Curious about the final funding levels for significant agriculture and water programs in the state budget?  Emily and Tricia cover state budget funding outcomes resulting from our 2021 advocacy work for programs, including: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) projects, canal repairs for improved water conveyance, FARMER Program, Healthy Soils Program, Alternatives to Agricultural Open Burning Incentive Program, pollinator habitat protection, dairy methane reduction projects and others. 

Ag labor legislation known as card check is the focus of Ag Council’s latest podcast.  Join Emily and Tricia for a quick episode as they walk through the outcome of ag labor legislation, AB 616 (Stone), this year and what’s next, given that a new measure is being circulated again on this topic. Background Ag Council appreciates Governor Newsom’s veto of AB 616 (Stone) in late September.  As reported in previous In the Know newsletters, the measure would have undermined the secret ballot for farmworkers when deciding union representation and eroded the supervisory role of the Ag Labor Relations Board.

Join Charlotte Mitchell and Randy Fiorini as they discuss opportunities, challenges and other considerations when contemplating an agricultural easement.  Charlotte is the Executive Director of California Farmland Trust and discusses the process for securing an easement and requirements to obtain funding. Randy reflects on the thought process as a multigenerational family farmer.  Emily chats with Charlotte and Randy as they walk through the pressures of urbanization, what the Newsom Administration is considering in this space and land use activities at the local level.  To learn more about California Farmland Trust, feel free to visit their website at: https://www.cafarmtrust.org.  

AB 616, water infrastructure, clean drinking water and food insecurity are among the issues discussed with Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) in this episode.  Representing State Senate District 14, including the cities of Hanford, Fresno & Porterville, Sen. Hurtado has prioritized water issues and the challenges of rural communities during her service in the State Legislature.  Listen in while Emily and Tricia ask about her district, critical issues and what motivated her to run for office.  To learn more about Sen. Hurtado, please visit: https://sd14.senate.ca.gov .      

Emily and Tricia discuss the provisions in AB 616 (Stone), which undermines the existing secret ballot process for ag employees when determining union representation. They also discuss how you can help weigh-in with the measure pending consideration in the State Senate.   To send a message to your State Senator urging opposition to AB 616, click here.  

During the height of the 2020 pandemic and wildfire season, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order to phase out gasoline-powered cars, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and create an economy around Zero Emission Vehicles.  Learn about what this Executive Order means for agriculture as Emily and Dani break down the issues in this episode of Capitol Farm Connection.  The Executive Order can be found by clicking here.  

Learn about the future of water storage, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), Voluntary Agreements and unimpaired flows and other land use decisions from the Secretary of California's Natural Resources Agency, Wade Crowfoot. Emily visits with the Secretary and they tackle many important issues at the nexus of agriculture and the environment. Secretary Crowfoot highlights the challenges and opportunities for agriculture within each of these programs as well.

An executive order issued by Governor Newsom in the fall could transform the way coastal and working lands are managed in California.  Learn about the opportunities and challenges in it for ag as Dani and Emily from the Ag Council team break down the goals of the 30x30 Executive Order.

Learn how curtailments in the Upper Russian River watershed could impact farmers throughout the state.  Emily & Tricia discuss proposed curtailments and how the state budget could assist with numerous water projects important to agriculture. To participate in the hearing at the State Water Resources Control Board, please visit this link to view the agenda: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/2021/jun/06_15_21_agenda_links.pdf  

Emily visits with K-deep Dhaliwal, a partner at Moss Adams LLP, which is one of Ag Council’s allied members. Emily and K-deep discuss how in the face of the global pandemic, agricultural companies are addressing obstacles, working to overcome massive uncertainty, and assessing what challenges remain on the horizon.   Emily and K-deep cover what steps successful companies are taking to weather the storm, the hurdles remaining in the agribusiness sector, and potential staffing options that could provide flexibility and attract agricultural business talent. K-deep leads the firm’s agribusiness practice for California.  K-deep advises clients in the food and ag industry and has over 15 years of experience.  He specializes in ag cooperatives, vertically integrated farming operations and institutional investor owned businesses.  K-deep is the past president of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives and currently serves on the board for the Far West Chapter.  For more information, please visit Moss Adams' website at: https://www.mossadams.com/home or contact K-deep at [email protected].