Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing to spend $25 million from the state’s taxpayer fund on Farm to School grants, a priority for the first partner. Yet budget chairs are weeding out any opportunities to cut costs to avoid further deficits.
During a subcommittee hearing this week, Asm. Steve Bennett of Ventura agreed with CDFA’s justification for Farm to School. But he stressed that “every assemblymember is making a request for new expenditures,” bumping elbows with Newsom.
Bennett also worried about federal cuts. CDFA’s finance official, Arima Kozina, said USDA has slashed $70 million from procuring local foods for schools and childcare centers and $5 million for its farm to school grants, with cuts likely to hit school meals as well. While those programs are separate from CDFA’s, the cuts make the state spending “even more important,” said Kozina.
Bennett hopes to shift at least a portion of the money to the state’s education fund.
But: Since all farmers in the school program implement climate-smart practices, Kozina acknowledged it is getting harder to find more growers.
Take note: Several lawmakers and climate groups were unsettled by Newsom’s plan to backfill programs with climate bond dollars to balance the state budget.
Ag angst: The Agricultural Energy Consumers Association urged lawmakers to focus the limited cap-and-trade dollars on climate programs with a proven track record. Policy advocate Alexandra Lavy said too many CDFA programs are not delivering real greenhouse gas reductions.
Lavy criticized Newsom’s proposal as “woefully inadequate,” since it lacks funding for the three most effective programs — those on dairy digesters, equipment upgrades and boosting energy-efficiency at food processors.
Rice farmers try to squeeze habitat dollars out of climate bond
The California Rice Commission released its latest sustainability report at the start of the legislative session. Now growers are pressing lawmakers to back up the efforts with funding.
The $10 billion climate bond dedicates $1.2 billion to biodiversity and nature-based solutions. Yet the administration is not setting any of it aside specifically for agriculture. Lobbyist Louie Brown made the case for sending some to the rice industry, pointing out it provides half a million acres of critical habitat for birds, salmon and garter snakes.
Audubon California is asking for $10 million in bond money for BirdReturns. The widely praised program unites state agencies, the rice commission and conservation organizations to strategically flood rice fields in winter to provide habitat for migrating waterfowl.
On that note: The giant garter snake is getting its time in the sun. GOP Sen. Roger Niello of Fair Oaks is proposing to establish it as the official state snake. That may rattle the hundreds of Californians jumping to dodge rattlesnakes every year.
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CalChamber rebrands annual ‘Job Killer’ list
CalChamber is launching a new, dual-purpose “Affordability Agenda” instead of its usual “Job Killer" list. The association is now splitting its legislative assessment into “cost cutter” and “cost driver” categories, depending on a bill’s potential impact.
The California Job Killer list had been run by CalChamber for 25 years. President and CEO Jennifer Barrera said the change is driven by the organization’s desire to track legislative changes to the cost of living.
CalChamber tagged a measure from Senator Ben Allen of Santa Monica to the cost driver side. SB 601 would expand state water protection standards. The advocacy group argues it would create redundant permitting requirements and increase the legal liability for ag and other businesses.
Staffing losses buffet National Weather Service
National Weather Service employees are facing a perfect storm.
Wave after wave of their colleagues have retired, resigned or been fired from the agency. Weather equipment is deteriorating, and the staff who remain can’t quickly get the parts or service they need to fix it. Understaffed offices are struggling to launch weather balloons and rotate employees through shifts to watch for emergency conditions, like tornadoes or hurricanes.
Over the past few months, cost-cutting efforts by the Trump administration have dug away at the weather monitoring agency’s workforce. Early retirements, voluntary resignations and firings have all occurred, and while some terminated employees have been brought back, they’ve been placed on paid leave. Additional voluntary early retirements are expected to further shrink NWS’s staff in weeks to come.
Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com.
Congressional pushback to Trump’s tariffs rolls on
There is continued handwringing on Capitol Hill over the president’s vast new duties on U.S. trade partners. Senators have launched a bipartisan bid to claw back some congressional oversight of U.S. trade policy less than 24 hours after the “Liberation Day” announcement.
Finance Committee Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., have introduced a bill that would require Congress to approve any new tariff increase by the president.
“These are big economic impacts,” Cantwell told Agri-Pulse. “People who have been part of trade discussions, like the Finance Committee members, know how important this is.”
Take note: Four GOP senators on Wednesday backed a Democratic-led resolution challenging the emergency declaration underpinning the U.S. tariffs on Canada. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., led that effort and said he is now teeing up a new challenge on the 10% baseline tariff unveiled this week.
Kaine thinks the momentum will grow. “People are going to go home and they're going get an earful about this,” Kaine told Agri-Pulse. He added this pressure could lead to “a more robust vote” next time.
Administration sends mixed messages on tariff dealmaking
The Trump administration is sending mixed signals about whether it is open to cutting deals with countries to lower new duties announced this week.
Multiple agriculture groups — including the American Soybean Association — are pressing the president to swiftly cut deals with countries to secure greater market access for U.S. agricultural products.
But the White House is reluctant to frame the duties as a negotiating tool. The Washington Post has reported that administration officials are being instructed not to characterize the new tariffs as a starting point for discussions.
But, but, but: President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Thursday that he was open to cutting deals for the right concessions. “It depends,” Trump said. “As long as they're giving us something that's good. … The tariffs give us great power to negotiate.”
Burgum pressured to add potash, phosphate to critical minerals list
Lawmakers are urging Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in a letter to restore potash and add phosphate to the department’s critical minerals list.
Their letter comes weeks after the White House issued an executive order to boost phosphate and domestic mineral production. Items included on the list receive increased research funding and streamlined permitting procedures, which could support U.S. production of fertilizer.
Potash was removed from the list in 2022. The mineral’s “significance for U.S. national security, food security and American farmers is especially critical, particularly given recent global events that have affected fertilizer markets and highlighted the risks of disruptions,” the letter reads.
Why it matters: The U.S. imports more than 90% of the potash used annually. A majority of that is supplied by Canada and is now subject to a 10% tariff.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told Agri-Pulse she was confident that “ensuring both potash and phosphate — two essential fertilizer components — receive this designation will strengthen domestic fertilizer production.”
Rollins doubts tariff compensation necessary
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says it will be “literally months” before the administration knows whether it will be necessary to compensate farmers for the results of Trump’s trade policy.
“I don't believe that it will, but if it is, then this president has always said … he is resolute in his commitment to our farmers and our ranchers and our great rural communities in America. So, we will … we'll make sure we're ready if, in fact, that is necessary,” Rollins said from the White House, where she had just met with farmers from Florida.
By the way: Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., is our guest this week on Agri-Pulse Newsmakers. He talks about Trump’s tariff plan and addresses the question of how long the government could politically sustain trade compensation payments. “Obviously, I hope it doesn't go on for several years,” he says.
On the tariff plan, Hoeven says, "If you think about it, for as long as I can remember, our farmers have always said they want a free but fair trade, a level playing field. How many times have you heard that? And really that's what he's after. He's talking about reciprocity."
Newsmakers will be available today at Agri-Pulse.com.
Final word
“We believe it’s time for them to do a little bit more.” — Trevor Tagg, co-owner of West-Gro Farms, in a new documentary exploring the Colorado River water shortage.
Tagg argues the Southwest’s biggest cities need to step up their water conservation, after Imperial Valley farmers have cut back use for decades.
