Brian German

The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) has expressed significant disappointment with the new 600-page regulation from the Department of Labor (DOL). In a scathing response to the rule, Council President and CEO, Michael Marsh said “This offensive Rule was developed in complete bad faith and should be immediately withdrawn.” While the DOL noted the labor rule strengthens protections for workers and bolsters its ability to ensure compliance, NCAE criticizes it for jeopardizing workers’ protections and enabling union activism, contrary to Congress’s intent.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) have raised concerns with the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) final Phase 2 rule amending the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Biden Administration says the rule aims to simplify and modernize the federal environmental review process. Key changes include streamlining permitting for renewable energy and transmission projects, introducing deadlines and page limits for reviews, and considering climate and environmental justice impacts.

Industry groups and agricultural organizations are rallying behind the newly proposed farm bill frameworks from the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees. The Almond Board of California reports that the state’s bearing almond acreage has declined for the first time in nearly 30 years. Governor Gavin Newsom signed into effect new developments for the California Water Plan which details water conservation efforts for the next five years. Cooperative Extension Table Grape Advisor for Tulare and Kings Counties, Joy Hollingsworth conducted a needs assessment to better understand the priorities and concerns within the grape industry. The farm bill frameworks from the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committees include specific funding for combating Huanglongbing. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and receive all the latest farm news in your inbox every week.

California has set new benchmarks as part of the effort to convert conventional ag production into organic systems. In the state’s 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality, a goal was established to increase organic production to 20 percent of cultivated acres in California by 2045.

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting two crucial mid-year surveys: the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey, reaching out to nearly 3,000 producers in California to assess crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2024. Producers can respond online, by phone, or mail, providing data on planted and harvested acreage, grain stocks, and livestock inventory.

The California Department of Water Resources released the latest Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions report showing a marked improvement after a strong water year in 2023. The data show that California achieved 4.1 million acre-feet of managed groundwater recharge, which is roughly the equivalent of the water storage capacity of Shasta Lake. The report also details an increase in groundwater storage of 8.7 million acre-feet.

There is one week left to cast a vote in the Board of Directors election for the Almond Board of California (ABC). Ballots were mailed out on April 29 and should have already arrived in the mail. ABC Senior Specialist of Industry Communications, Taylor Hillman explained the options for those who did not get a ballot.

New regulations for plastics in the European Union (EU) and Canada will impact American ag exporters. Canada’s Federal Plastic Registry, effective in 2025, mandates reporting from plastic resin manufacturers, product producers, and service providers on plastic quantity, types, and disposal methods. This data will be used to inform future reduction regulations. U.S. exporters will also be expected to comply with the reporting requirements which will impact plastic products used in agriculture and horticulture such as ag containers, totes and drums, and film and sheeting.

Get the latest agriculture news in today’s AgNet News Hour, hosted by Brian German. Today’s show features information about new initiatives to support the organic sector and an interview with Aubrey Bettencourt about a recent trip to Washington D.C. Tune in for these news stories, interviews, features, and more.

The latest report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) calls for a significantly larger almond crop than last year. California has set new benchmarks as part of the effort to convert conventional ag production into organic systems. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting two crucial mid-year surveys: the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The California Department of Water Resources released the latest Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions report showing a marked improvement after a strong water year in 2023. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council have raised concerns about the final Phase 2 rule amending NEPA. Stay informed about the latest agricultural issues by subscribing to the newsletter.