August - San Diego County Farm Bureau

Transcription

San Diego County Farm Bureau
NEWS
Serving San Diego Agriculture and Horticulture Since 1913
Vol. 23, No. 8
www.sdfarmbureau.org
County oaks under
attack from woodboring beetles
August 2010
Now that’s rough!
by Nancy Walery
everal species of San Diego
County’s oak trees are quietly
enduring a stealth attack that is
radically changing the local landscape.
The agent of change is coming
primarily from two tiny beetles that are
voraciously boring their way through
coast live oaks, canyon live oaks, and
California black oaks, causing sufficient structural weakness to kill them.
If you have any of these trees on your
property, they are vulnerable. Ignoring
the problem will only help the pests
thrive, reproduce and enable them to
hop from tree to tree and decimate
these oaks wherever they reside.
S
Beetle attacks on oak trees are nothing
new in California. Studies have shown
that bark borers, like the longtime
Western Oak Bark Beetle (WOBB)
and various other beetles, have been
attacking weak trees in Southern
California for many years. What has
changed is the frequency and scale on
which attacks are now occurring,
threatening large swaths of land,
especially since the Gold Spotted Oak
Borer (GSOB) has established a
foothold in Southern California and
particularly San Diego County.
“The WOBB has been attacking trees
already weakened by drought, con(Continued on page 20)
Farm Bureau Past President Chuck Badger playfully mistakes State Fund's Brian Watson for
a golf ball at a past San Diego County Farm Bureau Scholarship Golf Tournament. This
year’s event is coming up on Sept. 16 at San Luis Rey Downs in Bonsall. Won’t you join us?
Your registration and sponsor signup form is enclosed in this issue.
Inside this issue
President’s message .................................................................................. 2
An interview with Paul Wenger, CFBF President ........................................ 3
From the Executive Director ....................................................................... 4
Cathey Anderson logs her 6th trip to Malawi ................................................ 5
From the Ag Commissioner: 2009 Crop Report .......................................... 6
Farm Bureau dues to increase for three membership categories ............... 7
Leadership Farm Bureau applications due Oct. 15 ..................................... 7
Meet two new board members .................................................................... 9
One student’s view (scholarship essay) .................................................... 11
Egg regs apply to all who sell in California ................................................ 13
News from the San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group ......................... 17
Classified advertising ................................................................................ 22
Farm Bureau News August 2010
1
President’s message
August 2010
Volume 23, No. 8
You, me, Farm Bureau
and the peloton!
by Michael A. Mellano
hat the ???? By now, after more than a
dozen of these messages from me, you’ve
probably begun to ask yourselves where my
topics come from and why? You’ve also probably
figured out that I like analogies and believe in the
power of observation as a learning and motivational
tool. This month is really no different, except that this
topic was the furthest thing from my mind when I sat down to write my message. I had a completely different subject in mind that I will keep in my back
pocket for another day.
W
As I sat there on my sofa, organizing my thoughts, drinking a beer (FYI: It helps
the creativity) and putting the various pieces of my article together, I had the TV
going in the background. I was on a roll and thought I had a really good start to
a finished product when the TV caught my eye. It happened to be the “Tour de
France,” and I found myself mesmerized by the movements of the “peloton”
(really, I only had one beer). For those who don’t know, the peloton is the name
that is given to the large group of tightly spaced bicycle racers that forge their
way through the course as a single mass. I don’t know why, but I found it fascinating to watch the inner workings of the racers as they made their way across
the French countryside.
Individual racers would take their turn in the lead, where the hardest work was,
only to fall back into the masses to be replaced by another fresh racer over and
over again. They would jockey for position, working from the center of the
peloton to the outside, from the back to the front, all done with amazing precision and incredible teamwork. You see, the racers had a common goal—the
finish line—and they all knew from experience that by working together in the
peloton, rather than individually, they could get there faster with much less effort.
Sure, every once in a while, a rogue group of racers would break away, confident
that they would win but, more often than not, unless they were very strong and
timed their move very strategically, the peloton always seemed to catch up to
them.
It hit me at that moment that we are all like riders in the “Tour de France” and that
the Farm Bureau is our peloton. By now you must think I’m crazy (or at least a
little bit weird . . . my kids do!), but think about it for a moment. We are all working
together to achieve a common goal. We share the load and rotate the heavy lifting.
We know that we can make more progress, faster and easier, by combining our
efforts. We know that we must work in unison with precision or chaos ensues. And
we, for sure, have our share of rogues that still think they can win the race on their
own. Maybe someday they will figure it out, but we won’t let them slow us down.
We have our team. We have the targets. Now let’s go win the race.
Vive le peloton! 2
Farm Bureau News
San Diego County Farm Bureau News is
published monthly by the San Diego
County Farm Bureau, a nonprofit trade
organization whose mission is to represent
San Diego agriculture through public
relations, education and public policy
advocacy in order to promote the economic
viability of agriculture balanced with
appropriate management of natural
resources. This newsletter and the
activities sponsored by San Diego County
Farm Bureau are paid for by the annual
dues of its membership.
© San Diego County Farm Bureau. Articles
published in San Diego County Farm
Bureau News may be reprinted without
permission provided credit is given to the
San Diego County Farm Bureau and a
copy of the issue in which the reprint
appears is forwarded to the Farm Bureau
office provided below.
Article suggestions are welcomed and
should be mailed or e-mailed to the Farm
Bureau address below, attention Eric
Larson, Executive Director. Use of articles
is at the discretion of the Executive Director
and based on space availability and may
be edited to meet space requirements.
Article deadlines are the first of the month
prior to the publication month.
1670 E. Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA 92027
Phone: (760) 745-3023
Fax: (760) 489-6348
E-mail: sdcfb@sdfarmbureau.org
Newsletter layout by Nancy Walery
Executive Officers:
President: Mike A. Mellano
1st Vice President: Noel Stehly
2nd Vice President: Julie Walker
Secretary: Ken Altman
Treasurer: Ben Hillebrecht
Past President: Chuck Badger
CFBF Director, District 1:
Janet Silva Kister
(for San Diego & Imperial counties)
Executive Director: Eric Larson
Visit us on the Web:
www.sdfarmbureau.org
An interview with
PAUL WENGER
Paul Wenger was elected president of the California Farm Bureau Federation
in December 2009. He became a statewide officer in 1997 when he was elected
second vice president and served as first vice president starting in 2005. He also
served as a member of the CFBF board and chaired the CFBF Water
Advisory Committee and the Board Water Development Task Force. He is a
former president of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau.
A third-generation farmer in Modesto, Wenger farms almonds and walnuts on
the family farm, which includes property purchased by his grandfather in 1910.
His farming operations also include sharecropping, custom farm work and
walnut hulling. He has expanded his operation to include processing and
marketing of almonds and walnuts through his Wood Colony Nut Co., to
provide an opportunity for the fourth generation of the family to vertically
integrate into the family farming operation. Wenger, a graduate of Cal Poly,
San Luis Obispo, earned his degree in Animal Science. He has been active in
community affairs, serving on the Salida Volunteer Fire Department, the
Hart-Ransom School Board of Trustees, and the Stanislaus Land Trust and
Agricultural Pavilion boards.
What drove you to seek the California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF) leadership positions that led to your
election as president?
My unwillingness to let someone else determine how we in agriculture do our job. As a third generation farmer, I know firsthand that the majority of
farmers and ranchers really do their very best in taking care of their land, their employees, using water efficiently . . . all the while facing the challenges
of unpredictable weather and fluctuating and cyclical markets for their products. I have the greatest respect and admiration for those who make their
living in agricultural pursuits. Yet, agriculture often gets a bad rap from the media and in our regulatory and legislative circles. I saw then, and
appreciate even more now, the ability of farmers to work through the Farm Bureau at the county, state and national levels to advocate for our
industry and way of life. Collectively, we can do more to meet the challenges from beyond our individual farming operations that influence and affect
our abilities to farm efficiently and successfully. The credibility that Farm Bureau enjoys today has been earned from years of effort from our volunteer
leaders and staff from county Farm Bureaus to CFBF and AFBF. I am reinvigorated every day to advocate on behalf of our industry and carry
the message of California agriculture’s great success story and that it should not be undervalued or taken for granted by the media, our urban
neighbors or our elected officials at any level of government.
Considering the time commitment, how do you manage your presidency and your farming operation?
The fortunate thing for me is my home farm is a one hour and 15 minute drive from the CFBF office. This allows me the ability to commute
most days and, with the long days of summer, I can still get work done at home. I’m the mechanic/fix it guy, so a lot of that can be done late at
night and on weekends. I’ve had about 14 full days at home since December, but so far it has worked okay. It’s a learning experience on how to
manage the home farm and carry out my Farm Bureau responsibilities, but it has allowed my sons the ability to take on more day-to-day
management responsibilities at home as well. My wife, Deborah, and I have three sons; two are working at home and the third will graduate
next winter from Cal Poly and plans on returning to work full time with our family operation. The farming keeps me grounded on why I do
what I do with the Farm Bureau. But as I get around my neighbors and hear of all the egregious rules and regulations being foisted on farmers
and ranchers, it recharges my batteries to go out and fight for our industry. When I’m away from home, I miss the family interaction and the
farm work, but know that I have been given a tremendous opportunity to work to make things better for our agricultural industry.
County Farm Bureau members might not fully understand the work that CFBF does. How would you sum up
what CFBF means to a local member?
I have to admit, having been a Farm Bureau member since 1980, also serving as a county FB President, on the
(Continued on page 12)
3
From the Executive Director
Take the time to support the Business
Supporting members who support you
by Eric Larson
s the largest farming organization in the county,
Farm Bureau is in the business of keeping
farmers in business. That can be a challenge in the
face of water prices, pest pressure, the stale economy, and
regulatory demands. Despite the challenges, we will show
up every day and fight the good fight. The source of our
strength, of course, is our members. Standing right
behind those members are the companies that provide the farm community with
essential services. Their value to Farm Bureau cannot be understated.
A
For those companies and professionals that want to support the organization
that is working to keep their customers in business, we offer a membership
category known as “Business Supporting.” They understand that a strong Farm
Bureau is one of their best tools in keeping customers around who will buy their
products and services. And, to be perfectly frank, their annual dues of $395 is
critically important in sustaining the work that we do. But it is not just a one-way
street of having the Business Supporting members helping Farm Bureau.
In exchange for their support, these members get listed in the annual Source Book,
mentioned twice a year in the Farm Bureau News, listed on the Farm Bureau
website, and, probably most important, when inquiries come in to the Farm
Bureau office for services or supplies, it is the Business Supporting members that
get the referrals.
The up-to-date roster of Business Supporting members is always available at
www.sdfarmbureau.org on the “Membership Services” tab.
As a Farm Bureau member, you have two important roles in this relationship.
First, when you patronize the Business Supporting members, you are endorsing
their decision to support Farm Bureau. And it certainly wouldn’t hurt to mention
to them that you appreciate the support they give to your organization. Second,
if there are businesses you deal with that are not on the Business Supporting
roster, suggest they join Farm Bureau. You and other farmers are sending dollars
their way, so it would seem to make sense for them to give Farm Bureau help in
achieving its mission of working to keep you in business. 4
August 2010
Calendar of events
For more information about these events,
call the Farm Bureau office at
(760) 745-3023. For an updated list of
events, visit Farm Bureau’s Calendar page
at www.sdfarmbureau.org
August 5
No board meeting this month
August 12
UCCE’s Avocado Grower Seminar
1-3 p.m., South Coast Winery,
34843 Rancho California Rd.,
Temecula
August 25
Executive Committee meeting
3 p.m., Farm Bureau office
Upcoming Events
September 2
Board meeting
10 a.m., Farm Bureau office
September 16
SDCFB’s 14th Annual Scholarship
Golf Tournament
11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Shotgun at 12:30 p.m.
San Luis Rey Downs Golf Resort
For an updated list of upcoming
UCCE events, visit
http://calendar.ucanr.org
Farm milk prices to
increase
Dairy farmers continue to
struggle financially because of low
milk prices, and analysts say that
struggle will continue even though
on-farm milk prices will rise next
month. The state Department of
Food and Agriculture set the
price at an overall average of
about $1.49 a gallon, up about 13
cents from the current price. The
increase should allow some
farmers to begin selling milk at a
profit, though most continue to
lose money. The state regulates
on-farm milk prices but does not
control retail prices.
—CFBF
Cathey Anderson logs her 6th trip to Malawi
Retired Valley Center educator and AITC proponent
finds her new calling in small African country
by Nancy Walery
s you read this, Farm Bureau’s Cathey Ander
son is at her home away from home—on the
other side of the world, working in the villages
of Nkhoma and Chilenge in the landlocked nation of
Malawi in Southeastern Africa. There, the retired
Valley Center educator and SDCFB board member
representing the Ag in the Classroom seat is right back
in the teaching saddle, showing villagers how to turn
their parched and underperforming crop of primarily
maize into high yields that could put an end to the
region’s long history of starvation and poverty.
A
Anderson’s involvement began soon after she retired
from 16 years of teaching in 2008 while she was
wondering what she was going to do with this new
chapter in her life. “One of the challenges of retiring
is the fear of losing significance,” Anderson said. “I was
looking for a purpose.”
Demonstration gardens provide villagers with a side-by-side comparison
of crops grown using traditional farming techniques on the left, and
Farming God’s Way method on the right.
Y-Malawi
A longtime friend of hers encouraged her to join Y-Malawi, a partnership the friend had formed with a group of U.S. churches
and Christian organizations in Malawi to provide community-wide sustainable development in areas like water, food security,
healthcare, economic development and more. (The pro-Western, democratic, developing country is 80 percent Christian due to
the country’s history as a British colony from 1891 to 1964.) The Y-Malawi partnership was established because, while there were
many individual organizations working to help African villagers in these areas, they weren’t working together to comprehensively
meet a variety of the people’s needs. Anderson was intrigued and researched the program further. While improving on many
fronts, as of 2006, about 40 percent of the Malawi population still lives under the poverty line; 85 percent live in rural areas, with
agriculture (primarily tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, sorghum, cattle and goats) accounting for 35 percent of the
Gross Domestic Product; youth literacy is up to 82 percent as of 2007; and a high infant mortality rate and low life expectancy
(age 50) are due in part to a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among adults.
“With the good climate, soil, and decent rainfall, I wondered, ‘why is Africa still the begging bowl?’” Anderson said. “In
addition to all the international aid they were receiving, they still need to learn a variety of sustainable life skills—not just in
farming, but also skills like sewing, education, health care, and construction to lift themselves out of poverty. In farming, they
need to learn how to grow bountiful crops enough to not only eat but also sell so they can plant again next year. If there is a
way to train these people to reach that kind of level of sustainability, I wanted to be a part of that.”
Farming God’s Way
About the same time she was learning about Y-Malawi, Anderson was also learning about another organization, Foundations for Farming (www.FoundationsForFarming.org). By employing a simple but effective farming method called Farming
God’s Way (FGW), Foundations for Farming focuses on teaching villagers how to merge their inherent spirituality with
farm work to produce a better crop, and thus a more productive life. The method teaches four basic principles: 1) Do
everything on time; 2) to standard; 3) without waste; and 4) with joy. Founded by Brian Oldreive, originally a tobacco
grower and farm manager in northern Zimbabwe that was once near bankruptcy, Foundations was built on the premise
that the historic practice of burning and plowing were robbing the soil of the nutrients needed to produce a successful
crop. Oldreive, a very religious man, came to realize that this method of “Zero-Tillage,” combined with the use of mulch
5
From the Ag Commissioner
Bob Atkins, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
Farm Bureau has been
working for you . . .
Testified at County Water
2009 Crop Report
hen preparing the annual county crop report, I always hope to see an
increase in the value of agriculture. I know how hard San Diego
County farmers work to solve their struggles of limited resources and
competition using innovation and determination. Add to that, farmers deal with
unpredictable forces of nature. As usual, San Diego County farmers had a variety
of challenges in 2009. As a result, the 2009 crop value for San Diego County
totaled $1,548,131,332, down ever so slightly from 2008’s total of
$1,552,222,947.
W
While the total of 2009 did not exactly increase, it is barely a .5 percent decrease
from 2008. Looking back over the last year, San Diego County had an unprecedented five Mediterranean fruit fly quarantines! North County farmers were
especially hard hit with the Fallbrook and Escondido quarantines. We also had
quarantines for Diaprepes root weevil (rescinded) and Asian citrus psyllid (still
active). In addition, the sluggish economy continued to take its toll on bottom
line profits in 2009. When we expand our view to a longer time period, we see
that, since the turn of the new millennium (2000) when the total crop value was
$1,253,884,664, we have experienced a 24 percent increase in crop value—pretty
remarkable!
Overall, Nursery crops and Cut Flowers/Cut Foliage increased in 2009, still
above the $1 billion mark. One of the dramatic increases was Ornamental Trees
and Shrubs ($365,203,494), which overtook the long-standing No. 1 crop (since
1984), Indoor Flowering and Foliage Plants ($290,800,000). The reason for this
increase is not because of sales, but a 20 percent increase in reported acreage.
Changes such as these underscore the importance of all farmers annually
reporting both sales and acreage in the annual crop questionnaire sent out by my
staff.
Fruit and Nut Crops decreased in acreage (-7.09%) and total value (-8.66%) with
almost every crop decreasing in acreage as well as value. Avocados remain the
largest fruit crop, although the total value decreased (-9.83%) in 2009. The
shortage of water and subsequent increase in water cost, as well as stumping due
to the 2007 fires resulted in significant avocado production acreage reduction.
Authority hearing on desalination funding
Sent letter to Governor
Schwarzenegger urging him to
keep ag overtime rule in place
Conducted gopher and ground
squirrel control class for members
Met with Metropolitan Water
District to express concern on
declining water quality
Appeared on KPBS TV to
discuss need for immigration
reform
Spoke at San Diego County
Vintners Assoc. meeting
Welcome new voting
members
Matthew Altman
Logan Altman
Chris Burzo
Mike Copp
Donna Dubay
Fallbrook Winery
Glen Geyer
Dick Giardina
Herb Thyme Farms
Marylee Kopesky
Cheryl Lange
Walter Parkola
Tim Petersen
Jose Ramirez
Pierre Sleiman
Steven Stern
Julie Sun
6
FB dues to
increase for three
membership
categories
iven the depth and breadth
of programs and benefits
offered to Farm Bureau
members, your Farm Bureau membership continues to be big on value, low
on cost, and a win-win for members
and the agricultural industry.
G
To maintain the many programs Farm
Bureau members have come to enjoy,
the SDCFB Board of Directors
recently approved an annual dues
increase effective Nov. 1. Regular
Voting memberships will increase $5 to
$195; Multiple Members One Firm
(1-5) dues will increase by $5 to $160
(the 6+ category will be eliminated);
and Senior Voting memberships, which
have not seen a rate increase since
2003, will rise from $95 to $115.
The California Farm Bureau allows
each county Farm Bureau to implement dues increases as it deems
necessary for its local membership. In
light of SDCFB’s need to generate
additional revenue streams to balance
its budget while continuing to provide
a high level of member service and
support, modest dues increases were
necessary.
Most board members agreed that the
increase was a small price to pay to
enable Farm Bureau to continue its
work on behalf of local agriculture.
“Considering the amount of work
Farm Bureau does for us, the memberships dues are still a bargain,” said
Janet Silva Kister. Leadership Farm Bureau applications
due Oct. 15
f you are a current SDCFB member who is looking to move into a leadership role and wish to develop your skills and become more familiar with the
issues facing California agriculture, then you want to know about the CFBF
Leadership Farm Bureau program. All San Diego County Farm Bureau voting
members are eligible to participate in this nine-month, accelerated leadership
development program. Applications are being accepted now through October
15, 2010 to enroll in its 2011 program.
I
The intensive program provides more than 250 hours of instruction over seven
weekend sessions conducted between February and December. Although meeting
times may vary according to each month’s agenda, most meetings are held in
various locations throughout California from noon Friday to noon Sunday.
There are three distinct segments to the program: Governmental Affairs, which
includes lobbying sessions in California and Washington, D.C.; Agriculture,
which focuses on issues affecting farmers and ranchers in California, the nation,
and globally; and Personal Development, which will develop and enhance each
participant’s leadership skills through media training, public speaking, the art of
negotiation, and more. For more detailed information about the program, you
can view the activities from last year’s program on CFBF’s Leadership Farm
Bureau page (www.cfbf.com/lfb/).
“I’ve learned a lot about state and local politics and how challenges and issues are
overcome,” said Casey Anderson, SDCFB’s Membership and Marketing Manager
who is currently in the program. “What I’ve learned most is how important
effective communication is. When two sides are struggling, the only way progress
will be made is with honest and effective communication. In LFB, we learn how
to craft agriculture’s message so that the voice of farmers is heard. I recommend
the program to anyone who is interested in becoming more engaged in ag issues,
getting an in-depth education on who and what Farm Bureau is, the challenges
facing California agriculture, and what’s being done to find solutions to those
challenges.”
Eligible SDCFB candidates must possess demonstrated leadership potential and
agree to attend all scheduled activities. Applications must be accompanied by a
recommendation form completed by SDCFB President Michael A. Mellano as
well as recommendation forms completed by two personal references of the
applicant’s choice.
Applications will be reviewed by a regional selection committee. Semifinalists will
be contacted for a personal interview, and the CFBF Executive Committee will
select the final program participants. While the selection committee will base its
choice of participants on the information provided in the application and from
the personal interview, priority will be given to applicants in production agriculture and those currently serving as officers or board members in a county Farm
Bureau. The $250 program fee for selected participants is due by the first class
meeting in February.
To obtain an application, visit the Leadership Farm Bureau page on the CFBF
Web site (www.cfbf.com/lfb/apply.cfm), or contact the Leadership Farm Bureau
Division at (916) 561-5590. Farm Bureau News August 2010
7
I’m glad to be a Farm Bureau member
because . . .
Although farmers are a small minority of the
population today, we are still the economic
backbone of the country. The greatest threat to
our national security would be if America became
dependent on imported food. Farm Bureau does
a standout job tracking and keeping us informed
on the issues and pushes the “alert” button when
members need to get directly involved. Farm
Bureau also serves as an invaluable resource to
guide us on the many issues that affect us as
growers and small businesses. For a penny or two
on the dollar, we are getting $100 worth of
value. The San Diego County Farm Bureau is very
much a model for what an advocacy organization
should be, which is critical to the survival of
farming in our region.
Ray Lodge,
Lodge Ranch Enterprises, Pala
8
Meet two new board members
by Nancy Walery
he 2010-11 slate of board members was approved at the May 15 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, with two new
members joining the board of directors who are introduced below:
T
Cathey Anderson
Cathey Anderson may be new to the SDCFB board of directors, but she’s been a familiar face
around Farm Bureau for many years. Anderson joined the board of directors in October 2009
and assumed the Ag in the Classroom seat—a perfect fit for the now-retired elementary school
teacher who has worked tirelessly to help San Diego County educators bring the AITC curriculum into their classrooms.
Anderson, a Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo graduate with a degree in Animal Science, retired in 2008
after 16 years of teaching at Valley Center Elementary Lower and Middle schools, where she had
long been involved with Ag in the Classroom program activities through the state-level organization, California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (CFAITC). She gained local
notoriety after racking up accolades such as graduate of CFAITC’s Summer Agriculture Institute; being named an AITC Ambassador; serving as a four-time organizer of the annual event,
“A Salute to Agriculture” through the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District; and then in
2004, when CFAITC named her their Outstanding Educator of the Year. She has also been a
long-time member and now chair of SDCFB’s Ag in the Classroom committee, which raises funds to improve ag literacy in
San Diego County, selects the recipients of the annual garden grants given to local schools, and educates teachers on how
to bring agriculture into their classroom curriculum. In 2009, Anderson received San Diego County Farm Bureau’s Friend
of Agriculture award, which is bestowed on non-farmer members of the community who made significant contributions to
the wellbeing of agriculture in San Diego County and is held in high esteem by members of the agriculture community.
In 2008, Anderson partnered with her son, Casey, and launched AndHerSon Heirlooms. In 2009, their first crop of 13
varieties of organic heirloom tomatoes were harvested and sold at the Valley Center and San Marcos Farmers’ Markets.
This year, they grew 21 varieties of the specialty tomatoes and hope to expand their sales to include restaurants and local
markets. Anderson has also recently become involved with two faith-based mission organizations, Y-Malawi and Foundations for Farming, and she has already taken six trips to Southeastern Africa over the last two years with other volunteers
who are committed to teaching local villagers about farming methods that will provide food security and sustainability (see
story starting on page 5).
Ron Powell
Ron Powell joined the Farm Bureau board of directors in May and represents the Water
Quality seat previously held by his boss, Lauren Davis, who relinquished the seat when he was
elected president of Pardee Tree Nursery in January of this year. The nursery was established
in 1986 and is now one of the larger tree specimen nurseries in San Diego County supplying
the landscape industry with ornamental trees.
Powell is field supervisor for the 300-acre nursery, located in Bonsall, where he has worked for
the past 18 years. His responsibilities include quality control over all aspects of the nursery’s
irrigation, water and soils operations, from monitoring the level and quality of irrigation and
“first-flush” waters (rainwater runoff) in the nursery’s holding ponds, to fertilization,
composting, and soil composition, where he routinely conducts trials on soil formula changes
and tests plant tolerances to different grades of water quality. He is also the head engineer over
the facility’s state-of-the-art, computer touch-screen controlled reverse osmosis system that was
built just a few years ago to remove salts from the water supply.
“He’s very much a systems person who manages his crew well,” said Davis of Powell, who added
that the two have been friends since the third grade and worked construction together as young
9
Malawi (continued from page 5)
naturally provided by fallen leaves and grass rather than fertilizer, a simple hoe, and his faith
were all that were needed to dramatically increase crop yields. His experiment on about 5
acres of his own land was so successful he expanded the practice to the entire 2,500-acre
farm and then to additional land he subsequently purchased.
To implement this new practice on a large scale, Oldreive’s biggest challenge is in convincing
the poorest peasant farmers in the villages, who are very set in “the old way” of doing things,
to even try Farming God’s Way. Through Foundations, he has attracted followers worldwide,
like Anderson, who are willing to help spread the message about this new and simpler
farming method by building demonstration gardens where villagers can compare both
farming methods side by side and learn from trainers how they, too, can adopt the new
practice. And seeing is believing. Villagers who have watched the demonstration gardens
outperform their old method and who initially allocated a portion of their land to the new
method have converted all their crop land to the practice and now live with optimism that
they can enjoy a productive and promising future.
“The villagers are so entrenched, and they tie everything to something spiritual,” Anderson said. “To bring the religious
aspect into this new practice has been the key to its success. The new method started slowly, but, like multilevel marketing,
it has been spreading to neighbors as word gets out about the amazing success villagers are having.”
Spreading the word
Anderson is one of many of Foundations for Farming’s leader-trainers who have joined Oldreive’s mission, which, over
the last 20+ years, has successfully implemented the FGW technique in parts of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and Lesotho. On her
current trip, Anderson’s group is focusing on the Malawi
villages of Nkhoma and Chilenge, where the population lives in
mud huts, there is no running water, and it is common for the
women to walk a half day to collect water for their household
needs, Anderson said. Despite the hardships, she added, they
are warm, kind, and joyful people (Malawi is known as the
“warm heart of Africa,” she said), and the results she sees
from one trip to the next brings new inspiration—to her as
well as the people she is helping.
“I was in Malawi last October participating with a team in
training the locals, and when I returned in April, I was amazed to
see that those who had adopted Farming God’s Way were getting
significantly better yields despite sporadic rainfall,” Anderson
said. “They were so excited and are absolutely committed to this
new way of farming.”
Although the group’s focus has centered on the region’s staple
corn crop, they are expanding the effort as they bring in fruit
trees, and plant tomatoes, beans and peanuts
Photo, top of page: This baby, who has white hair and cannot open her eyes when
for a more rounded diet.
awake, is suffering from severe malnutrition. She was brought to a Nkhoma hospital
while Anderson was visiting and given an intensive nutrient-rich formula. She was not “Maize alone is a good start, but a diet of
expected to survive.
corn alone has really compromised their
health,” Anderson said. “If we can get them
Photo, above: Anderson poses with her World Vision sponsor child, Chimwemwe,
to embrace this new farming system with
age 9, (far right) and her family. “From long distance, you feel good that you’re helping
maize, they can easily transfer that knowledge
someone in such need,” Anderson said. “When you develop a relationship with that
base to other crops.” family and look into the face of someone who is starving, that’s when it becomes a very
personal experience.”
10
ONE STUDENT’S VIEW
Each year, the San Diego County Farm Bureau Scholarship Application includes an essay question
based on a contemporary issue facing today’s farmers and ranchers. Below are excerpts from the essay
written by Rob Hillebrecht, an Ag Engineering major at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in response
to the following essay question provided in the 2010 Scholarship application:
Discuss at least three strategies to bridge the gap between
farmers/ranchers and lawmakers in order to have an influence
in the changing political environment.
“The voice of the agricultural industry has less say than ever as politicians overlook the farming
population to concentrate on that of the urban cities. In order to overcome this major issue, the
agricultural community must remain well-educated as to the political issues of today and utilize their
First Amendment rights of free speech to communicate with the public and politicians. Most importantly, agriculture must support the Farm Bureau, through which the collective viewpoint of farmers
and ranchers can be expressed in local, state, and national governments.
It is only by actively educating oneself that farmers and ranchers can express valid opinions toward
political policies and propositions. Historically, those in the agricultural community have maintained
a high degree of political understanding and concern. However, in America today, many people have
lost their interest and care for politics and the potential repercussions of social and economic strategies. Farmers and ranchers must not give in to this attitude of political disinterest if they wish to have
a voice in politics.
It is also necessary that the agricultural community expresses their opinion to both the public and
politicians in order to be taken into account in the lawmaking process. We must therefore take full
advantage of our rights by individually and collectively petitioning our representatives, communicating the viewpoint that we hold toward certain policies, legislation, and proposals. Also, by communicating with the public through editorials, Internet and media utilization, and assembling together, we
can show the dangerous repercussions of certain political issues to not only the agricultural industry,
but also the public at large.
Finally, the most important and effective way for farmers and ranchers to have influence in politics
today is to support and remain involved in Farm Bureau. Through this organization, it is possible for
the agricultural community to join collectively to express the opinion of farmers and ranchers at the
local, state, and national level in a manner by which they cannot be ignored. It is for this reason that
the Farm Bureau is so important for the agricultural industry and community.”
Invest in the future of local farming by helping the
San Diego County Farm Bureau scholarship fund grow!
Be a partner in preserving the future of local agriculture by making a contribution to the SDCFB
Scholarship Foundation today. Just make your check for the desired amount payable to San Diego
Ag in the Classroom (the foundation established to support ongoing agricultural education), write
“Scholarship Fund” in the memo section of the check, and mail it to the Farm Bureau office at
1670 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92027.
11
Wenger (continued from page 3)
In this era of headlines and sound bites, we need
to take our message to the general public, where
farmers and ranchers don’t live or vote.
CFBF Board of Directors and a CFBF VP for
12 years, I am amazed at all the work that goes
through this building and throughout our county FB
offices. Because of our grassroots organization, our county leadership hears of problems firsthand. Many, if not most, local issues will eventually
have statewide importance if not handled quickly. It’s like the old adage, it’s a lot easier to keep the cows in the pen than to get them back once
they’re out. If all works well—and usually it does—a lot of significant problems are handled in their infancy. When issues do take on a larger
significance, like air and water issues, the Williamson Act, overtime pay and estate taxes, just to name a few, the combined influence of our
organization and the ability to mobilize our members to action is unbelievable. I continue to be amazed and proud of the fine reputation Farm
Bureau has developed over the years, because of our members and their ability to work cooperatively to defend, promote and enhance the business
of agriculture in California.
Success of organizations like CFBF is often measured by political clout. When you look around Sacramento,
how does CFBF measure up, and what needs to be done?
CFBF, which includes our county Farm Bureaus, has considerable political clout in our rural areas and with elected officials that represent rural
and some suburban districts. As our state continues to grow, we are losing our influence, however, as the more populated districts outvote the rural
ones. With the recent passage of the Open Primary Initiative, Prop 14, we have a golden opportunity to use our combined financial resources for
political action to bring real change to California. Like it or not, money drives successful campaigns. In this era of headlines and sound bites, we
need to take our message to the general public, where farmers and ranchers don’t live or vote. The average consumer today has no appreciation for
the challenges our members face in providing the most diverse, safest food products and unique horticultural products. If we are to combat this
lack of understanding, we MUST step up and support political action with our hard-earned dollars. While many competing political interests
have mandatory assessments for political action, our members must take the proactive step to make those contributions. Individually, we would be
hard pressed to make substantive impact in the political arena in California’s high-priced environment. Together, we can and have made real
impact. By getting involved in primary elections, we have helped “set the menu” for the General Election. Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina are
12
Egg regs apply to all who sell
in California
Thank you
Farm Bureau
volunteers
Thanks to the Farm Bureau volunteers
listed below who are members of the
new Farm Tour Day Steering
Committee, which is developing a plan
to conduct a Farm Tour Day
fundraising event where members and
the public can tour selected farms on a
specified date.
from Ag Today, July 8, 2010
alifornia Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed legislation
requiring that out-of-state egg suppliers comply with a California law
that sets minimum standards for the size of hen cages.
C
California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger said the new law
levels the playing field for egg producers and will keep jobs in state. “If we
don’t have AB 1437 saying all eggs need to meet with the same regulations, it
would put our egg producers at a major disadvantage,” said Wenger, a
Modesto area nut grower. “This was an easy thing to equalize, and we’re very
appreciative the governor saw it as a fairness issue, too.” Cathey Anderson
AndHerSon Heirlooms
Chris Broomell
Vesper Vineyards
Fred Ceballos
EuroAmerican Propagators
Fred Clarke
Sunset Valley Orchids
Gary Crouch
Mountain Meadow Mushroom
Michael A. Mellano
Mellano & Company
Mike Menghini
Menghini Winery
Laney Villalobos
Pauma Valley Citrus
13
14
At a time when our
country is looking for
economic stimulus, it
needs look no further
than our state’s farmers
and ranchers.
prime examples of this. Even closer to San
Diego is the 40th Senate district where Farm
Bureau played an important role in helping
Juan Vargas win a very close (still in re-count
phase as of press time) primary victory over
Mary Salas. Juan was considered to be the
candidate that would be more agriculture and
business friendly. The bottom line is this:
Agriculture needs to step up its political
influence. One of my main objectives since
becoming president is to rally all of our
diverse agricultural associations to pool our
political action dollars so we can be change
makers in Sacramento as well as Washington, D.C. As a $38 billion industry, we
must do a better job politically. We can and
we will, with your help.
With the state legislature having an
increasingly urban face, how can
CFBF make its message understood?
Besides the political effort I described above, we
need to reach out to those folks who depend on
us three times a day—our consumers. For
years, it has been discussed how we can best tell
“our story.” Various suggestions have been
discussed, but to no avail. It usually boils down
to “how do we pay for it?” At CFBF, we are
in the formative stages of a new foundation
which will have as its purpose to reach out to
the general public and educate them about
farmers. In San Diego, you have been doing
this for years through your successful farmers’
markets. With the term “locavore” now a
mainstay in food circles, we need to utilize our
public relations capabilities at Farm Bureau to
reach out and influence our urban neighbors.
We will be looking for companies and
individuals to help fund our efforts above and
beyond what we are doing now. It is our goal to
acquaint our consumers with where their food
comes from. California Country magazine
Ag Commissioner (continued from page 6)
Citrus acreage decreased (-7.51%) as did value (-6.15%). This decrease may be
partially attributed to the increase in the cost of water. Most citrus acreage,
however, was transformed into other agricultural uses such as container nurseries
which produces higher value crops per acre.
Vegetables and Vine Fruits increased (+15.69%) in value and (+1.25%) in
acreage in 2009. The largest increase was mushrooms which climbed in value to
over $18 million.
Livestock and Poultry saw a significant increase (+26.15%) as a result of the
inclusion of a miscellaneous category. Ratites decreased (-56.25%) due to a drop
in sales of meat.
Here is a summary of major crops in San Diego County:
Total Value of Agriculture
Change in Value from 2008 (-0.26% change)
Total Acreage (a 5,474-acre, 1.75% decrease from 2008)
Highest Valued Crop, Per A cre: Indoor Flowering & Foliage
Plants
Value Per Acre: Indoor Flowering & Foliage Plants
Highest Value Crop Overall: Ornamental Trees & Shrubs
Lowest Value Per Acre: Barley, Grain
$1,548,131,332
-4,091,615
307,292
$290,800,000
$450,000
$365,203,494
$9/acre
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, San Diego County is
home to 6,687 farms, more than any other county in the United States. The
average size local farm is just 4 acres, and yet our county’s farmers rank No. 1 in
nursery, floriculture, and avocados. In 2008, we were in the top five statewide for
cucumbers, mushrooms, tomatoes, boysenberries and strawberries, grapefruit,
Valencia oranges, tangelos and tangerines, honey, and eggs; 2009 figures for the
state have not yet been released. Congratulations, San Diego County farmers! For
more details on San Diego County crop values and acreage, please check our
website at www.sdcawm.org.
I would like to express my thanks to the many farmers, ranchers, nurserymen and
women who responded to our Crop Report questionnaires and provided this
vital information. (Continued on page 19)
15
16
New board members (cont’d from page 9)
adults. “With his water quality and RO
experience, filling the Farm Bureau’s
Water Quality seat on the board of
directors fits him very well.”
Powell first started working for Davis
at the nursery on what Powell called a
“temporary” assignment in 1992 when
Davis asked him to help with the initial
design and construction of the nursery
as well as the irrigation system. With a
strong soils and composting background, Powell quickly embraced his
expanding role in building the facility
from the ground up. He developed the
high-efficiency water runoff and
containment systems—a concept well
ahead of its time (and today those
concepts are an integral part of
mandatory Best Management Practices—BMPs—and a key element of
the Regional Water Quality Control
Board’s Waiver #4 for all growers with
irrigated crops). He also pioneered an
irrigation system that would ensure
equal water pressure and flows for
plants throughout the nursery’s hilly
terrain.
Powell is an avid bicycle rider—solo
and with San Diego’s Knickerbikers—
and has pedaled from coast to coast. Cheese production
increases
California cheese plants produced more than 2 billion pounds
of cheese in 2009, according to
a California Department of Food
and Agriculture report, and
production is up about 2 percent
so far this year. Almost 54
percent of the cheese was the
mozzarella variety. Cheese
plants in six counties account
for the bulk of cheese production. They are located in Tulare,
Kings, Merced, Stanislaus, San
Joaquin and Los Angeles
counties. California ranks
second nationally in cheese
production to Wisconsin.
—CFBF
S
W
E
N
he
ddd
t
m
fro
Call to Action: Enrollment in the San Diego Region
Irrigated Lands Group closes Oct. 31!
To members who have already enrolled in the SDRILG, this month’s column does
not apply to you.
But for the more than 300 San Diego County Farm Bureau members who have not
enrolled, this is a serious call to action! You may not like this new requirement that
has been foisted upon every owner of commercial agricultural operations large and
small (including irrigated acreage for animal feed) by the Regional Water Quality
Control Board (RWQCB). But it is California law, and San Diego County Farm
Bureau created the SDRILG for its members to help ease your burden of compliance with that law. Don’t miss the enrollment deadline of Oct. 31, 2010.
By joining the San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group, your compliance with
Conditional Waiver No. 4 will be more manageable and affordable. For just $200
per acre (which is capped at $1,000), you’re in the group. You will have signed up
for peace of mind that means:
•
•
•
•
You will not have to submit your own Notice of Intent with the RWQCB;
You will not have to submit your own Monitoring and Reporting Plan and Quality
Assurance/Quality Control Plan for testing of site-related discharges;
You will not have to conduct your own water quality monitoring; and
You will not have to submit your own monitoring report.
You will also have the comfort of knowing that when it is time for you to implement
any necessary management practices, you will have SDRILG telling you what you
need to do and by when. Compliance doesn’t get any easier than this.
Growers who miss the Oct. 31 deadline to enroll in the Group will have no alternative but to file their own Notice of Intent and work directly with the RWQCB. The
deadline to file your Notice of Intent with RWQCB is Dec. 31, 2010. Any commercial
grower who has not enrolled in a monitoring group or filed their own Notice of Intent
with RWQCB by Dec. 31, 2010 is in violation of state law.
You can choose to enroll in the SDRILG in one of three easy ways: By calling
(760) 745-2215; by e-mail (info@sdirrigatedlandsgroup.org), or online (https://
www.sdfarmbureau.org/SDRILG/Application-Form.php). SDRILG has made the
enrollment process a snap with an easy-to-use, secure web page where you can
not only enroll, but also supply the monitoring group with all the required information
that it needs to submit to RWQCB. Here’s feedback from a couple Farm Bureau
members who enrolled online:
“I just completed my data collection report and found it simple to complete. I
am quite impressed with it.”—Julie Walker, Obra Verde Growers, Valley
Center
“This was so easy to fill out. You did an excellent job putting this together.”—
Karen Thompson, Thompson Rose, San Marcos
If you are planning to enroll with SDRILG, there is no benefit to waiting another day.
Don’t run the risk of being left out of this Farm Bureau member benefit that will
simplify your path to compliance!
The San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group Educational Corporation (“Group”) is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Periodic updates of activities going on in the Group will be
published in this newsletter. For more information about the Group, visit www.sdfarmbureau.org
and click on the “Irrigated Lands Group” link.
17
18
and TV show are great ways to continually introduce
them to California’s farmers and ranchers and the diverse
bounty we produce.
At CFBF, we are in the formative stages of a new
foundation which will have as its purpose to reach out
to the general public and educate them about farmers.
In San Diego, you have been doing this for years
through your successful farmers’ markets.
Whether it’s price, supply, or quality, water
is on the mind of every farmer. Because the
opinions and needs of farmers are so diverse across the state, can CFBF channel that into a united message?
There is no better organization to “attempt” this challenge than Farm Bureau. Our geographic and commodity diversity helps create the divisions
of thought on water that will eventually spell disaster for all in agriculture sooner or later. If we are to be successful in meeting the needs of our
state’s entire farm and ranch community, the terms “winners and losers” and “give and take” must be replaced with efforts called “cooperation”
and “understanding.” With California situated between the Sierra Nevadas and the Pacific Ocean, water should never be a problem in
California. Unfortunately, agriculture has been content to fight over a diminishing supply of fresh water rather than fashioning a coordinated
effort to develop new sources of water storage and transport. At a time when our country is looking for economic stimulus, it needs look no
further than our state’s farmers and ranchers. Given adequate supplies of appropriately priced water, we can create wealth not only for our
producers, but everyone who touches our products from the field to the fork. It is our intent to continue to work towards that united message and
common goal.
We know in San Diego County how the stalled economy is impacting farmers. How are farmers faring in the rest
of the state?
We all know that you can’t paint agriculture with a broad brush. While some producers are experiencing a good or excellent year, others with the
same commodity may be having a terrible year. Weather anomalies and market gyrations have always had huge impacts on a grower’s bottom line
and could vary greatly between growers even in the same county with the same commodity. That is very much the situation today. Certainly, some
segments of our industry are struggling more than others, dairy in particular. Others are struggling with high input costs like water, not to mention
availability. Still other commodities like citrus, grapes and horticulture crops are dealing with invasive pests and diseases that could wipe them out, all
the while having to contend with a regulatory system that won’t allow them the flexibility to deal with the threats. Our organic growers are also
challenged, not only by these same pests and diseases, but also control methods that could challenge their hard-earned organic certification. Our animal
industry is dealing with the aftermath and regulations that are set to go into affect as a result of Prop 2.
Farmers are generally optimists by nature or we couldn’t survive the convulsions we experience in weather and markets; but it’s the onerous regulations
that seem to have the greatest impact on growers’ bottom line and ability to meet the weather and market challenges. The stalled economy has made
our urban neighbors look to doing things other than travel and the like, which has been a boost for our members who are involved in agri-tourism and
direct marketing. Folks are staying home more and, with the increased awareness for locally grown, California agriculture has what consumers want.
Again, the bottom line is Farm Bureau is working hard on reducing the burdensome regulations that can affect a grower’s ability to survive challenging economic times.
As with any organization, membership is the key. What is the message we can deliver to farmers who have not
joined our county Farm Bureau?
If you’re not a part of the solution, you’re a part of the problem. Apathy is a key ingredient to failure. Anyone involved in agriculture, from the
producer level to those allied businesses that depend on agriculture, need
to belong to their county Farm Bureau! I hear from growers, “it will get
done anyway, so I don’t need to belong.” The county Farm Bureau is
the first line of defense for our members; without that strong county
representation, what could have been a small problem can take on
onerous implications, not only at the county level, but spread statewide.
That is the value of being a Farm Bureau member. To “rely on the
other guy to do it” just doesn’t get it done. It won’t work in your own
business, and it will not allow Farm Bureau to be the effective advocate
for our industry that we need if we are to remain competitive in a
highly urbanizing state that has less appreciation for what our members
do each day. The best thing each and every Farm Bureau member can
do is to ask their neighbors, their business associates and vendors to join
Farm Bureau, and be a part of the solution to the problems and
challenges facing our great industry. Farm Bureau News August 2010
19
GSOB/WOBB (continued from page 1)
struction projects, overpruning, old age, fire damage, and other causes, and now the GSOB is moving in and finishing the
trees off,” explained Bret Hutchinson, an ISA Certified Arborist and owner/operator of Green Tree Forest Service, who
attended San Diego County Farm Bureau’s July board meeting to make a presentation about the expanding problem.
“Multiple species of fungi are introduced by these beetles into the oak, causing rapid structural decay, often overwhelming
the tree enough to kill it.” (So far, he said Engelmann oaks have not been affected by WOBB or GSOB, which could be
because Engelmann oaks have a much thinner bark; data is still is being collected.) Hutchinson, who holds a B.S. in Environmental Toxicology from U.C. Davis, has conducted years of research and field observations, hundreds of tree dissections and worked closely with U.C. Riverside scientists to understand the behaviors of these boring beetles so he can
educate others and try to break the cycle of destruction he has been witnessing.
Boring trees to death
Though they have some similarities and differences in their boring behaviors, the WOBB and GSOB are equal opportunity
destroyers. The WOBB bores through the bark of the host tree and into the cambium, where eggs are laid, and the grubs
that hatch feast on the cambium tissue while the fungal spores penetrate the xylem, compromising the tree’s ability to take
up water. The WOBB is 2 mm long, cylindrical, and black or dark brown in color and can be found in oak trees throughout
the Western United States. About 25 adults and grubs can cluster per square inch, and their short lifecycle contributes to
multiple generations living within one tree in the same year, thus allowing the grubs to thoroughly consume the interior of
the tree and the adult beetle to spread to nearby trees and cause a continuing cycle of tree deaths. Early WOBB attacks
occur in the upper canopy of the tree where they are not as easily seen, gradually working their way down to the trunk.
Clues to an infested tree will include crown thinning; numerous 1 mm bore holes on branches; small, dead clumps of leaves
over the entire tree; overall loss of vigor; and dark wet lesions on the outer bark that ooze from the 1 mm boring holes. An
ongoing U.C. Riverside study indicates that WOBB is responsible for about 80 percent of the tree deaths occurring in
Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.
The GSOB, which has a greenish-black, bullet-shaped body about a ½-inch long with small symmetrical yellow or orange
spots on its body, lays its eggs in the cracks of the oak tree’s bark, and the hatching grubs bore their way into the cambium,
where they feed and tunnel up and down the tree. It is believed to have spread to
California on unseasoned loads of firewood from Northern Mexico and Arizona.
Tree damage suggests the beetle has been in Southern California oaks for about
eight years, Hutchinson said. Like WOBB, GSOB damage includes crown thinning, loss of vigor, and dark wet lesions on the lower truck; in addition, there are
other signs of GSOB infestation that are easier to spot than WOBB, because
GSOB damage is most often found on the lower third of the tree and includes
1/8-inch D-shaped exit holes and bird damage (from woodpecker foraging) on the
trunk. GSOB’s lifecycle is longer than WOBB, which allows the development of
larger grubs that cause extensive damage to the cambium and bark of the tree
before they mature and fly into the oak canopy and on to new trees.
Early removal and chipping is key to containing spread
Catching the infestation early and removing the tree before beetle populations
mature and new lifecycles begin is the key to containing the damage caused by
WOBB and GSOB, Hutchinson emphasized at the presentation. “Many property
owners fail to act early when their trees begin to decline, which allows the beetles to
mature and fly to the next green tree,” he said. “Soon, the beetles have a high enough
population to successfully overwhelm healthy trees. Next, entire groves begin dying.
This is why prompt removal of infested trees is so critical.”
Hutchinson said that the best way to destroy the pests is to remove the tree and
immediately chip all debris—or burn it, if allowed. If the tree will be used for
firewood, immediately split the wood, pile it together and cover it with clear plastic
sheeting secured tightly around the edges, and “cure” it until the wood is thoroughly dry—about six to eight months. While the wood
(Continued next page)
20
should be pathogen-free after that
time, Hutchinson discourages moving
the wood outside the local area, just in
case any beetles survive the curing
process.
Some trees are self-healing
While the damage to trees from the
beetles is hard to overcome,
Hutchinson said some trees do try to
repair themselves with a complete
vascular and structural reorganization.
Sensing tissue destruction, the tree
responds by generating hormones that
can convert dormant cells in the bark
into wood in an attempt to re-establish
a new cambium zone for circulation
and seal off the area of destruction.
This self-preservation is most successful in areas where tree damage is
minor; when a tree has already been
sufficiently weakened, the process is
unlikely to save the tree.
Woody Barnes of Julian
stands next to a oncemajestic oak on his 155acre property that has been
destroyed by both the Gold
Spotted Oak Borer and the
Western Oak Bark Beetle.
Barnes estimates at least
30 percent (about 150200) of his oaks are
infected with one or both of
the beetles, and 10 percent
are already dead. Some of
the dead trees are located in
irrigated areas, so even wellwatered trees struggle to
fight off these killer beetles.
Good tree maintenance is
best prevention
While there is no preventive treatment
to protect trees from a beetle infestation, Hutchinson named several best
management practices that property
owners can employ in their routine tree
maintenance: 1) Proper pruning during
the mid-winter months (and no greenlimb pruning in the summer months)
will prevent the pests, which are less
active then, from being attracted to a
freshly pruned, “wounded” tree;
2) Reducing root zone compaction
around the tree, which prevents water
and nutrients from reaching the tree
roots; 3) Thinning out overcrowded
trees to reduce “competition” for
survival; and 4) Clearing any undergrowth or dead/dying limbs.
it global warming, climate change, or whatever you like, but our Southern
California landscape is changing. Rather than focus on one beetle, we need to
recognize our forests as complex ecosystems with many overlapping lifecycles.”
For more information or assistance in identifying a potential bark beetle infestation, contact a certified arborist who is familiar with your area’s pest problems.
Hutchinson can be reached at (760) 743-6290. With timely tree maintenance, vigilance, and containing the pest where it
lives, Hutchinson believes the cycle of
destruction of local oaks can be
broken without laying bare entire
hillsides. “Year after year, drought, fire
and beetle infestations have been
decimating our forests,” he said. “Call
21
Classified Advertising
Farm Bureau membership includes a free, three-line ad in this classified
advertising section. All new ads and renewals must be placed by the 1st of each
month to run in the following month’s issue. Call (760) 745-3023.
Equipment & Supplies
Farm equipment—field ready. Tractors,
swathers, bailer & bail wagon and more.
Contact Brian in Valley Center. (760) 749-5399.
Massey-Ferguson Model 240; 4-wheel dr, 1465
hrs, new rear tires, wgts front & back, driver’s
safety bar, rear pak fork. $9,500. (760) 310-3890.
New Holland baler Model 290; gas engine,
$1500. Heston 6600 diesel swather windroller,
$2000. (760) 742-3084.
Massey Ferguson TO 35 tractor. Rebuilt
engine; 3 pt, PTO. $2400 obo. (760) 855-0379.
Wylie 200-gal. sprayer, mint condition. Model
GX240 Honda 8.0 engine; DP-139 diaphragm
pump, 300’ hose, electric reel, gun nozzle
$3500, $6232 if new. (760) 685-2561.
Two Gearmore 3-pt mounted air blast
sprayers—2003 Model P50S1-600, 150-gal,
45-hp needed; used 4 times; $6,000, and 2001
Model P45N1-400, 100-gal, 32-hp needed;
$4,800. (760) 728-7171.
2-Port HE Anderson ratio feeder injects
fertilizer into flows up to 200-gal/min. Cost
$4,000+ new. Asking $1100 (760) 271-1876.
Mower, 5 ft. for 3-pt attachment. $250. Call
(760) 207-4378.
Deodar cedar trees, 4’-6’ tall, in 15-gal. pots
$40. Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through
Saturday. Loading avail. Near Hwy. 15 & Old
Castle Rd. (760) 749-5450.
Kentia palms: 5- & 15-gal (10-plant min.); sold
at wholesale prices. Single, double & multi.
Shamrock Nursery. (760) 728-8325.
Bamboo, palms & other exotics. 20% discount
to Farm Bureau members. (760) 758-6181 or
BotanicalPartners.com.
Protea plants. Many varieties avail. Gal. size &
commercial field planting size. Protea Hills
Ranch. Nsy. Lic. #C9056.001. Whlsle only.
(760) 741-5516.
Palms and other plants, all at discount prices.
Cold hardy, wide selection. Call James @
(760) 749-9375.
Mexican blue fan palms—Brahea armata; 15gal. pots $20. Avail. in Jamul. (619) 890-7965.
Palm Valley Ranch Nursery for a great
selection of palms, succulents & much, much
more. All sizes. Prices reduced to an all-time low
so come in or call (760) 518-1707 for more info.
Succulents wanted. Re-wholesaler looking for
all sizes, varieties Echevaria, Sedum, Aloe,
Agave, etc. Mark, Cardiff Greenhouses.
(949) 376-1563 or Miguel at (760) 942-3552.
Trees & Plants
Soil & Soil Amendments
Hydrangeas, herbs and Engelmann live oaks.
(760) 468-1427.
Compost–high nutrient value; great for groves,
vegetables, worms, yards. Pick-up to semi loads.
(760) 703-2410.
Pitahaya 5-gal. Asian type $25 each. Please
call Matt at (760) 723-6909.
Protea seed starter packs, Protea flower
bouquets & Protea botanical prints shipped
anywhere in the US. Avail. at
www.capeflowerfields.com
Palm trees. Kings and Queens 2’ to 15’ $8 and
up. Quantity discount. (760) 451-1788.
Cherimoya trees available in Fallbrook. You
dig. (760) 731-9753.
Cymbidium and Cattelya orchids—wholesale
prices available. Reid’s Orchids. (760) 728-7996.
Sago palms in 5-gal pots $25 ea; 20-gal pots $60
ea. Call Jack Brouwer @ (760) 749-5897 or cell
(760) 212-5192 or jackbro@pacbell.net for pics.
High bush blueberries, 5-gal.—Legacy &
O’Neil; $20 each. (760) 723-0858.
22
Stockalper Soils—Premium topsoil, compost,
nursery mixes, planter mixes, organic fertilizers,
mulches, bark, etc. Call Eb (760) 801-5664.
FREE horse manure in San Marcos. You haul.
(949) 289-5056.
Mushroom compost: Consistent, formulated,
homogenous product. High water & nutrient
holding capacity; weed free. No nitrogen draw
down problems; supports plant growth. A great
natural soil amendment. (760) 749-1201.
Wholesale worm castings produced from
cow manure, up to 5 million lbs; 15 cents per lb,
min. 42,000 pound truck load. (760) 598-5105.
20-20-20 Simplot All Purpose Soluble Fertilizer
with micronutrients in 25 lb bags. $50/100 lb
lots (760) 271-1876.
FREE Mulch, Poway. Good for water
retention & weed control. (858) 748-6524.
Land to Buy/Sell/Lease
Wanted: Grove properties to lease, no grove
too small; citrus only. (760) 749-0585 or
(530) 306-8304.
For lease: 57 acres in Rainbow available for
farming, etc. (619) 723-3448.
Wanted: Small grove to lease (less than 5 ac);
citrus, avos or mixed fruit. Ramona, Escondido
or San Marcos preferred. (760) 788-9324.
15 ac in Valley Center 4½ mi. from I-15 ready
for nursery. On level ground with water. Paved
road. Office avail. & room for greenhouses.
(760) 728-8110.
For sale or lease: 8 ac (4 parcels) in Alpine;
zoned A-70. Gr. groundwater. Has 2 res., shop,
barns, offices. (619) 445-3121 or (619) 507-4209.
For lease in Escondido, Lake Wohlford:
60’X40’ ag bldg., 1600 sq. ft. living area on 30 ac;
75 gpm well. (928) 274-0421 or (928) 274-0460.
Wanted: Groves, land and horse properties. We
have clients ready to buy. Jill Pettigrew (Agent)
(760) 468-1144 or office (760) 451-1600.
14 acres in Fallbrook. Highly visible from
I-15, nursery & avo grove property. Call Susie
(760) 525-9744.
Greenhouse for lease—all or part of 2 acres.
Computer controlled, glass, and more. Frank @
(760) 579-2271.
In Vista 1.1 ac, two parcels: #1 has 10,000 sq ft
greenhouse/pack area; #2 has 2,000 sq ft shade.
$269K each. (760) 908-9669.
Prime ag flat land for rent in Valley Center,
approx. 70 ac, 2 working wells, 2 houses + add’l
workers’ qtrs. Under $15,000/mo. All or part.
(760) 749-0485.
Highland Valley Rd., view lot, 3.5 acres with
avocados. Water, elec. & septic. (760) 741-6638.
Flower farm in Valley Center, 31.57 ac, 4 legal
parcels, 4 water meters. Income producing incl.
protea, eucalyptus. $698,000. Randy Haskell,
agent (760) 427-1079.
10 & 20 ac avo groves for sale. 4 10-ac avo
groves for $149K - $249K; 4 20-ac avo groves
for $279K - $449K in De Luz, Temecula.
Rawson & Associates (800) 894-9947.
Classified Advertising
43.37 ac in Valley Center; cert. organic avo
grove. Over $300K on improvements. Reduced
to $16,200/ac. $699,000 full price. Carry note
up to 50%. (760) 533-5391 or (760) 758-7555.
80 ac avo & lemon grove with house &
wedding venue $2,900,000. Call Larry at
(877) 224-2AVO or (951) 506-2563, ext. 814.
For rent 7 flat ac nursery land & 2 bdrm 1
bth house in Rainbow Valley. Fully fenced &
good water supply. $2,500/mo. (760) 533-8690.
37-acre avocados w/4 wells; 7-acre grove w/
well; 21 flat acres w/barn & well. Call agent
David (760) 807-3248.
91 ac exotic flower farm w/packing facil. &
office. Gorgeous property; panoramic views.
$1.5M. Kay O’Hara, the Jacque Real Estate Co.
(760) 533-8690.
Avocado tree injection/phosphorous.
Professional application. Fights root rot. Geoff
Bamber (760) 728-6786.
Immigration attorney. Immigration law
specialist certified by the California Bar, State
Board of Specialization. Practicing since 1982.
(619) 725-0797.
Environmental live tree relocation broadleaf and palm. (619) 593-6161.
McDonald-Western. Grading for roads,
homesites, ponds, drainage, rip-rap, etc. (760)
749-8847 or Mike@McDonaldWestern.com.
Organic certification. Local, quick, friendly &
reasonable fees. (805) 684-6494.
Landscaping, irrigation, mowing, discing,
tilling, weed abatement. Call Valley Center
Nursery (760) 749-2083.
Wanted
Trees–We buy oaks, pines, peppers, palms,
citrus, etc. Don’t cut it down, let us transplant
it. (858) 487-5553.
Bees, bees, bees. Looking for new locations
and open spaces in San Diego County for my
honeybees due to loss of previous locations
from the fires. (760) 727-7771.
Firewood: avocado, oak, citrus. (760) 747-3434.
Looking for property sitter opening. Mature
male exp. in ag, irrigating, mgmt. Bilingual.
Non-smoker & non-drinker. (760) 535-8499.
Looking for olive, avocado & other woods
for woodworking. imasloane@yahoo.com.
Help Wanted
For lease in Olivenhain: 2 ac avail. for new
farming with additional mature citrus grove. Ag
water meter. $2,000/mo. (858) 952-0856 or
acquisitionmanager@earthlink.net.
Grading, grove roads, clearing, chipping using
CAT D-6, D-2, Morbark Chipper. Grove
manager. Reasonable rates. John/Fran-Bar
Farms. (760) 451-1788.
Greenhouse, 18,000 sq. ft. dbl. poly. Fans,
bottom, heat, climate control, side curtains,
propane, benches, storage sheds. Trailer for
onsite caretaker. Outdoor space approx. ¾ ac.
Avail. now. (760) 801-9040.
Production Foreman needed for succulent
division. Must have experience in potted plant
propagation and in leading a crew. Bilingual in
Spanish. Thomas @ (760) 535-4312.
Backflow testing, installation & repair. Pete’s
Plumbing & Repair, Lic #881756. (760) 807-3122.
Altman Plants is an innovative, family-owned
company supplying a broad range of plants. We
are looking for a rose grower in our Perris, CA
location. Skills incl. min. 3 yrs. exp. growing
containerized roses, working with diverse
population; strong people & organizational
skills a must. Fluency in both English &
Spanish preferred. Competitive wages &
benefits. Resumes to hr@altmanplants.com or
fax (760) 510-9049.
Daniel’s Farm Services. Weed abatement,
discing and grading. (760) 731-2504.
Encinitas coastal grnhse (1168 Urania Ave.,
92024). Space avail. for rent. 40,000 sq. ft.,
(poss. to subdivide). Rates negotiable. All ready
to grow. Tables, auto doors & irrigation, staging
area. Paul (877) 378-4811 #6.
Nursery & grove equip.–trailers, carts, grates,
etc. Build to your specs or we design. Also
equip. repair. Richard (760) 723-0533.
Real Estate Services
Diesel service & repair—trucks, trailers, farm
equip. & RVs. References avail. (760) 801-7858.
Agricultural appraisal of avocado groves,
citrus, cut flowers, dairies, ranches, commercial
and industrial in SD and Riverside counties.
Real estate appraisals for financing, condemnation, litigation and trusts. 40-year North County
resident. Robert Shea Perdue, MAI.
(951) 694-6904, (760) 741-6124 home office.
Services
Banner’s Professional Weed Abatement.
Mowing and discing, brush clearing & fire
breaks. Insured. Free estimates. (760) 213-3903.
Olson Grove Services. Complete services for
avocados & citrus; small & lg. groves. 30 yrs.
exp. (760) 741-1783.
CANI Industrial Design & Engineering,
Inc. can provide the necessary civil engineering
to solve your problems with San Diego County
grading violations, ag grading plans, permits,
major and minor subdivisions. Call
(760) 353-7975 & ask for Bob Osborne.
Sunrise Farms, packers of organic and
conventional citrus for 30 years and going
strong! Call for a quote on all citrus. Will help
certify organic. (760) 598-3276.
Pumps & maintenance service. Well pumps booster pumps - sewage pumps. McDannald
Pump Systems (760) 741-5555.
Mountain Valley Management. Specialize in
persimmons, kumquats & avocados. Grove
maint. avail. for all; 19 yrs. exp. Scheduling now
for persimmons. Sharie (760) 749-3237 or cell
(760) 807-6677.
Bee hives available for pollination–groves,
wildlands, etc. (760) 731-6594.
Horse shoeing and trimming in San Diego
County. (619) 478-9070.
Avocado grove management. Fertilization,
gen. maint., irrig. repairs & new grove installation. Organic & non-organic (organic is our
specialty!). (760) 884-6515.
Professional, profitable avocado grove
manager with over 34 years experience.
Consulting, management, design & installation.
Charley Wolk’s Bejoca Company, (760) 728-5176.
Growers of cacti & succulents needed:
Production supervisor with exp. in potted
plants. English & Spanish req.; Grower with
cacti and succulent exp., if poss., potted plants
knowledge a necessity; Assist. grower, some
exp. in grnhse growing. Claus @ Sorensen
Greenhouses (760) 703-4232.
Miscellaneous
FREE wood, already cut, in San Marcos.
Foothill Tropicals. (760) 471-2771.
Simmental-Angus cattle, heifers, calves, bulls
and steers, all sizes, hand fed, great for beef. In
Ramona, CA. Call Dan (760) 390-5643.
Quality 3-way forage horse hay.
(760) 749-1491. Ask for Debbie.
Tango Caminito Dance School. Lessons and
shows. Elena Pankey www.TangoCaminito.com.
23
1670 E. Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA 92027-2409
Presorted Standard
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
San Diego, CA
Permit No. 751
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Sign up today!
. . . for the 14th annual
Scholarship Fund Benefit
Golf Tournament
Thursday, September 16
San Luis Rey Downs, Bonsall
Check-in 11:30 a.m.
Shotgun start 12:30 p.m.
See flier insert in this issue
Reserve today by contacting the Farm Bureau office at
Phone: (760) 745-3023 or Fax: (760) 489-6348
Many sponsorship opportunities also available!
24

August - San Diego County Farm Bureau

Transcription

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