Capps asks local ranchers, growers for input on farm bill at Jan. 30 event

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• Lois Capps talks about farm bill with locals

  Lois Capps talks about farm bill with locals

  Maintaining money for pest detection efforts, allocating funds for research programs and providing support during disasters, including drought, were three of several issues raised Monday during a local discussion of the next federal farm bill.

  Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, met with local farmers and ranchers, Cal Poly students and faculty, and farm organizations to hear their concerns and input on a massive piece of legislation that will set farm and food policy for the nation.

  The farm bill is renewed every five years and shapes policy on a wide range of programs including food safety, research, conservation efforts, food stamps, insurance and subsidies for commodity crops. The current bill expires later this year.

• A few farmers in SLO County get most federal ag subsidies

  A few farmers in SLO County get most federal ag subsidies

  An annual check in the mail is more of a sure bet than the winter rains for some farmers in San Luis Obispo County.

  Take one farm in Shandon, which pocketed 17 percent of the $761,000 in federal farm subsidies distributed in San Luis Obispo County in 2010. Over the past 15 years that same farm, White Ranch Co., received more federal subsidies than any other agricultural operation in the county — $3.6 million. More than $2 million of that came from growing — or not growing — wheat and barley, a Tribune review of Farm Service Agency records found.

  White Ranch owners, who did not reply to numerous requests for comment, are part of a small group of farmers in the county who collect the lion’s share of agricultural subsidies.

• Fruit, vegetable farmers work to keep what they've sown

  Fruit, vegetable farmers work to keep what they've sown

  Eat your broccoli. After all, you might be helping to pay for it.

• Times Past: Seed for New Year's resolutions found in early farming practices

  Times Past: Seed for New Year's resolutions found in early farming practices

  The custom of making New Year’s resolutions may have begun with the Akitu festivals of early Mesopotamia, which is in modern day Iraq. “Akitu,” which literally means barley, was celebrated in springtime in hopes of ensuring the arrival of rain, which brought the renewal of nature and community.

  The people believed that they could strengthen their god Marduk and his son Nabu in the struggle with Tiamat (evil forces) by resolving to return their neighbor’s farm tools without which new crops could not be planted. For many of us, New Year’s resolutions are still linked to food and diet.

  Some of us have very serious motivation for seeking a new way of feeding ourselves. When Ethan Schaffer was growing up in the Pacific Northwest, he was told by his physicians that he had lymphoma. He underwent a five-month-long treatment of intense chemotherapy.

• Cal Poly adding summer quarter faculty fellowship dedicated to organic and sustainable farming methods

  Cal Poly adding summer quarter faculty fellowship dedicated to organic and sustainable farming methods

  Cal Poly is adding a summer quarter faculty fellowship dedicated to organic and sustainable farming methods.

  The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Center for Sustainability will add the fellowship in organics to the Horticulture and Crop Science Department through funding from the Lundberg Family Farms’ pledge of support.

  Cal Poly students will receive training and research opportunities in organic farming methods, food safety and sustainable agricultural systems.