Nearly 80 national agriculture, hunger, conservation and other groups rallied on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol this week calling for completion of a 2012 Farm Bill before the current law expires September 30. However, with less than a week of work time before Congress disappears for October campaigning, the likelihood of final congressional action is slim, and member after member used their microphone time at the "Farm Bill Now" rally September 12, to lay out their party's position, but with most agreeing a full bill will not be enacted before the election. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D, MI) said the House should take the few remaining days it's in session this month and pass its committee-approved bill.  

This would allow staff to work up a draft conference report for consideration by members when they return for the November lame duck session. She's optimistic if presented with a conference draft, agreement could be reached and final action taken before year's end. House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R, OK) said he continues to hope House leadership will clear the way for floor action despite other competing issues, but failing that he said lawmakers are likely to try for a short-term extension of current programs. House Minority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R, CA) told a Washington, DC, newspaper this week, leadership is considering a six-month extension of current programs but provided no details. Still others in the House are recommending Congress simply allow the current Farm Bill to expire since many of the key programs within the farm package are separately authorized and would continue to operate. This option doesn't set well with those who point out that without at least an extension, many programs would revert to the original 1949 law since all subsequent Farm Bills are amendments to the 1949 act. USDA, responding to questions about the possible reversion, said the impact wouldn't be felt until early January 2013, since it would take the department at least three months to accommodate the lack of contemporary authorities across a wide array of existing programs.  

As to lame duck action, the outcome of the November 6 election will dictate in large part how much will get done on key issues during the lame duck session. Lucas said he's not crazy about doing a Farm Bill during lame duck because of what he calls the "winner-take-all" mindset of winning party members, a development he said that could kill some of the carefully crafted compromises in program rewrites crafted between the House and Senate committees. At the same time, he reminded folks if House and Senate leadership agree, and the White House steps aside, the House committee-approved bill could move "at the speed of light" directly to conference with the Senate-passed bill, adding the easiest way to get President Obama's signature on the final product is to put it on his desk before the election.

This week, Governor Brown appointed Kish Rajan as the new "GO-Biz" director. Mr. Rajan will work closely with the Governor's Senior Jobs Advisor Mike Rossi to lead the executive team in streamlining services for business leaders and enhancing job creation, economic development and international trade statewide. The Governor appointed 12 people to his team including Mr. Rajan and also notable is Paul Martin, former dairy farmer and Western United Dairyman employee and environmental consultant.

Rajan, 42, of Walnut Creek, has been principal at Kish Rajan Public Affairs since 2010 and has been a councilmember for the City of Walnut Creek since 2008. He was director of mobile sales at SanDisk Corporation from 2007 to 2010 and was director of alliances at Good Technology Inc. from 2004 to 2007. Rajan was regional sales manager at Siemens from 2002 to 2004. He served as chair of the Walnut Creek Transportation Commission from 2007 to 2008.

Paul Martin, 70, of Petaluma, has been appointed deputy director of permit assistance in the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. Martin was director of environmental services at Western United Dairymen from 2000 to 2012. He was a field representative for Western United Dairymen from 1999 to 2000 and owner and operator of Paul and Jill Martin Dairy from 1976 to 1999. Martin was a partner at Claude Martin and Son Dairy from 1969 to 1976. He is a member of the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Air Quality Task Force and serves on the Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. 

Tina Andolina, of Davis, has been appointed director of legislation and regulation at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Andolina has served as legislative consultant for Senator Lois Wolk since 2010 and was legislative director at the Planning and Conservation League from 2007 to 2010. She was campaign associate at the Coalition for Clean Air from 2005 to 2007, outreach director at the California Wilderness Coalition from 2000 to 2005 and campaign director at the Friends of the Trinity River from 1997 to 2000. The legislative Director manages the relationship between the department and the legislature and is a key position on budget, legislation and mill assessment.

September's birth flower, the aster, is a lovely starlike bloom that grows in warm, sunny climates.  Originally cultivated in China 4000 years ago, asters are actually hundreds of small yellow flowers in the center, surrounded by blue, purple, pink or white petals.  They are often mistaken for daisies, but asters are their own plant species.

How to Grow

Asters are relatively easy to grow.  They need full sun, but they will tolerate a little morning shade.  They prefer loam, but tolerate most soil types except clay.  Clay causes the roots to rot during the winter, when water is retained by the soil.   

If your birthday is in September, let the Aster bring you good luck. With the vast array of colors and sizes that Asters, also known as starworts, come in (over 600 species), this beautiful flower is often used as a filler flower in bouquets and arrangements, much like the carnation. Not only are they lovely, these flowers will not fade as quickly as other flowers in arrangements. The Monte Casino is a popular Aster. This flower is often used to symbolize afterthought or true love. A love of variety is associated with this flower as well. In China, the aster signifies fidelity. The name "aster" has Latin origins meaning "star". Many stories tell the origins of the Aster, but the most popular ancient myth explains how asters were created from stardust as Virgo, also known as Astaea, the goddess of innocence cries over sin on earth. Her tears fell as stardust, covering the earth with asters. This myth gives light to the Aster's star-like beauty and shape.

The pension reforms do the following:  

Caps Pensionable Salaries

• Caps pensionable salaries at the Social Security contribution and wage base of $110,100 (or 120 percent of that amount for employees not covered by Social Security). 

Establishes Equal Sharing of Pension Costs as the Standard

• California state employees are leading the way and are paying for at least 50 percent of normal costs of their pension benefits. Requires new employees to contribute at least half of normal costs, and sets a similar target for current employees, subject to bargaining.
• Eliminates current restrictions that impede local employers from having their employees help pay for pension liabilities.
• Permits employers to develop plans that are lower cost and lower risk if certified by the system's actuary and approved by the legislature.
• Provides additional authority to local employers to require employees to pay for a greater share of pension costs through impasse proceedings if they are unsuccessful in achieving the goal of 50-50 cost sharing in 5 years.
• Directs state savings from cost sharing toward additional payments to reduce the state's unfunded liability. 

Unilaterally Rolls Back Retirement Ages and Formulas

• Increases retirement ages by two years or more for all new public employees.
• Rolls back the unsustainable retirement benefit increases granted in 1999 and reduces the benefits below the levels in effect for decades.
• Eliminates all 3 percent formulas going forward.
• For local miscellaneous employees: 2.5 percent at 55 changes to 2 percent at 62; with a maximum of 2.5 percent at 67.
• For local fire and police employees: 3 percent at 50 changes to 2.7 percent at 57.
• Establishes consistent formulas for all new employees going forward. 

Ends Abuses

• Requires three-year final compensation to stop spiking for all new employees.
• Calculates benefits based on regular, recurring pay to stop spiking for all new employees.
• Limits post-retirement employment for all employees.
• Felons will forfeit pension benefits.
• Prohibits retroactive pension increases for all employees.
• Prohibits pension holidays for all employees and employers.
• Prohibits purchases of service credit for all employees.

The California State Floral Association

Presents....

Calif Flora 2012  "LEGENDS"

October 13-14, 2012

Hosted by:  Mayesh Wholesale Florist, Inc.

• Click Here for Program   
   
• Click Here for Registration Form 

The Doral is Sold Out!

The Doral has sold out of rooms for the WF&FSA Floral Distribution Conference! This sell-out occurred with an even larger room block than last year. Further details on accomodation overflow will be sent separately.

Table Top Displays are Sold Out!

This year, tables went like hot cakes. This year's Conference is shaping up to be a big hit.  To see which companies are exhibiting, click here. 

Register Your Delegates Now!

To register your delegate, click here.

To see who is currently attending the WF&FSA Conference, click here.

Spread Your Company Message via WF&FSA FDC Sponsorship!

Here's a great opportunity to promote your company and support the conference! There are a variety of sponsorships available for the WF&FSA Conference. Check out what is available here. 

WF&FSA takes this opportunity to thank our sponsors to date:

• Armellini Express Lines 
• ASOCOLFLORES 
• DESIGN MASTER color tool, inc. 
• Simpson's Greens and Floral Distributors 
• Smithers Oasis 
• Syndicate Sales 
• Westbrook Floral Ltd. 

What's NEXT?

This year's theme, What's NEXT, underscores the value of a WF&FSA meeting - you will enjoy unparalled Networking, in-depth Education, benefit through Xtreme Commerce and delve into industry Trends at this year's event. Review the full program here.   

Don't miss this upcoming grower education program from the UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance. Registration is only $45 for morning seminars and afternoon bus tour to local nurseries. Speakers are from UC Cooperative Extension and NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). Continental breakfast and lunch are included from everybody's favorite Erik's Deli!

Erosion and Pesticide Runoff Management in Nurseries

7:30 am - 4:00 pm

 Directions 

Moderator:  

Steve Tjosvold, UCCE Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties

Continuing Education Units approved: CCA (5.5 soil/water management. 0.5 professional development)

California Certified Florist (CCF) Prep Classes are being held September 23rd at:

Brannan Street Wholesale in San Francisco.  (flyer)

A To Z Wholesale in Santa Ana. (flyer) 

Don't delay - sign up now to confirm your registration  

For further information and to register, contact the CSFA office at 916-448-5266 or email Ann Quinn at aquinn@cgfa.org.

www.californiacertifiedflorist.org