Summer 2011 . 9MB PDF file - Imperial County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau
Imperial County
Summer 2011
ne ws le tte r
20 Local Students Awarded Farm Bureau Scholarships
Matt LaBrucherie was co-owner
of El Toro Land & Cattle and
a long-time advocate for agriculture, as well as a member and
former president of the Imperial
County Farm Bureau Board.
Since 2000, Imperial County
Farm Bureau has awarded more
than $50,000 in scholarships to
local students.
This year, after reviewing
stacks of applications, essays,
transcripts and letters of recommendation, our Scholarship
committee selected 20 deserving
local students to receive scholarships. In both the number of
scholarships given and total
amount of money distributed
(more than $15,000), this is
our largest year yet for scholarships, which is a direct result of the
generosity of so many individuals and
companies in the Imperial Valley who
either supported the Farm Bureau BBQ
or offered direct donations toward one
of the scholarship funds.
Farm Bureau manages three scholarship funds. The Imperial County
Farm Bureau Scholarship is funded
by our annual BBQ, with net proceeds
from the April event distributed in
scholarships each summer. The Matt
LaBrucherie Memorial and Vern Highley
Memorial Scholarships are funded by
individual donations in memory of Mr.
LaBrucherie and Mr. Highley.
Holtville native Vern Highley
defended and promoted agriculture as a journalist, public
relations specialist, lobbyist
and a public servant. Mr.
Highley served as an advisor
in the campaigns of two U.S.
Presidents, and was the Cal Poly
Alumnus of the Year in 1974.
Lucio Zepeda, a Calexico High School graduate and
LaBrucherie Memorial scholarship recipient, is a
third-year student at Cal Poly Pomona. He is majoring
in plant science and hopes to open a nursery.
I would like to give a heartfelt
thank you to all those that
supported me through scholarships.
After you have received such a
generous gift, it instills a passion
and new appreciation for giving back
to your community and others.
Kelly Bishop, 2009 graduate Cal Poly San Luis Obispo,
Scholarship Recipient 2004-05 through 2008-09
Former recipients credit the scholarships with allowing them to focus on
their studies rather than money, and
express appreciation to all those who
have supported the scholarship funds
over the years.
This year’s recipients range from
freshmen just beginning their college
journey to a graduate student working
toward her doctorate. They include
animal science and plant science
majors, in addition to students studying
ag marketing, and entomology.
Turn to page 12 to get to know the 20
local students who were selected to
receive scholarships this year.
Farm Smart Open House Tours. . . . . . . . 8
Featured Member: Office Supply Co. . . . . . 11
New Smoke Regs Could Have Been Worse. . 4
Farm Bureau Scholarship Recipients . . . . 12
Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Complacency!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Ag Commissioner Report: Be on the
lookout for the Palm Weevil. . . . . . . . . 14
Contact your Representatives. . . . . . . . 22
Benefits of Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Insist on Use of Lockout/Tagout. . . . . . . 16
Mystery Photo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Contents
Hope and Change, part 2. . . . . . . . . . . 2
Young Farmers & Ranchers update . . . . . . 3
DoL Dilutes Motor Carrier
Overtime Exemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Selected Stats from the 2010 Crop Report. . 20
Reporting Healthcare Costs on W-2’s. . . . 22
Hope
and
C
h
ange,
par
t
2
Mark McBroom, Imperial County Farm Bureau Board President
Imperial Valley that pertains to some
issue crucial to farming.
It’s now the summer of 2011 and
change is definitely upon us. We have
seen many new encouraging signs of
change and some not so encouraging.
The farming community has had its
Candace Nelson, TMDL Director,
has more going on than TMDL. She
is responsible for all communications regarding Farm Bureau, this
tremendous newsletter, the emails
that seem to be coming out of our
office at an alarming pace, and all the
other things that fall on her desk.
We are all part of this community,
Imperial Valley, and it serves us well when
we treat each other as the neighbors we are.
share of obstacles yet I believe we
are stepping up to the challenge and
overcoming or adapting. The business
climate in the state is perhaps less
friendly and more onerous than ever.
With every day we seem to have some
sort of regulation, fee or fine levied
upon us, yet that does not deter us
from pressing on.
It has been an honor and a privilege
to be a part of this organization.
Mark McBroom, Imperial County
Farm Bureau Board President
We have seen change in our local
irrigation district that brings us
hope that with home grown local
upper management; the feeling is
the cooperation is a two way street.
Discussions and involvement with
the local agriculture community have
dramatically increased and that is
a welcomed relief. We are all part of
this community, Imperial Valley, and
it serves us well when we treat each
other as the neighbors we are.
As I finish my second year as the
president of the Imperial County
Farm Bureau, I look back and realize
how blessed I’ve been. We have a
tremendous staff that puts our local
agriculturists in the forefront. The
efforts extended are no less than
100% all the time.
Our county has been severely
impacted by the lack of funds trickling
back from Sacramento and that has
affected us all. Whether it’s our roads,
our services, our schools, our cities
and more we are all feeling the pinch.
Linsey Dale, Executive Director, has
led the charge and done so with
complete conviction. Always making
sure we are where we are supposed to
be, working the details out on issues
and attending every single meeting in
It’s heartening to see the good folks of
the Imperial Valley still pulling for one
another.
Tasha Denton, our Bookkeeper has
been much more than that. She has
been at all of our events and fundraisers pulling for the Farm Bureau.
There seems to be nothing too big or
challenging that our staff won’t take
on. For that the ICFB is blessed as well
as the rest of the valley.
Finally, the Board of Directors. A
group of gentlemen, I use that term
lightly, that has been a pleasure to be
around. Such a diverse background,
but yet as a body, single minded when
it comes to preserving our way of life
and farming is a way of life, it’s 7 days
a week, all day long. It has been an
honor and a privilege to be a part of
this organization.
I know the next president will serve
this organization well, as it is a family
tradition. I want to encourage all to
support the local Farm Bureau as it
strives to protect the largest single
private industry here. There should be
a saying here and maybe there is: “As
farming goes so goes the Imperial
Valley”.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 13!
Farm Bureau Annual Meeting & Farmer of the Year Banquet
Featuring keynote speaker California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger
Jim & Heidi Kuhn 2005 . Don Cox 2006 . Jack & Pauline McConnell 2007 . Bill DuBois, Sr 2008 . Larry Gilbert 2009 . John Kubler 2010 . ??? 2011
thank you to all who sponsored & assisted with the 2011 Farm bureau scholarship bbq!
State Compensation Insurance Fund
Kuhn Hay
jordan central implement co.
imperial irrigation district
W H Ferguson & Co. Farm Credit Services southwest Sun Valley Applicators connie valenzuela bloom to box crop care wells fargo bank
alford distributing co. tyler insurance agency rockwood chemical co swain & kennerson, an accountancy corp. cooperswest insurance agency
community valley bank mitosinka, barros & sharp, an accountancy corporation spreckels sugar company, inc. el zarape restaurant joy phoenix
stan mitosinka jiggs johnson, el toro land & cattle tom brundy ramey’s meats tim labrucherie, labrucherie ranches john pierre menvielle
GOT ICE?
imperial county young farmers & ranchers
amy leung
imperial ffa
united valley 4-H club
2
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
Young
Farmers
&
Ranchers
Viki Huber, Imperial County YF&R Chair
One recent sunny morning, about a dozen
or so Young Farmers and Ranchers (and
a few not-quite-as-young
farmers and ranchers)
gathered in the conference
room at the Spreckels Sugar
plant in Brawley, known
locally as Holly Sugar. After
being issued hard hats, ear
plugs and safety glasses, and
listening to an introductory
discussion and thorough
safety talk, the group worked
its way through the process
of turning a homely beet into
sweet white sugar.
This in-depth
tour, compliments of
Spreckels/
Holly Sugar,
was one
of several
well-attended
events held
this spring by
our county’s
Young Farmers
& Ranchers
organization.
Over the last
six months,
YF&R participants have
raised funds
with a produce
booth at the El
Centro Farmer’s
Market, visited
the Southwest
Ag Summit in
Yuma, held a
bowling night at
Brunswick Bowl,
and helped out
at the annual
Farm Bureau
Scholarship
BBQ.
If you’re
not familiar
Summer 2011
with Young Farmers & Ranchers, it is
an organization affiliated with Farm
Bureau designed
for young ag
professionals
(though anyone
is welcome to
participate).
Activities are
both educational
and social, and
help to develop
leadership skills
and advance ag
knowledge.
top: Ron Tharp of Spreckels/Holly Sugar shows the beet
juice as it moves through the process from beet to sugar;
left: Viki and Brad Huber pause among the many tanks and
pipes in the Spreckels/Holly Sugar plant; right: Stacks of
50-pound bags wait to be filled with Valley-grown sugar.
Upcoming Events
Fall
Farm Smart Program Tour & Dinner
October 20th . 5 - 8p
Keithly Williams Nursery Tour
November
Oth er Upcoming Events
IID Hydroelectric Plant Tour
Cheese Plant Tour
Seed Production Tour
Field Harvesting and Cooler Tour
In addition to
the many local
activities organized by our local
YF&R Executive
Committee, there
are regional and
state activities as
well.
The fall schedule
of events includes
a tour and dinner
at FarmSmart, a
local nursery tour,
and lots more.
If you are a young
ag professional,
or if you know
someone who
is, we encourage
you to check out
the schedule
here and join
us on some of
our upcoming
activities!
Contact Farm
Bureau at
760-352-3831
or [email protected]
for details on
upcoming events,
or to be added
to the YF&R
mailing list.
Imperial County Farm Bureau
1000 Broadway
El Centro CA 92243
760.352.3831 phone
760.352.0232 fax
www.icfb.net | [email protected]
The purpose of this newsletter is
to inform the membership and
the community on the matters
of importance to agriculture at a
local, state and national level.
2010 - 2011 Board of Directors
President : Mark McBroom
1st Vice President : Don Emanuelli
2nd Vice President : Larry Cox
Treasurer: Ron Rubin
Secretary: Al Kalin
Member-at-Large: Tom Brundy
Immediate Past President
Mark Osterkamp
Directors
Jimmy Abatti
Ken Ashurst
Bryan Ashurst
Don Barioni, Jr.
Stephen Benson
Don Brock
Manuel Castro
Bill DuBois, Sr.
Richard Elmore
Rod Foster
Gilbert Gonzalez
Ed Hale
Gerard Irungaray
Ray Johnson
Rusty Jordan
Tim LaBrucherie
Ron Leimgruber
Jack McConnell
Mike Morgan
Peter Osterkamp
Eric Strahm
Ralph Strahm
Joe Tagg
Advisory Board Members
Steve Birdsall
David Bradshaw
Nicole Rothfleisch
YF&R Chair: Viki Ensworth
CFBF District 1 Rep: Janet Kister
Staff
Executive Director: Linsey Dale
TMDL: Candace Nelson
Bookkeeper: Tasha Denton
Office Assistant : Cheyenne Ayala
3
Smoke Regulations
Could
Have
Been
Much
Worse
Linsey Dale, Executive Director
While Imperial County farmers and
ranchers are working hard to provide
food & fiber for our nation and world,
forces are continually coming against
the industry that you probably aren’t
even aware of.
I don’t believe the intent is to shut
down farming operations completely;
however, the addition of stricter regulations and higher fees is certainly
making it more and more difficult to do
business in California.
It would be safe to say that most of you
hear only about a quarter of the issues
today because Farm Bureau steps in
and takes care of them before they
impact your business.
There are some issues that we simply
cannot stop; however, we step in to
try to lessen the impacts to you. One
such new regulation involves road
safety practices used during field
burning activities.
It is well documented through Imperial
County Air Pollution Control District
records that field burning in Imperial
County has been greatly reduced over
the years. Nevertheless, some would
rather see the practice discontinued
altogether regardless of the necessity
that exists.
During initial conversations, proposals
of increased fees, inspections from
various county and state agencies,
and hefty expenses in additional labor
and supplies for the farmer were
simply outrageous.
The outcome of these discussions is
Ordinance 12.04.030 – Prohibition
Unless Safety Measures Used which
Working
for you
Join Farm Bureau
100 yards distance from the point
of such visibility hazards toward
oncoming traffic, whichever is closer.
was recently passed by the Imperial
County Board of Supervisors.
The ordinance states that if smoke
from a fire restricts or impairs the visibility of vehicle operators on any paved
state, county or public road or highway,
two or more trained flagpersons
must be positioned nearby and will
be responsible for holding signs and
cautioning or directing motorists.
Each flagperson must be trained
to a competent level, which would
allow them to identify existing and
predictable hazards to others and is
authorized to take prompt corrective
measures to eliminate such hazards.
If the flagperson is
an employee, it is the
responsibility of the
employer to provide
competent training.
Flagpersons are required
to hold a standard orange
traffic sign not less than
18”x 18” displaying
“CAUTION” and shall be
stationed either at the
point prior to the visibility
hazard, or no closer than
1599 West Main Street
El Centro, CA 92243
Locations:
El Centro, CA
Palm Desert, CA
Nancy Thornburg
1599 West Main Street
El Centro, CA 92243
Education
Renew Your Membership
Direct Line 760-339-6179
Cell 619-957-3820
Main Line 760-339-6160
Fax 760-339-9900
www.desertbanking.com
Senior Vice President / Branch Manager
[email protected]
Stay up-to-date on new & changing regulations,
plus safety issues, rural crime & more.
Advocacy
For more detailed information on this
and other regulations impacting the
farming industry, the ladies at the Farm
Bureau are always willing to help. This
is a perfect example of how we use
your membership dollars to serve,
protect and educate the Imperial
County agriculture industry. I’m sure
you will agree that your annual
membership dues are a great value!
Vice President
Commercial Loan Officer
[email protected]
Representation
Tell your story to consumers.
Although farmers will need to modify
historical practices, these new regulations are much less onerous than
originally proposed before Farm Bureau
joined the conversation.
Einar V. Roden
A voice on local, state and national issues.
www.joinfb.com
www.cfbf.com/RENEW
Imperial County Farm Bureau 1000 Broadway, El Centro 760 352 3831 www.icfb.net [email protected]
4
In addition, stationary orange traffic
signs measuring 30” x 30” displaying
“CAUTION: SMOKE AHEAD” must be
placed on either side at a location
close to the point where smoke
traverses the roadway, either at the
opposite side of the nearest intersection, or at a point not less than 300
yards from the point smoke may cross
the road.
Locations:
El Centro, CA
Palm Desert, CA
Direct Line 760-339-6161
Main Line 760-339-6160
Cell 760-791-9902
Fax 760-339-9900
www.desertbanking.com
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
YOUNG FARMERS & RANCHERS FARMPAC FUNDRAISER RAFFLE
G re a t
Wyoming Hunting or Fishing Adventure
Nordstrom Shopping Spree
Prizes! Wine Tasting Weekend Trip to NFR Las Vegas
New Holland Utility Vehicle
Monsanto, Forage Genetics and the alfalfa growing
community of Imperial County have come to
together in an agreement to restrict any production
of Round-up Ready alfalfa until July 31, 2014. Farm
Bureau sincerely appreciates the understanding of
all parties for your commitment to our local
growers, producers & exporters, and for your
cooperation and continued work on our behalf.
$25 Suggested Donation . Contact any Imperial County YF&R Member, or Call 760-352-3831
Important Note for Alfalfa Growers
CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU FUND
TO PROTECT THE FAMILY FARM
W W W. CFBF. COM / FARMPAC
UC Research & Extension Center 27, 29
760.791.0621
& Oct. 5
Imperial Valley College
Ag Dept. Pumpkin Patch
Oct.
29
Launch pumpkins, maneuver a corn maze,
take a hay ride, and meet the ag club.
www.imperial.edu/index.php?pid=348
Cattle Call Rodeo
A Valley tradition since 1957!
www.cattlecallrodeo.com
Summer 2011
Nov
12 & 13
UC Research & Extension Center
Celebrate 100 years of agriculture
research in Imperial Valley.
760.791.0621
no August Meeting
September 12
November 14
October 10
December 12
IID Board Meetings
typically on Tuesdays at the IID Board Room
1285 Broadway in El Centro. Check IID’s Community
Calendar at www.iid.com for current meeting
dates & times, and for downloadable agendas.
Upcoming tentative meeting dates include:
August 9th 1pm . 16 th 5pm . 23 rd 1pm
September 13th 5pm . 19th (Monday) 1pm
October 4 th 1pm . 11th 5pm . 18 th 1pm
November 1 st 1pm . 8 th 5pm . 15 th 1pm
December 6 th 1pm .13th 5pm . 20 th 1pm
Farm Bureau Events
Farm Bureau Annual Meeting &
Farmer of the Year Award Banquet
Thursday, October 13
Stop by our office any time during business
hours to pay your membership dues, get
information about Farm Bureau benefits and
discounts, purchase calendars or Reporting is
Rewarding signs, or just to say hello!
Imperial County
Farm Bureau Office
Jan.
UC Research & Extension Center
21,
Kids activities, educational
2012
seminars & workshops, and lots more.
760.791.0621
U.C. Century Celebration
Farm Bureau Board Meetings
noon on the second Monday of every
month (except August) at the Farm Bureau
Board Room 1000 Broadway in El Centro.
Upcoming board meeting dates include:
Office Hours
Upcoming Community
Events
U.C. Day Family Festival
Farm Smart Open House Sept.
Regular Meetings
Jan.
25,
2012
1000 Broadway El Centro CA 92243
760.352.3831 | www.icfb.net
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Upcoming Holidays
Our office will be closed on the following:
September 5 | Labor Day
November 24 - 25 | Thanksgiving
December 26 | Christmas
January 2 | New Year’s Holiday
5
Complacency!
Al Kalin, TMDL On-farm Consultant
A prime topic discussed was SB 104
which had passed both the assembly
and senate and was waiting for our
governor’s signature.
SB 104 was a very onerous bill. It
would deny an agricultural worker’s
right to a secret ballot election to
determine unionization. Current
law guarantees an employee the
right to cast a secret ballot, free
of harassment and intimidation,
to determine the outcome of this
important question but SB 104 would
have changed that.
Out of 35,000 FarmTEAM
members that received notification
of SB 104, only 535 had
responded with a letter or email.
Additionally, SB 104 would have
imposed significant new penalties on
employers who commit unfair labor
practices, yet failed to impose similar
penalties for union unfair labor practices. SB 104 would have permitted
the use of a “card-check” to certify
a union, but not to de-certify a union.
Therefore, this measure did not provide
balance in the process for employees
You
can make a
difference!
So what’s this have to do with our
local Voluntary Silt TMDL Compliance
Program? A lot!
to choose to de-certify a union and
should have been rejected.
To help fight alarming bills like SB 104,
CFBF has a political action arm
called Farm Team which gives those
concerned with agriculture a quick
and efficient way to contact your
state or federal representatives and
voice your concern.
Almost half of the farmers enrolled in
the program have become increasingly complacent and did not attend
any of the five Annual Drainshed
meetings held this year. These
meetings are held at three different
locations throughout the Valley, at
multiple times of day for convenience
so everyone has an opportunity to
attend as required by the Regional
Water Quality Control Board.
We know Mother Nature
doesn’t wait.
That’s why we get your employees back to work
fast through our careful processing of claims. Plus,
we offer eligible Farm Bureau members a 6 percent
discount on premiums. It’s all part of our
commitment to California agriculture. Because
Mother Nature doesn’t stop, and neither do we.
It’s a simple process. You read
sample paragraphs and click on the
ones you want to use to compose
your letter. You then can decide
whether to send an email or letter
to your state or federal representative. A few clicks of your mouse,
and away the letter or email goes.
You don’t even have to be a Farm
Bureau member. Anyone interested
in agriculture can join Farm Team and
receive updates of pending legislation. IT COULDN’T BE SIMPLER!
I was amazed though, to hear that
out of the 35,000 Farm Team
members that received notification
of SB 104, only 535 had responded
with
Sign up today and you’ll receive emails when there is an opportunity to
respond on one of many important issues facing agriculture today.
Your voice is needed now more than ever before.
Anyone can join FarmTEAM. You don’t need to be a Farm Bureau member.
Sign up today at
with a letter or email to their legislator. A dismal 1.5%!
cfbf.com/farmteam
Together, we’ll help keep California working.
statefundca.com
State
State Compensation
Compensation Insurance
Insurance Fund
Fund is
is not
not aa branch
branch of
of the
the State
State of
of California.
California.
Not long ago I attended a California
Farm Bureau Federation Policy
Review Committee meeting in
Sacramento. Before the various
committees met to discuss their
particular sections of the CFBF policy,
staff gave us updates on what was
happening locally in the state.
Email the FarmTEAM information to your email list and invite your friends and
associates to join FarmTEAM, too! Do your part to save agriculture in California!
6
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
Since attendance is mandatory, two
make-up meetings were held. Many
did not attend those two make-up
meetings either, and will have to
come into the Farm Bureau office
and meet individually with Candace
Nelson to fulfill their obligation.
The upshot of all of this is that
because of the complacency of the
local farm community it’s becoming
more expensive for the Farm Bureau
to spend staff’s time working with
individual farmers who failed to
show up at any of the five scheduled
meetings.
To rectify this problem next year
the Imperial County Farm Bureau’s
Voluntary Silt TMDL Compliance
Program will charge each participant who fails to attend any of
the mandatory TMDL Drainshed
meetings a $100 fee to cover the
wasted time and effort required to
continued page 18
Benefits of Membership
Farm Bureau members receive numerous
discounts as a benefit of membership.
From hotel and theme park discounts, to
insurance and worker’s comp discounts, to
telephone and weather service discounts,
membership in Farm Bureau pays.
Visit www.icfb.net and click on Membership
to learn about the discounts available statewide to Farm Bureau members.
NEW STATEWIDE DISCOUNTS
Amerigas
Save 5¢ per gallon, plus a free service check.
www.amerigas.com/business/farm_bureau.htm
[email protected] or 858.578.6513.
VPI Pet Insurance Save 5%!
www.petinsurance.com/affiliates/cfbf_npr
Local Discounts
In addition to statewide discounts, Imperial
County Farm Bureau members also receive
discounts at several local retailers as well.
All Valley Battery
899 Main Street, Brawley
760.351.9244 or 760.587.6476
Ask for your Farm Bureau membership
discount at All Valley Battery!
Avery Weigh-Tronix
760.352.6000 Imperial County
619.318.2829 San Diego
Ask for your Farm Bureau membership discount
on reliable, affordable weighing systems!
Border Tactical
925 N. Imperial Avenue, El Centro
760.353.4884
10% discount on membership initiation
and monthly dues for the first year.
Farming and ranching isn’t like any other business. So why should your financial
institution be like any other bank? At Farm Credit Services Southwest, we’ve been helping
farming and ranching businesses of all sizes for more than 90 years. And what’s more, when
you get a loan from FCSSW, you become a member – entitled to your share of the profits.
We’ve distributed more than $30.2 million to our members over the last nine years. Now
that’s customer service. Give us a call and let’s talk about your growing potential.
Loans & Financing | Family Business Planning | Insurance | Appraisals | Investments | Leasing
Growing potential.
El Centro Branch | 800-433-9662 | www.fcssw.com
Summer 2011
NE W! Hydrosorb PAM Products
Contact Sandra Miller 619.312.7777
[email protected] www.hydrosorb.com
10% off purchases; up to 15% off volume
purchases. Contact Sandra Miller for pricing
and other info. See their ad on page 18.
Pacifica Research
ag accounting & inventory control software
John Lane 760-344-1639
www.PacificaResearch.com
50% off general ledger software bundle
list prices. 10% off upgrades. Additional
discounts may be available: call for details.
Would you like to be listed here? Contact Candace
at 760.352.3831 to talk about offering a benefit or
discount to Imperial County Farm Bureau members.
7
Farm Smart
Schedules
Open
House
Tours
Nancy Caywood Robertson, FARM SMART Program
The University of California
Desert Research and Extension
Center FARM SMART Program
has wrapped up the 2010 - 2011
programs and is now planning for
the 2011 - 2012 year.
10,862 learners of all ages
attended one or more programs
this past year, bringing our total
to 78,565 learners since the
program began in October 2001!
This year, we had 40 volunteers
help throughout the program
giving us 4,118 hours of service.
Stephanie Collins was hired in
November 2010 and her work brings
so many new positive ideas. My
husband, Al, continues to donate
many hours of volunteer service
and makes many of our specialized
program props.
Donations and support from the
community make this program
happen. Each and every one is so
greatly appreciated.
water because of FARM SMART.
Another parent told me their child
was eating vegetables because
they learned nutrition starts on
the farm and it is important to
make healthy eating choices.
Many parents tell us their
children eat the produce they
bring home because they saw it
growing in the field and picked
it themselves. We love hearing
these comments!
Feedback from attendees is very
rewarding. As a bus was leaving the
farm one day, a student yelled out the
window “FARM SMART rocks!” Several
students have said “this day was
my best field trip ever.” One student
even commented that he liked his
day on the farm “better than Sea
World!” In the store one day, a student
introduced me to his parents and they
commented they were conserving
I N S U R A N C E A G E N C Y
We will be hosting three evenings of
Open House in the fall so that
teachers and administrators can see
our facility and take a farm tour if they
wish. Program displays will be set up,
hand-outs will be available, and
Stephanie and I will be anxiously
waiting to answer questions and
schedule field trips. Dates of the Open
House will be September 27, 29 and
October 5 from 4 - 7 p.m. There is no
charge and everyone is invited!
Serving the Valley’s agricultural
community since 1921.
FARM & RANCH INSURANCE
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Allied
Insurance
A Nationwide Company
On Your Side
License 0226696
8
1225 MAIN STREET, EL CENTRO 352.2611
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
Summer 2011
9
Imperial Tarp
& Covers, Inc.
Chris Dammarell
760-427-2725
Hay Tarps and
Shade Cloth
40
Years of
Successful Experience
Professional and Proven Results
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can ensure long-term income and economic stability for you and your family.
W.H. Ferguson & Company
McCullom St
S Hope St
E Ross Ave
S Dogwood Rd
Wensley Ave
Location
1090 McCullom
in El Centro
R e a l
E s t a t e
B r o k e r s
Bill Ferguson
Michael Bufano
(760) 604-1501
(858) 945-3536
COMMERCIAL | INDUSTRIAL | LAND | OFFICE | RETAIL
4370 La Jolla Village Drive, Ste 400 . San Diego, CA 92122 . (858) 546-2852
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Chris Dammarell
Spray-on Truck Bedliners
Soda Blasting . Sand Blasting
Industrial Coatings
Leonard Vasquez
Relationship Manager
(760) 337-3290
John Levada
Regional Agribusiness Manager
(760) 337-2762
10
Tom Muller
Relationship Manager
(760) 337-2783
David Takata
Regional President
(760) 337-7025
E Ross Ave
S Dogwood Rd
Rabobank Agribusiness Division
McCullom St
Rabobank. For a secure future.
Wensley Ave
S Hope St
Safe, sound and
experienced in the field
Location
1090 McCullom
in El Centro
760-427-2725 phone
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
Office
Supply Company
Featured Business Support Member
Office Supply Company, located in
downtown El Centro, offers a large
range of office supplies and furniture
to local business at competitive
prices. The company headed by CEO
Paul McManus has been serving the
Imperial Valley for over one hundred
years and continues to beat out
national chains with their low prices
and customer service.
Office Supply Company was started
in 1907, and was one of the first
companies in the Imperial County. In
the 1920’s, the McManus family took
over and has guided its success ever
since. They have always prided themselves on creating a great experience
for the customer.
All customers of Office Supply
Company can expect price matching,
online ordering, and free, next day
delivery. “We focus on the needs of
our Imperial Valley customers” states
McManus, “Many of our customers
are farmers and agriculture related.”
Overall, they keep all customers in
business, big or small, by offering over
30,000 products.
Office Supply Company offers,
“Everything an office needs,” including
ink, toner, copy paper, supplies and
furniture. All Imperial County businesses can take advantage of Office
Supply Company’s large product
offering and receive free shipping
county-wide.
Office Supply Company has supported
the Imperial County Farm Bureau for as
long as McManus can remember. “We
are very committed to supporting local
groups such as the Imperial County
Farm Bureau since we need to support
one another to have a strong economy
for us all,” stresses McManus. The
health of Office Supply Company is
directly affected by agriculture, making
community support a must and a
motivating factor behind providing top
notch customer service.
Many do not realize that Office Supply
Company offers pricing as competitive
as national chains. McManus explains,
“This is due to our membership in a
multi-billion dollar buying group, which
allows us to offer very competitive
pricing backed by a price match
guarantee. Our customers get the
pricing, selection, and services that
they would expect from a large national
corporation.”
Office Supply Company considers
themselves the best of both worlds:
the selection of a large corporation
and the feel of a community business.
They understand the importance of
buying local and keeping the Imperial
County strong by supporting all local
businesses, agriculture included.
“Office Supply Company is 100% local,
when you spend your money with us,
it gets reinvested in the community,
making Imperial Valley a better place
for us all to live.”
To contact Office Supply Company
call 760.352.3383 or visit
www.oscofficesolutions.com.
Busin e ss Me m b e rs
We sincerely appreciate the support of our Platinum, Gold and Business Support Members. When you are doing business in
Imperial Valley, remember that each of these businesses is a proud supporter of Farm Bureau and the agriculture industry.
Imperial Valley College
P la t in um Me m b e r
Community Valley Bank
G o ld Me m b e rs
Busin e ss S u p p o r t Me m b e rs
Coopers West Insurance
Desert Commercial Bank
El Centro
Chamber of Commerce
Farm Credit Services
Haz Mat Inc.
Hydrosorb Inc.
Imperial Grain Growers
Imperial Irrigation District
Imperial Printers
Imperial Tarp & Covers, Inc.
Line-X of Imperial Valley
M & M Paint & Body Shop
Northwestern Mutual
Financial Network
San Diego County
Water Authority
Sheppard Mullin
Richter & Hampton LLC
Swain & Kennerson
Office Supply Company
Town & Country Real Estate
Rabobank
Tyler Insurance Agency
Rockwood Chemical
W H Ferguson Co
Rolling R Enterprises
The Zenith Insurance Co.
To learn more about these Farm Bureau membership levels, contact Farm Bureau at [email protected] or 760.352.3831.
Summer 2011
11
Impe rial C oun ty Farm Bur
Matt LaBrucherie Memorial Scholarship
Deborah de la Riva
Deborah is a three-time
recipient of a Farm Bureau
scholarship. The Southwest
High graduate was the first
among her family to earn
a college degree. She will
be entering the doctorate
program at U.C. Riverside
this fall to continue her
studies in entomology.
As an undergrad student,
Deborah was involved in
several research projects
with her professors, who
each spoke very highly of
her work ethic, skill, and
demeanor.
Lucio Zepeda
Hannah Nesmith
Hannah is a former foster
child who is determined to
beat the odds. Only 1% 5% of former foster youth
ever graduate college.
Hannah is one year away
from becoming part of
that small percentage.
She intends to continue
on with her education to
become a veterinarian.
She hopes to be an
example for other foster
youth to show them that
they, too, can succeed in
higher education.
Brooke Bradshaw
Lucio grew up working
around his father and
grandfather’s cattle ranch,
raised feeder calves at
Calexico FFA and spent
summers working at the
Cameiro Heifer Ranch. He
always knew he wanted a
career in agriculture. But
during a trip to Mexico he
learned about orchids,
roses & citrus and realized
that his passion is in plant
science.
Lucio now works at Cal
Poly’s Agriscapes as a
landscape designer and
manager while he attends
school at Cal Poly Pomona.
12
Courtney has had a passion
for animals for as long as she
can remember. She chose
to attend Oklahoma State
because of its reputation
as a veterinary school.
Her experience there has
given her an even greater
appreciation for agriculture.
She is fascinated by
production agriculture and
cattle genetics, and looks
forward to returning to the
Valley after completing
school to work in genetics
with a stocker operation.
Adam Deen
Brea Haller
Throughout high school,
Brooke has been extremely
involved in her community
and school. In addition to
Holtville FFA, the Junior Fair
Board, and numerous other
activities, Brooke traveled
to Jamaica on a mission
trip, and was one of only
45 students in the nation
accepted into the NRA YES
(Youth Education Summit)
program!
This fall, Brooke will begin
her freshman year at Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo.
Courtney Miller
From her involvement with
Imperial FFA through high
school, Brea has learned
the importance of agriculture and the need for
advocates for the industry.
This fall, Brea will begin
her freshman year at Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo.
During college, Brea looks
forward to becoming very
involved in student organizations and is eager to
expand her education and
have the chance to give
back to her community
and the industry.
Adam was inspired to make
a career in agriculture as
he grew up watching his
father work in ag.
He will be attending Cuesta
College this fall and plans
to transfer to Cal Poly San
Luis Obispo and major in
ag business.
Adam is proud to be among
the first generation of his
family to attend college,
and hopes to become a
produce broker when he
graduates.
Christina Dammarell
Christina
has
been
very involved in 4-H for
several years, serving on
the county small animal
leadership team and
as her club’s president.
Meanwhile, she works in
her parents’ hay tarping
business, is a Sunday
school teacher, works as
a shift manager at her
church coffee shop, and
has maintained a 4.0 GPA.
Christina believes in the
importance of serving her
community, and is looking
forward to returning to
the Valley after college
to continue making a
difference here.
Valeria Valencia
Wesley Deen
Living around agriculture
in Imperial Valley and
watching his father’s work
in agriculture sparked an
interest in Wesley, and he
is eager to make a career
in the ag industry.
At Imperial High School,
he keep a strong GPA
while participating in many
sports and community
activities. Wesley served
on the Junior Fair Board
and has been active in 4-H
for nine years, raising the
Reserve Supreme Grand
Champion Feeder Calf at
the 2011 fair.
Valeria came from a
family that is not involved
in agriculture, and reveled
in opportunities to share
her appreciation for ag
with her family and others
through her participation
in Imperial FFA.
Valeria continues to have
a passion for agriculture
and is looking forward to
instilling an appreciation
for agriculture in her
future students.
This fall she will be
continuing her studies at
Imperial Valley College.
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
reau Sc h ola rsh ip Re c ipie n ts
Robert Phillips
Robert remembers the
first plane that he ever
flew in, and credits that
moment with instilling in
him a desire to become a
pilot. He is determined to
become a helicopter crop
duster pilot.
This fall he will be
attending Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University;
after he completes school
he will serve a tour of duty
with the Army, and hopes
to return to Imperial
Valley after completing
his service to become a
crop duster pilot.
Maureen Croak
William Young
Throughout high school,
William has been involved
in Brawley Wildcat football,
playing on the varsity team
three years; 4-H, where he
was selected to participate
in California Boys State;
Junior Fair Board; and still
maintained a strong GPA.
This fall he will be
attending the University
of Arizona, and is looking
forward to completing his
education so he can return
to the Imperial Valley and
pursue a career as a ranch
manager.
Maureen is among the
fourth generation in her
family to be involved in
agriculture in Imperial
Valley. A Holtville native,
her father, grandfather and
great-grandfather were all
farmers locally, and they
instilled in her a deep
love and appreciation for
agriculture.
Maureen hopes to share
that appreciation and love
with students when she
becomes an ag teacher.
This fall, Maureen will
begin her sophomore year
at Imperial Valley College.
Amanda
Leckband
Kayanna Gilbert
Kayanna
has
grown
up around farming and
agriculture her entire life.
Her grandfather, greatgrandfather and two of her
great-great-grandfathers
farmed in Imperial County
and were very active in the
agriculture community.
Kayanna is determined
to return to the Imperial
County and give back to the
agriculture industry. She
has a deep appreciation
for agriculture and loves to
educate those around her
about agriculture and the
rural life.
Vern Highley Memorial Scholarship
Lindsey Stiff
Lindsey is a Holtville native,
and is in her junior year at
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Lindsey plans to get her
Masters in animal science,
and hopes to embark on a
career where she can work
hands-on with animals
every day. Her focus is on
livestock production, and
she has enjoyed several
experiences through her
coursework breeding and
raising poultry and other
birds.
Summer 2011
Taylor Ortiz
Preston
Hutchinson
Preston has been around
animals throughout his
life. Growing up in Brawley
he participated in 4-H
activities for many years
and developed a passion
for animals.
Preston will be a freshman
at Arizona Western College
this fall. After he earns his
degree, Preston hopes to
return to the Valley to work
with local cattle yards.
As a Brawley FFA member,
Taylor was named the Cal
Poly Pomona Outstanding
Student in Plant Science,
and it was then that she
knew she wanted a career
in plant science.
Taylor is now a junior at
the University of Idaho
majoring in crop & weed
science. Her professors
speak very highly of her
leadership and abilities.
After college, she looks
forward to becoming a
plant geneticist or breeder.
Cheyenne Ayala
Cheyenne is entering her
third year at Cal Poly San
Luis Obispo, where she is
majoring in agribusiness
and ag marketing.
Cheyenne is from Brawley,
and is actively involved in
school and extracurricular
activities at Cal Poly. She
helps out at a SLO-area 4-H
club, participates in the
collegiate horse judging
team, works a part-time
job, and still manages a full
schedule of classes.
Amanda is a Brawley
High School graduate
whose goal is to become
a veterinarian. “Since
the day I was born, I have
been in the saddle. It is
no wonder that my next
goal is to become a large
animal veterinarian.”
Amanda will attend
Imperial Valley College
in the fall and plans to
transfer to Sul Ross
State University in Texas,
where she has qualified
for the Sul Ross Rodeo
team.
After college, she plans
to return to the Imperial
Valley to help fill the need
for a large animal/equine
veterinarian here.
Brianne
Chavarin
Brianne is a fourth-year
student at U.C. Santa
Barbara and a Brawley
High School graduate.
Through nearly a decade
of involvement in 4-H, she
developed an appreciation
for agriculture, as well as
strong leadership skills.
In college, she continues
to be involved in many
extra-curricular activities
including sports, her
sorority, a part-time job,
and helping out with 4-H
projects whenever she
can.
13
Be on th
e Lookout for th e Palm Weevil
Rachel Nilson, County Entomologist/Plant Pathologist
The South American and Red Palm
infestation is frond notching. The
are frond death (from the center or
Weevils have recently been found in
notches are caused by weevil feeding
top of the crown outward), overall
Southern California. While none have
damage when the frond is newly
decline, leaking sap, a foul odor, and
been found in Imperial County, we are
emerging. As the frond matures, the
tree death. The advanced frond death
actively surveying for these pests and
individual leaflets spread open to reveal creates a “popped neck” or flat-top like
would like to encourage
appearance across the
public participation in
affected palm (Fig. 4).
the survey.
While these weevils can
These closely related
feed on many varieties
weevils are considered
of palms, Date Palms
some of the worst pests
and Canary Island Date
of palm trees in the
Palms are the most likely
world, and infestation
hosts in our area. In
of a palm tree generally
response to recent finds
results in the death of
Left: Figure 1: South American Palm Weevil; Photo: J. Saunders, CDFA
in San Diego County, and
the tree. The damage to
Right: Figure 2: Red Palm Weevil; Photo: J. Kabashima, UC Cooperative Extension
the ongoing infestation in
the tree is caused by the
Tijuana and other parts of Mexico, 75
larval stage of the weevils, which tunnel angular cuts across leaflets (Figure 3)
palm weevil traps will be placed along
through the interior of the tree trunk
or holes through the individual leaflets. Imperial County’s southern border.
until adulthood. The adults emerge
Feeding damage can also be found
from the tree and generally live and eat at the base of the individual fronds
Any suspect palms should be reported
in the crown of the tree, at the base of
to the California Department of Food
where they connect to the trunk of the
the fronds. Adults can be easily idenand Agriculture Pest Hotline at 1-800tree. This feeding damage creates a
tified by their large size, 1 to 1.5 inches, “chewed up” or jagged indentation on
491-1899 or the Imperial County
and their large rostrum, or snout.
Agricultural Commissioner’s Office at
the outside of the base of the frond.
(760) 482-4314.
Symptoms of advanced infestations
The most obvious symptom of a weevil
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[email protected]
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
Right: Figure 4: Popped Neck; Photo: J.
Kabashima, UC Cooperative Extension
Left: Figure 3: Suspect Notching from
weevil feeding Photo: J. Saunders, CDFA
Acres
Planted to
Cotton
2009-2011
6000
5000
2475
4000
3000
2310
2000
1435
1000
1011
439
3
483
555.9
2009
2010
975
0
2011
Palo Verde
Imperial Valley
Bard/Winterhaven
source: Imperial County
Agriculture Commissioner
Summer 2011
15
Insist
on Use of Lockout/Tagout Procedures
Mike Klimenko, Farm Bureau Group Manager, State Compensation Insurance Fund
Four out of every five accidents
involving injuries to persons
performing maintenance or set-up
work on machinery were caused
because the proper lockout/tagout
procedures were not followed.
According to the U.S. Department of
Labor, failure to lock out or tag power
sources on equipment can result in
electrocutions, amputations, and other
serious—sometimes fatal—accidents.
Failure to lock out or tag
power sources on equipment
can result in electrocutions,
amputations and other serious—
sometimes fatal—accidents.
There is also a procedure that should
always be followed when restarting a
machine that was shut down for maintenance, set up or any other reason.
The following items must be checked:
Be sure to follow proper lockout/tagout
procedures, even for a quick or minor
repair. Don’t cut corners. Without
exception, lockout/tagout should
always be required during setups, when • Have all guards been replaced correctly?
performing maintenance, and when
• Are all stray tools and parts accounted
troubleshooting or making repairs.
for and removed from the work area?
or death in the event of an unexpected
start-up or release of stored energy.
Since 1943, Farm Bureau and State
Fund have been business partners.
When your policy comes up for renewal,
if you are not insured with State Fund,
please be sure to get a quote in our
Farm Bureau Group Program. For more
info, call toll-free at (800) 773-7667, or
check the State Fund Web site at
www.statefundca.com.
Americans consume close to
15 pounds of watermelon per
person every year.
Imperial Valley growers
produced more than 101 million
pounds of watermelon in 2010.
When a piece of equipment has been • Are pressure tubing, pipes and hose
connections properly installed?
locked out, a person should never
remove any locks or tags other than
• Have all lockout/tagout notices been
his or her own. In addition, a person
removed?
should never try to start equipment
that has been locked out or tagged out • Is the area clear of all
workers?
unless authorized to do so
Fa r m e r C o - o p
Lockout/tagout means that the energy Be aware of your
safety and that of
source for the equipment—electrical,
Liquid Fertilizer | Dry Fertilizer
others
when working
mechanical, hydraulic or other—must
Seeds | Grain Marketing | Handling
with or around powerbe disengaged or blocked. There’s
activated equipment
a big difference between turning off
and machinery. Lockout/
#5 Shank
a machine and actually disengaging
Phone 760 344 0420
PO Box 184
tagout procedures can
a piece of equipment. If a lockout/
760 344 1309
Brawley 92227
safeguard you from injury Fax
tagout procedure is going to be used,
a person should first notify all individuals in the area where the work is
to be performed
Imperial Grain Growers, Inc.
Whether you work with one piece of
machinery or several, the following
prevention program is recommended:
• Identify all equipment that requires
lockout/tagout of power sources.
• Post warning signs to indicate that
lockout/tagout is required.
• Develop written procedures
explaining how lockout/tagout is to
be done and allow no deviation from
these procedures.
• Train workers in lockout/tagout and
conduct periodic refresher training.
• Perform regular maintenance to
prevent malfunctioning equipment.
16
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
Summer 2011
17
So why is there a lack of participation
at the required Drainshed Meetings?
I think it’s related to our increasing
complacency, not only here in Imperial
Valley, but all over the state as
evidenced by the meager response to
SB 104, a bill that, had it been signed
by our governor, would have drastically
changed how we in agriculture do
business in the future.
Complacency
continued from page 7
meet with individual farmers who have
neglected to meet their obligations as
participants of the Voluntary Silt TMDL
Compliance Program.
The $100 fee will also be charged to
those that do not update their farm
plans by September 1st as required
by Regional Board. Those that choose
not to pay the fee will be dropped from
the program and will have to deal with
Regional Board on their own.
Our Silt TMDL is the most successful
TMDL in the State, if not the nation,
according to the Regional Water
Quality Control Board. That’s because
the Farm Bureau has made it very
simple and painless to participate
in the mandated program and the
farmers have worked hard to meet the
goals set by the Regional Board.
2011 EQIP
Applications
As we become more efficient at
growing food to feed the nation, our
numbers have dropped and there are
less of us to voice our concerns. But
when we become complacent and fail
to participate in our right to freedom of
speech and express our views, we lose
“big time.”
I urge all of you to make a change
today and become more involved in
agriculture.
NRCS will be accepting applications for the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
until November 1, 2011.
To apply, contact the NRCS field Office by
calling 760-352-7886 or visiting their office
at 177 N. Imperial Avenue in El Centro.
Show your AG PRIDE
while supporting ag
EDUC8N programs like
California Foundation
for Ag in the Classroom,
FFA N CA and more.
Introducing the California
agriculture license plate.
▪ Cost is $50 ($40 per year for renewal).
▪ Fees support California ag ed
programs like FFA and
Agriculture in the Classroom.
▪ Part of the fee is tax-deductible .
ICFB MBR
Plate will be
produced once DMV
receives 7500 paid
reservations.
www.CalAgPlate.com
Note: Cal Ag licence plates fit a maximum of 6 characters.
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18
Helping growers solve issues of sediment runoff,
dust control, storm water runoff & water conservation.
Soilfloc: The best offense in TMDL defense:
• Reduces soil loss 80% - 98%
• Increases water infiltration during
irrigationup to 60%
• Lowers concentration of nitrogen,
phosphorus & pesticides, & decreases
biological oxygen demand in runoff water
Imperial County Farm Bureau members receive 10%
off purchases, and up to 15% off volume purchases!
ICFB members receive an
additional 5% off their
already discounted prices
through October 2011.
Contact Sandra Miller for pricing and details
619.312.7777 . [email protected] . www.hydrosorb.com
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
DoL Dilutes courtesy
Motorof Farm
Carrier
Overtime Exemption
Employers Labor Service
In a decision that could substantially
affect businesses like farms, ranches
and packing houses that employ
drivers and treat them as exempt
from federal overtime requirements,
the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
announced a narrowed interpretation
of the Motor Carrier Exemption to the
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The
move, which the DOL announced in
Assistance Bulletin 2010-2, essentially
requires employers relying on the
Exemption to more frequently and
carefully evaluate its applicability to
their driver-employees.
The Motor Carrier Exemption pertains
to employees who are covered by
U.S. Department of Transportation
regulations setting qualifications to
operate federally regulated vehicles
and maximum operating hours.
Currently, it covers drivers, driver’s
helpers, loaders, and mechanics
whose work affects the safe operation
of certain vehicles in interstate
commerce, exempting them from the
FLSA’s 40-hour workweek overtime
requirement. Qualifying vehicles weigh
@
over 5 tons; are designed to transport
either more than 8 people for pay or
more than 15 people; or are used to
transport certain hazardous materials.
drivers are exempt from overtime
requirements for a four-month period.
However, a driver assigned to work on
one of the company’s two-ton pickup
trucks–even for a single day–is not
exempt from the 40-hour overtime
limit for that workweek.
Previously, DOL’s position was that the
Exemption applied to employees in
discrete four-month periods from the
time they perform, or could be asked
to perform, the exempt work regulated
by DOT. The prior Exemption had
excused employers from the necessity
of performing a day-by-day review of
the vehicle driven by an employee or
worked upon by each employee. Given
recent amendments to the federal
highway bill, DOL has now changed
its interpretation, explaining that the
Exemption cannot apply in a workweek
in which an employee’s work pertains
to a vehicle that does not meet the
criteria in the prior paragraph.
As many agricultural employers employ
small workforces whose employees
likely do more different kinds of jobs in
a given week, the revised DOL interpretation could pose problems in the ag
industry.
What it Means for Employers:
Employers relying or considering relying
upon the Motor Carrier Exemption
should be aware of this development.
While the four-month rule remains in
effect, DOL has significantly narrowed
its applicability. This change may
require a daily evaluation of
employee’s activities to determine if
they qualify for the Exemption in any
given week. While it is unclear how
courts will view DOL’s reinterpretation
of the Exemption, federal enforcers will
rely on the new interpretation.
For example, suppose a company
employs employees, some or all of
whom may be assigned to drive a truck
weighing over five tons to transport
material to a site in another state. Even
under DOL’s new interpretation, those
Wh o is Farm Employers Labor Service?
This article is provided courtesy of the Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS), an affiliate of California Farm Bureau
Federation. FELS provides labor-management consultation, union avoidance, human resources education, compliance
materials & products, and workplace safety & health training for ag employers throughout California and Oregon.
@
@ @@
@
For more info, contact FELS Chief Operating Officer Bryan Little at 800-753-9073 or [email protected], or visit FELS’ website: www.fels.net.
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Summer 2011
As you drive around the Imperial Valley, watch for these
commodities growing in our local fields right now...
Cotton to it Just two years ago, there were just 3 acres
of cotton planted in the Imperal Valley, but this year we
are up to 2300 acres. (see page 15 for more details)
Till the Steers Come Home In 2010 there were
nearly 300,000 beef cattle in Imperial Valley. Beef is our
county’s number one commodity, generating an
estimated $623 million in economic productivity.
Seed for Thought Along with more than a million tons
of hay growing and being harvested around the Valley,
there is plenty of seed soaking up the summer sun here
in the Valley. Did you know that Imperial Valley is among
the top seed-producing counties in the nation?
19
Selected Statistics from the 2010 Crop & Livestock Report
Copies of the recently released 2010 Imperial County Crop & Livestock Report can be found at the Farm Bureau office or
the Ag Commissioner’s office. Crop reports dating back to 1907 can be downloaded online at www.co.imperial.ca.us/ag/ .
Cattle
has
consistently been
the # commodity
since the 1970s.
Other perennial
top 10 commodities include alfalfa, leaf lettuce,
head lettuce, broccoli, carrots, sugar beets.
1
Total
gross
agricultural
value
exceeded $1 billion for the first time
in 1990. Since then, it has dipped
below the billion dollar mark 5 times:
$1 Billion
1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000.
Ten Years of Gross Values from the Crop & Livestock Report
$1,750,000,000
$1,500,000,000
$1,250,000,000
Rise & Fall
Field Crops
$1,000,000,000
$750,000,000
$500,000,000
15.22%
Alfalfa, cotton, straw and sudan
all increased in value.
$250,000,000
2001
$1,010,321,000
2002
$1,224,109,000
2003
$1,073,473,000
2004
$1,187,254,000
$0
2005
$1,286,066,000
2006
$1,365,368,000
2007
$1,369,147,000
2008
$1,684,522,000
2009
$1,452,970,000
2010
$1,598,534,000
7.39% Fruits & Nuts
Dates, grapefruit, tangerines &
miscellaneous fruits & nuts all increased.
Vegetables & Melons
17.21%
Many vegetables increased in value; cauliflower &
head lettuce decreased.
6.46% Livestock
Cattle decreased some, while
miscellaneous livestock increased.
Seed & Nursery 4.72%
Alfalfa seed saw a decrease in yield and
acreage; misc. seed & nursery crops also
decreased in value.
12.32% Apiary
Honey increased in value significantly.
all data in this segment courtesy of Imperial
County Agriculture Commissioner’s office
2011 Photo
Contest
$500 GRAND PRIZE
Prizes in five categories, including a
category for young photographers!
Fall Agriculture Classes at Imperial Valley College.
Fall classes begin August 22.
Soil Science . Ag 120
Basic knowledge of physical, chemical & biological properties of soils
and their characteristics, including soil-plant relationships.
Computer Applications in Agriculture . Ag 138
Computerized technologies and their uses in agriculture, including
the internet, MS Office, Excel, GIS, & specialized ag software.
Plant Protection & Integrated Pest Management . Ag 260
Deadline for entries is September 30, 2011.
For more information or to download an entry form, visit
www.cfbf.com or call 916-561-5550
20
Identification of pests &beneficials in the crop system. Includes discussion
of laws & safety requirements for spray equipment & pesticides.
Remember, you don’t have to be a full-time student to take advantage of the classes at IVC!
www.imperial.edu Ag Department 760-355-6363
Admissions 760-352-8320
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
Summer 2011
21
Are You Required to Report Healthcare Costs on W-2’s?
The recent health care reform bill calls
for employers to report on W-2 forms
the cost of health care coverage under
employer-sponsored group health plans.
Reporting on 2011 W-2s (issued in
January 2012) will be optional for all
employers. Starting with the 2012 tax
year, businesses that file 250 or more
W-2s annually will be required to report
health care coverage information on
W-2 forms. It is not yet known when the
requirement will become mandatory for
smaller employers.
Even though costs will be included as a
line item on W-2s, health care benefits
will continue to be non-taxable. The
amount reported on the W-2 form does
not affect an employee’s tax liability.
However, beginning in 2018, employers
who offer certain higher-premium plans
to employees will be subject to an
excise tax.
The costs that must be reported
include medical coverage that is either
nontaxable to the employee, or would
be nontaxable to the employee if it
were employer-paid. What should be
Health Care Cost Reporting
Employers who issue 250 or more W-2s
will be required to report health care
coverage costs on W-2s starting with
2012 W-2s issued in January 2013.
Will not change employee’s taxable income.
Report the total cost, including amounts
paid by employer and employee.
Include dental and vision if part of a
group health plan, but not if offered as
standalone plans.
Do not include contributions to health savings
accounts, MSAs or flexible spending accounts.
Penalties for non-compliance of $100 per W-2.
reported is the total cost, including both
the portion the employer paid and any
portion the employee paid.
Amounts contributed to a health
savings account, MSA or a flexible
spending account are generally not
included. The cost of dental and vision
coverage should be included if the
coverage is integrated into a group
health plan, but not if the coverage
is offered as standalone plans. Other
types of coverage, such as AD&D, long
term care, and certain specific-disease
coverage is typically not reportable.
However, costs for coverage provided by
an on-site clinic must be reported.
For those employers who will be
required to report this coverage on W-2s,
penalties for not complying are $100
per W-2. For purposes of calculating the
penalty, the IRS can elect to count the
form filed with IRS and the form sent to
the employee as two separate forms.
For more information, visit the IRS
web site at www.irs.gov and search for
health care reporting, call Farm
Bureau at 760.352.3831, or contact
Farm Employers Labor Service if you
are a member.
Co n tac t your Represe n tatives
Become a part of California Farm Bureau’s FARM TEAM, and receive timely Action Alert emails
that make contacting your legislators about important issues quick & easy.
Go to www.icfb.net/issues.html and click on Join Farm Team. Or call us at 760.352.3831!
United States
Representatives
President Barack Obama
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
www.whitehouse.gov
[email protected]
(202) 456-1414 phone
(202) 456-2461 fax
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
750 B St., #1030
San Diego, CA 92101
feinstein.senate.gov
(619) 231-9712 phone
(619) 231-1108 fax
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
600 B St., Ste. 2240
San Diego, CA 92101
boxer.senate.gov
(619) 239-3884 phone
(619) 239-5719 fax
22
U.S. Representative Bob Filner
1101 Airport Rd., Ste. D
Imperial, CA 92251
www.house.gov/filner
(760) 355-8800 phone
State Representatives
Gov. Jerry Brown
State Capitol Bldg.
Sacramento, CA 95814
[email protected]
(916) 445-2841 phone
State Sen. Juan Vargas
1224 State St., Ste. D
El Centro, 92243
[email protected]
(760) 335-3442 phone
State Rep. Manuel Perez
68-700 Ave. Lalo Guerrero, Ste B
Cathedral City, 92234
assemblymember.perez@
assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2080 phone
County Supervisors
IID Directors
Imperial Irrigation District
P.O. Box 937
Imperial, CA 92251
www.iid.com
County Administrative Center
940 West Main Street
El Centro, CA 92243-2839
www.co.imperial.ca.us
District 1: Matt Dessert
District 1: John Renison
[email protected]
(760) 482-4220
[email protected]
(760) 427-3008
District 2: Jack Terrazas
District 2: John Pierre Menvielle
[email protected]
(760) 482-4306
[email protected]
(760) 562-1191
District 3: Michael Kelley
District 3: James C. Hanks
[email protected]
(760) 482-4308
[email protected]
(760) 455-3471
District 4: Gary Wyatt
District 4: Stella Mendoza
[email protected]
(760) 455-9321
[email protected]
(760) 482-4613
District 5: Raymond Castillo
[email protected]
(760) 482-4220
District 5: Anthony Sanchez
[email protected]
(760) 716-7465
Imperial County Farm Bureau Newsletter
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Summer 2011
23
San Diego CA
Imperial County Farm Bureau
1000 Broadway
El Centro CA 92243
Presort Standard
U.S. Postage
Paid
Permit 751
San Diego CA
Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
Paid
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Is your address correct on this newsletter?
Please contact us with any corrections to your mailing address!
Call Farm Bureau at 760.352.3831 or email us at [email protected].
Myste r y P h o to
This issue’s Mystery Photo brings
to mind many questions. Who are
the men on the right, and why
are they sitting on the planter
box in front of the Farm Bureau
building with file folders in their
hands? Who is the guy behind the
flagpole, and whom is he hiding
from? Does he really think that no
one can see him back there?
If you know the answers to any
of these questions, or if you
have information about any of
our mystery photos, contact
Candace at the Farm Bureau
office: 760 - 352-3831 or
[email protected].
Do you enjoy the Mystery Photo?
Consider purchasing a Farm
Bureau calendar, filled with
selections from our historic
photo collection. A limited supply
of 2011 calendars are still
available. Stop by or call the Farm
Bureau office (760.352.3831)
to get your 2011 Farm Bureau
Historical Photo calendar or to
pre-order a 2012 calendar!
Mystery Solved!
We were thrilled to have a large amount of interest in our most recent image, and
received quite a bit of information on it! Thanks to several readers, including retired Judge
James Harmon, Evelyn Shipman, Walter Roth and several others, we determined that
many of the shovel-wielders in this photo were in fact County Supervisors. The supes were
breaking ground for a county building, possibly either the new County Jail or the Probation
Department. From left to right, we identified Virgil Bryant, civil engineer with architecture
and engineering firm Bryant, Jehle & Associates; an unidentified man who may have been
a Department of Corrections representative; Supervisors Tom Boley, Chuck Kilgore, Ray
Langley, Les Dowe and Tunney Williams; and Bill Jehle, of Bryant, Jehle & Associates.
Based on the slate of supervisors, the photo was most likely taken in the late 1960s.
We sincerely thank everyone who helped us learn more about this photo!