CRAE Action

CRAE argues for stable agricultural workforce

2007. One of CRAE’s key policy objectives is to develop a legal agricultural workforce. As part of our federal advocacy, CRAE urged Congress to support the AgJOBS legislation that will provide a pathway for workers to live and work here legally.

Senator Feinstein leads the way with AgJOBS

2007. CRAE members applauded Senator Dianne Feinstein in taking leadership to gain passage of AgJOBS as part of the 2007 Farm Bill.

CRAE supports H-2A comment extension

2008. Members of the California Roundtable on Ag and the Environment have called for a 45-day extension for the comment period for pubic input to the proposed rules for the 2008 H-2A Temporary Foreign Agricultural Worker Program. The H-2A program is an important part of the agricultural labor force in California, and Roundtable members sought additional time to offer suggested improvements to the proposed rules.

CRAE hosts bus tour and seminar on ag labor issues

2008. CRAE hosted a day-long session on ag labor issues to build understanding among its diverse constituents on issues facing the agricultural labor force and to identify opportunities for common action. Several migrant workers joined CRAE to share their experience as guest workers. Participants visited three sites, including a Farmington Fresh apple packing plant, Harney Lane Migrant Center, and Taganelli Farm to experience first-hand some of the issues and solutions being put into practice. CRAE members and guests then had an opportunity to discuss the various issues at hand, from migrant housing to workplace health and safety to legal issues, and move toward a common vision for a healthy future for California agricultural labor. Special thanks to CRLAF, San Joaquin RCD, the Catholic Diocese, US EPA and NRCS for making this important event happen.

CRAE calls for reintroduction of AgJOBS

2009. As part CRAE’s federal advocacy, the Roundtable has urged Congress to support the AgJOBS legislation that will provide a pathway for workers to live and work here legally. After sending letters to Representative Lynn Woolsey and Senator Dianne Feinstein in 2007, CRAE members joined in a 2009 plea to Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congressman Sam Farr to support the passage of the Agricultural Jobs, Opportunities and Benefits Act (AgJOBS). AgJOBS, a bill that has been in negotiation for a decade, and would pilot the legalization of a segment of the population of undocumented agricultural workers and reform the H-2A guest worker program. Coincidentally, the legislation was reintroduced by Senator Feinstein the following day. CRAE will continue to work for the passage of AgJOBS this session.

Dialogue

2012. On February 29, 2012, CRAE hosted a dialogue on the Central Coast Conditional Waiver for irrigated lands. The day was split into two panels, the first focused on key issues and perspectives and the second a review of proposals and process. Panelists represented a range of perspectives including agriculture, environment, environmental justice and regulatory agency. Roger Briggs, Executive Officer of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, gave a presentation on the content of the Draft Agricultural Order, which can be downloaded in PDF format.

Background Materials

1. Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. A brief overview of the program by the State Water Resources Control Board.
2. Executive Officer Order to extend the termination date of the 2004 Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands in the Central Coast Region to September 20, 2012.
3. Draft Agricultural Order for Board Consideration on September 1, 2011.
Three alternative proposals were submitted to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for consideration.

a) Ag Proposal. Submission by the California Farm Bureau Federation on behalf of 7 county farm bureaus and 44 additional agricultural organizations and companies in April 2010. The original Ag Proposal was replaced by an updated alternative in May 2011. Stakeholder, Richard Quandt, submitted A Coalition-Based, Farmer Focused Water Quality Protection Program, which provides definition and structure to the May proposal.
b) Green Proposal. Submission by Environmental Defense Center, Monterey Coastkeeper, Ocean Conservancy, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, and Surfrider Foundation.
c) OSR Proposal. Submission by OSR Enterprises, an agricultural company based in Santa Maria.

4. The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board staff report for the March 14-15, 2012 Regional Board meeting.
5. The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board staff report for the September 1, 2011 Regional Board meeting, comparing the Ag Proposal to the staff’s Draft Agricultural Order. Attachment 3 to the Addendum to the Staff Report includes a matrix comparison of all alternatives and draft orders.

Scientific Backgrounders
1. Water Quality Conditions in the Central Coast Region Related to Agricultural Discharges. Appendix G of the Staff Recommendations for Agricultural Order, March 2011. Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
2. SB X2-1 Nitrate in Groundwater Report to the Legislature. Presentation to the Interagency Task Force, December 1, 2011 by Thomas Harter.
3. Agricultural Impacts on Groundwater. Published in Southwest Hydrology, July/August 2009 by Thomas Harter.
4. Groundwater Nitrate in the Tulare Lake Basin and Salinas Valley. Presentation to the California Chapter of the American Society of Agronomy, February 2011 by Thomas Harter, et al.

Climate Change key target for group

2008. In August 2007, CRAE hosted an expert panel on AB 32 and the role of agriculture in meeting emissions targets. The panel included Dale Shimp of the California Air Resources Board, Steve Shaffer of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Cynthia Cory from the California Farm Bureau Federation, and Karen Douglas from Environmental Defense. Since then, CRAE has been engaged in sharing members’ work and perspectives on AB 32 and is developing an action plan to address the nexus of agriculture and climate change.

Regulatory coordination needed for effective implementation of Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006

2008. CRAE recently asked for support from CalEPA in its efforts to protect the environment and facilitate proactive greenhouse gas reduction efforts. CRAE called on CalEPA agencies to work toward improved regulatory approval processes to help implement AB 32 in a way that serves as an example for other states and countries. Improved regulatory coordination and partnerships among government agencies, environmental groups and private industry partners are needed to streamline the permitting process for greenhouse gas mitigation technologies related to agriculture.

CRAE special session on nitrogen management

2010. Recognizing the important role nitrogen plays in healthy farming systems and communities, CRAE members, along with twenty partners, gathered on April 15, 2010, to build a common base of knowledge about nitrogen management and California agriculture. Key scientists and regulators in the field shared their expertise with the group. Read more to find links to a set of presentations made during the session, which together provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on nitrogen science and management in California. CRAE members will be exploring agricultural nitrogen further in the coming months.

CRAE Climate Priniciples

2010. CRAE member organizations crafted a set of climate principles to guide the formulation of potential national climate policy that gives agricultural producers a fair opportunity to participate in a carbon offsets program, conservation programs, and other performance-based incentive mechanisms. CRAE members hope that this policy can provide resources for the research, development, and implementation of practices that will help producers increase their resilience to climate change and be effective climate stewards. A related media release (pdf) was issued on Monday, July 12.

Payments for Ecosystem Services

2011. During the Oct. 18, 2011 CRAE meeting, members heard from Michael Springborn of the Department of Environmental Science & Policy at UC Davis about payments for ecosystem services. His powerpoint presentation is below.

Spotlight on the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995

2011. The Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995 includes incentives to farmers whose practices promote environmental well‐being, data collection, and information sharing among different levels of government. In the later days of the Schwarzenegger administration, the Scientific Panel on Environmental Agriculture was created to oversee implementation of the Act, but the Panel has not been active recently. CRAE members will be working with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to investigate implementation of the Panel. A summary of the Act can be downloaded below.

Ecosystem Services Projects

2011. CRAE has identified payments for ecosystem services as a powerful lever for supporting production agriculture and strengthening environmental outcomes on California farms. As part of its information gathering efforts, the group—with a major contribution from Kelli McCune, Sustainable Conservation—compiled a list of current projects investigating or implementing markets for ecosystem services around the state and country. The list, still a work in progress, can be downloaded below.

Ecosystem Services & Markets: Oregon Policies

2011. During the Sept. 1, 2011 CRAE meeting, members heard from Sara Vickerman of Defenders of Wildlife about Oregon’s policies on ecosystem services and markets. Her powerpoint presentation is below. Sara also provided a list of resources for the group’s reference:

1. Policy Cornerstones and Action Strategies for an Integrated Ecosystem Marketplace in Oregon (2008)
2. Senate Bill 513 Ecosystem Services and Markets: Report from the Oregon Sustainability Board to the 2011 Legislative Assembly (2010)
3. Oregon Senate Bill 513, passed in 2009
4. Oregon HB 3109 – original version, same site has amended versions (2011)
5. Measuring Up: Synchronizing Biodiversity Measurement Systems for Markets and other Incentive Programs (2011)
6. Conservation Registry
7. Giving Credit Where Credit is Due: Increasing Landowner Compensation for Ecosystem Services (2011)

Compensating Landowners for Ecosystem Services

2010. During the November 2010 CRAE meeting, the ecosystem services dialogue was launched with an expert panel that included Adam Davis from Ecosystem Investment Partners and Devin Judge‐Lord from the Willamette Partnership, both of whom shared successful models of compensating landowners for ecosystem services. Download Devin’s presentation to CRAE below. Click here to download an overview of the Ecosystem Credit Accounting System.

New waste discharge rules for California dairies

2007. CRAE member Paul Martin of Western United Dairymen gave a presentation to the Roundtable on the new dairy waste discharge regulations that will affect dairies throughout the Central Valley.

Partners in Restoration Assessment Report

2010. Sustainable Conservation’s Partners in Restoration program has been a key effort to accelerate environmental restoration on private lands by providing one-stop-shop permitting, thereby easing the permitting burden for landowners. A CRAE member, Sustainable Conservation recently completed an extensive review of the PIR program. At the September meeting, CRAE members received a report from Sustainable Conservation on the program, which has strong ties to CRAE’s efforts toward better permit coordination for environmental restoration projects. The comprehensive program assessment is summarized in the PIR Assessment Report briefing paper (pdf), which can be downloaded below.

CRAE releases report: Permitting Restoration

2010. CRAE members reached consensus on a set of recommendations to facilitate the permitting processes for on-farm environmental restoration projects. These recommendations are spelled out in the CRAE report, Permitting Restoration: Helping Agricultural Land Stewards Succeed in Meeting California Regulatory Requirements for Environmental Restoration Projects. If adopted, these proposals would increase opportunities to provide enhanced wildlife habitat, air and water quality, soil health, and other public benefits. The CRAE white paper, the product of deep deliberation, represents a meaningful collaboration of diverse stakeholders on this challenging issue. You may download the media release (pdf) here. Capital Press published a Jan. 6 article (pdf) on the paper.

In order to provide concrete examples of the regulatory hurdles and effective collaborations addressed in the paper, Ag Innovations Network prepared a brief series of case studies, accessible on our resources page under the heading “Permitting Restoration Case Studies.”

CRAE urges Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi to act

2007. During the first few months of the year, CRAE members continued their bid to secure increased funding and improved conservation initiatives through the 2007 Farm Bill. In May, CRAE sent a letter calling on Congresswoman Pelosi to offer important leadership in crafting a Farm Bill that rewards farmers for their land stewardship and meets the health, environmental and economic needs of California’s communities. In July, CRAE representatives met with Pelosi’s staff to offer recommendations on elements of a strong Farm Bill that meets these needs.

CRAE Farm Bill Resources Compiled

2007. By July 2007, the battle over the United States Farm Bill was well underway. The 2002 Farm Bill had ten titles and covered everything from commodity programs, trade, and conservation to energy and credit. The 2007 Farm Bill was equally complex, affecting all parts of our food system. To help explain the intricacies, CRAE put together a short resource guide.

CRAE calls on Senators Boxer and Feinstein to take leadership for improved conservation funding

2007. In September 2007, CRAE members sent a letter calling on Senators Feinstein and Boxer to take leadership in efforts to improve federal farm policy to provide adequate support for California agriculture and the environment. This letter calls for increased support for conservation funding for specific programs to prevent the loss of agricultural land and associated habitat, encourage good stewardship of working lands and facilitate collaborative solutions to regional environmental problems.

CRAE Thanks Congresswoman Pelosi

2007. In September, CRAE thanked Pelosi for her role in addressing the concerns of California agriculture in the House version of the 2007 Farm Bill.

Farm Bill Conservation Programs Threatened

2009. President Obama’s proposed budget fell $700 million short of the promise for farm bill conservation program funding. In the proposed budget, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) takes the biggest hit, falling $250 million short of the funding promised in the 2008 farm bill. The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is targeted to be cut by over 138,000 acres, equivalent to a $350 million cut in funding for restoring wetlands. CRAE members joined forces to call for full funding for farm bill conservation programs, which are a critical mechanism for helping rural landowners steward the environment.

CRAE members rally to preserve Farm Bill conservation funding

2010. The Obama Administration has recently proposed substantial budget cuts to hard-won conservation funding including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Grasslands Reserve Program. CRAE members are urging the Administration to preserve this funding, which is a vital source of support for the protection of water resources, improved air quality, preservation of open space and wildlife habitat, and greenhouse gas mitigation, among other benefits. In March 2010, CRAE members sent a letter to key leaders calling for renewed support for these Farm Bill conservation programs. CRAE circulated an associated media release entitled Farmers, Labor, Green Groups Unite to Fight Cuts in Conservation Programs. CRAE member Kari Hamerschlag, from the Environmental Working Group, wrote a blog entry on Civil Eats about the group’s efforts.

Continuing Resolution, H.R.1

2011. As part of its Farm Bill work, CRAE membership sent a letter to Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer opposing the disproportionate funding cuts to the USDA and 2008 Farm Bill programs that are included in H.R.1, the Continuing Resolution to fund the United States government for the remainder of fiscal year 2011.

CRAE Supports CDFA Position on Farm Bill

2011. CRAE member organizations sent a letter to Senators Feinstein and Boxer expressing their support for the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s position paper on the 2012 Farm Bill, entitled California and the Farm Bill: A Vision for Farming in the 21st Century.

CRAE members address conflict between food safety and environmental health

2006. Shortly after the 2006 E. coli outbreak traced to leafy greens in California’s Central Coast region, CRAE began to provide a forum for a broad range of stakeholders to build mutual understanding, discuss, and craft widely-supported proposals to enhance food safety while honoring the important conservation role of agricultural producers.

CRAE helps find common ground on food safety and environmental quality conflict

2007. In February 2007, CRAE held an expert panel and stakeholder dialogue to better understand the issues and opportunities for collective action. In December, CRAE hosted a meeting for key stakeholders. Participants numbered around 50 and included more than a dozen leading buyers, handlers and growers of leafy greens, as well as key scientists, regulators and representatives of conservation groups focused on the issues. This meeting represented a groundbreaking dialogue between conservation and industry interests that served to illuminate the complex issues at play, build trust and mutual understanding, and develop common recommendations for action to simultaneously meet food safety and environmental quality goals.

CRAE continues efforts to bridge food safety and environmental goals in the E. coli aftermath

2009. CRAE members have been working to identify opportunities for resolution of food safety and environment conflicts that arose in the wake of the 2006 E. coli outbreak. A CRAE committee has been holding meetings with buyers, handlers, growers, and other key stakeholders in an effort to craft a process to meet multiple objectives, including halting unnecessary environmental damage and ensuring a high level of food safety for Californian leafy green products. Significant headway has been made and CRAE member organizations have forged substantial levels of trust and mutual understanding.

CRAE produces principles to guide national produce food safety efforts

2010. Based on CRAE’s experience holding ongoing dialogues at the intersection of food safety and environmental health in California, CRAE members collaborated to produce 10 principles for safe and sustainable produce, downloadable below. These principles are equally relevant to industry-led, legislative and governmental agency efforts, and are intended to provide guidance both to existing and newly emerging food safety programs and requirements. CRAE has submitted the principles to inform a current FDA initiative to create industry guidelines for tomatoes, leafy greens and melons, the President’s food safety working group efforts to enhance food safety laws, and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service consideration of a National Leafy Greens Food Marketing Agreement.

CRAE food safety principles to inform FDA produce safety standards

2010. CRAE submitted its guiding principles for national food safety efforts to the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is compiling input for a new regulation in the works to govern the growing, harvesting, and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables. The new rules are slated for release this fall. More information on national produce food safety efforts can be accessed through the Produce Safety Project.

CRAE Calls for Budget Increase for Pest Management

2007. CRAE members recently called on Governor Schwarzenegger to support the budget augmentation of $1.5 million to county agricultural commissioners for pest detection and exclusion, and $0.7 million for border inspection stations. This is an important first step in protecting California agriculture from invasive pests such as the Light Brown Apple Moth. CRAE will continue its efforts to promote pest management approaches that support a healthy future for agriculture in California.

CRAE convenes panel on LBAM

2008. In spring 2008, CRAE began discussing the discovery and treatment of the invasive pest Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) in the greater San Francisco Bay area. The problem of invasive pests that are likely to affect California agriculture is expected to increase as products are increasingly being shipped across state and federal borders.

Federal funds for managing invasive species must focus on areas of risk

2008. The 2008 Farm Bill includes a landmark provision to improve early detection and surveillance of invasives, with $12 million earmarked for 2009, rising to $50 million/year by 2012. CRAE wrote a letter to USDA Secretary Ed Shafer applauding the move and requesting that the funds be allocated based on the risk posed by invasives in various regions of the country. Such a risk-based allocation would greatly improve the effectiveness of the program in excluding and responding to invasive pests.

CRAE calls for coordinated invasive species strategy for California

2009. Climate change and the increased trans-border movement of goods conspire to greatly exacerbate the threat of invasive pests to California agriculture. In August 2008, CRAE members called on California Secretary of Food and Agriculture A.G. Kawamura and Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman to move forward with establishing an inter-agency California Invasive Species Council to better coordinate pest exclusion and management. In February 2009, the formation of the California Invasive Species Council was announced by state officials. CRAE applauds the move and looks forward to collaborating with the Council.

CRAE moves to identify scale of impact of ranchettes on Central Valley ag lands

2008. CRAE representatives met with the California Department of Conservation and urged it to expand their Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP) to map rural residential areas to all eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley. As California’s most productive agricultural area, the San Joaquin is particularly at risk for loss of agricultural lands as a result of ranchette development. The completion of this mapping project will pinpoint the extent of ranchette development in recent years and help guide effective future land use decisions and policies. CRAE applauded the Department for its work in advancing this mission.

High Speed Rail Sign-On Letter

2011. CRAE members urged the California High-Speed Rail Authority to limit the impact of rail on farmland by placing rail lines along existing transportation corridors. While supportive of high-speed rail, the group expressed concern that in numerous locations, routes have been proposed that cut through productive farmland. Taking these valuable lands out of production will not only have impacts on individual growers, ranchers, and rural communities due to the loss of jobs and damage to individual farms and ranches, it will also have an impact on our state and nation because the farmland in the Central Valley produces significant portions of our domestic food supply.

Lodi Rules Presentation Powerpoint

2005. In December, Dr. Cliff Ohmart made a presentation to CRAE on the Lodi Rules wine grape grower certification program.

CA Dairy Quality Assurance Program

2006. In January, Dr. Michael Payne gave a presentation on the California Dairy Quality Assurance Program.

CRAE members rally around need for strong CDFA

2009. California’s dramatic fiscal crisis has led to proposals to drastically consolidate and cut many state programs and departments, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). CRAE members have stressed the extreme importance of CDFA programs, UC agricultural research and the activities of Cooperative Extension relative to the production of a healthy, stable and sustainable food supply. The activities of both these vital institutions are preventative in nature and protect California from more onerous financial burdens. While CRAE members recognize that significant cuts must be made, CRAE sent a letter to the Legislative Budget Conference Committee urging it to ensure that any cuts being made to CDFA, as well as the University of California, be done on an unallocated basis, thereby enabling administrative experts within both agencies to prioritize and allocate funds as necessary to address the most pressing and vital programs and services.

CRAE members reiterate need for strong CDFA

2009. CRAE members followed their first budget letter with another letter to the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture, which held a hearing on June 16, 2009, to consider the elimination of CDFA. Here, CRAE reiterated the need for continued General Fund support for CDFA and the need to further strengthen the Department to serve the needs of Californians.

CRAE Supports Karen Ross for CDFA Secretary

2011. CRAE members submitted a letter of support to Senator Darrell Steinberg for the appointment of Karen Ross to the post of Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

CRAE Submits Priorities to University of California

2007. During spring 2007, the University of California was in the middle of a world-wide search for a new Vice President of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR). The office of the Vice President is responsible for programs critical to agriculture and the environment, particularly UC Cooperative Extension. CRAE has long been interested in increasing the resources devoted to and efficiency of services provided by ANR. Members submitted a letter to UC President Robert Dynes identifying several critical skills that the University should consider in their potential candidates for the position and requested a role for stakeholders in the selection process. The letter also requested that he consider four priorities for the incoming Vice President:

1. Foster more effective internal coordination and collaboration;
2. Enhance external partnerships;
3. Improve and accelerate knowledge transfer; and
4. Increase external funding opportunities