Sexual Harassment Prevention Seminars

Farm Bureau
February 2015
Vol. 70, No.2
Fresno County
Agriculture Today
See page 6
Opportunities exist
to serve on Fresno
County boards and
commissions
See page 14
Upcoming
Trainings
See page 5
Sexual Harassment
Prevention Seminars
Local and statewide agricultural
organizations have partnered to provide
free sexual harassment seminars for
supervisory employees on Feb. 20 at the
Fresno County Farm Bureau, 1274 W.
Hedges Ave., Fresno.
Seminars will be offered in both English and Spanish. The English session
will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by the Spanish session from 1 to 3
p.m. Participants will receive a certificate
of completion at the end of the session.
Coffee Talk is Feb. 20
in Selma
Fresno County Farm Bureau and Selma Auto
Mall will co-sponsor Coffee Talk on Friday, Feb.
20, at Spike N’ Rail in Selma, 2910 Pea Soup
Anderson Blvd.
Congressman David Valadao, Supervisor Buddy
Mendes
and Sheriff
Margaret Mims will be in
attendance.
The speakers will discuss
current issues, as well as
answer questions from
participants.
The meeting is set to begin
at 7:30 a.m. Refreshments
and coffee will be provided.
FCFB members are invited to
attend.
To participate, RSVP by
Fresno County District 1 Supervisor and past
Wednesday, Feb. 18, to
FCFB President Brian Pacheco was one of the
FCFB at 559-237-0263 or
guest speakers at the January Coffee Talk that was
[email protected].
held in Easton.
BSM DIRECTORY CORRECTIONS
The 2015 Business Support Directory had incorrect information listed.
Please see the following corrections.
Sorensen Harvesting – (559) 905-1210
Sierra Packaging Solutions – (559) 897-0711
Seating is limited and spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please RSVP to Nisei Farmers League
at 559-251-8468 or [email protected]. Additional Fresno County
dates will be announced in the future.
Compliance
Deadlines
•
January 1 - Paid Sick Leave
Posting, http://www.dir.ca.gov/
dlse/ab1522.html
•
January 31 - ‘AG’ truck
reporting deadline, www.
arb.ca.gov/dieseltruck,
866-6DIESEL (866-634-3735)
•
January 31 - Log 300A
Posting, visit http://www.
dir.ca.gov/dosh/etools/
recordkeeping/CAStandard/
CalStandard.htm for more
information
February
20 – Coffee Talk, 7:30 a.m.,
Spike N’ Rail, 2910 Pea
Soup Anderson Blvd.,
Selma, 559-237-0263,
[email protected]
CALENDAR
FCFB Board
Spotlight:
Karen
Musson
March
18 – National Ag Day,
www.agday.org
20 – Fresno County Farm
& Nutrition Day, 9 a.m.,
Fresno Fairgrounds, www.
fcfb.org, 559-237-0263
Page 2 • FCFB Agriculture Today • February 2015
Executive Committee
President...................... Mark Sorensen, Caruthers
First Vice President.........Donny Rollin, Riverdale
Second Vice President............ Mayo Ryan, Fresno
Secretary/Treasurer........Mathew Efird, Caruthers
Appointed by President
CFBF Director Dan Errotabere, Riverdale;
Todd Hirasuna, Selma; Debbie Jacobsen, Easton;
Jerry Prieto, Fresno; Pat Ricchiuti, Clovis;
Mark Thompson, Fresno; UC COOP Extension
Shannon Mueller, Fresno
Directors at Large
John Chandler, Selma; Mickey Kenneson,
Kerman; Debbie Jacobsen, Easton; Karen
Musson, Reedley; Navi Pooni, Fresno; George
Porter, Kerman; Pat Ricchiuti, Clovis; Alfreda
Sebasto, Clovis; Ken Tatami, Reedley; Beau
Williamson, Fresno
Commodity Chairs
Almonds/Nuts................... Daniel Hartwig, Huron
Apiary.............................Bryan Beekman, Sanger
Citrus...................................... Rod Radtke, Piedra
Deciduous Fruit....................Jim Montross, Clovis
Grapes............................Stephen Vasquez, Fresno
Livestock/Range............ Mark Thompson, Fresno
Nursery.................................Jon Reelhorn, Fresno
Poultry................................. Melissa Fries, Sanger
Raisins................................ Rick Stark, Kingsburg
Specialty Crops...................... Jerry Prieto, Fresno
Vegetables/Field..................Todd Hirasuna, Selma
Advisory Committee Chairs
Health & Safety/
Rural Crime...............................Earl Hall, Kerman
YF&R State Rep. .......... Megan Jacobsen, Fresno
Office Staff
CEO/Executive Director................ Ryan Jacobsen
Public Relations Manager............... Katie Rodgers
Operations Manager................ Courtney Sorensen
Membership Coordinator................ Audra Roland
Intern............................................. Michelle Brasil
(ISSN: 0895-2442) Fresno, CA
Published once a month by:
Fresno County Farm Bureau
1274 W. Hedges Ave.
Fresno, CA 93728
(559) 237-0263; [email protected]
Advertising/Publishing
MID-VALLEY PUBLISHING
1130 G Street, Reedley, CA 93654
Advertising Sales
Debra Leak
(559) 638-2244
Editor: Katie Rodgers
Periodical Postage
Paid at Fresno, California 93706
Postmaster
Send address changes to:
Agriculture Today
1274 W. Hedges, Fresno, CA 93728
The Fresno County Farm Bureau does not assume
responsibility for statements by advertisers or for
products advertised in Agriculture Today.
Reuse of Material
Any news release, Ag Wire item or Agriculture
Today story may be reprinted or otherwise
reproduced in its entirety as long as the reprint
or other reproduction credits Fresno County
Farm Bureau as its source. For information about
reusing or reproducing other material, contact us
at (559) 237-0263 or [email protected].
A private nonprofit organization serving
Fresno County agriculture since 1917
Rooted in Agriculture
Educating through experience
¾¾By Mark Sorensen,
FCFB President
It’s amazing
how the sights and
sounds of a familiar
place can flood you
with memories.
Earlier this
month, I walked
into my high
school gymnasium
to watch a basketball game. As a
student there so many years ago, I
enjoyed school for the most part and
was always involved in sports and
activities with my friends. However, I
was always excited for class or practice to be over so that I could rush
home to start working.
Many times, I have looked back
and wondered why in the world I
was so anxious to grow up and take
on adult responsibilities. Although I
received a great education, I believe
that some of my most valuable lessons came from what I learned on
the farm. I realized that hard work
and pursuing dreams is one of the
most satisfying feelings there can
be, and even though I truly valued
my education, the real life realities
of farming simply can’t be taught in
school.
I learned an important lesson 25
years ago when my wife and I were
at dinner in Los Angeles with three
other couples. One of the other men
was an executive for a film company,
another was a lawyer and the third, a
magazine editor. As a farmer, I was a
bit intimidated at the level of education represented around the table.
After explaining what I did for a
living, the entire conversation for the
remainder of the evening was caught
up in farm talk. They were genuinely
interested in what we did and continued to ask questions about life as a
farmer.
Throughout the years since, I’ve
found myself in many similar situations. I’ve noticed in recent years
people are becoming more and more
interested in where their food comes
from and welcome the chance to
learn more about what we do in
agriculture.
My family and I have great oppor-
tunities when it comes to educating
people about our farming practices
while selling our blueberries at farmers’ markets. When in the Bay Area,
we are able to talk with our customers on a weekly basis and welcome
the chance to educate them on the
growing process, our farming practices and on the realities of farming.
Locally, FCFB educates through a
variety of avenues. Since the beginning, nearly 100 years ago, the organization has worked to promote and
protect agriculture. Today, it takes a
leading role in educating members,
elected officials, the media and future
generations about issues facing the
industry and the importance that
agriculture plays in the local and state
economy.
FCFB helps bridge the evergrowing gap between the consumer
and farmer. Some of the education
programs the organization is involved
in include:
• FAACT – Future Advocates for
Agriculture Concerned about
Tomorrow is an eight-month
president…Continued on Page 15
FCFB working for you
This past month, Fresno County Farm Bureau represented
its members throughout the county and state by bringing
agricultural interests to the forefront of discussions.
Here’s where FCFB represented you this month:
• Met with local, state and federal elected officials and
their staff
• Conducted outreach to grow Farm & Nutrition Day
participation
• Fielded over 12 media calls and interviews on topics
such as the drought, weather and the ACP quarantine
• Attended the Fresno Chamber of Commerce Eggs
and Issues with Sheriff Margaret Mims
• Continued filming “Valley’s Gold” season three
• Held FAACT class focusing on regulatory issues
• Held Coffee Talk at The Net Grill in Easton with
Assemblymember Henry T. Perea, Supervisor Brian
Pacheco, Sheriff Margaret Mims and FID General
Manager Gary Serrato
• Participated in the Blossom Trail Opening
Ceremonies in Fowler
•
•
•
•
•
•
Co-hosted a Hazardous Materials Training with the
California Highway Patrol
Participated in the Fresno Chamber GAC meeting
Appeared as a guest on “What’s in Season” segment;
focused on broccoli
Attended the Kings River Water Quality Coalition
membership meeting
Provided an educational presentation to a group at
The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens
Co-hosted a High Speed Rail outreach meeting with
Fresno County EDC
Important FCFB dates for 2015
February Coffee Talk – Friday, Feb. 20
Fresno County Farm & Nutrition Day – Friday, March 20
Celebrating Friends of Agriculture – June 18,
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Fresno County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting of Members
– Thursday, Oct. 22
Fresno County Farm Bureau Board of Directors’ meetings:
March 5, May 7, July (date TBD), Sept. 3, Oct. 22
February 2015 • FCFB Agriculture Today • Page 3
Friends of the Family Farm
Platinum
Gold
New FCFB Members
Steam Cleaners
FCFB welcomes the following new
Agricultural, Associate, Collegiate
and Business Support Members
(BSM) who joined last month:
NAME
Silver
CityMember Type
Carter & Co. Ag CommunicationsFresno
FFF-Platinum
Christine H. Caprelian
Fresno
BSM-Ag
Clawson Motorsports
Fresno
BSM-Ag
London Properties
Fresno
BSM-Ag
Steve M. Kubota
Dinuba
Ag
B&A Ramos Contracting
Fresno
Ag
Mark Boujikian
Fresno
Ag
Philip Nicklason
Fresno
Ag
Makhan Sodi
Fresno
Ag
John Paneno
La Quinta
Ag
Valley Wide Ag Labor Inc
Reedley
Ag
Thomas W. Chaney
San Joaquin
Ag
New Horizon Ag Services IncSelma
Ag
Albert Banks
Fresno
Assoc.
Peter Behan
Fresno
Assoc.
John Monzon
Fresno
Assoc.
Dorothy Siqueiros
Fresno
Assoc.
Membership Values
Visit the FCFB website at http://fcfb.org/
Membership-Services/Benefits.php for a
complete list of benefits or contact the office
at (559) 237-0263 or [email protected] for details.
Baker, Peterson & Franklin, CPA
Bank of the Sierra
Bank of the West
Booth Machinery
D&D Agricultural Lab
Denham Resources
Earthgreen Products
Fresno Equipment Company
Fresno Madera Farm Credit
Gill Ranch Storage LLC
H&J Chevrolet
Hall Management Corp.
High Desert Ag, Inc.
Hilltop Ranch
HMC Farms
J&L Vineyards
James G. Parker Insurance
Associates
Jeff Roberts, Granville Homes
Maddox Farms
Myovich Trucking, Inc.
National Raisin Co.
Ott & Davison Consulting, LLC
Pikalok Farming
Private Wealth Advisors
Prudential Agricultural Investments
Rodriguez Ag Enterprises, Inc.
Rollin Valley Farms
Security First Bank
Seiberts’ Oil Co., Inc.
Simplot Grower Solutions
Stoughton Davidson Accountancy Corp.
Sutton Hague Law Corp.
Valley Pacific Petroleum Services
Walter & Wilhelm Law Group
Wawona Frozen Foods
Friends of the Family Farm sponsor today!
Become a
Friends of the Family Farm is Fresno County
Farm Bureau’s annual sponsorship program, created to ensure
the viability and strength of the organization by providing an
additional level of financial support, which greatly helps FCFB’s
mission to protect agriculture while educating the public, media
and elected officials about the industry’s most important issues.
Sponsorships are available through a choice of three levels of
commitment: Platinum – $2,500; Gold – $1,250; and Silver – $500.
For more information, or to become a sponsor, contact
FCFB at 559-237-0263 or [email protected]. Applications are also
available online at www.fcfb.org.
Page 4 • FCFB Agriculture Today • February 2015
Free
Classified Ads
STABLE
STEADY
STRONG
FCFB MEMBER RATES: Classified ads are
FREE to all Fresno County Farm Bureau members
and must be of a NON-COMMERCIAL nature.
Ads are limited to five lines per member, for a
maximum of THREE MONTHS. Send ads directly
to: Fresno County Farm Bureau, 1274 W. Hedges,
Fresno, CA 93728, phone 559-237-0263, FAX:
559-237-3396.
NON-FCFB MEMBER RATES: Classified ad
rates are $25 for 20 words. Each additional word is
$1. Ads must be paid in advance and sent directly
to Mid-Valley Publishing, 1130 G Street, Reedley
CA 93654 - Debra Leak 559-638-2244 or fax
completed form to 559-638-5021.
Fresno County Farm Bureau reserves the right
to reject, edit or cancel any advertisement at any
time in accordance with its policy. Submission of
an advertisement to a sales representative does not
constitute a commitment to Agriculture Today to
publish the advertisement, nor does publication
of an advertisement constitute an agreement for
continued publication. All ads must be checked for
errors the first day of publication by the advertiser.
All advertising is subject to the terms of the current
rate card. Classified Ad Deadline for the March
issue is Friday, March 6, 2015.
for sale
Ford
Tractor
4600D,
52
HP,
3 pt Aux Value, P.S. Weights
$5,000,
PU
559-255-6642…12/14
Rack
70”
x
45”
$150,
5 5 9 - 4 8 6 - 3 6 9 9 … 1 2 / 1 4
Vine-shredder
OBO
14
$350
Nobody else in the industry has a track record like State Fund’s. For nearly
100 years we’ve been the stable force that others look to for guidance,
and we’ve never pulled out of the market when times get tough. Call your
broker or 888-STATEFUND (888-782-8338) for discounted rates for
Farm Bureau members.
Blade
$700
559-803-3191…12/14
off-set
disk
559-803-3191…12/14
Fruit
packing
sizer,
bin
dumper and all types of farm
equipment for trees, vines,
veg,
shop
tools,
welder
gen, Honda trial 70, quad
4x4, firewood, PC and others
5 5 9 - 3 1 3 - 9 5 4 2 … 1 / 1 5
Home on 2 ½ acres in the
Island District of Lemoore
3 bed, 1 bath. New well. $165,000.
statefundca.com
559-866-5326,
559-259-0849
2/15
To advertise in our classified section, please fill out
the form below.
Name:
Address:
California Farm Bureau’s endorsed provider since 1943.
City:
Phone:
Email:
Ad Copy:
State Compensation Insurance Fund is not a branch of the State of California.
©2013 State Compensation Insurance Fund of California
9203
o YES! I am a Fresno County Farm Bureau Member
Member #:(see address label)
Send ads directly to: Fresno County Farm Bureau
1274 W. Hedges Ave., Fresno 93728
February 2015 • FCFB Agriculture Today • Page 5
Upcoming Trainings and Seminars
Nitrogen Management Plan workshops scheduled
The Fresno County Farm Bureau (FCFB), in
partnership with the Kings River Water Quality Coalition
(KRWQC), will be conducting workshops on the Nitrogen
Management Plan worksheet. The Nitrogen Management
Plan is to be implemented by March 23, 2015 under
the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program adopted by the
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. The
purpose of the workshops is to review the plan components
and answer questions.
The Nitrogen Management Plan worksheet is an on-farm
requirement and is not required to be submitted to either
the Coalition or the Regional Water Board. However, a
Nitrogen Management Plan Summary Report is being
developed by the Regional Water Board, which will
determine what components of the plan do get reported.
The first reporting of the NMP Summary won’t occur until
March of 2017.
The sessions will be conducted at FCFB, 1274 W.
Hedges Ave., Fresno, on the dates and times listed below.
All sessions will provide the same information.
DatesTimes
March 6 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. – noon;
1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
March 11 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. – noon;
1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
March 12 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.;
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Please RSVP for your session reservation online at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/86T8PCN, by email to
[email protected], or by telephone at 559-237-0263.
2015 Forklift Safety “Train the Trainer” Seminars
Local and statewide agriculture organizations have
partnered to provide several “Train the Trainer” forklift safety classes for farmers and ranchers throughout
the Central Valley. The seminars will cover regulatory
requirements and effective training, safety training, proper operation and maintenance. Class dates,
locations and registration deadlines are listed in the
following table.
Classes are open to those interested in improving
their operation’s forklift safety program. Materials
and guidebooks will be in both English and Spanish.
Registration is $45 per person. Checks can be made
payable to Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) and sent to 1785 N. Fine Ave., Fresno,
93727.
Contact WAPA at 559-455-9272 for more information, or to reserve a spot today. Space is limited to
first come, first served.
Farm Bureau Member? Run your free
classified ad on this page every month.
Page 6 • FCFB Agriculture Today • February 2015
Musson joins the FCFB
Board of Directors
What’s in Season: Broccoli
Each month, FCFB participates on the KMPH Fox 26 Great Day segment called “What’s
in Season.” The live segment airs the first Thursday of the month at 9:15 a.m. During the
program, an FCFB representative discusses what’s currently in season with Great Day hosts,
Kopi Sotiropulos and Kim Stephens. This month, broccoli was the featured crop.
When is broccoli harvested?
Mid-October through April.
How is broccoli produced?
Broccoli is either direct seeded or
transplanted and grows in double rows
on raised beds. In the Central Valley,
approximately 70 percent are direct
seeded and 30 percent are transplanted.
What are the ideal conditions for
growing broccoli?
Broccoli grows best on well-drained
soils. Broccoli has greater salt tolerance
than most other common vegetables.
Optimum growth occurs when monthly
air temperatures average from 60 F to
65 F.
How is broccoli harvested?
A crop may be hand-harvested 2-3
times depending upon the market price
and quality.
Fresh market broccoli is field packed. Broccoli destined for the freezer is also
hand-harvested.
How do you know the quality of
broccoli?
Good-quality broccoli should have
a dark or bright green, closed beade,
and the head should be compact with a
cleanly cut stalk.
What’s the best way to store
broccoli?
To preserve quality and maximize
shelf life, broccoli requires rapid cooling.
Bunched broccoli stored at 32 F with
a relative humidity of 95 percent will
typically have a shelf life of 21-28 days.
Heads stored at 41 F have their shelf life
cut in half to 10-14 days.
What nutrients are found in
Broccoli?
A good source of protein, Vitamin E,
Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid,
Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus
and Selenium, and Dietary Fiber, Vitamin
A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6,
Folate, Potassium and Manganese.
Quality Compost &
Soil Amendments
New FCFB Board member Karen
Musson is no stranger to the agricultural
community or Fresno County. Born
and raised in Reedley, she graduated
from Reedley High School and received
a bachelor’s degree in marketing from
California State University, Fresno. She
is a partner in the family business, Gar
Tootelian, Inc. (GAR), a major agricultural chemical distributor, located in
Reedley.
Deep roots in agriculture
Karen’s paternal grandfather arrived in
Salem, Massachusetts in 1890 with the
intention of earning enough money to
return to Armenia to support his family.
Unexpectedly, his plans changed and
he became a U.S. citizen in 1896. He
sponsored his two brothers and sister to
the U.S. He married in 1903 and established a home in Chicago until 1914
when Karen’s grandmother urged him to
use their savings to purchase a farm in
Reedley where they remained and Gar,
one of their sons, was born.
Gar loved farming from an early age,
but like many small farmers, the farm’s
revenue was insufficient so he supplemented his income by selling fertilizer
and doing tractor work. He married Esther in 1944 and in 1949, they decided
to use their savings to start their own
fertilizer business. They sold to their
neighbors. Customers recorded purchases on a small clipboard on the wall of the
tool shed; there were no employees.
“At month-end, everyone in the family
had a job,” said Musson. “My sister and
I stuffed and sealed statement envelopes.
And since the office was in our home, we
were never far from work.”
Karen Musson is a new member of
the FCFB Board of Directors.
Experience outside the region
In 1972, Karen moved to the Bay Area
and spent five years in the corporate
offices of a national retailer doing accounting, internal audit, collections and
customer service. She later worked for
a large international freight consolidator and airfreight forwarder managing
accounts payable. In both positions, her
responsibility required her to oversee the
large conversion of financial records to
automated computer systems.
In 1982, Karen returned to the family
business and Greg, Karen’s husband,
musson…Continued on Page 12
Farmers
Unsure what to
do about the new
health insurance
changes.
ron bevers
West Coast
Product sales Manager
Avakian Insurance
Give us a call,
we can help
[email protected]
For your free no-obligation quote.
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8863
Mobile: 559.381.3510
Call 559-268-7386
1274 W Hedges Ave, Fresno, CA 93728 • www.avakianinsurance.com
February 2015 • FCFB Agriculture Today • Page 7
Opportunities abound for participation in
Farm & Nutrition Day 2015
creates positive awareness of all the contributions that agriculture makes to the community and economy and provides
students and teachers the opportunity to have personal contact
with people in the industry.
Additionally, donations, both monetary and in-kind of
any amount, go a long way to help offset event costs. Many
contributions will go towards transportation reimbursements
for participating schools that qualify. Donations to Farm &
Nutrition Day are tax deductible and can be made payable
to: Fresno Regional Foundation, tax ID# 77-0478025. Mail
check to: Farm & Nutrition Day, c/o Fresno County Farm
Bureau, 1274 W. Hedges Ave., Fresno, CA 93728.
Donors will be recognized in advance publicity for the
event, on signage at the event, and in follow-up publicity
about the event via FCFB’s monthly newspaper Agriculture
Today, and news releases. Those donors who wish to remain
anonymous will have their wishes honored, as well.
For additional details, please contact FCFB at 559-2370263 or via email at [email protected], or visit www.fcfb.org.
The 10th annual Fresno
County Farm & Nutrition
Day, sponsored by the Fresno
County Farm Bureau and the
Big Fresno Fair, is scheduled for
March 20, from 9 a.m. to 12:15
p.m., at the Fresno Fairgrounds.
This year’s program is experiencing record registration from
schools throughout the county!
Farm & Nutrition Day will provide facts about food and
fiber production in Fresno County, with a focus on proper
nutrition and healthy eating to more than 3,000 third grade
students, teachers and chaperones. The sponsoring organizations are seeking individuals to participate as presenters, sponsors and volunteers.
The goal is to introduce children to the values of good
health and nutrition habits, as well as educate them about agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley and their world. This event
Fresno County
Farm Bureau is
on social media!
Stay connected
to all things Fresno
County agriculture
by liking FCFB
on Facebook
at https://www.
facebook.com/
FresnoCountyFarmBureau, following
on Twitter at https://twitter.com/
FCFB_Ag, following on Instagram
at http://instagram.com/FCFB_Ag/
and by subscribing on YouTube
at https://www.youtube.com/user/
FresnoFarmBureau.
Our social media pages provide
followers the opportunity to get
involved in a variety of Farm Bureau
activities and programs. There are
also links to the FCFB website and
calendar, as well as other informational
sites. This can be an easy way to stay
up-to-date with Farm Bureau, while
networking with other FCFB members.
Valley women to be honored at
Common Threads Awards luncheon
Six women have been selected as the
2015 honorees for the Common Threads
Award, which recognizes women from the
San Joaquin Valley for their agricultural,
philanthropic and community service.
The Common Threads Award recipients
for 2015 are Sally Dudley Baker, Tulare County; Izetta Agnew Camp, Kern
County; Karen Morais, Fresno County;
Judith Peracchi, Fresno County; Carol
Rollin, Fresno County; and Kathy Sargent,
Kings County. These women have strong
agricultural backgrounds and are active
participants in their communities through
philanthropic endeavors and community
service.
The honorees will be recognized at a
special luncheon on Thursday, March 26,
at the University Courtyard Dining Hall
at California State University, Fresno. The
19th Annual Common Threads luncheon
will begin at 11 a.m. and will feature awardwinning Fresno State wines, a raffle and the
Common Threads Award presentation.
Tickets are $40 per person if purchased
prior to March 16; $50 per person after
March 16. Space is limited. Net proceeds
raised from the luncheon support the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation
(Ag Leadership), Ag One Foundation and
charities of the honorees’ choice.
Common Threads is a collaborative effort
of Ag Leadership, Fresno State’s Jordan
College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and the Ag One Foundation.
To purchase tickets online, visit www.
agleaders.org. To learn about sponsorship
opportunities, contact Emily Lazzerini, at
Ag Leadership, at 831-585-1030 or Sadie
Hemsath, at Ag One, at 559-278-4266.
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Page 8 • FCFB Agriculture Today • February 2015
Scholarship opportunities
California Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation Award
The California Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation is now accepting applications
for 2015. Any undergraduate student entering or attending a four-year accredited
college or university in California pursuing a career in the agriculture industry is
encouraged to apply.
Each year, the Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors determine the award
amounts and the number of recipients depending on the funds available. A Collegiate membership is required to apply.
Application packets must be postmarked by March 1. To obtain a scholarship application, or to learn more, visit http://www.cfbf.com/scholarship. For more information, contact Darlene Licciardo at [email protected] or 916-561-5500.
Fresno-Kings County Cattlewomen’s Association Scholarship
The Fresno-Kings County Cattlewomen’s (FKCCW) Association is offering a
scholarship. Visit http://www.fkccw.com/ for more information and to download the
2015 scholarship application.
Charles P. Lake Rain for Rent Scholarship
Twenty scholarships in the amount of $1,500 will be awarded to students to help
them pursue a career in agriculture, engineering or construction management.
Scholarship applicants must have completed their freshman year at an approved
college/university and be currently enrolled for the next school year. Junior college
students who are registered as sophomores and fall within the requirements may apply.
Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 17, and must be submitted to
the Fresno County Farm Bureau, 1274 W. Hedges Ave., Fresno, 93728.
For more information about the scholarship, visit http://www.rainforrent.com/. To
obtain a scholarship application, please contact FCFB at 559-237-0263 or info@fcfb.
org.
Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship
The Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program awards California’s
most promising students with scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.
College students and graduating high school seniors who exhibit academic excellence, leadership potential, civic engagement and a strong sense of personal commitment to continuing education are eligible to apply. The deadline is March 5.
For more information, or to download the application, visit http://www.castatefair.
org/friends-fair/.
Fresno County 4-H Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to 4-H members and alumni. Visit
http://ucanr.edu/sites/4-H-Fresno/ for more information about Fresno County 4-H,
California 4-H or other scholarships.
The deadline to apply is Friday, April 10, at 5 p.m. Interviews will take place April
23.
2015 Legacy Scholarship
The Fresno FiberArts Guild is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving student
interested in fiber-related arts.
The FiberArts Guild Legacy Scholarship is extended to college-level students who
have demonstrated interest in the fiber arts. Eligible applicants include high school
graduates, college undergraduates and graduate students.
The application deadline is April 20. Contact the 4-H office at 559-241-7525 or
[email protected] for a copy of application.
Republican Women Scholarship
The Fresno County and City Republican Women Federation is offering two $500
scholarships to support women attending California State University, Fresno who are
majoring in math, engineering, or one of the natural sciences.
For more information, or to download the application, visit www.fresnorepublicanwomen.org. The deadline to apply is April 1.
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February 2015 • FCFB Agriculture Today • Page 9
Fowler and Simonian Fruit Co. host Blossom
Trail 2015 opening ceremonies
FCFB President Mark Sorensen speaks at the 2015
Blossom Trail opening ceremonies about the significant
economic contribution the fruit and nut orchards make
to the local and regional economy.
The 27th annual Blossom Trail opening ceremonies were
held on Feb. 6 in Fowler at Simonian Fruit Co.
The trail is a self-guided tour through eastern Fresno
County focusing on the springtime blooms of deciduous
tree fruit, nuts and citrus crops. The event is held annually on the first
Friday in February, prior to full bloom, to alert Fresno County Blossom Trail travelers that the blossoms will be here soon. At its peak
from late-February through early-April (weather permitting), the
Blossom Trail features a panorama of blooming stone fruit and nut
orchards and citrus groves set against the backdrop of the Sierras.
“Fresno County continues to be one of the nation’s leaders in food
and fiber production,” said FCFB President Mark Sorensen during
the opening ceremonies. “Unfortunately, in 2014, with the release of
the 2013 Crop Report, Fresno County lost the title of the ‘Number
One Agricultural County in the Nation.’ The county is now ranked
number three and its gross agriculture production is valued at 6.44
billion dollars, which represented a decrease of 2.3 percent from the
previous year and more than 6 percent from 2011, which was our
all-time high in the county. This loss can mostly be attributed to an
inadequate water supply.”
“We need all community residents to get involved in these water
issues, because these fruits and nuts mean diverse jobs for Valley residents, value-added products, and safe, wholesome food for consumers here and abroad,” continued Sorensen.
The Blossom Trail was created through the Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Fresno County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and Chamber offices in Fowler, Kingsburg,
Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger and Selma.
Several community events are planned during the blossom period,
including the Blossom Days Festival in Sanger that features the
Blossom Trail 10K run, which is a part of the Pro-Race Groups Valley Runner of the Year series; the Orange Cove Blossom Festival in
Orange Cove; and the Lions Club’s annual Blossom Trail Bike Ride
in Reedley.
For more information, visit www.goblossomtrail.com/, follow
https://twitter.com/GoBlossomTrail, or contact the Fresno County
Office of Tourism at: 559-600-4271 or email: [email protected].
ca.us.
9456
Page 10 • FCFB Agriculture Today • February 2015
Fresno Food Expo early bird special ends Feb. 21
registered buyers and a trade show.
Registration is currently open for
buyers and exhibitors. Exhibitors can
take advantage of early bird discounts,
valued at a 40 percent savings, until Feb.
21. Public ticket sales will launch in the
Spring.
More than 150 exhibitors and 750 key
pre-qualified international and domestic
buyers are expected to participate. To
register, or for additional information,
visit www.FresnoFoodExpo.com.
In 1947, the National FFA Board
of Directors designated the week of
George Washington’s birthday “FFA
Week” in recognition of his legacy as
an agriculturalist and farmer. The week
always runs from Saturday to Saturday and
encompasses Washington’s birthday, Feb.
22. It gives FFA members a
chance to educate the public
about agriculture.
Fresno County FFA Chapters
celebrate FFA Week, Feb. 21-28
The week provides the
opportunity for FFA members,
alumni and sponsors to advocate for
agricultural education and FFA.
PG&E Ag Forum is Feb. 19
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will host an educational agricultural
forum on Feb. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Jack Stone’s Barn, 20671 Lacey Blvd.,
Lemoore.
Topics will include ultra-efficient irrigation, soil mapping and irrigation scheduling,
as well as updates from PG&E on commitments to agriculture and new energy
efficiency opportunities.
Costumers from Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties are invited to attend.
To participate, RSVP by Feb.12 to 559-263-5575 or [email protected].
9327
8862
The 2015 Fresno
Food Expo will take
place July 22-23, 2015
with site tours for pre-
February 2015 • FCFB Agriculture Today • Page 11
First Kings River survey finds snowpack weak,
high Sierra precipitation lagging
Thanks to a few late fall storms, the Kings
River watershed’s snowpack is a little better
than it was a year ago but weeks of stubborn
dry weather over all of California along
with unusual mountain precipitation earlier
are currently pointing toward another bad
water supply year for Kings River users. It
is the fourth straight year of drought and has
deepened as a result of dry January conditions
that yielded only a few hundredths of an inch
of precipitation as the month was ending.
Kings River Watermaster Steve Haugen,
who manages the Kings River Water
Association, said all eight of the remote Sierra
Nevada courses that KRWA surveys above the
river’s South and Middle Forks had snow cover
when the Feb. 1 measurements were taken for
the California Cooperative Snow Survey. Last
year on Feb. 1, 2014, there was no snow at all
on five of the courses.
KRWA reported, however, that snowpack
water content upon which portions of Fresno,
Kings and Tulare counties will depend for lifegiving runoff later this spring is again far below
average. KRWA’s survey found the snowpack
containing an average of just 5.3 inches of
water, 20.5 percent of what is considered
normal when snow conditions typically reach
their maximum levels on April 1.
“That is much improved over last year when
on Feb. 1 our snowpack was just 4.1 percent of
average but it is way below where we should
be at this time of year,” Haugen said. In a
normal year, 65 percent of the peak April 1
average should already be on the ground, he
noted.
Haugen said that KRWA will be analyzing
the survey results along with the California
Department of Water Resources’ first 2015
runoff forecast when it is issued in about
a week to help the 28 Kings River water
user agencies understand how much of a
Kings supply they are likely to receive.
“Unfortunately, there was so little water
available last year that we have minimal
carryover supplies,” Haugen said. “What we
really need is for the weather to shift back into
a really wet pattern.”
make any sort of dent in drought conditions
because soils in the Sierra are critically dry
from the long drought. “There was very little
runoff from the November and December
storms because the rain and lower elevation
snow simply soaked in,” Haugen said.
All of this data is vital to Kings River water
users. Kings River’s water entitlements are
essentially determined by the river itself,
based upon each day’s calculated mean natural
flow (as it would have occurred at the foothill
community of Piedra if there were no dams).
A schedule shows how much water each of the
28 KRWA member units is entitled to receive
based on the daily natural flow. Low amounts
of prospective runoff because of a lack of
snow and rain translates into supply shortages.
Several Kings River units did not deliver water
to farms in 2014 because entitlements were too
low.
Another problem since the 2014-15 water
year began, Haugen said, has been a troubling
deficiency in precipitation at higher elevations.
Haugen noted that Fresno’s Feb. 1 precipitation
was 60 percent of average for the date while
Grant Grove and Balch Powerhouse in the
mountains stood at 47 percent.
Plus, mountain precipitation has varied
fairly dramatically between neighboring
areas. Within the Kings River’s North Fork
watershed, recent Pacific Gas and Electric
Company snow surveys show water content
readings that are less than 15 percent of the
April 1 average.
KRWA’s survey found the best snowpack
conditions were found yesterday at Mitchell
Meadow in Tulare County, at an elevation of
9,900 feet. The snow depth was 30 inches with
10.2 inches of water content, 31 percent of the
April 1 average.
KRWA will take two more rounds of survey
measurements, for the March 1 and April 1
snow surveys.
Source: Kings River Water Association press
release, Feb. 2, 2015
A great deal of precipitation is needed to
9324
CALL NOW!
9328
Page 12 • FCFB Agriculture Today • February 2015
Ag Crimes Report
Fresno County Sheriff’s Ag Task Force
The Ag Task Force
recently saw an increase in the theft of
agricultural trailers,
tractors, and similartype vehicles from
farms and ranches
throughout eastern
Fresno County. These
thefts were occurring
Sgt. Ryan
Hushaw
predominantly east of
the Highway 99 corridor, from the Fresno
city limits to as far south as the Kingsburg area.
By utilizing crime mapping and
various crime analysis tools available
to our agency, we were able to pinpoint
those areas in the county most heavily
affected by these thefts. Our detectives
began diligently working to come up
with possible suspect leads and in a
short time we identified a subject we
believed to be related. This particular
subject was no stranger to our office.
He had been arrested years ago for
essentially the same crimes and had
done some jail time as a result. As most
creatures of habit, it didn’t take long
after being released from jail for him
to get hooked on drugs once again and
return to his old ways.
Our detectives learned this particular
subject was attempting to sell one of
the stolen tractors via Craigslist. He
listed the advertisement on the Merced
Craigslist page, rather than the Fresno
page, possibly fearing the victim or law
enforcement would check the website.
The detective was contacted by the
potential buyer about the matter. They
requested the potential buyer proceed
with setting up the meeting to purchase the tractor, but to avoid mentioning that he had any contact with
law enforcement. The detectives would
then respond to the area to investigate
further. The meeting was set and sure
enough, the suspect the detectives
thought was responsible showed up to
make the sale.
musson
Continued from Page 6
accepted a commercial banking position
in Fresno. Greg joined GAR in 1985;
his financial and banking background
As detectives attempted to pull over
his vehicle, the pursuit was on. After
following him through surface streets,
the suspect’s vehicle eventually became disabled and rolled to a stop. He
surrendered and was arrested without
incident. The stolen tractor and another
stolen trailer were eventually found
stashed along a nearby canal bank.
This case is an example of good
detective work both on the part of the
Ag Task Force detectives, as well as the
concerned citizen who initially thought
the online activity was suspicious. The
suspect was attempting to sell the tractor for much less than the market value,
which is what initially raised suspicion
with the potential buyer.
By law enforcement and the public working together, we were able to
catch a prolific Ag thief who is now
sitting behind bars facing multiple
felony charges. I am happy to report
these types of thefts have dramatically
decreased since his arrest.
Additionally, several detectives and
I recently attended the first-quarter
meeting for California Rural Crime
Prevention Task Force, held on the
Central Coast. The task force meets
quarterly and meetings are designed to
function as an information sharing and
networking forum, as well as to discuss crime trends throughout the state.
Multiple agencies participate in these
meetings from as far north as Tehema
County to as far south as San Bernadino County. We are active members
and believe the task force benefits those
who have a stake hold in the agricultural and farming industries.
As a reminder, we are always happy
to help or answer any questions you
may have. Our office number is 559600-8150 and our unit email address is
[email protected].
helped to shape the company’s growth
and transition GAR to the next generation. Today, GAR is operated by the
second and third generation of family
members and Greg serves as the company’s president.
Farm Bureau is a great organization and
hopes to help influence it by being more
proactive in promoting the importance
of agriculture.
Karen spends the majority of her
time overseeing the Gar and Esther
Tootelian Charitable Foundation’s
philanthropy and representing GAR’s
interests on many agricultural and nonprofit organizations. “I try to encourage
and cultivate as much as possible – it’s
always a growing thing. For me, it’s
about cultivating relationships. I believe
it’s important to promote a positive
image of agriculture, educate consumers
and nurture future leaders and farmers.”
Karen can be heard daily promoting agricultural awareness on GAR’s
company sponsored commercials that
are aired on KMJ 580/105.9 radio.
Paying it forward
GAR is a member of numerous
professional and agricultural organizations, said Musson. She explained that
the Farm Bureau is what comes to mind
when you think of an agricultural organization. The family has been a Farm
Bureau member for a long time.
“It seems like a no brainer,” said
Musson. “No organization represents
agriculture better than the Farm Bureau. I look forward to being a Board
member because I see a lot of opportunity,” Musson continued. She believes
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¾¾By Sgt. Ryan Hushaw
February 2015 • FCFB Agriculture Today • Page 13
Now Hiring
The Jordan College of Agricultural
Sciences and Technology ( JCAST) at
California State University, Fresno is
seeking a farm manager.
The farm manager serves in a fulltime, 12-month management position
and reports directly to the JCAST
Dean. The successful candidate will
work with department chairs, staff,
faculty and enterprise managers to
coordinate daily operations of the
University Agricultural Lab.
Salary is competitive and negotiable, depending on the strength of
qualifications.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 27.
Visit http://jobs.csufresno.edu for
more information and to apply.
Director of Regulatory
Affairs, Fresno
The California Cotton Ginners and
Growers Associations (CCGGA) and
the Western Agricultural Processors
Association (WAPA) are seeking a
director of regulatory affairs.
CCGGA are voluntary agricultural
trade associations that represent 100
percent of all cotton ginners and
growers in the state. The associations
represent members on a variety of
issues at both the state and federal
levels. Visit http://www.ccgga.org/
for more information. WAPA was
formed to answer the industry’s call
for representation and expertise in
critical compliance areas. For more
information, visit http://www.agprocessors.org/.
For more information, email roger@
ccgga.org or call 559-269-7730.
hiring…Continued on Page15
Fresno County Farm Bureau works with many partners to help make this county one of the leaders in agriculture production. Here’s what’s happening:
Drought Emergency and
Education Preparedness
workshop
A free drought emergency and education preparedness workshop will be
held March 2, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the Ramada Inn, 324 E. Shaw Ave.,
Fresno.
Topics will include record keeping for the USDA Noninsurance
Assistance Program (NAP), how to
develop a conservation management
plan, reduce water runoff, the Fresno
microloan fund, cost effective irrigation
management and more.
Participants are eligible for pesticide
CE hours. Breakfast and lunch will be
provided. Additionally, Hmong staff
will be on site to provide translations.
For more information, contact Jensen
Vang at 559-263-1583 or jensen.vang@
fresnoeoc.org.
Online developers and farmers
invited to ‘Apps for Ag’
hackathon
“Apps for Ag” – a unique competitive
hackathon partnering young farmers
and mobile application developers to
create free, open-source apps for growers – will be held by the California AgTech Roundtable on Feb. 20-22 at the
West Hills College Coalinga (WHCC)
Farm of the Future, 518 W. Gale Ave.,
Coalinga.
9282
California Department of Food and
Agriculture (CDFA) Chief Information Officer Robert Schmidt and a
leading online ag tech commentator, as
recognized by Twitter, will deliver keynote remarks with the theme: Digital
Innovation On the Farm.
To register, or for more information,
visit http://www.apps-for-ag.com.
Washington Union FFA Dinner
Fundraiser
Washington Union FFA will hold
its annual dinner fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the C.P.D.E.S. Hall in
Easton.
The steak dinner will be followed by
a live auction, silent auction and raffle.
Tickets are $25 each. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
For more information, contact John
Wright at 559-485-8805 x512 or by
email at [email protected].
BlueTechValley Water Summit
is March 5
The BlueTechValley Water Summit
will be held March 5, from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m., at the Clovis Veteran’s Memorial
District, 808 4th St., Clovis.
The summit will bring together some
of the brightest and current industry
leaders, technologists, educators, innovators, investors and entrepreneurs in
the water and energy spheres to explore
water in the Central Valley.
The conference will host farmer,
historian and author, Victor Davis
Hanson, as well as Delta Water Master, Michael George. Additionally, the
conference will feature panel sessions
with leading fresh produce growers,
processors, industry and municipalities.
For more information, contact Selina
Pichardo at 559-278-4540 or Selina@
cvbi.org. To register, visit www.btvwatersummit.com.
Agriculture study tour to Chile
An eight-day agriculture study tour
to Chile is being arranged by Fred
Smith, OSU professor emeritus, and
Don McMoran, with the WSU Extension Service, through the company
Anglatin.
Participants will learn about potato,
fruit and livestock production, processing and marketing. The tour will take
place from March 22 to March 29.
For more information, contact Fred
at [email protected].
8798
Farm Manager, Fresno
Page 14 • FCFB Agriculture Today • February 2015
Opportunities exist to serve on Fresno County boards and commissions
New opportunities come with the New Year for public
service openings with the County of Fresno.
Several boards and commissions have openings in
a wide range of topical areas, many representing rural
communities, appointed by the Fresno County Board of
Supervisors. The purpose of these boards and commissions
is to assist the Supervisors by serving as advisors about
issues affecting their constituencies.
A list of the various boards and commissions is included
below. If interested in serving on one of the boards or
Boards and Commissions online, visit: http://www2.
commissions, please submit an application. The short
co.fresno.ca.us/0110a/BCC/.
application is available online at: http://www2.
Key
co.fresno.ca.us/0110a/docs/bosapp.pdf. Some of
County Board District Numbers:
the positions may require additional information 1 - Supervisor Brian Pacheco
AL - At-Large is any resident who
resides in Fresno County
and requirements.
2 - Supervisor Andreas Borgeas
For more detailed information contact the
Clerk of the Board at 559-488-3529. To view
more information about the County of Fresno
3 - Supervisor Henry Perea
4 - Supervisor Buddy Mendes
5 - Supervisor Debbie Poochigian
BOS - Board of Supervisors
Chair - Chair of the Board of
Supervisors
Fresno County Board of Supervisor’s boards and commissions current vacant positions
Board/Commission
District
Alcohol & Drug Advisory Board 1, 3, 4 & 5
Assessment Appeals Board
1
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies AL
Auberry Volunteer Fire & Emergency Services
Advisory Committee 5
Central Valley Pest Control District
4 or 5
Child Care & Development Local Planning
Council 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Children & Families Commission Westside,
Eastside of
99
Citizens Review Panel (Library Sales Tax)
1, 3, 4 & AL
Civil Service Commission 1, 3 & 4
Clovis Cemetery District 2, 3 & 5
Coalinga-Huron Cemetery District 4
Coalinga-Huron Mosquito Abatement District
1&4
Deferred Compensation Management Council AL
Emergency Medical Care Committee 1, 3, 4 & AL
Foster Care Standards & Oversight Committee 1, 2 & 4
Board/Commission
District
Fresno Arts Council AL
Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission AL
Fresno Mosquito & Vector Control District AL
Fresno Westside Mosquito Abatemento District
1&4
Historical Landmarks & Records Commission 1 & CN
Historical Parks Advisory CommitteeAL
Housing Authority of Fresno County 5 & AL
Housing & Community Development Citizens
Advisory Committee
1, 3, 4 & 5
Human Resources Advisory Board 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
In-Home Supportive Services Advisory
Committee
1, 2, 4 & AL
Integrated Waste Management Plan Task Force AL
James Resource Conservation District AL
Mental Health Board
2, 3, 4 & 5
National Guard Commission 1, 3 & 4
Parlier Cemetery District 4
Planning Commission 1 &4
Recreation & Wildlife Commission 1, 3, 4 & 5
Fresno County Farm
Bureau Members
Board/Commission
District
Retirement Board AL
Riverdale Public Utility District AL
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution
Control District (Citizens Advisory Committee)AL
Sequoia Area VIII Developmental Disabilities
Board AL
Sierra Kings Health Care District AL
Sierra Resource Conservation District AL
Solid Waste Appeals Board AL
Squaw Valley Cemetery District 5
Treasury Oversight CommitteeAL
Washington Colony Cemetery District 1&4
Water Advisory Committee
1, 3, 4 & 5
Water Quality Improvement Joint Powers
Agency For Dos Palos Area
1
Westside Resource Conservation District AL
Workforce Investment Board
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
& AL
Zoo Authority
1 & Chair
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president
Continued from Page 2
•
•
intensive program where
participants acquire knowledge
about a broad spectrum of issues
affecting the region. To date,
more than 100 individuals have
participated in the program over
the last 11 years.
Farm & Nutrition Day – Now in
its 10th year, Farm & Nutrition
Day introduces more than
3,500 third-grade students from
throughout Fresno County to
over 60 presenters, creating
an educational opportunity
that highlights the importance
of good health and nutrition
habits, as well as the value of
agriculture in the San Joaquin
Valley.
“Valley’s Gold” – Now filming
its third season, FCFB partners
with ValleyPBS to produce a
weekly television series that
highlights the significance of
Valley agriculture and takes
consumers behind the scenes on
February 2015 • FCFB Agriculture Today • Page 15
•
•
•
how their food is produced.
Educational forums and
trainings – the organization
provides educational
opportunities for the
community-at-large by
hosting forums on issues
related to agriculture and
water. Throughout the year,
FCFB also provides industry
training opportunities to
members on topics such as
heat illness prevention, harvest
safety, tractor safety and other
compliance related subjects.
Presentations and tours –
FCFB provides educational
presentations to visiting
tour groups from throughout
the nation and world. The
organization also facilitates
educational tours for local
groups.
Ag in the Classroom – through
the California Farm Bureau
Federation, FCFB supports
California Foundation for
Agriculture in the Classroom,
Agriculture
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Executive Assistant,
Fresno
The Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County is seeking
an executive assistant.
The selected candidate will be responsible for supporting and enhancing
the effectiveness and efficiency of the
CEO in a one-on-one working relationship. The individual will provide
executive support and serve as the
primary point of contact for internal
and external stakeholders on all matters
pertaining to the CEO.
Salary will commensurate with
experience. For more information
and to apply, visit http://origin.library.
constantcontact.com/download/get/
file/1105140942635-477/Executive+As
sistant+Job+Description.pdf.
Know of an agricultural job opportunity that
should be included? Email it to [email protected]
to be considered for the next issue.
RON BEVERS
West Coast
Product Sales Manager
at your
Service
Call Today 559-594-5500
Hiring
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which is dedicated to helping
students and teachers across the
state gain an understanding of
how agriculture provides to our
daily lives.
All this talk of educating others reminds me of a quote I once
heard by John Locke, which says,
“No man’s knowledge here can go
beyond his experience.” Through our
experiences, we gain knowledge. This
knowledge leads us to tell others
about what we know and have experienced so that they may be able to
see it in a different perspective. This
gives a great opportunity to share
about the importance of farming and
the role that it plays in our nation
and around the world.
I encourage each of you to educate
others through your experiences. We
are fortunate to live in such a fertile
Valley where we can grow over 400
crops. There’s no place on earth like
it.
[email protected]
Mobile: 559.381.3510
Synagro - South Kern Industrial Complex
P.O. Box 265 • Taft, CA 93268
IRRIGATING THE VALLEY SINCE
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DESIGN THROUGH INSTALLATION
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Page 16 • FCFB Agriculture Today • February 2015
Let’s Talk
Blossom
Trail, ACP and
Trapping
¾¾By Les Wright
Fresno County Ag Commissioner/
Sealer of Weights and Measures
The Blossom Trail
There is an old saying that “time
waits for no man.” It is hard to believe
that it is already February; and you
know what that means- the Blossom
Trail is open for viewing. The colorful blooms signal the start of another
fruit year for the many orchards in the
County.
This annual event brings curious
tourists to our beautiful Valley, which
Ag Commissioner’s Corner
provides another
chance to brag about
Fresno County to the
world. Last year, after
the opening ceremony, I
observed three busloads
of tourists eating lunch
at a local cafe. The ecoLes Wright
nomic uptick that these
tourists bring surely warms the foggy
days of January.
Asian Citrus Psyllid
There was a detection of three Asian
Citrus Psyllids (ACP) in a residential
trap between Dinuba and Deft Colony
in Tulare County. This detection along
Avenue 400 (or Conejo Avenue)
pushes the current Fresno County
quarantine area west towards Kingsburg and incorporates more of the city
of Reedley. Movement of citrus plant
material is restricted from these areas.
Research into developing best management control measures for ACP
continues with funding provided by the
citrus industry and USDA.
I was recently contacted by Carrie
Teiken, who is one of many researchers trying to understand ACP for our
industry. She is in need of grower
volunteers to send her information for
her research project and conveyed the
following to me: The McRoberts lab at
the University of California-Davis is
developing an ACP biological model
that will help growers determine the
optimal ACP intervention points and
help time pesticide applications, accordingly.
In order to build an accurate model,
she needs more data on citrus flush
periods; and is hoping that growers will
help by filling out a survey that records
the dates:
• When the first flush is observed
(around March);
•
When the flush ends (around
May); and
•
Any management practices that
are performed over the period of
March-May.
If a grower is interested in participating, contact Carrie Teiken at [email protected] with questions. Any
and all cooperation and participation
with this important project is appreciated.
Trapping Programs
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and
European Grape Vine Moth (EGVM)
trapping programs will begin this
month. Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
traps will go out and treatment of sites
from detections last fall will begin. The
traps for the EGVM will begin to be
deployed in vineyards throughout the
county.
Helping you maximize growth
potential on your farm
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