Amid a major heat wave that is stressing energy grids in states across the western United States, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an emergency proclamation to free up additional energy capacity. In preparation for the extreme temperatures, California energy agencies are calling on individuals and businesses to “flex their power” by reducing energy use in the evenings, through Friday.

The proclamation suspends certain permitting requirements, allowing the use of back-up power generation and freeing up additional energy capacity to help alleviate the heat-induced demands on the state’s energy grid.

For the next several days, much of the West and Southwest are expected to see triple-digit heat, making it imperative that individuals take precautions to stay safe from the heat and do what they can to conserve energy.

The text of the proclamation can be found here.

---

Thermostat story from the Mercury News, by George Avalos

An Oakland energy company wants to help people beat the heat now that torrid temps loom in California by giving away for free 1 million smart thermostats.

OhmConnect has launched the thermostat giveaway through what the energy company calls its End CA Blackouts campaign.

“Not only will you get a free smart thermostat, but you will save money on your electricity bill, and you can get paid to become, essentially, part of a virtual power plant,” Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said.

People who register with the End California Blackouts campaign become eligible to receive the free thermostats.

“This campaign will dramatically increase the number of participating households and dramatically decrease energy use to help prevent blackouts this summer,” said Cisco DeVries, chief executive officer of OhmConnect.

Oakland-based OhmConnect offers people an app that they can use to connect smart devices in their homes and coordinate the devices so they save energy.

The app also connects the devices to a California-wide network so energy use can be reduced during heat waves in a coordinated fashion. That, in turn, could make power failures less likely.

By helping the California electricity grid manage swings in demand for energy, OhmConnect gets paid by utilities or government agencies and then passes along some of the savings to customers.

“The grid needs resources to be as flexible and as responsive as they can possibly be, in order to support the reliability that we need,” said Andrew McAllister, a member of the California Energy Commission.

Link to article on Mercury News web site

Summer is right around the corner and with it comes the occasional extreme heat streak (like this week). While some of the warmer weather comes with the summer territory, high record temperatures can lead to emergency situations. By following a few important steps, you can keep yourself, your loved ones, neighbors, and pets comfortable and safe during a heat wave.

Don’t let a heatwave turn into an emergency.

Avoid strenuous activity and direct exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day. If you can, stay cool at home indoors.  If your home does not have air conditioning, find a public indoor location to keep cool. You can also contact your local county to find out if cooling shelters are available in your area. A few hours in air conditioning can help your body better react to the heat when you go outside.

If you must go outside, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. A hat can help shade your face from the direct sunlight. Protect your skin by using sunscreen with SPF 30 or above.

It’s important to stay hydrated when temperatures rise. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water. Make sure your pets have plenty of fresh, cool water. Keep their water bowl out of direct sunlight.

Never leave children or pets in the car – no exceptions. Even when temperatures outside are mild, the temperature inside the car can reach 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

ENERGY CONSERVATIONS TIPS & FLEX ALERTS

Flex Alerts ask consumers to voluntarily conserve electricity when there’s an anticipated supply shortage. When you use less energy during a Flex Alert, you reduce the likelihood of rotating power outages.

Flex Alerts are issued a day before so consumers can prepare by shifting energy use from afternoon to morning.

BEFORE AN ALERT

• Pre-cool your home by lowering the thermostat to 72 degrees
• Close blinds and drapes to keep the heat out
• Turn off unnecessary lights
• Charge mobile devices, laptops, and medical equipment
• Use dishwashers, washing machines, and other major appliances before 3pm

DURING AN ALERT

• Avoid using major appliances
• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees
• Unplug or turn off electrical devices that are not in use
• Use fans when possible

Be prepared to reduce your energy use – sign up to receive Flex Alerts.

STAY INFORMED

Stay alert for information about upcoming extreme heat conditions. Anyone is at risk for heat-related illness. Check in on neighbors who may have mobility issues or no air conditioning.

For more tips on conserving energy, visit: https://www.flexalert.org/save-energy

Link to this article on Cal OES website

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) is hosting a two-day conference June 28 and June 29. The virtual conference will provide an overview of the history of OPCA, what OPCA does, summaries of recent regulatory reports, and overviews of OPCA’s grant programs.

Conference participants will hear from grant awardees on their OPCA grant-funded research projects, a panel on how research can be translated in practice, and agricultural economists who work with OPCA on various research projects.

“We’re offering this conference to give the public and stakeholders an opportunity to see and appreciate the good work we do in the OPCA and how this work helps our growers and our state achieve environmental stewardship and agricultural sustainability goals,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.
 
“OPCA is a key partner for the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) in evaluating the economic impacts of pesticide regulations, most recently in our work on neonicotinoid insecticides,” said DPR Director Val Dolcini. “This meeting is an opportunity to highlight our continued collaboration.”

Please register in advance for the conference at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/981688376789910284.

Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Additional conference details, including a meeting agenda, are available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/conference.html.

Anyone interested in learning more about OPCA and their work are encouraged to attend.

NOTE: California Department of Pesticide Regulation Continuing Education (CE) credits will be available for Day 1 (1 hour L, 0.5 hour O) and Day 2 (0.5 hour L, 1.5 hour O).

USDA News Release

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal today unveiled a new grant program to help rural communities create good-paying jobs and support new business opportunities in high-growth fields.

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) is intended to help rural communities identify and maximize local assets and connect to networks and industry clusters within their region. The new grant encourages a regional, innovation-driven approach to economic development.

“USDA is innovating the way we do business,” Neal said. “The RISE program ensures that critical funding supports long-term and sustainable economic growth in the rural communities and regions that need it most.”

RISE provides grants of up to $2 million to consortiums of local governments, investors, industry, institutions of higher education, and other public and private entities in rural areas. The funds may be used to form job accelerator partnerships and create high-wage jobs, start or expand businesses, and support economic growth in the rural areas of their region.

Funding may also be used to establish and operate innovation centers and partnerships, such as integrating rural businesses into new supply chains, providing workforce training and identifying community assets.

To help ensure long-term and sustainable community and economic development, award recipients must support projects for at least four years.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their nearest USDA Rural Development State Office ahead of the application deadline for more information about the program or the application process.

Starting June 16, 2021, applications will be accepted electronically at Grants.gov. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 2, 2021. Information about the application process is available in a notice in the Federal Register (PDF, 276 KB). For additional information about the program, see the final rule on page 31585 of the June 15 Federal Register (PDF, 377 KB).

USDA is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time to help stakeholders and potential applicants learn more about this funding opportunity. To register, please visit: attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9046642451030677262.

Of all the challenges farmers face year after year, the most daunting challenge may be figuring out how to navigate the farm business succession process. If you’re a farmer or rancher planning to retire in the near future, the path toward a successful farm land and business transition may seem insurmountable. 

Retiring farmers with identified successor generations, related or not, are invited to submit an application to participate in California FarmLink’s new succession program, The Regenerator: A Year of Farm Succession Planning. This 12-month course, starting in November near Sacramento, will work with a small cohort of farm families and their successors – ‘teams’ – to generate plans that support transition to the next generation. Participants will convene monthly to learn from professionals, compare notes with their peers, and work step-by-step to plan for their financial and family well-being, and the health and continuity of their working farms and ranches.

The Regenerator takes a multi-faceted approach to farm succession planning. Participants will work with their own farm operators, identified successors and family members to create a personalized succession plan.  Monthly meetings will feature in-depth presentations by professionals covering a range of topics including:

• Communication, intention setting and team-building
• Business valuation, structure, and transition of management
• Retirement, estate and tax planning
• Farmland conservation planning
• Creative approaches and financing strategies for land and business transfers

Participants will gain an understanding of the essential components of a good farm succession plan, strategies and creative tools to reach goals, and a plan that’s ready to launch. California FarmLink’s intention is to build farmers’ resilience by facilitating plans that will sustain farms and ranches into the next generation.

Applications for the course are due July 1.

Read more here, including a link for applicants

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recently released the California Agricultural Organic Report 2019-2020.

Publication highlights:

• California accounts for 40 percent of all organic production in the U.S.
• Between 2014 and 2019, organic production increased 44%
• In 2019, sales of organic products in California totaled more than $10.4 billion, an increase of 3.5% from 2018
• California land for organic production in 2019 included 2,590,328 acres
• Operation types registered with CDFA’s State Organic Program in 2019 were 5,452 producers, 1,295 handlers and 216 processors

Read the California Agricultural Organic Report 2019-2020 for more information. Visit the California State Organic Program (SOP) Reports webpage for this and past organic publications and reports

USDA news release

In response to historic drought conditions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering $41.8 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to help agricultural producers in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon alleviate the immediate impacts of drought and other natural resource challenges on working lands. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will make available this funding through Conservation Incentive Contracts, a new option available through EQIP. Signup for this targeted funding begins today, and NRCS will accept applications through July 12, 2021.

Through EQIP, NRCS offers conservation practices that help producers recover from the impacts of drought as well as build resiliency. These practices provide other key benefits, including mitigating impacts from climate change as well as preventing and recovering from wildfire.

“As ongoing drought conditions in the West continue to worsen, we knew we needed to increase our support to farmers and ranchers in dealing with drought and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow,” said NRCS Chief Terry Cosby. “EQIP is our flagship conservation program, and with the expanded benefits the Conservation Incentive Contracts offer, it enables producers to deploy conservation activities that strengthen existing efforts on their land to help during times of drought. Additionally, by targeting this program in several states, we can make any needed adjustments before rolling out Conservation Incentive Contracts nationwide in fiscal year 2022.”

Conservation Incentive Contracts

While Conservation Incentive Contracts are available in select states in fiscal year 2021, NRCS will roll out nationwide in fiscal year 2022, using this pilot to refine implementation of this new option.

The 2018 Farm Bill created the new Conservation Incentive Contracts option to address high-priority conservation and natural resources concerns, including drought. Through 5- to 10-year contracts, producers manage, maintain and address important natural resource concerns and build on existing conservation efforts.

Conservation Incentive Contracts offer conservation activities that producers implement to address resource concerns.

NRCS will set aside $11.8 million directly for drought-related practices. Practices include forest management plans, tree/shrub establishment, brush management, prescribed grazing, pasture and hay planting, wildlife habitat, livestock watering systems and cover crops.

How to Apply

To learn more about Conservation Incentive Contracts, visit the EQIP webpage. Producers in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon who are interested in this targeted funding should apply by July 12, 2021 by contacting their local USDA Service Center.

While USDA offices may be closed to visitors because of the pandemic, Service Center staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools. To conduct business, please contact your local USDA Service Center. Contact information can be found at farmers.gov/service-locator.      .

Western Growers news release

Western Growers (WG) has teamed with Karen Ross, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary, to launch a statewide initiative aimed at developing a future workforce with the skills and knowledge to navigate emerging on-farm technology.

The AgTechX Ed initiative will bring together universities and colleges, farming and agricultural partners, and technology companies across California to transition the agriculture workforce to master rapidly developing agricultural technology (agtech).

“As we face chronic and worsening labor shortages, escalating labor costs and legislative mandates, and dwindling access to water, crop protection tools and other inputs, the rapid development and deployment of technology is our best hope to preserve California’s farmland and regional agricultural economies,” said Dave Puglia, Western Growers president and CEO. “AgTechX Ed is an exciting and critical initiative that can help advance the tech-expert workforce we must have to continue producing healthy California-grown foods.”

The initiative will be anchored by four AgTechX Ed events in key rural areas across California. Each event will feature a dialogue between leading farming and technology companies around the specific skills they need in their workforces, along with training opportunities available in their organizations. Additionally, local California Community Colleges and California State Universities will be on hand to share how they are revamping their curriculum and adding new educational pathways in an effort to build tomorrow’s agtech workforce.           

The linchpin of each event will be a keynote conversation and networking session with Secretary Ross who will provide insight into the importance of partnerships between industry, government and academia to adapt education to the changing needs of agriculture.

“To rise to the occasion of feeding a global population of 10 billion people in the next 30 years with fewer resources and labor, we need to start investing in preparing tomorrow’s agricultural workforce today,” said Ross. “Education starts in the classroom, and that’s where agriculture prominently needs to be. As the development of technology rapidly accelerates, initiatives such as AgTechX Ed lays the foundation for new tech-based education training platforms that will build an adequately trained workforce.”

The first AgTechX Ed event will be August 25–26, 2021, at Reedley College. The remaining events will be held in Imperial Valley, Monterey County and the greater Sacramento area. In addition to the events, AgTechX Ed will facilitate internship/apprenticeship opportunities, job shadow programs and regional career mixers. The initiative will also build on existing WG workforce development programs that encourage youth to pursue careers in agriculture, including Careers in Ag and Junior AgSharks.

Registration for AgTechX Ed at Reedley College will be available later this summer at www.wga.com. 

Note — It’s Invasive Species Action Week in California through June 13. CDFA is partnering with other government agencies and environmental groups to discuss the threats posed by invasive species.

CDFA’s Report a Pest Program

Have you seen a new or unusual plant or pest in your area? If so, you can play an important role in protecting California agriculture and your environment by reporting the sighting of a plant or pest that you suspect may be a new invasive species in your area.

How can you help?

If possible, take photographs of the plant or pest. Tips: including something of commonly known size in the photo for comparison is helpful; taking photos of the immediate environment where the sighting occurred and key landmarks for finding the site is also often helpful.

Photos can be attached to the Report a Pest Sighting Form either electronically or in hard copies (see below for online and hard copies of this form).

If you wish to collect a specimen to assist with identification, it is important to keep the specimen secure to avoid the spread of the collected species, or any organism that may be attached to it. Please keep a record with the specimen of the location and date that it was collected.

Toxonomic groups

Invertebrates (for example: insects, snails) – Invertebrates should be collected into a closed vial or jar with enough rubbing alcohol included to keep the tissue moist.

Plants – Plant specimens should include the stem with intact leaves and, if available, intact flowers and/or fruits. The plant should be placed in a plastic bag* with the top folded over and secured.

Plant Diseases – Submit multiple plant specimens exhibiting the symptoms of concern. These should be collected into a plastic bag and loosely sealed (e.g., folded over at the top).

Vertebrates (fish, for example) – Seal in a plastic bag and freeze. Please contact your local county agriculture department or the Department of Fish and Game to report this sighting.

*For detailed information, go to Sampling & Submission Guidelines.

Alert: sending specimens by mail is not recommended. Before doing so, please contact your local county agriculture department for mailing instructions. (See “Find Your Local County Agriculture Department.”)

Who to contact

Contact your Local County Agriculture Department. Inform them that you wish to report a pest sighting.

Or, complete the CDFA “Report a Pest Sighting Form” online and submit via email to the CDFA Pest Hotline.

Or, report a pest by calling the CDFA Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.

Or, download and complete the CDFA “Report a Pest Sighting Form” and mail to the address provided at the top of the form. Note: sending specimens by mail is not recommended. Contact your local county agriculture department for instructions before doing so.

Reporting Tip: the CDFA Report a Pest Sighting Form can be downloaded and completed for use as a prep tool when contacting your local county agriculture department or when calling the CDFA Pest Hotline. The form provides you with the type of questions you may be asked by your local county agriculture department or by the CDFA Hotline operator.

Link to CDFA’s Report a Pest page