California Ag Network

Tag: California Farm Bureau

  • CAWG Advancing, Pushing Back on CA Legislation

    CAWG is actively working on several policy priorities this year, including three bills sponsored or co-sponsored by the association.

    • AB 1585 (Connolly, D–San Rafael; Ransom, D–Tracy)
      Co-sponsored by CAWG and Family Winemakers of California, this bill would require that wine labeled as “American” be made from 100 percent American-grown winegrapes. The measure aligns the American designation with California’s long-standing requirement that wines labeled “California” contain 100 percent California grapes, strengthening truth-in-labeling standards and supporting domestic grape growers.
    • SB 921 (Grove, R–Bakersfield; Hurtado, D–Bakersfield)
      Co-sponsored by CAWG and the California Farm Bureau, this bipartisan legislation would create a payroll tax credit to fully offset the cost of overtime wages paid by agricultural employers. The proposal aims to provide critical relief for growers facing rising labor costs while maintaining overtime protections for farmworkers.
    • SB 917 (Laird, D–Santa Cruz)
      Co-sponsored by CAWG and Family Winemakers of California, this bill would allow small, non-estate wineries that purchase local grapes to sell wine and offer tastings at certified farmers’ markets. The measure supports direct-to-consumer connections and strengthens local grape supply chains.

    A significant part of CAWG’s work involves responding to legislation that could negatively impact growers and ensuring lawmakers understand the real-world consequences of those proposals.

    Several bills introduced this session have raised concerns for the winegrape industry, including:

    • AB 2646 (Krell, D–Sacramento)
      This proposal would establish a minimum wage for agricultural workers of $19.75 per hour, along with an annual cost-of-living increase.
    • AB 2227 (Connolly)
      The bill would increase bond requirements for farm labor contractors by linking them to gross revenues rather than payroll and would also require similar bonding for foreign labor contractors operating as farm labor contractors.
    • AB 2336 (Macedo, R–Tulare) and AB 1550 (Sanchez, R–Rancho Santa Margarita)
      These bills would exempt overtime compensation from income tax for employees. However, the federal version of this policy excluded agricultural workers, and CAWG members have made clear that any similar proposal in California should include agricultural employees.

    — By the California Association of Winegrowers

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

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

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

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

    SB 921 would do the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    In February, Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) introduced legislation to create a tax credit for agricultural employers to help cover the costs of providing overtime wages to farmworkers. SB 628, co-sponsored by California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) and California Farm Bureau, aims to ensure that farmworkers have more opportunities to earn overtime pay while also providing relief to struggling agricultural businesses.
    “California’s farmers and farmworkers are the backbone of our agricultural economy. Unfortunately, overtime mandates have made it harder for farmworkers to get the hours they need and for growers to get their product to market,” said Senator Shannon Grove. “SB 628 is a commonsense solution that ensures farmworkers have more opportunities to earn, while providing relief to our agricultural businesses who sustain the world’s food chain supply.”
    SB 628 would do the following:
    • Establish a payroll tax credit allowing agricultural employers to offset the cost of overtime wages paid to their ag employees. NOTE: “Overtime wages” means the difference between the employees’ overtime rate of pay and their regular rate of pay.
    • Help increase available overtime hours for farmworkers, boosting their take-home pay, and supporting much-needed financial stability in rural California.
    “In 2016, when AB 1066 (Gonzalez) was approved to phase in agricultural overtime, growers warned that this new law would ultimately reduce farmworkers’ earnings,” said Natalie Collins, President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers. “Today, with the smallest winegrape harvest in 20 years, growers are struggling to stay in business. If legislators genuinely want to increase take-home pay for farmworkers, growers are going to need support from Sacramento to make it possible. CAWG thanks Senator Grove for her leadership on this important issue.”
    “California farmers are incredibly resilient, but it is no secret that agriculture faces significant economic challenges,” said California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass. “Research has shown that placing the burden of overtime wages on farmers came at the expense of both farming operations and the families of farm employees. Senator Grove’s agricultural overtime tax credit bill is a sensible solution that will enable farmers to continue producing food while providing a real and richly deserved boost in take-home pay for farm employees. It is an investment in our food security and rural communities and in the long-term sustainability of production agriculture in California.”
    Recent research supports these concerns. A 2023 study by the University of California, Berkeley (“California’s Overtime Law for Agricultural Workers: What Happened to Worker Hours and Pay?” ARE Update 27(1): 1–4. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics) found that California farmworkers have been earning less since the “Phase-In Overtime for Agricultural Workers Act of 2016” became law. The study concluded, “This early evidence suggests that the law may not be benefiting the workers they aim to protect.”
    SB 628 follows the lead of other states that have recognized the unintended consequences of agricultural overtime laws and acted to ensure farmworkers can still earn overtime pay:
    • Oregon offers a refundable personal or corporate income tax credit for employers based on overtime wages paid to agricultural workers through 2028.
    • New York offers a similar tax credit through 2032 that is based on the eligible overtime agricultural businesses pay.
    Together, Senator Shannon Grove, CAWG and the California Farm Bureau are advocating for a policy that both increases farmworker earnings and provides relief to an industry facing unprecedented financial challenges. California must ensure that policies designed to help farmworkers do not inadvertently reduce their wages.
    About the California Association of Winegrape Growers: CAWG is a statewide nonprofit trade association advocating for California’s winegrape growers to ensure the sustainability of the winegrape industry. CAWG promotes the industry’s long-term success by advancing the adoption of sound public policies and fostering awareness and understanding of winegrape growers’ contributions to the economy, environment, and California communities. Learn more at cawg.org.
    About the California Farm Bureau: The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 26,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.8 million Farm Bureau members. Learn more at cfbf.com.
    About Senator Shannon Grove: Representative of California’s 12th Senate District, which encompasses large portions of Fresno, Kern, and Tulare counties.

  • Past California Farm Bureau President Runs for State Assembly

    Jamie Johansson, a farmer and past President of the California Farm Bureau, has officially announced his campaign for State Assembly. Johansson is running to succeed Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher in the 3rd State Assembly District, as Gallagher is term-limited and unable to seek reelection.

    Jamie Johansson is a proud Northern Californian who has lived in Butte County since 1993. His story is one of grit and perseverance. During tough times, Jamie dug ditches by hand to make ends meet and taught himself to farm olives and citrus. In 1998, he began managing orchards in the Oroville area to fulfill contracts supplying olives to the Bay Area and has been a farmer ever since.

    Facing California’s maze of taxes and regulations, Jamie took action. He joined the Butte County Farm Bureau Board, was elected to the Oroville City Council, and served as President of the California Farm Bureau.

    In addition to being a first-generation farmer, Jamie continues to put community and service first. He has supported local agriculture youth groups, is a leader of the Durham Boy Scouts, and founded the Sierra Oro Farm Trail, a non-profit that promotes agri-tourism and marketability for Butte County farms.

    Jamie lives in Chico with his wife, Nicole, and their three children. When he’s not working, Jamie can be found building a pig pen for his kids’ fair project or cheering the kids on at their sporting events.

    What Jamie’s Saying:
    “Northern California has had enough. Enough of the high prices, wasteful water policies, and extreme political agendas in Sacramento. Enough of being left behind. That’s why I’m running—to be the voice of farmers, hard-working people, and small business owners who are ready to turn California around. I’ve stood up to Newsom. I’ve worked with the Trump Administration to provide relief for local farms. Now, I’m ready to fight for Northern California in the State Assembly.”

  • Fall River Junior-Senior High School’s Rick Neugebauer Named California’s “Ag Educator of the Year”

    After recognizing six exceptional California teachers as finalists through the Golden Owl Award, the California FFA Foundation, in partnership with Nationwide and the California Farm Bureau, selected Rick Neugebauer, agricultural teacher at Fall River Junior-Senior High School, as California’s 2023-2024 “Ag Educator of the Year.”

    Neugebauer was formally recognized as the Golden Owl Award grand prize winner during the California FFA State Leadership Conference in Sacramento on March 22. In addition to the title of California’s Ag Educator of the Year, Neugebauer received the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy and a $3,000 Nationwide-funded donation to further Fall River Junior-Senior High School’s agricultural education efforts.

    Upon receiving the award, Neugebauer expressed heartfelt appreciation for his supportive community. “I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition. Receiving the Golden Owl Award means a great deal to me personally, however I would be remiss to take all the credit,” he said. “This award represents the collective effort of an entire community dedicated to educating and guiding the leaders of tomorrow. It reflects the unwavering support and belief of everyone within the Fall River/McArthur Valley. I am honored to continue my service and contribute positively to the growth and development of the students at Fall River Junior-Senior High School and McArthur FFA.”

    Each Golden Owl Award finalist was also presented with an individualized plaque in front of attendees at the California FFA State Leadership Conference and received a $500 donation to support future educational efforts. The finalists were:

    • Daniel Crookham – Exeter FFA
    • Rebecca Freeman – Lodi-Tokay FFA
    • Randy Mendes – St. Helena FFA
    • Deanna Morton – Shandon FFA
    • Marlisa Nordstrom – Buena Park FFA

    Neugebauer’s passion for agriculture and his commitment to his students have made him an outstanding educator, and his recognition is well-deserved. His nomination, submitted by a fellow teacher, describes Neugebauer as hard-working, dedicated, and involved in his community. “Mr. Neugebauer has been an ag teacher at our school for 24 years. In those years, he has led many students to success in public speaking and leadership roles; earning state champion titles and mentoring numerous regional and state officers. He has taught kids how to be confident in their abilities and become well-rounded, productive members of society.”

    As the number one insurer of farms and ranches in the United States, Nationwide established the Golden Owl Award with its state partners to shed light on the contributions of California’s leading agricultural teachers and provide additional resources to support their programs.

    “Nationwide is proud to recognize the dedicated teachers who are educating and inspiring students to pursue careers in agriculture,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “We’re honored to have the opportunity to appreciate their contributions, highlight the growing need for their services, and supply additional resources to help provide their students with optimal learning experiences.”

    In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is also donating $5,000 to the California FFA Foundation to further support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers, and advisors alike.

    The Golden Owl Award is the result of partnerships between Nationwide, the California FFA Foundation, and the California Farm Bureau.

    About the California FFA Foundation
    California FFA Foundation serves more than 103,000 California students and strives to make a difference in their lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the California FFA, visit calaged.org.

    About the California Farm Bureau

    The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 26,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.8 million Farm Bureau members.

    About Nationwide

    Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities, mutual funds and ETFs; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

  • 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.

  • Top State Scientist to Head California Agricultural Research Institute

    Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, manager of environmental programs for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, has been hired to head a research foundation conducting and supporting scientific studies on critical matters affecting California farm communities.

    Dr. Gunasekara will serve as director of science and research for the California Bountiful Foundation. The foundation, which is affiliated with the California Farm Bureau, will serve as a research clearinghouse compiling scientific data on agriculture, water and the environment.

    “Bringing together Dr. Gunasekara’s considerable expertise and experience and the collective contributions of our 31,000 farmers, ranchers and supporting businesses presents a tremendous opportunity to the people of California,” said California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson. “Science and agriculture are the bedrocks of our society and our state, and now we have the best of both working to bring more food, fiber, flora and fauna to the people in a healthy and sustainable way.”

    Dr. Gunasekara served as scientific advisor to California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross and manager of the Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation. He previously served as a senior environmental scientist for CFDA, specializing in environmental issues related to fertilizer use.

    He is also a former research scientist for the California Department of Public Health and worked as a graduate assistant with the state Department of Pesticide Regulation.

    Dr. Gunasekara earned his doctorate in agricultural and environmental chemistry from the University of California, Davis. He holds a master’s degree in plant and soil sciences and bachelor’s degrees in environmental sciences and anthropology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

    The California Bountiful Foundation aspires to become a leading agricultural research institute, supporting studies on climate-smart agriculture, farming technology, forest management, and water and economic security for agriculture.

    The California Bountiful Foundation replaced the Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Foundation, which was founded in 1998 with a goal of supporting scientific research on surface and groundwater management in California.

    The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 31,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 6 million Farm Bureau members.— By the California Farm Bureau

  • Infrastructure Bill Delivers Major Victory for Western Water Users

    With President Joe Biden’s signature on the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a national coalition representing thousands of Western farmers, ranchers, businesses and rural and urban water providers declared a victory for Western water users and called on the Administration to immediately clear the path for projects that will address critical Western water supply needs.

    The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes more than $8 billion for projects that will enhance water supply reliability across the West, including repairing aging dams and canals, building new surface and groundwater storage and conveyance facilities, funding water conservation and recycling projects, and improving watershed and ecosystem management.

    “This is a great victory for Western water users. The Western water provisions included in this legislation represent a once-in-a-generation federal investment that will bolster our aging water infrastructure and keep water flowing to our nation’s farms and ranches. It will also improve our ability to provide water supply reliability for cities and the environment in future droughts,” Family Farm Alliance Executive Director Dan Keppen said.

    “Water is the cornerstone of our economic and ecological wellbeing. We are grateful to Congress and the Administration for their efforts to enact of this historic bipartisan legislation. It will benefit every American as well as future generations by making critical investments in our nation’s water infrastructure,” National Water Resources Association President Christine Arbogast said.

    “The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) applauds this bipartisan commitment to invest in water infrastructure on a historic scale which will provide western water managers with valuable resources for storage, conveyance, recycling, ecosystem and dam safety projects. Today represents a milestone in our nation’s collective ability to achieve water infrastructure resilience and ensure a safe, reliable and high-quality supply of water now and for future generations,” ACWA Executive Director David Eggerton said.

    “Amid the searing drought across the West and another catastrophic wildfire season, the $8 billion investment included for water infrastructure investments comes at a critical time. We are appreciative of the bipartisan investment that has been made in new and aging infrastructure as well as water conveyance facilities. Farmers can now look forward to long-needed infrastructure enhancements necessary to produce a safe and reliable food supply,” California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson said.

    “We urge the Administration to quickly drive implementation of the Western water provisions. Time, like water, is in short supply. We cannot let red tape and activist litigation stall or block the many long overdue projects necessary to repair and enhance our aging water infrastructure and develop reliable new sources of water supply,” Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia said.

    The coalition includes more than 220 organizations from 15 states that collectively represent $120 billion in agricultural production—nearly one-third of all agricultural production in the country—and many of the local and regional public water agencies that supply water to more than 75 million urban, suburban and rural residents.

    About Association of California Water Agencies:

    The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) is a statewide association of public agencies whose more than 450 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more than a century, our mission has been clear: To provide comprehensive leadership, advocacy and resources for California public water agencies to ensure a high quality and reliable water supply in an environmentally sustainable and fiscally responsible manner.

    About California Farm Bureau:

    The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 32,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 5.5 million Farm Bureau members.

    About Family Farm Alliance:

    The Family Farm Alliance is a powerful advocate for family farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts, and allied industries in seventeen Western states. The Alliance is focused on one mission – To ensure the availability of reliable, affordable irrigation water supplies to Western farmers and ranchers.

    About National Water Resources Association:

    National Water Resources Association advocates federal policies, legislation, and regulations promoting protection, management, development, and beneficial use of water resources. The association is dedicated to achieving sustainable water supply for all beneficial uses in an economical and environmentally responsible manner.

    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 half of America’s fresh organic produce.

  • National Coalition Presses for Water Supply Infrastructure

    Citing an “acute and critical need” magnified by another all-too-familiar drought, a national coalition representing thousands of Western farmers, ranchers, water providers, businesses and communities urged Senate leaders yesterday to take action to address the shortcomings of aging water infrastructure.

    In a letter to Chairman Joe Manchin and Ranking Member John Barrasso of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the coalition said federal investment in a diversified water management portfolio that serves a broad range of water uses must be included as essential infrastructure in the next legislative package.

    The coalition includes more than 220 organizations from 15 states that collectively represent $120 billion in agricultural production—nearly one-third of all agricultural production in the country—and many of the local and regional public water agencies that supply water to more than 75 million urban, suburban and rural residents.

    The coalition warned that changing hydrological conditions and an expanding population in the West raise serious concerns about the future viability of the nation’s water infrastructure. To keep water flowing to farms, ranches, cities and the environment, the coalition said substantial federal investment is needed to bolster deteriorating storage and conveyance facilities and build new ones.

    “This funding will assist in addressing critical safety needs, develop new infrastructure, invest in smart water technology and conservation, and improve forest and water ecosystems. Additionally, it will spur economic recovery and prepare us to meet the water needs of the next generation in the face of a changing climate,” the coalition letter said.

    As part of a comprehensive water management portfolio, the coalition identified 1) more than $13 billion in Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure needs over the next 10 years, including storage and conveyance, dam safety, rural water, water-smart technologies, and water recycling and reuse projects; 2) $34 billion for USDA to undertake forest restoration, watershed protection and flood prevention projects; and 3) $1.75 billion for Army Corps of Engineers water storage projects and environmental infrastructure.

    The coalition concluded the letter with a call for Congress to streamline regulation and permitting processes, along with other reforms, to ensure the timely construction of federal water projects as part of President Biden’s jobs and economic recovery plan.

    Click here for the letter to Chairman Joe Manchin and Ranking Member John Barrasso.

    Click here for the list of 2022-2032 Western water infrastructure needs.

    Click here for a list of signatories to the letter.

    About Association of California Water Agencies:

    The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) is a statewide association of public agencies whose more than 450 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more than a century, ACWA’s mission has been clear: to help members promote the development, management and use of good quality water at the lowest practical cost and in an environmentally responsible manner.

    About California Farm Bureau:

    The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 32,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 5.5 million Farm Bureau members.

    About Family Farm Alliance:
    The Family Farm Alliance is a powerful advocate for family farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts, and allied industries in seventeen Western states. The Alliance is focused on one mission – To ensure the availability of reliable, affordable irrigation water supplies to Western farmers and ranchers.

    About National Water Resources Association:

    National Water Resources Association advocates federal policies, legislation, and regulations promoting protection, management, development, and beneficial use of water resources. The association is dedicated to achieving sustainable water supply for all beneficial uses in an economical and environmentally responsible manner.

    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 half of America’s fresh organic produce.

  • What the Farm Workforce Modernization Act Means for Farmers

    While it has seemed impossible to get anything done at the national level regarding ag labor reform, Sara Neagu-Reed from the federal policy Division of the California Farm Bureau Federation shares in an interview with California Ag Network that hope is on the horizon with the progress of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. Watch this brief video with Sara as she explains why, and what ag employers should know and do about it.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.