Upcoming water agriculture use meeting adresses new regulations, drought

Covers crop insurance, frost water regulations, curtailments
With continuing dry weather and new water use regulations to consider as farmers look ahead to the next growing season, an agricultural water use meeting has been set for Nov. 24 at Cloverdale’s Citrus Fairgrounds.
The workshop-type event will include information on mitigating risk with crop insurance; groundwater legislation; information on Russian River curtailments and the ability to divert water for crops; and frost water regulation requirements for the 2015 growing season.
From March 15 to May 15, farmers draw water from the Russian River to combat crop-damaging frost. In 2015, to protect endangered and threatened fish species, farmers must file water demand managements by Feb. 1 to stage regulators, either individually or as a group.
“Any sort of a use of Russian River water for frost protection will be affected by this revised regulation,” said Sonoma County Farm Bureau President Tito Sasaki. “So that means first of all, lots of paperwork has to be done.” For ease and cost savings, Sasaki recommended that farmers tackle the new regulation in groups.
In addition to outlining the new frost protection regulations, the meeting will cover conditions under which curtailment along the upper Russian River, north of the confluence of Dry Creek, are being lifted, according to Sasaki. A new groundwater management plan coming into practice next year will also be discussed.
“We are urging all the agricultural groundwater users to form some kind of a group to have a voice in the future,” he said. According to Sasaki, crop insurance may also become increasingly important to mitigate the effects of the continuing drought.
Yet Sasaki also expressed optimism about the upcoming farming season, stressing the continued importance of management techniques. “I think in terms of volume we’ll have enough water,” he said. “It’s a matter of how to store the water when it comes in and not let it get lost by evaporation or by runoff to the ocean or Bay. There are several ways to increase our ability to control water so that we can have water for business.”
The Mendocino County Farm Bureau has joined with the Sonoma County Farm Bureau to organize the meeting. Sponsors also include the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, the USDA and Mendocino Winegrowers, Inc.
Guest speakers at the meeting include Paula Whealen of Wagner and Bonsignore, Chris Scheuring and Jack Rice of the California Farm Bureau Federation, Doug McIlroy of the Russian River Water Conservation Council and Al Cadd of the Russian River Property Owners Association.
The meeting will occur on Monday, Nov. 24 at the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds (1 Citrus Fair Drive) from 9 a.m. to noon.