By Ron Peterson
Second Vice President
California Farm Bureau
Having recently completed my first year as a California Farm Bureau officer, one of the most exciting aspects of my position has been traveling to different parts of the state and connecting with our county Farm Bureau leaders and members.
I believe relationships are critical to making a leader successful. When I was first elected, I wanted to help the organization build relationships with farmers in different counties so that they can reach out to me when they have problems, and I can reach out to them when I need advice on specific issues.
One year into my post as the second vice president of the largest agricultural organization in California, I understand that relationship building is also essential to the long-term success of the organization.
I came to my role as part of a new leadership team, and from the start, we saw unique opportunities to make meaningful changes this past year. With Farm Bureau being a grassroots organization, it’s important that county Farm Bureau members create and direct policies. Our job in the leadership team is to then implement their policies.
California’s diverse crops, climate zones and farming population can make policy development challenging. Different regions face different issues, and developing policies that meet everyone’s needs can be tricky.
That’s why getting my boots on the ground has been so vital in my leadership journey. Traveling to the state’s various regions has allowed me to hear more opinions and perspectives. This has allowed me to bolster relationships with counties to ensure we’re serving the needs of our members.
My travels have also allowed me to see how different parts of the state operate, and I’ve had a chance to receive important feedback from farmers in those regions. I’ve heard that California Farm Bureau can do better communicating and supporting counties with issues they’re tackling. I know some counties have felt as though they’ve been on an island sometimes and that they weren’t getting the assistance they would have liked.
The leadership team has worked tremendously hard to be more responsive by meeting with farmers and leaders in different regions and helping them find solutions by involving our legal staff or policy team.
During Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting last December, members had a chance to work through high-ranking topics during various breakout sessions. The meetings allowed people to literally sit at the table and provide input. The process was very well received, and we plan to continue and improve upon it.
We’ve also changed the format of our commodity advisory committees—the grassroots of our policy development. Whereas we previously restricted the committees to one person from each county and spent about a week in March discussing specific topics, we’re now bringing more farmers into the fold by opening the input sessions to all Farm Bureau members and holding the committee meetings during an extended period.
To encourage more participation and engagement, different county Farm Bureaus are hosting committee meetings in person and virtually. This change has really opened the process, with more people getting involved in the initial discussion that’s been key to how the organization forms policy.
As with most businesses and organizations, California Farm Bureau has had to grapple with tight budgets, but we’re working through those challenges and making sure we’re operating within our means.
Going forward, I know California farmers and ranchers continue to face natural and regulatory challenges that threaten our existence, with the top one being water. We know that without water, there won’t be farms and ranches. That is why Farm Bureau is committed to finding workable solutions that allow California agriculture to thrive.
It’s important that Farm Bureau remains a strong organization. We have been around for more than 100 years, and our leadership team wants to make sure we’re here for the next hundred-plus years and beyond so that we can continue to support California farmers and ranchers.
As a leader, I believe we should always think about who’s coming behind us and whether we are giving them the resources and skills to be future leaders. In my role, probably the most important contribution I can make is to provide opportunities and experiences for younger farmers to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Growing up, I had plenty of opportunities that helped me become the kind of person and leader I am today. I remember as a kid sitting around the kitchen table with my grandfather and his brothers, listening to their conversations about business, politics and social issues. Those talks helped form my perspective about life and establish my values.
In building our leaders, Farm Bureau offers similar opportunities, albeit more formally through programs such as commodity advisory committees, listening sessions, Leadership Farm Bureau and Young Farmers & Ranchers that allow up-and-coming leaders to be part of the conversation as we solve problems for the future.
We also need to continue to inform the public about farming and the rich abundance of safe, affordable agricultural products we deliver every day. Everybody likes to eat, but people tend to forget how that food gets on their plates. In all policy discussions, we need to remind the public what it takes to do our job so that we can continue to bring the state’s agricultural bounty to people’s tables.
Ron Peterson, a dairy farmer who also grows silage crops and almonds and raises beef cattle in Stanislaus County, is second vice president of the California Farm Bureau. He may be reached at rpeterson@cfbf.com.
Soil health isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the foundation of productive farms, resilient crops and long-term sustainability. As someone who works closely with farmers, I see the challenges firsthand: unpredictable weather, water restrictions, rising input costs and shifting regulations, all of which make soil management feel like one more hurdle in an already demanding industry.
Yet, healthy soil is an investment. It directly impacts yield stability, disease resistance, water efficiency and overall farm resilience. In California’s citrus industry, where growers are battling huanglongbing, extreme heat and increasing regulatory pressures, soil health can be a critical tool for long-term success.
Research consistently shows that improving soil health leads to better fruit quality and yield stability, stronger root systems that support longevity, greater resilience to drought and erosion, and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
The challenge? Many soil health practices require upfront investment and long-term commitment, and in an industry where margins are already tight, not every grower can afford to take that risk.
That’s where the Healthy Soils Program comes in. Funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, this program helps farmers implement
research-backed soil health practices such as compost application, cover cropping, reduced tillage, nutrient management, hedgerow planting and more.
At the California Bountiful Foundation, the nonprofit research affiliate of the California Farm Bureau, we administer the Healthy Soils Block Grant Program in partnership with the California Citrus Quality Council and the Xerces Society. Together, we help citrus growers access funding, implement best practices and receive technical assistance tailored to their operation.
Photo/Christine Souza
The benefits of healthy soil aren’t just theoretical. They’ve been proven through years of research, on-farm demonstration trials and farmer feedback. Here’s how some of the program’s most impactful practices contribute to better soil health management:
• Compost application: Compost adds organic matter, improves microbial diversity and enhances water retention. Research from the University of California, Berkeley, found that compost-amended soil stores more carbon and improves water-holding capacity, which is critical for drought resilience and long-term fertility.
• Cover cropping: Cover crops such as legumes and grasses reduce erosion, fix nitrogen and suppress weeds. A UC Davis study found that cover crops can replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizer needs, helping farmers reduce input costs while maintaining soil health.
• Reduced tillage: Excessive tilling disrupts soil structure and accelerates carbon loss. Studies show that reducing tillage enhances water infiltration, preserves soil microbes and helps retain carbon in soil while improving farm resilience in drought-prone regions.
• Hedgerow plantings: These native plantings increase pollinator activity, improve biodiversity and help reduce
pesticide use. A UC Cooperative Extension study highlights how hedgerows can support beneficial insects that help control common citrus pests. By planting species such as California lilac, buckwheat, toyon and sage, growers can attract natural enemies such as parasitic wasps, lady beetles and lacewings, all of which can reduce the need for chemical pest control.
Even with proven benefits, many farmers hesitate to adopt new soil-health practices due to:
• Economic hurdles: Upfront costs for equipment, labor and materials can be prohibitive, even with cost-share support from the Healthy Soils Program. Continued funding and financial incentives are critical for widespread adoption.
• Short-term vs. long-term returns: Some practices such as composting and cover cropping take years to show measurable results, making them difficult to justify when farmers need immediate returns to stay profitable.
• Market pressures: Consumers and food companies increasingly demand sustainability, but there’s no consistent financial incentive for farmers implementing these practices, meaning the cost burden often falls on the producer.
• Extreme weather, water scarcity and soil erosion: In some California regions, topsoil loss due to heavy rainfall, wind erosion or drought can undermine efforts to rebuild soil structure. Without incentives for cover cropping and reduced tillage, soil degradation will continue to impact productivity.
The Healthy Soils Program helps bridge the transition by offsetting costs and providing technical support. The California Bountiful Foundation and its partners have awarded 39 projects to citrus growers in Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Placer, Riverside, Tulare, San Diego and Ventura counties.
Each participating citrus farm receives up to $200,000 to improve soil health, water retention and carbon sequestration. Among the widely adopted practices are compost application, cover cropping and wood-chip mulching. The California Bountiful Foundation also provides technical assistance, regional hedgerow guidance and material sourcing support. At the foundation, we’re committed to helping farmers integrate soil-health strategies while keeping their operations profitable and productive.
The Healthy Soils Program helps improve soil fertility, water retention and long-term productivity. While challenges such as upfront costs and technical adjustments remain, the 39 awarded projects in citrus groves lay the groundwork for stronger, healthier soils. As these practices take hold, they will drive lasting benefits for citrus growers, agriculture and the future of California food production. At the California Bountiful Foundation, we are committed to supporting this progress and ensuring that healthy soil continues to strengthen California farms for years to come.
(Margaret Honig is the Healthy Soils Program Project administrative lead for the California Bountiful Foundation, an affiliate 501(c)(3) of the California Farm Bureau. She may be contacted at mhonig@cfbf.com.)
California farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our state. These individuals work hard to grow food for the nation and contribute billions to the economy while supporting working lands and the environment.
The state’s farmers face challenges such as drought and uncertain water supplies, workforce shortages, increased government regulations, higher costs and market volatility. To navigate these issues and support our members, the California Farm Bureau stands ready to engage and advocate for solutions.
As a grassroots organization, the Farm Bureau’s strength is our members, who drive policy and set priorities through involvement in commodity advisory committees, which meet regularly throughout the year. The committees bring members together to discuss important issues that relate to their respective crops. To encourage increased participation and engagement, we decided to hold meetings in person at regional locations as well as virtually this year.
Last week, county Farm Bureaus hosted committee members of forestry and public lands; wheat, feed and small grains; and field crops. In the coming days and weeks, the committees for nut trees, fruit trees, livestock, grapes and horticulture will meet.
Discussions included water challenges, especially as many county Farm Bureau members navigate the state’s groundwater regulation, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA. Our county Farm Bureaus are at the forefront and the first line of defense to protect and promote agriculture in the counties.
During the forestry and public lands advisory committee, hosted at the Butte County Farm Bureau, we had robust participation, covering federal lands management, fuels reduction and grazing on public lands. The committee drafted policy language to strengthen management of predators.
As part of the policy setting process, members of the California Farm Bureau forestry and public lands advisory committee and other interested members met last week, discussing land management, fuels reduction and grazing.
Photo/Ned Coe
Connecting with members is important. There are times when somebody needs help with an issue and the California Farm Bureau can make a connection or point them in the right direction, or maybe another county has dealt with the same issue and can provide guidance.
Our members want to see that they are paying dues to an organization that is working for them. They want us to be visible, so we are present and making a difference. Attending events like the Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale, the Colusa Farm Show and the World Ag Expo is a great opportunity for state and county Farm Bureau staff to interact with members and reach prospective members. It gives them the chance to discuss issues or just say hello.
As I travel to different counties attending annual meetings, conferences and events, county Farm Bureau members have told me they value the relationship with the California Farm Bureau. There is an understanding that the state does care about what’s going on in my county. We are all part of the same family. That’s what you see at the American Farm Bureau Federation, too.
At the AFBF Annual Meeting last month in San Antonio, Texas, California Farm Bureau officers and other members saw the policy development process reach a conclusion as the organization approved national policy priorities. With 55 members from California attending, it was the largest presence that the Golden State has had in the past decade.
The AFBF Annual Meeting is an opportunity to connect with members from across the U.S. I heard from members from Kentucky, Montana and Delaware, and it was a reminder that farmers in other states are going through the same struggles that we are on our farms and ranches. In many cases, these members are dealing with issues that we in California have faced for years. Members from other states are now reaching out to the California Farm Bureau for solutions and advice, which is a big change.
It is significant that we get to come together to discuss challenges and conclude the meeting with some hope on how we can solve issues. With the AFBF Annual Meeting set for Jan. 9-14, 2026, in Anaheim, I’m hoping we can get 1,000 California Farm Bureau members and county presidents to attend.
We had a lot of momentum going into our California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting held in December in Monterey. Everybody was excited. They see the changes and the direction that we are headed in and are reinvigorated. They’re ready to face the challenges that we have in agriculture.
We all have a stake in ensuring that California’s agricultural sector remains strong and viable for generations to come. It’s time to stand with our farmers and ranchers, support their efforts and embrace the power of unity to tackle the issues that matter most.
Together, we can build a better future for California agriculture.
(Shaun Crook, who operates a family timber business in Tuolumne County, is first vice president of the California Farm Bureau. He may be reached at scrook@cfbf.com.)
California’s regulators and legislators seem to never sleep when it comes to adding to and changing California employers’ obligations and requirements, and 2024 was no different from years past.
New mandates affecting agricultural employers took effect in mid-2024 and Jan. 1, 2025.
Jan. 1 saw the final stage of implementation of Assembly Bill 1066, 2015 legislation changing overtime rules that apply to agricultural employers and employees. All agricultural employers are obliged to pay employees overtime after 8 hours in a workday or 40 hours in a workweek. Never mind the longstanding recognition in pre-2015 law that agriculture is inherently seasonal and that employees need to work and earn when work is available, or not at all.
The result that agriculture advocacy organizations such as the California Farm Bureau warned lawmakers about has come to pass. Thanks to AB 1066, studies have shown that agricultural employees are working less and earning less.
California Farm Bureau is working to help the new state Legislature see the merit of addressing this effect by helping farm employers bear the cost of overtime through a tax credit covering the cost of overtime.
This past November, California voters rejected Proposition 32, which would have mandated an $18 per hour minimum wage. However, the state’s underlying wage-and-hour law includes a minimum wage inflation escalator, so minimum wage for 2025 is $16.50 per hour. Some counties and municipalities’ local minimum wages are even higher.
The California Legislature and the state’s workplace safety agency, Cal OSHA, last year imposed two new one-size-fits-nobody mandates on California employers: the workplace violence prevention plan requirement and the indoor heat illness prevention regulation.
The workplace violence prevention plan addresses escalating urban crime by going after the symptom rather than the cause by requiring employers to “crime-proof” their workplaces.
This requirement expects employers to anticipate situations such as a workplace invasion or mass shooter incident and somehow prevent it by monitoring employees’ social media traffic—even on personal devices—and protecting employees from violence that should have been addressed by law enforcement.
Small employers in particular will struggle to implement this requirement, and agricultural employers may be puzzled about what to do. The Farm Employers Labor Service provides subscribers to the FELS Newsletter a sample plan and supporting documents to implement the requirement.
A large fan cools the sorting lines at Stillwater Orchards’ packinghouse in Courtland last August as employee Justina Ramos Aguilar selects Bosc pears for the fresh market and for canneries.
Photo/Caleb Hampton
Cal OSHA’s new indoor heat illness regulation to protect employees from indoor heat is another poorly conceived effort that will be difficult for employers. It affects those managing packing sheds, greenhouses and other inherently climate-uncontrollable workplaces. It will simply be unfeasible to maintain these workplaces at a temperature below 80 degrees as required by the standard.
The regulation covers workplaces that could reasonably be considered indoor or outdoor, such as the classic two- or three-walled packing shed that is enclosed when in use by high bay roll-up doors and truck and tractor cabs.
Agricultural employers have a strong record of protecting outdoor employees from heat illness by implementing the state’s outdoor heat illness standard. The new indoor regulation imposes new temperature monitoring, hazard analysis and recordkeeping requirements that the existing outdoor standard didn’t need to successfully protect outdoor employees.
California’s perennially active state Legislature moved to restrain California employers’ First Amendment rights to express to employees why they think adopting union representation might not be best, with Senate Bill 399 by state Sen. Aisha Wahab, D-Hayward.
SB 1100, by state Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada-Flintridge, prohibits employers inquiring whether an employee has a driver’s license or implying that a driver’s license is a job requirement, effectively restraining employers’ flexibility to employ people who can drive.
California’s lawmakers rarely shy away from regulatory diktats that are amazingly broad in scope or so seemingly trivial that one could wonder what public good the givers of law were trying to pursue. Still, California employers are forced to cope with it all.
California Farm Bureau and FELS will continue to work cooperatively to educate policymakers about the real-world implications of their policy choices, and to help agricultural employers cope with the consequences of those choices.
For employer resources such as on workplace violence prevention, outdoor and indoor heat illness prevention and other compliance resources, visit www.fels.net or subscribe to the FELS Newsletter.
(Byran Little is director of employment policy for the California Farm Bureau and chief operating officer for the affiliated Farm Employers Labor Service. He may be contacted at blittle@cfbf.com.)
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Commentary
By Ron Peterson
Second Vice President
California Farm Bureau
Having recently completed my first year as a California Farm Bureau officer, one of the most exciting aspects of my position has been traveling to different parts of the state and connecting with our county Farm Bureau leaders and members.
I believe relationships are critical to making a leader successful. When I was first elected, I wanted to help the organization build relationships with farmers in different counties so that they can reach out to me when they have problems, and I can reach out to them when I need advice on specific issues.
One year into my post as the second vice president of the largest agricultural organization in California, I understand that relationship building is also essential to the long-term success of the organization.
I came to my role as part of a new leadership team, and from the start, we saw unique opportunities to make meaningful changes this past year. With Farm Bureau being a grassroots organization, it’s important that county Farm Bureau members create and direct policies. Our job in the leadership team is to then implement their policies.
California’s diverse crops, climate zones and farming population can make policy development challenging. Different regions face different issues, and developing policies that meet everyone’s needs can be tricky.
That’s why getting my boots on the ground has been so vital in my leadership journey. Traveling to the state’s various regions has allowed me to hear more opinions and perspectives. This has allowed me to bolster relationships with counties to ensure we’re serving the needs of our members.
My travels have also allowed me to see how different parts of the state operate, and I’ve had a chance to receive important feedback from farmers in those regions. I’ve heard that California Farm Bureau can do better communicating and supporting counties with issues they’re tackling. I know some counties have felt as though they’ve been on an island sometimes and that they weren’t getting the assistance they would have liked.
The leadership team has worked tremendously hard to be more responsive by meeting with farmers and leaders in different regions and helping them find solutions by involving our legal staff or policy team.
During Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting last December, members had a chance to work through high-ranking topics during various breakout sessions. The meetings allowed people to literally sit at the table and provide input. The process was very well received, and we plan to continue and improve upon it.
We’ve also changed the format of our commodity advisory committees—the grassroots of our policy development. Whereas we previously restricted the committees to one person from each county and spent about a week in March discussing specific topics, we’re now bringing more farmers into the fold by opening the input sessions to all Farm Bureau members and holding the committee meetings during an extended period.
To encourage more participation and engagement, different county Farm Bureaus are hosting committee meetings in person and virtually. This change has really opened the process, with more people getting involved in the initial discussion that’s been key to how the organization forms policy.
As with most businesses and organizations, California Farm Bureau has had to grapple with tight budgets, but we’re working through those challenges and making sure we’re operating within our means.
Going forward, I know California farmers and ranchers continue to face natural and regulatory challenges that threaten our existence, with the top one being water. We know that without water, there won’t be farms and ranches. That is why Farm Bureau is committed to finding workable solutions that allow California agriculture to thrive.
It’s important that Farm Bureau remains a strong organization. We have been around for more than 100 years, and our leadership team wants to make sure we’re here for the next hundred-plus years and beyond so that we can continue to support California farmers and ranchers.
As a leader, I believe we should always think about who’s coming behind us and whether we are giving them the resources and skills to be future leaders. In my role, probably the most important contribution I can make is to provide opportunities and experiences for younger farmers to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Growing up, I had plenty of opportunities that helped me become the kind of person and leader I am today. I remember as a kid sitting around the kitchen table with my grandfather and his brothers, listening to their conversations about business, politics and social issues. Those talks helped form my perspective about life and establish my values.
In building our leaders, Farm Bureau offers similar opportunities, albeit more formally through programs such as commodity advisory committees, listening sessions, Leadership Farm Bureau and Young Farmers & Ranchers that allow up-and-coming leaders to be part of the conversation as we solve problems for the future.
We also need to continue to inform the public about farming and the rich abundance of safe, affordable agricultural products we deliver every day. Everybody likes to eat, but people tend to forget how that food gets on their plates. In all policy discussions, we need to remind the public what it takes to do our job so that we can continue to bring the state’s agricultural bounty to people’s tables.
Ron Peterson, a dairy farmer who also grows silage crops and almonds and raises beef cattle in Stanislaus County, is second vice president of the California Farm Bureau. He may be reached at rpeterson@cfbf.com.
By Margaret Honig
Soil health isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the foundation of productive farms, resilient crops and long-term sustainability. As someone who works closely with farmers, I see the challenges firsthand: unpredictable weather, water restrictions, rising input costs and shifting regulations, all of which make soil management feel like one more hurdle in an already demanding industry.
Yet, healthy soil is an investment. It directly impacts yield stability, disease resistance, water efficiency and overall farm resilience. In California’s citrus industry, where growers are battling huanglongbing, extreme heat and increasing regulatory pressures, soil health can be a critical tool for long-term success.
Research consistently shows that improving soil health leads to better fruit quality and yield stability, stronger root systems that support longevity, greater resilience to drought and erosion, and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
The challenge? Many soil health practices require upfront investment and long-term commitment, and in an industry where margins are already tight, not every grower can afford to take that risk.
That’s where the Healthy Soils Program comes in. Funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, this program helps farmers implement
research-backed soil health practices such as compost application, cover cropping, reduced tillage, nutrient management, hedgerow planting and more.
At the California Bountiful Foundation, the nonprofit research affiliate of the California Farm Bureau, we administer the Healthy Soils Block Grant Program in partnership with the California Citrus Quality Council and the Xerces Society. Together, we help citrus growers access funding, implement best practices and receive technical assistance tailored to their operation.
The benefits of healthy soil aren’t just theoretical. They’ve been proven through years of research, on-farm demonstration trials and farmer feedback. Here’s how some of the program’s most impactful practices contribute to better soil health management:
• Compost application: Compost adds organic matter, improves microbial diversity and enhances water retention. Research from the University of California, Berkeley, found that compost-amended soil stores more carbon and improves water-holding capacity, which is critical for drought resilience and long-term fertility.
• Cover cropping: Cover crops such as legumes and grasses reduce erosion, fix nitrogen and suppress weeds. A UC Davis study found that cover crops can replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizer needs, helping farmers reduce input costs while maintaining soil health.
• Reduced tillage: Excessive tilling disrupts soil structure and accelerates carbon loss. Studies show that reducing tillage enhances water infiltration, preserves soil microbes and helps retain carbon in soil while improving farm resilience in drought-prone regions.
• Hedgerow plantings: These native plantings increase pollinator activity, improve biodiversity and help reduce
pesticide use. A UC Cooperative Extension study highlights how hedgerows can support beneficial insects that help control common citrus pests. By planting species such as California lilac, buckwheat, toyon and sage, growers can attract natural enemies such as parasitic wasps, lady beetles and lacewings, all of which can reduce the need for chemical pest control.
Even with proven benefits, many farmers hesitate to adopt new soil-health practices due to:
• Economic hurdles: Upfront costs for equipment, labor and materials can be prohibitive, even with cost-share support from the Healthy Soils Program. Continued funding and financial incentives are critical for widespread adoption.
• Short-term vs. long-term returns: Some practices such as composting and cover cropping take years to show measurable results, making them difficult to justify when farmers need immediate returns to stay profitable.
• Market pressures: Consumers and food companies increasingly demand sustainability, but there’s no consistent financial incentive for farmers implementing these practices, meaning the cost burden often falls on the producer.
• Extreme weather, water scarcity and soil erosion: In some California regions, topsoil loss due to heavy rainfall, wind erosion or drought can undermine efforts to rebuild soil structure. Without incentives for cover cropping and reduced tillage, soil degradation will continue to impact productivity.
The Healthy Soils Program helps bridge the transition by offsetting costs and providing technical support. The California Bountiful Foundation and its partners have awarded 39 projects to citrus growers in Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Placer, Riverside, Tulare, San Diego and Ventura counties.
Each participating citrus farm receives up to $200,000 to improve soil health, water retention and carbon sequestration. Among the widely adopted practices are compost application, cover cropping and wood-chip mulching. The California Bountiful Foundation also provides technical assistance, regional hedgerow guidance and material sourcing support. At the foundation, we’re committed to helping farmers integrate soil-health strategies while keeping their operations profitable and productive.
The Healthy Soils Program helps improve soil fertility, water retention and long-term productivity. While challenges such as upfront costs and technical adjustments remain, the 39 awarded projects in citrus groves lay the groundwork for stronger, healthier soils. As these practices take hold, they will drive lasting benefits for citrus growers, agriculture and the future of California food production. At the California Bountiful Foundation, we are committed to supporting this progress and ensuring that healthy soil continues to strengthen California farms for years to come.
For 2025, CDFA received 15 Healthy Soils Block Grant Program proposals, which are under review with a public comment period set for March-April. For details on funding opportunities, visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/. To learn more about soil-health practices that can benefit your farm, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/conservation-practice-standards.
(Margaret Honig is the Healthy Soils Program Project administrative lead for the California Bountiful Foundation, an affiliate 501(c)(3) of the California Farm Bureau. She may be contacted at mhonig@cfbf.com.)
California farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our state. These individuals work hard to grow food for the nation and contribute billions to the economy while supporting working lands and the environment.
The state’s farmers face challenges such as drought and uncertain water supplies, workforce shortages, increased government regulations, higher costs and market volatility. To navigate these issues and support our members, the California Farm Bureau stands ready to engage and advocate for solutions.
As a grassroots organization, the Farm Bureau’s strength is our members, who drive policy and set priorities through involvement in commodity advisory committees, which meet regularly throughout the year. The committees bring members together to discuss important issues that relate to their respective crops. To encourage increased participation and engagement, we decided to hold meetings in person at regional locations as well as virtually this year.
Last week, county Farm Bureaus hosted committee members of forestry and public lands; wheat, feed and small grains; and field crops. In the coming days and weeks, the committees for nut trees, fruit trees, livestock, grapes and horticulture will meet.
Discussions included water challenges, especially as many county Farm Bureau members navigate the state’s groundwater regulation, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA. Our county Farm Bureaus are at the forefront and the first line of defense to protect and promote agriculture in the counties.
During the forestry and public lands advisory committee, hosted at the Butte County Farm Bureau, we had robust participation, covering federal lands management, fuels reduction and grazing on public lands. The committee drafted policy language to strengthen management of predators.
Photo/Ned Coe
Connecting with members is important. There are times when somebody needs help with an issue and the California Farm Bureau can make a connection or point them in the right direction, or maybe another county has dealt with the same issue and can provide guidance.
Our members want to see that they are paying dues to an organization that is working for them. They want us to be visible, so we are present and making a difference. Attending events like the Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale, the Colusa Farm Show and the World Ag Expo is a great opportunity for state and county Farm Bureau staff to interact with members and reach prospective members. It gives them the chance to discuss issues or just say hello.
As I travel to different counties attending annual meetings, conferences and events, county Farm Bureau members have told me they value the relationship with the California Farm Bureau. There is an understanding that the state does care about what’s going on in my county. We are all part of the same family. That’s what you see at the American Farm Bureau Federation, too.
At the AFBF Annual Meeting last month in San Antonio, Texas, California Farm Bureau officers and other members saw the policy development process reach a conclusion as the organization approved national policy priorities. With 55 members from California attending, it was the largest presence that the Golden State has had in the past decade.
The AFBF Annual Meeting is an opportunity to connect with members from across the U.S. I heard from members from Kentucky, Montana and Delaware, and it was a reminder that farmers in other states are going through the same struggles that we are on our farms and ranches. In many cases, these members are dealing with issues that we in California have faced for years. Members from other states are now reaching out to the California Farm Bureau for solutions and advice, which is a big change.
It is significant that we get to come together to discuss challenges and conclude the meeting with some hope on how we can solve issues. With the AFBF Annual Meeting set for Jan. 9-14, 2026, in Anaheim, I’m hoping we can get 1,000 California Farm Bureau members and county presidents to attend.
We had a lot of momentum going into our California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting held in December in Monterey. Everybody was excited. They see the changes and the direction that we are headed in and are reinvigorated. They’re ready to face the challenges that we have in agriculture.
We all have a stake in ensuring that California’s agricultural sector remains strong and viable for generations to come. It’s time to stand with our farmers and ranchers, support their efforts and embrace the power of unity to tackle the issues that matter most.
Together, we can build a better future for California agriculture.
(Shaun Crook, who operates a family timber business in Tuolumne County, is first vice president of the California Farm Bureau. He may be reached at scrook@cfbf.com.)
By Bryan Little
California’s regulators and legislators seem to never sleep when it comes to adding to and changing California employers’ obligations and requirements, and 2024 was no different from years past.
New mandates affecting agricultural employers took effect in mid-2024 and Jan. 1, 2025.
Jan. 1 saw the final stage of implementation of Assembly Bill 1066, 2015 legislation changing overtime rules that apply to agricultural employers and employees. All agricultural employers are obliged to pay employees overtime after 8 hours in a workday or 40 hours in a workweek. Never mind the longstanding recognition in pre-2015 law that agriculture is inherently seasonal and that employees need to work and earn when work is available, or not at all.
The result that agriculture advocacy organizations such as the California Farm Bureau warned lawmakers about has come to pass. Thanks to AB 1066, studies have shown that agricultural employees are working less and earning less.
California Farm Bureau is working to help the new state Legislature see the merit of addressing this effect by helping farm employers bear the cost of overtime through a tax credit covering the cost of overtime.
This past November, California voters rejected Proposition 32, which would have mandated an $18 per hour minimum wage. However, the state’s underlying wage-and-hour law includes a minimum wage inflation escalator, so minimum wage for 2025 is $16.50 per hour. Some counties and municipalities’ local minimum wages are even higher.
The California Legislature and the state’s workplace safety agency, Cal OSHA, last year imposed two new one-size-fits-nobody mandates on California employers: the workplace violence prevention plan requirement and the indoor heat illness prevention regulation.
The workplace violence prevention plan addresses escalating urban crime by going after the symptom rather than the cause by requiring employers to “crime-proof” their workplaces.
This requirement expects employers to anticipate situations such as a workplace invasion or mass shooter incident and somehow prevent it by monitoring employees’ social media traffic—even on personal devices—and protecting employees from violence that should have been addressed by law enforcement.
Small employers in particular will struggle to implement this requirement, and agricultural employers may be puzzled about what to do. The Farm Employers Labor Service provides subscribers to the FELS Newsletter a sample plan and supporting documents to implement the requirement.
Photo/Caleb Hampton
Cal OSHA’s new indoor heat illness regulation to protect employees from indoor heat is another poorly conceived effort that will be difficult for employers. It affects those managing packing sheds, greenhouses and other inherently climate-uncontrollable workplaces. It will simply be unfeasible to maintain these workplaces at a temperature below 80 degrees as required by the standard.
The regulation covers workplaces that could reasonably be considered indoor or outdoor, such as the classic two- or three-walled packing shed that is enclosed when in use by high bay roll-up doors and truck and tractor cabs.
Agricultural employers have a strong record of protecting outdoor employees from heat illness by implementing the state’s outdoor heat illness standard. The new indoor regulation imposes new temperature monitoring, hazard analysis and recordkeeping requirements that the existing outdoor standard didn’t need to successfully protect outdoor employees.
California’s perennially active state Legislature moved to restrain California employers’ First Amendment rights to express to employees why they think adopting union representation might not be best, with Senate Bill 399 by state Sen. Aisha Wahab, D-Hayward.
SB 1100, by state Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada-Flintridge, prohibits employers inquiring whether an employee has a driver’s license or implying that a driver’s license is a job requirement, effectively restraining employers’ flexibility to employ people who can drive.
California’s lawmakers rarely shy away from regulatory diktats that are amazingly broad in scope or so seemingly trivial that one could wonder what public good the givers of law were trying to pursue. Still, California employers are forced to cope with it all.
California Farm Bureau and FELS will continue to work cooperatively to educate policymakers about the real-world implications of their policy choices, and to help agricultural employers cope with the consequences of those choices.
For employer resources such as on workplace violence prevention, outdoor and indoor heat illness prevention and other compliance resources, visit www.fels.net or subscribe to the FELS Newsletter.
(Byran Little is director of employment policy for the California Farm Bureau and chief operating officer for the affiliated Farm Employers Labor Service. He may be contacted at blittle@cfbf.com.)