Continuing to focus on maximizing California’s water supplies, the Bureau of Reclamation has announced another increase in water supply allocations for the Central Valley Project for south-of-Delta agricultural contractors. While all north-of-Delta Central Valley Project contractors are currently at 100% of their supplies, south-of-Delta irrigation water service and repayment contractors are today being increased from 40% to 50%.  All other Central Valley Project contract allocations remain the same per the March 27 water supply update. Initial Central Valley Project contract allocations were announced on Feb. 25. “Today’s increase in allocations reinforces our commitment to achieving the objectives outlined in Executive Order 14181, which seeks to maximize water supplies within the Central Valley Project,” stated Acting California-Great Basin Regional Director Adam Nickels. “We are pleased that today’s optimization of available water supplies will continue to support California farmers and the communities we serve.”

AB 942: IOUs Trying to Break Ag Solar Contracts

AB 942 (Calderon) proposes to let the IOUs break the contracts that were signed by agricultural producers and processors who invested in solar energy. The bill would force customers who have been in the Net-Energy Metering (NEM) program for more than 10 years on NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0 to transition to the newest NBT tariff (NEM 3.0).
 
Customers in NEM 1.0 and NEM 2.0 contracted a 20-year grandfather period on the tariff when they entered the program. AB 942 wants to break that contract. 
 
The bill would also transition any solar installation to the newest tariff if a property is sold. 

AECA strongly opposed this legislation, and urges you to contact your local Assemblymembers and Senators to communicate your opposition. 
 
Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (SD 4, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, Tuolumne)
senator.alvarado-gil@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4004
Senator Anna Caballero (SD 14, Fresno, Merced, Madera, Tulare) 
senator.caballero@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4014
Senator Shannon Grove (SD 12, Fresno, Kern, Tulare)
senator.grove@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4012
Senator Melissa Hurtado (SD 16, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Tulare)
senator.hurtado@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4016
Senator Jerry McNerney (SD 5, San Joaquin)
senator.mcnerney@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4005
Assm. Juan Alanis (AD 22, Merced, Stanislaus)
assemblymember.alanis@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2022
Assm. Joaquin Arambula (AD 31, Fresno)
assemblymember.arambula@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2031
Assm. Jasmeet Bains (AD 35, Kern)
assemblymember.bains@asm.ca.gov 91-319-2035
Assm. Stan Ellis (AD 31, Kern, Tulare)
assemblymember.ellis@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2031
Assm. Heath Flora (AD 9, San Joaquin, Stanislaus)
assemblymember.flora@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2009
Assm. Alexandra Macedo (AD 33, Fresno, Kings, Tulare)
assemblymember.macedo@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2033
Assm. Rhodesia Ransom (AD 13, San Joaquin)
assemblymember.ransom@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2013
Assm. Esmeralda Soria (AD 27, Fresno, Madera, Merced)
assemblymember.soria@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2027
Assm. David Tangipa (AD 8, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tuolumne)
assemblymember.tangipa@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2008

Policymakers and regulators need stand up to the IOUs and ensure they honor the agreements made with growers and processors. 

It’s time for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting! This year it will be held in conjunction with Supima’s Annual Meeting and will be held Wednesday, May 21^st at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California. Registration and Continental Breakfast will begin at 7:30 am. The program will begin with Breakout Sessions at 8:30 am and will end with lunch. A link to the Registration Form and Agenda is below. Please complete and submit the form as soon as possible to allow the Association to make sure we can appropriately plan for the meeting. You can email the form to Michelle Franco at michelle@ccgga.org or fax it to our offices promptly at (559) 252-0551. The cost of the event is free, but we encourage you to consider making a donation of at least $25 to the CCGGA Federal PAC or CCGGA State PAC to help protect California cotton at the state and federal levels. The CCGGA Federal PAC can only accept personal checks. Any corporate contributions must be made to the CCGGA State PAC. If you have any questions, please call our office at (559)252-0684. 

The Association hosted the annual Ginners School & Managerial Seminar last week out in Corcoran. Ginning employees were able to hear presentations on Machine Guarding, Lock Out Tag Out, Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure Response, Workplace Violence, Loader & Module Handling Safety as well as Fire Response. Gin employees were also tested for their safety knowledge inside of the gin during the Safety Contest. This year’s test was tightly contested, but ultimately Anthony Arreguin of Olam Agri took home the top prize. Managers were able to hear updates from Catherine Houlihan of Barsamian & Moody on 2025 Updates to Labor Law, as well as receive the required Supervisor Sexual Harassment Training from Rigo Ceja with AgSafe. The Association would like to thank the sponsors for this year’s event: CropRX, L.P. Brown, R&C Supply, Robinson’s Sheet Metal, Samuel Packaging and Tama USA Inc.,. Additionally, the Association would like to thank the staff at J.G. Boswell for their help in setting up the event, as well as providing trainers for the different classes held that day. Another special “Thank You” also goes out to Captain Gonzalez with the Kings County Fire Department who helped teach some of the sessions in between responding to emergency requests that day. We couldn’t have done it without your help and support. 

It’s time for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting!  This year it will be held in conjunction with Supima’s Annual Meeting and will be held Wednesday, May 21^st at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California.  Registration and Continental Breakfast will begin at 7:30 am.  The program will begin with Breakout Sessions at 8:30 am and will end with lunch. Please complete and submit the registration form as soon as possible to allow the Association to make sure we can appropriately plan for the meeting.  You can email the form to Michelle Franco at michelle@ccgga.org or fax it to our offices promptly at (559) 252-0551.  The cost of the event is free, but we encourage you to consider making a donation of at least $25 to the CCGGA Federal PAC or CCGGA State PAC to help protect California cotton at the state and federal levels.  The CCGGA Federal PAC can only accept personal checks.  Any corporate contributions must be made to the CCGGA State PAC.  If you have any questions, please call our office at (559)252-0684.

This past week, the CSU Fresno Department of Industrial Technology held their Annual Spring Banquet to highlight the department’s activities and recognize graduating students of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom gave the keynote address urging students to “Write their own success story”, which just so happens to be the message presented front and center on home page of the Fresno State University website. Over 100 people attended the event, where several students were recognized for their academic excellence. One of the Association’s own members, Mallvinder Karal of Atlas Almonds, was recognized for his work as a part time instructor teaching the course on tree nut processing with the WTNA Tree Nut Processing Laboratory at Fresno State. In his speech, Isom highlighted the many students now working in the California tree nut industry that have graduated from the CSU Fresno Industrial Technology Program. He encouraged students stating “opportunities abound in the tree nut industry for students just like you. You’ve been given a golden opportunity to get a high-quality education right here in the breadbasket of the world and our industry needs you. Now is truly the time to “Write your own success story!” 

AgSafe are hosting outreach briefings on immigration enforcement resources for agricultural employers at different locations throughout the month of April. Some key highlights of the session are:

• Legal obligations and compliance strategies for employers
• Best business practices for handling ICE encounters in agricultural workplaces
• Resources to support our workforce and families while ensuring legal compliance
• Steps to prepare for and respond to enforcement actions

Please register below. For more information or help with registration, please email safeinfo@agsafe.org or call (209) 526-4400.

April 10 | Esparto

April 16 | Soledad

April 17 | Santa Maria

April 24 | Shafter

April 30 | Napa

It’s time for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting! This year, Supima will join forces with CCGGA to showcase valuable industry updates. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 21^st at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California. Please complete and submit the registration form. You can email the form to Michelle Franco at michelle@ccgga.org or fax it to our offices promptly at (559) 252-0551.

There is also an opportunity to sponsor the event. All sponsorships go toward offsetting the costs, which helps us deliver our message to the industry. If you’d like to sponsor, you may do so by clicking the sponsorship link.

The cost of the event is free, but we encourage you to consider making a donation of at least $25 to the CCGGA Federal PAC or CCGGA State PAC to help protect California cotton at the state and federal levels. The CCGGA Federal PAC can only accept personal checks. Any corporate contributions must be made to the CCGGA State PAC.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

** MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that President Donald J. Trump appointed Josh F.W. Cook as EPA’s Pacific Southwest (Region 9) Regional Administrator. Regional Administrator Cook will have stewardship to implement and enforce federal environmental laws in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and 148 Tribal Nations.   “Josh Cook is the right person we need to lead Region 9. He understands the unique nature of the Pacific Southwest and will be a great addition to the EPA team,” said Administrator Zeldin. “Josh’s talent working with state and local partners will be paramount to power the great American comeback across our regions.”  Before joining the EPA, Regional Administrator Cook was an Advisor to the Tribal Council of the Mooretown Rancheria of Concow Maidu Indians, where he designed a decades-long large-scale forest resiliency initiative through government-to-government agreements with Tribes, National Parks, and multiple U.S. Forests in California and Nevada. Previously, Regional Administrator Cook served as Chief of Staff to the Minority Caucus in the California Legislature. His previous environmental service includes appointments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Interior Resource Advisory Councils and tenure as a City Planning Commissioner.  Cook is a Veteran of the California State Guard and an Associate Professor and lecturer at the University of Southern California. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Languages from Butte College, a Bachelor’s of Science from Charter Oak State College and a Master’s of Science from Cal State University East Bay. Regional Administrator Cook and his wife Robin have been married 32 years and are the parents of five children and five grandchildren. They reside in Chico, California, where they actively engage in their church and community.

The two-day Agricultural Safety Certificate Program hosted by AgSafe will be held at the Western Tree Nut Association’s office on April 2-3rd. Registration is open, and there is a special discount for members of California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association and Western Tree Nut Association. Please use WTNA2025 for the special discount. For more information, please view the flyer below.