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I am a cattle rancher and farmer in Tulare County.  

Ag Burning has long been a solution for the removal of orchard
materials, tree prunings, diseased materials, and a cost effective
means of helping revitalize orchards and vineyards in the San
Joaquin Valley.   This long standing process we recognize must be
modernized, and alternatives established. 

I respectfully request that the Board move to adopt the staff
recommendation to adopt the gradual phasing out of open
agricultural burning in the San Joaquin Valley, by January 1, 2025.
The eventual elimination of agricultural burning cannot be met
without significant financial support from the State of California
to meet this moment. Burning alternatives, such as the chipping of
trees, pruning and vines, requires new capital investments in
machinery, or expanded opportunities for biomass energy generation
or the creation of renewable fuels, requires new capital for
infrastructure. As farming operations vary in size and
sophistication, we must ensure equity of access for the tools
required to eventually meet the 2025 goal. 

Further, as a diversified farmer, I know special circumstances may
arise on-farm that would require some latitude for limited burning.
This would include the immediate destruction of diseased materials,
ordered removals by an agricultural commissioner or state official,
and could include agricultural related material as weeds,
vegetative material on rice field levees; apple, pear and quince
prunings and orchard removal, weeds affecting levees and banks, and
diseased beehives. A level of flexibility is required to deal with
unforeseen and unpredictable matters that occur with farming.

Citrus orchards need to be able to effectively eradicate outbreaks
of deadly pests like the Asian Psyllid, and when SGMA changes the
water allocations to our valley farms, we will need additional
tools to manage the conversion of lands that best adapt to changing
climate conditions and water supplies.  

Alternatives to open agricultural burning are needed, as are the
commitments from those involved to find a workable solution.

The SJVAPCD works well with the agriculture community and we
respectfully request this phase out in accordance with the staff
recommendation.

Thank you.