Ag Tour Highlights Innovation Success

Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Practices in the San Joaquin Valley

A Friday, Aug. 25 tour of two San Joaquin Valley farms demonstrated the valley Air Pollution Control District’s and local agricultural communities’ commitment to achieving sustainable agricultural practices especially on smaller farming operations.

Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 2: Zero Hunger
2. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
3. Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
4. Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
5. Goal 13: Climate Action
6. Goal 15: Life on Land

Tour Highlights

• The tour visited a Fresno area farm to demonstrate the Hammel vineyard chipping equipment funded in part through the Air District’s Ag Burn Alternatives Grant Program. The equipment is unique as it can fully chip vineyard material that contains imbedded wire and stakes reducing the laborious process of hand removal. This grant program incentivizes open burning alternatives in preparation for the Jan. 1, 2025 near complete phase out of agricultural open burning in the Valley.
• The tour also visited a Kerman area farm to demonstrate the Tenias low-dust nut harvester equipment, which is a shaker/sweeper combination unit that shakes the almonds into a catcher, and then drops the nuts into windrows in one pass. This equipment, incentivized by the Valley Air District through the Low Dust Nut Harvester grant program, is pivotal in reducing localized air quality impacts stemming from nut harvesting.

Leadership and Collaboration

Highlighting the effectiveness and success of such programs, prominent leaders from the Valley’s agricultural sector, including the Nisei Farmers League, California Cotton Ginners Association, Western Agricultural Processors Association, Fresno County Farm Bureau, and other ag groups, provided the tour to state and local officials, from U.S. EPA-Region 9, CARB, USDA-NRCS, and representatives from state and federal elected officials.

“Given that the agricultural community is key in helping the Valley meet clean air goals, these programs must remain relevant and responsive to the needs in the field,” stated Stanislaus County Supervisor and Air District Governing Board Chair Vito Chiesa. “We must ensure all farmers, especially small farmers, have an opportunity to receive Air District funding to replace their dirty equipment and practices with effective, cleaner options.”

Positive Impact

Through these and other joint efforts over 12,500 old high-polluting agricultural pieces of equipment have been replaced and the open burning of over 194,000 acres (nearly 5,400,000 tons of woody waste) has been eliminated through non-burning alternative practices including chipping and soil incorporation.

“Agriculture has helped to clean up the Valley air,” stated Manuel Cunha Jr., President of the Nisei Farmers League. “We are showing elected officials and federal and state agencies the innovative technology currently being used in the fields to reduce particulate matter, especially in almond harvesting activities. The agriculture community is continuing to look at new technologies to help further reduce emissions from its activities.”

Supporting Valley Residents and Businesses

The Air District also offers a variety of programs to support Valley residents, businesses, and public agencies with cleaner equipment, vehicles, and practices. Visit www.valleyair.org/grants or call the grants team at 559-230-5800 for more information.

The Valley Air District covers eight counties including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and San Joaquin Valley air basin portions of Kern. For additional information about the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, visit www.valleyair.org or call 559-230-6000.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Indicator: Reduction in air pollution levels in the San Joaquin Valley through the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices and the use of cleaner equipment.

2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Indicator: Adoption of renewable energy sources in agricultural operations to reduce emissions and promote sustainable practices.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • Indicator: Reduction in localized air quality impacts stemming from nut harvesting through the use of low-dust nut harvester equipment.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Indicator: Implementation of programs and grants to replace old high-polluting agricultural equipment with cleaner options, reducing emissions and contributing to climate resilience.

5. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
   • Indicator: Elimination of open burning of woody waste through non-burning alternative practices, such as chipping and soil incorporation.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis:

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The issues highlighted in the article are connected to the following SDGs:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • SDG 13: Climate Action
   • SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under the identified SDGs are:

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can

   Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

   Source: escalontimes.com

    

   

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