The Latest in Sacramento: The Week of June 17, 2019

Sites Project Authority Executive Director Jerry Brown (no relation to former Gov. Jerry Brown) discusses the timeline, funding, as well as water supply and environmental benefits of the reservoir project.  Listen as Ag Council President Emily Rooney poses pertinent questions about the off-river reservoir to be built north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and how it fits into the larger picture of improving California’s water management system and restoring flexibility and reliability.

How does the Governor’s recently released water supply plan improve or impact the water supply for agriculture?  Emily and Tricia walk through the high-level provisions including streamlining the permit projects for major water infrastructure projects, creating internal strike teams to expedite the process for supply and conveyance projects and current and additional investments in these areas.  The team also highlights issues of concerns such as a future look at curtailments and water rights.  The Governor’s plan can be found here.

Emily and Tricia dive deep into the comprehensive statewide packaging measure, SB 54 (Allen), signed into law in June by Governor Newsom.

SB 54 is aims at reducing single-use plastic packaging in California.  It places responsibility for the cost of the regulation on producers of that packaging.  This bill impacts the food industry in many aspects and Emily and Tricia walk through several key provisions.

Though there is an important exemption for on-farm packaging, the measure will be challenging for many companies operating at the first point of processing.

Listen-in as the team discusses how SB 54 addresses issues such as food safety, an exemption for on-farm packaging, confidentiality of data, and other core provisions that are priorities for Ag Council members.

As the Capitol Farm Connection podcast hits 50 episodes, Emily and Tricia discuss (anonymous) feedback from listeners selected from a recent podcast survey.  

Ag Council is working to bring our members and friends the most informative and relevant podcast content possible, and your input is appreciated. Haven't taken the podcast survey? Click HERE for the quick survey.

Thanks for your support and enjoy!

Exorbitant fees at the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) are the focus of today’s In a Nutshell podcast.  Ag Council is leading a coalition to request financial relief from the General Fund in the state budget for the regulated community to respond to the out-of-control SWRCB fees that continue to increase on an annual basis.

These funds would not be a total elimination of SWRCB fees for agriculture.  Instead, the dollars would partially reduce those fees and ensure those programs that benefit the public statewide, such as beach cleanup programs, are being paid for by General Fund dollars, rather than by those regulated by the SWRCB. Meanwhile, farmers would continue to pay for the operation of specific agricultural programs, such as the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. 

Get up to speed on legislation pending in the State Capitol.  Emily and Tricia discuss several bills moving through the State Legislature ranging from water to labor to the supply chain.

Join Emily as she interviews president and CEO Dan Vincent with Pacific Coast Producers (PCP) in the newest Capitol Farm Connection episode. 

Dan discusses the success he helped shape at PCP as challenges arose in the tomato industry and throughout agriculture.  He also highlights well thought-out investment strategies to tackle some of the toughest obstacles, such as labor.

Pacific Coast Producers is an agricultural cooperative owned by over 150 family farms in Central and Northern California.  The cooperative specializes in canning fruit and tomatoes for private label brands all over the globe.

To read a fact sheet about the EO developed by the Department of Water Resources, click here.