A Special Supplement to the West Side Index & Gustine Press-Standard
Thursday, March 22, 2018
2 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Cattle tradition strong in Azevedo family NEWMAN - Running cattle is a labor of love for Tim and Irmie Azevedo. The West Siders grew up with an interest in livestock, and when romance blossomed they merged herds as well as lives when they exchanged wedding vows in 1975. “I had my own brand and he had his brand,” Irmie recalled. “I gave in, because he was out there doing it.” Cattle have been part of their lives ever since. Today, the rural Newman residents keep two herds, a 100-head registered herd which they run on 200 acres of Azevedo Road pasture they purchased in 1980 and a 400-head commercial herd which they pasture on a variety of leased land and a 720-acre parcel they purchased a year ago in the Patterson area. Their interest in cattle dates back to childhood. “I always had something,” recalled Tim, a 1969 Gustine High graduate. “I started a little dairy
at my grandmother’s place. I would go milk cows in the morning, level land (for his father) during the day and then come home at night and milk.” He also had a few beef cattle at the time, Tim said, and built his herd a few animals at a time. Irmie, meanwhile, who graduated from Orestimba in 1974, was building her own herd of polled Hereford cattle which she had started in 4-H. “He and I were friends, and he always wanted to have cattle,” she explained. “He was always over at our roping arena.” Today, running two herds - in reality three, because the commercial cattle are split into two means juggling a variety of chores and management duties for the Azevedos. Their registered herd is close to home, kept on the first land they bought back in 1980. From that herd, they said, about 30 bull calves will be raised each year
for sale and replacement heifers will be chosen to continue the breeding program. “We don’t buy any outside cattle,” Irmie explained. Record-keeping is meticulous - particularly for the registered herd. “You have to keep records on them from the time they are born,” Irmie noted, “and they have to be identified by sire to be registered.” The commercial herd is split into a fall herd and a spring herd. “The fall bunch stays in the hills, and the spring bunch comes back to the clover,” Tim explained. While many of the females are kept as replacement heifers, the steer calves are raised to a weight of 600 pounds or more, and then sold as feeders which others will finish out in feedlots. The Azevedos prefer to
See AZEVEDO | PAGE 3
Californa Grown And Proud!
A
family run business of over sixty-five years, Stewart & Jasper is proud to be part of the West Side’s Agricultural history. Our is to Pantone 374 C Pantone 469 C Pantonephilosophy 343 C give our customers the finest California almond products by controlling every aspect of production, from the Orchard to the Marketplace -
from the ground up.
Stewart & Jasper Co., Retail Logo Prepared 06.30.06
McHenry Village
The Company Store 3500 Shiells Road Newman, CA 95360
2985 Renzo Lane, Suite D Patterson, CA 95363
phone: 209-577-NUTS (6887)
phone: 209-862-0555
phone: 209-895-9463
1700 McHenry Ave., Suite 58, Modesto, CA 95350
Tim and Irmie Azevedo are long-time West Side cattle ranchers who currently have both registered and commercial herds.
1-877-ALMOND-8
Del Lago Plaza
www.StewartandJasper.com facebook.com/StewartandJasper
CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 3
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
AZEVEDO
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 stay away from that aspect of the industry. “If I were to take these calves and go all the way with them, paying per day at a feedlot, when their time is up they have to be sold,” Tim shared. “If the price is down, they still have to be sold.” Splitting the commercial herd in two has the advantage of allowing the Azevedos to avoid sending all their calves to market at the same time, Irmie noted, serving as a buffer from extreme market swings. “We hit different markets,” she said. Running cattle is inherently labor intensive. Tim said he works at an auction yard four days a week, and when done there jumps in his truck to check cattle. “When I get done at the sale yard, I come back and I’m out there until dark,” he remarked. “You think you are going to go out and
check on them and feed, but you get to the first ranch and find out that you have more problems than you thought you did. You might have to pull a calf, or fix a fence.....you might not get to the second place. “I can’t get to them all every day, but I try to get to the ones that are calving,” he added. “The ones whose calves are bigger, we try to check every two or three days.” Challenges abound for cattlemen. Drought decimated the natural feed supply on which cattle producers running their livestock on pasture depend, meaning ranchers must invest the time and money required to bring more feed in. And land is always in demand - which was why the Azevedos decided last year to purchase their 720 acres. “The problem is the ground,” Tim stated. “If you don’t own it, you aren’t going to find it.” “It almost forces you to buy or get out,” Irmie add-
Tim Azevedo (right) and friends work calves during a round-up. ed. “If we had to start, I don’t know how you would do it.” The Azevedos said their children, Jennifer and Shane, had their own cattle growing up. While they would welcome them into the cattle
Saluting West Side agriculture
business, Irmie reflected, “we’re not big enough to bring them on.” The children help as they are able, and friends pitch in as well when it comes time to work cattle. “He has a couple of guys who are good who help
him a lot,” Irmie said. “If it wasn’t for these guys who come back and help we probably would have cut back more.” Despite her husband’s occasional threat to “sell them all tomorrow,” Irmie said, cattle are in the cou-
ple’s blood. Both say they genuinely enjoy raising cattle. “I like it,” Tim reflected. “I can do it all day long and it won’t bother me. Being out with the cattle and checking on them is not work to me.”
thank you farmers...
We would like to acknowledge our local farmers and their families for the tough job they do, and the many contributions they make in improving the quality of our lives.
ACME ELECTRIC CO.
your hard work and dedication bring fresh, healthy foods to our tables all year long!
Buster Lucas, Owner
general & Family Medicine 1248 Main Street, Suite D • Newman
“Let us check your shorts” 1025 S. KILROY, TURLOCK
667-2851
Manuel Canga, M.D.
4 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
First phase of recycled water project dedicated Dignitaries and West Side farmers gathered recently for a milestone moment in local water history. Officials formally dedicated the first phase of an innovative program which is delivering treated waste water to be recycled as an irrigation supply for West Side fields and orchards in the Del Puerto Water District. Anthea Hansen, the district’s general manager, said the concept of bringing in treated waste water from the city of Modesto - and eventually from the city of Turlock - faced an abundance of hurdles and nay-sayers. “There was a lot of doubt in the beginning, and many steps in the last eight years,” she commented. “We finally got there.” The opportunity to dedicate the first phase of the project, Hansen added, “was a good day.” The infrastructure has been functional for several weeks, with water flowing over a newly-constructed weir and into the DeltaMendota Canal on the way to availability for use by Del Puerto growers. The federal water district, which has been hit hard by the drought in recent years, runs along the Interstate 5 corridor from Vernalis to Santa Nella. During the worst years
of the drought, the district received little or no allocation of surface water, leaving growers to idle land or pay a premium for whatever water the district could purchase on the costly open market. Last year, after a wet winter, the district did receive a full water allocation - but 2018 is again shaping up as a year in which federal districts such as Del Puerto will again see their allocation of water through the federal system curtailed. The Bureau of Reclamation announced in February an initial allocation of 20 percent of full contract supply. The North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program, however, is not subject to regulatory curtailment or to the whims of Mother Nature. The flow of water is constant, and will only increase in future years as the city of Turlock brings its phase of the project on line and the cities of Modesto, Turlock and Ceres grow in population. Hansen previously told Mattos Newspapers that she anticipates the recycled water program will deliver just over three inches per acre to the district this year. That amount of water is significant, Hansen em-
phasized, particularly in years when the district’s federal supply is curtailed. The importance of having a reliable water supply - even if it meets only a portion of the district’s needs - cannot be overstated, she previously told Mattos Newspapers. “It is reliable. It is something you can count on when you talk to the bank and make management decisions in your operations. To me, that is the greatest value of this project,” she said in November. The city of Modesto constructed the pipeline which delivers treated water from its plant on Jennings Road to the Delta-Mendota Canal and will own that infrastructure. Turlock will construct and own the infrastructure linking its plant (which also accepts waste water from Ceres) to the pipeline. A per-acre assessment on land in the Del Puerto Water District will pay for the water delivery and debt service incurred by the cities for those construction costs. Stanislaus County is also a partner in the project, which has been years in the making. Ultimately, Hansen recently reflected, the recycled water project “changes the future for the district and its landowners.”
Anthea Hansen, general manager of the Del Puerto Water District, addresses those gathered for the dedication of the first phase of the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program as Gene Bays, district board president, looks on.
Dignitaries cut the ceremonial ribbon to dedicate the infrastructure which is now delivering treated wastewater to the Del Puerto Water District to be recycled as an irrigation supply for fields and orchards along the Interstate 5 corridor.
e p m o D
Representing California’s diverse & dynamic poultry industry
WAREHOUSE CO.
4 Quality bean cleaning, storage and marketing
4 Serving the West Side since 1943
Thomas F. DiMare
The DiMare Company Bill Mattos, President
Newman
4 Locally owned and operated
25 East Fifth Street • Crows Landing
(209) 837-4725
CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 5
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Merced County commodity values slipped 4 percent in ‘16 Merced County farmers and ranchers produced agricultural commodities valued at nearly $3.5 billion in 2016, according the county’s annual ag report. That represents a nearly 4 percent decline from the value of 2015 production, according to Agricultural Commissioner David A. Robinson. A number of factors contributed to the decline, his report indicated. His report attributes the decline in production and in overall ag values to a combination of decreased commodity prices and limited irrigation water supplies. The 2016 production value falls well short of the county’s record high of $4.4 billion, achieved in 2014, but nonetheless stands as the fourth-highest on record for Merced County. Despite the decline, agriculture remains a dominant force in the Merced County economy and its impact stretches to nations around the world. According to the annual crop report, 27 Merced County commodities were exported to more than 80
countries in 2016. The top three commodities - milk, almonds and chickens - produces more than 60 percent of the commodity value. The crop values represent gross returns to the producer rather than net income, and do not take into account the costs of production, marketing or transportation. The top 15 commodities in 2016 were as follows. The list includes 2016 value ranking and value amount, with 2015 ranking in parentheses.
1. Milk, $939 million (1)
2. Almonds, $579 million (2) 3. Chickens, $381 million (3) 4. Cattle and calves, $296 million (4) 5. Sweet potatoes, $232 million (5) 6. Tomatoes, $152 million (6) 7. Corn silage, $99 million (7) 8. Wine grapes, $80 million (13) 9. Alfalfa, $77 million (9) 10. Nursery products, $74 million (11) 11. Cotton, $65 million (12) 12. Eggs, $63 million (8) 13. Turkeys, $58 million (10) 14. Pollination, $35 million (20) 15. Miscellaneous vegetables, $32 million (15)
Water, labor issues vital to valley ag Agriculture is at the heart of the Central Valley. Together, we ensure there is food on the dinner table for families across America. The valley supplies more than two-thirds of the country’s nuts and fruits, yet with another dry year upon us our inadequate water storage capacity serves as a stark reminder of failing to plan for the future. Additionally, labor shortages have hurt our ability to produce and discourage our farmers from growing their businesses, while ongoing attempts at immigration reform have stalled in Congress. To address these issues, I am pushing some big ideas to my colleagues in the House of Representatives as well as to the White House. I have been working on several projects to increase our water storage and address the problem head on – including enlargement of Shasta Dam, construction of Sites Reservoir and Temperance Flat Dam, and expanding Los Vaqueros Reservoir. Taken together, these projects would add nearly four million acrefeet of available water for our state, upgrading our water infrastructure system to accommodate the 40 million people it now serves. I also authored H.R. 434, the “New Water Available
JEFF DENHAM to Every Reclamation State Act” (New WATER Act), which will help finance projects like new reservoirs, flood control, belowground storage projects, recycling and desalination projects. The bill encourages private investment in systems that serve the public interest by providing loans with a longer repayment period and gives us the means to continue planning ahead for a sustainable and prosperous future. The New WATER Act will provide a direct benefit to California ratepayers and help bring down the costs of major California water infrastructure projects. A farm cannot survive without water, and the same can be said about farm labor. The agriculture industry faces a dire labor shortage that shows no sign of turning the corner. I’ve heard far too many stories of farmers and ranchers in my district opting to not expand their business due to the lack of necessary workers; some have even been
FRANK B. MARKS & SON, INC.
862-2900
2018 Farm Bill quickly approaching, one area that I’m pushing for more focus is mechanization research and development, particularly in the area of planting and harvesting technologies. Coming from a state that is heavy in specialty crops, such innovations cannot come fast enough. Farm Bill re-authorization will not only provide certainty for ag stakeholders, but also complement the pro-business provisions included in the recent historic overhaul of our tax system. For farmers, it lowers the rate for small businesses and pass-throughs, repeals the harmful estate tax and allows for immediate expensing of new assets. Ultimately, we must have longer-term, financially sound solutions that will sustain the Central Valley’s robust agricultural community for future generations. I am dedicated to getting this done in Congress, and will continue working to put the Central Valley’s interests first. From water storage to feed our farms in a sustainable manner, to immigration reforms and lower taxes, we have to provide the necessary tools for a 21st Century agriculture industry to thrive. Congressman Jeff Denham represents California’s 10th District.
Farmers…We Speak Your Language!
Genske, Mulder & Co.
Producers of Rock, Sand & Gravel Products
• NEWMAN •
forced to reduce existing operations, chipping away at the financial health of their livelihood and the local economy. The H-2A program is in greater demand than ever, yet ongoing bureaucratic delays and outdated red tape inspire no confidence for the industry. Shortterm fixes no longer cut it - we must craft a new program that is responsive, modernized, and workable for employers. While I was pleased to see a guest worker reform bill progress out of committee, several provisions remain that I have serious concerns about. A solution must ensure harvest-sensitive operations are disrupted as minimally as possible. It must operate to reflect market demands, not arbitrary caps and limits. It must give due consideration to existing undocumented workers who have been here for decades and ultimately need work authorization. Finally, it must ensure a viable labor pool is available for years to come. A labor solution for ag is long overdue, and I am constantly working with my California colleagues and House leadership to bring the right one to the floor. In the long run, agriculture will need to further adapt and become more mechanized to thrive in the 21st Century. With the
Supplying The Area For Over 100 Years
Certified Public Accountants
2101 L Street, Newman 862-3760
700 S. Hwy 59, Merced • 726-4600
GARTONTRACTOR.COM
Robert O. Burroughs Janae Holt Diane Kerckhove u Specializing in Production Agriculture 4803 Sisk Road, Suite 201, Salida CA 95368
(209) 523-3573
6 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
GHS grad Gomes plays key ag advisory role A Gustine High graduate has found his niche in agricultural circles as an adviser to farmers throughout the region. John Gomes, who was raised on a small farm in rural Gustine, is working as a pest control adviser and certified crop adviser for Stanislaus Farm Supply. The 2007 GHS graduate said he was raised with an interest in the ag industry, and worked his way into the pest control and crop science fields. “I worked with farmers through ROP and helped them with spraying and things like that,” Gomes related. “That led me into the next sector. While I was going to Modesto Junior College, I was field checking with Stanislaus Farm Supply. I got my feet wet, and learned from a lot of guys there.” Gomes went on to attend California State University, Stanislaus after completing his MJC studies, and for the past seven or eight years has worked full-time at Stanislaus Farm Supply. In that role, Gomes visits fields and orchards across the region to conduct evaluations and make recommendations to grow-
ers on how to maximize production....and, in turn, profits. In his role as a pest control adviser, Gomes provides guidance to growers on how to implement a variety of pest management practices. Advisers promote sustainable practices, he emphasized, and use sprays as sparingly as possible. “When we do spray, it is very targeted. We use the correct products for the pests (identified). A lot of these chemicals are extremely expensive. If a grower didn’t have to, they wouldn’t spray one bit,” Gomes commented. He said pest control advisers are required to attend 40 hours of continuing education every two years to stay abreast of the ever-changing regulations and reporting requirements involved. “There is more involved in the pesticides. You have to be on your game, and know what products to use,” Gomes explained. “There are hundreds of products that you have to know.” As a certified crop adviser, Gomes said, he works with growers from a plant science standpoint to maximize production.
Gustine Supports Our Ag Community! Gustine Chamber of Commerce
675 5th Street, Gustine • 854-6975
Join Us for our Annual Wine, Beer & Cheese Tasting & Dinner Call 854-6975 for tickets & Information
That process involves soil sampling and conversations with growers about appropriate materials to apply. “You make sure that you are checking their fields, taking samples and talking with them about what your are finding. You are assisting them to do the best things to have a profitable crop,” Gomes told Mattos Newspapers. “I enjoy the agronomy, the soil sciences and feeding the crop to the fullest potential,” he added. “That is where the profitability for the grower comes in. If they can spend (money) there and get a return for the investment, that is the fun part for me.” Looking at the entire picture rather than focusing on a single key nutrient is essential, Gomes said. Management practices also come into play, he noted. Being an adviser is part art, part science, Gomes acknowledged. “You learn the science in class, but the art comes from the growers,” he said. “Everybody does it differently. Every grower has their own twist, which they have been doing for years, and it works.”
Gustine High graduate John Gomes is a pest control adviser and certified crop adviser with Stanislaus Farm Supply. Gomes said he works with tree crops and a wide variety of row crops. “The landscape is changing very quickly. The trees just keep going in,” he noted. “We have a lot of growers who are planting trees for the first time, and we give them advice. There
In Good Taste Catering Bernadine Medeiros, Owner Full Service Catering, Flowers & Event Planning
are a bunch of ways to do things. We give them options.” Many clients are growing staples such as almonds, walnuts and alfalfa, he said, but Gomes also works with growers of less common commodities such as carrots, aspara-
When it’s your livelihood that counts… count on me. When you run a farm, you invest more than money. I get that. Let me give you a hand protecting what’s important to your family with insurance from State Farm®. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY.
Michael Passarelli, Agent Insurance Lic#: 0F22149 1404 Main Street Newman, CA 95360 Bus: 209-862-3200
209.652.5223 61 209.854.19.com
berniem@inreach
fully licensed and insured
gus and strawberry transplants. He enjoys the diversity, and working with the growers. “I enjoy being outside, and helping the growers,” Gomes concluded. “I think they teach me as much as I teach them.”
1991336.1
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, Bloomington, IL
CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 7
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Stanislaus County ag values down 16 percent in 2016 The value of agricultural commodities produced in Stanislaus County fell by 16 percent in 2016, the most recent year available, according to the annual ag report prepared by Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner Milton O’Haire. The decline is attributed to a reduction in yields for many commodities due to the drought impacts, and lower commodity prices for a number of leading ag products, including almonds, cattle, milk and walnuts. Stanislaus County farmers and ranchers produced commodities valued at $3.26 billion in 2016, the report indicates, down nearly $618 million from the 2015 value of $3.88 billion. Almond meats saw the largest decrease of $366 million, followed by a $104 million decline in the value of cattle and a $46 million dip on silage values. Milk values fell by nearly $36 million. The county’s all-time high was $4.4 billion in ag
commodity values, produced in 2014. Stanislaus County remained a diverse ag economy in 2016, with commodities ranging from alfalfa to zucchini. Those commodities are shipped to nations around the world as well as being consumed domestically. The county ranks fifth in California for total production values, and at $3.26 billion has a larger ag economy than 18 states. Following are the county’s top 10 ag commodities for 2016. The prior year ranking is in parenthesis.
1. Almonds, $931 million (1) 2. Milk, $612 million (2) 3. Chickens, $295 million (4) 4. Cattle and calves, $246 million (3) 5. Nursery fruit and nut trees, vines, $163 million (7) 6. Walnuts, $134 million (5) 7. Silage, $117 million (6) 8. Turkeys, $70 million (10) 9. Peaches, $68 million (11) 10. Almond pollination, $65 million (9)
John & Florie Nunes office: 854.6325 mobile: 209.495.1964
Never apologize for being a farmer As someone who was born and raised in the Valley, the economic and social values of agriculture are part of who I am. Accountability for our actions is part of our way of life. If you don’t work hard, you don’t get paid. It’s as simple as that. Unfortunately, folks in Sacramento don’t always remember the rules of the game. They demonize successful farmers as “Big Ag.” They claim we waste water, forgetting that irrigation is what puts food on their tables. That’s not waste – it’s hard work. They want us to make sacrifices they would never ask of other industries, and they want us to make them without any of the help they provide to other industries. When Hollywood started filming more of its movies outside of California, the Legislature provided hundreds of millions of dollars worth of incentives to bring them back. I once asked if we could do something similar for the dairy industry, which is being forced to either consolidate or leave the state. My proposal went nowhere. Farmers in the Valley know the truth, but even we are guilty of sometimes
ADAM GRAY buying into Sacramento’s untrue narrative. When now-Senator Kamala Harris was running for office, she came to Modesto to meet and discuss agricultural issues at a round-table forum. As local farmers introduced themselves, each one qualified their success by referring to their operations as “small, family farms” even though many were large operations. When it was my turn, I felt compelled to share an observation with the Senator: Valley farmers feel the need to apologize for their success. Surely, major companies in the Bay Area are not referring to themselves as “small, family tech firms.” These farmers are major employers in a region lacking enough jobs. They are the primary economic engine in a region desperate for investment. They give back to the communities that have given so much
to them, and they provide food security for the entire nation. We live in truly interesting times when an industry so valuable to the people and history of California is openly attacked. We should not apologize for our success. We should not undersell the value of our industry— and we should not be afraid to stand up for our way of life. When we keep our heads held high, farmers, ranchers, dairymen, and agriculture demonstrate our strength. When the governor proposed cutting the Ag Incentive Grant, which funds FFA, the capitol was flooded with over 1,000 FFA members in their blue corduroy jackets. We won that fight. When environmentalists tried to pass a multi-billion dollar water bond without a single cent for new water storage, we stuck together and secured $2.7 billion to build new dams. And last year, representatives from the Valley stood together and passed legislation guaranteeing no future state budgets would leave out a dedicated source of funding for California’s network of 78 fairs. We are strong when we
stand together, but our strength will be tested. There is an active agenda by some in Sacramento and elsewhere to destroy California agriculture as we know it. We are seeing it now in the California Water Commission’s decision to delay awarding funds to build new water storage. We are seeing it in the state’s continued exclusion of hydro power from being considered clean energy, requiring us to dump the electricity we have in order to buy energy from others. We are seeing it in the State Water Board’s irresponsible and dangerous decision to take our water and flush it out to sea – never mind the harm to our economy and drinking water supplies their plan will cause. We must keep up the fight against this agenda. If we are willing to do the hard work to win in Sacramento, we will be rewarded, just like when we work hard back home on the farm. Adam Gray represents California’s 21st Assembly District, which includes all of Merced County and a portion of Stanislaus County.
8 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Valley opportunity grows with 2018 Farm Bill Last week, as I walked through the rows of almond trees on my ranch outside of Fresno, I thought of my father and grandfather, who farmed this same land. I thought about the opportunity land presents to each generation, and the challenges we all face as San Joaquin Valley farmers. Farmers in our Valley always face three major challenges among many others: Water, labor, and trade. For decades – in both Sacramento and D.C. – I have been working to fix our broken water and immigration systems. Not only do we need reliable sources of water and labor on our farms, but we also need to ensure that both systems are fair, common sense, and address the realities we face every day. Similarly, our farmers need access to export markets. California farmers,
JIM COSTA ranchers, and dairymen are some of the most prolific and efficient producers in the world. If we don’t have access to export markets, the United States will never consume all that we produce. Just as land presents opportunity to each generation of farmers, each time the Farm Bill comes due for re-authorization, we in Congress are presented with the opportunity to strength our nation’s food policy for producers and consumers alike. In anticipation of the 2018 Farm Bill, I held round-tables and listening
sessions, attended agriculture town halls, and met with our farmers and farm workers across the Central Valley. I want to hear first-hand the concerns and priorities of our local producers, farm workers, and nutrition organizations regarding our nation’s food policy. Obviously, there are differences in opinion across our food supply system, but there are also five messages that I hear consistently, loudly and clearly. First, we must maintain strong support for the cultivation and production of fresh fruits and vegetables. California grows over half of our nation’s fruits and vegetables, providing not just the Valley but the entire country with a healthy diet. Second, we cannot abandon our nation’s most vulnerable through inhumane cuts to nutrition programs. These nutrition programs
J E N S E N &
provide a steady source of food to our nation’s food insecure, including our children, disabled and seniors. In Merced County, 20 percent of the population depends on CalFresh as a source of nutritious food for their families. Third, we should work to expand – not limit – foreign market access for our products. According to the most recent data from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, California agriculture producers earned about 44 percent of their total annual revenue from trade throughout the world. Fourth, we must provide incentives to encourage sound conservation practices and research to ensure the sustainability and continued growth of California and American agriculture. Lastly, we have the opportunity with the Farm Bill to address the crip-
pling agriculture labor crisis afflicting our farms, and it must be addressed. Fifty-five percent of California’s agriculture producers report they are not able to fill the positions they have available. Our nation’s food supply is a national security issue. California’s producers grow the safest, healthiest, and most secure food in the world. We benefit from this ability to produce our own food. Therefore, we
must come together – Democrats and Republicans – to pass a strong, bipartisan Farm Bill that supports our current agriculture producers, our nutrition safety net, and the future of our agriculture system. We have an opportunity to strengthen our nation’s food policy with the 2018 Farm Bill. Congressman Jim Costa represents California’s 16th District in the House of Representatives.
bright ideas
do you need one? them! OUR STAFF IS FULL OF IT! Let Us Help You & Your Business.
Do you have an idea but aren’t sure how to make it a reality, come see US! FORMS CARDS MARKETING PRODUCTS We can help you!
mattos newspapers, inc. 1021 Fresno Street - Newman www.westsideconnect.com
209.862.2222
Where Quality is Our Family Tradition
J E N S E N
A T T O R N E Y S
“MeetingThe TheNeeds Needs of Side “Meeting ofWest West Side Farmers and Dairymen Since 1952” Farmers and Dairymen Since 1952”
J. Wilmar Wilmar Jensen Mark R. J. Jensen •• Mark R.Jensen Jensen General Civil Practice Emphasizing GENERAL PRACTICE • Farm C &IVIL Ranch Law MPHASIZING: E • Estate Planning & Probate • Business & Corporate Law • Farm & Ranch Law • Real Estate Law
• Estate Planning & Probate 1031 Fresno Street, & Newman • (209) 862-2846 • Business Corporate Law • Real Estate Law
All walnut varieties including clones, UC varieties and paradox/black rootstock Helping growers plan for the future with 80 years of walnut growing experience. We pride ourselves on the best trees grown on virgin ground.
With 6 generations of farming we have the roots you can count on! Norman Crow (209) 988-4570 • Mark Crow (209) 602-8394 www.orestimbanursery.com
CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 9
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Olive orchard thriving on former egg ranch The Medeiros ranch located northeast of Gustine for years was associated with chickens and farmfresh eggs. For nearly the past decade, however, olives have taken center stage on the Preston Road ranch. Today, the 45 acres on which row crops were once grown are home to a mature and thriving olive orchard operated by David Medeiros. Medeiros tends to the trees throughout each year before turning the orchard over to the harvesting company which brings in the olives and delivers them to a Lodi firm for processing into oil. Medeiros said his parents, Joseph and Maria, started the olive-growing operation which he now oversees. The family, he said, settled on olives as an alternative to other crops considered - including almonds.
“I had been around eggs and chickens all my life, and I was looking for something else to do,” Medeiros related. “I talked to my dad, and we were looking into almonds....we were studying them all around the valley.” During a trip to the Woodland area, Medeiros said, a real estate agent’s reference to olives piqued his interest. “I told my parents about it. Growing up in the Azores, olive oil was a staple they put on everything,” he explained. “It sounded like a good future. We went up north and looked at an orchard, and we liked how it looked.” When investing in olives, he said, the family went with a new high-density planting method which allowed mechanical harvesting. The approach was cutting edge at the time, Medeiros noted, and has
proven to be an effective production method. “The processing plant we send it to has been trying different (methods). So far, this has been the best for production per acre,” Medeiros noted. Olives were a good fit for the ranch, he said, because the trees thrive in soils which are less than ideal for crops such as almonds. The olive trees require a fraction of the water almonds need. On clay soils, Medeiros said, olives require only about an acre-foot of water each year. Trees planted in rockier soils would need about two acre-feet a year. Those amounts are considerably lower than the water requirements of many crops grown locally. “My dad (who passed away earlier this year) thought it was the best
See OLIVES | PAGE 10
PA R R E I R A ’ S
S e r v in g t h e We s t S ide S in c e 1987!
David Medeiros is pictured in the olive orchard his family planted nearly a decade ago.
A U T O R E PA I R
Proud to Ser ve West Side Farmers and Our Di verse Agricultural Industr y! Alignments • Engines • Brakes • Tune-Ups • Oil Changes Tire Repair • Mufflers & Exhaust Systems
We Are Here For All Your Personal and Farm Vehicle Needs! 424 Third Ave., Gustine, CA 95322 209.854.2337
Anthony Parreira & Zeb Parreira, Owners
FALA SE PORTUGUES SE HABLA ESPAÑOL
10 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
OLIVES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 thing we could have planted on this ground,” Medeiros said. Establishing the orchard was no small challenge, however. “In the beginning, it was expensive because of the trellises and training the trees while they were growing. That took a lot of labor,” he explained. “I wouldn’t really need the trellises now; the trees are set.” With the exception of springtime pruning, Medeiros said, the established olive trees are now fairly low-maintenance. “They are a tough tree,” he commented. The olives - which do not require bees for pollination - will bloom in early May and are harvested in the fall. The processing plant sends its harvesting equipment to collect the olives from the 45 acres of trees. “For us, it only takes a
PROUDLY SUPPORTING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE West Side olive grower David Medeiros inspects a tree in the orchard he oversees on the family ranch northeast of Gustine. couple of days to harvest,” Medeiros told Mattos Newspapers. The olives are shipped to Corto Olive Oils in Lodi for processing, packaging and marketing. The olives are typically pressed within four hours of being harvested, he added, ensuring optimal freshness. Medeiros is paid by the gallon of oil produced from his olives. The versatile olive oil is a dietary staple in many cultures, he said, and is
gaining in domestic popularity as well. He predicts California olive oil will only increase in popularity. “When wine first started in California in the 1970s, the best wines came from Europe. Now the best wine comes from California,” Medeiros remarked. “The same thing that happened with wine is going to happen with olive oil. “Here in California,” he added, “we strive to make things better than anybody else.”
Mello Trucking, Inc.
209.988.8178
Pioneer DRUG STORES
Your Hometown Pharmacy! Easy Prescription Transfers and Speedy, Friendly Service
NEWMAN 1261 Main Street
862-2955
2 Convenient Locations to Serve You!
GUSTINE 397 5th Street
854-1007
■ FREE DELIVERY ■ MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED ■ LARGE SELECTION OF GIFTS ■ UTILITY PAY STATION
CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 11
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Groundwater management, sustainability mandated Water is the one of the most debated resources within the state and can lead to a number of discussions. How much water is available? How should it be dispersed? Does ag really receive 80 percent of the water supply? I’ll save the breakdown of water for a later discussion as that is an entire article alone. Attention should be brought to a legislative action concerning our groundwater basins. Enacted in 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires that our groundwater basins come into sustainable com-
BREANNE RAMOS pliance by 2040 or 2042. The date of compliance is dependent on a ruling by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Sub-basins that are critically over-drafted are under the 2040 deadline while those not deemed critical have an additional
two years to comply. Sub-basin boundary lines do not follow the lines of county boundaries and therefore, Merced County rests atop four groundwater sub-basins. They are Turlock to the north, Chowchilla to the south, Delta-Mendota covering the west, and Merced encompassing most of the east side. Three of the four, Merced, Delta-Mendota and Chowchilla, are all considered to be critically over-drafted through the DWR ruling. Since the requirement became law, irrigation districts, counties and other
public agencies have been in discussions on how this will look moving forward. Each of the above are able to form a Groundwater Sustainability Agency or GSA, allowing them to form the Groundwater Management Plan that is required to be in place by 2020 or 2022. All parties want to show sustainability, yet the question that remains is how it will be achieved and the amount of water that will be available. This plan, also known as the GSP, will be the largest hurdle in this process. It should also be stated that if a sub-basin does not show sustainabil-
ity, Department of Water Resources officials will become controllers of the sub-basin. This will undoubtedly affect our local agricultural community and others like it throughout the state. Farmers may choose particular crops or lay more ground fallow, as we witnessed during the recent multi-year drought. We have also been an observer of forward thinking through a number of groundwater recharge projects within our county. While agriculture is the obvious party affected, other industries and com-
munities will not be exempt. This will play a large part in altering the landscape for growing cities and counties, as the availability of water will be drastically different than we have seen in recent years. The recharge and sustainability of our subbasins is an “all hands on deck” situation and it will require the efforts of all of us, agriculture, municipalities, community services districts, etc., to ensure its viability. Breanne Ramos is executive director of the Merced County Farm Bureau.
SERVING THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 45 YEARS
HaveSales,you been told you parts, and long short-term rentals Have you been need toldorincluding you aengines, new furnace? pipe, pumps and sprinklers need a new furnace? with precise delivery
Before and you buy, call Wally Falke’s service. 138 buy, Olive Ave. • Patterson Before you call Wally Falke’s for DEALERS a FREE 2nd opinion FOR: JOHN DEERE, PERKINS, 892-7117 for a (209) FREE 2nd opinion shimmonirrigation.net HATZ & MORE.
r o i r e p u S
WHY?
Save $$$ WHY? Save $$$
Have toldneed youa Have youyou beenbeen told you Get an honest opinion on all your repair & need furnace? new a airnew conditioner? replacement to valley’s most Have youoptions been youProudthe Get an honest opinion onBefore all you your repair & told from buy, call Wally Falke’s name in furnace? heating & air conditioning Support need amost new for avalley’s FREE 2nd opinion replacement options from trusted the Westside Before Save you buy,$$$ call Wally Falke’s WHY? trusted name in heating & air conditioning 2nd& opinion Agriculture! Get an honest opinionfor on a allFREE your repair
Proud to be part of the West Side Ag Economy!
WHY? Save $$$
replacement options from the valley’s most trusted name in heating & air conditioning
Heating & Air Conditioning
Get an honest opinion on all your repair & replacement options from the valley’s most Heating & Air Conditioning trusted in heating & air conditioning & Airname Conditioning
it’s time to get comfortable # 312288 it’s time to get Lic comfortable it’s 800-722-1611 time tocomfortable get comfortable It’s time to WallyFalkes.com get 209-632-7596 Gustine Tulare WallyFalkes.com Susan “V” Faustino 209-862-9430 559-684-1969 Lic # 312288 WallyFalkes.com 209-632-7596 800-722-1611 Heating
Heating & Air Conditioning
26798_2
it’s time to get comfortable Lic # 312288 WallyFalkes.com
Lic # 312288
209-632-7596
209-632-7596 800-722-1611
800-722-1611 (209) 678-2838 26798_2
Turlock 209-669-6931
26798_2
Lemoore 559-924-6418
Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. Lic. No. 417 0051. NMLS ID 252939. © 2018 Scenic Oaks Funding, Inc. Not a commitment to lend. Rates, terms, and availability of loan programs are subject to change without notice.
Mortgage Loan Originator • NMLS: 269245
susanv@scenicoaks.com
1300 Main Street, Newman, California 95360
26798_2
TRUCK LINES, INC.
12 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
Supporting Agriculture and Farm Families 209-826-4807 www.youngsair.com
gsair.com
0
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
209-826-4807 www.youngsair.com
RECEIVE UP TO
$6,500
209-826-4807 www.youngsair.com
$6,500 6,500
Get $
RECEIVE UP TO
In Energy Upgrade Rebates
TO AUP Certified Energy Audit will help you learn where youInareEnergy using and losing energy and ways to Upgrade Rebates ebates Inreduce Energy Upgrade Rebates! those issues to make your home A Certified Energy Audit will help you learn you learn more efficient and save you money. where you are using and losing energy and ways to
y and ways to ur home oney.
reduce those issues to make your home RECEIVE UPyou TOmoney. more efficient and save
$6,500
Young’s Air Conditioning is a HERO Regis tered Contractor. HERO is a Government sponsored program which enables Air Conditioning is a HERO Regis tered Contractor. InYoung’s Energy Upgrade Rebates tered Contractor. you to finance certain home improvements. HERO HERO is a Government sponsored program which enables am which enables provides low fixed-interes t rates and payment terms up to you to finance certain home improvements. HERO A20Certified Energy will help you learn ts. HERO years. Contact us toAudit learn more. provides low fixed-interes t rates and payment terms up to
ment terms up to
20 years. Contact us to learn more.energy and ways®to where you are using and losing Whatever It Takes Whatever Takes® reduce those issues to make yourIthome er It Takes® more efficient and save you money.
License #461520
License #461520 License #461520
Working Smarter to Serve You Better 4100 Stuhr Road, P.O. Box 879 Newman, CA 95360
(209) 862-9420
CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 13
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
FFA cultivating leaders for ag industry and beyond Future Farmers of America (FFA) members and supporters across the country celebrated National FFA Week just a few weeks ago. I celebrated it by recalling the fond memories of my own days in the FFA program. When I look back, I can remember judging contests, state and national conventions, field days, parliamentary procedure contests, practices, projects, state farmer awards and most importantly my wonderful ag teachers. I am not quite sure how I juggled all those activities along with football, other sports, student government and working on the family farm in high school. Ceres High School was a major player with our judging and Parli Pro teams back in the 1970s. We traveled to many field days and contests. Now that I think about it, my ag teachers sacrificed a
WAYNE ZIPSER lot of weekends hauling us around. If you look around today, our ag teachers are doing the very same thing they did 40 years ago. They give so much time and energy making sure their students are getting to their activities, whether weighing animals for the fair or driving to field days and so much more. In 1970, at the age of 14, I showed the Grand Champion market hog at the Stanislaus County Fair. That event started my long FFA career and set me on a path of love for the FFA organization. As a very young man I was able to
travel to places that I would never have had the opportunity to if it were not for being involved in FFA. I met U.S. presidents, visited the White House and the Nation’s Capitol. It started with being a freshman Greenhand, then chapter member, to State Farmer Degree, American Farmer Degree, chapter president, section president, regional officer, and then, finally, state officer. In those days California boasted that there were 18,000 FFA members. Today there are about 90,000 members statewide, of that, 46 percent are young women and over 50 percent hold leadership positions. That is a far cry from my day when 90 percent were young men. In fact it had only been a few years back then that girls were allowed to even join the organization at all! Kristi Silkwood from Sierra High School was
the first female state officer in California. The first elected female state officer was Shirley Burch from Southern California who served on my officer team in 1973. I am so proud of how the organization has grown. The backbone of FFA lies with the great ag instructors. My ag teachers really shaped me into who I am today. Leo Scheuber, Jack Rudd, Bud Cully, and Jack Kuehl were fabulous educators and advisers at Ceres High School in my day. I salute all who have been or are ag teachers, who sacrifice weekends and after-school time to help young students become the leaders of tomorrow. This organization is building the future leaders of our agricultural community and beyond. Wayne Zipser is executive director of Stanislaus County Farm Bureau.
We Take
OLM SCRIP
Oil Change
38
$
95
Plus Tax & Hazmat Fee
30 Point Inspection, Fluid Top Off, Tire Rotation, Brake Inspection and Little Tree Air Freshener
FREE Wi-Fi and Coffee While You Wait
Smog Check $ 3895 $ 4475
2000 and Newer
Plus Comm Fee & Cert.
1999 and Older
Plus Comm Fee & Cert.
887 N Street (Highway 33) • Newman
(209) 862-2644
HOURS: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm • Saturday 8am-12pm (U-Haul Only)
Fala-se Português Se Habla Español
14 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Merced County rolls out new tool in campaign against ag thefts Merced County farmers and ranchers have a new tool at their disposal to help combat ag thefts. It’s all in the water....or at least a very special form of water. The Merced County Sheriff’s Office and Merced County District Attorney’s Office have teamed up to make a substance produced by SmartWater CSI available to the county’s Farm Bureau members at no cost. Sheriff Vern Warnke and District Attorney Larry Morse rolled out the innovative product in late February with a well-attended event at the Merced County Fairgrounds. In essence, Morse told Mattos Newspapers, the SmartWater can be used as a distinctive marker which identifies machinery, equipment and tools - much like an invisible, digital serial number. Each bottle of SmartWater carries a unique chemical code which is registered to an individual or company. The substance becomes fluorescent under a special light, verifying the proof of ownership. “It can be applied in very minute amounts anywhere on a piece of farm equipment,” Morse said. “It is invisible, so a thief would not know SmartWater had been applied. It is only
when run under the light that it will fluoresce.” Merced will be the second county in California to deploy SmartWater. Tulare County was the first, Morse said, and law enforcement there reported positive results from the program. “We believe this has enormous potential to help us stem a rising tide of ag thefts that have plagued farmers across Merced County,” Morse commented. “I have conversations with farmers routinely, and almost always they complain about the thefts of farm equipment.” The SmartWater provides two benefits, he added. “The idea that you can essentially put your own identifying footprint on your equipment helps law enforcement when property is stolen. There is a significant deterrent effect as well,” Morse commented. “Thieves are opportunists first and foremost. They will always look for the path of least resistance, and the path least likely to result in their arrest. If there are aware that there is this new technology out there that will make it harder for them to dispose of their stolen property, and make it more likely that they will be successfully prosecuted, they will
look elsewhere.” Breanne Ramos, executive director of the Merced County Farm Bureau, said the agency will continue to make the product available to members at no cost as long as the supply lasts. She expressed her appreciation to the sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices for making the product available to members. “We are happy that they were able to bring this to the county,” Ramos commented. “It is one more tool for our farmers and ranchers to help deter crime.” Morse estimated that 75-80 people signed up to receive the SmartWater at the February event. He indicated that the program is one component of a joint effort to ramp up the county’s focus on ag crimes. “We really wanted to revisit our efforts in this area. This was sort of a kickoff of our intention to put ag crimes back on the front burner,” reflected Morse, who said that both he and the sheriff have an investigator on staff dedicated to ag crimes. “Our message to farmers in encouraging them to participate is essentially to help us help you. We need every leg up we can possibly get, not just to prevent ag thefts but to successfully prosecute.”
Walnut Grower, Huller and Processor
Serving the West Side with Quality and Integrity Thanks to Our Growers for Your Continued Support Contact Kirk Jensen for Information 16801 Highway 33 Patterson, CA 95363 209/892-3458 • 209/892-5036 FAX kirk@pattersonnut.com
CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 15
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Sun-dried tomato processor thriving near Newman NEWMAN - Farm fresh tomatoes and the heat of the valley’s summer sun are the main ingredients in a recipe for success perfected by one of the West Side’s leading ag processors. Valley Sun Products, which opened in the early 1990s on Orestimba Road west of Newman, is turning out high-quality tomato products using the time-honored method of sun-drying. Tomato products from the local plant are used as an ingredient by a number of nationwide food processing companies in their products, and are also used by the food service industry, company officials recently told Mattos Newspapers. Valley Sun was purchased by the Morning Star Company six years ago. Morning Star provides the tomatoes which are processed at Valley Sun. The freshly-picked tomatoes begin rolling into the Valley Sun plant each year in late June or early July, setting in motion the well-established routine of accepting, processing and drying the fruit in trays on the 54-acre yard dedicated to that purpose. “When the Morning Star cannery starts up, we start
getting tomatoes,” explained Cesar Corona, who oversees operations and has been with the company since its inception in what at one time was an apricotdrying facility. As they come in, tomatoes are inspected for quality, thoroughly washed, sorted, sliced by high-speed machines and placed cut-side up into drying trays. Before being moved to the paved and fenced drying yard on the three-foot by six-foot trays, the tomatoes are treated with a natural sulfur which helps maintain the color of the tomato, inhibits the growth of microbiological agents during the drying process and enhances the flavor. Organic tomatoes processed are treated with salts rather than the sulfur, Corona noted. Freshness is a key factor in quality and taste, said Corona and Shawn Ketcher, who handles sales and quality assurance. Trucks hauling tomatoes picked in the early morning hours make their initial deliveries to Valley Sun by around 6 a.m. Typically, Corona said, the process takes tomatoes from field to drying tray in four
See VALLEY SUN | PAGE 16
Pictured, from left, are Cesar Corona, operations manager at Valley Sun Products; Rosie Anaya, officer manager; and Shawn Ketcher, sales and quality assurance.
Ventura Farms
Agricultural Spraying • Custom Farming
venturafarms@sbcglobal.net 209854-1367
16 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
VALLEY SUN
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 to six hours. “That gives us a better product,” he said of the emphasis on freshness. The tomatoes will remain in the drying yard until the moisture level dips below 20 percent, at which time they are put into sub-zero cold storage in Turlock to create an inventory of product which is shipped year-round to customers.
Typically, Corona said, tomatoes put out for drying in the peak of the summer heat will require seven to 10 days in the yard. As fall approaches and temperatures moderate, that time could be extended to two weeks. The company has about 90 days to complete the process of drying the more than 30,000 tons of tomatoes it takes in a typical year. “We need heat, day and night,” he explained. “As we get more moisture in the air and cooler weather
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
it takes longer.” The location is ideal, Corona added, not just for its summer heat but for the mild breezes which summer typically brings. “We have a little wind, but not a lot of wind,” he noted. “That helps.” Corona said he has seen the plant grow and automation added through the years, but noted that the industry remains very labor-intensive. The year-round workforce of about 20 employees swells to about 175 with the addition of sea-
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Trays of freshly-harvested tomatoes fill acres of the drying yard at Valley Sun Products from mid-summer into the fall.
Line workers at Valley Sun Products sort dried tomatoes prior to packaging and shipping.
sonal workers in those peak times. “It is just the nature of the product, because it is sun-dried,” Corona explained. “This product does take a lot of labor.” Quality control is closely monitored at every step of the process, starting with the arrival of the tomatoes. “We run it through a sorting process before it goes to cutting and traying lines,” Ketcher noted. “We pick out everything that is not good, and it goes back on the truck. The fruit
that we cannot dry is not wasted. It goes back to the (Morning Star) facilities.” The paved dry yards are kept clean and oiled as part of the dust control program which helps maintain quality. When product is brought back from cold storage for final processing and packaging, the tomatoes are once again inspected and sorted, and go through a number of steps to insure they are free of foreign materials. Depending on the needs of the customer, the toma-
toes may be diced, chopped or powdered. Buyers in the food service industry can purchase sun-dried tomatoes julienned or jarred as halves in oil. The effort which goes into sun-drying tomatoes pays dividends in flavor and quality, Corona and Ketcher stated. “The uniqueness of this product is that it naturally dries in the sun,” Corona reflected. “It gets that sweetness....the slow drying process really develops the flavor.”
VALLEY
Real Estate Sales, Inc.
For All Your Real Estate Needs!
209.854.1000
Residential • Commerical • Agricultural • Property Management
267 5th St. • Gustine, CA 95322
CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 17
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Family farm grows into multi-faceted enterprise Farming has taken hold in a family which came to the West Side more than 25 years ago with no plans to become actively involved in the area’s rich agricultural sector. But that’s not exactly how things turned out for the Zalinskis. Today, what started as a small-scale farm operated by the Zalinski family has become a multi-faceted ag operation specializing in ranch management and custom farming/harvest services while growing almonds in its own orchards. The thriving farm success story traces its roots back to 1989-90, when Jerome Zalinski and his brother Jason brought their families from the Bay Area in search of a different lifestyle, related Jason’s son Justin Zalinski, who now handles the operations with two siblings.... with oversight from their parents.
“Zalinski Ranches started out with my dad and uncle. They bought a ranch in Gustine to get out of the Bay Area with their families and to continue in the construction industry,” Zalinski explained. “They wanted life in the country. It was never really the plan to be farmers.” But, he said, his dad and uncle ultimately decided to give farming a try rather than leasing out the 15 or so acres Jerome Zalinski had purchased west of Gustine and still owns. The brothers began rotating row crops, Zalinski recalled, and in 1997 planted the first block of almonds. His parents purchased a Shiells Road ranch west of Newman in 2003, Zalinski said, and started planting row crops such as alfalfa, corn and oats. They
See ZALINSKI | PAGE 18
Justin Zalinski examines almond blossoms in his family’s Shiells Road orchard.
Serving the Central Valley & Mother Lode Areas Family Owned & Operated Since 1938 Modesto 720 B St. 522-7291
Sonora 13079 Sanguinetti Rd. 532-4534
Newman 749 Merced St. 862-3736
(800) 637-4427
whbreshears.com
®
@whbreshears
Atwater 2249 Atwater Blvd. 358-4892
18 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
ZALINSKI
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 planted their first block of almonds at the new farm in 2006, and the remainder of the 96 acres there went into almonds in 2010. As the family’s farming interests evolved, Zalinski said, so did his interest in becoming part of the operation. “As we got older, I realized that I wanted to be a part of our family business and try to expand it,” Zalinski told Mattos Newspapers. His determination, Zalinski added, came in large part from advice his father had given. “Dad told us that we we wanted to make our own decisions in life, having your own business would give us that,” he recalled. Zalinski had graduated from Gustine High in 2008, and came back to the operation after spending a year at Modesto Junior College. YFC General Ad 2014_Layout The business was at a1
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
crossroads at the time. “We were in a dilemma in terms of needing to upgrade our equipment,” Zalinski explained. “What we had worked great for 15 acres, but it wasn’t going to cut it with the blocks that we had here. We decided to purchase the equipment and hire out to others to help with harvest and general tractor work. We have expanded year after year, and we are also doing orchard maintenance and management.” He has since been joined in the family business by his brother Jacob, who oversees the management and maintenance of equipment and is primarily a harvester during the season, and sister Jaclyn, who handles office duties and manages the family’s “Fruit2You” venture. “We still have an acre of mixed fruit trees for the Fruit2You, Zalinski noted. “We have 69 different varieties of fruit.” That arm of the family business makes week3/11/14 9:46 AM Page 1 ly deliveries of freshly-
picked fruit to customers throughout the summer season. Zalinski focuses his attention on business development and working closely with clients. The family does work with row crop growers - an area which the Zalinskis hope to expand - but trees are their specialty. Zalinski said the ranch management company provides services ranging from periodic assistance to full responsibility for orchards, from the selection of varieties and root stock through planting and maturity of the trees. In addition to almond growers, he has worked with farmers producing peaches, walnuts and pistachios, among other crops. The business serves clients of all sizes up and down the valley. “We do get phone calls from people who are smaller,” Zalinski explained. “We started out small, and we want to cater to those smaller growers. It was
For All Your Ag Banking Needs, Stop By One of Our Convenient Branch Locations, or Give Us A Call:
MODESTO 209-527-1900 • TURLOCK 209-668-3522 • MERCED 209-383-1116 • PATTERSON 209-892-6136 • LOS BANOS 209-827-3885 • OAKDALE 209-847-7021
HELPING OUR MEMBERS PROSPER SINCE 1916!
always hard to get somebody to come out and take care of the smaller guys. We also do larger blocks as well.” Growth of the companies has been steady, he added. “We started out with one employee and myself,” Zalinski said. “Currently, we have six other full-time
employees, and seasonally run around 36 employees during harvest.” The Zalinskis tend to their own orchards as well as looking after those of other growers. Orchard management, Zalinski said, is a science in its own right. He said the family has changed cultural prac-
tices on its own acreage, and employs a variety of techniques to maximize efficiency and production. For example, the addition of a water treatment process on the ranch improved quality, which al-
See ZALINSKI | PAGE 19
Jacob Zalinski is responsible for farm equipment in the family operation.
WE SALUTE THE WEST SIDE’S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY!
We Buy, Sell and Repair Pallets • PICKUP & DELIVERY •
2138 L Street, Newman • 862-3941
CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE | 19
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
ZALINSKI
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 lowed the Zalinskis to reduce fertilizer use and maximize the benefits of the various soil amendments they were applying. “We look at a lot of samples to see what the ground really needs,” Za-
linski commented. “The timing is crucial, and the rates at which are are putting it on is crucial. We could throw in everything but the kitchen sink, but if it is not at the right time you are wasting money and time.” He has drawn on the experience of others in the industry to hone his skills and knowledge.
“The farming industry has a great group of people who are willing to lend a hand,” he stated. Zalinski said he has found a niche with the family businesses. “I enjoy doing this on a daily basis,” he commented. “It is always a challenge. Every year that we have been involved in this, something is different.”
Justin (left) and Jacob Zalinski talk with lead mechanic Jose Figueroa.
Join our Facebook today!
CHECK OUT OUR SHOWROOM OF MATTRESSES
4918 Taylor Court Turlock, California 95382 FLEXSTEEL FACTORY EVENTS SAVINGS!!
GET WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN WANTING! 36 & 60 MONTHS NO INTEREST FINANCING!*
Hours: 10:00am - 7:00pm Mon.-Fri. 10:00am - 6:00pm Saturday 11:00am - 5:00pm Sunday
Semi-Annual Sale FLEXSTEEL HOME
Exclusive sale of the entire Flexsteel Home line of fabric and leather stationary and reclining furniture and bedroom, dining, home, office, and occasional furniture
* On Approved Credit Through March 27th, 2018 36 months no interest financing on a $1000 or more 60 months no interest financing on $5000 or more 25% down payment Equal payments
woodsfurniture.com 209-656-2392
See Us For All Your Ag Equipment Needs! AGMEC, Inc. is now your full service Penta vertical mixer dealer. Penta mixers bring efficient high-volume feed processing right to your barn. From 200 cu/ft to 1850 cu/ft, Penta has a mixer guaranteed to get the job done right!
AGMEC, Inc.
Sales • Service • Parts • Repair
Featuring engines ranging from 85 to 213 HP, our full range of farming and utility tractors represent exceptional productivity and value. From the heavy duty jobs to the general purpose ones, with over 30 excellent models, we’ve got a tractor that is right for you!
470 Sequoia Ave., Patterson, CA 95363
(209) 892-8993
agmec.inc@gmail.com Visit Our Website at AGMECINC.COM
20 | CELEBRATING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
2018 FORD F-150 SUPER CREW
The Hardest Working Trucks on the Road
41,120 MSRP $ 3,325 McAULEY DISCOUNT $ 750 FORD CREDIT CUSTOMER CASH* – $4,050 RETAIL CUSTOMER CASH $
Offers expire 03-31-2018
YOUR FINAL PRICE
32,995
$
2004 Chevrolet Suburban LT Stock#: 1593A • VIN #: 170831
8,995
$
2016 Dodge Charger SE Stock#: 1674 • VIN #: 115032
18,995
$
2014 Ford Focus SE
Stock#: 8575A • VIN #: 294821
9,995
$
2015 Chevrolet Colorado Stock#: 1608 • VIN #: 149248
19,995
$
2015 Ford Fiesta SE Stock #1689 • VIN #105201
9,995
$
2016 Chrysler 300 300C Stock#: 1672 • VIN #: 304333
19,995
McAuley $
2016 Nissan Versa Note SV Stock#: 1678 • VIN #: 396193
9,995
$
2014 Ford Flex SEL
Stock#: 1668 • VIN #: D38388
22,995
$
2008 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer Stock#: 8484A, VIN #: A60175
13,995
$
2015 Ford Edge SEL Stock#: 1654 • VIN #: B81717
22,995
$
2016 Toyota Corolla S Stock#: 1673 • VIN #: 527216
13,995
$
2015 Ford F-150 Lariat Crew Cab 4WD Stock#: 1667 • VIN #: E63508
39,995
$
FEATURED VEHICLE: Stock#: 8536, VIN #: C42651 *Must finance with Ford Credit. All prices plus government fees and charges, dealer document charge and any emission charges. Expires 03-31-18
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT MCAULEYFORD.COM
250 N. El Circulo Ave., Patterson • (209) 892-3341