California Agricultural Coalition hosts March 19 press conference to highlight priorities for agriculture By: California Farm Bureau What: The California Agricultural Coalition, including the California Farm Bureau, California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association, California Association of Winegrape Growers and Western Tree Nut Association, will host a press conference to discuss the group’s key agricultural priorities for the upcoming legislative year. Who: Speakers will include: • Shannon Douglass, President, California Farm Bureau • Michael Miiller, Director of Government Relations, California Association of Winegrape Growers • Roger Isom, President/ CEO, California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association and Western Tree Nut Association When: Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. PT Where: West side of the California State Capitol (10th and N Streets), Sacramento Why: Speakers will address critical issues impacting California agriculture:
• California faces an alarming trend toward farm consolidation. The state lost farms and farmland at 7,387 farms – a 10.5% decrease – between 2017 and 2022, with irrigated lands decreasing by more than 120,000 acres during that time frame. • California’s regulatory costs create a competitive disadvantage for the farmers growing a majority of the country’s fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables. According to a recent study, regulatory compliance costs on farmers have surged by 1,366% since 2006, with a 63.7% increase since
Association of Winegrape 2017. Growers, increases • California farmers and the take-home pay for ranchers play an important role in the state’s ability agricultural employees and delivers millions to meet its greenhouse of dollars into hardgas reduction goals, with pressed economies working lands already in rural California by an important solution to investing in agricultural reaching climate goals. employees through an Agriculture programs lead employer payroll tax the list of the most efficient credit. Under SB 628, cap and trade programs, only after employees so continued Greenhouse have been scheduled and Gas Reduction Funds in support of agriculture paid overtime wages can employers earn a payroll programs provides a good ROI. tax credit to help cover the labor cost increases from • Senate Bill 628, authored overtime. by Senator Shannon The press conference is Grove (R-Bakersfield) scheduled to coincide with and co-sponsored by the California Farm California Agriculture Day at the Capitol. Bureau and the California