Ag Alert. June 1, 2022

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.

Farm succession Planning helps in passing farms to next generation

Soil conscious Farmers partner to keep sediment from sea

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www.cfbf.com • www.agalert.com JUNE 1, 2022

Vegetables ®

special report

By Peter Hecht With farmers across California already facing severe cuts in irrigation supplies, state officials are now imposing additional aggressive conservation measures for ur- ban consumers and local water agencies across the state. Emergency regulations, adopted May 24 by the California State Water Resources Control Board, are now targeting California cities and communities and the state’s nonagricultural landscapes. The regulations will require local agen- cies to impose restrictions on water use that can be sufficient to make up for po- tential 20% shortfalls in water supplies anticipated for summer months. That means no irrigation for munici- pal greenbelts. Watering lawns and turf at commercial or industrial buildings is now banned, meaning that lush green spaces at the Golden State’s popular tourist hotels or sprawling business parks will have to go brown. California homeowners still watering their tropical landscaping and ornamental plants may run into trouble from their local water districts and face potential fines. “It means that we’re all in this togeth- er,” said California Farm Bureau Senior Counsel Chris Scheuring, who specializes in water issues. “Urban conservation is a different species of conservation than ag- ricultural conservation. In some cases, it is a little easier for urban folks to cut back, maybe even drastically, without affecting their lifestyles and livelihoods.” Gov. Gavin Newsom applauded the ac- tions by state water officials. “California is facing a drought crisis, and every local water agency and Californian needs to step up on conservation efforts,” Newsom said in a statement. “I am hopeful the measures enacted by the State Water Board will lead to a reduction of water use across the state. These conservation measures are increasingly important as we enter the summer months. I’m asking See URBAN, Page 14 Urban water use is latest target for drought cutbacks

By Kevin Hecteman Michael Machado’s farmland is in no danger of sprouting houses or strip malls anytime soon. The third-generation farmer and former legislator has easements on his property meant to ensure the centu- ry-old family farm in Linden remains as such in perpetuity. In addition to the estate-planning benefits, there’s a natu- ral component. “If you maintain the land in agriculture, there’s going to be natural habitat that comes about just because of it, wheth- er it be orchard or row crop or pasture,” Machado said. “If you’re dealing with pas- tures that may have farm ponds on them, farm ponds can become a focal point for certain species.” The problem, according to farm- land-conservation advocates, is that the state’s ambitious conservation-based cli- mate plan, “Pathways to 30x30,” largely excludes farmers and ranchers—and the lands they steward—from being counted. The report stems from an executive order Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in October 2020 in which he set a goal of conserving 30% of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030—a goal called 30x30 for short. The order directed the California Natural Resources Agency to lead the effort. The plan lists “working landscapes un- der conservation easements” as part of the 30x30 goal, giving as examples “sustainably Conservation goals leave many farmlands out

Charlotte Mitchell, executive director at California Farmland Trust, said the state is missing an opportunity omitting many working lands from its “30x30” conservation goals.

See 30x30, Page 11

n e w s p a p e r

Comment.......................................2 From the Fields........................4-5 Vegetables................................ 7-8 Classifieds........................... 18-19 Inside

Published by

Dairy farmers are working to address climate issues By John Talbot

including almond hulls and citrus pulp, account for upward of 40% of a California dairy cow’s diet in the state. Dairy farms are also focused on wa- ter-smart management practices. Water recycling is commonplace on California dairies, with the same drop of water used four to five times. Clean water cools milk tanks and is then used to water and wash the cows. The same water heads to a holding pond for storage, where it is used multiple times to flush manure out of barns, becoming rich with plant nutrients such as nitrogen. It is then blended with irrigation water to “fertigate” crops in the fields. Dairy farmers experimenting with drip irrigation to grow feed crops are using 47% less water while increasing crop yields. Regenerative agriculture practices such as crop rotation and no-till farming are also critical. Farmers depend on cows for their liveli- hood. To produce high-quality milk, dairy cows must be healthy and cared for, which is why farmers focus on a nutritious diet, appropriate veterinary care and healthy living conditions. In turn, cows produce one of the healthiest and most sustainable products on the market. Because 99% of the dairy farms in California are family-owned, many of these sustainability practices have been passed down from generation to genera- tion and improved upon over time. The time-tested, future-forward ap- proach of the Golden State’s dairy indus- try is focused on continued success on its journey toward climate neutrality and— ultimately—net zero emissions. (John Talbot is the CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board. He may be contacted through communications@cmab.net.)

Each year we use the month of June to recognize our dairy farm families and

the delicious, nu- tritious foods they help bring to the table. On the heels of Earth Day, we are leaning into the topic of dairy sustainability for this year’s Dairy Month celebra- tion to showcase California dairy’s

John Talbot

commitment to slowing climate impacts. Our state remains one of only two ma- jor global regions to establish a statuto- ry mandate to reduce methane from the dairy sector and is on track to meet its ambitious target of a 40% reduction in manure methane by 2030. California dairy farm families have a long commitment to providing prod- ucts that keep the state’s finite resources and environmental balance in mind. For example, the amount of water used per gallon of milk produced has decreased by more than 88% over a 50-year period, due to improved feed crop production, water use efficiency and the use of byproducts as feed ingredients. Dairy is the leading agricultural prod- uct in California, making it crucial to the well-being of the fifth-largest economy in the world. However, California’s dairy sector, which includes 1.7 million dairy cows, accounts for only 4% of the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions. That’s due to California dairy farmers’ continued strides in reducing methane emissions through investment and inno- vation. According to a 2020 study published in the Journal of Dairy Science, greenhouse

The California Milk Advisory Board reports that state dairy farmers are embracing sustainable prac- tices, reducing methane gas emissions, conserving water and protecting the health of their cows.

gas emissions per gallon of milk produced in California have decreased by more than 45% over the past 50 years. The use of anaerobic digesters, which turn manure methane into renewable elec- tricity, renewable natural gas or hydrogen fuel, are driving much of this progress. California has roughly 206 digester projects capturing methane from 217 dairy farms, with 89 digesters currently in operation and the rest in various stages of development. Over the next 25 years, collective dairy methane reduction projects across California, including digesters and alter- native manure management projects, are estimated to reduce more than 55 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. That’s an annual emissions reduction equal to taking more than half a million cars off the road. At Calgren Dairy Fuels in Pixley, bio- gas from cow manure collected at 16 Tulare County dairies is converted to renewable compressed natural gas, or CNG, and introduced directly into the Southern California Gas Co., which

serves 21.7 million customers. Phase one of this dairy digester pipeline cluster is capturing 150,000-plus tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas- es and displacing more than 3 million gal- lons of fossil fuel-based transportation fuel annually. The CNG is made available as a near-zero emissions fuel for heavy-duty trucks, replacing existing fossil-fuel diesel. Another step is innovation to reduce methane emissions from the source. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, are conducting studies to help dairy farmers adjust their cows’ diets. For ex- ample, diets that include alfalfa, flax and other plants high in omega-3s such as seaweed have shown to reduce enteric methane from cattle digestion. Cattle have a unique digestive system that enables them to unlock nutrients from plants in a way we cannot. This means dairy cows can upcycle byproducts of food and fiber production that are inedible for humans, minimizing waste and reducing emissions from landfills. These byproducts,

VOL. 49, NO. 21

June 1, 2022

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2 Ag Alert June 1, 2022

Planning is critical as farms transfer to new generations

Alison Main, left, and her siblings sought help in farm transition planning as they looked to take over her par- ents’ vegetable, fruit and flower farm in the Capay Valley near Sacramento.

By Lisa McEwen At Good Humus Produce, a small or- ganic farm in the Capay Valley northwest of Sacramento, members of the Main family built a local agricultural tradition with seasonal harvests of more than 200 varieties of flowers, vegetables and fruit. The farm was started by Jeff and Annie Main in 1976. It became a staple in Yolo County, serving as a cornerstone for the Davis Farmers Market and providing pro- duce boxes that feed hundreds of area customers monthly through communi- ty-supported agriculture. Nearly 46 years later, the Main family children—Zachary, Alison and Claire— are poised to take over the reins of the farm. They are finding that planning for its future is just as important as raising and harvesting its crops. Transitioning farms from one generation to the next is a crucial task for California ag- ricultural producers and is an often-over- looked part of operations. More than 40% of California farmers are 65 or older, and the average age nationally is 57.5, according to the U.S. Census of Agriculture. The stability of California agriculture is largely dependent on a successful change of hands, and the Main children realized that the process isn’t easy.

“We have 30 acres, and we hire two or three people to help us. Our family is the labor force,” Alison Main said. “We real- ized quickly we had no time to deal with any of it. There was a lot of stuff that need- ed to be hashed out that we really didn’t even know how to do or where to start.” Across California, a variety of nonprofit partnerships are providing resources to new generations taking over family farms and ranches. They’re offering guidance and training to ease transition plan- ning—or succession planning—so family agriculture traditions can continue. Recently, the Mains joined a cohort of other farm families that enrolled in a 12-month course on transitioning agri- cultural properties to new generations. The program—called “The Regenerator: A Year of Farm Succession Planning”—is organized by California FarmLink. Its course covers aspects of farm tran- sition, including tax and estate planning, business structure and valuation, as well as financing strategies. Planning for the future of California farms is critical for many reasons, said Liya Schwartzman, a senior program manager for FarmLink. Rising costs for the retiring generation, the high price of land for new generations, and less equity

in the land and farming business are all factors affecting transitions, she said. “It is increasingly challenging to pass the farm to the next generation,” Schwartzman said. “Our local communi- ties, economies and food systems are built on the strength and stability of small and medium-sized local farms. It is essential that farmers start early and do the plan- ning needed to transfer management and ownership so that farms can sustain our local economies and communities.” Curt Covington, senior director of in- stitutional credit at AgAmerica lending, said agricultural lenders want to see a proper estate plan in place for farm tran- sitions. Not having one is a lending risk. “This is an issue from the perspective of

a lender,” he said. “Farmers think they are invincible, but it is a growing problem.” In a lecture at the World Ag Expo in Tulare in February titled “Who’s In and Who’s Out: Elements of a Successful Succession Plan,” Covington outlined three types of plans that farmers should have: • Continuity planning, as in who to trust to run the farm, sign checks and keep the doors open in the instance of sudden death or incapacitation. • Estate planning, a legal and tax ac- counting step to preserve wealth. • Succession planning, which addresses anticipated timing of handing over the farm- ing business to a successor.

See TRANSITION, Page 9

June 1, 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/Len Wood

Photo/Kevin Hecteman

Greg France Santa Barbara County strawberry grower

Kulwant Johl Yuba-Sutter County tree crop farmer

The (cling) peach crop is not very good this year. It got hit by the frost, first in February and then in April. Some trees are good, but most of them in this area got hit by the frost. Most of my peaches look OK, so I will harvest some peaches. Almonds also got hit. My almonds got damaged back in February. Also, walnuts were hit by the April frost. With almonds, I probably have 50% of the crop, and I will harvest it. What are you going to do? It’s farming. One year can set you back years. A disaster was declared for almonds in Yuba, Sutter and Butte counties. For peaches, they are still checking, but they will declare it because there’s lots of dam- age. Not everybody buys crop insurance, but some growers have it. We don’t know yet if (the U.S. Department of Agriculture) is going to approve a disaster program. Cling peach harvest starts the first week of July. Last week, we thinned peach- es and sprayed for Oriental fruit moth. Then, we irrigated and put fertilizer on the peaches. The price was set with the canners back in March, thanks to the California Canning Peach Association. The price is good this year. Finding labor is no problem because with the peach crop, the acreage is down and not everybody is thinning due to frost damage. There is lots of labor also because of the drought and with rice acreage down in this area. Erik Herman Madera County tree crop farmer Harvest of fresh figs will start about June 10, and the season will go until October or early November. We grow Brown Turkeys, Black Missions, Sierras and Tiger figs. The Black Mission always has an early crop, which is in June, and it sets fruit on last year’s growth. It’s the only variety that really does it, and the fruit is al- ways larger but with limited quantities. There’s no real rhyme or reason why some years there is a big first crop, and some years it’s a small first crop. We’re just get- ting everything ready for harvest, fighting the challenges, whether it be packaging materials, fertilizers or chemicals. We’re making sure we’re on top of our water usage and making sure we’re not overwatering because we don’t want to get fined at the end of the year. But we don’t want to underwater and have to put on 2 more inches. We’re preparing for warmer days, but as far as the crops go, it is a win-win, because the crops that we grow—pis- tachios, almonds and figs—they all like the heat. Pistachios should be on the verge of nut fill, if not already started. We’re watering and adding fertilizer for those. For almonds, it’s probably about a month away, but hull-split spray is the next big spray for almonds. That will be here before we know it.

We’re doing a lot of harvesting. We’re not quite yet at our peak. It’s been a cool fall for us here in the Santa Maria Valley, and things have been a little bit slow. But it looks like our peak should be in the next couple weeks. Also, we are planting our summer crop, which is Portola, which will give us a fall harvest. The plants look great. Just pretty common issues. We’re still fighting with two-spotted spider mites, trying to get them under control. It’s been very, very difficult. The weather’s been cool, but it’s been good. Pricing has been good so far this season. We hope it holds, of course. The yield is behind. Labor is very, very tight and very difficult. We do use quite a bit of H-2A labor, which is expensive, but that seems to be the only way we’re able to harvest our crop. We also have a fun new project. It’s substrate production of strawberries. We’ve been working quite a bit on that. We’re harvesting and planting there as well. We planted the substrate strawberries last year, and so far so good. We’re pretty happy with it. Being in strawberries since 1986, these are for sure the best tasting strawberries I’ve ever eaten. They’re common university va- rieties, but because of our ability to water and give it the proper nutrition, the flavor is incredible.

Photo/Christine Souza

4 Ag Alert June 1, 2022

David Barhydt Nevada County rancher

We’re irrigating and still trying to clean up damage from the windstorms. We had lots of trees fall. We’re making sure fences are secure, cleaning ditches, fixing sprinklers, shipping calves and moving cows to other pastures. It’s a pretty busy time for us. We have hand-line sprinklers here at home. At our other ranch, we flood irrigate most of it with flood valves, and we do a little bit of sprinkling. Because it was so dry this spring, we’re a little bit behind in grass growth. We’ve been irrigating since around April 10. The grass growth we have right now we should have had April 1. In retrospect, we’re way better off this year than last year up here in Nevada County. The moisture we did have was kind of last minute, but it really made a big difference because it came just before we started to irrigate, so we had a little bit of ground moisture. I have a lot of recovery ditches that pick up water when we irrigate, so we can retribute (the water). Last year, I couldn’t use those ditches until July because the ground was so dry; it just soaked (the water) up. With that part, we’re in better shape this year than last year. We’re really fortunate here in Nevada County. Our irrigation district is one of the few in the state that has adequate water supplies to last us through the sea- son. Hopefully, we’re not going to get cutbacks, unless the state (water) board does curtailments. I didn’t keep any replacement heifers this year. We’re cutting back a little bit be- cause we have to feed hay in the winter, and hay prices are just outrageous. It’s bad for me, but it’s good for the hay growers.

Photo/Ron Nabity

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June 1, 2022 Ag Alert 5

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CALIFORNIA

Vegetables A SPECIAL GROWERS’ REPORT OF AG ALERT ®

Monterey farmers work to keep runoff from the sea By Bob Johnson Pam Krone, water quality program manager of urban and rural watersheds at the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, addresses a gathering with Monterey farmer Javier Zamora, center in baseball cap, on soil practices that help protect the Pacific Ocean.

The foundation has become involved in studying and promoting farm practices that sink carbon into the soil, so that it doesn’t reach the Pacific Ocean. It has partnered with Zamora on multiple farm outreach events. More than 80% of the excess heat from global warming has been absorbed by oceans, raising water temperatures enough to significantly impact the habitat of some marine species. One of Zamora’s farm fields was purchased with the help of an Elkhorn Slough Foundation easement. The agreement keeps much of the ground out of production to protect nearby waters. Zamora took part in one of the foundation’s carbon sequestration trials at his farm. He purchased the Triple M Ranch and started implementing soil-health building practices in 2019. These practices included winter cover crops, conscientious tillage, residue incorporation, high-crop diversity, and rotation and compost. He also installed a hedgerow. The resulting soil-health improvements included increases in soil organic matter and decreases in bulk density. These steps provide agronomical benefits, such as reducing soil erosion, improving water holding capacity, lowering plant disease risks and increasing yield potential.

At his organic vegetable and strawberry farm a few miles south of the Pajaro River in Monterey County, Javier Zamora hosted a gathering of growers and ma- rine environmentalists. They discussed soil practices that are important for agriculture in the river region near Watsonsville and Royal Oaks, as well as for the Pacific Ocean to the west. Among the guests at the gathering was Jazmine Mejia-Muñoz, the research, education and outreach associate at the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation in Monterey. The foundation has worked with area farmers on an evolving list of practices aimed at protecting the ocean. Zamora, who grows organic produce, has developed a working relationship with the nonprofit’s researchers. When the foundation was created 30 years ago, a key agricultural issue was runoff of sediment high in nitrates that could eventually find its way into the ocean. “We have to be concerned with agriculture because it is the main industry in both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties,” Mejia-Muñoz said. Many growers have worked with the group. They say they have dramatically reduced irrigation runoff by converting to microirrigation that targets water more precisely to crops. They curb nitrates in runoff by testing the soil before applying nitrogen fertilizer.

See OCEAN, Page 8

June 1, 2022 Ag Alert 7

Ocean Continued from Page 7

On 7 acres of the field, Zamora mini- mized tillage, grew cover crops and ro- tated cash crops to increase soil organic matter by 2.1%. An increase of 2.6% was achieved on another 7 acres where compost was also applied. For the entire field in the trial, more than 640 metric tons of carbon dioxide were sequestered in the soil, which is the equivalent of taking 46.5 cars off the road for three years. CO2 from Salinas Valley agriculture and Silicon Valley urban areas can make its way to the waters of the Monterey Bay, contributing to acidification that alters marine habitats. To mitigate that, the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Big Sur Land Trust are collaborating on a state Department of Food and Agriculture healthy soils project. It will evaluate the impact of perennial grass planting and compost in restoring Salinas-area Marks Ranch pasture ground. In a related healthy soils project, Braga Fresh is testing whether its Monterey County organic vegetable operation can be carbon neutral.

A farm crew collects plastic mulch and drip irrigation tape from a strawberry field in Moss Landing in October. The work is part of an ongoing effort to keep

agricultural plastics from reaching the Monterey Bay.

Mejia-Muñoz is also directly involved with the Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s newest project, an attempt to keep agri- cultural plastics out of the Monterey Bay. The widespread conversion to drip irri- gation in the Salinas Valley has conserved water and the energy needed to move it. Drip systems, however, use a lot of plastic irrigation tape, and part of Mejia-Muñoz’ project is to help farmers more efficiently

remove and recycle old tape. Another part of the project is to find plant-based, compostable alternatives to plastic mulch that is used to save water and protect strawberries from weed competition. There are alternatives that become cost competitive when calculating the labor sav- ings from incorporating the plastic into the soil rather than removing it from the field.

Work remains to be done, however, in developing plant-based alternatives that decompose quickly enough to not inter- fere with the next crop. “We also need to learn how fast these materials decompose in the ocean,” Mejia-Muñoz said. (Bob Johnson is a reporter in Monterey County. He may be contacted at bjohn11135@gmail.com.)

SO MANY OPTIONS. VERSATILITY NEVER HAD

H elle Farm Equipment, Inc. 1 4155 Route 136, Dyersville, IA 52040 h ttps://www.hellefarmequipment.com 5 55-555-5555 Entries are sought for 41st Farm Bureau Photo Contest

1 F or Commercial use only. Customer p fi articipation subject to credit quali cation a nd approval by CNH Industrial Capital Participants will be eligible for one of 12 cash prizes, ranging from $50 up to the $1,000 Grand Prize. The contest is open to members of county Farm Bureaus in California. Participants must be amateur photographers—those who do not regu- larly receive income from photography. In addition to the general competition, A merica LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your participating N ew Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment m ay be required. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or t erm. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC and CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. s tandard terms and conditions apply. Canada Example: The interest r ate will be 0% for 12 months. Total contract term is 12 months. Based on a retail contract date of March 1, 2022, w ith a suggested retail price on a n ew Workmaster 35 T4B of C$31,236 customer provides down payment of C $6,247.26 and nances the balance of C$24,989.04 at 0% per annum for fi 1 2 months.T here will be 12 equal monthly payments of C$2,082.42. The total a fi mount payable will be C$24,989.04, which includes nance charges of C$0. T axes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included i n suggested retail price. Offer is nontransferable. Offer subject to change or c ancellation without notice. 2 C ash back amounts vary and are applied at time o fi f sale. Cash back offers are only available when nancing purchase with C NH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. 3 O ffers end June 30, 2022; subject to change or cancellation without notice. © 2022 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. C NH Industrial C apital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States a nd many other countries, o wned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its s fi ubsidiaries or af liates. The 41st annual California Farm Bureau Photo Contest is now open, giving Farm Bureau members a chance to compete for their share of $2,500 in cash prizes. Photos may highlight farm, ranch and food imagery. Participants may submit up to five high-resolution digital images inspired by farm and ranch life.

photographers who are 13 and younger as of Sept. 30, 2022, and who are children or dependents of Farm Bureau members, are invited to submit photos as Budding Artists. Presented by the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, this category awards a first- place prize of $250 and a second-place prize of $100. In addition to the cash prizes, winning photos will be published in the week- ly California Farm Bureau newspaper Ag Alert® and bimonthly California Bountiful® magazine. All entries must be submitted online by Sept. 30. Entry forms and contest rules are available at www.cfbf.com/photocontest.

0% Financing 1 Cash BackAvailable 2 New Holland compact tractors are roomy, easy to operate and powerful enough for everyday jobs or weekend-warrior projects. And now save on select models. Available from 24 to 55 gross hp, a New Holland compact makes short work of the longest to-do list. Give one a try, like a WORKMASTER™ compact tractor. It redefines value with fuel-saving power, big-tractor strength, and long, trouble-free life—all backed by a six-year warranty. Put more versatility to work and save now. Offers end soon 3 . Stop in today or visit nhoffers.com. H elle Farm Equipment, Inc. 1 4155 Route 136, Dyersville, IA 52040 h ttps://www.hellefarmequipment.com 5 55-555-5555

-Reduce Toxins, pH, Scale, Corrosion, Iron Bacteria -Increase Life & GPM -24/7 Well Treatment -Nitrogen Management “The solution to your water problems.”

FAIRFIELD GARTON TRACTOR INC. 707-425-9545 www.gartontractor.com MODESTO GARTON TRACTOR INC. 209-538-0911 www.gartontractor.com NEWMAN GARTON TRACTOR INC. 209-862-3760 www.gartontractor.com

SANTA ROSA GARTON TRACTOR INC. 707-586-1790 www.gartontractor.com STOCKTON GARTON TRACTOR INC. 209-948-5401 www.gartontractor.com TULARE GARTON TRACTOR INC. 559-686-0054 www.gartontractor.com

TURLOCK GARTON TRACTOR INC. 209-632-3931 www.gartontractor.com UKIAH GARTON TRACTOR INC. 707-468-5880 www.gartontractor.com WOODLAND GARTON TRACTOR INC. 530-615-2828 www.gartontractor.com

Our patented, computerized technology changes the molecular structure of water, soil, and tissue.

1 For Commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC and CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. standard terms and conditions apply. Canada Example: The interest rate will be 0% for 12 months. Total contract term is 12 months. Based on a retail contract date of March 1, 2022, with a suggested retail price on a new Workmaster 35 T4B of C$31,236 customer provides down payment of C$6,247.26 and finances the balance of C$24,989.04 at 0% per annum for 12 months. There will be 12 equal monthly payments of C$2,082.42. The total amount payable will be C$24,989.04, 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. 2Cash back amounts vary and are applied at time of sale. Cash back offers are only available when financing purchase with CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. 3Offers end June 30, 2022; subject to change or cancellation without notice. © 2022 CNH Industrial America LLC. 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 affiliates. 1 F or Commercial use only. Customer p fi articipation subject to credit quali cation a nd approval by CNH Industrial Capital A merica LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your participating N ew Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment m ay be required. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or t erm. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC and CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. s tandard terms and conditions apply. Canada Example: The interest r ate will be 0% for 12 months. Total contract term is 12 months. Based on a retail contract date of March 1, 2022, w ith a suggested retail price on a n ew Workmaster 35 T4B of C$31,236 customer provides down payment of C $6,247.26 and nances the balance of C$24,989.04 at 0% per annum for fi 1 2 months.T here will be 12 equal monthly payments of C$2,082.42. The total a 8 Ag Alert June 1, 2022

(559) 645-1462 www.waterchangers.com

ble 2

for everyday 4 to 55 gross a try, like a tor strength,

fi mount payable will be C$24,989.04, which includes nance charges of C$0. T axes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included i n suggested retail price. Offer is nontransferable. Offer subject to change or c ancellation without notice. 2 C ash back amounts vary and are applied at time o fi f sale. Cash back offers are only available when nancing purchase with C NH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd.

Transition Continued from Page 3

separate ways,” she said. “It would not only be the end of the farm but also a distancing of the relationship. That was a surprise to me, but it’s very clear how important it is and continues to be.” Attorney Mary Campbell, a CALAMP mediator, said farming is not just a busi- ness; it is a family conversation. “These are tough talks to have, but they are necessary,” she said. “Every family has a challenge. That is the na- ture of families. Mediation is the coolest thing that nobody knows about. We are there to support everyone’s voice and can help you have the family conversa- tions needed.” CALAMP also assists with agricul- tural debt issues, leases or other fi- nancial challenges that can feed into concern around succession planning, Campbell said. At Good Humus, as they produce spring crops such as strawberries, apri- cots, beets and leeks, members of the Main family continue efforts to plan for the future. “Everyone in our community will ben- efit from a smoother transition,” Alison Main said, “and they won’t have to wait five years for me to figure out how to turn the tractor on.” (Lisa McEwen is a reporter in Exeter. She may be contacted at mcewenlisamarie@gmail.com.)

“It’s easy to say, ‘I want my kids to be in farming,’” Covington said. “But, in reality, the steep cost of entry will keep them out. It will be difficult without the support of their parents.” A common error in succession plan- ning is not realizing that retirement is closing in quickly. Many can also wrong- ly assume that a will is all that is needed, or that all assets should be distributed evenly among heirs, or that the entire process can be done by the farmer, Covington said. Not seeking professional assistance is a huge mistake, he said. Farm families may need a financial or estate planner, a moderator to help with family discus- sions, a banker to assist with financial resources, an accountant with income records and business projections, and a tax attorney. “Succession planning is not once-and- done,” Covington said. “Start early and keep it regularly planned.” The lengthy process of planning for the future can be overwhelming amid daily tasks of farming. Alison Main said getting advice through the FarmLink farm succession program helped ease the anxiety. “We were asked to outline our roles, and we couldn’t even do it. We just didn’t have the time,” she said. “With

Jeff Main, above, checks on crops at the Good Humus organic farm. At right, siblings Claire and Alison Main, from left, are photographed with the farm matriarch, Annie Main.

to the farm, it became apparent that they had different visions for its future. A facilitator helped guide family mem- bers through necessary, sometimes difficult conversations. California FarmLink is partnering with the California Agricultural Mediation Program, which provides free mediation and facilitation services for farm families such as the Mains. Annie Main, who feared potential ten- sions among her children, said the pro- cess has been “a game changer.” “As parents, we are the glue, and once we remove ourselves, my desire is that my three children will be able to com- municate and work together and not go

this format, we meet once a month for eight hours, no distractions. We had to sit there and start dealing with it. It’s a struggle to do in the midst of ev- erything else, but we do feel like we’re moving, we’re doing. As hard as it is, it will pay off and save us a huge amount of trouble later.” Annie and Jeff Main started the process several years ago by placing the Good Humus farm in an agricultural easement as development crept in. At the time, they did not know if their children were inter- ested in farming. But the easement made owning the farm a financial possibility for the next generation. As their children decided to return

The Produce Safety Rule is Here; ARE YOU READY?

Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS), an aliated company of the California Farm Bureau (CAFB), has partnered with the Safe Food Alliance through a California Department of Food and Agriculture grant contract, as their designated training provider for Central and Southern California, to conduct the required Produce Safety training for growers. Presented in a free two-day remote delivery webinar format! What sets Safe Food Alliance, FELS, and Farm Bureau apart is their total of over 100 years of experience and our dedication to providing technical guidance and leadership to the California agriculture community. Most farms are required to have at least one designated supervisor who has been trained in accordance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety rule. Upon completion of the course, attendees will receive an ocial certicate from the Association of Food & Drug Ocials.

It’s time to apply Afrikelp in green and red varieties of TABLE GRAPES

% of fully colored berries at first harvest

100%

96,8%

75%

81,0%

68,5%

50%

47,5%

25%

Control Flame

Afrikelp Flame

Control Alison

Afrikelp Alison

Source: Dr. Ashraf El-kereamy, University of California Riverside

Afrikelp can be applied since 4-6 mm berry size until veraison

Source: Dr. Ashraf El-kereamy, University of California Riverside

The Food Safety Training Partnership is offering these training courses throughout California. You can find more information and register at foodsafetytrainingpartnership.com, or call 916-561-5672. Supported by California Department of Food and Agriculture

Afrikelp Control Afrikelp is standardized ensuring consistent results

June 1, 2022 Ag Alert 9

California Farm Bureau proudly endorses Nationwide ® for insurance and financial services

Farm Bureau thanks the following Nationwide ® agents * for their support

ALTURAS BILL MADISON - MODOC INSURANCE SERVICES 530-233-3432

COLUSA G. STAN KEARBY INSURANCE

HOLTVILLE COOPERSWEST INSURANCE AGENCY 760-356-2986 #0E32771 LIVE OAK BUTTES INSURANCE AGENCY 530-695-2151 #0530743 LIVINGSTON WALTER MORTENSEN INSURANCE/ INSURICA CA 209-353-2700 #0D44424 LIVINGSTON WINTON-IRELAND,STROM & GREEN INS AGENCY 209-394-7925 #0596517 LOS BANOS WESTERN VALLEY INSURANCE ASSOCIATES, INC. 209-826-5667 #0649647 MANTECA BASI INS. SERVICES, INC. 209-823-6886 #0E28876 MARYSVILLE GALLIGAN & ASSOCIATES 530-742-3243 #0426559 MCKINLEYVILLE JUDY DAVIS INSURANCE SERVICES, INC. 707-839-5288 #0612589 MERCED BARLOCKER INSURANCE SERVICES 209-383-0220 #134714 MERCED FLUETSCH & BUSBY #0358327 MERCED INTERWEST INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC. 209-723-9181 #0B01094 MODESTO WINTON-IRELAND,STROM & GREEN INS AGENCY 209-529-3480 #0596517 OAKDALE BASI INS. SERVICES, INC. 209-847-3065 #0E28876 ORLAND HUTSON INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 530-865-3801 #0H65133 INSURANCE 209-722-1541

OROVILLE FUGATE INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 530-533-2860 #0E28867 PETALUMA DON RAMATICI INSURANCE INC. 707-782-9200 #0449871 PETALUMA INTERWEST INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC 707-794-7400 #0603247 REDDING ROBERSON AND SONS INSURANCE SERVICES, INC. 800-801-0942 #0C66781 ROSEVILLE INTERWEST INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC 916-784-1008 #0B01094 SACRAMENTO INTERWEST INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC 916-488-3100 #0B01094 SANTA CRUZ DCD INSURANCE 831-423-8542 #0757716 SANTA ROSA GEORGE PETERSEN #0B01094 REDDING GEORGE PETERSEN INSURANCE 530-244-9400 INSURANCE 707-525-4150 #0603247 SANTA ROSA INTERWEST INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC 707-526-1195 #0B01094 STOCKTON SANGUINETTI & CO. INSURANCE BROKERS 800-350-7700 #0552394 TRACY DENNIS ALEGRE INS. AGENCY, INC. 209-835-7663 #0E44203 TULARE HOOPER, SPUHLER & STURGEON INSURANCE 559-686-3442 #0G55489

TURLOCK INSURECAL INSURANCE AGENCY 209-250-0269

AGENCY, INC. 530-458-5148

#0551952 ALTURAS DOLBY INSURANCE SERVICES 530-233-2616 #055006 ANGELS CAMP SANGUINETTI & CO. INSURANCE BROKERS-A 209-736-2200 #0552394 APTOS SCURICH INSURANCE SERVICES 831-661-5697 #0436405 AUBURN GEORGE PETERSEN INSURANCE 530-823-3733 #0603247 BAKERSFIELD CLIFFORD & BRADFORD INSURANCE 661-283-8100 #0673141 BAKERSFIELD WALTER MORTENSEN INSURANCE/INSURICA CA 661-834-6222 #0D44424 BAKERSFIELD WM. K. LYONS AGENCY 661-327-9731 #0B33273 CAMARILLO GIMLIN & UDY INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 805-987-3883 #0F50015 CARUTHERS CONSOLIDATED INSURANCE SERVICES, INC. 559-864-0150 #0443515 CHICO INTERWEST INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC. 530-895-1010 #0B01094 CHICO SWEENEY & SELLAND INSURANCE SERVICES 530-487-8200 #8421174 CHOWCHILLA LEYH INSURANCE AGENCY 559-665-1309 #0D51332 CHOWCHILLA PACIFIC AG INSURANCE 559-665-3434 #0C84245

#0565882 COLUSA GEORGE PETERSEN

#0K05980 TURLOCK WESTERN VALLEY INSURANCE ASSOCIATES, INC. 209-634-9031 #0649647 TURLOCK WINTON-IRELAND,STROM & GREEN INS. AGENCY 209-667-0995 #0596517 UKIAH GEORGE PETERSEN INSURANCE 707-462-8615 #0603247 WALNUT CREEK INTERWEST INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC. 925-977-4100 #0B01094 WALNUT GROVE MEYER & COOK INSURANCE #0D48062 WILLOWS HUTSON INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 530-934-7500 #0H65133 WOODLAND ARMSTRONG & ASSOCIATES INS. SERVICES 530-668-2777 #0B50501 WOODLAND INTERWEST INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC. 530-661-1300 #0B01094 WOODLAND JACK CRAMER INSURANCE 530-662-1076 #0684453 YUBA CITY G. STAN KEARBY INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 530-674-3430 #0565882 YUBA CITY GALLIGAN & ASSOCIATES 530-671-4841 #0426559 YUBA CITY ROSE INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 530-673-8862 #0553715 AGENCY, LLC 916-776-1751

INSURANCE 530-458-5464 #0603247 CORCORAN PACIFIC AG INSURANCE 559-992-1245 #084245 CRESCENT CITY WESTERN VALLEY INSURANCE ASSOCIATES, INC. 707-465-5999

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* Agents: Want to show your support of Farm Bureau? Call CAFB at 916-561-5570 to learn how to participate in future ads.

30x30 Continued from Page 1

not going to be good for the operation. They’re not going to be good for the land, the crop, etc. There’s too many variables.” The extent to which working lands can help might be based on the farmer’s prac- tices, said Taylor Roschen, a California Farm Bureau policy advocate. “You might be able to say that pre- scribed grazing practices on rangeland are going to help boost native plant species or forage for pollinator species,” she said. “You could talk about some of the healthy soil management practices that are taking place on real crop operations, and how that is providing better species biodiversi- ty, species richness and soil health.” Many of these practices are not based on long-range timelines, she added. “That’s the challenge that we have to ar- ticulate, is there’s immediate biodiversi- ty benefits that can be offered on work- ing lands by making these investments while we also make long-term invest- ments through conservation easements,” Roschen said. Mitchell said the farm’s very existence is a boon to the environment. “Just with the planting of the trees and vines that help with carbon sequestration, I think it’s a major component,” Mitchell said. “The habitat that we provide in these working landscapes is paramount. You can go to any orchard, row crop (farm), vine- yard, and you’re going to see a very lively, integrated biodiversity on those lands with different wildlife that is utilizing the crops for food, for cover.” Machado, who grows almonds, walnuts, cherries and olives, said, “We use cover

crops on just about everything.” These serve two purposes, he noted: to attract pollinators, and to “increase the tilth and hopefully developing enough biomass to help improve the soil.” Machado has participated in the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Healthy Soils program. “We saw benefits from water use, water savings, and then just building up the mass,” he said, adding he wants to keep doing this. Mitchell pointed to the success of CDFA programs such as Healthy Soils and the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program. “I just think it’s a really shameful miss on the agency’s part to not recognize the working landscapes, and really the ad- vancements we have made over the last decade,” Mitchell said. “We’re right in the midst of seeing a lot of change happen- ing in farmland and understanding the science and understanding our climate changes, and how we can best suit solu- tions for that.” Roschen said there may be budgetary support. The governor’s May revision to his budget proposal allocates $768 million over two years for “nature-based solutions” and the 30x30 plan, while a proposal from Democratic state senators suggests $500 million for 30x30. The Machado farming family put prop- erty into an easement to continue a legacy. “The family’s been here since 1906,

and it’s been in farmland,” said Machado, whose grandparents immigrated from the Azores and ultimately put down roots in Linden. “Upon the transitioning from one generation to another, the farmland usu- ally ends up being sold or developed. Our interest was to try to maintain the legacy of the family and to keep it in farmland.” An easement also serves as “a barrier to urban growth,” Machado said, noting that development in rural areas can suddenly limit how and when a farmer can carry out regular activities. “Urban growth, or pock- ets of urban growth in rural areas, can be very detrimental to the practice of agricul- ture,” Machado said. Mitchell said the 30x30 exclusion will not slow her down. “We have a long list of landowners who wish to take the volun- tary step to see their farms protected for the next generation of farmers,” she said. Mitchell said more needs to be consid- ered beyond climate resilience. “To be able to protect this most valuable land in California should be everybody’s priority, just from a food-production, food-security standpoint to climate resil- iency and those climate benefits that these lands are also providing,” she said. Machado put it bluntly: “Without food, you can’t eat. Without agriculture, you don’t have food.” (Kevin Hecteman is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at khecteman@cfbf.com.)

managed private grazing lands, ranches, and working forests with formal durable protections for biodiversity such as conser- vation or mitigation easements.” Agricultural easements and Williamson Act contracts are only considered “com- plementary conservation measures” because, the report states, “protection is temporary, management does not protect natural conditions as a primary goal, or they are too small to be mapped.” Despite calling for avoiding pesticide use on lands under conservation easements, the report names “organic farms” along- side Williamson Act lands and commu- nity gardens among spaces ineligible for 30x30 consideration. Machado said he is puzzled why the state wouldn’t include the farmland in the plan “but at the same time they’re providing funding to purchase ease- ments, which basically keeps the land in a permanent use, which you would think would meet the definition of the type of conservation they’re trying to do.” He added, “That raises a lot of questions.” Charlotte Mitchell, executive director of the California Farmland Trust, said it was obvious early on that most working lands would be excluded. “In speaking with some of the agency folks,” Mitchell said, “it’s really about the durably managed lands,” which are lands are defined by the state as lands owned by the state or under easements for the purpose of protecting species and habitat. Mitchell added, “We can’t be durably managed to meet objectives that are

Agricultural Market Review Quotations are the latest available for the week ending May 27, 2022 Year Ago Week Ago Latest Week Livestock Slaughter Steers – 5-Area Average Select & Choice, 1050–1150 lbs., $ per cwt. No Quote 137-140 138 Hogs – Average hog, 51-52% lean, Iowa-Minn. market, $ per cwt. 112.11 99.61 103.15 Slaughter Lambs – $ per cwt. 125–175 lbs. National weekly live sales 175-244.14 204.05-245 185.30-233 Field crops – basis prompt shipment Barley – U.S. No. 2, $ per cwt. Truck, Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock 13 No Quote No Quote Cotton – ¢ per lb., Middling 1 3/32” Fresno spot market 76.62 95.84 96.05 Corn – U.S. No. 2 yellow $ per bu. trucked 8.42 9.80 9.60 Alfalfa Hay – $ per ton, quality*, FOB Region 1, Northern Inter-mountain 210-240 (P/S) 14-15 (forage mix, bale) 19 (G/P, per bale) Region 2, Sacramento Valley No Quote No Quote No Quote Region 3, Northern San Joaquin Valley 240-300 (P/S) 370-400 (G/P/S) 400 (P/S) Region 4, Central San Joaquin Valley No Quote No Quote No Quote Region 5, Southern California 240-260 (G/P/S) 398 (P/S) 400 (P/S) Region 6, Southeast Interior 220-227 (P/S) 360-375 (P/S) 360-390 (P/S) Oat Hay – $ per ton, quality*, FOB Northern California, dairy No Quote No Quote No Quote Oats – U.S. No. 2 white, $ per cwt. Statewide, trucked price No Quote No Quote No Quote

Saving Farms Saving Profits Saving Futures

CHAPTER 12

Imagine a Better Future | Restore Your Farming Legacy Eliminate debt. Stop foreclosure. Stop repossessions. Cancel bad vendor and packing house contracts. Sell farmland with little to no capital gains tax.

Dry Beans – Grower FOB prices Baby Limas, $ per cwt, (sacked) Large Limas, $ per cwt. (sacked) Blackeye, $ per cwt. (sacked)

No Quote No Quote No Quote

Rice – Milled No. 1 Head, FOB No. Calif. mills Medium grain, $ per cwt.

39-43

54-56

Wheat – U.S. No. 2 or better, winter, $ per cwt. 13% protein, Los Angeles, trucked price 11.75-12.25 (No. 1) No Quote Provided by the California Farm Bureau as a service to Farm Bureau members. Information supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market News Branch. * ADF=Acid detergent fiber; (S) = Supreme/<27%ADF; (P) = Premium/27-29; (G) = Good/29-32; (F) = Fair/32-35. No Quote

Free Consultation | 760.884.4444 | www.JDL.law

June 1, 2022 Ag Alert 11

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