The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing protection for one of the nation’s most beloved species -- the monarch butterfly -- and is encouraging the public to be part of its recovery. The Service is seeking public input on a proposal to list the species as threatened with species-specific protections and flexibilities to encourage conservation under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species…
IRVINE, CALIF. (Dec. 10, 2024) - In response to Rep. Jim Costa’s (CA-21) campaign for Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement: “We urge Rep. Jim Costa’s colleagues to select him as Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee for the 119th Congress. A third-generation San Joaquin Valley farmer,…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has introduced a new program that could benefit your organization. The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program offers $2 billion in funding to help specialty crop producers expand markets and address rising costs. Applications are open Dec. 10, 2024 through Jan. 8, 2025. What is MASC? Funded by the…
Carrots are a widely grown and consumed vegetable in the U.S. with more than 2.4 billion pounds of the carrots consumed produced domestically (83 percent), and 633 million pounds imported (22 percent) (USDA NASS). In terms of production, California leads carrot production with over 80 percent, followed by states such as Washington, Idaho and Wisconsin. In California, carrot planting and…
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 19, 2024) – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement in response to the USDA’s Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops initiative announced today. “The last four years have been turbulent for the specialty crop industry due to skyrocketing costs of production inputs, especially labor, as well as competition from imports with…
Support is available to producers nationwide, and will significantly assist producers of citrus and other specialty crops in the Southeast after Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2024 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of new programs that will help farmers who grow fruits, vegetables, and nuts overcome market barriers for their…
This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a…
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (Nov. 4, 2024) - Western Growers is pleased to announce the results of the 2025-2026 Western Growers Board of Directors elections. The following members have been elected by the membership to serve a two-year term starting in November 2024 at the 98th Western Growers Annual Meeting: D-1 All Arizona except Yuma County Steve Martori III, Martori Farms D-2 Yuma County…
SACRAMENTO, October 30, 2024 - The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is excited to announce $3 million in funding for three projects under the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) grant program. The BIFS program supports the development, demonstration and adoption of effective and economically viable alternative management practices to address critical pest…
November 4, 2024 – Specialty Program Group LLC (SPG), a leading operator of specialty insurance brokerage, underwriting and consulting facilities announced that it is beginning an association with the wholesale employee benefits division of Western Growers Assurance Trust (WGAT), a premier provider of health insurance and employee benefits solutions tailored to the agricultural…
Chicago and Irvine, California, November 4, 2024 - Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, and Western Growers Association (WG) today announced that Hub has acquired the retail insurance brokerage business of Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS). The acquisition will enhance Hub’s services in the agribusiness industry and better…
Navigating California's New Workplace Violence Prevention Requirements Join us for a crucial and timely in-person presentation focused on California’s new workplace violence prevention mandates, specifically tailored for human resources professionals in the agriculture sector. This 2-hour session will be presented by Western Growers Learning and Development Manager, Priscila Cisneros and…
Planning your budget correctly will save you from having to manage challenges later. That’s easier said than done. Join Karen Timmins, Sr. Vice President of Human Resources for Western Growers, and Greg Manns, Sr. Vice President for Industry Insights, on October 30, 2024, at 11:00 am PT to get expert tips on balancing salaries, bonuses and benefits in a way that integrates with…
The Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) and the Mixteca Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) are advocating for a $26 per hour minimum wage for farmworkers in Santa Barbara County. This proposal could have serious negative consequences for the region’s agricultural economy. If enacted, the $26 minimum wage could drive growers out of business, put…
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 4, 2024) – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) has issued the following statement in response to this week’s letter from the chairs of the Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus – Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and David G. Valadao (R-Calif.) – to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate. “The status…
FDA STATEMENT The following is attributed to Robert M. Califf, M.D., FDA Commissioner, and Jim Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods and Michael Rogers, Associate Commissioner for Inspections and Investigations The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the oldest comprehensive consumer protection agency in the country, is marking a new chapter. For more than a century the FDA has, among…
WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and David G. Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. The bill provides an additional $14 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist agriculture producers impacted by losses caused by natural disasters in 2023. “Our farmers and ranchers have been getting hammered with…
H2 Organizer's companion app, MiChamba, will allow for onboarding, documentation storage, payroll, and communication with managers via mobile app Western Growers, WAFLA, and Scaroni Family of Companies are partner organizations at launch AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology platform H2 Organizer officially launched today with agriculture staffing solution partners…
Join Raul Calvo, Owner of Employer Services Consulting, LLC. and Jason Resnick, Sr. Vice President & General Counsel at Western Growers, as we mark one year into the card check process. This webinar will recap the factors influencing the successes and setbacks of the UFW’s unionization efforts and the legal challenges involving the UFW and the Agricultural Labor Relations Board…
[last updated 8.27.24] Leafy Green Industry Stakeholders, The seasonal transitional period can introduce additional challenges and complexity to the food safety system. To help you navigate this critical time, we’ve provided key resources below, including the recorded webinar series hosted by Western Growers and the Arizona and California LGMAs covering this topic. Leafy Green…