California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) 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 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 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.
California Farm Bill Listening Sessions:
Modesto – Tuesday, February 7th (4:30 – 6:30 p.m.)
DoubleTree Hotel (Napa Room)
1150 Ninth Street
Modesto, CA 95354
Chico – Wednesday, February 8th (4:30 – 6:30 p.m.)
Silver Dollar Fair (Harvest Hall)
2357 Fair Street
Chico, CA 95928
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
The 2018 Farm Bill Listening Sessions are a public forum allowing individuals input on California’s priorities for the upcoming farm bill. Provided comments will be used to 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.
Public comments can also be emailed to FarmBill@cdfa.ca.gov