Agenda backup information and any public records provided to the Ag Advisory Committee after the posting of the agenda for this meeting will be available for public review at Kings County Community Development Agency 1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Bldg. 6, Hanford CA, or can be viewed online at: www.countyofkings.com/planning/ag_adv_com.html .

KINGS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

CHARLES DRAXLER – DAIRY INDUSTRY DIANE SHARP JOHNSON – WATER JOHNNY STARLING – AG PROCESSING JIM GREGORY – AG CHEMICALS & PETROLEUM BILL TOS – NUT CROPS BOB PRYS – FEED/SEED & GRAIN DUSTIN FERENCE – KC FARM BUREAU DENNIS TRISTAO – SMALL FARMS BRIAN POTTER – AG EQUIPMENT SECRETARY: GREGORY GATZKA STAFF: DAN KASSIK (559) 852- 2655

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Community Development Agency at (559) 852-2680 by 4:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to this meeting.

AGENDA Thursday, January 12, 2017

4:00 P.M.

This meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee will be held at the Kings County Government Center in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Administration Building (Bldg. No.1), 1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford, California. I. CALL TO ORDER – Chairperson

A. Roll Call of Ag Advisory Committee Members: (Gregory Gatzka – Secretary) B. Unscheduled Comments:

Any person may address the Committee on any subject matter within the jurisdiction or responsibility of the Committee at the beginning of the meeting; or may elect to address the Committee on any agenda item at the time the item is called by the Chair, but before the matter is acted upon by the Committee. Unscheduled comments will be limited to five minutes.

C. Approval of the Minutes of the October 13, 2016 meeting: Chairman: Call for motion, second and voice vote.

II. NEW BUSINESS:

A. PRESENTATION BY DAIRY CARES ORGANIZATION A presentation by a representative of Dairy Cares regarding the sustainability of dairies. 1. Presentation 2. Discussion

B. GUIDING RESPONSIBILITY ON WATER ACT (GROW ACT) H.R. 23 – Dusty Ference

A discussion regarding legislation (H.R. 23) introduced by Congressman David Valadao on January 3, 2017. The legislation is intended to modernize water policies throughout the entire Western United States, including in the State of California. 1. Discussion

IV. MISCELLANEOUS

A. Correspondence B. Staff/Agency Updates

V. ADJOURNMENT –

The next regularly scheduled meeting is April 13, 2017.

Our Sustainability StoryA progress report on the California dairy community’s work for:Healthy People ~ Healthy Animals ~ Healthy Communities ~ A Healthy Planet

DAIRYCARES

“Almost certainly, however, the first essential component of social justice

is adequate food for all mankind.”

~ Dr. Norman BorlaugNobel Peace Prize recipient and “Father of the Green Revolution”

DAIRYCARES

California’s 1,450 dairy families are committed to sustainable dairy farming practices now and in the future. This means:

Stewardship and protection of our planet’s limited natural resources

Responsible and proper animal care and treatment

Healthy, safe and nutrient-rich dairy products for millions of families

Local job creation, philanthropy and community involvement

The past few years have been ones for the history books. Warm, dry winters produced record low snowpacks, resulting in one of the worst droughts ever in California. This historic drought reached every part of the state, affecting homes, businesses and farms alike.

Fortunately, California’s 1,450 dairy families are resilient, productive and innovative. They conserve water. They use energy efficiently. They recycle resources. They consistently do more with less to keep our food safe and healthy.

Despite the prolonged drought and its impact on all Californians, our dairy families continue their daily work to farm sustainably. This means caring for cows, protecting the environment and contributing to local communities. These actions over multiple generations have brought us to where we stand today: the leading dairy state, producing one-fifth of the total U.S. milk supply.

Ask any California dairy farmer and he will tell you that the cows come first. Rain or shine (or drought), the top priority on a dairy farm is making sure a cow has her basic daily needs met—access to fresh water, a balanced diet, comfortable housing and quality veterinary care.

Sustainability is a promiserenewed daily by dairy families

Dairy farmers across the Golden State also continue their rich heritage of respect for the land, water and other precious natural resources that we all count on. Year in and year out, they are demonstrating that they can continually improve environmental stewardship while meeting the nutritional needs of a growing population.

At the heart of every dairy farm is family. Big or small, 99 percent of our state’s dairies are still family owned and operated. These families want you to know that while the look of the family farm has changed over time, the principles and values of the families on the farm have not.

So who better to tell their story than the family dairy farmers of California? In the next few pages, you’ll meet some of them and learn about their work toward a more sustainable California. Thank you for taking time to learn more about our families so that we can continue to serve yours.

Charles “Chuck” AhlemChairmanDairy Cares Board of Directors

California Cattlemen’s AssociationCalifornia Dairies, Inc.

California Dairy CampaignCalifornia Dairy Research Foundation

California Farm Bureau FederationDairy Farmers of America, Western Area Council

Dairy Institute of CaliforniaGHD Services, Inc.

Harris Construction Company, Inc.Hilmar Cheese Company

HP Hood LLCJoseph Gallo Farms

Kraft FoodsLand O’ Lakes, Inc.

Leprino FoodsMerck Animal Health

Milk Producers Council Producers Bar 20 Dairy

Ruan Transport CorporationWestern United Dairymen

Yosemite Farm Credit

… and the hundreds of families and businesses across California’s

dairy communities.

Our mission:Dairy Cares strives to ensure the long-term

sustainability of California’s dairy families through strong environmental stewardship, responsible animal care and adherence to the core values of

honesty, ethics, diligence and community.

Dairy Cares is:

Dairy families understand—and take seriously—their important responsibility to be good stewards of the land, natural resources and animals in their care. Conservation, preservation, re-use and recycling are fundamental values among dairy farm families, many of whom have operated on the same land for generations in increasingly sustainable ways.

Dairy’s shrinking water footprint

Dairy’s water footprint is 65% less over 63 years; in other words it takes 2/3 less water today to produce a glass of milk compared to 1944.

— Journal of Animal Science, 2009. 87:2160-2167. Capper et al.

 Clean water is used to wash the milking parlor and equipment and cool milk tanks.  Then this clean water is used to wash cows.  This water is then captured in a storage pond. It is reused to flush manure from barn floors multiple times.  Water from storage ponds is reused as an organic, nutrient-rich fertilizer for feed crops for cows.

Water lifecycle on a dairy

Water is recycled multiple times without ever leaving

the dairy farm.

Sustainability in action

“My dad grew up on a dairy. I grew up on a dairy and my kids grew up on a dairy. Dairy farming is not just a job, but a way of life.”

Butch Dias | Rachelle’s Jerseys | Visalia

images 22,34,211

Sustainable farming is a family affairwhich honors hard work and integrity

Dairy farmers across California share many of the same experiences.

They live on and by the land and work daily to care for the cows that provide

the nutritious, safe and wholesome milk that goes into the dairy products

consumers enjoy.

The strongest tie that binds all dairy farmers is family.

“My dad grew up on a dairy,” said Butch Dias. “I grew up on a dairy and my

kids grew up on this dairy. Dairy farming is not just a job, but a way of life.”

Dias’ story is emblematic of most dairy farmers in the Golden State: A

multigenerational dairy family, working together to provide quality care for

their animals and food for consumers.

“My grandparents immigrated here from the old country and started

dairying. I’m a third generation dairy farmer and my two boys are fourth

generation.”

Sons Darren and Greg now run the day-to-day operations of the dairy and

farming, respectively.

“It makes me real proud that my boys have stepped up to run the family

farm. Now that they have children, we have the fifth generation coming up.

We’re in good hands.”

Dias also thinks daily about his daughter Rachelle, who lost her life in an

automobile accident at age 17.

“When Rachelle left us, it tore a big hole in our heart. We remember her

every day and renamed the dairy in her honor. She loved these Jersey cows.”

California dairy families—like the Dias family —continue to honor family,

hard work and integrity.

“These are the values that made my parents and grandparents successful.

It’s what we’re trying to pass on to the next generation so that we can continue

to have a thriving, sustainable family dairy.”

Protecting the water we all shareDairy families work together for the improvement of water quality across California

Protecting water quality is a top priority for California dairy families.

They live, work and raise their children on dairies, with many depending on

groundwater as their only source of drinking water. Smart, responsible water

management techniques to protect surface water and groundwater quality are

integral to the daily operation of California dairies — for dairy families, their

neighbors and local communities.

Dairy families in California have diligently worked with regulators to

protect water quality, and since 2007, have operated under the nation’s

strictest, most comprehensive water regulations for dairies. In meeting

these new stringent standards, dairy families have improved water supply

protection and have invested more than $20 million annually in water quality

improvements since adoption of the new regulations.

As dairy farmers have moved to comply with these comprehensive water

quality protection measures, their efforts have been supported by the award-

winning California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP), which offers

ongoing education and tools to assist dairy farmers working to meet the

requirements. CDQAP also offers an environmental stewardship water quality

course, which more than 1,800 dairy farmers have completed.

“Water quality is an issue that must be addressed by all stakeholders, including dairy farmers. I find it very encouraging

that we’re all sitting at the table looking at the challenges together, listening to each other. That’s ultimately what will lead to

better water quality for everyone.”

Dr. Thomas HarterUniversity of California, Davis

Use of Nutrient Management Plans, prepared by certified professionals, to assist in balancing application of organic fertilizer with crop needs to prevent excess fertilizer from percolating to groundwater.

Water quality protection in actionCalifornia dairy farmers are leaders in monitoring and managing groundwater resources and

ensuring responsible storage and use of manure as a natural crop fertilizer. This means:

Engineered Waste Management Plans to ensure that manure is stored safely at dairies prior to timely use as an organic crop fertilizer.

Extensive testing and monitoring of soil, irrigation water, manure and plant tissue to ensure that accurate information is on hand to guide farmers’ decisions in the field.

Ongoing testing of thousands of wells to evaluate trends and ensure that management practices are effective in protecting water resources and to indicate where changes in management may be needed.

To better monitor progress of their water quality protection efforts, Central

Valley dairy farmers have joined together in a first-of-its-kind effort known

as the Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring Program (CVDRMP).

The program’s goals are to measure the positive results and benefits of the

improved management practices being adopted at dairies across the valley

and identify opportunities for further advancements in dairy sustainability.

Because they know it’s the right thing to do, dairy families continue to

invest in efforts to protect the valuable water resources we all share. Living and

working on the farms, they are intimately aware of issues related to the quality

of our future water supplies and what they mean for the health, well-being and

prosperity of our communities.

Through the Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring Program (CVDRMP), dairy operators are working with scientists to monitor water quality at 443 dedicated wells on 42 valley farms. Data gathered will enhance efforts dairy farmers are already making to protect groundwater.

When it comes to global climate change, dairy farmers in California and

across the U.S. are indeed a success story. Most notably, U.S. dairy farmers have

reduced the overall carbon footprint of a glass of milk by 63 percent over 63 years.

A report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United

Nations further points to the fact that California and U.S. dairy farmers are

leading the way on carbon efficiency. In “Tackling climate change through

livestock: A global assessment of emission and mitigation opportunities,” 

the FAO states that a large potential for additional global cuts in greenhouse

gas (GHG) emissions from livestock farming lie in low productivity ruminant

livestock systems in developing countries.

American dairy farms emit about 45 percent fewer GHG emissions per

unit of milk produced compared to the global average. Therefore, they serve

as a sustainable model for dairy farmers in developing countries. Through

wider adoption of existing best practices, such as those used here in California,

farmers around the world can begin achieving the greater production

efficiencies that California dairy families have successfully developed over

generations of farming.

Here in California, dairy’s share of the state’s GHG emissions remains

relatively small —about 4 percent, according to data from the California

Air Resources Board. Robust public discussion and organized effort toward

realizing the vision of building more biogas digesters on California dairies

continues. And with good reason: This technology provides clean renewable

Dairy’s carbon footprint is shrinkingthanks to California dairy farmers, global leaders in climate efforts

“The addition of new dairy digesters demonstrates a commitment by California

dairy families to fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is definitely a win-win for agriculture:

cutting methane emissions and improving the environment while also generating

revenue from renewable bioenergy.”

Secretary Karen RossCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture

Dairy’s shrinking carbon footprint

Greenhouse gases in California2013 Total California Emissions: 459.3 MMTCO2e

The number of dairy cows in the U.S. dropped from 25.6 million in 1944 to about 9.25 million today. Through better nutrition, housing and veterinary care, milk production actually increased during the same period by about 59 percent. That means roughly two-thirds less carbon emissions for each glass of milk produced.

63% less over 63 years.— Journal of Animal Science, 2009. 87:2160-2167. Capper et al.

energy, a carbon-negative transportation fuel and reduced GHG emissions,

while creating a potential new source of sustainable revenue for family farmers.

Digesters capture biogas, which comes from manure as it decomposes. By

storing dairy manure in special containment ponds or tanks, manure biogas,

much like natural gas, can be captured and used to generate electricity or as a

clean, carbon-negative vehicle fuel that replaces diesel fuel. 

Realizing this exciting potential, there are currently more than a dozen

biogas digester projects on dairies throughout California – about 1 percent

of the state’s total dairies. The key to more digester development is achieving

economic viability so that projects can be successful.

The California dairy community remains optimistic about the potential to

develop more cost-effective, environmentally friendly dairy digesters in our

state. With continued effort and the right economic incentives, more California

dairy families will be adding green energy to the list of dairy products they

already produce for millions of families in our state, nation and world. 

37%Transportation

23%Industrial

11%Electricity

Generation (in state)

9%Electricity

Generation (imports)

4%Other

Agriculture

4%Dairy

5%Commercial

7%Residential

>1%Misc.

Source: California Air Resources Board

Dante Migliazzo of Atwater feeds high quality forages to his cows. Better feed means improved health and higher milk production, resulting in fewer GHGs per gallon of milk produced.

Pioneering water quality monitoring effort enters sixth year

For the Airoso family, dairy farming in Tulare County goes back to 1912,

when Joey Airoso’s grandfather immigrated to the United States from the

Azore Islands and settled near Tulare Lake.

“We’ve been caring for cows and farming in this area for more than 100

years,” said Airoso. “That’s our family history, and a big part of it has been

protecting our local water quality.”

Airoso knows that farming in California’s Central Valley comes with the

responsibility of properly managing nutrients from organic dairy fertilizer in

a way that’s protective of local groundwater aquifers. Six years ago, Airoso

became a leader in a voluntary effort led by dairy farmers — what would

become the nation’s first groundwater monitoring network on dairies.

“In 2010, we recognized the need to provide Central Valley dairy families a

cooperative groundwater monitoring program capable of meeting regulatory

requirements for sampling and analyzing first-encountered groundwater on

dairies. That program would become the Central Valley Dairy Representative

Monitoring Program, or CVDRMP.”

Since its inception, CVDRMP has installed many wells and is monitoring

a network of 443 wells at 42 dairies, from Tehama and Glenn counties in the

north to Kern, Kings and Tulare counties in the south. Using specially designed

monitoring wells and other cutting-edge scientific methods, CVDRMP is the

most sophisticated, comprehensive agricultural water quality monitoring effort

ever conducted in the United States.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and we still have a lot of work

ahead of us. The next phase of our program is to test a variety of management

practices to evaluate their water quality protection effectiveness. We’re using

the newest technology and science to make good decisions.”

Since 2010, the 1,200 dairy families that make up CVDRMP — more than

95 percent of all dairies in the Central Valley — have invested nearly $6 million

in the program. They continue their work with expert advisory committees that

include hydro-geologists and civil engineers to ensure that the findings are

accurate and provide value to member dairies, their neighbors and regulators.

“The guiding principle behind CVDRMP is simple: better information,

better protection, enhanced water quality.”

“The guiding principle behind CVDRMP is simple: better information, better protection, enhanced water quality.”

Joey Airoso | Airosa Dairy | Tipton

“Composting is another tool we use for protecting water quality, and it provides a higher value product to gardeners and farmers.”

Edwin Koetsier | Oakview Dairy | Tulare

Dairy’s organic compost is part of building soil, protecting water resources

People drive up daily to the little white shed at the entrance of Ed

Koetsier’s dairy. They grab a few unmarked white bags, put them in their trunk,

leave a few dollars in a box and drive off.

“Folks love this stuff,” said Koetsier. “It’s fresh, organic, pathogen-free

compost, and the home-gardeners rave about it.”

Like his fellow dairy farmers, the word “waste” will not be heard when

Koetsier discusses the manure his 1,400 cows produce. That’s because manure

is a natural fertilizer that is rich in nutrients and soil-building organic material.

“When we moved our dairy from Chino to Tulare, we didn’t have quite

enough land to fully utilize all the manure nutrients we had on the dairy. In the

early days, we sold the manure to other farmers. Then came the idea to start

making compost right here on the dairy.”

Today, Koetsier produces several thousand tons of compost annually on

his dairy. Manure solids from the cows are separated and then spread out in

long rows. Koetsier uses a method called windrow composting, where the

rows are turned over to improve oxygen flow and redistribute cooler and

hotter portions of the pile. Over time, pathogens are cooked out, creating

an organic, safe and nutrient-rich soil amendment. With his compost in high

demand by area farmers, Koetsier is taking steps to have it undergo the

Organic Materials Review Institute’s (OMRI) process for certification.

For Koetsier, composting on the farm offers another important local benefit.

“Composting is another tool we use for protecting water quality, and it

provides a higher value product to gardeners and farmers. Moving nutrients

off the dairy is an important part of our Nutrient Management Plan, helping us

maintain a good nitrogen balance on the farm.”

Digesters are a win-winby turning manure into energy and compost

The six green steel tanks at the back of Antonio Brasil’s dairy were not part

of the original dream when he came to the U.S. in 1989.

What started as a 45-cow dairy has now expanded to 2,000 cows. The six

20,000-gallon tanks are part of an elaborate biogas digester system, something

far beyond what Brasil ever imagined.

“I came here for the opportunity,” said Brasil. “I wanted to follow my passion

for working with animals and producing food. I never thought I’d be involved

with a digester.”

As an early adopter of this specific technology, Brasil saw an opportunity

to improve water quality protection and create electricity by putting his

manure to work. The system moves high quality cow manure from Brasil’s

storage lagoon through the six tanks, separating the solid pieces and heating

them up to about 135 degrees.

“This digester is a win-win for the environment. It can produce renewable

energy and a nutrient-rich soil amendment.”

The solid soil amendment that exits the digester is a pathogen-free

compost that Brasil hopes to sell to nurseries and farmers. The liquid portion

is reused on the dairy farm as a natural fertilizer to grow feed grain crops

for cows.

“Balancing organic nutrients is key to operating a dairy. We’re always

looking for new technologies that will help us achieve that and ultimately

improve water quality protection.”

“This digester is a win-win for the environment. It can produce renewable energy and a nutrient-rich soil amendment.”

Antonio Brasil | Antonio Brasil Dairy | Dos Palos

“We’re proud to produce local milk and powerfor our community.”

Arlin Van GroningenNew Hope Dairy | Galt

Converting manure to powermeans electricity for hundreds of homes

Residents in the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) have cow

manure to thank for helping power their homes. Since 2013, a biogas digester

at New Hope Dairy in Galt has been generating electricity for the local utility

district.

“We’re proud to produce local milk and power for our community,” said

dairy farmer Arlin Van Groningen. “Food and renewable energy leave this farm

every day. It’s pretty remarkable.”

The state-of-the-art technology begins with a fairly simple process —

excretion of manure by cows. The manure — supplied daily by 1,200 Holstein

milk cows — is collected and placed in a large above-ground concrete tank,

where it is stirred continuously. As natural bacteria break down the manure,

methane is released. The captured methane is used to fuel a 450-kilowatt

engine that generates electricity.

“The electricity that we generate here is renewable in every sense of the

word. Our cows produce manure daily, and by putting it to work as biogas, we

can power up to 250 SMUD homes.”

According to SMUD officials, New Hope dairy provides power to the utility

from about 4 – 7 p.m. daily, which are peak demand hours. New Hope Dairy’s

biogas digester is helping SMUD meet the state’s mandated Renewables

Portfolio Standard of 33 percent by 2020.

For Van Groningen and his family, supporting the local community —

beyond providing power to the grid — is an important value.

“When we moved here from Visalia in 2006, we wanted to be part of the

fabric of this community. We look for any way we can give back, including

adopting the street that we live and farm on.”

Quality cow nutritionmeans better greenhouse gas efficiency

Dante Migliazzo’s philosophy for quality animal care is simple.

“It’s non-negotiable,” said Migliazzo. “My dad taught us how important it is

to do it right.”

At the family dairy in Atwater, Dante and his brother, Dino, carry on their

father’s legacy of providing the best for their cows.

“We take a holistic approach here when it comes to cow health and

comfort,” said Migliazzo. “It’s a combination of good cow genes, a high-quality

nutrition program and comfortable housing. That’s what the cows want and

that’s what we strive for every day.”

A major benefit of Migliazzo’s holistic approach is improved milk production

per cow, which means minimizing greenhouse gases across his herd. Over the

past 25 years, the average milk production at Migliazzo’s dairy has increased

about 40 percent. That means over a third more milk with the same herd size and

a significantly reduced carbon footprint per gallon of milk produced.

“Our goal has always been to breed productive and healthy cows.

Achieving that balance creates a high level of efficiency, and to maintain that

efficiency, you have to have high-quality feed. Maintaining consistency and

quality is critical.”

Migliazzo searches far and wide for the best forages for his milking cows,

bringing hay in from northern California and from as far away as Nevada. He

also relies on an expert team of three certified nutritionists that formulate the

best ration for his cows.

“We understand so much more today about cow health and nutrition than

we did 25 years ago. With better information, we can provide better feed and

care to our cows. That’s good for our cows and good for the environment.”

“My dad taught us how important it is to do it right.” Dante Migliazzo | Migliazzo & Sons Dairy | Atwater

“We decided to put our manure and lagoon to work to produce green energy.”

Leo Van Warmerdam | Van Warmerdam Dairy | Galt

Local utility sources cow powerin the form of biogas to supply green energy

Leo Van Warmerdam can walk on water. Sort of.

“We covered our 2-acre storage pond with this thick plastic sheet, which

is strong enough to walk on,” said Van Warmerdam. “We decided to put our

manure and pond to work to produce green energy.”

In 2013, Van Warmerdam installed a manure biogas digester system, taking

advantage of a recycling process common on many California dairies. Clean

water is first used to cool milk tanks and wash cows. Then it’s recycled to clean

manure from barn floors. This wash water is then stored in a retention pond

until it can be reused as a natural fertilizer for crops, such as corn and alfalfa.

“By covering our pond, we capture the biogas that’s produced from the

natural breakdown of manure during storage. You can actually see the plastic

tarp on the pond rise as it fills up with biogas.”

Van Warmerdam uses the biogas, mostly methane, to power an engine

capable of producing 650 kilowatts of power. That power is sold to SMUD,

where it can power about 300 to 400 homes.

Van Warmerdam also works with a broker who sells carbon-offset credits

to major California greenhouse-gas emitters. He notes that offset revenues can

provide as much as one-fourth of the revenue of a biogas operation, though

he cautions that it will take a while for this offset market to mature.

“It’s been an interesting process and we see value in it. We’re reducing

greenhouse gas emissions and supplying clean, green energy back to the grid.

Hopefully we’ll see more opportunities for dairy farmers to take advantage of

this technology.”

More crop per dropmeans relying on better water technologies

When it comes to growing feed for cows, De Jager Farms manager Nate

Ray is an early adopter of a technology that reduces water use. Six years ago,

Ray began experimenting with drip irrigation on alfalfa and corn, crops that are

traditionally watered using furrow or flood irrigation.

“Putting nutrient water (lagoon water) through drip tape was once seen

as an insurmountable challenge,” said Ray. “After a lot of experimentation and

better technology, we are close to making this thing a win-win reality.”

The benefits of utilizing drip irrigation have been tremendous for De

Jager Farms and the environment. Since implementing drip irrigation on

his crops, Ray has seen a 25 percent reduction in water use with a 20 to 25

percent increase in crop yield. This benefit couldn’t have come at a better time

for De Jager Farms, as water allocations from the local irrigation district were

drastically cut back due to California’s record-breaking four-year drought.

“We have gone from 65 percent efficiency with flood irrigation to 95

percent with drip. Going to drip just makes sense, especially with the potential

for increased water scarcity.”

Taking on a research and development project of this scale isn’t without

technical challenges, yet, advances on a large farm such as the DeJager’s could

help pave the way for this technology to become more cost-effective and

useful on other dairy farms.

Ray also utilizes conservation tillage, a method of low-impact farming that

leaves crop stubble on the surface of the soil, with a new crop planted right on

top of material left behind from the previous crop. The remaining crop residue

protects the soil from erosion and prevents wind from blowing dust into the air, an

important benefit to farmers and residents in California’s parched Central Valley.

“Innovation has been and will continue to be key to increasing our

sustainability on this farm.”

“After a lot of experimentation and better technology, we are close to making this thing a win-win reality.”

Nate Ray | De Jager Farms | Chowchilla

“Water recycling on a dairy is vital. I don’t think folks understand just how much recycling occurs on a regular basis.”

John Azevedo | Azevedo Dairy | Patterson

The barns on John Azevedo’s dairy in Patterson go way back.

“These were built in the 1880s,” said Azevedo. “We’re still using them today,

130 years later.”

For Azevedo, the barns are symbolic of his sustainability philosophy on

the farm.

“We’re in it for the long term. That means doing things right, in a way that

will last over time, especially when it comes to how we use water.”

Like other farmers, Azevedo knows that water is a precious, finite resource

that needs to be used responsibly and efficiently. Looking for new ways to

recycle water on the dairy has been a top priority for years.

“Water recycling on a dairy is vital. I don’t think folks understand just how

much recycling occurs on a regular basis.”

Azevedo uses fresh water in his plate coolers to help chill milk down to

38˚ F. After doing its job there, the water is captured and stored in a tank, where

it will serve another cooling purpose.

“During the summer months, we like to keep our cows cool. We reuse the

water that already cooled milk in our misters to keep our cows comfortable.”

With water for the misters needed only during the summer heat, Azevedo

began looking for another way to reuse his fresh water.

“An obvious year-round need for fresh water is drinking water for the cows.

A cow can consume anywhere from 25 to 50 gallons of water a day, so we’re

designing a system that can get the fresh water from the milk cooling process

to the cows’ drinking station.”

Beyond recycling water on the dairy, Azevedo also recycles his nutrient

water as a fertilizer to grow feed crops for his cows. In recent years, he started

experimenting with drip tape to improve his water use efficiency.

“Water is the lifeblood of our farm. It’s our duty to use it responsibly and

efficiently, which means always looking for new ways to improve.”

New ways to recycle waterhave been a dairy priority for years

Curtimade Dairy recognized as Environmental Champion by EPA

After surviving a near life-ending automobile accident in 2014, Ben Curti

considers it a privilege to see his family’s dairy every day.

“My family has been dairying for more than 100 years,” said Curti. “It’s in our

blood — the cows, the land, the water. It’s what we do and I’m glad that I get

to keep dairying with my daughters.”

Curtimade Dairy, owned and operated by Curti and his daughters

Katrina, Tessa and Courtney, is a past winner of the Environmental Champion

Award, presented by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9. The

award recognized Curtimade Dairy’s significant contributions to protecting

and conserving environmental resources. Curtimade Dairy was one of eight

winners of the annually bestowed EPA award in 2013, and the only dairy to be

recognized with the prestigious honor.

“We were honored to receive the award and raise the profile of all

California dairy families with the EPA. We’ve taken a lot of steps on this dairy to

protect the environment and be sustainable, which includes the installation of

a solar project.”

Curti embraced renewable energy production in a big way in 2011. Using

less-than-ideal land that could not be used for feed production for his cows, he

made the investment to install a 719-kilowatt solar-powered system.

“The solar installation helped us achieve two goals: reducing our overall

energy use and saving money.”

Curti’s renewable energy project produces enough electricity to meet

about 80 percent of his dairy’s energy needs. It also reduces greenhouse gas

emissions by 27,000 tons over the 25-year warranted life of the solar panels,

which is the equivalent of removing 192 cars from the road yearly.

“We’re proud of what we’ve been able to do on the dairy and committed

to many more generations of environmental stewardship.”

“My family has been dairying for more than 100 years.

It’s in our blood — the cows, the land, the water.”

Ben CurtiCurtimade Dairy | Tulare

“The energy efficiency measures we’ve implemented have benefitted the environment and resulted in savings for the dairy.”

Joe Vander Poel | John Vander Poel Dairy | Pixley

Electric fans behind Joe Vander Poel’s milking parlor have replaced the job

that compressors and water once did.

“We now use air to cool the milk,” said Vander Poel. “Doing so means less

energy and less water use.”

By making the switch to the air cooling system, Vander Poel relies less on

pumping groundwater to cool the milk his 5,000 cows produce daily.

“Cutting back on water pumping is a definite plus, especially in light of this

drought we’ve struggled through. But we’re also saving energy and costs by

not pumping. It takes a lot less energy to run these fans than it takes to pump

groundwater.”

Vander Poel continues to be on the lookout for new energy efficiency

projects. Over the years, he’s replaced pumps and fans with energy-saving

variable-speed drives. Incandescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs

throughout the dairy have been replaced with energy-efficient LED lighting.

While Vander Poel has worked hard to save energy on the farm, his next

goal is to start producing it.

“We’re going to look to the sky to improve energy sustainability by

harnessing the sun’s power with a solar panel installation.”

The project will meet about 80 percent of his dairy farm’s energy needs

and is expected to be operational in 2016.

“The energy efficiency measures we’ve implemented have benefitted the

environment and resulted in savings for the dairy. Installing solar was just the

next logical and sustainable step.”

Energy efficiency pays dividends for the environment

Strip tillage benefits include better soil and improved air quality

Change is something embraced on the J. Troost Dairy.

“The biggest change was moving our dairy from Chino to Chowchilla

in 1993,” said Jeff Troost. “Since doing so, we’ve tried a number of new

techniques to improve our farm’s performance and reduce our impact on the

environment.”

In 2011, Troost started working with a new farming operation to grow feed

for his cows. In making the change, he began experimenting with strip tillage,

a conservation method of farming that only disturbs the portion of soil that

contains the seed row for planting. What started as an experiment on a small

percentage of his acreage three years ago has grown significantly.

“We now have 100 percent of our acreage in strip tillage because of all the

benefits it offers to the environment.”

Strip or conservation tillage leaves behind crop stubble after harvest,

which can improve soil health and lessen the effect of wind blowing dirt

into the air. Strip tillage also requires fewer tractor passes to prepare fields

for planting, reducing labor costs, equipment wear and tear, and diesel

consumption and emissions.

“Making fewer tractor passes in the field means less nitrogen oxides (NOx)

and particulate matter. That’s good for air quality, which is good for my family,

neighbors and the Central Valley.”

Dairy families like Troost’s have been doing their part for cleaner air. Since

2006, emissions from dairies have been cut by more than 30 percent.

“We all want cleaner air and we all have to work together to achieve it.”

“We now have 100 percent of our acreage in strip tillagebecause of all the benefits it offers to the environment.”

Jeff Troost | J. Troost Dairy | Chowchilla

“Implementing thisanimal handling

program on the dairy was a no-brainer.”

Frank DinisCharles Ahlem Ranch | Hilmar

Hands-on trainingand a classroom for better cow handling

It’s safe to say Frank Dinis is an experienced cow-man.

“I’ve been working with dairy animals most of my life,” said Dinis, herd

manager at Charles Ahlem Ranch. “I love working with them and sharing what

I’ve learned with our employees.”

Since 2011, Dinis has been using an animal-handling training program to

provide instruction to employees at all six dairies owned by Chuck Ahlem and son,

Mark. The program provides training in the art and science of proper cow handling.

“Implementing this animal handling-program on the dairy was a

no-brainer. We can train new employees on day one, rather than having

them learn through trial and error.”

The program consists of two parts. The first part includes four hours of

classroom instruction, covering cow behavior and low-stress approaches

for cow handling. This is followed by four hours of field instruction, where

participants work with animals to apply the concepts learned in the classroom.

“We’ve seen amazing results since implementing this program. Now

our employees better understand how cows sense and learn from their

environment. It’s taught all of us to see things from a cow’s perspective.”

Dinis notes that employees have taken more pride in their work, with more

daily dialogue about cow comfort and well-being occurring with management.

“Proper animal care and treatment is a core value,” said Mark Ahlem. “We

have always worked to impart this value with all our employees and this

program has helped provide tangible methods to achieve them.”

Putting the cow firstmeans having good handlers and milkers

An old picture of Dave Ribeiro’s grandfather and great uncles hangs on his

office wall. It’s a daily reminder of his roots.

“My grandfather came here with nothing from the Azore Islands on a

cattle boat,” said Ribeiro. “He worked hard milking cows in the Los Banos area

and by 1923, he and his brothers had started a small dairy.”

Nearly a century later, Ribeiro and his sons, Tyler and Cameron, are carrying

on the family legacy of dairying. They are driven by the guiding principle

passed down by Ribeiro’s father and grandfather.

“Everything we do here revolves around the cow — the barn design,

milking times, the width of lanes, the angles at which we designed the lanes.

It’s all about the cow.”

Ribeiro relies on what he calls the “dairy 101 basics.” That means providing

his cows the essentials they need to live a healthy and comfortable life on the

farm. It starts with comfortable housing, designed for a 1,500-pound cow.

“My dad was a big proponent for room. These are large animals and they

need adequate space to move around freely and safely. We definitely had that

in mind when we designed this farm in 1994.”

Proper nutrition and veterinary care are also essentials for Ribeiro. He

employs an outside nutritionist to design a healthy, balanced diet for cows.

An outside veterinary service is on-call 24 hours a day and in-person weekly

check-ups are routine. Ribeiro also stresses the importance of finding good

animal care handlers and milkers.

“When we hire an employee, we don’t hire a body; we hire a person. We

look into their eyes. They are becoming part of our cow family.”

Ribeiro says there are big misconceptions about dairies, especially the

application of the “factory” label.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a family-owned and

operated farm. We care about our animals and work hard to provide them the

best care possible.”

“When we hire an employee, we don’t hire a body; we hire a person. We look into their eyes.”

Dave Ribeiro | Rib-Arrow Dairy | Tulare

Local dairy families donate 20 tons of food to local food bank

Stephen Mancebo’s 2,100 cows produce more than 18,000 gallons of

nutritious milk every day on his family’s dairy in Tulare. Like other dairy farmers,

he’s proud that he’s providing safe, wholesome food to families. He also knows

that some families are struggling to put food on the table.

“As farmers, we don’t like seeing people go hungry,” said Mancebo. “We

want to provide a helping hand to those in need.”

Mancebo is a member of the Land O’Lakes Foundation Board of Directors,

a nonprofit organization that awards community grants to projects that

develop and strengthen organizations dedicated to hunger relief, education

and local communities.

In 2015, the Foundation donated 40,000 pounds of Land O’Lakes macaroni

and cheese to the FoodLink for Tulare County, Inc., a nonprofit food bank.

“This food will go out in just a few days to the more than 30 food pantries

in Tulare County that FoodLink supplies,” said Kari Ludvickson, program and

development manager for the nonprofit.

The donation to FoodLink by the Land O’Lakes Foundation was the

program’s 81st since its inception in 2010. The program is committed to

donating truckloads of fresh product year round, made specifically for food

banks to help alleviate hunger nationwide.

“Land O’Lakes, which is a farmer-owned cooperative, has donated more

than 3 million pounds of food over the past five years,” said Mancebo.

The cooperative also provided $125,000 in cash donations to seven food

banks and soup kitchens in California in 2015.

“I believe that the community is our future, and for local families to have

a bright future, they must have a strong foundation of nourishment. As dairy

families, we’re trying to make a difference.”

“As farmers, we don’t like seeing people go hungry.”Stephen Mancebo | Mancebo Holsteins | Tulare, CA

Continuingour legacy…

For more than a century, dairy families have lived and farmed in communities across California, from San Diego to the North Coast, across the great Central Valley and everywhere in between. Like many Americans, dairy families began as immigrants, arriving in the Golden State with little more than hopes, dreams and a willingness to work hard to realize them. In pursuing their dreams, they also provided nutritious dairy products and created hundreds of thousands of jobs for Californians. Even as they remember their heritage of hard work, love for the land and caring for their animals—all elements of their success today—dairy families are also looking to the future. For the sake of future generations, dairy families will continue to support and develop sustainable practices, so that California residents can continue to enjoy the benefits of a vibrant and sustainable dairy community for generations to come.

Stewardship of our limited natural resources is important to California dairy families.This report uses soy-based inks and is printed on recycled, sustainably sourced paper containing 30 percent post-consumer waste.

Sustainability in Action

99% of California dairies are family-owned

and operated.

915 L Street, #C-438, Sacramento, CA 95814 • (916) 441-3318 Funding provided by the California Dairy Research FoundationDAIRY

CARES

www.dairycares.comwww.dairycares.com

www.dairycares.com

Press Releases HOME >> NEWS >> PRESS RELEASES

Valadao Introduces Legislation to Improve Western Water Reliability

Washignton, January 3, 2017 | Anna R. Vetter ((202) 815-1685) | 0 commentsWASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Tuesday, January 3, 2017, the first day of the 115th Congress, Congressmen David G. Valadao (CA-21) introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to modernize water policies throughout the entire Western United States, including in the State of California.

Agriculture drives the American economy and is the backbone of California’s economy, a $35 billion industry that produces over 400 commodities and accounts for over a half of our nation’s fruits and vegetables. The Central Valley is the agriculture powerhouse of the State, yet, securing a reliable water supply continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing the Valley. In addition to cutbacks to farmers, reductions to municipalities, and the threat of heavy fines for groundwater use, California’s Central Valley has been hit especially hard by the lack of rainfall and burdensome federal regulations that limit water deliveries to the Central Valley.

In an effort to provide struggling communities the water they desperately need, Congressman Valadao introduced H.R. 23, the Guiding Responsibility on Water Act, also known as the GROW Act, which works to make more water available to families, farmers, and entire communities in California and bordering Western states.

The legislation provides relief to California families, farmers, and communities by restoring water deliveries that have been drastically reduced over the last two decades as a result of various environmental lawsuits and illogical state and federal regulations. Rep. Valadao’s legislation requires regulators to comply with the bipartisan Bay-Delta Accord, which is consistent with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. Furthermore, the bill will cut red tape holding back major water storage projects that have been authorized for over a decade, which will aid the entire Western United States during dry years.

Congressman Valadao stated, “This Western drought has had devastating consequences on my constituents in California’s Central Valley; our economy is stagnant and parents are struggling to provide for their children. Now, the entire country feels the consequences of this drought.” He continued, “While we were able to implement temporary provisions in the 114th Congress, a complete and long term agreement is still needed. My bill, the GROW Act will enact policies to expand our water infrastructure and allow for more water conveyance while protecting the water rights of users across the state."

Original cosponsors of the legislation include Reps. Ken Calvert (CA-42), Paul Cook (CA-08), Duncan Hunter (CA-50), Darrell E. Issa (CA-49), Stephen Knight (CA-25), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Devin Nunes (CA-22), Dana Rohrabacher (CA-48), Edward R. Royce (CA-39), Mimi Walters (CA-45).

The full text of H.R. 23, the GROW Act can be found here.

During the 114th Congress, Congressman Valadao introduced H.R. 2989, the Western Water and American Food Security Act as well as H.R. 2749, the Dams Accountability Maintenance and Safety Act, both aimed at improving water supply to the Central Valley.

Congressman David G. Valadao represents the 21st Congressional District, which includes Kings County and portions of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties.

###Tags: Water

• Valadao Introduces Legislation to Improve Western Water Reliability Posted in Press Releases on January 3, 2017 | Preview rr

• Valadao Releases Statement Following Drought Agreement Posted in Press Releases on December 5, 2016 | Preview rr

NEWS & MEDIA

Videos

Photo Gallery

Press Releases

Floor Statements

Press Kit

BROWSE BY TOPICagriculture budget defense

and military economy and jobs education energy healthcare

immigration social security and medicare

tax reform transportation and infrastructure

veterans affairs water

CONNECT

HOME ABOUT DAVID THE 21ST DISTRICT HOW DAVID CAN HELP ISSUES AND LEGISLATION NEWS AND MEDIA CONTACT DAVID

Page 1 of 2Valadao Introduces Legislation to Improve Western Water Reliability | Congressman Dav...

1/5/2017http://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398278

H.R. 23, the Guiding Responsibility on Water Act

U N I T E D S T A T E S C O N G R E S S M A N

Title I. Central Valley Project Water Reliability

Restores water deliveries that have been cut off by environmental lawsuits and a series of illogical regulations by codifying the Bay-Delta Accord. Title I also reaffirms that if the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) are operated consistent with the Bay-Delta Accord, they are in compliance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. Additionally, updates to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) in Title I will ensure water resources are reliable, predictable, and available to fulfill contract supplies. Title I protects native species populations by allowing the removal or nonnative predatory fish in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, their tributaries, and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers Delta, and allows artificially-spawned Delta smelt and Chinook salmon to be counted when determining fish populations. Title I replaces and satisfies the requirements of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement with a warm water fishery program.

Title II. CALFED Storage Feasibility Studies

Requires Reclamation to complete five feasibility studies for storage projects in California by certain timelines. This title also prohibits an administrative Wild and Scenic River designation from hindering the completion of the proposed Temperance Flat storage facility.

Title III. Water Rights Protections

Includes provisions designed to preserve water rights seniority and to protect the joint operation of the CVP and SWP.

Title IV: Miscellaneous California Water Provisions

Requires the Secretary of Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources of the State of California, to publish an annual report to provide details regarding instream flow releases from the CVP and SWP, as well as the purpose and measured environmental benefit of the releases. Title IV protects private land owners, businesses, and power utilities whose existing buildings or facilities may be flooded as a result of the construction of any new or modified Federal surface water storage project. Title IV expresses Congressional disapproval and opposition to the violation of private property rights by the California State Water Resources Control Board and expresses the need to provide reliable water supplies to municipal, industrial, and agricultural users across the State.

Title V: Water Supply Permitting Act

The regulatory process of constructing new surface water storage - whether federally or non-federally owned - often involves a host of federal, state, and local permits and approvals from various agencies.

D A V I D G . V A L A D A O

Throughout this process federal agencies are not required to coordinate their permits and approvals with one another and have little incentive to do so. As a result, conflicting agency permit requirements add time to the project planning and implementation process and increases the potential for last minute surprises that could endanger the success of a project or require significant additional work.

Title V creates a “one-stop-shop” permitting process to expedite construction of non-federal surface storage facilities. Specifically, this title establishes Reclamation as the lead agency for purposes of coordinating all reviews, analysis, opinions, statements, permits, licenses, or other federal approvals required under federal law. As the point of contact for the federal government, Reclamation shall coordinate the preparation of the unified environmental documentation that will serve as the basis for all federal decisions necessary to authorize the use of federal lands, as well as coordinate the project development and construction of qualifying projects. The consolidated permitting process authorized under this Title is modeled after the Obama Administration’s “Interagency Rapid Response Team for Transmission”.

The title also allows the Secretary of the Interior to accept and spend funds contributed by a non-federal public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit relating to the qualifying project. This process is based on provisions authorized under Section 140 of P.L. 108-137 to finance upgrades to the Hetch Hetchy project, which provides water supplies to San Francisco California.

Title VI. Bureau of Reclamation Project Streamlining

Reclamation has built only one large multi-purpose water storage project, such as a dam or reservoir, over the last generation. One of the primary reasons is the length of study time and regulatory analysis required under current law. While the previous title is intended to help facilitate the construction of non-federal dams by requiring Reclamation to be the lead agency in coordinating multi-agency permitting reviews, Title VI is designed to speed up Reclamation’s feasibility study pro-cess on surface water storage that “would be owned, funded, or operated” by the agency, a water recycling or desalination project under the purview of Title XVI pf Public Law 102-575, or a rural water supply project investigated under Public Law 109-451.

Modeled after Title VII in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-121) – which passed the House by a vote of 412-4 and the Senate by 91-7 – the provisions found in Title VI would reform bureaucratic permitting procedures, strengthen oversight of the agency, and ultimately allow for a more efficient process of congressional approval of water resource projects.

Specifically, Title VI requires future Reclamation feasibility studies to be completed within three years after the date of initiation and have a maximum federal cost of $3 million; providing for a maximum seven-year extension of that time and cost if the Interior Secretary provides a detailed justification to the non-federal project sponsor and the Congress. Title VI also requires the Interior Secretary to expedite the completion of any ongoing feasibility studies initiated before the date of enactment. If the Secretary determines that the project is justified in a completed report, he/she shall proceed to pre-construction planning, engineering, and design of the project.

To reduce the amount of duplicative review, Title VI directs the Interior Secretary to develop and implement a coordinated environmental review process with Reclamation and the non-federal project sponsor as lead agencies for expedited environmental review of a project. Finally, Title VI directs the Interior Secretary to develop and submit a report to the relevant committees in Congress that identifies project reports, proposed projects, and proposed modifications to studies and federal and non-federal cost estimates for all three. These activities would be similar to the studies listed in Section 7002 of P.L. 113-121, which authorized construction of projects by Congress.

Title VII. Accelerated Revenue, Repayment, and Surface Water Storage Enhancement

Under federal law, any irrigation district or water utility that receives contracted water from a Reclamation facility must repay its allocated portion of the capital costs of the federal water project if it has a capital repayment contract. These repayment costs are typically set forth in long-term contracts between a water district and the federal government. At the same time, irrigation districts are subject to federal land-use restrictions and paperwork requirements under the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-293), as long as they owe a capital debt to Reclamation. The same law does not allow these water users to make an early repayment to the U.S. Treasury.

Title VII allows water users to pre-pay their repayment contracts. This prepayment arrangement is based on provisions included by the then-Democratic majority in the 111th Congress to help pay for the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act. Title VII also creates a surface water storage enhancement program by directing the Secretary to use some of the receipts from early repayment to be used for the construction of new surface water storage.

Title VIII. Safety of Dams

Reclamation is responsible for maintaining over 400 dams in the western United States. Of those, 366 would likely cause loss of life if they were to fail. The Safety of Dams program allows modification of Reclamation dams if “the cause of which results from new hydrologic or seismic data or changes in the state-of-the-art criteria deemed necessary for safety purposes.” Modifications can include structural strengthening and construction of spillways, filters and drains. Under the current Safety of Dams program, Reclamation can only evaluate the corrective action necessary to repair the facility. Current federal law does not allow the agency to consider various types of dam improvements, including dam raises, while studying or making safety repairs.

This title allows Reclamation to study and construct, if found feasible and in compliance with Reclamation law, other dam improvements that would be paid for by project beneficiaries in conjunction with dam safety repairs under the Safety of Dams Act.

Title IX. Water Rights Protection

Western water law gives states the rights to develop their own systems of water law. Over the past few years, however, Westerners have seen a number of federal proposals that have attempted to extort their water rights in return for special use permits necessary to operate businesses and family farms.

Title IX prohibits the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture from conditioning or withholding issuance, renewal, amendments or extension of any land use permit on the limitation or encumbrance of any water right to the United States. It also prohibits requiring water users to apply for or acquire a water right in the name of the United States under state law as a condition or such a permit, and prohibits the federal government from asserting jurisdiction over groundwater withdrawals or impacts on groundwater resources.

For more information, please contact Congressman Valadao’s Office at (202) 225-4695.