WG Leaders to Speak at 2022 Annual APMA Forum

December 7th, 2021

Register today for the 41st Annual APMA Forum, which will host numerous events featuring Western Growers experts including Jason Resnick, Dennis Donohue, Anna Bilderbach and Don Anderson. This conference for human resources, labor and safety professionals in the agricultural industry will be held on January 19-21, 2022, at the Monterey Plaza Hotel in Monterey, Calif.

Western Growers-led activities include the following:

  • Panels:
    • H-2A Panel: Jason Resnick (WG Senior Vice President & General Counsel) with Dax Deason, Ruben Lugo, Jeanne Malitz, Julio Sanchez & David Singh
    • Innovation and Technology in Ag: Dennis Donohue (Director of WG Center for Innovation & Technology) with Center residents Pauline Canteneur (FarmWise), Mike Dodson (Pago) and Amy Tomlinson (Concentric Power)
  • Workshops:
    • HR Trends – Pandemic Making You Feel Burned Out?: Anna Bilderbach (WG Learning & Development Manager)
    • H-2A Filings & H-2ALC—FLC Requirements: Jason Resnick
    • Opiates and Related Drugs of Abuse in the Workplace: Don Anderson (Pinnacle Claims Management, Vice President of Pharmacy Benefit and Health Management)
  • Keynote:
    • 2022 Labor & Employment Law Update: Patrick Moody & Jason Resnick

Click here to view full 2022 Forum Schedule and Brochure.

Conference rates are as follows:

  • APMA Member – $495/person
  • APMA Non-Member – $595/person

*Rates will increase by $100/person on December 15, 2021

For more information about the 2022 APMA Forum, visit http://agpersonnel.org/events/forum/.

Posted in News | No Comments »

Netafim Strives to Find the Balance in California’s Water Usage

December 8th, 2021

IRVINE, CALIF. (December 8, 2021) – In the most recent episode of Voices of the Valley, the podcast hosted by Dennis Donohue, the Director of Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, and Candace Wilson, CEO of GreenVenus, Netafim USA Team Leader Agronomy West Domonic Rossini spoke about the state of water in California and fighting misconceptions about agricultural water usage.

“Unfortunately, in the state of California and a lot of places, we like to do things drastically,” Rossini said. “For a long time we ignored the environment – it’s fine, we can cut down all the trees, we can kill all the buffalo and we can use as much water as we want. And now there’s been a big shift where we went from that to – now we can’t do anything for any people, we have to do everything for wildlife. We’re going to have to do somewhere in the middle. We’re going to have to have a balance.”

Finding that balance will come from a combination of three things, Rossini said. Companies like Netafim can provide the data and science around precision water usage to growers, who can then tell their honest, fact-based stories to educate the public.

“It doesn’t make news if you’re doing something good,” he said. “The news loves to promote challenges…farmers as a whole are out working. They’re busy. They can’t sit in the political realm and say ‘Please listen to us, we’re out here trying to do this.’ [But] we need to have better stories out there of what we can do.”

Voices of the Valley is produced by Western Growers and its Center for Innovation & Technology.

The embed code for the episode is below:

About Western Growers:

Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Western Growers’ members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. Connect and learn more about Western Growers on Twitter and Facebook.

###

Posted in Press Releases | No Comments »

WG Offices Closed on December 24

December 23rd, 2021

Merry Christmas from Western Growers. As a reminder, our offices will be closed tomorrow, December 24. All WG offices will reopen on Monday, December 27, 2021.

Posted in News | No Comments »

New Congressional and Legislative Maps Approved for Arizona

December 23rd, 2021

Yesterday, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission unanimously approved a final map for Arizona’s nine Congressional districts and approved a map for the 30 Legislative districts with a 3-2 vote. The maps will be in effect through the 2030 election cycle.

The final map has four districts that are “safe” for Republicans and three that are “safe” for Democrats. CD1 and CD6 are considered the map’s “competitive” districts. Applying the map to the most recent U.S. presidential election, President Joe Biden won the Congressional districts 5-4. However, for the upcoming 2022 midterms, it can very possibly go 6-3 for Republicans because of the expected wave year in favor of Republicans. If upcoming election years are seen as a wave year for Democrats, the districts could easily go 5-4 or even 6-3 in favor.

Of note, the final approved maps has far-reaching consequences for Arizona’s representation in the House. First, the maps place two incumbents, Rep. Paul Gosar and Rep. Tom O’Halleran into the same district. Incumbent Rep. David Schweikert will now reside in a significantly more competitive district as well. Finally, Western Arizona will be represented by a new western district.

Western Growers members can view the maps HERE, along with further background information.

Posted in News | No Comments »

WG Offices Closed on NYE

December 30th, 2021

Western Growers offices will be closed tomorrow, December 31, in celebration of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. All WG offices will reopen on Monday, January 3.

Western Growers wishes you and your family a safe and happy New Year.

Posted in News | No Comments »

Newer Entries »