President's Message

June 2016

FB Photo-1This has been a very “cool weather” growing season, which has added difficulties for growers with disease issues. Hopefully, depending on the crops that you are growing, you have been able to keep up with everything that Mother Nature has sent your way.

I would like to thank all of the members who joined us and supported our Scholarship Wine Tasting event this year! It was a great success, and if you were unable to join us, hopefully we will see you next year. It’s local support that helps make these events great.

As the growing season progresses, and weather changing quickly, I urge all of you to make sure your employees are trained in heat safety. MCFB just concluded its Heat Illness training, and hopefully everyone got a chance to come or sent employees. Rules have changed and OSHA will be out in full force, so please make all efforts to be in compliance. Regulators look highly upon us when they see that we are doing our part to keep everyone safe and informed.  If at any time there are any questions, concerns, or heaven forbid, an incident, please feel free to reach out to our office for help and guidance. We are here to help and support.

I like to give MID a special thanks for having experts at their grower meeting who explained the new ground water ordinance, SGMA. I know sometimes these meetings get very technical, but I urge all growers to go and ask questions, because this rule is going to affect all of us.  When growers have a better understanding of this rule, they will be able to make better informed decisions for their business. CWD will also be hosting a SGMA discussion at their grower meeting June 15th, and there will be a white area grower meeting on June 30th in Chowchilla, so if you missed the Donuts and Discussions or MID’s Grower meeting, try and attend one of these, and as always, our office is always open to members to call or schedule a meeting to get further information of how these regulations are going to affect this county. Please watch for upcoming events and a new Harvest safety training coming soon to help train your employees during the hectic harvest months.  Hope to see you all very soon.