California lawmakers pass climate deal extending cap-and-trade, permitting more drilling
By: Kate Wolffe, Sacramento Bee
Democratic lawmakers in California approved a sweeping slate of climate and environmental bills Saturday – a package that would double-down on climate commitments like cap-and-trade and high speed rail, while also permitting additional oil drilling in the state.
The measures were the result of months of discussions and a last-minute sprint that forced lawmakers to come back over the weekend, past what was supposed to be a Friday deadline for the legislature.
The bills center around cap-and-trade, California’s tentpole environmental regulation system, which places a limit on emissions and allows businesses to buy
and sell permits to emit carbon dioxide. Among other things, the sale of those permits funds EV rebates, affordable housing and transit projects like the beleaguered high speed rail.
The two cap-and-trade proposals lawmakers approved Saturday, Senate Bill 840 and Assembly Bill 1207, would extend the program for 15 years and only slightly tweak the current system. The “straight” reauthorization was a priority of Gov. Gavin Newsom and business groups, but frustrated some environmental organizations and negotiators in the Senate, who argued there was room for improvement in the program.
On Friday, the night before the Legislature’s vote, Newsom cited support from dozens of environmental justice groups, climate champions, former Gov. Jerry
Brown, organized labor and business industry for the reauthorization deal.
With a few exceptions, lawmakers seemed willing to approve the package during the Saturday session, following work that continued until 3 a.m. the night before.
Some of the limited debate centered around Senate Bill 237, which opens parts of the Central Valley up to more drilling to stabilize gas prices, a win for the fossil fuel industry Democrats have long railed against.
“This bill is not about stabilizing gas prices. It is a regulatory giveaway to Big Oil,” said Asm. Alex Lee, D-San Jose.
“The thing we need to focus on is a controlled, managed phaseout of fossil fuels.”
Al Muratsuchi, a Torrancearea Democrat with three refineries in his district, reluctantly supported the measure, calling it part of the “rocky road” to move away from fossil fuels. “I don’t think we can meet our climate goals without, you know, keeping the public support in terms of this managed transition,” he said.
In February, Gov. Gavin Newsom said renewing cap-and-trade was not a top priority for him, but that he was “open to a conversation.”
“Do I feel it’s absolutely necessary this year? My
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September has routinely been a busy month of prep for our organization as FARM2U Day, an event held for third grade classes to learn about local agriculture, was held in early October for the last 12 years. We unfortunately had to make the difficult decision to close the program following last year’s event. FARM2U required us to rely heavily on volunteers. Through the years we gained a steady following of diehard volunteers that loved the program however we needed a large influx of newbies to feed the event. That alone can make it hard to continue. It was compounded by decreases in several areasclass attendance, presenter availability and sponsorship donations. We began noticing these impacts during the planning process and due to that, took every action to scale back in areas that would not impact attendee experience.
The start of the school year brought forward individuals asking the status of the program. The sentiment has been the same across the
board. Everyone has enjoyed the program and while it is an unfortunate set of events, it is understood that we had to close the chapter.
Our commitment to ag education remains. We are steadfast in providing scholarships to seniors who are continuing their education in an agriculture related field. Rooted in Agriculture, a program that encourages K-6 teachers to teach ag in their classrooms, continues to flourish. This program alone has awarded approximately $5,000 each year since its inception. The newest program, Agribee, has found great success too. Targeted to fourth and fifth grade students, contestants are asked to spell and define ag related words. Our participant numbers continue to build with each year.
None of the above fills the void of FARM2U. For that reason, we are launching a program in mid-October. This will include in-class lessons directed by our staff and attending ag education
days at local schools. Continuing the message of ag education and literacy is important to all of us at MCFB. Our newest staff member, Cassandra, will lead this program. We are excited to see the development of this program as Cassandra’s experience lends itself incredibly well. We know it’s
in good hands.
As always, stop in our office to grab a cup of coffee, meet our staff and share the challenges or successes you have encountered this season. We look forward to the conversation. Here’s to a smooth transition as you round out your season.
September is here and we are all busy on our operations dealing with harvest or wrapping it up. Your County Farm Bureau has been busy representing and promoting Merced County Agriculture. September also marks the end of the legislative session in Sacramento. We also, unfortunately saw the evil side of humanity as Charlie Kirk was murdered on live TV in front of his family, thousands of supporters, detractors and the world. The campaign for and against proposition 50 is in full swing. The California High Speed Rail Authority came out with their newest business plan that may bypass the city of Merced completely.
The California legislative session officially ended on September 12th, 2025. This is the last day for both houses to pass any legislation that will be presented to the governor for his signature. The governor has until October 12th to sign or veto the legislation. Some of the legislation that affects California agriculture that I will highlight include AB1207/SB840. This bill will extend Californias Cap and Trade program. This bill gives most of the decisionmaking power to the Air Resources Board as to what programs qualify. The bill specifically guarantees $1
billion dollars a year to be spent on the California High Speed Rail Project. AB 565 will reduce cannabis excise tax from 19% to 15%. It is ironic that when recreational marijuana was legalized in 2016 two of the biggest selling points were the amount of tax revenue it would raise and how it would legalize the majority of transactions. Neither of these have came to fruition as less than 40% of marijuana sales are legal sales. The last one is AB 1264 which is a bipartisan effort that is opposed by California Farm Bureau. The bill will ban UltraProcessed food from public school. CFBF’s opposition stems from the definition of “ultra-processed”, the concern is that many canned fruit and vegetables will be banned.
On November 4th of this year California will hold a special election that will include Proposition 50. Proposition 50 is the brainchild of Governor Newsom and the California Democratic Party. This proposition will bypass Californias Citizen Redistricting Committee and re-draw our congressional district lines mid-decade. In 2008, California voters passed the FAIR Act that amongst other things created a “citizen redistricting committee” that would redraw congressional districts
every 10 years. The intent was to take the redistricting out of the hands of the legislature and give it back to the citizens, preventing partisan gerrymandering. The democrats do not like this and want to gerrymander California districts that could result in the loss of three Republican held seats in the rural parts of the state. One of the most egregious examples of partisan redistricting is taking CA 1st congressional district that Rep. Doug LaMalfa won by over 60% that will split it into two democrat majority districts. It would take CA 2nd Congressional District which runs along Californias northern coast from Marin County to the Oregon border and expand it to include extreme northern California counties currently held by Rep. La Malfa. How would a bay area liberal like Rep Huffman (CA02) honestly represent Siskiyou and Modoc Counties? Proposition 50 is strongly opposed by Merced County Farm Bureau and California Farm Bureau.
On September 10th the world witnessed evil. Conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk was murdered in cold blood on live TV while holding an event at a university in Utah. Mr. Kirk held these events across the country where he debated any and all comers,
whether they agreed with his viewpoints or not. Mr. Kirk was credited in helping President Trump win in November. Whether you agreed with his approach or not Mr. Kirk did not deserve this. Rest in paradise Charlie Kirk.
At the end of last month, the CA HSR Authority released an update on the boondoggle of a project. One of the possible options is bypassing the Merced Station that was promised since the inception of the project. This has disappointed many local supporters of the project. The original price tag was estimated to be $33 billion with the revised estimate ballooning to128 billion, 380% off estimates, and will probably be higher. Estimated ridership numbers have also been significantly lowered. Yet, with all this along with the stoppage of federal funds, the governor is trying to guarantee another $1 billion annually to the project.
We hope to see many of you at our next membership mixer that will be held at Vista Ranch and Cellars in Merced on October 30th at 6 PM. It will be a fun family friendly event. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes and will have games and candy from our local YF&R group. Hope you can all make it. If we can be of any help please never hesitate to reach out. Until next month!
Let’s talk about
ATV safety
Having the safety talk with your kids isn’t just important —
In 2023, 19% of deaths in off-highway vehicle (OHV) accidents were children under 16, with only 2% wearing helmets.1 This alarming statistic prompted Nationwide to launch the Let’s Champion Rider SafetySM campaign, providing tips and resources for effective safety discussions and protection for young riders.
Let’s work together to help save lives and teach everyone to ride like a champion.
Learn more at Nationwide.com/ATVsafety
From Classroom to Coliseum: High School Students Get VIP Turf Experience with USC
By: Marina Fote, USC & Dave Gossman, Atwater FFA
When the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum prepared for the USC Football Season home opener against Missouri State on Saturday, August 30th, 2025, the stadium’s Athletic Turf & Grounds Crew featured six special guests. Decked out in a full cardinal and gold wardrobe, four high school students and two teachers joined in on the fun, bringing enthusiasm and excitement while learning firsthand how to care for, maintain, paint, and otherwise prepare the natural grass playing
surface for game day. The students and teachers traveled to Los Angeles from the Central Valley, leaving their Atwater and Golden Valley High School Turf & Field classrooms behind for three days to experience this opportunity of a lifetime..
Behind the Scenes of Game Day
The students and their agriculture instructors were invited by the LA Memorial Coliseum’s Director of Sports Turf, Scott Lupold, to work alongside his handselected crew. The group was immersed in the demanding competition field preparation process under Lupold’s direction and leadership. On
Thursday, the focus was on white paint. Football yard lines, hash marks, numbers, and sponsor logos were outlined. On Friday, paint in the machines changed to cardinal, gold, and blue. The students and instructors assisted with filling in end zones, sponsor logos, and the center “SC” interlock. And on Saturday, game day! Tarps were laid, the field was detailed, the warning track was swept and evened, and the whole group helped ensure the field was ready for football, down to the last detail.
“The LA Coliseum provided our students with a VIP experience,” Atwater High School’s Turf/Field
instructor Dave Gossman said. “They weren’t just watching on the sidelines— they were welcomed as part of the team and given hands-on opportunities to learn skills associated with the profession at the highest level.”
The Coliseum has played host to USC Football since its inception in 1923, and is the only stadium worldwide to host two Olympics, a third in 2028, two Super Bowls, and an MLB World Series. “This place is pretty cool, when you really think about it,” Lupold said. “My favorite time and place in this stadium is the field early in the morning on a game day, when all is still
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Turf continued from page 5
quiet. There’s just a feeling, an energy in here that’s tough to describe or understand until you experience it.”
Growing a New Pathway
This collaboration with the LA Coliseum places strong emphasis on the growing role of Turf and Sports Field Management in high school agricultural education. Atwater High School launched its Turfgrass and Sports Field Management course after Gossman attended the annual Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) Conference in 2019. The idea quickly took root, and within three years, Golden Valley High School’s instructor, Kevin Magill, expanded the program to his campus, which now offers two sections of the course.
Today, more than
100 students across the Merced Union High School District are enrolled in the program, which falls under the Agriculture sector’s Ornamental Horticulture pathway in Career Technical Education (CTE).
“Irrigation, soil, and turfgrass are core components of agriculture,” Magill explained. “But what’s exciting is how this course has attracted students from non-agriculture backgrounds. Their love of sports creates a natural connection, and through this program, they’re discovering agriculture in a new way.”
Lessons Beyond the Grass in For students, the educational trip to the LA Coliseum was about more than just painting lines, holding hoses, and rolling tarps. It was a lesson in teamwork, responsibility, discipline, and professional standards. Each student went
home with a new level of appreciation and respect for the industry. “When you see a field on national television, you don’t realize the time, effort, and resources that go into preparing it,” said Atwater High School student Jose Perez. “The experience reinforced my interest in pursuing this as a career.”
Through high school program partnerships, the Turf Management industry asserts its investment in and commitment to the next generation. The goal is not only to inspire students in the short term, but to build relationships through a pipeline of future professionals who will bring heart, skills, knowledge, and expertise to fields across the nation. “The return on investment,” as SFMA leaders see it, “is cultivating a new generation of skilled professionals and leaders who will keep fields everywhere thriving.”
Cultivating Careers, One Field at a Time
Much like grass itself, what began as an idea planted at a Sports Field Management Association conference bloomed into an innovative pathway for students in California’s Central Valley, and an invaluable opportunity for LA Coliseum professionals to teach and give back. In a unique industry that blends agronomy, plant science, art, and sports, students saw an example of how industry leaders keep playing surfaces safe, healthy, and green as could be. And for students who had never before attended a Division I College Football game and had only ever seen the LA Coliseum’s field on TV, tending to its playing surface was nothing short of unforgettable.
Students from Atwater FFA and Golden Valley FFA assisting in preping the field.
House GOP eyes stopgap into November to avert shutdown
By: Marina Fote, USC & Dave Gossman, Atwater FFA
House GOP leaders are aiming to pass a stopgap spending bill this week that funds the government through Nov. 20, GOP sources told The Hill, as lawmakers face an end-of-the-month shutdown deadline.
Text of the continuing resolution (CR) has yet to be released, though Republicans have said it will largely be “clean.”
House leaders face a tight time crunch to pass the plan by the week’s end, with lawmakers scheduled to leave Washington next week for the Rosh Hashanah holiday.
The strategy, however, sets up a showdown with Democrats who have called for any stopgap to include major concessions on health care as a condition of their votes.
“Partisan legislation that continues the unprecedented Republican assault on healthcare is not a clean spending bill. It’s a dirty one,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) wrote on the social platform X on Monday.
That is raising the likelihood of Republicans having to pass the CR in the House without relying on Democratic votes, before daring Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to reject the measure and head to a shutdown, as they did in March.
But first GOP leaders must contend with their slim majority in the House,
where GOP leaders can only afford to lose two votes if all Democrats vote no.
The CR plan is facing criticism from several House Republicans responding to reports about the plan in Politico, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) who said on X that Congress “should not pass a CR” and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) who said she does not want a stopgap to end right before the Thanksgiving holiday, expressing worries about an omnibus.
Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) wrote on X that, “I already hated status quo thinking and approaches (soft incrementalism at best), so I’m out on another CR for the sake of more government.”
At the same time, the National Republican Congressional Committee is putting pressure on vulnerable House Democrats to support the CR plan with a paid ad campaign against 25 members that warns of Democrats threatening to “sabotage” President Trump’s policies with a shutdown.
Top appropriators have said in recent days that they’re working through
a list of requested add-ons, or “anomalies,” from the White House to attach to the forthcoming stopgap plan.
“We’re working through it, but we don’t want, don’t intend, to put anything on there that we can’t agree with,” House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told The Hill on Thursday, adding the goal is not to “put anything on there that we can’t agree with” or is “that’s offensive” and threaten chances of passage.
“We’re not trying to have a confrontation over CR. We’re trying to pass a CR,” he said.
Included in the list of requests lawmakers are sorting through is a reported ask from the White House for a $58 million security boost for government officials made in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
The Hill has reached out to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for comment.
Members on both sides of the aisle have pressed for more resources for security in
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refineries in his district, reluctantly supported the measure, calling it part of the “rocky road” to move away from fossil fuels. “I don’t think we can meet our climate goals without, you know, keeping the public support in terms of this managed transition,” he said.
In February, Gov. Gavin Newsom said renewing cap-and-trade was not a top priority for him, but that he was “open to a conversation.”
“Do I feel it’s absolutely necessary this year? My current position is, it’s not absolutely necessary,” he told reporters in Los Angeles.
That was before President Donald Trump began targeting the program. In
April, he issued an executive order targeting state environmental regulatory programs like California’s, calling it a “threat to national security.”
In light of Trump’s threat, Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire said the legislature would work to extend capand-trade in 2025.
Newsom defeated a previous attempt by Trump in 2020 to water down the cap-and-trade program. The governor then went on to target oil companies, blaming them for high gas prices, and banned fracking, with the intent of phasing out all instate extraction by 2045.
He’s since had to walk some of those policies back as Trump returned to the
White House and capitalized on discontent about high gas prices and the affordability crisis. State Republicans have also continued to beat the drum about high gas prices, pulling some more moderate Democrats to their side.
Although the cap-andtrade reauthorization and increased permission for oil drilling were the headliners, the climate package also included policy that has been in the mix since the beginning of the year.
For instance, the governor is expected to sign Senate Bill 254, a jam-packed bill that tackles numerous issues that authors say are driving up California utility prices, streamlines the permitting of clean energy projects, and buoys an insurance fund for wildfire survivors. That bill
passed the Assembly with unanimous support.
Other elements allow California utilities to join and create a Western regional energy market, and strengthen monitoring of air pollution in vulnerable communities.
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas congratulated lawmakers after the legislation passed, commending them for advancing “the most significant energy package in years.”
“We have never seen a White House so eager to take our tax dollars while attacking our people,” he said. “But California, we do not back down, and this Assembly did not back down.“
Los Banos FFA Honors Veteran at Honor Flight Event
By: Addison Melden, Los Banos FFA Member
The Los Banos FFA was deeply honored to attend the recent Honor Flight homecoming where the Veterans had flown into the Fresno airport, where they welcomed home countless veterans returning from service.
This powerful and emotional tradition began in 2016, during the FFA's annual leadership trip to the Nation's Capital.
While visiting the Navy Memorial, students witnessed an Honor Flight return and were moved by the experience. Inspired by that moment, Jason Bretz, Jim Orr, and Don Baker decided the chapter should take responsibility for supporting
veterans’ trips.
In 2017, Los Banos FFA hosted its first Pasta DriveThru Dinner, raising $20,000 to help send veterans to visit the memorials built in their honor. Since then, the event has become an annual tradition—except for 2021, when it was paused due to COVID-19, and has raised at least $20,000 each year. In 2020, the FFA extended its outreach by donating $2,000
to the Blue Star Moms, an organization supporting active-duty service members. Without their sacrifices, this country would not be safe. This contribution has grown, and to date at the last Pasta dinner on March 10th 2025, Los Banos FFA has raised a remarkable $180,000 for Honor Flight and donated $10,000 to Blue Star Moms. These efforts reflect the immense gratitude the Los
Banos community holds for its veterans and service members. Many of these heroes were not properly thanked when they returned home. The FFA’s ongoing support ensures they are honored, appreciated, and remembered. This mission is more than just a fundraiser, it’s a heartfelt tribute to those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.
Los Banos FFA members presenting checks for verteran's trips.
My name is Cassandra Valdez, and I am honored to announce that I have joined the Merced County Farm Bureau as the new Membership and Communications Coordinator.
As someone who grew up in Merced County, agriculture has always been more than an industry to me, it has been a way of life. From an early age, I heard stories from my grandparents and parents, who worked as farm laborers, and those stories shaped the foundation of my respect and appreciation for agriculture.
My journey in the agriculture industry truly began in 2014 when I walked into the Agriculture Department at Merced High School. The stories I had grown up hearing suddenly came alive through my own involvement. From showing as an livestock exhibitor to participating in the Nursery Landscape Competition, I gained a deeper understanding and greater appreciation for the industry. Serving as both a local and regional FFA officer exposed me to the impact agricultural leaders have on their communities, and it was then that I discovered my calling as a young professional in agriculture.
After graduating from high school, I attended California State University, Fresno, where I majored in Agricultural Communications. In addition,
I studied General Agriculture at Merced College. It was during my college years that I truly recognized the power of investing in young professionals entering the agriculture industry.
During college, I was honored to work for both the National FFA Organization and the California FFA Association as a Leadership Development Facilitator. Traveling across the country to engage with FFA members, I led workshops on topics such as service and advocacy. I knew I was helping plant seeds of confidence, purpose, and knowledge in the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Expanding my knowledge and depth of agriculture has always been a priority of mine. In the summer of 2021, I interned with the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council, where I gained hands-on experience working in the classroom. The following summer, in 2022, I served as a Programs Intern with Agriculture Future of America in Kansas City, Missouri. In that role, I helped develop leadership materials that were made available to more than 1,000 students attending the organization’s National Leaders Conference.
Most recently, I served as a Program Coordinator with The Big Fresno Fair for the past two years. This role allowed me to gain valuable experience in event coordination, community
outreach, and program development, all of which I look forward to applying in my new position.
When I’m not working, you can usually find me on the golf course or spending quality time with friends and family. This year, I have also been blessed with the opportunity to serve as Miss Merced County, an experience that has given me a deeper appreciation for the value of community engagement and the impact it can create.
In my new role, my goal is to grow membership by focusing on agribusinesses and young professionals within our community. I also hope to expand outreach
through engaging social media series and interactive content. In addition, I will be assisting with the development of agricultural education curriculum to present in local schools. I am excited to meet students where they are and continue investing in the future generations of agriculture. What excites me most about this opportunity is the chance to connect with our members and community, to listen and learn, and to share the stories of the farmers and ranchers who keep Merced County thriving. I hope to bring fresh ideas, creativity, and a genuine passion for advocating on behalf of agriculture.
The cotton jassid (Amrasca biguttula), also known as the two-spot cotton leafhopper, is becoming a serious concern for cotton growers in the southeastern United States. First detected in Florida in late 2024, it has since spread into Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. This tiny green insect lives on the underside of leaves and causes a symptom known as “hopperburn.”. The damage shows up as yellowing, curling, and browning of leaves, which weakens the plant and can decrease yields of cotton, okra, eggplant, and other crops up to 50%.
To minimize risks, growers in the affected areas are being advised to scout
fields closely, report similar symptoms damage right away, be selective when sourcing nursery plants, and stay connected to updates from their Extension offices.
Here in California, the cotton Jassid has not been found yet. However, other leafhopper species are already present and can also cause economic damage in cotton. The southern garden leafhopper is more common in desert regions, and the potato leafhopper is found in the San Joaquin Valley. Their presence is usually tied to the crops nearby. For example, potato leafhopper often appears in cotton fields planted near potatoes in Kern, Tulare, and Fresno Counties. The southern
garden leafhopper, on the other hand, is usually found in fields near sugarbeet in the Imperial Valley.
Both species are nearly identical in appearance (only distinguishable under a microscope by their reproductive organs) and both damage cotton in the same way. They suck sap from the underside of leaves, and symptoms often show up on the lower part of the plant. While infestations of these species can stress plants, they rarely lead to major yield losses or fruit structures shed, except in severe outbreaks. The cotton Jassid, however, seems to be more aggressive and might be more difficult to control.
Because all leafhoppers cause similar damage, early detection of the cotton Jassid is extremely important but could be challenging in California. That makes vigilance even more important. If you see yellowing or curling leaves, or any sign of hopperburn symptom, take the time to check the underside of the leaves, look for lumpy or thickened veins, and report any suspicious findings to UCCE Merced.
Quick identification will be key if this new pest makes its way west. By staying alert now, we can be proactive in protecting the productivity of California’s cotton industry.
Figure 1 and 2. Cotton Jassid or twospot cotton leafhopper (left) and cotton leaf infested with cotton Jassid. Leaf photo credits of Farmonaut.com
USDA to Provide $1 Billion to Flood and Wildfire-Impacted Livestock Producers
By: USDA, Press Release
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced eligible livestock producers will receive disaster recovery assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire in calendar years 2023 and 2024. The program is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in recovery benefits. Signup begins on Monday, September 15. Livestock producers have until October 31, 2025, to apply for assistance.
“We are providing continued support for livestock producers whose livelihoods and way of life have been disrupted by catastrophic floods, wildfires, and poor forage conditions in 2023 and 2024. Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is standing shoulder to shoulder with America’s farmers and ranchers, delivering the resources they need to stay in business, feed their families, and keep our food supply strong,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This announcement builds on the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) and the historic levels of assistance we have rolled out over the last few months, once again proving that this administration is working
as quickly as possible to get help out the door and into the hands of livestock and dairy producers. USDA will continue to put farmers first and ensure they have the relief they need to weather storms and build for the future.”
Qualifying Disaster Events
To streamline program delivery, FSA has determined eligible counties with qualifying floods and qualifying wildfires in 2023 and 2024. For losses in these counties, livestock producers are not required to submit supporting documentation for floods or wildfires. A list of approved counties is available at fsa.usda.gov/elrp.
For losses in counties not listed as eligible, livestock producers can apply for ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW but must provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire occurred in the county where the livestock were physically located or would have been physically located if not for the disaster event. FSA county committees will determine if the disaster event meets program requirements.
Livestock and Producer Eligibility
For ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW, FSA is using covered livestock criteria similar to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) which includes weaned beef cattle, dairy cattle, beefalo, buffalo, bison, alpacas, deer, elk,
emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, and sheep.
Wildfire assistance is available on non-federally managed land to participants who did not receive assistance through LFP or the ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire program delivered to producers in July of this year.
Payment Calculation
Eligible producers can receive up to 60% of one month of calculated feed costs for a qualifying wildfire or three months for a qualifying flood using the same monthly feed cost calculation that is used for LFP.
ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire and ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW have a combined payment limit of $125,000 for each program year. Producers who already received the maximum payment amount from ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire will not be eligible to receive an additional payment under ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW. Eligible producers may submit form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs, to be considered for an increased payment limit of $250,000.
California has set the standard for how not to do renewable energy
By: Mark McNees, Opinion Contributor, The Hill
If renewable energy is so great, why does California pay so much for its electricity?
That’s the question you need to ask — the one that exposes America’s most inconvenient energy truth. Californians pay 35 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity, whereas Iowans, despite generating nearly twice as great a share of renewable energy, enjoy 14 cents.
This paradox reveals that California’s energy crisis stems not from clean power itself, but from catastrophic policy choices, regulatory capture, and the brutal economics of being first. The numbers demolish conventional wisdom.
Eight states generate more renewable electricity than California’s 38 percent, and all of those eight maintain rates below the national average of 17.47 cents.
Iowa leads with 65 percent renewables at less than half California’s cost. South Dakota achieves 62 percent renewable generation and its ratepayers pay just 14.34 cents. Washington State, with 78 percent renewable power from legacy hydroelectric dams, is able to keep rates at 13.67 cents.
What explains this paradox? Start with California’s early-adopter penalty. When the state mandated renewable adoption in the 2000s, solar panels cost ten times their current prices. The state essentially bought the energy equivalent of a $4,000 flat-screen television that now sells for $400.
Power purchase agreements signed between 2007-2010 have locked ratepayers into decades of above-market prices — stranded costs that states building renewables today simply avoid. Solar infrastructure costs have plummeted 82 percent since 2010, but California remains shackled to yesterday’s prices.
Policy design compounds the damage. California mandated specific technologies through solar carve-outs and rooftop requirements rather than letting markets find the cheapest clean electrons. Whereas Iowa’s wind turbines achieve 40 to 45 percent capacity factors, California doubled down on solar panels operating at 20 to 25 percent efficiency, requiring 13.4 gigawatts of batteries to keep the lights on after sunset.
The state’s three investor-owned utilities — PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E — have increased rates 70 to 85 percent since 2019. Yes, $27 billion in wildfire mitigation costs hurt too, but that’s only part of the story. These utilities earn guaranteed returns of 8 to 12 percent on capital investments, creating perverse incentives to gold-plate the grid. Meanwhile, Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives operate without profit margins, passing savings directly to members.
Sacramento’s
regulatory maze makes matters worse. The California Public Utilities Commission oversees investor-owned utilities while 25 Community Choice Aggregators operate under different rules. This creates a balkanized system where costs shift between customer classes.
Rooftop solar owners — predominantly wealthy homeowners — avoid paying for grid maintenance, while apartment dwellers subsidize their green virtue.
A California Legislative Analyst report found that this cost shift adds $200400 annually to non-solar customers’ bills.
The political establishment in California chose the most expensive path to clean energy. Rather than learn from Texas’s market-based approach — which built more renewable capacity at lower cost — California legislators layered mandate upon mandate. They require utilities to procure specific technologies, meet accelerating deadlines, and satisfy multiple stakeholder interests. Each requirement added cost without adding value.
Leadership failures extend beyond policy design. When
See 'Energy' Page 14
Alarm bells sound over California fuel prices
By: Tim Hearden, Farm Progress
In California, one of the key trends in 2025 is that many farms are barely surviving a tightening of margins, as the prices paid to growers for almonds and other commodities haven’t kept pace with rising input and regulatory costs.
One of those input costs is fuel, which growers need not only to truck their goods to processors and distributors but also to run their vehicle fleets and farm equipment. Now diverse voices – from university economists to industry representatives to a San Joaquin Valley legislator – are warning the prices of fuel could get much higher if something isn’t done, and soon.
At a video press conference on Monday, Sept. 8, state Assemblyman Stan Ellis, R-Bakersfield, called on his fellow legislators to push a bill through by this Friday’s deadline to increase oil production or gas prices could soon hit $8 to $10 a gallon. That would crush families as well as industries, including agriculture, he said.
“We have 28 to 30 million gas and diesel-powered vehicles in the state running up and down our highways, and that doesn’t count the millions of pieces of farm equipment that are out there,” said Ellis, himself a farmer who has worked in the oil industry. “The reason I brought that up is when the price of gas goes up … it affects every single person in the state in their cost of living.
“In the short term, raising your crops, the price of fuel’s going to go up, and it’ll cost more for food in the grocery store,” the lawmaker said in response to a question from Farm Press. “It’s all about supply and demand.”
Those concerns are shared by people in agriculture, including Ryan Jacobsen, an almond and raisin grape grower who is CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. Jacobsen, who did not participate in Ellis’ presser, told Farm Press that California’s fuel prices, which remain well above the national average, continue to burden farmers’ bottom lines during an already challenging period.
“Agriculture depends heavily on affordable energy for producing and processing food, yet uncertainty over the future availability and cost of diesel and gasoline makes economic recovery increasingly difficult,” he said in an email.
California’s cost of living was already skyrocketing before a 1.6-cents-per-gallon gas tax increase and new low-carbon fuel standards took effect on July 1. Adding to the sense of urgency is the fact that two refineries – the sites operated by Phillips 66 and Valero – are set to close, with the companies citing the state’s environmental regulations as the reason.
“It is deeply concerning that oil refineries are choosing to
leave the state due to an inhospitable business climate, while California’s own production is being curtailed – even though our state produces fuel under some of the most environmentally responsible standards in the world,” Jacobsen said.
Production decreased
To that last point, Ellis noted that California’s production has dropped from 468,000 barrels per day of crude 10 years ago to 168,000 barrels a day currently. Because there isn’t a pipeline from Texas, California is having to supplement with more expensive, dirtier oil from countries with questionable human rights records, he said.
Two recent university studies paint an ominous picture of the impact of the two refinery closures on gas prices if nothing is done to avert the anticipated 17% decrease in refining capacity. The University of California’s Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics estimated this summer that the state’s gas prices could rise by $1.21 by next year if no further significant changes happen in the market.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders have been negotiating a plan with the industry to boost production in California’s oil-drilling hub of Kern County, CalMatters reported. A draft bill circulated by Newsom would provide blanket approval for environmental reviews of Kern County wells to sidestep litigation that has stalled drilling, according to the news outlet. But the proposals don’t go far enough to suit Ellis and industry leaders, even as they have been met with resistance from environmental groups. Ellis suggested that legislative leaders could use the controversial gut-andamend process – in which existing bills are changed at the last minute – to get a bill through by the end of this week that would ease regulations and permit more drilling. But as of Monday, no one was sponsoring an actual bill.
“If we can get to drilling now, we can prevent this crisis,” Ellis said. “But we may be too late now.”
As they say, buckle up.
Energy
continued from page 12
rates exploded, politicians blamed utilities while ignoring their role in creating the regulatory framework.
Governor Newsom’s administration approved utility rate increases while simultaneously mandating electrification of heating and transportation — forcing consumers to buy more of an increasingly expensive product.
The tragedy is that California’s experience discredits renewable energy when the real culprit is implementation.
Nevada generates nearly identical renewable
percentages but keeps rates at 13.32 cents by focusing on utility-scale solar farms rather than expensive rooftop installations.
Oklahoma balances 42 percent wind generation with natural gas backup, achieving 12.94-cent rates through market competition rather than mandates.
California’s crisis offers three critical lessons for federal policymakers. First, timing matters enormously. Early adopters pay innovation premiums while late adopters reap the benefits. Utility-scale solar now costs 56 percent less than fossil alternatives, but California remains locked into contracts signed when solar was seven times as
expensive as coal.
Second, technologyneutral policies beat policies that pick winners. States succeeding with renewables let economics determine the mix — wind in Iowa, hydro in Washington, utility solar in Nevada. California’s solar mandate ignored its wind resources and forced expensive storage solutions.
Third, market structure matters more than the renewable percentage. Public power and cooperative utilities consistently deliver lower rates than investorowned utilities, regardless of generation mix. Federal policy should address utility profit incentives, not just generation sources.
California projects demand of 76 percent more electricity by 2045. Yet current rates already discourage electrification. The state is thus demonstrating exactly how not to implement clean energy policy. The renewable energy paradox isn’t about technology; it’s about politics, timing, and who profits from the transition.
President Trump and Congress should take note: Renewable energy’s time has arrived. We now have renewable energy and energy storage options, in the same way our televisions are even better today and cost a fraction of what they did a decade ago.
El Capitan FFA Luau Meeting
By: Adazila Torres-Duarte, FFA Chapter Reporter
On August 28th, El Capitan FFA held its first FFA meeting of the year! The theme for this meeting was Luau mixed with field day activities! Our games were spread throughout the front of El Capitan High School. All students enrolled in an agriculture course were invited to attend and over 150 students showed up and showed support for the first FFA meeting of the year! It was a great success. Agriculture students brought non agriculture students to the meeting to earn 1 extra FFA point, while also sharing the benefits of being an FFA member.
Students gathered in the front of El Capitan High School, there were tropical decorations, colorful leis Ag Leadership students and advisors wore, and upbeat music that set the
luau vibe. While at the meeting, students had the opportunity to play in various games including corn hole, hula hoop contest, limbo, spikeball, and so much more. Water related competitions, as well as refreshments, also took place to beat the August heat. There was also food and snacks provided, such as hot dogs, chips, candy and drinks as prizes when you participate and win in a game, and snow cones!
Students being involved in El Capitan FFA meetings encourage collaboration and friendships. "The field day meeting was a great way for FFA members to meet each other at the beginning of the school year. Students got out of their shells quickly and met new people. It was great to see the communication between our FFA members," said El Capitan FFA Advisor, Mrs. Michaela Pignone. Students also received FFA points for the quarter which benefit their agriculture class
grade.
The Luau Field Day Meeting encouraged students to connect outside of class while highlighting the chapter's commitment to making FFA both fun and meaningful. Students learned that attending FFA meetings is a responsibility that can lead to friendships, collaboration, teamwork and
fun. El Capitan FFA strives to ensure that students are having the best possible experience they can have right here in the ECHS Agriculture department, in and out of class. The El Capitan FFA also looks forward to hosting more creative meetings that build leadership, teamwork, and lasting memories.
El Capitian FFA Oferricer Team at their Luau Meeing with leis.
Shutdown continued from page 7
this month. Congressional appropriators had previously pushed to attach the bill to a short-term CR to keep the government open on Oct. 1. But those hopes have dimmed as Congress faces a small window to strike a bipartisan deal to avert a shutdown, with partisan the days since the shooting as fears over political violence have been on the rise.
tensions over spending and healthcare heating up in Washington.
Additionally, the House has been making a push to start formally conferencing the annual legislative branch funding bill with the Senate
Cole said Thursday that both sides were not “not far apart” in funding talks to conference three bills covering the legislative branch, as well as the departments of Veterans Affairs and Agriculture.
“But it’s also hard to do in the amount of time we have, because I think it’ll probably have to be done by the end of next week,” Cole said Thursday. “Can’t do something like this and have members show up and not have a chance to explain it.”
More money, less red tape. Here's CA high-speed rail's wish list for success
Since becoming its CEO last year, Ian Choudri has made changes at California’s High-Speed Rail Authority.
He reorganized agency leadership, brought in experts from the U.S. military and the private sector’s Brightline West bullet train initiative. Choudri also launched a complete review of California high-speed rail to find the quickest, most cost-effective and financially successful path forward.
Amid the Trump administration’s pull-back of federal dollars, the project’s roadmap has begun to take shape.
The rail authority needs to start laying tracks soon in the Central Valley, where construction began on the 119 miles between Shafter and Madera more than a decade ago. The state also will need to move up its plans to connect the Central Valley with the Bay Area and other major urban centers, so high-speed rail might turn a profit and attract private investment.
The project’s plans have undergone several changes since 2008, when California voters approved $9.95 billion in bonds to help fund a railway from San Francisco to Los Angeles by 2020 at a
cost of $33 billion. Today, the focus is a 171-mile Mercedto-Bakersfield line that could be operational by 2032 and cost $36.75 billion — if things go according to plans.
Choudri and rail supporters have a project wish list that The Bee has distilled into 5 things that need to happen for the project to move forward and have success:
CA high-speed rail needs strong state financial commitment
Henry Perea, a rail authority board member from Fresno, previously told The Bee the agency was not surprised when the Trump administration pulled $4 billion in July. The agency has sued for the money, but Perea said it had already pivoted toward more reliance on the state and Gov. Gavin Newsom.
On Saturday, California’s Legislature officially dedicated $1 billion annually to high-speed rail through 2045 from the state’s Capand-Invest program. The program generates public dollars from companies that buy credits at state auctions to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.
The state’s cap-andtrade investment brings the
agency’s available public money up to almost $40 billion through 2045, which clears the total cost estimate for the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment.
The rail authority says more would be needed from the state to build past the Central Valley toward San Francisco and Los Angeles County. The most affordable expansion option that offers a profit — connecting the Central Valley to Gilroy but without a Merced extension — would cost more than $54 billion.
“Let’s do it that way, get a longer commitment from the state and a higher dollar amount,” Choudri told The Bee. “Current simulations tell us, if we do all of it, we could finish everything by 2039: Palmdale, MercedBakersfield, and then Gilroy.”
CA high-speed rail set to lay tracks next year
The rail authority says it will start laying the first rail tracks next year in the Central Valley.
The agency recently began seeking bids from U.S. manufacturers to provide the necessary materials. It’s part of a cost-saving plan to buy directly from manufacturers, not contractors, to reduce costs, Choudri said.
The request for bids comes as the construction of a 150-acre rail staging yard is nearing completing in Kern County. That’s where freight trains will receive and deploy materials, including rail, concrete ties, electric poles and ballast to be installed between Shafter and Madera.
The rail authority said the $507 million approved cost for the materials — spread over multiple anticipated contracts — will be “100% state funded.” “This procurement will not only accelerate construction of high-speed track, but by purchasing directly from American manufacturers, we will deliver significant savings to the state,” Choudri said in a statement.
CA Legislature asked to cut red tape for high-speed rail
The rail authority needs a faster way to take land it needs through eminent domain, relocate utilities and procure permits from local governments.
Choudri said jurisdictional conflicts have been at the root of the project’s delays and cost increases.
“That has nothing to do with how to build a bridge,” he told The Bee. “It has a lot
See 'High Speed' Page 16
High Speed
continued from page 15
to do with stopping 3,000 workers from doing what they are there to do because of a permitting issue, because of a utility issue, because of a court case.”
The rail authority wants the state to establish courts or appoint judges dedicated to handling the various cases and also create a statewide system it could use for utilities relocation and acquiring local permits.
A bill introduced in February, SB 445, would have addressed some of the issues but it was recently shelved because of heavy opposition from utilities owners and local governments, Calmatters reported. The bill’s main sponsor, state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, vowed to introduce something similar next year.
CA high-speed rail needs to move toward Gilroy
An August rail authority report showed the Mercedto-Bakersfield line will not generate enough revenue
to cover its total operational expenses. The report presented four profitable expansion scenarios that the agency says it can build by 2039. Two scenarios include a Merced station and two don’t, which caused a stir in the northern San Joaquin Valley. But each scenario connects the Fresno-Madera area to Gilroy, which would essentially be a connection to the Bay area. In Gilroy, highspeed rail trains will be able to carry passengers to Silicon Valley and San Francisco using the Caltrain commuter rail’s electrified tracks.
work outside of that focus.
The rail authority has said it is committed to building to Merced in the order mandated by state law. But it said in last month’s report that the Legislature could modify the law.
The agency also pitched delaying a Merced extension so it could build to Gilroy first. The rail authority said in an email that profit generated by higher ridership in the Bay area could then help pay for construction toward Merced.
A 2022 California law mandated that the agency prioritize the completion of the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment and placed a $500 million spending cap on
“It is critical that the project be responsive to evolving funding opportunities, market dynamics, and ridership potential,” the report says.
CA high-speed rail needs private investment, partnerships
The state’s new Cap-andInvest commitment could provide potential investors with the security they want to see before lending money to high-speed rail, the rail authority has said.
Connecting the system to Gilroy, where ridership and revenues are likely to increase, adds to extra security to potential investments in high-speed rail.
“They would look at the program (and say),
‘What’s the viability of getting a return on
investment?’” Choudri said of investors.
Once built, Choudri said high-speed rail’s infrastructure could be commercialized by the private sector — ideas include allowing freight services to use high-speed rail tracks and utilities to install broadband along the right-of-way.
The rail authority requested expressions of interest for public-private partnerships in June. The agency says it received 31 responses “from a wide range of industry participants,” and that it will release more details in a later report.
The agency also anticipates partnerships with other rail systems. It is already set to partner with Caltrain in Gilroy. And in Palmdale, highspeed rail would connect to Metrolink to take commuters to Los Angeles. Through the planned High Desert Corridor, high-speed rail would to link to the future Brightline West system between Southern California and Las Vegas.
“When this system gets up and running and interconnects all these other modes, the system will generate enough proceeds that you can use that money to build more,” Choudri said. “What’s remaining? Get to San Diego and Sacramento.”
California Assembly Bill 339
According to Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), Assembly Bill 339, would undermine local agencies’ efforts to provide programs and services to the public by requiring new, timeconsuming, and costly administrative requirements, has advanced to the Governor’s Desk.
AB 339 would require the governing body of a local public agency to provide written notice to an applicable employee organization no less than 45 days prior to issuing any request for proposals, request for quotes, or renewing or extending an existing contract to perform services that are within the scope of work of the job classifications represented by the recognized employee organization.
While recent amendments removed additional burdensome provisions, this bill remains a solution in search of a problem that will significantly delay public works projects and could grind building permit processing, design, and construction of needed housing or infrastructure projects to a halt. The bill also deters local agencies from working in partnership with local community organizations, who are at the front lines of providing critical local services.
RCRC has joined with our local agency partners to share the message that now is not the time to undermine local agencies’ efforts to
Mariposa County Farm Bureau
continue to provide safety-net and quality of life services to their communities.
With housing needs shooting through the roof, this is not the time to add more burdensome and timeconsuming requirements to our already overregulated state.
Merced County Business Member Directory
Businesses Supporting the Farm Bureau
To be included in the directory, join Merced County Farm Bureau as a business member by calling (209) 723-3001.
Farm Equipment
Garton Tractor, Inc........................(209) 726-4600
Kirby Manufacturing......................(209) 723-0778
N&S Tractor.....................................(209) 383-5888
Holt Ag Solutions.............................(209) 723-2021
Real Estate
Flanagan Realty................................(209) 723-4337
Keller Williams Property Team....(209) 769-4698
Dick Templeton Property Team...(209) 761-4441
Groups & Organizations
California Farmland Trust...............(916) 544-2712
California Sweetpotato Council.(209) 385-7403
Hilltop Ranch Inc................................(209) 874-1875
Merced Boosters..............................(209) 761-0815
Turlock Irrigation District.............(209) 883-8205
UCCE Merced...................................(209) 385-7403
Water & Land Solutions..................(209) 677-4700
Farm Services
Agri-Valley Consulting...................(209) 769-2357
Cal Ag Safety....................................(209) 351-0321
Dutch Door Dairy............................(209) 648-2166
GAR Bennett....................................(559) 480-3029
J&F Fertilizer.....................................(209) 495-1964
Mid Valley Ag Service.....................(209) 394-7981
Stone Family Spreading..................(209) 756-1491
WTS McCabe LLC............................(209) 854-6818
Construction Contractors
M-Mig Construction, Inc...............(209) 724-9488
Repairs & Services
Arrowhead Field Repair LLC.......(209) 658-5250
Cab Air Systems.............................(209) 551-3301
SS Blue...............................................(209) 722-2583
Food Processing
Del Rio Nut Company.....................(209) 394-7945
Sensient Natural Ingredients......(800) 558-9892 Harvesting & Hauling
Wallace & Son..................................(209) 382-0131
Irrigation,
Wells & Septic
Allison Sierra, Inc............................(209) 966-4082
IJ Larsen Pumps...............................(209) 634-7276
Pacific Southwest Irrigation......(209) 460-0450
Precision Aqua.................................(209) 756-2025
Quality Well Drillers........................(209) 357-0675
Rain for Rent.....................................(559) 693-4315
San Luis Pump Company..............(209) 383-0464
SWAN Systems................................(661) 335-2649
Farm Supplies
American River Ag..........................(209) 385-9553
Cal Farm Service..............................(209) 358-1554
Kellogg Supply...................................(209) 722-1501
Livingston True Value......................(209) 394-7949
Marfab...............................................(209) 826-6700
Pacific Bay Equipment...................(800) 640-1227
Stanislaus Farm Supply.................(209) 723-0704
Fuel Services
Amarants Propane Service...........(209) 358-2257
Hunt & Sons, Inc................................(916) 383-4868
Pazin & Myers, Inc............................(209) 725-2050
Western States Petroleum Assoc.. (661) 321-0884
Valley Pacific Petroleum................(209) 948-9412
Insurance
Barlocker Insurance......................(209) 383-0220
Fluetsch & Busby Insurance...........(209) 722-1541
InterWest Insurance........................(209) 723-9181
Rico, Pitzer, Pires & Associates.(209) 854-2000
Walter Mortensen Insurance......(209) 353-2700
Winton Ireland Insurance..............(209) 394-7925
Financial Services
Alice B. Contreras CPA..................(209) 722-6778
American Ag Credit Merced.......(209) 384-1050
American Ag Credit Los Banos..(209) 826-0320
Central Valley Community Bank.(209) 725-2820
Farmers & Merchants Bank.........(209) 626-4118
Grimbleby Coleman CPAs............(209) 527-4220
Yosemite Farm Credit Merced....(209) 383-1116
Yosemite Farm Credit Los Banos.. (209) 827-3885 Miscellaneous Sunset Pool Service........................(209) 286-7665
Ensz (Solar) .....................(209) 204-0702
Resources Corp ...........(661) 421-3515
Business Support Farmers DCB Farming, LLC
Mariposa County Business Member Directory
Farm Supplies
Mariposa Feed & Supply...............(209) 966-3326
Mariposa County Farm Bureau....(209) 742-5875
35-A District Agriculture Assn....(209) 966-2432
Mariposa County Ag Commissioner..(209) 966-2075
Allison Sierra, Inc............................(209) 966-4082
Chases Foothill Petroleum............(209) 966-3314
Edward Lien & Toso Ag Appraisers... (209) 634-9484 Rain for Rent......................................(559) 693-4315
Ranch Fence, Inc..............................(209) 966-5914
Valley Pacific Petroleum...............(209) 948-9412
966-2527
966-5444
966-2719