Ag Alert is the newspaper of the California Farm Bureau Federation, reaching Farm Bureau agricultural and collegiate members. Agricultural members are owners and decision-makers on California farms and ranches. The California Farm Bureau Federation is a non-governmental, non-profit, voluntary membership organization whose purpose is to protect and promote agricultural interests throughout the state of California and to find solutions to the problems of the farm, the farm home and the rural community. Farm Bureau is California's largest farm organization, comprised of 53 county Farm Bureaus. Farm Bureau strives to protect and improve the ability of farmers and ranchers engaged in production agriculture to provide a reliable supply of food and fiber through responsible stewardship of California's resources.
Workforce resiliency USDA seeks input as it shapes program to address labor
Special issue Irrigation changes reduce crop threats, ward off heat
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www.cfbf.com • www.agalert.com OCTOBER 5, 2022
Vegetables ®
special report
By Peter Hecht Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legisla- tion that will allow unions to collect signed ballot or authorization cards to organize farm employees in lieu of holding secret ballot elections for union certification. California agricultural groups say Newsom’s signing of Assembly Bill 2183 last week as well as a supplemental ac- cord with the United Farm Workers Union and the California Labor Federation rep- resents a dramatic departure from rules protecting farm employees from coercion in union votes. “We’re disappointed,” said California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson. “‘Card check’ is simply devoid of that pri- vacy and the right to freely decide how you want to be represented based on what’s best for you and your family.” AB 2183, a purported vote-by-mail union organizing measure by Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley, passed in the Legislature despite a veto threat from Newsom. The governor’s spokeswoman initially said he couldn’t support an “un- contested mail-election process that lacks critical provisions to protect the election.” But, ultimately, Newsom signed the bill. He did so after reaching the supplemental agreement, which would eliminate lan- guage on voting by mail and instead al- low a card-check system that requires no election. The union would be installed if organizers gather signatures of a majority of employees at an agricultural business. AB 2183 gave employers the right to en- ter into a “labor peace compact,” in which employers would allow union organizers to enter worksites. But California Farm Bureau Senior Counsel Carl Borden said the side agreement would replace the la- bor peace language with an “unadulterat- ed card-check” union organizing system. “It’s tragic that the Legislature and gov- ernor stripped agricultural employees of their right to vote on unionization in the privacy of a secure voting booth during See AB 2183, Page 17 Newsom cuts deal and signs union card-check bill
New sensors could be ‘game changer’ Isaya Kisekka, right, associate professor of hydrology and irrigation at the University of California, Davis, and members of his research team Liyuan Yang, center, and Srinivasa Rao Peddinti evaluate the effectiveness of two new sensors, installed in this Yolo County almond orchard, that measure the tree’s water status.
By Ching Lee With water becoming a more costly and precious resource for farmers, new tech-
A variety of sensors have been on the market for years to measure soil moisture. But the holy grail of precision irrigation is measuring the tree’s stem water potential, or water status. This refers to the amount of energy a plant uses to draw water from the soil, said Isaya Kisekka, associate pro- fessor of hydrology and irrigation at the University of California, Davis. Because of its accuracy and reliability,
the pressure chamber, or pressure bomb, remains the “scientific benchmark” for measuring stem water potential, Kisekka said. It’s been around for decades, but the tool is not widely used because it tends to be “very laborious,” he said, requiring time in the field during the hottest part of the day to take samples and measurements.
nology that allows farmers to detect how thirsty their trees are can now help them make better irriga- tion decisions—and get greater yields.
See IRRIGATION, Page 15
n e w s p a p e r
Comment.......................................2 From the Fields........................4-5 Vegetables................................ 7-8 Classifieds........................... 22-23 Inside
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Kids learn about agriculture, find their voice in 4-H By Shannon Douglass
junior livestock auction loomed as a po- tential challenge for him. We feared all the noise and action of the auction might be too much. Together we watched as some animals were sold, so he would know what to ex- pect. However, I warned him that the auctioneer was likely to mispronounce his name, and he may need to help him say it correctly. Then his moment came. Suddenly, this shy, slight boy seemed to stand tall. In front of an audience of hundreds, he gave the auctioneer clear instructions on how to say his name. I was blown away by this small step. He had a successful show and sale with his goat, Muffin, and earned ribbons. But the real thrill was watching his confidence grow. This is a just a sample of the 4-H jour- ney. As a 4-H mom and leader, I am inspired by these experiences. Among the most rewarding are watching young people, including many who come from outside of agriculture, have such great experiences in learning even just a little bit about the agricultural industry. They are developing real-world skills, whether for agriculture, other professions or life in general. Many become positive repre- sentatives for our industry and its future. When you participate in 4-H as a vol- unteer, your time makes a difference. While many 4-H members may not go on to lives in agriculture, they will be en- gaged in their communities, and they will be voters. They will look back fondly on their 4-H experiences, forever appreciat- ing the vital role of agriculture. (Shannon Douglass, first vice president of the California Farm Bureau, grows row crops and raises beef cattle in Glenn County. She may be contacted at sdouglass@cfbf.com.)
I got my start in 4-H when I was a seventh grader in Sacramento County, inspired by my mother, who had been a 4-H member.
4-H is where I first learned to speak in front of a group and lead a committee meeting. It was a valuable founda- tion, upon which my leadership ex- perience in agricul- ture was built. Through 4-H, you acquire im-
Shannon Douglas
portant life skills, building self-confi- dence, learning responsibility, keep- ing records, speaking in public and, of course, taking care of animals—all essen- tial elements for agriculture. I’m now an adult leader for Schaffert 4-H Club in Orland, and I was recent- ly honored with my 10-year pin. I have watched my son Heath, 11, flourish in extending our family’s 4-H journey into its third generation. My pride is im- mense, as I watch him share his passion for raising cattle. He did his first tele- vision interview at age 9—far younger than when I first did mine—and with no help from Mom. He enjoys explaining how cows are good for the environment and how chocolate milk is good for ath- letes. At fairs he helps people get first experiences with cows. 4-H is already in- spiring him as an agricultural advocate. National 4-H Week began Oct. 2 and runs through Oct. 8. It is our opportuni- ty to recognize this excellent organiza- tion and the young people it influenc- es in such positive ways. 4-H provides life-forming experiences and opportuni- ties for our youth. It fortifies the values of
Heath Douglass, a member of Schaffert 4-H Club in Orland, shows cattle and talks to the media. Youth can develop real-world skills through 4-H, whether for agriculture, other professions or life in general.
farming and ranching in our rural com- munities. It also introduces kids in urban centers to agriculture. In partnership with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, the California 4-H Youth Development Program engages young people through raising livestock and learning about agricultural technology and robotics. 4-H also offers after-school enrichment programs and 4-H collegiate volunteers guide youths to participate in projects in neighborhoods and through local, regional and state 4-H programs. 4-H also tailors programs to provide nur- turing environments for young people in military families. I have witnessed how 4-H can make a difference in a child’s life and devel- opment far beyond the many ribbons they earn. Last fall, at the beginning of the project
year, I met a painfully shy 9-year-old boy who had no livestock or 4-H experience. His mom is a nurse, and his dad works for a farming company. Though the family lives in the city, fortunately, there is no rule against raising a goat in the city limits. When this boy began in 4-H, he wouldn’t speak at the first meeting. He didn’t even share his name to our small group. His mom said he was even shy around extended family. By the second meeting, when he first got to touch a goat, he slowly began to open up. His mom let me know she was pleased with how comfortable he was getting. By the third and fourth meet- ings, we were making progress: He was talking to the group. He made his required 4-H presentation and did so well that other mothers looking on were tearing up. His confidence was growing, yet the
VOL. 49, NO. 36
October 5, 2022
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2 Ag Alert October 5, 2022
Federal agencies seek input on boosting farm workforce
farmworker protections and increase awareness of resources and worker rights is through “meaningful and culturally con- textual education.” “(Educational efforts) must be com- plimented by strong protective require- ments that are part of an H-2A program and that are strongly enforced,” Liebman said. “It’s really important for USDA to put out on the table that the trainings should not be left to growers or contractors, and then farmworker organizations should be supported accordingly to carry out work- er-rights training and training on worker
health and safety, both in the U.S. and in the sending countries.” Matthew Viohl, California Farm Bureau associate director of federal policy, said Farm Bureau welcomes review of the in- efficiencies in the H-2A visa system by the federal government. But he added, “We have significant con- cerns about organized labor groups being directly involved as technical support.” “Farmers and other agricultural em- ployer groups have been heavily involved
By Christine Souza The federal government is asking for in- put as it shapes a grant program intended to improve the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain by addressing labor shortages, legal migration pathways and protections for farmworkers. “The pandemic highlighted challenges of labor instability, challenges of irregular migration and the need for increased labor protections, all challenges that we need to address in order to increase the resilien- cy of our food system and supply chain,” said Anne Knapke, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency deputy chief of staff, during a listening session last week. Three separate sessions were held for agricultural employers, labor unions and farmworker advocacy groups. With up to $65 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, Knapke said USDA, in coordination with other federal agencies, is developing a pilot program to provide support for agricultural employers in implementing robust labor standards to promote a safe, healthy work environ- ment for U.S. workers and workers hired from northern Central American countries through the H-2A visa program. The Farm Service Agency, which is overseeing the program’s development, identified the following program goals: Drive economic recovery and safeguard food security by addressing labor short- ages in agriculture; reduce irregular mi- gration through the increased use of legal pathways; and improve working condi- tions for farmworkers. Agricultural employers are asked to identify challenges they face in securing a stable workforce, identify incentives that they would like to see from USDA to im- prove their ability to hire H-2A workers, and labor standards that would ensure a safe and fair working environment for do- mestic and H-2A farmworkers. The National Council of Agricultural Employers, in its submitted comments, stated that agricultural employers face several barriers and challenges in access- ing the H-2A visa program, including the program’s complexity and cost. “It costs thousands of dollars for em- ployers to navigate the process and recruit, provide subsistence for workers while they are securing their visas and the visa costs themselves, transport the workers to and from their homes, house the workers while here, and provide meals or free convenient cooking facilities for them to prepare their own meals,” stated NCAE President and CEO Michael Marsh in a Sept. 28 letter sub- mitted to the FSA. Marsh said, “Employers using the pro- gram are required to pay the workers wage rates that are disconnected from the actual market for agricultural wages due to a mis- use by the DOL (U.S. Department of Labor) of the USDA’s Farm Labor Survey, a survey not designed to establish wage rates in a temporary work program.” Agricultural employers from different states asked that the new grant program
include incentives to help employers curb inbound and outbound travel costs of H-2A employees. They requested a more streamlined H-2A visa process and to ex- tend program contracts beyond a period of 10 months. In a session aimed at farmworker advo- cacy groups, Amy Liebman of the Migrant Clinicians Network said a way to enhance
See LABOR, Page 17
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October 5, 2022 Ag Alert 3
From The Fields ®
From the Fields is a firsthand report featuring insights from farmers and ranchers across the Golden State, including members of the California Farm Bureau. If you would like to be a contributor to From the Fields, submit your name, county of membership and contact information to agalert@cfbf.com.
Photo/Ching Lee
Photo/Courtesy Richard Bianchi
Jim Gates Nevada County rancher
Richard Bianchi San Benito County vegetable grower
We just came out of about 10 days of extraordinary heat for the vegetables. We had temperatures as high as 111 to 114 degrees, which was our high point. During that period of heat, the irrigators did a heck of a job keeping everything going, but by the end of it, they welcomed a foggy day to the area. Vegetables are pretty resil- ient. It’s just a matter of getting water to them. Anything growing on the coast here— leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, celery—water is a main component of everything we do, and it is definitely struggling. In a lot of areas, it is concerning as we see well-water levels dropping and the pros- pect of what next year could look like. We start planning now for next year, and it is hard when you don’t know what things look like. When you don’t have the delivered water, then we don’t have it. But when wells start to drop, that adds another layer of concern. It’s been a long summer for more than one reason. Disease in a lot of the lettuce has hampered production and yields. The romaine, head lettuce and a lot of the leaf lettuc- es are dealing with a disease that has really hampered us the last couple of years. Every cost is up: Labor’s up, fertilizer is up, sprays are up, any of our input costs. Everything from pallets to wax cartons to plastic bags, it’s all up, up, up. We figure our costs went up 20%. That’s got to come out of our bottom line, so it makes it tough. I know everybody across the state is dealing with the same issues. On the bright side, the weather has kind of righted itself. It’s 90 degrees during the day and then cools down into the high 50s or 60s at night. We’ve got three or four weeks before guys start to head south to Yuma. We’re hoping for a strong finish.
We had one real good rain, and we’ve got grass 2 inches tall right now, nearly tall enough for the cattle to bite. But we need it to rain again. If it doesn’t rain, we’ll lose the grass that we have sprouted. Then it’s going to get a lot tougher because those seeds are no longer there to sprout. We’ve made a huge effort to shepherd our grass to really protect it. We’ve done such a job of saving our feed resources that we make Ebenezer Scrooge look like a humanitarian. There is no feed left, for the most part, in California, except for people that have really made a conscious effort to take care of it. I have hay left over from last year, and I bought some hay this year. I’m strategically marketing my cattle so that we hold the base herd together, so if it rains and takes off, we’re ready to take off too. The cattle look good. We’ve got irrigation water for another three weeks. The grass is still growing. We’re irrigating on the dryland where we can. We’re doing what we can to stretch every inch of water to produce the most feed we can until Oct. 14. Then they’re going to cut the irrigation off, and then we’re up against the rainfall. We need more processors. My processor at the University of Nevada, Reno, called three Fridays ago and said they’re closing their door. That’s where I had my cattle done for the last 12 years. I asked around and put together a California con- nection, and we’re up and running. But it’s been a real struggle—days and days on the telephone.
Neil Nagata San Diego County farmer
We’re getting ready to plant strawberries in the next two or three weeks. Cherimoya harvest is go- ing to start in late November to beginning of December and should go through April. Fruit is on the vine, as long as the heat doesn’t do too much damage. There was that heat spell, and it is still warm now. Even though the fruit was set, that could cause some issues with the quality or outcome of the fruit. Blueberries finished in May. Pretty soon, we’ll go in and prune them, and they’ll come back about February. We also do specialty vegetables for local markets—broccoli or beans or something that fills the gap. Everything is tough, just like up and down the state. In San Diego County, we have water, but it’s expensive. State mandates could affect us. They shouldn’t affect us because we have plenty of supply, but by popular demand, agriculture can be drawn into the whole chaos of the drought. Our water authority says we have plenty of water until 2024, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be reduced. We are not short of employees now because we’re not really doing too much, but the supply has been short. Even though you hear of all the immigration going on, they really aren’t showing up to work. We’re preparing for planting, so right now we’re doing OK, but when it comes to harvesttime, we’ll have to see. Ancillary costs are going up. Fuel is probably the biggest one, but everything adds to the bottom line. At any one time, there’s always a possibility of supply-chain issues, es- pecially if we bring in things from China or overseas. Pallets were one of those big issues, but I think everything’s calmed down. It’s always a constant threat, and until we figure out the global economy and supply chain, we’re always just cautious.
Photo/California Strawberry Commission
4 Ag Alert October 5, 2022
David Van Klaveren Stanislaus County nurseryman
We grow ornamental trees and shrubs for retail garden centers and some land- scape. It’s a more traditional season this year where spring is busy, summer slows down a little, and then fall picks back up. We had a hot week a couple weeks ago, which slowed down the fall uptick. We saw growth in the second quarter, still some growth in the middle of June, and then things slowed down due to the economy, summer vacation and drought. Water hasn’t been an issue because our irrigation districts have a decent supply. With the high heat, there was burning of foliage in some items. Plants shut down. There are two dormancies in what we grow—the winter dormancy and a heat dormancy. We’ve seen the summer’s growth slows way down when it gets to be above 95 degrees. People are looking for plants that require less water, but drought tolerant is a cliché because California is a unique state where we have many different (U.S. Department of Agriculture) hardiness zones. Most of what we grow, once established, doesn’t require water every day and is much more drought tolerant than lawn. Most plants, after a year or two of establishment, may require only three waterings a week. Finding employees from somewhere other than a labor contractor was difficult, but it’s starting to lighten up. We’re getting more applications week by week, maybe due to word of mouth. Rising costs and labor issues facing manufacturers also slowed down the supply of some materials, such as plastic containers in which we grow most of our plants and a select few specific pottery items. I’m still pretty optimistic. We’re still seeing some good demand in California. We believe people are going to take care of their properties and spruce up their yards in the coming year. Housing sales were up, so even with the increase in interest rates, there’s still a demand.
Photo/Christine Souza
October 5, 2022 Ag Alert 5
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CALIFORNIA
Vegetables A SPECIAL GROWERS’ REPORT OF AG ALERT ®
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A spinach field at the University of California’s Desert Research and Extension Center was converted to drip irrigation from sprinklers to study whether the change could curb downey mildew disease.
Spinach drip trial cuts fungicide need, but not water By Vicky Boyd
“I think this is a game changer; it’s not all about water savings,” Montazar said. “There are still a lot of other benefits—less energy, less greenhouse gas.” Compared to sprinklers, buried drip irrigation requires less pumping pressure, which translates to less energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, Montazar said. Additionally, a Winterhaven-area grower cooperating in the trial found savings of $300 per acre. It included significantly fewer fungicide applications, improved fertilizer efficien- cy and eliminating water treatments. Current food safety best practices recommend growers who apply overhead irrigation from surface supplies to leafy greens first disinfect their water. Described by University of California scientists as the most widespread and destructive spinach disease in the state, downy mildew forms yellow spots on leaves that eventually become tan and dry. In addition to loss of quality, infected leaves may break down and begin to rot if packed or bagged. The first line of defense is to plant downy mildew-resistant varieties. Fungicides applied as protectants also can help manage the disease, although organic producers are severely restricted in the products they can use. Montazar said these limitations were another reason for his research. Jack Vessey, who grows leafy greens, including conventional and organic spinach in the
Subsurface or buried drip irrigation has long been touted for its potential to save water. But Ali Montazar, a University of California Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor, wanted to see whether the technology also could be used to manage downy mildew fungal disease on spinach.
If so, that could bring savings on fungicide application costs. The theory was that by eliminating sprinkler-caused leaf wetting, which is conducive to fungal growth, buried drip irrigation would reduce disease pressure.
“We thought sprinkler irrigation was contributing to downy mil- dew, and 100% of spinach is sprinkler irrigated,” said Montazar, who serves Imperial, San Diego and Riverside counties. “For hours, the leaves stay wet. If the weather conditions are favorable, there could be disease issues.” He said impetus for the research came from the California Leafy Greens Research Board, which sought help with downy mildew management and supported his research. After four seasons of trials, Montazar saw no significant water savings, likely because baby spinach is a short-season crop only in the ground for about 40 days. But he did find savings of $200 per acre from reduced fungicide applications to conventionally grown plots and improved pumping efficiency compared to sprinklers.
See SPINACH, Page 8
October 5, 2022 Ag Alert 7
Spinach Continued from Page 7
Imperial Valley, said downy mildew severity varies from year to year based on weather. In conventional or nonorganic spinach, they’re able to manage fungal infections with fungicides if needed. But in his organ- ic fields, Vessey said downy mildew can take a significant toll on yield because of limited control options. “You can walk by acres and not harvest them. It’s an issue, definitely,” said Vessey, president of Vessey & Co. in Holtville. Montazar’s trial at UC’s Desert Research and Extension Center in Holtville involved the heirloom spinach variety Viroflay planted on 80-inch raised beds. The crop was grown organically as it would be for the baby spinach market. The cooperating producer near Winterhaven grows conventionally for the bunching spinach market. In addition to sprinklers and buried drip, Montazar said they looked at surface drip the first year. Because of strong winds, the tape moved around on top of the beds and was judged to not be a viable option. In addition, the surface drip could be a prob- lem for growers since the drip lines need to be removed before harvest and could pose a food safety risk. During the next two seasons, Montazar compared sprinklers to three and four rows of drip tape per bed buried 1.5 to 2 inches deep.
Ali Montazar, right, a University of California Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial, San Diego and Riverside counties, conducted trials on whether shifting spinach irrigation from sprinklers to drip irrigation could reduce the prevalence of spinach downey mildew, shown above. Drip irrigation produced a three-to- five-fold reduction in downey mildew compared to spinach fields using sprinkler irrigation.
The region’s loamy to silty clay-loam soils have good water-holding capaci- ty and substantial lateral water move- ment, so Montazar said four drip rows per bed weren’t needed. That’s why he eliminated the treatment the fourth year of the trial. But in sandier soils, he said the added drip line on an 80-inch
bed may be warranted. They also used buried drip to germi- nate the seed during the last two years rather than sprinkling the seed up and then switching to drip for the remaining 35 days. Montazar said the decision to focus only on drip was made because growers prob- ably wouldn’t use two different irrigation systems on such a short-season crop. Spinach biomass measured at selected times during the growing season did not vary significantly among treatments. One area where Montazar said they did notice differences was in downy mildew incidence. Even in the desert’s low humidity, he said they trapped downy mildew spores between December and February, which coincides with winter vegetable production. During the winter trials, they noted that sprinkler-ir- rigated plant canopies remained wet for 22% to 26% longer than drip-irrigated canopies. As a result, the drip-irrigated treat- ments had a three-to five-fold reduction
in downy mildew compared to sprin- kler-irrigated plots. Another difference Montazar said they saw was in time to get to harvest. Plants in the drip-irrigated plots took two to five days longer to reach the desired size compared to the sprinkler-irrigated treatments. “In all four trials, we observed this through infrared pictures,” he said. “It shows the can- opy for drip is behind two to five days. If you want to get the same yield, you have to go a little bit longer in the season.” Based on a sample cost analysis, Montazar said converting to drip irriga- tion from sprinkler irrigation for spinach is economically feasible. Vessey said he may consider buried drip for spinach. But he said he wants to look into it further and weigh the costs and ben- efits before deciding. After all, he said, installing buried drip is an added expense. (Vicky Boyd is a reporter based in Modesto. She may be contacted at vlboyd@att.net.)
Saving Farms Saving Profits Saving Futures
State soils, water programs to hold webinar on grants
Users of the Healthy Soils Program and the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program may provide feedback during a public listening ses- sion to discuss block grants as a poten- tial framework for disbursing funds. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is exploring a block grant program to allow flexibility, technical assistance and capacity building at the regional level. Under a block grant framework, qualified or- ganizations statewide may apply for state funding and administer award- ed funds to individuals for on-farm projects. Additionally, awarded or- ganizations would provide technical
assistance to individuals and ongoing grant administration support for se- lected on-farm projects. Entities that could be eligible for a block grant program include California-based nonprofit organi- zations, resource conservation dis- tricts, irrigation districts, groundwater sustainability agencies, air pollution control districts, universities and agri- cultural colleges, land trusts, and fed- erally and California-recognized Native American tribal governments. To access the webinar from 9 to 11 a.m., Oct. 10, register at https:// us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_ze7qhvv0Tgq5ABquDWrFnA.
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8 Ag Alert October 5, 2022
State water board approves hikes in water program fees
quality certification (Section 401 cer- tificate), 13.1%; NPDES for wastewater, 4.1%; confined animal facilities, 4.1%; ILRP, 3.9%; and cannabis, 5%. There was no change to the rate for NPDES for stormwater. Foundational programs are spread across all WDPF programs and account for about 30% overall. Foundational programs include basin planning, Total Maximum Daily Loads, Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program, Groundwater Ambient Monitoring, state
water board fee staff costs, monitoring, enforcement and inspections. “Farm Bureau continues to advocate that general fund dollars support foun- dational programs since they benefit all Californians,” Merkley said. Adopted as an emergency fee-setting regulation, the increases are effective for the 2022-23 fiscal year that began July 1. (Christine Souza is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouza@cfbf.com.)
By Christine Souza The State Water Resources Control Board has approved a rate increase for water-quality and water-rights pro- grams to meet budgetary shortfalls for programs that require participation by farmers and ranchers. The California Farm Bureau provid- ed comments and monitored fee stake- holder meetings throughout the year, including the meeting during which the state water board adopted a new fee schedule. “Farm Bureau continues advocating for general fund dollars to support the fees at a time when the state budget is flush, and farmers and ranchers strug- gle to acquire water to irrigate their crops and water livestock,” said Danny Merkley, California Farm Bureau’s director of water resources. The state water board adopted emer- gency regulations revising the core reg- ulatory fee schedules, including water quality fees for programs in the Waste Discharge Permit Fund and water rights fees in the Water Rights Fund. Related to WDPF, the board adopted a 0.84% increase in the water quality programs. The board also approved a 7.2% increase in the Water Rights Fund, which carries an approximate 10% reserve. The increases include a 5% percent reserve in the WDPF, which houses funds for: National Pollution Discharge Elimination System for stormwater, waste discharge requirements or gen- eral orders, land disposal, 401 certifica- tion, confined animal facilities, Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program and canna- bis, which is a stand-alone program that the other programs do not subsidize. Responding to the fee increases, Brent Burchett, executive director of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, said, “We recognize there’s a cost to adminis- ter these programs, but I feel they don’t consider the reality facing our farmers, so it’s another example of death by a thousand cuts.” Farmers are experiencing record-high costs for inputs such as fuel and fertilizer on top of the added costs to comply with the programs. “The list of expenses for farmers in California continues to grow faster than our ability to sell more and grow our farms,” Burchett said. “This is just one more example of how out of touch state leaders are with what’s happening in agriculture.” Under the “ag order,” Burchett said farm- ers face testing and monitoring require- ments and costs borne by the growers. “They have to pay someone to go out and collect the samples or some of them try to do it themselves,” Burchett said. “We understand that water quality is im- portant, but a lot of times these (regula- tions) are onerous and duplicative and
don’t achieve the goals that the region- al water board or the state water board think they do.” The board adopted the following in- creases for the 2022-23 fiscal year for programs housed in the Water Discharge Permit Fund: waste discharge require- ments, 3.8%; land disposal, 3.8%; water
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October 5, 2022 Ag Alert 9
Shallow irrigation helps growers weather heat wave By Bob Johnson
Cool-season vegetable growers in the Salinas Valley turned to regimens of fre- quent shallow irrigation to weather an
August and early- September heat wave that brought 112-de- gree temperatures to the King City area. Excessive heat
Heat impacts on cool-season vege- tables can include burning edges in romaine lettuce, far left, and uneven head sizes in broccoli, left. Salinas Valley grow- ers recently escaped major heat damage.
can cause poor head formation in lettuce, uneven head sizes in broccoli, and wilt- ing or sunburn in cauliflower. But reports from the fields suggest that growers adapted their irrigation practices well enough to escape significant crop losses in the Salinas Valley. “I have not heard anyone complain to me about crop damage due to the recent heat wave,” said Norm Groot, Monterey County Farm Bureau executive director. “There were some minor quality issues and a few things that I don’t think they would really call crop damage at this point, so everyone got through it pretty well.” Heat-stress management begins with irrigating according to evapotranspiration data provided by the California Irrigation Management Irrigation System, a network
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of weather stations maintained in agricul- tural areas throughout the state. King City was the hottest area, but tem- peratures were also well above average during the late-August and early-Sep- tember heat wave at weather stations in South Salinas and Soledad. CIMIS data for late August showed that evapotranspiration levels increased
from 0.18 inches per day in late August to 0.25 inches per day during the heat wave, about a 40% increase in water demand. “We irrigate more,” said Mark Mason, farm input manager at Soledad-based lettuce grower Huntington Farms. “You water more, and you harvest earlier in the day because you can’t harvest at cer- tain temperatures.” Farms in the Soledad area escaped the extreme heat of the southern reach- es of the Salinas Valley. But the regional trend is toward scorching extremes, with
University of California researchers re- porting that recent high temperatures in South Salinas were markedly worse than average high temperatures from 2015 to 2019. Not only does Huntington Farms water more during heat waves, but the compa- ny also waters more frequently. “With drip, we put on a couple inches to keep it wet,” Mason said. “Everything has to be wet during the heat wave.”
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All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or af liates. contract term is 12 months. Based on a retail contract date of March 1, 2022, with a suggested retail price on a new WORKMASTER™ 105 Tier 4, ROPS of C$92,579 customer provides down payment of C$18,515.79 and finances the balance of C$74,063.16 at 0% per annum for 12 months. There will be 12 equal monthly payments of C$6,171.93. The total amount payable will be C$74,063.16, which includes finance charges of C$0. Taxes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer is nontransferable. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. **Cash back amounts vary and are applied at time of sale. 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10 Ag Alert October 5, 2022
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