At a recent Ag Breakfast Club meeting in Fresno, CA, farmers joined English-American Commentator Steve Hilton live on Fox News to share their urgent need for increased water allocations, among other challenges that need to be addressed to support agriculture across the state. Former policy adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, Steve is also seriously considering running to succeed Governor Newsom in 2026. Watch as Steve joins Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to discuss his views supporting agriculture and the need for a “California revolution”.
Tag: California ag issues
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Central Valley Farmer Responds to Initial 2025 Water Allocation
On February 25, the Central Valley Water Project announced an initial farm water allocation of 35%. This comes as welcome news to farmers that were hampered last year around the same time by an initial allocation of only 15%. Watch this brief interview with pistachio/carrot grower and Director at Westlands Water District William Bourdeau, as he shares his perspective on the announcement on California Ag Network with Matthew Malcolm.
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Ag Processing Labor Contractor Thoughts on New Indoor Heat Illness Rule
California has experienced an unusually hot Summer this year, which may have had influence in Cal/OSHA’s recent approval of a new regulation “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment” that went into effect immediately, which impacts indoor workplaces in ag such as nut hulling and processing facilities, wineries, dairies, packinghouses and more. Key indoor temperature/heat index thresholds of 82 & 87 degrees F will mandate certain procedures to ensure the health and safety of employees. Looking into the impact of the new regulation, Matthew Malcolm visited with labor contractor Robert Heredia of H&R Labor, who specializes in meeting the labor needs of food processing facilities in one of the hottest regions in the nation — the Central Valley of California. Watch this brief interview as Heredia shares his thoughts on the recent changes.
Special thanks to American Pistachio Growers for sponsoring this video.
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SGMA Progress Hampered by Insufficient Surface Farm Water Allocations
Farmers and local water districts have worked together endeavoring to rebuild and sustain California’s underground aquifers through groundwater recharge projects among other conservation practices. Much progress has been made in complying with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), but without access to adequate surface water in year’s of plenty such as this, farmers are left struggling to keep their crops alive and productive, prematurely having to tap back into groundwater supplies. Watch this brief interview with pistachio grower and Chairman of the California Water Alliance — William Bourdeau, as he explains. And read about farm water solutions in the September issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Special thanks to American Pistachio Growers for sponsoring this video.