California sues over Trump’s changes to Endangered Species Act, arguing they threaten habitat By: Rachel Becker, Cal Matters
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alifornia’s beloved condors and sea otters have rebounded from the brink of extinction thanks to the Endangered Species Act. Now the state is going to court to keep the 50-year-old law intact, filing two lawsuits Wednesday to block what Democratic leaders describe as the Trump administration’s rollback of its protections. Attorney General Rob Bonta filed the suits with a coalition of 21 attorneys general, adding to dozens California has already filed to combat the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda. The complaints target the Trump administration’s revisions to the Endangered Species Act, first enacted under Republican President (and Californian) Richard
Nixon. “Caring for our wildlife and our environment is part of caring for our future, yet President Trump seems to care only for himself and his industry friends,” Bonta said in a statement Wednesday. “The Trump Administration has continuously sought to put our ecosystems in danger, which is why we continue to take them to court.” Trump’s changes, finalized in July, rescind a definition of harm that made it illegal to damage the places that endangered species call home — effectively opening up habitat where they shelter, breed and eat to mining, logging and other development. The U.S. Department of the Interior said in a statement that the final rule “will end years of federal overreach” and “brings long overdue financial and regulatory
relief to citizens who faced unpredictable delays and unnecessary costs due solely by interpretations that went far beyond the statute.” The coalition’s complaint in federal court calls this “a reversal of staggering proportions.” The Trump administration’s changes also make it easier for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to avoid designating places as critical habitat, which would otherwise limit federal and federally permitted development in these areas. And they end what the administration called a “burdensome” rule that extended automatic protections to threatened species — forcing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to now hand craft rules
specific to each species newly designated as threatened. This added work comes amid major staff cuts to the agency, which the Center for Biological Diversity reported lost more than a third of its staff under the Trump administration and faces a backlog of 400 species awaiting protection decisions. The administration, thus far, has protected only three, according to Noah Greenwald, endangered species co-director at the nonprofit conservation organization. Greenwald’s organization and others have already filed See 'Species Act' Page 3
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ello to all of our friends and supporters of Farm Bureau. Many of us are in the crazy season of harvest for the various crops grown in Merced County. It is a time the farmers and ranchers wait with great anticipation, after many months and large investments they get to see hopefully a reward for their labor with good quality and fair compensation. At our August board meeting we had the pleasure of hosting two 30-minute debates between candidates from Congressional District 13 and State assembly district 27. For our board to make a candidate endorsement we need to get two-thirds of the votes from the board members in attendance at the meeting. If we fail to reach the two-thirds of the votes needed, then we simply do not endorse a candidate. In the first debate we were honored to have Congressman Adam Gray and Kevin Lincoln. We listened to the candidates’ answers to our questions and then took a vote of the board. The board was unable to reach the two thirds vote needed to officially endorse a candidate
Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026
for Congressional District 13. Our second debate of the night was between Brian Pacheco and Mike Murphy. After the second debate the board carefully considered the candidates and their answers and then we took a vote of the board. In this vote we were able to achieve a two thirds majority of the board in favor of endorsing Mike Murphy. I would like to thank all of the candidates for their time and commitment to this process as well as our board members who take this endorsement process very seriously. From this process we are honored to support Mike Murphy of the 27th District for California State Assembly. I wanted to share with you all that we started a new program this year called Roots to Resources: Industry Insight for Ag Educators. It is an idea that was conceived by our Executive Director Breanne Vandenberg and Board Member Hannah Cole. Hannah’s recognized the need to conect ag teachers with local ag businesses, enabling them to understand the skills neeed. This discussion brought forward an idea for the Farm Bureau
to host a tour for the ag teachers. Breanne brought the concept to the executive board in the spring time and got overwhelming support to move the project forward. Breanne and her staff then went to work to secure a bus and funding for the one-day event and line up tours for the day. They also lined up 3 different tours of facilities in the county, and we at Northern Merced Hulling Association were asked to be a host for one of the tours. I was really excited to see over 20 teachers plus and staff
walk into our facility. There was some great dialogue with the teachers and all of them seemed enthusiastic and motivated to be on the tour. I am really was happy that we had the opportunity to help and meet the teachers. A very big thank you to Breanne, Hannah, and our staff for the good that was done to accomplish this event. At the time of writing, MCFB is scheduled to hear from candidates running for Senate Districts 4 & 14.I wish you all a health and happy harvest.
Merced County Farm News • September 28, 2026
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Species Act
continued from page 1 lawsuits against the changes, but Greenwald said that state attorneys general joining the fight is significant. “It really signals that the chief legal officer of almost half the states don’t agree with these changes,” he said. “To have the states weigh in is really powerful.” Is California’s endangered species act enough? The stakes are high for California, which is home to more threatened and endangered species than any state besides Hawaii, according to the attorney general’s office. California has its own endangered species act, first enacted in 1970 and then updated and replaced in the 1980s. But California’s law has gaps: For one thing, at least 140 species protected under the federal endangered species law remain unprotected under the state’s. These “could potentially obtain protections” under California’s endangered species act, a spokesperson for Bonta’s office told
CalMatters in an email — but the process can be lengthy. The federal endangered species act also protects migratory species that live in different states at different times. There’s another, even more challenging gap to address: the California Endangered Species Act, “on its face, does not count habitat of listed species as something that’s protected,” according to Eric Biber, a professor at UC Berkeley Law — though, he added, there’s uncertainty and debate about the law’s interpretation. On its own, it’s unclear that California’s version can fill the gaps in habitat protection the Trump administration just opened. For most endangered species, according to a Stanford analysis, “habitat loss is the primary threat.” Combined with the Trump administration’s erosion of protections for wetlands, Biber said, “this is one further step in this administration’s efforts to roll back protections for habitat for endangered species.”
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Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026
Merced County Farm Bureau Endorses Mike Murphy for Assembly District 27 By: Merced County Farm Bureau, Press Release
during the regular meeting of directors held at the end of August. erced County Farm “Mike Murphy is from Bureau (MCFB), Merced and as a business an organization that owner himself, he too works to protect and promote understands the challenges agriculture in Merced County, that our community members has elected to endorse former endure,” said MCFB City of Merced Mayor Mike President, Tim Lohman. “His Murphy in his bid for platform focuses on water, Assembly District 27. public safety and the cost of MCFB made the decision living among other issues that
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growers in Merced County face.” Mike grew up in Merced, attended local schools and was the first in his family to graduate from college. He then graduated from Georgetown Law School, building a practice that focused on small business needs. During his time with the City of Merced, he created partnerships across
the aisle to ensure Merced had better relationships and accessibility. “I’m honored to have the Farm Bureau’s support,” said Murphy. “And as an Assemblyman, I’ll fight for sustainable water, lower prices for farmers, and work non-stop to make sure our ag community in the Central Valley is prioritized.”
Atwater High Turf/Field Students Gain Game-Day Experience at LA Memorial Coliseum By: Atwater FFA
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our Atwater High School Turfgrass and Sports Field Management students received the experience of a lifetime as they traveled to Los Angeles to work alongside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum grounds crew in preparation for USC’s 2026 college football season opener against San Jose State on Saturday, August 29. Students Jace Borgess, David Guereca, Emmanuel Heredia, and Jose Perez spent three days gaining hands-on experience preparing one of the country's most recognizable football fields for a nationally televised college football game. The students arrived at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at sunrise on Thursday, August 27, and immediately began assisting the grounds crew with field
preparation. Their first day included helping paint the end zones, including the yellow “USC” lettering, along with the white perimeter border surrounding the playing field. The experience gave students a chance to see firsthand the precision, teamwork, planning, and attention to detail required to prepare a major college football field. Work continued Friday as the students helped apply the signature “cardinal red” to the end zones, paint field advertising, and prepare hash marks, yard-line numbers, and other field markings. Throughout the day, students experienced the extensive preparation and long hours behind the scenes before the finished field is showcased to thousands of fans inside the Coliseum and a national television audience. Saturday, August 29, brought an entirely
different experience—game day. The students returned to assist the field crew with final preparations, including positioning sideline tarps and fine-tuning the field before kickoff. The Coliseum grounds crew provided each student with a game-day field pass, allowing them to report to the field at 6 p.m. and participate in the final preparations leading up to the game. During the contest, the Atwater students assisted with responsibilities in the end zones and with the fieldgoal netting, giving them the unique opportunity to work
directly on the field during a major NCAA football game. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum staff member Anthony Anaya emphasized that providing opportunities for young people to experience the profession firsthand is something the crew values and takes great pride in. “We appreciate the opportunity to open the doors to young people and introduce them to our profession,” Anaya said. “Our crew takes a great deal of pride in what we do, See 'Atwater FFA' Page 5
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Merced County Farm News • September 28, 2026
Atwater FFA
continued from page 4 and it is rewarding to have these students become part of that experience. Giving them the opportunity to work alongside us, learn what goes into preparing a field at this level, and see potential career opportunities in the industry is something that is important to our entire crew.” Their responsibilities did not end when the final whistle sounded. Following the game, the students helped fold and organize the sideline tarps, vacuum the turfgrass, clean and organize equipment, and begin preparing the facility for USC’s upcoming game against Fresno State. The postgame work provided another valuable lesson for the students: professional sports field management extends well beyond what
spectators see during the game, with preparation for the next event beginning almost immediately after the previous one concludes. Throughout the experience, members of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum grounds crew took time to share their knowledge and professional experiences with the Atwater students. Discussions included turfgrass science, field maintenance, painting and field preparation, gameday operations, and the many responsibilities involved in maintaining a high-quality playing surface throughout a college football season. Atwater High School agriculture instructor Dave Gossman expressed tremendous appreciation to USC and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for providing his students with such an extraordinary
Page 5 educational opportunity. “We are incredibly grateful to USC, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and their entire field and grounds staff for opening their doors to our students,” Gossman said. “There is only so much we can teach in a classroom or school laboratory. Giving students the opportunity to step onto a field of this caliber, work alongside professionals, and experience turf and sports field management at the highest level is something they will remember for the rest of their lives. These experiences expose students to the standards, expectations, work ethic, and career opportunities that exist within this industry, and we sincerely appreciate
the investment USC and the Coliseum staff are making in our students.” The opportunity provided Borgess, Guereca, Heredia, and Perez with an invaluable connection between what they are learning through Atwater High School’s Turfgrass and Sports Field Management program and how it applies in the professional sports turf industry. More importantly, the students were not simply observing from the sidelines—they were working alongside industry professionals and contributing to the preparation and operation of a field being showcased on one of college football’s biggest stages.
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Atwater High School Turfgrass and Sports Field Management students Dave Gossman (Instructor), Jace Borgess, Emmanuel Heredia, David Guereca, and Jose Perez gather together after they helped prepare the LA Coliseum for USC's opening-day college football game.
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LA Coliseum field crew member Lawrence Mark (right) highlights the growth and maintenance of the Bermuda grass at the LA Coliseum with students David Guereca, Jose Perez, Jace Borgess, and Emmanuel Heredia before the game.
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Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026
More Than a Tractor Pull: The Legacy Behind a Gustine Tradition By: Natalie Ventura, Gustine FFA Reporter
advisor, and they ran with it. I don't think any of them could have known at the time rowing up in Gustine, what they were starting. the tractor pulls have Steve and Frank didn't always just been part just come up with the idea of summer to me. Every July and then let everyone else do 3rd, you know there will be the work. They were there tractors, a packed crowd, FFA year after year putting in the members running around time themselves. They would working, and people from all spend about a week getting over town coming together. I the track ready and then pull honestly never really stopped their own tractors during to think about how it all the event. Steve used his started or who we had to water truck to help prepare thank for a tradition that has the track. After Steve passed been around longer than any away, his wife Nancy sold of us current FFA members that same water truck to have been alive. I was lucky Frank. One of my favorite enough to have Mr. Frank things I learned while writing Azevedo Sr. answer some this article is that the same questions for me about the water truck is still used to history of the tractor pulls prepare our tractor pull track and share his memories of today. To me, that says so how it all began. Hearing much about this event. We the story from one of the have new FFA members men who was actually there every year, new officers and from the beginning made me new people helping, but there realize just how much history are still pieces of the original and tradition are behind an tractor pull right there with event that so many of us have us. grown up with. After Steve passed away, The story of the tractor Frank continued what the pulls actually started in 1983. two of them had started. For Steve Bell and his wife, around 30 years, he helped Nancy, were driving home prepare the track. Eventually, from a tractor pull out of the younger generation town when Nancy suggested started taking over some of they could put on a tractor that work, including Frank pull in Gustine as a fundraiser Azevedo III for Our Lady of Miracles and Robert Catholic School. The school Borba. held the tractor pull for one But Frank year, but when it decided not Sr. didn't stop to continue the fundraiser the pulling. next July, Steve wasn't ready At our most to let the idea end. recent July 3rd In 1984, Steve talked to tractor pull, his friend Frank Azevedo Sr. he was out about giving the Gustine FFA there again. Chapter the opportunity to That means take it over. Steve brought the Frank has idea to Gustine FFA, where been pulling Jamie Farao was the ag at the Gustine
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Tractor Pull for 42 years. I think sometimes my generation forgets how many of the things we get to enjoy today are only here because somebody before us cared enough to start them and then worked hard enough to keep them going. The tractor pulls are a perfect example of that. What makes the story even more special this year is that our Gustine FFA Chapter President, Carson Bell, is Steve Bell's grandson. Over 40 years ago, Steve Bell helped give the tractor pulls to Gustine FFA. Today, his grandson is helping lead the same chapter that continues to benefit from what his grandfather and Frank started. Today, the Gustine FFA Tractor Pulls are our chapter's largest fundraiser. The money we raise helps provide opportunities for our members throughout the year. It helps us compete, travel, attend conferences, learn new things, and have experiences that many of us will remember long after we graduate. This year, our officer team, President Carson Bell, Vice President Juliana Martinez, Secretary Madeline Alves, Treasurer
Justin Lopes, Reporter Natalie Ventura, and Sentinel Dominic Alves, were also able to beat the previous sales record again. We are extremely proud of that accomplishment because selling sponsorships and putting on an event this large takes a lot of work. Thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters; without you, this event would not be successful. But when you learn the history behind the tractor pulls, breaking another record means a little more. We aren't starting something new. We are continuing something that Steve Bell and Frank Azevedo Sr. trusted Gustine FFA with more than four decades ago. That's a big responsibility. Agriculture is a huge part of Gustine. For families like mine, it has been passed down from generation to generation. You grow up hearing stories about how things used to be, learning from people older than you and hopefully leaving something behind for the generation after you. I think See 'Gustine FFA' Page 8
Merced County Farm News • September 28, 2026
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erced County Young Farmers & Ranchers continues to stay active as we head into the fall season, with plenty of opportunities for members to get involved, connect with others in agriculture, and support our local community. On September 12th, Merced YF&R members gathered for a pool party, which was a great success! We want to give a special thank you to the Tate family for hosting us and providing a great evening for our members to enjoy. Events like these provide a great opportunity to relax, build relationships, and welcome new faces into YF&R.
Our sponsor T-shirts are also available for purchase! We want to extend a big thank you to all of our sponsors for supporting Merced County YF&R. Your support helps us continue to provide opportunities and events for our members throughout the year. Shirts must be purchased by September 20th. Looking ahead, Merced YF&R is excited to co-host the Mid State Mixer with San Joaquin YF&R on Saturday, October 17th, at the Lopez Barn in Los Banos. As part of the event, we will be hosting a Harvest for All service project where members will assemble care packages
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for residents of New Bethany Residential Care Facility. We look forward to bringing members from across the region together for an evening of food, fun, fellowship, and giving back to our community. Be sure to RSVP by October 4th. Mark your calendars for November 21st because the 2nd Annual YF&R Fresno State Tailgate is coming back! Merced YF&R is excited to co-host this year's tailgate alongside FresnoMadera, San Joaquin, Kern, and Stanislaus YF&R. This event is open to both Farm Bureau and YF&R members, making it a great opportunity to bring
together agriculturalists from across the region for a day of football, food, and fellowship. The interest form is now live on our social media, so be sure to check it out and let us know if you plan to join us. We are looking forward to making this year's tailgate another great YF&R event! Merced County YF&R is always looking for new members who want to get involved, meet others in agriculture, and have a little fun along the way. Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming events and opportunities to get involved!
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Gustine FFA
continued from page 6 that's why the tractor pulls fit our community so well. They aren't just about seeing which tractor can pull the farthest. They bring together farmers, families, FFA members, alumni, and people who have been coming to the pulls since they first started. Kids who once attended as FFA members now bring their own kids and grandkids. That's heritage. As the Gustine FFA Reporter, I usually write about what our chapter is doing now. But after learning more about the history of the tractor pulls, I think it's just as important that we talk about the people who made it
Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026 possible for us to be here in the first place. So this story is really a thank you. Thank you to Steve Bell and Frank Azevedo Sr.Thank you for having an idea and choosing Gustine FFA. Thank you for spending those weeks getting the track ready, bringing your tractors out every year, getting dirty, putting in the work, and coming back year after year. Thank you to Nancy Bell for having the original idea on that drive home back in 1983. And thank you to everyone who has helped carry on what they started. Steve and Frank didn't just start a fundraiser for some FFA kids in 1984. They started something that has helped generations
of Gustine FFA members, including my generation. More than 40 years later, we're still breaking records, we're still filling the stands, that old water truck is still preparing the track, and Frank is still pulling. Most
importantly, Gustine FFA is still carrying on what these men started. Hopefully, 40 years from now, another Gustine FFA Reporter will be able to say the same thing.
Frank Azevedo Sr. pictured at a Gustine FFA Tractor Pull event.
Roots to Resources: Industry Insight for Agricultural Educators By: Breanne Vandenberg, MCFB Executive Director
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strong focus of Merced County Farm Bureau (MCFB) has been agriculture education. Roots to Resources: Industry Insights for Ag Educators launched September 9, 2026 with a slight twist to normal education efforts provided by the organization. As the name implies, the program was tailored to Merced County FFA Advisors. Through a grant from MCFB Scholarship & Education Fund, 23 teachers were able to participate in the pilot program. Through in-depth conversations with MCFB Director Hannah Cole, a local ag instructor, staff realized the need to create better connections, acting as the bridge among local agriculture and
those instructing the next generation. Staff quickly worked to secure a day worth remembering as sign-ups for the program were filled within a day’s time. Local ag businesses stepped up to the challenge and included Kirby Manufacturing, Northern Merced Hulling Association (NMHA) and Atwater Veterinary Center. Ric Kirby of Kirby Manufacturing provided the history of Kirby Manufacturing and a tour highlighting the labor and steps required to build cattle feeding equipment. Tim Lohman, MCFB President and NMHA’s General Manager, fielded questions regarding NMHA’s employee requirements, the hulling process and who he considers competitors. A tour of NMHA’s hulling operation was dusty and loud but provided a look at the facility
from a level that not many are able to experience. Lastly, attendees toured Atwater
Veterinary Center where three of the doctors took See 'Roots to Rescources' Page 9
Roots to Resources participants gathered for a group picture at Northern Merced Hulling Association with general manger, Tim Lohman.
Agriculture educators gathered at Kirby Manufacturing listening to Owner, Ric Kirby explain his operation.
Merced County Farm News • September 28, 2026
Roots to Resources continued from page 8 time to speak with the group. Fair livestock vaccination protocol and timeline was provided by Dr. Smith, while Dr. Westbrook covered employee needs and a tour of the clinic. Dr. Barlett provided an overview of the large animal truck and what is required to be on hand
for any of the veterinarians during an out-of-clinic call. Lunch was held at The Tri-Tipery courtesy of MCFB with the day’s transportation funded by Merced County Office of Education. MCFB does not envision this program ending here but rather continuing in a multitude of ways depending on available funding. It is
Page 9 believed that this program can expand in number of sessions per year or eventually cover ag products that are outside of the county. For example, teachers have strongly requested a tour dedicated to forestry. Due to the connections of MCFB, the organization finds itself as one of the few that can successfully orchestrated this
request. The organization would like to also extend a thank you to the farms that helped with in-kind items including Arnold Farms, San Juan Ranch, J. Marchini Farms and Live Oak Farms. Please watch for more details on the program. More information can be found at www. mercedfarmbureau.org.
MCOOL Debate Continues as Congress Considers Country-of-Origin Labeling By: AgNet West Radio Network
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he MCOOL debate is continuing as the Trump administration and Congress consider potential changes to country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef. A September 4 executive order directed USDA to review existing legal and regulatory authorities for establishing mandatory country-oforigin labeling for beef and to consider legislative recommendations. Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA, says the order could provide momentum for efforts to permanently reinstate mandatory countryof-origin labeling, commonly known as MCOOL. MCOOL Review Could Lead to Legislative Action Under the executive order, USDA, in consultation with the U.S. Trade Representative, has 90 days to review the authorities available for establishing mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef. The review is also directed to include an economic analysis of the potential impacts under current conditions. Bullard emphasized that the executive order itself does not immediately reinstate
MCOOL. “He has acknowledged that Congress will likely need to be involved in this,” Bullard said. “And of course, we believe that Congress is the swiftest route in order to permanently reinstate country of origin labeling.” Bullard added that “nothing immediate is going to happen as a result of that executive order,” but said he believes the action could encourage Congress to move forward on the issue. Country-of-Origin Labeling Included in Farm Bill Debate
The MCOOL discussion is also taking place as lawmakers work on the 2026 Farm Bill. The Senate Agriculture Committee passed the Agriculture Act of 2026, known as Farm Bill 2.0, on September 16. The legislation is now part of the broader Senate consideration of a new farm bill. The Senate Agriculture Committee’s current Farm Bill 2.0 materials outline a broad package covering agricultural programs, including risk management, conservation, specialty crops and rural development.
The combination of the executive order and congressional consideration puts country-of-origin labeling among the ongoing policy discussions affecting the cattle industry. For cattle producers and beef industry stakeholders, the next steps will depend on the USDA review as well as congressional action. Listen to the accompanying podcast for more from Bill Bullard on MCOOL, the executive order and the ongoing discussion over country-of-origin labeling for beef.
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Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026
High Cost of Living Tops Voter Concerns, Becerra Remains FrontRunner in Governor's Race, New Poll Shows By: Nicole Nixon, Meltwater
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s Californians prepare to elect a new governor in November, the concern they want to be his top priority is reducing the state's entrenched high cost of living, according to a poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times. Not too far behind that is strong voter support for fighting the policies of the Trump administration. That may be among the many reasons 58% of likely voters surveyed support Democrat Xavier Becerra in the governor's race compared to the 33% who back Republican Steve Hilton, whom the president endorsed. "These results suggest that Becerra is in a commanding position heading to November," said IGS codirector Eric Schickler. "With 2026 shaping up to be a strong Democratic year nationally, the headwinds facing Hilton in Democraticleaning California are even stronger than usual." The poll found that Becerra's lead over Hilton had increased slightly since an August IGS poll, and the Democrat now holds a 25-percentage-point advantage. Despite an effort to reach out to Democrats and independent voters and making California's high housing costs, top-in-thenation gasoline prices and
other increasing daily living expenses a central focus of his campaign, Hilton is struggling to gain ground in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, the poll found. "The difficult thing is that Steve Hilton's a Republican in California," said Tim Rosales, a Republican strategist who previously advised GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox in the 2018 race against Newsom. "On the scale of what's more important to voters, the cost of living certainly is there, but those Democrats really aren't willing to cast a vote or cross party lines to vote for a Republican." Asked to name one or two of their top concerns heading into the Nov. 3 election, 44% of likely voters cited the cost of living, 37% said it was important to push back
against policies from the Trump administration and 30% said they wanted to help their political party win or maintain control of Congress. "The November elections are being held at a time when the economic backdrop is worsening not only in California but across the nation, as prices are rising on most major household purchases, including groceries, gasoline, electricity and healthcare," said IGS poll director Mark DiCamillo. "Pocketbook issues have traditionally played a big role in election politics and this year is no exception." Democrats, who make up nearly half of California's 23 million registered voters, "understand the cost of living, and they feel it. They just feel like they need a new Democrat to deal with it," Rosales said.
"Independent voters are a little bit different. They aren't partisan but they are ideological and there is some opportunity there." But Hilton would "need a whole lot of them in California in order to have a chance on a statewide level," he said. More than half of likely voters not registered with either the Democratic or Republican parties — most of whom declare themselves as "no party preference" — said they supported Becerra in the governor's race, while 30% favored Hilton. The remaining 14% were undecided. Hilton has made a slew of campaign promises to lower the cost of living, including $3 gasoline, no taxes on income below $150,000 and lowering energy bills See 'Living Cost' Page 11
Merced County Farm News • September 28, 2026
Living Cost
continued from page 10 by slashing climate-friendly regulations imposed by Democrats. Both Rosales and DiCamillo agreed that while voters list affordability as a top issue, Democrats in particular are more motivated by the opportunity to push back on President Trump in the midterm elections. "Then you look at the Becerra voters on the issues or concerns that are important to them, it's really framed by fighting Trump administration policies. I think that's an indication of what's happening in this election cycle," DiCamillo said. "You're seeing it across the country as well." The poll showed that
59% of Becerra supporters said fighting the Trump administration was a top priority, while 62% of Hilton supporters said reducing taxes was their main concern. More than 60% of undecided voters listed the cost of living as a top item. Trump, who remains extremely unpopular among most Californians, endorsed Hilton for governor in April. Though the president's backing helped the former Fox News host consolidate enough Republican support to finish second in the June primary, allowing him to advance to the November election, it may hurt his chance in the general election. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll showed Trump with a 27% approval rating in the
Page 11 state, a record low across both of his terms. Hilton has tried to court voters, especially Latinos and independents, who dislike Trump but are also dissatisfied with California's Democratic leadership and its failure to alleviate some of California's most incessant problems. The British-born Republican has also declined to criticize the president on issues including immigration enforcement or the Iran war. Becerra's wide lead is also boosted by his favorability rating — 48% of likely voters have a favorable opinion of him while 40% view him unfavorably and 11% have no opinion. Hilton's rating is underwater; 51% of likely voters have an unfavorable opinion compared to 35% favorable and 13% with no
opinion. The Republican has criticized his opponent for doing few public events since the primary election and challenged Becerra to accept debate invitations from roughly a half-dozen news outlets around the state. The two are scheduled to meet in a Sept. 30 nationally televised debate in Burbank hosted by CNN. The poll was conducted online in English and Spanish from Sept. 15 to 20. Responses for the governor's race poll came from a weighted sample of 4,512 respondents considered likely to vote in the November election, from a larger group of 6,989 registered voters throughout California. It has a margin of error of 2 percentage points in either direction.
Merced Voters to Decide on Sales Tax Increase. What Supporters, Detractors Say By: Jim Silva, Merced Sun Star
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oters in Merced County will face a difficult decision in the November general election. Measure B, known as the “Vital Services Protection Measure,” would increase the sales tax in Merced by 1%, up from 8.25% to 9.25%. Supporters of the measure say the sales tax increase, with expected revenue of about $18 million annually, is vital to help pay for improving police and fire services, fixing roads and upgrading park facilities. Detractors of the measure say the tax is a regressive financial burden on those who can least afford it. According to the
city attorney’s impartial analysis of Measure B, the tax increase would be a permanent general tax, “which means the tax revenue can be spent for all general city governmental purposes.” Decisions on what to do with the money would be decided through the city’s annual budgeting process. Sales tax is not collected on items such as prescription medications or food bought as groceries, the analysis said. The California Constitution requires that this proposed general tax be approved by a simple majority of the voters voting on the measure, the analysis said. The case for the 1% sales tax increase In an article posted on the city’s website arguing
for Measure B, supporters say the sales tax increase is needed because a “federal fire safety grant that pays for 24 firefighters is expiring.” The federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant is set to expire in March of 2027. “Without Measure B, Merced has no choice but to fire nearly half of our firefighter-paramedics — crippling our ability to respond fast when every second counts, and putting your life and property at risk!” the article states. The article is signed by Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto, the president of Merced City Firefighters IAFF, the president of Merced Police Officers Association and two local
business owners. The Sun-Star emailed all members of the sevenmember Merced City Council asking about their thoughts on Measure B, but only Serratto responded. “There is tremendous and growing demand for core city services, such as road maintenance, park improvements, police, fire, as well as for investments that enhance the quality of life for our residents,” Serratto said in his email response. “The recurring message we hear from our citizens is that they would like more services, more investment.” Serratto also said the sales tax increase would cost “approximately $15 per month per person in the See 'Sales Tax' Page 12
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Sales Tax
continued from page 11 city of Merced.” He said Merced’s current sales tax is 0.5% lower than the state average. “The city of Merced has been underinvested in for a long time,” Serratto said. The case against the 1% sales tax increaseIn an article arguing against Measure B posted on
Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026 the city’s website, detractors say the 1% sales tax increase will be an unfair burden against low-income Merced residents who are already “struggling under the weight of high inflation, rising grocery bills, expensive utilities and gas prices.” “Forcing residents to pay extra on everyday items forever is a regressive financial burden that drains
millions of dollars directly out of our local economy and the pockets of households that can least afford it,” the article says. The article is signed by Merced City Council member Fue Xiong and several residents. Xiong was the only member of the council who voted against putting the sales tax increase on the ballot.
This article says, “Just 2 years ago, the new Measure C imposed another sales tax with 95% of its revenue dedicated to Police and Fire. And now this Council is back asking for more money for Police and Fire.” It calls the new tax measure “disingenuous,” and says it will “continue to funnel another $16M annually from our community to Police and Fire.
Voters are turning to AI on politics. Is it up to the task?
By: Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill
A
rtificial intelligence is playing a growing role in how voters get information about politics and elections, raising fresh questions about how the technology could influence the way voters stay informed. From chatbots to standard internet searches, voters this election cycle are interacting with AI-generated content, even when they may not realize it. Recent research on voters’ use of AI is forcing campaigns to rethink their digital strategies and reminding election officials the importance of upkeep regarding information online. “While people may have and should continue to have … a healthy dose of skepticism about some of the outputs, the reality is that [AI] outputs are going to be playing an increasing role,” Max Read, the director of civic innovation at the research organization Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told The Hill. “Both as a primary information source and point of information gathering for voters, but also impacting the information environment in
more subtle ways.” A handful of researchers this year are exploring how often voters intentionally use AI to answer election-related questions or accidentally interact with AI-generated content on social media or search engines. While some say it is likely too early to determine the extent of which AI is reshaping the information ecosystem, many researchers agree it is playing a larger role than in past elections. Despite skepticism over AI and its impact on society, Americans are using chatbots more than ever before, with U.S. adult usage up from a third in 2024 to about 50 percent in 2026. Amid the billions of questions chatbots receive daily, a study commissioned by the left-leaning marketing firm Orchestra found about 650,000 of these prompts relate to politics. OpenAI’s ChatGPT model and Google’s AI tools were the most frequent source for these queries. “The growth in which people have been turning to these tools for just information questions in general has been staggering, and even more so when you take when you realize
that most of what people are typing into Google now is first being answered by the Google AI overview as well,” said Ben Worthen, Orchestra’s chief product officer who oversaw the study. The timeline of AI development is rapid, and the models available to voters are far more advanced than those in 2024, when concerns over AI-generated deepfakes
or chatbots’ inaccurate or misleading claims dominated the conversation. These concerns still exist, but they have not stopped voters from at least trying AIpowered services. An analysis of Anthropic’s Economic Index, which tracked real conversation topics with Claude from April and May, found AI use for See 'AI on Politics' Page 13
Merced County Farm News • September 28, 2026
AI on Politics
continued from page 12 politics remains “modest, but still meaningful,” ranking No. 66 out of 189 topics. The weeks prior to an election saw an uptick in political usage, with states holding May primaries seeing the share of political conversations jump about 20 percent. “If primaries can lift political AI use this much, November’s midterm elections will likely bring the biggest wave of political AI use on record,” Andy Hall, a member of the technical staff at Anthropic and Dan Thompson, a political science professor at the University of California Los Angeles, wrote in an analysis last month. The ways voters are turning to AI vary, with some thinking of it as an information gathering tool and others considering it
an authoritative source for advice or guidance. For Amrita Bhasin, the cofounder and CEO of the tech startup Sotira, AI is helping her understand the flurry of propositions on the ballot in California. “They’re phrased in a very, very confusing way,” Bhasin told The Hill. “Sometimes you can literally end up voting wrong on the proposition because of the way it’s phrased.” Bhasin uses AI to create tables and comparison charts, simply using prompts like “Can you write this bill as it would be explained to a 7-year-old?” or asking to lay out candidates’ policy differences. While newspapers will create guides on certain propositions or candidates, Bhasin said these can be “biased in a certain way.” “For me, it’s less so having the AI make the decision and more so giving me the
Page 13 information that I need to be an informed voter before I can decide,” she said, adding she often checks the linked sources the models provide her. In July, the New York Times reported voters across the country are submitting photos of their ballots and asking chatbots for help filling them out, while others are asking the models for advice on who to vote for. While models are improved from 2024, researchers are still sounding the alarm on the potential for inconsistent answers. ISD published a report earlier this month that nearly a third of AI chatbots’ replies to election questions were incomplete, inaccurate or outdated. Testing both generic and adversarial questions across six AI chatbots, 29 percent contained errors, like misidentifying Election Day dates or showing outdated
requirements. In 16 percent of the replies, the chatbot answered correctly but did not include important information that could be useful to a voter, such as key deadlines or ways to prove identity. The accuracy drastically plummeted 16 percentage points when prompted in Spanish. Read, who led the study, told The Hill he hopes the findings emphasize the importance of local election officials and campaigns keeping information updated online. Models often cited government and civil society sources as they were trained to, though the volume and proportion changed a lot between models, Read said. When presented with false or adversarial claims, the models did a “pretty good job” at refuting or pushing See 'AI on Politics' Page 14
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Page 14
AI on Politics
continued from page 13 back, relying more on news media sites than government ones. “There’s growing awareness” among local election officials, Read said, “They just boil down to good websites and social media hygiene.” “Retire old pages with outdated information, make sure things are translated and put into machine-readable form on your website,” Read said. Carolina Lopez, the executive director at the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions (PLEJ) said there is a “delicate
Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026 balance between feeding the large language models and just telling people to go to this website.” “When it comes to elections, there’s 10,000 election offices across the country, and you really should be getting your information from your local elections office,” Lopez told The Hill. “I think if we’re preaching that as a community, please come to our website. Then the burden or the responsibility is that your website better be updated.” In a case study of the Georgia Senate race between Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) and Rep. Mike Collins (R), Orchestra found Ossoff is “winning”
the “battle to shape” answers due to a difference in the candidates’ websites. “Ossoff’s congressional and campaign sites are organized around concrete details — named legislation, funding amounts… Collins’ site contains fewer issuespecific pages and presents that information less clearly,” the report stated. “Answer engines have far more Ossoff material to draw from, and they cite it more frequently,” it added. And voters could be trusting these answers, Josh Kalla, a political science professor at Yale University, said following two years of research on models’ persuasion of humans.
“If you get someone in a survey and the chatbot is told to persuade you on pro X or anti X, it works, you can change your mind … it’s actually meaningful persuasion,” Kalla explained. While this was done in a controlled lab, it raises concerns around model training, biases and the threat of malign actors trying to input data into these models. “Even when people know that they’re talking to a computer, their mind is changed as a result of it,”Kalla said. “People don’t discount or have skepticism towards the computer.”
Valley groups voice opposition to HighSpeed Rail Authority’s plan to move proposed station outside downtown Merced By: Victor A. Patton, The Merced Focus
A
coalition of Valley groups wants to put the brakes on a proposal to relocate Merced’s planned downtown highspeed rail station. This week, the nonprofit organization California Rural Legal Assistance sent a letter to the state’s High-Speed Rail Authority, on behalf of Community Alliance for Sustainable Economies and a variety of Valley groups. The letter demands the authority to stop pursuing a proposal to build the station near Highway 99 and East Mission Avenue – a rural plot of land roughly four miles southeast of the downtown core. Back in June, the
California High-Speed Rail Authority approved a business plan that included the proposed southeast station on the train’s initial operating segment, in order to shave roughly $1 billion from the project and build it faster. Before a shovel can hit the dirt on the southeast station, however, the California Legislature would have to update state law. Senate Bill 198 gives special priority for the initial 171-mile segment of the bullet train to be built specifically from downtown Merced to Bakersfield, with a spending cap of $500 million to build anything outside of that area. According to the coalition letter, a request for qualifications issued by the
Authority board for firms to provide design-build services for the Merced-toMadera train segment was “characterized as running from south of Mission Avenue” to Madera. “The HSRA simply has no legal authority to start implementing the project in a way that deviates from the one the Legislature and the public have funded for the last decade,” the letter states. “From approving a Business Plan to issuing a Request for Statement of Qualifications for station design services, the HSRA continues to ignore the law. We demand that HSRA immediately cease all efforts to reroute the station or move forward with any actions that advance a project that deviates from state law.”
The Merced FOCUS reached out to – and was awaiting a response from – the California High-Speed Rail Authority as of Thursday afternoon about the letter. Additional signatories included the Jakara Movement, Faith in the Valley, Lideres Campesinas, Communities for a New California, Building Healthy Communities (Kern), Unidos Network and Santa Clara Wage Theft Coalition. It’s still unclear whether the letter will have any impact on the project’s trajectory. Merced City Councilmember Shane Smith, who sits on the council’s transportation subcommittee, said in a text message to See 'HSR' Page 15
Merced County Farm News • September 28, 2026
HSR
waiver of the state’s existing commitments to Merced,” the continued from page 14 letter stated. “We are prepared to The FOCUS that the letter evaluate a different station amounts to a political location, but relocation statement that cannot be and mitigation must be enforced in court. negotiated, funded, and Smith, who also works approved together.” as an intellectual property Some aspects of that plan attorney, said it would be a challenge for a private citizen would include: 1. Completion of the group to establish standing to Campus Parkway and sue under SB 198. The groups would have to Merced Loop transportation show an “injury in fact” – but system necessary to connect the proposed station with a Merced station has been downtown Merced, UC neither built nor officially Merced, Atwater and Castle moved. Commerce Center. “And because someone 2. Widening Highway 99 prefers a different political through Merced and Atwater outcome does not substitute from four to six lanes. for an ‘injury’ that can be 3. Mitigation for the loss redressed in court,” Smith of the planned downtown said. intermodal station and The idea of moving the the resulting effects on station outside of downtown downtown investment, Merced hasn’t yet been redevelopment and economic universally accepted in the activity. community or among local 4. Public safety, water, leaders. sewer, transportation, Just last month, Merced’s planning, economic city council transportation development and other subcommittee and Merced infrastructure needs identified County Supervisor Josh by the city and county. Pedrozo sent a letter to Merced town halls the authority, asking for Amid the talk of moving a meeting of regional and state stakeholders to develop the downtown station, there have also been local town a mitigation plan for the halls devoted to the topic. proposed southeast station. On Wednesday, a “Our participation in discussions about the Mission moderate-sized audience gathered at UC Merced to Avenue location should not hear city council members be interpreted as support Smith and DuPont give an for the relocation or as a
Page 15 update on the plan. The two city council members also spent the evening fielding a wide variety of questions from the audience. DuPont, who is the council’s most vocal critic of the Authority, said he believes the station should probably remain in downtown – unless the Authority can show it will invest in the city. “And they haven’t been able to show me. Actually they have shown me the complete opposite, which is to do things without our discussion or conversation,” DuPont said. “I’ve said over and over again (that) if this is a partnership, then we need a partner, not someone dictating the terms to us. That’s not a partnership, that’s a dictatorship.” While Smith said it’s unlikely all seven council members would agree where the station should go, there is some common ground. That
common ground includes not letting the state take away the taxing authority or land use control from the city. “There are seven votes for trying to engage with the authority and negotiate a compromise,” Smith said. The latest developments come as the Office of Inspector General warned the high-speed rail authority could run out of cash by December 2027, CalMatters reported. California voters approved building the highspeed rail in 2008 – back when the initial projection was $33 billion to establish a 520-mile route from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Most estimates conservatively now put that cost at upwards of $126 billion. The Authority’s business plan estimates building the bullet train’s initial operating segment from Bakersfield to Merced at a price tag of $35.7 billion, with completion of the segment scheduled for 2032.
See 'Bird Flu' Page 16
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Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026
Endorsed Ballot Initiatives 2026 Proposition
Recommendation
Proposition 1: The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026. Authorizes $11.25 billion in general obligation bonds for affordable housing, homeownership, and veteran home-loan programs, including farmworker housing.
OPPOSE
Proposition 2: Save for California's Future Act. Raises the state's rainy day fund cap from 10% to 20% of General Fund revenues and expands required paydown of state liabilities.
NO POSITION
Proposition 3: California Children's Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2026. Makes permanent the 2012 voterapproved high-income tax rates, directing revenue to K-12 schools and community colleges.
OPPOSE
Proposition 4: California Fair Elections Act of 2026. Establishes a public campaign financing option for candidates for elective office, subject to expenditure limits and eligibility criteria.
OPPOSE
Proposition 5: Elections: Recall of State Officers. Eliminates the simultaneous successor election in a state officer recall; the office instead remains vacant and is filled per the Constitution and statute.
NO POSITION
Proposition 37: Creates Loan Program for Middle-Income Buyers of Qualified New Homes. Authorizes up to $25 billion in bonds to offer middle-income buyers fixed-rate mortgages for a portion of the purchase price of qualified new homes.
NO POSITION
Proposition 38: Authorizes Bonds for Immunology Research. Authorizes $8.4 billion in state general obligation bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research, repaid from the General Fund.
OPPOSE
REASONING: California is already paying off billions in bond debt, all at a cost to the general fund to service the debt payments. While a critical need, the funding for farmworker housing is not enough to make this a worthy effort.
REASONING: CAFB does not have policy on this topic.
REASONING: CAFB opposes income tax increases.
REASONING: Funding for this program would come from the General Fund. It is an unwise use of revenue given our budget situation.
REASONING: CAFB does not have policy on this topic.
REASONING: A self funded revenue bond differentiates itself from a general obligation bond. Because this bond is self funded, CAFB has no position on it.
REASONING: Shifting government program costs from general tax revenues to additional public indebtedness through bond issuance to mitigate budget shortfalls is bad fiscal policy.
Proposition 39: Establishes Additional Voter Identification and Citizenship Verification Requirements. Requires voters to present government-issued ID at the polls, or the last four digits of an ID number by mail, and requires annual county reporting on citizenship verification.
SUPPORT
Proposition 40: Imposes One-Time Tax on Certain Individuals and Trusts. Imposes a one-time tax of up to 5% on individuals and trusts with covered assets over $1 billion, directing revenue to health care and food assistance.
OPPOSE
REASONING: Policy supports safe and secure elections.
REASONING: CAFB opposes income tax increases.
Merced County Farm News • September 28, 2026
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Proposition 41: Requires Audits of Programs Funded by New State Special Taxes. Requires audits of programs funded by new state special taxes and prohibits new state taxes from being excluded from the existing voter-approved spending limit.
SUPPORT
Proposition 42: Prohibits New State Personal Property Taxes and Certain Retroactive State Taxes. Prohibits new state taxes on the ownership of personal property, including business interests and intellectual property, and prohibits retroactive state taxes.
SUPPORT
Proposition 43: Local Taxes: Limitation. Requires local special taxes, including those imposed by citizen initiative, to receive two-thirds voter approval, closing a court-created initiative loophole.
SUPPORT
REASONING: Fiscal responsibility, and transparency is critical with taxpayer money.
REASONING: California is already an expensive state to live in. There should not be another tax burden that will impact all Californians.
REASONING: Restores 2/3rd vote on local special taxes which must be protected.
Proposition 44: Requires Community Health Clinics Spend 90% of Revenue on Program Services. Requires nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Centers to spend at least 90% of revenue on direct program services rather than administration or overhead.
NO POSITION
Proposition 45: Modifies Environmental Review for Certain Projects. To encourage investment in infrastructure and limit CEQA ligation abuse, sets deadlines, streamlines review, and limits litigation for housing, transportation, water, health, and clean energy projects; directs CEQA to give substantial weight to project approval and to prevail over conflicting state laws.
SUPPORT
REASONING: CAFB does not have policy on this topic.
REASONING: CEQA reform is desperately needed. Prop 45 will assist in priority issues for Farm Bureau members – wildfire fuel reduction projects, water infrastructure. While there are members and policy on both sides of this argument, the overwhelming benefit that comes from Prop 45 outweighs the negatives and should be supported.
A Journey of Honor: Central Valley Honor Flight
By: Drake Fifield, Los Banos FFA Reporter
O
n September 2nd the Los Banos FFA officer team made their way to the Fresno Yosemite airport to welcome home the veterans on the Central Valley Honor Flight. The Honor Flight gave local veterans the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C to visit memorials made in their honor. Seeing these memorials in person, they were able to reflect on the sacrifices they made while serving our country. The connection between Los Banos FFA and the Central Valley Honor Flight began in 2016, when FFA students met veterans on an Honor Flight trip in Washington D.C. Inspired
by the experience, FFA members, advisors, and community organizations started the annual Honor Flight dinner fundraiser to help send more veterans to visit the memorials. This year, Los Banos FFA raised $30,000 for the Central Valley Honor Flight and $2,000 for Blue Star Moms. Over the years the chapter has raised $205,000 for Honor Flight and $12,000 for Blue Star Moms, showing the chapter's continued support for veterans and military families. Thanks to LB FFA, LB Pacheco FFA, American Legion, and VFW, around 2,000 dinner tickets are sold each year to help support the veterans and fund the Honor Flight. Unfortunately, the officers were unable to greet the
veterans, but while there they were able to listen to the stories of veterans who have already been on the trip and thank them for their service. Also, two of the officers, Ariana Flores and Ethan Pacheco, were interviewed about the Honor Flight and the importance of supporting our local veterans. Their involvement helped share
the story of the trip and recognize the impact these veterans have made on our community. The Central Valley Honor Flight is a great example of how FFA and the community can come together annually to honor those who served and make sure their sacrifices are never forgotten.
Central Valley Honor Flight, Blue Star Moms, Ariana Flores, Ethan Pacheco, Andrew Goins, Drake Fifield, Gavin Lewis, Jim Orr, Don Baker
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C
alifornia has several tick-borne illnesses. For people who spend a lot of time outdoors, especially ranchers, livestock producers, hunters, hikers, forestry workers, and people working in brush or oak woodland, it is worth knowing the symptoms because several of these illnesses initially resemble the flu. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) identifies Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, soft-tick relapsing fever, spotted-fever illnesses, tularemia, and tick paralysis among the tick-associated illnesses occurring in California. Exposure can occur year-round, although risk varies considerably by tick species, region, elevation, and season. Lyme disease is the bestknown tick-borne disease in California. It is transmitted here by the Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus). California's higher-risk areas include the northern coastal region, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Bay Area, and Central Coast. CDPH says California Lyme exposure is generally highest from late fall through early summer. Early Lyme symptoms can include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and an expanding red rash.
Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026
Check for Ticks
Importantly, the rash does not always look like the classic bull's-eye. Prompt removal of an attached tick matters; CDC says Lyme transmission generally requires the infected tick to remain attached for more than 24 hours. Anaplasmosis is also transmitted in California by the western blacklegged tick. Symptoms can include fever, severe headache, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and sometimes vomiting or rash. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems can develop more serious disease. Pacific Coast tick fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are caused by Rickettsia bacteria. California ticks capable of transmitting spotted-fever organisms include Pacific Coast, American dog and brown dog ticks, depending on the disease. Fever and rash are common symptoms. Tularemia is another important disease, particularly for people handling wildlife. In California it can be transmitted by Pacific Coast and American dog ticks, but people can also become infected through contact with infected animals especially rabbits or through several other routes. Soft-tick relapsing fever is especially relevant in the Sierra Nevada. Soft
ticks are mainly associated with forested foothill and mountain environments above about 3,000 feet, particularly rodent-infested cabins and similar structures. A person may never see the tick because it feeds briefly, often at night. The characteristic illness involves sudden high fever, chills, headache and muscle aches that improve and then return several days later. After working in grass, brush, woodland or leaf litter, check the entire body carefully, especially the scalp/hairline, behind the ears, armpits, waist, groin, behind the knees and around
socks. CDPH recommends using tick repellent, checking frequently while outdoors and afterward, and removing an attached tick immediately with tweezers. If you've had a tick attached and develop fever, rash, unusual fatigue, severe headache, muscle/joint aches or other flu-like symptoms during the following 30 days, contact a healthcare provider and specifically mention the tick exposure. CDPH advises monitoring for these symptoms for up to 30 days after a bite. Be careful out there and always check for ticks, they’re sneaky little buggers!
Merced County Farm News • September 28, 2026
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Merced County Farm News •September 28, 2026