Farmers and ranchers would be best served by approaching agricultural engagement with public officials in a more unified manner, highlighting the underlying importance of having a strong agricultural industry. As legislators have a myriad of issues to consider when crafting policy, agricultural concerns need to be addressed and communicated in a manner that fits in that context.
News
USDA Urged to Make Climate Change Research Public
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, raised strong concerns that the reported suppression of significant climate change research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is harmful to agriculture and urged the Department to publicize past and future research.
California State Board of Food and Agriculture to Meet in San Luis Obispo and Seek Public Input on Creating Climate-Resilient Water System
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will host a public listening session on California’s Water Future on July 2, 2019 in San Luis Obispo. The meeting will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, 4875 Morabito Place, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.
State agencies are asking Californians to help shape a roadmap for meeting future water needs and ensuring environmental and economic resilience through the 21st century.
Farm Bureau Endorses Senate Water Legislation
Water legislation introduced June 20th in the U.S. Senate recognizes the continued crisis facing water reliability in the West, according to the California Farm Bureau Federation. CFBF endorsed the Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Infrastructure Act by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who introduced the bipartisan legislation along with Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Martha McSally, R-Ariz., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. The bill would authorize federal funding for new storage, recycling and desalination projects; create a loan program for water supply projects; enhance forest restoration and other activities to benefit water supply or quality; and take additional steps to encourage water development.
California’s Marathon Trek Towards Smarter Water Policy May be Stopped in Its Tracks by Shortsighted Legislation (SB 1)
You’re running a marathon that everyone said you’d never complete. But despite many obstacles, you kept moving forward, and now the finish line is in sight. You’re feeling good that the work is going to pay off. And then, at the last minute, race officials insert themselves and announce that once you finish, it won’t count for anything. California is at this juncture right now. Following marathon-like efforts and negotiations, Voluntary Agreements on water management are on the verge of completion. However, state officials are now considering legislation, SB1, that would negate all that progress.