Farm Bureau Policies 2022
No. 755 Rural Broadband
of suitable siting of renewable generation facilities. In the decision- making process for solar-energy projects on public land, priority shouldbe given to those projects located onmarginally productive or nonproductive land. Solar energy projects located on private agriculturally productive lands should be subordinate to the agri- cultural operation and should not permanently impede or reduce theproductiveagricultural capacityof the landfor futureuses. Large scaleutility-sized solar electricity facilities proposed for exclusively agricultural zoningdesignationsor landsused for agriculturalmiti- gationshouldrequireaconditionalusepermit tomitigatethepoten- tial negative impacts onneighboring farming operations. The interests of agricultural electricity users must be protected when additional low-cost federally generated power supplies are allocated to non-federal utilities. In a period of energy shortage, priority should be given to the energy needs of agriculture for use in the production, harvesting andprocessingof farmproducts, and themanufactureof essential agricultural chemicals. Water of a quality which makes it useful for agriculture or do- mestic consumption shouldbeprotected for thoseuses. Irrigation districts shouldnot allocate irrigationwater tonewenergy genera- tion uses, unless approved by water users. Instead, cooling water for electric power generators should be supplied by sources in the following order of priority: (1) Oceanwater; (2) Waste water which would otherwise be discharged to the ocean; and (3) Drainage water not suitable for agricultural, domestic or industrial reuse. Cooling tower vapor emissions may be detrimental to crops. Storage ponds for water supplies and blow down disposal should displace aminimumof land capable of producing food. Air emissions fromcoal generator stacksmay be detrimental to air quality, thus affecting growth rates for some crops andanimals, particularly if plants are located in areas in which temperature inversions are common, or air drainage is poor. (2011) No. 761 Fuel Supplies It shouldbe aCFBFandStateof Californiapriority that the State work towarddeveloping thenecessarypolicy reforms andsupport- ing technologies toexpand the infrastructureneeded toensure that adequate fuel supplies areavailablewithin the state toavoidundue price spikes (particularlydiesel suppliesusedby the state’s farmers and ranchers). (05/Rev. 2015) No. 762 Regulation of Utilities in California We support theCaliforniaPublicUtilitiesCommission in its con- stitutionally and legislatively assigned functions, except that the authorityof theCommissiontofix justcompensationforutilityprop- erty takenby eminent domainshouldbe repealed.We recommend that agriculture and industry be representedon theCommission. As deregulation of electric, natural gas and telephone utilities proceeds, regulation shouldbe limited toonly that amount of con- trol required to protect the public and to assure basic, minimum service is provided to all California residents. Wherever possible, we supportmarket-driven solutions toproblems. Statewidepublic interest and public convenience must be the guiding principles of any regulating authority. To assure cost-effective and reliable service, regulationof themonopoly functions of utilitiesmust con- tinue, including terms of service, price and profits. Anystatewidecentral procurement entity for electricgeneration: (1) Should not be a state-operated entity. (2)Shouldbesubjecttostateoversight ifoperatedasaprivateentity. (3) Should provide for public input in the process that estab- lishes rates charged to customers. (4) Should minimize costs to customers and use of revenues strictly limited to the core purpose of the entity. (5) Should include all hydro-electric generation as renewable energy or zero carbon. (6) Should purchase generation on behalf of customers in a manner that accounts for the need to balance impacts from inter- mittent generation sources on the electric grid. (7) Shouldundergo a cost-benefit assessment todetermine the attributes comprising the entity. (99/Rev. 2020) No. 763 Electric Service for Agriculture We urge the appropriate authorities tomake substantial reduc- tion in the costs allowed in electric rate base of electric utilities. We also urge substantial reduction in total electric charges for agricultureby computing theelectric rates ona true cost-of-service basis and by eliminating the multitude of surcharges now loaded onto agriculture. Rates for agriculture shouldbebetter suited tohowelectricity is
used inagricultural operations, including the eliminationof ongo- ing charges when electricity is not used. (Rev. 1999) No. 764 Net Metering Financial and operational incentives should be provided to farmers to encourage their installation of solar, wind, hydro and other on-the-farm electric generating systems. When more en- ergy is produced than used by the farmer in any calendar year, the farmer should be paid for that surplus energy. Whenproducingpower ona farmsitewithmultiplemeters, the solar or other electric generating system should be allowed to be placed where it functions best for the system. If the net metering credit for themeter attached to the generating systemexceeds the usage recorded on that meter, credit should then be passed on to any othermeters under the sameownership locatedonall proper- ties up to the full electrical usage of thosemeters. (2007) No. 765 No-Fault Auto Insurance Webelieve individual states shouldenact legislationembracing some of the concepts of “no fault” auto insurance. Such legislation should include the following: (1) The features of thepresent systempermit insurance compa- nies in their rating structures tocharge thehigh-riskdriver ahigher premiumthan the gooddriver. Thebasic features of any “no-fault” plan should retain the present methods of rating auto insurance, including territorial rating; (2) Provisions shouldbe retained tomake thewrongdoer finan- cially responsible for his acts; (3)Disputes shouldbe resolvedbymandatoryarbitration rather than litigation except that the provisions of “no-fault” legislation would not apply if the victim’s losses exceeded a certain amount; (4) The contingency fee should be controlled by statute, as should the limits of recovery for pain and suffering; and (5) The automatic payment of medical expenses and loss of wages up to a specified amount would be set by statute. We believe federal legislation and federal control of insurance would not be in our best interests. (Rev. 1990) No. 766 Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility To insure proper compliance with the automobile financial re- sponsibility law, insurance companies shouldbe required tonotify theCaliforniaDepartment ofMotorVehicles of any cancellationor termination of an auto policy. DMV shall not register any vehicle without proof of insur- ance. (1988) No. 767 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) should not fly so close to livestock, poultry, or other animal operations that animals or pro- duction there would be adversely affected. We support: (1) The use of UAS for agricultural purposes; (2) The operator of the UAS having the written consent of the landowner and/or farmoperator if theUASwill be flying for anon- agricultural purpose above private property; (3)Allowing landlords and tenants to flyUASover their fields for any reasonwithout being considered commercial activity; (4) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) developing reasonable certification and safety training requirements for the operation of UAS; and (5) The use of safety features to notify manned aircraft that a UAS is in the vicinity. We oppose: (1) Government agencies or third parties using UAS for the pur- pose of regulatory enforcement, litigation or inventorying natural resources without the written consent of the landowner and/or farmoperator; (2) FAA regulations classifying UAS as aircraft; and (3) FAA regulations that require a pilot’s license and third-class medical certification to operate a UAS. (2016) No. 768 Disruption and Surveillance by Aircraft Mannedaircraft and lighter-than-air craft shouldnot fly soclose to livestock, poultry, or other animal operations that animals or production there would be adversely affected. We support requiring the operator of manned aircraft to gain the written consent of the landowner and/or farmoperator if the aircraft will be surveying or gathering data above private property. Weoppose government agencies or thirdparties usingmanned aircraft for thepurposesof regulatoryenforcement, litigation, or for inventorying natural resources without the written consent of the landowner and/or authorized agent. (2016)
We support access to rural broadbanddevelopment, so that ru- ral communities remaincompetitive. The siting of any broadband infrastructure shouldrespect privateproperty rights. Any impacted private landowner shouldbecompensated for any related impacts, and land-owner participation shall be voluntary. (19/Rev. 2021) No. 756 Right to Repair We support the availability of OEMdiagnostic equipment used for agricultural purposes. (2019) No. 757 Automation We support the development and use of automation, mecha- nization, and robotics. We oppose any tax, fee, or other measures that would hinder the use of such automation, mechanization, and robotics. (2019) No. 758 Energy Resources Agriculture must have a consistent supply of power. In view of the continuing prospect of fuel and energy shortages, it is in the interest of the United States to become less dependent upon for- eign energy sources. A reserve should bemade available of North Americancontinental natural energy resources suchas hydroelec- tric, coal, oil shale, geothermal, petroleum, agricultural material, nuclear energy, solar, wind, wood, biomass and all other sources. Adequate fuel supplies for the State of California need to be en- sured. Efforts are needed for harmonization of fuel standards on a national level to secure adequate fuel reserves, to increase refinery capacity, and to prevent the competitive disadvantage that occurs fromhaving unique state standards that increase the costs of fuel productionandprice.Considerationshouldbegiventogovernment action to provide encouragement, such as guarantees against the risk of pricemanipulationby foreignenergy sources, so that private developerscanundertakecostlyresearchanddevelopmentwithout thehazardsofunfaircompetitivepracticesoutside thecontrol of our market structure. FarmBureau should take an active role in educating the public as to energy alternatives, conservation and priorities. (Rev. 2007) No. 759 Renewable Energy and Fuels We encourage thedevelopment anduseof all efficient andcost- effective forms of renewable energy and fuels from agricultural, forestry, industrial and household sources and byproducts. We shouldpubliclyandaggressivelypromote these renewablesources, all being forms of biomass, for economically viable uses such as a fuel andenergy source, lubricityagent, emission-reducingadditive and as unleaded gasoline octane or cetane enhancers. If potentially harmful invasive species are being considered for biofuel crops, the impacts on other farms and rangelands must be addressed. We support: (1) Coordinated California state policy that fully addresses the environmental benefitsof renewable fuelsproduced frombiomass; (2) Development and/or expansion of commercial markets for agricultural biomass; (3) Use of a renewable energy and fuel standard to stimulate the development of renewable energy and fuel sources if supply is adequate and competitively priced; (4) Incentives for research and development that allow renew- able sources of fuel and energy to be cultivated and processed in California in an economic and environmentally soundmanner; (5) Phasing out government subsidies for the manufacturing and blending of corn-based ethanol; and (6) Phasing out tariffs on imported ethanol. Any increase inCalifornia’s renewableenergyportfoliostandard (RPS) should only occur after a forecast demonstrates that it will not increase retail electricity rates bymore than3.5%for every 10% increase in the RPS. Other than electricity utilized on site, no solar projects sited on prime farmland, farmland of statewide impor- tance or unique farmland should count toward compliance with an increase in the RPS target over 2020 levels. (Rev. 2016) No. 760 Electrical Power Generation We encourage both private and public funded research in new methods of generating power or storing power for use at a more convenient time. We encourage the voluntary development of renewable energy suchashydroelectric, solar,wind, geothermal andbiomassonpub- lic and private lands that is cost-effective to rate payers. Local land use decision-making should not be usurped in the determination
40 Ag Alert January 26, 2022
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