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Farm Hands West: Fraser-Jones joins Fresh Del Monte Produce, Tomlinson appointed to CA VMB

07/23/25 7:00 AM By Lydia Johnson

CropLife America hired Environmental Protection Agency alumna Venus Welch-White as director of government relations. Fresh Del Monte Produce hired Miles Fraser-Jones as vice president of sales and product management, deciduous and citrus (international). Jennifer Osborn has been appointed director at the California Department of Industrial Relations.

Veterinarian C. Mike Tomlinson was appointed to the California Veterinary Medical Board. Former Environmental Protection Agency senior legislative adviser Angela Hervig joined the office of Rep. Luz Rivas, D-Calif., as a legislative assistant covering agriculture, food and trade. Matt Bornhorst departed Meristem Crop Performance where he served as a strategic account lead.

Washington Week Ahead: Spending battle awaits; nominees, Prop 12 get focus

Indian trade deal could be near

07/20/25 10:19 AM By Philip Brasher, Lydia Johnson, and Oliver Ward

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Senate Republicans are planning to put the first fiscal 2026 appropriations bills on the floor this week, testing Democrats over the GOP's successful rescission of $9 billion worth of FY25 spending. A key Agriculture Committee nominee also will get a confirmation hearing this week.

A bill to expand farmworker heat protections faces stiff opposition

07/16/25 7:05 AM By Brad Hooker

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A California bill aimed at expanding workers’ compensation protections for farmworkers exposed to extreme heat is facing intensifying pushback from business and agricultural groups.

Food and ag groups warn ultraprocessed food ban could stigmatize safe foods

07/16/25 7:05 AM By Brad Hooker

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Opponents argue AB 1264 would mislabel common food products, impose costly new compliance burdens on schools, and invite a wave of litigation.

California agencies to host listening sessions on accelerating ZEV adoption

07/16/25 7:02 AM By Brad Hooker

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California is launching a series of public engagement sessions across the state to gather input on accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles

Newsom signs bill updating farmworker wage theft protections

07/16/25 7:01 AM By Brad Hooker

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Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday signed into law a bill to strengthen protections for California’s farmworkers by modernizing a seldom-used legal remedy for recovering unpaid wages.

Farm Hands West: Thomas launches consulting firm

07/16/25 7:00 AM By Lydia Johnson

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P. Anthony Thomas launched consulting firm The Thomas Advocacy Group to work with business, labor and advocacy group clients. Ellen Hamilton was named executive director of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation supporting Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.
New Season Community Development Corporation appointed Ave Lambert as executive director of the Yolo Food Hub Network. Mark Gagnon was hired as vice president of sales for the south region at Fresh Del Monte. Elisha Modisett Kemp was promoted to head of U.S. government and industry affairs at Corteva Agriscience.

Trump administration sues California over poultry welfare laws

07/10/25 11:43 AM By Noah Wicks

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The Justice Department is suing the state of California over egg price increases it claims are partially fueled by the state’s animal welfare standards.

California’s bird flu response earns praise — and scrutiny, as labor outcry persists

Dairy and poultry industries navigate H5N1 crisis under state’s “one health” model while worker advocates claim to find enforcement gaps

07/09/25 7:06 AM By Brad Hooker

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A coordinated response to a virulent strain of bird flu that spilled into the state’s dairy herds drew praise from animal health officials, researchers and industry leaders. But worker advocates reiterated ongoing concerns over perceived safety violations and claims of inconsistent enforcement.

Legislature allocates $2 million to revive wolf-livestock compensation fund

07/09/25 7:04 AM By Brad Hooker

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California is putting $2 million back into a depleted compensation fund as ranchers face rising cattle losses and the state launches new efforts to manage its growing gray wolf population.

Newsmakers

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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

06.05.2026

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Karen Ross on California agriculture, water, MAHA, Prop 12

California agriculture operates at a scale and under conditions unlike anywhere else in the country, yet the policy decisions extend far beyond state lines. We spent the week in Sacramento for the annual Agri-Pulse Food and Ag Issues Summit West and caught up with California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross to discuss the challenges, opportunities and innovations shaping California agriculture, and why the rest of the country should be paying attention to the Golden State.

Plus, Ag Council of California President Emily Rooney outlines concerning plastic and packaging regulations and Chris Zanobini, president and CEO of Ag Association Management Services Inc., describes the "regulatory jenga" plaguing California agriculture.

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