Still Cold in California

You know it's been cold when 60F feels warm.
   We are all breathing a sigh of relief after a long, cold week in the Golden State. I know, I know. Many of you have really good cold weather stories and we are being a bunch of light weights. But, this is California, we don't have to walk up hill in the snow, both directions, to get to school.

   While it has been cold, it has also been crystal clear in the mornings. This is what it looked like one morning when the dogs took me for a walk.
   It is warming up now. That cold spell was really good for the trees. It helped with the chilling hours they need during this dormant period. But, it is nice to feel a little warmth from the sun today. 
   We are done pruning. Hopefully the brush shredder guys will be here soon. We have some other work to do in the orchard and we need the brush out of our way.
   We'll finish pre-irrigating the first cotton field this week and switch to the next field.
   There is a storm approaching California. We'll keep an eye on it. If it brings some rain we will fly fertilizer on the wheat. If there isn't enough rain in the forecast we'll wait and put fertilizer on the next time we irrigate.

Since we have been talking about the weather I thought I would share an upcoming radio script-

Our ‘Mediterranean’ Climate

By Paul H. Betancourt

Copyright January 2013

                It’s probably time to explain what I mean when I say we have a ‘Mediterranean Climate.’ There are five areas in the world that have a Mediterranean Climate. The first would be--- the Mediterranean. The others are Chile and Peru in South America, Australia, Central Asia and here in the Valley.

            What does it mean to have a Mediterranean Climate? Here in the Valley it is cold now, but we aren’t shoveling five feet of snow are we? In the summer it gets very hot, but it’s not humid is it? That is what makes it an ideal growing climate. It is hot enough in the summer so we can grow corn, tomatoes and cotton, but we don’t have all the tropical bugs and diseases. It’s cold in the winter, but we don’t have to button up for months at a time like other areas.

            China, with all of its territory cannot grow almonds commercially because their areas that are warm enough in the summer aren’t cold enough in the winter. Their areas that are cold enough in the winter are too cool in the summer.

            We have an amazing and rare climate and that is the foundation of our agricultural production.

And just to show you can find interesting things just about anywhere-

these are some abandoned silos I drive by on the West side.

I hope Y'all have a great week.

P

This Is Cold---for Californians

My readers Back East and in Russia will laugh when I say it  has been cold this week. But, it has been cold, for Californians. 

   You should have seen the looks on the faces of our dogs and the horse yesterday morning when there was ice on the water trough. They were thirsty, that's where the water was, but they couldn't get a drink. [This is where we insert a sad face.] For the record, I did break up the ice so they could drink.

The wheat was growing like gang busters last month. Things were fairly warm. But, it has slowed back down to normal now.

   We are busy pre-irrigating the cotton ground. We are almost done pruning the almonds.

There have been two pieces on the radio this week about my book. This one has some quotes from the book.

Ten Reasons- II
By Paul H. Betancourt
Copyright December 2012

                Here are some excerpts from my new book, ‘Ten Reasons: Finding Balance on Environmental Issues.

            “What does this farmer thinks of the environment? I love it! One of the reasons I chose to farm was to be able to work in and with the natural world. Farmers don’t seem to be able to get enough of the outdoors. When we do get time off it is not unusual to find us hunting, fishing, water skiing or snow skiing. “

BALANCE

“The first principle in a safe and sane environmental policy is balance. We can neither let unrestrained pollution take place, nor can we let the Precautionary Principle strangle progress. The principle that must guide is as a healthy environment and a healthy economy.”

            “There are thousands of issues to address and conversations that must take place. I don’t pretend to solve all these problems in a few pages. But, the principles in this book can help is solving the problems we face.

Will you join me?”

The book is available on Amazon, Google Books and BarnesandNoble.com. There is a Kindle version. I am working to have it at Costco and Barnes and Nobel here in town. There is also a Facebook page- www.facebook.com/TenReasons .

Here's the link for the audio version-

http://www.940kyno.com/index.php?c=68

I hope Y'all have a safe, and warm week.

P

Scarf Weather

Well, it has been kind of cold lately---for California.

This is the vineyard where I walk the dogs every morning. It has its own beauty.
     The wheat had been growing before Christmas, of course there was no real frost before Christmas. It's gotten a little colder and the wheat is fine, but it has not been growing as quickly lately.
   Of course, we have had some rain and snow. That is always appreciated this time of year. Without rain and snow now it will get very lonely out on the farm next summer.
   We have been celebrating the holidays with friends and family. We try to make the most of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Monday it will be time to go back to work. For now, we have one more weekend.

   I'll leave you with one of my radio bits for this week.

Scarf Weather

By Paul H. Betancourt

Copyright December 2012

                I know many of you hate the cold and fog and I can sympathize.

            But, I really look forward to what Sheryl and I call scarf weather. By the end of summer I feel I have sweat enough---for a life time. I enjoy putting on a warm sweater, scarf and coat then heading out because it’s a lot easier for me to warm up in winter than it is to cool off in summer.

            While irrigating can be cold work this time of year, I am glad we prune in the winter. It doesn’t take long to warm up even on a cold January morning when you are on the working end of a pruning saw. Winter is good welding weather too. I saved up building my corral as a winter project. Now that was a good idea.

            I know some of you suffer through the fog and get the blues when we haven’t seen the sun for a while. I really am sorry about that. But, summer will be back soon. For the moment I am going to enjoy the cold weather, the hot cider and all the things that make winter a pleasure.

I hope Y'all have a great week.

P

Year End: The Cycle Continues

Quiet on the farm this week. We have been visiting family and celebrating Christmas. It's the first time we have been all together in six years. Very nice.

We don't get white Christmases here. But, sunrise on foggy mornings are beautiful. Indy makes sure I am up and out for a walk to see it all.

Year End: The Cycle Continues

By Paul H. Betancourt

Copyright December 2012

                Ruben and I were working in the shop getting ready for cotton harvest. Harvest is the culmination of the year’s work. If you think of time in a linear fashion, harvest is the end. As we kept talking we went from preparing the equipment to picking the cotton. Then there was that look in Ruben’s eyes as we talked about what followed. After harvest we would work the ground plant and start watering the wheat. It’s a cycle---just as we finish harvest we start all over again.

            One of the things I like about farming is it is seasonal. I can tolerate the mayhem of harvest because I know after cotton harvest it will slow back down to full speed.

            This was a pretty good year at VF Farms. We’ll take a break to visit family for the holidays. Then we will crank ‘er back up for a new season. The cycle continues.

I wish Y'all the best in the New Year.

Peace on Earth, Good Food for All!

Christmas Recipes

Things are still busy on the farm. We are trying to get the wheat irrigated up so we can take time off for the holidays. We are also busy pruning the almonds.

Below is one of the radio pieces that will be running this week. As promised I am posting a few favorite family recipes.

Christmas Recipes

By Paul H. Betancourt

Copyrights 2012

                Christmas is about faith and family. When our family gets together there are favorite foods on the table. I don’t know about your family, but there are foods we only make at Christmas time. My brother-in-law’s fudge is fabulous. The only improvement I could make was adding some famous Ficklin port wine. Of course there is hot, spiced cider.  My daughter, Heidi, is lactose intolerant, but she always asks for my Bleu cheese spread. Glogg is a spiced Swedish wine that is served hot and will warm you to your toes on a foggy winter night.

            When we visit family we get to enjoy old favorites. I’ll never forget Mom making Grandma’s Christmas cookies or Santa Lucia buns. Sheryl loves Danish abelskivers. Some how they all taste special at Christmas time.

            I’ll make you a deal- I will post some recipes on my blog. What I would love to see is if you will post any of your favorite Christmas recipes in the comment section of the blog. 

Gene's Fudge

1 can sweetened condensed milk

3 cups chocolate chips

     [Gene's preference is 2 cups semi-sweet and 1 cup milk chocolate]

pinch of salt

1 table spoon Vanilla

-Over a low burner mix milk and chips until chips are fully melted [careful not to burn.]

-Mix in salt and vanilla.

-Pour into wax paper lined square pan.

-Let sit for a couple of hours or over night

-Cut into bite sized pieces and enjoy

-Optional:prior to pouring onto wax paper mix in 1/4 cup of brandy. [Note this will lengthen the hardening time. Not for the kiddies.

Bleu Cheese Spread

4oz crumbled bleu cheese

8oz whipped cream cheese [or mascarpone cheese]

 2 TBS finely grated onion

 1TBS of Worcestershire sauce

 Dash of Tabasco sauce

Mix and let sit,

Preferably overnight

Serve on crackers

Glogg-(Warm Swedish Spiced Wine)

1.5l port wine

1/4 cup honey

2 sticks of cinnamon

8 cloves

2 pinches coriander

I look forward to reading some of your recipes.

Peace on Earth, Good Food for All!Merry Christmas Everyone!

My New Book Is Out and I Am Excited!

   The response already has been great! One friend in Sacramento bought ten copies to pass around. Another friend in Stockton has done the same. A friend in Chicago ordered his copy this week. The Fresno Business Journal had a write up last week.

   The official press release is below. In short, my thesis is we need a healthy environment and a healthy economy. For you producers out there I have  a word of encouragement; you're not crazy, the system is crazy.

   I look forward to hearing your responses. You know me. I am not one to pontificate and then close off dialogue. Let's talk about this.
   We are working on setting up a Facebook page for the book. I'll drop you a note when that is up and running. I just couldn't wait any longer.

California Farmer Betancourt Releases New Book

Ten Reasons:  Finding Balance on Environmental Issues

(Fresno, CA):  There is a lot of nonsense that goes on in the name of the environment.  Farmers and other producers regularly shake their heads at the red tape and Death of Common Sense experiences.  In Ten Reasons:  Finding Balance on Environmental Issues, family farmer and author Paul H. Betancourt seeks to find balance on the very environmental issues that often divide.

“We need a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” says the book’s author Paul Betancourt.  “My book explores how we have lost perspective and how we need to restore balance on environmental issues as we move forward.  As a farmer who faces the overwhelming environmental laws and opinions on a daily basis, I wanted to offer an alternative to the gridlock.   If we are going to do this, let’s do it right.”

In the forward by Congressman Jim Costa from California’s Central Valley those who want to “understand why American agriculture is so exasperated by many in the environmental community” are encouraged to read Betancourt’s book.  A book where the author works to help others understand that the two sides aren’t so different, he cares about the environment too.  In fact, Paul states that one of the very reasons “he became a farmer was to see if he could learn what nature had to teach him.”

While stating his case with great insight and candor for the Ten Reasons why he thinks the environmental movement is unreasonable, Betancourt concludes with those guiding principles he believes can unleash the gridlock and create a “safe and sane environmental policy” for the country.

Paul Betancourt was not raised on a farm, but was born in New York and now farms with his family in California’s Central Valley.  He is the first farmer in his family for more than five generations.  They currently grow Pima cotton, wheat and almonds.  In addition to being a sought after speaker and outspoken advocate for issues facing California farmers Betancourt is an instructor of ethics and political science at the University of Phoenix in Fresno, California and Madera Center Community College.  Betancourt’s observations on life and farming can be heard on 940ESPN radio every weekday in the Fresno area.  You can also follow him on his blog, This Week on the Farm at http://betancourtunlimited.blogspot.com/. 

Ten Reasons:  Finding Balance on Environmental Issues was released on November 20 and is currently available directly through the publisher Xulon Press at   http://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781624198168 or by visiting Amazon.com.  Barnes and Noble and Costco Wholesale in the Fresno area will have the books available in January 2013.

Food Safety

Sorry, not much to report this week. I have a really nasty head cold.
Always busy on the farm. The equipment is cleaned and put away. We are watering wheat and we started pruning the almonds.

Food Safety

By Paul H. Betancourt

Copyright November 2012

                I wish I could really tell you how maniacal producers are about food safety. If I told you everything- it wouldn’t  fit in this report and you might not believe me. I am not kidding when I say food safety is top of the list for the people who grow, process and cook your food.

            I have a friend who is an organic farmer. He’s ready to quit growing organic, in part because of the amount of time he spends doing paperwork to certify his produce is organic. Instead of being out on his farm every day actually working to produce food, he spends a significant amount of his time filling out forms to make paper-pushers happy.

            I was once asked by a reporter if I thought our food was safe. I said, “Of course. Think about it; if one child gets sick on milk it makes national news doesn’t it?”

            Restaurant owners take food safety to a whole new level.

            Farmers, food processors and restaurant owners are absolutely maniacal about food safety-and that is OK. We want you to be confident that the food you buy is safe. 

I hope Y'all have a great week.