Farm Bureau at work California Farm Bureau’s government affairs team is at the Capitol, advocating for farmers, ranchers and agriculture’s future. Here are some key issues Farm Bureau is focused on this week.
the Fish and Game Commission as it pro- ceeds with the bumblebee petition. Speaker détente Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, will remain in his post for at least the remainder of the legislative session after Assemblyman Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, reported he has sufficient support among Assembly Democrats to
take over the top job. Rivas, chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, and Rendon pledged to work as a team. “I agree with the majority of our current caucus that Speaker Rendon should re- main as speaker for at least the rest of this legislative session,” Rivas said in his state- ment. “I look forward to working with him for the betterment of California and the
unity of the Assembly Democratic Caucus.” Rendon applauded Rivas, saying, “Assemblymember Rivas has brought to- gether a broad and diverse coalition that reflects the high esteem in which he is held by our colleagues.” (A full roundup of Farm Bureau legisla- tive efforts may be found online at www. cfbf.com/Farm-Bureau-At-Work.)
Budget The California Assembly and Senate have released their proposed 2022- 23 budget as a counter to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest May revision to his bud- get proposal. The legislators’ plan shows $300 billion in spending, while boosting reserves to $37.5 billion. Proposed allocations of interest to agri- culture include: • $2 billion to “rebalance state water sup- ply and water rights.” • $1.5 billion for a new California Water Trust to acquire land with senior water rights from “willing sellers.” • $500 million to the Department of Conservation for acquisition and repur- posing of lands affected by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. • $8 billion to offer $200 rebates per tax- payer and dependent for households up to $250,000, in lieu of a gas tax rebate. • $1 billion to implement the 30x30 plan, which seeks to conserve 30% of the state’s natural and coastal landscapes by 2030. • $1.2 billion over two years for freight-related infrastructure at ports. • $250 million for small businesses and nonprofit organizations with fewer than 150 employees to offset costs of paid sick leave. • $75 million for the California Small Agricultural Business Drought Relief Grant Program at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. (For a commentary on the latest budget proposals, see Page 2.) Bees In 2019 the California Fish and Game Commission voted to grant candidacy status to four subspecies of bumblebees under the California Endangered Species Act. Fish and Game Code grants endan- gered-species candidacy to mammals, fish, or invertebrates, but not insects. A candidate is given full protection of the act. Farm Bureau and other agricultural or- ganizations asked the court to clarify that bumblebees are not fish and therefore can- not be listed. A Sacramento County judge agreed and issued a ruling in 2020 to this effect; the ruling was overturned on appeal last week. (See story, Page 4.) Farm Bureau recognizes that hon- eybees are responsible for nearly half of California’s agricultural production, directly and indirectly, and that placing restrictions on their access to forage is likely to have broader impacts throughout California’s agricultural economy. California’s farmers and ranchers have made significant investments to improve habitat for pollinators. They’ve planted hedgerows and cover crops to provide habitat and implemented best practices to reduce impacts from pesticide use. Farm Bureau remains engaged in pollinator ef- forts, including the California Pollinator Coalition and CDFA’s Pollinator Habitat Program, which was allocated $30 million for two years. Farm Bureau will remain engaged with
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June 8, 2022 Ag Alert 19
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