California Ag Network

Category: Ag Legislation

  • Nearly 70% of Essential Sonoma Co. Ag Workers Vaccinated

    As efforts to vaccinate essential agricultural and production workers struggle to proceed throughout California and the nation, Sonoma County’s farmers, vintners and health communities have been successfully partnering to get thousands of COVID-19 vaccination doses to these essential workers throughout the region.

    Now entering its 5th week of operation, the program has already vaccinated and scheduled vaccination appointments for more than 8,300 essential workers from Sonoma County’s agriculture, vineyard, food, and winery sectors.  The target for essential ag and production workers receiving vaccination in Sonoma County is 12,500.  The vaccination program and collaboration will continue for the foreseeable future.

    “This effort in Sonoma County should be the model for the nation in how to organize and vaccinate essential ag and production workers,” said Dr. Jason Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer at West County Health Centers.  He added, ”We have succeeded because of the tremendous collaboration throughout the community from people and organizations who share one focus to quickly and efficiently immunize our essential food and agricultural workers to reduce their risk of becoming ill.”

    The program is a cooperative effort involving the Sonoma County Winegrowers, the Sonoma County Vintners, the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, local community health centers including the West County Health Center, the Sonoma Valley Health Center, the Alliance Medical Center, the Alexander Valley Health Care, and the Sonoma County Medical Association.  Each agricultural group has a specific responsibility: the Winegrowers work with the local winegrape farmers; the Vintners work with local wineries; and the Sonoma County Farm Bureau works with non-wine related farmers and ag processors. Farmers, vintners, and processors have been receiving regular updates from their representative organization to provide the number of people they employ, where they reside or work in the county and their transportation needs.

    Each week, Community Health Centers throughout Sonoma County commit a certain number of vaccines to vaccinate essential ag and production workers against the Coronavirus pandemic.  Every day, it is up to the industry partners to coordinate with the ag and production employers to organize and schedule appointments for the workers and ensure that all the vaccines are being utilized.  Each of the ag partner organizations is contributing staff, providing translators, and donating additional resources to make this effort successful.  In addition, the Sonoma County Medical Association and its vast network of local volunteers dedicated two full days to vaccinating vineyard workers and wine production workers at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, successfully administering the first doses of the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine to over 1,200 people.

    Multiple vaccination sites are utilized through this collaboration in the county.  The agricultural organizations coordinate weekly and, sometimes, daily with the community health centers to determine how many vaccines will be available that week and at what location.  With that information, the agricultural organizations work with their ag and production partners to schedule appointments to ensure the greatest number of essential workers are vaccinated each day.

    However, for any vaccination program to succeed, there is one essential element: a person’s trust in the vaccine and the institutions that administer it. This model specifically relies on the partnerships among the ag and production associations and the healthcare community and the trust that employees have with their agricultural employers.  In addition, agricultural organizations have conducted outreach and education to essential workers.  All communication and education are offered in both Spanish and English so everyone can make informed decisions about getting vaccinated.

    “We are succeeding in reaching our vaccination goal because of the outstanding coordination and trust that exist amongst all parties involved.  There is a unique relationship the county trade associations have with each other, local businesses and farms and, in turn, the trust that exists between the ag employer and their employees,” said Karissa Kruse, President of the Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “While there has been a lot of news about problems throughout the country in vaccinating essential workers, here in Sonoma County, we created a broad coalition to develop a plan that would work to ensure that our ag and production workers get vaccinated as soon as possible.   This model of bringing healthcare providers together with local businesses and farms should not be used just here for this pandemic, but as a model for supporting the health of our local communities moving forward. ”

    As witnessed throughout the United States, the logistical challenges to distributing the vaccines are enormous and complex. Adding to that in California are the continued revisions to the state’s rollout plan, confusing messaging to millions of workers regarding priority vaccination groups and an undersupply of doses statewide. The result has been a mixed effort to inoculate high-risk workers employed at farms, restaurants, and grocery stores.

    “From the beginning, our focus has been on creating accessible clinics at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds to support the vaccination efforts of the current eligible tier of community members and mobilizing our volunteer network of local doctors and nurses,” said Wendy Young, Executive Director, Sonoma County Medical Association.  She added, “The Sonoma County Medical Association is pleased to have been able to have an active role in vaccinating our community and partnering with the local agricultural and wine communities to vaccinate Sonoma County’s essential ag and production workers in this phase. This level of collaboration is special, and we look forward to continuing this innovative partnership until all who want the vaccine have it and our community can open its doors again!”

    A new study out of the University of California, San Francisco found that Latinx Californians experienced a 36% increase in mortality during the pandemic as compared to historical periods, with a 59% increase among Latinx food/agriculture workers. The state’s current vaccination Phase 1B includes people 65 and older and essential workers in education, emergency services, food, and agriculture workers as eligible for shots. In Los Angeles County and other counties in California, essential ag workers will not be eligible to get vaccinated until March 1.

    “As an employer, it is my responsibility to do everything I can to protect the health and safety of my employees.  I was really worried after reading and hearing the news from throughout the country of the many  delays and problems in vaccinating essential workers,” said Bret Munselle, of Munselle Vineyards.  He  added, “But, witnessing how efficient the local collaboration has made securing appointments and providing on-site education for our employees was really impressive and a great relief to me.  Everyone in Sonoma County should be proud of this partnership and its success.”

    In addition to organizing the vaccine rollout for essential ag workers, the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation donated iPads and funding to each of the participating Community Health Centers to provide much needed technology for coordinating the logistics of vaccine program. The Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation also donated funding to each of the healthcare community organizations involved to help cover day-to-day expenses related to the program.  The collaboration will continue and is accessible for all ag and production workers who live in Sonoma County.

    To learn more about the vaccine program, contact your respective partner at:

    Sonoma County Winegrowers:                                 https://sonomawinegrape.org/

    Sonoma County Vintners:                                          https://sonomawine.com/

    Sonoma County Farm Bureau:                                   https://sonomafb.org/

    West County Health Centers:                                    https://www.wchealth.org/

    Alliance Medical Center:                                            https://alliancemed.org/

    Sonoma Valley Community Health Center:               https://svchc.org/

    Alexander Valley Healthcare:                                    https://alexandervalleyhealthcare.org/

    Sonoma County Medical Association:                      http://www.nbcms.org/home.aspx

  • USDA Seeks Nominees for American Pecan Promotion Board

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for the American Pecan Promotion Board under the newly established Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order. Nominations are due by March 26, 2021.

    The 17-member board will consist of 10 producers and seven importers. The 10 producer members will be allocated between three regions within the United States as follows: three from the Eastern Region; three from the Central Region; and four from the Western Region.  Seven members will be importers. Initial board members’ terms of office of two, three and four years will be assigned by USDA to stagger future terms of office. Each member’s term will begin when USDA approves the nominations.

    To serve on the board, producers and importers must have produced or imported more than 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans (25,000 pounds of shelled pecans) on average for four fiscal periods. Producers who produce pecans in more than one region may seek nomination only in the region in which they produce the majority of their pecans.

    The order specifies that nominations for producer member seats will be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the American Pecan Council, the 17-member federal marketing order governing body. If you are interested in serving as a producer member please submit your nominations to info@americanpecan.com. You may also contact Jeff Smutny at (817) 916-0020.

    USDA is conducting nominations for importer members. Please submit nominations to Patricia Petrella at Patricia.Petrella@usda.gov.

    For more information about the program, visit the AMS American Pecan Promotion Boardwebpage or contact USDA Promotion and Economics Division Deputy Director, Patricia Petrella, at (301) 337-5295 or Patricia.Petrella@usda.gov.

    AMS policy is that the diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of their industries in experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. When submitting nominations, the industry must consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.

    Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight to 22 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.

  • How do Radishes Work as a Cover Crop?

    Farmers love tools. The prospect of a fully stocked tool shed ranges from badge of honor to true obsession.  Plants, too, can be used as tools. Integrating cover crops into a farmer’s toolbox can offer many benefits – and it’s a tool given to us by nature!

    Getting farmers to adopt cover crops as various tools can be hard. To do that, we need to better understand these different tools and their uses. Cover crops like clover add nitrogen to the soil, while reducing erosion and runoff. And, radishes, a tasty ingredient in salad, can be used to break up soil and other hard jobs.

    Breaking up soil with radishes

    Millennia ago, Greek philosophers presented the Doctrine of Signatures, stating that a plant’s appearance may resemble its practical use. For example, walnuts were linked to brain health and beans to kidneys. In thinking about the radish as a tool, the plant root could be similarly equated to the drill, a type of natural tilling.

    Thick radish roots are an ideal choice for natural drilling into the soil to reduce compaction. When the radish crops are terminated, the radish and roots leave large, open pores in the soil. This increases soil aeration and water infiltration. Along with this comes more earthworm and microbial activity. It’s clear that a tillage radish cover crop certainly lives up to that name. As it turns out, the simple radish can be quite the complex tool when properly utilized.

    Scavenging and cleanup

    There are many varieties of radish. From ‘Daikon’ to ‘Icicle’, knowing the specific cultivar is an important part of deciding if a radish belongs in your field or on your plate! When an agronomist recommends a radish variety for use as a cover crop, they have a job in mind to make use of these unique plant features.

    Farmers turn to “scavenging” to optimize chemical inputs and yield outputs by using cover crops. The cylindrical roots of the radish grow deep and capture soil nutrients that were intended for the preceding cash crop.

    Many varieties are uniquely suited for this task, having been bred specifically for deep taproots that extend several inches or even feet deeper than their thick quintessential core. By scavenging nutrients from soil layers that are the hardest for most crop roots to access, radishes can be used to target critical areas to keep nutrients from the groundwater table. Though picky eaters may leave behind a harvested radish on their plate, the radish itself helps ensure that as little as possible goes to waste in terms of subsoil nutrients.

    A Daikon radish cover crop emerges after being seeded into standing corn. Radishes help break up soil compaction and use up extra nutrients to reduce runoff. Credit: Ivan Dozier

    Biofumigation – natural chemical combatants

    In March 1990, Former President George HW Bush personified picky eaters everywhere when he issued the proclamation: “I’m not going to eat any more broccoli!” The president succeeded in banning the brassica from Air Force One and the White House.

    The same pungent flavor that the former President didn’t like is loved by many. And its special compounds called gluconsinolates that give them their flavor. These compounds contain sulfur (like some medicines) and can also act as natural pesticides in the soil, a method known as “biofumigation.” These compounds can be a powerful deterrent to insects and even some species of fungi.

    The choice depends on the job

    When choosing a radish and/or any other cover crop, the most important consideration is to select the right tool for the job! For example, planting a radish in a poorly drained clay soil can drastically restrict the root growth necessary for several of the benefits. Selecting the wrong cover crop is like trying to tighten a bolt with a hammer instead of a wrench, which may explain why some don’t see convincing results.

    When choosing a radish for cover cropping, agronomists recommend that farmers select the right tool (specie) for the right job. Shown, a selection of cover crop radishes with roots. Credit: T&T Seeds

    Successful cover croppers often strengthen their polyculture by adding the radish into a multi-species mix. For those looking for a natural multi-tool to alleviate compaction, scavenge subsoil nutrients, and ward away pests, I can assure you that radishes will not leave you with a bitter taste! — By Ivan A. Dozier, CCA, Product Manager for Agronomy & Analytics at IntelinAir (American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America)

  • New Gov’t Relations Director at American Pistachio Growers

    American Pistachio Growers (APG) is pleased to announce the hiring of Cadee Condit as their new Director of Government Relations. Cadee has two decades of experience in governmental public affairs, an extensive vision in achieving strategic objectives in complex political landscapes, and broad collaboration across a spectrum of business, trade associations and community organizations.

    APG President Richard Matoian noted, “Cadee comes to APG with a wealth of knowledge at both the Federal and State levels. Her expertise in the legislative and regulatory process will serve the needs of APG’s membership well.”  Cadee will coordinate her efforts on behalf of APG’s membership with our existing outstanding State and Federal lobbyists and their staff.

    APG’s Government Policies and Partnership’s Committee Chair, Jamie Bledsoe, who was involved in the interview process added, “Cadee was far and away the right person and best fit for our ongoing, excellent government relations program.” Cadee officially began her duties on February 1.

    “The American Pistachio Growers is a dynamic and exciting organization,” Cadee shared.  “The San Joaquin Valley is the most productive and diverse agricultural region in the world, and I couldn’t be more excited to be working with APG to protect the future of agriculture.”

    Some of the top priorities and issues Cadee will be working on will include: water, tariffs, international market access and additional COVID relief programs.  Seeking out more federal funding to keep the Navel Orangeworm Sterile Insect Technology program going will also be a priority.  Cadee can be reached at ccondit@americanpistachios.org.

     

  • Almond Board of CA Announces 2021 Election

    The Almond Board of California (ABC) Board of Directors election for the 2021-2022 crop year has begun.

    There are two independent grower member positions and two independent grower alternate positions available on the ABC Board of Directors. To be considered for these positions, each candidate must be a grower and must submit a petition signed by at least 15 independent almond growers (verified by ABC). The petition should state the position for which the candidate is being nominated and be filed with Almond Board of California at 1150 9thStreet, Suite 1500, Modesto, California 95354. The filing deadline is April 1, 2021.

    Additionally, two independent handler member positions and two independent handler alternate positions are available. Handlers must declare their candidacy, in writing, to ABC no later than April 1, 2021 to be considered for these positions.  

    A cooperative grower member and alternate nominee will be selected through their cooperative association.                   

    The Almond Board was established in 1950 to administer the Federal Marketing Order for almonds. ABC assures industry compliance with marketing order regulations and is responsible for administering all aspects of the marketing order. It also serves the almond industry in other major areas, including production research, global advertising and public relations, and accumulation, compilation and dissemination of statistical information.  

    The ABC encourages eligible women, minorities, and people with disabilities to consider running for a position on the Board of Directors as it believes this committee should reflect the diversity of the industry it serves. 

    For further information, call Bunnie Ibrahim, senior analyst in Government Affairs, at (209) 343-3228.

  • Watch this Before Planting a New Vineyard

    Thinking of planting a new vineyard? Watch this brief interview with UCCE Viticulture Advisor George Zhuang as he shares some important layout considerations to save money and maximize efficiencies. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
     
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • CA Fish & Game Commission Decision on Appealing the Court’s Decision on Enlisting Bumble Bees Under the CA Endangered Species Act

    Almond Alliance of California — On January 12th the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) met to consider rescinding the decision they made at the June 12, 2019 meeting acting on the petition to determine whether listing Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), Franklin’s bumble bee (Bombus franklini), Suckley cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi), and western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis) as endangered or threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) may be warranted. The Commission’s consideration to rescind their January position was due to lawsuit filed by an agricultural industry coalition (that includes the Almond Alliance) where a Sacramento County Superior Court judge ruled that insects including bees were not eligible for protection under the CESA.

    During public comment at the Commission meeting there were several organizations that supported an appeal of the Superior Court’s decision and made it clear that they are moving forward on an appeal and encourage the California Fish and Game Commission to join them. Those appealing the decision are Xerces Society, Defenders of Wildlife and Center for Food Safety. They believe the trial court was incorrect, that bees and bumble bees should be afforded protection under the CESA and that the lower court ruling should be appealed.

    Sunshine Salvador, Counsel of California Farm Bureau and Paul Weilend of Nossaman spoke on behalf of the coalition and did a great job representing the industry’s position. They indicated that the farming community is prepared to pivot away from litigation and engage in a stakeholder process to establish a statewide pollinator management policy. We are uniquely suited to do so given our expertise in pollinator management and in light of the essential role of pollinators in farming and providing food security for our State and the nation. Establishing a statewide pollinator management policy, tailored to the challenges pollinators face is much more likely meet pollinator conservation needs versus regulation through the CESA.

    On January 27th, the Almond Alliance and members of the coalition met with Commission President Eric Sklar and Vice President Samantha Murray as well as the Commission’s legal counsel and a representative from the Attorney General’s office.  We expressed why the Commission should not appeal the Sacramento County Superior Court Judge’s decision. This meeting’s goal was to tell them about our current efforts to protect pollinators and to explain there are better ways to protect pollinators and other insects than expending further resources in court. We stated that enlisting bees under CESA may limit our ability to work together to protect pollinators and advance Secretary Crowfoot’s initiative for a statewide pollinator management policy under the Resources Agency Biodiversity Collaborative.

    On February 5th we were made aware that the Commission filed a Notice of Appeal through the California Attorney General’s Office.

    This is where we need your assistance. We need resources to continue our efforts, now at the Appellate Court level to oppose inclusion of insects under the CESA. We are asking our membership and stakeholders to contribute to a legal fund to continue our fight. Whether it is $100, $500 or $5,000 – every donation helps and ensures that we represent you in the Appellate Court. If you prefer to pay directly to the coalition’s legal counsel, we are happy to forward their contact information to make the direct payment.

    For those of you that would like more background as you consider your contribution to this effort, please see below.

    For any questions, please email etrevino@almondalliance.org.

    If you would like to see the Xerces Society media release on the appeal, Click Here.

    Background: On June 12, 2019, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) voted 3-1 that listing four species of bumble bees may be warranted under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).  The decision was made after the Xerces Society, Center for Food Safety, and Defenders of Wildlife filed a petition to list the Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), Franklin’s bumble bee (Bombus franklini), Suckley cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi), and western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis) as endangered species under CESA.

    Presently, no insects are listed as threatened or endangered under CESA. Both the California Office of Administrative Law and the California Office of the Attorney General have previously taken the position that insects cannot be listed under CESA as the law  defines candidate, threatened, and endangered species as “native species or subspecies of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, or plant.”  The law does not include insects.

    Counsel for the Commission claims that because the California Fish and Game Code defines fish as “a wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian, or part, spawn, or ovum of any of those animals,” when the Legislature enacted CESA, rather than include insects among the families of species that could be listed, there was legislative intent to incorporate bees, butterflies, beetles, and other insects via the definition of fish.

    The Almond Alliance along with our coalition partners argued that this consideration is not justified based on the following facts:

    • Presently, no insects are listed as threatened or endangered under CESA.
    • Both the California Office of Administrative Law and the California Office of the Attorney General have previously taken the position that insects cannot be listed under CESA. 
    • CESA defines candidate, threatened, and endangered species as “native species or subspecies of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, or plant” which does not include insects. 

    ​​​​​​​Paul Weilend of Nossaman, LLP represented our coalition (petitioner list is found below) in the proceedings that opposed candidacy for the four bumble bee species.

    How this impacts the California almond industry: If the bumble bees are listed under the CESA, they would be the first insects protected under the Act. While the bees are “candidates” for listing, they have the same protections as species listed as threatened or endangered.  This means prohibitions on killing them which the Department of Fish and Wildlife routinely interprets to extend to harm to the bees or their habitat.  We would expect pesticide restrictions, grazing rules, and other habitat protections regarding bumble bees.  That could lead to uncertainty if bumble bees are present on fields or in other areas where agricultural practices are occurring. This type of ambiguity would guarantee disruption to normal and customary almond production practices.  For example, ripping, soil movement or almond harvest activities could be claimed to disturb potential nesting sites.  The petitioners specifically list honey bees as a threat to the bumble bees, thus a listing could regulate placement of or reduce the number of honey bee hives.  Listing bumble bees as threatened or endangered is setting the stage for how other insect pollinators will be defined, regulated, and protected.

    Let me be clear, this should not be a debate about the value of bumble bees to almonds, society, and the world, rather how we handle an insect that needs to be protected to prevent colony loss and provide the best possible long-term health.

    The Commission argued that insects are covered by CESA, on the grounds that the Fish & Game Code defines “fish” to include “invertebrates” and that bumble bees and other insects are “invertebrates.”

    In addition, the court declined to defer to the Commission’s scientific expertise and its longstanding position that is has the authority to list insects under CESA. The court noted that the Commission only attempted once before to list an insect species, under CESA’s predecessor statute, and that the Office of Administrative Law rejected the listing as unauthorized. More broadly, the court observed: “Because the Commission’s opinion of its authority under CESA is at odds with the Legislature’s, the Commission’s expertise does not command the deference sought.”

    On November 13th 2020, the Sacramento Superior Court  ruled that insects are not eligible for listing under the CESA ; Almond Alliance of California v. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento Superior Court No. 34-2019-80003216 (Nov. 13, 2020).

    CESA defines “endangered species” as a “native species or subspecies of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile or plant which is in serious danger of becoming instinct.” Fish & Game Code § 2062.

    The superior court agreed with the farming groups based on straightforward principles of statutory interpretation. The Commission argued that insects are covered by CESA on the grounds that the Fish & Game Code defines “fish” to include “invertebrates” and that bumble bees and other insects are “invertebrates.” The court reasoned that while the definition of “fish” included “invertebrates connected to a marine environment” (such as shellfish and crustaceans), it did not encompass terrestrial “insects such as bumble bees.” The court rejected the “counterintuitive mental leap” that would be “required to conclude that bumble bees may be protected as fish.”

    The court also pointed to a statement in the CESA legislative history indicating that— unlike the federal Endangered Species Act, which explicitly covers terrestrial invertebrates—the California statute was drafted to exclude such invertebrates from eligibility. The court further cited a 1998 California Attorney General opinion concluding that CESA did not apply to insects. While Attorney General opinions are not binding, they are entitled to “great weight,” especially in the absence of clear case law authority. The court concluded: “Combined with CESA’s legislative history, the Attorney General’s opinion makes a very strong case that the Commission was not authorized to list bumble bees.”

    Lastly, the court rejected the Commission’s claim that CESA should be interpreted broadly to effectuate CESA’s purposes. The court concluded that “the absence of authority to list insects under CESA, either as fish or otherwise, is clear. As a result, CESA’s purposes do not confer authority that the Legislature withheld.”

    Thank you for contributing to this very important effort.


    Petitioners: 
    • Almond Alliance of California 
    • California Association of Pest Control Advisors 
    • California Citrus Mutual 
    • California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association 
    • California Farm Bureau Federation 
    • Western Agricultural Processors Association 
    • Western Growers Association

  • From Farms to Incubators: Coming Soon

    Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Amy Wu has written a forthcoming book “From Farms to Incubators: Women Innovators Revolutionizing How Our Food Is Grown,” that profiles dozens of women innovators and leaders in the growing sector of agtech. The book will be published on April 20, 2021 by Linden Books and is available for pre-sales through various outlets including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. This past February Amy named one of Food Tank’s 15 Leading Women at the Intersection of Food and Technology. In 2020 Amy was also named one of Worth magazine’s “50 Women Changing the World.” To learn more about From Farms to Incubators go to www.farmstoincubators.com. 

    From Farms to Incubators takes an exciting look at how women entrepreneurs are revolutionizing agriculture through high technology. Drones, artificial intelligence, sophisticated soil sensors,
    data analytics, blockchain, and robotics are transforming agriculture into the growing field of     agtech—the marriage of agriculture and technology.

    From Farms to Incubators presents inspiring case studies of how women entrepreneurs from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds are leading the agtech revolution. Each agribusiness leader profiled in From Farms to Incubators tells her own story of how she used agtech innovation to solve specific business problems and succeed. These business cases demonstrate the influence of female innovation, the new technologies applied to agribusiness problems, and the career opportunities young women can find in agribusiness.

    From Farms to Incubators also documents the sweeping changes happening in American food production. Growers in the United States and around the world face rising challenges, including climate change, limited water and land supply, labor shortages, and the problem of feeding a rising population estimated at 9 billion in 2050. The entrepreneurs profiled in From Farms to Incubators are the new leaders in tackling these problems through tech innovation. The women profiled speak frankly on the advantages and drawbacks of technological solutions to agriculture and offers lessons in making technology productive in real work.

    A must-read book for business leaders, policy makers, and everyone interested in tech innovation, From Farms to Incubators offers exhilarating role models for young women and a fascinating glimpse at how women leaders are profitably disrupting the world’s oldest industry.

    Audience: Business readers, technology readers, investors, policymakers, young women interested in technology careers and readers interested in ecology, agriculture and the future of food production.

  • Lessons Learned in Regulating Hemp

    Navigating the Urban/Agriculture Interface: As California’s population grows, counties and cities across the state are grappling with the difficult challenge of preserving California’s rich agricultural tradition while providing adequate housing for their residents in accordance with state housing mandates. Housing and commercial development has slowly (or sometimes quickly) crept into traditional agricultural land especially in jurisdictions seeking to avoid infill development. Recognizing the vital importance of agriculture, the state, counties and cities have adopted laws, regulations and policies to protect agriculture, such as the Williamson Act, the Right to Farm Act, local Right to Farm Ordinances, and local General Plan Agriculture Elements and zoning ordinances. However, these laws do not always resolve potential conflicts. Rather, the increasing population around agricultural lands, and staff and decision-makers’ lack of knowledge about agriculture can turn the regulatory balance against protecting the industry. This has been particularly true with hemp.

    In 2018, the Farm Bill legalized hemp cultivation across the country. Since hemp hasn’t been grown in the U.S. for nearly half a century (aside from a few research applications), most people are unfamiliar with the crop and make little distinction between it and its THC-bearing relative, cannabis. The lack of education and the struggles of a fledgling industry have led to conflicts between hemp and other interested parties across California. This has forced local decision makers to consider whether and how to regulate a legal agricultural crop in a manner that satisfies nearby residents who may voice a host of complaints (whether founded or unfounded). The following lessons learned from local efforts to regulate hemp provide insight into strategies to resolve other conflicts at the urban/agriculture interface.

    1. Avoid Broad Brush Bans and Buffers

    Broad bans, especially of a new crop, can be politically attractive. But broad-brush regulations unnecessarily limit agricultural operations. With respect to hemp, regulations can be customized to consider local topography, climate and other factors that may make hemp cultivation feasible in certain areas while creating a conflict in others. Further, farmers can reduce potential odor impacts by building into ordinances limits on harvest timing and periods. Although it will take more time upfront, developing custom-made regulations will prevent confrontation down the road while fully allowing the agricultural community to thrive and diversify.

    1. Go on Site Visits

    Many decision makers and staff personnel have limited experience with agricultural operations. Site visits can provide important information to staff and decision makers about the real-life implications of proposed regulation. Site visits can help reveal the win-win scenarios possible with tailored, rational regulation. For hemp, site visits provide an important opportunity for decision makers and elected officials to learn about the crop (i.e., that hemp is not much different than other crops and that there are different types of hemp grown in different ways that may result in different impacts). For example, will the hemp be grown to flower, which is when the plant produces the most odors? What is the odor, if any, of the hemp plant when it is not flowering? Having boots on the ground is the most effective way to understand and truly appreciate how hemp fits into and synergizes with existing land uses.

    1. Understanding the Benefits of the Agricultural Community

    A jurisdiction that bans or overly restricts agriculture can injure the broader community. For hemp, the crop has been used to make textiles, paper, paint and inks, rope and food. It has immense potential to benefit an array of industries and domestic innovation. Hemp also improves the local environment by requiring little to no pesticide use, having a reduced water demand compared to other crops, and even remediating contaminated soils and sequestering carbon. As California’s agriculture works tirelessly to remain competitive and profitable, allowing for the opportunity to diversify to a crop that has positive environmental impacts will benefit all. Because of hemp’s relatively low water demand, there may be an opportunity for those that are reducing groundwater pumping to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to shift to hemp cultivation, which is a better alternative to outright fallowing.

    The challenges faced by the hemp industry with local regulation reveal these key strategies that the agricultural industry can use to fight other overly broad regulations and help protect California’s agricultural history, community and economy. – By Beth Collins and Chris Guillen

    About the Authors

    Beth Collins is a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck where she leads the firm’s California Real Estate and Land Use Group.

    Chris Guillen is an associate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck whose practice spans all areas of water and land use.

  • Celebrating Bee Friendly Farming® Certified Almond Orchards on National Almond Day

    Pollinator Partnership (P2) announced today that it has certified over 55,000 acres of almonds in 2020 as pollinator friendly and environmentally sustainable through its Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) Certified program. The Almond Board of California’s Bee+ Scholarship program has been instrumental in leading this movement by offsetting the cost of BFF certification, allowing land managers to apply those funds that would be used on certification fees to pollinator habitat. Coupled with significant Integrated Pest Management, the floral resources now available for local and migratory pollinators will increase biodiversity and add a variety of benefits to almond operations across California.

    Bee Friendly Farming® Certified provides guidelines for farmers, growers, and land managers to promote pollinator health on their lands. BFF sets standards for sustainable farming on important concepts like planting pollinator food sources, providing nesting habitat, and incorporating an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy to help growers prevent pest infestations and find solutions that solve pest problems while providing safe harbor for pollinating species.

    BFF Certified growers report substantial benefits to their operations. In addition to increased pollination services, they see improved soil health and water retention as well as an increase in the presence of natural enemies to combat common pests. BFF’s rigorous and stringent compliance protocol helps ensure that these almond orchards play an essential part in keeping pollinators healthy and the food supply abundant. Look for the BFF logo in your local supermarket on almond products – it is the mark of forward-thinking growers who value quality production and represent exemplary stewardship.

    “Bee Friendly Farming seeks practical solutions for farmers with the goal of seeing real environmental change. It is thrilling to see how the almond industry is turning this superfood into a driver for pollinator and environmental health as well,” stated Laurie Davies Adams, President of Pollinator Partnership, parent organization of Bee Friendly Farming.

    “We congratulate our Bee Friendly Farming Certified growers on National Almond Day for their leadership and vision in building a sustainable future for one of California’s most important crops and one of the world’s favorite foods,” added Miles Dakin, Bee Friendly Farming Coordinator from Pollinator Partnership’s California headquarters.

    Visit www.BeeFriendlyFarming.org for more information on Bee Friendly Farming and to learn how you can participate as a farmer, gardener, or partner.

    ABOUT POLLINATOR PARTNERSHIP (P2) Established in 1997, Pollinator Partnership (P2) is the largest 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the health, protection, and conservation of all pollinating animals. Pollinator Partnership’s actions for pollinators include education, conservation, restoration, policy, and research. P2’s financial support comes through grants, gifts, memberships and donations from any interested party. Its policies are
    science-based, set by its board of directors, and never influenced by any donor. To make a donation in
    support of our mission, or for information, visit www.pollinator.org.

    ABOUT BEE FRIENDLY FARMING (BFF)Bee Friendly Farming is a certification program from Pollinator Partnership that provides guidelines for farmers and growers interested in promoting pollinator health on their lands.
    https://www.pollinator.org/bff.