Cameron, president of the California Food and Agriculture Board. "The consumption of wine has dropped worldwide and
so we're seeing a lot of vineyards being removed. We're seeing a lot of almond orchards being removed because of the low price and the constraints on water availability throughout California."
The board meeting was attended by industry analysts and representatives of food producers, including Community Alliance of Farmers, California
Cattlemen's Association and Allied Grape Growers.
"We're seeing some downward pressures on prices that farmers are getting which is hard for consumers because they're looking at their grocery prices and trying to reconcile that. It's just the realities, especially in California, where we have
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so many highly perishable crops," said Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Ross was appointed to the position in 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom and has worked in California agriculture policy for more than 30 years. She
said normally one or two industries might be impacted by various challenges, but right now, they are more widespread across the industry.
"What's really unusual right now, how many of our top commodities, the tree nuts, the wine grapes, are all feeling this tremendous downward pressure on demand and the prices that go with that," Ross said.
Ross said consumers can support farmers by shopping at farmers markets or looking for 'California grown' when they shop at the grocery store. Steve Arnold, president of the California Cattlemen's Association, told ABC10 that the cattle industry is seeing higher freight costs and pressures from insurance and regulatory agencies, but this year brought some positives for the industry as well.
"Well the good thing, obviously, has been the weather over the last two years. We've gotten a lot of rain and a lot of grass this year. But even better, our markets are up on the cattle, which is more than most of agriculture can say, so we've been very appreciative of all of that," Arnold said. "And it looks positive for two or three or four more years, so we're OK right now."
Cal/OSHA Indoor Heat Protection Rules Now in Effect
By: Insurica
On July 23, 2024, California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the state’s Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment Standard, which aims to protect workers from excessive heat indoors. This new standard is now in effect and applies to most indoor workplaces. Employers are required to adopt safety measures when indoor temperatures reach 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Indoor Heat Standard Requirements
The new indoor heat standard applies to all indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82 degrees Fahrenheit. It requires that:
• Employers implement engineering controls (e.g., air conditioning or increased ventilation) to reduce the temperature and heat index of the indoor workplace to below
• 87 degrees Fahrenheit
when employees are present; or
• 82 degrees Fahrenheit in areas where employees work in high-radiant heat or must wear protective clothing that restricts heat removal;
• Employees have access to fresh, pure, suitably cool and free drinking water and “cool-down” areas that are maintained below 82 degrees Fahrenheit;
• Employers implement effective emergency response procedures (e.g., contacting emergency medical services, providing basic first aid and monitoring employees exhibiting signs of heat illness);
• Employees are closely observed:
• For the first 14 days when acclimating to a work area with a temperature or heat index that reaches 87 degrees Fahrenheit (or 82 degrees Fahrenheit in high-radiant heat areas or when wearing
clothing that restricts heat removal); and
• During a heat wave where no engineering controls are in use; and
• Employers maintain a written heat illness prevention plan and train workers and supervisors on how to implement the plan
Exceptions
The heat standard does not apply to:
• Places of employment where employees are teleworking from a location of the employee’s choice, which is not under the control of the employer;
• Local and state correctional facilities;
• Emergency operations directly involved in protecting life or property; and
• Incidental heat exposure where a worker is exposed to temperatures at or above 82 degrees Fahrenheit and below 95 degrees Fahrenheit
for less than 15 minutes in any 60-minute period (however, this exception does not apply to vehicles without effective and functioning air conditioning or shipping or intermodal containers during loading, unloading or related work).
Employer
Next Steps
Employers should audit the temperatures of existing facilities and, if necessary, confirm that such facilities have air conditioning or other methods of temperature control, indoor temperatures are properly monitored, and workers have access to water and cool-down areas.
Employers should implement a heat illness prevention plan and a corresponding training protocol for supervisors and employees. For additional information, employers may refer to Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Guidance and Resources page and frequently asked questions on the new standard.
Kids, Cows and Plows
The year long wait is almost over, you can feel the excitement in the air, it’s time for the Mariposa County Fair! Make no mistake, Mariposa County takes great pride in our quaint, little country fair with 86 years of serving the community. We might be small, but we are mighty in the realm of entertainment, education and cuisine. This year’s theme of Kids, Cows and Plows guarantees not to disappoint.
The fun begins Friday, August 30th at 10:00 AM with poultry judging, and concludes Monday, September 2nd at 6:00 PM. Gate admission is Adults 12 & up $10.00 with Children 11 & under $5.00, under 5 years Free. September 2nd will be Free Admission Day for all with $5.00 parking daily. There will be a shuttle bus service as well running daily from town and Bootjack/ Woodland Park.
The fair offers something for everyone from Livestock Judging, Destruction Derby, Rodeo with this year’s Grand Marshall’s Jim & Marietta Dulcich, Down Town Parade, Mineral Museum, Live Bands, Diaper Derby, Tricycle Race, Dachshund Race, Arts, Crafts and photography, and much, much more.
The Farm Bureau sponsored Bud Swift Memorial Carcass Contest will have the second and final weigh-in for the 4-H &
FFA Beef Project contestants as well. When the cattle are processed after the Jr. Livestock Auction, this contest shows just how diligent the members are with their pick in genetics, feeding and exercise programs. Trophy jackets and vests are awarded, as well as cash
prizes to these hard-working individuals. The Jr. Livestock Auction will be held Sunday, September 1st at 2:00 PM in the Strathearn Pavilion. FFA & 4-H members work very hard for months to prepare for this show and sale, please come out and support them in any way possible.
Mariposa County Farm Bureau
I look forward to seeing you at the fair, 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.
Annual Dinner
October 12th 5:00 PM
Mariposa Fairgrounds
Please join us for the Annual Fundraiser Dinner catered once again by Willow Creek Catering from North Fork. A Prime Rib and Chicken Marsala dinner will be served along with Live, Silent, and Dessert Auctions. Our “Friends of Agriculture” honorees will be Sonny & Annette Palmer of Palmer Tractor. Please mark your calendar and come celebrate and support Agriculture in Mariposa County.
