Farmer wanted: A Tulare County land trust is seeking a new board member

The Tule Basin Land and Water Conservation Trust is looking for a farmer who owns or leases irrigated land in southern Tulare County to fill a seat on its board of directors. 

The trust was founded in 2020 in response to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the state’s groundwater law that requires aquifers to be balanced by 2040. The trust facilitates conservation easements, farm diversification and land repurposing programs to reduce groundwater pumping and help farmers in the Tule subbasin reach sustainability.

Executive director Nick Reed-Krase said a farmer’s knowledge is key to board decisions. 

“Our mission is to preserve local farmland and the local economy,” Reed-Krase said. “Having someone who knows agriculture is crucial to how we think about our work and make our decisions. We want to make sure we don’t lose that perspective.”

Practical insights from farmers have proved critical at the trust’s Capinero Creek habitat restoration site, helping guide decisions such as infrastructure improvements, mowing native grasses and knowing which grazing animals are best for the land. 

“These are questions I can’t bring to a lawyer or engineer,” he said. 

He added that the trust is focusing on irrigation efficiency, healthy soils, and programs to restore upland habitat and floodplains. Farmers of all ages are encouraged to apply, especially those younger than 50. 

The trust is governed by a seven-member board with three ag seats, two technical seats and two at-large members. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more details on the Tule Trust, visit www.tuletrust.org. To apply, fill out the Google form https://lnkd.in/g-V-awY9, or call the trust office at (559) 358-4414.