Growers, educators, environmentalists agree on farming guidelines

March 15, 2002
Santa Paula News

Communication was the key for a coalition of growers, educators, environmentalist activists and ag officials who came together as the Ag Futures Alliance (AFA) and created “Farming Near Schools: A Community Based Approach for Protecting Children,” released last week.

AFA member Sue Kelley of Ventura said the report is “excellent. . .the information in it ad the way its arranged doesn’t miss anyone,” although it was the first time at the same table for many of the AFA coalition. “It was tense at first but then after a few months there was laughter in the room.”]

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesCommunication was the key for a coalition of growers, educators, environmentalist activists and ag officials who came together as the Ag Futures Alliance (AFA) and created “Farming Near Schools: A Community Based Approach for Protecting Children,” released last week.AFA member Sue Kelley of Ventura said the report is “excellent. . .the information in it ad the way its arranged doesn’t miss anyone,” although it was the first time at the same table for many of the AFA coalition. “It was tense at first but then after a few months there was laughter in the room.”]Set last week against the backdrop of historic Faulkner Farm, AFA members reported emergency plans to protect children from farm chemicals must be improved and the Santa Paula-based Agricultural Commissioner’s facilities upgraded with funding support by the Board of Supervisors.“AFA in my view is a good example of what a democracy should be,” said Doug Adrianson. “. . .I was amazed at the variety of people,” who jointly addressed ag issues, although they were “in the habit of fighting with each other.”The report, which took almost two years to create, recommends actions for county government, the school and ag communities as well as the community at large. It contains a school-ag interface survey, lists schools close to ag operations, voluntary guidelines for use of pesticides adjacent to schools, recommends guidelines for schools in dealing with ag and emergency procedures for pesticide drift. Being good neighbors and making every effort to co-exist is the key for the 29 county schools located near or next to farming operations.
Ag in Ventura County is a good thing, several speakers noted, keeping open space open and staying at the top of local revenue producers; county ag has become a billion dollar annual business.Although most of the report stressed communication and guidelines for schools and growers - Teaming Up for Safety is a laminated sheet of tips for farmers and schools - funding to beef up the Agricultural Commissioner’s Earl McPhail’s budget and office was a strong recommendation.Operations are constrained by “an overcrowded, antiquated office, poor quality electrical and communication systems, lack of space for technical analysis,” lack of parking for department vehicles and a “general lack of access for support services available to other county departments,” noted the report.In addition, a part time community information specialist position should be created to work with the public and create educational programs and an extensive ag Web page posted as soon as possible.Susan Johnson, a Ag Commission pesticide specialist, said the report leads to “hopes that other ag communities can take and run with this report,” which is the first of its kind in the state.



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