Protecting Farmland in the Coyote Valley

Excerpted with permission from Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE).

Five years ago, the Coyote Valley, one of the last large swaths of agricultural land in the region, seemed destined to be plowed under and paved over for more housing.

Today, there is a viable option to choose a very different future for the Valley that would include protected open space, public trails and recreation, and expanded farming to serve demand for locally grown vegetables, fruits, and ethnic specialty produce.

This alternative vision emerges from a partnership between the Santa Clara Open Space Authority and the nonprofit organization Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE).

The proposal could save significant portions of the 7,500-acre Valley from development and foster increased agricultural viability for current farmers as well as a new generation of farmers growing high-demand and high-value crops.

The Authority approved a management plan for the Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve earlier this year for resource conservation and stewardship, and development of multi-use trails and other recreation amenities.

The partnership with SAGE to promote local-serving agriculture that also enhances conservation of natural resources on nearby Valley parcels was a natural fit.

SAGE develops urban edge Agricultural Parks and agricultural resource areas, in the Greater Bay Area and beyond, that support local food systems.

SAGE applied for and in September, won a State Dept. of Food and Agriculture grant for $252,000 to help revitalize diversified specialty crop agriculture in the Coyote Valley.

“The Open Space Authority is excited to work with SAGE to help revitalize the rich agricultural heritage of the Coyote Valley and contribute to local community health,” said Authority General Manager Andrea Mackenzie. “The Coyote Valley helps maintain the region’s clean air and fresh drinking water, offers families great outdoor recreation opportunities, and, through this partnership, will support local production of healthy crops such as fruits and vegetables for local consumption.

During the first three years, the Authority and SAGE will work to leverage the grant funding to raise more public and philanthropic funding to be invested in farmland protection and a new type of diversified, sustainable agriculture in the Coyote Valley.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:51-07:00March 10th, 2014|

Ag Council Annual Meeting

Ag Council Meet “Sow Seeds of Success” At 95th Annual Meeting

Stormy weather was a welcome travel inconvenience for the more than 160 cooperative leaders and farmer members who made their way to Huntington Beach, Calif. this past week for the 95^th Annual Meeting of the Agricultural Council of California (Ag Council) that was held in conjunction with CoBank’s Pacific West Customer meeting.

“Financially the Ag Council has never been stronger,” said Rich Hudgins, 2014 chair of Ag Council and president and CEO of the California Canning Peach Association. “2013 has been a very good year for our organization with a dramatic increase in our membership base. In the words of Henry Ford, ‘Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; and working together is success.’ Farmer-owned cooperatives are the perfect example of the power of working together toward a common goal.”

California’s historic drought was a key topic during the Ag Council Annual Meeting, and was a primary focus of the organization’s advocacy work during the past year, according to Ag Council President Emily Rooney in remarks she made during her annual address.

“Given the state’s water crisis and the many pending regulations surrounding ground water, the top issues facing our membership heading into the coming year are related to water—both quality and quantity,” she said during her annual address. “Proposed increases in several fees associated with water use have the potential to be very challenging to our members’ food production businesses.”

In addition to water, Rooney also said that recent surveys conducted by Ag Council ranked air quality, cap and trade, and labor regulations as challenges that will figure prominently in the group’s advocacy efforts in 2014.

Ag Council represents more than 15,000 California farmers who are affiliated with the organization’s 33 coop and agricultural industry association members. Allied members of Ag Council represent a diverse array of businesses and associations that support the state’s $44.7 billion agricultural industry.

California’s historic drought has meant that Ag Council is also focusing a significant amount of its legislative efforts on water issues, said Tricia Geringer, vice president of Ag Council while addressing members during the group’s Delegate Body Meeting.

“The only silver lining to the fact that we are facing the driest year on record since the state first began keeping track in 1885, is that water shortages are touching every California resident personally,” said Geringer. “That means, as in the words of Governor Jerry Brown during his remarks to our members at the World Ag Expo in February, ‘the drought seems to have been a wake-up call to people regarding how critical water is to our state’s prosperity.’”

“Nearly one-third of legislators were freshman members in 2013, so our work in familiarizing law makers with the agricultural industry and its importance in California’s economy is a constant priority,” added Geringer.

More information about Ag Council’s advocacy efforts can be found in the 2013 Impact Report, which the organization released during the 95^th Annual Meeting. The full report can be accessed at the Ag Council web site (www.agcouncil.org).

The Ag Council Annual Dinner on March 2, featured keynote speaker Senator George Runner (Ret.), and current member of the State Board of Equalization. “This is a tough state to do business in,” said Runner during his remarks. “You are overtaxed and overregulated, so I have a great deal of gratitude for those of you who establish a business and stay in California.” Runner discussed his efforts in tax reform and his interest in seeing California taxpayers receive a fair benefit for the taxes they pay.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:51-07:00March 8th, 2014|

Scholarships Available for the 2014 – 2015 School Year

Source: The Fresno County Farm Bureau

Proteus offers academic scholarships

Proteus is now accepting applications for its Standard and William Maguy Scholarships for the 2014-15 academic year.

The $500 Standard Scholarship is open to full-time college students or those planning to enroll as full-time students for the 2014-2015 school year, who are low-income status, farmworkers, dependent of a farmworker, or who have been served by a Proteus program in the past two years.

This scholarship program targets new or continuing students enrolled in two or four-year colleges, or accredited post -secondary institute.

The $1,000 William Maguy Scholarship is open to full-time students who have completed at least two years at a university or community college.

This scholarship will be given to a person who exemplifies the larger-than-life quality of Proteus’s former CEO, William Maguy, who focused on empowering and serving people.

Those interested in applying should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate their community involvement in organizations that serve others.

All applicants’ primary residence must be in, Kern, Kings, Fresno, or Tulare counties. The deadline to apply for the Standard Scholarship is April 2, 2014, and the deadline to apply for the William M. Maguy Scholarship is April 30, 2014.

For more information, or to download the application at http://www.proteusinc.org/.

Charles P. Lake Rain for Rent Scholarship now available

Twenty scholarships in the amount of $1,500 will be awarded to students to help them pursue a career in agriculture, engineering or construction management.

Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 18, and must be submitted to the Fresno County Farm Bureau, 1274 W. Hedges Ave., Fresno, 93728. To read/print the Charles P. Lake/Rain for Rent Scholarship Brochure, please visit, www.rainforrent.com/company/scholarship.aspx.

Scholarship applicants must have completed their freshman year at an approved college/university and must be currently enrolled for the next school year.

Junior college students who are registered as sophomores and fall within the requirements may apply.

To obtain a scholarship application, please contact Katie Rodgers at 559-237-0263 or info@fcfb.org.

Farm Grown scholarships available for 2014 high school graduates

The Gar and Esther Tootelian Charitable Foundation Farm Grown scholarship applications are now available for graduating high school seniors.

The successful candidate will be awarded $1,000 each year and an honorable mention finalist will receive $500.

Candidates must be high school seniors graduating in 2014 who will pursue a degree in an agriculturally-related field.

Applicants must be in good standing and go to school in Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Merced, Madera, Mariposa or Kern counties.

For more information and to apply, click here. The deadline to apply is April 1.

Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship available

The Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program awards California’s most promising students with scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.

This year, they will award more than $34,000 in scholarships to deserving California students.

College students and graduating high school seniors who exhibit academic excellence, leadership potential, civic engagement and a strong sense of personal commitment to continuing education are eligible to apply.

The deadline is March 7. For more information, or to apply, visit www.bigfun.org.

Central Valley Chapter California Women for Agriculture Scholarship available

The Central Valley CWA is pleased to announce the call for 2014 scholarship applications.

Scholarships are offered to high school and college students studying for careers in agriculture-related fields.

The applications must be received by mail on or before March 28, 2014. No hand-deliveries or email applications will be accepted.

For more information, or to download the application, click here.

San Joaquin Valley Quilters’ Guild Scholarships available

The San Joaquin Valley Quilters’ Guild is pleased to offer one $500 scholarships to students interested in fiber related arts.

Qualified applicants include those focusing on fiber as an art medium or those with skills in costume or clothing design or textiles and textile conservation.

High school seniors and college students may apply.

Preference will be given to students enrolled at least halftime in a Fresno County college or university.

Application, two recommendations and a photo of the applicant must be postmarked by April 1 to receive consideration for this year’s scholarship.

Email the 4-H program coordinator at evillalobos@ucanr.edu for a scanned copy of the application.

Fresno-Kings County Cattlewomen’s Association Scholarship available

The Fresno-Kings County Cattlewomen’s (FKCCW) Association is offering a scholarship.

Applications and information are available online at http://www.fkccw.com/.

4-H Scholarships available

There are a number of scholarships available to 4-H members and alumni.

Visit http://ucanr.org/scholarships for more information about Fresno County 4-H, California 4-H or other scholarships.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:51-07:00March 7th, 2014|

Water Board urged by California U.S. Lawmakers to Delay Severe Water Cuts

California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Congressmen John Garamendi and Jim Costa sent a joint letter on March 5, yesterday, to Tom Howard, Executive Director, California State Water Resources Control Board urging them to delay issuing a proposed order prioritizing water deliveries throughout the state, expected to be handed down as early as next week, until at least March 21.

In their statement, posted by the Bay Planning Coalition, the lawmakers urge the Water Board to delay its “extraordinarily far-reaching proposed order”. . . “to make sure it is correctly calibrated to minimize the potentially devastating effects on many Californians.”

They acknowledge the coordinated efforts between difference levels of government, but urge the Board to “avoid catastrophic reductions of water deliveries to California agriculture”.

Continuing, allowing more time would provide the Water Board with the best available information for these “complex water delivery decisions that could affect large parts of California, especially those regions that are integral to our nation’s agricultural economy.”

“We acknowledge that the Board is eager to issue a decision so that senior water rights holders do not plant crops with the expectation of receiving a 40 percent CVP water allocation when public health and safety considerations may require a significant cutback.”

Finally, they ask that the water decision “be formulated with great care so that its burdens do not unduly fall on those who have already had to give up a great deal.”

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:52-07:00March 6th, 2014|

Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Heidelberg Infections Again Linked to Foster Farms Chicken

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the investigation continues into Salmonella Heidelberg infections likely related to Foster Farms chicken.

The CDC reports that last year’s Salmonella outbreak associated with Foster Farms poultry appeared to be over around mid-January 2014 when the number of reported infections from all seven outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg returned to baseline levels; however, the CDC investigation still continued.

Ongoing surveillance identified in February that infections from two of the previously rare outbreak strains have again exceeded the number of infections expected to be reported to PulseNet*during this time of year. Investigations conducted by local, state, and federal officials indicate that consumption of Foster Farms brand chicken is the likely source of this outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg infections.

As of February 28, 2014, a total of 481 persons infected with seven outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 25 states and Puerto Rico, since March 1, 2013.

38% of ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

Most ill persons (76%) have been reported from California.
Information about illnesses is available from 472 persons.
The dates the illnesses began range from March 1, 2013 to February 11, 2014.
Ill persons range in age from less than 1 year to 93 years, with a median age of 18 years.
Fifty-one percent of ill persons are male.
Among 394 persons with available information, 151 (38%) reported being hospitalized.
Thirteen percent of ill persons have developed blood infections as a result of their illness.
Typically, approximately 5% of persons ill with Salmonella infections develop blood infections.
No deaths have been reported.
Illnesses that began after January 29, 2014, might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 4 weeks.
Antibiotic resistance testing results are not yet available from recent ill persons or from recent food samples. Results of this testing will be reported when they become available.
It is not unusual for raw poultry from any producer to have Salmonella bacteria. CDC and USDA-FSIS recommend consumers follow food safety tips to prevent Salmonella infection from raw poultry produced by Foster Farms or any other brand.

*Since 1996, PulseNet has connected foodborne illness cases together, using DNA “fingerprinting” of the bacteria making people sick, in order to detect and define outbreaks. PulseNet has detected thousands of local and multi-state outbreaks since it began, leading to prevention opportunities and continuous improvements in our food safety systems that might not otherwise have occurred. Since “foodborne illnesses do not respect any borders,” PulseNet International performs a similar role for worldwide foodborne illnesses.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:52-07:00March 6th, 2014|

Ag Secretary Vilsack’s Comments on 2015 USDA Budget and 2014 Farm Bill In a Nutshell

USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated yesterday that the President’s 2015 USDA budget proposal and the tools provided in the 2014 farm bill:

Achieve reform and results for the American taxpayer
Foster opportunity and long-term, sustainable economic growth for the men and women living, working and raising families in rural America, where 85 percent of our nation’s persistent poverty counties are located.
Equip our farmers and ranchers with the tools they need to survive and thrive
Support innovation through strategic, future-focused investments.

Economically, the 2015 budget:

Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack

Supports farmers, ranchers and growers as they achieve net farm income well above the average of the previous decade
Assists mid-sized farms and livestock producers who continue to face challenges as a result of prolonged drought.

Implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill should:

Restore disaster assistance
Invest in programs to help and train beginning, small and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
Invest in programs that will build the skills they need to get back into the workforce.
Provide much-needed stability for producers moving forward
Support hardworking Americans as they find and keep jobs and transition out of nutrition assistance programs

Last fiscal year, farm and ranch exports reached a record $141 billion and supported nearly one million American jobs.  To help America’s producers break into new exports markets for farm and ranch products, and building off of President Obama’s recently announced “Made in Rural America” export initiative, USDA will continue funding for trade promotion and market expansion.

Supported by the recently signed 2014 Farm Bill, the budget:

Establishes Regional Hubs for Risk Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change at seven locations around the country
- The Southwest Climate Hub is: Rangeland Management Unit/JornadaExperimental Range, Agricultural Research Service, Las Cruces, N.M.
- The Southwest “Sub-hub” is in Davis, California
Makes targeted investments in bio-based product manufacturing, local and regional food systems, and specialty crops and organic production.
Adds about 23 million acres of land to USDA conservation efforts Sustains 25 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, ensuring clean air, clean and abundant water and critical wildlife habitat for generations to come.
Makes strategic investments that further innovation and encourage creative approaches to solving rural America’s most pressing challenges
Increases funding by $325 million for our premier competitive grants program to support the cutting edge research that will help producers adapt and succeed in the face of modern challenges, including a changing climate
Provides $25 million each to three public-private innovation institutes that focus on bio-based product manufacturing, pollinator health, and anti-microbial resistance research, respectively.
Recognizes fiscal realities; it supports USDA’s ongoing efforts to modernize and update the way we do business.
Builds on our efforts through the Blueprint for Stronger Service, which in recent years has saved the American taxpayer a total of $1.2 billion while ensuring that USDA customers receive the best possible service
Continues to support our leaner workforce to find ways to implement increasingly complex programs with fewer resources.

The security of our nation’s food and fiber supply depends on what we do today to support a rural America that is increasingly nimble, diverse and responsive to changing consumer tastes.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:52-07:00March 6th, 2014|

MCFB will Celebrate 97 Years on March 6th

Merced County Farm Bureau (MCFB) would like to announce the 97th Annual Meeting of members to be held on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at the Merced County Fairgrounds, with a 5:30 social and 6:30 dinner. Coyote Catering will serve their coveted prime rib dinner and Director Dessert Auction will follow.

MCFB will continue its tradition of awarding scholarships to at least one senior from each high school in the county as well as a scholarship for a child of a farm employee.

Major donors for the night include: PG&E, Yosemite Farm Credit, American Ag Credit, Merced Irrigation District, Rabobank and State Fund. All proceeds from the auction benefit MCFB’s scholarship and education fund.

Please contact the office at 209.723.3001 if you would like to reservations.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:53-07:00March 5th, 2014|

Governor’s Interagency Drought Task Force Travels State as Drought Endures

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (left) speaking about the drought today at a meeting of the California State Board of Food Agriculture. To Secretary Ross’ left are Dr. Mark Starr of the California Department of Public Health, Secretary John Laird of the California Natural Resources Agency, and Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

CDFA reported on today’s UC Merced meeting between Members of Governor Brown’s Interagency Drought Task Force, local government leaders and the California State Board of Food and Agriculture.

Hundreds packed the meeting ‪at UC Merced. Word on the street is that farmers are disappointed; the only quick solution is to turn the pumps on!

Task Force representatives were CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird, State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus, Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci, and Department of Public Health Deputy Director Dr. Mark Starr.

The Task Force is planning additional meetings around California to listen to the concerns of local officials as the drought continues.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:53-07:00March 4th, 2014|

Farm Grown Announces Scholarship for HS Seniors

**Know an outstanding high school senior?**

We want them to apply to Farm Grown Schlarship

In partnership with Gar Tootelian, Inc., the Grizzlies Community Fund is proud to announce the inaugural Gar & Esther Tootelian Charitable Foundation Farm Grown Scholarship. We are pleased to award $1,500 to outstanding high school seniors who will be pursuing a degree in an agriculturally-related field.

The winner will receive $1,000 towards college tuition; an honorable mention finalist will receive $500.

See the Grizzlies Community Fund at website for more information and to download the application (due April 1).

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:53-07:00March 4th, 2014|

Snow Survey Presses State to Retrench and Reinforce

As we already know, calendar year 2013 closed as the driest year in recorded history for many areas of California, and current conditions suggest no change in sight for 2014.

And, California is experiencing the first zero allocation announcement for all customers of the State Water Project (SWP) in the 54-year history of the project.

According to California Department of Water Resources’ (CDWR) third snow survey of the season on February 27, twenty-nine public water agencies buy water from the SWP for delivery to 25 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland, revealing a continuation of California’s precipitation deficit during the state’s third consecutive dry water year (October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014). And, the statewide snowpack water equivalent was 6 inches, or only 24 percent of the average for the date.

The snowpack, “California’s largest reservoir”, typically issues about a third of the water used by the state’s cities and farms. And, California’s major reservoirs, themselves, are dangerously low.

A CDWR statement issued yesterday evaluating the snow survey findings, called the results, “an improvement from the previous survey on January 30 that found the snowpack’s water content at 12 percent of average for late January.”

According to CDPR, although it is difficult to quantify an exact amount of precipitation that would alleviate the current drought conditions, it is highly unlikely given historic patterns of the remainder of the rainy season that the drought will end this water year. There just isn’t enough time for precipitation to accumulate at an acceptable rate to alleviate drought conditions or the anticipated impacts to drought-stricken communities.

SWP’s principal reservoir, Lake Oroville in Butte County, is at only 39 percent of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity; Shasta Lake north of Redding, California’s and the (federal) Central Valley Project’s (CVP) largest reservoir, is at 38 percent of its 4.5 million acre-foot capacity; and San Luis Reservoir, a important SWP and CVP reservoir , is at 33 percent of its 2 million acre-foot capacity.

What’s being done about it? When Governor Brown declared a drought State of Emergency in January, he directed state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for water shortages. CAL FIRE recently announced it hired 125 additional firefighters to help address the increased fire threat due to drought conditions, the California Department of Public Health identified and offered assistance to communities at risk of severe drinking water shortages and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife restricted fishing on some waterways due to low water flows worsened by the drought.

Also in January, the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Food and Agriculture also released the California Water Action Plan, which will guide state efforts to enhance water supply reliability, restore damaged and destroyed ecosystems and improve the resilience of our infrastructure.

Governor Brown has called on all Californians to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 20 percent and the Save Our Water campaign has announced four new public service announcements that encourage residents to conserve. Last December, the Governor formed a Drought Task Force to review expected water allocations and California’s preparedness for water scarcity. In May 2013, Governor Brown issued an Executive Order to direct state water officials to expedite the review and processing of voluntary transfers of water.