The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) invites dairy farmers to attend a meeting at the Tulare County Farm Bureau Office in Visalia, Wednesday, August 2, 3:00-5:00 p.m., detailing a proposed risk management tool called the “Dairy Revenue Protection” program. As AFBF goes through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) approval process, feedback from CA dairies is needed. If the program is approved, it would function outside of the MPP and be administered through the Farm Bureau Insurance agency. All in attendance will receive information on the proposed program from AFBF staff followed by questions/feedback from the audience. In order for the program to be most effective, the California dairy perspective is essential. For more information, contact Corinne Madison with CFBF at cmadison@cfbf.com or 916-561-5618. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afbf-presents-dairy-revenue-protection-tickets-35712066753. This meeting will not be broadcasted or recorded.

An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2017 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Porterville City Hall Council Chambers at 291 N. Main Street in Porterville, to provide outreach on a groundwater “sharing” model that the Eastern Tule GSA is studying for implementation as part of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) laws. Eastern Tule Basin growers are encouraged to attend. Mike Young, a professor of Environmental and Water Policy from the Centre for Global Food and Resources at the University of Adelaide in Australia, and Bryce McAteer, a recent graduate of Duke University, are currently traveling throughout California to assist communities and GSAs in learning more about this conceptual model for a groundwater “sharing" program. The Water Association of Kern County recently held an informational meeting on this subject and had a large turnout of growers interested in understanding the model and its pros and cons. The Eastern Tule GSA is working with these two individuals to advance a discussion about the groundwater sharing model and its potential implementation for achieving locally determined SGMA goals. The Nicholas Institute at Duke University has released a 76-page working paper, titled “Sharing Groundwater: A Robust Framework and Implementation Roadmap for Sustainable Groundwater Management in California”. The concepts described in this working paper will be the focus of the 2-hour workshop on August 3. Growers are invited to attend the informational meeting at 4:00 pm on August 3. Subsequent meetings will be convened through the Eastern Tule GSA, which includes the jurisdictions of City of Porterville, Porterville Irrigation District, Saucelito Irrigation District, Teapot Dome Water District, Vandalia Water District, Terra Bella Irrigation District, Kern-Tulare Water District, and the County of Tulare (covering the white areas that may be outside any of the above mentioned authorities). To find out more about the Eastern Tule GSA, visit the city of Porterville’s website at www.ci.porterville.ca.us/depts/PublicWorks/easterntulegsa.cfm. To attend the August 3 informational meeting, please RSVP to the Farm Bureau at 732-8301 before August 2. Seating is limited.

2800 W Burrel Ave, Visalia

Land Subsidence Workshop, August 16 Speakers from the California Department of Water Resources, NASA/JPL, and the U.S. Geological Survey will be on tap at a free briefing Aug. 16 in Fresno, Land Subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley. Land subsidence caused by groundwater pumping has been a problem for decades in the San Joaquin Valley, but an increased reliance on aquifers during the last decade has resulted in subsidence rates in excess of 1 foot per year in some parts of the region. Attend this briefing to get an update on San Joaquin Valley Groundwater conditions, learn about the problems caused by land subsidence, and hear about the array of technologies available for subsidence measurement and monitoring, including information and technical support being provided by DWR. Register here. The event is free but seating is limited. The daylong event is cosponsored by DWR and the Water Education Foundation in cooperation with the Center for Irrigation Technology. It will be held at the Alice Peters Auditorium (PB 191) in the University Business Center at Fresno State. Check-in and registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. The program will run from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunch is on your own.

Meet with the County Assessor on Grazing Rents. Farm Bureau will host county assessor, Roland Hill, to visit with rangeland operators, ranchers, and those who may have grazing properties in the County to discuss changes in the assessments on grazing land rent assumptions for those with Williamson Act contracts. These updated calculations only impact Williamson Act contracts on grazing lands, but everyone is welcome to attend. Please RSVP so we may determine seating needs, call 732-8301 or email pstever@tulcofb.org Thursday, August 31, 2017, at 3:00 pm Tulare County Farm Bureau office 737 N. Ben Maddox Way, Visalia