THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
AGRICULTURAL COME TO ORDER THE
SENATE CONTINUES TO WALK IN THE
PUBLIC AND HAS PROVIDED ACCESS
TO BOTH IN PERSON AND
TELECONFERENCE BUT TO THE
PATIENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT VIA THE TELEPHONE
CONFERENCE SERVICE THE
PARTICIPANT TOLL FREE NUMBER IS
. 1-844-291-5491 AND THE ACCESS
CODE IS. SEVEN ZERO FOUR TWO
FOUR SEVEN SEVEN. WE ALSO HAVE
REPRESENTATIVES WERE
PARTICIPATING REMOTELY TODAY FOR
MORE REMOTE PARTICIPANTS PLEASE
MEET YOUR PHONES OR COMPUTERS
PLEASE SELECT TO MUTE BEFORE YOU
BEGIN SPEAKING R. I. T.
PERSONNEL L
YOU WHEN YOU ARE DONE ONCE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK PLEASE MAKE
SURE YOU CAN BE SEEN ON THE
SCREEN STATE YOUR NAME AND THEN
YOU ARE READY TO ADDRESS THE
COMMITTEE. TODAY WE ARE HOLDING
OUR FIRST INFORMATIONAL HEARING
ON THE U. S. FARM BILL UPDATE ON
THE TWENTY TWENTY THREE RE
AUTHORIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON
CALIFORNIANS. FOR TODAY'S
HEARING WILL LISTEN TO BOTH
PANELS OF WITNESSES HAN THE
AGENDA. PRIOR TO TAKING ANY
PUBLIC COMMENT ONCE WE HAVE
HEARD FROM ALL WITNESSES WE WILL
HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THOSE WHO WISH TO PROVIDE INPUT
ON TOPICS IN TODAY'S AGENDA.
FIRST AND FOREMOST GOOD MORNING
AND WELCOME BACK TO THE STATE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE.
BEFORE WE BEGIN I WANT TO GIVE A
WARM WELCOME AND THANK YOU TO
OUR COMMITTEE CONSULTANT REYES.
RICHELLE EVERHART COMMITTEE
ASSISTANCE AGAIN A CANDLE FOR
PUTTING TOGETHER THIS IMPORTANT
HEARING. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A
WARM WELCOME TO OUR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS THIS YEAR WE HAVE NEW
FACES IN OUR COMMITTEE WELCOME
TO OF VICE CHAIR SENATOR SHANNON
GROVE CENTER MARIE ALVA RADO
GIL. AND SENATORS STEVE PADILLA
. AS OUR VIEWERS CAN SEE WE ARE
A SMALL COMMITTEE. BUT AS THE
NEW CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE IT
IS MY GOAL AND VISION WITH THE
HELP OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
TO ELEVATE THE ROLE AND
IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE. THERE
IS URGENCY IN ELEVATING
AGRICULTURE BECAUSE CLIMATE
CHANGE IS THREATENING OUR FOOD
SECURITY. BEYOND WAYS WE CAN
PHYSICALLY SEE. EXPERTS BELIEVE
THAT IF NOT MORE IS DONE TO
ADAPT GLOBAL YIELDS COULD
DECLINE BY UP 230% BY TWENTY
FIFTY. THESE THREATS IMPACT US
ALL BUT THEIR FIRST AND MOST
FELT BY THOSE LIVING IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES. SENIOR FELLOW FOR
THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE JOHN W.
MACARTHUR STATED THAT. IN ONE OF
HIS REPORTS THAT ONE OF THE
GLOBAL SOCIETY'S FOREMOST
STRUCTURAL CHANGES UNDERWAY. IS
ITS RAPID AGGREGATE SHIFT FROM A
FORM BASED TWO CITY BASED
ECONOMIES. ONE CORRESPONDING
DOWNSIDE IS THAT THE CITY BASIS
SIZE BECOME INCREASINGLY
DISCONNECTED. CERTAINLY
PHYSICALLY LIKELY. PSYCHOLOGICAL
PSYCHOLOGICALLY IN PHYSIOLOGY
PHYS PHYSICALLY HOLISTICALLY
SORRY CAN'T PRONOUNCE THAT WORD
TODAY. FROM THE PRACTICALITIES
OF RURAL LIVELIHOODS ESPECIALLY
AGRICULTURE THE CRUCIAL ECONOMIC
SECTOR THAT PROVIDES FOOD TO
FUEL HUMANITY. IT IS MY VISION
FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO HELP
RECONNECT THE IMPORTANCE OF
RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE ROLE
THEY PLAY IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM.
THAT IS WHY LAST YEAR I ATTENDED
THE CLIMATE CONFERENCE IN EGYPT
THE CONFERENCE WAS REALLY A
BREAKOUT. ON THE CLIMATE SEEN
FOR AGRICULTURE. AS A MATTER OF
FACT AGRICULTURE WAS ONE OF THE
HEADLINE ISSUES CALLED OUT IN
THE SHARM EL SHEIKH
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WITH THE-
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FOUR YEAR
JOINT WORK PLAN TO ENSURE THAT
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. REMAIN ON
THE INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE AGENDA
IN THE COMING YEARS. AND WHY IS
THAT IT TURNS OUT- THE PEOPLE
REALIZING THAT THE FOOD SYSTEM.
GENERATES ONE THIRD OF ALL
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
CALIFORNIA HAS ALWAYS TAKEN
PRIDE IN LEADING AND PROVIDING
FOOD FOR THE WORLD BUT WE MUST
GIVE AGRICULTURE THE DETECT THE
ATTENTION IT DESERVES. ONE THAT
EXTENDS BEYOND FARMING. AND
CONSIDERS EVERYTHING WITHIN THE
FOOD SYSTEM. THAT IS WHY I FELT
IMPORTANT TO HAVE OUR STATE OUR
WAY IN ON THE RE AUTHORIZATION
OF US FARM BILL. BY BRINGING
TOGETHER THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO
HAVE A VESTED INTEREST AND THE
STATE'S STATE AGRICULTURAL
ECONOMY THE LEGISLATURE CAN
BETTER ADVOCATE FOR THE NEEDS OF
OUR FARMERS RANCHERS AND RURAL
COMMUNITIES. AS PART OF THIS AND
ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND
ACCOUNTABILITY INITIATIVE THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
IS HOLDING THIS HEARING TO LOOK
AT THE TWENTY TWENTY THREE. RE
AUTHORIZATION OF THE U. S. FARM
BILL WITH CALIFORNIA'S
PRIORITIES IN MIND. THE GOAL IS
TO ASK THOSE WHO WORK WITH THE
PROGRAMS THAT RECEIVE FUNDING
FROM THE FARM BILL. WHAT IS
WORKING AND WHAT MY NEED MORE
FUNDING AND ATTENTION. THE US
FARM BILL IS. DOT IS EIGHT THE
OMNIBUS BILL GOVERNING POLICY IN
MANY AREAS RELATED TO
AGRICULTURE. INCLUDING CROP
INSURANCE FOOD ASSISTANCE
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT FOR CALIFORNIA'S
DIVERSE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR. AS
THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE I WANT
TO THANK THE WITNESSES HERE
TODAY FOR PROVIDING US WITH
THEIR EXPERTISE ON PROGRAMS
IMPACTED. BY THE FARM BILL. FOR
THE PURPOSE OF TIMING I WILL ASK
EACH PRESENTER TO SPEAK BETWEEN
FIVE AND TEN MINUTES KEEPING
SECURING AROUND TWO HOURS. THE
PUBLIC WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO
COMMENT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE
PRESENTATIONS. ONCE AGAIN THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND TO
ALL OF OUR WITNESSES FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION IN THIS HEARING.
BEFORE WE PROCEED I WANTED TO.
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OUR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND TO OUR
VICE CHAIR- TO GIVE US ANY
COMMENTS BEFORE WE BEGIN WITH
HEARING. GOOD MORNING I WANT TO
THANK ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE
TODAY- CENTER ALPHARETTA KILL
ONE OF THE NEW MEMBERS AB THE
FRESHMAN CLASS HERE IN SENATORS
WILL NEED TO ACT. AT THE AG
COMMITTEE OF MY PLAY MY TO BE
HERE. I.
ARE PRODUCERS ARE FARMWORKERS
AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE THRIVING-
IN OUR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY HERE
IN CALIFORNIA. AND I AM A 100%
COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE
VOICE OF OUR AGRICULTURE
COMMUNITY IS REPRESENTED HERE
THE SENATE THANK YOU. THANK YOU-
AND AT THIS MOMENT I WOULD LIKE
TO INVITE OUR FIRST PANEL TO
COME FORWARD WE HAVE CONGRESSMAN
JIM ACOSTA WHO REPRESENTS A
TWENTY FIRST CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT AND MEMBER ON THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE- KAREN
ROSS SECRETARY OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE. AND DAN SUMNER
PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURAL AND
RESOURCE ECONOMICS AT UC DAVIS.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN WITH
CONGRESSMAN JIM COSTELLO WHO IS
WITH US VIA- ZERO AND PLEASE
BEGIN WHEN YOUR READY
CONGRESSMAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. SENATOR ROB HER TITLE AND FOR
THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE AN
IMPORTANT COMMITTEE IN
CALIFORNIA. ARE AND- I
APPRECIATE HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY BEFORE
YOU ON. WHAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT
SUBJECT MATTER- AS WE- RE
AUTHORIZED THE FARM BILL OF THIS
YEAR- A PROCESS SO. HONDURAS
UNDERGO EVERY YEARS TO- REEF ON
THE PRIORITIES OF AMERICAN
AGRICULTURE POLICY- THROUGHOUT
THE NATION AND ITS IMPACT
REGIONALLY. AND DIAL FOR ALL OF
YOUR DRIVE BY THE WAY
CONGRATULATIONS- CENTER WE'RE
TAUGHT ALL FOR YOUR CHAIRMANSHIP
AND OTHER MEMBERS THAT ARE ON
THE COMMITTEE I'M LOOKING AT
THE- THE COMMITTEE ROMA'S THIS
WARNING- I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF
FOR HER AS SHE THE- NOW NOT IS A
- COMMITTEE THE I USED TO CHAIR
- MORE I WAS IN THIS. AND IT WAS
ON OF THAN OUR A SENATE AGRA IN
THE COME THE PORTFOLIO VICTOR.
BOB AND THOSE WERE RIGHT
TRIPPING- THE I HAD NOT TO DO
THE WORK THAT YOU'RE TODAY- SIX
THE EIGHT YEARS WAS IN THIS AND
- I CHAIRED COMMITTEE. SO I KNOW
THE CHILD WHICH FACE IN THE ROLE
THE YOU PLAY. LET ME BEGIN BY.
BOOT IS SAYING SECURITY ISSUE.
OUR AND WE SHOULD IT AS- THE
MAJORITY OF I THINK DON'T THINK
OF IT NO TERMS. THE MAJORITY OF
GET THEIR ON GROSS STORE THERE
FOR STAR RUSHED OR FAST FOOD.
AND ANYTHING IN ALL THERE'S ALL
THE FOOD THEY RIGHT. THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND THAT CHALLENGE IN THE
DIFFICULT. OF GETTING THAT FOOD-
TO THE GROCERY STORE OUR TO
THEIR FAVORITE RESTAURANT. THEY
DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HARD WORK
IT TAKES FOR FARMERS RANCHERS
JERRY MEN AND WOMEN. AND THE
FARMWORKERS FOR CAMPESINOS ARE
THERE ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST
PEOPLE YOU- HARDEST WORKING
PEOPLE YOU'LL EVER MEET YOUR
LIFE. I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE DONE
THAT WORK AS A THIRD GENERATION
FAMILY FARMER- MY FAMILY AND I
HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THAT EFFORT
TO PUT FOOD ON AMERICA'S DINNER
TABLE EVERY NIGHT. AND CHAU THE
IMPORTANCE OF THAT AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A CHILD
FARM POLICY THAT REFLECTS THE
NEEDS OF OUR COUNTRY AND EVERY
REGION. IS I THINK VERY
CRITICAL. VERY CRITICAL NOT ONLY
TO PUT. THAT IMPORTANT
NUTRITIOUS- THE HIGHEST. ACTION
OF FOOD AND- IN TERMS OF VALUE
AND IN TERMS OF NUTRITION. THEN
GROWN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IS
IN CALIFORNIA. WE'RE VERY PROUD
OF THAT THE NUMBER ONE
AGRICULTURAL STATE IN THE
NATION. AND HAS BEEN. FOR
DECADES. WITH ALMOST FOUR
HUNDRED COMMODITIES THAT ARE
GROWN IN CALIFORNIA. AND THE-
THE COUNTY FULL OF HARVEST. A
20% OF THE MILK PRODUCED IN IN
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS PRODUCED
IN CALIFORNIA. ALMOST HALF THE
NATION'S FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
ARE GROWN IN CALIFORNIA. US 70%
OF THE WORLD'S WORLD SHAMANS.
AND PISTACHIOS 50% OF THE
WORLD'S STYLE SHELLS ARE GROWN
IN CALIFORNIA. ARE THERE DRUGS-
MADE OPEN- IS AGAIN- BECAUSE
SOME OF WHAT WE- AND CAL IS
SEEKING THREE THE COUNTRY. I AND
IN AREAS WHERE THERE SIX FOR
SHORTAGES IN NATIONS THAT
DESPERATELY NEED IT. AS A MATTER
OF FACT 44% OF CALIFORNIA'S
AGRICULTURE IS EXPORTED. AND THE
RECENT CHALLENGES WITH THE
PANDEMIC AND- SUPPLY CHAINS IN
OUR PORTS OF LOS ANGELES AND
LONG BEACH OAKLAND. HAVE
REMINDED US THAT WE NEED TO
INVEST WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR
SUPPLY CHAINS TO ALLOW US TO.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MARKETS WHERE
WE CAN COMPETE. AND WHERE WE CAN
. AB WE HAVE PRODUCTS BUT WITH
THE INABILITY TO GET CA. ON
THOSE SHIPS IT IS DRAMATICALLY
IMPACTED OUR ABILITY TO SELL OUR
PRODUCTS ABROAD WE'RE TRYING TO
CHANGE THAT. AND BUT AND WE
PASSED LEGISLATION THE PRESIDENT
SIGNED INTO LAW THAT GIVES US A
BETTER JOB TO DO JUST THAT. BUT
WE ALSO HAVE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES
WITHIN OUR COUNTRY- WITH A RARE
RELIGION GETTING FEET CAR TRAINS
TO CALIFORNIA TO SUPPORTER DAIRY
AND POULTRY INDUSTRY. THE LIST
GOES ON WE HAVE LESSONS TO
LEARN. LAST FALL- IT WAS JUST A
DETERMINED THAT. BEYOND OUR
ANNUAL- DOLLARS THAT WENT TO THE
FARM GATE EXCEEDED FIFTY ONE
POINT ONE BILLION DOLLARS-
INSURING THAT CALIFORNIA IS
STILL THE NUMBER ONE AGRICULTURE
STATE IN THE NATION. BUT WE HAVE
CHALLENGES WE HAVE CHALLENGES
THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS. OUR AND
THEREFORE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
LOOK AT THE REAUTHORIZATION OF
THE FARM BILL. AND THAT THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE SENATE
AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE WHICH YOU
CHAIR US SHOPPING CENTER- .ORG
OTHER MEMBERS ARE ON THIS THAT
WE WERE CLOSELY TO WE CAME.
DURING THIS NEXT YEAR WAS WERE
MARKING UP THE FARM BILL. THE
FARM BILL I THINK IS MOST OF YOU
KNOW- AND CERTAINLY IT'S AN
HONOR TO BE HONEST WITH THE
OTHER TWO WITNESSES- BUT SINCE
USHERED ACURA WAS IN FRONT OF MY
AND- WORK BACK HERE WHY. THOSE
ARE- AS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
TO SECRETARY. ARE NOSE THE
CHALLENGES ARE. REWRITING OF
BILL. AND SHE'S IN A GREAT
POSITION TO GIVE THE COMMITTEE
ADVICE. AS TO THE OTHER
WITNESSES WELL- BUT ASH I WILL
TELL YOU AND SHE WILL TELL YOU
ARE TWELVE TITLE. THE AND THE-
FARM THAT WE OFFER BY WE OFFER.
OTHER COME TITLE THERE THE-
CONSERVATION. TRADE TITLE
NUTRITION PRO AND OF COURSE- IN
AND THEY ALSO DOWN INTO THE
SCHOOL AND SHOULD BREAKFAST
PROGRAM. SNAP AND WE'RE WE'RE IN
AND CHILDREN- AND- CREDIT
PROGRAM WORLD OF. RE AND REALLY
MATTER. FOR INERGY HORTICULTURE
CROPS AND OTHER. ITEMS OUR I
THINK FOR THE BENEFIT OF
COMMITTEE IS IMPORTANT THINK IN
THE TERMS. THE FARM BILL AND WE
AUTHORIZE EVERY FIVE YEARS IS A
SAFETY NET. IT'S A SAFETY NET TO
AMERICA'S FARMERS RANCHERS JERRY
MEN AND WOMEN. AND THE
FARMWORKERS BUT IT'S ALSO A
SAFETY NET. TO AMERICAN
CONSUMERS. ARE THE NUTRITION
PROGRAMS ARE A CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF THE FARM BILL- FOR
WORKING POOR. FOR THOSE THAT ARE
GROW HARDER DATA NOT AND HEATING
AND HAVE HUNGER ISSUES- YOUNG
AND OLD ALIKE PEOPLE WHO RETIRED
PEOPLE WITH. DISABILITIES
VETERANS- SOME OF THESE WERE. ON
THE NUTRITION PROGRAMS IN THE
FARM BILL. R. AS WELL AS THE
OTHER TITLES THAT I SPOKE. SO
LOOK AT IT AND THINK ABOUT IT AS
AMERICA'S SAFETY NET. NOT ONLY
TO OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
WHICH IS LESS THAN 4% OF OUR
POPULATION. BUT TO A LARGE
SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR
POPULATION THAT WITHOUT THE
BENEFIT OF THE NUTRITION
PROGRAMS IN OUR SCHOOL LUNCH AND
SCHOOL BREAKFAST. WOULD BE- YOU
KNOW HUNGRY- IF SAID THAT MANY
OF OUR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL.
THE BEST NUTRITIOUS MEAL THEY
GET OUT OF THE DAY IS EITHER THE
SCHOOL LUNCH AND SCHOOL
BREAKFAST. YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO
TEACH KIDS OF KIDS ARE HUNGRY
GOOD LUCK. HI IN THE DISTRICT I
REPRESENT THAT OVERLAPS WITH YOU
SENATOR OR TITLE OF PARTS OF OUR
GREAT SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- WE
HAVE SIGNIFICANT. INCREDIBLE
AGRICULTURAL. PRODUCTION AND
WEALTH. YEAH AT THE SAME TIME.
WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT POVERTY. MY
GENERATION DISTRICT AND A
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT
CONGRESS MEMBER DAVID VALLEY
DALE REPRESENTS. HOW THE TWO
HIGHEST LEVELS OF SNAP OR FOOD
STAMP RECIPIENTS. IN THE ENTIRE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA THINK ABOUT
THAT. FIFTY TWO CONGRESSPEOPLE.
AND R. TWO DISTRICTS IN THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY. AT THE HIGHEST
LEVEL. OF PEOPLE WHO RELY ON
FOOD STAMPS. ARE THE WOMEN
INFANTS AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND. THAT IT'S A SAFETY
NET. THAT IS SO CRITICAL. TO NOT
ONLY ALL OF CALIFORNIA BUT TO
OUR ENTIRE NATION- SO I THINK.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. WHEN WE
LOOK AT PRIORITIES THAT I'M
FOCUSING ON. WE NEED TO ENSURE
THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
INCENTIVES INCENTIVE PROGRAM-
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS HE QUIPPED.
AND THE REGIONAL CONSERVATION
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. THAT
INCLUDES PRACTICES IN TWENTY
TWENTY THREE CENTRAL'S
ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT. AND
FLEXIBILITY AS WE CONTINUE TO
MANAGE OUR WATER RESOURCES BUT
DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND AIR
QUALITY AND I KNOW THAT DRAW
SECRETARY ROSS WILL TALK ABOUT
THAT. YOU KNOW I TOLD YOU THAT
EARLIER THAT WE PRODUCE 20% OF
ALL THE MAIL PRODUCTS IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. BUT WHEN MY FAMILY
WAS INVOLVED IN THE DAIRY
BUSINESS R. COSTA BROTHERS VERY.
OTHER WERE TWENTY THOUSAND
DAIRIES IN CALIFORNIA THAT WAS
OVER FORTY YEARS AGO. WE WERE
THE NUMBER ONE CHERRY STREET
THEN. SIR MATTER FACTOR COUNTY
SAID IN THE VALLEY THE PRODUCE
MORE MILK IN WISCONSIN. I AM
MORE PROUD OF THAT FACT BUT
THERE ARE NOW TWELVE HUNDRED
ARIES PLUS IN CALIFORNIA. AND
WHEN WE WERE IN THE BUSINESS
AVERAGE SIZED SMOKING TWO
HUNDRED FIFTY CALS. THE AVERAGE
SIZE OF A DAIRY IN CALIFORNIA
TODAY IS SMOKING OVER TWO
THOUSAND CALLISON THREE AND FOUR
THOUSAND CALGARIANS AND FIVE
THOUSAND CALGARIANS ARE NOT
UNUSUAL. AND SO WE HAVE TO DEAL
WITH THE ISSUE OF MANURE
MANAGEMENT AND MESSING AND THE
SALT LOAD ON OUR GROUND WATER.
AND THE DAIRY INDUSTRY IS BEING
VERY INNOVATIVE THEY'RE TAKING
ADVANTAGE. OF PROGRAMS LIKE HE
QUIPPED THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF REGIONAL CONSERVATION
PROGRAMS. I SAW AN ARTICLE LOG
IN THE FARM BUREAU PUBLICATION
LAST FALL AG ALERT. AT THAT TIME
THERE WERE A HUNDRED NINETY TEAM
OUT OF THE TWELVE HUNDRED PLUS
SKERRIES IN CALIFORNIA. THAT AND
IMPLEMENTED DIE HE DIED JERRY
DIED CHESTER'S. JERRY DIED
JESTERS IS A WAY TO HANDLE NOT
SAYING THIS WILL HAVE A WITH THE
WATER MANAGEMENT. AND GUESS
WHAT. YOU CAN DEVELOP A
ELECTRICAL POWERS A RESULT OF
THAT. I THINK WOULD DO CENTERS A
CALIFORNIA ADDS CLOSE WITH THOSE
THAT ARE IN THE FARM BILL. WE
CAN ADD TO THAT NUMBER
SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE UPCOMING
YEARS. NOT WILL NOT WILL NOT
ONLY BRING OTHER- ENERGY ODD TO
OUR OUR GRANDEST NECESSARY NOBLE
ENERGY. BUT WILL HELP DEAL WITH
THE ISSUES OF AFFECT. AND ALSO-
WELL WATER WASTE. MANAGEMENT AND
THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE. ARE THERE
ALSO IMPROVEMENTS. OF THE DAIRY
MARGIN PROGRAM. YEAH I'M CO WERE
WITH CAL AREA. WE INCREASED OUR
IN THE LAST BILL. OFFERED JERRY
PRODUCE TODAY INTO THE MARKET.
ACCESS TO THE MELT MARC ORDER.
WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL
CALIFORNIA DAIRIES THAT WAS ONE
OF THE WAYS WE HELP TO THE LAST
STORY BILL. RUSSELL LOOKING TO
BROUGH BURKE BOB. RIGHT DITION
ARE MERCHANTS DECIDE. ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS AND WITH THESE YOU KNOW
THE EXTREME DROUGHTS REPAIRED
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND
THEN IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. WE
GET MORE RAIN AND SNOW THAN WE
KNOW WHAT TO DEAL WITH. AND THAT
TALKS ABOUT AN EFFORT TO RE
AUTHORIZE. PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR WATER CONSERVATION
AND BETTER WATERMAN IN WATER
MANAGEMENT. WE ALSO. NEED TO
INCREASE FUNDS FROM THE MARKET
ACCESS PROGRAM AND FOREIGN
MARKETS. I AM INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DOUBLE
THE FUNDING FOR THE MARKET
ACCESS PROGRAM. THIS ALLOWS US
TO COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD WITH REGARD TO OTHER
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS CENTER
SUBSIDIZED IN WAYS THAT
OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE
TO COMPETE WITH. 44% AS I SAID
EARLIER CALIFORNIA'S AGRICULTURE
IS EXPORTED AND THEREFORE
INCREASING THE MARKET ACCESS
PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT TO ALLOW
OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO
COMPETE AS WE EXPORT PRODUCTS-
IN ADDITION TO THAT. WE NEED TO
ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL CAST PRESERVATION-
THAT REMAINS AN EFFORTS WE DO A
LOT WITH CALIFORNIA'S DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE. FOR BEST MANAGED
. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WE'VE
HAD PROBLEMS WITH INFESTATIONS
OF FRUIT FLIES AND OTHER THINGS
OVER THE YEARS. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT AREA. IN ADDITION TO
THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ANIMAL
DISEASE. HI ANIMAL DISEASE
PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT-
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR INVESTING
IN RESEARCH FOR SPECIALTY CROP
INITIATIVES. IS CRITICAL- AND WE
NEED TO. DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
ENSURE THAT THE U. S. DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE PROVIDE SUPPORT
WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE OR PLANT PASSED
DISEASE PREVENTION RESEARCH I'M
CERTAIN THE SECRETARY WILL TALK
MORE ABOUT THAT- IN ADDITION TO
THAT. I AM A CO SPONSOR OF
LEGISLATION THAT WILL PROVIDE
AND REINSTATE THE WAIVER. OF FOR
THE SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH
INITIATIVE A MATCHING
REQUIREMENT THAT WAS TAKEN OUT
OF THE TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN
FARM BILL. FINALLY WE HAVE BOB
THE SABER SEQUOIAS ACT WHICH IS
A PRIORITY. TO LOOK AT DODD
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION THAT DOES
SPEAKER MCCARTY AND I AND OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA
DELEGATION. PROTECT PART OF OUR
NATURAL HERITAGE AND RESOURCE
WHICH IS THE GREAT REDWOODS OF
CALIFORNIA. IN WITH THESE
HORRIFIC FIRES ARE THAT WE'VE
HAD IN RECENT TIMES WE'VE SEEN
THREATS TO OUR REDWOOD GROVES.
BUT THIS CENTER LIVES ARE MORE
BROADER ISSUE AND THAT'S BETTER
MANAGEMENT OF OUR FORESTS. WE
FRANKLY HAVE NOT DONE A VERY
GOOD JOB AND RECENT DECADES NOT
ONLY IN CALIFORNIA BUT OTHER
WESTERN STATES. IN FORCE
MANAGEMENT. THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS PLUS UP MAN THIS MANY YOU
KNOW. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF. HAS SIGNED THE U. UNITED
STATES OF AG. AS A MATTER OF
FACT CURRENT HEAD OF THE US
WORST CAL. WHO DID A TERRIFIC
JOB HE WAS IN CALIFORNIA. BUT
WITH HER EPIC FIRES IT JUST GOES
TO UNDERLINE I AND THE GROWTH
THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
MANAGE OUR HOW HOW HORRIFIC
THESE FIRES CAN BE. AND THE
DAMAGES THAT THEY CREATE A LIFE
AND- PROPERTY ARE THROUGHOUT THE
STATE AND THE AMOUNT OF
RESOURCES AND COST CALIFORNIA.
SO THIS POLICY NOT TO DO A
BETTER JOB OF OUR WATER
MANAGEMENT- I MEAN HER WIRE
MANAGEMENT. ARE FORCED
MANAGEMENT. IN IN IN TURN ALL
HELP. PROVIDE GREATER WATER
RESOURCE BECAUSE WHAT THIS
ADDITIONAL GROSS IS ON TAKEN A
GREAT DEAL OF WATER. SANTA
UNIVERSITIES SUCH AS UC MERCED
ANOTHER UNDER GERMAN WOULD
OTHERWISE FLOW INTO OUR
RESERVOIRS. SO FORCE MANAGEMENT
IS A BIG PART OF THIS- ONE OTHER
CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO DEAL WITH AND I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO YOUR ADVICE AND
RECOMMENDATIONS. BUT I WANT YOU
TO BE MINDFUL OF THIS. I'M AND
THAT'S SPACE LINE FUNDING. AND
THE SECRETARY MAY TALKED ABOUT
AS WELL. ALL OF THESE TWELVE
TITLES. BASELINE FUNDING BASED
UPON THE LAST FORM RE
AUTHORIZATION. JUST AS YOU HAVE
YOUR BUDGET PROCESS IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA AND HOW YOU FIND
YOUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES WITHIN THE STATE. I
KNOW BECAUSE I DID THAT FOR THE
TWENTY FOUR YEARS I WAS IN
SACRAMENTO. WE SIMILARLY HAVE
BASELINE FUNDING FOR THE VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES. HERE
IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL. AND THE
POPULAR PROGRAMS THE POPULAR
PROGRAMS IN THE FARM BILL LIKE
THE ECLIPSE PROGRAM. THAT IS
OVERSUBSCRIBED LIKE TO MAP
PROGRAM THAT IS OVER DESCRIBED
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A
WAY. TO ENSURE THAT CALIFORNIA'S
FARMERS RANCHERS JERRY MEN AND
WOMEN. AND DOLLARS ARE
FARMWORKERS AND OTHER PARTS OF
OUR SAFETY NET. ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE TO CONTINUE FINDING THAT
SOME AREAS WHICH FRANKLY I
BELIEVE NEED TO EXPAND. THE
AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE ON
THESE POPULAR PROGRAMS AND
OVERSUBSCRIBED. BUT THE BASELINE
FUNDING IS GOING TO BE A
CHALLENGE FOR US TO DO THAT.
JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND CLEARLY.
SHOW WITH THAT TESTIMONY I WANT
TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING ME
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WE LOVE OUR-
PREVIOUS PART OF BY. WHAT I
THOUGHT WAS MY LEGISLATIVE ARE
PRODUCTIVE EFFORTS WHEN I WAS IN
SACRAMENTO I COMMEND YOU FOR THE
HARD WORK YOU DO. AND THE
PASSION AND THE DESIRE TO
REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS
CONSTITUENTS AS I TRIED TO DO
WITH WITH MY DISTRICT IN THAT.
PART OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
THAT I REPRESENT. AND OBVIOUSLY
WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER WE GET A
LOT MORE DONE. IN THERE THE
IMPORTANCE OF YOUR COMMITTEE HOW
GOD PARTICIPATING IN THE FARM
BILL AND GIVING ME ASSURE HIM
PUT IN YOUR THOUGHTS I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT. FOR CALIFORNIA
FOR CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE AND
THE WORK THAT WE DO. AND FEEDING
OUR NATION. STAR THANK YOU SO
MUCH I'LL BE TO HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE TO
DESTROY. THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN
IF YOU HAVE A FEW EXTRA I WANT
TO OPEN IT UP COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY
HAVE FOR THE CONGRESS MEMBER.
OKAY I HAVE ONE I HAVE MAYBE A
COUPLE BUT I'LL START WITH ONE
AT THE MOMENT. AND THAT'S DO YOU
HAVE A TIME LINE FOR THE PASSAGE
OF THE U. S. FARM BILL OR- I
MEAN WHAT SHOULD WE KIND OF
EXPECT THEIR- YES WE DO BUT IN
CONGRESS. I SUSPECT IT'S
DIFFERENT THAN IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE IN THE SENSE THAT.
WE SOMETIMES MISS OUR TIME LINES
. BUT WE HAVE THE TIME LINES
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME
LINES IT MIGHT BE MORE
CHALLENGING. TO PRODUCE THE
LEGISLATION- WHEN WE NEED TO-
AND IN THIS CONGRESS WE HAVE I
HAVE TWO YEARS TO. IN ESSENCE-
PRODUCE AND WE AUTHORIZED REFORM
BILL. THE HOPE IS BETWEEN THE
SENATE AND THE HOUSE THAT WILL
BE ABLE TO DO IT BY THE END OF
THIS YEAR. R. THAT'S SOMEWHAT
AMBITIOUS THIS IS MY FOURTH FARM
BILL REAUTHORIZATION. AND- I'VE
HAD SHOULD. WHERE- WITH PASTOR.
AND NOTWITHSTANDING WHETHER I
WAS IN THE MINORITY ARE IN THE
MAJORITY AND I'VE BEEN IN BOTH
AND WE PRE AUTHORIZED FOR FARM
BELT. JUST AS I BEGAN AND ON
CONGRESS FROM WE'VE HAD.
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENTS. SO I. I'M WORKS THIS
WITH DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. I IN
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. BUT
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE AG
COMMITTEE IN WE'RE HOLDING
LISTENING SESSIONS WERE
BEGINNING TO DO THE WORK ON THE
MARKUPS. ARE WE HELD SUCH A
LISTENING SESSION LAST MONTH- AT
THE TULARE AG AND EQUIPMENT SHOW
THE INTERNATIONAL AG GET A
PROVINCIAL- AND WE HAD DONE NINE
MEMBERS- THAT WERE THERE- WE
HAVE THE SPEAKER WAS SCHOOL ONE.
TO HAVE HIM THERE AND LESSEN TO
HOURS. AS PEOPLE TESTIFIED UP
AND DOWN THE STRAIGHT ON WHAT
THEIR PRIORITIES WERE FOR THE
FARM BILL. ASSEMBLY MISSING
SESSION- THIS MONTH AND
TEXTURES. SURE AKHMATOVA
COMMITTEE CONGRESSMAN GT
THOMPSON FROM DISCOVERING A-
TOLD ME LAST WEEK THAT HE HOPES
TO PRODUCE A- A BILL. OUT OF THE
COMMITTEE AND OUT OF THE HOUSE
FOR BEFORE. OUR AUGUST RECESS.
THE THAT'S OUR THAT TIME I DON'T
KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA MEET THAT
. ARE ARE AUGUST RESEARCH IS.
FOR THE ANTI MONTH AND THEN THE
AND THE FIRST WEEK OF. BOB
ANSWER WHETHER WE MEET THAT OR
NOT- BUT ALREADY. IS TO PRODUCE
FROM FARM BILL WILL PROVIDE YOUR
RE AUTHORIZATION- AND SOMETIMES
WE'VE GONE BEYOND THAT TIMELINE.
AND WE'VE HAD TO HAVE AN
EXTENSION. BUT JOHN- AND THEN
THERE'S BEEN THREATS IN THE PAST
AND I'VE BEEN AND DIED
SITUATIONS WHERE PRESIDENT BUSH
VETOED. THE FARM BILL TWICE IN A
BIPARTISAN FASHION WE OVERRODE
HIS VETO. A SOUL THIS
LEGISLATION AND I FAILED TO
MENTION THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
BIPARTISAN PIECES OF
LEGISLATION. THAT CONGRESS AXLE.
AND I'M HOPEFUL. THAT ONCE
AGAIN- WE WILL MAINTAIN THAT
BIPARTISAN EFFORT WE'RE TRYING
TO DO THAT HERE IN THE HOUSE. I
IN THE HOUSE AG COMMITTEE AND I
KNOW FROM MY CONVERSATIONS WITH
SENATOR STABENOW FROM MICHIGAN.
WHO CHAIRS THE SENATE- AG
COMMITTEE. AND JOB CENTRES MITCH
MCCONNELL AND OTHER SENATORS
FROM THE MIDWEST. THAT THEY ARE
BUSY WORKING ON A BIPARTISAN
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THERE. ARE
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE'LL
PROBABLY VOTE ON THE SENATE
MEASURE THE LEVEL OF THEIR
MEASURE OUT AT SOME POINT IN
TIME WE HOPE YOU FOR THE END OF
THIS YEAR. AND WE WILL DO THE
SAME IN THE HOUSE AND THEN WE'LL
GO TO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO
IRON OUT THE DIFFERENCES. IT
WOULD BE GREAT IF WE CAN DO THAT
BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. US
SECRETARY VILSACK- AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES WILL
HAVE INPUT THE ADMINISTRATION
HAS ITS PRIORITIES AND WE HAVE
TO CONSIDER THEM. WE WANT THE
PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BILL OF
COURSE. AND SO ALL OF THAT HAS
TO TAKE PLACE AND WE HOPE TO DO
IT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR
NOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT HAPPENS
REMAINS TO BE SEEN. I COULD SEE
A SCENARIO IN WHICH WE GO INTO
NEXT YEAR. BOB BUT HOPEFULLY
WILL WILL WILL PRODUCE A FARM
BILL TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
SOONER THAN LATER THAT'S ROUGHLY
A TIME LINE UNDER A LEGISLATIVE
CALENDAR THAT. ONE CAN NEVER
ALWAYS PROTECT. THANK AND I LAST
QUESTION I HAVE- IS IT REALLY IN
REGARDS TO- THE TITLE TWELVE I
DON'T IS THAT THERE'S A NEW
AUTHORIZATION FOR THE UST OFFICE
OF HOMELAND SECURITY IN REQUIRE
STATES TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGIC RESPONSE PLANS.
REGARDING SEVERAL FACTORS AND
JUST WANTED TO STICK YOU. GET
ANY KIND OF INSIDE THE YOU MAY
HAVE ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM OR
ANYTHING OF- GET. IN TERMS OF
FOOD DEFENSE AND WHAT MORE COULD
BE. POTENTIALLY DONE HERE IN
CALIFORNIA- AS I SAID IN THE
OPENING OF MY- I STATEMENT FOOD
IS A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE AND
WE DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IT
IN THOSE TERMS. TITLED WELL
WE'RE REALLY. ATTEMPTING TO TRY
TO SEE HOW WE CAN WORK IN A MORE
COOPERATIVE FASHION. WITH THE
PRODUCTION OF OUR FOOD AND
FIBER- FROM THE FARMS TO THE
PROCESSING- FACILITIES. ARE TWO
AREAS WHERE ARE WE- BY NOW YOU
ADDED- AS WE DO IN CALIFORNIA SO
WELL. AND THEN WE GET IT TO THE
MARKET PLACE. AND WHEN THAT FOOD
HAS GROWN IN OUR FIELDS CLOSE
RULE ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT
HANDS. THERE'S A POTENTIAL.
WHERE WE COULD HAVE- EFFORTS
THAT. FOOD SAFETY COMES INTO
QUESTION. AND CLEARLY- WE HAVE A
HOST OF ISSUES THAT WE DEAL
ESPECIALLY WITH OUR EFFORTS TO
EXPORT A LOT OF OUR FOOD
PRODUCTS. I'M MEDIAN
PHYTOSANITARY STANDARDS WHETHER
IT'S WITH MEXICO OR WITH CANADA
. AND AND THEN SOMETIMES SADLY-
WE HAVE COUNTRIES AND INVOKE NON
TARIFF BARRIERS- THAT REALLY
HAVE NOTHING TO DO PER SE WITH
FOOD SAFETY BUT THEY USE APPS
FOR TRADE ADVANTAGES- SO WE'RE
TRYING TO WORK OUT WITH OUR-
CUSTOMS AND PORT AUTHORITIES. TO
DEAL WITH OUR FOOD SECURITY
ISSUES ARE AND TO ENSURE THAT-
IN A LOG THE POTENTIAL IMPACT
FOR OUR- OUR TERRORISTS TO BE
ENGAGED IN. OUR FOOD SUPPLY
CHAIN. WHETHER THEY BE FOREIGN
TERRORISTS ARE DOMESTIC
TERRORIST. IS ONE THAT WE SHOULD
NEVER EVER- NEWS SIGN UP IT'S A
DIFFERENT WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN
TODAY. AND ARE CLEARLY- THESE
ARE AREAS AND I THINK THAT WE
NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS OF. AND
LOCALE WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF
ENSURING THAT WHEN AMERICANS SIT
DOWN AT THE DINNER TABLE THEY'VE
GOT ABSOLUTELY THE SAFEST FOOD.
THAT THEY CAN HAVE ANYWHERE IN
THE WORLD. THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN
FOR THAT- FOR DEBT INSIDE AND-
IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS WE
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR.
PARTICIPATING CHASE COMMITTEE
HEARING AND WE REALLY VALUE YOUR
INPUT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU.
ABSOLUTELY AND- WHEN YOU FINISH
OF THE EFFORTS OF YOUR HEARING
TODAY ANY. IN A RECOMMENDATION
TO HAVE A LOOK FORTY HEARING ARE
AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS THEM- WITH THE MEMBERS
FROM CALIFORNIA THAT ARE ON THE
HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE AND-
AND WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER TO
TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE-
IMPLEMENTED BILL THAT NOT ONLY.
PRODUCES THIS SAFETY NET. OUR
ENTIRE COUNTRY AND FOR THOSE WHO
PUT THAT FOOD ON THE DINNER
TABLE EVERY NIGHT. BUT FOR THE
NUTRITION PROGRAMS WE DO IT THE
WAY THAT MAKES. THE MOST AMOUNT
OF SUCH COMMONSENSE AS MY MOTHER
USED TO SHARE SO LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU- AND
VERY PRODUCTS ARE A GENERAL HAVE
MADAM CHAIRMAN HER. THE NEW
CHAIRMANSHIP AND- OBVIOUSLY WE
SEE CHOI BACK. FOR TO GETTING
TOGETHER HERE SOON AND WORKING
WITH ALL OF YOU SO THANK YOU SO
VERY MUCH AND FOR THE OTHER
PANEL MEMBERS. I'M SO SORRY THAT
I CAN'T STAY ON BUT I WILL LOOK
FORWARD TO READING YOUR
TESTIMONY AND UP. AND WILL WORK
TOGETHER BECAUSE I WORK TOGETHER
WITH KAREN ALL THE TIME AND SHE
DOES A TERRIFIC JOB. ONE OF THE
BEST SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE'S
TIRE NATION. SHALL THANK YOU SO
VERY MUCH. YOU THANK YOU
CONGRESSMAN ANIMAL AT THIS
MOMENT WILL MOVE ON WITH OUR
NEXT. SPEAKER WHICH IS SECRETARY
KAREN ROSS YOU MAY PROCEED. IS
THIS. I CAN'T. IS THERE BUT-
IT'S- GREAT. WELL IT'S BEEN
COVERED THAT VERY THOROUGHLY.
I'M ALREADY CROSSING A NUMBER OF
REMARKS HERE. AND I'D REALLY
PREFER TO SPEND MY TIME- TO
CONVEY. FIRST OF ALL HOW
IMPORTANT FARM BILL. IS IT HOW
WE WENT ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER
THE POSITION PAPER THAT YOU HAVE
THAT WAS SIGNED BY MY COLLEAGUES
FROM THREE OTHER AGENCIES. THIS
HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF
OUR PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW A
CALIFORNIA POSITION BECAUSE OF
ALL THE WAYS OF THE FARM BILL
TOUCHES- EVERY CITIZEN OF
CALIFORNIA WHETHER THEY REALIZE
IT ON A DAILY BASIS OR NOT. SO I
WOULD SAY AND WANT TO REINFORCE
YES THE FARM BILL IS A SAFETY
NET. BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO LOOK AT
THE FARM BILL IT'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH. AND
OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE
HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS THE
HEALTH OF OUR AGRICULTURAL
ECONOMY AND HEALTH OF OUR RURAL
COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THAT'S HOW
BROAD AND DIVERSE THE TITLES OF
THE FARM BILL ART. I THINK IF WE
START WITH THAT MINDSET AND WE
THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE
REMARKABLE PROGRAMS AND
INVESTMENTS THAT THIS
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF
MADE IN RECENT YEARS. THIS FARM
BILL AND SOME OF THE FEDERAL
SPENDING THAT'S NOW AVAILABLE
COULDN'T COME AT A BETTER TIME
BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE AND I
REVENUE PICTURE SO I JUST WANTED
TO CALL THAT OUT AND SAY THANK
YOU. I ALSO WANT TO SAY. THANK
YOU CHAIRWOMAN OF FOR HAVING ME
HERE TODAY AND TO ALL OF YOU
MEMBERS- YOUR NEW FACES FOR ME
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU ITSELF. WITH
THAT I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON
SOME OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL
PROGRAMS THAT I THINK REINFORCE-
WHERE I THINK WE WANT TO GO ON
THIS BIGGER PICTURE. ONE IS THAT
I WANT TO THANK MY UNDER
SECRETARY CHRISTINE BIRD SIGN.
SHE ACTUALLY SERVED AS GENERAL
COUNSEL FOR THE HOUSE AG
COMMITTEE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
SHE HAS EXCELLENT. EXPERIENCE
SHE HAS HELPED LEAD A LOT OF OUR
LISTENING SESSIONS ALONG WITH
OUR STATE BOARD EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR JOSH CADDY AND OUR
DEPUTY SECRETARY. ARMITAGE CLOSE
ENOUGH. TO PUT TOGETHER ALL OF
THE COMMENTS LITERALLY FROM OVER
A HUNDRED STAKEHOLDERS. IN
ADDITION TO A NUMBER OF AG
ORGANIZATIONS. WE DID PUBLIC
LISTENING SESSIONS VIRTUAL AND
IN PERSON. WE HAD A NUMBER OF IN
PERSON ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS.
AND THEN WE HAD UNSOLICITED
COMMENTS THAT WERE PROVIDED.
DOES THIS MEAN THAT EVERY FORTY
MILLION OF OUR CALIFORNIA'S GOT
A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN. NOW BUT WE
THINK WE HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF
WHERE THE PRIORITIES. ARE AND
THAT'S HOW WE TRY TO SORT THEM
OUT. I WOULD SAY THE MOST
RESOUNDING MESSAGE WE GOT
WHEREVER WE WERE IN THE STATE.
IS TO NOT AT ONE POINT THERE
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
SEPARATING THE NUTRITION TITLE.
AS A SEPARATE BILL. AND WHAT WE
HEARD IN A RESOUNDING WAY IS
NUTRITION TITLE IS VITAL TO THE
FARM BILL. PRODUCTION IS VITAL
TO THE FARM BILL WHY WOULD WE
SEPARATE THOSE TWO THINGS. SO
THE NEXT NUTRITION. ASPECT OF
THIS AS THE CONGRESSMAN SAID.
THIS IS THIS IS IT MITIGATES
POVERTY. IT HELPS PEOPLE WHEN
TIMES ARE TOUGH BUT IT'S SELF
REGULATING IN THE WAY THAT IF
THEY HAVE FULL TIME- AND ARE
MAKING A MIDDLE CLASS INCOME BUT
YOU DON'T NEED TO USE THE SNAP
BENEFITS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN
CALIFORNIA WE ARE UNDER
SUBSCRIBED IN THAT PROGRAM.
THERE'S A RENEWED EFFORT WITH
OUR PARTNERS AT D. S. ASKED TO
REALLY TRY TO. DO EVEN MORE
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH THROUGH
TRUSTED CPOS TO REALLY INCREASE
THE ENROLLMENT IN A PROGRAM AT A
TIME BUT IT'S VERY NEEDED
BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF SOME OF
THE BENEFITS THAT WERE MADE
AVAILABLE DURING COVERT. AND THE
FACT THAT. WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE
EVEN MORE NUMBERS OF FOOD
INSECURE CITIZENS WE HAVE A
LITTLE OVER FIVE MILLION
CALIFORNIANS THAT NOW RELY ON
THE SNAP PROGRAM. COUPLE OF
PROGRAMS THAT I THINK OF
INTEREST AND REALLY SPEAK TO
THAT OPPORTUNITY PIECE ONE IS
THE CALIFORNIA NUTRITION
INCENTIVE PROGRAM WHICH THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR
HAVE FUNDED THE LAST TWO YEARS
WITH TEN MILLION DOLLAR
APPROPRIATION EACH YEAR. WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT INTO
A TWELVE POINT EIGHT MILLION
DOLLAR FEDERAL GRANT FROM USDA.
THIS IS NOT. FOR LOW INCOME
CITIZENS TO GET THE COUPONS AND
USE THEM AND REDEEM THEM FOR
DOUBLE THEIR VALUE FOR FRESH
FRUITS VEGETABLES TREE NUTS AT
FARMERS MARKETS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES. REALLY KEEPING
DOLLARS CIRCULATING AND US LOCAL
ECONOMIES I THINK THAT'S THE
BEAUTY OF REALLY THINKING ABOUT
SOME OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES. THE
MEETING AN IMPORTANT NEED FOR
SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS AND THE
CREATING. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
WITHIN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES-
ONE OF THE AREAS THAT. THE FARM
BILL IS SO IMPORTANT AND THE
CONGRESSMAN TALKED ABOUT THIS.
IS THE CONSERVATION TITLE. WE
HAVE SEEN SO MANY DISRUPTIONS
FROM EXTREME WEATHER WILDFIRES
DROUGHT CLIMATE CHANGES HERE
IT'S REAL. IT'S CREATING SOUL
MANY DISRUPTIONS AND FARM
PRODUCTIVITY AND THE
CONSERVATION TITLE CAN TRULY BE
PART OF THAT MITIGATION AND
ADAPTATION. WE HAVE HAD OVER
FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE SMART AGRICULTURE
CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURAL
PROGRAMS HEALTHY SOILS ON FARM
WATER USE EFFICIENCY THE METHANE
REDUCTION PROGRAM. THAT THE
CONGRESSMAN TALKED ABOUT
POLLINATOR HABITAT UP PROGRAMS
AT THE AT THE AIR RESOURCES
BOARD I KNOW THAT YOU'RE VERY
AWARE AT THIS CHAIRWOMAN. FOR
THE FARMER THE ENGINE
REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME THE PHASE
OUT AT ACT BURNING AND THE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM OVER
FOUR AT CEEC FOR FOOD PROCESSING
. THIS IS WHERE THE REAL
DEVELOPMENT TITLE AS WELL AS
CONSERVATION TITLE CAN PROVIDE
SUPPORT PROGRAMS AT A TIME FOR
WE MAY HAVE FEWER STATE DOLLARS
GOING INTO THESE PROGRAMS. BUT
WE HAVE PROVEN WITH OUR PILOT
PROGRAMS THAT THESE ARE
EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS. THERE OVERLY
SUBSCRIBED THEY'RE BRINGING NEW
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TO OUR
FARMS TO OUR TO OUR PROCESSING
PLANTS AND SO THERE'S REAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY
ENCOURAGE MORE FARMERS TO LOOK
AT SOME DIFFERENT TITLES BUT THE
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN THE
STATE ARE OVERSUBSCRIBED.
THERE'S NEW MONEY THAT WAS MADE
AVAILABLE THROUGH FEB FEDERAL
SPENDING IN THE LAST YEAR. IT'S
COMING AT THE RIGHT TIME IS
WE'VE HAD REDUCTIONS PROPOSED
FOR ON FARM WATER USE EFFICIENCY
PROGRAM. BUT I WANTED YOU TO BE
AWARE OF THAT TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE IS KEY TO MAKING
THESE PROGRAMS WORK WE IN
OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR SIGNED A
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT. WITH
OUR COLLEAGUES AT USDA NATURAL
RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AND THE
CALIFORNIA RESOURCE CONSERVATION
DISTRICTS WERE TRAINING ALL OF
OUR STAFF TOGETHER SO THAT YOU
CAN BE SPEAKING TO ANYONE FROM
ANY ONE OF THESE AGENCIES. AND
LEARN ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO THE AGENCIES GET
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING
FOR THOSE PROGRAMS SO WE CAN
START TO DIRECT PEOPLE MORE
TOWARDS FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT
HAVE RECEIVED INCREASED DOLLARS
TO SOME OF THAT. INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT THAT WAS PASSED
LAST YEAR. WILL BE CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT. IN THIS REGARD CROP
INSURANCE IS VITAL TO THE STATE
BECAUSE OF THE- SHEER DIVERSITY
OF THE MANY CROPS WE GROW
SOMEWHAT SMALL ACREAGE BUT HIGH
VALUE. THEY MAY NOT HAVE CROP
INSURANCE SO HAVING DISASTER
RELIEF AS SOME KIND. THROUGH NON
INSURED CROPS CAN SPECIALTY
CROPS IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL OF
THE KIND OF VOLATILITY THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE. IN
ADDITION TO OUR CLIMATE SMART
ACT PROGRAMS I DID WANT TO CALL
OUT MARKETING THE SPECIALTY CROP
BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. AND THE
SPECIALTY CROP TITLE FOR HER TO
CULTURE IN PARTICULAR.
COLLEAGUES AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM
IAN LATER THIS MORNING FROM THE
SPECIALTY CROPS. AND WESTERN
GROWERS AND OTHERS HAVE REALLY
ADDED A LOT OF VALUE TO THIS
FARM BILL FOR CALIFORNIA BECAUSE
OF THE FOCUS ON SPECIALTY CROPS.
THIS IS A HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS
FRESH- HIGH RISK HIGH COST OF
PRODUCTION HIGH VALUE THESE ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT PROPS FOR
NUTRITION AS WELL AS FOR
CIRCULATING DOLLARS HONORABLE
COMMUNITIES. THAT SPECIALTY CROP
BLOCK PUT PROGRAM. SINCE THE
TIME IT WAS CREATED IN TWO
THOUSAND AND EIGHT HAS BROUGHT
OVER THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN BLOCK
GRANTS TO THE STATE WE
ADMINISTER THAT ALLOWS US TO BE.
MORE REGIONALLY RESPONSIVE AND
MORE IMMEDIATELY RESPONSIVE TO
THE NEEDS OF THAT FARM COMMUNITY
THE FARMER COMMUNITY AS WELL AS
FOR HEALTHY NUTRITION ASPECTS.
AND OF COURSE WE SUPPORT. THE
MAP DOLLARS WHICH IS A WAY FOR
US TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR
EXPORTS WHICH ARE VERY VITAL TO.
JOBS IN THE FIELD TO JOBS AT THE
PORT SETZER IT'S A HOPEFUL
COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM- I WANNA
CALL OUT ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS
HERE AT THE STATE THAT THE
LEGISLATURE. APPROPRIATED
DOLLARS FOR IS THE COMMUNITY
ECONOMIC RESILIENCY FUND SOME
REALLY EXCELLENT REGIONAL
PLANNING GOING INTO. HOW DO WE
GROW OUR ECONOMIES CENTERS OF
EXCELLENCE IN THE HEART OF THE
CENTRAL VALLEY. IS THE FRESNO
MERCED FUTURE OF FOOD INNOVATION
INITIATIVE IN THE NORTHERN SAN
JOAQUIN. IT'S AN INITIATIVE ALL
AROUND BIO INDUSTRIAL
MANUFACTURING WHICH IS
CAPITALIZING ON FOOD. AND THE
FOOD THAT WE CROWD THE BY
PRODUCTS THAT COME FROM
PROCESSING THAT FOR FOOD AND
BEVERAGE. AND RE PURPOSING THOSE
WASTE STREAMS INTO USEFUL
PRODUCTS INCLUDING RENEWABLE
ENERGY POTENTIAL FOR
ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTICS AND
OTHER PETROLEUM BASED PRODUCTS-
AND CREATING A PARTNERSHIP OF
LAWRENCE BERKELEY AND- IN
PROCEEDING WITH REALLY
IDENTIFYING EXCITING NEW
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. THAT'S
BUILT ON AGRICULTURE BEING FRONT
AND CENTER IS WHERE ALL OF THIS
CAN BE MADE POSSIBLE AND I THINK
THERE'S REAL OPPORTUNITIES THERE
AS WELL AS FOR FARMWORKER
HOUSING. SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR
AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND SO
VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND SO-
WANNA MAKE SURE THAT. I'VE RACED
THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS BUT THE
ONE THING I WANT TO SAY TO YOU
IS PLEASE CALL ON US. WE WANT TO
BE AVAILABLE TO GO INTO DEBT UP.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED AS
CHIEF OF STAFF AT USDA AS WHAT
AN AMAZING DEPARTMENT THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
IS. I THINK THERE ARE AREAS THAT
USDA THAT PERHAPS WE UNDER
UTILIZED IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. AND I THINK THE NEW
CHALLENGES WE FACE AND THE
OPPORTUNITIES THEY BRING ALLOW
US TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPRINT ON
THE FARM BILL FOR THE CALIFORNIA
PERSPECTIVE. AND REALLY DO WHAT
WE LIKE TO DO BEST IN
CALIFORNIA. INNOVATE BRING
DOLLARS TO THE STATE FILLED UPON
OUR RESEARCH PROGRAMS THAT ARE
ALSO FUNDED THROUGH THIS. TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO
KEEP VIABILITY ON OUR FARMS.
HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND
NUTRITION SECURITY FOR ALL OF
OUR CITIZENS THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU- AMBLECOTE
AND MOVE OUR NEXT- DANCE SUMMER
PROFESSOR AGRICULTURE AND
RESOURCE ECONOMICS AT UC DAVIS
AND THEN AFTER. YOUR
PRESENTATION WILL GO AHEAD AND
ADD TO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
FOR THE PANEL. THANK YOU SENATOR
IN THANK TO ALL OF YOU FOR
INVITING ME- I WILL I WANT TO
SAY AT THE OUTSET I'M NOT
REPRESENTING THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA HERE TODAY- I'M
GIVING YOU PERCENT SOME
PERSPECTIVES OF MY OWN. AND I
WOULDN'T PRESUME TO SPEAK FOR
THE UNIVERSITY. THE R. N. N. AS
THE SECRETARY JUST SAID- GIVEN
THE FINE PRESENTATION FROM THE
CONGRESSMEN AND WHAT THE
SECRETARY JUST WENT THROUGH I
WAS. CROSSING OUT THINGS I DON'T
HAVE TO SAY WHICH IS GREAT AND
WE CAN MOVE ALONG. R. I DO WANT
TO START WITH A LITTLE BIT OF
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE- OF FARM
POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES IS A
WHOLE BEGAN LONG BEFORE THERE
WAS THE UNITED STATES. OF
TOBACCO GROWN IN NORTH CAROLINA
IN EIGHTEEN. TWENTIES OR EXCUSE
ME THE SIXTEEN TWENTIES THERE
WERE POLICIES RELATED TO THAT
AND- THE SAME WAS TRUE OF FOR
THE PILGRIMS IN IN NEW ENGLAND.
SO WE THIS THIS GOES BACK A LONG
WAY. WE COULD IF WE WOULD HAVE
HAD A FARM BILL- THE- PROGRAMS
CREATING THE USDA WOULD HAVE
BEEN A PART OF IT BUT THAT WAS
DURING THE CIVIL WAR THAT WAS A
LONG TIME AGO. IN EARLY ON A LOT
OF OUR AGRICULTURAL POLICY HAD
TO DO WITH THE ABUNDANT LAND
LONG BEFORE CALIFORNIA WAS THE
STATE EVEN. BUT UP. SO THAT'S A
PERSPECTIVE WE WANT TO HAVE ON
THIS THE FARM BILL STARTED
NINETY YEARS AGO REALLY DURING
THE NEW DEAL THE VERY EARLY DAYS
OF THE NEW DEAL AND LOTS OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THAT
PERIOD. WITH ALL OF PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELT WAS WAS AGRICULTURE.
IT WAS THIRTY OR 40% OF THE
PEOPLE WERE TIED DIRECTLY
AGRICULTURE AT THAT TIME. A NOT
THE TINY PERCENTAGE WE HAVE NOW
BUT ALSO A BIG CHUNK OF THE
OVERALL ECONOMY EVEN LARGER THAN
NOW WAS AGRICULTURALLY BASED IN
AND SO THAT MEANT. OF A FARM
LEGISLATION. AND SO AT THAT TIME
THE NICKNAME THE FARM BILL
REALLY APPLIED. I THINK IT'S
BEEN SAID HERE BUT IF NOT WE
SHOULD REMIND OURSELVES. THAT
THIS IS AN AUTHORIZATION BILL
MOSTLY IT AUTHORIZES PROGRAMS.
SOME OF WHICH ARE THEN
AUTOMATICALLY FUNDED THEIR CALL
MANDATORY PROGRAMS THE OTHERS
HAVE TO BE APPROPRIATED. SO
EVERY YEAR WATCH THAT
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
DIFFERENT COMMITTEE WITHIN
CONGRESS AND THAT APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE SO THE FARM BILL. AND
THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME
AUTHORIZES A PROGRAM. THE
PROGRAM. DOESN'T HAVE THE
SUPPORT OVER IN THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND
THERE'S LITTLE OR NO FUNDING FOR
IT. NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE
AUTHORIZATIONS IRRELEVANT
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET FUNDING
UNLESS YOU HAVE THE
AUTHORIZATION SO IT'S A TWO STEP
PROCESS BUT THAT'S SOMETHING FOR
THIS COMMITTEE TO WATCH. KEEP
YOUR EYE ALSO ON THE
APPROPRIATIONS SIDE BECAUSE IT'S
REALLY CRUCIAL. THE MANDATORY
THE BIG MANDATORY PROGRAMS IN
THE FARM BILL ARE THE SOME OF
THE FOOD AND NUTRITION ITEMS.
ESPECIALLY THE SNAP PROGRAM THE
OLD FASHION WHAT WE USED TO CALL
FOOD STAMPS. IN AND FAX MOST OF
THE MONEY SO LET'S BE CLEAR WHEN
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A TRILLION
DOLLAR BILL MOST OF THAT IS FOOD
ASSISTANCE. AND IT'S REALLY IN
AN INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAM PEOPLE
WITH A DEBIT CARD THAT THEY CAN
USE FOR FOOD PURCHASES MOST
PEOPLE SPEND OUT OF THEIR OWN
POCKET AS WELL ON TOP OF THAT.
IN IT WE- BUT- IT REINFORCED
WHAT WE KNEW ABOUT THAT PROGRAM
DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN PEOPLE
LOST THEIR JOBS WE INCREASE THE
AVAILABILITY OF ASSISTANCE AND
HEALTH PROGRAM. AND IT WAS VERY
DRAMATIC HOW THAT HELPED OF
PEOPLE IN REAL NEED TO HAVE
ADEQUATE DIETS. THE OTHER. ALL
THE OTHER MANDATORY PROGRAMS OR
THE STANDARD OLD FASHIONED FARM
SUBSIDY PROGRAMS AND I'M NOT
AFRAID TO USE THE WORD SUBSIDY
NOBODY IT. NO LEGISLATURE LIKES
TO CALL SOMETHING A SUBSIDY BUT
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE AND THEY DO
STIMULATE- PRODUCTION LET ME
SAY- OF CALIFORNIA PARTICIPATES
IN THOSE. BUT FOR THE MOST PART
MOST OF THAT MONEY CALIFORNIA'S
TWELVE OR 13% U. S. AGRICULTURE
AND GETS TWO OR 3% OF THAT
MONEY. IT IS IT IS IT'S NOT THAT
PEOPLE DON'T LIKE CALIFORNIANS
MAYBE THEY DON'T BUT BUT THAT'S
NOT THE MAIN REASON IT'S WHAT WE
GROW. BECAUSE THE PROGRAM'S WENT
BACK TO THE NINETEEN THIRTIES
IT'S THE BULK COMMODITY PROGRAMS
THAT ARE ESPECIALLY SUPPORTED BY
THAT TITLE. COMMODITIES TITLE.
DERRY'S PART OF IT BUT I'M GONNA
GET TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND SO
THAT MEANS. YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE
REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA WE DO
PRODUCE CORN AND WE DO PRODUCE A
LOT OF RICE AND A FEW OTHER
THINGS THAT ARE SUPPORTED THERE
BUT THE BULK OF THAT MONEY.
DOESN'T COME HERE AND THE MORE
THEY SPEND THEIR- IT IT IS JUST
INEVITABLE THERE'S LESS FOR
CALIFORNIA COMMODITIES
ESPECIALLY THE FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES AND- NOT TO SPEAK ILL
OF ANYBODY IS JUST A REALITY WE
NEED TO KEEP IN MIND. OF THE IF
WE GO DOWN THE AUTHORIZED
PROGRAMS THERE'S LOTS OF TITLES-
IN THE LAST FARM BILL THEY WERE
TWELVE BUT BUT THAT'S NOT
WRITTEN THAT'S NOT ETCHED IN
STONE AND IF SOMEBODY SAID IN
THIS FARM BILL. SHE WE NEED TO
EXTRA TITLES OR G. LET'S POLLS
CLIMATE OUT OF THE CONSERVATION
TITLE AND GIVE IT IS A TITLE. I
WOULDN'T BE SHOCKED EVERY FARM
BILL PROCESS IS DIFFERENT YOU'VE
GOT DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP
FORTUNE. ONLY AS AS THE
CONGRESSMAN JOE WE HAVE PEOPLE
WAS SENIOR LEADERSHIP. PEOPLE
WHO'VE BEEN AROUND AWHILE AND
THAT'S CRUCIAL THAT'S ALSO ON
THE SENATE SIDE BUT THERE'S ALSO
NEW MEMBERS. AND MEMBERS WHO'VE
LEARNED SOME THINGS WHO SAID GEE
HERE SOMETHING THAT WASN'T AS
IMPORTANT AS IT USED TO BE- IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT USED TO
BE A LET'S EMPHASIZE. SO JUST
BECAUSE THE LAST FARM BILL HAD
TWELVE TITLES DOESN'T MEAN THAT
THIS ONE WILL. IT'S ALSO AS WE
JUST HEARD A NOT WRITTEN IN
STONE THEN IT'S GOING TO BE RE
AUTHORIZED IN FIVE YEARS. I
REMEMBER WORKING ON THE TWO
THOUSAND TWELVE FORM BILL WILL
LOOK IT UP THERE ISN'T ONE. IT
WAS TWENTY FOURTEEN- SOUL CHAU
YOU KNOW THESE THINGS SLIP AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT.
ENCOURAGES YOUR YOUR COMMITTEE
TO BE VIGILANT AND PERHAPS
PATIENT. A WE'LL SEE HOW HOW
THEY DO ON THAT. I'M NOT GONNA
GO TITLE BY TITLE BUT I WILL
MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS WERE
CALIFORNIA'S A BIT UNIQUE. A
TRADE IS ONE OF THOSE TRADE IS
ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL. AND NOT JUST
EXPORTS IMPORTS TO. AN AND THEY
GO TOGETHER AND IT'S VERY EASY
TO EMPHASIZE G. WE WANT TO
EXPORT. THINGS AND KEEP STUFF
OUT. WE AS THE SECRETARY KNOWS
THAT DOES WORK THAT WAY HIS IT
IT RE. HAS TO BE A TWO WAY
STREET. AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
AND THAT'S TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO
THE- TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE
OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH PHYTO
SANITARY OR SIGN IT SANITARY
ISSUES. THOSE HAVE TO BE A TWO
WAY STREET TWO. AND USDA AND THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAVE GLOBAL
LEADERSHIP. GREAT RESPECT AND
IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE KEEP THAT
ARE IN IN THE FARM BILL IS
IMPORTANT IN THAT. I WOULD THE
OTHER THING I WOULD EMPHASIZE
ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S INNOVATION.
OUR AGRICULTURE EVEN MOST MORE
THAN MOST PLACES RELIES ON
INNOVATION. WHEN I SAY THAT LET
ME MENTION THAT EVERYBODY IN THE
FARM BILL IS SO BROAD. EVERYBODY
HAS AN INTEREST AND EVERYBODY
HAS A SPECIAL INTEREST. I'M AT
THE UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA WHEN I
SAY INNOVATION I THINK ABOUT OUR
INDIE. THERE'S AN R. AND D.
TITLE THAT FUNDS SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES IN SOME OF MY WORK.
SO WATCH WHAT I SAY I'M A
SPECIAL INTERESTS ARE BUT YOU
KNOW LIKE ALMOST EVERYBODY ELSE
AND YOU'LL HEAR A LOT FROM A LOT
OF US HERE THIS MORNING- WE
REALLY BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE'RE
TELLING YOU IS CRUCIALLY
IMPORTANT AND I BELIEVE THE
ECONOMICS OF INNOVATION. IS
REALLY WHAT'S BEHIND THE SUCCESS
OF AGRICULTURE NOT JUST HERE IN
CALIFORNIA BUT GLOBALLY.
REMEMBER IT'S NOT THAT MANY
GENERATIONS AGO THAT WE WOULDN'T
BE HERE WE'D ALL BE OUT AT THE
FARM SCRATCHING THE GROUND
TRYING TO STAY FED AND ITS
INNOVATION. THAT THAT HAS LED TO
LIVE. AND THEN THE LAST THING
I'LL SAY IS OUR FARMS IN
CALIFORNIA TEND TO BE LARGE. BY
BY NATIONAL STANDARDS AND BY
GLOBAL STANDARDS. IN THROUGHOUT
THE FARM BILL AND WATCH FOR
THIS. THERE'S THINGS TO SAY ALL
WELL WE'LL SUPPORT MILK. OF THE
MILK INDUSTRY. BUT ONLY UP TO A
HUNDRED CALS. WHAT WHAT WE'RE
WE'RE WE'RE JERRY FARMS JUST A
HUNDRED CALS. VERMONT OR
SOMEPLACE WHERE THEY DON'T
ACTUALLY PRODUCE VERY MUCH MILK.
SO WE HAVE TO WATCH THAT THEIR
THROUGHOUT THE FARM BILL THERE
ARE PROGRAMS. THAT CALIFORNIA
REALLY CAN'T TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE
OF. BECAUSE OUR FARMS ARE LARGE
THEIR LARGE THEY HIRE A LOT OF
PEOPLE THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF
FOLKS THE DEPEND ON CALIFORNIA
DAIRY FARM. IT ISN'T ELIGIBLE
FOR SOME OF THE SUPPORTERS OF.
AVAILABLE IN OTHER PLACES AND
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP
YOUR EYE ON AS YOU GO THROUGH
FARM BILL PROGRAMS. I'LL STOP
THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU- AT
THIS MOMENT I'LL GO AHEAD AND
OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
. I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE
THIS INFORMATION WAS- VERY
THOROUGH- VERY EASY TO FOLLOW
AB. I DID YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF TIME THERE AB PROFESSOR WHERE
I SAID OKAY I'M I'M FEELING SOME
DOOMSDAY BUT THAT YOU PICKED IT
RIGHT BACK UP. THANK YOU SO I DO
SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY- WHAT
I'M MISSING IS WHAT WHAT DO WE
AS A COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEED TO
DO- BOTH HERE IN CALIFORNIA AND
IN DC TO HELP MOVE THINGS ALONG
AND TO BRING THE VOICE OF
CALIFORNIA FARMERS AND OUR FARM
INDUSTRY. TO DC DECISIONS. WELL
GIVE YOU TWO SECONDS WORTH IN
THE SECRETARY. OF KNOWS ALL THE
PLAYERS AND WORKED WITH THEM
CLOSELY SHE CAN TELL YOU THE
INSIDE STORY. BUT ONE THING I
WILL SAY WE HEARD THIS FROM THE
CONGRESSMAN THAT. YOU KNOW OUR
DELEGATION RELIES ON YOU FOLKS
YOU'RE- YOU KNOW AS MUCH AS
THEY'RE CONNECTED TO TWO PEOPLE
BACK HOME YOU'RE HERE EVERY DAY
AND- I THINK. OF SPEAKING WITH
THE KIND OF EXPERTISE THAT YOU
HAVE IN THE KNOWLEDGE IN THE
WORKING WITH WITH THE PEOPLE
BACK HOME. A YOU CAN BE A
CONDUIT OF INFORMATION TO THE
COMMITTEE WILL WILL RESPECT IT
WAS GREAT NEWS THAT THAT THE-
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WE'RE
HEARING CALIFORNIA. OF FOR THE
FARM SHOW AND IN THE MORE YOU
CAN INVITE THEM BACK I THINK IT
REALLY IS AN EYE OPENING
EXPERIENCE OF FOR EVEN
KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPERIENCED
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE-
WHEN THEY GET OUT TO CALIFORNIA.
THEY LEARNED TWO THINGS THEY
LEARNED THAT OUR FARMS ARE JUST
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS FARMS AND
FARMERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY- IN
MY EXPERIENCE ALL OVER THE
WORLD. ARE THE SAME FOLKS- IN
AND SECONDLY THEY LEARNED THAT
OUR OUR FARMERS ARE REALLY
BRIGHT TALENTED OF PEOPLE WHO
WHO ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY
CAN TO GET COMMODITIES AND
PRODUCTS OUT. TO CONSUMERS. SO I
THINK THEY LEARNED GREAT RESPECT
FOR OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY-
WHEN THEY GET HERE. IF I COULD
JUST ADD TO THAT I THINK THAT
YOUR VOICE TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION IN PARTICULAR. TO
KEEP IT UNIFIED ON THE
POSITIONS- AND THE OTHER THING
IS I HAVE TO REINFORCE WHAT AT
DOCTOR SUMMER HAS JUST SAID.
PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME GRASPING
THE SCALE. AND THE DIVERSITY OF
WHAT WE DO IN CALIFORNIA WE
SHOULD ALL BE SO PROUD OF THAT
AND YES WE DO HAVE LARGE FARMS
BUT 89% OF OUR FARMS ARE FIVE
HUNDRED ACRES ARE LAST AND
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS SURPRISED BY
THAT. AND WE ALSO HAVE JUST THE
DIVERSITY OF WHAT WE FARM AND
THAT THE STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES
WE USE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE
AG COMMITTEE SPENT OVER TWO AND
A HALF HOURS JUST HE AND HIS
WIFE WITH OUR STATE BOARD
CHAIRMAN. IN HELMAND CALIFORNIA
WHICH IS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF
FRESNO COUNTY. AND SOUGHT
AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGY AND
MET WITH THE FARMWORKERS AND WAS
JUST BLOWN AWAY BY THE- I CALL
IT THE GOLLY GEE WHIZ ASPECT OF
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIELDS EVERY
DAY. AND SO BEING ABLE TO HELP
PEOPLE SEE THAT IS REALLY IT'S A
FUN. EDUCATIONAL AND I THINK
IT'S A WAY OF UNIFYING US AROUND
IT TAKES ALL THAT TO BRING FOOD
TO THE TABLE. THANK YOU. I HAVE
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS- IF ANYONE
CAN REALLY YOU KNOW ANSWER. IF
YOU HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT SOME
OF THESE QUESTIONS. I'M REALLY
VIEW WAS SPECIFICALLY KIND OF
INTERESTED IN AND AGAIN GOING
BACK TO THE INNOVATION THE
RESEARCH PIECE- I KNOW THAT THE
UC SYSTEM RECEIVES FUNDING
THROUGH THE LAND GRANT- I'D-
LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THAT IF YOU. IF YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH IT. AND I WANTED
TO KNOW WHERE BUT PERHAPS THERE
MAY BE GAPS IN FUNDING FOR
RESEARCH. I PERSONALLY THINK
THAT AT THE C. ISSUES AND EVEN
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES SPECIAL
TO THE RURAL PARTS OF CALIFORNIA
COULD USE ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FOR. RESEARCH ON AND THAT WANTED
TO SEE. WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT LAND
GRANTS BECAUSE THAT THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT I. BRIEFLY KIND
OF STUDIED ON MY OWN BUT WOULD
LOOK APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL
ON. THE COMMENTS AND INFORMATION
I'LL GIVE YOU A BIT IN SECRETARY
ROSS'S WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH
ALL UNIVERSITIES IN CALIFORNIA
HAS BEEN ON. ADVISORY BOARDS AND
SHE'LL HAVE A MORE MUCH MORE TO
SAY ON THIS. LET ME STEP FIRST
AND SAY. WE SEE. AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGE. ARE A PART OF THE WHOLE
SYSTEM WITH THE UC AND I DON'T
REALLY THINK OF MUCH DISTINCTION
THERE I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH
PEOPLE IT CAL POLY OR- FRESNO
STATE OR CHICO STATE OFTEN IN A
IN IN THE PROJECTS THAT I WORK
ON. THEY WILL HELP FUND ME I
WILL HELP FUND THEM. AND OFTEN
IT IS WITH FEDERAL MONEY THERE
ARE GRANTS THROUGH USDA THAT WE
APPLY FOR. SO THESE ARE
COMPETITIVE FUNDS AND I WILL
TELL YOU THAT WHEN IT'S A
COMPETITION WE WIN. WE ARE
REALLY WE ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL AT
COMPETING FOR FUNDS WHEN IT'S
OPEN BECAUSE WE'RE VERY GOOD
SCIENTISTS IN CALIFORNIA. THE
SECOND THING I'LL SAY IS THERE
ARE LOTS OF PROGRAMS. THE
DISADVANTAGE US IN ALL JUST TELL
YOU FOR EXAMPLE THEY SET ASIDE
FUNDS FOR MULTI STATE PROGRAMS.
WELL THAT'S GREAT YOU PUT. OF
VERMONT TOGETHER WITH
MASSACHUSETTS TOGETHER WITH NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND YOU QUALIFY FOR A
MULTI STATE PROGRAM. WHAT WE CAN
FIT THOSE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY
OR SOMETHING YOU KNOW IT. AND IN
THE END WE GROW A NUMBER OF
COMMODITIES THAT REALLY AREN'T
GROWN ANYWHERE. SO SOMEBODY SAYS
HERE'S ALL THIS MONEY FOR MULTI
STATE PROGRAMS A WORK ON
ALMONDS. WELL SORRY. WE CAN'T
FUND THAT DISPATCHERS NOW ALL
WILL WILL GET SOMEBODY FROM. NEW
MEXICO WHO HAPPENS TO BE A UC
DAVIS GRADUATE ON THE FACULTY AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO WHERE
THEY DO HAVE. IN PEOPLE. HAS TO
HAS TO DO MULTI C. STOP JUST
DOESN'T WORK AND IT'S- I DON'T
THINK IT'S A CONSCIOUS BIAS
AGAINST CALIFORNIA'S JUST ABOUT
A LACK OF AWARENESS AND FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THEY SAY. GEE
THE MULTI STATE THAT SOUNDS LIKE
A GOOD IDEA. SO THE CROP MAIXENT
IN THESE OTHER THINGS ARE A BIT
OF A PROBLEM FOR THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA IN FOR THIS C.
ISSUES AND FOR THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGES WHEN WE DO THINGS
JOINTLY. I ALSO WANT TO
EMPHASIZE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE
NOT PRIMARILY RESEARCH
ORGANIZATIONS AND WE DON'T WANT
THEM TO BE WE WANT TO REALLY
FOCUS ON THEIR TEACHING. A BUT
THEY CAN THEY CAN BE INVOLVED IN
THE INNOVATION PROGRAMS WITH US
IN PARTICULARLY WHERE THEY DO
THINGS RELATED TO FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE IN THOSE SCIENCES.
SO I THINK THE UNIVERSITY
CALIFORNIA PARTICIPATES IN ALL
OF THOSE PROGRAMS THE FINAL FOOT
THING I'LL MENTION TO USE THE
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM
WHICH WERE SO PROUD OF IN
CALIFORNIA WE DO SO WELL. HERE
IN CALIFORNIA AND THAT IS ALSO A
FEDERAL PROGRAM SO WHEN WE THINK
OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WE
THINK ABOUT GOING ALL THE WAY
OUT TO. GETTING SOMETHING
ACTUALLY APPLIED AT THE FARM
ACTUALLY USED AND I THINK THAT'S
A OF A BEAUTY OF THE SYSTEM THAT
WORKS WE'RE VERY PROUD OF AND
RIGHTLY PROUD OF. IF I COULD
JUST ADD- A COUPLE PERSPECTIVES
TO THAT BECAUSE I WHOLEHEARTEDLY
AGREE WITH DR SIMON- AND I SPENT
A LOT OF MY LIFE TIME ADVOCATING
FOR MORE RESEARCH DOLLARS
BECAUSE PUBLIC INVESTMENT. THAT
IT MAKES A TRUSTED. MORE THAN
WHEN IT'S ALL CORPORATE OR
PRIVATELY OWNED SO I JUST WANNA
CALL THAT OUT HOW IMPORTANT IT
IS. AT USDA THERE'S THE PROGRAMS
THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT
ARE BASED ON FORMULA COMPETITION
AND THEN THERE'S THE IN HOUSE
RESEARCH ARM OF USDA'S
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
HISTORICALLY THE RESEARCH WAS
FOCUSED ON THE SIX MAJOR
COMMODITY CROPS THAT. WERE
REFERENCED EARLIER AND IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT FOR MANY SPECIALTY
CROPS WE HAVE OVER THE YEARS
BEEN ABLE TO EAT OUR WAY INTO I
WAS WITH LINE BREAKS FOR NUMBER
OF YEARS. TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL
THE CROPS THAT MAKE UP A
NUTRITION. PROFILE CAN CAN GET
THAT RESEARCH IN THE PAST AND
PLANT DISEASES THAT WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE. THE PLANT BREEDING
THAT'S NECESSARY. THERE'S THREE
DIFFERENT AREAS THAT I REALLY
WANT TO CALL OUT FOR SPECIAL
ATTENTION. THIS TIME AROUND THE
NEED FOR AUTOMATION WILL
CONTINUE IT WILL EASE THE JOB OF
OUR CURRENT WORK FORCE. WILL
CREATE NEW AND DIFFERENT JOBS IN
OUR WORK FORCE. BUT WE DO NEED
AUTOMATION FOR JUST TO FOR THE
KINDS OF CROPS THAT WE GROW IS
GOING TO BE VERY VERY VERY
IMPORTANT SO THAT WOULD BE ONE
IMPORTANT INITIATIVE. TO WOULD
BE FOR FOOD SAFETY WE CONTINUE
TO BE AT THE HEART OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOOD
SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT. IT'S
MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER THAT
BECAUSE OF THE HUGE CAPITAL
CHANGES THAT ARE HAVING TO BE
MADE ON SOME OF OUR SMALL FARMS.
JUST TO UPGRADE SOME OF THEIR
EQUIPMENT AND STUFF THAT WE
REALLY FOCUS ON RESEARCH RESULTS
PRACTICAL FINDINGS THAT CAN HELP
THEM WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
FOOD SAFETY. AND LAST THE STATE
LAST MONTH. IT WAS AT THE END OF
JANUARY FEBRUARY FLEW BY.
RELEASED THE SUSTAINABLE PEST
MANAGEMENT ROAD MAP TO TWENTY
FIFTY. WE REALLY WANNA IDENTIFY
EVEN MORE BIOLOGICAL. AND
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS. TO
PESTICIDES AND THAT WILL THAT
WILL REQUIRE RESEARCH AND
INVESTMENT. AND CAPITAL TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN AND I THINK THOSE
ARE REALLY. RIGHT FOR BRINGING A
CALIFORNIA PERSPECTIVE TO THE
RESEARCH TITLE AT THE U. S. FARM
BELT. THANK YOU. LET ME QUICKLY
ADD ONE POINT IN REINFORCED
SOMETHING THE SECRETARY JUST
SAID. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT FARM
BILL FUNDING FOR R. AND D. R.
IT'S EASY TO THINK ABOUT FARM
PRODUCTIVITY. BUT A RURAL
ENVIRONMENT. RESEARCH IS EQUALLY
CRUCIAL AND WE KNOW THAT HERE IN
CALIFORNIA WHERE HUGE EXPERTISE.
AT FOR EXAMPLE THE COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCES AT DAVIS THAT GETS THIS
KIND OF FUNDING. SECONDLY FOOD
SAFETY RESEARCH. IS THAT WE JUST
HEARD ABOUT. AND THIRDLY
NUTRITION RESEARCH. BECAUSE
NUTRITION IS YOU KNOW. A LOT OF
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE
IT'S FUNDAMENTAL AN INSULT IT IT
TAKES RESEARCH IN ALL THOSE
AREAS IN THE FARM BILL CAN BE A
SOURCE OF THAT FUNDING. AND IT'S
NOT JUST THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA AGAIN IT'S THE OTHER
UNIVERSITIES WORKING WITH THE
PRIVATE SECTOR I WILL SAY SO WE
DON'T IT OUR OUR RESEARCH
PROGRAM ISN'T COMPETING WITH THE
PRIVATE SECTOR RESEARCH IT'S
COMPLEMENTING IT WE DO WHAT WE
CAN DO BEST THEY DO WHAT THEY
CAN DO BEST. AND IT AND IT.
CONTINUE IN ON THE RESEARCH OF
PEACE WHAT WHAT IS THE UC
SYSTEMS ARE THE IT IT THAT MUCH
CUSHION SYSTEMS HERE IN THE
STATE DOING TO CUT YOU TO
PROTECT- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE. IS OUR
FUNDING ALREADY IN THAT IN TERMS
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU
PROVIDED. I'M LIKE I'M GONNA
LOOK IT DOWN I'VE BEEN INVOLVED
IN THE I. P. ISSUES BACK IN NOT
TO BE AN EXPERT THERE I MEAN
THEY HAVE VERY SOPHISTICATED.
AND I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING
THEY WORK VERY VERY WELL IT'S
THAT SYSTEM IS PUT IN PLACE
AFTER YOU SEE IT THROUGH THE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT THE
LEGAL OFFICE. AND CSU HAS
SIMILAR PROGRAMS. BUT IT'S WHEN
YOU START A RESEARCH PROJECT YOU
KNOW WHAT THE I. P. AGREEMENT IS
GOING TO BE I'M LOOKING AT DANCE
I WANT TO MAKE SURE. THERE HAVE
BEEN DISPUTES IN THE PAST THAT
CONTINUE TO PROVE THIS OUT BUT
BUT LET ME SAY IT SO THAT'S A
REALLY. COMPLICATED TECHNICAL
ISSUE AND WE'RE ALL GONNA HIRE
OUR LAWYERS AND SETTLE IT. BUT
BUT IT BROADLY SPEAKING THE BEST
WAY TO LOOK AT THIS IS THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DOES
THE PART THAT WE DO BEST. AND
THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOES THE PART
THEY DO BEST. AND WHERE WE LEAVE
OFF FOR THE MOST PART AS THE
UNIVERSITY. IS THE PUBLIC BASIC
SCIENCE AND WE WANT TO BE PUBLIC
WE- IT TOO YOU WILL COLLABORATE
WITH RESEARCHERS IN ISRAEL OR
RESEARCHERS IN FRANCE. ON ON ON
SOME WHITE WINE GRAPE GENETICS.
THAT ISN'T. PUTTING TOGETHER US
A PRODUCT THAT SOME ROOT STOCK
COMPANY WILL SELL ITS DOING THAT
BASIC PART OF SCIENCE. AND THEN
IT'S HANDED OFF GENERALLY. TO
THE MORE PRIVATE SECTOR PEOPLE
WHO WILL HAVE PLAQUE PLAN
PATENTS AND OTHER THINGS. NOW IT
OVERLAPS EIGHT ANY GOOD HAND OFF
YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME OVERLAP IN
THERE ARE CUT THEIR BEEN
CONFLICTS THERE BUT USUALLY
THOSE CAN BE WORKED OUT AND THEY
WORKED OUT AHEAD OF TIME. SO A
RESEARCHER AT THE UNIVERSITY
WILL KNOW THAT THEIR RESEARCH
CAN GET PRETTY PRACTICAL AND
THEY WORKED OUT AN AGREEMENT
THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY IN THE
PRIVATE COMPANIES. SO THAT THEY
HAND OFFICE MOVES AND TO
MINIMIZE THE COMPLEX AND
SOMETIMES THE UNIVERSITY WILL
GET SOME ROYALTIES FROM THAT
THEY'LL GET SOME. SOME PAYMENTS
FOR THAT. OTHER TIMES- OF YOU'LL
HAVE COMPANIES. THAT FUND
RESEARCH SAYING WE DON'T NEED
ANY PROPERTY RIGHTS WE DON'T
NEED TO OWN IT WE JUST WANT TO
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING WE WANT
TO BE INVOLVED IN THE
CONVERSATION. BECAUSE THEY CAN
SEE THE PROFITABLE OPPORTUNITIES
LATER. LET ME SAY THE FINAL
THING TO SAY IS ON THE EXTENSION
SIDE. THERE'S LOTS OF R. AND D.
DONE BY PRIVATE COMPANIES. THAT
THEY WANT THE UNIVERSITY TO KNOW
ABOUT BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY.
HAS CREDIBILITY IS WAS JUST
SAID. SO THAT WHEN THEY WANT
FARMERS TO BELIEVE SAY SOME
TECHNOLOGY THEY'RE DEVELOPING
HAS SOME CREDIBILITY THEY'LL
ENCOURAGE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
OF FACULTY. OF PROFESSORS WHOSE
JOB IT IS TO MAKE SURE SET UP
TECHNOLOGIES GETS EXTENDED. THEY
WANT TO GET CREDIBILITY WITH
THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE. IT HELPS
THEM IN THEIR PROCESS IT HELPS
ALL OF US BECAUSE GOOD
TECHNOLOGY GETS ADOPTED. SO IT'S
A- THERE'S A COUPLE OF PLACES
WHERE THESE HANDOFFS HAPPEN IN
THIS FULL SYSTEM. I WOULD SAY
THOSE FIELD TRIALS WITH FARMERS.
PRESENT THE PRACTICAL
APPLICATION AND THAT'S REALLY
BAD REALLY IS THE STRENGTH OF
THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.
WE HAD. BUT HE WANTED. BEHALF OF
WHAT IT WOULD. WHAT IS THE
REGIONAL ELIGIBILITY FOR SNAP.
IS IT AN OPTION. DOES THAT MAKE
SENSE NO. HE WAS. WELL WE CAN WE
CAN ALWAYS CHECK ON THAT AND WE
CAN YEAH I THINK I WANNA MAKE
SURE I UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT HAS
INCOME CRITERIA- OFTEN ONE OF
THE BARRIERS IS IMMIGRATION
STATUS WHICH BECOMES A BARRIER-
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER
FOR US TO WORK WITH DSS AND GET
TO A FULLER. RESPONSE TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE ANSWERING WHAT HE WAS
WANTING. AND IT JUST ONE LAST
QUESTION MY HAND OUT FREE
SECRETARY- YOU PROVIDED THE FARM
BILL RECOMMENDATIONS. AT WHAT IS
WHAT'S KIND OF BEEN ADDED WHAT'S
NEW IN TERMS OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IT'S- NOT. YEAH
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
WRITTEN KNOWLEDGE SHARING IS
JUST THE RISK OF THAT'S BEEN
PRESENTED BY VOLATILITY DUE
ESPECIALLY TO CLIMATE CHANGE
INDUCED CHANGES- AND THEN JUST
HAVING GONE THROUGH THE
DISRUPTIONS OF COVERT IN THE
SUPPLY CHAIN. THAT PROBABLY-
CREATED MORE EMPHASIS ON CROP
INSURANCE THE DISASTER RELIEF
AND MAKING SURE NON INSURED
CROPS CAN HAVE SOME SORT OF SOME
WAY OF BEING ABLE TO SUSTAIN
THEMSELVES TO GET INTO THE NEXT
CROP HERE. ON THE MAP PROGRAM
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SETBACK SO
MUCH NOT BEING ABLE TO AYE LAST
YEAR WAS A YEAR WE PRODUCE THE
CROPS THAT WE CAN SHIP THEM
BECAUSE OF EXPORT SUPPLY CHAIN
SO WE REALLY NEED TO. DOUBLE OUR
EFFORTS IN THAT- THOSE THOSE BE
THE MAIN ONES AND THEN THE AND-
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FUNDAMENTAL. TO
CALIFORNIA THAT THE NUTRITION
TITLE. SOME NEW APPROACH LIKE
THAT NUTRITION INCENTIVE THAT I
MENTIONED. AGO I WANTED TO
FOLLOW UP ON THE DISASTER RELIEF
BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE'RE
SEEING HERE IN CALIFORNIA. IS
THE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE
INCREASE IN EXTREME WEATHER
PATTERNS AND- THAT IMPACTS OUR
CROPS THAT PARTICULARLY AROUND
OUR CENTRAL VALLEY INTEREST
HERE- AT ZERO REGION- I AM ALSO
A COGNIZANT OF THE WILDFIRES
INCREASING WILDFIRES AND HOW THE
SMOKE DAMAGE ALSO. IMPACTS OUR
FARMING COMMUNITY SO WHAT DO YOU
SEE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THIS- THIS
RENEWAL OF THE FARM BILL TO BE
ABLE TO EMPHASIZE THOSE CHANGES
IN CLIMATE CHANGE PATTERNS- AND
ARE THERE SITUATIONS HERE IN
CALIFORNIA THAT WE CAN ESCALATE.
TO BRING BACK TO CASE STUDY AT
TDC YEP THOSE ARE THOSE ARE
PERFECT EXAMPLES I KNOW THAT FOR
SOME OF THE CROPS THAT DO HAVE
CROP INSURANCE- THE RISK
MANAGEMENT AGENCY IS TAKING A
LOOK AT THEIR PROCESS AND HOW DO
THEY INCLUDE. THOSE AS AS
ADDENDUMS TO A REGULAR CROP
INSURANCE PACKAGE IF THAT'S
POSSIBLE THE SMOKE TAINT ISSUE
IS PRETTY CHALLENGING BECAUSE
IT'S A CHEMISTRY THING IT'S A
TIMING THING. HOW DO YOU
QUANTIFY IT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO LATER WE HAD THE SAME
SITUATION AND WALNUTS THIS YEAR
WITH THAT. WE HAVE THOSE TEN
EXTREME HEAT DAYS THAT ROPE
BROKE EVERY RECORD IN THE BOOK
AND THE SUNBURN ISSUES OR OR NOT
HAVING THE NOT FINISHES
DEVELOPMENT. SO THEY'RE
DEFINITELY LOOKING AT BECAUSE WE
HAVE SO MANY CROPS SOME OF THEM
HAVE MORE ADVANCED CROP
INSURANCE PROGRAMS SO THEY HAVE
MORE DATA WHICH IS WHAT
UNDERWRITERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO
GO THERE. THAT'S WHY I THINK
TAKING A LOOK AT THOSE THAT
DON'T HAVE FULL COVERAGE OR THE
I KNOW THERE CONTINUE TO DO THE
WHOLE FARM. COVERAGE THAT IS
STILL IN THE DEMONSTRATION PHASE
I THINK AS AS A WAY TO BRING
PEOPLE TO. MANAGING RISK THROUGH
THAT TOOL IN ADDITION TO
DISASTER RELIEF WHEN IT'S
NECESSARY. THERE'S NOT PERFECT.
ANSWERS OUT. TAKES A LOT OF DATA
BUT THOSE TOGETHER. IF I COULD
JUST A ONE CALL. THING- CULLIGAN
MIND BRITNEY GOOD RICH AND
OTHERS. THE END AND I MYSELF
OVER THE YEARS HAVE WORKED
PRETTY CLOSELY WITH THE RISK
MANAGEMENT AGENCY PEOPLE TRYING
TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT
TALKING TO PEOPLE IN KANSAS
TRYING TO EXPLAIN. SMOKE DAMAGE
FOR CABERNET SAUVIGNON GRAPES
YOU KNOW IT. EIGHT BECAUSE INTO
THEIR CREDIT THEY SAY WELL WE
DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS
CAN YOU HELP US AND THAT'S
ANOTHER PLACE WHERE. THE
SECRETARY AND YOU FOLKS CAN HELP
PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON UNDERSTAND
THE KIND OF DIVERSITY. IN THE
KIND OF RISKS THAT THAT IT MAY
NOT OCCUR TO THEM. WHAT IT MEANS
AND- SO I INCREASE I REALLY DO.
APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THOSE
KIND OF QUESTIONS THEY'RE NOT
UNIQUE TO CALIFORNIA BUT WE JUST
HAVE MORE OF THEM THAN EVERYBODY
ELSE. AND MORE FREQUENTLY YES
YES. I AM I HAVE ONE MORE
QUESTION AND YOU KNOW
CONGRESSMAN JIM COSTA HELP TO
VALIDATE ONE OF MY CONCERNS AS A
NEW MEMBER. IN THAT WE HAVE AG
COMMITTEE BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT WATER. IN THIS COMMITTEE
AND SO WHEN I ALSO LOOK AT THE
USDA FARM BILL. I AM MISSING
THAT TITLE ON WATER AND WHEN
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEEDING THE
WORLD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR AG
COMMUNITY OUR ECONOMY. IT FEELS
TO ME LIKE INCOMPLETE THAT WE'RE
NOT TALKING ABOUT WATER AND WE
DON'T HAVE A TITLE SPECIFIC TO
WATER- PIECE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT.
HOW THAT HIS HADN'T HOW THAT HAS
EVOLVED OVER HISTORY AND WHAT
ARE. SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR US
TO ADVOCATE FOR. I WILL I WILL
SAY. THERE HAS BEEN IN MY
EXPERIENCE INCLUDING MY TIME AT
U. S. TA. THERE IS A COMPLETE
LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WESTERN
IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE. IN MANY
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE CROPS
ARE GROWN THEY HAVE TOO MUCH
WATER OR ITS WATER SO NEAR TO
THE SURFACE AT THE PUTTING AND
TRAIN TILES. SO IT IS A
SITUATION THAT THE WESTERN WHITE
DROUGHT. IS REALLY CALLING- THE
ATTENTION TO NOT EVERYTHING FITS
FOR WESTERN IRRIGATED
AGRICULTURE. I CAN'T SAY WHETHER
HAS A BEEN A WATER TITLE BUT I
WOULD SAY IT'S BECAUSE OF THE
DIVERSITY OF WATER SITUATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER
AGAIN NRCS HAS THE MOST ROBUST
PROGRAMS FOR ON FARM WATER USE
EFFICIENCY. THERE WAS A VERY
GOOD ARTICLE IN THE SACRAMENTO
BEE OVER THE WEEKEND WHERE THEY
ARE NOW USING EQUIPPED DOLLARS
TO FUND SOME ON FARM WATER
RECHARGE. ISSUES AND SO AND I
WAS JUST WITH SECRETARY FEELS
LIKE YESTERDAY AND HE'S REALLY
LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS THAT USDA
CAN BE MORE RELEVANT. TO THE
WATER SITUATION OF THE WEST AND
I THINK WE THINK OF IT AS A
WESTERN CAUCUS WESTERN APPROACH
THERE ARE MANY LAND ISSUES
BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF
LAND THAT'S OWNED BY PUBLIC
FEDERAL AGENCIES. AND THE WATER
SITUATIONS OR SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE IN COMMON. IF WE CAN FIX
OUR WATER ISSUES AND WESTERN
UNITED STATES THESE ARE THE SAME
WATER ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE IN
AFRICA AND OTHER PLACES IN THE
WORLD. FOR FOOD SECURITY ON A
GLOBAL BASIS. AND I THINK WE
HEARD THAT IN EGYPT AND WE
SENATOR. IF YOU OF BOTH SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY AND FOR
ANSWERING ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT
WE HAVE AND- I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUE- WORKING WITH WITH YOU
BOTH AND I. I THANK YOU FOR
COMING. THANK YOU I WANT TO NOTE
THAT TOMORROW. THE U. N. HAS
DECLARED TOMORROW THE
INTERNATIONAL DAY AT THE WOMEN'S
SELF. HAPPY INTERNATIONAL. DAY
YEAH. THANK YOU THANK YOU BOTH.
OKAY WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR
SECOND PANEL IF YOU DON'T MIND
COMING FORWARD- WE HAVE OUR
FIRST SPEAKER JIMMY JOHANNSON
PRESENT OF THE CALIFORNIA FARM
BUREAU. IN LEMAY PRESIDENT OF
THE CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT
ASSOCIATION. MICHAEL DELL BARCY-
OF THE CALIFORNIA RANGE LAND
TRUST. MARIANNA WARMER DAM IS
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF
CALIFORNIA. AND PETER NEESON OF
A PRESIDENT OF THE NAPA COUNTY
FARM BUREAU. COMPETE WITH.
BECAUSE AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
BEGIN WITH A IT JIMMY JOHANNSON
PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA FARM
BUREAU- JAMIE PLEASE BEGIN WHEN
IT WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. I
THANK YOU CHAIRMAN HER TITLE.
AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE
AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU FOR HOSTING THIS FARM BILL
LISTENING SESSION TODAY MY NAME
IS JAMIE JIM HANSON PRESIDENT
CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU
CALIFORNIA'S LARGEST FARM
ORGANIZATION WITH OVER TWENTY
THOUSAND. ACROSS FIFTY THREE
STATES OR COUNTIES. HAVE LONG
SERVED AS A LEADING OUR CULTURE
ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING OVER
FOUR HUNDRED DIFFERENT
COMMODITIES WITH A DIFFERENT
DIVERSE PRODUCTION PRACTICES.
ARE PRODUCERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE
LARGEST AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY OF
ANY STATE IN THE NATION. READING
FOOD FIBER AND FEET TO
COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES ACROSS
AMERICA. IN ADDITION TO SERVING
US CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU
PRESIDENT SINCE TWO THOUSAND
SEVENTEEN I'M ALSO FIRST
GENERATION FARMER MY FAMILY
RESULTS IN SISTER ST IN ORVILLE
CALIFORNIA. AND I ALSO SERVE ON
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU SH WE
APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION
INTEREST THIS PRETTY HAS TAKEN
IN THE FARM BILL- THE BIPARTISAN
LEGISLATION REPRESENTS ONE OF
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DRIVERS. OF
SUPPORT IN CHANGE FOR INDUSTRY
GIVEN THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF ITS
MANY TITLES A RECENT
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
WHICH WAS A FOR TO EARLIER- PUTS
A TEN YEAR PRICE TAG AT OVER A
TRILLION DOLLARS. OF COURSE WITH
ROUGHLY 80% OF THOSE FUNDS GOING
TOWARDS A NUTRITION PROGRAMS.
YES HE IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT
THE IMPACTS LEGISLATION ARE NOT
JUST LIMITED TO FARMERS AND
RANCHERS BUT TO ENTIRE
COMMUNITIES. THAT THAT WE LIVE
IN AMERICAN AGRICULTURE HAS
FACED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES
SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE TWO
THOUSAND EIGHTEEN FARM BILL. A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC LABOR SHORTAGES
WILDFIRES AND OTHER NATURAL
DISASTERS RISING INPUT COSTS A
TRADE DISPUTES AND SUPPLY CHAIN
DYSFUNCTION OR COURTS AND
OVERSEAS. FOR THE FARMER OF
THOSE CHALLENGES THAT RESULTED
IN ECONOMIC DISRUPTION TIGHTER
MARGINS AND EVEN CURRENTLY
CLOSED FARMS WELL SOME OF THESE
HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN
MEANINGFUL WAYS. NOW WE KNOW
THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE CAN BE
DONE THAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP
ENSURE THAT OUR FAMILY FARMERS.
AND RANCHERS HAVE THE TOOLS
NECESSARY TO PROVIDE SAFE
NUTRITIOUS. AND AFFORDABLE FOOD
FOR A U. S. CONSUMERS. AS WELL
AS THE NATION'S ABROAD. I WHILE
WE KNOW THE PRIMARY DEVELOPMENT
THE LEGISLATION IS IN THE HANDS
OF LAWMAKERS IN WASHINGTON DC.
OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS RELY
HEAVILY ON INPUT AND GUIDANCE
FROM BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. IS OUR HOPE THAT SOME
OF THE CONCERT CONVERSATIONS
HERE TODAY CAN HELP EDUCATE AND
ENGAGE OUR STATE ELECTED
OFFICIALS. AS THEY LOOK TO
ELEVATE OUR INDUSTRY'S
PRIORITIES. WITH OUR STATE'S
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. IN
TERMS OF SPECIFIC PRIORITIES I A
FEW KEY AREAS LIKE TO. ON BEHALF
OF OUR- FIRST THIS FARM BILL SHE
PRIORITY DEVELOP OF A NEW. AND
TO. FOR UNCLE PRODUCE AS WELL
IMPROVING TO THIS TOOL. IN A
PRACTICAL AFFORDABLE WAY
REGARDLESS OF COMMODITY ORDER
FARM SIZE. I HERE IN CALIFORNIA
NOT LESS THAN 80% OR LESS AND-
LESS THAN A QUARTER. OUR FOUR
HUNDRED COMMODITIES ARE ACTUALLY
COVERED BY EXISTING CROP
INSURANCE PROGRAMS THAT MEANS
80% OF OUR- COMPANIES IN
CALIFORNIA DO NOT HAVE A CROP
INSURANCE PROGRAM. IN ORDER TO
RECOVER FROM SIGNIFICANT LOSSES.
ARE PRODUCES I'VE OFTEN HAD TO
RELY ON SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED AD
HOC FEDERAL FUNDING. IN THIS
CASE MORE RECENTLY WAS THE
EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM. ARE
WHAT WAS FORMALLY KNOWN AS A
WHIP PLUS. MANY PRODUCERS IN
CALIFORNIA HAD TO WAIT NEARLY
THREE YEARS. FOR DISASTER
PAYMENTS AND- FINANCIAL SUPPORT
WHILE RECOVERING FROM THESE
DISASTERS SUCH AS WILDFIRES
DROP. IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT
SAYING THAT MANY FAMILY
BUSINESSES CAN. SIMPLY CANNOT
AFFORD TO WAIT SO LONG AND-
INCREASING CROP INSURANCE FOR
CAMANCHE WILL GO A LONG WAY. AND
LEAVE IT LEAVE IT IN THE LONG
FINANCIAL DELAYS WHICH A
PATELLAR HEALTH REFORMS IN
REACHES AT RISK. SECOND WE
SUPPORT A MORE ROBUST FORESTRY
TITLE IN THE UPCOMING FARM BILL.
THE U. S. FOREST SERVICE
RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THEIR OVER
THIRTY EIGHT MILLION DEAD TREES
IN CALIFORNIA ALONE. TO KEEP OUR
FORCE HEALTHY AND MITIGATE
WILDFIRE RISK COMMUNITIES AND
NATURAL RESOURCES. THE FARM BILL
SHOULD SEEK TO ADDRESS FORCED
HEALTH CHALLENGES ON FEDERAL
STATE. AND NON FEDERAL LANDS.
THIRD RELATIVE TO CONSERVE
PROGRAM THAT PRODUCE RECESSED
PROGRAM. WE HAVE URGED THE U. S.
HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE TO
BE MINDFUL OF PROGRAM DELIVERY
CAPACITY. IN RECENT YEARS
STAFFING CHALLENGES HAVE MADE IT
DIFFICULT AT TIMES FOR MEMBERS
TO ACCESS TIMELY HELP. IN
ADDITION TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT USDA. HAS
ADEQUATE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
RESOURCES BOTH ADVISED ANSWER
PRODUCERS. LASTLY CALIFORNIA
FARM BUREAU. CALIFORNIA FARM
BUREAU RECOGNIZES THE
SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF THE
NUTRITION TITLE IN ANY FORM BILL
AS IT HELPS TO ENSURE FAMILIES
AND COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO
FRESH HEALTHY FOODS. AS WITH SO
MANY OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS. WE
BELIEVE THAT CONNECTING STATE
AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER
WITH THEIR COMMUNITY. OF FARMERS
AND RANCHERS IS AN INVALUABLE
RESOURCE. IN ENSURING SUCH GOALS
ARE MET. IN CLOSING ARE IN
UNDERSTANDS THE DIRECT
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE
BILL CAN PROVIDE. WE HOPE THAT
SOME OF THE STORIES SHARED HERE
TODAY WILL HIGHLIGHT WILL HELP
HIGHLIGHT BOTH OF THOSE. THAT
YOU ARE LOOKING TO ENGAGE WITH
OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS. THE
CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OUR
NATION'S FOODS AND OTHER GET
IT'S NOT FOR MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS EACH DAY. IS ESSENTIAL
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE FARM
BILL ESSENTIAL AND DESPITE THE
MANY CHALLENGES OUR INDUSTRY
CONTINUES TO FACE WE LOOK
FORWARD TO IMPROVING UPON
EXISTING PROGRAMS AND FINDING
WAYS TO BETTER SUPPORT THE
NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS. I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
CHAIRMAN AGAIN FOR HELPING
ORGANIZE THIS HEARING ALLOWING
US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY.
BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY WE
APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON
THESE ISSUES AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT
CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU AND UP NEXT WE
HAVE IN LEMAY. PRESIDENT
CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT
ASSOCIATION. MADAM CHAIR CENTER
AROUND A GUILTY PLEASURE TO BE
WITH YOU BOTH TODAY. GOOD
MORNING MY NAME IS IAN LAWMAN I
SERVICE PRESIDENT OF THE
CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT
ASSOCIATION ALSO NOTICIA FAYE.
CFA REPRESENTS GROWERS AND
SHIPPERS OF THIRTEEN PERMANENT
FRESH FRUIT COMMODITIES THOSE
COMMODITIES ARE PEACHES PLUMS
NECTARINES APRICOTS TABLE GRAPES
APPLES PEARS PERSIMMONS
POMEGRANATES BLUEBERRIES
CHERRIES FIXING KEY WE- OUR
GROWERS ARE LOCATED AS FAR NORTH
AS LAKE COUNTY NEWS FAR SOUTH IS
GOOD THE COACHELLA VALLEY. AND
WE HAVE BEEN PROBABLY ADVOCATING
ON THE BEHALF FOR EIGHTY SEVEN
YEARS. BEYOND SEE IF THE PHASE
INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS TO ADVOCATE
FOR THE TWENTY TWENTY THREE FARM
BILL REAUTHORIZATION CFA IS A
PROUD MEMBER OF THE SPECIALLY
CROP FORMED ALLIANCE. THE
ALLIANCE IS A NATIONAL COALITION
OF MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED
ORGANIZATIONS AND WAS
ESTABLISHED TO ENHANCE THE
COMPETITIVE COMPETITIVENESS OF
THE SPECIALLY CROP AGRICULTURE.
AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF
AMERICANS BY BROADENING THE
SCOPE OF US AGRICULTURAL PUBLIC
POLICY. WE APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY COMMENTS TODAY
REGARDING THE TWENTY TWENTY
THREE FARM BILL IT GOES WITHOUT
SAYING THAT THE FARM BILL IS AN
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION FOR OUR MEMBERS AND
WITH EACH RE AUTHORIZATION.
BRINGS WITH IT RENEWED HOPE AND
EXPECTATION FOR OUR INDUSTRY. AT
MINIMUM IT IS OUR MEMBERS BELIEF
THAT CONGRESS SHOULD APPROACH
THIS RE AUTHORIZATION WITH THE
GOAL OF MAINTAINING BASELINE
FUNDING. BUT IN ALL TRUTH WE
KNOW THAT US GROWERS DESERVE A
BOLSTERING OF RESOURCES THAT CAN
HELP PROPEL OUR INDUSTRY TOWARDS
A SUSTAINABLE AND COMPETITIVE
FUTURE. GLOBAL CONSUMERS RELY ON
AND TRUST THE U. S. AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRY MORE THAN ANY OTHER
AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION REGION IN
THE WORLD. THE PRODUCTION OF
FOOD AND FIBER IS NOT ONLY A
NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE BUT A
GLOBAL SECURITY ISSUE. WE HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORTIFY THAT
SECURITY WITH THIS WE
AUTHORIZATION AND IT IS SEE A
FACE HOPE THAT CONGRESS. WILL BE
BOLD ENOUGH TO MAKE IT
MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS NECESSARY
TO MEET THIS MOMENT. AS FOLLOWS
ARE SOME SEE IF IT SEE A FACE
TOP PRIORITIES. IN TITLE ONE THE
CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT
ASSOCIATION IS A PROPONENT OF
THE CREATION OF A PERMANENT
DISASTER PROGRAM. WITH AN EVER
CHANGING CLIMATE CALIFORNIA
GROWERS HAVE BECOME FAR MORE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTREME WEATHER
RELATED EVENTS. SUCH AS DROUGHT
AND FIRE. CFA WAS PLEASED TO SEE
THE INCLUSION OF FIRE AND SMOKE
EXPOSURE IN THE TWENTY TWENTY
AND TWENTY TWENTY ONE WITH PLUS.
PLUS REAUTHORIZATION. FIRE AND
SMOKE EXPOSURE CONTINUE TO BE
MAJOR THREATS TO CALIFORNIA
GROWERS AND ONE THAT DOES NOT
ALWAYS DIRECTLY IMPACT AFTER.
SENTRY BUT CAN ALSO SEVERELY IN
. OUR EMPLOYEE COMMUNITY. AND
OUR ABILITY TO HARVEST A CROP.
IF WE CANNOT OPERATE IN A SAFE
WORKING ENVIRONMENT OUR
EMPLOYEES LOSE OUT ON WORK
OPPORTUNITIES. AND WE
POTENTIALLY CAN. CAN OR CANNOT
SUSTAIN THE CROCKER CAN'T
SUSTAIN THE CROP LOSS DUE TO.
THE PERISH ABILITY OF OUR
COMMODITIES A PERMANENT PROGRAM
THAT CONSIDERS THE FULL BREADTH
AND DEPTH OF CLIMATE RELATED
IMPACTS. ON OUR COMMODITIES IS
NEATLY- IT'S NEEDED AND TIMELY.
WITH REGARDS TO TITLE TO
CONSERVATION THE CALIFORNIA
FRESH FRUIT ASSOCIATION A
PROPONENT OF THE CONTINUANCE OF
PROGRAMS SUCH AS- THE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES
PROGRAM. ALSO KNOWN AS HE
QUIPPED. WHICH IS BEEN HEAVILY
UTILIZED BY INDUSTRY TO IMPROVE
OUR IRRIGATION AND CONSERVATION
PRACTICES AS HIGHLIGHTED BY
SECRETARY ROSS RECENTLY EVEN
MOVING INTO GROUNDWATER BANKING.
WITH CAN WITH THE CONTINUING
DROUGHT AND THE STEADY DRUMBEAT
FOR CALIFORNIA GROWERS TO DO
MORE WITH LESS PROGRAMS THAT CAN
LEVERAGE FEDERAL RESOURCES WITH
FARMERS OWN FINANCIAL
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAXIMISE
INDUSTRY'S ABILITY. TO MAKE
MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS FOR
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. WITH REGARDS
TO TRADE US EXPORTS OF FRESH
FRUITS VEGETABLES AND TREE NUTS
ARE A REDUCTION OF MORE THAN
FOUR POINT EIGHT BILLION FROM
FORTY SEVEN FORTY SEVEN POINT
SEVEN BILLION IN 200-018-2402
POINT NINE BILLION IN TWENTY
TWENTY ONE. IN ADDITION USDA'S
OFFICE OF THE OF THE CHIEF
ECONOMIST FORECASTED LOWER FARM
INCOME FOR SPECIALLY CROPS. BY
ANOTHER SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY
MILLION. IN TWENTY TWENTY TWO
FROM TWENTY TWENTY ONE. WITH
HIGH PRODUCTION COST INFLATION
AND SHRINKING INCOMES THE
SPECIALLY CROP SECTORS ARGUABLY
ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT SEGMENTS
IN THE FARM ECONOMY. WE GROW
COMMODITIES THAT ARE IN HIGH
DEMAND GLOBALLY CONSUMERS ACROSS
THE WORLD HAVE IMMENSE TRUST IN
OUR GROWING PRACTICES AND BECOME
ACCUSTOMED TO OUR HIGH QUALITY
PRODUCT. IN TURN THEY'RE WILLING
TO PAY PREMIUM PRICES IF WE ARE
ABLE TO DELIVER IT. THE ONGOING
TRACK CHINA TRADE DISPUTE
CONTINUING IMPACTS RELATED TO
THE KOBE CODE NINETEEN PANDEMIC
SLOWDOWNS AT THE PORT AND
ARDUOUS. NEGOTIATIONS RELATED TO
ACCESS WITH OUR TRADING PARTNERS
HAVE ALL BEEN IMPEDIMENTS TO OUR
ABILITY TO DELIVER ARE IN DEMAND
PRODUCT. THE CURRENT MARKET
ACCESS PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS MAP
IS HEAVILY OVERPRESCRIBED
PRIVATE FUNDING FROM INDUSTRY
EXCEED 70% OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL
INVESTMENT IN MAP AND THE MAP
PROGRAM. APPLICATIONS FOR COSTS
SHOULD COST SHARE FUNDING
CONSISTENTLY EXCEED FEDERAL
LOCATION AMOUNTS ECHO. ECHO
METRIC STUDIES. CONSISTENTLY
INDICATE. THAT EXPORT MARKET
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ARE
UNDERFUNDED. THAT IS WHY WE
JOINED A GROWING CHORUS AND
APPRECIATE THE ADVOCACY BY
CONGRESSMAN COSTA- THAT PARTNERS
IN THE CALLING OF THE DOUBLING
OF MAP ESTABLISHING A FAIR LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD. FOR AMERICAN
SPECIALLY CROP PRODUCERS
INCLUDES ASSISTING PRODUCERS
WITH UNFAIR FOREIGN COMPETITION
PROMOTING AMERICAN SPECIALLY
CROPS IN FOREIGN MARKETS AND
ELIMINATING TRADE BARRIERS THAT
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST U. S.
SPECIALLY CROP EXPORTS. WITH
REGARDS TO NUTRITION THE
CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT
ASSOCIATION IS A PROPONENT OF
INVESTMENTS IN THE
COMPETITIVENESS AND
SUSTAINABILITY OF THE U. S. BUT
CROP INDUSTRY THAT WILL PRODUCE
A STRONG RETURN FOR ALL
AMERICANS. EXPANDING ACCESS. AND
AVAILABILITY TO SAFE WHOLESOME
HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE FOODS
WILL ENCOURAGE LIFELONG HEALTHY
EATING HABITS AND HELP ADDRESS
NATIONAL PRIORITIES SUCH AS
OBESITY HEART DISEASE AND FOOD
AND NUTRITION SECURITY.
SPECIFICALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THE PERMANENT STRENGTHENING
OF SNAP BY BASE BASING BONTA
BENEFIT ALLOTMENTS. ON THE LOW
COST FOOD PLANT REMOVING THE CAP
ON SHELTERED DEDUCTIONS
INCREASING THE MINIMUM BENEFIT
LEVEL AND BETTER ACCOUNTING FOR
MEDICAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY
SNAP PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE OLDER
OR HAVE DISABILITIES. WITH
REGARDS TO T. FAP WE BELIEVE
THAT THE FARM BILL SHOULD
INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MANDATORY
FUNDING FOR T. FAT FOOD IN
RECOGNITION OF THE SUSTAINED
HIGH NEED FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE AT
FOOD BANK NATION FOOD BANKS
NATIONWIDE. T. FAT MANDATORY
FUNDS SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED AT
LEAST AT FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY
MILLION PER YEAR IN THE NEXT
FARM BILL. KEEP UP STORAGE AND
DISTRIBUTION FUND SHOULD
INCREASE TO REFLECT THE ACTUAL
DISTRICT- DISTRIBUTION COSTS
NEEDED TO TWO HUNDRED MILLION
DOLLARS PER YEAR ATIF UP INVEST
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS SHOULD
REMAIN. AT AT AT LEAST FIFTEEN
MILLION PER YEAR CONGRESS SHOULD
ALSO ENSURE THE USDA RETAINS THE
AUTHORITY TO PURCHASE BONUS
COMMODITIES IN TIMES OF HIGH
HIGH NEED FOR EMERGENCY FOOD
RELIEF IN ADDITION TO TIMES OF
LOW COMMODITY PRICES. SO THAT
THE PROGRAMS THE PROGRAM IS
RESPONSIVE TO EXCESS SUPPLY IN
EXCESS DEMAND THIS IS THIS A
STORY SHOULD BE BOLSTERED BY
BOTH TEETH- IN BOTH KEEP HAPPEN
SECTION THIRTY TWO PURCHASES.
CFA IS ALSO A PROPONENT OF
CHANGING THE BIT ASSESSMENT FROM
A LOW COST WHICH IS THE CURRENT
ASSESSMENT. TO A BEST VALUE.
LASTLY OUR PARTNER IN THE FOOD.
DISTRIBUTION ARE IMPACTED BY
RISING COSTS OF FOOD AND FOOD
INFLATION THEIR PRIVATE
DONATIONS SUPPORT ISN'T
STRETCHING AS FAR- AS NEED
REMAIN STABLE CONTINUED
INVESTMENT IN FEDERAL
PROGRAMMING LIKE KEEP HAPPENED
SNAPPER VITAL TO ENSURE.
NEIGHBORS AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES CAN
CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD
THEY NEED TO THRIVE. WITH
REGARDS TO RESEARCH AGAIN THE
CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT
ASSOCIATION OF SUPPORT OF A
FUNDING THAT CAN LEAD TO
SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS TECHNO
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND
DATA ENABLE DECISION MAKING.
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE LONG
TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND
PROFITABILITY OF THE SPECIALTY
CROP INDUSTRY AS WE ADAPT TO
LABOR CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CHALLENGES AS WELL AS PEST AND
DISEASE RISING GLOBAL
COMPETITIVENESS. SHIFTING
CONSUMER PREFERENCES SUPPLY
CHAIN DISRUPTION THAN OTHER
CHALLENGES AS A STANDARD A
SUSTAINED FEDERAL INVESTMENT
INTO RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
MUST BE A MEANINGFUL SCALE TO
CATALYZE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
INDUSTRY TO ALLEVIATE. EXISTING
CHALLENGES AND PROPEL YOU
ESPECIALLY CROP INDUSTRY TO A
NEW LEVEL OF GLOBAL COMPETITIVE
COMPETITIVENESS. FUNDING SHOULD
ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR
TECHNOLOGIES THAT ALREADY EXIST
BUT DUE TO HIGH COSTS. MIGHT NOT
BE AFFORDABLE ENOUGH FOR WIDE
SPREAD OUT THIS WIDESPREAD
ADOPTION WE MUST CREATE. AND
FUND PROGRAMS THAT INCENTIVIZE
INDUSTRIES TO MOVE TOWARDS AN
EFFICIENT SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE
OPERATION. EXTENSION OF
MANDATORY FARM BILL FUNDING FOR
COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS SUCH
AS THE EMERGENCY CITRUS DISEASE
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAM
SHOULD ALSO BE FULLY FUNDED. SEE
IF IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY
REPRESENTS INTEREST WITHOUT FOR
MY GOOD FRIEND CASEY CREAMER.
WITH REGARDS TO THE TITLE TO
HORTICULTURE'S SIMILAR TO THE
CHALLENGES OF OUR PRODUCERS ARE
OUR PRODUCERS FACING
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS THERE ARE
OBSTACLES CURRENTLY IN THE U. S.
DOMESTIC MARKET THE PREVENT
EXPANDING OR EVEN THREATEN
CONSUMER DEMAND. A SECURE AND
PROSPEROUS AGRICULTURE'S
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ESPECIALLY
FOR THE SPECIAL CROP INDUSTRY IS
MORE AND MORE POPULOUS STATES
WILL ENSURE VIBRANT RURAL
COMMUNITIES. WITH THIS IN MIND
CFA SUPPORTIVE OF THE ACTION TO
DIRECT U. S. D. A.'S AGRICULTURE
MARKETING SERVICE. A. M. S. TO
DEVELOPING FEEL DOMESTIC GENERIC
PROGRAM- MARKETING PROGRAMS
STRUCTURED AROUND COMPETITIVE
GRANTS WITH A GLOBAL THEIR WITH
THE GOAL OF CREATING. AN
INCREASING CONSUMER DEMAND FOR
YOU ESPECIALLY CROPS THAT'S AN
INTERESTING POINT THAT I WANT TO
POINT OUT USDA CURRENTLY DOES
NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
PROMOTE. US GOODS WITHIN THE
UNITED STATES. SO THAT THAT THAT
IN ITSELF IS JUST SEEMS.
NONSENSICAL SO WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THAT CHANGED GETTING CLOSER
TO THE END FOR MANY OF OUR
GROWERS FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT
OF FARM SAFETY OF THE FARM
SAFETY NET. GIVEN THE BREADTH OF
COMMODITY COVERAGE AND
CAPABILITY TO REIMBURSE
PRODUCERS FOR CROP LOSSES THE
FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM
IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT POLICY
THAT HELPS FARMERS. MANAGE RISKS
ASSOCIATED WITH NATURAL
DISASTERS INCLUDING DROUGHT
EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND OTHER
PERILS INCREASE PROGRAM FUNDING
AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANDED
COMMODITY COVERAGE ARE ALL
ELEMENTS. WE ARE SUPPORT ABOUT.
ONE LAST ADDITIONAL POINT
CONGRESS SHOULD ADDRESS THE
CRITICAL MARKET CHALLENGES THAT
EXIST WITH SEASONAL AND
PERISHABLE. OR THE SEASON ONE
PERISHABLE NATURE OF SPECIALLY
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCERS TO
FACE SURGING AND SOMETIMES
UNFAIRLY PRICED IMPORTS DURING
SHORT MARKETING WINDOW. IN WHICH
MANY SUCH PRODUCERS HAVE TO SELL
THEIR PRODUCTS COMPETITIVENESS
WOULD BE ENHANCED BY PROVIDING
REGULATORY OR LEGISLATIVE
SOLUTIONS. AGAIN I THINK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENT
TODAY AND FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON
THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. N. UP THAT'S WE
HAVE MICHAEL DEL FOR CALIFORNIA
RANGELAND TRUST. MORNING MADAM
CHAIR SENATOR THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER THIS
IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC. THAT
TO IT THE INTEREST THAT THE
COMMITTEE SHOWING IN THIS IS SO
VALUABLE AND I HOPE THAT WE'RE
ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU SOME SOME
FEEDBACK THAT WE CAN TAKE BACK
TO. OUR GREAT CONGRESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVES WE HAVE TO
MEMBERS ON THE HOUSE AG
COMMITTEE BOTH. CONGRESSMAN
COSTA AND CONGRESSMAN I'M OFFICE
SPENT SOME TIME IN THIS BUILDING
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THEM SOME
SOME FEEDBACK. HI MICHAEL DELVAR
AND THE CEO OF THE CALIFORNIA
RANGE LAND TRUST AND I COME FROM
A RANCHING FAMILY MENDOCINO LAKE
COUNTIES WHERE WE PRODUCE BEEF
CATTLE SHEEP. TIMBER AND HEY AND
I'M HONORED TO BE PART OF AN
ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES
AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION
SERVICES TO THE RANCHERS AND
STATE A CALIFORNIA. DOCTOR
CENTER MADE A COMMENT ABOUT WILL
HAVE A SPECIAL INTEREST AND-
OBVIOUSLY MY SPECIAL INTERESTS
BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO SHARE
WITH YOU OUR FEEDBACK ON THE
CONSERVATION TITLE. BUT THERE IS
NO MORE SPECIAL INTERESTS TO
EVERYBODY. IN THE STATE'S IN
PRODUCTION OF FOOD AND FIBER.
AND AS CAL BEING THE LARGEST I
REQUEST STATE IT IS SO
IMPORTANT. THE CALIFORNIA RANGE
ENTRUSTED CELEBRATING HIS TWENTY
FIFTH YEAR. ESTABLISHED IN
NINETEEN NINETY EIGHT BY THE
CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN'S
ASSOCIATION. THIS IS OUR SILVER
ANNIVERSARY AND OVER THAT SHORT
TWENTY FIVE YEAR PERIOD WE HAVE
CONSERVED PERMANENTLY THREE
HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE THOUSAND
ACRES ACROSS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. RANGELANDS HOWEVER
ARE DISAPPEARING OUT OF CULTURAL
AND IS DISAPPEARING ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. BETWEEN TWO THOUSAND
AND ONE IN TWENTY SIXTEEN MORE
THAN FOREIGNERS SIXTY FIVE
THOUSAND ACRES OF AG LANDS WERE
LAWSUIT ELEMENT JUST IN
CALIFORNIA. OF THAT 60% WAS OF
RANGELAND AND PASTURE LAND. WE
TALK ABOUT FOOD SECURITY.
CALIFORNIA IS THE FIFTH LARGEST
PRODUCER OF BEEF CATTLE. WE LOSE
THAT LAND WE LOSE THOSE
PRODUCERS THE FOLKS THAT REYES
THIS FOOD AND FIBER. THE SNAP
PROGRAM IS WONDERFUL BUT WE
DON'T HAVE FOOD. IN IT IT'S
POINTLESS. WE DID A STUDY HOME
UC BERKELEY DID A STUDY ON OUR
BEHALF TO. FIND OUT HOW
IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL AND
CONSERVATION IS HOW VALUABLE IS
THAT BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY SAY
IT'S REALLY REALLY VALUABLE SO
MANY TIMES BEFORE SOMEONE SAYS
WELL HOW DO YOU DEFINE REALLY
REALLY. SO EVER THREE INTERNS
SEVENTY ONE THOUSAND ACRES THREE
INTERNS SIX THOUSAND WAS STUDIED
AND THE- RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF
PUBLIC DOLLARS FROM BOTH THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. TURNED OUT
TO BE THREE DOLLARS AND FORTY
SEVEN CENTS AND IT OUT FOR EVERY
DOLLAR INVESTED. NOT SAID GREAT
RETURN ON INVESTMENT I'D LOVE TO
GET THREE DOLLARS FIFTY CENTS
BACK SPECIALLY IN THE MARKETS
TODAY. BUT A BIGGER IMPACT. TO
YOUR CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA WAS ON AN
ANNUAL BASIS OF WHAT'S THAT
VALUE OF THAT OPEN SPACE THAT
WILDLIFE HABITAT THAT CLEAN AIR
CLEAN WATER PROVIDED BY THESE
WORKING RANCHES. AND THE FOOD
PRODUCTION OF COURSE. AND THAT
NUMBER JUST ON THREE OR SIX
THOUSAND ACRES THAT'S JUST A
FRACTION OF WHAT'S IN THE STATE.
WAS ONE POINT FOUR FOUR BILLION
DOLLARS A YEAR. THAT'S HOW
IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL AND
CONSERVATION IS. TO CALIFORNIANS
. I MENTIONED WE HAVE FREEDOM
SEVENTY ONE THOUSAND ACRES THIS
CONSERVED. BUT WE HAVE OVER TWO
HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES
REPRESENTING NINETY RANCHING
FAMILIES. WAITING TO BE
CONSERVED. AND THEY'RE WAITING
BECAUSE WE NEED THE FUNDING TO
HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE ARE
PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP OF
RANGELAND TRUSTS OR PORT WRITTEN
A LOT OF ACRONYM STATUS ON A TRY
TO STAY AWAY FROM. FROM THOSE
UNTIL I CAN TO FIND HIM FOR YOU.
BUT THE TWO ARE THOUSAND ACRES
THAT WE HAVE IN PORT HAS
COLLECTIVELY CONSERVED OVER
THIRTEEN HUNDRED. RANCHES
THROUGHOUT THE INTO THE NINE
WESTERN STATES THAT COME THEN
COMPASS SPORT. THAT'S OVER THREE
MILLION ACRES. THIS IS IMPORTANT
WORK. BUT THAT TWO HUNDRED
THOUSAND ACRES THAT WE HAVE JUST
US JUST CALIFORNIA RANGELAND
DRESSED. WOULD TAKE IT WOULD
TAKE ABOUT TWO HUNDRED FIFTY
MILLION DOLLARS TO COMPLETELY
SECURE THOSE THOSE ACRES. THAT
WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS
MEETING THE THIRTY BY THIRTY
GOALS THAT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA SET UP. THE FARM BILL
. TRADITIONALLY HAS DISTRIBUTED
TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BETWEEN FIVE AND EIGHT MILLION
DOLLARS A YEAR. THAT'S IT FOR
THE LARGEST AG STATE IN THE
NATION. FOR THE AGRICULTURAL AND
CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM.
TO GET FIVE TO SEVEN MILLION.
THAT'S WHY IT'S A LOT OF MONEY
THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET. SO
WE'VE OF COURSE I KNOW YOU'VE
NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE BUT WE
CAN SURE USE MORE MONEY OUT OF
THAT ALLOCATION JUST THAT PIECE
OF THE PIE FOR CALIFORNIA. I WE
PROVIDED YOU WITH A VERY WALKIE
PAPER ON ON CHANGES- WE FOUND
THAT THE OUR FOLKS ARE OUR
FRIENDS IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
STAFF LED TO SEE THE WALKING
PAPERS BUT- RATHER THAN READ
THAT TO YOU I JUST WANT TO TOUCH
ON A FEW POINTS THAT ARE REALLY
CRITICAL FOR THE SUCCESS. OF THE
FARM BILL PROGRAMS FOR
AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION.
FOR US. IT'S KEEPING PRIVATELY
OWNED WORKING LANDS AT PLAY A
CRITICAL ROLE IN DELIVERING THE
MEANINGFUL CONSERVATION THAT
THAT'S THAT'S THE KEY THIS IS A
VOLUNTARY. PROGRAM AND IT'S
KEEPING WORKING LANDS IN PRIVATE
HANDS IT COMES WITH OF UP MADE A
FAMILY OR OPERATORS STAYS ON THE
TAX ROLL. CONTINUES TO PROVIDE
THAT THAT THOSE BENEFITS. THE
CHANGES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
SECURE AN EIGHTEEN FARMER WERE
GREAT THEY AND WE THEY THEY WENT
A LONG WAY TO IMPROVING THE
PROGRAM. BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME
SOME CHANGES TO MAKE AND ONE OF
THOSE. IS I CAN MENTION INCREASE
OF THE FUNDING FOR CALIFORNIA.
THE SECOND ONE. IS INCREASING
THE COST SHARE. RIGHT NOW.
THROUGH THE FARM BILL 50% OF THE
COST OR OR ARE. PROVIDED ARE IN
ORDER SIXTY ARE SORRY 75% IF
IT'S GRASSLANDS OF SPECIAL
SIGNIFICANCE WE LIKE TO SEE THAT
INCREASED. 67% AND 80% THAT IT
WOULD FOR SPECIALLY FOR STATES
UNLIKE CALIFORNIA WE'RE VERY
FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME WONDERFUL
CARSHARE PROGRAMS ON THE STATE
LEVEL. THROUGH THE SOCK PROGRAM
STATE- AG AND CONSERVATION. AND
THROUGH WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
BOARD BUT OTHER STATES DO NOT
HAVE THAT. BUT BY INCREASING
THAT THAT CAR SHARE EVEN IN
CALIFORNIA THAT WOULD BE A BIG
BENEFIT FOR US TO MAKE THOSE
DOLLARS GO FURTHER ON THE STATE
SIDE. D. A. JUST A GROSS INCOME
. IS A AFFECT AN ISSUE THAT
REALLY IMPACTS. LANDOWNERS WE'RE
NOT LOOKING WE'RE TRYING TO
PROTECT THE LAND IS THE RESOURCE
HAS BEEN PROTECTED THIS IS
SENECA A. B. A SUBSIDY PROGRAM
IT'S NOT A CUT IT'S NOT A- A
PROGRAM THAT IS. BASED ON THE
PHONE PRODUCTION IT'S A REAL
ESTATE PROGRAM. SO BY
ELIMINATING ADJUSTED GROSS
INCOME IS TWO THINGS ONE IT
ALLOWS THE LANDOWNER TO IF ONLY
BACK UP I'M SORRY. IF GOVERNMENT
HAS ACQUIRING FEE TITLE WE DON'T
LOOK AT THE LANDOWNER. SO WHY
ARE WE LOOKING AT IT FOR A AN
EASEMENT. LETS JUST GET THE LAND
CONSERVING ARTISTS OF WHO OWNS
IT. THE OTHER PART OF THE OF THE
AGI IS NOT COUNTING THAT IS PART
OF THE- GOING FORWARD AND- FARM
BILL PROGRAMS FOR EXAMPLE. A
LANDOWNER SELLS AN EASEMENT AND
THEN THERE WAS THE PROCEEDS
RIGHT HE'S BEEN ARE USED IN THE
AGI CALCULATIONS IN THAT MANNER
COULD BE PROHIBITED FROM DOING
FOR THE CONSERVATION WORK TO
EQUIP AND OTHER PROGRAMS THE
FARM BILL. SO ASKING THAT THAT
AGI NOT BE CONSIDERED IN. AS IN
THOSE CALCULATIONS. ONE OF THE
LAST ONES I WANT TO TOUCH ON IT
TRANSACTION COSTS. THE
TRANSACTION BECAUSE IT'S
EXPENSIVE TO DO THIS WORK AND
THAT COST IS BORNE BY THE
LANDOWNER. SO PARTICULAR FOR
LANDOWNERS THAT ARE REALLY
TRYING TO MAKE TO MAKE IT AND-
IT'S A SMALLER PROPERTY IT'S A
SMALLER EASEMENT VALUE. TO PAY
THOSE COSTS IS IT'S A BIG
BURDEN. WE HAVE LANDOWNERS THAT
TAKE THOSE FUNDS AND OFTENTIMES
AND THEN COULD DO MORE LAND
CONSERVATION WHICH IS GREAT. BUT
IF THAT MONEY IS TAKEN OUT TO
COVER THE TRANSACTION COSTS A
DAY PROHIBITS THEM FROM DOING
MORE CONSERVATION WORK SO WE
LOVE TO SEE THE TRANSACTION
COSTS COVERED BY THE BY THE FARM
BILL SOME OF THE STATE PROGRAMS
DO THAT NOW IT'S A BIG BIG
BENEFIT SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE
THAT. AS WELL. AND THEN FINALLY
FINALLY- ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
WE HAVE WITH WITHIN RCS IN THE
SERVICE DELIVERY IS THE-
REQUIREMENT THAT A LOT OF THE
PROCESS IS GO BACK TO DC. WE
WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE
STATES TO HAVE MORE AUTHORITY WE
HAVE A GREAT STATE OFFICE AND
DAVIS FOR NRCS THEY'RE WONDERFUL
PEOPLE THEY WORK HARD BUT WHEN
WE SEND STUFF BACK TO DC TO
HEADQUARTERS. IT COULD TAKE.
LITERALLY NINE TO TEN MONTHS
JUST TO GET AN APPRAISAL REVIEW.
WHEN WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF
DOING THAT IN CALIFORNIA SO
THAT'S A THAT'S A BIG STRUCTURAL
CHANGE. IN THE SERVICE DELIVERY
BUT IT WOULD MEAN A LOT TO. THE
PROCESS AND GETTING THOSE
DOLLARS ON THE GROUND QUICKER.
THE REST IS THERE FOR YOUR
READING ENJOYMENT AND HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MAY HAVE FROM. THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
THIS WITH YOU- AND IT. DIDN'T UP
NEXT WE HAVE MERION FORMER DAM
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT ROLE
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE
CALIFORNIA. YES THANK YOU MADAM
CHAIR SENATOR ALBERT OUT OF
JAIL. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY HERE TODAY. MY NAME
IS MARYANN WARMER AND I
REPRESENT RURAL COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA.
WE REPRESENT FORTY OF THE
STATE'S FIFTY EIGHT COUNTIES. A
ROUGHLY 60% OF THE GEOGRAPHY OF
CALIFORNIA AND AS I LIKE TO SAY
IF EVERYONE IS HOME. 12% OF THE
POPULATION- WE GO FROM IMPERIAL
COUNTY IN THE FAR SOUTH TO DOWN
OR COUNTY IN THE FAR NORTH. AND
WE'RE PROUD OF THE AREAS THAT WE
REPRESENT- THERE ARE VERY
DEPENDENT UPON A RECREATION
TOURISM OR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY
WHICH IS WHICH EXPLAINS WHY I'M
HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY. WE ARE
LOOKING AT THE FARM BUREAU IN A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS. A WE
HAVE A KEEN INTEREST. IN THE
FIVE TITLES THAT WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT TODAY LET ME CALL OUT
THREE IN PARTICULAR. I DO WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BOTH THE
NUTRITION TRACK TITLE. AND THE
CONSERVATION TITLE ARE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITIES
THAT WE SERVE. MANY OF THE
COMMUNITIES AND OUR COUNTIES ARE
DISADVANTAGED- WE HAVE LOADS. WE
HAVE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE
- A- POINT OF PRIDE IS NOT
PRIVATE THE POINT OF PLACE
RATHER. OF HAVING. FELT
RELATIVELY LOW EDUCATION VALUES
IN MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND
RELATIVELY LOW INCOME VALUES IN
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THAT
PROTECTS PRESENTS PARTICULAR
CHALLENGES WHERE PROGRAMS LIKE
THE NUTRITION TITLE. PROVIDE
KEEN NUTRITION SUPPLEMENTS TO
OUR TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE
PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE. LIKEWISE
IS MICHAEL REFERENCE THE
CONSERVATION TITLE. IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO COUNTIES AS WE TRY
TO PARTICIPATE IN MEETING OUR
ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
GOALS. WE REALLY ARE MOSTLY
OWNED IN MANY AREAS BY STATE AND
FEDERAL AGENCIES ALREADY. SO
WHEN MICHAEL COMES WITH HIS
CONSTITUENTS TO PUT A
CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO MEET
THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS. AND
KEEPS THOSE PROPERTIES ON THE
TAX ROLLS. THAT MEANS THOSE
DOLLARS CONTINUE TO FLOW TO OUR
GENERAL FUND TO ALLOW OUR
COUNTIES TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN
THE WAY THAT THEY ARE OBLIGATED
TO DO. SO WE REALLY RESPECT THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE
CONSERVATION TITLE PRESENTS. BUT
OUR FOCUS IS REALLY ON THREE
TITLES THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TITLE THE FORESTRY TITLE IN THE
ENERGY TITLE. OF CENTER ABOUT
UNDER GIL YOU'D ASKED ABOUT
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT TITLE IS ABOUT AS
CLOSE AS WE GOT TO PROVIDING
LOCAL COMMUNITIES THE
OPPORTUNITY. TO IMPROVE THEIR
WATER SUPPLY AND WATER TREATMENT
FACILITIES SO IT DOESN'T REALLY
GET AT THOSE BIG PICTURE ITEMS
BUT IT DOES PROVIDE THE FUNDS AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL DID YOU
IMPROVEMENTS AND- AS THE RECENT
DROUGHT HAS POINTED OUT IT'S OUR
COMMUNITIES- WHETHER WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT EAST PORTER BILL
OR COLUSA COUNTY. WHERE DOMESTIC
WELLS ARE GOING DRY WHERE WE
DON'T HAVE THE WATER TREATMENT
FACILITIES FOR THE RESULTING
SEWAGE AND THESE PROGRAMS ARE
KEY TO ALLOWING LOCAL
COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTIES. TO
HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDS THERE'S A
IMPEDIMENT IN SOME OF THE OTHER
FOLKS HERE THAT TODAY HAVE
TALKED ABOUT. CALIFORNIA'S SIZE
AND WE'RE PROUD OF OUR SITES AND
WE DO GREAT THINGS BECAUSE OF
OUR SIZE. BUT THE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT TITLE HAS A VARIETY
OF POPULATION CAPS THAT LIMIT
OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS THOSE
PROGRAMS. SO WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH CONGRESS MEMBER
CONSTANT CONGRESS MEMBER THEM.
IN CIRQUE IN SECURING A
DEFINITION THAT WOULD INCREASE
THOSE POPULATION CAPS TO FIFTY
THOUSAND. RIGHT NOW THE RANGES
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVE AND
TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND AND FOR
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES OF TERRA
BELLA WANTS TO PROBE TO ACCESS
SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. THEY'RE
CUT OUT. BECAUSE BY SELLING A IS
SUCH A BIG. COMMUNITY WITHIN
TOLERATE COUNTY SO WE'RE TRYING
TO GET SOME EQUITY WE UNDERSTAND
IT'S A HAVING LEFT BUT WE'RE
VERY. PLEASED THAT MR COSTA
MISTER THEM OFF THEY HAVE TAKEN
THIS ON AND WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL
THAT WE'LL GET SOME IMPROVEMENT
WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE IN THE TWENTY
EIGHTEEN FARM BILL UP TO TWENTY
FIVE THOUSAND A COUPLE THE
PROGRAMS. SO WE'RE HOPEFUL WE
ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME
OPPORTUNITY TO USE MONIES OUT OF
THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT TITLE TO
HELP MEET OUR LOAN LOSS RESERVE
IN DEPLOYING BROADBAND TO OUR
REAL COMMUNITIES. AND WE'RE
GETTING SOME TRACTION ON THAT
BECAUSE THE ROLE RECONNECT AND
SIMILAR TYPE PROGRAMS. AND THEN
FINALLY WERE ASKING FOR SOME
ACCOMMODATION IN THE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT DEFINITIONS TO ALLOW
FOR. JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY FOR
EXAMPLE TO ALLOW FOR WHAT I CALL
REGIONALIZATION OF COMMUNITIES
SO LET'S SAY TRINITY COUNTY
WANTED TO WORK WITH SISKIYOU
COUNTY. AND TO HUMBOLDT COUNTY
AND DEVELOPING A PROJECT. ALLOW
A GPA TO ROUTE TO REPRESENT
THOSE THREE AREAS SECURE THE
GRANT DO ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING
AROUND TO GRANT AND MAKE THOSE
DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO THOSE THREE
COUNTIES. WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO DO THAT ON THEIR
OWN. AGAIN WE'RE WE'RE GETTING A
LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN THAT
AREA SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL
BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT KIND OF
CHANGE. THE SECOND AREA I'D LIKE
TO TOUCH ON JUST BRIEFLY IS THE
FORESTRY TITLE. AND FOR US IN
CALIFORNIA ITS PACE AND SCALE.
CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE WAY
WE'VE BEEN INVESTING TIPS BETTER
STEWARD OUR FORESTS AND BRING
THOSE SPORES TO. LANDS INTO A
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT. THE
GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY THAT WAS
ADOPTED IN THE LAST FARM BILL
HAS BEEN KEEN. TO ALLOWING IN
OUR CASE CAL FIRE AND THE FOREST
SERVICE TO DO SOME REALLY GOOD
WORK WE LIKE TO SEE THAT
EXPANDED TO ALLOW FOR THE- THE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AS WELL AS
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. TO
ALSO HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO
MANAGE THEIR FORESTED LANDSCAPES
SIMILARLY IN TERMS OF
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE FEDS AND
THE STATE. THE OTHER TWO AREAS
WITHIN THE FORESTRY TITLE THAT
WE ARE KEEN ON ONE HAS TO DO
WITH A PROVIDING SOME SMALL
FUNDING SOURCES FOR WOOD PRODUCT
INNOVATION. WHERE THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT CROSS LAMINATED
WOOD TIMBERS OR OTHER IN IN.
INNOVATIONS THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN
THOUGHT ABOUT YET WE THINK
THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY TAKE
THAT FORCED IT OVER BURDEN AND
CREATE SOMETHING OUT OF IT THAT
HAS VALUE. FINALLY THE
AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING FOR
THOSE WHO MAKE THOSE
RECREATIONAL SPACES WORK. IS A
CRITICAL NEED WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH CHIEF MORE THE U. S. FOREST
SERVICE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY AREAS
WITHIN THE FORESTED LANDSCAPE.
WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BUILD
OUT ADDITIONAL. HOUSING FOR THE
WORK FORCE THAT WE NEED TO BRING
THOSE FORESTED LANDSCAPES INTO A
SUSTAINABLE CONFIGURATION. WE'RE
GETTING A LOT OF AGAIN A LOT OF
POSITIVE FEEDBACK WAS GONNA TAKE
SOME ADDITIONAL WORK PRESS TO
GET IT OVER THE LINE. FINALLY
LET ME TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THE
ENERGY TITLE WE HAVEN'T REALLY
TALKED ABOUT THAT TODAY. BUT AS
WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED IT WE'VE
BEEN IN CALIFORNIA FOR ANY
PERIOD OF TIME WE'VE HAD SOME
OUTAGES THAT HAVE. MADE OUR
DEFICIENCIES IN OUR OVERALL
GRADE VERY APPARENT THE ENERGY
TITLE WON'T SOLVE ALL THOSE
PROBLEMS BUT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING
FOR IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE SMALL COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS
WHETHER IT'S RIGHT MICROGREENS
ARE GENERATORS RIGHT FRANKLY. TO
KEEP OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
OUR HOSPITALS OR POLICE STATIONS
OUR SCHOOLS. IN PRODUCTION WHEN
WE HAVE THESE MULTI DAY OUTAGES
SO WE THINK THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR US TO
BRING SOME OF THOSE INVESTMENTS
INTO CALIFORNIA AND MITIGATE.
FOR THE CURRENT SCENARIO WHETHER
IT'S EPS ASSUR PS PS OUTAGES BUT
TO BRING OUR COMMUNITIES INTO A
MORE ROBUST ENVIRONMENT. SO WITH
THAT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS I KNOW IT'S BEEN A
LONG MORNING I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A-
LITTLE MORE GRANULAR LOCAL
COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE. AND WE'RE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
OF COURSE THANK YOU- WE DO HAVE
ONE MORE SPEAKER- WE HAVE PETER
MASON PRESIDENT OF NAPA COUNTY
FARM BUREAU OF PEACE BEGIN WHEN
YOU ARE READY- BEAR WITH ME I
HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LARYNGITIS
ISSUES BUT- CHAIRWOMAN ARE
TAUGHT- AND MEMBER. OF THE-
COMMITTEE THANK YOU FOR HOSTING.
THIS FARM BILL LISTENING PROCESS
SESSION TODAY I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. MY NAME IS PETER
NISSEN I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT
OF NAPA COUNTY FARM BUREAU. I
MEAN WHY GREAT GROW OR OVER
FIFTY YEARS. I WANNA BE YOUR
MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT ARMS A
LITTLE OVER NINE HUNDRED ACRES I
WON'T PERSONAL PROPERTY- I FEEL
THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT. WE GET
THE PERSPECTIVE OF A GROWER. ZHU
SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE-
THAT THE FARM BUREAU. FARM.
SHE'S BEING HELD FARM BILL THIS
IS A AFFORDED ME OVER THE YEARS-
I'VE ALSO BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
FARM SERVICE AGENCY COMMITTEE
FOR NAPA COUNTY BACK IN.
NINETEEN NINETY FIVE TO TWO
THOUSAND AND FOUR AND DURING
THAT TIME WE HAD MULTIPLE FLOOD.
ISSUES WITH DISASTERS WHERE A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF THE FARMING
COMMUNITY WERE ABLE TO USE THE
RESOURCES UP. NATIONALS IS ASTER
ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE FARM BILL
THEY MADE AN IMPORTANT IMPACT ON
TRYING TO RECOVER FROM FLOODING
THANKFULLY NAPA COUNTY HAD A
FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. ON BASS
AND SINCE THAT TIME. WE'VE HAD
VERY LITTLE ANY FLOODING SO
EVERYBODY'S TAKING AN ACTIVE
PART IN OUR COMMUNITY TO TRY TO
OFFSET SOME OF THE EXPOSURES OF
NATURAL DISASTERS. THE
UNFORTUNATE THING IS IN RISK
MANAGEMENT A CROP INSURANCE IS A
VERY IMPORTANT. COMPONENT OF
FARMERS IN ESPECIALLY THE NORTH
COAST. WE'VE HAD AT LEAST THREE
MAJOR WILDFIRE YEARS. TWO
THOUSAND FIFTEEN SEVENTEEN AND
TWENTY. BY PURSUE HAD LOSSES IN
SEVENTY TO. AND WITH THE
FOREMAN- CROPPING ORANGE. UP
WOULD HAVE BEEN- A DIFFICULT
SITUATION FOR ME TO WORK WITH
YOU KNOW KEEPING A VIABLE
BUSINESS GOING THIS RISK
MANAGEMENT TOOL IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO THE- TO THE FARMERS
AND RANCHERS. IN THE NORTH COAST
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW
THIS THIS SAFETY NET OF CROP
INSURANCE CONTINUES AND THE
CATASTROPHIC COMPONENT. IS VERY
VERY CRITICAL- FOR CROP
INSURANCE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR
FARMING. AND IF PEOPLE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY THEY CAN BUY UP TO.
AGE 85% OF INSURANCE COVERAGE
WITH CROP INSURANCE- THE OTHER
THE OTHER ISSUE WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT IT MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY
WITH THE DIFFERENT PRESENTERS IS
THE WAY CLIMATE HAS CHANGED NOT
ONLY WITH WILDFIRES BUT LAST
YEAR. IN THE EARLY PART OF
SEPTEMBER WE HAD AT LEAST WHERE
I LIVE IN CALISTOGA FIVE DAYS
WERE WAS A HUNDRED OVER A
HUNDRED FIFTEEN DEGREES IT WAS
VERY. DEBILITATING TO A LOT OF
PEOPLE AND HARVESTED THAT TIME
AND THERE WAS ALSO CROP LOSSES
THERE AND I HAD ANOTHER CROP
INSURANCE CLAIM ON THREE OF MY
FOUR VARIETIES AND I FORM. SO
THE CROP INSURANCE COMPONENT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. VERY
REASONABLE WAY TO FARM IN YOUR
FARMING PLAN WITH A RISK
MANAGEMENT OF CROP INSURANCE.
THE OTHER OTHER COMPONENT. OF
THE FARM PLAN THAT HAS BEEN VERY
BENEFICIAL TO GROWERS AND
FARMERS IN MY AREA. IS THAT
WHERE PLUS ARE NOW THE EMERGENCY
RELIEF PROGRAM I PERSONALLY HAD
TO REPLACE IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT
THAT I WENT THROUGH THE YEAH-
THE WEB PROGRAM IN TWO THOUSAND
SEVENTEEN IT DIDN'T TAKE AWHILE
TOOK A COUPLE YEARS. BUT IT IT'S
AN IMPORTANT- COMPONENT OF THE
FARM BILL TO HAVE THAT DISASTER
ASSISTANCE EVEN THOUGH ITS CAR
SHARING. WITH WITH THE PRODUCER
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT'S
AVAILABLE AND IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT YOU KNOW THIS THIS
PARTICULAR COMPONENT OF THE FARM
BILL CONTINUES. ANY OTHER LAST
THING I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT A
SECRET PROGRAM- EQUIPPED THIS IS
A VERY SUSTAINABLE- PART OF. THE
PRO THAT THE FARM BILL MAKES
AVAILABLE THROUGH NRCS AND I
PERSONALLY ABOUT. THREE OR FOUR-
STREAM BANK RESTORATION PROGRAMS
ON RIVERS AND CREEKS TO CUT DOWN
ON SWAIL LOST AND DONE. AND ALSO
THE WHOLE AVAILABILITY OF THE
EXPERTISE AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND RCS. ANY OTHER
PART OF THAT THE QUICK PROGRAM
WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE
BIT TODAY IS WATER. AND THEY
ALSO PROGRAMS. WITH WATER
EFFICIENCY EVALUATIONS. OOPS
IT'S VERY THAT YOU KNOW IS A
GROWER YOU HAVE THESE DIFFERENT
TOOLS TO ENSURE. AVAILABLE TO
YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR
FARMING IS IT. USEFUL AND MORE-
SUSTAINABLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD
WITH THESE CLIMATIC. CONDITIONS
THAT WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US AND- IT WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE WITH
US TODAY. AT THIS MOMENT I'LL GO
AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP BURKE AT
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. FOR FREE. I'M
JUST GONNA SAY THAT- ALL THAT WE
SHARE TODAY'S FEEDS INTO ONE OF
MY FAVORITE TOPICS AND REALLY
GETS ME EXCITED ABOUT
REPRESENTING- THE CALIFORNIA IN
THE SEATS- AND WORKING WITH
SENATOR BATTLE ON AGRICULTURE-
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO ELEVATE
THE ISSUES ADDS TO BRING FORWARD
KIND OF A NEW VISION. TO THE
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY HERE IN
CALIFORNIA AND THIS IS JUST THE
BEGINNING OF BRINGING ALL THE
EXPERTS INTO THE ROOM AND
ENSURING THAT WE'RE BUILDING
THOSE PARTNERSHIPS- I HAVE
RELIED HEAVILY ON OUR FARM
BUREAUS AND IN MY COUNTY AND- MY
COUNTIES- THE MAJORITY OF MY
COUNTIES HAVE FARM BUREAUS AND-
BY FAR THE EXPERTS ARE IN THAT
ROOM. THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY ARE
GROWING THE FOOD FOR US-
PACKAGING PRODUCING- MAKING SURE
THAT ALL THE BEHIND THE SCENES
WORK IS NOT NOTABLE TO THE
CONSUMER RIGHT SO THAT WE HAVE
THAT BEAUTIFUL PRODUCT THAT
BEAUTIFUL- SLAB OF BEEF- YOU
KNOW THAT THE DAIRY ALL OF THE
MARKETS OF THE DAIRY- THAT ALLOW
US TO. LIVE IN CALIFORNIA
THRIVING CALIFORNIA. ONE THING
FROM THE CONSUMER'S PERSPECTIVE
THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEN AS THE HIGH
COST OF FOOD. AND THE ASTRONAUT
NONLOCAL RISE IN- JUST EVERYDAY
HOUSING- TRANSPORTATION COSTS IN
FOOD AND I LOVE. THE NOTE OF
FOOD IS A NATIONAL SECURITY
ISSUE BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT OUR
WHOLE ECONOMY WILL COLLAPSE AND
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT THOSE OF
US WHO ARE. NOT IN THE AG
INDUSTRY- THAT ARE NOT LIVING
AND BREATHING IT EVERY DAY I
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THAT-
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY FOR ME IT
WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ALSO BRING
FORWARD WATER. BECAUSE WITHOUT
THAT VERY VITAL RESOURCE WE'RE
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
THAT THE FOOD COMMODITY HERE IN
CALIFORNIA AND BE ABLE TO LIFT
UP OUR IN OUR ECONOMY. SO I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BRINGING
FOR OR EXPERTISE AS WELL AS
TINKER YOU TO CONTINUE. TO
COLLABORATE AND TO BUILD
COALITION WITHIN THE DELEGATION
THAT WILL BE REPRESENTING US IN
DC- I AM ALWAYS- EXCITED ABOUT
VISITING SOME OF ON THE FARMS
AND THE PRODUCTION SITE SO THAT
WE AS LEGISLATORS CAN ALSO SEE.
AND EXPERIENCE FIRST HAND- AND I
WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALSO TO
EXTEND THAT OUT TO YOU- SOME OF
OUR OTHER. COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE
REPRESENT MORE OF THE URBAN
CENTERS THAT RELY ON ARE WORKING
THE RULES CENTERS RIGHT- AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH
YOU TO DO THAT AS WELL. THANK
YOU. SENATOR IF I MIGHT JUST
REAL QUICKLY- YOUR YOUR DISTRICT
IN PARTICULAR WITH ITS FORESTED
LANDSCAPE IN THE FIRE SCARRED
AREAS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
THE FORESTRY TITLE DOES ALLOW US
TO DO IS BRING MORE MONIES IN
FOR WATERSHED IMPROVEMENTS AND
PROTECTION. AND WITHOUT THAT ARE
FORESTED LANDSCAPES ARE NOT
PRODUCING THE WATER SUPPLIER THE
WATER QUALITY THAT THEY HAVE
HISTORICALLY SAME IS TRUE. IN
SEQUOIA SO IT'S ONE OF THE
TITLES THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS TALK
ABOUT IN THE CONTEXT OF WATER
SUPPLY AND WATER QUALITY. BUT
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TITLE IN
MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF THE
LANDSCAPE THAT DOES PROVIDE THAT
IN CALIFORNIA. THAT'S RATE IN
UAE UNDERSCORE ONE OF THE OTHER
ISSUES THAT IS SO VITAL TO US
HERE IN CALIFORNIA- THAT TOUCHES
THE AG INDUSTRY IS OUR OUR- OUR
DISCONNECT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT
PROPER FOREST MANAGEMENT
CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERALL
CYCLE. OF FOOD IN LIFE AND SO
YOU KNOW I THINK BACK YOU KNOW
TO OUR ANCESTORS WHERE CATTLE
WAS ALLOWED TO GRAZE THE LAND
FREE LEE. AND WITHIN. OUR OUR
LAND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE- THRIVED
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SO OVER
REGULATED IN THAT. YOU KNOW. OUR
EVEN OUR COWS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO
DO SOMETIMES RIGHT- YOU GOTTA
CHECK CHECK THE LAWS. SO I THINK
YOU KNOW WE ARE BEHOLDEN TO
GOING BACK TO BASICS AND
UNDERSTANDING THAT FOOD AND
WATER IS A BASIC NECESSITY OF
LIFE. AND WHEN WE OVER REGULATE
UNDER FUNDING UNDER APPRECIATED
THAT COMMODITY THAN WE ARE
ESSENTIALLY TAKING THE HUMAN
RACE DOWN A PATH OF DEATH AND
DESTRUCTION SO I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT. THAT I UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE CONVERSATION
WE'RE HAVING HERE TODAY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU CENTER I FEEL
VERY MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT- YOU
KNOW ACT AGRICULTURE IS A
NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE AND-
EVERY- ISSUE THAT YOU THAT YOU
COVERED TODAY IS JUST I THINK
IT'S TRULY IMPORTANT AND- WE MAY
END UP HAVING TO HAVE MORE.
HEARINGS JUST ON THE U. S. FARM
BILL BECAUSE IT COVERS SO MUCH
IN A LOT OF THESE M. IT WILL ALL
THE TITLES HAVE ALL THESE
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE JUST
SO IMPORTANT TO. OUR
LIVELIHOODS- TO OUR FOOD
SECURITY AND THAT IS SOMETHING
YOU FOOD SECURITY IS IT. I DON'T
THINK IT'S ON THE TOP OF OUR
MINDS. OR THE ARE YOU AT OR FOR
ANYONE IS LIVING OUTSIDE OF
RURAL CALIFORNIA OR OR A RURAL
AMERICA. BUT IT PLAYS A HUGE
ROLE IN AND EVERYONE'S LIVES
AND- WHEN PEOPLE START TALKING
ABOUT IS WHEN YOU DO WE FEEL AT
THE GROCERY STORE. BUT THAT YOU
KNOW THE REALITY IS THAT THE
SITUATION COULD BE MUCH WORSE
AND WATER IS EXTREMELY ESSENTIAL
TO FOOD PRODUCTION AND TO
GROWING FOOD. AND WE NEED TO DO.
MORE ON THIS IN THIS AREA. AND.
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS LIKE
IT COULD HAVE FOR A- FOR A OF
YOU REALLY. ALL TRY TO KEEP.
KEEP THE MINIMAL- ON. THE
PARTICULARLY I KNOW THERE'S BEEN
A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE
GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS- YOU
NEVER KNOW IF YOU'D- LIKE TO
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT. MORE TO THAT
I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN- IN ONE
LITTLE BIT MORE AND SEEING WHERE
WHAT MORE WE CAN DO UP FOR ROLE
DEVELOPMENT AND- I BELIEVE
THERE'S PROGRAMS. UNDER RURAL
DEVELOPMENT FOR UP FOR
HOSPITALS- GRANTS. AND SEE WHAT
MORE WE CAN DO IN THAT ARE YOU
KNOW THAT. IN RURAL. AND RURAL
COMMUNITIES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY
STRUGGLING WITH. WITH- YOU KNOW
. PROVIDE THE PROVIDER SHORTAGES
HOSPITALS GROUP HOSPITAL
CLOSURES WE'RE SEEING THAT A LOT
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND- I
THINK THAT THAT'S WERE YOU. IN A
WAY WE'RE GONNA NEED MORE
SUPPORT FINANCIAL SUPPORT. AND
ALSO SEE IF THERE'S ANY
OPPORTUNITY YOUR ROOM UNDER
FEDERAL DEVELOPMENT TO. FURTHER
GET ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN THIS
IN THIS AREA- AND THEN ANYTHING
ELSE IT IN TERMS OF. LAND
CONSERVATION. THERE'S ANYTHING
ELSE THAT THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD
IN TERMS OF THE AGI IN. IN
KEEPING THE LAND PRIVATE- ANY
ANY ANY COMMENTS OR OR ANSWERS
ARE APPRECIATED IN MY COMMENTS
WITH REGARDS TO- GLOBAL
COMPETITIVENESS- IT REALLY AT
LEAST FROM MY COMMODITY SECTOR
COMES DOWN TO. THE PAIR'S
ABILITY OF OUR OUR COMMODITY
WHEN WE TAKE A PIECE OF FRUIT
FROM A TREE OR A FIND THAT CLOCK
STARTS. AND IT ALL COMES DOWN TO
OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER THAT HIGH
QUALITY PIECE APPROVED A TIMELY
MANNER- AND SO REALLY IN THE
IMMEDIATE TIME FRAME GOING BACK
THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS- THE
DYSFUNCTION OF THE PORTS HAS
BEEN HAS SEVERELY IMPACTED OUR
COMMODITY SECTOR. AND THE
UNFORTUNATE PART IS THAT YOU
KNOW WE CAN'T SEND OUR COMMODITY
TO THE PORT AND THEN HAVE IT SIT
THERE THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AND
ULTIMATELY WE'RE JUST WE'RE
DELIVERING JELLY AND NOT A FRESH
PLUM. TO OUR ART THE END
CONSUMER AND SO YOU'VE SEEN SOME
OF MY MEMBERS ACTUALLY TAKE A
STEP BACK. FROM THE FROM MOVING
THEIR FRUIT OR THROUGH THE PORTS
AND THE ISSUE THERE IS THAT WE
AREN'T THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE
IN THE WORLD THAT PRODUCES SOME
OF THESE COMMODITIES AND SO IF
YOU. AS A US PRODUCER ARE NOT IN
A FOREIGN- MARKET. A COMPETITORS
TRYING TO FILL THAT MARKET AND
IF YOU LOSE THAT MARKET
ULTIMATELY IT IT WILL TAKE
DECADES MULTIPLE DECADES TO
REGAIN ANY OF THAT MARKET SHARE
AND SO- THE DYSFUNCTION OF THE
PORTS ARE INABILITY TO TRULY
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MOVING OUR
GOODS THROUGH THEIR HAS HAS
SEVERELY IMPACTED US IT'S
RECTIFYING ITSELF A BIT. STILL
NOT WHERE WE NEED IT ON TOP OF
THAT- GOING BACK TO TWENTY
SEVENTEEN AS A REFERENCE IN OUR
IN MY COMMENTS THE CHINA TRADE
DISPUTE. FOR THE SPECIALLY CROP
INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO THIS DAY-
WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR SOME
AND THEN SUPPORTIVE OF SOME OF
OUR- BROTHER IN IN IN U. S. AG-
IN MAYBE CORN SOYBEANS PORK
SEEING RED RECTIFICATION AND
MAYBE. ANY ACTUALLY GROWTH IN
THE CHINESE MARKET SINCE THE
CHINA. PAYS ONE DEAL FOR COME
FOR COMMODITIES LIKE THE
CALIFORNIA SPECIAL CROP
CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT. CHINA
STILL WITH THAT MARKET. WE ARE
NOT BECAUSE OF THE TERRORISTS
BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUANCE OF UP
OF THOSE. THAT UP SOME OF THOSE-
BARRIERS THAT THE- GOVERNMENT
HAS. THE S. GOVERNMENT HOLDS-
TARIFFS ON CHINESE IMPORTS- WEEK
WE IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO
DELIVER TO THE CHINA MARKET. BUT
IT BUT I WILL CHALLENGE IN THE
MARKET DATA SHOWS THIS IF YOU
TAKE A CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPE
FOR CALIFORNIA PEACH. AND YOU
PUT IT NEXT TO A CHINA PEACH OR
CHINA. TABLE GRAPE WHICH THEY
HAVE A DOMESTIC INDUSTRY
THEMSELVES. THE CHINA CONSUMER
WILL TAKE OUR OUR PRODUCT DAY IN
AND DAY OUT. BUT IT HAS WE HAVE
TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT IN
AFFORDABLE WAY. THOSE
NEGOTIATIONS STILL GO ON
SECRETARY VILSACK IS REMINDED US
QUITE OFTEN THAT WE'D ALL LIKE.
U. S. AG POLICY TO DICTATE THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND
THE UNITED STATES THERE'S SOME
MAYBE A HEAVIER ISSUES THAT ARE
CURRENTLY BEING NEGOTIATED
BETWEEN THOSE TWO NATIONS- BUT
IT IS STILL A- GROWING WHEN THE
FASTEST GROWING MIDDLE CLASSES.
IN THE WORLD AND ONE BETTER FOR
ABLE AS CALIFORNIA GROWERS TO
DELIVER TO THE CHINA MARKET WE
KNOW. WE CAN SUCCEED AND- BUT WE
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT
SINCE TWENTY SEVENTY. FOR ALL
HOSPITALS. THERE IS AN ONGOING
CHANNEL CHALLENGE WE'RE SEEING A
DOMINO EFFECT WHETHER IT'S
COOLEY A DELTA VICE SELL YEAH.
OR A HOSPITAL FACILITY IN
WATSONVILLE COLUSA COUNTY THEIR
UP AND DOWN THE STATE WE'RE
SEEING RURAL HOSPITALS MADERA I
THINK WAS THE MOST RECENT ONE
THAT. DECLARED BANKRUPTCY. AND
IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE- FINDING
THE RESOURCES EVEN IN THE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT TITLE. IT'S JUST SO
MODEST. AND OUR SENSE IS THAT
THE ISSUE IS MEDICARE
REIMBURSEMENT AND THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE SPENDING A BIT MORE OF OUR
TIME. TO SEE IF WE CAN GO OUT
DONT. TO REFLECT THE MARKET
CONDITIONS IN CALIFORNIA SO THAT
OUR RURAL HOSPITALS. STAY AND I
WAS TALKING TO ONE OF OUR
SUPERVISORS OUT OF- MONO COUNTY.
AND ARE. THEIR HOSPITAL IS
REALLY THERE TO SERVE THE
TOURIST INDUSTRY. SO WHEN FOLKS
COME IN SOME SCHEME ALMA- AND
THINGS DON'T GO RIGHT THERE IS A
HOSPITAL FACILITY TO MEET THEIR
URGENT CARE NEEDS. AND THOSE ARE
THE KIND OF FACILITIES THAT ARE
URBAN FRIENDS WHO COME TO
RECREATION OR OTHERWISE COME TO
ENJOY THE RURAL PARTS OF
CALIFORNIA. DON'T REALLY GET A
SENSE OF. AND YET. HAVING THAT
FACILITY THERE IS SO IMPORTANT
WHETHER IT'S TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY THAT LIVES THERE FOR
THOSE WHO VISIT US. SO WE'RE
LOOKING AT THAT BUT THERE'S NOT
A REAL SHE MIGHT IMAGINE IS NOT
A REAL EASY CLEAN. FUNDING
OPPORTUNITY. THAT WE COULD THAT
WE'VE IDENTIFIED RIGHT NOW-
FUNDING FOR IT UNDER ROLLED. FOR
THE BASIC THINGS LIKE YOUR SIDE
. WERE APPEASEMENT IT JUST YOU
OR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE
UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES THAT.
YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE COUNTIES
BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S JUST NOT
ENOUGH MONEY OR FUNDING. ARE
THERE ANY SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
UNDER RURAL DEVELOPMENT OR WHAT
MORE. AT COULD BE DONE ON THAT
END. THE REAL DEVELOPMENT TITLE
HAS INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENT
THAT'S ACTUALLY QUITE BROAD IT
ALSO HAS A POPULATION LIMITATION
THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT SO MANY
OF THE COMMUNITIES. THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE BENEFIT FROM ACCESSING
THAT PROGRAM. BECAUSE OF THE
POPULATION CAP DON'T EVEN HAVE A
CHANCE TO COMPETE. SO IT'S ONE
OF THE CHALLENGES OF MAKING THE
RURAL DEVELOPMENT TITLE REALLY
RELEVANT TO CALIFORNIA'S RURAL
COMMUNITIES. WHICH IS WHY WE'RE
WORKING WITH CUSTOM OFFICE TRIED
TO INCREASE THE POPULATION CAP.
OKAY I DON'T HAVE ANY OF ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
FOR. YOUNG I WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE. MICHAEL MADAM CHAIR YOU
ASKED ABOUT THE AGI ANY THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY DO A
BETTER JOB OF EXPLAINING THAT-
BECAUSE I. REALIZE I DIDN'T DO A
VERY GOOD JOB WITH THAT ONE-
THERE'S TWO ASPECTS OF THE- THE
JUST A GROSS INCOME WHEN IT
COMES ON LAND CONSERVATION. WE
SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT
CONSERVING THE RESOURCE THAT
LAND. AND IT SHOULD BE DONE
REGARDLESS WHO OWNS IT BECAUSE
ONCE IT TODAY MAY NOT BE WHO
OWNS IT TOMORROW. SPENT THAT
LANDS GOING TO BE THE SAME IF
IT'S CONSERVE SO THAT'S THAT'S
THE PREMISE OF THAT I'LL GIVE
YOU A QUICK EXAMPLE WE HAVE A
PROJECT RIGHT NOW WHICH IS IN
COLUSA COUNTY IT'S A HIGH
PRIORITY PROJECT FOR. THE
FUNDERS AND FOR US. AND THAT
PARTICULAR MANNER SO THE PIECE
OF GROUND- IN CALIFORNIA IN
CALIFORNIA'S WE KNOW THAT. THE
REAL ESTATE PRICES ARE RATHER
HIGH. THIS THAT. EXIST THAT.
SALE FROZE THAT MANNER OUT OF
QUALIFYING FOR A FARM BILL- FOR
CONSERVATION DOLLARS THROUGH. SO
WE HEAR WE ARE LOSING AN
OPPORTUNITY POTENTIALLY LOSING
AN OPPORTUNITY CONSERVE THIS
RANCH. JUST BECAUSE OF WHO OWNS
IT. AND AGAINST THE LAND DOESN'T
DOESN'T CHANGE. THE OTHER HALF
OF THAT IS THE- PROCEEDS FROM A
FROM A SALE OF A CONSERVATION
EASEMENT. NOW GOES INTO THAT
EQUALITY SO THAT CALCULATIONS
THAT MANNER MAY NOT BE QUALIFIED
THROUGH THE AGI LIMITATIONS TO
DO FOR THE CONSERVATION TO EQUIP
OTHER PROGRAMS SO. THOSE ARE THE
CHANGES IN AND GET IN THE IN THE
PAPER YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU GOES
INTO MORE DETAIL BUT THAT'S
THAT'S IN ESSENCE WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT. I HOPE THAT HELPED.
OKAY WELL IF THERE'S NO OTHER
FOR THE QUESTIONS- YES WE WILL
OPEN UP THE A PUBLIC COMMENT
LINE AT THIS MOMENT THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR. JOINING US TODAY AND I
BELIEVE. THE CONSTRUCT AROUND
RIGHT BECAUSE TO KEEP. MORE THAN
WELCOME TO STICK AROUND OF
COURSE. FOR OPENING UP PUBLIC
COMMENT- AND- DO WE HAVE DO WE
KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE.
WHILE WAITING AND OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT LINE. OR MAYBE WE SHOULD
BEGIN HERE IN THE ROOM. IS THERE
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PROVIDE
COMMENT HERE IN ROOM ONE TWELFTH
. K. C. NINE WILL MOVE TO THE
TELEPHONE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE.
OPERATOR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK IN. A NURSING LEGISLATION
PLEASE PRESS ONE ZERO AT THIS
TIME. THE MANAGER WE HAVE KNOWN
QUEUING UP AT THIS TIME. ALL
RIGHT WELL THAT THAT'S GREAT. WE
HAVE A HAVING HEARD ALL PUBLIC
TESTIMONY- BOTH HERE IN ROOM ONE
TWELVE AND ON THE TELEPHONE A
PUBLIC COMMENT LINE WE WILL-
NUMBER YOU KNOW INDIVIDUALS ARE
ALWAYS WELCOME TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE IT WITH WORK AND DATA
CONSULTANTS ARE COMMITTEE-
TESTIMONY IF THEY WISH TO DO SO.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO CALLED IN TO
PARTICIPATE AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY
TODAY OR THEY WERE PARTICIPATED
HERE AS WELL. IF YOU ARE NOT
ABLE TO TESTIFY VIA THE
TELEPHONE CONFERENCE SERVICE
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS OR
SUGGESTIONS IN WRITING TO THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
VISIT OUR WEBSITE YOUR COMMENTS
AND SUGGESTIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO
US. AND WE WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR
TESTIMONY THE OFFICIAL HEARING
RECORDS THANK YOU WE APPRECIATE
YOUR- PARTICIPATION I THANK
EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE FOR
YOUR COOPERATION. AND WE HAVE A
CONCLUDED THE AGENDA AND THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
IS NOW ADJOURNED THANK. THE FOOD
.