November 2023 Digital Newspaper

arm. You E F at. e W

November 2023 | Volume 116, Number 11

Merced County Farm News Nominations are Open for the 2024 Common Threads Awards Recognizing Women in Agriculture

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By: Common Threads

RESNO, CA - Nominations for the Common Threads Awards are now being accepted through November 27. The award recognizes women with past or present roots in agriculture who have made a remarkable and visible contribution to the enhancement of their communities.

The nominee must show outstanding involvement not only in agriculture but have also made a difference with their philanthropic giving and volunteer support within their own community.

For more information on the award go to https://www.agleaders.org/

INSIDE:

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YF&R Update

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events/2024-common-threads-cv/ or call Mia Mirassou at 831-585-1030.

Nomination packets must be submitted no later than midnight Monday, November 27, 2023. Prospective women honorees must reside and work in one of the following six counties:

Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, or Tulare.

Please mark your calendar to join us at our luncheon on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District to honor the 2024 Common Threads honorees.

Flooded California towns secured millions in aid. Who gets the money?

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MCFB Scholarships

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Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

from the

Director's Desk Breanne Vandenberg

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alk about a crazy season. I spoke with a grower last week that had just wrapped picking up their almonds. We find something in every season but this one has some trademark pieces to it. As the work turns to preparing the fields for the next season or correcting machinery issues, our team begins to prepare ourselves for the California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. We have a host of items to discuss this year including officer elections and bylaw amendments. It is a week filled with long days of negotiation and evening activities to build camaraderie amongst the membership.

In October I was asked to speak at the Snelling Municipal Advisory Committee Meeting. I welcomed the opportunity to speak with them and was equally surprised when they wanted to discuss ag burn. Given that 95% of my meetings are focused on water, I’m always surprised when I receive questions outside of water. I figured this was a good opportunity to give our readers an overview on the topic as well.

In 2003, Senator Florez authored SB 705 which mandated that “open

burn for agricultural crops are required to be phased-out under a prescribed schedule…” as per the background offered by the San Joaquin Valley Air Board website. You can find a colorful flyer on their website that provides the phase out, but I’ve taken the time to list it for you below.

• Cane-pruned prohibited at ag operations with > 100 acres of total vines at all locations Nut Growers • Prohibit orchard removal open burns < 15 acres at ag operations with > 100 acres of total orchards at all locations

Open Burning Currently Prohibited Citrus and Fruit Growers • Orchard removal material from all removals >15 acres • Orchard removal material from removals < 15 acres at ag operations with > 200 acres of total orchards at all locations Grape Growers • Cordon (spur-pruned) prohibited burning at ag operations with > 1,000 acres of total vines at all locations • Cane-pruned prohibited burning at ag operations with > 250 acres of total vines at all locations Nut Growers • Surface prunings • Surface harvested prunings > 20 acres at all ag operations • Surface harvested prunings < 20 acres at ag operations with > 50 acres of total orchards at all locations • Orchard Removals • Orchard removal material from all removals > 15 acres • Orchard removal material from removals < 15 acres at ag operations with > 200 acres of total orchards at all locations

Changes beginning January 1, 2025 Citrus and Fruit Growers • All operations prohibited from burning all sizes of removals except in cases of disease and pest concerns Grape Growers • All operations prohibited from burning all sizes of removals except in cases of disease and pest concerns Nut Growers

• All operations prohibited from burning surface harvested prunings • All operations prohibited from burning all sizes of removals except in cases of disease and pest concerns Incentive funding is available through the Air District should you elect to chip the crop. The funding amount is dependent on the crop type, if you are incorporating the chips on site, incorporating off-site or not incorporating the chips at all. Another option for growers would be to use a curtain burner, however I have not heard costs or availability associated with such an action. You can find more information at ww2.valleyair.org/ agricultural/agricultural-burning.

Changes beginning January 1, 2024 Citrus and Fruit Growers • Prohibit orchard removal open burns < 15 acres at ag operations with > 100 acres of total orchards at all locations Grape Growers • Cordon prohibited burning at ag operations with > 250 acres of total vines at all locations

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 industry agriculture for future generations and the security of our nation.

Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

from the

goes: “I may not be a genius, but I know how to figure!”

The narrative and subsequent reporting we are getting from our government and mainstream media regarding current inflation trends are vastly different from what we are actually experiencing in the “real world.” The Biden Administration recently made statements referring to the current inflation rate as being approximately 7%. I’m not sure which specific categories they are looking at or where they got their numbers from, but when I heard that I snorted and nearly spit out my coffee.

We’d be in pretty good shape collectively if it was truly only 7%! As with all topics that involve numbers and statistics, depending on what specific things are focused on and what kind of spin is put on the reporting, one can nearly always weave some sort of web that supports a particular narrative or another. And I guess that is acceptable for the weakminded among us who take everything at face value as-reported and never read between the lines or question what DIDN’T get said versus what did. But I’m the kind of person who isn’t afraid to question or call out BS when I read or hear it.

Let’s take a quick look at current inflation through the lens of the average person shopping at the grocery store or department stores right now.

For “average person” I’m going to use myself and my own experience here.

I have been paying particularly close attention to what I’ve been paying for certain items recently as the bill keeps skyrocketing higher and higher for quite literally the same things I typically buy. I also am one of those nerds who keeps receipts around a lot longer than I probably need to for personal, nonbusiness-related purchases. Recently I purchased a container of Tide pods laundry detergent that rang up at $27.49 (before tax). About a year ago that same size container and product cost me $16.99. That’s almost a 62% increase. On the same receipt, a package of sliced deli meat rang up at $7.99…same package a year ago was $4.99. Again, 60% increase. Stick of deodorant, $6.99…one year ago was $4.19…67% up. Etc etc etc. Not every single category is up by quite that much but it’s mostly double digits regardless.

I watched a YouTube video posted very recently where a guy found a Costco receipt from a typical shopping trip just

President's Corner Joe Sansoni

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ately I’ve read and heard a lot about the inflation that is affecting our economy. It is interesting to compare – or contrast, as the case may be - the differences between the narratives we hear from various sources such as our President, his Administration, the Federal Reserve officials, and those of the actual people and businesses being impacted every day. Some inflation over time of course is a normal and expected component of all economies. We read about it, we study it in school economics classes as students, we hear it talked about on news programs, and we occasionally have conversations about it with financial advisors who make sure it is factored into our comprehensive financial planning to compensate for over the long haul. But at the same time, we typically haven’t truly felt the impact of it very noticeably in the present. It’s noticeable over the long term as we remember or reminisce about what similar items or services may have cost us 10 or 20 years ago compared to now. Typically, however, jobs with cost-of-living increases, wage increases, sound investment strategies, etc, have minimized any immediate impacts of “normal” inflation.

Recently, however, we have been experiencing a completely and absurdly harsh impact of inflation. To put it quite mildly, it is rampant. When one starts delving down the rabbit hole of current inflation realities and reasons, there are some alarming realizations that set in. I am not a professional economist nor a financial wizard, and certainly not an accountant with the ability to run entire spreadsheets and strings of figures in my head. But as the old saying

Page 3 over a year ago and decided to go back and find the same products and see what their current prices were adjusted to…he was astonished to find that the average price increase for each identical item and package he was able to find was over 70% higher!!! In some cases had doubled. Combined with high interest rates, no wonder people are struggling.

Now let’s consider the cost increases on the business side of things as a farmer and small businessman.

Some things routinely go up and down due to various reasons, so not everything is wildly higher than a year ago. Fuel, fertilizer and certain soil amendment prices have settled down a bit or only increased slightly although that may change again very soon depending on global issues and shipping logistics.

However, on the retail side of things we are getting absolutely slaughtered.

Batteries, lubricants, machinery maintenance and repair parts, building maintenance materials, tires, steel, wire, and other items are all in my own observation averaging about 40-60% higher than 1-2 years ago. The costs of services have skyrocketed too, with hourly rate increases for professional services in many cases falling right into that same range. That makes sense, of course, because as minimum wage keeps getting pushed higher and higher, employers have been forced to bump everyone up to keep up with cost of living as well as maintain a fair wage gap between entry level and those with high levels of skill and experience. I won’t even get into the benefits and insurance topic here. Many suppliers have taken to just unabashedly gouging their customers (whether wholesale or retail doesn’t matter) for parts and supplies they know they must have to

keep going. They call themselves our “industry partners” and then knowingly rape us to maintain their profit margins.

I understand that businesses need to make a profit to stay afloat, but I’ve noted price increases in the range of as much as 300-400% for certain items over the past couple years, even when it is old inventory. Starkly contrasting is the trend of agricultural crop and commodity prices simultaneously for the most part being at either unfortunate lows or simply not keeping pace with costs, and with the universally understood concept that once retail prices go up they rarely ever come back down, it doesn’t bode well at all from an economic perspective.

Much conversation can and certainly will take place about all of this and what the real reasons are…Covid and the ensuing global shipping crisis certainly was a major player, handing out money to people and governments who didn’t do anything to deserve it, foreign conflicts which further disrupt supply chains, trade wars and foreign policy that neglect to put our own country’s best interests first, etc. To be sure, massive amounts of extortion and greed among corporations, executives, governments and their officials can be factored in as well. Regardless of those conversations and peoples’ varying opinions, one thing is clear: This cannot continue or we will soon be in another Great Depression. I hope as a country and world we find the ways and means to get a handle on things very soon.

It can’t always be the same group of people taking the hit. Ironically, in a world where “Sustainability” seems to be everyone’s favorite buzzword, we are very quickly becoming unsustainable, and we are doing it to ourselves.

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Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

IRRIGATION EVALUATIONS

STANISLAUS MERCED MADERA COUNTIES

APRIL THROUGH NOVEMBER

Have an Irrigation Specialist evaluate your existing irrigation system for FREE!

THEY WILL: CONDUCT AN IN-FIELD SYSTEM AND SITE EVALUATION IDENTIFY ANY SYSTEM INEFFICIENCIES DEVELOP FULL CONSERVATION PLAN TO SCHEDULE AN EVALUATION PLEASE CONTACT:

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programs@maderachowchillarcd.org

559-755-5148

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

Mariposa County Farm Bureau Staff Danette Toso Executive Director

Breanne Vandenberg Executive Director Lorraine Passadori Program Director Board of Directors Denelle Flake Farm News Editor/Project Specialist Pres: Kelly Williams................ 376-2408 1st VP: Elnora George............ 376-2419 Alexxis Rudich Project Assistant/ESJ Grower Relations 2nd VP: Carla Kelly.................742-6862 Directors Abel Lopez...............................376-2208 Board of Directors Pres: Joe Sansoni...................761-9284 James Palmer......................... 374-3470 1st VP: David Barroso............652-6437 Walter Palmer Jr...................... 374-3470 2nd VP: Tim Lohman............. 988-3545 Trevor Lee Smith.....................769-9969 Sec/Treas: Dante Migliazzo...769-9525 Danette Toso...........................376-2304 Past Pres: Eric Harcksen....... 620-1953 Tony Toso.................................376-2304 Jordan Cory.....................765-401-4078 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

Jay Mahil CFBF Director - District 9 David Macedo CFBF Field Representative Pierce Hanning Merced County YF&R Chair

Sarah Baskins YF&R State Committee - District 9

Stay Connected with MCFB Follow us on instagram @merced_farm_bureau Like us on Facebook Merced County Farm Bureau Join our mailing list by emailing info@mercedfarmbureau.org

Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

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Holiday Happenings At Hilmar Cheese Visitor Center By: Denise Skidmore, Director, Education & Public Relations Hilmar Cheese Company

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ilmar, Calif. November 8, 2023.

The Hilmar Cheese Visitor Center kicks-off the holidays with their annual Fun with Daisy and Santa on Monday, November 20 (during school Thanksgiving holiday).

The schedule includes many fun activities for the day.

• 10:15 am AgXscape Game (reserve online, $20 per team of 2-6 players) • 11:00 am Ice Cream Making (reserve online $3 per participant) • 11:00 am Hilmar Community Band Performs • 12:00 – 2:00 pm photos with Santa and Daisy, bring your own camera, no fee. Be sure to get your number when you arrive as they call groups of numbers so you don’t have to wait in line to see Santa and Daisy.

The Visitor Center gift shop is full of holiday decorations 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 $29.95 to $99.95.

Gift boxes are available for easy in-store pick-up, 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!

Santa with Daisy the Cow

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Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

Merced FFA Wins Canned Food Drive Contest!

By: Alexxis Rudich, Merced County YF&R Harvest for All Chair Merced County Young Farmers and Ranchers partnered with Merced-Mariposa FFA Section for a canned food drive contest. The FFA chapters had two weeks to collect non-perishable goods that will be donated to the Merced County Rescue Mission and the Merced County Food Bank. There were 9 FFA chapters who participated and collected a total of 4,377 lbs of non-perishable food items.

Merced FFA took the first place with 1,384.6 lbs and won $1,000 for their chapter. Second place went to Atwater FFA who collected 1,199.2 lbs and won $750, third place went to Buhach Colony FFA who collected 666.6 lbs and won $500, fourth place went to Golden Valley FFA who collected 400.2 lbs and won $250 and fifth place went to Mariposa FFA who collected 263.2lbs and won $100. Merced County YF&R looks forward to future partnerships with the Merced-Mariposa FFA section and would like to congratulate and thank all of the chapters who participated.

Thank you to Mariposa FFA for hosting the Merced-Mariposa FFA meeting, YF&R Chair Pierce Hanning for providing a trailer for the canned goods, Merced County Weights and Measures Supervisor Gabe Rudich for bringing the scale to weigh the canned goods and to YF&R Vice Chair Sariah Avila, YF&R Fundraising Chair Daniel Taylor, YF&R Treasurer Denelle Flake for assisting in weighing and loading all of the items.

Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

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Sweetpotatoes have a sweet production year in 2023

from the

Farm Advisor Scott Stoddard

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weetpotato yield estimates for California and other production states are typically reported by USDA in late January for the previous production year. By the time the report is released, growers are already starting hotbeds for the new year, and are halfway done selling their crop from the previous fall. Perhaps knowing before January whether it was a good or bad production year for the industry would be beneficial. So, in 2022 I conducted a sweetpotato yield survey at the request of the Sweetpotato Council of California. Yields were estimated by weighing roots from 30 different fields in the Livingston and Atwater area from September to November.

Typically, I took the samples from the center of production fields during harvest, weighing total production from 50 feet of one or two rows. Roots were separated into #1’s, jumbos, and mediums by the grower’s crew – I just provided the scale.

My goal was to sample various growers, field locations, and varieties without interfering with harvest.

However, I had never done this before, and had not heard of anybody from any other state doing this before either, so I had no idea how many samples I needed, nor the sample size, to be representative of the whole county.

There are about 16,500 acres of sweetpotatoes grown in this area, and intuitively I sense that 30 fields were probably not enough. Nonetheless, I was told several times that my yield estimates closely matched what the grower got on the whole field, so the data probably aren’t all that bad.

Based on the 2022 survey, I estimate Merced County had a weighted average total marketable yield of 35 bins/A, which works out to be about 650 boxes per acre (a bin is a volumetric measurement, with a typical weight of 950 – 1000 lbs, while a box of sweetpotatoes weighs 40 lbs). This estimate accounts for lower yielding varieties such as Murasaki and Bonita that also are grown on less acreage than the orange flesh varieties. It also closely matches the USDA estimate of 32.5 bins/A. 35 bins/A for our area is below average, but considering the growing conditions of 2022, it’s actually quite remarkable. In 2022, the Merced area had 21 days over 90 F in the month of June, and over 32 days over 100 F for the entire season (April through Nov) – the most in the last 20 years (there were 30 days over 100 F in 2000) according to long-term CIMIS data.

Now in 2023, the weather was dramatically different. In addition to having one of the wettest years on record (>24”), cool weather lingered into the growing season. In June, there were only 5 days above 90 F, and several days with high temps in the 70s.

So despite the delayed transplanting season, the crop had mostly stressfree weather during the critical period 4 to 6 weeks after transplanting. The result? Minimal stand loss, and more importantly, heavy root set for all the varieties. Average yields in 2023 are 25 – 50% higher than 2022 (total marketable yield around 45 bins/A), at least based on my limited yield survey results, with usual high quality we are known for. This occurred even though soil temperature at 6” depth was similar for both years.

Sweetpotatoes are the most heat tolerant vegetable we grow in the U.S., but like many crops, prefer sunny and 75. Have a great Thanksgiving, and eat lots of sweetpotatoes.

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Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

Atwater FFA Earns Top Honors at National FFA Finals and Convention

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By: Atwater FFA

he Atwater High School agriculture program’s FFA Milk Quality and Products team competed at the National FFA Finals in Indianapolis, Indiana and earned 4th place in the nation. The team was comprised of Ryan Marshall who earned 1st high individual in the nation overall, Brianna Duran-Robles who earned 3rd high individual in the nation overall, Danica Christofferson, and Allison Brewer. Participants in the Milk Quality and Products Career Development Event (CDE) demonstrate their knowledge about the quality production, processing, distribution, promotion and marketing of milk and dairy foods. Forty states competed in the national final event and only 36 points out of 2000+ possible separated the top four states which included Illinois, Texas, and Washington.

Atwater High School agriculture program’s Farm and Agribusiness Management team earned a silver placing and was comprised of Joshaua Medeiros, Allison Garner, Hailey Herforth, and Dulce Campos. By competing, participants demonstrate their ability to analyze agricultural business management information, apply economic principles and concepts of business management, evaluate business management decisions and work together cooperatively as a team.

Atwater High School agriculture program graduate Ethan Slate was recognized at the national level with the Fruit & Nut Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement proficiency award where the FFA member owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops for fruit and nuts.

Atwater FFA members Ethan Slate and Tristan Cardey were also recognized with earning their American FFA Degrees. As the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization, the American FFA Degree shows an FFA member’s dedication to his or her chapter and state FFA association. It demonstrates the effort

FFA members apply toward their supervised agricultural experience and the outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement they exhibited through their FFA career.

The national contests and award recognitions took place during the 96th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana with over 70,000 FFA members from throughout the nation attended. Following the convention, students joined other FFA members throughout the nation for a Washington DC leadership experience as a reward for winning the state championship. The students visited Arlington National Cemetery, Ford’s Theater, the Smithsonian museums, the National Archives, monuments, and a special tour of the US Capitol through Congressman Duarte’s office were all additional highlights and experiences for the students.

The $25,000 cost of the trip was all sponsored and covered through various industry and community donations and fundraisers. “This was a well-earned experience for our students who got to go and visit places they may never have had the opportunity to visit if it wasn’t for the support of our agriculture industry and community members,” said Atwater High School instructor Shelby Fishman. “This will always be a lifelong memorable experience for the students.”

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education. Today, there are 945,988 FFA members in 9,163 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than 13,000 FFA advisors and agriculture teachers deliver an integrated model of agricultural education, providing students with innovative and leading-edge education and enabling them to grow into competent leaders. FFA classroom activities include math and science as well as hands-on work experience and the development of life skills, helping members discover their career path and realize success.

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

The Atwater FFA Milk Quality and Products team members Allison Brewer, Ryan Marshall, Brianna Duran-Robles, Danica Christofferson and (coach) Dave Gossman earned a 4th place finish at the National FFA Finals held in Indianapolis, Indiana November 1-4.

Atwater High School 2023 graduate and FFA member Ethan Slate and (advisor) Shelby Fishman celebrate Ethan's National FFA Fruit and Nut Proficiency award recognition during the 96th annual National FFA Convention held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Atwater High School agriculture students and FFA members Brianna Duran-Robles, Allison Brewer, Hailey Herforth, and Ryan Marshall participate in a wreath laying ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC during the student's leadership experience.

Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

MERCED YF&R SEASON OF GIVING FOOD DRIVE Young Farmers and Ranchers and Fluetsch and Busby Insurance have partnered to adopt families for the holidays. Please help us in donating nonperishable food items to support Merced County's Human Services Agency Season of Giving!

Items can be dropped off at MCFB 646 S Highway 59 in Merced between the hours of 8am-5pm or Fluetsch and Busby 725 W. 18th in Merced between the hours of 9am-4:30pm.

Final date for drop off is December 8th.

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Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

Page 11

Flooded California towns secured millions in aid. Who gets the money?

By: Nicole Foy, CalMatters

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erced and Monterey counties got $20 million each from the state in October to help the residents of Planada and Pajaro recover from January floods.

But local officials want to spend at least some of the money on infrastructure, while residents want all of the money to help relieve debt they’ve incurred from the natural disaster. That is, after all, what state lawmakers ostensibly sent the money for.

Days of rain led to a flood of local canals and creeks in the area on Jan. 9, forcing the complete evacuation of the majority-Latino community of Planada, population almost 4,000.

Like those in the Central Coast town of Pajaro, many Planada residents are undocumented or work low-wage jobs in agriculture and lost both property and paychecks to the flood and subsequent weeks of relentless rain.

The vast majority of Planada households — 83% — experienced some type of economic loss from flooding, an April study from the UC Merced Community and Labor Center found. Affected households reported the loss of a vehicle, heater, or air conditioning, as well as mounting unpaid bills and mold issues.

Central Valley lawmakers used the study as the basis for the $20 million budget request, which emphasized the money needed to go to direct aid and not infrastructure projects or public works projects long deprioritized by local officials.

In an Oct. 24 Merced County Board of Supervisors meeting, early plans shared by Merced County officials seemed poised to follow this directive — mostly. A slideshow presented by the assistant county executive officer during the meeting said a portion of the funds could be directed to clearing waterways and creeks and “identifying infrastructure challenges” ahead of an El Niño winter forecasted for 2024, but officials never specified further.

County officials insist they’ll be drawing plans from community feedback, but residents still don’t fully believe officials will provide the help they need.

Some, like Anastacio Rosales, say they are responsible for speaking up on

behalf of undocumented community members, and others that don’t feel like the officials are listening to their concerns or care what happens to them.

“We have to keep together – juntos – to show people from the county that we care,” Rosales told CalMatters.

Burdened with debt When floodwaters hit Terry Street, the Youngs had just minutes to make it out of their Planada home. Carolyn Young remembers slipping in her haste to leave the house. Her daughter Keely caught her before she fell face-first into the rushing floodwaters, hauling the 80-year-old to the truck waiting in the driveway before returning to the house.

She guarded it until four feet of water filled the home and a boat from the sheriff’s office forced her to evacuate.

Ector Moreno said he and his wife waded through several feet of water to rescue passports and their savings, abandoning submerged furniture and toys their daughter would cry over for weeks.

Many residents only made it out of their homes because they or a friend or relative owned a truck that could traverse the floodwaters.

Recovering from the disaster has been costly.

Merced County has spent the month of November hosting workshops to gather feedback from residents about how they would like the funds distributed. In the Oct. 24 meeting to authorize the county to accept the grant from the state, county staff told the Merced County Board of Supervisors a county program launching in early 2024 would focus on dispensing direct financial assistance, without considering immigration status.

Specifically, the county intends for residents to apply for financial assistance to replace vehicles and cover the cost of home inspections, repairs and other remediation work — but also address infrastructure needs like clearing waterways and creeks before a forecasted El Niño winter floods them again.

But Zaray Ramirez, an policy advocate for state advocacy group Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, said they have consistently heard from residents that while they want the county to fix the damaged infrastructure, it shouldn’t come out of the $20 million from the

state.

“Infrastructure is really the (lowest) priority,” Ramirez said. “That funding should still take place, but should be coming from a separate pool. The canal and creeks are something that Merced County should have done even before flooding occurred.”

Rodrigo Espinoza, the county supervisor representing Planada, told CalMatters he couldn’t answer questions in time for this story because he was out of the country. Merced County spokesperson Mike North said the county conducted the last community engagement workshop Nov. 16 and will present a draft plan to residents on Nov. 21.

“Community engagement is a high priority for us as we collect input and fine-tune these programs,” North said.

Still distributing money Months later, it’s hard to tell residents’ unassuming homes in quiet Planada neighborhoods were submerged by floodwaters in January.

But the restored exteriors, rebuilt walls and borrowed furniture conceals the financial and emotional strain of tossing out everything below the four-foot watermark on the wall and starting over.

Many residents still carry resentment, distrust and thousands of dollars of debt from the disaster.

A few residents have already filed claims against the Merced County and several other local agencies for what one of their lawyers told the Fresno Bee was a “preventable disaster.”

Because many California undocumented families hardest hit by the flooding couldn’t qualify for federal aid, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office launched the Storm Assistance for Immigrants program in June in an attempt to close that gap.

The state is still working through 19 nonprofits to distribute $95 million to flood victims that didn’t qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance because of their legal status. Barely half the funds have been distributed in the last six months, with about $3.5 million going to 2,435 people in Merced County as of Oct. 29.

Direct aid still needed, Planada residents say Like half residents surveyed in the UC Merced center study, Rosales, Moreno and Young all lost a vehicle to

the floodwaters. Piles of contaminated items were still stacked in their backyards in the last week of October.

The backyard of the Young home was also filled with clotheslines of drying shirts and pants. They only got a few days of use out of the dryer they got for Christmas, Young said, before the flood ruined it. Carpet, wood floors, drywall — all had to be gutted, mostly on their own dime. Rosales managed to salvage the top half of an antique dresser inherited from his parents, but everything below, drawers and all, were tossed.

Residents were warned to dump everything the floodwaters touched when it seeped through every crevice and crack of their homes — with good reason. Young said the smell of the water was noticeable even in the chaos, and the water that splashed on her face when she fell on her doorstep left red, itchy sores.

“My neighbor said we would have been better off just burning our houses to the ground,” Young said, frustrated at the difficulty of recouping the cost of her lost property.

She got $35,000 through flood insurance but still had to take out more than $20,000 in loans. Living mostly on the Social Security checks she and her children — who both receive disability payments — Young said it feels like Planada has been left behind.

A different spending plan in Pajaro Monterey County seems to be taking a different approach for the funds for Pajaro, population 3,500. County supervisor Glenn Church said Pajaro has suffered from a lack of investment in public infrastructure and community spaces for decades. The state grant requires the funds to be committed by June 2024, Church said. Drawn from their own series of community meetings, the current “beautifying” plans include adding streetlights, fixing sidewalks and trying to enhance a downtown that has often suffered in comparison to nearby Watsonville.

“There are economic problems that have existed long before the flood,” Church said. “This is a rare opportunity to build it back to what it should be.”

Other state and federal funds will go toward fixing the levee system that See 'Flood' Page 12

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Flood

continued from page 11 failed and flooded the tiny community, Church said. But county staff are also trying to find other ways to bolster town infrastructure for the next inundation.

Based on Church’s assessment, many Pajaro residents were able to benefit from direct aid programs such as the Governor’s Storm Assistance for Immigrants. But Danielle Rivera, an environmental planning professor at University of California, Berkeley, said many of the people most affected by the flooding were migratory farmworkers

Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023 from indigenous backgrounds who had moved on by the time aid programs started rolling out.

Rivera and her students have been conducting field research in Pajaro since the town flooded in February. Her work focuses on how low-income, rural and unincorporated communities can build disaster resilience, especially in the face of climate change.

“There is a real sense of dread, and we’re also trying to help the residents feel a bit safer,” Rivera said. “We’re giving out resources about how they could flood proof their homes. There’s a real apprehension for this winter, fearing this is going to happen again.”

What’s next for Planada residents?

Moreno can still point to exactly where the water rose in his home, even if it’s hard to imagine the now-pristine floors obscured in murk for days. He and a friend spent months restoring the home themselves, squeezing in work around his long shifts transporting milk for dairies in Turlock.

But it took a toll. He spent $38,000 of his savings on repairs and racked up $13,000 more in credit card debt, while so far he’s received $2,000 from FEMA. He estimates his property damage actually tops $146,000.

“It was an experience I hope never occurs again,” Moreno said in Spanish.

Rivera said state and individual counties have to plan for disasters with towns like Planada in mind, or one disaster could economically cripple entire communities.

“When you look at communities that are not even impoverished, but are lower income in general, they aren’t going to have as much savings or resources at their disposal to help them get through a disaster and rebuild,” Rivera said. “They often have less mobility in the actual events of their disasters, as the more affluent can get up and drive away …

The lack of resources poses higher risks through the disaster, but that also affects them after the disaster.”

Reforms needed to expand prescribed burns By: Katy Kerlin, Western FarmPress

P

rescribed fire, which mimics natural fire regimes, can help improve forest health and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic wildfire.

But this management tool is underused in the fire-prone U.S. West and Baja California, Mexico, due to several barriers.

A paper from the University of California, Davis, pinpoints those obstacles and suggests four key strategies that policymakers and land managers can take to get more “good fire” on the ground in North America's fire-adapted ecosystems. The paper also provides examples of how people are surmounting some of these obstacles.

“Prescribed fire is one of the most important tools we have for restoring natural fire regimes and undoing the effects of a century of fire suppression,” said lead author John Williams, a project scientist with the UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy. “But there are a number top-down barriers at the upper levels of management that keep us from growing the workforce and getting burns done at the scale and extent needed. We point out some of the big ways that agency leaders and policymakers can dismantle those barriers and empower the full range of people capable of doing this work, from burn bosses and citizen-prescribed burn associations to nonprofits and tribal groups.”

The paper, published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, centers on the North

American Mediterranean climate zone, which includes most of California, southwestern Oregon, western Nevada and northern Baja California in Mexico.

Lenya Quinn-Davidson, director of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources' Fire Network, is a co-author of the paper.

Fire is a natural process that has helped shape this region, but the area has experienced a spike in destructive, high-severity wildfires over the past decade. In fact, three of the five largest wildfires in continental U.S. history occurred in this region in just the past five years. This is due to a combination of climate change and fuel accumulation driven by a century of policies that encouraged fire suppression, curtailed Indigenous cultural burning, and favored harvest of the largest, most fire-tolerant trees, the study notes.

While scientists and resource managers recognize the need for more prescribed fire, its application has not kept pace with the enormity of the challenge. The study said that is because management policies prioritize fire suppression over prevention. There is also a limited fire workforce; regulatory hurdles like permitting, insurance and liability; and few incentives or protections for landowners, tribal members and other people who burn responsibly.

4 key strategies Researchers identified four key areas where supportive institutional and agency leadership can help expand prescribed fire in the region: 1) Fire culture. After decades of emphasizing wildfire suppression,

current fire management culture “does not adequately promote prescribed fire as a management tool,” the study said. Support for prescribed fire along the entire chain of command within agencies is needed to foster a new culture that incentivizes and enables prescribed fire practitioners within and outside of government agencies.

2) Funding. Prescribed fire is considerably more cost-effective than wildfire suppression, which can cost more than $2 billion a year in the U.S., but there is little dedicated funding for prescribed fire projects and lack of flexibility as to when such money can be spent. This impedes fire staffing and limits the kinds of projects that can be done. Year-round, dedicated funding and resources could help increase prescribed fire capacity.

3) Capacity building and cooperation.

Connecting agencies with landowners, community members, tribes, prescribed burning associations (PBAs), prescribed fire training exchanges (TREXs) and others can facilitate responsible, effective prescribed fire and cultural burning exchanges. Such groups have limited reach and require investment and support to meet demand. Interorganizational agreements can also help local, state and federal agencies share resources and staffing. Formalizing and fully integrating such agreements into fire management plans remains a challenge, the study said. Collaborations that support Indigenous cultural burning are also key. Partnerships must recognize the unique dimensions of cultural burning, which are inseparable

from Indigenous culture. Educating land managers and decision makers about tribal sovereignty and federal American Indian law is critical. Introducing legislation that supports cultural burning can also foster such collaborations.

4) Monitoring and adaptive management. Designated funding and personnel for quantitative monitoring after a prescribed burn can help practitioners better measure success and then apply lessons to future burns.

“All of the barriers identified in the study can be overcome, and they have been at least partially resolved in other parts of the U.S., as well as in other Mediterranean climate regions, such as southwestern Australia,” said co-author Hugh Safford, a research ecologist in the UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy and director of the California Prescribed Fire Monitoring Program. “Fundamental to setting the situation right is developing a culture of safe and regular fire use in California and neighboring states by all landowners and managers, and reducing the officiousness, risk aversion and bureaucracy that hinders access to the tool by the public.”

Additional co-authors include Ashley Grupenhoff and Beth Rose Middleton of UC Davis; Joe Restaino of CAL FIRE; Edward Smith of The Nature Conservancy; Chris Adlam of Oregon State University; and Hiram RiveraHuerta of Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico.

Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

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Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

Nominate your favorite ag teacher for the ® Golden Owl Award

Agricultural teachers devote countless hours and often their own resources to make a difference in the lives of their students and inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Go to GoldenOwlAward.com to find out more and complete a nomination today.

That’s why Nationwide®, California Farm Bureau and California FFA Foundation work together to bring recognition and important funding to California’s outstanding ag educators. The Golden Owl Award® awards $500 to six finalists and $3,000 to the grand prize winner, California’s Agricultural Educator of the Year.

Honor an ag teacher you know by nominating him or her today.

Nominations are being accepted September 1 to January 16.

Products are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and affiliated companies, Columbus, Ohio, and are subject to underwriting guidelines, review and approval. Availability varies. Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member FINRA, Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. The Farm Bureau and the letters FB are registered service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used under license by Nationwide. © 2023 Nationwide FBO-0208CA (08/23)

manifested itself into Judy Blevins, James (Colette) staff member Lorraine Passao the sport for over Alvernaz, and Benjamin (Debbie) dori when she showed up in her s. He organized the Alvernaz of Livingston; Cecelia clown costume for the interview. ardball team in Mer(James) Simon of San Diego, and Agriculture lost a strong advoMerced News • of October 20, 2023 in the early 50’s. HeCounty Susan Farm (Randall) Wilson Macate that will truly be missed. We larly fond of Ameriposa, a sister, Cecelia Luker of will continue to keep his family n Baseball, serving Atwater, 17 grandchildren and 13 in our thoughts and prayers. sponsor, announcer

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Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

With Sincere Appreciation

from the

Mariposa CFB

T

Danette Toso

he Mariposa County Farm Bureau Annual Fundraiser Dinner Is in the books for 2023.

We cannot thank everyone enough that supported our event this year, it was a smashing success because of you. There were many of our ongoing supporters who attend every year and we had new attendees as well, it was awesome! Our Friend of Agriculture honoree, Sarah Williams was supported by so many family members

and friends, I believe that she was very pleased. Congressman Tom McClintock graciously traveled from Washington D.C. during the Speakership debacle to attend the dinner and speak with constituents. We appreciate his dedication to agriculture and the Farm Bureau.

Yosemite Farm Credit and Stanislaus Farm Supply stepped up again as our corporate sponsors and The Archer Law Firm generously joined our sponsorship team. Turlock Livestock Auction Yard hosed our bar this year, Col. Dog Gallaway donated his time as our auctioneer, Charles Phillips was our official photographer, and Edwards, Lien & Toso, Inc. donated the evening’s program. Thank you to all of the dessert bakers: Sarah Williams, Mikaela Williams Cory, Susan Taylor, Nila Borba, Charli McCord, Kelly Salonen, Carla Kelly, Annette Palmer, Barbara Baptista, and Nancy Cordero. Because of these talented bakers, we were able to raise a substantial amount of funds for the Farm Bureau Scholarship Fund. A big thank you to our

business members: Mariposa Feed & Supply, Chase’s Foothill Petroleum, Coast Hardware - Do it Best, Cathey’s Valley Real Estate, Premiere Valley Bank, Reddington Ranch, LLC, Valley Pacific Petroleum, Mariposa Homes & Land Co., Allison Sierra, Inc. Happy Burger Diner, and Ranch Fence, Inc. We sincerely appreciate each and every one

of you!

I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, 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

To be included in the directory, join Mariposa County Farm Bureau as a business member by calling 742-5875.

AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIES

HARDWARE STORES

REAL ESTATE

Gallaway Feed and Supply..................374-3331 Mariposa Feed & Supply...................966-3326 Bootjack Equipment Rental & Feed.. 966-3545

Coast Hardware.................................. 966-2527 Foster Ace Hardware .........................966-2692

Cathey's Valley Real Estate................ 742-2121

ASSOCIATIONS 35-A District Agriculture Assn........... 966-2432 Mariposa Chamber of Commerce..... 966-2456 Mariposa County Farm Advisor......... 966-2417 Mariposa County Farm Bureau......... 742-5875

CONSTRUCTION Bucks Construction............................ 878-3702 Tobey Guenthart Construction.......... 374-3334

FINANCIAL SERVICES Inter-County Title Company................966-3653 Yosemite Bank....................................966-5444

MEDICAL Mariposa Physical Therapy................ 742-7242

MISCELLANEOUS Allison Sierra Inc................................966-4082 Happy Burger Diner ........................... 966-2719 Mariposa Friends of the Fairgrounds Foundation..................... 742-4680 Hugh A. Yamshon Ranch Mariposa Gun Works......................... 742-5444 Miners Roadhouse 14.......................966-2444 Pony Expresso....................................966-5053

SERVICES Chases Foothill Petroleun.................. 966-3314 Edward Lien & Toso Ag Appraisers...634-9484 Palmer Tractor ....................................374-3470 Ranch Fence, Inc................................ 966-5914 Valley Pacific Petroleum..................... 948-9412 Yosemite Glass & Window Inc...........966-3292

WINERIES Mount Bullion Vineyard...................... 377-8450 Rauch Ranch Vineyard & Winery.......742-7162

Support Farm Bureau Member Businesses

Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023

Page 17

Merced County Business Member Directory Businesses Supporting the Farm Bureau

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

REPAIRS & SERVICES AC King................................................722-3552 Arrowhead Field Repair......................658-5250 Atwater Radiator & Muffler, Inc.........358-2638 Car Plus...............................................722-3552 SS Blue ..............................................722-2583

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS

Allison Sierra, Inc...............................966-4082 Dias Construction, Inc........................634-9601 Mid Cal Pipeline & Utilities, INC........ 383-7473 M-Mig Construction, Inc..................... 724-9488

FARM EQUIPMENT

Garton Tractor, Inc..............................726-4600 Holt Ag Solutions................................723-2021 J M Equipment Co Inc ....................... 386-1797 Kirby Manufacturing.......................... 723-0778 Laird Mfg LLC...................................... 722-4145 N&S Tractor........................................383-5888

REAL ESTATE

Flanagan Realty.................. 723-4337 (Merced) Flanagan Realty.. (559) 665-1313 (Chowchilla) Powerhouse Realty Jed Kruppa Team .617-6727 Property Team.................................... 769-4698 Dick Templeton Property Team......... 761-4441 Valley Real Estate Sales, Inc.............854-1000

GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS

Blue Diamond Growers............ (559) 474-2996 California Farmland Trust........ (916) 544-2712 California Sweet Potato Council........ 385-7403 California Women for Agriculture...... 723-5878 Central CA Irrigation District.............. 826-1421 Cortez Growers Association............... 632-3118 Dos Palos Co-op Gin........................... 387-4151 Farmers Rice Cooperative....... (916) 923-5100 Gustine Drainage District .................854-6782 Hilltop Ranch Inc.................................874-1875 Livingston Farmers Assoc.................. 394-7941 Merced Boosters................................ 761-0815 Merced Irrigation District................... 722-5761 Merced College Ag Division...............384-6250 Turlock Irrigation District....................883-8205 UCCE Merced...................................... 385-7403 Water & Land Solutions..................... 677-4700

FARM SERVICES

A-Bar Ag Enterprises .........................826-2636 Agri-Valley Consulting ........................ 769-2357 Caddy Shack Rodent Servc.....(559) 363-3315 Cal Ag Safety....................................... 351-0321 Cal Corn Growers Inc...............(559) 665-5775 Chipponeri Electric............................. 634-4616 Dutch Door Dairy................................ 648-2166 Farm Management Inc...................... 667-1011 Guerrero Farm Labor.........................492-0408

Horizon 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 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 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, LLC.387-4500 Pacific Southwest Irrigation...............460-0450 Precision Aqua....................................756-2025 Quality Well Drillers............................ 357-0675 Rain for Rent/Westside Pump.(559) 693-4315 Robal Inc.............................................826-4540 San Luis Pump Company...................383-0464 Shannon Pump Company..................723-3904 SWAN Systems.........................(661) 335-2649

INSECT & WEED CONTROL

Environmental Spraying Service ......667-1038 Malm Ag Pest Management .............392-6905 Star Creek Land ................................ 704-1790

FARM SUPPLIES

Ag Flag ............................................... 357-3424 Cal Farm Service................................358-1554 Kellogs Supply ................................... 722-1501 Livingston True Value.........................394-7949 Hardware & Farm Supplies...............394-7949

Marfab................................................826-6700 Modesto Dairy Supply........................669-6200 Pacific Bay Equipment.............(800) 640-1227 Stanislaus Farm Supply..................... 723-0704

ORCHARD REMOVAL

Custom Farm Services....................... 358-1759

FUEL SERVICES

Amarants Propane Service ............... 358-2257 Hunt & Sons, Inc......................(916) 383-4868 Pazin & Myers Inc...............................725-2050 Western States Petroleum Assoc. ............ (661) 321-0884 Valley Pacific Petroleum..................... 948-9412 Van De Pol Petroleum .......................667-0236

INSURANCE

Barlocker Insurance ..........................383-0220 Fluetsch & Busby Insurance ............. 722-1541 Rico, Pfitzer, Pires and Associates ...854-2000 Walter Mortensen Insurance ............ 353-2700 Western Valley Insurance .................826-5667 Winton Ireland Insurance .................394-7925

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Alice B. Contreras CPA ......................722-6778 American Ag Credit ........384-1050/826-0320 Central Valley Community Bank........725-2820 Grimbleby Coleman CPAs.................. 527-4220 Trans County Title Company .............383-4660 Yosemite Farm Credit ........................ 383-1116

MISCELLANEOUS

Berliner Cohen LLP............................ 385-0700 The Hat Source................................... 357-3424 Merced County Fair............................722-1506 P. B. Iyer, M.D......................................854-1120 Razzari Auto Center............................383-3673 Unwired Broadband.................(559) 336-4157

BUSSINESS SUPPORT FARMERS DCB Farming LLC J&J O'Banion Ranch, LLC Live Oak Farms Migliazzo Farms Nicholas Calf Ranch

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Merced County Farm News • October 20, 2023