The Association as well as members of the Agricultural Presidents Council hosted Senator Henry Stern on a tour of agricultural operations in the Central Valley. Senator Stern represents the 27th Senate District which includes parts of Santa Clarita, Malibu, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks, Canoga Park, Lake Balboa and much more. The Senator has Valley ties, but wanted to understand agricultural issues in more detail. CCGGA brought the Senator to Cross Creek Gin to show how cotton is transformed from coming in from a module to a bale ready to be sent to a textile mill. CCGGA Board Member, Kirk Gilkey shared the history of cotton in California, the advancements the industry has made in technology and how California cotton holds pride in the ability to grow some of the strongest and softest fiber in the world. Spending the entire day with the group the Senator was able to visit a dairy farm, a citrus operation, a table grape operation, a cotton gin, a pistachio processor as well as receive an aerial demonstration at Lakeland Dusters Aviation.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (District) and California Air Resources Board (ARB) in partnership with state and local officials as well as the Association gathered at Bruno’s Iron and Metal to highlight the new Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program. This program funding of $108 million, comes from the California Climate Investments that puts Cap & Trade dollars to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Through the FARMER program valley farmers can apply for incentive dollars to replace their older tractors, trucks and ATVs with newer, lower-emission technology. Association President/CEO Roger Isom said, “Today is a monumental day… (or whichever quote you would like”. The Association was one of the few ag organizations to fight for this money to come to the valley. Additionally, Isom noted that this was an effort where party lines were crossed and legislatures were able to come together to make happen. Attendees of the event were able to witness tractors, road graders and an ATV being replaced with these dollars being crushed. Among the speakers for the day were Assembly Member Autumn Burke, Assembly Member Heath Flora, Supervisor Buddy Mendes, Director of EPA Region IX Mike Stoker, Executive Director/APCO Samir Sheikh, Nisei Farmers League President Manuel Cunha, ARB Board Member Hector De La Torre, CDFA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt and Carlos-Suarez with USDA-NRCS.

A special press conference to highlight the new “Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program” will be held next Monday, October 22^nd at 10:00 am at Bruno’s Iron and Metal located at 3211 S. Golden State Blvd., in Fresno.  Federal, state and local officials will gather to showcase how $108 million from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is helping to fund the FARMER incentive program in the Valley and assist farmers in replacing their older tractors and ag equipment with cleaner low emissions technology. The funding assists growers and agricultural processing facilities to replace tractors, trucks and ATVS.  The Association’s own President/CEO Roger Isom will be speaking at the event.  The entire speaker list includes:

• Autumn Burke, Assembly Member, District 62
• Heath Flora, Assembly Member, District 12
• Buddy Mendes, Fresno County Supervisor, Valley Air District Board Chair
• Mike Stoker, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9
• Samir Sheikh, Executive Director/APCO, Valley Air District
• Manuel Cunha, President/CEO, Nisei Farmers League
• Roger A. Isom, President/CEO, California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association & Western Agricultural Processors Association
• Hector De La Torre, Board member, California Air Resources Board
• Jenny Lester Moffitt, Undersecretary, California Department of Food & Agriculture
• Carlos Suarez, USDA-NRCS California State Conservationist

FARMER funding comes from the California Climate Investments that takes Cap 7 Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  The Association was one of a handful of organizations that sought to bring that money to the valley to help address air quality issues with agricultural equipment.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (District) has just announced the opening of the Zero Emission Ag UTV Voucher Program for the replacement existing diesel or gasoline-powered UTVs with new, zero-emission UTVs to qualified individuals, businesses, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations involved in California agricultural operations as defined by The California Air Resources Board.  Incentives will pay up to 75% of the cost of the new electric ATV.  Applications and Guideline documents are available on the District’s website at http://valleyair.org/grants/utv.htm.  This funding was a result of the Association’s involvement in the Cap & Trade negotiations that created the FARMER incentive funding program.  If you have any questions, please call our office at (559)455-9272 or contact the District’s Ag UTV Program Staff at 559-230-5800 with additional questions.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pink Bollworm Program has released its report for monitoring Silverleaf Whitefly. The program monitored for whitefly and other cotton pests from September 24, 2018 to October 5, 2018. For the full report, please follow the button link below:

Silverleaf Whitefly Report

This past month the Association’s own Director of Regulatory Affairs, Ms. Jodi Raley, became Mrs. Jodi Devaurs when she married Mr. Nick Devaurs in a beautiful wedding ceremony in Fresno.   On behalf of all of us here at the Association we wish Jodi and Nick a lifetime of love and happiness as they embark on this wonderful new journey in their life together!

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pink Bollworm Program has released its report for monitoring Silverleaf Whitefly. The program monitored for whitefly and other cotton pests from September 10, 2018 to September 21, 2018. For the full report, please follow the button link below:

Silverleaf Whitefly Report

Join us for the 39th annual Fresno State Kern County Alumni and Friends Luncheon at South Valley Farms in Wasco on Wednesday, Oct. 10! This event is an opportunity to see all that Kern County has to offer the community, students and agricultural industry. Enjoy lunch while visiting with Fresno State, Bakersfield College and local high school students, then stay for a facility demonstration. The staff of CCGGA and WAPA will be on hand as we are all proud Fresno State grads and supporters!  The social begins at 11 a.m. followed by lunch and program at noon and the demo at 1 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person, RSVP by Oct. 3. For information about sponsorships or to purchase a ticket, visit http://www.fresnostate.edu/jcast/agonefoundation/kerncounty.html.

Come hear Mike Saqui and John Segale discuss both the legal threat and economic impact of mandated travel for ag employers.

When: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Where: California Fresh Fruit Association
7647 N. Fresno Street in Fresno

FCFB and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association will host their annual Cotton Harvest Safety Training in English and Spanish on Thursday, September 27, from 8 to 10 a.m., at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center, 17353 W. Oakland Ave., Five Points. The training will be provided by Zenith Agribusiness Solutions.