Jamie Johansson has announced he is running for Assembly District 3 to succeed Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, who is terming out of office next year.
Johansson led the California Farm Bureau for six years until an abrupt departure in 2023, when the board elevated Shannon Douglass to president.
Announcing his candidacy, Johansson touted his “grit and perseverance” with managing olive and citrus orchards in the Oroville area. He argues the region “has had enough” of being left behind and of “high prices, wasteful water policies and extreme political agendas in Sacramento.” He said he has stood up to Gov. Gavin Newsom and worked with the previous Trump administration on farm relief.
Johansson is already gaining accolades in the ag community for being a pragmatic, respectful and passionate advocate.
Trump dumps reservoir water
President Donald Trump said last week he had sent the military to California to turn on the faucet for Southern California's water. That, along with his executive order, prompted the Army Corps of Engineers to release high flows from Lake Kaweah and Success Lake in Tulare County on Thursday.
It sent downstream water managers scrambling to divert the flows and prevent potential flooding to vulnerable communities.
The region is months away from irrigation season and locals are concerned over preserving enough supply for the dry summer months.
Newsom reissues recharge order
A day after the Army Corps action, Newsom issued an executive order to ease barriers for capturing flood flows for groundwater recharge, with the goal of creating a “rainy day fund” for dry periods.
The governor made the announcement ahead of an atmospheric river hitting the state. The order coincided with a survey showing California’s frozen water bank is well below average for this time of year. On Friday the Department of Water Resources put the statewide snowpack at 65% of average, dropping from 108% a month earlier.
Sportfishing groups called the order a death sentence for salmon.
Remember: Newsom issued a similar order in 2023, when dozens of atmospheric rivers were pummeling the state, leading to localized flooding and massive reservoir releases.
The Legislature codified parts of the order into state law later that year. But farmers and water managers were still frustrated over permitting delays and a lack of clarity over flood flows. A bill last year to clarify flood conditions gathered nearly unanimous support but failed in the waning hours of session, frustrating the administration.
Trump sparks trade war, set to squeeze U.S. farmers
President Donald Trump announced sweeping duties on Canada, Mexico and China over the weekend, triggering a trade conflict with the U.S.’ largest agricultural trading partners.
Imports from Canada and Mexico will be subject to additional 25% duties from Tuesday. Canadian energy exports will face a reduced rate of 10%. All Chinese products will also face a new 10% duty starting the same day.
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Take note: Canada swiftly slapped back, unveiling new duties set to phase in over the coming weeks. Among the U.S. exports hit with new 25% duties are orange juice, peanut butter, fruits, vegetables, pork, beef and dairy products. Mexico is slated to unveil its retaliation plans today. China says it will challenge the new tariffs at the World Trade Organization.
Why it matters: Senior vice president at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Kip Eideberg, told Agri-Pulse Sunday that the conflict presents a “double whammy” of costs for U.S. farmers. The retaliatory tariffs will likely dent exports, while farm inputs like fertilizer and agriculture equipment become more expensive.
“It's real bad news for farmers and ranchers,” Eideberg said. Eideberg pointed out that it’s common for tractor and combine parts to cross the U.S., Mexico and Canadian borders multiple times in the manufacturing process. New duties would impose added costs at each stage of that process.
Take note: In a Truth Social post Sunday, Trump seemingly acknowledged the measures would lead to higher costs.
“WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN? YES, MAYBE,” he wrote, but added it “WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID.”
By the way: House Ag Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., quickly endorsed Trump’s tariff announcement on Saturday. Senate Ag Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., still hadn’t commented as of Sunday.
California reax: Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia pointed out that Canada and Mexico are the top importers of fresh produce and China is for tree nuts.
He worried rivals will seize on the markets and permanently displace American growers, as happened with Trump’s last tariffs on China. Puglia pushed for a strategy that would swiftly remove the tariffs and enact programs to offset revenue losses.
On that note: Puglia published an opinion piece in Agri-Pulse on Friday arguing the H-2A visa program is desperately in need of reform.
OMB funding ‘pause’ is itself paused
A second federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to stop disbursing grants and loans.
John J. McConnell Jr., chief judge of the U.S. district court in Rhode Island, issued a temporary restraining order Friday against Trump and several agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget. At issue is a memo, later rescinded, from OMB placing a temporary pause on disbursements.
“Congress appropriated many of these funds, and the executive’s refusal to disburse them is contrary to congressional intent and directive and thus arbitrary and capricious,” McConnell wrote in his TRO.
The judge said the action had “unilaterally suspend[ed] the payment of federal funds to the states and others simply by choosing to do so, no matter the authorizing or appropriating statute, the regulatory regime, or the terms of the grant itself,” McConnell said in his order. “The executive cites no legal authority allowing it to do so; indeed, no federal law would authorize the executive’s unilateral action here.”
Take note: A hearing is scheduled today before a different federal judge in Washington, D.C., who already stayed part of the administration’s freeze last week.
Final word:
“If you don’t believe the science, believe your own damn eyes.” — GOP Asm. James Gallagher of Yuba, repurposing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mantra on climate change. Assembly Republicans unveiled a package of wildfire bills last week under the argument the state has not done enough to remove flammable vegetation and prevent devastating fires.