10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 6-12, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com As an industry, ag tech is an amorphous and rapidly evolving space. It encompasses a wide array of technologies that include AI, drones, robots, autonomous tractors and even laser weeders. The potential of these innovations to transform our food systems is huge, with potential benefits that include enhanced farming efficiency, improved water conservation and reduced food waste. However, a lot of this technology is developed elsewhere, sometimes adapted for crops and landscapes that are unique to a particular region and often expensive to try. This is where a new research and development facility in Salinas fits in. The facility will not only serve as the first local on-farm incubator dedicated to testing robotics and climate-smart solutions on crops, but partner with schools and other groups to build the ag tech workforce right here in Monterey County. On Feb. 4, a $500,000 grant was awarded to support this project involving Hartnell College, Reservoir Farms, Mujeres en Acción and La Cultiva, through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), the California Jobs First initiative and Uplift Central Coast. “It’s really about social and economic mobility and community vibrancy,” Hartnell Superintendent Michael Gutierrez says. “When you have these ag tech startups, they’re either going to hire people from the outside or they’re going to hire people from within.” Monterey Bay DART, a nonprofit focused on air mobility jobs, the Western Growers Association and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources are also partners. WGA’s 4,000 members will connect with farmers, UC ANR will provide research, and Hartnell—along with Mujeres en Acción, La Cultiva and DART—will train the workforce. “It’s like a big community puzzle,” says Danny Bernstein, CEO of The Reservoir, which includes the farm. “Everyone brings their own differentiated piece.” Reservoir Farms is currently building a facility that will include a robotics space and a lab, located adjacent to a 40-acre farm. Five acres of the farm will be dedicated to research and development, while the remaining 35 acres will focus on specialty crops like leafy greens, berries, carrots and onions. “When we’re talking about aligning with industry, we’re reactionary. We wait until there’s labor market data that shows that there’s enough jobs available, and then we build a program,” Gutierrez says. “This puts us in a more proactive situation.” When Elon Musk of the Department of Government Efficiency waved a chainsaw around onstage in February, many federal employees interpreted the symbol quite literally. Others thought perhaps their departments would be spared. “Even with the rumors, I thought it wouldn’t happen to us. We usually have pretty good bipartisan support,” says Dalton Behringer, union steward for the Monterey office of the National Weather Service Employees Organization. “We are deemed essential, even in a shutdown.” Three of his colleagues at the NWS Monterey station—which serves 11 counties, home to roughly 8 million people—were terminated on Thursday, Feb. 27. The firings were part of widespread termination notices to employees within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Another impacted local agency is NOAA Fisheries, where three employees were terminated on Feb. 27. All six were on probation, a standard one-year period for civilian federal employees. They all received emails with the language: “The agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and/or skills do not fit the agency’s current needs.” “The employees got the emails they were being terminated before their supervisors were even aware,” Behringer says, noting there was about a half-hour window for them to pack up their belongings. The terminated employees at NOAA are a meteorologist, a facilities technician and an administrative assistant. At NOAA Fisheries, they are a physical scientist, a marine biologist and a communications specialist. No employees were fired from the local office of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, another NOAA division. A federal spokesperson for NOAA declined to respond to specific questions, but writes by email, “Per long-standing practice, we are not discussing internal personnel and management matters. NOAA remains dedicated to its mission.” Ag Boost A new partnership seeks to skill up the local agricultural workforce. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS BUDGETING BUDS The Monterey County Cannabis Committee meets to discuss the latest financials of cannabis operations and other updates. 2pm Thursday, March 6. Via Zoom at bit.ly/3XpxN9o. Free. CONE ZONE Work has begun to widen Boronda Road in Salinas. A community meeting will share information on the project and a roundabout at McKinnon Street. 6-7pm Thursday, March 6. McKinnon Elementary cafeteria, 2100 McKinnon St., Salinas. Free. 758-7407, bit. ly/4hYKWyi. SAFE STREETS The City of Monterey is developing a local road safety plan and wants to hear from residents. The goal is to find ways to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries in highly traveled areas of the city. 6-8pm Thursday, March 6. Monterey Public Library community meeting room, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. haveyoursaymonterey.org/local-roadsafety-plan. PLANNING MATTERS The Monterey County Planning Commission meets to discuss planning proposals, including a proposal to expand athletic facilities at All Saints Day School in Carmel. 9am Wednesday, March 12. Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. countyofmonterey.gov. BASIN BUSINESS The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency meets to discuss matters related to water. As always, public comment is welcome. 3-5pm Thursday, March 13. Salinas Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. svbgsa.org. FUTURE FUNDING The cities of Marina, Gonzales, Greenfield and Sand City, and the County of Monterey, are eligible to receive federal funding known as Community Development Block Grant funds. The public is invited to share input on how the funding can be used to address housing needs. 6-6:30pm Thursday, March 13. Council Chambers, 211 Hillcrest Ave., Marina. Free. Zoom meeting follows. cityofmarina.org. SMOKE STUDY The Counties of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz invite the public to participate in a survey to share potential health concerns stemming from the January battery fire at the Vistra Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility. Survey runs through March 14. English: mtyhd.org/MLFireSurvey. Spanish: mtyhd.org/EncuestraDeIncendiosML. The Chainsaw Effect At least six local NOAA employees are fired from the federal workforce. By Sara Rubin A rendering depicts Reservoir Farms’ forthcoming ag tech incubator, slated to open in spring 2025 in Salinas. The focus will be on robotics, precision agriculture and software. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “They’re either going to hire from the outside or from within.” COURTESY RESERVOIR FARMS
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