Focus on Ag February 2020

FEBRUARY 2020

Ag Tech Summit returns to Hartnell College Small farms thrive in Santa Clara County Land Trust plans ranch conservation A PUBLICATION OF

Gilroy Dispatch | Gonzales Tribune | Greenfield News | Hollister Free Lance King City Rustler | Soledad Bee | Watsonville Pajaronian

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FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2020

SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Small farms thrive REPORT HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS OF LOCAL AG

By MICHAEL MOORE

Robert Eliason

Although the challenges continue to close in, small farms are thriving in Santa Clara County as demand for local, organic produce remains steady throughout the region.

That was a key conclusion of a report released Jan. 31 by the Santa Clara County Food System Alliance, a collaboration of the county’s agricultural commissioner and several local nonprofits. The lengthy report highlights the viability of small-scale agriculture in Santa Clara County, where 52 percent of farmland parcels are 10 acres or less.

The report showcases a handful of small farms in the region, including Spade & Plow, which is based in San Martin.

Owned by the Thorp family, Spade & Plow leases two farm parcels in separate locations in South County, totaling just over 25 acres.

The Thorps grow a wide variety of produce year-round. This winter, they’re growing cauliflower, artichokes, cabbage, fennel, garlic, lettuce, beets, carrots and more, Sam Thorp said the morning of Feb. 3 at Spade & Plow’s parcel on Foothill Avenue.

Sam and his brother, Nick Thorp, and father, Mike Thorp, were transplanting young leeks into the ground when they took a quick break to talk about the local farming scene.

Most of Spade & Plow’s customers are recipients of the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture program, which provides households with a weekly or bi-weekly box of the farm’s freshest fruits and vegetables. This program “gives people more opportunities to support local and eat organic,” Sam Thorp said.

Spade & Plow also sells its produce to local restaurants and distributors, and hosts a booth every Saturday at the Morgan Hill Farmers Market, Thorp said.

The Thorp family grew up farming in

FAMILY FARM Sam, Mike and Nick Thorp, owners of Spade & Plow farm in San Martin, stand in front of their artichoke crop in their field on Foothill Avenue Feb. 3.

Monterey County, and has been growing crops in Santa Clara County since around 2015. The family wanted to farm here specifically because they saw an “underserved need” for organic and local produce.

There is more demand in the region for local organic produce than a small farm like Spade & Plow can meet.

The Thorps said one of the biggest challenges in Santa Clara County— echoed in the county’s report—is the availability of land for farming. Spade & Plow recently lost some acreage it was leasing on Foothill Avenue when the property owner decided to use the land for another purpose.

“It’s getting harder for smaller and bigger farms to find more available land,” Nick Thorp said.

But the Thorps are repeatedly encouraged by the support for local agriculture among their customers, local officials and farming advocates.

“The community

has really stood behind us as we’ve gotten the word out,” Sam Thorp said. “Our members and customers see the value in Santa Clara County agriculture.”

Despite the limited supply of farmland, Spade & Plow grew about 20 percent more crops in 2019 than the previous year, and its sales have gone up. The Thorps attribute this growth not only to the community support: It’s also a factor of their need to “grow smarter” as the challenges remain in place.

Everyone benefits from small farms The Food System Alliance report dispels the myth that small farms cannot be viable in the county, said Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner Joe Deviney.

The report builds on the recommendations of the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan, which the county’s board of

supervisors approved two years ago, and highlights successful local farms not just in Santa Clara County, but across the state.

“There’s a resurgence in a lot of counties where there’s some very successful little farms,” Deviney said. “It’s hard work and takes a lot of things to make it work well.”

Despite the success of small farms showcased in the report, additional efforts are needed to protect them as the valley becomes more populated: including facilitating access to and permanently preserving farmland; making farmland affordable to small farmers; investing in land conservation and climate smart practices; increasing sales and consumption of locally produced food; and streamlining regulations that slow down small farms.

The report identifies a variety of ways the public benefits from small farms, including their support of a resilient urban food

supply, as well as their abilities to drive a local food economy and mitigate climate change impacts. But in the last 30 years, more than 15,000 acres of farmland in Santa Clara County has been lost to development.

“Agriculture plays a vital role in climate change mitigation and farmland generates 70 times less greenhouse gas emissions than developed land,” said Julie Hutcheson, Director of Impact for Green Foothills. “In addition to carbon sequestration, the ecological benefits of

preserving farmland include flood control, groundwater recharge, fire hazard mitigation and pollinator habitat.”

Other local small farms highlighted in the Santa Clara County Food System Alliance report include olive oil producer Frantoio Grove in San Martin, and Asian vegetable grower Shun-Fat Nursery in Morgan Hill and JSM Organic Farms in Royal Oaks.

To view the report, visit tinyurl.com/ucd2foe.

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AG TECH

Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit returns to Hartnell College PRESENTERS, EXHIBITORS HIGHLIGHT WHAT’S NEW AND NEXT CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

contributed

Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit returns to Hartnell College on March 17-18, promising another deep dive into the latest tactics, equipment and thinking to maximize profit and consumer satisfaction in the fresh produce industry.

The seventh annual event is expected to bring together more than 1,000 educators, students, farmers, growers, suppliers, service providers, tech companies and more.

The 2020 theme is “Making Ag Tech Work for You,” which organizers say means both applying new technology and methods while preparing for emerging innovation just over the horizon.

The summit will begin on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, with an Irish-themed VIP reception, featuring a welcome from Hartnell’s Superintendent/President and a panel of Irish ag tech entrepreneurs, as well as craft beer, wine and deluxe hors d’oeuvres. March 18 will offer a full day of expert speakers, panels

and exhibitors focused on technology, automation and workforce education.

Also on March 18, the Monterey Bay Chapter of California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) will present a daylong series of professional workshops in all aspects of pest management, worth up to seven education units.

“Salinas Valley Ag Tech showcases the products and ideas available right now, while helping decision-makers anticipate exciting opportunities that are about to come online,” said summit chairman Dennis Donohue, director of the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology, a premier ag tech startup incubator based in Salinas. “Our attendees are people and companies that understand the need to prepare for and embrace change in order to maintain their competitive edge.”

At the March 17 VIP reception, starting at 5:30 p.m., new Hartnell Superintendent/President Dr. Patricia Hsieh will kick off the summit with a personal greeting. She has led the college since September 2019, following the retirement of Dr. Willard Lewallen. Hsieh has made

INNOVATION Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit returns to Hartnell College on March 17-18 with expert speakers, panels and exhibitors focused on technology, automation and workforce education. workforce preparation, particularly in the Salinas Valley, a top priority for Hartnell.

Attendees will enjoy food from Turf Club catering and quality beers and wines as they tour the Exhibitors Showcase inside and outside of the STEM Center, renamed last summer in Lewallen’s honor. New at the reception this year will be the Fireside Chat panel of Irish entrepreneurs (soon to be announced), presented in the college’s Mainstage Theater.

The Main Day program on March 18 will start at 7 a.m. with breakfast, the Exhibitors Showcase and an IMAX movie showing

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in the Hartnell Planetarium, located in the STEM Center.

Panels and speeches will start promptly at 9 a.m., with presentations by leaders from such companies as Taylor Farms, Driscoll’s, Koppert Biological Systems, Ceres, FieldIn, Bayer, Trimble, FarmWise, Bear Flag Robotics, AgWise and Hermanos Automated Services.

New this year will be a panel tying ag tech to ag education, with a conversation on “A New Kind of Worker” aimed at driving a national dialogue on how to develop an ag workforce in tune with technology.

The day will conclude with a 3 p.m. keynote

address and Q&A from Mark Hanchett, CEO of Atlis Motor Vehicles, a start-up company in Mesa, Ariz., focused on delivering the first battery-electric full-sized pickup truck for the U.S. market.

As always, the summit will provide unique opportunities for learning and networking while supporting agribusiness students and programs at Hartnell College. It also will spotlight the Salinas Valley’s emergence as an incubator and hub for innovation and development in ag tech.

Community members, ag industry members, growers, PCAs, CCAs, QALs, pilots, students and

participants in ag tech and software industries are encouraged to attend. The event is organized by the Hartnell College Agriculture Business and Technology Institute in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Chapter of CAPCA. Several ticket options are available, including a best-value price of $60 for both days’ events. Exhibitor locations — both single and double booths, indoor outdoor — remain available, as do a variety of sponsorship packages.

To learn more, visit the Salinas Valley Ag Tech website at svagtechsummit.com.

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FEBRUARY 2020

CALIFORNIA

Farm Credit supports farms large and small CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

contributed

Some people may think that large, expansive farming operations are the norm in California. But in truth it is the opposite.

The federal Census of Agriculture found that one third of the 75,000-plus farms in the Golden State are less than 9 acres — and that two-thirds of the state’s farms are less than 50 acres.

And that’s why Farm Credit strongly supports the California Small Farm Conference, which this year will be held Feb. 27-29 in Paso Robles. This year marks the 32nd conference, organized since 2018

by Community Alliance

with Family Farmers, which works to promote sustainable and resilient family farms, communities and ecosystems.

Evan Wiig, the group’s director of membership and communications, said the event focuses primarily on farms that sell their products through farmers’ markets and directly to local grocery stores and restaurants.

“The conference is an opportunity for folks to come together and ask questions,” Wiig said. “We are rooted in the realworld need of working farmers and provide practical resources that help farmers succeed as small businesses, local food

SMALL SCALE Attendees participate in an outdoor session at a previous Small Farm Conference. providers and land stewards. Most of our attendees are in the 1- to 30-acre

range, but we have some larger and some even smaller.”

About 300 attendees are expected, most from California.

Byron Enix, president and CEO of American AgCredit, said smaller family farms are important to the future of California agriculture.

“Farm Credit is proud to provide financial services to farmers and ranchers large and small, and we are equally proud to sponsor conferences like this one that provide important and up-to-date information to small farmers, who provide such important benefits to our communities and the environment,” Enix said.

Wiig said sponsorships, such as Farm Credit’s, are the only way events like

the California Small Farm Conference can be held.

“Our primary constituents don’t have a lot of extra spending power. We have to keep the event affordable, and we couldn’t do that on ticket sales alone,” he said. “Farm Credit’s support has allowed us to grow and offer services to more people.”

The conference, which is held in different parts of the state each year, will be held this year at the Cuesta College North County Campus in Paso Robles. To learn more and to register, visit www.caff.org/ ca-small-farm-conference.

WATSONVILLE

Leaders selected for 2020 Focus Agriculture class STAFF REPORT

A group of 21 community leaders have been selected for Class 31 of the Focus Agriculture program.

The “first-in-thenation” program, created by Watsonville’ AgriCulture organization, is designed to teach community leaders about agriculture in Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley.

After receiving a number of applications, the Board of Directors selects 21 participants.

Focus Agriculture program received a national award for its innovated approach to bringing the

public and the agricultural community together.

The program consists of monthly daylong seminars, held over a period of 9 months starting on March 13th. Speakers ranging from farmers to elected officials to representatives from environmental groups will address the class.

The sessions will cover such topics as ethnic groups in agriculture, new technology and diversity of commodities locally grown. In addition, there are many farm tours and hands on experiences.

“Community leaders

will find this program beneficial and, in turn, growers who present information to the class will learn the public’s current perspective of local agriculture,” said Agri-Culture President Steve Bontadelli. “The program is designed to be a two-way learning process.”

Class 31 members include: • Anita Aguirre, Chief Compliance Officer & Deputy Director, Salud Para La Gente • John Bargetto, Vice President, Bargetto

Winery • Belinda Barr, Business Services Manager, Economic Development Coordinator, Workforce Board Development (County of Santa Cruz) • Evan Benevento, Senior Accountant, Wheeler Accountants, LLP • Chris Bley, Entrepreneur, Insight Up Solutions • Raymon Cancino, Chief Executive Officer Community Bridges • Edan Cassidy, Managing Member, Cassidy Insurance Agency, LLC. • Stephanie Connor Kent, Chief Nurse Executive, Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center/Sutter

Health • Manu Koenig, Platform Partnership Lead, Paystand • Mary Maselli, Self Employed/Semi-Retired, Financial Advisor & Financial Planner • Michelle Montalvo, Legal Manager, Driscoll’s, Inc. • Khalil Moutawakkil, Founder & CEO, KindPeoples • Michelle Navarro, Business Development Officer, Santa Cruz County Bank • Peter Nell, Government Affairs Manager, CCOF • Sergio Parra, Attorney, Head of Labor & Employment Department, JRG

Attorneys at Law • Gilda Rall, Parliamentarian & Member of Governing Board of Directors, Pajaro Dunes North Association • Joe Serrano, Executive Officer, LAFCO of Santa Cruz County • Jerry Souza, Director Cardiovascular Services, Dignity Health Dominican • Tiffany Turner, Director of Operations, Dientes Community Dental •Jessica Vaughan, Director of Operations & Grower Consulting, LumiGrow, Inc. • Danielle Wong, Healthy Food for Seniors Program, Grey Bears

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CENTRAL COAST

Land Trust plans ranch conservation PORTION OF ROCKS RANCH COULD STILL BE DEVELOPED STAFF REPORT

The Land Trust said the ranch is ideally located next to a tunnel system under Highway 101, which could become a wildlife crossing under the busy highway. Land Trust Executive Director Stephen Slade said the nonprofit has talked to Caltrans about making improvements in the tunnels.

He added that the crossing is critical to the genetic diversity of the mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

“They need to get to the Gabilan Range to the south,” Slade said, “and this is the first critical step.”

The Land Trust did not disclose details of the transaction, which will take several years to complete, as it seeks private

and public funding.

San Benito County Supervisor Anthony Botelho praised the plan.

“Having been on the ranch, I can attest to its natural beauty and importance for wildlife habitat,” he said. “At one time, it was being explored for development. All of us should be so grateful to the Bingaman Family and the Land Trust for pursuing preserving these lands forever.”

The San Benito County Supervisors in September approved zoning changes for four properties along Highway 101. A successful signature-gathering campaign by a citizens group delayed the implementation of the decision. Voters will decide in March with Measure K if the decision should be enacted.

Artists complete new agriculture mural

Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County plans to protect nearly all of the 2,640acre Rocks Ranch in Aromas from commercial development, the organization announced Feb. 11.

The ranch has been in the spotlight recently following the San Benito County supervisors’ decision of their intent to rezone a portion of the property for development. According to the Land Trust, the Bingaman family, which has owned the ranch since 1947, will retain ownership of the 60-acre section of

property at Highway 101 where development could take place.

Ben Bingaman said the arrangement allows the family to develop a portion of the property adjacent to Highway 101 and the Red Barn while protecting the rest of the ranch, which is used for cattle grazing.

“It’s a win-win for us,” he stated in a press release, “and for wildlife and the citizens of the San Benito County, which is desperate for tax revenues.”

The property, which is split between San Benito and Monterey counties, abuts a 2.5-mile stretch of Highway 101 to the north that is a “hot spot” for wildlife-vehicle collisions, according to a conservation assessment prepared for the Land Trust.

WILDLIFE HABITAT A map of Rocks Ranch shows it extends from Aromas to the north and Prunedale to the south.

SAN BENITO COUNTY

County approves hemp operations modifications REPEALS MORATORIUM ON OPERATIONS

By ERIK CHALHOUB

King City in Bloom’s “Tribute to Agriculture” mural, located on El Pueblo Market’s exterior west wall off Broadway Street in downtown King City, was recently completed after nearly a year and a half in development. According to Chairwoman Laurie Slaten, some final touchups are pending and will be completed in the spring. An April dedication date will be announced later.

The mural’s artists include muralist Jennifer Beebe-Hargrove, Steven “Stitch” Campos, Julian Lopez, Gloria Sanchez, Hannah Stuerche and Anai Velasquez. contributed photos

SALINAS

Steinbeck Center debuts exhibit honoring farmworkers STAFF REPORT

The National Steinbeck Center in Salinas has debuted a new exhibit, “Behind the Lettuce Curtain: Illuminating the Landscape of the Salinas Valley,” which tells the story of local farmworkers and residents of the Salinas Valley.

The exhibit, which opened Feb. 11 and runs until April 4, is designed to shed light on

their struggles and triumphs as they continue to work toward a brighter future for their families and communities.

“What makes this exhibit unique is the vibrancy and bountiful spirit that shines through the visual narratives on display,” said Natalia Luna, curator of exhibits and education for the Center.

The exhibit is divided into three parts, including a section focusing

on the history of the farmworkers in the Salinas Valley, the current socio-economic issues facing the current Salinas Valley communities and a visual representation of their aspirations for the future of their families.

The National Steinbeck Center, located at 1 Main St. in Salinas, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

San Benito County supervisors’ approval of a modified hemp ordinance Feb. 4 lifts a two-month moratorium on hemp operations in unincorporated areas of the county.

The modified ordinance increases the setback requirements from 100 feet to 1,000 feet away from residential property boundaries, while also requiring a 500-foot setback from public roads.

Operators could reduce the setback to 100 feet if they install a six-foot-tall fence along the road.

Cultivation operations are now prohibited within a mile of wineries, restaurants, hotels or other hospitality sites, as well as the “sphere of influence” boundaries of the cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista.

An ad hoc committee consisting of supervisors Anthony Botelho and Peter Hernandez, as well as representatives of the San Benito County Farm Bureau, wine and hemp industries, and impacted residents met twice in January to discuss the changes. The committee was “widely positive” in support of the modifications, according to Assistant County Counsel Joel Ellinwood.

Hemp production is on the radar of county officials after they received a number of complaints about smell, crime and traffic following the end of the first growing season late in 2019.

Eden Rift Vineyards and DeRose Winery, located on Cienega Road near a hemp operation, both reported an uptick of thefts and trespassing on their properties since the county’s original ordinance went into effect in October, as well as an overwhelming smell of drying hemp in their tasting rooms.

The supervisors had enacted a 45-day moratorium on hemp operations Dec. 10 to give the county time to revise its ordinance. That moratorium was extended for another 10 months on Jan. 14, but now will be lifted within 30 days of the supervisors’ approval of the modified ordinance.

Hemp fiber is noted for its strength and durability, and is used for products such as apparel and rope. Although hemp is a strain of cannabis, it has considerably less THC, the compound that produces psychoactive effects when consumed.

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