Ongoing Struggles Over Land and Water
California agriculture continues to face pressure from regulatory uncertainty, land use conflicts, and unresolved water projects. In a recent episode of the AgNet News Hour, hosts Nick Papagni and Lorrie Boyer broke down some of the most pressing challenges farmers are up against, from stalled water infrastructure to the growing debate over solar development on farmland.
Land Locked and Left Waiting
Farm families such as the Oberti operation have been waiting for years to farm ground tied up by state and federal decisions. As Papagni noted, that means four years without almond production—a devastating blow for growers and the local economy. While investors circle California land, many producers see it as a “bridge to nowhere,” with uncertainty keeping fields idle instead of productive.
Agrivoltaics and the Push for Solar
The conversation then shifted to agrivoltaics, the idea of combining solar energy production with agriculture. While solar developers claim crops or grazing can coexist under solar panels, many California farmers remain skeptical.
Boyer highlighted discussions in Kern County, where farmland is increasingly being eyed for solar projects. Farmers argue prime soils should remain dedicated to food production, not power generation. Even within farm groups such as the California Farm Bureau and local county bureaus, divisions remain about how best to balance renewable energy with agriculture.
AB1156 and the Williamson Act
At the heart of the debate is Assembly Bill 1156, legislation that ties into the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, better known as the Williamson Act. The act allows counties and cities to preserve farmland by restricting its use to agriculture. However, AB1156 opens the door for those contracts to be rescinded in favor of solar-use agreements, a move many growers see as a dangerous precedent.
Papagni emphasized that once solar panels are placed in fertile soil, the ground may never recover for farming. He questioned why California leaders push solar development while failing to deliver on longstanding water commitments.
Farmers Demand Water Before Solar
The frustration runs deep. Farmers argue that water infrastructure must come first, pointing to decades of political inaction. Papagni recalled a 2009 water bill that led to the passage of a $7.45 billion water storage bond in 2014, with overwhelming voter approval. Yet, more than a decade later, not a single major water project has been completed.
“Why do we vote for bonds when nothing happens?” Papagni asked, voicing frustration shared by many producers. Instead of new reservoirs or storage, growers watch as water is flushed to the ocean while farmland is proposed for solar conversion.
California’s Future Food Supply at Risk
As the state’s population nears 40 million, California continues to lose farmland. Papagni warned that reducing the state’s agricultural capacity will have long-term consequences: higher food prices, lower quality, and greater dependence on imports.
“If we keep thinking like this,” he said, “California won’t be able to feed the world.”
Conclusion
The latest episode of the AgNet News Hour captured the tension between politics, energy, and agriculture in California. Farmers are calling for water storage projects and farmland preservation, while policymakers push renewable energy development. The question remains: Will California prioritize feeding people, or fueling power grids?
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