SBCFB Weekly Newsletter
March 20, 2024
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Santa Barbara County Supervisors Hail Success of New Farmworker Resource Center | |
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The Santa Barbara County Farmworker Resource Center program launched last year with more than $1 million in funding, has provided services to nearly 3,500 workers, held 84 events with partner agencies and conducted 16 resource fairs at employers’ requests.
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Women’s History Month spotlight — Dr. Annette Jones | |
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As CDFA continues to honor Women’s History Month, here is a video profile of Dr. Annette Jones — the first-ever woman in the roles of California State Veterinarian and director of the division of Animal Health and Food Safety Services. Dr. Jones has broken barriers while dedicating her career to safeguarding animal health and public safety.
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Farm Bureau at Work:
Legislative and Governmental Affairs Report from Sacramento
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Agriculture Employment Policy
The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee passed legislation (AB 2011) making permanent a small employer family leave mediation program created by AB 1867. The program is administered by the California Civil Rights Department and is set to sunset in 2025. The program has been successful, with more than half of the mediated cases resulting in settlement and hundreds of thousands of dollars going directly to workers. Farm Bureau supports AB 2011.
Air Quality
A broad coalition of agricultural groups, including California Farm Bureau, requested a meeting with Governor Gavin Newsom to discuss CARB's rulemaking around the transition to meet electrification and climate goals.
Insurance
The Assembly Committee on Insurance held an oversight hearing regarding the California Fair Plan, which has seen a record growth rate in policies and carries unsustainable risk. California Farm Bureau provided public comments at the hearing, highlighting the impact of insurance unavailability and costs on farmers and ranchers.
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Push for Permanent Agriculture Disaster Relief in Farm Bill | |
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Amidst the mounting concerns over the vulnerability of ag communities to natural disasters, members of our California delegation urged the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to incorporate permanent disaster assistance for agricultural producers and communities in the forthcoming Farm Bill. Their letter emphasizes the necessity to incorporate Senator Alex Padilla, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-04), Ken Calvert (R-41), and Doug LaMalfa’s (R-1) Agricultural Emergency Relief Act into the legislation, which seeks to establish a lasting framework at the Department of Agriculture for offering aid to farmers affected by natural disasters. With the state’s ag industry facing a total loss of $2.4 billion in 2023 alone, the reinstatement of a permanent disaster assistance is deemed critical.
In addition to advocating for permanent disaster relief, Senator Padilla has been actively involved in legislative measures to enhance access to federal agriculture disaster programs. Among these efforts is the Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act, co-led by Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), which aims to waive income restrictions that currently prevent certain producers from receiving USDA disaster relief. Full text of the letter is available in the link below.
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YOUR FARM BUREAU HAPPENINGS | |
2024 Ford Farm Bureau Survey | |
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As a valued Farm Bureau member, you are invited to participate in this short survey inquiring about your current experience with the Farm Bureau incentive program offered by Ford. Your feedback in the survey is extremely important and will provide Ford Motor Company with valuable information about the program.
This survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete. Your responses will be anonymous and used only by Ford Motor Company.
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Are your products labeled California Grown? Farm Bureau members in California now have access to a 50 percent discount on California Grown branding and licensing for their agricultural commodities. The purpose of the California Grown brand is to increase awareness and consumption of California agricultural products among California consumers. California Farm Bureau Federation, a California Grown member, is partnering with California Grown to further promote the brand and as a result, Farm Bureau members have access to a significant discount. If you are interested in the program and are looking for more information about the California Grown branding, please go to the California Grown website at www.californiagrown.org or phone (916) 441-5302. | |  |
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El Rancho Marketplace is a family-owned, independent grocery store that has operated a store in Solvang for over 50 years. Founded by a German immigrant butcher Helmut Holzheu, El Rancho Marketplace has met the needs of the surrounding community for fresh and local foods for 58 years. They developed a strong reputation for quality fresh meats and local produce. With its strategic location on Route 246 between Santa Ynez and Solvang, the market serves a large section of the valley. Along with brand-name everyday essentials, the market offers a large selection of fresh local produce, a full-service meat counter, many domestic and imported spirits, and a wide variety of foods prepared under the direction of six chefs.
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Thank you to our Silver Members! | |
Thank you to our Business Members! | | | | |
