CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – David Barnett, Farmers Insurance agent in Clearlake Oaks, has completed the career agents course at the University of Farmers training facility in California.

The University of Farmers training facility in Grand Rapids, Mich., was officially dedicated in September 2011, while the training facility located in Agoura Hills, Calif., was dedicated in November 2006.

Farmers Chief Executive Officer Jeff Dailey noted that the university is national in scope and offers training to Farmers’ 15,000 agents and their staff, 500 district managers and 10,000 claims staff year round.

“David completed the five-day Career Agents Course, which is clearly defined and targeted to enhance the professional skills of Farmers’ agents,” explained Annette Thompson, senior vice president of Farmers. “The course gives an agent the ability to learn how to successfully understand the needs of Farmers’ customers and help them choose the right insurance to meet their needs.”

Thompson added, “Using professional facilitators and a curriculum that maximizes training effectiveness, this course is a roadmap to success for every agent.”

For more information about Farmers, visit www.farmers.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Annette Hopkins, president of the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture, and Margaret Eutenier, past co-president, attended the California Women for Agriculture’s Annual Convention and statewide meeting in Modesto Jan. 18-20.

The convention’s theme was “Celebrating Innovation and Diversity.”

California Women for Agriculture (CWA) is composed of 20 chapters throughout the state who meet regularly to share information on matters affecting agriculture in California.

Updates are provided on state and federal legislation, land and water use, food safety, and pest management and animal issues. Other topics include ag education, information concerning endangered species, agritourism, biotechnology, air quality, labor, trade, and renewable resources.

The calendar of action for the upcoming year is set at the convention and includes scheduled visits to elected State Assembly members and senators in May when chapter representatives from throughout the state meet with legislators to inform them of CWA positions on pending legislation. Incoming chapter presidents are installed at the annual convention.

“The annual convention focuses us on the ag issues that will be in the spotlight for the coming year,” said Hopkins. “That way, we can talk to our membership and to our community to get feedback for communication with our state legislators. We want to make sure that we have a say in what happens in our county’s leading industry.”

The Lake County Chapter of CWA actively educates their members and the public about matters concerning agriculture at both the county and state levels.

The chapter awards scholarships to students pursuing agricultural-related education and provides mini-grants to teachers in local schools who are educating their students about agriculture and food.

In addition, the Lake County Chapter of CWA sponsors AgVenture, an educational program for community leaders who wish to learn more about agriculture in Lake County.

To learn more about the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture, visit www.lakecountycwa.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) reminds growers and others involved in the North Coast walnut industry to attend the 2013 Lake County Walnut Update to be held Friday, March 8.

The update will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Scotts Valley Women’s Club, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport. The facility is wheelchair accessible.

Topics will include an overview of the 2012 Lake County walnut season, update on the Irrigated Lands Program, optimum orchard spacing and management, and managing multiple insect and disease problems.

The California Walnut Board will also present a domestic and international marketing update and review of food safety issues relevant to walnuts.

The meetings are sponsored by UCCE, California Walnut Board and the Lake County Department of Agriculture.

There is no registration fee; morning refreshments will be provided courtesy of the California Walnut Board.

For more information, contact UCCE at 707-263-6838 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The meeting agenda and directions to the meeting site can be viewed at http://celake.ucdavis.edu .

Farmers and ranchers across the country are heeding the call to have their voices heard and their farms represented in the 2012 Census of Agriculture.

With 1.4 million Census forms returned, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is thanking everyone for speaking up for their communities, their industry and their future by sending in their Census form.

For those who missed the deadline, USDA reminds producers that their farm is important and needs to be counted. As a result, Census forms are still being accepted.

“Information from the Census of Agriculture helps USDA monitor trends and better understand the needs in agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Providing industry stakeholders, community leaders, lawmakers and individual farm operators with the most comprehensive and accurate U.S. agricultural reports, we all help ensure the tools are available to make informed, sound decisions to protect the future of American agriculture.”

Conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census provides detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture.

It looks at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other factors that affect the way farmers and ranchers do business.

The deadline for submitting Census forms was Feb. 4, and many farmers and ranchers have responded.

However, those who did not respond by the original due date will receive another copy of the form in the mail to give them another opportunity.

“Accurate and comprehensive information from all farmers and ranchers is important so that the Census can provide a true picture of U.S. agriculture today and help everyone plan appropriately for future,” said Vilsack. “This level of information is only gathered and released once every five years, so we need the participation of every producer to ensure the agricultural industry and rural America receive the representation that will provide them with the most benefit and value.”

Farmers and ranchers can return their forms by mail or online by visiting a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov .

Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the Census and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

For more information about the Census, including helpful tips on completing your Census form, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 1-888-4AG-STAT (1-888-424-7828).

The Census of Agriculture is your voice, your future, your responsibility.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture (LCCWA) held its Fall Installation Social at the Lakeport English Inn on Nov. 14, 2012.

The event marked the inauguration of the chapter’s new officers, including Annette Hopkins, president; Toni Scully, vice president; Sharron Zoller, second vice president; Paula Bryant, treasurer; Cheri Cunningham, corresponding secretary; Claudia Street, recording secretary; and Ellen Heath, Bonnie Sears, Rachel White and Colleen Rentsch, area representatives.

“We’re very excited about 2013,” said President Annette Hopkins. “We’ve been aggressively growing our membership and programs like AgVenture have been extremely popular in getting the word out about who we are and what we do.”

The AgVenture program was created in 2010 to educate local community leaders about the role of agriculture in Lake County.

Treasurer Paula Bryant added, “There are so many facets of agriculture in Lake County and we’re fortunate to have such a dynamic group of women and men involved in making sure that people know about what we have to offer.”

LCCWA is one of 20 chapters in the state and was established in May of 1976. The chapter provides information and networking opportunities so that members can make a difference at local, state and federal levels.

LCCWA was the fifth chapter in the state of California to charter and the inaugural group of 30 women was led by Marilyn Holdenried; the original chapter included Rosalie Sisevich, Frances Seely, Toni Scully, Carolyn Henderson, Loris Keithly, Bernice Thomas, Joanne Ruddock and Vonna McCabe.

California Women for Agriculture exists to ensure that agriculture is protected for future generations through educating consumers, policymakers and their own membership about farming and ranching, advocating on behalf of agriculture and promoting California-grown products within the state.

The founding principal of California Women for Agriculture is to ensure and maintain a seat at the table for all of California’s farmers and ranchers.

California Women for Agriculture is an affiliate of the national advocacy organization American Agri-Women.

For questions about the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture, please contact Annette Hopkins at 707-263-3556.