The LAND and its people by Weeklys

May 2016

Serving Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and San Luis Obispo Counties

Students design, build and plan for the community garden

Elkhorn Slough Foundation to purchase 107-acre farm

Planted pumpkins, cilantro and more on April 1

Staff report WATSONVILLE — At its March 24 meeting, the California State Coastal Conservancy authorized disbursement of $1,580,000 to the nonprofit Elkhorn Slough Foundation for acquisition of the 107-acre Sand Hill Farm property, which rises from Elkhorn Road to the ridgeline on the eastern edge of the slough. The property links the 1,700-acre Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve with a three-mile stretch of ESFprotected lands, and features a working farm and 25 acres of environmentally sensitive habitat including maritime chaparral and oak woodlands. The terms of the grant call on ESF to raise an additional $440,000 toward acquisition and restoration of Sand Hill Farm, which the nationally accredited land trust identified as a high priority acquisition in its Elkhorn Slough Watershed Conservation Plan. “This property acquisition is aligned with our long-range vision for watershed conservation,” said Executive Director Mark Silberstein. “Partnering with the Coastal Conservancy has been a key element of this vision. Conservancy funding enables ESF to

By SAMANTHA BENGTSON Of the Land

A tractor operator hauls a rack of discs over the soil on a field on San Andreas Road in Watsonville. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/The Land

Please turn to Page 3

Agriculture Summit draws hundreds from South County

GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Community Science Workshop is continuing its community garden in Greenfield. The Community Garden was a project that The Community Science Workshop and Monterey County Rural Life and Agricultural Museum worked on this past year with a partner museum in Honduras. The new community garden is at the corner of Walnut and 10th Street and has been functioning since this past August. The new gardening space is completely owned by the Community Science Workshop and is more aligned with their mission. “The aim of this project has been to build a community garden where kids can become environmental stewards,” said Jose Sanchez, program coordinator. “The second aim is to allow them to better understand the link between gardening and science Please turn to Page 5

Yearly event showcases advances in Ag Tech By KELLIE HICKS Of the Land

SALINAS — Hartnell College Agriculture Business and Technology Institute and the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Association of Pest Control Advisers teamed up again to co-host the third annual Salinas Valley Ag Technology Summit last Wednesday, March 30. The event was held at the Hartnell College Alisal Campus

in Salinas and gave locals the chance to explore the different wings of the Alisal Campus as they attended the many panels and tours of the school. The summit was a day filled with information for all ages. It included panel presentations during the day on subjects such as farm mechanization, present and new regulations, plant genetics, the environment, crop protection, advances in science research and soil health. They had more than 35 agriculture industry vendors on hand with the latest gadgets to help streamline any operation. Some of the informational booths included instruments that keep track or water and the weather, gloves and farming supplies, agricultural canvas for the portable awnings and different types of carbon that can be added to the soils to nourish and rehabilitate. The event began with welcome speeches from Hartnell College President Dr. Willard Lewallen, Salinas Mayor Jo Gunter and Event Chairman Steve McShane and morning keynote presenter Jamie Strachen, CEO of Growers Express. The lunchtime keynote speaker was former California Secretary of Food and Agriculture AG Kawamura, who now lives in Orange

A “green” blender, run by pedaling a bicycle made smooties during the Ag Tech Summit. photo by Kellie Hicks/The Land

Please turn to Page 3

Elmer Gomez plants pumpkin seeds for the community garden. photos by

Samantha Bengtson/The Land

Inside ... Protesters

Easter at the farm

rattlesnake season

Big Creek donation

2 The Land - May 2016

Protesters gather at Driscoll’s By TODD GUILD Of the Land

WATSONVILLE — A group on a 28day tour of Oregon and California made a stop at Driscoll’s Watsonville headquarters March 31, hoping to put pressure on the berry company to allow farm workers in Washington and Mexico to unionize. Approximately 80 people gathered at the Westridge Drive headquarters, including union organizers, political activists and a handful of farmworkers. “It went really well,” Familias Unidas por la Justica (FUJ) spokeswoman Chelsea Thaw said. “There was a lot of support from a broad coalition of people.” FUJ has been urging a boycott of Driscoll’s products, which they claim is a response to alleged farmworker abuse by Washington-based Sakuma Bros. Farms, which has grown berries for Driscoll’s since 2000. FUJ is also advocating for farm workers in San Quintín, Mexico, where Driscoll’s berries are also grown. Organizers say workers have not been allowed to form a union, receive low wages and don’t get rest breaks. The group

also says women and children who harvest berries in Mexico face sexual abuse and rape. In addition, workers who tried to organize have faced retaliation, FUJ said. The group is asking that Driscoll’s and Sakuma recognize it as a union that represents the farmworkers, that the workers be given collective bargaining rights, and that workers get paid $15 minimum wage plus overtime. “In addition to wanting to end the horrible conditions, they also want to be able to continue to negotiate,” Thaw said. “They want dignity and respect in the workplace.” Driscoll’s Executive Vice President Soren Bjorn said both Sakuma and the grower in Mexico must abide by the company’s worker welfare rules to keep their contracts, and are monitored by thirdparty auditors.

In a prepared statement, Kevin Murphy, CEO of Driscoll’s, slammed FUJ. “Driscoll’s is incredibly disappointed this small group of protesters, which largely doesn’t consist of any actual farmworkers, continues to unfairly target Driscoll’s with secondary boycotts, dissemination of misinformation and false accusations, including those regarding child labor,” Murphy said. “We continue to be transparent, open and willing to listen to any authentic concerns on how our independent growers treat their farmworkers.” He added that the protesters turned down invitations to talk “multiple times.” “There can’t be a resolution if they are unwilling to come to the table for an authentic discussion,” he said. “It is our hope that in the near future, this group takes us up on our offer.” According to Thaw, a Driscoll’s

E representative came out approximately 45 minutes after the protest began to invite organizer FUJ President Ramon Torres inside. Thaw said Torres refused the offer, and demanded farmworkers be a part of the discussion. He also said he wanted a signed contract, Thaw said. But Bjorn said forming a union in Washington isn’t possible because that state does not allow for agricultural labor unions. Still, he said the company would support employees’ efforts to organize themselves. Thaw said that the group is targeting Driscoll’s because they employ the growers. “They have power in their dealings with the companies that could result in a contract,” she said.

PUBLISHER John Bartlett publisher@register-pajaronian.com

EDITOR Erik Chalhoub editor@register-pajaronian.com

EDITORIAL STAFF Tarmo Hannula, Todd Guild, Samantha Bengtson

ADVERTISING Tina Chavez tinac@register-pajaronian.com Adriana Novack anovack@register-pajaronian.com Allison Stenberg astenberg@register-pajaronian.com Sheryl Bailey sheryl@southcountynewspapers.com Jon Allred jon@southcountynewspapers.com

ART AND DESIGN Mike Lyon

The Land is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. The Land made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. The Land is a division of the Register-Pajaronian and South County Newspapers.

831-385-4880

Thank you

for reading!

Toting banners and signs and chanting aloud, about 75 people marched from South Green Valley Road to the Driscoll’s headquarters in Watsonville, about half of a mile away. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/The Land

Monterey County farmer directs donation to local King City FFA By ROXY OZUNA For the Land

The King City FFA has received $2,500 donation from America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund and nominated by local farmer Steve “Butch” Latassa of Monterey County. The $2,500 donation will be used to install a shade house on the school farm for horticultural projects. With the shade house, King City FFA will be able to grow a variety of plants of their annual plant sale. For six years, America’s Farmers Grow Communities has collaborated with farmers to donate over $22 million to more than 8,000 community organizations across rural America. Winning farmers will direct donations to nonprofits to help fight rural hunger, purchase lifesaving fire and EMS equipment, support ag youth leadership programs, buy much needed classroom resources, and more. America’s Farmers Grow Communities partners with farmers to support nonprofit causes that positively impact farming communities across rural America. Grow

King City High School FFA members receive donation America’s Farmers Grow Communities and they were nominated by local Farmer Steve “Butch” Latassa of Monterey County. Submitted photo

Communities is one program in the America’s Farmers community outreach effort, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Other programs include America’s Farmer’s Grow Ag Leaders, which encourages rural youth to remain in agriculture and provides $1,500 college scholarships to

high school and college students pursuing ag-related degrees and America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, which works with farmers to nominate rural school districts to compete for $10,000 and $25,000 math and science grants.

The Land - May 2016 3

Elkhorn Slough

Continued from page 1

secure the future of the land. Contributions from the community and our members will help restore the land to health.” The Sand Hill Farm parcel has been conventionally farmed for decades. Its steep sandy slopes have been subject to erosion, and sediment moving off the fields has flowed into the wetlands on the National Estuarine Research Reserve. ESF’s goal is to develop a sustainable, certified organic farm on the gentle slopes and to return the steep upper slopes to habitat and ground water conservation. Silberstein estimates up to 100 acre-feet of water (more than 32 million gallons per year) will be saved each year by retiring the steep eroding slopes from cultivation. In addition, Silberstein says a change in land management will reduce the input of nutrients and chemicals into the estuary that is recognized as one of the extremely important habitats for the Southern sea otter. Elkhorn Slough is located in a groundwater basin that has been seriously over-pumped. Salt water is intruding into aquifers on which farms and residences in the area depend. Through changes in land management, the Elkhorn Slough Foundation has reduced water use by as much as 2,000 acre-feet (or 650 million gallons) of water per year on its 4,000 acres of conservation lands. At the same time, the Foundation has created six certified organic farms located in the hills east of the slough. Escrow on the Sand Hill Farm property is set to close in June. Working with the current owners, the fields already have been fallowed. Once the land is transferred to ESF ownership, cover crops will be planted to stabilize the soil, and long-term restoration and organic farm development will begin. “Our primary goals are to develop the idea of a ‘working landscape,’ reduce erosion and sediment runoff from the steep hillsides, restore native habitat, improve water quality, and create a sustainable farm footprint that demonstrates the

Sediment plume and nutrients flow into Elkhorn Slough Reserve at Sand Hill Farm. Photo courtesy of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation

compatibility of organic conservation,” said Kim Stewardship Director. ESF is encouraging its supporters to contribute $440,000 needed to secure

Agriculture Summit

farming and Hayes, ESF members and toward the the protection

of Sand Hill Farm. For information or to make a donation, visit www.elkhornslough. org. “Sand Hill Farm is a key parcel that will make a difference in the overall health of the slough,” Silberstein said. “We are

beginning what we see as the Foundation’s next major phase of land acquisition, and we look forward to engaging the community as we move forward in these projects that will truly transform the slough’s landscape and health.”

County. Many in attendance remember his service to the state. The Presidents Panel followed came next. Speakers included Lewallen, California State Universtiy, Monterey Bay President Dr. Eduardo Ochoa, California State Universtiy, San Luis Obispo Associate Dean Dr. Richard Calaletto and California State Director of the USDA Rural Development Janice Waddell. Local agri-businessman Dennis Donohue moderated the talk. Along with the panels, agriculture professionals with PCA, QAL or QAC certifications were awarded ongoing education credits by the Department of Pesticide Regulation for their attendance of the summit. Proceeds from the event benefited

the Hartnell College Agribusiness and Technology Institute. Converted Organics founded the Salinas Valley Ag Technology Summit in 2014. The mission of the summit was to develop a strong ag community through agricultural research, business and education in the Salinas Valley. Students were invited to the summit to show them that the agriculture field is more than digging a hole and placing a seed in it. The ag field includes genetics, robotics, safety sciences and more. The day ended with an awards presentation and a closing reception at the Western Growers Association. The next Salinas Valley Ag Technology Summit is scheduled for April 12, 2017.

Continued from page 1

Serving the farming community since 1984

TANKERS • LOWBOY • VEGETABLE HAULING Cody Bassetti (831) 320-2667

402 Bassett St. • King City Ph: (831) 385-3507 • Fax: (831) 385-3508

The keynote speaker was former California Secretary of Food and Agriculture, AG Kawamura drove up from Orange County to speak at the Summit. Photo by Kellie Hicks/The Land

4 The Land - May 2016

Celebrating Easter at the farm By TARMO HANNULA Of the Land

WATSONVILLE —The Agricultural History Project hosted Easter on the Farm March 26 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. The free event invited adults, teens and children to enjoy Easter egg hunts, arts and crafts, hayrides and early day activities of farm life. As a mammoth Easter rabbit strolled the grounds and posed with families for photos, children were able to hold live rabbits, feed chickens or learn how to milk cows on a simulated cow. Under warm and sunny skies children also had the opportunity to drive a real John Deere tractor thanks to a specially adapted carriage that allows for a tractor operator and a parent to ride along while the child does the steering around a designated course. “We come to this event every year,” said Ashley Moules, who showed up with her children ages 2 and 7. “They always do such a good job here. There’s a lot to do and the kids have so much fun. We always go to the Second Saturday on the Farm as well. And today we’re lucky because we were able to bring grandma.” “And I just turned 70!” the grandmother chimed. John Kegebein, CEO of the Agricultural History Project, said 377 attended the event. “That’s the second highest turnout of any event we do,” he said. “Only Day on the Farm is bigger. We’re very happy with the day. Everybody had a good time. We had a lot of Easter egg hunts. There were so many happy children here. The kids’ tractor never stopped running for four hours and the hayrides ran the whole event Children scramble to fill their baskets with eggs. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/The Land and there were full loads every time.”

Maria Rocha (standing, with boy) visits the Easter Bunny with her children. Bella Baynton (left) and an unidentified young girl are also shown. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/The Land

Scurich Insurance Services

License #0436405

Servicing the Agricultural Community Since 1924

783 Rio Del Mar Blvd. Suite 7 Aptos, CA 95003-4700 Phone: (831) 722-3541 www.scurichinsurance.com

Julissa Hatler, 2, of Aptos enjoys having her face painted at Easter on the Farm at the Agricultural History Project.

A strawberry crop is starting to mature atop raised beds on a farm on Ranport Road in Watsonville. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/The Land

The Land - May 2016 5

Community Garden

Continued from page 1

The Community Science Workshop students harvested their winter crops on April 1 in the afternoon. The harvest brought carrots and radishes. Photo by Samantha Bengtson/The Land

These Community Science Workshop students plant cilantro seeds. Photo by Samantha Bengtson/The Land

and change their perspective about agriculture.” During the past eight months the Greenfield students have been participating in bi-monthly workday sessions to design, build and grow the garden. Each season brings new plants into the garden from

and we’re planting a lot of vegetables,” said Elmer Gomez, second year science workshop student. Another Community Science Workshop student, Sergio Flores, liked seeing what the group planted and how everything grew over time. Flores joined the group

potatoes, onions, radishes and carrots to tomatoes, beans and peas. The Community Science Workshop students planted cilantro, pumpkins and peppers on April 1 and had the opportunity to taste the product of their hard work. “I like that we’re planting pumpkins

because it is fun and he gets to meet new people. The students participated in planning, designing, and building the garden up from scratch and utilized concepts they learned in the monthly agricultural technology sessions at the workshop.

Keep pets safe during this El Nino-charged rattlesnake season Pet safety tips from rattlesnake expert, Donald Schultz Submitted article STATEWIDE — With California at the beginning of rattlesnake season, VCA WLA Animal Hospital warns pet owners that this year, rattlesnakes are more active than usual as a result of the combined drought and El Nino. To help keep pets safe, rattlesnake expert Donald Schultz shares insight on how to best prevent and avoid snake bites. In most of California, rattlesnake season stretches from March to September, though bites can occur year-round. During this time rattlesnakes are more active, especially during dawn and dusk, when temperatures reach 60 degrees or higher. With the heat from the drought and the El Nino continually bringing in more moisture to the region, the growth of lawns and plants are encouraged and more insects and rodents become present. Rattlesnakes, drawn out by the prospect of prey, will then come out to hunt. According to Schultz, rattlesnakes are ambush predators and are likely to be

hidden in small spaces along hiking trails and even in backyards and front porches. To best avoid encounters with rattlesnakes, Schultz recommends the following: Clear out any debris, trash, rock piles and woodpiles around the house so snakes have no place to hide. Be wary of outdoor pots and overgrown brush. Avoid walks around dusk and dawn. When walking, stick to well-used trails. Keep dogs close and on a leash. Do not let dogs wander or sniff around on their own, especially around logs, holes and underbrush - all of which are likely rattlesnake hiding places. Teach dogs to avoid rattlesnakes at rattlesnake aversion training courses. If a pet does encounter a snake, do not approach it, do not attempt to catch it and do not attempt to kill it. Most snake bites occur when people go after snakes. If the snake must be removed, call animal control or gently sweep it away from the area with a long stick. Though following Schultz’s prevention

tips is the best measure, snake bites can still occur. If a dog is bitten by a snake, it is important to remain calm. Though there is very little first aid a pet owner can administer alone, taking the following steps can vastly improve a pet’s chance of recovery. Remain calm. Remove any harnesses and leashes that can restrict breathing. Immediately take the dog to the closest emergency animal hospital If the dog is small enough to hold, carry it to the car. If the dog is too large to carry, calmly walk it to the car. If it is safe to do so, get a photo or description of the snake that bit the dog. “Do not go after snakes,” said Donald Schultz, rattlesnake expert. “It’s the best thing to do to avoid bites and to avoid accidently killing their natural, non-venomous competitors like gopher snakes and king snakes, who actually eat rattlesnakes.” Rattlesnakes have always been a part of the Southern California landscape, and

will continue to be. Schultz recommends reading up on rattlesnakes and learning how to peacefully coexist with them, as they are part of the natural ecology. Donald Schultz has been working with reptiles since the age of 13 and is an expert in herpetology. Today, he works with VCA Animal Hospital in West Los Angeles in the zoo and exotic animal department. About VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital_VCA has over 600 neighborhood animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada and over 1,900 primary care veterinarians as well as 36 specialty hospitals with over 200 board certified specialists who provide services in oncology, dentistry, surgery, orthopedics, diagnostic imaging, stem cell therapy and more. VCA West Los Angeles serves as a general practice animal hospital for the West Los Angeles area, a specialty treatment facility, a referral hospital for veterinarians in Southern California, and as a teaching hospital to provide postgraduate education for veterinarians. For information, visit www.vcahospitals.com/ west-los-angeles.

Rebates offered for residential lawn removal Staff report WATSONVILLE — A rebate of $2 per square foot for residential lawn removal is now available from the State Department of Water Resources. Residents in urban and rural areas are eligible, including those served by water agencies and those on private wells. A program budget of $24 million is expected to convert 10 million square feet of turf. Replacing lawn with low-water grasses or plants can save 17 gallons per year per square foot of turf replaced, according to the department. The state rebate funds are available first-come, first-served. The State rebate requires photo documentation of the lawn before removal and pre-approval before start of the project. The actual cost of lawn replacement starts about $1 per square foot for a do-ityourself projects using low-water plants and mulch. Projects can cost $4 or more

a square foot if patios or other hardscape features are included or when hired labor is used. The City of Watsonville has its own lawn replacement rebate program that pays $.75 per square foot, up to $500 for residential property and up to $1,000 for commercial property. With the new state rebate, the rebates are combined: the state will pay $2 per square foot for up to 1,000 square feet of turf removed, and will subtract the $0.75 square foot rebate offered by the city from the total. Therefore, the City will pay $0.75 up to $500 (667 square feet). The State will pay $1.25 per square foot on the first 667 square feet, and $2 per square foot for the remaining 233 square feet. The max combined rebate is $2,000. Projects must not proceed until preapproved by both city and the state. Although commercial property is not eligible for the state rebate, the city’s program will pay the $.75 per square foot up to $1,000 for lawn removal on

commercial property. City of Watsonville water customers, both residents and business, should call Public Works and Utilities Customer Service at 768-3133 for assistance with city and state rebates. A landscape water

The Best in Farm Equipment Repair

conservation expert will help you with the rebate forms and your landscape plans. Residents outside the city’s water service area on wells can access the state rebate application at www.saveourwaterrebates. com/turfreplacement.

King City Industrial Supply, Inc.

L to R Brent Conatser, Mike Conatser, Pancho Alcantar , RJ Roberts, Larry Conatser

Conatser Welding & Machine, LLC • Quality Service Since 1963 • Custom Fabrication • Complete Blacksmithing • Full Line of Agricultural & Industrial Hardware & Equipment • Machine Work

132 Lynn St. • King City • Shop 385-3343 • Store 385-5901

6 The Land - May 2016

Big Creek donates garden beds to Aromas School

Michelle Overbeck (left) of Big Creek Lumber Company hands Aromas School students bags of soil. Big Creek donated two garden boxes to the school. Photo by Erik Chalhoub/The Land

By ERIK CHALHOUB Of the Land

AROMAS — Aromas School’s garden boxes are overflowing with carrots, sunflowers, tomatoes and more. But with only three boxes, the school of 400 students can not accommodate every student who wants to participate in its garden program. On March 23, the students received a surprise donation from Big Creek Lumber Company, which donated two garden boxes to the school. Watsonville-based Sun Land Garden Products also donated soil. Aromas School teacher Erik Blomquist said the students have “so much fun” with their gardens. “This is great, and so unexpected,” he said of the donation. Big Creek Marketing Manager Michelle Overbeck said schools located near each of the company’s five stores filled out applications for the garden grant program, with 10 schools in total being awarded the grants. Orchard School in Aptos also received a donation of garden beds Wednesday. Overbeck said Big Creek, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, is “excited” about gardening and teaching kids the importance of healthy eating. “Big Creek has always cared about the community, and this is a way to give back,” she said. Fifth-graders Max Castro, Jacob Thomas and Robert Greene said they were surprised by the donation. The three showed off their garden, which is starting to sprout with sunflowers. Max said he enjoys seeing the plants “finally sprout” after weeks of work, and Jacob said he liked the “feeling of teamwork” to get the garden growing. Another group of fifth-graders, Catalina Ontiveros, Anabella Meza and Madysun Roderick said they all “love gardening.” “You get to get your hands dirty at school,” Madysun said. Overbeck said applications for next year’s garden grant program will be available in the summer.

USDA expands safety net for dairy operations Submitted article

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that dairy farms participating in the Margin Protection Program (MPP) can now update their production history when an eligible family member joins the operation. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, protects participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below levels of protection selected by the applicant. “This change not only helps to strengthen a family dairy operation, it also helps new dairy farmers get started in the family business, while ensuring that safety net coverage remains available for these growing farms,” said Vilsack. “When children, grandchildren or their spouses become part of a dairy operation that is enrolled in MPP, the production from the dairy cows they bring with them into the business can now be protected. By strengthening the farm safety net, expanding credit options and growing domestic and foreign markets, USDA is committed to helping American farming operations remain successful.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) published

a final rule which makes these changes effective on April 13. Any dairy operation already enrolled in the Margin Protection Program that had an intergenerational transfer occur will have an opportunity to increase the dairy operations production history during the 2017 registration and annual coverage election period. The next election period begins on July 1, 2016, and ends on Sept. 30, 2016. For intergenerational transfers occurring on or after July 1, 2016, notification must be made to the FSA within 60 days of purchasing the additional cows. Each participating dairy operation is authorized one intergenerational transfer at any time of its choosing until 2018. For $100 a year, dairy producers can receive basic catastrophic protection that covers 90 percent of milk production at a $4 margin coverage level. For additional premiums, operations can protect 25 to 90 percent of production history with margin coverage levels from $4.50 to $8, in 50 cent increments. Annual enrollment in the program is required in order to receive margin protection. The final rule also provides improved risk protection for dairy farmers that pay premiums to buy-up higher levels of coverage by clarifying that 90 percent of production is covered below the $4 level even if a lower percentage was selected above the $4 margin. Earlier this year, FSA gave producers the opportunity to pay their premium through additional options including via their milk cooperative or handler. This rule facilitates those options and also clarifies that the catastrophic level protection at $4 will always cover 90 percent of the production history, even if a producer selected a less than a 90 percent percentage for the buy-up coverage. Assuming current participation, had the Margin Protection Program existed from 2009 to 2014, premiums and fees would have totaled $500 million while providing producers with $2.5 billion in financial assistance, nearly $1 billion more than provided by the old Milk Income Loss Contract program during the same period. The Margin Protection Program was established by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on USDA’s historic investments in rural America over the past seven years. Since 2009, USDA has worked to strengthen and support American agriculture, an industry that supports one in 11 American jobs, provides American consumers with more than 80 percent of the food we consume, ensures that Americans spend less of their paychecks at the grocery store than most people in other countries, and supports markets for homegrown renewable energy and materials. USDA has provided $5.6 billion of disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; expanded risk management tools with products like to Whole Farm Revenue Protection; helped farm businesses grow with $36 billion in farm credit; provided $4.32 billion in critical agricultural research; established innovative public-private conservation partnerships such as the Regional Conservation Partnership Program; developed new markets for rural-made products, including more than 2,500 biobased products through USDA’s BioPreferred program; and invested $64 billion in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For information, visit www.usda.gov/results. For information, visit FSA online at www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy or stop by a local FSA office and ask about the Margin Protection Program. To find a local FSA office in your area, visit offices.usda.gov.

The Land - May 2016 7

Officials outline pedestrian trail Construction on Watsonville segment later this year

Murray Fontes (left), principal engineer for the City of Watsonville, shows City Councilman Lowell Hurst plans for a 1.2-mile trail in Watsonville. Photo by Erik Chalhoub/The Land

By ERIK CHALHOUB Of the Land

WATSONVILLE — Sections of a 32mile trail that will connect Watsonville to Davenport will soon be constructed, with a 1.2-mile portion in South County slated to be one of the first built. The 12-foot-wide paved trail will

connect Lee Road to the intersection of Walker and West Beach streets. It will travel underneath Highway 1 through the Manabe-Ow Business Park, connecting to the existing Watsonville Slough trail along the way. Watsonville Principal Engineer Murray Fontes said construction is expected to begin later this year.

USDA announces new GroupGAP program Submitted article WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the official launch of GroupGAP, a new certification program that helps small and mid-sized growers and cooperatives meet retailers’ on-farm food safety requirements. “We know that GAP certification can sometimes be cost-prohibitive for smaller farmers,” said AMS Administrator Elanor Starmer. “GroupGAP allows these farmers to demonstrate compliance with strong food safety standards and share the cost of certification across a group of growers. That means greater market access for farmers, more options for consumers, and strong verification of food safety practices. It is a true winwin. We’re proud to have developed this innovative solution in partnership with our stakeholders.” After a three-year pilot, AMS will begin accepting applications for enrollment in GroupGAP, which certifies that grower groups are following industry-recognized food safety practices. By leveraging economies of scale and increasing efficiencies,

GroupGAP improves market access for small and midsized farmers and benefits the entire produce industry. The AMS Specialty Crops Inspection Division (SCI) performs Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audits, which are voluntary audits to verify that farms are following industryrecognized food safety practices and recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration. Produce buyers, large and small, are increasingly requiring suppliers to be GAP certified. Under GroupGAP, farmers, food hubs, and cooperatives work together to obtain group certification. Their participation in the program in turn benefits retailers and other large-volume buyers, who are better able to meet the increasing demand for local foods and broaden their base of suppliers. AMS GroupGAP audits include an analysis of the group’s system of oversight, a site visit to ensure compliance with various procedures, and spot checks to verify appropriate onfarm implementation. For information or to submit an application, visit the GroupGAP Website at www.ams.usda. gov/services/auditing/groupgap. You can learn more about the AMS GAP Audit Program at www.ams.usda.gov/ services/auditing.

The $2 million project is being funded by federal and state grants, as well as from donations by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County and Ecology Action. Fontes said the goal is to eventually extend the trail to connect with Pajaro Valley High School. The Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network, proposed by the Regional Transportation Commission, is a 50-mile bicycle and pedestrian project, with 32 miles of it to be built within the RTCowned rail right-of-way. Cory Caletti, senior transportation planner with the RTC, said eight miles of the trail has been funded, with about half of it to be completed by the end of 2017 and the other half by 2018. In addition to the Watsonville section, three other segments are slated for construction soon. Five miles will be built from Wilder Ranch up the coast to Panther and Yellowbank beaches, as well as 2.1 miles from the Santa Cruz Wharf to Natural Bridges Drive. In addition, a 300foot trail is slated from the Capitola City

Hall parking lot to Monterey Avenue. “We feel good that we are one of them,” Fontes said. Adopted by the RTC in late 2013, Caletti said the goal is to construct the trail network in 10 to 15 years. Once complete, it aims to provide an incentive for people to bike or walk to their destination, rather than drive. “A lot of people want to bicycle or walk, but they’re afraid,” she said. “Or they don’t have the skill set of a savvy cyclist. Trails are really the great gateway.” According to the RTC, half of the county’s population lives within one mile of the rail line, and Caletti said about 50 percent of the trips county residents make are three miles or less. “We look at bicycling or walking as the perfect option to support those kinds of trips,” she said. For information, visit www.sccrtc.org/ trail.

Seed Dynamics is specialized in seed-applied plant protectants 1081 Harkins Road P.O. Box 6069 Salinas, CA 93912 Telephone (831) 424-1177 • Fax (831) 424-0174

SEED DYNAMICS Inc. The Seed Preparation Professionals®

Proudly serving our customers and communities for 70 years

OPEN 7 DAYS!

• AIR COMPRESSORS • AUTO TOOLS • CHAIN SAWS • GENERATORS • GARDEN TOOLS • LOG SPLITTERS • MIXERS

• FORKLIFTS • MANLIFTS • LIGHT TOWERS • REACH LIFTS • BACKHOES • TRUCKS • TRAILERS

WE PAY THE SALES TAX ON RENTALS!

& MORE!

Now! SEVEN CONVENIENT LOCATIONS Santa Clara

408-727-0822

2550 LAFAYETTE ST.

Hollister

831-638-1999 2610 SAN JUAN RD.

Campbell

408-378-4921 900 DELL AVE.

Watsonville

831-722-0334 285 W. BEACH ST.

www.AToolShed.com 1-800-A-TOOL-SHED

Morgan Hill

408-779-7368 95 E. MAIN AVE.

Santa Cruz

Salinas

3700 SOQUEL AVE.

210 W. MARKET ST.

831-477-7133 831-424-7368

WE DELIVER