Ag Cargo Securement

The agricultural intrastate cargo securement exemption has been extended for another year, to April 30, 2012 or until the federal regulations are adopted. The exemption is for intrastate transportation of perishable agriculture products transported in bins, tubs, and boxes, from the field to the first point of processing or packing. Under the exemption, we will continue to use our previous load securement methods to ensure cargo will not shift or spill. This exemption does not apply to the transportation of hay.

Ag Cargo Securement (Complete Document)
Tie-Down Exemption Instructions
Agricultural Haulers Exemption Form
Agricultural Haulers Exemtion Monthly Report Form
Frequently Asked Questions

Air Quality - Stationary Ag Engine Rule Information:

Attention all irrigators of land

Development of the Long Term Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program will put irrigated ag under further pressure to demonstrate that they can improve surface and groundwater quality where water quality monitoring has identified exceedances related to agricultural operations. This will be even more important for growers and ranchers in the Sacramento/Amador subwatershed because of the focus on the Delta ecosystem by federal and state agencies working on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. The future Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program is focused on nitrate impacts on groundwater quality. Click here to read the entire article.

Web link with all the Regional Board documents http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/centralvalley/water_issues/irrigated_lands/long_term_program_development/index.shtml

Check Before you Burn

Delta Issues

Fourth Draft of the Delta Plan. Comments submitted by the Delta Caucus. Delta Plan 4th Draft.

Sacramento County Farm Bureau is engaged in responding to the Blue Ribbon Task Force strategic plan. On file are letters written by the Farm Bureau commenting on the Delta issues.

Comments Submitted by Delta Caucus on the Delta Plan
Revised Temporary Entry Permit
BDC scoping comments
Blue Ribbon Comments
Blue Ribbon Comment ? 2nd draft plan
Blue Ribbon Comment 4th draft
Multi-county resolution
Memo notice to delta land owners to now sign permit
Memo notice to delta land owners to not sign permit - fifth
Delta Caucus Values March 2009
Support for AB 1797 Delta Corridors Plan

Department of Industrial Relations

California Department of Industrial Relations Focusing on Counties near Sacramento - Enforcers with the California Department of Industrial Relations have been very active recently in Yolo and nearby counties. In some instances, enforcers have told employers they are working in counties near their offices in Sacramento because they lack funding to travel further.

These enforcement activities have focused on the Heat Illness Protection standard, various tractor and vehicle safety issues including fire extinguishers for vehicles use to carry workers and incomplete or incorrect time records.
Remember:

• Heat Illness Basics - water "as close as practicable" to workers; shade on demand and enough shade for 25% of the crew at all times in temperatures exceeding 85, training for supervisors and workers on heat illness and prevention, closer monitoring of employees who are not "acclimated" in temperatures exceeding 95 and a written compliance program to show to enforcers when they visit.
• Cal/OSHA General Safety Orders at §3702(g) require that "every truck or bus primarily used for the transportation of employees shall be equipped with an approved fully charged and operable fire extinguisher." Tractors are not required to have fire extinguishers on-board.
• Always ensure time records clearly reflect the hours that each worker has worked, how many pieces they may have produced and the value of each piece, what kind of work an employee doing (both agricultural and non-agricultural work performed, during what times of each workday) and that the records clearly distinguish between those two types of work. Further, always take care that such an employee are paid any overtime pay that may be due them under Wage Order 14 (agricultural worker) or Wage Orders 13 (packing a farmer's own produce), Wage Order 8 (packing other farmers' produce) or Wage Order 4 (technical and clerical office workers).

Contact FELS for more information at FELS Employers Hotline at 800-753-9073 or info@fels.net.

Diesel Truck Rule

In December 2008, the California Air Resources Board approved the Truck and Bus regulation to reduce particulate matter from diesel vehicles in California. Farm Bureau, along with many other agricultural groups worked tirelessly with the Air Resources Board to make less stringent requirements fro owners of agricultural vehicles. In December, 2010 the Air Resources Board again made some amendments to the programs, specifically giving farmers and ranchers more time to comply. By April 29, 2011 fleets must report information about qualifying vehicles. By June 1, 2011 qualifying vehicles must also show 'AG' on both the left and right door. Those 'AG' labels can be purchased from the Farm Bureau by calling 916-685-6958. Click here for a fact sheet (Ag Truck Provisions Fact Sheet). Click here for the report form for Ag Trucks (Reporting Form fro ag fleets). Click here for the full reading of the Diesel Truck regulation (Ag Truck regulation_full read).

Ag Truck Provisions Fact Sheet
Ag Truck Regulation full read
Reporting Form for Ag Fleets

Draft Groundwater Management Plan Under Review

A Groundwater Management Plan is being developed for the South Basin (south of Cosumnes River to the Sacramento County line). To review the plan and submit comments click here.

New County Ordinances in Preliminary Phase; Winery, Farm Stay, Farm Stand

Petroleum & Oil Products Storage Regulations

Rural-Urban Connections Strategy (RUCS) Summary

Sacramento County General Plan

The County Board of Supervisors have been receiving public testimony on its Draft 2030 General Plan. The general plan is a set of policies and programs that form a blueprint for physical development. It is a long-term, legal document consisting of written text and diagrams that expresses how a community should develop. The plan is a basis for land use decision making used by policy decision makers such as the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. The Sacramento County Farm Bureau has been working with the County Planning staff to implement policies that enhance agricultural viability.

Click here to download the General Plan Update comments. 

SMUD Proposes a Rate Increase

SMUD proposes a rate increase of 9.5% by September, 2009 and 3.5% increase effective January 2011. The rate increase will affect all components of a customers electrical bill: (energy, demand, facilities charges and customer charges). Click here to read further details.

South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan (SSHCP)

The South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan (SSHCP) has taken a major regression. At a recent meeting with Plan Applicants (County of Sacramento, Cities of Elk Grove, Galt, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County Sanitation District, Capital Southeast Connector JPA) and the Agencies (US Fish and Wildlife Service, CA Depart of Fish and Game, US Corp of Engineers) the Agencies have found that the current conservation strategy of the SSHCP is inadequate in terms of endangered species, watershed protection and wetland protection. Sacramento County has more development projects then adequate mitigation land to meet the goals of the SSHCP. The current draft form of the SSHCP is therefore not acceptable to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The next steps will be taken over the months of January and February and will be between the applicants, agencies and developers who will meet to determine how to resolve the current issues.

Please click here for more information regarding the environmental review process:
www.msa2.saccounty.net/planning/Pages/SSHCPPlan.aspx

Valley Elderberry Bettle - Petition filed with United States Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the VELB.

Watch Out for Stinkwart!

For those of you who don't already know, there is a new plant in town and it's not one to take lightly. The scientific name of the plant is d. graveolens, also known as Stinkwort.
It is a poisonous, strongly aromatic, annual plant that grows 20-50 cm tall. Human
contact with the plant could cause dermatitis, itching and blistering skin, but if consumed by livestock, the seeds of this plant can cause enteritis, leading to pulpy kidney disease and sudden death (if untreated). Stinkwort grows rapidly from a rosette in late summer and produces about 15,000 seeds per plant that are dispersed by wind, water, agricultural produce, machinery, vehicles and wool. The plants preferred habitats include virtually any open, disturbed sites, such as overgrazed pastures, roadsides and vacant lots, mainly on sandy or otherwise light -textured soils. It typically colonizes bare sites where there is poor competition from other plants. If you see it on your property, spraying or weeding is recommended. Using a product like Roundup® is the most effective
means of controlling this invasive plant. This invasive plan was once localized in the western parts of California, but has since spread to the Central Valley. Landowners should pay particular attention and eradicate immediately when it is found. This will be
the best approach to controlling and eradicating this harmful plant.

Williamson Act

A Victory for the Williamson Act!
In a unanimous decision this morning, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted to not implement Senate Bill 863 (SB 863); a bill that would have given the County the option to reduce the term of Williamson Act contracts by 10%, thereby reducing the benefit to the property owner.   While SB 863 has become an important step to save the Williamson Act from an uncertain fate, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors understands that this program is vital to our family farmers and ranchers in Sacramento County.

Background information;
The County Board of Supervisors will be discussing the Williamson Act and implementation of SB 863 at the December 15, 2010 Board meeting scheduled for
9:45 a.m. at 700 H Street, Sacramento.

Attached is the staff report for this item.  Sacramento County Farm Bureau is asking the Board of Supervisors to not implement SB 863 and to continue honoring the
10 year Williamson Act and 20 year ‘Super’ Williamson Act contracts as they did in 2010 and prior.  Our members see the value of this program and shortening the length of the contract will weaken the program in the long-term. 

Plan to attend the hearing on December 15 at 9:45 a.m.  If you have any questions, contact Charlotte Mitchell at 916-685-6958 or sacfarmbur@msn.com

Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill restoring the Williamson Act funding to a quarter of its former funding for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.  In the last budget, the Governor reduced the Williamson Act funding from $38 million to $1,000 and left counties responsible for holding up their end of agreements with landowners.  
This fiscal year the budget includes $10 million to reimburse counties.  In addition, AB 2530 was passed.  This bill, beginning January 1, 2011 until January 1, 2015, authorizes a county, in a any fiscal year in which payments authorized for reimbursement to a county for lost revenue are less than 1/2 of the participating county's actual foregone general fund.  To implement both the $10 million general fund and AB 2530, Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 863 into law. This new statute means that participating Williamson Act counties will receive their proportionate share of a $10,000,000 General Fund appropriation and they will be able to
implement AB 2530 as an urgency measure.   Sacramento County will receive $139,644 in 2010-2011 compared to $525,077 in 2008-2009 budget years.