Alameda (925) 449-1677Amador (209) 295-3366Butte (530) 533-1473Calaveras (209) 772-2830Colusa (530) 458-5130Contra Costa (925) 672-5115Del Norte (707) 951-0400El Dorado (530) 622-7773Fresno (559) 237-0263Glenn (530) 865-9636Humboldt (707) 443-4844Imperial (760) 352-3831Inyo-Mono (760) 387-2692Kern (661) 397-9635Kings (559) 584-3557Lake (707) 263-0911Lassen (530) 257-7242Los Angeles (661) 274-9709Madera (559) 674-8871Marin (415) 663-1231Mariposa (209) 742-5875Mendocino (707) 462-6664Merced (209) 723-3001Modoc (530) 233-3276Monterey (831) 751-3100Napa (707) 224-5403Nevada (530) 346-8146

Orange (714) 573-0374Placer (916) 663-2929Plumas-Sierra (530) 993-4550Riverside (951) 684-6732Sacramento (916) 685-6958San Benito (831) 637-7643San Bernardino (909) 875-5945San Diego (760) 745-3023San Joaquin (209) 931-4931San Luis Obispo (805) 543-3654San Mateo (650) 726-4485Santa Barbara (805) 688-7479Santa Clara (408) 776-1684Santa Cruz (831) 724-1356Shasta (530) 547-7170Siskiyou (530) 842-2364Solano (707) 449-8044Sonoma (707) 544-5575Stanislaus (209) 522-7278Tehama (530) 527-7882Trinity (800) 698-3276 Tulare (559) 732-8301Tuolumne (209) 533-8386Ventura (805) 289-0155Yolo (530) 662-6316Yuba-Sutter (530) 673-6550

My Farm Bureau membershipMy Farm Bureau membership

As a Farm Bureau member, you help to assure that California family farmers and ranchers can maintain their unique farm heritage, while producing the food and farm products we all depend upon.

To find out more about benefits, contact your county Farm Bureau office or call the member help desk at 1-800-698-3276.

All benefit programs are subject to change.Revised 12/18

Insurance Programs

Nationwide is proud to be the exclusive insurance provider of the California Farm Bureau. Since 1926, Nationwide has been providing insurance and financial services to Farm Bureau members and remains committed to protecting what matters most. As a company with a deep agricultural history, Nationwide offers members of the California Farm Bureau a discount on farm insurance. Nationwide also offers a variety of insurance and financial services to Farm Bureau members including:

• Automobile Insurance*

• Home Insurance

• Pet Insurance*

• Travel Insurance

• Powersports Insurance

• Commercial Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Workers’ Compensation*

*Select discounts may apply. To learn more, contact your local Nationwide agent, or visit Nationwide.com/cfbf.

Land As Your Legacy®

Whether your farm or ranch has been around for several generations or you’re a first-generation farmer, Nationwide® is there to help you plan what happens to your operations after you’re gone. Land As Your Legacy® transition planning program for farmers and ranchers is a no-cost program that provides transition planning solutions, so your family’s agribusiness will remain a legacy for generations to come. For more information visit, www.nationwide.com/yourland. My Farm Bureau membership

C A F A R M B U R E A U

Now trending

Membership BenefitsF E D E R A T I O NF E D E R A T I O N

HertzHertz discounts are available to Farm Bureau members at participating locations in the U.S. and more than 150 foreign countries, operating from 7,000 locations. Make your reservations online at www.hertz.com or by calling 1-800-654-2210.

Vehicle Rentals

Farm Bureau Prescription Discount ProgramEarn discounts of up to 75 percent off on brand name and generic prescription medications. This program is honored by more than 4,500 local, regional and national pharmacies in California

and more than 57,000 regional and national pharmacies. For more information, call the Farm Bureau member help desk at 1-800-698-3276 or visit www.cfbf.com/benefits to download your discount card.

ClearValue HearingClearValue Hearing’s Professional Hearing Network and Starkey have teamed to offer a Hearing Healthcare Benefits Program exclusively for Farm Bureau members. Members can save up to 60 percent off MSRP on Starkey Hearing Aids. For more information, visit www.clearvaluehearing.com or call 1-888-497-7447.

AvisAvis Car Rental operates one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,450 locations in more than 165 countries. Members always receive up to 25 percent off Avis base rates.* In addition, enjoy additional offers** like dollars off, a complimentary upgrade or a free weekend day. Visit www.avis.com/cafb or call 1 800-331-1212 to make a reservation.

Do it Yourself Discounts

Travel Discounts

Choice Hotels

Farm Bureau members save 20 percent off published rates at almost 6,300 Choice Hotels® worldwide! Save at participating Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality Inn®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Cambria Suites®, MainStay Suites®, Suburban Extended Stay®, EconoLodge®, Rodeway Inn® and Ascend Hotel Collection®. For more details, call 1-800-258-2847 or visit www.choicehotels.com.

Banking

Farm Bureau BankIf you are in the market to finance or refinance, Farm Bureau Bank offers low-rate vehicle loans with no payments for up to 90 days. Inquire about the high-yielding Money Market and Certificate of Deposit accounts, or apply online for a Farm Bureau Bank MasterCard® credit card and receive an instant decision online. Call 1-800-492-3276 or visit www.farmbureaubank.com.

CaterpillarReceive discounts ranging from $250-$2,500 on Cat agriculture construction equipment. Eligible equipment includes Cat skid steer loaders, compact

and multi-terrain loaders, wheel loaders, telehandlers, backhoe loaders, hydraulic excavators and track-type tractors. In addition, Farm Bureau members will now receive a $250 credit on work tool attachments purchased with a new Caterpillar machine. Members must print out an authorization certificate at www.cfbf.com and present it to the Cat dealer in advance of purchasing the acquired equipment to receive the incentive.

BudgetMembers always save up to 25 percent off Budget base rates.* Plus, get other great offers** like

dollars off, a free upgrade or a free weekend day. Visit www.budget.com/cafb or call 1-800-527-0700 to make a reservation. Budget Car Rental operates approximately 3,350 locations in more than 120 countries.*Discount rates may vary between 5-25 percent, depending on time of year, availability and other factors. **Farm Bureau discount may not be stacked with other AWD/BCD corporate or membership discounts.

Visit AmeriGas online at www.amerigas.com for additional information.

AmeriGasFarm Bureau members save $0.05 per gallon on propane deliveries, receive a complimentary service check and a No Run-Out Guarantee with automatic delivery. Additionally, members have access to:• 24 hour emergency services• $100 referral bonus for new customers

Propane Discount

• Online bill pay options• Order deliveries online

Keenan DirectTo help members navigate the changing health care landscape, Farm Bureau works with Keenan Direct, the largest privately held insurance broker in California, to provide unbiased guidance to help members find the coverage and value that best fits their health insurance needs. Contact them toll-free at 1-855-422-3243 or online at www.CAFBHealth.com.

Health and Wellness

O’Reilly Auto Parts Farm Bureau members in California can save anywhere from 5-20 percent off on select parts they use every day such as brake pads and rotors, filters, batteries, belts, hoses and many more commonly replaced automotive and equipment parts. O’Reilly Auto Parts offers a great selection of general automotive, fleet and heavy duty parts to cover every piece of equipment on your farm or ranch. Enjoy free delivery within a 5 mile radius of your local O’Reilly Auto Parts store and free access to their professional customer website firstcallonline.com for parts lookup and ordering, vehicle specs, TSB documents, etc. Use the California Farm Bureau account number to purchase your product. O’Reilly Auto Parts offers cash on delivery, daily charge, weekly charge and monthly charge accounts depending on your individual needs.

GraingerFarm Bureau members get special member prices on selected categories

and brands from Grainger, PLUS get free standard parcel shipping on all standard Grainger products. Get started with your price savings using 3 easy methods: 1. Present the California Farm Bureau account number at time

of purchase.2. Go to https://www.grainger.com/farmbureau to establish a

new Grainger.com® account using that account number; or3. Call Grainger customer service at 1-800-472-4643 to update

your existing Grainger account with the Farm Bureau organization account number.

To be sure you get your Farm Bureau member prices, always reference California Farm Bureau’s organization account number when visiting your local branch, making a telephone order, or when setting up your personal account online.

Health and Wellness continued Do it Yourself Discounts continued Travel Discounts continued

Case IHFarm Bureau members receive a manufacturer’s incentive discount of $300-$500, depending on the tractor or implement acquired.

Eligible members receive the following manufacturer discounts on purchases of the listed products:

Farmall Compact tractors (A & B) $300 per unitFarmall Utilities – C, U & J series $500 per unitMaxxum Series and Farmall 100A series $500 per unitSelf-propelled windrowers $500 per unitLarge square balers $500 per unitRound balers $300 per unitSmall square balers $300 per unitDisc mower conditioners $300 per unitSickle mower conditioners $300 per unitCase IH Scout $300 per unit

Members must print out an authorization certificate at www.cfbf.com and present it to the Case IH dealer in advance of the delivery of the acquired tractor or implement to receive the incentive discount.

Aquarium of the PacificGet 10 percent off gift store purchases with coupon; save $3 on adult and $1.50 on child (ages 3-11) general admission, up to 4 admissions. Call the member help desk at (800) 698-3276 to obtain discount coupon.Great America Receive a variety of savings by purchasing your discounted tickets online. Call the member help desk at (800) 698-3276 to obtain the web address and discount code.Knott’s Berry FarmReceive a variety of savings for each season. Call the member help desk at (800) 698-3276 to obtain discount coupon.LEGOLANDSave between $10-$15 on LEGOLAND Resort Hopper admissions to LEGOLAND® California, SEA LIFE® Aquarium, and LEGOLAND® Water Park. Buy your tickets online at www.legoland.com/buytickets. San Diego Zoo Receive a $4 discount for tickets purchased online. Go to www.sandiegozoo.org/tickets. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Receive a variety of savings by purchasing your discounted tickets online. Go to www.sixflags.com/partnerlogin. Santa Cruz Beach BoardwalkReceive $8 off on Good-Any-Day tickets. Go to www.beachboardwalk.com

Theme Park Discounts

Farm Employers Labor ServiceFarm and ranch employers use Farm Employers Labor Service to reduce their costs and take the

headaches out of complying with complicated employment laws and regulations. FELS® keeps you up-to-date on farmworker employment requirements with a Summary of Employment Requirements for California Ag Employers, HR Compliance Manual and Laminated Official Notices posters. All are designed to make sure you are in compliance every day, and all are available at a 20 percent discount to FELS subscribers. FELS also offers Farm Bureau members a $100 discount on enrollment. Call 1-800-753-9073.

A4 Promotions & IncentivesBrand your business or showcase your Farm Bureau pride with A4 Promotions & Incentives. Members can receive up to a 20 percent discount on select customizable items. For more information or to order, visit www.farmbureaucompanystore.com or call 916-361-3682.

California GrownFarm Bureau members in California now have access to a 50 percent discount on California Grown branding and licensing for their agricultural commodities.* If

you are interested in the program and are looking for more information about the California Grown branding, please go to the California Grown website at www.californiagrown.org or phone 916-441-5302. *Some limitations may apply.

Business Services

AirMedCare NetworkREACH Air Medical Services LLC and CALSTAR—two of California’s preeminent air ambulance providers—are proud to be a part of the AirMedCare Network, creating America’s largest air ambulance membership network. By becoming a member of AirMedCare Network, you will be covered by all AirMedCare Network providers in all of their service areas, which are ever-expanding. AirMedCare Network is pleased to offer group membership coverage to Farm Bureau members and their families for $65 per year. For more information on how to enroll as a Farm Bureau group member, please call 1-800-793-0010.

Wyndham Hotels

Farm Bureau members receive an additional 20 percent off the Best Available Rate at participating locations every time they travel: Baymont Inns and Suites®, Days Inn®, Knights Inn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Howard Johnson®, Microtel Inns and Suites®, Ramada Worldwide®, Super 8®, Travelodge®, Wingate by Wyndham® and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®. Call their member benefits hotline at 1-877-670-7088 or visit www.wyndhamhotels.com and use the Corporate ID at the time of booking to receive your discount.

John DeereFarm Bureau members are eligible for a complimentary John Deere Rewards upgrade (Platinum 2 status) which unlocks the best loyalty rewards including valuable equipment discounts. Register today, and explore all that Rewards has to offer.

Check out the savings on the following equipment categories:

• Commercial Mowing – $300 to $2,700 off• Residential Mowing – $100 to $200 off • Utility Vehicles – $200 to $350 off• Tractors – $200 to $300 off• Golf & Sports Turf – $500 to $3,700 off• Commercial Worksite – 17% off MSRP

Don’t wait – Visit JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau today to register!

Details and Restrictions

• Must be a valid member of Farm Bureau for 30 days.• A valid member email address is required for eligibility.

We are proud to be WORKING FOR YOU

*Farm Bureau Bonus Cash is exclusively for active Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. This incentive is not available on Shelby GT350®, Shelby® GT350R, Mustang BULLITT, Ford GT, Focus RS and F-150 Raptor. This offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company and Lincoln Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase. Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com or LincolnFarmBureauAdvantage.com or see your authorized Ford or Lincoln Dealer for qualifications and complete details.

FARM BUREAU MEMBERS GET

$500BONUS CASH

FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com

California Bountiful® Magazine and Television

A lifestyle magazine and TV show with farm family profiles, recipes, gardening tips and more. Take a look at www.californiabountiful.com.

For Associate members

Ag Alert®

Giving producers the edge with news, research and marketing trends, this weekly newspaper is first in ag news. Learn more at www.agalert.com.

For Agricultural members

‘I love what I do’

Young farmer returns home

to help manage family business

Page 3

Dairy quota election

State system would be intended

to work alongside federal order

Page 7

Trees & Vines®

Dairy & Livestock®

s p e c i a l r e p o r t s

®

THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER FOR CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE

winery,” Regusci said. “It was burning so

quickly there that fuel tanks were wanting

to blow up. They were getting hot.”

These were saved by a bulldozer that

pushed dirt onto the tanks, he said. Other

dozers pushed over burning trees, which

were doused with fire extinguishers. After

four or five hours, he said, they got the

ranch “under control,” and the bulldozers

went to work on neighboring properties.

On Friday, with those events nearly

By Kevin Hecteman

Jim Regusci’s fight to keep the Atlas

Fire from taking everything began with

a 10 p.m. phone call. His Regusci Winery,

along Silverado Trail in Napa County, had

hosted a large event Oct. 8, and the last of

the guests had just left.

“We drove out, took a look, and it was

coming pretty quickly,” Regusci said.

“Within an hour and a half, fire was here.”

In the meantime, Regusci got on the

phone, arranging for bulldozers and

people to fight off the flames. The doz-

By Christine Souza

A “waters of the United States” rule

that is clear, feasible and maintains ex-

isting exemptions for everyday farming

activities: That’s what agricultural stake-

holders sought during a teleconference

with federal officials, as agencies seek to

develop a new WOTUS rule.

“Many agricultural interests that

took part in the call expressed con-

cern about the lack of consistency

among agencies regarding how they

interpret waters of the U.S. regula-

tions under the Clean Water Act,”

California Farm Bureau Federation

Associate Counsel Kari Fisher said

after monitoring last week’s telecon-

ference. “Commenters also urged

regulatory clarity and meaningful

application of existing agricultural

exclusions and exemptions.”

The 2015 WOTUS rule, proposed

by the U.S. Environmental Protection

A g e n c y a n d U. S. A r m y C o r p s o f

Engineers under the Obama admin-

istration, would have expanded the

agencies’ authority to regulate water

and land. It came under strong criti-

cism from farmers, ranchers and agri-

cultural organizations.

In an executive order signed in

February, President Trump asked

agencies to rescind the 2015 WOTUS

r u l e a n d d e v e l o p a re v i s e d r u l e

based on an opinion written by the

late Supreme Court Justice Antonin

Scalia. The opinion takes a more

narrow view of federal jurisdiction,

restricting Clean Water Act jurisdic-

tion to “relatively permanent” wa-

ters and wetlands with a continuous

surface connection to relatively per-

manent waters.

The teleconference for agriculture

held by the EPA and Corps represented

one of several on development of a new

WOTUS rule.

See WOTUS, Page 12

See FIRES, Page 17

In fire zone, farmers look to the futureJim Regusci, left, owner of Regusci Winery, and Jason Lauritsen, director of vineyard operations, walk through a vineyard damaged by the Atlas

Fire earlier this month. Regusci says about 25 of the 170 acres of vines on his ranch were affected.

Farmers ask that

‘waters’ rule be

clear, consistent

ers cut as many firebreaks as they could

within an hour, and fire hoses were

trained on the main buildings. Regusci’s

children and son-in-law showed up, as

did six or eight employees.

The fire roared to within 10 to 15 feet of

Regusci’s aunt’s house and threatened the

back of his own home. But they “pushed all

that fire out,” he said. Then the fire headed

toward outbuildings that housed fertilizers

and chemicals.

“The big fire push was on the other side

of the ranch, where it came right by the

n e w s p a p e r

AgAlertwww.cfbf.com • www.agalert.com

OCTOBER 25, 2017

From the Fields .......................4-5

Trees & Vines ...............................9

Dairy & Livestock ..................... 13

Classifieds ........................... 21-23

Inside▲

®

Published by

California Farm Bureau Federation

Phot

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vin

Hec

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an

As a Farm Bureau member, you help ensure that

we continue to support and preserve California

agriculture and its farming and ranching families.}

Agricultural members—In addition to receiving Ag Alert®, an annual subscription of California Bountiful® magazine can

be purchased at the discounted rate of $10. To purchase your subscription, contact the member help desk at 1-800-698-3276.