California Ag Network

Tag: WUD

  • Western United Dairies Announces Aubrey Bettencourt as Director of Sustainability

    Western United Dairies – Continuing to provide resources and services for California’s dairy and cattle community, Western United Dairies (WUD) has hired Aubrey Bettencourt as the new Director of Sustainability, a position made possible by the California Cattle Council to benefit all dairy farmers, statewide.

    As Director of Sustainability, Bettencourt will support farmers in cultivating a shared vision of sustainability to achieve state and local natural resources goals and economic prosperity for California’s dairies, farmers, and ranchers by developing plans, projects, and programs specifically focusing on watershed health, meeting the direct needs of dairy farmers in maintaining a healthy California milkshed.

    Bettencourt’s skillsets will directly assist the industry’s leading environmental and regulatory guru – Paul Sousa, by broadening the industry’s ability to be laser focused on water supply. Bettencourt will work to ensure a strong milkshed remains in areas of the state that are critically over drafted through diversified production goals, exploring, among other things, groundwater banking and land management strategies, and identifying and securing opportunities and additional funding for watershed improvement projects. Bettencourt’s ability to bring diverse stakeholders together to identify and implement collaborative solutions will be key to helping our dairy farmers meet new regulatory and natural challenges, fostering working relationships among multiple interests including affected communities, domestic well users, tribes, the State Water Board’s Division of Drinking Water, local planning departments, health officials, groundwater sustainability agencies, and disadvantaged communities.

    As a fourth generation California farmer, Bettencourt most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Water and Science at the Department of the Interior working extensively to bring efficiency and coordination among the federal water community with Bureau of Reclamation, USGS, and other DOI agencies & bureaus, along with USDA, EPA, DOE, DOC AND DOD for delivery of safe and reliable water supplies to the nation. Prior to DOI, Bettencourt served as USDA Farm Service Agency California State Director, where her mission was clear: keep farmers farming through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs to California’s farmers, ranchers and agricultural partners. As executive director of a statewide non– profit, California Water Alliance for nearly ten years, Bettencourt’s understanding of the dynamics and importance of member–focused organizations, developed a network of diverse water leaders statewide bridging the gap between rural and urban, agriculture and environment advocating for water supply reliability for all Californians.

    Aubrey is committed to the work of the farmer and the agricultural community, and brings the knowledge, experience, expertise, and collaborative energy it will take to assure a sustainable and reliable dairy industry. Aubrey can be reached at aubrey@wudairies.com.

  • The Road to the California FMMO Reopens – Come Hear Details At WUD’s Convention!

    Modesto, Calif., (March 20, 2018) – Big news this week: the judicial officer who was tasked with reviewing the entire California Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearing record ratified it. This officially clears the way for USDA to release the final decision for a California FMMO. USDA did not mention how long it would take to release the final decision once the record has been ratified, but in theory, it could be any day now. After a disappointing delay, we are looking forward to the final decision. Making a choice to change or not to change a pricing system that has been in place for 50 years is not a decision many take lightly. To shed light on the implications, WUD will extensively discuss details of USDA’s decision at its annual Convention on March 28. More specifically, I will provide pricing and pooling scenarios and answer questions you may have. This is of course pending USDA’s decision. If for some reason it is further delayed, I will still provide information on the draft recommended decision. It is important to get information out, because once the final decision is released, the referendum process will start. That referendum period will only last between 30 and 45 days. This is a very short time frame to reach out to the producer community and explain all the details of this complex system.

    As a reminder: the work of the judicial officer was required after a Supreme Court case called into question the appointments of administrative law judges (ALJ) in federal agencies. USDA announced last month the FMMO process for California could be significantly delayed until the court cases causing the delay were heard. This likely would have been around June. Hearing producers’ disappointment, USDA found a workaround and announced a solution during an industry conference call just weeks after the original delay announcement (appointing a judicial officer to review the FMMO hearing record). This officer is not subject to the appointment clause that applied to the ALJ that presided over the California FMMO hearing. Therefore, his review would prevent potential legal challenges down the road should the Supreme Court decide administrative law judges’ appointment was not constitutional.

    By Annie AcMoody, director of economic analysis

  • Tricolored Blackbird Update

    Modesto, Calif., (February 21, 2018) – As I write this on February 14, Valentine’s Day, love is in the air. The Tricolored Blackbirds are also in an amorous mood getting together with their mates and looking for a place to build a nest. In a natural setting 200 years ago they would be looking for a wetland with cattails to weave their nests above the water. However, today fields of wheat and Triticale are more common and just as acceptable to the Tricolored Blackbird.

    The Tricolor continues to be a candidate for listing under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and as such is a protected species. It is unlawful to kill a protected species. After a considerable time as a candidate, it looks like the Tricolor will get its hearing in front of the California Fish and Game Commission as early as this April. The Commission will decide whether to list the Tricolored Blackbird as threaten or endangered under CESA. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has written a status review of the Tricolored Blackbird and in that status review the Department makes a recommendation that the Commission list the species as threatened. Having farmers work proactively to protect the bird helps make a case that the species does not have to be listed as efforts have been undertaken that will protect this species. Western United Dairymen has been engaged on this issue since I have been here and will continue to advocate for our members at the upcoming hearing.

    One of those efforts is a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant from USDA- NRCS that Western United Dairymen partnered on with California Farm Bureau, Dairy Cares, Sustainable Conservation, and Audubon of California to help compensate farmers who decide to delay harvest due to nesting Tricolors. The grant would make payments for the lost feed value from the area where the birds nest in a field. Additional information about this funding is available at your local NRCS office or you can contact me at the WUD office.

    Farm Bureau, working with the groups mentioned above, has once again worked to develop protections for farmers who delay harvest and follow the advice of a qualified biologist in allowing for an area to not be harvested until the birds have fledged. Farmers that follow that advice, and inform the Department of Fish and Wildlife, are eligible for that protection. This is important because penalties for harming the birds can be significant and are best to be avoided.

    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other volunteers will be out once again looking for areas where the birds might be nesting. If you have any questions on this issue please give me a call at the WUD office. If you believe you might have Tricolors nesting your forage fields, you should contact NRCS to have their biologist provide a confidential assessment.

     

  • WUD Sends Help to Those Impacted by Sonoma County

    Modesto, Calif., (October 17, 2017) – As you have no doubt heard, our neighbors in Sonoma County have been devastated by several fires that ignited in the wee hours of Monday. Yesterday was spent evacuating, praying and ensuring safety.

    Today, as we assess the damage I am relieved to report that our members are all safe. Some have sustained losses, many are tired and brow-beaten, but so far, safe and ok.

    I’m sure many of you, like myself, have felt helpless; In an effort to do something to help we’d like to organize a supply drive. Next Friday, October 20th we will have trucks available to haul donations back to Sonoma County (I’ve been in touch with a board member from the area, and he’ll tentatively be at the meeting, in addition to myself and fellow WUD staffers) I’ll be in contact with several shelters, but below is a preliminary list of needed items:

    • Bottled water
    • Bottled sports drinks
    • Non-perishable food, especially items that are snackable/don’t need to be cooked (granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, cereal, etc)
    • Toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, feminine hygiene products, lotions, wet wipes)
    • Toothbrushes
    • Towels
    • Blankets
    • Aspirin/Tylenol, bandaids, Hand sanitizer, OTC cold medication,
    • Laundry soap
    • Diapers of all sizes
    • Baby supplies (pack n’ play, collapsible strollers, etc)
    • Baby food, formula
    • Children’s books, coloring books, supplies
    • New socks and underwear of all sizes
    • Pet food (canned and dry) + other pet supplies: bedding, leashes, crates, etc
    • Gift cards (target, Walmart, etc)

    A few things:
    Please drop off donations at the following locations:

    Tulare, Dirt Lot next to Heritage Complex –    Wednesday October 18th – 10am -11am

    Modesto, WUD OFFICE 1315 K St –            Friday October 20th – 9am-3pm

    • We would appreciate you restricting your drop-off to Friday only between 10am-2pm. If this does not work please send us a message and we’ll work on other arrangements.

    *Please, at this time, limit gently used clothing donations. We will be notifying you when those are helpful, but currently they can overwhelm shelters. At a point in the near future we will share ways you can get clothing to the shelters.

    Thank you for your generosity. Please continue to keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers.