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America’s pastime has kicked off a new season. Spring Training is taking place, Little League fields are holding tryouts and softball and baseball players around the country are preparing for their first games. In my family, we love baseball. My sons participate in a travel ball league and my softball loving daughter was proud to show off her arm in a very competitive showing at the FarmPAC cornhole tournament at Annual Meeting. For my kids, spring means time on the ball field, but for farmers and ranchers we know Spring means the start of a very busy season where our focus is on the farm and our free time is limited.
While farmers and ranchers take to the fields during the day, and for some of you, maybe the Little League park after hours, Farm Bureau takes the watch and maintains the constant vigilance on policy and regulatory issues that are the core value of your membership. Staff members assigned to local, state and federal government issues, legal proceedings and agency actions are working diligently to track, analyze, and respond to those time sensitive issues with your perspective and best interest in mind.
Late last week the California Department of Water Resources made an announcement regarding sustainability plans for the state’s groundwater basins. The agency recommended approval of plans for six California groundwater subbasins. It declared six other plans to be “inadequate,” which will result in a review by the State Water Resources Control Board.
This action will trigger a process before the water board that will afford local agencies additional opportunities to address identified problems, regain control of their basins and, hopefully, avoid formal probationary status or the imposition of eventual state interim plans.
Here at CAFB our team will be working closely with state and local agencies, our county Farm Bureaus and our agricultural groundwater users on workable solutions to sustain healthy aquifers. It’s critical these solutions protect both the aquifers and our food production.
Following the news from DWR, I spent time earlier this week speaking to the Senate Agriculture Committee and outlining additional details and components needed in the upcoming Farm Bill. I’m pleased the committee recognizes California Farm Bureau as a key stakeholder in these proceedings and as President, I’m proud to take the opportunity to share our guidance and input into this process. This is just the start of drafting this year’s Farm Bill and CAFB will work hand in hand with committee staff and legislators towards solutions and key inclusions that benefit California.
From groundwater to the Farm Bill, it was then on to immigration reform which took center stage the last couple of days as I wrapped up meetings in Arizona representing California’s interests on the American Farm Bureau Board of Directors. While at the U.S.-Mexico Border, I spent time with my fellow state Farm Bureau presidents, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and key immigration specialists discussing the intricacies of the border crossing process. California Farm Bureau worked with the US Senate late last year to pass the Farm Worker Modernization Act that would have given needed relief to the guest worker program in California and across the country. While the bill didn’t get a vote, it remains a top priority to see some meaningful reform and CAFB will continue pushing for solutions related to immigration.
The issues facing California agriculture are vast and the opposing teams are tough, but I’m confident in California Farm Bureau and I’m proud to lead the largest general agriculture organization in our state, and one that is uniquely positioned to meet these cross commodity challenges, represent your interests, and do as a collective what none of us can do alone. That’s the value of membership and that’s the value of Farm Bureau.
For more information on the California Department of Water Resources Groundwater announcement click here.
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