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Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Welcomes Senate Farm Bill Discussion Draft
WASHINGTON, June 23, 2026 — The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement after the public release of legislative text for Farm Bill 2.0 by U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman. “The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance commends Chairman John Boozman and his staff for advancing the farm bill process. The…
SB 54 Update for Members: Circular Action Alliance Seeks Producer Input on Fee Setting
Farmers, packers and shippers who may be impacted by Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs should be aware of a new opportunity for producer engagement. Circular Action Alliance (CAA) has launched a Producer Fee-Setting Consultation process and is establishing a Steering Committee to help inform how producer fees are developed across states. The committee's role is advisory and…
CDFA Accepting Proposals for 2026 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program
SACRAMENTO, June 15, 2026 - The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting proposals for the 2026 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program. 2026 SPECIALTY CROP MULTI-STATE PROGRAM This is a federal grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. The purpose of the program is to competitively award funds to projects that enhance…
CAA Releases PRO Plan for Advisory Board and Public Review
On June 15, 2026, Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) under the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (the Act; Senate Bill 54, Allen, Chapter 75, Statutes of 2022), submitted a proposed PRO plan to the advisory board for review and comment and published the proposed PRO Plan on their website. You can view a copy of…
USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Build and Improve Rural Water Infrastructure
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week it is accepting fiscal year 2026 applications for grants to create revolving loan funds to build and improve water and wastewater disposal systems in rural areas. USDA is making funds available through the Revolving Funds for Financing Water and Wastewater Projects program. This program helps qualified nonprofit organizations…
Much Anticipated Ag Labor Reform Bill Now Public, Cosponsors Needed for the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act
Western Growers, along with our allied organizations, has worked closely with Congressman GT Thompson on this legislation and is one of over 35 organizations supporting the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act. This legislation would create stability and predictability for employer costs, expand access to the H‑2A program for longer seasons and other sectors including dairy, and…
Western Growers Testifies Before Congress in Support of USMCA
Today, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia testified before Congress on the importance of preserving and strengthening the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), while highlighting opportunities to improve transparency and ensure more balanced standards in critical areas such as labor and food safety. “I think it’s very important that we see USMCA renewed with some important…
California Unveils Roadmap Aimed to Streamline Food Safety and Water Regulations
SACRAMENTO, June 4, 2026 – The Newsom administration today released the final recommendations from a study that intends to improve food safety and water quality reporting for California’s agricultural community. This interagency collaboration between the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), and the State Water Resources…
New CALES Dean Announced at University of Arizona
The University of Arizona has named Dr. George W. Smith as the next Dean of the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences (CALES). Dr. Smith currently serves as a Professor of Animal Science at Michigan State University (MSU), where he also holds leadership roles as Director of AgBioResearch and Senior Associate Dean for Research in the College of Agriculture and Natural…
Risk does not care where fresh produce comes from.
By Joelle Mosso, AVP, Science Programs and Sonia Salas, AVP, Food Safety and Regulatory Affairs The U.S. fresh produce supply is now deeply dependent on imports: The USDA ERS estimates that in 2024 imports supply 59.4% of fresh fruit availability and 36.3% of fresh vegetable availability. Yet FDA oversight, inspection resources, and operational focus still disproportionately center…
USDA Details Payment Rates and Signup Timeline for Specialty Crop Assistance
(Washington, D.C., May 29, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced payment rates and the enrollment period for the Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers (ASCF) program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue $1.625 billion in payments to eligible specialty crop producers in response to elevated input costs and market disruptions resulting from…
SB 54 Plastic Packaging Resources and Updates
Find our latest updates and resources on SB 54 below: SB 54: Plastic Packaging Exclusion Resources CalRecycle Issues New Guidance Document for SB 54 Producer Compliance SB 54: Estimated Fees for California Packaging Regulation SB 54 Update: Exclusion Pathway for Fresh Produce Packaging WG SB 54 Resource Hub CAA Releases PRO Plan for Advisory Board and Public…
FDA Shares Update on FY26 Cucumber Sampling
Microbiological Surveillance Sampling The FDA has initiated a new surveillance sampling assignment for both domestic and imported raw fresh whole cucumbers for Salmonella. A history of Salmonella outbreaks linked to cucumbers precipitated this assignment. Between 2012 and 2025, both domestic and imported cucumbers were linked to multiple Salmonella outbreaks. The FDA has carefully…
Reminder: Upcoming Deadlines for SB 54
This is an important reminder regarding upcoming SB 54 deadlines and available resources for growers, packers, shippers, and brand owners using plastic packaging in California. Important Deadline June 1, 2026 – Deadline to register as a Producer under SB 54. If you are going to file for an Exclusion or an Exemption, we recommend you still register as a Producer in the event an…
Reminder: Upcoming Deadlines for SB 54
This is an important reminder regarding upcoming SB 54 deadlines and available resources for growers, packers, shippers, and brand owners using plastic packaging in California. Important Deadline June 1, 2026 – Deadline to register as a Producer under SB 54. If you are going to file for an Exclusion or an Exemption, we recommend you still register as a Producer in the event an…
SB 54: Plastic Packaging Exclusion Resources
CalRecycle recently released additional guidance documents related to SB 54, California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. We know there is still significant confusion regarding who is considered a “Producer,” what packaging must be reported, what an “Exclusion” means and how “Exemptions” work. We hope the summary below helps simplify the…
CalRecycle Issues New Guidance Document for SB 54 Producer Compliance
CalRecycle has published a new guidance document to assist entities with navigating the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility System (PEPRS), including creating a CalRecycle WebPass account to log into PEPRS and submitting an Independent Producer application or Small Producer Exemption application. This information may be helpful for producers and others in navigating the requirements…
Chinese Supplier Drone Ban: What it Means for Specialty Crop Agriculture (June 11 Webinar)
Join us for a timely discussion on the current landscape surrounding the Chinese supplier drone ban, what these developments could mean for agricultural drone use and how growers and ag service providers may be impacted moving forward. The webinar will feature perspectives from industry leaders working directly with drone operations, grower services and agtech innovation. Webinar…
Prop 65 Litigation Update: Heavy Metals in Leafy Greens (May 20 Webinar)
Join Western Growers Legal for a timely webinar on the latest developments in Proposition 65 and its impact on the produce industry. Guest speaker Ann M. Grottveit, Partner at Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP, will provide an update on Prop 65 litigation involving heavy metals in leafy greens, including key legal considerations, the notice process, available defenses and regulatory…
May 15 Deadline Nears for HSP and SWEEP Block Grant Concept Proposals
Concept Proposals are currently being accepted for the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) and State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) Block Grants. HSP Block Grant recipients work directly with producers in their region by providing outreach, technical assistance and support throughout project implementation. These organizations manage the local application process, recommend…