INSIDE: 1210 14 September 2022 | Volume 115, Number 9
Merced County Farm Bureau (MCFB) met with candidates vying to represent Merced County for Senate District 4, Assembly District 22 and Assembly District 27 during the August Board of Directors Meeting.
encompassing as far north as Placer County and as south as Inyo County. Within the valley, she would represent Stanislaus and parts of Madera and Merced Counties. When asked how all needs of her constituents would be met, she indicated that she plans to have seven district offices maintained by local staff while she will rotate regularly to each.Mrs.
Latest Attack on Proposed
Ironic Timing: NPPC, AFBF File Reply Brief on Prop 12, CDFA Finalizes Rules
Merced County Farm Bureau endorses candidates for Senate District 4, Assembly District 22 and Assembly District 27
Alvarado-Gil studied animal science at UC Davis and later returned to education to obtain both a bachelor and master’s degrees in public administration. She has also raised three children as a single parent. In addition to fighting for local agriculture, AlvaradoGil stated she is a proponent that is tough on crime, is endorsed by her county’s district attorney and sheriff and would encourage a repeal on Proposition 47.When
Assembly District 22
endorse Alanis following extensive discussion.Alanisunderstands the need to ensure agriculture can remain in the valley and
August 31, 2022 -
The newly formed Assembly District will cover parts of Stanislaus and Merced counties. Snelling, Ballico, Hilmar, Stevinson and Gustine are included in Assembly District 22. MCFB felt the best candidate for this role was Juan Alanis, a Stanislaus County Sheriff Sergeant, electing to
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the importance of water availability and reliability. When alerted of the See 'Endorsements' Page 2
Sites Reservoir – Not Enough Water TID moves closer to voluntary agreement with state water board
2 0 2 2 G E N E R A L E L E C T I O N E N D O R S E M E N T M E R C E D C O U N T Y F A R M B U R E A U M C F B R E S E R V E S T H E R I G H T T O S U P P O R T , O P P O S E , O R S T A Y N E U T R A L O N C A N D I D A T E S , B A L L O T M E A S U R E S , O R P O L I C I E S D U R I N G A N Y E L E C T I O N T H A T M A Y I M P A C T M C F B M E M B E R S S e n a t o r B r i a n D a h l e f o r G o v e r n o r o f C a l i f o r n i a M a r i a A l v a r a d o G i l f o r S e n a t e D i s t r i c t 4 J u a n A l a n i s f o r A s s e m b l y D i s t r i c t 2 2 M a r k P a z i n f o r A s s e m b l y D i s t r i c t 2 7 T h e M e r c e d C o u n t y F a r m B u r e a u p r o u d l y e n d o r s e s :
By: MCFB
Merced County Farm NewsWeFarm. Eat.
Senate District 4
Following an interview style discussion with Marie Alvarado-Gil, the MCFB Board of Directors elected to endorse Alvarado-Gil for the Senate District 4 seat. Mrs. Alvarado-Gil is prepared to represent the large district
informed of the endorsement, Alvarado-Gil responded by stating, “I am humbled by the support of Merced County Farm Bureau. As your Senator, I aim to provide vision, leadership and aggressive advocacy to secure a more drought prepared, sustainable and renewable water supply for our farmers. I consider water security to be the most important long-term issue facing California’s prosperity and a fundamental challenge to its cultural heritage.”
Recently the California Air Resources Board (CARB) took what some call bold and progressive action to adopt a mandate for all new passenger vehicles sold in state to be zero emissions by 2035. Titled the Advanced Clean Cars II, zero emissions vehicles (ZEV) will include cars, pickups and trucks, with the idea to “deliver cleaner air and massive reductions in climate-warming pollution.” Among other nations and states adopting and/or considering adoption of ZEV mandates, California is by far the most aggressive in the matter.
endorsement, he stated, “I am honored to have the support of local farmers and will fight to bring more reliable water supplies to the Valley.”
is available. It will take someone with determination and focus to ensure a handful of people do not continually stop these important water storage projects and I am that person.”
adopting these goals, other states that move in this direction could be Washington, New York and Oregon. Those that may have a cold shoulder for this include Colorado, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Virginia. It seems as though this could become another state-by-state issue unless the federal government moves to make their own overlapping policies.
commander, acting police chief and a SWAT team member. In addition to being endorsed by numerous law enforcement organizations, his list also includes first responders, elected officials and educators.
has allowed for automakers to include plug-in hybrids, full battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in these counts. For automakers, no more than 20% of their overall ZEV sales can be from plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and must carry an all-electric range of at least 50 miles under real world conditions. Battery-electric and fuel cell vehicles must ensure a minimum range of 150 miles.CARB
To do this, CARB plans to have sales increase each year. Automakers are to begin increasing the amount of ZEV sales by 2026 models. The ramp up in time is 35% in 2026, 68% in 2030 and achieving 100% by year 2035. CARB
power plant in San Luis Obispo. According to reports from the California Energy Commission, Diablo Canyon is responsible for 9% of California’s energy production. The plant was scheduled to close by 2025, but the extension will provide for 5 more years of use. Following this came the highest heat warnings California has received, including record temperatures that have triggered Cal OES warnings encouraging a reduction of energy. A portion of this advertisement was to avoid charging their electric vehicles during this period which seems to be a strikingly odd suggestion given the growing proposals being adopted at a record pace. Timing of these announcements could not have been worse but I guess that is the struggle we have in California. Stay cool everyone!
from the
maintain 75% of energy for eight years or 100,000 miles. This information was found through the CARB website at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov.Inadditiontoourgolden state
Assembly District 27
Along with water issues, he would like to aid in developing an agricultural workforce and ease burdens on local businesses. Sergeant Alanis also understands the issues related to crime that farmers and ranchers have had to endure as he has served in several capacities including patrol watch
additionally adopted language as it relates to warranties and ZEV durability. Purchased vehicles have to be considered quality that will not pollute, is a full replacement for a gaspowered vehicle and holds their market value. Under warranty, ZEVs must maintain 80% of range for 10 years or 150,000 miles by 2030. In 2031, individual vehicle battery packs must
The bigger side to this is if we can achieve this by the mandates adopted. Within a number of days, Governor Newsom signed SB 846 (Senator Bill Dodd , D-Napa) to extend the life of Diablo Canyon, a PG&E nuclear
Page 2 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
continuedEndorsementsfrompage1
Director'sDesk
Breanne Vandenberg
Pazin recognizes the regulatory burden for businesses to operate in California is far too high. In addition, he understands the need to invest in long overdue infrastructure to ensure a stable waterWhensupply.informed of the endorsement, Pazin responded, “Thank you to Merced County Farm Bureau President and Board of Directors for your endorsement and confidence in me, to not only represent agriculture interests, but the entire district.” Pazin continued, “For years we have only witnessed legislative meetings and empty promises to increase water storage, yet not one project started even though financing
Former Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin received the board’s endorsement for Assembly District 27. This newly formed district will represent the majority of Merced County and parts of Madera and Fresno counties. Following his time as sheriff, Pazin was appointed as chief law enforcement for California Office of Emergency Services.
Following the endorsements, MCFB President Joe Sansoni was satisfied with the direction taken by the board. Sansoni stated, “In reviewing each of the candidates’ backgrounds and platforms, we found these candidates aligned the most with the needs of Merced County agriculture.” Sansoni followed with, “We look forward in continuing discussions with them on issues relevant to our membership through the November election.”
We’ve
small farms to large commercial operations, the INSURICA Agriculture Experts have grown up in agricultural communities.
I write this month’s column, I am looking at a gut-wrenching weather forecast calling for record high temps for the first few days of September. I know that it is common for the hot days of summer to spill into early September by a few days here in the Valley, but 110-115 is insane! As an almond grower, I am partial to warm (and especially) dry weather at harvest time, as almond harvest is pretty much a dry weather operation. The more we can get done earlier versus later in the season makes for ideal drying of the crop and ideal harvest field conditions. However, extreme temps like 110-115 degrees become dangerous for workers as well as machinery, and coming on the heels of an already very consistently hot July through August, has pushed the almond harvest along at a quite fast and furious pace.
This year we began shaking some of the later varieties in late August, when we typically would be shaking them closer to the second week of September. From the standpoint of getting fields harvested and “in the barn” so to speak, it has been great! But from the standpoint of trying to maintain a pace that doesn’t burn us all out, it has been a challenge. The trees themselves can
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.
get burned out too if they are stressed too long between irrigations due to harvest delays. Every year I see a certain amount of water stress on orchards here and there, usually due to equipment breakdowns or over-committed harvest contractors running behind schedule. But this year it seems to be just about every orchard, every grower, everywhere, to one degree or another. I’ve seen some orchards where the poor trees were so ravaged by water and heat stress, in some cases coupled with a flare-up of late season spider mite pressure, that they were literally turning yellow and defoliating. Sometimes this is caused by poor management, however in a harvest year like this, just 2-3 days of untimely delays can be all the difference. I can’t help but cringe inside and silently send hopeful thoughts to those who have those extreme problems. In our operation, I have worked hard to keep our men, machines, and orchards on nipand-tuck harvest/irrigation schedules, and even with optimal timing in between phases I have noticed quicker tree stress as well as lower than normal moisture levels in the delivered crop compared to most “normal” years.
Page 3Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
For the sake of this article I’m going to focus on the water issue. We are often accused of using too much water or “wasting” water through our farming efforts. The powers that be in our state – and those in positions of influence who have them wrapped around their political fingers – actually think that the answer to not only our water shortages during dry years but also to combatting climate change is to force us to farm less. Less acres in production. Millions of acres less. Less acres irrigated. That, folks, doesn’t mean those acres get re-purposed to other uses. A few might be, of course, but certainly not millions or even hundreds of thousands. What it means is that most of those acres pulled out of active ag production are going to sit fallow. This is what “they” want and think is an acceptable answer to a plethora of environmental concerns. “They” are woefully misinformed and misled by skewed science.
Joe Sansoni
Merced County Farm Bureau supports policies and legislation that promote and protect our Country’s number one industryagriculture for future generations and the security of our nation.
Stay cool and happy harvesting!!
Is this extreme September heat another result or indicator of climate change? Is it going to be an ongoing trend or “a new normal” from now on? I certainly hope not at least to this degree anyway. Climate change is certainly something that is happening. We can all pretty much agree on that. Where that often turns into the source of arguments is in attempting to determine and define exactly what are the root causes of the climate changes. Many of the extreme environmentalists (as individuals as well as groups) have pointed the finger at agriculture as heavy contributors to “the problem.” The list of complaints includes but is certainly not limited to: We burn too much diesel. We pump
too much water. We use too many chemicals. We are mining the nutrients out of the ground and not replacing enough of them.
from the President's Corner
What happens when you are out driving in the countryside with your window down on a sultry summer evening, and you happen to be driving past farmland where a fallowed, unirrigated field ends and a field being irrigated begins? That’s right…the temperature goes down! Not just a little but a lot! Sometimes 10-12 degrees. These people don’t understand that
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’s Mission Statement
From
Merced County Farm Bureau exists for the purpose of improving the ability of individuals engaged in production
designed insurance programs to provide broad and flexible coverage for both your personal and business needs. Tom Murphy | 209.353.2700 | tmurphy@INSURICA.com | INSURICA.com
irrigated farmland basically acts like a gigantic evaporative cooler for our environment in addition to the other benefits such as food, fiber, sequestered carbon and cleaner air. Conversely, fallowed, dry, sun-baked land stays hot and reflects the majority of the sun’s rays back into the atmosphere as heat. So, my philosophy is that MORE, not less, agriculture could be one of the legitimate answers to reversing climbing average temperatures in our region. The only way to be able to do that of course is to build more water storage. Much more. And very soon. As Steven Greenhut states right on the cover of his fantastic book Winning the Water Wars (2020), “California can meet its water needs by promoting abundance rather than managing scarcity.”
I believe it’s time for our elected officials and state leaders to tell the extreme enviros who have been thwarting progress in our state far too long where to go step off. I know I sound like a broken record every month, but it’s time for common sense to make a comeback in this state. I hope that those currently seeking election to public office get this message!
As
I highly recommend this book. It’s available on Amazon for about $30. The author gives a very comprehensive history of water policy and management in CA along with very frank and realistic interpretations of data and outlooks moving forward.
2nd VP: David Barroso 652-6437
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
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2nd VP: Carla Kelly 742-6862
Sean Davis 769-1804
Dante Migliazzo 769-9525 Bill Arnold. 761-0542 District 7
Walter Palmer Jr 374-3470
Brent Chipponeri 652-3473
Jay Mahil
Kim Mesa
Dan Dewees 658-4343
Fax (209) 722-3814
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.
Email: dflake@mercedfarmbureau.org (USPS 339-500)
646 S. Hwy 59, Merced CA 95341
AbelDirectorsLopez 376-2208
CFBF Director - District 9
Page 4 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
James Palmer 374-3470
Pres: Kelly Williams 376-2408
Jean Okuye 756-2421
Joe Maiorino 564-6791 District 2
Michael Serrano 485-1935
Past Pres: Eric Harcksen 620-1953
Project Assistant/ESJ Grower Relations
Tom Roduner 769-9353 District 8
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Board of Directors
Tony Toso 376-2304
Phone (209) 723-3001
YF&R State Committee - District 9
Bob Vandenberg 704-5568
Julie Giampaoli 201-8434
Bob Giampaoli 769-4973
GIno Pedretti III 756-1612
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Denelle Flake
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Danette Toso Executive Director
1st VP: Elnora George 376-2419
Chad Perry 675-4474 District 4
1st VP: Alan Sano 559-905-1240
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Sec/Treas: Tim Lohman 988-3545
Jim Johnston 564-7551
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Joe Scoto 761-0489
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CFBF Field Representative
Carl was involved with the Future Farmers of
Gloria was a devoted grandmother and one of her greatest joys was watching her grandsons play baseball, football and other activities.
Published by Merced Sun Star on Aug. 26, 2022.
Ray and Terry have four grandchildren. He truly loved to watch each of them grow up and was very proud to see the successful young adults they’ve all become. He was a friend to many, and quick to listen to your story and step into your shoes. Ray was very proud of his family history and Basque Culture. He was heavily impacted by the stories of his parents’ upbringing and their dedication to working hard and creating a family and life they were proud of. He carried that drive, grace and wisdom with him all his life. Ray was preceded in death by his
Ray
mother and father, Elena Celayeta Talbott and Ramon Artadi Talbott; and his brother, James Artadi Talbott. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Teresa (Terry) Irribarren Talbott; his daughters, Michelle Artadi (Darrell) DiGiovanni and Andrée Artadi Soares; his four grandchildren, Mia and Gianna Artadi Digiovanni and Bianca Artadi and Tristan Talbott Soares; and many nieces andRay’snephews.family would like to thank its team of caregivers for their compassionate care for Ray and Terry over the last couple years. Memorial contributions can be made to The Los Banos Basque Club, P.O. Box 123 Los Banos, CA 93635; Our Lady of Fatima School Memorial Fund, 1625 Center Ave, Los Banos, CA 93635; or California Wool Growers Association Memorial Fund 25 Cadillac Drive, Suite 214, Sacramento, CA 95825.
Basque Picnic in 1959. The two were married in 1965. Together they had two girls, Michelle and Andrée. He was so proud of the strong women that they are. Ray and Terry ran Talbott Sheep Co. together for many years. He often clarified that they wouldn’t still have the business if it wasn’t for Terry.
Visitation was from 5-7 pm on Tuesday, August 16 at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel, 1840 S. Center Avenue, Los Banos, CA 93635 followed by recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass was conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 17 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church,1621 Center Avenue, Los Banos, CA 93635. Interment will follow at Los Banos Cemetery.
America, 4H, Flying Samaritans, and the Westside Trapshooting League. Carl was an adventurous soul who worked hard and had the ambition to put in the extra time and effort to excel. He was passionate about helping others and always had time to answer a question or solve a problem. He gave his time and love generously, and provided encouragement and fatherly advice. He will be missed dearly by his beloved family and friends.
Merced,
Ilene Kruppa. He is survived by his children, Stephanie Valsted (Paul), Christiana Laughlin (Dana), Elijah Kruppa, and Jedidiah Kruppa (Jessica); and his grandchildren, Arin Valsted, Brenna Valsted, Arik Valsted, Jaden Laughlin, Jax Laughlin, and Emerson Carl Kruppa.
Winton, CaliforniaCarl J. Kruppa, 75, passed away unexpectedly on August 18, 2022, with his dear wife Nannette Plett-Kruppa and their beloved dog Ebony.
Published by Merced Sun Star on Aug. 26, 2022.
woman who is now cheering for her beloved Dodgers from Heaven above.
Page 5Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
Carl was blessed with a large and loving family. He and his wife Nan adventured together through life beginning in 2008. They loved visiting and spending time with their combined 8 children and 16 grandchildren. Carl was a loving Husband, Father, and Papa that meant the world to his family. He always made them a priority.
A memorial service was held at Crossroads Church in Turlock on Saturday, August 27th, 2022, at 2:00 pm. Memorials may be made in Carl's honor to the Atwater Future Farmers of America, PO Box 835, Atwater, CA 95301.
Carl passed with his wife Nannette. He was preceded in death by his parents Chester and Eudora Kruppa, and wife
Gloria is preceded in death by her husband Eddie and sister Doris Allen (Fremont). She is survived by her sons, Mark and Gary, grandsons Austin,Tyler and Skippy and great granddaughters Brynn and Blair Ferreria, and sister Margaret Dahl (Fremont)
Raymond Artadi Talbott April 20, 1938 - August 11, 2022
California - On August 11, 2022, Gloria Marie Ferreria, 92, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and loyal Dodger fan passed away at Mercy hospital. She was a hard working, devoted family
Carl J. Kruppa June 9, 1947 - August 18, 2022
Published by Los Banos Enterprise
Gloria was born to Alfred and Stella Nunes on Nov. 17, 1929. Her family moved to Fremont, Ca where Alfred was a ranch foreman. Gloria learned the apricot and cherry business, and was driving a work truck before attending high school. A skill she would later use to drive school bus for Winton School
passed away at home in Los Banos surrounded by family on August 11th, 2022. He was 84 years old. Born in Los Banos, California in 1938 to Ramon and Elena Talbott, he was the youngest of their two boys. Ray attended Los Banos Elementary followed by Los Banos High School. After losing his father his senior year, Ray attended the University of California Davis for two years, before returning to Los Banos to work alongside his mother and brother James (Jim) to run Talbott Sheep Co. Ray was a sheepman all his life. He served on the board of many industry associations and was typically the quietest man in the room, but when he did speak, everyone paidRayattention.metTeresa Iribarren at the Reno
Gloria Marie Ferreria November 17, 1929 - August 11, 2022
District.Gloria met her future husband Edward Ferreria, while visiting relatives in Atwater and were married and started a family and farm in Winton. Gloria and Eddie had 2 boys, Mark and Gary .
Gloria will be laid to rest at Santa Nella Veterans Cemetary alongside her husband Eddie.
farmed, harvested, and processed by Woolf Farming & Processing.
Photo credits: Adriana Toste, California Farmland Trust
This property adds to CFT’s extensive portfolio in Merced County, where 11,669 acres have been protected. While there is a growing greenbelt forming directly east of Merced, a property just one mile west of Flying M Ranch was subdivided into smaller ranchette-style parcels, with intentions of being developed one day.
“If you have water in California, you have to have to have more intensive agriculture,” he said. “We chose almonds because there’s a competitive advantage for them right now.”
For over 60 years, more than 24 square miles of this very land has been farmed and cared for by the Myers family under Myers Irrevocable Flying M Ranch Trust. The family proudly calls it their “little slice of heaven,” and now 253 acres of this paradise will forever remain untouchable, thanks to an agricultural conservation easement (ACE) that protects the land forever.
As a tribute to John’s biggest passions, aviation and cattle ranching, the couple labeled the property Flying M Ranch and started running a cattle operation and growing various crops, including a small citrus “Originally,grove.this was all a cattle ranch with irrigated pasture, but my grandmother loved citrus trees and the smell of citrus, so my grandfather planted citrus trees,” Myers explained looking out over the newly protected land.John’s passion for aviation was effortlessly passed onto his son and grandsons, but farming and ranching
The same idea of keeping the land “untouchable” spoke volumes to the Myers brothers too - so much so that they felt compelled to take a stronger initiative towards stewarding the health of their working landscapes.
This scenario could have easily happened to Flying M Ranch, so the hope is that adding this parcel to the block of protected land in the area will discourage community and city expansion into prime farmland.
Most of the 253 acres is comprised of almonds, however uniquely, about seven acres is specifically dedicated to an irrigated pollinator habitat that provides extended bloom, shelter from pesticides and little to no tillage to protect ground nesting bees.
Yet,exclaimed.conservation isn’t the only reason the Myers decided to pursue an ACE. The brothers also realize that in order to ensure the ranch’s long-term viability, risk management needs to be a priority. Thus, protecting the property in perpetuity not only sustains it for future generations, but has also provided the Myers family with cash flow from the transaction process, giving them the revenue stream to invest in other business ventures.
Deep
Keeping the Land Untouchable Myers Brothers Follow Their Grandfather’s Stewardship Lead
The brothers are also fortunate that Woolf Farming is constantly figuring out how to be a more resourceful and biodynamic farming operation. Through effective tracking and technologies, they have drastically reduced the amount of tractor time needed to farm, resulting in higher soil quality and a carbon offset of nearly 300,000 tons annually, which is the equivalent of taking 53,000 cars off theChelsearoad.
This parcel was not already under a conservation easement, so they decided to protect the property with California Farmland Trust (CFT), which closed just after the new year. Funds for this project were provided through the Agricultural Land Mitigation Program (ALMP), which is administered by Department of Conservation (DOC) on behalf of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
In 2015, the remaining trees of their grandmother’s prized citrus grove were removed. To pursue farming more aggressively in part with their cattle operation, the brothers replanted the 253 acres with Nonpareil, Wood Colony, and Aldrich almond trees, of which are
The Myers unwavering commitment to conservation is a clear indication of their appreciation for open space and belief in the importance of valuing our natural resources.
“My grandfather really believed in preserving the land,” Myers said. “He put conservation easements on the grazing land for wetlands, endangered species, and grassland conservation.”
By: Adriana Toste, California Farmland Trust
“It's nice working with CFT because this is my first introduction to conservation on the farming side,” Myers said. “We’ve been involved in the ranching business a little longer, but we’re newer farmers. Hopefully land trusts like CFT will start being recognized as having positive conservation effects to development.”
director at CFT who oversaw much of the transaction added, “The growth pressure from the City of Merced and even surrounding communities like Planada, in combination with the Myers desire to be conservationists, are all contributing factors that make this farm a quality project. The Myers are also in the process of putting another 474 acres under an ACE, which is a true testament to their commitment to conservation.”
“I love the idea of looking out with it being pristine and having open space,” Myers
The Myers Irrevocable Flying M Ranch Trust was established in 1959, when John and Lucia Myers began purchasing land in Merced County, said Wes Myers, the couple’s grandson and Flying M Ranch Trust co-trustee.
Once they assumed ownership, the Myers brothers discovered much of the land on the ranch still remarkably resembles how it did centuries ago. The grasslands are still plentiful with vernal pools and provide habitat and harbor for wildlife and rare, endangered species.
ranch. However, that all changed when the brothers unexpectedly inherited the property.“Itwas a surprise inheritance,” Myers explained. “My grandfather passed away in 2008, and by the time everything was cleared, we took it over in 2011. We’ve been slowly building it up, changing and reconfiguring since.”
"ONCE IT'S SPLIT UP, IT DOESN'T GO BACK TOGETHER..."
LEARNING THE LAY OF THE LAND
Slaton, conservation
For the Myers, the idea of their ranch helping create a buffer to offset development in the grasslands of Merced County is the ultimate goal because “once it’s split up, it doesn’t go back together.” When asked, what the future of Flying M Ranch looks like, Myers proudly said “It’s farming. It’s conservation. It’s both farming and conservation.”
Page 6 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
in the hills of eastern Merced County, you’ll find miles of grasslands nestled between the Sierra Nevada mountains, cattle grazing among the lush meadows, and unique ecosystems rich with vernal pools, native grasses, and endangered species; some say the scenery is straight out of a storybook.
“The plan is to entirely have our whole property maintained under one ownership, contiguous, and an operational property that can sustain itself economically, but also have enough exposure to other asset classes,” Myers said.
This discovery was no coincidence, being that conservation was one of the hallmarks their grandfather valued most. Since the early 1980s, approximately 5,900 acres of grazing land on their ranch has been preserved through other conservation organizations due to the efforts of their grandfather.
did not come so naturally. Being two bikeshorsestumbletypicalbesidesinvolvementwithandtolittlehisfarm,removedgenerationsfromtheWesandbrotherhadfamiliarityagriculturegrewuplimitedtheroughandofridinganddirtthroughoutthe
Local FFA Member, Philip Miller, selected to perform with National FFA Band at 2022 National FFA Convention & Expo
Philip Miller, El Capitan FFA
“Our FFA members are the future
The Hilmar High School Agriculture
(2022 /National
Atwater High School FFA is one of the largest FFA chapters in the nation with over 1100 stu dent members representing a diverse and cul turally dynamic group of future leaders. Pic tures are students who competed at the FFA State CDE Finals at Cal Poly, SLO last May.
FFA officer team traveled to Bass Lake for their annual officer leadership
For more information on the Hilmar High School Agriculture Department and Hilmar FFA, please log on the website www.hilmarffa.com or follow us on social media.
Hilmar FFA Officer Retreat
generation of leaders who make a difference in their communities as well as agriculture and other industries,” said National FFA CEO Scott Stump. “As we continue to grow, we see the enthusiasm for agricultural education and FFA reflected in our membership.”
play percussion in the National FFA Band.Miller submitted an audition tape and was selected to help bring full instrumental balance to the band from a pool of applicants nationwide. He was one of only three students selected from California.TheNational FFA Band will perform several times during the national convention and expo. Miller will join
By: El Capitan FFA
For more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
the importance of agriculture continues to be a focus throughout the world, students around the country understand the vital role it plays in everyday life. No more is this more evident than in the growth of membership in the National FFA Organization.Today,the National FFA Organization announced a record-high student membership number of 850,823, an increase of 15% from last year. In addition, chapter numbers increased by 178, resulting in 8,995 chapters in the
By: HilmarSequeira,NathanFFAReporter
By: Atwater FFA
Page 7Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS
FFA Organization) – Philip Miller, a member of the EL CAPITANMERCED FFA chapter in Merced, CA, will be on stage and in the spotlight Oct. 26-29 during the 2022 National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Miller, a Senior and the son of Philip and Amy Miller, has been selected to
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,000 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
As
(L to R) Alyssa Siebler (2nd Vice President), Evan Lopes (Historian), Nathan Sequeira (Reporter), Gianna Gonzalez (Vice President), Taylor Lockett (President), Joseph Oliveira (Sentinel), Jacob Ahlem (Treasurer), Sophia Vieira (Secretary), Sophia Vieira (Not Pictured)
retreat. With the help of the advisors, the officer team planned out the 20222023 FFA events and meetings for the school year. Together their goals are to bring Hilmar FFA back to normality and provide members with fun opportunities to inspire them to get involved. During this retreat the team participated in team building and leadership activities.
Education Department and FFA strives to fulfill the mission of the National FFA Organization which is as follows: “To make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through Agricultural Education.”
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 735,000 student members as part of 8,817 local FFA chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Membership in National FFA Organization Reaches All-Time High
fellow band members in Indianapolis for rehearsals three days before the convention and expo begins.
Corteva Agriscience™ sponsors the National FFA Band.
OnHilmar20th,Augustthe
When the team stepped away from planning, they took walks, played board games, and went swimming in the lake!
United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. VirginInterestIslands.inFFA and agricultural education continues to grow as membership and the number of chapters increase. The top five student membership states are Texas, California, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. This year, the organization has more than 132,700 Latino members, more than 47,000 Black members and more than 13,000 American Indian and Alaska Native members. Forty-three percent of the membership is female, and 50% is male, with .5% reporting as nonbinary, 4.7% undisclosed, and 1.2% unreported.
Page 8 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
Cheese Company Visitor Center is offering FREE Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) field trips for kindergarten-highgradesschoolassociatedschoolswithadistrictfromtransitional
school. The field trips are offered in late October through early November and then January through May. Time slots for tours are at 9:30 am, 11:00 am and 12:30 pm or later.
Hilmar Cheese Company Offers Free Field Trips
All school tours are free for students. Students will watch a cheesy MOOvie, explore the hands-on exhibits and sample cheese. Transitional kindergarten through 3rd grade can do a fun science
Hilmar,2022.AugustCA.25,Hilmar
By: Denise Skidmore, Director, Education & Public Relations
209.656.1196MondayCheesewithoncenter/tour/tour_request_form/https://www.hilmarcheese.com/visitor_webpage:FollowHilmarCheeseCompanysocialmediatostayup-to-datespecialsandactivities.HilmarCompanyVisitorCenterisopen–Friday7amto6pm.Callwithanyquestions
experiment of turning a liquid into a solid to make and eat ice cream. Cheese making is offered to grades 4th through high school and is a great hands on science experiment and teamwork activity. The duration of the tour is about 80 minutes.
Smell the Feeds activity at Hilmar Cheese
To book a field trip with Hilmar Cheese Company fill out the tour request form on the Hilmar Cheese
“We are excited to see students fully back in school this year and able to take field trips,” explained Kody Stevens, Hilmar Cheese Company Tours and Communication Specialist. “We encourage teachers to sign-up as soon as possible, especially for spring dates as our morning times fill up fast.”
Page 9Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
Page 10 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
Put another way, if one-fifth of the Sacramento River’s flow upstream at
Colusa had been diverted, and only during the seven mostly dry months from October 2021 through April 2022, the massive 1.5 million acre foot Sites Reservoir could have been filled nearly half way to capacity. In just one season, during a drought.
By: Edward Ring, California Globe
Environmentalists can’t have it both ways. Either we’re going to have massive atmospheric storms that will require massive systems to capture storm runoff, or we’re going to enter a period of chronic droughts where there isn’t enough water no matter what we do. Even the New York Times, just last month, in an article entitled “Why the
Governor Newsom, when he introduced his California Water Supply Strategy on August 11, also said this: “We did some analysis of those big flows that came in November and December of last year, and if we had the conveyance and the tools to capture that storm water, it’s the equivalent of those seven projects that I just noted that take decades to build in terms of stored capacity… Mother Nature is still bountiful, but she’s not operating like she did 50 years ago, heck, she’s not
So it goes with the proposed Sites Reservoir, which is enduring a withering new bombardment from environmentalists in the wake of Governor Newsom’s recently announced Water Supply Strategy in which the governor endorsed the Sites Project and even had the temerity to suggest environmentalist obstruction is stopping as many good projects as bad ones.
‘Big One’ Could Be Something Other Than an Earthquake,” admonished Californians to prepare for a “monthlong superstorm” of rainfall. What better way to prepare than to build off-stream reservoirs? If anything, Sites is too small.Inthe February 2021 document “Sites Reservoir Project – Preliminary Project Description,” the introductory section describes how back in 1995 the CALFED Bay-Delta Program “identified 52 potential surface storage locations and retained 12 reservoir locations statewide for further study.” All twelve were off-stream reservoirs. They then narrowed the candidates to four: “Red Bank (Dippingvat and Schoenfield Reservoirs), Newville Reservoir, Colusa Reservoir, and Sites Reservoir.” Sites was chosen as the most feasible project. But why isn’t this study being dusted off and revisited? What about these other potential locations for more surface storage?
operating the way she did 10 years ago, and we have to reconcile that. We had a vision in the 50s and 60s to do just that, and we want to reinvigorate that capacity in “ReinvigoratingCalifornia.”that capacity,” governor, means you are going to have to start firing some of the people staffing the commissions and agencies that have been complicit in the environmentalist assault that has stopped every major water project in its tracks for the last 50 years.Ifyou want to be taken seriously in California, so the conventional wisdom goes, you have to play nice with environmentalists. To survive in polite company, to retain professional credibility, one must ignore the sad fact that much of environmentalism today has morphed into a nihilistic, anti-human, extremist movement. But to ensure that California’s dazzling civilization, 40 million strong, survives and thrives into the next century, maybe it’s time to stop being quite so nice with environmentalists. At the very least, begin to challenge the notion that every scientific argument must invariably tilt in favor of their agenda. Scientific assessments of infinitely complex aquatic ecosystems are rarely beyond scientific debate.
To restore a more humanitarian and progressive balance to California politics, it’s time to tell our state’s allpowerful environmentalist lobby that they cannot always get their way.
Shown below, courtesy of the US Dept. of Geological Survey, is flow data for the Sacramento River, upstream at Colusa, which is near to where the planned diversions into the Sites Reservoir will be made. The data is expressed in “CFS,” which stands for cubic feet per second.
Latest Attack on Proposed Sites Reservoir –Not Enough Water
When it comes to attacking anything that will make so much as a scratch in the earth, California’s environmentalists never run out of arguments, and their litigators never run out of money.
As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this week, and dutifully highlighted in Maven’s Notebook, “California’s largest reservoir in nearly 50 years may be derailed by water shortages.” Apparently there isn’t enough water flowing down the Sacramento River to fill the 1.5 million acre foot reservoir. But that entirely depends on who you ask.
September
And why not? Drawing 1.0 million acre feet or more from the Sacramento River to fill the Sites Reservoir during wet years, and over a half-million acre feet even in dry years, would not significantly reduce the flow of fresh water into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Sacramento River at Colusa is upstream from the Feather River, which adds its powerful flow 40 miles further south, as well as the American River, which joins the Sacramento River another 20 miles south. Other major tributaries that join the Sacramento River south of Colusa include the Butte River and the Yuba River. In addition, flowing into the Delta from the South is the San Joaquin River with its many tributaries.Anauthoritative 2017 study by the Public Policy Research Institute describes so-called “uncaptured water,” which is the surplus runoff, often causing flooding, that occurs every time an atmospheric river hits the state. Quoting from the study, “benefits provided by uncaptured water are above and beyond those required by environmental regulations for system and ecosystem water.” The study goes on to claim that uncaptured water flows through California’s Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta “averaged 11.3 million acre-feet [per year] over the 1980–2016 period.”When the average “uncaptured” water flowing through the Delta, “above and beyond those required by regulations for system and ecosystem water,” is 11.3 million acre-feet per year, suggesting there won’t be enough water to fill the Sites Reservoir is an argument resting on thin foundations.
What is immediately evident from this chart is how it vividly depicts the volume of surplus water that hit Northern California even during what has been described as the driest winter in decades. If during the on-and-off wet months from October 1 to April 30 just 20 percent of the Sacramento River’s flow had been diverted into the Sites Reservoir, nearly 550,000 acre feet could have been stored, more than a third of its capacity. And since the pumps in one of the original designs for the Sites Reservoir had a capacity of 5,900 CFS, which is equivalent to 11,700 acre feet per day, during the peak runoff events from October through December, at least another 100,000 acre feet might have been stored.
4, 2022 -
Merced County Farm Bureau Heritage Members
Platinum Heritage Members
Gold Heritage Members
Valley Pacific Petroleum Services Inc.
Turlock
Page 11Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
Grimbleby Coleman CPAs Holt Ag Solutions Nut Company Irrigation District
Minturn
8, 2022 - On the same day the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) filed a reply brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on California's Proposition 12 animal welfare law, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced it has completed the Proposition 12 implementation rules.
"Proposition 12 requires structural changes to an industry that plays 'a significant role in the economy of the U.S.,' and that those changes
will increase sow mortality, decrease herd size, interfere with entirely out-ofstate contracts, and result in consumers nationwide paying for California’s preferred out-of-state farming practices," the brief
By: Jennifer Shike, Farm Journal Inc.
Farm Bureau Federation one step closer to the Supreme Court hearing our case on how California Proposition 12 violates the U. S. Constitution," says Terry Wolters, NPPC president and owner of Stoney Creek Farms in Pipestone, Minn. "We look forward to presenting our case before the Supreme Court on October 11 to defend the livelihoods of America's pork producers."
pigs that provide pork products to the California market must register and will be required to have California agents inspect their farms, which will create serious biosecurity threats across the country," Wolters says.
NPPC and AFBF will present their case why the appeals court judgment upholding Proposition 12 should be reversed before the Supreme Court on Oct. 11.
Woltersstated.says it's ironic that CDFA announced it's completion of the implementation rules on the same day the reply brief was filed with the Supreme Court - more than three years after the original statutory deadline. The animal confinement regulations are effective Sept. 1, 2022.
NPPC, AFBF
"Today's filing of our reply brief to petitioners brings the National Pork Producers Council and the American
Liz Cox, DVM, oversees the Animal Care Program within California Department of Food and Ag (CDFA) that's in charge of implementing and enforcing Proposition 12. During a recent conference, Cox shared an update and clarification of the proposed rules that are now finalized.
On the CDFA website, Cox shares lessons learned about Proposition 12 from her visits to 10 sow farms across the U.S., including operations in California, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
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Ironic Timing: File Reply Brief on Prop 12, CDFA Finalizes Rules
September
In the reply brief filed Sept. 7, the groups allege Proposition 12 is unconstitutional extra-territorial regulation. California imports 99.9% of the pork consumed in the state.
"This delay unnecessarily exacerbated pork supply chain disruptions and now creates significant concerns for farmers that these arbitrary regulations put the nation's pig herd at risk of disease. Any farmers raising
Alex Stack, a spokesperson for Newsom, did not answer a question about what the governor’s office told Bennett about the bill.
Moresaid.than 97 percent of the state is experiencing severe drought, and nearly 1,040 wells have run dry so far this year.
sustainably already. This bill created a uniform envelope over all of them,” he said.Bennett said agriculture and business groups had rallied hard against the bill. But he attributed its ultimate death to amendments inserted by the Senate appropriations committee that weakened its provisions compared to an executive order that Newsom issued earlier this year.The amendments cut a requirement for permit applicants to show their wells would not increase land subsidence. Appropriations chair Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-Glendale, did not respond to a request for comment.
If Bennett’s proposal had been approved, local groundwater management agencies, largely in the Central Valley, would have been required to weigh in on whether a new, enlarged or reactivated well would harm the local aquifer before a local government can grant a permit. The
The bill received little public discussion on the Senate floor before passing on Monday. But it underwent a heated discussion in the Assembly months before, with members from the Central Valley speaking in opposition.
Editor’s Note: As of May 1, 2022 Merced County’s well permit process has changed and we encourage you to speak with your local GSA for well consistency determinations.
Environmental and environmental justice groups supported the bill, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club California and Community Water Center because groundwater depletion threatens drinking water supplies.
The last time drought parched the state, lawmakers passed the groundwater law as agricultural overpumping spurred a rash of well outages in local communities.Localgroundwater agencies in critically overdrafted basins, mostly in the San Joaquin Valley, the Central
“We cannot succeed in reaching sustainability unless we are judicious about continuing to allow well drilling,” said Dickinson, now policy director for CivicWell, a nonprofit group promoting sustainable local policies.
“Continuing to go forward with this kind of heavy-handed approach is simply bringing the day closer when those million acres of agriculture are fallowed, and literally thousands upon thousands of farm workers will be unemployed,” Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, said in May. “The death knell of agriculture is but a few more votes like this away.”
September
“The (executive order) is important for conservation and sustainability purposes during this period of extreme and extended drought, and we will work with the Legislature and state agencies on any changes in law that might be helpful to putting the state on a path to navigating our hotter, drier future,” Stack
applicant also would have had to submit a study by an engineer or geologist confirming that the well is unlikely to interfere with nearby wells.
“If that wouldn’t have happened, if we would have kept it as strong as the executive order, I’m confident the bill would be sitting on the governor’s desk and he would be signing it,” Bennett said. “But instead, we have to start all over again next year.”
The bill is aimed at agricultural wells. Household wells pumping less than two acre-feet a year and public water system wells are excluded.
Coast and desert regions, are required to dial back the depletion and stop the consequences from worsening by 2040. Those in less depleted basins have until 2042.But groundwater levels are still declining, land subsidence continues and more wells were drilled in the 2021 water year than in any of the previous five years, a state report said.
He said it could interfere with “what we’re trying to accomplish with our groundwater over the next number of years” and that it failed to address the diversity of California’s groundwater basins.“Some (basins) are in critical overdraft, some are being managed
Newsom’s order — issued after a record-dry start to the year — temporarily bars local governments from issuing permits for wells deemed potentially harmful to nearby wells or that could cause subsidence that damages structures.
Page 13Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
would have been the biggest change to California’s groundwater management since the state’s landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act was enacted in 2014, during the height of the last drought, said Roger Dickinson, a former Democratic assemblyman from Sacramento and one of the authors.
State lawmakers reject bill to curb farms’ water pumping
Bennett said he expects a run on permit applications if Newsom’s executive order expires before a bill is in place.“I’mreally disappointed. And I’m very concerned that if something happens to the executive order, we will have a land rush on well permits,” he said. “But I’m not discouraged. We learned and we’re going to redouble our efforts.”
Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, said the bill would have “turned the process upside down and imposed a sweeping proclamation from Sacramento with zero consideration for local“Onceconditions.”againwe saw a bill written and advocated for by people who aren’t from the Valley who think know what’s best for us,” he said in a statement Thursday.Business and agricultural groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Farm Bureau Federation, opposed the bill, saying it would interfere with landowners’ rights to use groundwater and spur lawsuits over permitting decisions.Daniel Merkley, water resources director with the California Farm Bureau Federation, called the bill “premature” and “an overreach.”
During one of the driest years in recent history, California legislators did not pass any new laws that would boost the water supply or protect groundwater from overpumping, although funds were included in the budget for groundwater management and programs like water recycling.Thebill
California lawmakers punted on a proposal to rein in agricultural groundwater pumping as drought continues to grip California and more than a thousand domestic wells have run dry.A bill by Assemblyman Steve Bennett, D-Santa Barbara, would have added hurdles to obtain a permit to drill an agricultural well. Though the bill cleared the Senate on Monday, Bennett elected to not bring it up for a final vote in the Assembly before the Legislative session timed out Wednesday night. He said California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told him the bill was no longer viable because of changes made.
Bennett’s bill aimed to address a major groundwater disconnect between the local governments that grant drilling permits, and the local groundwater agencies tasked with managing aquifers. According to a bill analysis by an Assembly consultant, granting a well permit is often considered a “ministerial action” with “little or no personal judgment by the public official as to the wisdom or manner of carrying out the project.”Dickinson said he had hoped when drafting the 2014 law that groundwater agencies and local governments would coordinate. “What we still see is both a failure because of, to a certain extent, the natural inertia of government on the one hand, and the grudging implementation of (the Act), on the other hand,” Dickinson said.
Over the past five years — well after passage of the act — more than 6,750 new irrigation wells have been drilled.
By: Rachel Becker, CalMatters
4, 2022 -
After the war, and during his life as a sweet potato farmer, he served as President of the Cali fornia Sweet Potato Council, and US Sweet Potato Council, where he was a Director for over 20 years. He was the first Califor nia farmer to attend the National Sweet Potato Convention, among other industry firsts. Joe ser ved as President of the Merced County Farm Bureau, and was on the Board of Directors of the Nisei Farmers League. He for med the California Sweet Potato Growers Co-op in Livingston, along with several other local growers, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
He is survived by five children, Judy Blevins, James (Colette) Alvernaz, and Benjamin (Debbie) Alvernaz of Livingston; Cecelia (James) Simon of San Diego, and Susan (Randall) Wilson of Ma riposa, a sister, Cecelia Luker of Atwater, 17 grandchildren and 13
known as the “Voice of Livings ton.” From 1946 to 1996, he an nounced all the Livingston High School football games, lending his strong voice to the communi ty by also announcing everything in Livingston from parades to radio programs. He served on the Livingston Elementary School Board and the Merced County Recreation Commission for many years. Joe’s acting skills even benefited the Livingston Little Theater Group, where he star red in several productions, most notably as Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey”.Hislove of baseball began at an early age and became a life-long interest that manifested itself into a devotion to the sport for over eighty years. He organized the first kid’s hardball team in Mer ced County in the early 50’s. He was particularly fond of Ame rican Legion Baseball, serving as a coach, sponsor, announcer
Under the current Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, that number would double — pleasing to environmentalists, but not to farmers, who say that would leave them with too little water come irrigation season.
“The goal of negotiating a successful VA is to avoid the implementation of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan Phase I, which, you know, is absolutely devastating to our region,” Reimers said during Tuesday’s special meeting at TID headquarters. “Last week, we came to a consensus on the major issues that we’ve been facing with the state.”
His interests and community involvement were very diversefrom serving as a founding
the former Florence Cardoza of Merced in 1942.
and booster for over fifty years. This led to his being appointed the third Area Commissioner of Baseball. All of these years of being involved in baseball in Livingston culminated in the community baseball field being renamed the “Joe F. Alvernaz Baseball Field,” something he was so proud of.
Merced county Far M n ews s aturday, nove M ber 16, 2013, page 12
The 5-0 vote gives TID general manager Michelle Reimers and staff the green light to sign a memorandum of understanding, which very likely will lead to the voluntary agreement with the state’s Water Resources Control Board.
Sweet Potato Joe was the Farm Bureau President from 1983-1986 and hired long-time staff member Lorraine Passa dori when she showed up in her clown costume for the interview.
Peter Drekmeier, policy director for the Tuolumne River Trust, was not surprised by Tuesday’s outcome, and does not support it.
great grandchildren. His light on earth has dimmed, but heaven is brighter as he has joined Florence, the true love of hisSolife.long to our Dad, coach, neighbor and everyone’s friend. He will be deeply and painfully missed, yet celebrated, honored and never forgotten.
Sweet
Gray,“I’veD-Merced.beenasupporter of the Voluntary Agreements for the entire 10 years I’ve been in the state legislature,” said Gray, who is running for the 13th District’s congressional seat this fall against Hughson businessman John Duarte. "I’ve worked closely with TID, MID, and Merced Irrigation District, to try to bring this to fruition. I’m extraordinarily pleased that they’ve taken a step forward.”
Agriculture lost a strong advo cate that will truly be missed. We will continue to keep his family in our thoughts and prayers.
By: Joe Cortez, Turlock Journal
On average, about 20 percent of the Tuolumne’s water flows remain each year after Turlock, Modesto and San Francisco take their share.
Page 14 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
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“We do not support the Voluntary Agreements as they’ve been configured,” said Drekmeier. “The last iteration of VA negotiations lasted four years and the Bay-Delta plan stalled. Now, the process is starting over. Meanwhile, the fish desperately need
Irrigation District’s board of directors voted unanimously Tuesday to move toward a voluntary agreement that would supersede flow requirements within the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan.
TID moves closer to voluntary agreement with state water board
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to Grace Nursing Home in Livingston or to the Joe F. Al vernaz Memorial Fund to benefit youth baseball in Livingston.
more water and we see this as another delayTIDtactic.”board president Michael Frantz stressed that the finish line remains uncrossed.“Lotsof opportunities for things to go wrong,” cautioned Frantz. “We’re dealing with a very complex issue, lots of agencies and lots of interested parties, and a lot of people who are very passionate about this issue… I feel like we’re at a better place than we have been ever, so I’m optimistic.”
Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Mabel Alvernaz, brothers, Arthur and John Al vernaz, and sister, Mary Geyer. He was also predeceased by his oldest son, Joey Alvernaz, in 1980 and by his wife of 64 years, Florence, in 2007.
River’s water rights.
Details of the accord will not become public until a final agreement is reached, but the decision not only had the full endorsement of Reimers and the board — as well as Modesto’s board later in the day — but of Assemblyman Adam
September
6, 2022 - Turlock
That plan was first adopted in 2018, but the flow requirements never have been implemented. But since then, the plan has been the flashpoint for a debate — in simplest terms, think of it as fish vs. farms — that pits the environmental groups, such as the Tuolumne River Trust, against public utilities, such as the Turlock Irrigation District, Modesto Irrigation District and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Those three agencies share the Tuolumne
By: Dan Walters, CalMatters
MellonNewsom’ssaid.
That failure, union leaders say, is due to farmers’ undermining organizational elections, which now are conducted by
“We cannot support an untested mailin election process that lacks critical provisions to protect the integrity of the election,” Newsom spokesperson Erin
Page 15Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
“In the state with the largest population of farmworkers, the least we owe them is an easier path to make a free and fair choice to organize a union,”
7, 2022 -
A veto would also mean that he would probably see another UFW bill next year and every other year of his governorship.
However, if he vetoes the measure, it could make it much more difficult for him to gain support in the Democratic Party’s progressive/activist wing, to which unionization of workers in agriculture and other low-wage industries is a holy grail. Delores Huerta, the UFW’s most revered figure, has predicted that Newsom would sign the bill because he’ll want union support for a presidential campaign.
secret ballot. However, the UFW has also suffered from its own organization shortcomings as journalist Miriam Pawel chronicled in her authoritative book, “The Union of Their Dreams.” Newsom vetoed an earlier version of the bill last year, saying, it “contains various inconsistencies and procedural issues related to the collection and review of ballot cards,” and adding, “Significant changes to California’s well-defined agricultural labor laws must be carefully crafted to ensure that both agricultural workers’ intent to be represented and the right to collectively bargain is protected, and the state can faithfully enforce those fundamental rights.”This year’s version contained some changes that the UFW and its allies hoped would placate Newsom, but just before final votes last month, Newsom once again indicated his opposition.
unusual preemptive declaration may have been an indirect request that the Legislature not send him a second measure, but it didn’t deter legislators from acting with 55 votes in the Assembly and 26 in the Senate. If anything, it spurred the UFW to redouble its public campaign, including a highly publicized week-long march to the Capitol from Delano, site of a 1965 grape worker strike that led to formation of the UFW and in 1975 to passage of the state’s Agricultural Labor Relations Act.The UFW also formally joined the California Labor Federation after former Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez took the umbrella organization’s helm and obtained expressions of support from national political figures such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and, this week, President Joe Biden.
Biden said on Labor Day.
September
Gov. Gavin Newsom will soon write a new chapter in California’s decades-long conflict over the unionization of workers in the state’s huge agricultural industry — and what he does could affect his obvious quest to become a national political figure.
Newsom feels the heat on farm labor measure
Assembly Bill 2183, a measure that would make it easier for the muchtroubled United Farm Workers Union to organize farmers’ employees is sitting on his desk, passed by overwhelming margins by Newsom’s fellow Democrats in theTheLegislature.union’sdrive for using a card check process or mailed ballots took on urgency when the U.S. Supreme Court declared in 2020 that it had no right to enter farmers’ property to talk with their workers, exacerbating the UFW’s chronic inability to make significant organizational inroads.
All of this puts Newsom in a political pickle.Ifhe signs the bill, he will not only be reversing himself on a highprofile issue — never good optics for an ambitious politician — but could be providing critics with ammunition should he someday be seeking presidential votes in agricultural states that are critical in White House contests, such as Iowa, Ohio and Florida.
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Page 16 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022 2 0 2 23 0 2 3 M E R C E D C O U N T MY E R C E D C O U N T Y F A R M B U R E A FU A R M B U R E A U S C H O L A R S H I P SS C H O L A R S H I P S N O W A V A I L A B L NE O W A V A I L A B L E The Merced County Farm Bureau is a proud supporter of the future of agriculture. In 2022 Merced County Farm Bureau Scholarship Committee awarded $25,700 through scholarships to local seniors from agricultural programs in the county. Apply online by visiting mercedfarmbureau.org/scholarships Deadline to apply is December 16, 2022
Regardless, the process should pick up quickly in the new year, and several underlying issues will help drive the debate.Frame the Historically,debateitisconvenient to frame the farm bill debate as being shaped by the economic, budget, trade and political setting during each cycle. Each driver affects the timing and type of discussion that occurs, as well as the available options for potential policy changes. While each could again affect the shape of the next farm bill, the budget setting presents an interesting observation and challenge for the coming debate.
to start.Outof that spending, more than 75% of the total was allocated to the nutrition title of the farm bill, and more specifically to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP is the primary food assistance program in the country, and makes up nearly all of the funding within the nutrition title. It is also a critical component of the rural-urban coalition that has been instrumental in getting farm legislation through Congress for several decades.
September
While the increase of more than $400 billion in the budget baseline suggests more resources to allocate during the farm bill, lawmakers could again be challenged with the reality of a tight budget that needs every dollar of the estimated increase just to maintain the status quo. Unless new funding is made available through separate budget action in Congress, any new proposals or policy reforms that cost money could be forced to fight for money from cuts elsewhere in the bill.
The development and debate on a farm bill can be complicated enough under normal circumstances, but taking account of recent ad hoc spending makes the path to a new farm bill even more complicated. While the ad hoc spending over the past few years has provided substantial funding for farm support and other farm bill priorities, it doesn’t add to the budget baseline in terms of long-term or permanent authority.Whether the budget baseline matters in an era of trillion-dollar-plus ad hoc spending proposals is debatable, but the trillion-dollar-plus farm bill won’t have additional funding to work with unless there are new dollars added to the baseline in the annual budget process nextWhatyear.it means
The recent ad hoc spending could alleviate part of the budget challenge by satisfying several farm bill priorities to the extent that existing budget dollars could be reallocated elsewhere. Or it could stress it even more as supporters of the new ad hoc spending push for new a baseline to maintain the higher support for their favored programs going
at the beginning, there are several drivers of the farm bill debate that will affect the final product, but it is hard to even start contemplating the options until the budget picture comes into more focus. Stay tuned as the process is just getting underway.
Page 17Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
farm bill energy programs, including renewable electric generation and biofuel infrastructure.
Energy. Like the rural development title, the energy title in the farm bill has been a relatively small budget item at about $70 million per year for various ofwasrenewableconservation,energy.andbio-basedincentives,productsrenewableBut,likeenergyamajorparttherecently
When the last farm bill was developed in 2018, it was written under a tight budget constraint with no additional funding available beyond the existing budget baseline, or projected spending levels needed to simply maintain authorized programs over the next 10 years (a 10-year baseline is used even though farm bills typically run for fiveTheyears).Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is the official arbiter of the cost of legislation, and its 2018 budget baseline established a total cost of $867 billion for existing farm bill programs. While debate ensued about potential changes to policy, ultimately any changes in programs that cost additional dollars had to be offset by changes elsewhere to save spending.
9, 2022 - Initial discussions on what is due to be the 2023 Farm Bill have already begun at field hearings and producer meetings across the country. The discussion to date has focused on programs and stakeholder priorities for the next farm bill. We have yet to see significant legislative proposals or debate.That will change after this fall’s elections and the beginning of a new session of Congress in January. Whether Democrats retain control of Congress or Republicans gain control of one or both chambers will affect the committee leadership positions, and control of the committee timeline and agenda.
The discussion above suggests a potential tight budget scenario that would constrain the policy choices made during the upcoming farm bill debate. Yet, the federal government has spent billions and even trillions on recent legislation and assistance to the point that questions about the budget constraint and about program spending could seem trivial. Consider theCommodities.following: Commodity program spending for the Agricultural Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage and Dairy Margin Coverage programs, among other safety net and permanent disaster assistance programs, was projected in the 2018 baseline to cost a little over $6 billion per year, but over the first four years of 2018 Farm Bill implementation (2019-22) has been estimated or projected to cost substantially less at something over $3 billion per year.
In sharp contrast, the infrastructure bill passed in 2021 committed about $60 billion to broadband, including $2 billion administered through USDA.
forward.Asnoted
In the end, the budget constraint effectively led to the development of a largely status quo 2018 Farm Bill that mostly maintained existing programs and was projected to cost the same $867 billion that was in the 10-year baseline
Fast-forward to this summer, and the latest budget estimates from CBO project the same programs will cost $1.3 trillion over the next 10 years, with nearly all of the increase coming from SNAP. Increased food assistance needs during the pandemic, increased participation and increased benefits to cover food price increases all contribute to the higher SNAP costs, making the nutrition tile now nearly 85% of the total projected farm bill spending.
Budget priorities
At the same time, supplemental and ad hoc spending first for trade assistance and then for the COVID-19 pandemic and related relief has averaged more than $19 billion per year, dwarfing the underlying budget for commodity programConservation.support. Conservation programs were also projected to cost nearly $6 billion per year over the 10year baseline. However, the legislative debate over what was called the Build Back Better bill and what eventually was passed in August as the Inflation Reduction Act has promised nearly $20 billion in new spending authority for climate-focused conservation practices over the next four years, with actual spending expected to stretch out over the next 10 years.
2023 Farm Bill debate underway
By: Bradley D. Lubben, Western FarmPress
Even at a $2 billion-per-year estimate, the funding would represent more than a 30% increase in conservation spending for existing farm billRuralprograms.development. Rural development is an important part of the farm bill, but typically a small part of the budget discussion. The rural development title under the 2018 Farm Bill actually carried a negative cost estimate due to policy changes in how rural infrastructure loans were managed and repaid, but typically the title amounts to just a few million dollars of spending annually for infrastructure, business development and some programs targeting rural broadband.
passed Inflation Reduction Act, with more than $13 committedbillion to
Want to receive an email when a new lesson is posted? Send an email to info@mercedfarmbureau org to be added to the email list
Merced County Farm Bureau invites you to educate your youth about agriculture through our Virtual FARM2U program. Each topic covered includes YouTube videos, Google Slides with trivia and activities.
Page 18 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
Scan the QR code and find topics varying from honey bees to white tortilla corn. www.mercedfarmbureau.org
Virtual FARM2U Program
Megan Belair, Local Political Consultant Finance
Y O U N G A G R I C YU O U N G A G R I C U L L T U R I S TT U R I S T S P E A K E SR P E A K E R S E R I E SS E R I E S
David Barroso, Merced County Farm Bureau 2nd Vice President, Farmer/Dairyman Joe & Renee Barroso & Sons Dairy
Barbara Stowell, IWM Partners, LPL Financial Advisor
Shannon Douglass, California Farm Bureau 1st Vice President and founder of CalAgJobs Politics
Tuesday, October 4, 5:30pm
Page 19Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
Impacts to Agriculture
Tuesday, October 25, 5:30pm
Join Us
Tuesday, September 6, 5:30pm
Tuesday, November 8, 5:30pm
Merced County Farm Bureau is hosting four sessions for local youth (high school and college) focused on topics including:
Careers and Community
Sponsored by Sign Up Contact Alexxis Rudich with questions arudich@mercedfarmbureau.org Agri Valley Consulting American AgCredit Arnold Farms, LP Bowles Farming Company, LLC Cortez Growers Association Scott & Denise Skidmore Los Banos Abattoir Shannon Pump Company Yosemite Farm Credit Location In Person at MCFB Office 646 S Highway 59 Merced or on Zoom Scan for Google Form
With the tragedy of the fire, there was a bright spot as the Mariposa County Fair opened Labor Day weekend to great
History will be a special emphasis on this year's tour.
Farm and Ranch Tour
Historic Coulterville and the North County will be highlighted for the 18 th Farm and Ranch Tour, a project of the Mariposa AgriNature Association. You are invited to visit 4 locations plus the Northern Mariposa History Center. Each location offers you the opportunity to learn more about agricultural practices and resource preservation from the property owners and experts. The locations will not only showcase their own unique agricultural operations, but vendors and artists will be sharing their crafts as well. It will be a family-friendly fun day in the country, with activities for all ages.
Mariposa
County has had its fair share of blazing hot weather this summer, as well as wild from the MariposaCFB Danette Toso
Page 20 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
fires blazing out of control. The Oak Fire decimated over 19,000 acres and destroyed 124 homes. Residents have been in shock, and are mourning the loss of their homes, animals, memories, and family heirlooms. With the tragic losses, our Mariposa residents are some of the most giving, compassionate people I’ve ever known. So many people willing to jump in, pitch in and help their fellow man any way they can. We are Mariposa Strong, and I’m proud to be a part of this resilient county. We would like to thank everyone from our neighboring counties that generously donated to this disaster, it’s quite humbling indeed.
Time: 10 to 5
Locations:
success. The extreme temperatures did not slow down eager fair goers, anxious for a distraction, if even for a while. I was so proud of the 4-H and FFA members, they took excellent care of their animals and powered through the heat like champions. I still remember how hot those blue jackets were in the barn while showing my animals as a kid, (No cracks about how long ago that was.) Every year, I’m impressed by Brian Bullis and his team, they make it look so easy putting the fair together. I hope they are all taking a well-deserved break from this monumental task.
More information including maps, directions, workshops, presentations, artists, agricultural and nature based crafts, kids activities, and good old family fun is available on the website MariposaFarmsAndRanches.com and Face Book facebook.com/MariposaFarmsAndRanches.
Cost: free of charge.
Date: Saturday October 15, 2022
A Blazing Success
Saturday, October 15th at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds for a prime rib dinner. There will be dessert, silent and live auctions, something for everyone. Our corporate sponsors this year are Yosemite Farm Credit and Stanislaus Farm Supply. Tickets are $550.00 for a table of 8 and $75.00 for single tickets. For more information, or if you would like to donate to the auctions, please call Danette Toso at (209) 604-1423, mcfarmbureau@sti.net, dwtccr@aol. com.We look forward to honoring Brian and raising funds for the youth in our county. 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.
Thank you to everyone involved, well done!Speaking of Brian Bullis, the Mariposa County Farm Bureau is honoring him as our “Friend of Agriculture” this year at our annual fundraiser dinner. Please join us
Bucks Construction 878-3702
35-A District Agriculture Assn. 966-2432
MISCELLANEOUS
Bootjack Equipment Rental & Feed 966-3545
Ranch Vineyard & Winery ...... 742-7162 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. Support Farm Bureau Member Businesses Mariposa County Farm Bureau Annual Fundraiser Dinner Saturday, October 15, 2022 Location: Mariposa County Fairgrounds, Building A Social Hour 5:00 ~ Hosted Bar Prime Rib Dinner 6:30 Table of Eight $550.00 Individual Tickets $75.00 Live, Silent & Dessert Auctions “Friends of Agriculture Honoree” Brian Bullis Contact Danette Toso: (209) 742-5875, (209) 604-1423, mcfarmbureau@sti.net
Mariposa Feed & Supply 966-3326
Coast Hardware 966-2527
Yosemite Glass & Window Inc. 966-3292
Mariposa County Farm Bureau 742-5875
HARDWARE STORES
MEDICAL
Mount
Mariposa County Farm Advisor 966-2417
CONSTRUCTION
Bullion Vineyard ..................... 377-8450
SERVICES
.........
...........................
Mariposa Chamber of Commerce 966-2456
Cathey's Valley Real Estate 742-2121
Rauch
Tobey Guenthart Construction 374-3334
Palmer Tractor 374-3470
WINERIES
Mariposa Physical Therapy 742-7242
Inter-County Title Company 966-3653
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........
Edward Lien & Toso Ag Appraisers 634-9484
Gallaway Feed and Supply 374-3331
ASSOCIATIONS
...............
AGRICULTURAL
Mariposa Friends of the Fairgrounds Foundation.................... 742-4680 Hugh A. Yamshon Ranch Mariposa Gun Works 742-5444
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Chases Foothill Petroleun 966-3314
Yosemite Bank 966-5444
........
Foster Ace Hardware 966-2692
FINANCIAL SERVICES
REAL ESTATE
Ranch Fence, Inc. 966-5914
.........
Page 21Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
Happy Burger Diner 966-2719
Miners Roadhouse 14 966-2444 Pony Expresso 966-5053
Valley Pacific Petroleum 948-9412
SUPPLIES
Allison Sierra Inc 966-4082
Page 22 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022 Office: 209.378.2300 | Mobile: 209.349.2225 | jwatson@pearsonrealty.com CALIORNIA’S LEADING FARM & RANCH SPECIALISTS For a free consultation please contact: JIM WATSON Pearson Realty, Ag Division Over 15 Years Experience & Service A Tradition in Trust Since 1919 Specializing in: Agricultural Land Transitional Land 1031 Recreational/HuntingCattleExchangesRanches Sales & Service Vertical turbines Domestic pumps End suction booster pumps Sewage & stormwater pumps Multi-stage pumps prefabricated booster systems for domestic, process & landscape requirements. Special metallurgy for all types of fluids. In-house machine shop All popular brands - HazMat 40HR Certified Techs LICENSED, INSURED AND BONDED SERVING THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 50 YEARS SpecialistProblemWeed Custom Weed Control Enterprises Inc. WEED CONTROL “We Use Environmentally Safe Proven Methods.” RESIDENTIALAGRICULTURALCOMMERCIALINDUSTRIAL Discing & Clean-up - Pre-Asphalt Application Call Us First! 209 723-2161 est. 1973 We carry Bergstrom & RedDot Fully stocked parts department AC Hoses built on site Ray's Gardening 209 678 3189 AG Towing 24/7 Towing209-445-8503Service COMPLETE AUTO BODY SERVICE Domestic and Foreign COMPLETE UPHOLSTERY SERVICE Vinyl Tops, Convertible Tops, Tonneau Covers 923 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Merced Leonard Rich (209) 723 1022 State of the Art Equipment 80' Truck Scale Maximized Returns Owner Operated Inshell line complete with Satake color sorter High Capacity dryer for bin or bulk loads Since 1986 Peter Verdegaal 209 628 1008 Office 209 356 0210 8016 Winton Way, Winton Serving Stanislaus & Merced Counties M-MIG CONSTRUCTION INC. Serving Merced & Surrounding Counties Specializing in Dairy Construction Steel Buildings Locally Owned & Operated Matthew Migliazzo - Owner Contractors Lic. #870007 291 Business Park Way, Atwater www.mmigconstruction.com 209-724-9488
Northern Merced Hulling 667-2308
J&J
Cal Farm Service 358-1554
Del Rio Nut Company 394-7945
Winton Ireland Insurance 394-7925
SS Blue 722-2583
Custom Farm Services 358-1759
Gustine Drainage District 854-6782
Rico, Pfitzer, Pires and Associates .. 854-2000
Merced Irrigation District 722-5761
Mid Valley Ag Service 394-7981
INSECT & WEED CONTROL
Robal Inc. 826-4540
Malm Ag Pest Management 392-6905
...............................
Chipponeri Electric 634-4616
Modesto Dairy Supply 669-6200
Livingston True Value 394-7949
Sensient Natural Ingredients (800) 558-9892
Rain for Rent/Westside Pump (559) 693-4315
Western Valley Insurance 826-5667
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS
Grimbleby Coleman CPAs 527-4220
O'Banion Ranch, LLC Jorgensen Ranch Live Oak Farms Migliazzo Farms Nicholas Calf Ranch
Merced County Fair ........................... 722-1506
Holt Ag Solutions 723-2021
Hunt & Sons, Inc. (916) 383-4868
INSURANCE
REPAIRS & SERVICES
.................................
Mid Cal Pipeline & Utilities, INC ....... 383-7473
IRRIGATION, WELLS, & SEPTIC
Blue Diamond Growers ........... (559) 474-2996
Razzari Auto Center. 383-3673
Minturn Huller Co-op (559) 665-1185
Guerrero Farm Labor 492-0408
Hardware & Farm Supplies............... 394-7949
Dutch Door Dairy 648-2166
Powerhouse Realty Jed Kruppa Team 617-6727
Dias Construction, Inc. 634-9601
Livingston Farmers Assoc 394-7941
MISCELLANEOUS
Turlock Irrigation District................... 883-8205
The Hat Source 357-3424
N&S Tractor 383-5888
Merced County Business Member Directory the
Page 23Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022
Precision Aqua 756-2025
FUEL SERVICES
Quality Well Drillers 357-0675
Farm Management Inc. 667-1011
Car Plus 722-3552
Hilltop Ranch Inc. 874-1875
Machado Feed Company 658-5943
P. B. Iyer, M.D. 854-1120
Unwired Broadband (559) 336-4157 FARMERS
AC King 722-3552
Diamond J Farms 564-0870
Atwater Radiator & Muffler, Inc. 358-2638
California Women for Agriculture 723-5878
Central Valley Community Bank........725-2820
Property Team ................................... 769-4698
BUSSINESS SUPPORT
Bertuccio Hay 761-6247
Yosemite Farms 383-3411
................. 383-0464
A-Bar Ag Enterprises 826-2636
California Farmland Trust ....... (916) 544-2712
Mass Energy Works. (530) 710-8545
Valley Pacific Petroleum 948-9412
Valley Real Estate Sales, Inc. 854-1000
FARM SUPPLIES
Horizon Farms, Inc. 383-5225
Silva & Sons Custom Spreading 667-2566
Maciel & Co 777-0911
Water & Land Solutions 677-4700
Van De Pol Petroleum 667-0236
Allison Sierra, Inc. 966-4082
American Ag Credit 384-1050/826-0320
Allison Sierra, Inc. 966-4082
Dickey's Pump Service 394-3112
Environmental Spraying Service 667-1038
ORCHARD REMOVAL
DCB Farming LLC
Businesses Supporting
...............................
...................................
Marfab 826-6700
Modesto Dairy Supply 669-6200
M-Mig Construction, Inc. ................... 724-9488
Dos Palos Co-op Gin.......................... 387-4151
Kellogs Supply 722-1501
Trans County Title Company 383-4660
FARM EQUIPMENT
Dallas Distributing Co 394-2803
Walter Mortensen Insurance 353-2700
Fluetsch & Busby Insurance 722-1541
Agri-Valley Consulting 769-2357
REAL ESTATE
Shannon Pump Company 723-3904
Central CA Irrigation District 826-1421
Laird Mfg LLC 722-4145
La Follette Enterprises, Inc. 632-1385
Cal Corn Growers Inc. (559) 665-5775
..............................................
Caddy Shack Rodent Servc.....(559) 363-3315
Castillo Brothers Hay 392-3817
...............................
Berliner Cohen LLP 385-0700
Stone Family Spreading 756-1491
.......................
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Farmers Rice Cooperative ...... (916) 923-5100
Merced College Ag Division .............. 384-6250
Minturn Huller Co-op .............. (559) 665-1185
Yosemite Farm Credit 383-1116
Ag Flag 357-3424
The Morning Star Company .............. 826-8000
Cortez Growers Association 632-3118
Modern Dairy 722-7452
UCCE Merced 385-7403
Kirby Manufacturing 723-0778
FOOD PROCESSING
Amarants Propane Service 358-2257
..................
Farm Bureau To be included in the directory, join Merced County Farm Bureau as a business member by calling 723-3001.
Wallace & Son 382-0131
Stanislaus Farm Supply 723-0704
Flanagan Realty 723-4337 (Merced)
FARM SERVICES
J & F Fertilizer 854-6325
HARVESTING & HAULING
Agri-Valley Irrigation ......................... 384-8494
Merced Boosters 761-0815
Baldes Hay Co ......................... (559) 718-9714
............................
Pacific Southwest Irrigation 460-0450
Flanagan Realty (559) 665-1313 (Chowchilla)
Irrigation Design & Construction, LLC387-4500
Cal Ag Safety 351-0321
............................
San Luis Pump Company.
A V Thomas Produce ......................... 394-7514
Parreira Almond Processing Co. 826-1262
Barlocker Insurance 383-0220
GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS
Alice B. Contreras CPA 722-6778
California Sweet Potato Council 385-7403
The Pollination Connection (877) 970-BEES (2337)
Garton Tractor, Inc. 726-4600
Star Creek Land 704-1790
J M Equipment Co Inc . 386-1797
Dick Templeton Property Team ........ 761-4441
Western States Petroleum Assoc. ........... (661) 321-0884
Page 24 Merced County Farm News •September 17, 2022 When: Thursday September 29, October 6, 13, & 20 Time: 8a 12p Location: Merced County Farm Bureau 646 S State Highway 59, Merced Cost: $40/week or $150 for all 4 meetings Get your CE Units now! Sponsors 4 DPR and CCA hoursweekper To register scan the QR Code or visit mercedfarmbureau.org/ce For questions please call (209) 723-3001 M C F B C E S E R I E S T H U R S D A Y , S E P T E M B E R 2 9 F A L L 2 0 2 2 S C H E D U L E School Site Notification System & Restrictions LAWS Colleen Murrary, Merced County Ag Commissioners Office Updates on Soil Fumigant Application Requirements LAWS Rais Akanda, Environmental Specialist, California DPR Respiratory Protection, Respiratory Protection* LAWS Gumaro Castellanos, Nationwide Management of Arthropod Pests in Cotton Ian Grettenberger, PhD, Assistant Specialist, UC Davis, Via Zoom 8a 9a 9a 10a 10a 11:30a 11:30a 12p T H U R S D A Y , O C T O B E R 6 Paraquat and Gramoxone: Everything you need to know LAWS Avery Harman, Merced County Ag Commissioners Office Sustainable Pest Management LAWS Taylor Roschen, CA Farm Bureau Federation, Via Zoom Statewide Pesticide Notification Stan. Co. Pilot Project LAWS Judith Arroyo, Stanislaus County Ag Commissioners Office Classical Biocontrol and Filed Biocontrol Projects Ricky Lara, PhD, CDFA Senior Environmental Scientist, Specialist 8a 9a 9a 10a 10a 11a 11a 12p T H U R S D A Y , O C T O B E R 1 3 NOI Reporting LAWS Juan Hernandez, Merced County Ag Commissioners Office Management of BCTV and TSWV in Processing and Fresh Mkt Tomatoes Scott Stoddard, UCCE Merced Vegetable Crops Advisor Fall and Winter Weed Management in Orchard Crops and Wheat Andre Alves, Corteva What's Causing My Rejects? Trent Voss, Blue Diamond Growers 8a 9a 9a 10a 10a 11a 11a 12p T H U R S D A Y , O C T O B E R 2 0 PPE Regulations for Pesticide Applications LAWS Rais Akanda, Environmental Specialist, California DPR Pest Management in Alfalfa Ian Grettenberger, PhD, Assistant Specialist, UC Davis, Via Zoom Meteorological Influence on the Spray Application Process Dan Gudgel, California Agricultural Aircraft Association Resistance Management and Tree Nut Product Selection Ashley Bandoni, Syngenta 8a 9a 9a-10a 10a 11a 11a 12p *For Respiratory Fit Test on 9/29, each individual must bring in their own respirator along with doctor’s health clearance form. Hours not marked as LAWS, will receive credit for OTHER.
