California’s landmark law to reduce single-use plastics in packaging is set to take effect in 2027. Yet CalRecycle has struggled to develop economically feasible regulations and returned to the drawing board in March after pushback from industries and the governor.
Food and ag groups have also pressed for a smoother transition to a “circular economy” through AB 473. The bill would allow package manufacturers to keep the controversial chasing arrows markers if they participate in state recycling programs and comply with environmental laws.
Farm groups lauded it as a pragmatic approach, supporting companies trending toward recyclability. Lawmakers, however, were not thrilled about the measure, and the Assembly Natural Resources Committee did not take it up for a vote in time, stalling it for the year.
New wildfire smoke protections raise alarms
Cal/OSHA has drafted an update to its wildfire smoke protection standard, and farm groups worry the rules would be impractical for agricultural operations.
The revisions would require employers to supply N95 respirators when the air quality index hits 151 and to mandate their use at 300. Companies would have to conduct fit testing for the masks and medical evaluations to ensure the masks work for every person.
The provisions stem from a 2022 bill by a Coachella lawmaker in response to smoke inundating farming regions for the two prior harvest seasons.
But: The Western Tree Nut Association is crying foul. In an update to its members, the trade group points out that the standards are not as strict for businesses outside of agriculture and argues the agency is singling out one industry rather than pursuing an unbiased, science-based approach. It calls for voluntary protections and practical risk assessments.
Big, Beautiful Bill advances to floor
House Republicans continue struggling to reach agreement on their sweeping budget bill, but the measure is at least out of committee and headed to the House floor.
After a weekend of negotiations, the Budget Committee advanced the legislation in a rare Sunday night session when four hardline conservatives voted “present” rather than “no.” That allows the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act to move to the House floor while the GOP leadership tries to nail down the necessary votes.
Frustrated Democrats demanded to know how the bill had been changed before the committee vote. Budget Chair Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, said it hadn’t been modified as of Sunday night.
For more on the bill and the rest of the D.C. agenda this week, read our Washington Week Ahead.
USDA office closures moving forward
Leases for some state offices housing USDA Rural Development functions are being terminated. That’s according to what a USDA official has told the resident commissioner for Puerto Rico.
In a May 16 letter to Pablo José Hernández Rivera, Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development Todd Lindsey said RD told the General Services Administration that 43 of 47 locations were “mission critical.” But USDA “has not received a response to its request to keep these locations open, and local GSA representatives have indicated at least some of these closures are moving forward,” Lindsey said.
“USDA will work with GSA to ensure any office that remains on the closure list meets all statutory requirements and proper notice is provided in advance to Congress,” Lindsey said.
Former state director for Wisconsin, Julie Lassa, says, “The Stevens Point office rental contract is ending early for the Rural Development state office. There is a sign in front of the building that says for sale or rent by the landlord. Missouri state office the same.”
Another source tells Agri-Pulse the Pennsylvania state office in Harrisburg is being closed.
USDA spokespeople who were asked last week about the closures said they could not discuss them because of litigation over USDA’s pending reorganization. Lindsey’s letter includes a list of state offices that GSA targeted for closure and USDA’s recommendations.
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U.S. industry welcomes more engagement on trade policy
Ag industry representatives are welcoming new weekly briefings from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on the status of ongoing trade negotiations.
“Having this weekly opportunity to ask questions to USTR is a big change,” an industry source told Agri-Pulse. Another industry representative said that the conversations with the administration’s cleared advisers are both more frequent and more “robust” than they had been under President Joe Biden.
The advisers were not privy to the exact details of the United Kingdom deal before it was public. Sources say the briefings focus on the bigger picture of trade talks, rather than specific provisions. But multiple attendees are hoping the regular briefing schedule is the advent of a return to closer trade policy cooperation between the administration and industry.
Read more about the weekly meetings on Agri-Pulse.com.
USDA ending seven advisory committees
USDA is disbanding seven advisory committees under an executive order by President Donald Trump to reduce the federal bureaucracy.
According to a Federal Register notice, the committees include the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics, the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards, the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, and the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection.
Also being axed are the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods, the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee and the Northwest Forest Plan Area Advisory Committee.
Termination of the committees came after the secretary determined they “were no longer necessary,” according to the notice.
But, but, but: Terminations of eight other advisory committees have been paused until further notice.
CNH inks deal with Starlink to provide satellite connectivity to farmers
CNH Industrial has signed an agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide satellite connectivity to farmers. The company’s brands include Case IH, New Holland and STEYR.
“Starlink's advanced satellite network offers reliable, low-latency internet,” CNH said, pointing in particular to benefits for producers using precision application.
Final word
“This landmark law is essential in preventing the exploitation of workers misclassified as independent contractors, including in the trucking industry.” — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, applauding a U.S. appellate court decision upholding AB 5, requiring companies to hire truckers as regular employees.
