Early in the month of June, the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations paired with UC IPM to hold three regional whitefly meetings to address and prevent the issue of sticky cotton. Many growers in the SJV region experienced an uncharacteristic increase in whitefly populations in the 2013 growing seasons.  The “Whitefly” meetings took place in Tulare, Five Points, and Shafter and included guest speakers and longtime cotton experts Pete Goodell (Cooperative Extension Advisor, IPM) and Larry Godfrey (UC Extension Entomologist). The meetings focused on whitefly biology, effective management strategies, and the serious negative impacts of sticky cotton at the mills.

Godfrey and Goodell have provided excellent information on whitefly biology and management for growers, PCAs and other interested parties. They are available to you below.

The biggest take home message for growers and PCAs who attended the meeting was to carefully watch and sample developing populations and to treat timely and appropriately!

If you have questions regarding sampling methods or whitefly management, or hear about potential problems, Pete Goodell has graciously offered his help and can be contacted through the association or at pbgoodell@ucanr.edu.

Whitefly Management Review

Whitefly & Aphid Biology

At an April Air Resources Board (ARB) meeting, several amendments were made to the Truck and Bus regulation that would allow some flexibility to vehicle owners. These amendments will take effect when the regulation is finalized later this year. The board meeting adopted the changes from a November 2013 advisory that included:

–  Expansion of existing ag truck extension for vehicles that operate less than 15,000 miles per   year after Jan. 1, 2017 and 10,000 miles per year after Jan. 1, 2020; final compliance date of 2023.
–  An expansion of the low use mileage exemptions from 1,000 miles to 5,000 miles per year and a removal of the hourly limit for trucks that remain stationary.
–  An expansion of NOx exempt areas that includes a new compliance schedule for trucks in these areas to be phased in from Jan. 1, 2015- Jan 1, 2020.
–  A deferred compliance date the for the second truck in small fleets; first truck still must meet the Jan. 1, 2014 deadline but the second truck deadline will be moved to Jan. 1, 2017, and third truck to Jan. 1, 2018.
–  A delay in PM filter requirements until January 1, 2017 for owners of up to three trucks who cannot afford the changes or cannot get financing (rules still being finalized)
If a PM filter is recalled and cannot be repaired by the manufacturer, the vehicle may operate up to five years from the date of the recall.

In addition to these changes, other changes were made that will affect compliance dates in later years. Furthermore, credit extensions are available to those fleet owners who made good faith efforts to comply and adopt changes early and now cannot take advantage of the changes now authorized by the ARB.

CCGGA continues to track changes and will continue to fight for more substantive changes to the regulation to help members!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Roger A. Isom
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations
Western Agricultural Processors Association
Phone:  (559) 252-0684
Fax: (559) 252-0551
email:  Roger@ccgga.org

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations (CCGGA) and the Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) are pleased to announce Christopher McGlothlin has joined the organization as their new Director of Technical Services.  Mr. McGlothlin is a graduate of California State University – Fresno, with a degree in Political Science.  Mr. McGlothlin was born and raised in Coalinga and also worked as an intern in the Washington Office of Congressman Devin Nunes.  Mr. McGlothlin began his duties on June 9^th.  As the Director of Technical Services, Christopher will be responsible for technical issues with respect to cotton growers and ginners, as well as the tree nut hulling and processing industries.  Specific areas will include water quality, air quality, and environmental issues.

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations are voluntary dues-based organizations representing cotton growers and cotton gins throughout California.  The Western Agricultural Processors Association is a voluntary dues-based organization, and represents the tree nut hulling and processing industry on regulatory and legislative issues ranging from energy and air quality to labor and food safety.  All three organizations are operated and managed in the same offices in Fresno, California.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Roger A. Isom
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations
Phone:  (559) 252-0684
Fax:  (559) 252-0551
Email:  roger@ccgga.org

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations is pleased to announce that Past President/CEO Earl P. Williams was recently honored as the recipient of the National Cotton Ginners Association’s (NCGA) 2013-14 Distinguished Service Award.  The annual award recognizes individuals who have provided a career of distinguished service to the U.S. ginning industry.   Williams received the award during the California Cotton Ginners Association’s annual meeting.  Williams joined the California Cotton Growers and Ginners’ Associations in 1993 as executive vice president, was named president and CEO in 1997, and retired at the end of 2014.  He was one of fifteen charter members of the California Cotton Ginners Association, serving on their Board from 1972 to 1980.  He has previously served as an advisor to the National Cotton Council, the American Cotton Producers, the NCGA’s Advisory Policy Council and Supima’s board.  A native of Arkansas, where his family was involved in cotton farming, Williams came to Buttonwillow, Calif., with his family in 1958 and later received a Bachelor of Science in Crop Production from Cal Poly.  Williams continues to serve the Association on a part time consulting basis working on coordination of cotton research activities and is the Supima representative for California.

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations are voluntary dues-based organizations representing cotton growers and cotton gins throughout California on regulatory and legislative issues ranging from energy and air quality to labor and water quality.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Roger A. Isom
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations
Phone:  (559) 252-0684
Fax:  (559) 252-0551
Email:  roger@ccgga.org

The California Cotton Ginners Association is pleased to announce that Rosemarie Dowdle has been named as the recipient of the 2014 Ginner of the Year.  The award is given each year to honor and recognize an individual who has provided dedication, knowledge, and special service to this Association as well as the ginning industry.  Dowdle is the Gin Manager at Tri City Growers Gin in Terra Bella, California, and just completed her 50^th season at Tri-City!  She began her career at Tri-City in October of 1964 becoming the Manager in 1975 and has the honorable distinction of becoming the first woman gin manager in California.  In honoring Dowdle, CCGA President/CEO Roger Isom cited her long time support of the Association and its efforts, as well as her commitment to high standards at the gin.  As an example, Isom pointed out that Tri-City Growers gin was the first gin in California to receive the award for 5 consecutive years without a lost time accident, and the first gin to receive the award for 10 consecutive years without a lost time accident.  In fact, in the history of the CCGA Annual Injury Survey, Tri-City Growers has the fewest reported lost time accidents of any gin in California!   This is an amazing accomplishment and starts with the leadership at the top.  Congratulations on a long overdue and well deserved recognition for Ms. Rosemarie Dowdle.

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations are voluntary dues-based organizations representing cotton growers and cotton gins throughout California on regulatory and legislative issues ranging from energy and air quality to labor and water quality.