At a recent Ag Breakfast Club meeting in Fresno, CA, farmers joined English-American Commentator Steve Hilton live on Fox News to share their urgent need for increased water allocations, among other challenges that need to be addressed to support agriculture across the state. Former policy adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, Steve is also seriously considering running to succeed Governor Newsom in 2026. Watch as Steve joins Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to discuss his views supporting agriculture and the need for a “California revolution”.
Tag: California Wildfires
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Wildfire Threatened Vineyard & Winery Challenges for Removing Vegetative Debris
With an ongoing drought in western US, wine grape growers surrounded by neglected wildlands are becoming more and more concerned about the drought-induced dying vegetation around them. Many want to proactively manage this risk for them the communities around them; however, they are running into quite a few stumbling blocks as addressed by Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers in an interview with California Ag Network. Watch this brief video as he explains and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support. -
Successful North Coast Grape Harvest Spurs Growth & Investment
Despite numerous challenges for the wine industry these past few years, Allied Grape Growers was pleased to report all of their North Coast fruit safely harvested and delivered this season. Watch this video with North Coast representative Chad Clark as he also discusses new growth and investment in the region. Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine. Watch this video and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
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California Agricultural Employers, Workers Approach Smoke Concerns Differently
In 2018, California wildfires burned more than 1.8 million acres and caused smoke to drift hundreds of miles. As the frequency and intensity of wildfires increases with climate change, California agricultural workers are at greater risk of smoke exposure as they often have no option but to work outdoors.
A new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis, finds that while wildfires and smoke exposure are recognized by farmworkers and employers as a growing threat and safety concern, the means to address these concerns differs between the two groups.
“What stood out in this study is the substantial disparities between agricultural employers and farmworkers,” said Heather Riden with the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety at UC Davis.
Riden, who led the research in partnership with the California Institute for Rural Studies, said that while growers and employers expressed concern about poor air quality at the time of the study in 2018, many had no clear plans or protocols for measuring air quality or managing workers in such conditions. While the public is advised to stay indoors due to poor air quality during a wildfire, agricultural work often continues.
The study also found that when farmworkers were offered protective masks, many found them difficult to use while working due to heat-related discomfort and chafing. Others believed wearing two bandanas over mouth and nose would provide just as much protection.
Farmworkers’ experience is compounded by economic need.
“Many farmworkers will continue working, even in unsafe conditions, to support their families. They don’t have many other options,” said Riden.
New regulations
Last year, the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA, enacted an emergency regulation requiring employers to take measures to protect workers from wildfire smoke when the Air Quality Index reaches 151 or greater, which is considered unhealthy. Riden said as CAL/OSHA begins to craft permanent regulations, she hopes it takes the study’s findings into consideration.
“This highlights the need for better awareness for both agricultural employers and farmworkers about the health risks associated with wildfire smoke,” said Riden. “Employers also need training materials and concrete steps they can take to protect workers.”
To assist agricultural employers with meeting the requirements outlined in the newly adopted regulation, the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety developed training materials and an employer checklist.
The study was based on interviews and focus groups with California agricultural employers and workers in the Salinas, San Joaquin and Imperial valleys. Support for the study came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health –By Amy Quinton, UC Davis
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Drones Provide Eye-in-the-Sky to Help Fight Fires
Wildfires blackened nearly 8.8 million acres in the United States last year, highlighted in the news by California’s Camp Fire, the deadliest in that state’s history.
One of the many things that make wildfires so difficult to contain is the effect a fire has on local winds, which can move the fire in unexpected directions with virtually no notice. But, now, technology is being tested that may help firefighters keep pace with a blaze – increasing their safety and allowing them to better position their limited resources.
Xiaolin Hu, director of Georgia State University’s Systems Integrated Modeling and Simulation lab, is heading a project that develops drones to collect real-time data about wildfires, including fire front data and wind data in the wildfire area. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is funding the project.
“Fires generate heat that can have a major impact on local wind/weather conditions,” Hu said. “The constant interaction between fire and atmosphere causes dynamic and local changes in wind speed and direction that are not predicted well by standard weather models or expert judgment. The real time data collected by [drones] can help firefighters by providing fire location and fire spread information – and issue an “early warning” to firefighters if they are in danger.”
Hu and research partners Haiyang Chao, director of the University of Kansas’ Cooperative Unmanned Systems lab, and Ming Xin, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Missouri, are testing their “KHawk” drone over prescribed fires, and building new drones for autonomous sensing, navigation, and control. The new aerial platform features autopilot, thermal camera, and other specialized avionics.
The drones will perform test flights over prescribed fires ranging from 20 to 300 acres every year until 2022 to collect data on fire propagation and fire generated wind. The team is also seeking opportunities to collaborate with Kansas/Missouri Forest Service to fly over non-prescribed wildfires.
The drones will fly autonomously, given real-time wind/fire data and predicted fire spread information, under the supervision of human pilots and control station operators on the ground.
“The ultimate goal is to support the decision making of fire managers and improve safety for firefighters on the ground,” Hu said. “An important aspect of this project is to develop collaboration where fire managers and firefighters work together with drones in collaborative tasks.”
NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension and seeks to make transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges.
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CAWG Statement on Passing of $19.1 Billion Disaster Assistance Bill by House of Representatives
SACRAMENTO, June 4, 2019 – California Association of Wine grape Growers (CAWG) President John Aguirre has issued the following statement:
“In November 2018, in the wake of wildfires that devastated a number of California communities and prevented many growers from selling their 2018 wine grape crop, the California Association of Wine grape Growers (CAWG) and other California grower organizations asked Congress to assist in the recovery of adversely affected wine grape growers.
“The House of Representatives on June 3 passed a disaster assistance bill that offers up to $19.1 billion to aid the recovery of communities, businesses and farmers across the country affected by hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. The bill, passed on a bipartisan 354 to 58 vote, includes $3.005 billion to fund payments for growers affected by a variety of natural disasters that occurred last year and more recently in 2019.
“With the bill’s passage and the expected signature of the president, California growers who experienced wildfire-related losses in 2018, including losses related to smoke exposure, will be able to apply for assistance payments from the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency.
“CAWG commends those members of the California congressional delegation who voted for the disaster assistance bill, particularly Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), who worked hard to ensure WHIP would be available to assist California growers affected by smoke exposure-related losses.
“CAWG also wishes to recognize and thank the following organizations that signed onto letters to Congress last November seeking assistance for growers affected by wildfires: Lake County Farm Bureau, Lake County Winegrape Commission, Mendocino County Farm Bureau and Mendocino Winegrowers, Inc.”
Additional information:
Press release from House Appropriations Committee (June 4)
Summary of bill
Media contacts:
- John Aguirre, (916) 379-8995, john@cawg.org
- Meredith Ritchie, (916) 984-4473, meredith@cawg.org
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Smoke from Wildfires Slows CA Raisin Grape Maturity
Although most folks in the Central Valley of California have been safe from the ravaging wildfires around California, they have still suffered the affects that the ash and smoke have brought into the Valley. It has caused airline flight delays due to obscured vision and increased allergies & asthma among the public; but what some raisin growers have been discovering is that it has also delayed the sugar accumulation of their crop. Watch this brief interview with Rick Stark from Sun-Maid Growers, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
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Northern CA Fairs Step-up to Support Fire Response
With the Carr, Ferguson, Mendocino Complex, Whaleback and Natchez fires continuing to burn in Shasta County, Lassen County, Mariposa County, Mendocino County, and Del Norte County–not to mention a number of additional fires–California’s network of fairs is fulfilling a crucial role as staging areas for fire crews, and serving as evacuation centers for people and animals. The following fairgrounds are serving during the current spate of wildfires.
Mariposa County Fairgrounds and Exposition Center, Mariposa, CA: This is an evacuation center currently housing people and animals displaced by wildfire.
Tehama District Fairgrounds, Red Bluff, CA: As many as 200 animals are being housed at this site, which is also serving as a fire camp.
Sonoma-Marin Fair, Petaluma, CA: Seventy goats are being sheltered at this animal evacuation center.
Shasta District Fair and Event Center, Anderson, CA: This fair is serving as a base camp for crews from CalFire, the National Guard and the California Conservation Corps.
Lassen County Fair, Susanville, CA: This is a fire camp supporting crews from CalFire, the US Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.
Lake County Fair, Lakeport, CA: Utility crews responding to fires are being housed there.
This emergency service is yet another example of how California’s network of fairs partners with local communities. The fairs are much more than a place to congregate and celebrate. They are bonafide public assets; essential institutions that serve Californians in many important ways.
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Bee-Well Farms: Resilience In The Face of Destruction
In The Face of Destruction, Austin and Melissa Lely Are Resilient Young Farmers with a Positive Outlook on the Future of Agriculture
Glen Ellen, Calif., (March 15, 2018) – Austin and Melissa Lely met at Chico State in 2010. They graduated as recreation majors and neither had a farming background. After graduating, the married couple moved to Glen Ellen, near where Austin grew up.
Austin, 28, and Melissa, 27, fell in love with food and said their shared interest just spiraled. At the same time, the couple was seeing issues with the local food system, and saw a trend towards consumers seeking healthy food.
Five years ago, they moved to a house in Glen Ellen where they were caretakers of the property and began growing their own food.
“We decided that if we were going to have our own garden, let’s have it big enough for the community and farmers’ markets,” said Melissa.
The couple incorporated as Bee-Well Farms in 2015 and was growing an acre and a half of produce for local farmers’ markets and raising chickens for egg production. They did one farmers’ market the first year and have expanded every year since.
In 2017, they increased from raising 65 chickens to more than 400. Their chickens are raised in mobile coops which essentially make the entire farming operation moveable.
A year and a half ago Melissa left her job at Beltane Ranch where she worked for their Bed and Breakfast and in their organic garden to work full time on Bee-Well Farm. Austin left his 5 year career with Benziger Family Winery, where he originally joined the company as event staff. Eventually Austin advanced to a position in Benziger’s tasting room, then their viticulture and sustainability department before his most recent position as ranch manager. During his time with Benziger, Austin learned a lot through their biodynamic program, skills he is looking forward to applying to Bee-Well.
“This year was going to be the year we dive right in and really grow the farm,” said Austin. “We had planned on growing our egg production to 2,000 laying hens for 2018. We had ordered the 1,600 chicks in July of 2017 and they were supposed to be delivered on October 12, 2017.
“On the night of October 8, around 11:30 p.m. our neighbor woke us up in a panic. He said that there is a fire and everyone needs to leave. We drove to the back of the property to check the cows and the fire was already burning the ranch next to us.
“We did what we could for the cows but there was no fire break between the ranches and the winds were around 60 mph and blowing in our face. There were cops and firefighters telling us to leave now. We went back to our house and grabbed my wife’s wedding ring, important documents, our cash and dog and left Glen Ellen.”
That was right before midnight, and at 7 a.m. on October 9th Austin and Melissa received a call from their landlords that everything was gone, including the house they had lived in the last five years.
By 8 a.m., they were back on the property. They had stopped and picked up a bale of hay from a neighbor, and came back to find that all their animals had survived.
On the right, crews finish cleaning up the debris of the house Austin and Melissa Lely lived in that burned in the October wildfires. On the left is where Austin and Melissa will grow row crops for farmer’s market this spring. “We lost our house, truck, UTV, hay barn with hay and chicken feed, greenhouse, poultry barn, chick brooder, tool shed full of our power tools and farm equipment, packing facility, all our fence lines, the wells and power,” said Austin. “We literally lost everything.”
Austin and Melissa stayed for eight days with the fire burning around them. They described the roadblocks into the evacuation zone as a nightmare and said they were meeting friends to bring in bare necessities of food and supplies.
They said that during the days that ensued, the couple was in survival mode taking care of their animals as well as their neighbors stock who were unable to access their adjacent properties. They said they each worked more than 80 hours in the first five days, sleeping in shifts of four hours.
Austin and Melissa said they were particularly grateful for the community support over the following months, especially their neighbors. The Kunde family put them up after they lost their house and the Lelys are continuing to rent that house. Austin and Melissa tried to keep their animals on their home property, but after two weeks of hauling water for the animals, the Kunde family encourage the young couple to house their animals on the Kunde ranch.
A relative of the Lelys started a GoFundMe for the couple that raised more than $10,000.
Both Austin and Melissa agree they learned a lot through the recovery process.
They applied through grants with NRCS and FSA for fencing, erosion control, creating defensible space and more. They learned about many additional programs these organizations offered which they didn’t know about before the fires.
The last standing building on the Lelys’ property as crews continue to clear debris. Austin and Melissa are positive about their business and what the future has in store for them.
“We are all all-in,” said Melissa. “All of this will go forward and be even stronger than before.”
Their landlords, who have a small vineyard and produce wine, also have tenants growing cannabis. They all see the three businesses working together to create a polyculture and agritourism hub.
“It will be easier to rebuild with a focus and direction,” said Melissa. “We’ll have the opportunity to build a functional flowing system and all work together.”Melissa sees their business shifting slightly from last year. Where they participated in seven farmers’ markets per week in 2017, they are going to focus on a couple of the markets they felt worked better for their farm.
They plan to open an on-site farm stand and build a website where they can sell commodities online. They’re also planning on hosting events starting with a plant sale in the spring and pumpkin patch in the fall.
They’re passionate about educating their community, and they hope to share their message about eating locally as well as hosting seminars and workshops.
They plan to continue to grow, especially their egg production which they said there is a high demand for, but they also have plans to diversify. Additionally, the Lelys are planning to transition their row crops into more permanent raised beds.“This year, we’re really excited to just be able to focus on farming,” said Melissa.
At the end of February, the couple still had no power or water to their farm, but they began to see progress in the clean-up of debris and everything began to happen quicker than they expected.
When asked how they got through the most difficult times, they both responded at once: “She’s a badass,” Austin said while Melissa said, “luckily I’ve got this guy by my side.”“We have a passion for making this place happen and a strong vision for the farm,” said Melissa. “We’re trying to focus on the positives, the blessings and the awesomeness of the community.”
Through the recovery process, Austin and Melissa were both excited to see that people still value the service of agriculture. The couple said they are saddened to hear about other farmers who have chosen not to continue farming after the October wildfires, but they know it’s a difficult decision and said they couldn’t do it without the community support they have received.
You can donate to the GoFundMe for Austin and Melissa at gofundme.com/missys-homebusiness.
Written By: Rachel LaFranchi