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.
Pesticides The Department of Pesticide Regulation has begun listening sessions related to its “Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap.” Webinars on Feb. 28 and March 2 provided an overview of recommendations for ur- ban and agricultural environments. The DPR on Jan. 26 released its 97-page roadmap, which outlines “California’s commitment to accelerating the transi- tion away from high-risk pesticides to- ward adoption of safer, sustainable pest control practices.” The document was developed by a 33-member work group, including 25 members focused on agriculture and eight on urban issues. The group worked in collaboration with DPR as well as the California Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Food and Agriculture. The California Farm Bureau will be sub- mitting comments this month. Clean Energy The state Assembly and Senate held three hearings on energy affordability and California’s clean energy goals. Discussions focused on surging natu- ral gas prices, which were blamed on be- low-normal temperatures, higher gas con- sumption, lower natural gas imports from Canada, pipeline constraints, including maintenance in West Texas, and low nat- ural gas storage levels in the Pacific region. A representative from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. stated during an Assembly hearing that customers should expect to see a price reduction close to 75% less than the price spike level. Assembly members commented on the need for storage capacity within the state so that it can buy cheaper natural gas— when available—to prevent future price spikes. It was also noted during a hearing that nearly 45% of natural gas burned in California is used for electricity generation, meaning that natural gas markets can im- pact electricity markets. PG&E discussed savings and price re- ductions, despite a 4.5% average rate in- crease for agricultural customers in March. It was noted during the hearing that electric rates would rise by 36% in 2023, with addi- tional increases on the horizon, if PG&E is granted all of its requested increases. A hearing of the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies revealed a need for a five-fold decrease in California’s rate of greenhouse gas emis- sions to reach the state’s 2030 goal of a 48% reduction in emissions below 1990 levels. Farm Bureau remains engaged on is- sues of climate, energy and affordability on multiple legislative fronts. Insurance The Senate Insurance Committee met March 1 for an oversight hearing titled “The Current State of the Insurance Market: Ongoing Challenges and Opportunities.” The hearing featured Napa County Farm Bureau President Peter Nissen, who provid- ed testimony about insurance experiences
of farmers in Napa County. Nissen discussed why farmers in the re- gion are often self-insuring instead of mov- ing into the California FAIR Plan and the challenge this creates for small and large operations. He said the goal is to get back into the admitted insurance market. But he said farmers who made investments in defensible space or property mitigation
still faced regional nonrenewals. Napa County Farm Bureau was a key sponsor of Senate Bill 11, successful 2021 legislation that allowed farmers and ranch- ers who were denied wildfire coverage to obtain property insurance through the FAIR Plan. Department of Insurance staff provided an update to the committee on actions that
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has taken to improve the competitiveness of California’s insurance market. The FAIR Plan presented testimony on how its size has doubled in the past five years. The FAIR Plan has pushed back on the insurance department’s order to supply insurance to homeowners associations and to cover them to the full amount of coverage.
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18 Ag Alert March 8, 2023
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