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• Wednesday, April 16
Pesticide safety workshop (Spanish session only).
• Friday, April 18
Farm Succession Planning and Farm Business Planning workshops.
• Carpinteria Quarantined for Light Brown Apple Moth
• Vacancies on the Avocado Inspection Committee
• Vacancy on the Citrus Advisory Committee
• Integrated Pest Management for Avocados, a new publicationfrom the University of California
• Disaster Declaration for Ventura County
Legislative Updates
This page provides information regarding legislative updates pertaining
to agricultural interests as they become available.
Download the latest information.*
Friday Review
The Farm Team is Here for Bureau Members
Recognizing that agriculture must take a lead role in influencing public
policy and the resulting business climate, California Farm Bureau
Federation (CFBF) has created a grass-roots mobilization program
to ensure that agriculture’s voice is heard. Click here* to view
and download a pdf file with more information!
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What's Growing Now?
Unlike the Midwest where you have clear and distinct seasons for
agriculture with winter being dormant, spring being a time of preparation
and planting, the summer months is the growing season and fall being the
time of harvest, Ventura County is for all intents and purposes a year round
proposition. During this current period of time between January and June,
the majority of the top dollar crops for the county are in full production.
The number one crop in the county for gross dollars is strawberries and typically would be in full swing this time of year through the month of May
and into early June. This year is somewhat unique with one of the worst
freezes in the last 17 years occurring over the period of the 14th through
the 16th of January 2007. The result with strawberries is that the production
and subsequent weeks were less than half of what it had been the year
before even though there was more acreage planted than the year before.
Other commodities during a “normal year” that would be under full harvest
at this time would be lemons and avocados. One of the other top crops,
containerized nursery and plants are typically a year round operation with
possibly heavier concentrations during the spring and summer months.
It is our hope in the not too distant future to have the top 10 producing crops
each year displayed in a bar graph so that you can see graphically depicted
the times in which the major commodities are being grown and harvested.
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Pesticide Safety Workshop
What: Pesticide safety workshop (Spanish session only)
When: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16
Where: State Compensation Insurance Fund, Oxnard District Office, 2nd floor conference room, 2901 N. Ventura Road, Oxnard.
Description: The Environmental Protection Agency revised the Worker Protection Standard for agricultural pesticides in August 1992. The revised WPS requires that agricultural workers (anyone who does tasks such as harvesting, weeding, or watering related to the production of agricultural plants or farms, forests, nurseries, and green houses) must receive basic pesticide safety information before they enter a treated area. Workers must receive complete WPS safety training within five days of initial employment.
To help employers comply with this rule, State Compensation Insurance Fund is hosting this “Train the Trainer” workshop for fieldworker trainers. This four-hour workshop will be conducted in Spanish for State Fund policyholders and invited guests. It is intended for agricultural owners, employers, managers, supervisors, labor contractors, and anyone interested in improving their operation’s pesticide safety program. Topics will include:
• Understanding the requirements for pesticide safety training.
• Protecting employees from pesticide hazards in the workplace.
• Conducting the WPS training.
Participants will receive a certificate of attendance, which will qualify them to be included on the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s list of qualified instructors. Complimentary continental breakfast and snacks will be provided. Free parking is available.Space is limited. To register by phone, call Alberto Aldana at (805) 988-5270 or Pedro Acero at (805) 988-5248. To register by e-mail, send a message to apaldana@scif.com.
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Farm Succession Planning & Farm Business Planning Workshops
What: Farm Succession Planning & Farm Business Planning workshops
When: 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Friday, April 18
Where: Logsdon’s Restaurant, 824 E. Santa Maria St., Santa Paula
Description: California FarmLink, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating farm transfers from one generation to the next, is offering two workshops designed to create opportunities for the next generation of farmers and ranchers in the South Coast.
The farm succession planning workshop is for both experienced and new farmers, with an emphasis on transitioning the farm from one generation to the next, whether within the family or to an unrelated party. A successful farm transfer requires effective information sharing between the beginning and the experienced farmers. The workshop will address goal setting and intergenerational communication. Participants will develop skills for successful on-farm mentorships. A local estate planning attorney and business consultants specializing in farm business transitions will address tools for farm succession including estate and tax law issues, business entities for family farms and agricultural leases.
The business planning and innovative farm financing workshop is for beginning and aspiring farmers seeking to establish or expand their operations. The workshop will help farmers start the business planning process and will include presentations by agricultural lenders on sources and types of agricultural loans, what makes a good loan applicant and how to use financing effectively. Participants will learn about opportunities to lease or buy farmland through California FarmLink. The workshop will cover how farmers can use conservation easements as a tool to help obtain land more affordably.
All participants are invited to enjoy a networking lunch and opportunity to meet with farmers of all ages. There is no fee for the workshops. Please RSVP to Reggie Knox, (831) 425-0303.
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Carpinteria Quarantined for Light Brown
Apple Moth
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has established a quarantine of approximately 10 square miles in the Carpinteria area of Santa Barbara County, following the detection of two light brown apple moths. The area is home to many plant nurseries, cut flower growers and avocado producers whose growing grounds will now be subject to extensive inspection and, in some cases, treatment if they are found to be infested. The quarantine took effect on March 21.
“California’s nurseries rank third in agricultural production value, behind only dairy and grapes,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “They are a key segment of the state’s economy, they are in the midst of their busiest season, and I fully understand that the additional inspections and expense are onerous-but these steps are mandatory and necessary to eradicate this pest from California and to protect the rest of the state from added quarantines and increased pesticide use over the long term.”
The quarantine boundaries were developed in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). A map of the quarantine zone is available at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PDEP/lbam/quarantine.html.
State and federal quarantine regulations prohibit the movement of all nursery stock, all cut flowers, and all host fruits and vegetables and plant parts within or from the quarantined area unless it is certified as “free from” the pest by an agricultural official; is purchased at a retail outlet; or was produced outside the area and is passing through in accordance with accepted safeguards. Additionally, federal regulations apply host commodities from the entire county if the commodities are moving interstate.
The quarantine applies to residential and public properties as well as plant nurseries, farms and other commercial enterprises. Residents are asked to consume fruits and vegetables from yards and gardens in the area rather than removing them from the property. Landscapers and yard maintenance companies will be among the businesses placed under compliance agreements to ensure that yard waste is disposed of properly. People who are unsure if they are within the quarantine zone are asked to assume that they are.
Moth traps have been set at a rate of 100 in the core square mile and 25 per square mile in the surrounding area. If no additional moths are found over the next few weeks, treatment for the infestation would consist of pheromone-infused twist ties to plants and fences in a 200-meter area around the detection sites in an effort to eradicate the moth population. In contrast to conventional pesticides that kill insects, moth pheromone doesn’t even hurt the light brown apple moth, instead creating mating confusion and mating disruption as the eradication technique.
This approach has been successful in similar circumstances and is currently being used in other communities in the Central Coast and Bay Area. Residents and businesses in the area would be notified in advance and a public meeting would be scheduled prior to the application of the twist ties.
The light brown apple moth is native to Australia and is also found in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Hawaii. The range of host plants is broad with hundreds of plant species known to be susceptible to attack by this pest, including more than 250 crops. It threatens California’s environment, including cypress, redwood and oak trees-by destroying, stunting or deforming young seedlings and damaging new growth in the forest canopy. The moth also feeds on host plants favored by a number of endangered species; spoils the appearance of ornamental plants; and injures citrus, grapes, and deciduous fruit tree crops.
A USDA study indicates that, if California becomes generally infested, the moth could cause billions of dollars in crop damage annually. Additionally, it would hinder export opportunities and interstate commerce due to quarantine restrictions, as demonstrated by the quarantines already enacted by Canada and Mexico. California agricultural exports to the two countries totaled more than $2.4 billion in 2006.
A cooperative eradication program run jointly by CDFA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is already underway to suppress and eradicate infestations in nine other counties along California’s Central Coast and Bay Area. Since its detection in February 2007, the light brown apple moth has been found and quarantines have been enacted in the counties of Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, Alameda and Solano. Small, isolated infestations detected last year in Los Angeles and Napa counties have already been eradicated. Twist ties were utilized in both counties.
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Avocado Inspection Committee
What: Vacancies on the Avocado Inspection Committee
Description: The California Department of Food and Agriculture's Avocado Inspection Program is announcing four vacancies on the California Avocado Inspection Committee. This committee makes recommendations to the CDFA Secretary on all matters pertaining to the California Avocado Inspection Program. The vacancies include: two grower representatives, one handler representative and an alternate grower representative. The term of office for committee members is two years. Members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.
Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment should send a letter of consideration, and include a letter of recommendation from an avocado handler or grower. Nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications should be sent to Donella Boreham, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Avocado Inspection Program, 326 State Place, Escondido, CA, 92029, or emailed to dboreham@cdfa.ca.gov. For further information on the Avocado Inspection Program and committee vacancies, contact Donella Boreham at (760) 743-4712.
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Citrus Advisory Committee
What: Vacancy on the Citrus Advisory Committee
Description: The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing a vacancy on the California Citrus Advisory Committee. The vacancy is for one producer representative who grows naval and/or Valencia oranges in the San Joaquin Valley. The Citrus Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the secretary on all matters pertaining to the citrus program, the annual budget, and the necessary fees to provide adequate inspection services. The term of office for a committee member is two years. Members receive no compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement of necessary traveling expenses.
Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment should send a letter of consideration and a letter of recommendation from a citrus producer, packer or handler. Nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. Nominations can be mailed to the Inspection and Compliance Branch, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
For additional information, please contact Amadou Ba at (916) 445-2180, extension 3514 or email aba@cdfa.ca.gov.
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Integrated Pest Management for Avocados
What: Integrated Pest Management for Avocados, a new publication
from the University of California.
Description: This new manual for avocado growers and pest control professionals uses the most up-to-date research available from University of California faculty and Cooperative Extension specialists, farm advisors, and pest control advisors. It is illustrated with 386 color photographs and 64 illustrations that will help readers identify and manage over 100 important pests and disorders. Topics include:
| •
• • • • • |
Preventing and diagnosing causes of damage. Identifying pests and key natural enemies. Establishing an IPM program for your grove. Using biological control and other nonchemical methods. Managing problems related to irrigation, nutrition, and the growing environment. Determining when direct control actions are warranted. |
Integrated Pest Management for Avocados is designed for use with the 2007 revision of Avocado: UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines available at http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu, and the new seasonal decision-making guide: Avocado Year-Round IPM Program, available at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu.
Integrated Pest Management for Avocados is available for $35 per copy. To order, visit http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu, e-mail anrcatalog@ucdavis.edu, or call (800) 994-8849.
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Disaster Declaration for Ventura County
What: Disaster Declaration for Ventura County
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Ventura County as a primary natural disaster area because of losses caused by extreme high winds that occurred from Oct. 21, 2007, through Oct. 25, 2007. In addition, farm operators in Kern, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties in California also qualify for natural disaster benefits because their counties are contiguous.
All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on March 5, 2008, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.
USDA has also made other programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Emergency Conservation Program, Federal Crop Insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
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