Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom will be the opening keynote speaker for the 2027 Crop Consultants Conference at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California beginning on Wednesday, September 23^rd. The two day event is packed with informative topics, and most importantly you can obtain up to 12 DPR continuing education units (CEUs) and up to 17 Certified Crop Advisor CEUs. For the DPR CEUs, 4.0 will be CDPR Laws and Regulations and 8.0 will be CDPR Other (Pest Management). The CCA credit come from 10 sessions on Crop Management, 11 sessions on Integrated Pest Management, 5 sessions on Professional Development and 2 sessions on Soil and Water Management. Many of the topics will focus on nutrition and soil: sap analysis, fertigation, micronutrients, tissue testing, nitrogen management, cover crops, soil biology, water technology and biologicals. Isom will be providing a regulatory update on pesticide regulations and efforts coming in the near future. To register, please visit https://jcsmarketinginc.com/ccc-attendees/

Those planning to attend the 2027 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, set for January 5-7 (Tuesday- Thursday) at the Omni Forth Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, may now register HERE!  More information about the 2027 BWCC, including a link to make housing reservations and view our online program, is at www.cotton.org/beltwide. Room reservations must be made prior to or on December 14 to obtain the Conferences’ special room rate of $185 single/double plus taxes and fees. If you should encounter problems with your pre-registration or with housing reservations, call the NCC at 901-274-9030 and ask for Lauren Krogman.

Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom and Association Vice President Priscilla Rodriguez conducted a tag team presentation to the Ag Leadership Class at Fresno Pacific University last week. Isom and Rodriguez talked about the Association and their responsibilities. They also provided an overview of the issues the Association is tackling, and the political environment they must work in. That led to a discussion on how to be successful in that environment through involvement, engagement and leadership. Priscilla drew upon her experiences and lessons learned with the California Ag Leadership Program in explaining on how to be successful in California. Isom provided several examples of working with legislators and finding common ground. The Ag Leadership Professional Certificate gives participants direct access to California agricultural leaders. Through candid conversations and guided reflection, participants will see how professionals address finances, marketing, organizational development, nutrition, workforce challenges and government relations.

Cotton & Coffee is Tuesday, September 15, at 7:30 a.m. Central.

Cotton Incorporated provides ongoing analysis of global cotton markets, offering data-driven insight into price trends, supply and demand, and the factors shaping the industry’s economic landscape. This month, Cotton Incorporated’s Chief Economist Jon Devine will join us for a timely Cotton Economic Update, sharing an overview of the market forces influencing cotton today. Join us this Tuesday, September 15, for Cotton & Coffee to gain valuable insight into current trends and the economic outlook for the year.

Register for Zoom link here.

Meeting ID:  859 1847 3898 

Passcode: Cotton1

Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom was invited to address the Transatlantic Legislative Dialogue (TLD) made up of members from Congress and members from the European Parliament in the European Union (EU). Joining Isom was Alexi Rodriguez, of the Almond Alliance. Topics discussed included conversations about California cotton and tree nuts, and then got into more specific issues including MRLs, and the new packaging and sustainability requirements being put forth by the EU. From the congressional side, Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX), and Congressman Jim Costa and Congressman Adam Gray from California were in attendance. Representing the EU were Brando Benifei, Italy; Sophie Wilmès, Belgium; David McCallister, Germany; Bernd Lange, Germany; Miriam Lexmann, Slovakia; Michael Szczerba, Poland; Marta Wcislo, Poland; Zeljana Zovko, Croatia; Lina Galvez, Spain; Tonino Picula, Croatia; Roman Haider, Austria; Julien Sanchez, France; Rihards Kols, Latvia; Adam Bielan, Poland; Sergey Lagodinskey, Germany; and Martin Schirdewan, Germany. The TLD is a collaborative initiative between the United States Congress and the European Parliament aimed at enhancing political discourse and cooperation on issues of mutual concern. Established in 1999, it meets biannually to address topics such as trade, climate policy, and security matters.

The California Cotton Industry Research Committee, made up from the three principal funding groups for California cotton research, sends out a “Request for Proposal” each year to researchers and educators known to the cotton industry as having interests and involvement in research that could benefit the cotton industry in California. By combining the research funding efforts from these three groups into one, projects are funded through a more streamlined process and effective process. This research request is for 2026-2027 projects. The dead- line for receipt of proposals is 5:00 PM (close of business day) on Monday, August 31, 2026. This is a firm deadline. No extensions will be granted due to the need to reproduce proposals, distribute them to the committee, and allow time for review prior to the Committee meeting. If you have any questions, reach out to priscilla@ccgga.org.

The California Cotton Industry Research Committee, made up from the three principal funding groups for California cotton research, sends out a “Request for Proposal” each year to researchers and educators known to the cotton industry as having interests and involvement in research that could benefit the cotton industry in California. By combining the research funding efforts from these three groups into one, projects are funded through a more streamlined process and effective process. This research request is for 2026-2027 projects. The dead- line for receipt of proposals is 5:00 PM (close of business day) on Monday, August 31, 2026. This is a firm deadline. No extensions will be granted due to the need to reproduce proposals, distribute them to the committee, and allow time for review prior to the Committee meeting. If you have any questions, reach out to priscilla@ccgga.org.

As the state legislature gets ready to wind down this year’s legislative session, an all-out push is underway at the State Capitol to pause implementation of SB 54, the Single-Use Packaging Regulation. Earlier this week, 22 Assemblymembers and one Senator sent a letter to Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas requesting legislative action to address affordability concerns related to the regulation. The legislators expressed serious concerns about implementation costs and how those costs will be passed on to consumers. The letter specifically requested a delay in the assessment and collection of fees for 2026 and 2027 and committed to developing a reform package during the 2027–2028 legislative session to address affordability concerns. This was followed by a letter signed by 67 organizations, including the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association and the Western Tree Nut Association, raising major concerns about cost impacts recently released by the Circular Action Alliance, which oversees implementation of the packaging regulation. Those costs include $2 billion in fees in the first year, $17.2 billion in fees over the next five years, and total compliance costs of $78 billion over five years. The Association has been, and continues to be, in contact with legislators to push for the pause. Association President and CEO Roger A. Isom stated, “Once again, California has pushed the envelope in pursuit of insurmountable environmental goals without considering the consequences for the very people they represent and claim to protect. The state needs to stop, take a step back, and find another way to reduce plastic pollution.”

Farmers for Free Trade and Congressman Jim Costa hosted a meeting in Fresno this week to discuss the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). Also in attendance was California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross, along with several agricultural organizations representing blueberries, citrus, table grapes, tree nuts, cotton, vegetables, strawberries and many other crops. Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom represented the Association and commented “We need to get this done. Nothing good comes from tariffs. Mexico and Canada are important trade partners for cotton and tee nuts, and we can ill afford to lose market share to other countries who won’t face the same tariffs we do.” Farmers for Free Trade is hosting a national series of USMCA roundtables that will bring together farmers, trade experts, and elected officials in congressional districts across the country to discuss the critical importance of strengthening and renewing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement ahead of its 2026 review period.

CalOSHA has released their latest proposed changes to the Indoor (§3396) and Outdoor (§3395) Heat Illness Standards. CalOSHA somewhat addressed one of the biggest concerns in the previous draft with regards to the acclimatization requirements. Previously, the draft regulations required a phased-in work schedule for new or returning employees that had been away from the job for more than 14 days.  The phased-in work schedule mandated employees only work 20% of their normal work schedule on the 1st day, 40% on the 2nd  day, 60% on the 3rd day, 80% on the 4th day, and then full schedule on the 5th day. Under the proposed changes, they have now provided an alternative option that requires specific training at the beginning of the shift for each of those same days. They have also provided a less restrictive requirement for returning employees that allows them to work 50% of their normal work schedule on the first day, 60% on the 2nd day, and 80% on the 3rd day. CalOSHA has also added a peculiar new section to both regulations that reads as follows:

The Division may require an employer to take additional actions to prevent employee heat illness in employees through the issuance of an Order to Take Special Action. Such additional actions may include, but are not limited to, the use of wearable technology that monitors the user’s physiological responses to heat stress, where the employer is responsible for ensuring that health data is kept secure and not used to discriminate against employees.

There could be several issues with this kind of requirement, and the Association is looking into these. Comments are due on September 21st and the Association will be weighing in on the proposed changes.