California Ag Network

Category: Ag Legislation

  • USDA Issues Over $4 Billion to Farmers in Emergency Relief Payments to Date

    Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that to date, agricultural producers have already received more than $4 billion through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), representing approximately 67% of the more than $6 billion projected to be paid through this first phase of the program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed out pre-filled applications in late May to producers with crop insurance who suffered losses due to natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. Commodity and specialty crop producers have until July 22 to complete applications.

    “We recognize the financial recovery need is great and worked deliberately to create a program delivery process that would ensure quick payments to producers,” Vilsack said. “I am extremely proud to share that the strategically streamlined ERP application and program implementation process have yielded the desired results – reduced burdens on and expedited payment to approximately 120,000 disaster-impacted agricultural producers, to date.”

    USDA is implementing ERP and ELRP in two phases, with the first phase utilizing existing claim data to provide relief expediently, and the second phase focusing on ensuring producers not covered by other programs receive assistance. For phase one, USDA used crop insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) claim data.

    Both ERP and the previously announced Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) are funded by the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act, which President Biden signed into law in 2021. The law provided $10 billion to help agricultural producers impacted by wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, winter storms and other eligible disasters experienced during calendar years 2020 and 2021, of which $750 million is committed to livestock producers who experienced losses to drought or wildfire in calendar year 2021. Eligible livestock producers received ELRP payments totaling more than $590 million since the program was rolled out in late March.

    Pre-Filled Applications

    Eligible producers with eligible crop insurance claims have received pre-filled applications, which included eligibility requirements and payment calculations. Producers received a separate application form for each program year in which they experienced an eligible loss.

    Producers should check with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at their local USDA Service Center to confirm eligibility and to ensure that all required farm program participation, adjusted gross income and conservation compliance forms are on file. Producers who have previously participated in FSA programs likely have these required forms already on file.

    ERP provisions allow for a higher payment percentage for historically underserved producers, including beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged and military veteran producers. To qualify for the higher payment rate, individuals must have a Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification on file.

    To receive a payment, producers must complete and submit their forms by the July 22 deadline. Once the completed ERP application for payment is submitted to and signed by the FSA, producers enrolled in direct deposit should look for their payment within three business days.

    Additional Assistance through Phase One

    FSA will be sending pre-filled applications for about 9,000 eligible producers with NAP coverage in mid-July.

    The Federal crop insurance data used to populate ERP phase one pre-filled applications included claim data on file with USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) as of May 2, 2022. At that time, claim data for the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO), Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX), Margin Protection Plan (MP) or Area Risk Protection Insurance (ARPI) were not complete, so crop/units including these coverage options were not included in the pre-filled ERP application form. In late summer 2022, updated claim information will be used to generate a second pre-filled application for those crop/units with eligible losses on file with RMA not included in the first mailing.

    More Information 

    ERP covers losses to crops, trees, bushes and vines due to a qualifying natural disaster event in calendar years 2020 and 2021.  Eligible crops include all crops for which crop insurance or NAP coverage was available, except for crops intended for grazing. Qualifying natural disaster events include wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought and related conditions.

    All producers who receive ERP phase one payments are statutorily required to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage where crop insurance is not available for the next two available crop years.

    Producers should contact their local Service Center if they have questions. Additionally, other resources include:

  • Congressman Valadao Introduces Amendments to Alleviate CA Drought

    Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) recently introduced three amendments to the FY23 Energy and Water Appropriations bill during the House Appropriations Committee markup of the legislation. Each of these amendments would help to alleviate the devastating drought in California.

    “The lack of reliable, clean water in the Valley has become an issue of national security. Farmers across the Central Valley are being forced to tear up their crops to conserve water – crops that would have fed families across the United States and the world,” said Congressman Valadao. “The three amendments I offered today would improve water storage capacity, increase operational flexibility, and provide certainty for our farmers. It is extremely disappointing that the majority rejected all three of these amendments that would help my constituents who grow food for the nation. I will not stop fighting to bring more water to the Central Valley.”

    Congressman Valadao spoke in support of each of his amendments. Watch his remarks here.

    The first amendment would address water storage capacity issues by extending the California storage provisions of the WIIN Act, Subtitle J, through the end of 2023. The amendment would extend the authorization of appropriations for water storage projects that the Secretary of the Interior finds feasible. This language complements the RENEW WIIN Act and NEED Water Act that Congressman Valadao introduced earlier this Congress. The amendment would also create a program to assist in funding the repairs to damaged canal infrastructure facilities. This would help to restore capacity of existing facilities. This amendment gained bipartisan support in the markup, but was ultimately voted down by the majority.

    The second amendment would codify the 2019 Biological Opinions (BiOps) that were independently peer-reviewed and informed by the most accurate, best available science. The corresponding operations plans for the Central Valley Project and State Water Project employs the 2019 BiOps science and data to ensure greater water reliability and availability for communities and farms across California, while continuing to protect at-risk species. Unfortunately, the Biden administration’s Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has ignored science and reinitiated consultation of these BiOps with no explanation. Codifying the 2019 BiOps would put an end to senseless litigation and provide operational certainty for Valley farmers. This amendment would also withhold funding from the reinitiation of consultation of the 2019 BiOps because Congress has still not been told why this process has started.

    The third amendment directs Reclamation to provide the Appropriations Committee justification on the decision to reinitiate consultation on the 2019 BiOps. Congressman Valadao has led several efforts to get answers from Reclamation on this decision, including multiple letters that have gone largely unanswered. A written explanation from Reclamation would hopefully provide some insight and transparency for farmers in the Central Valley.

    House Appropriations Committee Democrats voted down all three amendments.

  • Progress on Prop 1 Funded California Water Projects

    California is in the midst of a serious drought, which is taking a major toll on our local agricultural industries. The Water Quality, Supply & Infrastructure Improvement Act (Prop 1) passed back in 2014, yet no construction of any of the funded projects has commenced.  Watch this brief interview with Emily Rooney from the Ag Council of California as she shares a progress report on these projects and how they will help address California’s water crisis.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • Pistachio Grower Bullish about Market Amidst Record Production

    Despite water, trade, labor, inflation and pest challenges impacting the western pistachio industry, Madera grower Justin Wylie is bullish about the future of the industry. Watch this brief video with Wylie sharing his thoughts as growers venture through another potentially record-breaking year of production. Read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • Tree Nut Grower Invests in Groundwater Recharge

    While much is expected of the state in resolving California’s water crisis, farmers are trying to do their part as well in conserving water for the future. Watch this brief interview with Tipton pistachio grower Dominic Pitigliano as he talks about his family’s groundwater recharge project. Read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • European Consumer Trends for American Pistachios

    Among the top export markets for U.S. pistachios, consumers in the European Union are incorporated pistachios into their diets in many new ways.  Watch this brief interview with American Pistachio Growers’ in-country trade representative George Smith as he explains. Read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • What is the Gumming on My Almond Trees, What to Know about Almond Canker Diseases

    It’s not uncommon to find gumming on the trunks and scaffolds of some almond trees when walking through an orchard.  While it can be very concerning for the health of the tree, determining whether or not a canker disease is causing it is not so simple.  Watch this brief interview with UC Davis Plant Pathologist Florent Trouillas as he explains what growers should know about canker diseases and some novel treatment methods.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

     

  • California Ag Coalition Requests Immediate State Action on Water Needs

    Due to an economically crippling drought and the overwhelming regulatory demands of California, several agricultural groups formed a coalition and recently sent a letter to the governor and state legislature, both informing them of the challenges impacting farming families and requesting immediate action and funding to boost water storage and supplies. Watch this brief interview with Emily Rooney from the Ag Council of California as she explains.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • What are My Options for Managing Vine Mealybug in the Vineyard?

    Vine mealybug is a major pest grape growers all over California have to deal with. Not only does this insect produce honeydew that serves as a substrate for black sooty mold, but is also a vector for spreading devastating Leafroll-associate viruses. Watch this brief interview with UCCE Entomology Farm Advisor David Haviland as he shares options growers have for managing this troublesome pest. Read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • 2022 California Wine Grape Crop & Market Update

    Various climate/weather-related disasters over past several years have limited California grape production, and this year appears to be no different with a spring freeze impacting some grape growing regions of the state.  Watch this brief interview with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers as he shares a statewide outlook for the 2022 wine grape crop and how that will fit into current wine market trends. Read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.