As part of the media reaction to President Trump’s interior immigration enforcement executive order, many reporters are contacting Western Growers and our members to determine its potential impact on the agriculture industry. Because of the uncertainties surrounding implementation of this policy, we encourage our members to develop internal protocols designating a single point of contact…
Opposing the appointment of former state Senator Isadore Hall to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB), Western Growers has sent a letter to Governor Brown, penned an op-ed in the Sac Bee and testified against the appointment. Hall is a staunch UFW ally. Last week, the Sacramento Bee published an op-ed by Western Growers President ...
Chairman Sammy Duda, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, concluded the 2017 March Board Meeting in Sacramento, California, Thursday afternoon. During the three-day meeting, the 44-member board engaged with key state officials – including Governor Jerry Brown and California Department of Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross – on critical industry issues and deliberated Western Growers’ public policy…
Last week, Tom Nassif joined his Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) co-chairs, John Keeling of the National Potato Council and Mike Stuart of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, for a series of meetings with House and Senate leadership in an effort to preserve and advance key specialty crop priorities in the upcoming Farm ...
The California State Fair has chosen Western Growers’ President and CEO Tom Nassif as the recipient of the prestigious 2017 Agriculturalist of the Year Award for his extensive contributions to the California agricultural industry. Nassif is being commended for his tremendous role in elevating the immigration reform debate to focus on the need for a ...
Despite the recent drought-fueled criticisms of agricultural water use in the Golden State, the reality is California farmers are extremely efficient managers of this vital resource. Compared to 50 years ago, California farmers grow 43 percent more food using the same amount of water. Farmers are the original conservationists and constantly seek new ways to ...
With a final round of meetings Thursday morning, including a visit with California’s newest Senator, Kamala Harris, the Western Growers Board of Directors concluded their annual trip to Washington, D.C. Over the course of three days, directors and staff met with numerous congressional representatives from member states – California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico – ...
In response to the passage of H.R. 23, Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017, by the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement: “We appreciate the efforts of the House to pass the Valadao water bill, which aims to restore reliable water deliveries for countless ...
Today, along with several other agricultural representatives, Western Growers Senior Director of Federal Affairs Ken Barbic met with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to discuss tax reform priorities for farmers across the country. Taking place in the White House’s Roosevelt Room, the meeting was one of several ongoing tax reform listening sessions being held by the ...
The Western Growers July 2017 Board of Directors Meeting concluded today. From July 25 to 27, WG Board Members gathered in Orange County to guide WG’s actions on state and federal legislative and regulatory priorities impacting Western Growers members, as well as provide feedback on important initiatives being undertaken by the association. Among the issues ...
Ahead of the next farm bill, the House Agriculture Committee is conducting a series of listening sessions across the country intended to stimulate conversation and gather input from farmers, ranchers and other key stakeholders. Chairman Michael Conaway (TX-11) and members of the Committee will be in Modesto this Saturday, August 5th, at the ACE Ag ...
As part of the regulatory process for distribution of $2.7 billion in water storage funds authorized by Proposition 1 – the 2014 water bond – the California Water Commission is currently accepting project applications through August 14, 2017. WG has submitted comments to the Commission in support of both the Sites Reservoir and Temperance Flat ...
This week, the House Judiciary Committee held a two-day mark-up of Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s “The AG Act” (H.R. 4092). Yesterday, the Committee passed the legislation by a vote of 17-16. Two Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the bill, and seven members (four Republicans and three Democrats) were absent for the final vote. The proposed ...
Today, the farm bill passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 86 to 11. As part of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, representing over 120 specialty crop organizations across the United States, Western Growers applauds the bipartisan efforts of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, Ranking ...
This Friday is the deadline for the public to submit final comments to the State Water Resources Control Board on its Bay Delta Water Quality Plan. The Plan, as proposed, would double the amount of water left in the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers, with additional future flow requirements for the Sacramento River, with no ...
Symbolizing the importance of agriculture to the American economy, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday (Wednesday, September 26). Agricultural representatives from across the country joined Secretary Perdue on the podium, including Western Growers member, Robert Sakata, owner of Sakata Farms (CO). Following the closing bell, Sakata ...
Yesterday morning, Western Growers President & CEO Tom Nassif detailed the critical labor shortages facing American agriculture and laid out the case for agricultural immigration reform before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. In his testimony, Nassif stated that experienced workers are aging out of the agricultural workforce with few Americans lining up…
UPDATED 4/24: USDA Request for Proposal Now Available. Click here to access the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box website. As part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), regional and local food distributors will be the focal point of USDA’s strategy to purchase and distribute $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat in the ...
In a segment titled, “How the COVID-19 pandemic is sending American agriculture into chaos,” WG President & CEO, Dave Puglia, and WG Member, Jack Vessey of Vessey & Company, appeared on PBS Newshour to discuss the economic impact of the crisis on the fresh produce industry. Highlighting the devastating on-farm consequences of the foodservice collapse, ...
On Monday, a coalition of 150 organizations representing water and agricultural interests urged President Trump to address aging Western water infrastructure in forthcoming COVID-19 relief efforts. “The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of safety and stability provided by domestic food production,” the groups stated in separate letters to Congress and the president. “As this…