Plans for Water Storage Due August 14th

By Jessica Theisman, Associate Editor

Five years after a devastating drought in California, the lack of water storage is now causing flood flows to move out to the ocean. It’s clear that California needs water infrastructure updates, and that includes building water storage projects, such as Temperance Flat Dam behind Millerton Lake in Central California.

Mario Santoyo

For those trying to build and update the water storage infrastructure, they have a deadline of August 14th to get the plans to the California Water Commission.

Mario Santoyo is executive director of the San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority, which will be submitting plans for the Temperance Flat Dam. Each plan must show how it will serve the public good. “It is not simple because there is so much engineering and analysis that needs to be done. That effort itself is probably going to cost us somewhere around $800,000,” he said.

Public support and rallying behind projects such as Temperance Flat is always welcomed.

“They can do that simply by writing to the California Water Commission in Sacramento and voicing their support for the Temperance Flat project, and asking that commission consider providing funding to make it a reality for the [Central] Valley,” Santoyo said.

Contact:

There is approximately $2.5 billion dollars available for these projects and there are several projects vying for those dollars. One of them is Sites Reservoir, which is north of the delta; another is Contra Costa expansion, which is in Contra Costa. There is also a number of small regional projects seeking the dollars.

Fungi Stops the Spread of Alfalfa Aphid

By Melissa Moe, Associate Editor

Blue alfalfa aphids can pose a huge threat to farmers. The toxins that they inject into the alfalfa causes slow growth and low yields. Alfalfa farmers in Imperial County saw high numbers of alfalfa aphids. However, the recent rain may have spared farmers from further damage that the aphids might have caused. We spoke with Eric Natwick, a UC cooperative extension entomology advisor in Imperial County, about the blue aphids that farmers saw in the area.

“As far as the weather goes, the wet weather seemed to really take care of the blue alfalfa aphids. Sometimes with the aphids down here, we get what we call an epizootic fungus that infects those aphids, and quickly moves through the population and wipes them out. This entomopathogenic fungus seems to be very specific to the blue alfalfa aphid,” Natwick said.

The sudden disappearance of these aphids is good news for producers. Epizootic fungi are usually very specific to insects and can wipe out entire populations very quickly. These fungi do not pose a threat to other animals or plants.

“The blue alfalfa aphid left the pea aphids in the field. We did have some aphids, and of course we had some weevils, but the blue alfalfa aphid disappeared. This is also true over in Arizona. I’ve been working with Iman Mustafa. He’s located over there at Mac in Arizona. He’s getting the same results. I guess the good news is, well, we got the Sivanto [insecticide] for use in Arizona and California,” Natwick said.

Photo by Jack Kelly Clark for UC Statewide IPM Project

Increased Labor Costs Take Toll

By Jessica Theisman, Associate Editor

The new labor laws are going to become a big problem for California’s agriculture in the near future. California Ag Today recently met with Alex Ott, who is the Executive Director of the California Apple Commission and the California Blueberry Commission. He also manages the California Olive Committee. Ott spoke with us about the growing concern that farmers in these industries have about rising labor costs in California.

Alex Ott

“Well, there is the overtime provision, which cuts our field work back from 10 hours to eight hours. That’s difficult,” Ott said. In order for employers to not pay overtime, their employees will have to work two separate shifts to get a day’s work finished instead of getting a day’s duties done in one shift. This ultimately cuts hours for workers, far from their benefit.

The minimum wage increase will have a huge negative impact on California growers and all of those that they employ. With an increase in minimum wage, employers will have to pay more for the same work.

“The problem there is obviously increased cost, but now, not only are we competing against the world, but competing against other states that produce the exact same type of crop,” Ott said.

“Employers will have to pay employees higher wages and deal with retailers not giving higher prices. Employers have to compete with states that have lower wages and have their overtime provisions as well.”

CAPCA Leadership Increasing Advocacy for Pest Control Advisors

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Farm News Director

The California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) want to have more of a voice in Sacramento as they set new goals and priorities for our government relations and advocacy outreach.

“We are really excited to host a Legislative ‘Leg’ (pronounced ‘ledge’) Day in Sacramento for the first time in a very long time, on the 7th and 8th of June,” said Ruthann Anderson, president and CEO of CAPCA. “Our government relations committee members and our board of directors will meet with regulators and legislators and interactively discuss who CAPCA is and some of the issues we are concerned about.”

“In my first year here at CAPCA, I found the level of advocacy that we were doing and the level of advocacy that our members perceived we were doing didn’t quite add up. I wanted to turn up the volume and make sure that we were consistent with where our membership felt we should be.”

“I also wanted give ourselves a fresh voice to reach a whole new group of legislators and regulators,” Anderson continued, “many of whom had little experience with CAPCA and did not realize who we are and the group we represent. Many also did not know the value and professionalism our PCA license brings to the big picture of agriculture here in the state.”

Of recent interest, Anderson mentioned that, “Talking about IPM with different groups has been very valuable for me. Also fascinating, CropLife America created a great kind of layout on label to field—the process a proposed chemistry undergoes to become labeled and available for application in the field.”

“The timeline and all the different tests and processes that a manufacturer has to go through is at least a 10-year process on the federal side,” Anderson explained. “Then there are another two years of review once it comes to California for the manufacturer to get something in the field. Just showing the professionalism and the science behind what is being applied in the field—that this isn’t something just off the shelf that hasn’t been rigorously considered—is so vital to the conversation.”

Particularly given the loss of use of organophosphates, a broad-spectrum class of chemistry, and the EPA’s pyrethroid review, Anderson insists we need multiple tools in the toolbox. “There may be some really great products in the pipeline, but sometimes it takes 12 years from the initial start of an application until it actually becomes relevant or usable in the field. So, there may be some great opportunities or great options in that pipeline going through EPA, but they are not here yet.”

“So keeping as many tools in the PCA toolbox to address pest pressures and disease is really key for us. Our government relations committee is actually working on a response to current EPA chemistry reviews, and we are working with a handful of other associations to provide some boots on the ground comments from our PCAs. We want to talk about not only the different uses, but also key consequences for us if it did go away.”

California’s Table Grape Growers Award Scholarships

 All recipients will be attending California universities or colleges.

Six field worker scholarships were awarded in 2017: three $3,500 two-year scholarships to community colleges, and three $20,000 four-year field worker scholarships. Also, three $20,000 four-year agricultural scholarships were awarded in 2017.

Here are the 2017 scholarship recipients:

$3,500 Two-year Field Worker Scholarships

Mr. Jose Aldaco is a graduate of McFarland High School. Jose plans to attend Butte College and pursue a career as a certified welder. Jose is an active FFA member and won several awards for woodworking. Jose’s mother, Maria Navarro worked for Sun Pacific in 2016.

(Jose is pictured with Nathan Longcrier of Sun Pacific Shippers).

Ms. Vivianna Aguilar is a graduate of Delano High School. Vivianna will attend Porterville College with a career goal of becoming a nurse. Vivianna was the most valuable player for the Delano High girls varsity basketball team and volunteers at local hospitals and senior retirement homes. Vivianna’s mother, Esperanza Aguilar, worked for Sun World International in 2016.

(Vivianna is pictured with Merrill Dibble (left) and David Fenn of Sun World International, LLC).

Mr. Juan Frausto is a graduate of Dinuba High School. Juan will attend Reedley College and plans to pursue a career in fruit sales or farm/ranch management. Juan is very active in special school programs related to agriculture including farm management, tree and vine management and is also involved in his local church. Juan’s mother, Julieta Marquez worked for several table grape growers in 2016.

(Juan is pictured with Gary Gipson with Gipson Farms).

$20,000 Four-year Field Worker Scholarships

Mr. Daniel Flores is a graduate of Robert F. Kennedy High School in Delano with a weighted GPA of 4.29. Daniel plans to attend the University of Southern California and major in microbiology with a career goal of becoming an oncologist. Daniel chose this career after his mother died suddenly from cancer. Daniel received the Superintendent’s Gold Award all four years in high school, was the captain of the school’s varsity baseball, football and basketball team and is also a youth leader at Guadalupe Catholic Church. Daniel’s father, Jesus Flores, recently retired from Pandol Brothers Farms.

Ms. Guadalupe Sandoval is graduating from Desert Mirage High School as the class valedictorian with a 4.40 weighted GPA. Guadalupe plans to attend UCLA where she will major in biology with a career goal of becoming a pediatric surgeon. Guadalupe is a member of the junior varsity volleyball team and tutors and translates at elementary and junior high schools. Guadalupe’s mother, Modesta Aguilar, currently works for Lucich Farms.

Ms. Rosa Linda Lopez plans to attend University of California Berkeley where she will major in mathematics with a career goal of becoming a financial analyst. Rosa is the student body president at McFarland High School and is graduating with a weighted GPA of 4.28. Rosa volunteered for Special Olympics and the McFarland Police Department. Rosa’s mother, Francisca, worked for several table grape growers during the 2016 season.

$20,000 Four-year Agricultural Scholarships

Mr. Omar Deion Perkins is a graduate of Cesar Chavez High School in Delano. Deion will graduate with a weighted GPA of 3.91. Deion plans to attend University of California Santa Barbara and will major in political science/communications with a career goal of working in food safety and marketing. Deion is a member of mock trial, and a four year member of the football team.

Ms. Sandra Gaylord is a graduate of Golden West High School with a weighted GPA of 3.92. Sandra plans to attend Fresno State where she will major in plant science and botany, and has a career goal of being a pest control advisor and certified crop advisor. Sandra is involved in FFA and volunteers at Food Link programs in Tulare County.

Ms. Jewlia Winter is a graduate of Selma High School with a weighted GPA of 3.88. She plans to attend Fresno State and major in agriculture education, with a career goal of becoming an agriculture teacher. Jewlia is a member of FFA and also serves as a tutor.