Democrat Adam Gray captures California’s 13th US House District, ousting Republican Rep. John Duarte
By: Michael R. Blood, Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democrat Adam Gray captured California’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, unseating Republican Rep. John Duarte in the final U.S. House contest to be decided this year.
Gray’s win in the farm belt seat that cuts through five counties means Republicans won 220 House seats this election cycle, with Democrats holding 215 seats.
Gray won by a margin of less than 200 votes, with election officials reporting Tuesday all ballots had been counted.
Duarte captured the seat in
2022 when he defeated Gray by one of the closest margins in the country, 564 votes. He was often listed among the most vulnerable House Republicans given that narrow margin of victory in a district with a Democratic tilt — about 11 points over registered Republicans.
Gray said in a statement: “We always knew that this race would be as close as they come, and we’re expecting a photo finish this year, too.”
Duarte told the Turlock Journal he had called Gray to concede, adding “That’s how it goes.”
“I’m a citizen legislator, and I didn’t plan on being in Congress forever,” Duarte
told the newspaper, though he didn’t rule out a possible future campaign.In a tough year for Democrats nationally, the party picked up three GOP-held House seats in California.
Both Gray and Duarte stressed bipartisan credentials during the campaign.
Gray, a former legislator, was critical of state water management and put water and agriculture at the top of his issues list. He also said he wants improvements in infrastructure, renewable energy and education.
Duarte, a businessman and major grape and almond
farmer, said his priorities included curbing inflation, crime rates and obtaining adequate water supplies for farmers in the drought-prone state.
There is a large Latino population in the district, similar to other Central Valley seats, but the most likely voters statewide tend to be white, older, more affluent homeowners. Workingclass voters, including many Latinos, are less consistent in getting to the polls.
Ihope your holiday season has started well and we can all lean into a healthy and prosperous 2025. Many changes are on the horizon as various elected seats have changed and we look forward to understanding their policies as they take office. Congratulations to all, newly elected and returning, as we look forward to working with them for the benefit of our members.
As we begin to look toward next year, I want to take this opportunity and tell you about a new nonprofit that has been for the benefit of special needs children between the ages of 5-21. The first annual event kicked off last March and the upcoming event is scheduled for March 29, 2025. Jessa’s Barnyard Buddies Livestock Experience will be held at the Los Banos Fairgrounds, enabling special needs students the opportunity to show livestock for the day. Each special needs child is paired with a buddy for the event which tends to be a local FFA student. Various awards are provided including Best Dressed and Congeniality. All livestock that have been donated for the event are then sold
at the end of the day. In addition to the show and sale, participants can join in presentations and a petting zoo. Interested exhibitors can sign up at https://showman. app/shows#/jessas-barnyardbuddies-489e. Deadline to register is Tuesday, December 31.
To raise additional funds for the Livestock Experience, the non-profit is planning a gala. Jessa’s Purple Tie Gala will be held at Mission de Oro on Saturday, January 18. Tickets can be purchased for $125 each. For more
details on the Livestock Experience or upcoming gala, you can reach out to them at jessasbarnyard@gmail.com. Additional phone numbers can be found on page 14 of the Farm News.
The event’s namesake, Jessa, is a special needs teenage girl who loves to show dairy and goats. Through a group of friends, Jessa and her family started the organization, and hope to bring this event to greater levels. I was lucky enough to attend last year, witnessing the event firsthand. Many
hearts were touched as children from throughout the state participated in a once in a lifetime experience. It truly is something that many of us never think about but is such a gift to the participants and their families.
Thank you for your membership as this year has continued to be a challenge of sorts. We look forward to the new year and hope that you’ll join us at an event or workshop in 2025. Cheers to a wonderful Christmas holiday and a prosperous New Year.
Well December
is finally upon us. As we enjoy the holiday season with friends and loved ones your county farm bureau continues to advocate for Merced Counties’ agriculture families. We are also winding things up for 2024 and preparing to attend the California Farm Bureau’s annual convention in Monterey. Merced County Farm Bureau is also busy preparing for our first ever Ag. Summit that will be held this winter. Many of our dairy families are dealing with H5N1 Avian Influenza on our local dairies.
As I sit and write this article California has still not officially certified the November elections that occurred a month ago. One of the race results that have changed since those days surrounding the election is our own congressional district, 13. This race involves Adam Gray and John Duarte. Mr. Gray has overcome a 3000-vote deficit on election night to a margin of victory of 187 votes. Merced County Farm Bureau congratulates Mr. Gray and looks forward to working with him to support agriculture and agriculture families. We would also like to thank Congressman Duarte for his support and cooperation over the past two years.
As I mentioned California Farm Bureau will be hosting its annual meeting
in Monterey December 7th through the 10th. Along with staff, Tim Lohman, Matt Jasso and myself will be attending as delegates representing Merced County Farm Bureau. This convention looks to be smooth as none of the state officers or board members are up for election, and the due structure was recently changed at a special delegate meeting held in August. It is always good to hear from state staff and officers on the condition of our state farm bureau and their vision on the future of Farm Bureau and California Agriculture. Merced County Farm Bureau will be holding its first ever Ag. Summitt this coming December 17th in Los Banos at the College Green Building, and again January 15th in Merced at the UC Cooperative Extension classroom. Both events begin start at 8:30AM and should conclude by 12:30PM. Some of the presenters invited include Detective Thomas Griffin from Merced County Sheriff Department, California Farm Bureau Government Affairs Division (GAD), Merced College F3 Project and others. There will also be an ag. related vendor fair as part of the summit. If you need any more information on the event please reach out to the
office or see our website. Merced County Agriculture Department will be having a pesticide container recycling event on December 16th and 17th, for more information or to schedule a drop off call the Ag. Department at (209) 385-7431.
I recently had the opportunity to volunteer as a judge for local project competition. The competition is organized locally by Merced Community College and is an event where a team of judges travel to local FFA members locations as they display their SAE projects. If you ever think that the spirit of entrepreneurship is gone, rest assured that it is not. These young adults have 15 minutes to display their projects and give a short demonstration. We saw everything from a young man that refurbishes diesel generators to a young lady who raises award winning sheep and goats. All these kids need to be commended for the effort that they put into these projects.
Many of our local dairy
farmers are currently dealing with an infectious outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza. This particular strain was first detected in California in early September and has since spread to over 500 California Dairies. It is important to understand that properly pasteurized dairy products are completely safe, and do not pose any risk to humans. The symptoms in cows are a reduction of feed intake, a reduction of milk production and an overall lethargic demeanor. Most animals recover fully after a few weeks.
As the holiday season is upon us let us all take this time to spend it with friends and family, and remember the ultimate gift that was given to us in a town called Bethlehem. 2024 was a challenging year for a multitude of reasons and many of us are looking to a fresh start in 2025. From our Farm Bureau family to yours we wish you the Merriest of Christmas and a blessed and prosperous 2025!
Holiday Fun At Hilmar Cheese Visitor Center
By: Denise Skidmore, Director, Education & Public Relations, Hilmar Cheese Company
Hilmar, Calif.
November 27, 2024. The Hilmar Cheese Visitor Center offers fun tours and activities throughout the holiday vacation time. Starting December 23 through January 3 the popular ice cream making tour and AgXcape game will be offered Monday through Saturday, except Christmas and New Year’s days.
The tour and ice cream making activity is at 11:00 am. Reserve your spot to “Shake, rattle and roll” with this hands-on activity to freeze (and then eat!) a fun-sized bag of ice cream. Guests watch the cheesy MOOvie, explore the exhibits, can watch employees package a 640 pound block of cheese, truly the “big cheese.”
The AgXscape Game is offered at 12:30 pm. AgXscape challenges “secret agent” teams of 2-4 adults or up to 6 with children to progress through a series of simulated dairy farm challenges to unlock the secret answer. It is a fun game style, not in an immersive escape room experience, perfect for beginners and those experienced escapers wanting a different type of challenge.
To reserve for the popular activities, go to www.hilmar. com/tours.
The café is open with delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese chowder soup, cream cheese brownies and Hilmar’s famous cheese
pies. Whole or original and turtle cheese pies are available to pre-order for your holiday gatherings.
The Visitor Center gift shop is full of holiday decor and now offers cheese gift boxes for friends, family, customers and clients.
The gift boxes feature one-pound blocks of Hilmar cheese and local Central Valley products. The gifts range from $32.95 to $89.95.
Gift boxes are available for easy in-store pickup, delivery and can be ordered online at www.shop. hilmarcheese.com.
Cheese gift boxes are also an easy corporate gift option. Bulk order discounts are available with the purchase of any variety of gifts of 50 or more. For bulk orders, the visitor center team coordinates in-store pick-up and will load the gifts into your vehicle. Gifts of 25 or more (any combination) can be delivered to one specific location on a date and time convenient for you, like the morning of your employee party. To place bulk orders e-mail hccorders@ hilmarcheese. com or call
209.656.1167.
The Visitor Center is open Monday - Friday 7 am – 6 pm. Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm. The Hilmar Cheese Company Visitor Center is located at 9001 Lander Ave.
in Hilmar, CA. Follow @hilmarcheese on Instagram and / hilmarcheesevisitorcenter on Facebook for specials, updates, merchandise offerings and more!
Ag Summit Agenda
Los Banos - December 17th
Tradeshow..........................................8:45-9:30 AM
Speakers.............................................9:30-11:30 AM
Scott Peterson, Director of Water Policy, San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority
Priscilla Koepke, F3 Project
Christopher Reardon, California Farm Bureau
TJ Griffin, Ag Crimes, Merced County Sherriff’s Office
Tradeshow..........................................11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Merced - January 15th
Tradeshow..........................................8:45-9:30 AM
Speakers.............................................9:30-11:30 AM
Noa Bruhis, Senior Analyst, Environmental Defense Fund
Hannah Johnson, F3 Project
Alexandra Biering, California Farm Bureau
TJ Griffin, Ag Crimes, Merced County Sherriff’s Office
Tradeshow..........................................11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Our Contact :
bvandenberg@mercedfarmbureau.org (209) 723-3001
Killing weeds between melon plants
Herbicides, combined with good cultural practices, can help control many weed pests of melons. Prefar (bensulide) may be applied before planting and mechanically mixed in the soil (preplant incorporated) or after planting and incorporated with irrigation (preemergence). Other herbicides are applied after planting to emerged weeds and are referred to as postemergence herbicides. Examples include the grass herbicides clethodim (Select Max) and sethoxydim (Poast). Preemergence herbicides can also be applied during the layby period to keep the crop weed-free until harvest, such as ethalfluralin (Curbit), pendimethalin (Prowl), trifluralin (Treflan) and halosulfuron (Sandea). Sandea is unique in that it can be used both pre and post to weed emergence.
While the preemergent herbicides can be very
effective, one of the challenges with their use is the need for incorporation, either mechanical or with sprinklers. Incorporation before planting is both efficient and effective, but often the movement of soil during planting/ transplanting moves the soil and herbicides, resulting in little weed control in the plant row. The result is that hand weeding is often still required.
An alternative is the finger weeder, a simple and inexpensive mechanical cultivator capable of removing weeds from the plant row. The system uses interlocking rubber fingers to remove small weeds in the plant row once transplants are established, or as is the case in most melon fields, when the crop is about 3 to 4 true leaves. Unfortunately, finger weeders are effective only if the weeds are very small, which limits their use to a very short period during the cropping season. Furthermore, if the crop is too big, they will pull the plants out and cause a big mess.
However, finger weeders should be able to safely incorporate preemergent herbicides back into the plant row, which would greatly expand the amount of time they could be used and their effectiveness. Growers would not need to wait until
weeds germinate, but rather could time the cultivation when the crop is ready, at about 3 true leaves. Finger weeders have the added benefit of being simple, reliable, and inexpensive as compared to the sophisticated weeding robots currently available.
In 2024, I conducted two trials in melons to evaluate this idea, one in a commercial field near Dos Palos, and the other at the UC field research station near Five Points, in Fresno County. The WSREC location used transplants (Infinite Gold) and drip irrigation, while at Dos Palos the variety was Silver Bullet honeydew furrow irrigated. At both locations, pre-emergent herbicides (Prefar, Sandea, Curbit, Dual Magnum, and Prowl) were band applied after transplanting/ emergence, and then incorporated with my finger weeder. An untreated control was used for comparison. Weed ratings were then made 2, 4, and 6 weeks later.
Used alone,
the finger weeder worked well, reducing in-row weed pressure about half as compared to the untreated control. When used with the herbicides, weed control was further improved. All of herbicides worked better when incorporated, with over 90% weed control at 4 weeks after application with Sandea and Curbit (bottom chart of Figure 2).
New herbicide registrations for vegetable crops in California are far and few between. These results offer additional weed management methods to consider. More projects are
Almond Post-Harvest Review –
Using
What You Can To Figure It Out
Tis the season… for reflection and review of how things went for your almond season. While an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure, sometime choices have to be made on what ounce of prevention to use. Now is a good time to assess how thing went and weigh what could be worth managing for the coming year. However, since this is a look back at how things went, helpful tools are limited. For me a combination of harvest grade sheets, walking the orchard, and digging into in-field monitoring notes (or memory) can combine to reach some conclusions to help with management choices. I only cover some in this article.
While harvest grade sheets can provide important metrics for almond size, cleanliness, and consistency, they can also provide an indication towards possible pest pressure. However, an indication is normally not enough and asking the processor further questions on specifics relating to damage or pairing grade reports with in-field monitoring can provide better options for tweaking management to address possible pest pressure.
Brown spot damage on kernel can indicate a few things, one being feeding from piercing insects like leaffooted and stink bugs. If this damage is from these insects, the spotting indicates the feeding occurred in midseason or later as early season
feeding typically results in kernel shrivels or fruit nut drop. While the timing of the damage can start to give an indication of the specific insect, normally in-field monitoring is the best way to determine the specific cause which would then inform management. Take a look at prior field notes, comb through the memory banks, or talk with field staff to see if there were any indications of a specific insect. If not and if brown spot from insects was a big issue, then consider adjusting in-field monitoring efforts to better capture causes for the following year.
Internal kernel damage can indicate navel orangeworm, ant, or the newer carpophilus beetle feeding and their damage can look similar
though there are indications that can help distinguish them (Figure 1). Navel orangeworm larvae feed on the nuts meats as well as scraping off the kernel skin (pellicle). The frass is normally more pellet shaped and larger when compared to carpophilus beetle’s and ants’ leftover damage. The damage between carpophilus beetle and ants are similar as both tend to leave the kernel skin and leaving a fine-powder; however, the powder for carpophilus beetle tends to be a bit creamier in color when compared to the whiter powder of ants.
When mulling over pests and diseases, remember things can be interconnected. Everyone knows that nuts left in an orchard can harbor overwintering navel orangeworm or be a food source for future generations, but understanding why these nuts are left in the orchard is important. For example, sticktights, even back in the 1960’s, was shown to exacerbate navel orangeworm issues (Figure 2). If sticktights are present and navel orangeworm control is important, then managing for sticktights may help manage for navel orangeworm.
'Almonds' Page
Figure 1. Photos of internal kernel damage from navel orangworm (left), carpophilus beetle (middle-left), and unknown ants (middle-right). Photos from “A visual guide to identifying invasive carpophilus beetle damage in almonds: differentiating carpophilus beetle from navel orangeworm and ant damage” by Jhalendra Rijal, Mahesh Ghimire, Houston Wilson, Sudan Gyawaly, and David Haviland. Scan QR code (right) if you would like your own free copy.
Almonds
continued from page 12
However, sticktights can be caused by sever water stress, high boron, hull rot, etc. so identify the cause is important.
While an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure, identification and understanding what issues your orchard faced can help determine what ounce of prevention to use. Looking back on the season and using available tools are a step towards that understanding.
Portions of this article was first published in the November 2024 issue of Pacific Nut Producer in the Orchard Tasks section.
Reference: Caltagirone L, Meals D, Shea K. 1968. Almond sticktights contribute to navel orangeworm infestations. Hilgardia 22(3):2-3. DOI:10.3733/ ca.v022n03p2
1. Photos of less (top-left) and more (top-right) extreme examples of sticktights on almonds in January 2023. Bottom image from Caltagirone et al. (1968) discussing sticktights and navel orangeworm.
Figure
America’s Farmers and Ranchers Need Immediate Congressional Support
By: Tracy V. Sparks, President & CEO, Yosemite Farm Credit and Jill Jelacich, Head of Regional Banking, American AgCredit
America’s farmers and ranchers are enduring a severe downturn in the agricultural economy, exacerbated by extreme weather events. They need the help and support of Congress to continue producing food and fiber to feed the world.
These are specific examples of the economic headwinds faced by producers in the Central Valley:
• Almond and walnut growers have recorded per acre losses of $500 to $1,500 per year in 2022 (Source: Terrain Ag).
• The 2022 price of walnuts was the lowest in USDA records (which started tracking in 1987) (Source: NASS)
• The cost of producing milk in California has increased 35% between 2017 and 2022 (Source: Terrain Ag)
We ask Congress to work expeditiously on two fronts before year-end. Congress must provide emergency funding for agricultural producers recovering from disasters across the US –both economic and weatherrelated. Further, Congress needs to enact a 5-year Farm Bill providing an enhanced safety net for farmers and ranchers.
As the leaders of your local Farm Credit Associations, we witness first-hand the challenges faced by our local customer-
owners. Low commodity prices, coupled with high input costs, are creating severe losses for many producers. Experts predict the current economic environment to continue in 2025. These challenges may cause many producers to discontinue their operations. The dairy industry is no stranger to these struggles. From 2017 to 2022, the number of dairy operations in California decreased from 1,287 to 855 (Terrain Ag).
As a cooperative and a mission-driven lender, owned and governed by our customers, American AgCredit and Yosemite Farm Credit will continue leveraging our financial strength to support U.S. producers through this difficult period.
Congress must keep in mind that current conditions are making it especially difficult for our young and beginning producers, many of whom do not have significant equity built up from longtime land ownership. Many of these producers have few remaining options as they work to continue for another growing season. We need Congress to take action to ensure the next generation
of agriculture can make it through this downturn. Even experienced producers with equity built up via rising land values also face difficult decisions about how much of their hard-earned equity to risk with no sign of profitability on the horizon.
All producers need the certainty of a full 5-year farm bill with additional federal investment that reflects today’s market reality.
We thank the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for working hard
behind the scenes to bring relief to American farmers and ranchers.
As Congress returns to Washington, we urge them to help farmers and ranchers by enacting a strong Farm Bill and passing emergency disaster assistance this year.
Respectfully,
Tracy V. Sparks
President & CEO, Yosemite Farm Credit
Jill Jelacich
Head of Regional Banking, American AgCredit
E x h i b i t o r s w i l l “ c e l e b r a t e t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s ” a v a i l a b l e t o t h e m a s t h e y
w o r k w i t h v o l u n t e e r s l e a r n i n g a b o u t l i v e s t o c k i n t h e s h o w r i n g A l l
s p e c i a l n e e d s c h i l d r e n w i l l b e p a i r e d w i t h a B u d d y , a n d t h e y w i l l w o r k
w i t h v a r i o u s s h o w l i v e s t o c k l e a r n i n g s h o w m a n s h i p s k i l l s . I f t h e
e x h i b i t o r w o u l d l i k e t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e s h o w m a n s h i p c o m p e t i t i o n
a f t e r l u n c h , t h e y c a n c h o o s e w h i c h s p e c i e s t h e y w o u l d l i k e t o e x h i b i t
L u n c h w i l l b e p r o v i d e d f o r a l l e x h i b i t o r s a n d v o l u n t e e r s f o r f r e e a n d
a v a i l a b l e f o r p u r c h a s e f o r e v e r y o n e e l s e W e ’ v e a l s o p l a n n e d o t h e r f u n
a c t i v i t i e s , p r e s e n t a t i o n s , a n d a p e t t i n g z o o T h e s h o w m a n s h i p
c o m p e t i t i o n i s d i v i d e d u p i n t o c a t e g o r i e s b a s e d o n t h e i r a b i l i t i e s a n d
g r a d e l e v e l T h e r e a r e a w a r d s f o r B e s t D r e s s e d , C o n g e n i a l i t y , i n
a d d i t i o n t o o t h e r a w a r d s A t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y t h e r e w i l l b e a
l i v e s t o c k s a l e o f t h e a n i m a l s t h a t h a v e b e e n d o n a t e d .
T h e n e x t J e s s a ’ s B a r n y a r d B u d d i e s L i v e s t o c k E x p e r i e n c e w i l l t a k e
p l a c e o n S a t u r d a y M a r c h 2 9 , 2 0 2 5 , a t t h e L o s B a n o s F a i r g r o u n d s P a r k
Y o u c a n a l s o f i n d u s h o s t i n g p e t t i n g z o o s a t o t h e r e v e n t s s u c h a s t h e
A u t i s m A w a r e n e s s e v e n t h e l d b y t h e L o s B a n o s F i r e D e p a r t m e n t ,
T r u n k o r T r e a t i n D o s P a l o s , o t h e r s c h o o l s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s A g d a y s
a n d o n a f l o a t a t t h e 4 t h o f J u l y P a r a d e i n G u s t i n e
E x h i b i t o r s a n d v o l u n t e e r s r e g i s t e r f o r J e s s a ’ s B a r n y a r d B u d d i e s
L i v e s t o c k E x p e r i e n c e o n l i n e b y v i s i t i n g t h e w e b s i t e b e l o w
h t t p s : / / s h o w m a n a p p / s h o w s / # / j e s s a s - b a r n y a r d - b u d d i e s - 4 8 9 e
M
Mummy sanitation has proven effective for controlling NOW in almond orchards, and early research suggests it also works against Carpophilus Beetle
Whether you’re a grower, pesticide applicator, a handler, or any other almond industry professional, we have a course to fit your needs.
MERCED MULTIBENEFIT LAND REPURPOSING PROGRAM
FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT
¡Anuncio de financiación para proyectos de reúso de tierras!
RESOURCES & MATERIALS
Visit mercedmlrp.org for more information, including:
Applicant workshops and recordings
Request for Projects (RFP)
Application forms
Eligible project types
Technical assistance
RECURSOS Y MATERIALES
Visite mercedmlrp.org para obtener información sobre la solicitud del Merced MLRP, incluyendo cómo entregar una solicitud, los tipos de proyectos elegibles y los recursos de asistencia técnica
ELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
FUNDING AVAILABLE
Up to $1 25 million per project
APPLICATION DEADLINE
January 31, 2025
GEOGRAPHIC AREA
Merced Subbasin
WHO’S ELIGIBILE
Landowners, GSAs, 501(c)3s, Public Agencies, Local Governments, Tribes
Projects must transition irrigated agricultural land to less water-intensive use(s) and create additional benefits for rural communities, economies, and ecosystems. Project types include:
Agriculture:
Dryland Farming
Low Water Use Crop
Rotational Strip Cropping
Rangeland / Grazing
Habitat:
Habitat Restoration
Pollinator Habitat
Floodplain Habitat
Wildlife Corridor
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE / ASISTENCIA TÉCNICA
Other Benefits:
Low-Impact Solar
Groundwater Recharge
Community Recreation
Cultural Space
If you have questions or would like to request assistance with developing your project idea and/or the application, please email info@mercedmlrp org
PROGRAM PARTNERS: Si tiene preguntas o desea solicitar ayuda para desarrollar su idea de proyecto y/o la aplicación, envíenos un correo electrónico a info@mercedmlrp org
Health and Human Services Agency
California Department of Public Health
Tomás J. Aragón, MD, DrPH Gavin Newsom Director and State Public Health Officer Governor
TO: Local Health Departments and Farm Owners
SUBJECT: H5N1 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Distribution Update
DATE: November 22, 2024
Dear Colleagues,
On May 28, 2024, a Dear Colleague Letter and a link on How to Request Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Farmworkers to Protect Against Avian Influenza ("Bird Flu") was shared with local health departments (LHDs). This advised that July 9, 2024, was the final date for farm entities to request a one-time distribution of PPE.
Effective August 28, 2024, CDPH will strive to honor requests for PPE made by LHDs, and other local government entities, dependent on supplies, using the normal MHOAC process. CDPH will also be supporting farms with confirmed H5N1 cases with direct shipments of limited PPE to the affected farm until January 15, 2025. Requests for PPE made by farmworker organizations will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
LHDs and affected farms should continue to reach out to their local MHOAC as a first step.
List of Available PPE
• Safety goggles
• Face shields
• Respirators:
o Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Kit.
o N95 masks
• Nitrile powder-free gloves
• Bouffant caps- Limited inventory- only 1 case (500 total caps) are allowed per affected farm and 2 cases of caps (1,000 total caps) are allowed per LHD.
If you have any questions, please send an email to: CIDMCM@cdph.ca.gov
Let’s Champion Rider Safety
Creating a culture of safety around ATV/UTV use
Why the time is right
Whether they’re used for work or for fun, ATVs and UTVs can be dangerous. Nationwide® is championing riders’ attention to all safety precautions and responsible operating procedures.
By the numbers
700+
deaths involving off-highway vehicles (OHVs) occur each year.1
1 in 4
OHV fatalities in the U.S. in the first half of 2023 were children under age 16.2
100,000 estimated emergency department-treated injuries involving OHVs occur each year.1
11,000
nonfatal ATV/UTV-related injuries among children and teens occur every year.3
Sales and popularity are rising as some key agriculture states loosen regulations.
• Roadways are particularly dangerous for children and teens on ATVs/UTVs. They’re 1½ times more likely to need a hospital stay because of their injuries versus normal off-road use.3
• As of July 2022, OHVs can by law be operated on paved or unpaved rural roads in some states under specific circumstances.4
California officials plan for a dry 2025 with grim water supply guesswork
By: Dan Walters, CalMatters
Each December there’s a new version of an old guessing game about how much water will be provided to agricultural and municipal users in the year ahead.
Federal and state water agencies post initial, and usually very low, estimates based on the current condition of reservoirs, soil conditions that affect runoff, and assumptions of rain and snow during the winter and spring.
Over the next few months, the estimates are upgraded as firmer precipitation data accumulates, often — but not always — increasing.
For 2022, as drought gripped California, the state Department of Water Resources initially projected zero water deliveries, later raised them to 15% of the contracted supplies, but finally delivered just 5%.
One year later, however, the department initially promised 5%, but after a very wet winter finally delivered 100%. This year began with a 10% estimate of state water supply and ended up with 40%.
The huge swings in initial allocations and final deliveries are an obvious headache for the 29 local and regional water purveyors supplied by the state water system, serving some 29 million people. Do the public water agencies impose strict conservation on their customers in years with low initial projections, try to obtain supplemental supplies,
take a chance that eventual deliveries will be higher, or all of the above?
The annual game resumed this week, when the Department of Water Resources announced an initial 2025 estimate of just 5%.
“Based on long-range forecasts and the possibility of a La Niña year, the State Water Project is planning for a dry 2025 punctuated by extreme storms like we’ve seen in late November,” department director Karla Nemeth said in a statement. “We need to prepare for any scenario, and this early in the season we need to take a conservative approach to managing our water supply. Our wettest months of the season are still to come.
“What we do know is that we started the water year following record heat this summer and in early October that parched the landscape. We must account for dry soils in our State Water Project allocation planning and our runoff forecasts for the spring.”
That’s a fairly grim scenario that may already be outdated because it was made without counting the heavy rains and snows that hit the state in late November.
“These storms will be taken into account along with other variables for future allocation updates. Prior to these storms, the start of the water year had been dry
and warm,” the department said. It’s also noteworthy that after the spate of storms, California’s weather has returned to dry and warm.
Another factor in the guessing game is the status of reservoirs, not only the state’s Lake Oroville, but the multiple storage projects managed by the federal government, such as Lake Shasta, and those owned by cities and irrigation districts.
At the moment, the state’s reservoirs are generally above 100% of historic averages after a couple of relatively wet winters, which indicate that ultimate water deliveries will be higher than the low initial estimates, although how much higher is
uncertain. Shasta is at 113% and Oroville at 109%.
The annual guessing game would be more accurate if the state had done what it should have done decades ago — developed more storage capacity, either in reservoirs or aquifers, that could be filled in wet years and cushion the impact of drought.
A couple of storage projects are underway, Sites Reservoir on the west side of the Sacramento Valley and an enlargement of the San Luis Reservoir in the Pacheco Pass west of Merced.
Much more is needed as climate change affects the precipitation cycle.
One Way or Another, the Minimum Wage is Going up in California on January 1
By: Bryan Little, Farm Employers Labor Service
Dec 2, 2024
Minimum Wage
California voters have rejected Proposition 32, which would have increased the minimum wage for all California employers to $18 per hour by 2026. But don’t breathe easy just yet; the California minimum wage will rise to $16.50 per hour on January 1, 2025, an inflation-adjusted 3.18% yearover-year increase.
Moreover, a number of local jurisdictions in California have adopted a minimum wage higher than the statewide minimum wage:
• Belmont, $18.30
• Burlingame, $17.43
• Cupertino, $17.75
• Daly City, $17.75
• East Palo Alto, $17.45
• El Centro, $18.34
• Foster City, $17.40
• Half Moon Bay, $17.47
• Hayward, $17.36 for employers of 26 or more, $16.50 for employers of 25 or fewer
• Los Altos, $18.20
• Menlo Park, $17.10
• Mountain View, $19.20
• Novato, $17.27 for employers of 100 or more, $17 for employers of 26-99, $16.50 for employers of 25 or fewer
• Oakland, $16.89
• Palo Alto, $18.20
• Petaluma, $17.97
• Redwood, $18.20
• San Carlos, $17.32
• Santa Clarita, $18.20
• San Diego, $17.25
• South San Francisco, $17.70
• San Jose, $17.95
• San Mateo, $17.95
• San Mateo County, $17.46
• Sonoma, $18.02 for employers of 26 or more, $16.96 for employers of 25 or fewer
• Sunnyvale, $19
• West Hollywood, $19.65
FELS strongly recommends employers familiarize themselves with requirements of these local statutes and ordinances to ensure your compliance if you do business in any these localities.
