Association President/CEO Roger Isom and Director of Technical Services Christopher McGlothlin traveled to Ft. Collins, Colorado this week to participate in an important five (5) year Project Plan Workshop at the Plains Area Office in Ft. Collins.  Joining them was Association Chairman Tom Gaffney of the J.G. Boswell Company.  Many topics were discussed as the purpose of the meeting was to determine research priorities for the next five years for the cotton ginning laboratories in Las Cruces, New Mexico; Lubbock, Texas; and Stoneville, Mississippi.  Critical priorities identified for California included contamination, sticky cotton, roller ginning and drying alternatives.  Attending the meeting were researchers and scientists, regional administrative leaders, and industry stakeholders.

Effective January 1, 2019 California law requires employers with 5 or more employees to provide not only two hours of sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training with Supervisors, but also a 1-hour training to all non-supervisory employees.  The Western Agricultural Processors Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association in partnership with AgSafe, will be offering 1-hour Nonsupervisory Webinars.  Visit our website Events and Training Classes page www.agprocessors.org for links to register online. To register click here:
February 8^th
http://www.agsafe.org/event/1-hour-sexual-harassment-prevention-webinar-non-supervisory-employee-training-6/
March 8^th

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers would like to congratulate Cannon Michael who was distinguished as the Far West honoree for the 25^th class of High Cotton Award winners! Michael is the president of Bowles Farming Company and the sixth generation of the Bowles and Lawrence families to work the family business. Michael is a leader when it comes to water policy, environmental stewardship, sustainability, as well as being an outspoken advocate for the California cotton industry. Michael previously chaired the California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association and the Cotton Foundation, as well as previously served on the National Cotton Council and the San Joaquin Valley Cotton Board. He currently serves on the California Cotton Alliance, Cotton Incorporated and the Board of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. Not only a leader in the cotton industry, Michael currently chairs the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority board, comprising of 29 member agencies and two million acres of land with varied users including farms, environmental and urban uses. Michael utilizes various technology and research in his cotton production including pioneering with Dr. Bill Weir, 30-inch row spacing to provide increased yield, integrated pest management practices, sub-surface drip irrigation, rotational cropping and drone technology to scout fields for nutritional deficiencies and pest outbreaks. California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association would like to thank Cannon for his dedicated leadership in the cotton industry and congratulates him on this distinguished honor!

After several years of debate, the CalOSHA Standards Board will consider lighting requirements for agricultural operations at night.  The proposed new standard entitled “Outdoor Agricultural Operations During Hours of Darkness”, will require specific lighting levels for certain agricultural operations at night.  It will also mandate employees wear Class 2 high visibility garments while working at night, as well as the need to conduct a safety meeting prior to every night shift to remind workers where the restrooms are, where the break areas is, and the location of water bodies and high traffic areas.  The new lighting requirements are as follows:

These requirements are modified from their original proposal which specifically mandated a lighting level of 10 foot-candles within a 25 foot radius of all agricultural equipment operating at night.  This would have been impossible and the Association opposed such a requirement at every Advisory Committee meeting.  The Association is currently reviewing this new proposal which will considered by the CalOSHA Standards Board on April 18^th in Sacramento.

The California Farm Service Agency (FSA) wants to remind farmers and ranchers across the state of federal farm program benefits that may be available to help eligible producers recover from recent heavy rains and flooding. FSA also offers disaster assistance and low-interest loan programs to assist agricultural producers in their recovery efforts following floods or similar qualifying natural disasters.

For more information on the disaster assistance programs please visit:

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/California/news-releases/2019/stnr_ca_20190215_rel001

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/index

Also attached is a short infographic in regards to disaster assistance recovery.

Any questions can be directed to Brooke Raffaele at the Farm Service Agency at 530-219-7747.

Get your registration in for the 2019 Annual Meeting of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association! This year’s meeting will be held at the scenic Cliffs Hotel and Spa from May 15^th-17^th in Pismo, CA. As always, guest will be able to enjoy a Wednesday evening welcome reception followed by the CCGGA Golf Tournament Thursday morning at the Avila Beach Golf Resort. During Thursday evening’s dinner, comedian Greg Warren will be entertaining attendees. Friday morning will kick-off the Business Meeting including informaiton and updates related to regulatory and legislative activities, growers and ginners specific break out sessions as well as a look at the Association’s efforts for the year. The deadline to register is Wednesday, April 24^th. The forms can be filled out and returned to our offies with a check (1785 N. Fine Ave. Fresno, CA 93710) or you may register and pay online at www.ccgga-events.com . Hotel reservation deadline is Monday, April 22^nd. Accomodations can be made by calling The Cliffs Hotel and Spa at (805) 773-5000. In order to receive the group rate of $199/night, identify that you are with California Cotton Ginners & Growers Associaiton group.

If you have any questions, please contact our offices at (559) 252-0684.

Regular Member Registration

Associate Member Registration

Reminder – Electronic submittal of all injuries and illnesses data for calendar year 2018 must be submitted on the OSHA ITA website by March 2, 2019.  Covered establishments, which includes Agriculture, are required to electronically submit information from the Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses).  For instructions on electronic submittal, please go to the federal OSHA’s ITA Website www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/index.html .

Join us for the 48th Annual Turf Day Golf Classic Monday, May 13^th at the Belmont Country Club, proudly sponsored by My Job Depends on Ag! Proceeds from the tournament will benefit deserving students and programs in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State.  Ag One’s efforts will provide approximately $700,000 to students and programs for the current academic year.

Date:     Monday, May 13, 2019

Place:    Belmont Country Club, Fresno

Time:     Registration 10 a.m.; Shotgun start 11 a.m.; lunch at the turn, 19th Hole Social and dinner following play

Cost:      $160/player, $640/team

Entry Deadline: May 3, 2019 ($175/player after deadline)

Come out, have fun and help support students at Fresno State!

Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) has partnered with The Zenith Insurance to offer several Aerial Device and Fall Protection Workshops.  All workshops will be in English and held from 7:45 am registration, class 8 am – 12 pm.  The workshops will provide an overview of the regulatory requirements and participants will be given safety training materials to assist with onsite training.  This training is geared toward owners, supervisors or any person who is responsible to conduct onsite training.  Cost: $50 per person.  Register online  https://www.wapa-events.com/aerial-lift-fall-protection or contact WAPA (559) 455-9272.

Flyer and Registration

In 1997, the California Ag Leadership Foundation (CALF) teamed up with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and the Ag One Foundation, both at California State University, Fresno, to honor women in agriculture who have chosen to make a philanthropic difference in their communities and our world. The Common Threads Award recognizes individuals whose exemplary and extraordinary contribution of time, energy and resources has enhanced those around them. And now, Ag One, the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State and the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation are pleased to announce the honorees for the 2019 Common Threads Awards: Kathy Briano, Visalia; Tina Carreiro, Lemoore; Giovanna DePaoli, Strathmore; Marcia Shafer, Parlier; and honorary recipient Margaret Mims, Fresno. Common Threads has annually honored the lives of outstanding Valley women since 1997. These women, whose roots are deep in agriculture, have made a difference in their communities with bountiful giving of their time, talent and treasure. Please join us on March 27, 2019 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Hall to celebrate our honorees. The no-host wine social will begin at 11 a.m. followed by lunch and awards program from 12 – 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person thru March 15, 2019 and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, visit https://www.agleaders.org/alumni/common-threads-central-valley/.