The Housing for the Harvest program helps mitigate the spread of COVID-19 amongst farmworkers. This housing program was created by Governor Gavin Newsom in July to provide temporary housing for …
Bilingual SGMA Video Series to Foster Better Understanding
State and local agencies are continuing to work to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). With SGMA’s far-reaching implications, Ph.D. Candidate at UC Merced, Vicky Espinoza has created a …
State Helps Supply Ag Industry with Much Needed N95 Respirators
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has been instrumental in helping farmers and ranchers acquire N95 respirators. CDFA has been distributing the respirators to agricultural commissioners throughout the …
Industry Groups Seek Temporary Relief from Smoke Regulation
A diverse coalition of industry groups is seeking immediate relief for some of the provisions of the wildfire smoke regulation. In a letter addressed to Governor Gavin Newsom, the signatories …
ESA to Potentially Reflect A New ‘Habitat’ Definition Under Proposal
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed a rule to amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with a new ‘habitat’ definition. The proposed rule is currently available for …
Application Tips for Limiting Urban Complaints
As AgNet West has reported, a side effect of the COVID-19 social distancing advisories has been an uptick in complaints about agriculture applications. Agriculture Commissioners’ offices are getting calls about …
Increased ‘Smelly’ Organic Complaints During Pandemic
Agricultural Commissioner Offices have been busy with both conventional and organic complaints about agricultural applications. When those complaints are about drift or a pesticide in general, county offices are required to take …
New Winery Wastewater Regulations: ‘Untenable for Small Wineries’
The State Water Resources Control Board is working on new winery wastewater regulations which present significant challenges for the industry. The permitting process for the updated winery general order appears …
New Proposed Organic Rule Available for Public Comment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published a new proposed organic rule in the Federal Register aimed at providing better oversight within the sector. The Strengthening Organic Enforcement proposed …
NEPA Revisions Look to Expedite Projects and Reduce Litigation
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) received its first comprehensive update in more than 40 years. The NEPA revisions were issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The final …
Facility Inspections Resume for Produce Safety Rule
After a temporary postponement of facility inspections under the Produce Safety Rule (PSR), the practice has resumed. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) began routine PSR inspections last …
Regulation Development A Lot Like ‘Sausage Making’
Typically, the process for regulation development involves a significant amount of time and compromise between varying interests. Stakeholders of all kinds do their best to communicate with regulatory agencies in …
USDA Misses Deadline on Origin of Livestock Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) has missed the deadline that was given by Congress to finalize the Origin of Livestock Rule. A coalition of industry groups …
Looking Ahead to Potential Ag Order 4.0 Impact
Agricultural industry members remain concerned about the Ag Order 4.0 impact as the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board considers the next step in the process. The draft order …