- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross is holding several public forums across the state seeking input from farmers, ranchers and other stakeholders on priorities for the 2018 Farm Bill. The current farm bill, the Agricultural Act of 2014 will expire next year necessitating action by Congress. The farm bill provides an estimated $489 billion in federal funding nationwide to support a variety of food and agricultural programs including crop insurance, conservation, nutrition and trade.
“The farm bill is as important to San Francisco and Los Angeles as it is to the Central Valley,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “This legislation ensures a robust farm safety net, promotes farming and ranching practices that are environmentally sound and provides important nutritional funding for our citizens. How our California Congressional delegation helps to shape the federal farm bill will result in positive investments to our communities, our health and agricultural economy.”
The listening sessions are a public forum soliciting individuals input on California's priorities for the upcoming farm bill. Comments will help develop recommendations on the farm bill that will be shared with California's Congressional delegation and the leadership of the Senate and House agricultural committees.
The first listening session was held in Modesto on Feb. 7th with former CDFA secretary Bill Lyons in attendance. Lyons stated that the key to the historical success of California agriculture has been the research and extension work provided by the University of California and California State University. “Farm Bill ag research programs are an important contributor to the effort and need to be increased," said Lyons. "I'm looking forward to what the deans of UC and the state universities identify as their priorities in this area."
This is your opportunity to contribute to the conversation. Three more listening sessions are planned for this month. CDFA officials will also hold public forums in Chico, Tulare, Salinas and Los Angeles.
Details for each upcoming session are as follows:
Tulare (World Ag Expo) – Thursday, February 16th (Noon – 3:00 p.m.) .
International Agri-Center Heritage Complex (Theater)
4500 S. Laspina Street
Tulare, CA 93274
Salinas – Wednesday, February 22nd (4:30 – 6:30 p.m.)
Monterey County Farm Bureau
1140 Abbott Street, Suite C.
Salinas, CA 93901
Los Angeles – Thursday, February 23rd (1:00 – 3:00 p.m.)
Los Angeles Trade Technical College (Meeting Room: TBD)
400 West Washington Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)