Farm Bureau Working for You

Each month in our newsletter, we publish a short list—usually six or seven items—we call “Farm Bureau Working for You.” Below you will find a short list of what the San Diego County Farm Bureau has done this past year.

August 2009

Sent letter to Regional Water Quality Control Board calling for protection of the San Luis Rey watershed from the Gregory Canyon Landfill.
Asked state Senate to develop legislation defining Prop 2 production standards.
Met with County staff in pursuit of equity mechanism in General Plan Update.
Spoke at National Young Farmers Educational Association.
Attended Calif. Farm Burau Membership Task Force meeting
Participated in West Coast Direct Marketing Summit
Organized tour for Young Farmers & Ranchers

July 2009

Contacted all local state legislators asking them to oppose elimination of CDFA
Sent letter of support for Diaprepes biological control research
Interviewed candidates for San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group board
Attended Governor Schwarzenegger's budget briefing in Escondido
Gave Opening Day talk about local agriculture at County Fair
Wrote article for San Diego News Network on water impacts to ag
Participated in the City Heights Farmers' Market first anniversary celebratio

May 2009

Submitted comments on farm impacts in the Draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Plan
Filed legal brief on impacts to water rates from the SDG&E plan to de-energize during fire conditions
Attended LAFCO water symposium
Gave farm tour to Assemblymember Diane Harkey's district and Sacramento staff
Testified at Regional Water Control Board hearing in support of the Carlsbad desalination plant
Made presentation to Rare Fruit Growers on state water situation
Attended Flower & Plant Association's meeting with CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura

April 2009

Traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislative and USDA officials
Interviewed by BBC Radio and local TV on the California water shortage
Made a report to the Regional Water Quality Control Board on the progress of the monitoring group
Participated in scoping session for Bay-Delta Conservation Plan
Conducted two sessions on selling at farmers’ markets
Met with County staff on habitat planning issues
Wrote Ag Alert commentary on desalination

March 2009

Testified in support of Carlsbad desalination plant at Regional Water Quality Control Board
Attended Calif. Farm Bureau Leadership Conference in Sacramento
Met with all three freshman Assembly members who represent San Diego County
Made presentations to three North County organizations about local agriculture
Sent letter of support to USDA for a grant program to assist start-up farmers in the county
Submitted comments on the County General Plan Update

February 2009

Submitted comments on the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s triennial basin plan review
Met with Escondido City Council members on water rates
Opened the Lakeside Farmers’ Market
Made presentation on local farming at the Pacific Seed Association annual meeting
Conducted tour for state legislative leaders
Presented public comments to Board of Supervisors on Farming Program Plan

January 2009

Represented membership at Calif. Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
Supported passage of Farmers’ Market Ordinance by Board of Supervisors
Met with state Air Resources Board member Ron Roberts on new diesel emissions standards
Participated in US Bureau of Reclamation brine management workshop
Testified in support of county’s Farming Program Plan
Attended meeting where East County MSCP draft maps were released
Assisted San Diego Ag in the Classroom with strategic planning effort
Traveled to Washington, D.C. on immigration reform

December 2008

Submitted comments and testified on county Farmers' Market Ordinance
Attended scoping meeting on winery tasting room EIR
Conducted Ag Water Summit 2008
Participated in CFBF Region 1 caucus
Worked with County staff on streamlining farmworker housing permitting process
Continued recruitment of members to the San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group
Provided interviews with national press on water issues
Appeared on KPBS radio to promote farmers' markets and buying local

November 2008

Hosted meeting for growers and packers on the Asian citrus psyllid
Testified at County Water Authority in support of maintaining Special Ag Water Rate
Organized Diaprepes root weevil task force to address end of eradication funding
Attended meetings on the County's General Plan Update
Participated in Metropolitan Water District water planning workshop
Began recruitment of members for the San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group
Worked on formation of Lakeside Farmers' Market

October 2008

Submitted letter to members of the San Diego City Council urging their rejection of Prop 2
Attended Metropolitan Water District meeting on ag water program
Responded to numerous press requests for interviews about the Asian citrus psyllid
Met with the Natural Resource Conservation Service on grant opportunities for farmers
Participated in County workshop to revise farmworker housing permit procedures
Traveled to Sacramento to meet with CFBF officers and directors
Conducted tour of local farms for Board of Supervisors' policy advisor

September 2008

Submitted letter of support for Carlsbad Desalination Project to State Lands Commission
Discussed creation of runoff monitoring group with Regional Water Quality Control Board staff
Worked with Southern California Ag Water Team on response to MWD staff on phase-out of ag water program
Guest on CBS radio show on value of buying local
Attended meetings on North County and East County habitat plans
Made personal visits to local Senate and Assemblymembers on water issues
Met with Lakeside Chamber of Commerce on possible farmers' market locations

August 2008

Traveled to Sacramento to meet with key legislators on Diaprepes root weevil eradication funding
Testified at “Ag Vision” listening session conducted by CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura
Made presentation at Vista Library on value of farmers’ markets and buying local
Submitted comments on EIR for TERI project in Twin Oaks Valley
Wrote letter to Coastal Commission supporting Carlsbad desalination plant
Sponsored zucchini, fruit and vegetable growing contests at San Diego County Fair

July 2008

Sent letters to state legislators on need to fund Diaprepes root weevil eradication
Met with USDA Secretary Edward Schaffer
Installed water awareness display at San Diego County Fair
Met with UCCE and poultry farmers on manure disposal issues
Opened City Heights Farmers' Market
Testified at Bay/Delta hearing on importance of secure water source
Gave presentation to LAFCO on local farm water crisis
Appeared on KPBS radio show on Farm Bill