The Pat Simone Podcast

Since 1920, the Fresno Irrigation District has proudly delivered water to agricultural and urban communities within Fresno County. Today, the District encompasses over 250,000 acres of prime farmland and municipal areas, including the cities of Fresno and Clovis. As the premier irrigation district in the Central Valley, the District is extensively involved in a host of local, state, and federal water issues. https://www.fresnoirrigation.com/

Mission/Goals https://wwd.ca.gov/Since its formation in 1952, the mission of the Westlands Water District has been to provide timely, reliable and affordable water services to landowners and water users in western Fresno and Kings Counties. These water services include the sustainable management and delivery of water supply, as well as the provision of ongoing education, advanced technology and innovative methods for environmental conservation. Westlands’ dedication to the communities and farms dependent on water deliveries and commitment to the preservation of its federal contract has led to the acquisition of additional water necessary to meet these needs. To support this mission, Westlands has adopted the following goals: Preserve and restore the federal contract water supply. Obtain supplemental water supplies through short and long-term purchases and transfers. Develop a process to examine the various options available for the purposes of supply enhancement and drainage mitigation. Support timely construction of cost-effective facilities to enhance the quality and reliability of water supplies. Conduct the maintenance, operational and administrative functions of Westlands in an efficient and effective manner. Implement and maintain an effective Water Conservation program by providing growers with accurate and current information and technical assistance to aid with water management planning.

Central California Food Bank www.ccfoodbank.org  is the largest food bank in Central California serving Fresno, Madera, Kings, Kern and Tulare Counties. With the help of dedicated volunteers through 300+ partner Central California Food Bank is the largest food bank in Central California serving Fresno, Madera, Kings, Kern and Tulare Counties. With the help of dedicated volunteers through 300+ partner feeding sites, we serve over 300,000 people each month. 46 million pounds of food was distributed to neighbors in need in fiscal year 2022.  Our History  In 1992, a small group of men and women were dedicated to seeing that hungry people received the food they needed.  Like most non-profits, they started with much passion and energy, but with very limited resources.  Central California Food Bank (previously known as Community Food Bank) started with a temporary facility at the Fresno Fairgrounds and after three moves to warehouses much too small to meet the community’s needs, we rebranded and relocated to our new location on Amendola Dr. in 2018.   Our History  In 1992, a small group of men and women were dedicated to seeing that hungry people received the food they needed.  Like most non-profits, they started with much passion and energy, but with very limited resources.  Central California Food Bank (previously known as Community Food Bank) started with a temporary facility at the Fresno Fairgrounds and after three moves to warehouses much too small to meet the community’s needs, we rebranded and relocated to our new location on Amendola Dr. in 2018.

Karmjot Randhawa https://ucanr.edu/About/ 

Director of UC Cooperative Extension in Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties Randhawa is responsible for the coordination and overall operations of Cooperative Extension programs these Central Valley counties. Unlike traditional county director positions, Randhawa doesn’t have academic research responsibilities, so she can focus on overseeing the educational and applied research programs and providing direction and leadership to the academic and support staff within the county extension programs. True to the mission of the land grant universities, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources connects the power of UC research in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition and youth development with local communities to improve the lives of all Californians.

  https://agrivalley.com/ 

We provide irrigation expertise and knowledge of the leading technology for irrigation. We deliver a wide variety of solutions including field monitoring and control, soil moisture monitoring, tank level monitoring, drip irrigation, micro irrigation, rental, maintenance, design, installation and more.

System troubleshooting

Free in-depth water analysis

Installation of system injection pump

End of year/pre-irrigation reconditioning (1 or 2 part system shock) of micro/drip irrigation systems

Emergency reconditioning (shock treatment) to clean out a fouled system from root intrusion, particulate matter, algae and/or calcium buildup

Provide a maintenance program to maintain system

Reservoir shocks

Monthly site visits, system audit and report

Filter valve troubleshooting

Distribution uniformity testing

Water budgeting

American Pistachio Growers President Richard Matoian https://americanpistachios.org (APG) is a non-profit trade association representing over 800 grower members in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. APG is governed by a democratically elected board of directors who are growers and is funded entirely by growers and independent processors with the shared goal of increasing global awareness of nutritious, American-grown pistachios.

Research interests and expertise: https://caes.ucdavis.edu/people/jeffrey-mitchell

Improving nitrogen and water use efficiencies in food, feed, fuel and fiber cropping systems, soil quality management and potential roles of cover crops and compost in intensive row crop production systems, and the use of cover crop mulches as a means of conserving soil water, suppressing weeds and increasing organic matter in no-till production systems. 

Conservation agriculture and precision irrigation crop production systems

Agricultural water management

Reduced disturbance, climate-smart, healthy soils production systems

Merging precision irrigation and conservation agriculture practices

Improving production efficiencies in terms of profitability, energy and water use and long-term soil resource quality

Development of conservation tillage and precision irrigation production systems

Carbon sequestration

Assessing and indexing management impacts on soil quality

#1 Tomato Automation Harvesters www.WestsideEquipment.com Founded in 1986 by six entrepreneurs, Westside Equipment started manufacturing machinery for the agriculture industry in 2001 and has grown from a small operation with four employees to a global leader in the tomato harvesting equipment. Westside Equipment is expanding to serve the commercial pistachio nut harvesting industry.

With our headquarters in Madera, California and our parts sales and support service operations in Crows Landing, Woodland, and Five Points, Westside Equipment is centrally located throughout California’s nut and tomato growing regions. Our Central Valley operations give us the proximity and reach to successfully cover the state’s entire processing nut and tomato production area.

Our harvesters and parts meet the design fit of international harvesting needs, and we serve customers located across the globe, including in Brazil, Peru, Spain, Israel, Australia, and China.

Our Advantages

Westside Equipment machines are designed by engineers and built to order. With over 1,000 man hours of welding and assembly per machine, our harvesters are engineered for speed, longevity, and capacity. Nationally and globally recognized for our commitment to quality and innovation, our harvesters are backed by a company built on expertise and integrity.

Farm Manager at the Rodale Institute https://rodaleinstitute.org/

Director of Agronomic Research Director of Agronomic Research  WORLD CANNABIS FOUNDATION

Director of Agronomic Research Director of Agronomic Research California Hemp Foundation 

Usage; Fiber, Building Material, Sustainability, Insulation, Concrete, Oils and Varnishes, Plaster, Ropes and strands, Plastics, Wood, Weed control, Biofuels

NH 2014 N.H. Laws, Chap. 18, SD: HB 1008 (2020)

S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §38-35-1 et seq.

Authorizes the growth, production and transportation of hemp with a license, and directs the Department of Agriculture to submit a state plan to USDA.

Requires a minimum of five contiguous outdoor acres for grower license applications, and requires any license applicants to submit to a state and federal criminal background investigation.

Requires a transportation permit for any transporter traveling within or through the state and creates two types of industrial hemp transportation permits (grower licensee and general) provided by the Department of Public Safety.

Creates the Hemp Regulatory Program Fund.  

Pesticide Use Enforcement - Pest Detection - Pest Eradication-Pest Exclusion/Quarantine-Fruit & Vegetable- Quality Control-Weights and Measures Enforcement

This division is responsible for the enforcement of State regulations dealing with the safe use of pesticides. This includes the issuance of restricted material permits, the supervision of applications and the surveillance of dealers, pest control advisors and pest control operators. By regulating chemical pesticide usage and adequately coordinating enforcement, the agricultural industry will continue to have appropriate pesticides available for use. Agricultural workers and the environment will be protected from excessive pesticide exposure by effective pesticide use enforcement. CGreer@tularecounty.ca.gov

www. AlmondAlliance.org The Almond Alliance of California was established in 1980 to serve the almond industry in a capacity that isn’t available through any other organization. The Almond Alliance is dedicated to educating state and federal elected officials, policy makers and regulators about the California almond community. As a membership-based organization, our members include almond processors, hullers/shellers, growers and allied businesses. While we have strong domestic membership, we also have a number of international members making our organization and network global. Almond Alliance provides a forum for business networking that facilitates relationships between our regular members, who are almond growers, hullers, shellers, processors and handlers, and our associate members, who provide products and services used by our regular membership, to ensure our members have access to the latest technology and services that enable them to conduct their businesses as efficiently as possible. Of the $11 billion of total value added to the California economy, about $7.6 billion is attributable to almond farming. The remaining $3.4 billion is contributed by the almond processing and manufacturing sectors.

Connie Conway is an American politician who served as a member of the California State Assembly from 2008 to 2014. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Conway served as a member of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors from 2000 until 2008. Conway is a member of the Republican Party. She is a candidate in the 2022 special election in California's 22nd congressional district to replace Devin" https://ballotpedia.org/Connie_Conway

Conway entered the race to succeed termed out Bill Maze. In the primary, she faced two candidates, Rebecca Maze (wife of the incumbent) and Bob Smith, a retired sheriff's deputy.

Following her successful re-election to the state assembly on November 2, 2010, Conway was elected by her Republican colleagues as the Assembly Republican Leader after a closed-door meeting of Assembly Republicans on November 4, 2010. Conway stated that outgoing Minority Leader Martin Garrick had voluntarily stepped down and she had been elected unanimously. Conway is the first woman to serve as GOP assembly leader since 1981

"I am running for Congress because I believe the Valley needs a political outsider with no special interests fighting on its behalf in Washington. Unlike my opponents, who are funded by the ruling class, my only loyalties are to the great people of the Central Valley. Once elected, I will fight for a permanent solution to our water crisis by advocating for passage of my comprehensive Water Solutions Plan. I will support tax cuts for hardworking Valley families and businesses. I fight to reign in governmental power and now, more than ever, I will fight to give parents and local communities more control over their children’s education through School Choice. I pledge to work tirelessly for our Valley to help ensure it remains one of the best places in California to live and raise a family. I look forward to earning your support! www.davidforthevalley.com www.facebook.com/DavidfortheValley

The majority of Cary's career has been working in the Ag sales and marketing for the fresh produce industry. He also has 10 years experience in trees and vines. It's this combined experience that allows him to bring the kind of support and solution growers need to overcome any problem. Carry achieves optimum results to implement Regenerative Agriculture principles.  Carry Crum Regenerative Agriculture Specialist Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley

 Tracy Newton of Fresno County speaks about the fascinating educational hands on experience 4H provides our youth. 

4-H is a non-profit, informal educational youth development program. At the national level, 4-H is directed by an assistant deputy director and a staff for 4-H and other youth programs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In California, the 4-H program is conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension. The 4-H Youth Development Program offers many programs for youth throughout the country and some around the world. 4-H offers projects to enrich skills, meetings to encourage social development and participation within club activities, camps, conferences, trips, exchange programs, and many other events meant to benefit the youth who are involved in this program. This page offers examples of a few opportunities available in 4-H. For more information, please contact the UCCE/4-H Office. What We Offer The 4-H Youth Development Program offers many programs for youth throughout the country and some around the world. 4-H offers projects to enrich skills, meetings to encourage social development and participation within club activities, camps, conferences, trips, exchange programs, and many other events meant to benefit the youth who are involved in this program. This page offers examples of a few opportunities available in 4-H. For more information, please contact the UCCE/4-H Office. https://ucanr.edu/sites/4-H-Fresno//About_4-H/

My interview with  Dr. Katy Tarrant.   

Dr.  Tarrant joined the Fresno State Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education faculty at California State University, Fresno in August of 2016. Dr. Tarrant received her B.S and M.S. degrees in Biological Sciences from Sam Houston University in Huntsville, Texas.  She continued her education and received her Ph.D. degree in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  She most recently was a Program Associate in the Poultry Science Department at the University of Arkansas.  Dr. Tarrant will be advising students and teaching courses in Poultry Science.  In addition, she will be managing and conducting research at the Foster Farms Research and Education Facility at Fresno State.  Dr. Tarrant also will serve as the faculty advisor of the very active Poultry Science Club at Fresno State.  She previously had teaching experience at both Sam Houston State University and the University of Arkansas.  

https://www.patsimonejr.com 

https://www.patreon.com/patsimonejr

My interview with Daniel Hartwig of Woolf Farming (also FCFB President) 

Subjects :  Agriculture Farming and Water Issues  

https://www.patsimonejr.com 

https://www.patreon.com/patsimonejr

My interview with Dusty Ference of Kings County Farm Bureau.  

Subjects :  Agriculture Farming and Water Issues  

https://www.patsimonejr.com 

https://www.patreon.com/patsimonejr

My interview with Tricia Stever Blattler Executive Director at Tulare County Farm Bureau Visalia, California  

Subjects :  Agriculture Farming , Water Issues , Tulare Farm Show.  

https://www.patsimonejr.com 

https://www.patreon.com/patsimonejr

My interview with Ryan Jacobsen CEO with Fresno County Farm Bureau.   

Subjects :  Agriculture Farming and Water Issues     

He is the fourth generation of two Fresno County farm families and previously served as FCFB's governmental affairs coordinator and as the organization's membership coordinator, beginning in 2004.  Jacobsen is an honors graduate of California State University, Fresno with a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in animal science. While at Fresno State, Jacobsen served two terms as associated student body president and was recognized as the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Dean's Medalist and Craig School of Business Graduate Dean's Medalist.  He currently serves as president of the Fresno Irrigation District Board of Directors, secretary/treasurer of the Kings River Water Association, chair of Fresno County Agricultural Lands Conservation Committee, and serves on the boards of California Farmland Trust and the Rotary Club of Fresno.

https://www.patsimonejr.com

https://www.patreon.com/patsimonejr

I interviewed Muhammad Imran who joined us via Zoom from his current location in Dubai. He is a wealth of knowledge regarding agriculture in an area with a lot of challenges. We talked about growing in desert areas (hydroponics), pests, economic benefits of farming, and a whole lot more.

https://www.patsimonejr.com 

https://www.patreon.com/patsimonejr