Darrell Hansen of Humboldt Creamery gives an assist to one of the creamery's newest employees (© 2006-2007 Carrie Branovan)
President's Message:
I just read a long term weather forecast and El Nino conditions are building near the equator and we may be in for a warm and wet winter. I have also heard several farmers and ranchers with more seasons under their belts than myself, remind me that these past winters have been very mild and we will get a bad one soon. Let’s not forget that the pendulum swings both ways.
This has been a good grass growing season for my operation, even though we came up 25% short on our rainfall, the 2” we received in June made a big difference.
I also began a new enterprise this spring; I am now selling meat from my cattle at the Arcata Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. The reception has been terrific; there really is a lot of support for locally produced products. Folks have a lot of loyalty toward farmers and ranchers. Besides seeing a market opportunity I saw a chance to meet people and educate folks on the benefits of grazing and productive capabilities of our county. The Farmer’s market experience has been very rewarding.
The Humboldt County Farm Bureau has been busy as well. This Winter and Spring our Land use committee and several directors held joint meeting with the Buckeye Conservancy and Cattlemen to develop a unified response to General Plan Update. We as a Board, have submitted written comments and testified orally in regard to the Land Use Element of the General Plan Update. I believe a positive attribute of this long process is that agriculture in Humboldt County has united as an industry, regardless of what organization individuals belong.
Most recently, some of our state’s bureaucrats; the staff of the North Coast Regional Water Quality control board, have decided that livestock grazing is the next target of permit or wavier. The watershed of concern is the Elk, which is listed as impaired by sediment in the recently developed TMDL. We have enlisted the help of California Farm Bureau in an effort head off this attack on property rights and one of fundamentals of agriculture.
In closing, I wish everyone a good summer and fall. Not a day goes by that we don’t think of the Humboldt Creamery’s producers.
Remember to spread the word that Humboldt County Farm Bureau is working for you if you believe in Humboldt County Agriculture. Encourage someone to join us.
Jay Russ, President
Past Newsletters Archive
Download Spring 2006
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Download Summer 2007
Download Summer 2009
Humboldt County Agricultural Survey
For the first time in Humboldt County, agricultural producers, landowners and the general public provide compelling and quantitative results on the importance of local agriculture to the economy, environment and quality of life in Humboldt County. Results from the Humboldt Agriculture Survey, gathered during the summer fall of 2002, provide a more complete understanding of the values, threats and feasible solutions people hold towards maintaining productive agricultural lands...
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It All Fits Together - by Clif Clendenen
Several issues have seemed to coalesce for me recently and I’m going to grab a sack needle and attempt to stitch them together.
While involving myself in Fortuna’s General Plan Update process, I’ve seen a dovetail of goals with city planning and agriculture. Progressive planning, like “New Urbanism,” that tries to densify development, even in rural communities, helps the city better utilize infrastructure. Also created is a more walkable community with the associated health and social benefits. In addition, a well designed community has less dependence on energy usage because living, working, and shopping are integrated...
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Williamson Act in Jeopardy Again
California’s most important land conservation program is being threatened for the first time in four years as Governor Schwarzenegger tries to close a lingering structural budget deficit.
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, better known as the Williamson Act,created a program for counties to protect viable agricultural land by offering a tax incentive to property owners for keeping their land in agricultural production. The Act provides an arrangement where private landowners voluntarily restrict their land to agricultural uses under a Land Conservation Contract with the county...
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Living with Aleutian Geese in Humboldt County
After 30 years of remedial actions by Federal and State wildlife agencies, the once endangered Aleutian Goose population is thriving on the Pacific North Coast. From a low of about 800 geese in 1975, today 100,000 of the geese stop in Humboldt and Del Norte counties to prepare for their incredible transoceanic migration on to nesting grounds in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. However, since these vegetarian geese are incredible grazers that seek out the greenest of pastures, a major conflict has emerged on the North Coast...
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Humboldt County Farm Bureau Land Use Policy Concerning Agriculture and Other Rural Lands
The Humboldt County Farm Bureau Board of Directors has adopted the following Land Use Goals and Policies concerning Agricultural Lands within the County of Humboldt.
- Conserve agricultural lands, and
- Encourage the continued profitable production of high quality, Domestic food and fiber in the most efficient, responsible manner;
- Protect the rural lifestyle of Humboldt County.
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College of the Redwoods Farm Enters Its Fifth Growing Season (from Summer 2006)
Agriculture students taking the agriculture enterprise project are busy planning for the 2006 growing season. This will be the fifth year for the student run (CSA) Community Supported Agriculture project. Students sell shares in their garden. In return shareholders get a box of produce once a week for the entire growing season, usually 20 weeks. These students will also hold a farmers market on campus one day a week starting in late August. All produce has been grown in Shively on the CR farm. This year there will also be some produce grown on the CR campus...
