San Diego Ag Hub A Center for the Business of Agriculture
SAN DIEGO AG HUB San Diego Ag Hub A Center for the Business of Agriculture Since 1914, San Diego County Farm Bureau has been protecting and promoting farming interests in San Diego County by finding effective solutions to the concerns of the farming community. Driven by the mission to represent agriculture and promote the economic viability of farming, San Diego County Farm Bureau is creating the San Diego Ag Hub where important services for members would be consolidated into one convenient location. The mission of the San Diego County Farm Bureau is to represent San Diego agriculture through public relations, education, and public policy advocacy in order to promote the economic viability of agriculture balanced with appropriate management of natural resources.
San Diego Ag Hub A Farmer Resource The San Diego Ag Hub will be the place for agriculture to share knowledge and resources. It is a vision of San Diego County Farm Bureau to gather non-regulatory organizations that provide essential services to the farm community in a single, technologically advanced location. The direct benefit for Farm Bureau members will be access to a number of agriculture related agencies and organizations with one visit to the Ag Hub. Confirmed tenants include University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors, San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group, Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program, Master Gardener Program, 4-H Program, San Diego Ag in the Classroom and Jim Montoya Insurance. Discussions continue with other agriculture related organizations to facilitate their move at the end of their existing leases. In the interim, 100% of the available space has been leased in order to provide positive cash flow for Farm Bureau. Additionally, the facility will be a collaborative center where Farm Bureau and commodity groups can expand educational programming and special events to accommodate the growing needs of agriculture. The indirect benefit to Farm Bureau members will be additional financial stability for the organization through the collection of rents as owner and landlord of the Ag Hub building. With multiple users in a single location there will be significant economies of shared common space, meeting rooms, maintenance, and technology. An important consideration driving the search for a new location for the Farm Bureau, which led to the Ag Hub concept, was the need for a facility that can better meet the needs of the farm community while also raising the visibility of agriculture in the county. With that in mind, a new facility has been chosen at 1540 East Valley Parkway, Escondido that supports the professional image befitting an organization as highly regarded as San Diego County Farm Bureau as well as allowing for larger gatherings and hosting of more than one meeting at a time. The Ag Hub will be the core complex where agricultural organizations can exchange ideas and hold farmer meetings.
San Diego County Farm Bureau Supporting Farmers San Diego County Farm Bureau is organized as a 501(c)(5) non-profit organization with the sole purpose of service to the local farm community. Supported by dues paying members, San Diego County Farm Bureau is the leading voice for the farm community in acting with elected officials, regulatory and non-regulatory agencies, press outlets, and the public. San Diego County Farm Bureau provides a number of member benefits including regular communication on key issues, education, regulatory compliance assistance, ombudsman services and advocacy. The organization s core strength is its volunteer members who are backed by a professional staff. While Farm Bureau has been working locally for more than 100 years, a few examples of Farm Bureau s more recent successes in aiding local agriculture include: Succeeded in lobbying the State Water Board to remove local farms from the governor s 2015 emergency urban water declaration that would have resulted in 20% to 36% water use reductions for farmers. Petitioned County Water Authority for a differential agricultural water rate that resulted in more than $100,000,000 in direct water cost savings for producers over the past decade. Persuaded County of San Diego to institute a Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement program that resulted in payments of more than $4,000,000 to farmers. Received a USDA grant that was used to provide $2,000,000 in matching funds for local growers to install water conservation measures. Founded the San Diego Region Irrigated Lands Group that is currently providing Clean Water Act compliance for more than 40,000 irrigated acres.
Monitors all rate requests by SDG&E at the California Public Utilities Commission resulting in successful challenges to proposed rate increases for agricultural meters with savings in excess of $5,000,000. Establishment of the San Diego Grown 365 Brand available to producers to identify their farm products as a local brand. Secured exclusive considerations for agriculture in the County s Grading and Clearing Ordinance. Committed to support each of the more than 200 crops produced in the county as needed, no matter how large or how small. For example, worked with the County of San Diego to create a realistic classification for aquaponics and aquaculture that will allow this segment to grow. Worked with the City of Encinitas to adopt an urban farming ordinance to set aside requirement s for obtaining a use permit for farming operations. Founded and administers the San Diego County Asian Citrus Psyllid Task Force. Lobbied for the County s Tiered Winery Ordinance that allows tasting rooms in boutique wineries by right, which has resulted in the establishment of more than 100 new wineries in the county. Publication of a portfolio of communications that keep members informed on important issues. Outreach to the public Farm Tour Day annual open house Friends of Farming affinity club Founding member (San Diego Food System Alliance) Regular contributions to local print and electronic media Provides the web platform for information on all farmers markets in San Diego County
Capital Campaign S an Diego County Farm Bureau is seeking to complete its effort to raise $2 million dollars to purchase the San Diego Ag Hub project A Center for the Business of Agriculture. These funds will be used in conjunction with Farm Bureau reserves and the sale of the current location to cover the entire cost of the facility. Included in this project plan is the design and building remodel to accommodate concurrent multiple uses and to create a turnkey facility. Future maintenance costs are planned to be covered through tenant revenue. The response to date on the San Diego Ag Hub concept and the capital campaign has been overwhelmingly positive as seen by the generosity of farmers who believe strongly in the importance of San Diego County Farm Bureau for local agriculture. San Diego County Farm Bureau is conducting a year and a half campaign to raise the funds to reach the $2 million goal. Simultaneously, the Farm Bureau Building Committee is completing work to redesign and renovate the new building. With the successful completion of the capital campaign and final touches to the new building, an early 2017 ribbon cutting is anticipated.
Inviting You to Grow Your Farm Bureau P lease consider joining in Farm Bureau s next chapter of service to local farmers. Through your involvement and generosity, you will be helping to build an even stronger Farm Bureau as well as a unique agricultural hub that furthers the objectives that have guided San Diego County Farm Bureau since its inception. Your donation will be an investment in today s mission and tomorrow s vision for the next 100 years. San Diego County Farm Bureau wishes to recognize donors in a manner that is as meaningful to you as each gift is to the successful development of the San Diego Ag Hub. Donors will receive recognition through special naming opportunities, permanent inclusion on the Donors Wall and recognition in the Farm Bureau s newsletters and other communications with the farm community. Thank you
Honorary Chairs Harlan Beck, Pauma Ranch Chuck Badger Sr., RE Badger and Son Paul Ecke, III, The Flower Fields Tony Godfrey, Olive Hill Greenhouses, Inc. Bob Lucy, Del Rey Avocado Company Ben Hillebrecht, Hillebrecht Farm Mike Mellano Sr., Mellano & Company Bill & Betty Anne Tulloch Capital Cabinet Ken Altman, Altman Plants Thomas Britsch, Western Cactus Enterprises, Inc. John Burr, Burr Ranch Beth Edwards, Edwards Vineyard & Cellars Enrico Ferro, Ferro Orchard Advisors Janet Kister, Chair, Sunlet Nursery, Inc. Bill Kovach, Specimen House, Inc. Vic and Elena Pankey, Pankey Farms Pierre Sleiman, Jr, GoGreen Agriculture LLC Al Stehly, Stehly Grove Management Bob Vice, BLV Agribusiness Julie Walker, Obra Verde Growers Gregg Warren, American AgCredit Charley Wolk, Bejoca Grove Management Campaign Staff Eric Larson Executive Director Taylor Zumstein Logistical Support Kathy Rathbun Administrative Support Lucy Mendoza - Bookkeeping San Diego County Farm Bureau 1670 E. Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92027 (760) 745-3023 www.sdfarmbureau.org Special thanks to San Diego County Farm Bureau for brochure design and underwriting. San Diego County Farm Bureau Board of Directors Neil Nagata, President Enrico Ferro, 1st Vice President Pierre Sleiman, 2nd Vice President Mary Matava, Secretary Janet Kister, Treasurer Ken Altman, Immediate Past President Eric Anderson Karen Archipley Chuck Badger, Jr Chuck Badger, Sr Chris Bailey Thomas Hans Britsch Fred Ceballos Gary Crouch David Drucker Beth Edwards August Fleugge Jena Francis Dina Gharmalkar Tony Godfrey Dana Groot Phil Guardia David Gutierrez Ben Hillbrecht Mike Hillebrecht Jane Kehr Bill Kovach Eric Kroesche Andy Lyall Elaine Lyttleton Mike A. Mellano Mike Menghini Kevin Muno Neil Nagata Gregg Opgenorth Vic Pankey Allison Papp Mel Recindez Steve Reeb Al Serrato Priya Singh Christina Smith Alex Sorosen Al Stehly Alysha Stehly Noel Stehly David Stepp Jimmy Ukegawa Alex Urbano Dave Van Ommering Bob Vice Julie Walker David Winter Burnett Wohlford Charley Wolk