Governor Brown has sponsored legislation that will extend an existing $400 million annual surcharge on electricity users to fund three specific areas - energy efficiency, research and deployment of new technologies and subsidize renewable energy. The current proposal provides $250 million for energy efficiency, $75 million for research and $75 million for renewable energy. Agriculture is requesting that the Governor recognize the electricity efficiencies associated with water conservation to help fund our on farm and processing activities, $25 million of the renewable pot to be directed to biomass and biogas production from agriculture, forestry and food processing byproducts, $8 million annually for conversion of diesel pumps to electricity and some additional technical amendments. The bill requires a 2/3 super majority vote so the association is working with both the democrats and republicans to educate them on the needs of the industry. The legislation must pass both houses of the legislature prior to next Friday's close of session for the year.

A group of Agricultural leaders met with new Cal EPA Secretary Matt Rodriguez to introduce our associations, better understand the administration's direction with EPA and discuss issues important to the industry. From this initial conversation, the Secretary is still developing direction but wants to better coordinate between entities and has committed to working closely with Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross and Natural Resources Secretary John Laird on issues that cross disciplines. He demonstrated a strong understanding of the agency and how their actions can impact farmers and processors. Chris Zanobini, who attended the meeting said, "We were very pleased with Secretary Rodriguez' commitment to coordinate with Secretary Ross and his invitation for regular meetings with the industry to update him on issues important to agriculture." Secretary Rodriguez was Chief Deputy Attorney General prior to being appointed Cal EPA Secretary.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is convening a public listening session on September 20, 2011 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Washington, DC to receive input concerning the Department's activities and priorities related to supporting organic agriculture production, handling and markets. This event is being hosted by the USDA Organic Working Group (a USDA internal communications network) and the USDA National Organic Program (responsible for regulating USDA organic products). The Public Listening Session is free and open to the public.  

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Published in August 2011 by Meister Media Worldwide, the Rise of Biopesticides Special Report investigates the increase in biopesticide adoption from the perspective of the grower, crop consultant, ag retailer, food retailer, and consumer:

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USDA's Economic Research Service at USDA this week said net on-farm income in 2011 will increase more than 30% over 2010, with government payments dropping a whopping 17%. All three indicators of farm earnings - net farm income; net cash income, and net value added - are expected to rise more than 20% over last year. Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said exports are expected to hit $137 billion, $22 billion higher than the record set in 2008 and $28 billion above a year ago. Vilsack said ag exports is only one "of a few sectors in the U.S. economy to enjoy a surplus" - projected at $42.5 billion, another record. Net farm income and net cash income are both forecast to exceed $100 billion for the first time ever this year, with ERS adding that the 2011 forecast for net farm income is the second highest inflation-adjusted value recorded since 1973. Net Farm income is seen hitting $103.6 billion.

A House GOP demand that any new spending on disaster aid be offset by cuts in other federal programs is expected to be ignored as the Senate returns next week to increase disaster spending as part of its appropriations process. The Senate's energy/water and homeland security appropriations bills for FY2012 are expected to be marked up in subcommittee as early as September 7, and both are expected to carry new increased discretionary spending for disaster assistance. While the House version of those two bills carries a $2-billion increase for disaster relief, it pays for the increase by taking unspent monies away from the FY2009 economic stimulus package. This battle over disaster aid - which Senate Democrats contend does not need to be offset - will complicate efforts to quickly replenish dwindling funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund, hit hard by Hurricane Irene, the East Coast earthquake, wild fires, flooding and drought which have plagued 2011.

Last Friday House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) sent President Obama a letter asking for a list of all proposed Administration regulations that individually carry an economic impact of $1 billion. Boehner has already identified 219 planned rules that will cost at least $100 million each. In response, Obama sent Boehner a list of seven regulations with annual costs exceeding the Speaker's target, but told Boehner "none of the contemplated rules will be implemented without careful consideration to cost-saving possibilities and alternatives." He also refuted Boehner's assertion his administration has dramatically increased regulation and red tape, hampering jobs creation. Potentially the most costly rule is an EPA proposal on ground-level ozone standards that carries a potential cost burden of $19-90 billion, but EPA says its benefit is $13-100 billion.  

Other pending regulations and price tags identified by the White House include: a new rule for coal and oil-fired utility steam generators: $10 billion; new emissions standards for industrial and commercial boilers: $3 billion; new standards for coal ash disposal from power plants: $600 million to $1.5 billion; new vehicle safety rules on rear view mirrors: $2 billion; new rules on electronic on-board recorders and documentation on hours of service for commercial truck drivers: $2 billion, and new hours of service rules on truck drivers: $1 billion. Boehner, in his original letter to the White House, said the list of 219 proposed rules is "almost a 15% increase over last year and appears to contradict public suggestions by the Administration this week that the regulatory burden on American job creators is being scaled back."

In a move related to the House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH)-President Obama public tug-of-war over the economic impact of pending Administration rulemakings, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R, VA) this week announced his party's intent to nullify several additional labor and environmental rulemakings. Cantor told the Republican Caucus in a memo released on Monday that National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and EPA rulemakings are targets for aggressive action because they are "costly bureaucratic handcuffs that Washington has imposed upon businesspeople who want to create jobs." Cutting back on costly regulations is half of the GOP jobs creation plan, paired with reform to the tax code, particularly for small business. Cantor would like to see small businesses able to take a deduction equal to 20% of their income.  

President Obama will unveil his jobs proposal at a speech September 8 before a joint session of Congress.   The first labor regulation target is the NLRB's action to interfere in the placement of production facilities by private companies, a nod to the board's action to prohibit Boeing Corp. from relocating a production facility from Washington State to South Carolina. Second on Cantor's list is the NLRB action to make union elections easier.   EPA targets include rules that would regulate emissions from boilers and pending rules seeking to force utilities to regulate how much air pollution crosses state lines. Also on the list of targeted rules are those implementing the health care overhaul bill passed by Congress.

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Increased awareness about the need for coexistence among different agricultural technologies and practices has spurred the American Seed Trade Association to develop three resources demonstrating that coexistence is possible and necessary to meet different market demands. These resources include a paper, Existing U.S. Seed Industry Production Practices that Address Coexistence, ASTA's principles about the practice of coexistence in the seed industry and a Guide to Seed Quality Management. "Pulling together these resources has been a priority for ASTA during the past year," says Andy LaVigne, ASTA president and chief executive officer. "The seed industry has been practicing coexistence for many years and with the changing agricultural landscape, the necessity for cooperation between producers of varying production methods within close proximity continues to rise. It's important the agriculture community understands that there are mechanisms being used to help foster coexistence, helping each farmer - no matter the production method - get the most value out of their chosen crop."

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(August 30, 2011) Job creation via congressional approval of the pending free trade agreements (FTAs) was the hot topic at an agricultural roundtable led by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk recently at Blue Diamond Growers headquarters in Sacramento.

The audience included Susanne Stirling, vice president of international affairs for the California Chamber of Commerce, and Blue Diamond President and CEO Mark Jansen, a member of the CalChamber Board of Directors.

According to Ambassador Kirk, Congress is expected to consider approving the FTAs with South Korea, Colombia and Panama when it reconvenes in September, actions that would greatly increase U.S. exporters' ability to compete in the global marketplace.

Flanked by California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator Issi Siddiqui and Jansen, Ambassador Kirk commended California's agricultural organizations for making the state the largest exporter of agricultural goods in the nation.

"Every billion dollars in agriculture exports supports almost 8,500 jobs, on the farm and on production lines," Ambassador Kirk said.

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LBAM 419 (page 419.18 only).

301.53 Emerald Ash Borer, pages 226.1, 226.3, and 226.4 (only).  

OIP page 110.10 (only).  

Hawaiian plant Material page 105.2 (only).

3434 Light Brown Apple Moth (Page 419.18 only).

301.51 ALB Pages 208.1 (only).

301.91 European Larch Canker page 219.1.

For the last six weeks, Know a California Farmer has hosted a sweepstakes giveaway on Facebook, offering a year's worth of free groceries (a $10,000 grocery store gift card) to one lucky California family. For simply "Liking" the Know a California Farmer Facebook page, any Californian (18 and older) can enter to win this amazing grand prize. Another lucky winner will receive a delivery of fresh, California-grown flowers each month for a year. In addition, a weekly winner will be chosen to receive a $100 gift certificate to a California grocery store of their choice.

The goal of the sweepstakes is to promote the efforts of Know a California Farmer and, more specifically, share the great stories of California farming and ranching families!

Ultimately there are more than 37 million people in California that we want to connect with 80,000 California farm families. How can we reach this large audience? The best way is to be where they are. A majority of Californians are online, and they spend at least one-third of their online time on Facebook. By being in the same social spaces as consumers, we can engage them by telling our authentic stories to counteract the negative messages so prevalent in the mainstream. As globally renowned social media strategist Jay Baer says, "You fight social media fire with social media water."

To ensure the success of our first broad effort to connect with California consumers, all stakeholders of Know a California Farmer need to begin or continue to share their voice on KnowACaliforniaFarmer.com.

September 13th - Sacramento, CA  ~ Come spend a day with association staff and industry colleagues to learn how to be a forklift trainer and to receive updates and new information regarding environmental and safety compliance issues affecting your facility.

Part 1: Receive initial or refresher instructor training for forklifts, loaders and the like.

Part 2: Receive a state-of-the-state refresher on all things regulatory when it comes to environmental and safety issues affecting the industry - including stormwater, air permitting and issues, Cal OSHA activities, diesel engine rules and programs, etc. Staff will also provide updates regarding the energy crisis and grant/rebate programs that the association is working on.   

• Cost is $50.00 per person / per session.  
• Click here for registration form.