Capitol Farm Connection

Sites Project Authority Executive Director Jerry Brown (no relation to former Gov. Jerry Brown) discusses the timeline, funding, as well as water supply and environmental benefits of the reservoir project.  Listen as Ag Council President Emily Rooney poses pertinent questions about the off-river reservoir to be built north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and how it fits into the larger picture of improving California's water management system and restoring flexibility and reliability.

How does the Governor's recently released water supply plan improve or impact the water supply for agriculture?  Emily and Tricia walk through the high-level provisions including streamlining the permit projects for major water infrastructure projects, creating internal strike teams to expedite the process for supply and conveyance projects and current and additional investments in these areas.  The team also highlights issues of concerns such as a future look at curtailments and water rights.  The Governor's plan can be found here.

Emily and Tricia dive deep into the comprehensive statewide packaging measure, SB 54 (Allen), signed into law in June by Governor Newsom. SB 54 is aims at reducing single-use plastic packaging in California.  It places responsibility for the cost of the regulation on producers of that packaging.  This bill impacts the food industry in many aspects and Emily and Tricia walk through several key provisions. Though there is an important exemption for on-farm packaging, the measure will be challenging for many companies operating at the first point of processing. Listen-in as the team discusses how SB 54 addresses issues such as food safety, an exemption for on-farm packaging, confidentiality of data, and other core provisions that are priorities for Ag Council members.

As the Capitol Farm Connection podcast hits 50 episodes, Emily and Tricia discuss (anonymous) feedback from listeners selected from a recent podcast survey.   Ag Council is working to bring our members and friends the most informative and relevant podcast content possible, and your input is appreciated. Haven't taken the podcast survey? Click HERE for the quick survey. Thanks for your support and enjoy!

Exorbitant fees at the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) are the focus of today's In a Nutshell podcast.  Ag Council is leading a coalition to request financial relief from the General Fund in the state budget for the regulated community to respond to the out-of-control SWRCB fees that continue to increase on an annual basis. These funds would not be a total elimination of SWRCB fees for agriculture.  Instead, the dollars would partially reduce those fees and ensure those programs that benefit the public statewide, such as beach cleanup programs, are being paid for by General Fund dollars, rather than by those regulated by the SWRCB. Meanwhile, farmers would continue to pay for the operation of specific agricultural programs, such as the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. 

Get up to speed on legislation pending in the State Capitol.  Emily and Tricia discuss several bills moving through the State Legislature ranging from water to labor to the supply chain.  

Join Emily as she interviews president and CEO Dan Vincent with Pacific Coast Producers (PCP) in the newest Capitol Farm Connection episode.  Dan discusses the success he helped shape at PCP as challenges arose in the tomato industry and throughout agriculture.  He also highlights well thought-out investment strategies to tackle some of the toughest obstacles, such as labor. Pacific Coast Producers is an agricultural cooperative owned by over 150 family farms in Central and Northern California.  The cooperative specializes in canning fruit and tomatoes for private label brands all over the globe.  

Legislation sponsored by Ag Council to strengthen Buy American policies for public school food purchases is under consideration in the State Legislature. Emily and Tricia explain the need for the bill, SB 1308, and the importance of setting a Buy American standard into state law. SB 1308 is authored by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) and is supported by multiple agricultural organizations.

Emily and Tricia walk through the pertinent provisions of the Governor's recent drought Executive Order (EO) affecting agriculture in this podcast.  They cover new permit requirements in the groundwater section and the steps required under the EO to develop new wells or alter existing groundwater wells in areas subject to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and located in medium or high priority basins in California.  The team also covers legislation moving through the State Capitol that could impact the ability to get new wells in SGMA territories. To read a fact sheet about the EO developed by the Department of Water Resources, click here.

Curious about the final funding levels for significant agriculture and water programs in the state budget?  Emily and Tricia cover state budget funding outcomes resulting from our 2021 advocacy work for programs, including: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) projects, canal repairs for improved water conveyance, FARMER Program, Healthy Soils Program, incentives for ag burning alternatives, pollinator habitat protection, dairy methane reduction projects and others. 

Ag labor legislation known as card check is the focus of Ag Council's latest podcast.  Join Emily and Tricia for a quick episode as they walk through the outcome of ag labor legislation, AB 616 (Stone), this year and what's next, given that a new measure is being circulated again on this topic. Background Ag Council appreciates Governor Newsom's veto of AB 616 (Stone) in late September.  As reported in previous In the Know newsletters, the measure would have undermined the secret ballot for farmworkers when deciding union representation and eroded the supervisory role of the Ag Labor Relations Board.

Join Charlotte Mitchell and Randy Fiorini as they discuss opportunities, challenges and other considerations when contemplating an agricultural easement.  Charlotte is the Executive Director of California Farmland Trust and discusses the process for securing an easement and requirements to obtain funding. Randy reflects on the thought process as a multigenerational family farmer.  Emily chats with Charlotte and Randy as they walk through the pressures of urbanization, what the Newsom Administration is considering in this space and land use activities at the local level.  To learn more about California Farmland Trust, feel free to visit their website at: https://www.cafarmtrust.org.  

AB 616, water infrastructure, clean drinking water and food insecurity are among the issues discussed with Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) in this episode.  Representing State Senate District 14, including the cities of Hanford, Fresno & Porterville, Sen. Hurtado has prioritized water issues and the challenges of rural communities during her service in the State Legislature.  Listen in while Emily and Tricia ask about her district, critical issues and what motivated her to run for office.  To learn more about Sen. Hurtado, please visit: https://sd14.senate.ca.gov .      

Emily and Tricia discuss the provisions in AB 616 (Stone), which undermines the existing secret ballot process for ag employees when determining union representation. They also discuss how you can help weigh-in with the measure pending consideration in the State Senate.   To send a message to your State Senator urging opposition to AB 616, click here.  

During the height of the 2020 pandemic and wildfire season, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order to phase out gasoline-powered cars, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and create an economy around Zero Emission Vehicles.  Learn about what this Executive Order means for agriculture as Emily and Dani break down the issues in this episode of Capitol Farm Connection.  The Executive Order can be found by clicking here.  

Learn about the future of water storage, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), Voluntary Agreements and unimpaired flows and other land use decisions from the Secretary of California's Natural Resources Agency, Wade Crowfoot. Emily visits with the Secretary and they tackle many important issues at the nexus of agriculture and the environment. Secretary Crowfoot highlights the challenges and opportunities for agriculture within each of these programs as well.

An executive order issued by Governor Newsom in the fall could transform the way coastal and working lands are managed in California.  Learn about the opportunities and challenges in it for ag as Dani and Emily from the Ag Council team break down the goals of the 30x30 Executive Order.

Learn how curtailments in the Upper Russian River watershed could impact farmers throughout the state.  Emily & Tricia discuss proposed curtailments and how the state budget could assist with numerous water projects important to agriculture. To participate in the hearing at the State Water Resources Control Board, please visit this link to view the agenda: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/2021/jun/06_15_21_agenda_links.pdf  

Emily visits with K-deep Dhaliwal, a partner at Moss Adams LLP, which is one of Ag Council’s allied members. Emily and K-deep discuss how in the face of the global pandemic, agricultural companies are addressing obstacles, working to overcome massive uncertainty, and assessing what challenges remain on the horizon.   Emily and K-deep cover what steps successful companies are taking to weather the storm, the hurdles remaining in the agribusiness sector, and potential staffing options that could provide flexibility and attract agricultural business talent. K-deep leads the firm’s agribusiness practice for California.  K-deep advises clients in the food and ag industry and has over 15 years of experience.  He specializes in ag cooperatives, vertically integrated farming operations and institutional investor owned businesses.  K-deep is the past president of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives and currently serves on the board for the Far West Chapter.  For more information, please visit Moss Adams' website at: https://www.mossadams.com/home or contact K-deep at k-deep.dhaliwal@mossadams.com. 

What is going on this Spring?  Tricia and Emily tackle the latest issues including water quality, animal ag issues, pollinators and what's being considered for upcoming budget discussions.  Tune in to learn more!

Don’t miss this unique and informative interview with State Water Resources Control Board Member Laurel Firestone as she speaks with Emily about water priorities, the status of unimpaired flows and voluntary agreements, as well as the budget process. Emily and Laurel discuss areas of common ground between agriculture and the environmental justice community. And, Laurel pulls the curtain back on the challenges and opportunities of working for the state government.  It’s a must listen!

Dani Diele is Ag Council’s newest staff addition who began serving in her role as membership & public policy coordinator early last fall. Dani discusses the policy issues she is working on for Ag Council, such as ag burning, insurance issues in high risk areas and the upcoming Annual Meeting on March 10, 2021. With much of our work virtual and conducted remotely, this is a chance for our members and friends to get to know Dani since many people have not had the opportunity to meet her in person. 

Explore how the Biden Administration changes the outlook on a number of policy issues impacting agriculture.  Opportunities arise with immigration reform, school breakfast and lunch programs and climate policies.  Questions emerge around fiscal and economic policy and the balance of Congress over the course of the next four years.  Emily discusses these topics and more with Chuck Conner, CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC).   NCFC advances the business and policy interests of America’s cooperatives and other farmer-owned businesses, through its work on federal policy issues in Washington, DC. Ag Council and a number of its members are part of NCFC.  For more information, please visit: http://ncfc.org .

Learn about the opportunities and challenges in the Governor's Budget proposal and the outlook for agriculture. Topics include (but are not limited to): Funding for climate smart ag grant programs Funds for regulatory alignment at CalEPA and CDFA The outlook for food banks Potential fee increase at Department of Pesticide Regulation Ag Council will continue to engage on these and other issues. For further information, please visit www.agcouncil.org.

In the first episode of 2021, the team dives into an area of strong interest to the food and ag community – vaccines.  In this quick and informative “In a Nutshell” episode, Emily and Tricia answer a handful of the major questions regarding the vaccine rollout, distribution, prioritization for the food and ag sector, as well as the role of the state and counties in the process. Thank you for listening!

Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) is the featured guest joining Emily and Tricia on this week’s Capitol Farm Connection podcast covering a multitude of issues facing our members and Californians.   Assemblywoman Eggman discusses growing up on a small farm in Turlock, her run for State Senate, policy priorities, efforts during the pandemic and work to address disparities among Californians, and what gives her hope during this unparalleled year.  Assemblywoman Eggman is a U.S. Army veteran, a licensed social worker, earned her Ph.D., and served on the Stockton City Council.  She’s a member of the Latino Caucus, the LGBTQ Caucus and the Women’s Caucus in the Legislature. 

The Senate Republican Caucus was muted during debate, Speaker Rendon receives negative press due to denying a new mother the option to vote from home and the Attorney General makes a bold move to vastly increase his powers in a last ditch legislative effort that we successfully defeated.   A crazy ending concludes an equally crazy legislative year.  Listen in to hear Emily and Tricia discuss issues such as employee leave, workers compensation and the latest update from Governors Central Valley strike teams.  The Ag Council team breaks down the issues and how they defended the industry in this suspenseful legislative year.  

Expansion of employee leave, changes to workers comp and limitations on food byproducts used for animal feed are some of the items up for consideration at the end of this year's legislative session.  Emily and Tricia discuss expectations for the end of session as well as the Governor's efforts to support farmworkers through the pandemic.  The Governor is demonstrating a renewed focus in the Central Valley and other areas of high risk in an overall effort to get hospitalization numbers down.  The Ag Council team dives into these issues as well as a new "Housing for the Harvest" program being created by CDFA.  Listen in to learn more!

You are at risk of higher property taxes due to Prop. 15, a ballot initiative qualified for the November election.  Prop. 15 would repeal Prop. 13 property tax protections for businesses in California.  Emily and Tricia break down Prop. 13, Prop. 15 that's qualified for November, all of the political issues surrounding the two propositions and discuss what Ag Council is doing about it.   **Today's key take-away:  if you want to defeat higher property taxes, vote no on Prop. 15!** To participate in, or to learn more about the opposition efforts, go to: http://www.agcouncil.org/no-on-prop-15 This podcast is in Q + A format.  Questions include: - What is the original Prop. 13 as we know it? - What exactly has qualified for the November 2020 ballot? - Why should agriculture care? - Didn't we vote on this already? - What is the title of Prop. 15 in November? - What is Ag Council doing about it? - How can I participate? Learn about all of this and more in today's episode of "In A Nutshell."

Assemblyman Jim Cooper shares his thoughts regarding calls for change in law enforcement and he speaks about the state budget, water and environmental issues in the Legislature.   Asm. Cooper is Chair of the Budget Subcommittee on State Administration and he serves on the Insurance Committee, Governmental Organization Committee and the Public Employees Retirement and Social Security Committee. Prior to becoming a member of the State Legislature, Assemblyman Cooper served as a captain in the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department and served as Elk Grove's founding mayor and as a council member.

Emily and Tricia discuss potential changes to the cap & trade program and the latest information regarding the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in today's episode of Capitol Farm Connection.  As the Legislature considers changes to the statewide budget, a new climate proposal is being considered that would add additional costs for businesses and residents in California.  On the SGMA front, the Department of Water Resources provided an update to the State Water Resources Control Board regarding the Groundwater Sustainability Plans.  Learn how Ag Council is engaging on behalf of the agricultural community on these issues. 

This week, the governor issued an Executive Order regarding Workers' Compensation and announced updated budget shortfalls, revealing more information on California's fiscal outlook.   Learn about how both of these issues potentially impact California agriculture in today's episode. Emily and Tricia discuss the parameters required for employees to utilize the new Workers' Comp benefit and the concerns they raised to Administration officials prior to the governor's actions.  A copy of a joint press statement can be found at this link: http://www.agcouncil.org/labor-2.

Governor Newsom's recent Executive Order (EO) regarding supplemental sick leave and his consideration of a potential EO regarding Workers' Comp are the latest issues impacting agricultural businesses.  Emily and Tricia break down these issues, discuss the pros and cons and their engagement with the Administration on these topics.  Tricia highlights recent legislative activities and the political environment in Sacramento as well. To review a copy of the EO pertaining to sick leave, click here. 

Work in Sacramento may be occurring remotely, but developments are occurring at a rapid pace.  Executive Orders from the Governor, new guidances from CalOSHA and other state regulatory agencies, and shifting priorities in the Legislature are changing the way we do business in California as a response to the pandemic.  Emily and Tricia dive into these issues, and more, in today's episode.   If you are looking for a way to give back, please consider a contribution to the California Association of Food Banks.  Their website can be located by clicking here.

Ag Council President, Emily Rooney, sits down with Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.  Karen and Emily discuss several timely issues impacting agriculture, including the Governor's budget, the PG&E and the utility/wildfire crisis, the future of crop protection materials and the state of the dairy industry.  Karen also highlights the Governor's "California for All," initiative and his dedication to the San Joaquin Valley and inland regions of California, underscored by his work with the San Joaquin Valley Partnership and his plans to create a "Food Innovation Corridor," between UC Merced and Fresno State. Karen wraps-up the episode with her views on the promise of agriculture in California and the unique environment the State provides to continue to enable success for the industry.

Emily and Tricia discuss the major policy themes in the State Capitol including highlights of the Governor's 2020 Water Resilience Portfolio, his proposed budget and the Food Production Investment Program. With a major focus on the budget, Tricia highlights Governor Newsom’s priorities, agricultural programs funded with climate dollars, water-related funding and the budget process.

Ag Council President, Emily Rooney, interviews Mark Jansen, CEO of Blue Diamond Growers. Mark discusses his plans for continued innovation on the product side, Blue Diamond's new membership policies and the shared philosophies between him and his friendly competitors in the industry. Mark also discusses his new leadership position at the California Chamber of Commerce and tackles some of the policies coming out of Washington and Sacramento. Mark and Emily also discuss the benefits of a strong Board of Directors, engaged membership and the collaborative missions of Blue Diamond and Ag Council.

Cannon Michael & Michael Frantz join Emily in a conversation about water and the politics surrounding it in CA.  Cannon Michael is a 6th generation farmer and Chairman of the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority (SLDMWA).  Michael Frantz is CEO of Frantz Wholesale Nursery and a Board Member of Turlock Irrigation District (TID).   Cannon & Michael discuss local projects, managing conflicting state & federal regulations, & provide insights in areas where they see positive change happening. For more information on the SLDMWA, please visit: http://sldmwa.org For more information regarding TID, please visit: https://www.tid.org For additional information, please visit the Water Education Foundation's Website: https://www.watereducation.org

Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D - Baldwin Park) was born in Juarez, Mexico, and came to California with her parents at a young age.  Through perseverance and hard work, she became a teacher, was elected to the local water board, the school board, and now serves as the Assemblywoman for the 48th District in California.   Assemblywoman Rubio discusses the impacts being an undocumented child has had on her family and the lingering effects throughout the state.  She also goes into detail about the priorities in her district including water, education, domestic violence and issues weighing on foster children and working and immigrant families. As a Moderate Democrat, Rubio reflects on the manufacturing presence in her district and its uniqueness from the City of Los Angeles.  She also touches on agricultural issues and highlights the areas we all have in common and opportunities to work together. To learn more about Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, go to her website at:  https://a48.asmdc.org. She can also be contacted through the portal on her site, located at: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD48.    

Emily and Tricia discuss hot topics in the State Legislature this year and how legislation regarding vaccinations impacted the overall climate in the Capitol.  They also cover the recent passage of SB 1, and it's imminent veto by Governor Newsom.  Additionally, Emily and Tricia discuss the outlook for single-use packaging and what it means for food companies heading into 2020.

Ag Council President, Emily Rooney, interviews Harry Overly, new CEO of Sun-Maid Growers.  Harry discusses his efforts to transform the company and the raisin industry, both internally and externally.  He gives us a peek into his vision for Sun-Maid and a deeper look into their work in marketing, advertising and consumer attitudes.  Harry highlights consumer nostalgia around the Sun-Maid brand and their modernized marketing campaign. Harry also discusses industry issues such as the historical pricing model and pressures from international markets, the impacts from trade agreements and conflicts and also the challenges around doing business in the State of California. He also reflects on the cooperative's grower-owners and Sun-Maid's partnership with Ag Council.

Ashley Boren is the Executive Director of Sustainable Conservation, which helps California thrive by uniting people to solve the toughest challenges facing our land, air, and water resources. Sustainable Conservation brings together business, landowners and government to steward the resources that we all depend on in ways that make economic sense.   In today's episode, Ashley discusses the work they have done on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), work they have accomplished in the dairy industry and a project they conducted in the Central Coast around Nitrogen Use Efficiency.   To learn more about Sustainable Conservation, please visit their website at:  https://suscon.org.

Ag Council President Emily Rooney interviews newly elected 2019-2020 FFA State President Carlyn Marsh.    Carlyn is an impressive young leader who recently spent nearly a year working with Ag Council as an intern, and our team is proud to be part of her leadership journey.   During the podcast, Carlyn discusses her work with FFA, as well as what she learned about the political process during her time with Ag Council.  She also provides advice to students and talks about her aspirations as FFA president.    Once she concludes her term as a state FFA officer, Carlyn plans to begin her college career at UC Davis beginning in the fall of 2020. To learn more about CA FFA, please visit this website: https://www.calaged.org To make a donation to CA FFA, feel free to visit the Foundation website, located at: https://www.calaged.org/Foundation This episode also discusses the PLANT foundation, which is a non-profit dedicated to creating interest in the next generation of students in science and technology and engaging them to pursue a career in agriculture.  To learn more about PLANT, please visit:  https://www.plantfoundation.org.  

Today's discussion includes many activities at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and in the State Capitol.  Emily highlights leadership changes at the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and ongoing discussions at the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) regarding fees and an effort to reduce compliance costs for the various permitting programs.   On the Legislative front, there have been changes to the drinking water effort and Tricia walks through where we are on the state budget process.  A number of "budget trailer bills" have been moving through the Legislature containing important policy changes.  Additionally, the Governor is working hard on expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and we expect a vote on that in the coming weeks as well. **PLEASE NOTE:  This podcast was recorded prior to the pesticide exposure incident in Tulare County affecting farmworkers on June 18.  The farmworkers were treated by first responders, with a few taken to the hospital, and we are thankful they felt better after being treated.  Farmers care deeply about the health and safety of their employees.  Farmers take every precaution to protect the well-being of farmworkers and follow strict laws and regulations pertaining to the application of pesticides.  For further information about the incident, please go to this link HERE for an ABC30 news story. 

Mike Wade is the Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition.  We discuss the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), Unimpaired Flows and Voluntary Agreements, and various efforts around the state to improve surface water management and supply. Today's discussion is a high-level overview of these very complex topics, and to learn more about them and the coalition, feel free to visit their website at https://www.farmwater.org.  

In this episode, Ag Council explores current and future tax proposals in California.  Emily reviews previous and pending ballot propositions and Tricia highlights current tax bills pending before the State Legislature.  Proposals include an attempt to repeal existing business tax incentives, the resurgence of an estate tax in CA and a proposal to increase fees to assist with 911 and emergency response systems.  The discussion also highlights the political realities influencing outcomes of the various proposals and what is at risk for State Legislators -- or not. Many of these bills have been amended in the State Legislature, and the Ag Council team discusses the likelihood of the proposals returning and how and when they may come back for another round of consideration.    

Hear about how agriculture created an unlikely alliance with the environmental justice community to solve a drinking water crisis in CA that impacts approximately 1 million people.  Discussion includes how the drinking water package came together, details about how funds will be generated and the inclusion of ag policy language that provides a pathway to compliance for groundwater issues. The Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund continues to be a top priority for Ag Council. This is the first episode of the "California Water Series," taking a deeper look at some of the water challenges impacting California agriculture. 

In this episode, we cover two week's worth of activities in and around Sacramento.  Hear a little bit about the bills up for consideration in the State Legislature and the latest at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).  We also discuss some industry events from the California Ag Leadership Program, California FFA, Fresno State and Blue Diamond Growers.

Some of our listeners may have received a letter from the California Air Resources Board or from their local air district explaining that they must comply with AB 617, legislation that passed in 2017 regarding the monitoring of criteria pollutants.  There have been dramatic changes in the proposed regulations that could potentially impact your business.  Listen to learn more! And please let us know if you've heard from the California Air Resources Board by e-mailing us at podcast@agcouncil.org.

This is the week of March 18 and we highlight this week's activities at the State Water Board, Air Board, what's going on in the Legislature and talk a little bit about Ag Day at the Capitol.

Jenny Lester Moffitt discusses her role at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).  She also walks through CDFA's role in working within the Administration on some of agriculture's toughest issues such as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, Food Safety Modernization Act, and SB 27, the nation's first antibiotics law.  Jenny also highlights challenges and opportunities she sees in the next five to ten years for the industry.