Applications Now Open to Serve on USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

August 3rd, 2017

The Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) is seeking nominations to fill 10 upcoming vacancies. Created in 2001, this FVIAC examines the full spectrum of issues faced by the U.S. produce industry and provides suggestions and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can tailor its programs to better meet the needs of the fruit and vegetable industry.

The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint one person to each of these ten positions to serve a 2-year term of office beginning August 1, 2017, and ending July 31, 2019—with a maximum of three 2-year terms. FVIAC membership consists of 25 members who represent the fruit and vegetable industry and will include individuals representing fruit and vegetable growers/ shippers, fruit and vegetable wholesalers/distributors, brokers, retailers/restaurant representatives, fresh-cut and other fruit and vegetable processors and foodservice suppliers. It should also include individuals representing farmers markets and food hubs, organic and non-organic fruit and vegetable representatives, and representatives from state departments of agriculture, farmer organizations and produce trade associations.

USDA is also seeking nominations to fill future unexpected vacancies in any of the position categories. These nominations will be held as a pool of candidates that the Secretary of Agriculture can draw upon as replacement appointees if unexpected vacancies occur. A person appointed to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the 2-year term of the vacant position.

Written nominations must be received on or before September 1, 2017. Nomination applications can be sent to Marlene Betts at [email protected], or mailed to: USDA-AMS-SCP, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 2077-S., Stop 0235, Washington, DC 20250. Electronic submittals are preferred.

See the official notice from USDA or visit the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee website. For more information. For questions, contact Matt McInerney at (949) 885-2263. 

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Upcoming Tech Talk Highlights Low-Cost, Real-Time Water Sensing

August 3rd, 2017

Join us for this month’s Tech Talk on August 22, where Manu Pillai, the founder of WaterBit, will demonstrate how the startup’s low-cost moisture sensors let growers know exactly when crops need water or additional nutrients.

Pillai and his team understands that growers need accurate moisture sensors and have developed technology that provides real-time soil moisture and temperature data. To create a sensor that is low cost and functional, WaterBit has reduced the power consumption and each unit runs on a battery that will last at least an entire season. There is no need for a solar panel—which is typical of other sensors—since power consumption is low for both sensor and radio.

Sensors can work through miles of dense crops, and to help further reduce costs, a few hundred sensors can share a cellular connection and they are capable of working in any type of soil. Typical sensors range from $5,000 to $8,000; WaterBit sensors will run for a $300 installation fee, with a $300 per year costs that includes everything from radio systems to data transfer to software application.

EVENT INFORMATION

WaterBit Tech Talk®

Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Location: Online or in-person

Online: You will be emailed a link when you register

In-person: Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (150 Main Street, Suite 130, Salinas, CA 93901)

Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM PDT

RSVP: To attend, please register here.

Tech Talks, which are offered at no cost, are hosted by the Center to introduce WG members and the community to the latest innovations. For more information about the Tech Talk Series or the Center, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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U.S. Court of Appeals Denies Petition to Ban the Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

August 3rd, 2017

Last month, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against a motion to invalidate the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision not to restrict or eliminate the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos. In the ruling, which took place on July 18, the three-judge panel said that the EPA complied with the court’s previous orders by issuing its “final response to the petition.”

In September 2007, the Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a petition calling for the EPA to revoke all tolerances for the pesticide chlorpyrifos and cancel all chlorpyrifos registrations. EPA denied the petition on March 29, 2017, noting that it will now focus its attention on updating and revising its human health assessment for chlorpyrifos under the standard procedures of the ongoing registration review process. The NRDC and PANNA challenged EPA’s Order in the San Francisco U.S. Court of Appeals, but ultimately the Court ruled that EPA had issued an appropriate denial. Further, the Court said that further objections by PANNA and NRDC must be made through the administrative process, not at the court.

The U.S. Appeals Court decision to support EPA is good news for agriculture because it was based on applicable regulatory procedures and sound science—something that Western Growers continually advocates for.

Chlorpyrifos is a critical part of pest management programs for farmers. It is used on more than 800,000 acres and more than 60 crops including tree nuts, vegetables, grapes, citrus, cotton and alfalfa. Collectively, these crops account for $23 billion in production value for California.

For more information, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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WG Releases Report on Ag Water Testing Methods

August 3rd, 2017

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule’s agricultural water provisions require that produce farms characterize the microbial quality of agricultural water to minimize the risks related to its use. The FDA has recently announced that it will be “revisiting” the current ag water requirements and will extend the compliance dates for the Produce Safety Rule’s ag water provisions.

The current FDA agricultural water testing requirements and the methods associated with this testing are of significant concern for produce growers due to costs and lack of available laboratories to perform the required method. Industry has concerns regarding FDA’s selection of the analyte, method, and sampling requirements for ag water in the Produce Safety Rule. The most pressing issue that challenges implementation of and compliance with the current Produce Safety Rule’s water testing provisions is the requirement to use the U.S. EPA’s Method 1603 (M1603) or an equivalent method, to analyze ag water for generic E. coli, the most commonly used indicator of fecal contamination.

In an effort to address the questions surrounding ag water testing methodologies, a panel composed of experts from academia, government and industry was convened by the Center for Produce Safety. They reviewed water monitoring data, developed a shared understanding of implementation issues, and evaluated the applicability of available water testing methods to the Produce Safety Rule requirements for public health protection.

Below are the panel’s formal water testing recommendations that were submitted to the FDA:

  • Recommend that FDA issue clarifying language publicly, as soon as possible, to convey the FDA acceptance of the US EPA’s list of approved methods to be equivalent to M1603 in meeting scientifically valid criteria for adequately protecting public health. This will provide the flexibility intended in the Final Produce Safety Rule.
  • Urge the incorporation and use of MPN calculations within the available Microbial Water Quality Profile auto-calculator spreadsheets for untreated surface and groundwater
  • Recommend that language in the Produce Safety Rule describing recognized alternative test methods be revised to remove the expectation of equivalency and substitute ‘comparable and adequate for the purpose of public health protection’ or that FDA issue draft guidance indicating this interpretation of equivalency.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT ON AGRICULTURAL WATER TESTING METHODS COLLOQUIUM

For more information, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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August 22 Tech Talk Highlights Simple, Easy to Install, Telemetry for Sensing and Control

August 8th, 2017

Join us for this month’s Tech Talk on August 22, where Manu Pillai, the founder of WaterBit, will demonstrate how the startup’s telemetry package can be installed easily and connected to moisture sensors, pressure sensors and more. This helps growers know exactly when crops need water or if other action is needed. WaterBit, which is based in San Jose with offices in Salinas at the WG Center for Innovation and Technology and Fresno at CSU, is working on everything from sensing physics to hardware to cloud applications.

During the Tech Talk, Pillai will be speaking about WaterBit’s sensing and control products in development and trials in corn, almonds and grapes across the Central Valley. WaterBit’s first generally-available product, LoRaN, is a solar-powered, ultra-low energy, long-range telemetry unit, with sensing and control capability.

LoRaN can be installed just above ground, out of the way of machines. No special mounting is needed. It is a waterproof, zero-maintenance system, with no batteries to be replaced. WaterBit currently has units hanging onto drip lines in vineyards; very little sunlight is needed for operation. 

The telemetry unit connects to a cellular gateway, and each gateway can support up to 500 telemetry units with a range of up to 3.5 miles and 1.5 miles in dense foliage. This is also solar powered. The data is delivered to a cloud application and can be viewed through a browser.

EVENT INFORMATION

WaterBit Tech Talk®

Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Location: Online or in-person

Online: You will be emailed a link when you register

In-person: Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (150 Main Street, Suite 130, Salinas, CA 93901)

Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM PDT

RSVP: To attend, please register here.

Tech Talks, which are offered at no cost, are hosted by the Center to introduce WG members and the community to the latest innovations. For more information about the Tech Talk Series or the Center, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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WG Releases Report on Agriculture Water Testing Methods

August 8th, 2017

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule’s agricultural water provisions require that produce farms characterize the microbial quality of agricultural water to minimize the risks related to its use. The FDA has recently announced that it will be “revisiting” the current ag water requirements and will extend the compliance dates for the Produce Safety Rule’s ag water provisions.

The current FDA agricultural water testing requirements and the methods associated with this testing are of significant concern for produce growers due to costs and lack of available laboratories to perform the required method. Industry has concerns regarding FDA’s selection of the analyte, method, and sampling requirements for ag water in the Produce Safety Rule. The most pressing issue that challenges implementation of and compliance with the current Produce Safety Rule’s water testing provisions is the requirement to use the U.S. EPA’s Method 1603 (M1603) or an equivalent method, to analyze ag water for generic E. coli, the most commonly used indicator of fecal contamination.

In an effort to address the questions surrounding ag water testing methodologies, a panel composed of experts from academia, government and industry was convened by the Center for Produce Safety. They reviewed water monitoring data, developed a shared understanding of implementation issues, and evaluated the applicability of available water testing methods to the Produce Safety Rule requirements for public health protection.

Below are the panel’s formal water testing recommendations that were submitted to the FDA:

  • Recommend that FDA issue clarifying language publicly, as soon as possible, to convey the FDA acceptance of the US EPA’s list of approved methods to be equivalent to M1603 in meeting scientifically valid criteria for adequately protecting public health. This will provide the flexibility intended in the Final Produce Safety Rule.
  • Urge the incorporation and use of MPN calculations within the available Microbial Water Quality Profile auto-calculator spreadsheets for untreated surface and groundwater
  • Recommend that language in the Produce Safety Rule describing recognized alternative test methods be revised to remove the expectation of equivalency and substitute ‘comparable and adequate for the purpose of public health protection’ or that FDA issue draft guidance indicating this interpretation of equivalency.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT ON AGRICULTURAL WATER TESTING METHODS COLLOQUIUM

For more information, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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WG Offers Members Harassment, Discrimination, & Abusive Conduct Prevention Training

August 8th, 2017

When providing anti-harassment education to employees, companies should ensure that “nondefenses” are covered in detail during the training. Nondefenses—common justifications for harassing, discriminatory and bullying behavior in the workplace—may not necessarily be unlawful, but are completely unacceptable and need to be addressed in preventative training.

The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) recently published an article to remind employers that their anti-harassment, discrimination and abusive conduct training need to dispel the following 13 “nondefenses” in the workplace:  

  1. The conduct was not unlawful.
  2. There was no bad intent.
  3. It was only a joke.
  4. The employee never complained before.
  5. The harasser is a top performer.
  6. The conduct occurred offsite or off-the-clock.
  7. The harasser is an equal opportunity abuser.
  8. The conduct was not sexual or racial in nature.
  9. The harasser was a customer, not an employee.
  10. The harasser and harassment target belong to the same protected group.
  11. Alcohol made the harasser do it.
  12. The harassment was not unwelcome.
  13. The offended person was not targeted.

Western Growers’ (WG) Harassment, Discrimination, and Abusive Conduct Prevention training is designed to address these 13 misconceptions. The training also provides managers with best practices to prevent and proactively address these behaviors in their workplace.

WG will be providing training in the following locations in 2017:

SALINAS
Date: Thursday, August 17, 2017
Location: WG Field Office (928 East Blanco Road, Suite 210, Salinas, CA 93901)
Fee: $60
Registration:

IRVINE
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Location: Western Growers in the Phoenix Conference Room (15525 Sand Canyon Ave, Irvine, CA 92618)
Fee: $60
Registration:

IMPERIAL
Date: Thursday, October 26, 2017
Location: Farm Credit Services – Southwest (485 Business Parkway, Imperial, CA 92251)
Fee: $60
Registration:

For questions, contact Adriana Robles at (949) 885-2297.

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Food Safety Findings: A Four-Part Webinar Series

August 8th, 2017

Missed the Center for Produce Safety’s Research Symposium in June? No problem. Western Growers experts have condensed the research presentations into actionable insights for agribusinesses in a special four-part webinar series.

More than 30 research projects were presented to attendees over the two-day event—all containing information significant to enhancing food safety throughout the industry. Hank Giclas (Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Science & Technology at Western Growers) and Susan Leaman (Vice President at iDecisionSciences) have summarized the conference sessions and food safety findings into four recap webinars.

Starting today, Western Growers members have access to Webinar #1: Agricultural Water. Giclas and Leaman discuss the key factors most critical to WG members involved in sourcing, sampling, testing and treating specific types of agricultural water. The remaining webinars, which will be available in the coming weeks, will cover topics such as contamination risks in packinghouses and supply chain, hot topics regarding produce safety and validation and verification. 

Register and click-through to the webinars and listen as they translate these scientific projects into practical and applicable information that can be used by growers and handlers of fresh produce.

For more information, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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CDFA Grant Funding Available for Healthy Soils Program

August 10th, 2017

The California Department of Food and Agriculture announced this week that they are now accepting applications for the Healthy Soils Program (HSP). The program has two components: 1) the HSP Incentives Program and 2) the HSP Demonstration Projects.

For the HSP Incentives Program, an estimated $3.75 million in competitive grant funding will be awarded to provide financial assistance for implementation of agricultural management practices that sequester soil carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For the HSP Demonstration Projects, approximately $3 million in competitive grant funding will be awarded to projects that demonstrate and monitor specific management practices in agriculture that sequester carbon, improve soil health and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions.

If Western Growers’ members are interested in applying for either programs, please contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205. 

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Tech Talk Next Week: Simple, Easy to Install, Telemetry for Sensing and Control

August 15th, 2017

Join us for this month’s Tech Talk on August 22, where Manu Pillai, the founder of WaterBit, will demonstrate how the startup’s telemetry package can be installed easily and connected to moisture sensors, pressure sensors and more. This helps growers know exactly when crops need water or if other action is needed. WaterBit, which is based in San Jose with offices in Salinas at the WG Center for Innovation and Technology and Fresno at CSU, is working on everything from sensing physics to hardware to cloud applications.

During the Tech Talk, Pillai will be speaking about WaterBit’s sensing and control products in development and trials in corn, almonds and grapes across the Central Valley. WaterBit’s first generally-available product, LoRaN, is a solar-powered, ultra-low energy, long-range telemetry unit, with sensing and control capability.

LoRaN can be installed just above ground, out of the way of machines. No special mounting is needed. It is a waterproof, zero-maintenance system, with no batteries to be replaced. WaterBit currently has units hanging onto drip lines in vineyards; very little sunlight is needed for operation. 

The telemetry unit connects to a cellular gateway, and each gateway can support up to 500 telemetry units with a range of up to 3.5 miles and 1.5 miles in dense foliage. This is also solar powered. The data is delivered to a cloud application and can be viewed through a browser.

EVENT INFORMATION

WaterBit Tech Talk®

Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Location: Online or in-person

Online: You will be emailed a link when you register

In-person: Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (150 Main Street, Suite 130, Salinas, CA 93901)

Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM PDT

RSVP: To attend, please register here.

Tech Talks, which are offered at no cost, are hosted by the Center to introduce WG members and the community to the latest innovations. For more information about the Tech Talk Series or the Center, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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Packinghouses and Supply Chain Contamination Risks Covered in New Webinar Series

August 15th, 2017

Tune in to the second installment of the “Food Safety Findings” four-part webinar series, where Western Growers experts condense research presentations from the Center for Produce Safety’s Research Symposium into actionable insights for members. Today’s newly released webinar highlights pertinent research and data surrounding food safety in the packinghouse and throughout the supply chain.

More than 30 research projects were presented to attendees during the Center for Produce Safety’s Research Symposium in June – all containing information significant to enhancing food safety throughout the industry. Hank Giclas (Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Science & Technology at Western Growers) and Susan Leaman (Vice President at iDecisionSciences) have summarized the conference sessions and food safety findings into four recap webinars.

Last week, Giclas and Leaman discussed the key findings from the Symposium relating to water – both ag water and post-harvest water.

All webinars are being made available to Western Growers members. To access either or both presentations, register by clicking here. By registering, members will also receive access to the remaining webinars on hot topics regarding produce safety and “validation.” The last two webinars will be available in the coming weeks.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FOOD SAFETY FINDINGS WEBINARS

For more information, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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Applications to Serve on USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee Close Sept. 1

August 17th, 2017

The Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) is seeking nominations to fill 10 upcoming vacancies. Created in 2001, this FVIAC examines the full spectrum of issues faced by the U.S. produce industry and provides suggestions and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can tailor its programs to better meet the needs of the fruit and vegetable industry.

The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint one person to each of these ten positions to serve a 2-year term of office beginning August 1, 2017, and ending July 31, 2019—with a maximum of three 2-year terms. FVIAC membership consists of 25 members who represent the fruit and vegetable industry and will include individuals representing fruit and vegetable growers/ shippers, fruit and vegetable wholesalers/distributors, brokers, retailers/restaurant representatives, fresh-cut and other fruit and vegetable processors and foodservice suppliers. It should also include individuals representing farmers markets and food hubs, organic and non-organic fruit and vegetable representatives, and representatives from state departments of agriculture, farmer organizations and produce trade associations.

USDA is also seeking nominations to fill future unexpected vacancies in any of the position categories. These nominations will be held as a pool of candidates that the Secretary of Agriculture can draw upon as replacement appointees if unexpected vacancies occur. A person appointed to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the 2-year term of the vacant position.

Written nominations must be received on or before September 1, 2017. Nomination applications can be sent to Marlene Betts at [email protected], or mailed to: USDA-AMS-SCP, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 2077-S., Stop 0235, Washington, DC 20250. Electronic submittals are preferred.

See the official notice from USDA or visit the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee website. For more information. For questions, contact Matt McInerney at (949) 885-2263. 

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California Targets Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

August 22nd, 2017

Last week, the California Environmental Protection Agency announced that both the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment are pursuing health protections on chlorpyrifos.

DPR believes chlorpyrifos may pose a public health risk as a toxic air contaminant based on its assessment of the latest studies in the scientific community. As indicated in the updated draft risk assessment that DPR released last week, this new finding has not been peer reviewed and must go through a public comment period and be independently evaluated by other scientists. This review process, which may ultimately lead to more restrictions on use, is expected to conclude in December 2018.

Chlorpyrifos is a critical part of pest management programs for farmers. It is used on more than 800,000 acres and more than 60 crops including tree nuts, vegetables, grapes, citrus, cotton and alfalfa. Collectively, these crops account for $23 billion in production value for California. Western Growers will continue to advocate that any new control measures allow for the safe and continued use of this critical crop protection tool.

For more information, contact Matthew Allen at (916) 446-1435.

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Save the Date — September 28 Webinar on ACA Compliance & Reporting

August 22nd, 2017

Pinnacle Claims Management, Inc. (PCMI) is hosting a webinar on Thursday, September 28, 2017, to cover upcoming changes to Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements, as well as provide an overview of the Pinnacle ACA Dashboard.

Resident Affordable Care Act expert and PCMI Compliance Counsel, Jon Alexander, will guide you through the 2017 updates to the tangled web of Affordable Care Act regulations, mandates, and reporting requirements.

When you attend, you’ll learn about:

•       Affordable Care Act Updates

•       Employer Mandate Update (Pay or Play responsibilities)

•       Affordable Care Act Reporting Requirements & Updates

•       Health Insurance Exchange Subsidy & Penalty Notices

•       Deadline dates for Reporting to the IRS

•       Potential IRS Fines

•       Pinnacle’s ACA Dashboard Reporting Tool

WEBINAR DETAILS

ACA Reporting and the Pinnacle ACA Dashboard

Speaker: Jon Alexander (Bio), Compliance Counsel, Pinnacle Claims Management, Inc.

Date: Thursday, September 28, 2017

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT

RSVP: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Participation is complimentary

For more information, contact Jon Alexander at (949) 885-2330.

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Sept. 7 Webinar to Highlight 2017 HR Practices and Compensation Survey Results

August 29th, 2017

Interested in attracting and retaining the best employees in California and Arizona’s produce industry? Tune in for a special webinar on Thursday, September 7, where Western Growers’ H.R. experts will reveal exclusive data from the 2017 Professional Compensation & HR Practices Surveys that will be crucial in keeping your company’s compensation competitive.

The newly-released Professional Compensation and H.R. Practices Report is the most comprehensive analysis available on compensation and H.R. practices for the California and Arizona specialty crop industry. Through the webinar, you can get a sneak peek of the results and gain valuable insight on how to apply this data to your recruitment and retention strategies.

Based on input from nearly 100 employers on more than 3,000 jobs, the 2017 report covers 70 distinct positions and includes key data on:

  • Base pay
  • Incentives paid
  • Merit increases
  • Health plan coverage

The 2017 Professional Compensation & HR Practices Surveys bundle is available for $1,800, and the HR Practices Surveys alone is available for $500. The Compensation Survey is broken up by profession and is available for purchase by section, each for $500: Executive Positions, Hourly Field, Plant/Office/Field Positions, Sales and Marketing Positions. You can purchase all reports here.

WEBINAR DETAILS

Webinar: Western Growers 2017 Professional Compensation and HR Practices Report

Date: Thursday, September 7, 2017

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PDT

Presenters: Karen Timmins, Sr. Vice President, Human Resources, Western Growers

Fran Mueseler, CEO, PEOPLEMatters Compensation Resources

Registration: Click here to register

Contact Ryan Zilker at (949) 885-2249 for questions about this webinar. For questions about the survey, contact Karen Timmins at (949) 885-2295.

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Employers Urged to Emphasize Importance of Ladder Safety

August 29th, 2017

A recently released Consumer Product Safety Commission report on ladder safety revealed some eye-opening statistics regarding the frequency and severity of ladder-related incidents in the United States. Every year, thousands of people are injured and hundreds are killed in ladder-related incidents. Determining the root cause of these incidents can lead to the prevention of the majority of injuries and deaths.

Some compelling statistics include:

  • More than 90,000 people receive emergency room treatment from ladder-related injuries per year.
  • Elevated falls account for almost 700 occupational deaths annually.
  • Over the last 10 years, the amount of ladder-related injuries has increased by 50 percent.
  • 50 percent of ladder-related incidents were due to individuals carrying items as they climbed a ladder.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration believes 100 percent of all ladder incidents could be prevented if proper attention to equipment and climber training were provided. Employers and their staff are encouraged to follow safety guidelines and implement a ladder policy to prevent ladder-related incidents.

The following are several safety measures to keep in mind for ladder use:

  • Never stand on the top 3 rungs. Paint the 3rd rung from the top red as a reminder.
  • Keep belt buckle, tool bag or picking bag centered between outer rails of the ladder and do not overreach while working.
  • Place the base of a straight ladder out away from the wall or edge about one foot for every four feet of vertical height.
  • Be sure the side rails extend at least 36 inches above the landing.
  • For orchard ladders, place the 3rd leg outward, far enough so the steps are level and the 3rd leg is centered between the two side rails.

For ladder safety awareness, review your company’s ladder policy and ladder use guidelines with all workers utilizing this tool. Also, ensure that all workers follow safe work practices while performing their duties through periodic audits and observations.

Click here to read more on safety measures for ladder use and statistics on ladder safety.

For questions, contact Hilario Garcia, Loss Control Consultant at Western Growers Insurance Services at (559) 650-7520.

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Damage from Hurricane Harvey Causes Transportation Delays

August 31st, 2017

Hurricane Harvey, which has devastated large areas of Texas and other areas of the country, has temporarily halted the delivery of goods into that market. Additionally, outbound shipping lanes have been shut down and there is a lack of adequate equipment to meet customer commitments.

As the region still copes with the damage caused by the storm, we encourage you to be patient if your capacity has been affected. To keep customers abreast of the status of shipments, C. H. Robinson, Western Growers’ Transportation Program partner, has provided the following insights about transportation delays caused by the storm:

  • Houston houses a significant amount of industry geared to servicing the Southwestern United States. Outbound shipping has ground to a halt due to standing water.
     
  • Transportation providers serving that market are now out of balance as their flow of freight IN and OUT of that market is cut off. Trucks are not able to effectively reposition themselves to continue to meet customer demand.
     
  • Manufacturers and distributors, when necessary and able, are changing their origin points to alternate plants/distribution centers to continue to serve the Southwestern United States. This is changing the flow of goods and trucks into/out of several markets, altering the existing balance of supply and demand.
     
  • Storm relief is being sent into the area from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-designated points. FEMA sets the market for transactional transportation in these lanes, but this also impacts the transactional market rates to all destinations from those origins.
     
  • The impact of Hurricane Harvey on deliveries will linger long after the storm ends. It could be weeks before the influx of supplies inbound to Houston slows down; infrastructure allows trucks to get in and out of the area efficiently; and capacity repositions and becomes balanced back in the markets where they originate. Due to rapidly changing rates and capacity, impacts could occur daily or multiple times per day.

For more information about the Hurricane Harvey truckload transportation impact, click here. For questions, contact Lauren Soares-Singh, Manager – Account Management, West Region at C.H. Robinson at (831) 333 – 5803.

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FMCSA Announces Electronic Logging Devices Implementation Timeline

August 31st, 2017

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) recently announced that the Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) compliance deadline is set for December 18, 2017. However, the out-of-service criteria will not go into effect until April 1, 2018. 

Inspectors and roadside enforcement personnel will begin documenting violations on roadside inspection reports and may issue citations to commercial drivers operating vehicles without a compliant ELD. Beginning April 1, 2018, inspectors will start placing commercial motor vehicle drivers out of service if their vehicle is not equipped with the required device. Carriers may continue to use a grandfathered automatic onboard recording device until December 16, 2019.

Visit FMCSA’s ELD implementation website for more information about the ELD rule.

For questions, contact Ken Gilliland at (949) 885-2267.

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Former WG Award of Honor Recipient John Elmore Passes Away

August 31st, 2017

John Elmore passed away this past Tuesday. Elmore, who served on the WG Board of Directors for 20 years, was a past recipient of the Western Growers Award of Honor. 

“John, a dear friend and mentor for nearly 50 years, was an inspiring visionary and innovator in the agricultural industry and will truly be missed,” said Tom Nassif, president & CEO of Western Growers. “His initiative to pioneer many of the farming methods we used today will forever impact the industry.”

Among his numerous accomplishments, Elmore developed a drainage tile business by hiring locals and using materials and equipment available in Brawley, Calif., making tiling of the land both cheaper and more efficient. He also transformed a cantaloupe packing shed into a state-of-the-art produce cooler, as well as revolutionized the melon packing process by moving the entire operation to the field which allowed farmers with no access to a packing shed to easily pack melons.

A true steward of the land, Elmore began using tail water for irrigation long before it became a common practice, making him a water conservationist before it was mandatory.

Elmore has long supported the community and industry as a mentor for youth programs such as 4-H Clubs, the Future Farmers of America, the Boys and Girls Club, city Parks and Recreation, Elks Club, Lions Clubs, and provided college scholarships for Brawley Union High School seniors and youth sports.

In honor of his long-time leadership, commitment and support of business in Brawley, the Brawley Chamber of Commerce awarded Elmore the distinguished 2017 Branding Iron Award in June. This is the highest award given to a member of the Brawley community. Unable to attend the award dinner, Western Growers produced a video interview with Elmore to be shown at the ceremony where his sons, Howard and Richard, received the award on his behalf. 

At time of publication, there were no available details on services.

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House Ag Committee to Hold Farm Bill Listening Session in Modesto

August 1st, 2017

Ahead of the next farm bill, the House Agriculture Committee is conducting a series of listening sessions across the country intended to stimulate conversation and gather input from farmers, ranchers and other key stakeholders.

Chairman Michael Conaway (TX-11) and members of the Committee will be in Modesto this Saturday, August 5th, at the ACE Ag Pavilion (Modesto Junior College West Campus). Beginning at 9:00 a.m., any attendee who wishes to speak will have two minutes for comments. Additionally, the Committee will be electronically collecting written testimony.

We encourage all Western Growers members willing to travel to Modesto to attend and represent our association and industry.

“When it comes to writing farm bills, the House Agriculture Committee has a long history of getting out of Washington and speaking with the folks these policies are intended to serve. I’m looking forward to these events, and I encourage farmers, ranchers and other stakeholders to join us,” said Chairman Conaway.

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Modesto Junior College West Campus

Beginning at 9:00 a.m.

ACE Ag Pavilion

Brink Ave & Shoemaker Ave

Modesto, CA 95385

 

For additional information or suggested talking points, please contact Cory Lunde at 949-885-2264.

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