California Ag Network

Category: Ag Legislation

  • Dairy Farmers Continue Collaborative Efforts To Address Community Drinking Water

    The California dairy community has long been dedicated to improving groundwater protection, and this commitment will only grow in the new year. By participating in the Central Valley Salinity Coalition, and working closely with regional and state officials, dairy farmers have been part of an incredible 13-year stakeholder effort, which recently resulted in the adoption of a new long-term plan. Dairy farmers remain engaged as implementation begins, starting with the most important goal, ensuring safe drinking water for all.

     

    In October, the State Water Resources Control Board approved the ambitious Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Management Plan. The plan allows for water permit holders—including dairy farmers, other farmers, food processors, and other industries—to form nitrate management zones. Each zone will be required to develop plans for providing safe drinking water to residents in need, and ultimately, implement measures to reduce nitrate impacts to groundwater.

     

     

     

    “Dairy Cares has been participating in a stakeholder process known as CV-SALTS for a number of years, with the goal of reforming the regulatory system to better address water quality challenges while providing drinking water to those who need and protecting the ability of agriculture, including dairies, to survive and thrive in the valley,” said J.P. Cativiela, Regulatory Affairs Director for Dairy Cares.

    “That effort recently achieved a significant milestone with the adoption of Salt and Nitrate Management Plan. The year 2020 will be very important as we lay the foundation for management zones. Dairy farmers must remain at the table as local management zones are formed and begin to adopt local drinking water solutions.”

     

     

    Dairy farmers and dairy industry representatives have already been participating in two pilot management zones, which have been exploring a number of unique avenues for delivering temporary safe drinking water supplies to local residents in need. The goal for each zone is to decide upon a solution, or set of solutions, and raise funds to cover the cost of implementing those solutions. Since early 2019, organizers in the pilot zones have been working on creating blueprints for other zones to follow.

     

     

     

    “I think it’s very important for us as dairy farmers to continue to participate in this effort. We care about our community. It’s where we live and raise our own families, we want to make sure we’re finding solutions that serve everyone well into the future.” said Ray Prock Jr. a dairy farmer, who has been participating in the pilot taking place in the Turlock area.

    “It’s been a challenging task, but we need to be at the table, to be part of the solution, and ensure a fair and well-managed process to benefit our communities.”

     

     

    Ray says he hopes the lessons they’ve learned in his area will be helpful to others. The progress made at pilot management zones will soon be replicated across the Central Valley. Water users in the four other Priority 1 areas will need to organize their own management zones and create a drinking water plan. Dairy farmers will continue to participate in local efforts, ensuring safe drinking water for all and working toward greater groundwater protection.

     

     

     

    Dairy farmers are committed to being a part of the solution and ensuring safe drinking water.

     

     

  • Dairy Defined: In Search of “Big Dairy”

    “Big Dairy.” One of the strangest terms attached to the industry. As seen in fear-mongering headlines, Big Dairy is used to de-personalize individual dairy farmers and imply some large, faceless force foisting an agenda on unsuspecting consumers. So, who exactly is it? Maybe by figuring out what Big Dairy is – or isn’t – some light could be shed on what’s real, and what’s contrived, in debates about dairy and its presence in the marketplace.

     

    Perhaps Big Dairy means dairy farms themselves. Consolidation has been a fact of life for all of agriculture for generations, and family farms indeed are getting bigger. Even so, according to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, nearly three-quarters of U.S. dairy farms have fewer than 100 cows on them. Of course, most production comes from the largest farms, but even the biggest ones – the 189 U.S. dairies with more than 5,000 cows as of 2017 – are too numerous and geographically dispersed to create a monolithic giant. And more than 95 percent of all dairy farms, regardless of size, are family-run farms. That’s far from faceless.

     

     

    That rules out farmers. But what about dairy corporations? The dairy industry boasts some impressive-sized businesses. Land O’Lakes is ranked #212 on the Fortune 500, and Dairy Farmers of America would make the list too, if it were publicly traded. That might be Big Dairy, except – DFA and Land O’Lakes are farmer-owned cooperatives. If that’s what people mean when they talk about “Big Dairy,” then­­­ Big Dairy contains an awful lot of small and medium-sized family farms. And these cooperatives are tiny compared to, say, Big Healthcare, (four entries among Fortune’s top 10 companies) Big Oil (four of them in Fortune’s top 25), or Big Tech (six in the top 50).

     

    But maybe it’s not about raw size. Maybe Big Dairy is a myth invented by those who want to make family dairy farmers seem “big” to advance some contrasting image of their competitors – who want to be seen as plucky, usually plant-based, upstarts taking on Big Dairy with highly touted “innovation.”

     

    Let’s explore this. Take, for example, Perfect Day, allegedly just a humble innovator with nothing to offer but a thousand $20-a-pint tubs of imitation ice cream … and startup funding from Temasek – a venture-capital arm of the government of Singapore — and Archer-Daniels-Midland, an agri-business behemoth with $64 billion in annual sales that ranks #49 on the Fortune 500. Other plant- and cell-based alternatives are financed by Jeff Bezos (worth roughly $115 billion, the world’s richest man at the end of 2019) and Bill Gates (net worth over $100 billion) – not exactly little guys, to say the least. In fact, if you added up the gross receipts of all 40,000 dairy farmers in the United States last year (an estimated $39.9 billion), you’d only be worth about two-fifths as much as Jeff Bezos. So-called “Big Dairy” will never compete with that.

     

     

    To be sure: Dairy is a significant U.S. industry. According to research commissioned by the “Got Jobs?” campaign commissioned by dairy groups, including NMPF, the sector as a whole is responsible for nearly 3 million U.S. jobs and has an overall economic impact of more than $620 billion, including indirect effects. Dairy directly employs nearly 1 million Americans, with an impact of more than $206 billion. In agriculture and in the U.S. economy, we aren’t David to someone else’s Goliath. Whatever success we have is because we work hard and work together.

     

    But dairy isn’t Goliath either, and wannabe Davids shouldn’t get a pass peddling false narratives. Dairy is family farmers, cooperatives and companies, of all sizes and types, who believe deeply in the health and nutrition of their products and stand up for it against its opponents — who usually aren’t anywhere near the underdogs they pretend to be. Creating nutritious products, day in and day out, is a big task. But it’s a challenge met collectively by a diverse set of people from farm to fork, who work together to feed the U.S. and the world.

     

    Dairy issues matter. They warrant a robust discussion. Putting the term “Big Dairy” to rest would make it a more honest one.

  • CAWG Mourns Passing of Founding Chair Richard Keehn

    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) is saddened to share that Richard Keehn, a founding member of CAWG and the first chair of its board of directors, passed away on Dec. 20, 2019.

    Following a decorated 15-year career in the U.S. Army, Keehn began farming winegrapes in Mendocino County in the early 1970s. In the years that followed, he became one of the industry’s most devoted leaders.

    In 1974, California winegrape growers were challenged by numerous issues, including low prices and unfair business practices, pest and disease management, and several new state and federal laws. Keehn and several winegrape growers believed they would be stronger industry advocates if they organized as a group. They met with Bank of America and each grower signed a personal guarantee of $10,000 to launch CAWG.

    Thanks to the foresight and efforts of Keehn and fellow founding members, CAWG was created and has become an effective statewide organization protecting and promoting the interests of California winegrape growers. CAWG is now in its 46th year.

    Keehn served as CAWG’s chair for four years (1974-1978) and as a director for seven years. He also contributed his leadership and expertise to other agricultural endeavors, such as the California World Trade Commission Advisory Council, California Board of Food and Agriculture, American Vineyard Foundation and Wine Institute. Keehn was the recipient of the 2014 CAWG Leader of the Year Award, which recognizes an individual whose record of exceptional leadership has benefitted California’s wine industry and is an inspiration to others.

    Keehn’s obituary provides more details about his life, career and accomplishments, as well as donations in his honor. For more information, please contact Karen Keehn at kskeehn@gmail.com.

  • Tulare County Crop Report (For the week ending December 28, 2019)

    SMALL GRAINS AND OTHER FIELD CROPS:

    Winter grain crop planting is finished. Winter grain plants are beginning to emerge from the soil. Some wheat, oats, and barley fields are being treated for weed control, as the winter wheat germination will increase due to high moisture.

     

    DECIDUOUS TREE FRUITS, NUTS, AND GRAPES:

    Almond and pistachio harvest have ended. Dead and fallen almond and pistachio trees are being removed and burned or chipped. Older vineyards are being removed. Pistachios are being exported to Israel, Italy, Spain, Turkey, China, Korea, Poland Germany India, Singapore, Ukraine, Switzerland, the Philippines, Lithuania, India, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. Almonds are being exported to Korea, Israel, Taiwan, Colombia, India, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, South Africa, Indonesia, Chile, Barbados, Belgium, and Turkey. Black-eyed beans are being exported to the United Kingdom. Grape vineyards are being pruned and fertilized. Table grapes are being exported to Mexico, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Wine Grape vineyards are being pruned and planted with cover crops. Pomegranates from cold storage are being exported to Mexico. Walnuts are being exported to Italy, Turkey, and Morocco. Persimmons continue to be harvested, packed, and sent mainly to domestic markets, but a few loads continue to be exported to Mexico.

     

    CITRUS, AVOCADOS, AND OLIVES:

    Navel oranges, lemons, and limes continue to be harvested. Navel orange maturity testing is complete, and fruit is being exported to Malaysia, Peru, China, Korea, Japan, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Vietnam, Singapore, Ukraine, Switzerland, Chile, Ecuador, Australia, and New Zealand. High sugar and acid navels are being exported to Korea and Japan. Organic Clementine Mandarins are being picked and packed for U.S. and Mexico markets. Blood oranges are being packed for domestic markets. Melogolds are being harvested and sent to Korea and Japan. Olives are undergoing post-harvest pruning.

     

    VEGETABLES, MELONS, HERBS, AND BERRIES:          

    Winter vegetables are in various stages of growth. Strawberries are continuing to develop under plastic mulch. Peas are germinating. Blueberries are being pruned and prepared for the winter.

     

    LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY:

    Irrigated pastures are in good to excellent condition. Non-irrigated pastures are in better condition from the recent rains which was a great benefit for the rangeland forage.

     

    TOM’S ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

    Winter storms are making their way into the valley this week. This will be good for many of the winter grain and silage crops. The snow accumulation will be good for refilling local reservoirs next spring and higher elevation pastures. Local nurseries have an increased demand for bare root trees and berries.

  • Daniel Errotabere Elected President of Westlands Water District

    On December 17, 2019, Don Peracchi announced that he would step down as President of Westlands Water District’s Board, effective December 31, 2019. Following his announcement, the District’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to elect Director Daniel Errotabere as President of the District.

    Mr. Peracchi stated, “It has been an honor to serve as Westlands’ President, and I am proud of the District’s accomplishments over the last several years. These include the District’s role in passage of the WIIN Act, its role in negotiating revisions to the Coordinated Operations Agreement, conversion of the District’s water service contract to a repayment contract, and development of the groundwater sustainability plan. The District has a well-functioning Board supported by competent, dedicated staff. I believe it’s time to provide another Director with the opportunity to serve as President of the District.”

    Tom Birmingham, the District’s general manager, stated, “On behalf of the staff, I want to express our appreciation to Mr. Peracchi. Few people understand the time commitment required to serve as Westlands’ President; it is a full-time job. Mr. Peracchi led the District through difficult times, when drought and regulatory restrictions severely reduced water supply, but because of his leadership on the Board, the District is in a good position.”

    Mr. Errotabere stated, “Don Peracchi leaves big shoes to fill. He did an incredible job of leading the District through difficult times. I am gratified that the Board has confidence in my ability to continue the course set by Don and the Board.”

    Mr. Peracchi has served as a Director of Westlands since 2008 and was elected President in 2011. He will remain on the Board of Directors. Mr. Errotabere, who previously served as Westlands’ President from 2002 through 2005, will begin his second term as President of Westlands on January 1, 2020. 

    Westlands is a public water district governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. Elections for the Board are held every two years and Directors are elected to four-year terms in office. The Board elects the District President and appoints other officers. 

    Westlands Water District is the largest agricultural water district in the United States, made up of more than 1,000 square miles of prime farmland in western Fresno and Kings Counties. Under federal contracts, Westlands provides water to 700 family-owned farms that average 653 acres in size.

  • American Farmland Trust Releases First-Ever CA Non-Operating Landowner Survey Results

    SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, American Farmland Trust, the organization behind the national movement No Farms No Food®, released fact sheets summarizing results from its Non-Operating Landowners, or NOLs, Survey that surveyed individually or partnership-owned lands, not institutions or trusts, for California. The results are promising, demonstrating that landowners care about their land and are keenly interested in stewarding their land well — keeping it in farming and altering lease terms to support conservation.

     

    A full report will be released this winter drawing conclusions across all the surveyed states to inform a national conservation agenda.

    “We began this research in 2018 to better understand attitudes related to conservation practices and how to better serve farmland and ranchland owners who do not farm their land but rent it to operators. Thirty-nine percent of farmland in the U.S. is rented, yet in some CA counties that number is more than 60%, coupled with some of the highest rental rates in the country for irrigated and non-irrigated farmland. Therefore, non-operating landowners are an important stakeholder for implementation of conservation and climate resilient practices. Further, close to 50% of farmland in the U.S. is owned by women,” said Gabrielle Roesch-McNally, AFT Women for the Land director.

    Anecdotally, AFT has found that often there is a perception that landowners don’t want or do not support conservation practices on their rented ground. Thankfully, the research reveals this gap does not necessarily exist. If farmers and landowners start talking and are provided with the right resources, AFT, policymakers, natural resource agencies and conservation groups can better support the implementation of conservation practices on rented lands.

    Specifically, the results from California are telling in how the needle can begin to move on conservation. In California,

    • The farmer is the most trusted source for conservation information followed by Resource Conservation Districts and State University Extensions.
    • Landowners are receptive to changing the terms of their lease to support their farmers in experimenting with more conservation on their land.
    • The desire for landowners to keep the land in farming reveals the symbolic importance of the land, an important entry point for conversations.
    • Targeting the NOLS audience with educational materials can improve their awareness of and willingness to support conservation and partnership with farmers to meet larger goals for their land and its legacy.

    In other words, if you are a farmer who wants to try new conservation practices on land you rent, AFT’s survey is good news. Your landowner is probably supportive, and s/he trusts your judgement as a farming expert. But they need to hear from you!

    AFT is building of a resource bank fact sheets and other resources on the Farmland Information Center for NOLS and farmers who rent land.

    AFT’s California office staff is available to answer questions and assist all concerned, contact

    Kara Heckert, E: kheckert@farmland.org ● P: (916) 448-1064

     

  • CAWG Elects New Board Officers and Directors

    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) has announced the election of new board officers and directors. CAWG is governed by 28 growers in seven districts who serve three-year terms beginning Dec. 1.

    Mike Testa of Coastal Vineyard Care in Buellton, pictured above, was elected chair. He succeeds Bill Berryhill of BB Vineyards in Ceres, who served in the role for two years. Other directors elected as officers are Tom Slater of Slater Farms in Clarksburg, vice chair; Davindar Mahil of Creekside Farming in Madera, vice chair; Jeff Bitter, winegrape grower in Madera, secretary; and Gregg Hibbits of Mesa Vineyard Management in Templeton, treasurer.

    “Mike’s extensive industry experience and connections will be tremendously beneficial to CAWG and California winegrape growers,” said CAWG President John Aguirre. “The association is fortunate to have a highly engaged and motivated group of officers and directors guiding our advocacy efforts on behalf of winegrape growers.”

    Re-elected directors are John Balletto of Balletto Vineyards in Santa Rosa, Joel Maring of J. Maring Farms in Patterson, and Jeff Bitter of Madera.

    New directors are David Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards in Napa, Chris Lynch of Walsh Vineyards Management in Napa, and Michael Manna of Manna Ranch, Inc. in Acampo. New directors-at-large are Karissa Kruse of Sonoma County Winegrowers and Kim Stemler of Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association.

    Outgoing directors are Michael Boer of Stipp Ranch in Ukiah, Diego Olagaray of Olagaray Brothers in Lodi, Bruce Phillips of Vine Hill Ranch in Yountville, and Brian Shepard of Walsh Vineyards Management in Napa.

  • Ryan Talley is Elected New Western Growers Chairman of the Board

    Western Growers is pleased to announce that Ryan Talley, co-owner and farm manager of Talley Farms, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors. Talley, who has been committed to agriculture for more than three decades, will serve as chairman for a one-year term, taking over the responsibilities of outgoing chairman, Ron Ratto, president of Ratto Bros., Inc.

    “Ryan’s successful tenure at Talley Farms and his significant personal accomplishments make him the ideal choice to be the next Western Growers’ Chairman of the Board of Directors,” said Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif. “With his stellar track record on the board, there is no doubt in my mind that Ryan, along with the rest of the Western Growers Board, is poised to truly lead the organization and the fresh produce industry to even greater heights.”

    Talley spearheads Talley Farms, a diversified family-owned farming company and grower- shipper of bell peppers, cilantro, spinach, lettuce, Napa cabbage, avocados, lemons and grapes. His passion for agriculture dates back to 1985 when he first started picking beans at the age of 12, alongside his brother, Todd, and cousin, Brian. Talley earned his bachelor of science in business from Purdue University and subsequently returned to the farm to help write the computer programs Talley Farms currently uses for production, planning, their mechanic ship and the nursery. The farm is committed to supplying consumers with the best and freshest produce that California has to offer, following the company’s vision to strive for “Excellence in Everything.”

    “Western Growers has been a staple organization in the agriculture industry for nearly a century, and Talley Farms is proud to have been a part of its legacy since 1970,” said Talley. “I am both eager and honored to embark on this new role as Western Growers’ Chairman of the Board of Directors, working with the rest of the board to further our commitment to the industry.”

    Talley was named as 2020 chairman during Western Growers 94th Annual Meeting in Maui, Hawaii. During the meeting, the Board also selected Albert Keck of Hadley Date Gardens as senior vice chairman; Stuart Woolf of Woolf Enterprises as vice chairman; Carol Chandler of Chandler Farms as treasurer; and Vic Smith of JV Smith Companies as secretary.

    About Western Growers:

    Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including nearly half of America’s fresh organic produce. Some members also farm throughout the U.S. and in other countries so people have year-round access to nutritious food. For generations, we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.

  • Governor Announces CA Wildfire Safety & Catastrophe Response Task Force

    SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of members of the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board, as outlined in AB 1054, and the California Catastrophe Response Council, established by AB 111, both signed into law in July.

    The legislation created the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board, a board of independent expert advisors, to advise a new Wildfire Safety Division within the California Public Utilities Commission on wildfire safety measures, including plans written by utilities, so the CPUC can more effectively regulate the safety of investor-owned utilities.

    AB 1054 also mandated that utilities tie executive compensation to safety performance, invest $5 billion in safety improvements without profit, and go through a new yearly wildfire safety review and certification process. It also requires new inspections of utility electrical equipment. Under the law, utilities must create a wildfire safety committee in their corporate board, and provide direct board-level safety reporting to the CPUC.

    The California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board will advise the Wildfire Safety Division within the California Public Utilities Commission on wildfire safety and mitigation performance, including plans written by utilities, so they can develop an appropriate scope and process for assessing the safety culture of an electric utility.

    The Advisory Board will meet at least quarterly throughout the state. Biographies of the members are below.

    California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board

    Jessica Block, 41, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. Block has been a senior research associate and associate director of the WIFIRE Lab at the University of California, San Diego since 2011. She was a wildfire research officer at the University of Melbourne in 2010, a research associate at the University of Ballarat, Australia from 2008 to 2009, a research associate at San Diego State University in 2008, and a senior research developer at Arizona State University from 2005 to 2008. Block earned a Master of Science degree in geological sciences with an emphasis in urban ecology from Arizona State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Block is a Democrat.

    Marcie Edwards, 62, of Castaic, has been appointed to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. Edwards has been principal of MLE Consulting Inc. since 2017. She was general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power from 2014 to 2017, city manager of the City of Anaheim from 2013 to 2014, and general manager for Anaheim Public Utilities from 2001 to 2013. Edwards was interim chief executive officer for the California Independent System Operator in 2004. She held various positions at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power from 1976 to 2000, including assistant general manager for marketing and customer service business units, bulk power business unit director, energy control center manager and superintendent of load dispatching. Edwards earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of La Verne. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $400 per diem. Edwards is a Republican.

    Diane Fellman, 69, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. Fellman was a public utility regulatory specialist at the California Public Utilities Commission from 2017 to 2018. She was vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs for the Western Region at NRG Energy Inc. from 2010 to 2017, director of regulatory and legislative affairs for NextEra Energy Resources Inc. from 2004 to 2010 and an attorney in private practice from 1986 to 2004. Fellman was legal counsel at the California Public Utilities Commission from 1983 to 1986 and a hearing officer and officer manager at the California Energy Commission from 1977 to 1983. Fellman earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $400 per diem. Fellman is a Democrat.

    John Mader, 50, of Elk Grove, has been appointed to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. Mader has been an electrical distribution engineer for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company since 1998. He is president of the Engineers and Scientists of California, Local 20, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $400 per diem. Mader is a Democrat.

    Alexandra Syphard, 49, of La Mesa, has been appointed to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. Syphard has been chief scientist at Sage Insurance Holdings LLC since 2018 and adjunct professor in the Geography Department at San Diego State University since 2011. She was a senior research scientist at the Conservation Biology Institute from 2007 to 2019 and a postdoctoral research scientist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, SILVIS Lab in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology from 2005 to 2007, and a geographic information system (GIS) analyst and environmental planner at Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, from 1998 to 1999. Syphard earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in geography from San Diego State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, a Master of Science degree in environmental studies from the Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Public Health degree from the Medical College of Virginia. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $400 per diem. Syphard is a Democrat.

    Also, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins today announced the Senate Rules Committee’s appointment of Ralph M. Armstrong Jr. to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. Armstrong has held several positions with IBEW Local Union 1245 since 2007, including senior business representative and senior assistant business manager. Armstrong held several positions with Western Area Power Administration from 1995 to 2007, including occupational safety and health specialist and journeyman lineman. He was a journeyman lineman for the Florida Power and Light Company from 1989 to 1995 and held various positions for IBEW Local 349 from 1983 to 1989.

    The Governor today also announced members of the California Catastrophe Response Council, which will oversee the operations and management of the Wildfire Fund created under AB 1054 to pay eligible claims resulting from a wildfire determined to be caused by an electric utility. The Council will direct the Wildfire Fund administrator to prepare and present its operation plans on an annual basis. Biographies of the members are below.

    California Catastrophe Response Council

    Catherine Bando, 64, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Catastrophe Response Council. Bando has served as executive director at the California Statewide Communities Development Authority since 2014 and has been principal at Bando Public Finance since 2012. She was director at Citigroup Global Markets from 2010 to 2011, partner at Greencoast Capital Partners from 2009 to 2010, managing director at J.P. Morgan in 2008 and managing director at ABC Capital Markets from 1990 to 2008. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from American University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Bando is a Democrat.

    Paul Rosenstiel, 69, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Catastrophe Response Council. Rosenstiel has served as a special advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom since 2019. He was a member of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System Teachers’ Retirement Board from 2011 to 2019. Rosenstiel was special advisor at the Alameda County Treasurer’s Office from 2017 to 2019. He was managing director at Stifel from 2014 to 2015. Rosenstiel was managing director and manager at De La Rosa and Company from 2009 to 2014. He was deputy treasurer at the California State Treasurer’s Office from 2007 to 2009. Rosenstiel was policy director at Westly for Governor from 2005 to 2006. Rosenstiel was vice president of public finance at Dean Witter Reynolds from 1983 to 1986. He was an economist at Recht Hausrath and Associates from 1979 to 1981. Rosenstiel is chair of the California Budget and Policy Center. He is a board member of the Global Projects Center at Stanford University. He is a member of the Public Policy Institute of California, Planned Parenthood of Northern California, Financing the Future Working Group and the Chinese Community Health Care Association. Rosenstiel earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Rosenstiel is a Democrat.

    Rhoda Rossman, 60, of Albany, has been appointed to the California Catastrophe Response Council. Rossman has been an independent trustee of the Matthews Asia Funds since 2006. She was a fixed income specialist at Cypress Wealth Advisors from 2017 to 2018 and held several positions at PMI Mortgage Insurance from 1997 to 2010, including corporate investment officer, treasurer and portfolio manager. Rossman was portfolio manager at Montgomery Asset Management from 1995 to 1996, vice president at the Wells Fargo Bank Investment Management Group from 1993 to 1995 and assistant portfolio manager at RCM Capital Management Group from 1993 to 1995. She was a credit analyst and portfolio manager at Benham Capital Management from 1985 to 1987 and assistant vice president and underwriter at AMBAC Municipal Bond Insurance from 1983 to 1985. Rossman earned a Master of Public Administration degree in public finance from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Rossman is a Democrat.

    Additionally, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon today announced his appointment of former Assemblymember Richard Gordon to the California Catastrophe Response Council. Gordon currently serves as president and CEO of the California Forestry Association. Gordon served three terms (2010-2016) in the California State Assembly, where he was Rules Committee Chair for two years. Before that, Gordon was a member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and was president of CSAC in 2008. Gordon is a fourth-generation Californian born and raised in San Mateo County.

    The Council is comprised of nine members: the Governor, or his designee; the Treasurer, or her designee; the Insurance Commissioner, or his designee; the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or his designee; one member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; and three public members appointed by the Governor.

    This action is the most recent that the Governor has taken to address the recent utility-directed Public Safety Power Shutoffs, which have left thousands of Californians without power or electricity.

    The Governor has declared a statewide emergency due to the dangerous weather conditions. Governor Newsom announced the launch of a new state website, RESPONSE.CA.GOV this week, which serves as a one-stop portal for tools and resources available to Californians who have been impacted by wildfires and utility-directed power shutoffs, as well as community and business partnerships to support residents impacted by the wildfires and the shutoffs.

    The Governor also announced that the state has secured Fire Management Assistance Grants to help ensure the availability of resources to fight the Getty Fire, as well as the Kincade and Tick fires – for which the Governor previously declared a state of emergency in Sonoma and Los Angeles counties.

    This week and last week, the Governor met with emergency responders, volunteers, health officials, residents and state and local leaders in Los Angeles, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Napa and Geyserville, and held briefings regarding the ongoing fire threats and the need to hold utilities accountable for the consequences of their power shutoff decisions.

    The Governor has called on the California Public Utilities Commission to reform power shutoff rules and regulations as part of its investigation into the utility-led shutoffs. He has also announced a $75 million program for state and local governments to mitigate the impacts of power shutoffs and unveiled a series of new partnerships and new tools to help secure medically vulnerable populations during these events.

  • Finding Truth & What to Do Amidst the Controversy Over Crop Protection Materials “Pesticides”

    Agriculture and the science of crop protection materials is too often misunderstood by the public and is under constant attack by extremists in the political arena. As legislation and jurisdiction begins to more commonly ignore sound science in their decision-making, farmers are rightfully concerned about the future of agriculture and what may or may not be in their power to make a difference in protecting their freedom to utilize these valuable tools.  Watch this brief interview with Jay Vroom, former CEO of CropLife America as he shares some insights.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support by visiting them at their booth at Malcolm Media’s Annual Grape Grower Expos next month.