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Merced County
Farm News

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www.mercedfarmbureau.org
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
VOL. 95 NO. 9
Merced County Farm Bureau Endorses Vern Warnke
for Sheriff
During the August Merced
County Farm Bureau Board of
Directors meeting, the Board voted
to endorse Vern Warnke for the
Merced County Sheriff.
Vern Warnke, a Hilmar native, is
a 35 year veteran with the Mer-
ced County Sheriffs Office who
has worked in every branch of the
Sheriffs department, retiring as a
Senior Sergeant. He provides a key
understanding and has a proven
track record of building relations-
hips with members in the rural
communities. After retiring, Vern
returned to the department and
Groundwater Bills Will Cause Harm,
Farm Leader Says
Passage of three groundwater-
regulation bills by the California
LegislatureAssembly Bill 1739
and Senate Bills 1168 and 1319
threatens a number of negative
consequences for family farmers,
ranchers and other landowners,
according to the California Farm
Bureau Federation.
CFBF President Paul Wenger
said Farm Bureau has always
encouraged the proper manage-
ment of groundwater, but doing
that job efficiently and effectively
should have been a priority.
Instead, Wenger said, the
Legislature took the ready, fire,
aim approach, rushing these bills
through and creating a massive
new regulatory program in the fi-
nal days of the legislative session.
Farmers, ranchers and other lan-
downers in California will be left
to pick up the pieces, Wenger said,
dealing with the consequences of
the legislation for years to come.
The bills would allow for
groundwater to be monopolized
SEE BILLS ON PAGE 12
is currently serving as a Reserve
Deputy.
Upon learning of the endorse-
ment, Vern had this to say, I am
honored to have the endorsement
of the Merced County Farm Bu-
reau. I have worked with our
ag community for 35 years as a
member of our Sheriffs Depart-
ment, ensuring the safety of our ag
community that has given so much
to Merced County. As Sheriff, I
look forward to working with the
Farm Bureau in order to deter rural
crime, ag theft and to keep our
countryside free of the crime that
we see plague far too many of our
neighboring counties.
President Bob Giampaoli Our
board has been extremely impres-
sed with the quality of sheriffs
candidates campaigning for the
seat. Ultimately, we decided to
endorse Vern because we believe
he will look out for the best inte-
rest of the entire community and
Merced Countys leading industry
to address the multitude of issues
we face today.
The Merced County Farm Bu-
reau has been working since 1917
to protect family farms and ran-
ches on behalf of more than 1,400
members countywide.
FARM2U is Quickly Approaching: Volunteers Needed
Merced County Farm Bureau is
hosting the 3rd Annual FARM2U
Day on October 9th, 2014 at the
Merced Fairgrounds. The focus
of this event is to teach Merced
County third graders the impact
of agriculture in their daily lives
along with the importance of
healthy eating. Last years event
played host to 3,500 students,
teachers and parents where they
gained valuable information from
a host of agricultural sectors.
Presentations are broken down
into four categories: livestock,
plants, processing, and health/
nutrition. Classes will be set to
tracks in which they will see seven
presentations lasting 8 minutes in
length. Students then rotate into a
free area where they can listen to
presentations they missed during
their tracks. For example, a class
may have heard a presentation on
lambs during their livestock seg-
ment; however they would have
also liked to hear something from
the dairy industry. There will be
a dairy animal in our free area gi-
ving the students that opportunity.
Without the support of presen-
ters and volunteers, this day would
not be possible or have the ability
to accommodate the number of
students. We are still looking for
volunteers. Volunteers are asked to
lead classes through the two hour
event and should be at the fair-
grounds no later than 7:30-7:45am.
If you would like more informa-
tion, please contact Breanne at the
MCFB office at (209) 723-3001 or
bramos@mercedfarmbureau.org.
MERCED COUNTY FARM NEWS
Merced County Farm News (USPS 339-500) is published monthly by Merced County Farm Bureau, 646 S, Hwy 59, Merced CA 95340, (209) 723-3001, FAX
(209) 722-3814. E-mail: bramos@mercedfarmbureau.org. Entered as Second Class matter, Jan. 20, 1948 at the US Post Office in Merced, CA. Subscription is
included in membership. Singles issues are 50 cents. Merced County Farm News is printed by Mattos Newspapers Incorporated, 1021 Fresno Street, Newman,
CA 95360, (209) 862-2222 . POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Merced County Farm Bureau, P.O. Box 1232, Merced, CA 95341; telephone (209)
723-3001; FAX (209) 722-3814. Merced County Farm Bureau does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products advertised in Merced
County Farm News, nor does Farm Bureau assume responsibility for statements or expressions of opinion other than in editorials or in articles showing authorship
by an officer, director or employee of the Merced County Farm Bureau or its affiliates.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014, PAGE 2
Amanda Carvajal
Executive Director
Amandas
Almanac
Andiamo!
Bob Giampaoli
President
We are on Chapter 2 of the
California Drought, and Ground-
water management is the topic.
Our state government is moving
forward with legislation to control
groundwater pumping and re-
charge efforts. What should never
be forgotten is the main reasons
we are in this mess today is becau-
se politics, the poor management
of surface water and inability to
increase surface water supplies has
lead to what some would say is
necessary regulation.
This legislation which is sitting
on Governor Browns desk right
now would move towards cate-
gorizing groundwater basins by
2017. Merced County will more
than likely be classified as a high
priority which will be managed
by the toughest standards. Local
agencies will be given the oppor-
tunity to manage and show that
we can implement a sustainable
groundwater management plan
within the basins/county bounda-
ries. There is a big area of our
county that falls outside of any
water agencys territory and so it is
yet to be determined who will take
the lead in Merced County. The
legislation does make it possible
for more than one agency to work
together to manage the basin. At
present our Board of Supervisors
is working with the various water
agencies to try and stay ahead of
the curve.
So once we have our ground-
water sustainability agency the
hope is that implementation would
begin by January 2020. Sustaina-
bility means that everyone would
become accountable to replace/re-
charge back into the groundwater
aquifer that they pumped out. Ne-
edless to say the environmentalists
are already getting their ducks in a
row for that fight.
Merced as a County is working
diligently to prepare an emergency
ordinance to address groundwater
mining and exporting. During
these difficult times you often will
hear people say, We need to save
farmers from themselves. With
high commodity prices for most
crops in 2013/2014 and a simulta-
neous drought, we are seeing far-
mers do things that would not have
been thought of a few years ago.
Im sure there is more going on
than has ever come to light. I en-
courage everyone to stay on their
supervisors to pass the emergency
ordinance so that they can review
each situation and give farmers the
opportunity to police themselves.
This 2 year only emergency action
needs to be approved by our board
of supervisors ASAP!
Merced County has a rich histo-
ry of long time families whos an-
cestors have left a lasting impres-
sion on our community. Although
I am a Merced native from birth,
my parents and ancestors did not
originate in the valley nor Califor-
nia at all. My grandparents either
immigrated here from Costa Rica,
or migrated from other states for
various reasons, establishing them-
selves with their young families in
the old time of the east bay outside
of San Francisco. No roads are na-
med after my family, nor do I have
any cool stories of them getting
in trouble in the backwoods of the
community.
Although my upbringing was
vastly different then most of the
members I represent, I recognize
that outsiders like my family, the
Carvajal Jr. four can have a great
impact on a community. I have a
great appreciation for families who
were brought to Merced for vari-
ous reasons and who try to assimi-
late to our way of life, while also
aiming to be engaged and inspired
because that is the foundation of
a community, engaged individu-
als. As an adult in my hometown
and working on various levels of
politics, I recognize that we exist
in a time of people who are either
unwilling or unable to participate
as much as previous generations.
I am still thrilled and humbled by
those, like my Directors who are
willing to volunteer their time to
listen to me pander on about issues
and engage in thoughtful discus-
sion when it is way past their bed-
time during our 7pm meetings. I
am also truly bummed when those
directors retire or worse, leave the
area for the greener pastures of
life.
Recently most of the dairy in-
dustry was surprised to learn that
past MCFB President Peter Koch
and family had decided to sell their
prized calving ranch and move
back to Oregon. Peter and Rochel-
le moved to Merced (Amsterdam)
as a young married couple, looking
for a new home with less rain then
Oregon and an ample supply of
dairy families to work with. Com-
pliments to their hard work and de-
dication, the Kochs little door to
door operation from the early 80s
turned in to a widely respected and
heralded operation within the dairy
world.
In time they realized, Califor-
nia had a wealth of issues and
farmers and ranchers were not
doing enough to protect themsel-
ves. In their spare time, Peter and
Rochelle got involved with the
community in advocating to protect
and preserve agriculture through
various organizations. In 2008-
2010 Peter was appointed President
SEE ALMANAC ON PAGE 15
MERCED COUNTY FARM NEWS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014, PAGE 3
Merced County Farm Bureau Board of Directors
Mariposa County Farm Bureau
Board of Directors DISTRICT 6
GALEN MIYAMOTO 761-5366
BILL THOMPSON 394-1420
DISTRICT 7
WIEBREN JONKMAN 564-0870
GINO PEDRETTI III 756-1612
DISTRICT 8
DAVID BARROSO 652-6437
JEFF MARCHINI 389-4652
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE
JIMMY BURROUGHS 874-2507
DAN DEWEES 658-4343
ERIC HARCKSEN 620-1953
PETER KOCH 725-8253
TIM LOHMAN 988-3545
STACEY MACHADO 564-8361
BENINA MONTES 678-5968
CFBF DIRECTOR DISTRICT 9
TONY TOSO, MARIPOSA
STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AMANDA CARVAJAL
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
LORRAINE PASSADORI
EDITOR, THE FARM NEWS
BREANNE RAMOS
CFBF FIELD REPRESENTATIVE, REGION II
ANDREW GENASCI
ANNETTE LURA
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
PRESIDENT
BOB GIAMPAOLI 389-4614
1
ST
VICE PRESIDENT
DAN ROYER 769-1730
2
ND
VICE PRESIDENT
JOE SCOTO 761-0489
SECRETARY/TREASURER
BILL ARNOLD 358-2138
PAST PRESIDENT
JEAN OKUYE 394-2421
DISTRICT 1
SILAS ROSSOW 617-7701
BOB VANDENBERG 704-5568
DISTRICT 2
JOE MAIORINO 392-3716
ALFRED NUNES 652-7649
DISTRICT 3
PAT BORRELLI 854-2259
MIKE MARTIN 854-6870
DISTRICT 4
JOE ENOS 606-6132
LOUIE BANDONI 722-1386
DISTRICT 5
RUSSELL DUTRA 632-2790
JOHN VAN RULER 632-7309
Calendar of Events
Merced County Farm Bureau is an independent, non-governmental, grassroots organization that advocates for the men and women who provide food, fiber, and
nursery products for our community, state, and nation.
Merced County Farm Bureau exists for the purpose of improving the ability of individuals engaged in production agriculture to utilize California resources to produce
food and fiber in the most profitable, efficient and responsible manner possible, guaranteeing our nation a domestic food supply.
Merced County Farm Bureau supports policies and legislation that promote and protect our Countrys number one industry - agriculture for future generations and the
security of our nation.
Merced County Farm Bureaus Mission Statement
PRESIDENT
DENNIS BUNNING 966-3426
1
ST
VICE PRESIDENT
NORENE BORBA 628-5186
2
ND
VICE PRESIDENT
TONY TOSO 376-3470
CORP. SECRETARY/TREASURER
ELNORA GEORGE 376-2419
DIRECTORS
RICK ADAMS 374-3482
CLARENCE BORBA 559-283-6950
ABEL LOPEZ 376-2208
AMANDA MARTIN 559-665-3056
TOMMY MARTIN 559-665-3056
WALT PALMER, JR. 374-3470
CATHIE PIERCE 374-3448
ROBBIE SOUZA 966- 4479
October
September
2014 California Farm Bureau
Photo Contest
Enter our 2014 Photo Contest
for a chance to win a $500 Grand Prize!
Details, entry forms or to enter online:
www.cfbf.com/photocontest.
You can also view prize-winning photos from
previous years.
Online entries accepted.
Must be high-resolution. See rules online for details.
Upload
Photos must highlight California agriculture.
Prizes awarded in ve categories:
Rural Scenic
Fresh and Local
Kids and Critters on the Farm
All in a Days Work on the Farm
Budding Artists (for ages 13 and younger)
Entries must be
postmarked or entered
online by Sept. 30.
Any amateur photographer
who is a member of a
county Farm Bureau in
California or a contributing
member of the California
Bountiful Foundation.
Join today at
www.cfbf.com/join
Who can enter?
Dont have online access?
Well send you contest rules
and entry forms. Just call
916-561-5550.
Not a member?
17: Cotton Harvest Safety Training
18: Truck & Bus Regulation Conference (Fresno)
19: Northern California Farm to School Conference
19-21: Sweet Potato Festival (Livingston)
20: Merced Certifed Farmers Market
20: Los Banos Farmers Market
21: Atwater Village Farmers Market
25: Board of Directors Meeting
27: Merced/Golden Valley/El Capitan FFA Booster
Dinner (page 20)
27: Central Valley Farmland Trust 10th Anniversary
Celebration
4: Los Banos Tomato Festival
7: UCCE Courses (page 8)
7: CWA Donor Dinner
9: FARM2U Day
11: Mariposa Farm Bureau Annual Dinner (page 20)
16-18: California Ag in the Classroom Conference
(Santa Cruz)
17: Merced College Pumpkin Sale (page 8)
19: MMCA Playday (page 17)
23: Board of Directors Meeting
Water, Water and More Water
By Tony Toso, CFBF District #9 Director and 2nd Vice President
of Mariposa County FB
For All Your Ag
Lending Needs,
Stop By One of
Our Convenient
Branch Locations,
or Give Us A Call:
MODESTO
209-527-1900
TURLOCK
209-668-3522
MERCED
209-383-1116
PATTERSON
209-892-6136
LOS BANOS
209-827-3885
OAKDALE
209-847-7021
HELPING OUR
MEMBERS PROSPER
SINCE 1916!
YFCGeneral ad 4.915x6.57:Layout 1 1/13/10 6:31 AM Page 1

I guess you would have to be
pretty far beneath a rock these days
to be unaware of the drought condi-
tions affecting most of California.
Hundreds of thousands of acres
of our best farm land is teetering
on the brink of something close to
extinction and cooler heads must
prevail in how we handle this chal-
lenge of a lifetime.
These days it is very disconcer-
ting to see the stress and finger
pointing that this contentious bib-
lical proportion drought situation
has brought forth. It is incumbent
that we maintain the high road
and work toward solutions that are
well thought out. Right now as we
struggle to find the answers to too
many years of worrying about fish
instead of people, the chickens ap-
pear to have come home to roost.
While the environmental movement
may have had good intensions,
they seem to find it pretty easy to
point fingers at agriculture, instead
of look in the mirror. Moreover,
I find it annoying that some of
these people religiously like to
lay responsibility for these types
of woes, at the feet of agriculture
almost mindlessly espousing that
we are the biggest users, or abusers,
of water in California. Yes it is no
secret that agriculture uses water
and plenty of it, but wouldnt logic
suggest that producing food and
fiber for the benefit of the world
is a beneficial use to all? I would
hope so and I guess I am just not
sure what they really want from this
sort of self-defeating argument. I
would say that if you want to com-
plain about the high cost of food,
you might want to consider the
avalanche of regulation brought to
the doorstep of agricultural by the
voting public, in the emotional sprit
of good intentions. Cause and effect
people, just saying!
Agriculture has made great stri-
des to conserve and diligently apply
technology to make better use of
our water resources and farming in
general. And while we are targets
of vilification as all being large,
powerful, corporate farmers (lau-
ghable) that use too much water, I
find it interesting that we hear very
little about the environmentalists
use of water. I did a cursory check
in regard to the use of water for
environmental purposes by visiting
the Public Policy Institute of Ca-
lifornia website which states Our
mission is to inform and improve
public policy in California through
independent, objective, nonpartisan
research on major social, econo-
mic, and political issues. With
that I searched water use in Cali-
fornia and while the whole article
sheds light on, and spreads the pain
around to all sectors of our popu-
lation (agriculture included), the
leading bullet point is very telling:
Water in California is shared
across three main sectors. State-
wide, average water use is roughly
50% environmental, 40% agricul-
tural and 10% urban. However, the
percentage of water use by sector
varies dramatically across regions
and between wet and dry years.
Some of the water used by each of
these sectors returns to rivers and
groundwater basins, and can be
used again.
1

So in this time of severe drought
conditions, and where the tough
need to get going, l am thinking
California agriculture needs to keep
their nose to the grindstone and
keep on producing and improving
like we have always done, with
our eye on making better our water
situation. Leave the finger pointing
to those with nothing better to do.
They have no capacity to contrast
their theoretical world of perfection
with that of the real anyway.
To help improve the dire situation
that we are in, I would say that the
water bond which will be Propositi-
on 1 ($7.1 billion dollar new mo-
ney total water bond package) on
this Novembers ballot isnt every-
thing agriculture has dreamt of, but
it appears to be a good start. The
goal was to procure $3 billion in
annually appropriated water storage
improvement. There are a lot of
so called experts out there that can
figure why which number is right
or wrong, but at the end of the day,
I would say being at $2.7 billion or
90% of your goal is a good days
work. The bond, while I certainly
dont know all of its intricacies,
appears to hold something for all
Californians and should be a good
way to help agriculture build upon
existing and hopefully new surface
water storage, which is something
we have not experienced in close to
30 years. Overall, the Farm Bureau
staff and officers working for us
in Sacramento did a good job to
keep their eye on the ball and get a
water bond that can be a benefit to
agriculture and in turn will benefit
California and our world.
Also, dont forget the Mariposa
County Farm Bureau Annual Din-
ner. This years event will take
place on October 11, 2014 at the
Mariposa County Fairgrounds and
we are honoring long-time supervi-
sor Janet Bibby as she will not be
seeking re-election this year. Please
join us for another great rib-eye
steak dinner with our live auction
and new raffle auction featuring a
Savage Axis 223 bolt action rifle
and a Charter Arms Pink Lady .38
Special Revolver that are from Sta-
SEE TOSO ON PAGE 14
$2.10
Merced County Farm Bureau Endorses
Daron McDaniel for District 3 Merced
County Supervisor
At the August Merced County
Farm Bureau Board of Directors
meeting the Board voted to endorse
Daron McDaniel for the Merced
County Board of Supervisors Di-
strict 3 seat.
Daron McDaniel is at long-time
Atwater resident, successful busi-
nessman and regional representa-
tive for Congressman Jeff Denham.
He has been intimately involved
in numerous projects throughout
the county and the region that have
allowed him to build strong relati-
onships with rural communities and
to better understand the hardships
faced at the local level by all busi-
nesses.
The Supervisors seat is one of
the most important elected posi-
tions in the County, said MCFB
President Bob Giampaoli, each de-
cision made by the Supervisors im-
pacts how agriculture does business
on a daily basis. We decided to
endorse Daron because we felt he
would do the best job of protecting
and advocating for agriculture.
Upon learning of the endorse-
ment, McDaniel had this to say,
Im honored to have the support of
the Merced County Farm Bureau.
Our countys economy depends on
the jobs created and sustained by a
vibrant ag community.
The Merced County Farm Bureau
has been working since 1917 to
protect family farms and ranches on
behalf of more than 1,400 members
countywide.
DPR report sets record straight on pesticide safety
By Cary Blake, Western Farm Press
Sept. 2 was a great day for
California agriculture and a major
migraine headache producer for the
anti-pesticide crowd.
The California Department of
Pesticide Regulation (DPR) an-
nounced that once again that the
vast majority of produce the public
agency tested in 2013 had little or
no detectable pesticide residues
andposed no health risks to the
public.
Lets relish those last seven
words posed no health risks to
the public magic words in farm
speak.
And to quote DPR further, the re-
port says 95 percent of all Califor-
nia-grown produce tested by DPR
was in compliance, pesticide wise,
within allowable limits.
And just as it seems it couldnt
get any better this quote from DPR
Director Brian Leahy.
This is a vivid example that
California fresh produce is among
the safest in the world, Director
Leahy said.
Thank you, Mr. Leahy, for set-
ting the record straight on pesticide
safety in food production.
California farmers, pest control
advisors, and pesticide representati-
ves - savor this sweet moment.
This report is a shot to the gut of
the bull shootin (BS) doomsday
fear mongering crowd which claims
pesticides used in food production
are killing us.
This report comes from a very
reputable public source (not Bobs
Farm & Garden Shop) charged with
finding the truth about pesticides
and their impact. This is a major
public agency charged with keeping
our food supply safe. DPR uses
state-of-the-art equipment to gain
accurate pesticide findings.
If pesticides were harmful, DPRs
report would thrust a sword into
agricultures jugular vein.
Of the produce sampled last year,
DPR says 51 percent of the produce
tested had zero residue, and about
43 percent contained residues wi-
thin legal tolerance. This said, the
bar for legal tolerance is set pretty
high.
Yet as a journalist, its my job to
share with you the rest of the story.
Of the tested produce, 4 percent
had illegal pesticide residue - unap-
proved pesticides on the produce
- found at low levels.
Illegal pesticides were found
in three imported food products,
including cactus pads from Mexico
which had organophosphate-ba-
SEE DPR ON PAGE 17
STABLE
STEADY
STRONG
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PG&E Helping Agricultural Customers Find Solutions
FRESNO Californias pro-
longed and near-recordsetting
drought is taking a severe toll on
one of the states biggest economic
drivers agriculture. Farmers
from Chico to Bakersfield are fallo-
wing fields, and ranchers are selling
off herds or leaving the business
altogether. PG&E is working with
its agricultural customers to find
solutions to lessen the impacts of
the drought.
Matthew and Russel Efird run
Efird Farms in Fresno County.
They have worked with PG&E to
make sure their pumps run as ef-
ficiently as possible.
Right now were experiencing
one of the worst droughts in Cali-
fornia history, said Rick Ponciano,
ranch manager of Rancho Esquon
in Durham, south of Chico. The
ranch took more than 850 acres
out of production this year, costing
about $400,000 in lost revenues and
several harvest jobs.
This is by far the largest drop in
our underground water table that
I have ever experienced in four
decades of farming, said Russel
Efird of Efird Farms. Efird and his
son farm about 1,500 acres includ-
ing almonds, walnuts, wine and
raisin grapes, and prunes in Fresno
County. Short term, Ive had to
drop my wells down deeper. Long
term, its a question of sustainabil-
ity.
PG&E recognizes the critical
nature of the agriculture industry
in this state and the effect drought
is having on agriculture custom-
ers, said Pat Mullen, Central Coast
region director for PG&E. We are
doing everything we can to help
support and mitigate the impacts to
these customers.
PG&E has a range of energy ef-
ficiency programs and incentives to
help agricultural customers reduce
their water and energy usage, and
therefore their costs. The utility is
also planning to add new rebates in
light of the drought to help agricul-
tural customers stay in business.
PG&E has increased rebates up
to 33 percent for the Advanced
Pumping Efficiency Program
(APEP). It costs more to operate
agricultural pumps if pumps need
repairs, are poorly matched to the
pumping load, or are not installed
correctly. A pump efficiency test
will determine pump performance
and whether retrofits or mainte-
nance is needed.
Working to increase pump effi-
ciency. We do pump testing at best
case scenario in the spring when the
water table is at its highest and at
worst case scenario in August, said
Ponciano who has used the PG&E
pump efficiency testing program.
Weve got nine wells that we con-
verted the last couple of years.
With the variable speed drive
you can dial in what you need, you
can use less horsepower and only
pull the water that youre actually
using, which cuts both energy us-
age and costs, he said.
Efird uses the pump efficiency
testing program, too.
Im on a pump-testers schedule
I want it every two years. Then, if
we have a pump that measures on
the low side for efficiency, we can
upgrade it, said Efird.
Catarino Martinez of Donald Val-
predo Farms in Kern County said
reviewing his account and rates on
an annual basis with his account
representative has helped tremen-
dously in managing energy costs.
Ive done variable frequency
drives, pump repair, to where we
had a pre-pump test and post-pump
test and have been able to take
advantage of some pump repair
incentives, said Martinez.
Martinez received rebates from
PG&E totaling more than $50,000,
reducing usage by more than
387,000 kilowatt hours. The bill
savings totaled $54,000.
The utility also has created and
launched a new program for small
and medium agriculture customers
who want to install low-flow irriga-
tion nozzles or convert sprinklers to
drip irrigation.
Efird also has utilized this pro-
gram, most recently converting 300
acres of almonds from micro-sprin-
klers to a drip line.
Incentives help save energy and
money. In addition to working with
farmers and ranchers, PG&E also
offers incentives for more efficient
SEE PG&E ON PAGE 14
SINCE 1990
Ranches
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Water Bond Addresses Crucial Storage
Needs
By Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres)
Water its easy to take it for
granted. We take our showers, use
it to make our cup of coffee, wash
our hands, water our lawns, and of
course, drink it.
Whats more, our state depends
on water for economics, with our
agricultural communities creating
thousands of jobs for our friends
and neighbors, creating millions of
dollars in revenues and producing
food resources not only for Califor-
nia, but our nation and the world.
Bottom-line, we expect and need
water to be available at all times
and when we dont have it, the
realization hits that we really do, in
fact, depend on it.
And in the midst of the worst
drought in California history with
no signs of relief in sight if we
dont act immediately, we will learn
a very hard lesson sooner than later
how much we depend on water as
individuals, communities, cities,
and ultimately, a state.
Last week, the Legislature and
the Governor came together to
craft a new $7.5 billion water bond
for the November ballot. The bill
passed the Senate unanimously and
only had 2 no votes in the Assem-
bly.
Its rare that we can all agree on
an issue so controversial.
This new bond was a long time
coming. In March, I joined the
Senate working group to renego-
tiate the 2009 $11.1 billion bond.
It seemed that it was a bond that
everyone had come to hate. It had
billions in pork projects and the
media had largely turned against it.
The Assembly also had proposals,
but neither side was able to come to
an agreement.
Two weeks ago, Governor Brown
weighed in with a $6 billion bond.
As a fiscally-responsible legislator,
I understood the Governors appre-
hension in supporting a larger bond,
on the other hand, I also knew the
devastating consequences if we did
not invest in the future. His pro-
posal was a non-starter because it
only contained $2 billion for new
storage. With already record low
reservoir levels, we absolutely need
to concentrate on creating surface
water storage reservoirs, like Tem-
perance Flat and Sites Reservoirs.
The important part, though, was
that all parties were engaged in this
process of crafting a new water
bond that recognized the need for
storage, Delta restoration, and clean
water.
Because we held firm, we were
able to get $2.7 billion for new
storage a piece of the water
puzzle that is absolutely essential
to not only rebuilding our archaic
water system built 50 years ago,
but ensuring we continue to receive
this increasingly precious resource
now and for years to come. This
bond retains 90% of the funding for
storage that was contained in the
2009 bond. Storage was just 27%
of the original $11.1 billion bond.
Because of the cuts to other areas, it
is now 36%. This bonds allocation
will allow us to build new infra-
structure for the future.
We have kept the necessary
funding to bring more water into
our water system through surface
storage, groundwater sustainabi-
lity, and clean water. There is $725
million for water recycling and
$200 million for stormwater cap-
ture projects. There is $520 million
to clean up our drinking water and
$750 million to prevent and reduce
groundwater contamination.
For our region, this is very cru-
cial. We have seen levels of subsi-
dence in the Central Valley that are
far too great. In the Salinas Valley,
we are battling saltwater intrusion.
In both regions, we have communi-
ties that cannot drink the water out
of their taps. For the richest state
in the richest country in the world,
this is unacceptable.
This bond also eliminates the
pork that did not provide additio-
nal water to the system and would
have made it much harder to con-
vince voters to pass the bond. If we
would have kept the original bond,
we would have missed a window to
SEE CANNELLA ON PAGE 15
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Westside Water
Quality Coalition
On January 9, 2014, the Re-
gional Board adopted General
Order R5-2014-0002 that af-
fects Growers in the western
Merced County area, generally
west of the San Joaquin River.
The General Order established a
new Irrigated Lands Regulatory
Program (ILRP) and the Westside
San Joaquin River Watershed
Coalition was formed to help
Growers comply with the ILRP.
One of the requirements of the
ILRP is for Growers to provide
specific farm related information
to the Regional Board and the
Regional Board has developed
a set of forms explicitly for the
Growers to use to provide the
requested information. The forms
provide information on the cur-
rent farming practices employed,
such as, pesticide and nutrient
applications. The forms also
require specific irrigation system
and nutrient information for each
crop grown in 2014.
The Westside Coalition, in
conjunction with the local Water
Districts, have taken on the huge
challenge of providing the forms
to the Growers and also provi-
ding the technical support to help
the Growers to properly fill out
the forms. All Growers in the we-
stern Merced County area should
be on the lookout for the packet
of forms as some of the Districts
have already begun to mail them
to their members. The forms are
being sent on a schedule set-
up by your Water District and
should be arriving soon and need
to be returned by December 15,
2014. General information about
the forms can be viewed at www.
westsidesjr.org; if you would like
more specific information, you
can contact your Water District
or the Coalition at 559-592-9237.
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We can't Allow California's Double-
Whammy on Water-Storage
By Assemblyman Adam C. Gray
California has made significant
progress in addressing our water-
storage shortfall with the placement
of the water bond on the November
ballot.
All Californians should join Gov.
Jerry Brown and all but two of our
120 state legislators in supporting
this measure in November.
Our future water needs will not
be met without its passage.
But the bond wont be enough.
We also need to establish sustaina-
ble groundwater basins if we are
to provide that margin of safety
required during drought years,
especially if they are prolonged. We
are already seeing how the lack of
a sustainable groundwater manage-
ment plan has affected our area.
And the situation is likely to get
much worse before it gets better.
Thats why it makes no sense
for the State Water Quality Con-
trol Board to talk about emptying
reservoirs when we are trying to
secure votes to build new dams.
And it is equally foolish to con-
sider groundwater sustainability
legislation without recognizing and
addressing the single biggest threat
to basin recharge the massive and
disproportionate increase in flows
proposed by the state board as part
of its watershed management plans.
The boards plan for Bay Delta
restoration proposes to increase
unimpaired flows by 35 percent
from the Merced, Tuolumne and
Stanislaus rivers. What does that
mean? For the San Joaquin Val-
ley sub-basins (Turlock, Modesto,
Merced and eastern San Joaquin), it
means our surface-water supply for
drinking and irrigation would be re-
duced by 461,000 acre feet thats
135 billion gallons each year, every
year.
That is the amount of additional
groundwater that must be pumped
just to stay even with what the
board would take away. And this is
not for new plantings outside irriga-
tion districts. It will have an impact
on the oldest and most developed
agricultural areas of our counties.
And it doesnt even count the loss
to groundwater recharge from lost
irrigation.
This is not an exaggeration. Its
on pages 9-13 of the Department of
Water Resources Bay Delta plan.
Extensive hearings were conducted
on this proposal, and the state is
preparing its final plan. Despite the
crises brought on by the drought,
the water board continues to pursue
this ill-conceived, unfair and ludi-
crous proposal.
The state recognizes the impact
this diversion would have on the re-
gion that currently uses this water.
It called the harm a significant but
unavoidable impact.
That means it is really bad, but no
one can do anything about it.
They expect and admit that this
water will be replaced with ground-
water. But that is not possible. It
would be similar to adding over
100,000 acres of orchards each
and every year. There isnt enough
water in the ground to do this. The
water board knows this too but
chooses to say it is a different issue
than groundwater sustainability.
The state water board could have
decided to spread the loss among
all the sources of water that flow
into the Delta. It chose not to.
The San Joaquin River and
the Sacramento River (and all its
tributaries) were exempted. They
would be dealt with sometime in
the future, as would other parts of
California. Anywhere the watershed
is at issue would present an op-
portunity for the state water board
to dictate flow diversions without
regard for local interests.
This is an unprecedented threat to
agriculture and to coastal commu-
nities. It penalizes areas that have
addressed problems on their own.
I have proposed amendments
to the groundwater bill that will
exempt any watershed area in
California from mandated flow
diversions that have significant
SEE GRAY ON PAGE 15
AHS Agriculture Department Gets Weather Station
By Madison Hall, Atwater FFA Reporter
The Atwater High School agri-
culture department installed a
Atwater High School agriculture student sopho-
mores Maria Perez, Jasmine Sepulveda, and Jeff
Clark analyze weather data on the computer from
the new Atwater High School wireless weather
station recently installed at the agriculture de-
partment.
Livingston High School Agriculture Looking Forward to
a Successful Year By Lindsay Silva, Livingston FFA Reporter
The Livingston High School
Agriculture Education program has
approached the 2014-2015 school
year with a positive outlook about
what the future holds. There are
currently 632 students enrolled
in various agriculture education
courses, making up over 50%
of the entire LHS student body.
Students are partaking in rigorous
coursework and hands-on learning
in the subjects of biology, food
science, mechanics, earth science,
floriculture, and leadership.
Livingston Agriculture Education
has also expanded to a four teacher
department. Mrs. Stefanie Kuhr
and Mr. Louis Randall are proud to
welcome Mr. Kevin McGuire and
Ms. Kaylyn Schiber to the LHS
Agriculture Staff.
Mr. McGuire
went through
the agriculture
education pro-
gram at Fallbrook
High School in
southern Califor-
nia. He went on
to earn his degree
from Fresno State
University. Mr.
McGuire will be
focusing on the agriculture mecha-
nics aspect of the program. I look
forward to developing a mechanics
pathway that will give students the
opportunity to fabricate custom
projects and develop career readi-
ness, said Mr. McGuire.
Ms. Schiber,
alumni of the
Atwater High
School Agri-
culture pro-
gram, grew up
in Livingston.
She earned
her degree in
Agricultural
Education
from Western
Illinois Uni-
versity. I am excited to facilitate
student growth and success in
the classroom as well as through
various FFA endeavors, said Ms.
Schiber, when asked about what
she hopes to accomplish this year.
Livingston FFA had a tremen-
dous start to the year. The addition
of a Parliamentary Procedure team
as well as Cotton and Vine Pruning
Career Development Events will
provide the members new oppor-
tunities to participate in the FFA.
Georgina Reyes, LHS FFA Chapter
Treasurer said, This year at our
first FFA meeting, we had over
130 members present! I cant wait
to see how the year unfolds. For
individuals interested in suppor-
ting Livingston FFA there is a new
opportunity to join the Livingston
FFA Booster Club. For more infor-
mation regarding the Livingston
FFA Booster Club, please contact
the Livingston High School Agri-
culture Department at 209-394-
7960.
Livingston FFA Advisors: Mr. Louis Randall,
Ms. Kaylyn Schiber, Mrs. Stefanie Kuhr, and
Mr. Kevin McGuire.
Golden Valley FFA - Be the Seed and Grow Beyond
Expectations By Taylor Manzanedo, Golden Valley FFA Reporter
The Golden Valley FFAs theme
for the year, Be the Seed and
Grow Beyond Expectations,
hopes to grow as a chapter in every
way possible. The GV FFA chapter
consists of roughly 330 chapter
members and 3 Ag teachers. The
past couple of years, Golden Val-
ley FFA has grown in size forcing
newer classes to come into existen-
ce. Currently the program offers
courses such as Ag Leadership, Ag
Economics/Government, Ag Bio-
logy, Ag Life Science, Ag Earth,
Animal Anatomy and Physiology,
brand new wireless weather
station that will be utilized
as an educational resource
for the agriculture students
in their Ag Earth Science
course this year. The Davis
Vantage Vue solar powe-
red wireless weather sta-
tion will allow students to
analyze onsite weather data
in conjunction with their me-
teorology unit taught in class.
Funding for the purchase of
the weather station was do-
nated by the Atwater Winton
Lions and installed by the MUHSD
maintenance staff. The station has
been installed on top of the Atwater
High School agriculture building.
This is a pretty cool resource
for the students to explore and play
with, said agriculture instructor
Dave Gossman. We are exploring
the opportunities to add the station
to a variety of science and wea-
ther related websites so it can be
shared with other weather enthusi-
asts. The weather stations data is
located on http://www.weatherlink.
com/user/atwaterffa until other
expanded data resources become
available.
The Atwater High School agri-
culture program was recently
recognized at the state and national
level for its continued growth and
involvement of students and agri-
culture education. We continue to
explore and expand opportunities
for our students to enhance their
learning, said agriculture instruc-
tor Shelby West. We are very
appreciative towards the Atwater
Winton Lions for their generosity
and the opportunity to enhance
technology for our students and
program.
For more information on the At-
water High School agriculture pro-
gram and the Atwater FFA, please
log onto www.AtwaterFFA.org.
L to R: Mr. Jacobsen, Kaleah Bese, Taylor Manzanedo, Michaela
Vindel, Audrianna Farmer, Jessica Baker, Mikayla Whitfield,
Donte Allen, Ms. Davis (Farmer), Mr. Donovan
Floral Design, Small Engines,
Welding, Internships in Agricul-
ture, Power Mechanics, and Shop
Skills. Besides the growing class
sizes, we hope to grow in chapter
involvement. A member is automa-
tically in the FFA once placed in an
ag class but we want involvement
outside of the classrooms. Whether
its big involvement such as being
an officer, showing at fairs, or
being in charge of committees and
planning future activities; or small
things like showing up to a meeting
or participating in a fundraiser; we
encourage invol-
vement and strive
to increase the
effort put forth by
all members to
exhibit the many
options the world
has to offer them.
A big event in
September is our
AG Booster Din-
ner. The dinner
is put on by the
SEE GV ON
PAGE 13
Buhach Colony FFA Dominates this Summer
By Stephanie Stewart, Reporter
The Buhach Colony FFA Chapter
is starting the year out strong from
the many activities that took place
over the summer, to the first FFA
meeting of the school year. To kick
off summer, the Buhach Colony
FFA was very successful at the
Merced County fair! Besides being
awarded the Outstanding Chapter
for the 6th year in a row, many of
our students had some really great
successes showing livestock and
exhibiting various shop projects as
well. In the dairy division: Deena
Migliazzo won Grand Champion
with her replacement heifer and
Adam Homen received Reserve
Champion. In the Registered show,
Deena Migliazzo also won Reserve
Champion bull, and Mekenna Sher-
man won first place with her junior
heifer. In the grade show Austin
Sherman earned his spot in the win-
ners circle winning first place with
his four year old cow and in a close
second was Frankie Homen. Fran-
kie also received his own blue rib-
bon with his two year old cow and
overall Reserve Champion cow. In
the end, The BC FFA Dairy group
received first place for chapter
group, bringing in the overall best
group of cows! Over in the sheep
and goat barn great things were
continuing to happen as well. Of
the fifteen exhibitors, Joslyn Cam-
pos brought home a breed cham-
pion with her hamp lamb. Amanda
Skidmore was awarded FFA Re-
serve Champion boer goat. In ad-
dition to that, bringing home quite
a few ribbons of her own, Macy Oh
was a force to be reckoned with in
the goat show ring winning FFA
Champion market goat, Junior
Champion doe, Supreme Champion
doe and outstanding goat exhibitor.
Beyond that, Macy Oh also won
the FFA advanced showmanship
with Clayton Sardella coming in a
close second. With her win, Macy
was awarded the opportunity to
participate in the master showmans-
hip competition, or round robin,
performing well and winning 4th
place overall. Also winning show-
manship, we congratulate Camille
Silvera for her first place finish in
the freshman showmanship divi-
sion. Finally, to round it all out, the
BC FFA goat group also won the
chapter group competition, bringing
the best group of goats to the ring!
Next door in the Beef barn, the ex-
hibitors were winning big as well.
Mitchell Avila won Champion an-
gus bull and Reserve Supreme bull.
Buhach Colony FFA at Merced Fair
This past week-
end on August
16-17 the 2014-
2015 Gustine FFA
Officer team parti-
cipated in their an-
nual officer retreat.
They held their
two day retreat in
Santa Cruz where
they participated in
various team buil-
Gustine FFA Retreat By Alexandria Lopes, Gustine FFA Reporter
Gustine FFA Officer Team during their retreat.
Atwater High School Students Rush the New Year
By Madison Hall, Atwater FFA Reporter
The 2014-
2015 school
year is off to
a great start at
Atwater High
School with
over 1800
students parti-
cipating in the
annual FFA Ice
Cream Social,
Club Rush and
Food Faire last
week. The pur-
pose of these
events was to
promote and
recruit programs, events, and stu-
dents to the numerous activities and
opportunities available at Atwater
High School.
With over twenty active club
and youth organizations at the high
school, students created various
promotional activities in the agri-
culture department and quad after
school and during lunch. The event
was organization by the Atwater
High School Leadership class.
Some of the highlighted clubs/or-
ganizations included Asian Youth
Club, Art, Band, Chess Club, Choir,
Drama, DECA/ROP, FCA, FFA,
GSA, Hip Hop Academy, Interact,
Images and Vision, Key Club, Lea-
dership, Link Crew, Percussion.
It was a great turnout overall,
with a lot of kids having fun with
genuine school spirit said Atwater
High School Director of Activi-
ties Nathan Braga. We feel it is
especially valuable for the new 9th
grade students as it helps them get
connected with AHS and the variety
of opportunities that gets students
involved outside the classroom.
For more information regarding
Atwater High School activities
and events, you can log onto their
website, Twitter, and Facebook ac-
counts.
High School FFA officers Daryl Dorsey, Amber Miller, Juan
hernandez, Courtney Creighton, and Madison Hall stand in front
of the FFA table during the AHS Club Rush event that promoted
various clubs and organizations to all the students during lunch in
the quad.
ding activities as well as planning
the upcoming FFA year at Gustine
High School. This retreat was a fun
way to start off the year as a team!
Upon arrival to Santa Cruz on
Friday night the team ate dinner at
Firefish grill on the wharf and after
spent the rest of the night enjoying
their time at the Santa Cruz beach
boardwalk. Saturday was spent
on the beach preparing for the
upcoming year. The officer team
planned the dates
of the monthly
meetings, the ac-
tivities as well as
becoming closer
as a team with
various team
building exercises. We had lunch
at Pizza my Heart in Santa Cruz.
Overall this retreat was a great way
to start off the year and become
closer as a team.
SEE BUHACH ON PAGE 14
Producers who have suffered
eligible disaster-related losses
are encouraged to act to secure
assistance by Sept. 30, 2014,
as congressionally mandated
payment reductions will take
place for producers who have not
acted before that date. Livestock
producers that have experienced
grazing losses since October 2011
to the detriment of urban water
users and farmersincluding
people who have not created an
overdraft problem but who could
need access to groundwater in the
future, he said. The same agen-
cies that have been hamstrung by
conflicting missions and statutory
mandatesincluding environ-
mental restrictions of questiona-
ble valuewill now control all
water decisions.
In addition, the bills reach bey-
ond efforts to balance inflows and
outflows of groundwater basins,
creating requirements that will
Bills from Page 1
lead to confusion and litigation,
Wenger said.
Farm Bureau and other oppo-
nents have been able to take some
of the edge off of this legislation.
It now includes protections for
water rights and other provisions
that could lessen its detrimental
impact. For that, we must thank
those in the Capitol who helped
rein in some of the proposals
worst overreaches and the legis-
lators, both Democrats and Re-
publicans, who voted against the
bills, he said.
But making this significant of
Livestock Producers Urged to Enroll in Disaster
Assistance Program by Oct. 1
a change in water lawarguably
the most significant in more than
100 yearsand doing so without
the necessary deliberation, or
even a policy hearing, shows how
susceptible to flaws this legisla-
tion could prove to be, he said,
adding that Farm Bureau will ask
Gov. Brown to veto it.
True resolution to California
groundwater problems will come
through measures that this legis-
lation does not address, such as a
streamlined adjudication process
and the recognition of groundwa-
ter recharge as a beneficial use of
water, Wenger concluded. Most
importantly, California must im-
prove its surface water supplies.
All the fees and fines in the world
wont heal our aquifers unless Ca-
lifornia builds additional storage
and improves management of
surface water in order to reduce
demand on groundwater.
The California Farm Bureau
Federation works to protect fa-
mily farms and ranches on behalf
of nearly 78,000 members state-
wide and as part of a nationwide
network of more than 6.2 million
Farm Bureau members.
and may be eligible for benefits
but have not yet contacted their
local Farm Service Agency (FSA)
office should do so as soon as
possible.
The Budget Control Act pas-
sed by Congress in 2011 requires
USDA to implement reductions
of 7.3 percent to the Livestock
Forage Disaster Program (LFP) in
the new fiscal year, which begins
Oct. 1, 2014. However, producers
seeking LFP support who have
scheduled appointments with their
local FSA office before Oct. 1,
even if the appointment occurs af-
ter Oct.1, will not see reductions
in the amount of disaster relief
they receive.
USDA is encouraging produ-
cers to register, request an ap-
pointment or begin a Livestock
Forage Disaster Program ap-
plication with their county FSA
office before Oct. 1, 2014, to lock
in the current zero percent se-
questration rate. As an additional
aid to qualified producers apply-
ing for LFP, the Farm Services
Agency has developed an online
registration that enables farmers
and ranchers to put their names
on an electronic list before the
deadline to avoid reductions in
their disaster assistance. This is
an alternative to visiting or con-
tacting the county office. To place
a name on the Livestock Forage
Disaster Program list online, visit
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/disaster-
register.
Producers who already con-
tacted the county office and have
an appointment scheduled need
do nothing more.
The Livestock Indemnity Pro-
gram, the Tree Assistance Pro-
gram and the Noninsured Disaster
Assistance Program Frost Freeze
payments will also be cut by 7.3
percent on Oct. 1, 2014. Unlike
the Livestock Forage Disaster
Program, applications for these
programs must be fully completed
by Sept. 30. FSA offices will
prioritize these applications, but
as the full application process can
take several days or more to com-
plete, producers are encouraged to
begin the application process as
soon as possible.
The Livestock Forage Disaster
Program compensates eligible
livestock producers who suffered
grazing losses due to drought or
fire between Oct. 1, 2011 and
Dec. 31, 2014. Eligible livestock
includes alpacas, beef cattle, buf-
falo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer,
elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas,
poultry, reindeer, sheep or swine
that have been or would have
been grazing the eligible grazing
land or pastureland. Producers
forced to liquidate their livestock
may also be eligible for program
benefits.
Additionally, the 2014 Farm
Bill eliminated the risk manage-
ment purchase requirement.
Livestock producers are no longer
required to purchase coverage
under the federal crop insurance
program or Noninsured Crop
Disaster Assistance Program to
be eligible for Livestock Forage
Disaster Program assistance.
To learn more about USDA
disaster relief program, producers
can review the 2014 Farm Bill
fact sheet at www.fsa.usda.gov/
farmbill, the LFP program fact
sheet, http://go.usa.gov/5JTk, or
contact their local FSA office.
Expertise in the Agricultural Industry
Comprehensive Risk Management Services
OSHA Compliance & Injury Prevention Programs
Safety Training Seminars and Materials
Business and Benefits Consulting Services
Local Feel. Global Expertise
GV from Page 10
Merced Ag Boosters Club which
is a combination of El Capitan,
Golden Valley and Merced High
Schools. The dinner is put on in
order for the boosters to help sup-
port the agriculture programs with
the many FFA student activities.
The festivities will be September
27, 2014, starting with appetizers
at 5:30 at the Merced Fairgrounds.
Tickets are $50 each or a table of 8
is $350. Tickets can be purchased
through any Merced, Golden
Valley, or El Capitan agriculture
student or agriculture teacher. This
is the biggest fundraiser of the year
and is crucial to all 3 chapters in
order to accomplish their goals of
emphasizing the role agriculture
plays in everyones life.
Our FFA Chapter has multiple
community service activities plan-
ned for this year including serving
at various banquets, assisting with
local convalescent homes, and
having multiple holiday canned
food drives. Throughout the year
we are always willing to help serve
banquets or teach others about the
importance of agriculture to the
younger generation.
The Golden Valley FFA officer
team is led by seven talented and
unique individuals whose different
personalities make it simple to get
along with and work together. Our
officer team consists of President
Audrianna Farmer, Vice Presi-
dent Mikayla Whitfield, Secretary
Michaela Vindel, Treasurer Jessica
Baker, Reporter Taylor Manzanedo,
Sentinel Donte Allen and Historian
Kaleah Bese. Toward the end of the
summer all seven officers met for
our officer retreat with our advi-
sors Mr. Cody Jacobsen, Ms. Vikki
Davis (Farmer), and Mr. Tim Do-
novan. At the retreat all the officers
and advisors buckled down and got
to work planning and thinking of
ideas for the up and coming school
year. As the officer team worked
together at our planning sessions,
we came up with new activities
that will attract more of our student
body, said Chapter President Aud-
rianna Farmer. We are excited to
put our words into actions and grow
beyond our expectations.
If you would like more informa-
tion about upcoming events with
Golden Valley FFA, visit www.gol-
denvalleyagriculture.weebly.com or
follow us on Instagram at gvffa.
California Farm Bureau Working for You:
Sacramento Legislative Update
Over 2,200 letters were sent from
FARM TEAM members opposing
the groundwater management bills
AB 1739 (Roger Dickinson,
D-Sacramento) and SB 1168 and
SB 1319 both by Senator Fran
Pavley, D-Agoura Hills). Howe-
ver, all three bills passed in both
houses of the legislature once the
Speaker of the Assembly and the
Governor engaged. AB 1739 was
approved by the Senate 26-11 and
by the Assembly 47-28; SB 1168
passed the Assembly 47-27 and the
Senate 25-10; and SB 1319 passed
the Assembly 48-26 and the Senate
24-10. All three bills now move to
the governor. Senator Cannella and
Assemblymember Gray voted no
on the bills.
Farm Bureau and other agricul-
tural organizations were able to
achieve some amendments in the
bills that help take some of the
edge off the legislation including
amendments to shore up ground-
water rights. The bills provide a
broad new regulatory framework to
manage groundwater. The focus is
on local control which is consistent
with Farm Bureau policy. Basins
in critical overdraft will have to
develop groundwater management
plans within five years and other
basins will have seven years to
do so. Low and very low priority
basins are not mandated to do plans
but are permitted to do so. Still, we
have many concerns with the three
bill package and will be asking for
a veto.
Several labor bills of interest to
agricultural employers saw final
disposition in the final days of the
2012-2014 session:
AB 1634 (Nancy Skinner, D-
Berkeley) would have initially
restricted employers rights to ap-
peal Cal/OSHA citations. It was
extensively amended to narrow its
scope and avoided revising an ex-
pedited hearing process for serious
Cal/OSHA violations. This hearing
process was created by the Appeals
Board in response to criticisms
raised by supporters of AB 1634
as well as an earlier version vetoed
by Governor Brown in 2013 (AB
1165). Employer groups subse-
quently lifted opposition. CFBF
removed their opposition with the
amendments. AB 1634 is expected
to be signed by Governor Brown.
AB 1660 (Luis Alejo, D-Salinas)
clarifies that an action taken by an
employer to comply with federal
immigration law is not a violation
of California law. AB 60, which
became law in 2013, requires the
Department of Motor Vehicles to
issue driving privilege cards to
persons who cannot furnish the
requisite documentation to obtain a
regular drivers license. AB 60 also
prohibited discrimination under
California law against people using
a driving privilege card. AB 1660
was approved after amendments
were taken in both houses and sent
to Governor Brown for his signa-
ture. Farm Bureau supports.
AB 2416 (Mark Stone, D-Mon-
terey Bay) would have allowed
employees to record a wage lien
on an employers real and personal
property for wages, other compen-
sation and penalties for wages an
employee claims were unpaid. It
failed to pass the Senate in the late
hours of the legislative session. The
lien would have been superior to
most other types of liens and could
have been imposed by a worker
merely claiming non-payment of
wages; the worker would not have
been required to provide any proof
of non-payment and no neutral
third party would have reviewed
the placement of the lien. Farm
Bureau opposed.
MERCED COUNTY FARM NEWS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2013, PAGE 12
the former Florence Cardoza of
Merced in 1942.
After the war, and during his
life as a sweet potato farmer, he
served as President of the Cali-
fornia Sweet Potato Council, and
US Sweet Potato Council, where
he was a Director for over 20
years. He was the first Califor-
nia farmer to attend the National
Sweet Potato Convention, among
other industry firsts. Joe ser-
ved as President of the Merced
County Farm Bureau, and was
on the Board of Directors of the
Nisei Farmers League. He for-
med the California Sweet Potato
Growers Co-op in Livingston,
along with several other local
growers, which is celebrating its
50th anniversary this year.
His interests and community
involvement were very diverse-
from serving as a founding
member of the Livingston Me-
dical Group, to past-President
of Livingston Rotary, to being
known as the Voice of Livings-
ton. From 1946 to 1996, he an-
nounced all the Livingston High
School football games, lending
his strong voice to the communi-
ty by also announcing everything
in Livingston from parades to
radio programs. He served on the
Livingston Elementary School
Board and the Merced County
Recreation Commission for many
years. Joes acting skills even
benefited the Livingston Little
Theater Group, where he star-
red in several productions, most
notably as Elwood P. Dowd in
Harvey.
His love of baseball began at an
early age and became a life-long
interest that manifested itself into
a devotion to the sport for over
eighty years. He organized the
first kids hardball team in Mer-
ced County in the early 50s. He
was particularly fond of Ame-
rican Legion Baseball, serving
as a coach, sponsor, announcer
and booster for over fifty years.
This led to his being appointed
the third Area Commissioner
of Baseball. All of these years
of being involved in baseball
in Livingston culminated in the
community baseball field being
renamed the Joe F. Alvernaz
Baseball Field, something he
was so proud of.
Joe was predeceased by his
parents, Joe and Mabel Alvernaz,
brothers, Arthur and John Al-
vernaz, and sister, Mary Geyer.
He was also predeceased by his
oldest son, Joey Alvernaz, in
1980 and by his wife of 64 years,
Florence, in 2007.
He is survived by five children,
Judy Blevins, James (Colette)
Alvernaz, and Benjamin (Debbie)
Alvernaz of Livingston; Cecelia
(James) Simon of San Diego, and
Susan (Randall) Wilson of Ma-
riposa, a sister, Cecelia Luker of
Atwater, 17 grandchildren and 13
great grandchildren.
His light on earth has dimmed,
but heaven is brighter as he has
joined Florence, the true love of
his life.
So long to our Dad, coach,
neighbor and everyones friend.
He will be deeply and painfully
missed, yet celebrated, honored
and never forgotten.
In lieu of flowers, the family
requests that donations may be
made to Grace Nursing Home in
Livingston or to the Joe F. Al-
vernaz Memorial Fund to benefit
youth baseball in Livingston.
Sweet Potato Joe was the
Farm Bureau President from
1983-1986 and hired long-time
staff member Lorraine Passa-
dori when she showed up in her
clown costume for the interview.
Agriculture lost a strong advo-
cate that will truly be missed. We
will continue to keep his family
in our thoughts and prayers.
Sweet Potato Joe from page 1
Pazin & Myers, Inc.
129 West 15th Street
Merced, Ca 95340
Serving Merced and Mariposa Coun-
ties for over 35 years!
(209)725-2050
Meeting all of your residential,
farming, commercial, and retail needs...
GASOLINE - DIESEL - QUALITY LUBRICANTS
Trusted Insurance Advisors Since 1969
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FARM RANCH ACRIUSINSS
810 West K Street, Los Banos 93635 * (209) 826-5667
Toso from Page 4
ge Stop Gun Shop. You can check
with any one of the Mariposa
County Farm Bureau directors or
call Annette Lura at the Farm Bu-
reau office at (209) 742-5875 or
Dominic Gumm received Re-
serve Champion AOB (All Other
Breeds) with his hereford heifer.
Michaela Clark also received a
few champion banners, winning
Supreme cow/calf Champion and
was the overall advanced show-
manship winner. Her first place
finish in showmanship also awar-
ded her an opportunity to compete
in the master showmanship com-
petition where she finished 6th
place. Finally, keeping with the
Buhach from Page 11
winning trend, the BC FFA Beef
group also won the chapter group
award, exhibiting the best group
in the ring! Besides all the other
recognitions our chapter members
received for their outstanding
Ag Mechanics and shop projects,
Shane Gillard won the advanced
swine showmanship division and
then went on to win the overall
master showmanship competition
entirely! We are so proud of our
members and acknowledge that
all their hard work thoroughly
paid off. Congratulations to all
the Buhach Colony exhibitors at
the Merced Fair! Later that next
month, Buhach Colony FFA also
had some successful exhibitors
show their livestock off at the
California State Fair in Sacra-
mento, CA. Exhibitors included
Macy Oh, Clay Sardella, Camille
Silvera, Katie Migliazzo, Dewey
Cassady, and Shane Gillard. Each
did really well, and Shane Gillard
again showed his amazing skills
in the ring, winning swine show-
manship yet again! Congratulati-
ons to all Buhach exhibitors at the
State Fair! Now that all the work
was done, our chapter did spend
some time on a fun filled POA
(point of awards) trip to Santa
Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Our
chapter took the top twenty-four
most active members, as deter-
mined by a point scale, to enjoy
a great day at the beach, great
weather, great food, great friends
and great memories. Immedia-
tely after that trip, it was back
to work. On June 18th and 19th
the newly elected chapter officer
team left for their officer retreat
to have a little quality bonding
time, and spent a few days plan-
ning a fabulous year for our mem-
bers. The newly elected officers
that will be leading our chapter
this year include: Tiffanie Under-
wood (President), Madi Osborn
(Vice-President), Maggie Homen
(Secretary), Cassie Smith (Trea-
surer), Stephanie Stewart, (Re-
porter), Wyatt Pacheco (Sentinel),
Madyson Paschall (Historian),
and Garrett Groth (Parliamen-
tarian). The officer team looks
forward to leading the Buhach
Colony FFA chapter in a fun fil-
led year! For more information
or pictures of our events, please
visit our chapter website at www.
buhachcolony.org
cooling systems for wineries,
dairies and water suppliers, and
for more efficient cooling systems
and components that cool fruit,
vegetables, milk and wine.
The drought already has had
far-reaching impacts on the
agricultural community. PG&E
has seen a dramatic increase in
requests for new or additional
pumping service. Requests
PG&E from Page 6
jumped 40 percent in June 2014
over the same period last year.
Mullen encourages farmers who
are seeking new or additional
pumping services to apply early.
The utility has moved additional
resources to high agricultural
areas to meet the growing appli-
cation demand.
PG&E formed an agricultural
customer advisory group to pro-
vide the utility with feedback on
the types of programs and ser-
vices that would be most helpful
to their businesses. Mullen said
that feedback has been invalu-
able in developing and expanding
programs and services.
I dont worry about myself,
I do worry about my son, and I
definitely worry about my grand-
children, said Efird who plans
to pass down the family farming
business. Will they be able to
farm in this Valley?
I think water conservation is
certainly the key to pulling us
through this drought, and I think
the more the public and the farm-
ers can work together the better
off were going to be, said Pon-
ciano. We all work together and
try to conserve water.
E-Mail to: mcfarmbureau@sti.net

1
Public Policy Institute of Ca-
lifornia website at http://www.
ppic.org/main/publication_show.
asp?i=1108
Mariposa County Business Member Directory
SUPPORT FARM BUREAU BUSINESS MEMBERS
AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIES
ASSOCIATIONS
FINANCIAL SERVICES
CONSTRUCTION
OASIS FEED AND SUPPLY
374-3331
35-A DISTRICT AGRICULTURE ASSN.
966-2432
MARIPOSA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
966-2456
MARIPOSA COUNTY FARM ADVISOR
966-2417
MARIPOSA COUNTY FARM BUREAU
742-5875
INTER-COUNTY TITLE COMPANY
966-3653
YOSEMITE BANK
966-5444
ALLISONS SIERRA ENGINEERING
966-4082
BUCKS CONSTRUCTION 878-3702
GUENTHART CONSTRUCTION
374-3334
MIKE HUBERT - GENERAL BUILDING
CONTRACTOR
966-4400
HARDWARE STORES
COAST HARDWARD
966-2527
INSURANCE
BONDSHU DBA WINTON-IRELAND INS.
800-790-4875
REAL ESTATE
CATHEYS VALLEY REAL ESTATE
742-2121
SERVICES
CHASES PETROLEUM
966-3314
COTTON CREEK FINANCIAL
376-2333
FOUCH ENTERPRISES, INC.
966-2214
LONGS HAULING & TRACTOR WORK
966-5556
PALMER TRACTOR
374-3470
VALLEY PACIFIC PETROLEUM
559-732-8381
CIERA WINE CELLARS
742-7749
BUTTERFLY CREEK WINERY
966-2097
MOUNT BULLION VINEYARD
377-8450
WINERIES
MEDICAL
MARIPOSA PHYSICAL THERAPY
742-7242
TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS BUSINESS
DIRECTORY, JOIN THE MARIPOSA
COUNTY FARM BUREAU. CALL
ANNETTE AT 742-5875.
MISCELLANEOUS
AG COMMISSIONER, CATHI BOZE
966-2075 or cboze@mariposacounty.org
Cannella from Page 7
Gray from Page 9

Daniel Goleman to Speak at L4 Seminar
Dr. Daniel Goleman, one of the
nations foremost leadership and
management experts, is the featured
speaker at a Life-Long Leadership
Learning (L4) Seminar co-hosted
by the California Agricultural
Leadership Foundation (CALF) and
California State University, Fre-
sno. The seminar is sponsored by
Driscolls.
Goleman is a psychologist and
author of 13 books, including New
York Times and international best-
seller Emotional Intelligence. His
latest book is Focus: The Hidden
Driver of Excellence. Goleman
received his Ph.D. from Harvard
University, was a science journa-
list at the New York Times for 12
years, and was nominated twice for
a Pulitzer Prize. Prominent publi-
cations have included him in top 10
lists of influential business thinkers.
Dr. Goleman is an internatio-
nally-known authority on emotional
intelligence and leadership, and we
are proud to partner with Fresno
State to bring such a high-caliber
speaker to our alumni and agricul-
tural industry friends, said CALF
President and CEO Bob Gray.
The L4 Seminar will be held on
Sept.15 from 2-4 p.m. at the Satel-
lite Student Union at Fresno State.
A reception, book signing and syn-
thesis will follow the presentation.
The free seminar is open to alumni,
agricultural industry friends, pro-
spective candidates, faculty, staff
and students. Attendees must RSVP
by Sept. 10 to 831-585-1030 or
elazzerini@agleaders.org or online
at www.fresnostate.edu/presiden-
trsvp (code: Goleman).
Almanac from Page 2
and unavoidable effects, unless
those effects are mitigated. In ad-
dition, I want to codify that surface
water used to recharge groundwater
basins is, in itself, a public benefit.
This is obvious but has never been
given the statutory protection of
other beneficial uses, such as hu-
man, irrigation or environmental.
With this drought, we have an
enormous opportunity to make
historic changes in how California
manages one of its most precious
natural resources. There is a path
by which we can, for the first time,
regulate groundwater and have the
support of the vast majority of eve-
ryone in this great state.
Assemblyman Adam Gray repre-
sents the 21st Assembly District.
do what is right for the entire state.
I can honestly say that this is the
toughest issue I have faced since
joining the Senate.
This victory shows how gover-
nment should run. The 2009 bond
barely made it through the Legis-
lature and was cobbled together in
middle-of-the-night negotiations.
This new bond had overwhelming
bipartisan support. We all came
together to represent not just our
constituents but to prepare Califor-
nia for the future. I am proud of the
work done to create this new bond,
and hopefully, Californians under-
stand the importance of this bond
and will pass it in November.
of MCFB where he took a chance
late in his tenure and hired a young
kid as his Executive Director.
The Koch familys influence and
impact on agritourism, ag-edu-
cation, numerous General Plans,
mitigation, and generally fighting
for the interests of the farmers has
been vast and impressive. We as
a community were lucky to have
them willing to take a chance and
get involved. The Koch family
will be missed, but dont worry
Ive made sure to keep them on the
Farm Team alerts to our elected
officials in the valley and Sacra-
mento. These days we need every
voice!
AUTO
CONSTRUCTION
FARM EQUIPMENT
FARM SERVICES
Merced County Business Member Directory
DEALERS
MERCED CHEVROLET
383-3306
PARTS
ATWATER TIRE
358-6475
BALSWICK TIRE
634-5882
DELS AUTO PARTS
723-8842
SCHOETTLER TIRE
723-1823
TIRE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
383-1383
REPAIRS & SERVICES
DOUBLE D TOWING
826-4100
FREITAS AUTO WRECKERS
722-7086
SKY BLUE MOBILE GLASS LLC
726-4500
TAYLORS MUFFLER & RADIATOR
358-1847
CONTRACTORS
BRISCO ENTERPRISES
384-8523
CLENDENIN BROTHERS INC.
383-9367
DIAS CONSTRUCTION, INC.
634-9601
M-MIG CONSTRUCTION
631-6017
SUPPLIES
HILMAR LUMBER COMPANY
668-8123
LANDSCAPE
BERGMAN LANDSCAPE
669-9138
GARTON TRACTOR INC.
862-3760
HOLT OF CALIFORNIA
826-4919
KIRBY MANUFACTURING
723-0778
MERCED HESSTON
723-2021
MERCED POWER SPORTS
722-8055
RANCHERS TRACTOR
722-8031
IRRIGATION, WELLS, & SEPTIC
CAL FARM SERVICE
358-1554
FRASIER IRRIGATION COMPANY
387-4202
PRECISION AQUA
756-2025
QUALITY WELL DRILLERS
357-0675
RAIN FOR RENT/WESTSIDE PUMP
(559) 693-4135
ROBAL INC.
826-4540
SAN LUIS PUMP COMPANY
383-0464
SHANNON PUMP COMPANY
723-3904
FOOD PROCESSING
A V THOMAS PRODUCE
394-7514
DOLE PACKAGED FROZEN FOODS
358-5643
DOS PALOS COOP GIN
387-4151
HILLTOP RANCH INC
874-1875
MINTURN HULLER COOP INC.
(559) 665-1185
PARREIRA ALMOND PROCESSING CO.
826-1262
SENSIENT DEHYDRATED FLAVORS CO.
800-558-9892
YOSEMITE FARMS
383-3411
HARVESTING & HAULING
BERTUCCIO HAY
761-6247
CASTILLO BROTHERS TRUCKING
392-3817
DIAMOND BAR CATTLE & CUSTOM CHOPPING
761-5662
GENERAL
A-BAR AG ENTERPRISES
826-2636
AGRI MEX
383-6116
ATWATER TIRE SERVICES INC
358-6475
CAL CORN GROWERS INC
(559) 665-5775
CHIPPONERI ELECTRIC
634-4616
DICKEY PETROLEUM
667-0236
FARM MANAGEMENT INC.
667-1011
GROVER SOIL SOLUTIONS
545-4401
GUERRERO FARM LABOR
492-0408
HORIZON FARMS, INC.
383-5225
LA FOLLETTE ENTERPRISES, INC.
632-1385
LAIRD MFG LLC
722-4145
LIVINGSTON FARMERS ASSOC
394-7941
MID VALLEY AG SERVICE
394-7981
MODERN DAIRY
722-7452
NICOLETTI OIL INC
392-2144
POLLINATION CONNECTION
(510) 209-7006
SCHOETTLER TIRE
723-1823
SILVA & SONS CUSTOM SPREADING
667-2566
SILVAS HAY SOURCE
777-7440
SUNNY ACRES NURSERY
632-6077
W H BRESHEARS INC
522-7291
INSECT & WEED CONTROL
ENVIRONMENTAL SPRAYING SERVICE
667-1038
MALM AG PEST MANAGEMENT
392-6905
MERCED CO MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DIST
722-1527
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014, PAGE 16 MERCED COUNTY FARM NEWS
DIAMOND BAR CATTLE & CUSTOM CHOPPING
761-5662
DOS PALOS Y AUCTION
387-4113
HILMAR SIRE SERVICE
632-5836
HOOF HEALTH
667-1812
NICHOLAS CALF RANCH
725-8253
TURLOCK LIVESTOCK AUCTION
667-0811
LIVESTOCK SERVICES
HARVESTING & HAULING
DIAMOND J FARMS
564-0870
GUSTINE HARVESTING INC
854-2003
394-7941
MELLO HAY INC
826-4806
MELLOS HAROBED SERVICE
826-3945
MINTURN HULLER CO-OP
(559) 665-1185
NORTHERN MERCED HULLING
667-2308
SMITHS CUSTOM HARVESTING
383-5493
RAMIREZ & SONS TRUCKING
389-4879
VELASQUEZ BROTHERS CUSTOM HAY
587-1223
WALLACE & SON
382-0131
FARM SERVICES CONT
JOE ENOS, C21 MM
606-6132
FLANAGAN REALTY
723-4337 (MERCED) 559-665-1313 (CHOWCHILLA)
TONI MARQUES PRUDENTIAL REALTY
489-0650
DICK TEMPLETON, COLDWELL BANKER
761-4441
REAL ESTATE
SOLAR ENERGY
CENERGY
233-9777
LEGAL SERVICES
BERLINER COHEN
385-0700
The Merced IDs Water Resources Management Plan
will guide decision-making on a host of water issues,
today and well into the future. Keep up-to-date on the
studys findings and have your say about how MID will
store, distribute and manage our water resources for
years to come.
Check out the WRMP Webpage under hot topics on
http://www.mercedid.com and sign up to receive
regular updates!
FARM SUPPLIES
AG FLAG
357-3424
ATWATER FEED
358-1840
HILMAR FEED & SUPPLY
678-3468
KELLOGGS SUPPLY
722-1501
MODESTO DAIRY SUPPLY
669-6200
STANISLAUS FARM SUPPLY
723-0704
VALLEY DAIRY SUPPLY INC
667-2566
BARLOCKER INSURANCE
383-0220
FLUETSCH & BUSBY INSURANCE
722-1541
MIKE GOMES INSURANCE SERVICES
726-8310
LEAP/CARPENTER/KEMPS INSURANCE
384-0727
DIANE NORTON INSURANCE
357-3626
STOCKING & COZZI INSURANCE AG INC
392-6175
WESTERN VALLEY INSURANCE
826-5667
WINTON IRELAND INSURANCE
394-7925
INSURANCE
MISCELLANEOUS
CLASSIC OUTDOOR GRILL
559-313-1144
HAMILTON ENERGY SOLUTIONS
(415) 377-8121
HAT SOURCE
357-3424
INGRAHAM TROPHIES & GIFTS
723-3091
PEARSON'S JEWELERS
826-1026
QUEEN ANNES GARDEN NURSERY
358-3875
SANTA FE PET HOSPITAL
383-5050
SILVER BELL BARN
769-6669
Merced County Business Member Directory
TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS BUSINESS DIRECTORY, JOIN THE MERCED COUNTY FARM BUREAU. CALL BREANNE AT 723-3001.
BLUE DIAMOND GROWERS/
BOB KETCHER
761-2289
CALIFORNIA SWEET POTATO GROWERS
394-7935
CALIFORNIA WOMEN FOR AGRICULTURE
723-5878
CENTRAL CA IRRIGATION DIST.
826-1421
CORTEZ GROWERS ASSOCIATION
632-3118
FARMERS RICE COOPERATIVE
(916) 923-5100
GUSTINE DRAINAGE DISTRICT
854-6782
394-7941
MERCED COLLEGE AG DIVISION
384-6250
TURLOCK IRRIGATION DISTRICT
883-8205
MEDICAL
P.B. IYER, M.D.
854-1120
GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS
AMERICAN AG CREDIT
384-1050/826-0320
RABOBANK
725-1375 - LIZ JOHNSTON
TRANS COUNTY TITLE COMPANY
383-4660
WELLS FARGO ADVISORS
386-0525 - CONRAD FOURNIER
WESTAMERICA
384-6859
YOSEMITE FARM CREDIT
383-1116
FINANCIAL SERVICES
PARTY RENTAL
CENTRAL VALLEY TENTS
261-5250
DPR from Page 5
MISCELLANEOUS CONT
THIRTY-FIFTH DIST AG ASSOC
722-1506
sed pesticide residue, snow peas
from Guatemala, and ginger from
China.
Perhaps more troubling for
U.S. and California agriculture
is that illegal residues were also
found in U.S.-grown spinach.
DPR says 1 percent of the
commodities tested had pesticide
residues in excess of state tole-
rances but were not necessarily a
health threat.
Overall, the findings prove that
by far most California produce
grown with pesticides is very
safe to eat. Kudos are extended
to California growers who abide
by pesticide rules and guidelines,
pesticide companies who have
spent millions of dollars creating
softer pesticides, and to DPR for
its detailed testing.
Its reassuring to know that
registered pesticides used at label
rates are safe for consumers.
DPRs 2013 pesticide residue
monitoring data and previous
years findings are available at
www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/enforce/
residue/rsmonmnu.htm.
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All size Propane Tanks
For Sale
Installation & Service
2658 E. Pacheco Hwy.
Los Banos
(800) 956-4GAS
1100. Services
MCFB FARM AND
RANCH CONNECTION
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Shannon Pump Co.
Call
723-3904
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1200. Micellaneous
WANTED: Almond
Orchards or Windfalls
for Firewood. Also
Interested in Dry
or Green firewood
Zwarts (209) 852-9170
Serving Stanislaus &
Merced Counties
8016 Winton Way, Winton
Since 1986
State of the Art Equipment
80 Truck Scale
Maximized Returns
Owner Operated
New for 2012
Inshell line complete with
Satake color sorter
High Capacity dryer for bin
or bulk loads
Peter Verdegaal
209-628-1008
Office
209-356-0210
NORCAL NURSERY - DELHI, CA
Many positions available, swing shift available, jobs
available counting and trimming strawberry plants
(pay piece rate), some hourly positions available. If
you would like more information, please call the
office weekdays between 8:30 am and 4 pm
(209) 668-8006
Value Chain Specialist for BASF in Central/
Northern California. This role offers the op-
portunity to use the combination of sales and
technical service skills to promote industry-
leading innovations to corporate growers in
Northern California. As a Value Chain Special-
ist, the ultimate mission is to build relationships
with targeted corporate growers, key players
within the distribution channel, and independent
pest advisors, to become a partner and trusted
advisor. http://basf.jobinfo.com/description.
php?jid=9910515&refid=15
HAY FOR SALE:
Oat $18/bale
Grass $20/bale
(209) 769-4698
or
(209) 769-6669
AND
STEEL
DISTRIBUTOR OF:
CULVERTANGLECHANNEL
FLATSPIPEPLATESHEETSROOFING
CONCRETE REINFORCING BAR
SQUARE/RECTANGULAR TUBETOOL BAR
ACE
PIPE
MCFB FARM AND RANCH CONNECTION
Sales & Service
Vertical turbines Domestic pumps
End suction booster pumps Sewage & stormwater pumps
Multi-stage pumps prefabricated booster systems for
domestic, process & landscape requirements.
Special metallurgy for all types of fuids.
In-house machine shop
All popular brands - HazMat 40HR Certifed Techs
LICENSED, INSURED AND BONDED
SERVING THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER
50 YEARS
(209) 723-3904
Problem
Weed
Specialist
WEED CONTROL
We Use Environmentally Safe
Proven Methods.
RESIDENTIAL
AGRICULTURAL
COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL
Discing & Clean-up - Pre-Asphalt Application
Call Us First! 209 723-2161
est. 1973
Frasier Irrigation
Since 1962
7602 W. Azusa, Dos Palos
209-387-4202
We have what fits
your needs
Engines and Pumps
Irrigation Fittings
Return Systems
Design & Installation
Mainline
Gaskets
Used Pipe for Sale
Drip & Micro Systems
Tape for Row Crop
Sprinkler Pipe
Gated Pipe
PVC

T TD DS S M Me er rc ce ed d
Tire Distribution Systems

Specializing in ALL of your tire needs! (all brands)

INDUSTRIAL

FARM EQUIPMENT

TRUCK & TRAILER (Big Rig)

PASSENGER / LIGHT TRUCK

RUBBER TRACKS (JD/CAT/ Bob Cat)

TDS Office/Shop Mike Hull, Office Manager
1405 Brantley Street (off of Childs Ave. near HWY 99)
Merced, CA 95341-6318
(209) 383-1383

Please let us know your type of business and need. Phone call is free
and the quotes are free. In this economy you need to make sure you
are getting the best deal. Call me anytime.

-Phillip Madayag
TDS Sales Consultant
209-947-3481

24 / 7
Road Side
Service!
Offering
Farm / Ag
Tax Credit
*INDUSTRIAL
*FARM EQUIPMENT
*TRUCK & TRAILER (BIG RIG)
*PASSENGER/LIGHT TRUCK
*RUBBER TRACKS (JD/CAT/BOB CAT)
Phillip Madayag
(209)947-3481
"Specializing in ALL of your tire needs!" (all brands)


INDUSTRIAL

FARM EQUIPMENT




Merced, CA 95341-6318
(209) 383-1383


-Phillip Madayag
209-947-3481

24 / 7
Road Side
Service!
Offering
Farm / Ag
Tax Credit


INDUSTRIAL

FARM EQUIPMENT




Merced, CA 95341-6318
(209) 383-1383


-Phillip Madayag
209-947-3481

24 / 7
Road Side
Service!
Offering
Farm / Ag
Tax Credit


INDUSTRIAL

FARM EQUIPMENT




Merced, CA 95341-6318
(209) 383-1383


-Phillip Madayag
209-947-3481

24 / 7
Road Side
Service!
Offering
Farm / Ag
Tax Credit


INDUSTRIAL

FARM EQUIPMENT




Merced, CA 95341-6318
(209) 383-1383


-Phillip Madayag
209-947-3481

24 / 7
Road Side
Service!
Offering
Farm / Ag
Tax Credit
Specializing in:
Agricultural Land
Transitional Land
1031 exchanges
Cattle Ranches
Recreational/Hunting
JIM WATSON
Californias Leading Farm & Ranch Property Specialists
jwatson@pearsonrealty.com
FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
PLEASE CONTACT:
RANCH & FARM LANDS DEPARTMENT
OVER 15 YEARS
EXPERIENCE & SERVICE
Merced Office 209.378.2300 Cell 209.349.2225
24 Years of Professionalism
WEED CONTROL
We Use Environmentally Safe
Problem
Weed
Specialist
RESIDENTIAL
AGRICULTURAL
COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL
Discing & Clean-up - Pre-Asphalt Applica-
Call Us First! 209 723-2161
est. 1973
Owner/Operators
Aaron Martella, Kevin Chiesa, Ron Martella
-Full Service Available
-From Field to Buyer
-80 Truck Scale
-Almond Drying Available
*For Your Convenience*
2100 Geer Road, Hughson
(209) 883-4819 Fax (209) 883-0819

MARIPOSA COUNTY
FARM BUREAUS
ANNUAL DINNER
&
AUCTION FUND RAISER

This year please join us in honoring District 3
Supervisor Janet Bibby

Saturday October 11, 2014
Mariposa County Fairgrounds, Building A

Social Hour 5:00 PM
RIB EYE DINNER 6:30 PM

To be followed by
Live Auction, Raffles, and Door Prize

Adults: early tickets Table of 8 for only $200 or $25
per ticket; at the door for $30
Kids: (5 and under) Free

Learn What Farm Bureau Can Do For You...
Its Not Just for Farmers & Ranchers!

CALL (209) 742-5875
For tickets or to Donate Auction Items

Proceeds help benefit Mariposa County
Farm Bureau Scholarships, in addition to
4-H, FFA & Bump Bids at the Mariposa
County Jr. Livestock Auction

OCTOBER 9, 2014
FARM2U
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 3
R
D

A
N
N
U
A
L
The 2014 FARM2U Day is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2014 at the Merced Fairgrounds
from 8AM to 1:30PM. During this event third-graders from Merced County will participate in this
educational day where they will have a chance to learn frsthand about agriculture and nutrition.
We are currently looking for presenters to showcase plants,
animals and farm machinery and additional
volunteers to assist with students and teachers
who will be visiting during the event.
To participate please return the
attached form to:
Merced County Farm Bureau
PO Box 1232
Merced, CA 95341
Ofce: 209.723.3001
Fax: 209.722.3814
bramos@mercedfarmbureau.org

Opportunity Drawing

Two winners will
receive of a hog,
butchered
and wrapped.

Tickets $1.00
Drawing will be held at the Livingston FFA
Greenhand Banquet on November 4
th
at 6 pm.
For more information, or to purchase tickets,
please contact the LHS Ag Department at
209-394-7960 or skuhr@muhsd.org.
LIVINGSTON FFA BOOSTERS

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