California Ag Network

Category: Featured Post

  • CDFA Holds Dairy Double Header

    On Monday, February 2, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. While Phil was focused on the weather, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) was busy holding two virtual meetings on California dairy issues.

    The first meeting was a Producer Review Board (PRB) meeting. After the meeting was called to order, CDFA addressed board vacancies. The call for nominations remains open due to multiple vacancies, some resulting from recent resignations. Members of the dairy community were encouraged to apply or nominate qualified candidates.

    The discussion then turned to remaining funds in the former Pooling and Marketing branches of the state milk marketing order, which were left over after the transition to the California Federal Milk Marketing Order. CDFA has been providing updates on these funds for several years in preparation for their eventual release. At this meeting, CDFA reported that updated accounting showed lower balances than previously announced: approximately $2.053 million in the former Pooling Division and $2.6 million in the former Marketing Division, down from earlier estimates of about $3.5 million in each account.

    CDFA explained that it is conducting a transaction-by-transaction audit of the originating accounts to confirm the final balances, but indicated that the figures presented at this meeting were believed to be accurate. The PRB focused on the former Pooling Division funds, while the Marketing Division funds were scheduled to be discussed in a separate meeting later that afternoon.

    Related to this discussion, CDFA announced that the Quota Implementation Program (QIP) administrative fee was reinstated effective February 1, 2026, due to low account balances and the need to fund administrative operations, including development of a new QIP software tool.

    CDFA presented two options for use of the former Pooling Division funds. One option, previously discussed, was to refund the funds directly to individual dairy producers, though CDFA noted that administrative costs would significantly reduce the amount returned. A second option, newly identified by CDFA, but offered by Western United Dairies Board in January of 2024, would use the former Pooling Division funds to cover QIP administrative costs, eliminating the need to charge producers the QIP administrative fee for more than a year.

    The PRB adopted resolutions recommending that the Secretary of Agriculture move the former state pooling funds into a separate account to improve transparency and use the funds to support QIP administration. Later in the meeting, the board also approved a resolution to suspend the QIP administrative fee assessment effective March 1, meaning producers will be assessed the fee for February only.

    The agenda then moved to hardship petitions, with 16 requests before the board. CDFA legal staff recommended tabling hardship requests from four dairies involved in ongoing litigation against the Department and individual board members; the board approved this recommendation.

    The board denied the first hardship request, submitted by a raw milk producer citing bird flu impacts. At this point, several other petitioners, or their attorneys, requested continuances to allow more time for preparation, which the board approved. As the meeting approached 1:00 p.m.—when the next CDFA meeting was scheduled—the board moved more quickly through the remaining items and another hardship was denied. CDFA had deemed four of the hardship requests incomplete. The board took up all four in one motion and denied them due to insufficient information. Another request was tabled due to time constraints, and the meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.

    The second meeting focused on funds from the former Marketing Division. CDFA referenced a prior meeting in which approximately $3.5 million had been discussed as potential funding for industry grants benefiting both producers and processors. At that earlier meeting, there was broad agreement by the industry that the California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF) would be an appropriate entity to administer those funds.

    At this meeting, CDFA clarified that the available funding was actually $2.6 million, reflecting the updated accounting. CDFA also explained that it could not issue the funds to CDRF as a block grant because CDFA grants must be issued on a reimbursement basis for projects already underway or completed. Meeting participants suggested that the funds be treated as a refund to the industry rather than a grant, since the money originated from producer and processor assessments. CDFA expressed openness to this approach but indicated that further review would be needed. CDFA concluded by stating that it will continue working with industry representatives to determine the most appropriate and effective use of the former Marketing Division funds, with further discussion to follow.

    Punxsutawney Phil may be calling for six more weeks of winter, but he does not have the insight of seeing the bees show up in California from all over the nation as an indicator that Spring is just around the corner and almond blossoms will soon be here. — By Paul Sousa, Director of Regulatory and Environmental Affairs for Western United Dairies

  • A Scientific Journey to Achieve the Perfect Steak Bite

    Researchers at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS), U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, NE, continue to make significant discoveries towards achieving consistent beef tenderness across all cuts. Their work helps farmers, livestock producers, meat producers, and even grocery stores and restaurants make sure the meat you eat is as tender and tasty as possible.

    Beef tenderness is one of the most important characteristics consumers look for when selecting beef cuts. If the meat is tough, consumers are less likely to buy it again. Given the substantial role of beef in American agriculture — according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, cattle production accounts for about 22% of all farming revenue in the U.S. — the beef industry aims to ensure every piece of beef is tender to keep consumers satisfied.

    Various factors can affect meat tenderness, such as breed, diet, age, and cattle management. In addition, during processing, factors like chilling rate, the aging process, and the temperature and acidity levels in the muscle can all influence meat tenderness. However, until recently, scientists were not able to explain more than about 40% of the tenderness variation in beef steaks.

    ARS Research Food Technologist Andy King, at USMARC’s Meat Safety and Quality Research Unit, led a team of scientists to examine the metabolic pathways within the muscles that may influence the quality of meat post-harvest. Previous studies identified enzymes, proteins, and metabolites present within several pathways that were associated with tenderness variation. To build on that work, the USMARC scientists studied how these molecules interacted with one another and other known factors such as muscle shortening and aging, finding that it is not just one factor but a combination of different processes that play a huge role in tenderness — each impacting the others in intricate ways.

    “It’s like a matrix of interacting factors that now help us explain much more of the variation occurring inside the meat, showing that tenderness isn’t caused by just one thing, but is the result of many factors working together,” said USMARC Research Leader Tommy Wheeler.

    King explains that the way muscles utilize oxygen, breakdown proteins, and generate energy all influence the tenderness of the meat, and these processes vary among different beef cuts, such as NY strip or top sirloin steaks, but the overall concept is the same.

    “Now that we have a deeper understanding of all the factors influencing beef tenderness, we can begin developing strategies for the beef industry to manage these variables, ensuring consistently tender beef,” said King.

    Details on the peer-reviewed study can be found at https://doi.org/10.22175/mmb.20241.

    This study is part of a series at USMARC aimed at enhancing consumer dining experiences and increasing profitability for beef producers, which is a win-win for everyone. – by Maribel Alonso, ARS Office of Communications

  • USDA Announces Agribusiness Trade Missions for 2026

    As part of President Donald J. Trump’s unprecedented efforts to boost American agricultural exports, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) commitment to expanding and diversifying global market opportunities for U.S. agriculture, USDA will host six Agribusiness Trade Missions in 2026.

    “Every single day, President Trump’s cabinet is breaking down barriers and expanding new markets to sell the bounty of American agriculture. Boosting exports is critical to the success of the agricultural economy, and the American economy as a whole. Each year, USDA’s team of marketing and trade experts pinpoint new and growing global markets that offer top-notch prospects for U.S. exporters,” said Luke J. Lindberg, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. “This year, we are focusing those efforts on markets where President Trump has put America’s farmers and ranchers on an even playing field across the globe.”

    The Agribusiness Trade Missions scheduled for 2026 include:

    • Jakarta, Indonesia: February 2026
    • Manila, Philippines: April 2026
    • Istanbul, Turkey: May 2026
    • Australia and New Zealand: August 2026
    • Saudi Arabia: September 2026
    • Vietnam: November 2026

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Jakarta, Indonesia: February 2026

    Under the Trump administration’s agreement, Indonesia would eliminate tariffs on more than 99% of U.S. products and address long-standing barriers to U.S. agricultural trade, opening doors to expanded market access in the world’s fourth-largest country.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Manila, Philippines: April 2026

    In July, the Trump administration announced that the Philippines is opening its market to the United States and charging zero tariffs while the Philippines will pay 19 percent tariffs to the United States. 2026 also marks the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippines diplomatic relations.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Istanbul, Turkey: May 2026

    This ATM will provide invaluable engagement opportunities to address tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, such as import bans on U.S animal protein. Turkey is also strategically positioned as a regional transshipment hub, with this ATM connecting U.S. exporters with buyers from across the Caucasus region.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Melbourne, Australia: August/September 2026

    Following the Trump administration’s trade wins in Australia, U.S. producers will take advantage of major trade breakthroughs that give greater access to U.S. beef exporters, as well as capitalize on comprehensive duty-free market access under the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia: September 2026

    This ATM will allow USDA to engage with Saudi officials on technical issues and non-tariff barriers affecting U.S. agricultural exports to the 23rd largest export market. Saudi Arabia is the largest economy and gateway to the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) which together import over $3 billion in U.S. agricultural exports annually.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Vietnam: November 2026

    USDA maintains a large footprint in Vietnam working to increase market opportunities for U.S. producers in one of the fastest growing Southeast Asian economies. This ATM to Vietnam will capitalize on several key market wins including preferential access for certain U.S. agricultural products including specialty cheese and meats, as well as improved market access for U.S. peaches and nectarines.   

    Additional information about USDA trade missions can be found at https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions. To receive email updates, go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/usdafas/subscriber/new, enter your contact information, and select the “Trade Missions” topic. — USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

  • Doubled Peaches Cause Double Trouble for Growers and Processors

    Two for one deals aren’t always a bargain growers are looking for. Doubles can occur in stone fruits like peaches when environmental factors like water stress impact the developing ovary and cause it to create a twin. This can result in off sizes and challenges for processors. UCCE Farm Advisor Cameron Zuber spoke about the issue at the Malcolm Media Tree & Vine Expo, and with Matthew Malcolm of California Ag Network. Watch this quick video and learn more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot for their industry support.

  • U.S. Truffle Growers to Gather in Sonoma County

    The North American Truffle Growers’ Association (NATGA) 2026 Congress will feature two full days of useful, relevant research and the latest information on truffle cultivation. You’ll be able to network with industry experts, successful truffle producers and leading truffle researchers. In addition to the scientific content, we are adding unique Sonoma County Events centered around truffles, such as wine and truffle bite pairing and a moderated panel discussion with well-known Michelin Star Chefs.

    For the first time ever, we are also offering three additional Bonus Truffle Experiences, with a variety of optional programs including: Cooking With Truffles, Truffle Dog Training and the Truffle Microscopy Workshop.

    These Bonus Truffle Experiences will take place before and/or after the Congress for an additional fee.

    Congress kicks off on Sunday evening at the Flamingo Resort, June 14 with our annual Welcome Reception where you can connect with old friends, meet new NATGA supporters and network with the experts. Day One will start at the Flamingo Resort and will feature presentations from our Keynote Speaker, Professor Alessandra Zambonelli, as well as additional industry professionals on topics related to truffle cultivation, production, and marketing of truffles. The afternoon will be spent touring a Sonoma County truffle orchard and vineyards, watching a truffle dog demonstration, and experiencing fabulous Sonoma County wines, paired with gourmet truffle bites prepared by Eric Anderson, a Michelin Star Chef.

    Day Two will include our annual NATGA members Business Meeting, an additional presentation by Prof Zambonelli as well as more truffle and Ag industry professionals in the morning. For the first time ever, the afternoon will also be available to the public via a Day Pass. The afternoon session, From Soil Prep to Harvest: Latest Research and Development for Truffle Cultivation will also be especially informative for those considering starting a truffle orchard. We’ll also feature a moderated Chef Panel Discussion with Michelin Star Chefs, a Truffle Marketplace, and Silent Auction. Congress concludes with our Closing Reception and Wine and Truffle Bite pairing.

    Agenda Highlights

    Keynote Speaker: Alessandra Zambonelli, PhD, Univ of Bologna, Italy

    • State of the Truffle Industry and Perspectives from Italy
    • Latest Developments and Techniques in Improving Soil Microbiomes

    Breeding and Training Exceptional Truffle-Hunting Dogs, Raúl Deoiz, Spain Founder and Manager of Trufdog.

    Truffle Species and Tree Species; New Combinations and Opportunities, Brian Upchurch, Carolina Truffiéres, NC

    Chef Panel Discussion with Michelin Star Chefs

    Optional Programs

    NATGA are preparing a series of extra curricular opportunities which may require additional fees

    Sunday 6/14.

    • Truffle Orchard Tours
    • Microscopy Course – Ann Scanlan
    • Cooking Class – Carey Angerer
    • Dog Training Class – Fran Angerer

    Wednesday 6/17

    • Truffle Orchard Tours
    • Microscopy Course
    • Cooking Class
    • Dog Training Class
    • Mushroom producer tour

    For more information, visit the NATGA website at https://trufflegrowers.com/event/natga-congress-spring-2026/. — North American Truffle Growers’ Association

  • New Bill To Help Small Wineries Sell Wine & Offer Tastings At California Farmers Markets

    State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 917 on January 27th that will create opportunities for small winemakers to connect with consumers face-to-face by expanding who can sell wine and offer tastings at certified farmers markets.

    “California’s wine industry is facing one of the most difficult periods in decades,” said Laird. “Small wineries are closing, vineyards are being removed, and growers are leaving fruit on the vine. This bill is about giving family-scale winemakers a fair chance to connect directly with consumers, while maintaining strong public safety standards.”

    Sponsored by the Family Winemakers of California and the California Association of Winegrape Growers, SB 917 modernizes existing law governing Type 79 farmers market wine permits to better reflect today’s wine economy and help small producers reach new consumers.

    “Independent, family-owned wineries are essential to California’s wine identity and are where innovation, sustainability, and authenticity thrive,” said GinaLisa Tamayo, Chair of the Family Winemakers of California Board of Directors. “Expanding access to farmers market sales is critical for small businesses who rely on direct-to-consumer opportunities and this bill provides a fair and accessible pathway for small producers to compete and thrive.”

    “Vine-to-glass speaks to the farm-to-fork and ‘buy local’ sentiment that brings folks to their farmers market,” said Michael Miiller, Director of Government Relations for the California Association of Winegrape Growers. “We are happy to work with Senator Laird on this important issue and thank him for his leadership.”   

    Under current law, winemakers may only sell wine at farmers markets if it is produced exclusively from “estate-grown” grapes, meaning all grapes must be grown on-site. This requirement excludes many small and boutique wineries that responsibly source grapes from California growers. In addition, existing law limits instructional tastings to only one Type 79 permit holder per farmers market, regardless of market size or capacity.

    Laird’s legislation would allow non-estate wineries to sell wine at farmers markets, which will ensure equitable market access for the over 700 winegrowers in Senate District 17 and empower farmers markets to decide how many permit holders to allow. It will also encourage consumers to buy locally made wine, supporting small businesses and regional economic growth.

    “Farmers markets are one of the most effective ways for small producers to tell their story, educate consumers, and build loyal customer relationships,” Laird said. “By removing outdated barriers and trusting local market operators, we can support small wine businesses, strengthen local economies, and preserve California’s agricultural heritage.”

  • Farm Credit Fly-In Helps Lawmakers Understand Farm Country’s Needs

    Because few members of Congress have personal connections to agriculture, it’s important that the ag community continue to meet with lawmakers to keep them informed of farmers’ needs.

    “Just 6% of the nation’s 435 Representatives and 100 Senators have a strong connection to agriculture, which is why Farm Credit brings farmers and Farm Credit executives to Washington, DC, every other year as part of the Farm Credit Fly-In,” said Kevin Ralph, AgWest Farm Credit’s California President.

    “Because so few members have a strong connection to agriculture, we have to go the extra mile to help them understand what Farm Country is like.”

    California-based representatives from AgWest, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit and Golden State Farm Credit were among the 800 people from around the country who journeyed to the Capitol in late 2025 to meet with Congressional members and staff. The organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

    The messages are two-fold, Ralph said.

    “Every day, Farm Credit works to fulfill its mission to be a reliable source of funding for the agricultural community. Having our customers there to tell members and their staff what it’s like harvesting wine grapes right now is important – members can learn what farmers are facing and how they can help,” he said.

    The second focus is on legislation specific to Farm Credit.

    “It’s important for us to advocate for our California farmer and rancher customers on the importance of a new Farm Bill,” said Jacob DeBoer, a senior regional marketing manager for American AgCredit’s California Valley region. “It gives farmers and ranchers certainty and provides a safety net from unpredictable events, such as droughts, market crashes and input cost spikes.”

    DeBoer said several key fiscal measures important to Farm Credit’s success were included in H.R. 1, the comprehensive budget reconciliation bill enacted in 2025, but other important issues are still pending.

    “We still need reauthorization of the Farm Bill’s 12 titles,” said Marc Busalacchi, American AgCredit’s executive business manager of strategic initiatives. “We need updates to things like reference prices, ARC and PLC structure and dairy margin coverage reforms. Californians would also really like to see specialty crop and horticulture provisions, which were not included in H.R. 1.

    “We also focused on issues that affect Farm Credit’s ability to better fulfill its mission,” Busalacchi added. “The Farm Credit System was created by an act of Congress in 1916, and often legislative changes are needed to allow it to keep up with changing conditions. It’s important that we make our needs known to Congress.”

    For example, a top priority for Fly-In participants was to gain support for legislation to allow Farm Credit to provide home loans in additional rural communities.

    Since 1971, the Farm Credit System has been allowed to provide loans to purchase non-farm homes in rural communities of 2,500 or less. Because some rural towns have gradually grown in population over the years, the proposed bill would allow these loans to be made in communities of up to 10,000 people. This would make up to an additional 1.8 million rural Californians eligible.

    Busalacchi said this small change would be a game-changer for many rural residents.

    “Besides the fact that many rural bank branches have closed over the years, making these communities lending deserts, rural home loans are most often non-conventional and may not be appealing to traditional lenders that want to sell loans on the secondary market since many rural home loans can’t be sold that way,” Busalacchi said.

    “Because Farm Credit specializes in non-conforming loans in these communities, it would allow more rural families to become homeowners and help stabilize rural towns.”

    Farm Credit’s other priorities include increasing limits on direct and guaranteed loans by the Farm Service Agency, clarifying Farm Credit’s lending authority to invest in essential community facilities such as rural health clinics and allowing fishing-related businesses to borrow from Farm Credit in the same way as farm-related companies.

    During the Fly-In, California Farm Credit officials and customers met with Reps. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael; Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield; Jim Costa, D-Fresno; David Valadao, R-Hanford; Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena; and the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale.

    After a successful day on Capitol Hill sharing customer stories and advocating for legislation, Farm Credit welcomed lawmakers and staff to the Fly-In Marketplace Reception, which showcased Farm Credit customers and their products from across the country.

    About Farm Credit:

    AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. For more information, visit www.farmcreditalliance.com.

  • Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Highlights Shift Toward Planning and Stabilization

    The 2026 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium concluded January 29th with signs of a broader shift in the American wine and grape industry, as conversations moved from acknowledging market disruption to planning for stabilization and future opportunity.

    “This year’s symposium reflected a grounded and forward-looking mindset,” said Natalie Collins, president of California Association of Winegrape Growers and co-host of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. “There was a clear willingness to confront difficult realities, but also a shared focus on problem-solving, collaboration and positioning the industry for what comes next.”

    In addition to the lineup of seminars and panel discussions hosted in Sacramento, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium dedicates over 200,000 square feet at the convention center to supplier exhibits.  Featuring products ranging from corks, barrels, and vines to mammoth grape harvesters and everything in between, the trade show offers industry members a one-stop opportunity to explore new technology, services, and solutions, all under one roof.

    “We had strong, high-quality traffic and meaningful conversations,” said Dan Howard, executive director of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and co-host of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. “Exhibitors were meeting the right people – the buyers, owners, and operational leaders who are making decisions. That is exactly what the trade show is designed to deliver.”

    The conversation will continue next year at the 2027 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, held January 26-28 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California.

    Put on by the industry, for the industry, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium serves as a clearinghouse of information for wine and grape industry professionals for more than 30 years. As the largest wine show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, the show combines seminars and panel discussions with a massive trade show featuring more than 650 exhibitors and 800+ booths. For more information, visit www.unifiedsymposium.org.

  • New Legislation Aims to Boost Farmworker Pay and Support Ag Employers

    On February 2nd, Senators Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) introduced legislation to create a tax credit for agricultural employers to help cover the costs of providing overtime wages to farmworkers. SB 921, co-sponsored by California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) and California Farm Bureau, aims to ensure farmworkers have more opportunities to earn overtime pay while also providing relief to struggling agricultural businesses.

    “I’m proud to introduce SB 921, a straightforward bill that gives California’s farm employers a payroll tax credit to help cover the extra cost of overtime pay for our hardworking farmworkers,” said Senator Shannon Grove. “This means more overtime hours and better take-home pay for the folks who put food on America’s tables. This is a win-win solution for both the business and our farmworkers who want to work more hours during their peak season. A huge thank-you to my friends at the California Farm Bureau and the California Association of Winegrape Growers for partnering with me on this common-sense solution.”

    Senator Melissa Hurtado added, “Behind every meal is a story of love, sacrifice and hard work in the fields. SB 921 honors the sweat and sacrifice behind our food with a modern, fair approach to wages — because in agriculture, farms, workers and families rise or fall together.”

    SB 921 would do the following:

    • Establish a payroll tax credit allowing agricultural employers to offset the cost of overtime wages paid to their ag employees. NOTE: “Overtime wages” means the difference between the employees’ overtime rate of pay and their regular rate of pay.
    • Help increase available overtime hours for farmworkers, boosting their take-home pay and supporting much-needed financial stability in rural California.

    “California lawmakers need to come together in a bipartisan manner, just as leaders have done in Oregon, Massachusetts, and New York, to ensure farmworkers can earn overtime pay while keeping farms viable,” said Natalie Collins, President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers.“Last year, California found $420 million to expand a tax credit for the entertainment industry. California invests in what it values, and agriculture is asking to be valued. CAWG thanks Senators Grove and Hurtado for their leadership on this important issue.”

    “Farmers warned the Legislature a decade ago that changes to the agricultural overtime law would reduce work hours and cost farmworkers wages, and those concerns have proven true,” said California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass. “Many farmworker families have seen hours and earnings decline, a reality farmworkers themselves shared with lawmakers in Sacramento last year in support of Senator Grove’s ag overtime tax credit bill, while family farms operating on thin margins have been forced to make hard choices just to avoid operating at a loss. This tax credit is a practical solution that puts money directly back into the hands of farmworkers, helps farms remain viable employers and strengthens the rural communities that grow our food. It’s an investment in California’s food security and the people who make it possible.”

    Recent research supports these concerns. A 2023 study by the University of California, Berkeley (“California’s Overtime Law for Agricultural Workers: What Happened to Worker Hours and Pay?” ARE Update 27(1): 1–4. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics) found that California farmworkers have been earning less since the “Phase-In Overtime for Agricultural Workers Act of 2016” became law. The study concluded, “This early evidence suggests that the law may not be benefiting the workers they aim to protect.”

    SB 921 builds on the success of the $420 million annual increase in California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program in 2025. Recently, 52 film projects were selected for the latest round of film tax credits. Collectively, those productions will employ an estimated 8,900 cast & crew and 46,400 background performers statewide. Conversely, the effect of a tax credit for agricultural overtime could be much greater for those working in roughly 415,000 (full-time equivalent) jobs.

    SB 921 follows the lead of other states that have, in a bipartisan manner, recognized the unintended consequences of agricultural overtime laws and taken action to ensure farmworkers can still earn overtime pay:

    • Oregon offers a refundable personal or corporate income tax credit for employers based on overtime wages paid to agricultural workers through 2028.
    • New York offers a similar tax credit through 2032, based on the eligible overtime agricultural businesses pay.
    • Senator Adam Gómez (D-Springfield) is pursuing a tax credit in Massachusetts to reimburse growers for the cost of overtime wages in agriculture.

    SB 628 in 2025 proposed a similar tax credit as SB XXX. The California Federation of Labor Unions opposed SB 628 arguing, “At a time when the California legislature is debating how to allocate tax dollars to fund all the state’s priorities in education, housing, health and human services, infrastructure, energy, etc., this proposal is additionally harmful.”

    Together, Senator Shannon Grove, Senator Melissa Hurtado, CAWG, and the California Farm Bureau are advocating for a policy that both increases farmworker earnings and provides relief to an industry facing unprecedented financial challenges. California must ensure that policies designed to help farmworkers do not inadvertently reduce their wages.

    About the California Association of Winegrape Growers: CAWG is a statewide nonprofit trade association advocating for California’s winegrape growers to ensure the sustainability of the winegrape industry. CAWG promotes the industry’s long-term success by advancing the adoption of sound public policies and fostering awareness and understanding of winegrape growers’ contributions to the economy, environment, and California communities. Learn more at cawg.org.

    About the California Farm Bureau: The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches as part of a nationwide network representing more than 5 million Farm Bureau members. Learn more at www.cfbf.com or follow @cafarmbureau on Instagram, LinkedIn, X or Facebook.

    About Senator Shannon Grove: Representative of California’s 12th Senate District, which encompasses large portions of Fresno, Kern, and Tulare counties.

  • USDA Shifts Fly Dispersal Efforts to U.S. Border

    The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing a shift in its 100 million per week sterile fly dispersal efforts to stop the northern spread of New World screwworm (NWS). USDA will reallocate aircraft and sterile insects to reinforce coverage along the U.S.-Mexico border. The new dispersal area, or polygon, will include operations about 50 miles into Texas, along the U.S. border with the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Mass production and targeted dispersal of sterile insects are critical components of an effective strategy to fight NWS. Other tools including import protocols and surveillance continue to support these robust efforts to keep NWS out of the United States.

    “At Secretary Rollins’ direction, our highest priority is protecting the United States from screwworm,” said Dudley Hoskins, Under Secretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs for USDA. “The northernmost active case of NWS in Mexico is still about 200 miles away from the border, but we’ve seen cases continue to spread in Tamaulipas and further south in Mexico, so we are proactively shifting our polygon as we make every effort to prevent NWS from reaching our border.”

    Sterile Fly Dispersal

    Sterile insect technique, when paired with surveillance, movement restrictions, and education and outreach, is an effective tool for controlling and eradicating New World screwworm. Female New World screwworm flies only mate once in their lives, so if they mate with a sterile male, they lay unfertilized eggs that don’t hatch. Releasing sterile flies just outside of affected areas helps ensure flies traveling to new areas will only encounter sterile mates and will not be able to reproduce. In this instance, USDA will release sterile flies north of the current active NWS cases in Mexico in a proactive effort to create a sterile reproduction buffer zone if the fly moves north from Mexico.

    Because it is important to continue ongoing surveillance efforts while releasing sterile insects, it is possible that sterile NWS flies could be caught and/or reported within Texas. To ensure officials can tell the difference between sterile and wild NWS flies, USDA will dye the sterile pupae, and the dye will transfer to the sterile flies when they hatch. The fluorescent dye will glow under UV light and may also be visible to the naked eye. If a sterile fly is captured in a trap, this dye will allow animal health officials to quickly rule the fly out as a threat.

    USDA will continue to deploy its intensive NWS response efforts including implementing import protocols, ongoing surveillance and trapping efforts along the border, investing in NWS innovation, and supporting robust response activities in Mexico and Central America.

    Import Requirements and Protocols

    Sterile insects are an important tool, but USDA’s import requirements and protocols add another line of defense for NWS and other foreign animal diseases that threaten U.S. livestock. Earlier this week, the importance of those protocols was highlighted when a horse from Argentina was presented for routine importation at an equine import quarantine facility in Florida. Upon examination, APHIS identified an open wound with larvae on the animal and promptly collected and shipped samples to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Iowa. The horse was immediately treated with medication to kill any larvae in accordance with standard, long-standing import protocols. This morning, NVSL confirmed that the larvae were New World screwworm larvae. Accordingly, the animal will remain in quarantine until it has been reexamined and determined to be free of NWS.

    This is an example of these long-standing import protocols working as designed. While this situation does not appear to be associated with the NWS outbreak in Mexico that USDA is currently fighting, it underscores the need for vigilance in all of USDA’s coordinated efforts to fight NWS.

    Surveillance, Monitoring, and Reporting

    USDA continues to lead intensive surveillance and monitoring systems along the U.S. border. Teams continue to check 121 NWS-specific traps across high-risk areas of border states and leverage thousands of fruit fly/insect traps aligned all along the Southern border. To date, more than 42,000 flies from traps in all locations have been submitted to APHIS NVSL for identification, with no NWS detections to date. APHIS Wildlife Services is also leading a coordinated effort to inspect wildlife for signs of NWS infestation. To date, they’ve inspected more than 9,300 wild animals across 39 different species and 131 U.S. counties and found no signs of NWS infestations.

    Even though there has been no detection of NWS inside the U.S. and the northernmost active case of NWS is still about 200 miles away from the border, USDA is asking U.S. animal owners to continue to remain vigilant by checking their pets and livestock for signs of NWS and immediately reporting anything suspicious to their state animal health officials or USDA area veterinarian in charge. Signs of NWS infestation include draining or enlarging wounds and signs of discomfort. Also look for screwworm larvae (maggots) and eggs in or around body openings, such as the nose, ears, and genitalia or the navel of newborn animals.

    Adult screwworm flies are about the size of a common housefly or slightly larger, with a metallic green or blue body, orange eyes, and three dark stripes down its back. NWS maggots can infest livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including people. They most often enter an animal through an open wound and feed on the animal’s living flesh.

    While NWS is not common in people, if you notice a suspicious lesion on your body or suspect you may have contracted screwworm, seek immediate medical attention.

    For more information on NWS and USDA’s efforts, visit Screwworm.gov. — USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service