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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 farmer, 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.

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

Anthony Stornetta
President- SLO County Cattlemen's Association
805-423-6406