Cantua Creek, Five Points, and the City of Coalinga, Pumps are going back on, but not out of woods said Efird. yet

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1 Friday Follow-Up June 15, 2007 (Flag Day was June 14!) Water woes update Cantua Creek, Five Points, and the City of Coalinga, Pumps are going back on, but not out of woods said Efird. yet What affects the west side directly affects As western Fresno County farmers and rural the rest of our county and our region. The devastating community leaders were meeting this week to discuss economic and social impacts we saw from the plans to ward-off economic hardships from a possible January freeze on citrus and other crops and farm water cut-off, the federal U.S. Bureau of Reclamation labor employees could be easily replicated with this announced plans to increase pumping in the situation, he added. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. In the letter and at the Fresno County Board Pumping at the C.W. Jones Pumping Plant of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, FCFB has been at a reduced level for the past seven weeks, emphasized this whole scenario clearly illustrate the with only one of the six pumps in operation, delivering need for a long-term stable water supply. 850 cubic feet per second (cfs). Resuming pumping Last year, there was an abundance of water at the two additional pumps will increase exports to in the state and millions of acre-feet had to be 2,700 cfs, which is still only 60 percent of the export released out to the ocean. And now we see ourselves maximum of 4,600 cfs. Reports are that it may be July preparing for a crisis of not only a natural drought, but 1 before the pumps are restored to full capacity. Both also being cut off from our man-made reserves, federal and State Water Project pumps have been according to FCFB. down since the end of May in an effort to prevent At an emergency meeting of the Westlands takings of the Endangered Species Act-listed Delta Water District on Wednesday, district officials urged smelt. water users not to panic during the short-term, but to With virtually no water being pumped to re-fill work with the District as it develops a contingency San Luis Reservoir, which has been shrinking plan to get through the low-point issues in the because of continued demand for the stored water, Reservoir during the typically high water use month of the current low water levels have caused great July. concerns for farmers and rural communities on the Farmers and others directly impacted by the west side of Fresno County. As of June 13, the San pump shut-downs are urged to contact their federal Luis Reservoir had storage of 779,093 acre-feet of and state officials to put pressure on for an immediate water. On May 31 the day the pumps were shut off return to full pumping capacity at both federal and the San Luis Reservoir held 1,023,273 acre-feet of state pumps. Attached is a list of federal and state water. Storage continues to drop each day the pumps officials to contact on this issue. are not running at full volume, and it will not be long Immigration Reform not dead yet before the Reservoir reaches minimum capacity. The highly controversial federal immigration In a letter to Governor Arnold reform measure got mired by politics and many Schwarzenegger, USBR Commissioner Robert assumed it to be dead last week. But, reports from the Johnson, and other federal and state elected officials, California Farm Bureau Federation and others indicate FCFB President Russel Efird urged both governments that it s not over yet. to restore pumping to protect Fresno County Clearly a disappointment the comprehensive agriculture. The west side of Fresno County is directly reform measure didn t move forward with last week s impacted by shutting off the Delta pumps. More than cloture vote, it s too early to assume that nothing is 1-million acre-feet of water from the Delta is used to going to happen, especially from agriculture s irrigate about 27 percent of the county s total standpoint. Comments made following the failed farmland. This water is also the lifeblood that sustains cloture vote indicate the measure will come up again the communities of Huron, Mendota, Firebaugh, after a cooling-off period.

2 The guest worker provision specific to agriculture, called AgJOBS, is still very much a component of the comprehensive immigration reform package being discussed. Throughout the Senate debate (and some 40 offered amendments) the agricultural elements fared very well. When attempts were made to water down or delete the special agricultural provisions, the votes failed by large margins. Democratic and Republican Senate leaders both described their intent to come back to the issue. Key senators who negotiated the Senate package are still talking and they expressed their determination to push ahead. Though Majority Leader Reid pulled the bill, both Reid and Minority Leader McConnell left the door open and indicated that differences may be bridgeable. Also, several Senators mentioned AgJOBS as a model for the way bipartisanship can be achieved. Immigration reform is a long and winding road, said CFBF s Jack King. We re disappointed that Senate action on the immigration reform bill has stalled. But stalled does not mean dead. We will continue to urge Congress to pass a comprehensive reform bill, said King. In several polls, a majority of the American public supports immigration reform (with various preconditions---fines, returning to home countries). Only an estimated 20 percent oppose immigration reform outright. It s important to communicate that to federal legislators. In your communications with federal lawmakers, emphasize that it s important that Congress act on immigration reform this year. Agriculture cannot wait much longer. Some crops have already gone unpicked because there weren t enough people available to harvest them. We hear reports of tight labor supplies throughout our farming regions. Likewise, family farmers and ranchers recognize the need for improved border security. We seek a plan that improves security and also allows people who want to enter the country to work to do so legally. Despite repeated tries, farmers cannot find enough people within the United States who are willing or able to take the 450,000 on-farm jobs we need to fill. Immigrant workers play a crucial role in providing safe, reliable, affordable, American-grown food. Legislator contact information is attached. Bee placement legislation re-introduced 2 AB 771 (De Leon), the Seedless Mandarin Protection Act (Act), was resurrected at the State Capitol this week, causing concerns for many in the agricultural industry. The Act attempts to ban the placement of bee hives within two miles of seedless mandarin citrus orchards during their bloom period. Bees play a significant part in Valley agriculture by pollinating billions of dollars worth of crops every year. Citrus crops, however, do not need bees to pollinate for successful fruit set. The legislation arose out of a problem seedless citrus variety growers have seen with bees cross-pollinating seedless varieties with seeds. If a grower s seedless citrus crop becomes pollinated with seeds, the market for that product is lost. FCFB is concerned about protecting the rights of all agriculturists, including beekeepers and citrus growers in Fresno County. An acceptable, realistic solution for all interests of this issue must be established. But the solution must not come at the expense of one industry, especially by legislation aimed at circumventing California s right-to-farm laws that protect apiculture [beekeeping], said FCFB Executive Director Ryan Jacobsen. FCFB Board members have expressed opposition to the measure on several grounds, most significantly because of the precedence-setting potential of imposing even more regulatory standards on farmers and the need to help ensure the integrity of right-to-farm ordinances. The bill will be heard next Tuesday, June 19, in the Senate Ag Committee. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact Senate Chair Abel Maldonado with comments. Load Tie-down Regulations update Last week, Friday Follow-Up reported about new federal regulations for agricultural haulers being implemented by the California Highway Patrol. Because there is much confusion on the new regulations and whether or not they pertain to certain crops, California Farm Bureau Federation is hosting the California Highway Patrol at a workshop on Tuesday, June 19 in Sacramento to educate people on the new load securement regulations. The workshop will be held on June 19 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the First Floor Conference Room, California Farm Bureau Federation, 2300 River Plaza Drive in Sacramento. Please call (916) to secure your seat as space is limited. 2

3 The new regulations ban the use of corner irons, cleats and longitudinal binders and cables to secure agricultural loads. The only approved method to secure loads now is the use of lateral straps every 10 feet, which is ineffective and dangerous when hauling hay bales, bins, tubs and boxes. In addition, a public hearing will be held on June 27, at 9 a.m. at the CHP office in Sacramento to discuss how the new regulations impact agricultural loads. Contact your legislator and the Governor now, to urge an exemption for agricultural commodities until a workable and safe solution can be developed. FCFB s FACT Leadership Program graduates nine class members On Monday, participants in FCFB s Future Advocates for Agriculture Concerned about Tomorrow (FACT) leadership development program completed the eight-month agricultural issue advocacy and education program. At a special graduation and luncheon held at the FCFB office, the class members presented their perspectives on agricultural issues, as well as heard about the importance of advocacy and communication of messages by FCFB President Russel Efird and Fresno Bee President and Publisher Ray Steele, Jr. Graduating as part of Class IV were: Christy L. Melvold, Program Coordinator, Fresno State, Ag One Foundation/College Development; David B. Lometti, Financial Planning; Mark Bray, Sergeant, Ag Crimes Unit Fresno County Sheriff s Department; Y. Laurence Kimura, Assistant General Manager, Fresno Irrigation District; Tony B. Garcia, Detective Sergeant, Fresno County Sheriff s Department; Henry T. Perea, Councilmember, City of Fresno; Daniel J. Odom, Credit Analyst, Bank of the West; Martin (Marty) L. Mazorra, Advisor, Principal Financial Group; and Aubrey Cairns, Issues Coordinator, Fresno County Farm Bureau Special thanks and appreciation go to the FACT Sponsors: Principal Financial Group; C.D. Simonian Insurance; Bank of the West; Hall Management Corp.; and Kings River Conservation District. Recruitment for Class V will begin in August, and sponsorship opportunities are available for the program. For details, contact Liz Hudson at lizh@fcfb.org. 3 Harassment Seminar is scheduled for June 19 A seminar about preventing sexual harassment in the workplace will be held on Tuesday, June 19 at California State University, Fresno. The seminar is in response to new regulations that require employers with 50 or more employees to provide two hours of training and education to all supervisory employees once every two years by a competent trainer. The English version will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the Spanish version will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both seminars will be held at the Viticulture and Enology Research Center at Fresno State. The cost is $35 for members and $55 for non-members. For more information, contact Sylvia Medina at (831) or apma20@pacbell.net. Smile for the Week Last month, it was Mom s turn now it s Dad s. Enjoy these funnies and remember your father on Sunday. It s his special day! Here are some things you'll likely never hear a Dad say Well, how 'bout that?... I'm lost! Looks like we'll have to stop and ask for directions. Here's a credit card and the keys to my new car -- GO CRAZY. Well, I don't know what's wrong with your car. Probably one of those doo-hickey thingies -- you know -- that makes it run or something. Just have it towed to a mechanic and pay whatever he asks. Whaddya wanna go and get a job for? I make plenty of money for you to spend. Father's Day? aahh -- don't worry about that -- it's no big deal. Next Week s Calendar June 19 FCFB Executive Committee meeting, 11 a.m., FCFB Office, 1274 W. Hedges Ave. June 20 Ag Land Conservation Committee, 8 a.m., FCFB office June 21 Fabulous Food Machine presentation at City of Fresno Water Camp, 8 a.m. Woodward Park This Week s Calendar June 11 FACT Class IV Graduation June 12 FCFB Public Relations Committee June 13 Fresno Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee meeting June 15 Fresno County Legislative and Media Agricultural Tour 3

4 W. Hedges Ave.; Fresno, CA 93728; (559) Governor Schwarzenegger 1 st Floor State Capitol Fax # (916) Secretary A.G. Kawamura Secretary of the Department of Agriculture 1220 N St. #409 Fax # (916) Lester Snow Department of Water Resources P.O. Box Sacramento, CA Fax # (916) Secretary Mike Chrisman th St #1311 Fax # (916) Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne 1849 C Street, NW Washington, D.C Fax # (202) Commissioner Robert W. Johnson Bureau of Reclamation 1849 C Street NW Washington D.C Fax # (202) Kirk C. Rodgers, Regional Director Mid Pacific Regional Office Federal Office Building 2800 Cottage Way Sacramento, CA Fax # (916) Ron Milligan, Operations Manager Central Valley Operations Office 3310 El Comino Ave., Ste. 300 Sacramento, CA Fax # (916) Elected Officials Contact List: Senator Diane Feinstein 2500 Tulare St., Ste Fax # (559) Senator Barbara Boxer 2500 Tulare Street, Ste Fax # (559) Congressman Jim Costa 855 M St. #940 Fax # (559) Congressman George Radanovich 2040 E Herndon Ave #201 Fresno, CA Fax # (559) Congressman Devin Nunes 113 N Church St #208 Visalia, CA Fax # (559) Congressman Dennis Cardoza 2222 M St #305 Merced, CA Fax # (209) Senator Dean Florez th St. #350 Bakersfield, CA Fax # (661) Senator Dave Cogdill 4974 E. Clinton #100 Fresno, CA Fax # (559) Assemblymember Juan Arambula 2550 Mariposa Mall #5301 Fax # (559) Assemblymember Nicole Parra 4

5 th St. #A Bakersfield, CA Fax # (661) Assemblymember Mike Villines 6245 N Fresno St. #106 Fresno, CA Fax # (559) Supervisor Phil Larson 2281 Tulare, Room Supervisor Susan Anderson Supervisor Henry Perea Fax # (559) Supervisor Judy Case Chairman Bob Waterston 5