Farm Hands West: CDFA Secretary Ross to retire, Ferrara Government Affairs launched, LaMalfa passes away

California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross will retire at the end of 2026. Todd Ferrara launched Ferrara Government Affairs, a new advocacy and consulting firm, in Sacramento. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a northern California Republican and fourth-generation rice farmer on the House Agriculture Committee, died. He was 65. Justin Benavidez, who was chief economist for the House Agriculture Committee's Republican staff for the past three years, is succeeding Seth Meyer as USDA chief economist.