December 2007 Newsletter

MONTHLY COLUMNS

Farm Bureau has been working for you . . .

Employer-Employee: Farm Employment issues

Thank you Farm Bureau volunteers

FEATURE ARTICLES

Fire recovery resources centralized

Winter 2008 expected to be wetter, but not wet

North County MSCP schedule announced

Diaprepes research gets a boost

Farm Bureau directors to study formation of runoff monitoring group

International trade conference in Prague spurs spirited debate

Mexican fruit flies back in county

San Diego County farmers honored for safety records

President’s Message

Bright lights on horizon for 2008

by Chuck Badger

As we come to the end of 2007, my only thought is, “What a year it has been!” We certainly don’t need another year like this one, ever. The year began with us wondering how far the Diaprepes Citrus Root Weevil quarantines would spread. CDFA continues to battle to eradicate the pest as Farm Bureau helped work out a quarantine protocol to help nurseries survive possible quarantines. Then we had the big freeze to add to the inauspicious start of the year. During the summer, we were hit with news that we knew would come some day—the Metropolitan Water District would be curtailing agricultural water deliveries beginning in January of 2008. In October the wildfires hit us damaging nearly 3,000 acres of agricultural production land as well as thousands of structures in the county. And, of course, the greatest tragedy was the loss of life caused by the fires and the personal loss suffered by those whose homes burned. Then November saw the beginning of another Mexican fruit fly quarantine–this one in Escondido. At November’s San Diego County Farm Bureau board meeting I jokingly introduced San Diego County’s Ag Commissioner Bob Atkins as the biblical character Job. Unfortunately this is more truth than hyperbole.

However, things may be changing. We received great news in mid-November that the California Coastal Commission approved Poseidon Resources’ desalination project in Carlsbad! The hearing on November 15 showed the broad-based community support for the project. Eric Larson, Julie Walker, Janet Kister, and I all went down to the hearing to testify to ag’s desperate need for this water. The region’s state and federal representatives, both Democrat and Republican, all supported the desal project. City and County elected officials, water districts, and organized labor all supported the venture. Only Coastal Commission staff and environmental groups like the Surfrider Foundation opposed the plan. It was very encouraging for our beleaguered farm community to learn that the Coastal Commission rewarded Poseidon’s eight-year process with approval. And it was great to feel like the Commission understood the Farm Bureau’s message—we need water now to replace what we are losing to real and regulatory drought!

So my message to our farm community at the end of this tough year is, “Hang in there!” Despite all of the difficulties, Farm Bureau is making a difference. We’ll continue to fight for our water rights, common sense protocols for quarantine areas, and quicker access to our farms during disasters. And remember, even the story of Job ends happily as the afflicted eventually enjoyed abundance again—as will San Diego County farmers. Here’s to a great 2008!

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From the Executive Director

Amid losses from the wildfires, farmers are grateful their employees are safe

by Eric Larson

The recent wildfires that scorched nearly 3,000 acres of productive farmland in San Diego County resulted in a spate of press coverage regionally and nationally. The impact to farmers was well reported by local print and electronic media and the story was told nationally through NPR radio and PBS television. The hit taken by farmers was shown to the public graphically through pictures and first-hand interviews with farmers who are struggling to recover. The stories covered the difficulties of cleanup, the rush to repair water systems, the expected long wait for production to return, and the fact that recovery will be the result of farmers’ hard work and reinvestment, not handouts. While those stories of recovery will continue to be compelling for months and even years, there was an unreported story that I feel is worthy of telling.

Satisfying the need of reporters to get into the blackened hills and find farmers meant that I was often in the field with the press hearing the stories as they were being told and notes were taken. On most of these occasions, I heard farmers make mention of something they were thankful for, even in the midst of their loss. Time and again, paraphrasing what they said from the heart, the words were “Everything will be fine because my employees are O.K.”

Having worked in production agriculture for a number of years, I am lucky to understand the bond that develops between employers and their crew as they work together to produce a product nearly magically from soil, air, and water. It is a strong relationship that neither would likely find if working on an assembly line or in a restaurant.

So, standing in ash, in some cases with the charred ruins of a home behind them, the employers spoke well of their employees and celebrated their safety. They related how they had wanted to stay and defend the farm, how they returned quickly when the danger had passed to start taking care of the plants and land they treated as their own. Taking the liberty to paraphrase again, I heard, repeatedly, “My employees are my farm.”

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From the Ag Commissioner

Bob Atkins, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures

Reminders for 2008

My staff and I would like to thank San Diego County farmers for their assistance in the agricultural damage assessment due to the fires. Our thoughts are with all of you who have suffered losses during the recent fires. County agricultural losses are estimated at $42 million from information provided by many farmers. My staff has worked with many of you over the years and we are saddened to see such losses.

As we move forward in the rebuilding process, we will continue to work with the Farm Bureau and other agencies to help with the recovery of San Diego County’s farms and nurseries. This help includes recovery of department-issued documents lost in the fire. The County and State maintain copies of permits, licenses and other documentation submitted to us. Please contact us if you need assistance. Our general number is (858) 694-8988, or contact your county inspector or program staff.

Additionally, as 2007 comes to a close, we wanted to provide the following reminders for the upcoming year.

Annual Restricted Materials Permit Renewals. Most permits expire Dec. 31, 2007. In order to renew your permit contact your pesticide inspector at (858) 694-8980 to schedule an appointment.

Operator Identification Number Renewals. Operator Identification Numbers ( OID’s) expire Dec. 31, 2007. If you have been active in agriculture over the last three years and have submitted pesticide use reports to the Department, a hard copy (paper) renewal was mailed in late November 2007. Save this document, as this OID number will be valid until 2010. Please check your copy to make sure the contact information is correct for your farm or nursery. Pesticide dealers will need a copy of your OID for their files. If you have not been active in agriculture and did not submit use reports, you will receive a letter requesting that you contact your pesticide inspector. If you have been displaced because of the fires, or you moved in the last three years, please contact us with your current address at (858) 694-8980.

Annual Pest Control Advisor and Pest Control Business Renewals. If you were registered with AWM in 2007, you will receive information and forms in the mail to complete and return for renewal. If you would like to complete your registration in person, you may do so at the San Diego Office located at 5555 Overland Ave, San Diego, CA 92123, between 1 and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. North County clients can schedule appointments at the new San Marcos Office located at 334 Via Vera Cruz, Suite 150, San Marcos, CA 92078.

Device Registrations. If you use a device to measure or weigh items for sale, the device registration is due Jan. 1, 2008.

Organic Farming and Direct Marketing Certificates. These certificates expire one year from the date it was issued and are not based on a specific calendar date.

Crop Report. Later in January, crop report questionnaires will be mailed to every farmer in our database. This information is used to compile the annual crop report and to determine the value of agriculture in this county. Our past rate of return has only been 10 percent. We are always striving to be as accurate as possible, so the more information provided by farmers—the better. As always, this information will be treated confidentially.

Lastly, I would like to thank all San Diego farmers for their cooperation. I am committed to working with all of you and would like to encourage you to contact the Department if you have any questions or concerns: San Diego office: 858-694-8988; North County office: 760-752-4700; E-mail: sdcawm@sdcounty.ca.gov; Web: www.sdcawm.org.

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Farm Bureau has been working for you . . .

Hosted grower meetings on fire resources and Mexican fruit fly quarantine
Testified to Coastal Commission in support of Carlsbad desalination plant
Appeared before U.S. Senate panel on effects of fire on farmers
Participated in several water district meetings on water cutbacks
Met with Senator Dianne Feinstein on federal response to fire damage on farms
Attended update meetings with county on the MSCP and GP2020

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Employer-Employee: Farm employment issues

Employment termination checklist

Reprinted from Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS) Newsletter

As we all know, having employees means that, sooner or later, an employer is going to have to discharge an employee or an employee will quit. Not only does the employer have to deal with the emotional aspect of a termination situation, but as with almost every area of employment, there are legal considerations to take into account when the employment relationship ends, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. To help in this regard, the following is an outline of the necessary documentation to use at the end of the employment relationship.

An employer must provide the following items to each employee upon termination of the employment relationship:

Final Paycheck (this must include all compensation due and owing, including wages/salary, accrued vacation, any employer-provided severance package, etc.);
Notice to Employee of Change in Relationship, in writing;
For Your Benefit (EDD Form No. 2320) (this form provides information regarding the state’s job training services, unemployment insurance, and disability insurance); and
Health Insurance Premium Payment Notice (this is a form put out by the state Department of Health Services regarding eligibility for potential state payment of insurance premiums).

Keep in mind that the timing of the final paycheck depends on whether the employee quits or is fired, and if he or she quits, how much notice was provided. When an employee quits voluntarily and gives at least 72 hours’ notice, the employer must provide the final paycheck on the employee’s last day of work. When an employee quits but gives less than 72 hours’ notice, the final paycheck must be provided to the employee within 72 hours of the notice. When an employer terminates an employee, the final paycheck is due immediately.

An employee, and his or her qualified beneficiaries, who receives health benefits through his or her employer, must receive notice as to his or her rights to continue such coverage under either the federal COBRA law, or the state Cal- COBRA law, whichever is applicable (employers with 20 or more employees are covered by the federal law, while employers with two to 19 employees are covered by the state law). Most employers rely upon their insurance carrier to provide the proper notices within the allowed time, but the employer will have to notify the carrier of the fact that the employee will be losing coverage.

If the employer provides the required notices itself, it must do so within the allowed time frame.

While not required, an employer should have a terminated employee sign an acknowledgment that he or she has received all of their compensation that is due and owing.

Finally, an employer should at least consider whether it is advisable to seek a release of claims from a terminated employee to prevent the employee from filing a lawsuit. While not required, it is sometimes worth the expense of a severance package to avoid the possibility of claims.

What this means for employers: Employers need to be aware of the need to provide proper documentation when the employment relationship ends to ensure they are not opening themselves up to potential technical violations.

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Ask the Farm & Home Advisor

by Valerie J. Mellano, Ph.D.
UC Cooperative Extension, San Diego County

Q: Do you have any specific suggestions that will help my avocado grove recover from the recent fire?

A: Here are several points you might consider. If you would like more information, please go to our wildfire Web site, www.wildfirezone.org.

• Repair and replace melted risers and sprinklers. It is important to get the irrigation system functioning as soon as possible. A short irrigation (perhaps only for an hour or two) is necessary to moisten the soil to keep the feeder roots alive.

• Make the decision to stump or delay pruning. Stumping can be done immediately. If the decision is made to wait, pruning should be delayed until new growth appears. If the trunk (cambium layer) is damaged over 30-40 percent of the circumference, the tree should be stumped. The tree may have to be re-grafted if damaged within a few inches of the soil.

• Paint the trunks and large limbs with whitewash or water-based white paint. Exposed bark can sunburn easily; therefore, stumps should be painted immediately after cutting. Un-pruned trees, if exposed significantly to open sun, should also be painted, especially on the south-west side of the tree. Paint doesn’t have to be full strength; paint mixed 50/50 with water is sufficient.

• Reduce irrigation substantially. Damaged trees cannot use the amount of water they used when healthy. Unneeded irrigation is wasteful, expensive and potentially hazardous to root health. Weed growth should be controlled, as weeds use a lot of water. Water should be increased gradually as the trees leaf out and begin to use water. Use soil probes or tensiometers to determine soil moisture.

• Withhold nitrogen fertilization until mid-summer or longer. Reduce the amount of nitrogen when application is eventually made. Fertilizer is used to support growth, not to force growth.

• Apply zinc as a foliar spray when leaves are two-thirds to three-fourths fully expanded, or through the irrigation system.

• Apply greenwaste (chipped wood) mulch to the soil. Since the leaf mulch has burned off (exposing feeder roots to the air), now would be a good time to apply mulch to the soil (at least to a depth of 4 inches). Make sure the mulch has been composted. The heat from composting will kill any spores of Phytophthora root rot fungi and most weed seeds.

• Contact the County Assessor’s Office. The grove or portions of the grove could be reassessed for a period of time to reduce the tax liability. In San Diego County, call (760) 940-6868.

Information in the above article was provided by Gary S. Bender, Ph.D., Farm Advisor, San Diego County

Editor’s note: If you have a subject you would like addressed in this monthly column, please contact Val Mellano at (760) 752-4717 or vjmellano@ucdavis.edu.

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FFA Ag- tivities

Orange Glen High School FFA

The Orange Glen FFA had a very busy and successful 2006-07 year. Two FFA banquets, numerous field days, and attending California’s State Conference were just some of the highlights for the year. The San Diego/Del Mar Fair rounded out the year with our market animals placing well in their classes and Scott Dancz winning Reserve Grand Champion Turkey Meat Pen. We are also very proud of Andrew Bedwell, Orange Glen FFA’s very first American Farmer Degree recipient, who traveled to Indianapolis in October to receive his award.

For the 2007-08 year, the Orange Glen Agriculture Department is now a single-person department that offers Agriculture Science 1, Agriculture Science 2, Agricultural Biology, and is adding a new Floriculture class this year. We have 164 students enrolled in our agriculture program, down from the 340 students we had last year. With our new floriculture class, we also have a new floral team that competed at the L.A. Fair and took 7 th place high team on their first attempt. They plan on competing this year at the Fallbrook Field Day and UC Davis Field Day.

In September, Orange Glen High School’s administration decided to replace the Agriculture Department’s shop with a wrestling room. Machines and tools were moved out and wrestling mats were moved in. Working without an ag shop will prove to be a challenge in the coming years. We are looking to focus our energies on improving our livestock facilities and school farm laboratory area.

Orange Glen FFA Wish List

Greenhouse poly plastic for damaged roof (25-ft rolls)
12 bar stools for the classroom lab tables
Tools for the farm: standard hoes, hula hoes, garden hoses, pitchforks,
EZ-cart buckets
Lawn mowers (2)
String trimmer
Fly traps for livestock area
Sheers/clippers for San Diego Fair animals
Sponsors for student fair animals

If you can help by providing any of these items, please contact the Farm Bureau at (760) 745-3023 or Orange Glen High School FFA instructor Marni Moore at (760) 291-5069.

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Thank you Farm Bureau volunteers

Thanks to the Farm Bureau volunteers listed below who are members of the new Revenue Committee, which is exploring alternative revenue sources to help support Farm Bureau operations:

Michael Anthony Mellano (Chair)
Mellano & Company

Chuck Badger
R.E. Badger & Son

Kevin Grangetto
Grangetto’s Farm & Garden Supply

Ben Hillebrecht

Janet Kister
Sunlet Nursery

Bill Kovach
Specimen House

Al Stehly
Stehly Grove Management

Dave Van Ommering
Van Ommering Dairy

Bob Vice

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Fire recovery resources centralized

In the wake of the recent wildfires, many San Diego growers were left with burned groves, destroyed outbuildings and melted irrigation systems. To compound their frustration, help at local assistance centers for farmers seemed at best confusing and at worst nonexistent. The San Diego County Farm Bureau has responded to the problem with a simple solution.

We’ve created a new page on our Web site, www.sdfarmbureau.org, entitled Firestorm 2007 Resources. The page lists by category all of the resources available for farmers. From insurance company phone numbers to cultural practices for burned avocado groves, the information can be found on our Web site. Visitors to the site can be assured of finding reliable information; the page is updated almost daily as new and more information is made available. Important phone numbers are listed as well as the addresses of local relief agency offices.

Most recently, we’ve posted information about $6.6 million in federal funds that have been made available to the United States Department of Agriculture. With that money the USDA is funding two programs offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency.

The NRCS is accepting applications for their Environmental Quality Incentives Program. EQIP is a 75 percent cost share program and will be used for replacing irrigation systems and installing erosion control measures. The Farm Service Agency will accept applications up to the end of the year for their Emergency Conservation Program, which is also a 75 percent cost share program, to aid in debris removal and rangeland fence repair.

Also on the Firestorm 2007 Resources page are the latest press releases from state and federal government agencies detailing tax relief available for those whose property was affected by the fires. The county tax assessor advises that people whose property was damaged by the fire in excess of $10,000 get their property reassessed at a lower value. After reconstruction is complete, property owners can revert to their previous assessed value.

Careful and continuous record keeping is very important when it comes to applying for federal aid. Agencies will want to make sure that growers qualify for whatever aid they’re offering. Having detailed records of rebuilding costs will also be important if monies are made available in the future that growers could apply for.

Visit our Web site often to keep up with what is available; we are constantly trying to find new resources to help San Diego growers. Remember: www.sdfarmbureau.org.

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Winter 2008 expected to be wetter, but not wet

by Wilbur Shigehara,
Meteorologist in Charge, Retired, National Weather Service, San Diego

For the past eight winters, rainfall has been inconsistent and generally alternating between dry and wet. The following are San Diego County’s rainfall statistics (in inches) for the past eight years:

1998-1999: 6.31
1999-2000: 6.67
2000-2001: 8
2001-2002: 2.8
2002-2003: 10
2003-2004: 5.1
2004-2005: Over 20
2005-2006: 5.87

Notice how the winter rainfall has been alternating between wetter and drier over the past eight years. We are due for a wetter, but perhaps not wet, winter. Starting with this premise, there are the more technical factors to consider. As long-range forecasting becomes more technical, it becomes more complicated considering one factor based upon another and contingent upon another. And if everything is considered and thrown into a pot, forecasting then becomes more of an art.

As a result, there is no consensus. Even the computerized models are confused, as was the case last winter. Forecasting winter rain has become simplistic—like a recipe advocating a wet winter for El Niño conditions and a dry winter for La Niña conditions. As we found out, it is not that easy.

Everyone, including myself, was fooled by the information. Ocean water temperatures dictate the pressure pattern, which in turn influences the wind pattern, which in turn directs the storms. I was apprehensive last November when I made the winter forecast in spite of the foregone conclusion that it was a strong El Niño that would produce abundant rainfall for San Diego because a critical element was lacking: That the albacore off San Diego went elsewhere to warmer waters. Albacore, which seek warmer waters and are numerous off San Diego during El Niño years, make a terrific anecdotal forecasting tool.

The albacore have not yet returned to San Diego from their warmer waters—wherever that turned out to be. La Niña conditions have caused the Eastern Equatorial Pacific waters to be cool, which is causing high pressures over San Diego and acting as a chronic storm block. As a result, the rains will have a hard time reaching San Diego from the Gulf of Alaska this winter.

The absence of albacore because of La Niña conditions portends dry conditions for San Diego, but we are still due for a wetter winter based upon winter cycles over the past nine years. Based on these two premises, I expect this winter to be wetter than last winter, but not wet. We had 5.87 inches of rain last winter in San Diego. I expect rainfall this winter to be close to 8 inches for Encinitas-Rancho Santa Fe and Vista, and close to 10 inches for Escondido (these predictions are about two-thirds of normal rainfall).

Regarding frost, we might see a couple dozen cold nights when normally we would see 33. There will be perhaps two nights in the mid-20s. For the Sierras, I expect close to the normal 140 inches of snow.

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Water deadline approaching

January 1, 2008 will arrive soon, along with the mandate for growers using Interim Agricultural Water Program (IAWP) water to cut their usage by 30 percent. At this time, it is important for water users to fully understand how their retail water agency plans to implement enforcement of the reductions. While the allocation based on usage in 2006-2007 is universal among retail agencies in the county, there may be nuances in enforcement that vary. Dates meters are read, allocation time periods, overuse penalties, carryover provisions, residential/ ag meters, and multiple meters under common ownership may be administered differently in each district. Anyone who is not yet familiar with allocation policies is encouraged to make contact with their district.

It is important to note that the 30 percent reduction depends on the residents and businesses within the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) being successful in making voluntary reductions and imported water supplies not diminishing further. Should mandatory cutbacks be instituted for urban uses, it is possible that IAWP reductions would go deeper. The Draft Shortage Allocation Plan under consideration by the MWD board of directors calls for IAWP reductions to go to 40 percent if there is a declared regional shortage level of 15 percent. If that declaration goes to 20 percent, IAWP reductions go to 50 percent. At a regional shortage level of 25 percent, IAWP goes to a devastating 75 percent reduction. Mandatory urban use reductions are not currently under consideration, and the IAWP 30 percent reduction would remain unchanged even if urban use is cut as much as 15 percent.

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North County MSCP schedule announced

Nearly one year after the release of the preliminary draft of the North County Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), the County of San Diego has issued a schedule for moving the document to the point of delivery to the Board of Supervisors for final adoption. Key to the process is three public review and participation phases.

The first review to take place will be the public review of the draft plan in mid- 2008. That will include a stakeholder review—Farm Bureau participates on the stakeholder committee—followed by a public review that is scheduled to run from May 4 to July 23. At the conclusion of the public review, the environmental review will be initiated.

The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the MSCP will be under preparation for much of 2008 with a planned released for public review on November 25. The entire EIR process includes draft and final documents, both subject to public scrutiny. Completion of the EIR is hoped to occur on June 15, 2009. Once the environmental review is done, the third phase—public hearings—will begin.

It is expected that the MSCP will be in the hands of the county planning commission from June 1 through August 30, 2009. A recommendation from the planning commission will then be forwarded to the board of supervisors. The board of supervisors will then consider the MSCP from August 30 to October 27, 2009. Both the planning commission and board of supervisors will conduct public hearings. Should the MSCP be adopted, its implementation would begin immediately.

For members of the farm community, the MSCP will have its greatest impact on the clearing of land for the future expansion of agricultural production. Under the current county clearing ordinance, it is typically difficult to obtain permission to clear land for planting crops or nursery construction. The MSCP is expected to ease that process in the less environmentally sensitive areas within the boundaries of the MSCP. For producers wanting to move onto sensitive habitat, it is expected that mitigation will be required.

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Diaprepes research gets a boost

With two years of funding secured from the State of California, the California Department of Food and Agriculture will continue to move forward with its research on the Diaprepes root weevil that might have ended in April 2008. While the current infestations in San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles counties are not expanding as rapidly as they were initially, research is critical to establish control and eradication strategies to protect growers and the public from the new and expanded infestations.

There are five distinct areas of study being conducted. The first includes phenology and biological studies. Fully understanding the insect and how it reproduces and lives in California will be critical to determining control measures. The next area of study is research on preventative and curative management tactics for Diaprepes in nurseries, urban settings, and production agriculture. That research will be done in concert with development and implementation of management programs.

The fourth research area is the critically important evaluation, release, and establishment of biological controls. With no natural predators in California, the Diaprepes root weevil control strategies currently depend on chemical applications. Long-term density reduction of the pest will be better achieved with biological controls.

The final area of research includes the creation of outreach materials for all affected parties that explain the management programs, avoidance strategies, and the functions of the biological control agents. This educational step is important in successful implementation of controls and averting future re-infestations from illegally imported nursery stock.

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Farm Bureau directors to study formation of runoff monitoring group

At its Nov. 1, 2007 meeting, the San Diego County Farm Bureau Board of Directors took action to begin investigating the creation of a group to perform water quality monitoring and report results of the monitoring to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board). The Conditional Waiver for agricultural and nursery discharges adopted by the Regional Board in October requires every farm operator in the region to either join a monitoring group or conduct his or her own testing and report directly to the Regional Board. Cost-sharing will be the principle advantage of joining a monitoring group. The deadline for growers to join a monitoring group or formally apply for solitary status is Dec. 31, 2010.

In addition to monitoring runoff in a group or individually, the 2008 waiver, which will be in effect for five years, requires growers to fully comply with state and federal clean water statutes, complete two hours of education per year on runoff control, maintain records on cultural practices that could effect runoff, and use best management practices to prevent runoff pollution.

While deliberating the creation of a monitoring group, the Farm Bureau’s directors acknowledged that it would be an unprecedented effort to organize the nearly 6,000 farm sites in the region into a working coalition. Additional challenges include the fact that there are 11 watersheds in the region and Southern Riverside and Orange counties are also under the jurisdiction of the Regional Board. There was consensus among the directors that the $18,000 permitting costs per individual or group was an important incentive in trying to form a group. It was also mentioned that testing would be less costly if shared by a large group.

Research into the creation of a group will include a study of the 13 monitoring groups already operating in the state to help farmers comply with runoff standards. Upon completion of the study in early 2008, the San Diego County Farm Bureau directors will determine if Farm Bureau should move forward as the lead agency in forming and administering the monitoring group.

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International trade conference in Prague spurs spirited debate

by Janet Silva Kister

This past October, I had the privilege of attending the North America-European Union Trade Conference in Prague as part of the California Farm Bureau delegation. This meeting provided a unique forum to meet farmers and representatives from different international agricultural organizations to debate and develop an understanding of common issues.

The discussions focused on current trade policy, the future direction of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and bilateral trade agreements; the challenge of free trade while developing stable, local production; the role of cooperatives; the growing demand for sustainability programs; opportunities in renewable agriculture resources energy programs; climate change and the role of harmonized social programs in the WTO.

With representatives from the European Union, United States, Mexico and Canada speaking more than seven different languages, the deliberations proved short on consensus, yet full of enthusiasm for spirited debate.

In the end, it was the thought-provoking discussions that generated ideas and the opportunity to build personal relationships with members of international grower groups that proved to be the real value of the conference. A sampling of the ideas we took back that could warrant further discussion include: What role can agriculture take to make a more positive impact on climate change? Would privatized crop insurance be more beneficial to farmers and be designed to cover a wider range of crops? How far should renewable mandates be extended to the public, or would this misallocate already limited resources? Agriculture needs to be actively involved in setting sustainability program standards before they are instituted using input from environmental groups only. With the help of contacts made at this conference, we will continue to learn about and debate potential tools our farmers can use to prosper in the future.

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In the line of FIRE

by Nancy Walery

Some of you may know me as the Farm Bureau newsletter writer and editor, but this will be a different kind of story. My family was evacuated before dawn Monday, October 22 from our Escondido home because of the San Diego wildfires, and our home burned to the ground Tuesday morning. Since then, our lives have been turned upside down, and I’d like to share with you some of this experience; some of the things we did right; some things we could have done better; and some things we plan to do differently in the future.

Whenever the Santa Ana winds kick up, my husband, Ken, and I are on edge. Our home, located in southwest Escondido in the hills above the north side of Lake Hodges on the northwest flank of Bernardo Mountain west of I-15, is located near a natural preserve owned by the San Dieguito River Park Conservancy, which is working to complete the Coast to Crest Trail. The natural growth on that mountain and its proximity to homes spawned the neighborhood’s launch of our own Fire Safe Council several years ago. We were assured by the local fire department that they would protect our homes should a fire occur. But the conditions of the recent wildfires changed all the rules.

After the first fires in Ramona started Sunday afternoon, Oct. 21, we were tracking carefully its path and the incredible wind intensity. The fire was moving in a southwesterly direction surprisingly fast, but, although worried, we were certain that fire crews would have many opportunities to take a stand before it ever reached us. That night, we left the sliding door open in the bedroom so that we would be awakened if the smoke intensified. But with the wicked winds, neither of us slept well. Just before 3 a.m., smelling a lot more smoke, we got up to investigate.

Ken went out to a vantage point in front of our house to look eastward, and saw the Highland Valley area—only a few miles from us as a crow flies—in flames. I turned on the TV, which was carrying live coverage reporting that flames had jumped to the west side of I-15. I didn’t need anyone to tell me it was time to start packing, and the reverse 9-1-1 call at 4 a.m. simply confirmed what we already knew. Many of our neighbors, however, didn’t have the same sixth sense we did and slept until they received the call, giving them far less time to pack and evacuate. I grabbed some boxes from the garage, headed into the office/den, and started packing critical files. The evacuation list I had compiled years earlier, including a periodic mental dry run, helped me get focused and organized. Although I don’t know where that list was that morning, there’s nothing like a real emergency to bring it into sharp focus.

Packing

In the office, I methodically went from file drawer to file drawer, making split-second decisions on what files were crucial and which were not. (In the coming months, we’ll see how well I did on retrieving the right stuff, but so far, so good.) I headed to the living room built-in bookshelf where the bulk of our family pictures and photo albums were located, and started stacking them by the front door for loading into the car. Had I turned around and taken a deep breath, I might have remembered the other small table with pictures, the wedding photo album and additional photo albums hidden in the coffee table storage cubby, but the intensity of focus at times actually blocked my ability to see everything clearly around me. As I walked down the hallway, I plucked more family photos off the wall as my mind raced ahead to what I should grab next.

We awoke my 15-year-old daughter, Robyn, with the good-news, bad-news scenario: The good news is you won’t have to go to school today; the bad news is you’ve got to start packing for evacuation! Rosie, our yellow lab, was all excited, which reminded me I had to gather up her food, medicine and other essentials, too. I only grabbed a few things from the room of my 19-year-old son, Ryan, who lives in the dorms at Cal Poly, Pomona, but Robyn went in and started picking a few more things for him.

I realized I had better pack some clothes, but every time I stood in the closet trying to figure out what to take, I remembered more documents, pictures or other compelling essentials I needed to grab. I would return to the closet, only to remember more must-take items elsewhere in the house. I should have observed Ken’s “scoop” method in the closet (although I’m not sure it’s that simple for women unless your closet is really well organized): He scooped up a handful of shirts on his top rack, took another scoop of pants on the bottom rack and dumped them in the car—job done. In my rebuilt house, I plan to have a “cheat sheet” evacuation card in every room that highlights what I need from that room, including a clothing list. That would have reduced some of my darting from room to room and reduced some of the mounting stress.

Fortunately, we had stored a number of critical documents, like auto and property titles, passports, and birth certificates in a free-standing fire safe that was easily thrown into the car (which was a good thing, because other neighbors who left their safes discovered that the heat was so intense that it destroyed all their contents.) We grabbed my desktop computer, external hard drive and Ken’s laptop, and left behind his older PC.

Evacuating

Not knowing how much time we really had before the neighborhood could be in imminent danger, we decided we had done our best in packing and pulled out of the driveway with two of our three cars loaded at about 4:30 a.m. and headed for the Vons parking lot on El Norte Parkway just west of I-15. With groceries, a café, Starbucks, and a restroom, it would provide for all our basic necessities while we assessed the situation and figured out our next move. Over the next six hours, as the smoke got worse, the evacuation area expanded, and freeways were clogging or closing, we decided it was time to leave the area and headed for Ken’s brother’s house in Orange County.

Following the San Diego fires in Orange County was difficult, because they were dealing with their own fires as well as covering those in the Malibu area. Finally, a radio feed through the KOGO Web site gave us some local information, although it was still difficult to get specifics.

Looters in the neighborhood

There’s nothing like a publicized evacuation to mobilize the low-life for a free-wheeling burglary rendezvous. Although we evacuated early Monday, the fire initially passed south of our neighborhood through Rancho Bernardo. But now, the neighborhood was empty, not under imminent fire danger, and no security was in place. A few hours after contacting Ryan about the evacuation, he decided to come home to pack a few of his prized possessions, including his gun collection. When a few of our neighbors (who had evacuated but returned to their homes by late Monday morning) reported that looters were in the area, Ryan assumed patrol of our end of the neighborhood and kept in touch with the others while monitoring the fire all night. At 10 p.m., he assured us that all was well: The fire was nowhere nearby and staying down by the lakeshore in the Del Dios community.

Wind change

Ken decided to return to the neighborhood before dawn Tuesday morning to retrieve one remaining vehicle, his Ford F150. When he exited the freeway, he was shocked to see Bernardo Mountain aflame. After a short but frantic search to locate Ryan, Ken met up with him along with the small group of neighbors who had also stayed the night watching the fire and patrolling the neighborhood. An onshore flow had stalled the wind direction, causing it to start burning up the slope on the north shore of the lake and move around the mountain headed straight for our neighborhood. As they watched the fire from a clear vantage point a few blocks away, one of our neighbors agreed to help Ken pull an Indiana Jones stunt, zipping over to our house in his jeep to retrieve his truck.

A different kind of shock and awe

Although winds were calm in those early morning hours, there was no air support in our neighborhood, even as 20+ foot flames advanced down the mountain and spread out along ravines and canyons toward homes on streets below. One lone helicopter scooped water from Lake Hodges to save one specific home closer to Via Rancho Parkway, but it was never dispatched to work any others in the neighborhood. Six fire trucks from the Compton and Alameda areas were queued on Via Loma Vista about ¾-mile away awaiting instructions and an escort from the local fire department. But they were watching and waiting, not fighting any fire. As Ken was retrieving his truck, a fire captain stopped to tell him to get out now, and then shared their stunning strategy: “We’re going to let the fire blow through, and then we’ll come back in to save what we can.” Ken and the neighbors retreated to a more distant vantage point. Although smoke and flames obliterated any view, it was apparent that houses on our street were burning.

By 10 a.m., our home was feared lost. Ken and Ryan returned to Orange County, and we tried to process the inevitable likelihood that we were homeless and had lost everything. Later that afternoon, a friend went by our place and gave us a visual confirmation. Our home and 12 others at our end of the road had burned down, along with seven others at the ends of roads nearest the open space areas. I felt like I’d been kicked in the stomach and the ground had been pulled out from under me. To realize that all those things that define you and make life comfortable and secure were gone was the emptiest feeling I have ever experienced.

Understanding fire management from the other side of the fence

According to the Escondido fire chief who met with us on a recent Saturday to explain the agency’s “blow through” approach to handling this disaster (which he said holds true for any future wildfire in the area), the fire had become too big and too hot to defend when it first entered our neighborhood, so they retreated until they could locate a point on which to take a stand.

That stand was right after our house burned down. Our next-door neighbor to the west is still standing. Flames that fully engulfed the cypress and junipers touching their house were doused in the nick of time.

Four days after the fire, as I was standing at the top of my driveway, a fire captain, who had been checking the area for residual hot spots, stopped by. In my quest to understand all that had happened, I asked him a variety of questions, including why fire crews were unable to stop the fire before it jumped I-15 and advanced farther west. He said he was at the I-15 bridge when the fire jumped the freeway and immediately radioed for support. But dispatchers responded back that they had no support available to send.

We now realize just how vulnerable and unprotected we are and how little the fire department can do to save homes in a wildfire event. We also now realize that our own protective measures will make the critical difference when the next Santa Ana condition blows in. The confluence of events of this wildfire was a recipe for disaster, beginning with incredible winds, too many fires throughout the region, too much drought-ridden fuel improperly maintained, and too little air and ground support, just to name a few. To protect a home, a fireproof tile roof is not nearly enough. The outdated construction of our 31-year-old ranch-style home with exposed wood eves does not make sense in fire-prone San Diego. Landscaping choices need to be not only drought tolerant, but emphasize fire resistant. We need to convince our neighbors that lush growth may be nice for privacy, but it’s bad news for fire safety. We will arm ourselves with fire gel and our own fire hoses so we can connect to the hydrant right in front of our house to wet down our own property. Knowing what we know now, we will rebuild with a completely different mindset.

Moving forward

We still awaken at 3 a.m. most days, reliving the memories of evacuation, second-guessing what we “ shoulda-coulda-woulda” done differently (yes, it’s a futile thought process, but it’s hard to not think about it), and what tasks are on our bottomless list of things to do today. We are often overwhelmed at the prospect of starting over and the sheer volume of work it will take to get back to something we can call normal. We have moved from numb shock into the frustrating realm and slow pace of working with government bureaucracy, insurance adjusters, lenders, contractors, and an information overload that would be daunting to even the most organized person. While we are eager to move forward, we find ourselves mired in the past as we go through the painstaking process of itemizing all our personal possessions lost (down to the socks and underwear), and haggling over insurance estimates versus the true cost of reconstruction and replacing personal items. The mind-numbing detail of it all leaves little room to think of much else, yet we need to find a way to return to work and school, taking care of the kids and dog, and find some kind of new comfort zone. With a new perspective, we see day-to-day life differently. While we sometimes have a short fuse as we encounter roadblocks in our path to recovery, we are also better at not sweating the small stuff.

We can also laugh at little ironies and enjoy the many positive things that have come from this disaster. When we were choosing a home to rent, we had to remind the agent that “all that wonderful storage space” is just not important now. We rid ourselves of a lot of stuff that we didn’t need or use anymore but didn’t have the heart to unload. Our families should have no problem figuring out what we need for Christmas. We celebrate that our grove of 20 mostly avocado and citrus trees will survive, thanks to help from Al Stehly and his workers. We laugh at how the barbecue and several propane tanks, along with one of our motorcycles that Ken had moved away from the house onto the grass, survived the fire, thanks to a firefighter who kept hosing them down long after the house was lost. We marvel at the depth of generosity and support offered by friends, neighbors, Farm Bureau, and even strangers, all eager to help us in our journey toward recovery. This outpouring of support from all corners of the community has truly made every day a bit more bearable. I frequently remind myself of the saying, “that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” and believe that one day—albeit a ways off—we will find ourselves whole again.

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Mexican fruit flies back in county

In news too familiar to growers in Fallbrook and Valley Center, five unmated, immature female Mexican fruit flies were found in traps on Nov. 6 on two properties on Oak Hill Drive in Escondido. They were fresh with eye color, which means they had died within 24-48 hours of being discovered. Fruit cutting in the area did not reveal any larvae, leading officials to believe that a breeding population had not been established. The five flies were sufficient to trigger a quarantine covering 78 square miles. The quarantine covers most of the City of Escondido north to Valley Center and south to the San Pasqual Valley. The quarantine map can be viewed on the CDFA Web site at www.cdfa.ca.gov and then clicking on “Fruit fly quarantine.”

In a coordinated effort, officials from the County Department of Agriculture, California Department of Agriculture, and the United States Department of Agriculture immediately took steps to begin eradication of the potential population of flies. Spraying was commenced in the area within 200 meters of the find sites. Then on Nov. 15, the aerial release of 10 million sterile male flies per week began. The release of sterile flies will continue for the time it takes for two complete life cycles of the flies to mature.

A major difference between this and previous quarantines is the recent removal of Hass avocados from the preferred host list. This means that Hass growers will not have to treat their groves for a period of weeks before harvesting and shipping. In order to be in compliance with the quarantines rules, Hass producers will have to follow prescribed sanitary practices with harvested fruit to make certain adult flies are not inadvertently moved out of the quarantine area in bins or boxes of fruit. All residents in the quarantine area have been instructed not to move any fruit picked from trees in their yards.

Before harvesting or moving agricultural products in the quarantine area, all producers are required to obtain a compliance agreement from CDFA. Compliance agreements can be obtained by calling (619) 698-1046 or picked up at the San Marcos office of the County Department of Agriculture at 334 Via Vera Cruz, Suite 150, San Marcos between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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San Diego County farmers honored for safety records

The 18 County farmers listed below are among the winners of this year’s Farm Bureau State Fund Group Insurance Program’s safety-award program.

The engraved safety awards are presented to those agricultural employers who had perfect safety records among State Compensation Insurance Fund’s Farm Bureau group policyholders in 2006. They achieved the lowest injury losses among policyholders with premiums of $25,000 and above.

“State Fund is proud to honor these individuals and we congratulate them for outstanding safety efforts,” said Brian Watson, Farm Bureau Group Manager for State Fund. “We hope the program inspires others to safety excellence.”

Unnecessary injuries and illnesses can be prevented on farms and ranches by incorporating an effective safety-training program. If you take the time to do this, you should save time, money and a lot of suffering in the coming year.

Since 1943, the California Farm Bureau and State Fund partnership has provided farmers affordable worker compensation insurance coverage and accident prevention training for agricultural employers and their employees. For more information, call toll-free at (800) 773-7667, or check the SCIF Web site at www.scif.com.

Note:
If your worker’s compensation coverage is with State Fund but you’re not in the “Farm Bureau Group,” you are not reaping the substantial savings on your premiums that Farm Bureau Group members receive. Contact your State Fund representative to see if you qualify to be a member of the Farm Bureau Group.

Agri-Scape Orchard Management

Agua Tibia Ranch

Borden Ranches

Borrego Farms Inc

Canta Rana Ranch Land Company

Chandler Ranch Co

Chino Nojo Corporation

DW & G Carmichael

Eco Farms Etal, Fruit Marketing

Green Paradise Farm

J H Farm

Lilac Farm Management Inc

Nuevo Oso Ranch

North Arabians

Stehly Enterprises Inc

Sun Grown Organic Distributors Inc

Tres Palomas

Valdivia Farms

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