The California Water Commission committed $268.9 million in conditional supplemental funding to the Sites Reservoir Project earlier this week to offset inflation and for additional public benefits. These funds, administered through the Commission’s Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP), were made available from Proposition 1 (2014) and Proposition 4 (2024) and are an investment in the public benefits offered by the Sites Project. The project is a 1.5 million acre-foot off-stream surface storage reservoir located in the Sacramento Valley west of the town of Maxwell. Once construction is complete, the reservoir will provide the following public benefits:

• Capture and store flood flows from the Sacramento River to reduce potential flood damage in the Maxwell area.
• Provide new opportunities for recreation for an anticipated 187,000 visitors annually.
• Deliver water to wildlife refuges, including the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area, and San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.
• Deliver up to 200,000-acre feet of captured water to create a new water supply for use during emergency-declared droughts.

With this additional funding, the Sites Project is eligible for a total of $1.363 billion in WSIP funding. To receive funding from the Commission, the project must first meet certain voter-mandated requirements, including securing financing, obtaining permits, completing environmental review, and contracting with the State agencies that are overseeing the administration of the public benefits. “The Sites Project proponents have shown consistent progress in making this reservoir come to fruition. We look forward to seeing them complete the statutory requirements so they can come before us for final funding,” said Commission Chair Fern Steiner. “The California Water Plan calls for a statewide goal of nine million acre-feet of additional water, water conservation, or water storage capacity by 2040. This project will go a long way toward meeting that goal.”

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is proposing changes to the state’s Enforcement Response Regulations.  According to DPR. the proposal would increase fines for violations that could harm people’s health, hold repeat violators accountable, and support consistency in enforcement across the state.  These regulations address actions taken by County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) in their pesticide use enforcement programs. DPR’ oversees and guides CACs who conduct on-the-ground compliance, inspections, investigations and enforcement actions across all 58 California counties.  Key elements of the proposal include:

• Increasing fines for incidents impacting human health. Changing how pesticide violations are categorized, creating a higher category and associated fines for violations that pose hazards to human health.
• Holding violators accountable. Adjusting penalty levels, including changes to minimum civil penalties for the most serious violations and increasing penalties for repeat violators. This includes required documentation and consideration of compliance history when determining penalties.
• Supporting consistent enforcement statewide. Clarifying definitions, timelines, and documentation requirements to support consistent enforcement decisions across counties. This also includes DPR oversight of CAC enforcement decision-making.
• Streamlining processes for enforcement coordination. Identifying areas for timely CAC coordination with District Attorneys and other prosecuting authorities to ensure that every available enforcement tool – including criminal prosecution, where appropriate – is used effectively.
• Increasing transparency into DPR enforcement actions. Adding a DPR annual enforcement report describing actions taken under the Department’s enforcement authority.

DPR is holding a 45-day public comment period through July 28, 2026, to collect input on the proposed regulations. Comments can be submitted online through DPR’s public comment portal, SmartComment(external link), or can be submitted via email to dpr26002@cdpr.ca.gov.  DPR will hold three public hearings during the comment period to receive verbal comments. All hearings will be conducted virtually to ensure statewide accessibility.  The agenda and pre-hearing presentation will be posted on DPR’s Meetings and Events webpage in advance of each hearing.

July 8, 2026
5:30 p.m. – Pre-hearing presentation
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Regulatory hearing and public comment
Register and join: Zoom (Virtual)(external link)

July 21, 2026
9:30 a.m. – Pre-hearing presentation
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Regulatory hearing and public comment
Register and join: Zoom (Virtual)(external link)

July 28, 2026
5:30 p.m. – Pre-hearing presentation
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Regulatory hearing and public comment
Register and join: Zoom (Virtual)(external link)

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) and the Western Tree Nut Association (WTNA), along with the Nisei Farmers League and Fresno County Farm Bureau, met with Mike Martucci, EPA Regional Administrator for Region 2 and Interim Regional Administrator for Region IX, this week. The day began with a meeting at the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District in Bakersfield, and then a trip to Buttonwillow. The meeting included a tour of the Cauzza Growers Farm and equipment yard, followed by a meeting with local growers in the Buttonwillow area. Topics included air quality, pesticides and water. Also participating in the meetings were Anita Lee, EPA Region IX Director of the Air and Radiation Division, as well as Samir Sheikh and Shiraz Gill with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Area growers included Association members Jake and Luc Cauzza, with Cauzza Growers; Bryan Bone, with  Bone Farms, LLC; and Greg Actis, of the Elk Grove Farming Co and CCGGA Chair Adriane Carbonel of Farmers Coop Gin. The Association was represented by President/CEO Roger A. Isom and Assistant Vice President of Technical Services Christopher McGlothlin.

CCGGA Vice Chair Jake Cauzza talking about issues impacting their farm with EPA Regional Administrator Mike Martucci.

The Association was invited to attend and speak at two roundtable discussion with Congressman Vince Fong (CA- 20^th) and Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-3^rd) Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. In the first meeting, which was focused on trade, Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom attended and spoke on behalf of the Association and focused his comments on the impact of not only tariffs, but the unfair cost of doing business in California. Isom discussed the impact of tariffs on almonds, walnuts and pistachios and having lost market share to Chile on walnuts going into India, and to Australia on almonds going into China. Isom highlighted the fact that 100% of the cotton, and more than 70% of tree nuts, grown in California are exported so tariffs have a significant impact. Isom also pointed to the significant input costs from water, labor, energy and environmental regulations as creating a significantly unfair playing field. He highlighted an example of having to purchase a new Tier 4 engine powered front end loader here for $360,000, while our counterparts in Australia can still purchase a Tier 0 engine powered loader for only $60,000. Isom stated “This is but one egregious example in the disparity in input costs between California and the rest of the country. Industry attendees at the meeting included almonds, pistachios, table grapes, potatoes, citrus, several county farm bureaus, the three major ports in California, railroad, and chemical companies.

In the second roundtable, which had a broader focus, representing the Association were Assistant Vice President Priscilla Rodriguez and Assistant Vice President of Technical Services Chris McGlothlin. Rodriguez reinforced the importance of international trade to California agriculture and discussed the need to maintain and expand export opportunities for the state’s cotton and tree nut industries. Rodriguez also spoke directly with Congressman Smith regarding the Buying American Cotton Act and encouraged his support of legislation that would provide incentives for the use of U.S.-grown cotton, helping strengthen domestic demand for American cotton producers. McGlothlin spoke on the finds of non-native pest species that could devastate the cotton industry in California, and encouraged federal agency readiness in the event those pests spread further. 

This past week United States Senator Adam Schiff from California was in Hanford to meet with farmers and ag leaders to discuss critical issues affecting the agricultural industry. Representing the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) was Board Member and Past Chairman Kirk Gilkey of Cross Creek II Gin LLC and Gilkey Five. Gilkey used the opportunity to discuss the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and the Buying American Cotton Act (BACA) which would provide tax incentives for using American grown cotton. More than 20 farmers, ranchers and ag leaders attended the meeting, which was hosted by the Kings County Farm Bureau.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced today the Great American Cotton Plan, a comprehensive USDA initiative to strengthen the cotton farm economy, restore domestic textile manufacturing, expand cotton trade opportunities, and increase demand for products made with American-grown cotton.  “Since 1607, cotton has helped build and sustain rural America. Our farmers grow some of the highest-quality cotton in the world, but over the last several years America’s cotton growers have been crushed by rising costs, unfair foreign competition, and a flood of cheap synthetic products. In 2023, we lost our status as the world’s top cotton exporter to Brazil. This change starts today,” said Secretary Rollins. “The Trump Administration is committed to ensuring American cotton once again becomes the fiber of choice with the Great American Cotton Plan — a bold effort to restore profitability for cotton producers, strengthen rural economies, rebuild domestic textile manufacturing, and bring American cotton back into the products families use every day. Supporting natural fibers like cotton also aligns with the Make America Healthy Again agenda as Americans grow increasingly concerned about microplastics and synthetic materials in everyday products. Cotton is natural, breathable, biodegradable, and proudly grown by American farmers — not manufactured from petroleum-based plastics that can shed microplastics into our soil, water, and bodies.”  The announcement comes as cotton producers face a fifth consecutive year of negative returns driven by rising input costs, trade distortions, and increasing competition from synthetic materials. As part of the plan, USDA will elevate the “Plant Not Plastic” initiative to encourage consumers to purchase products made with healthy natural American cotton fibers rather than synthetic plastic-based alternatives.

The Great American Cotton Plan addresses these challenges through four key pillars:
Promoting Domestic Cotton Consumption

• USDA and HHS are promoting the “Plant Not Plastic” initiative to encourage consumers to choose products made with American cotton
• USDA is ensuring the BioPreferred Program remains funded so biobased products, including cotton products, can continue using the BioPreferred label
• USDA is implementing increased marketing loan rates for upland and extra-long staple cotton authorized through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act

Providing Affordable Cotton by Increasing Domestic Demand and Production

• USDA is prioritizing cotton processors and manufacturers within Rural Development’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program to increase domestic production capacity
• The Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills program payment rate will increase from 3 cents to 5 cents per pound of cotton processed
• USDA will continue working with Congress to support the bipartisan Buying American Cotton Act

Improving Cotton Trade

• USDA is implementing the Administration’s Three-Point Trade Plan to expand export opportunities for U.S. cotton
• Cotton Council International participated in an Agribusiness Trade Mission to Indonesia for the first time in program history earlier this year
• USDA and USTR secured commitments from Indonesia and Bangladesh that will support future U.S. cotton purchases and textile production using American cotton
• USDA continues supporting cotton exports through the Market Access Program and COTTON USA™ licensing initiatives

Protecting Cotton Growers from Adverse Risk

• USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists are advancing research efforts to combat the spread of the cotton jassid pest
• Cotton producers now have expanded access to Supplemental Coverage Option insurance tools
• The Working Families Tax Cuts Act increased the seed cotton reference price for ARC and PLC programs by 14 percent beginning in fall 2026

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Visalia, CA Classing Office

9:00am

Please join us to review, comment, and approve the six guide boxes of the 2026 American Pima Grade Standards. Once approved, the guide boxes will be used as the reference to match all the 2026 American Pima Grade Standards. The guide box review and the standards matching will both take place the morning of July 22nd.

Industry participation is key to this process, and we hope you all can come and be a part of this important annual event.

For additional information please contact:

Ryan Phillips, Assistant Area Director

E-mail: ryan.phillips@usda.gov

Visalia Classing Office

7100 West Sunnyview Avenue

Visalia, CA 93291

Phone: (559) 651-3015

or

David Rowland, Director

E-mail: David.Rowland@usda.gov

Standardization and Engineering Division

3275 Appling Road

Memphis, TN 38133

Phone: (901) 384-3030

The California Cotton Growers Association is pleased to announce Adriane Carbonel as the new Chair for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. Carbonel is the Gin Manager of Farmers Cooperative Gin in Buttonwillow, California, where she has been Manager since 2017. Previously, Carbonel was a Gin Manager for Olam International and Anderson Clayton Corporation.

Ms. Carbonel becomes the first woman to take over the reins as Chair in the history of the organization. Adriane is actively involved in the industry as well as several community and agriculture service organizations, including:

• National Cotton Council, Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee
• National Cotton Council, Ginner Delegate
• California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association Board of Directors
• Ranchers Cotton Oil Board of Directors
• Firebaugh FFA Agricultural Advisory Committee
• Buttonwillow Lions Club

Adriane Carbonel succeeds outgoing Chairman Gary Martin. In addition to Carbonel being elected Chair, the following officers were also elected:

• 1st Vice Chair – Jake Cauzza, Kern County
• 2nd Vice Chair – Wade Van Hooser, Mid Valley Cotton Growers
• Secretary/ Treasurer – Wyatt McKean, Fresno County

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association is a voluntary dues based agricultural trade organization based in Fresno representing cotton growers in California on regulatory and legislative issues. Cotton is grown in the Imperial, Palo Verde, San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys of California.

Last week, the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association hosted its 2026 Annual Meeting at the International Agri Center in Tulare, California.  More than 100 participants attended the informative meeting with speakers covering a multitude of important issues. The morning began with the financial report from the Association’s auditing firm Spafford and Landry. Then the group broke into two sections: ginners and growers. The ginners were provided with updates from the National Cotton Ginners Association and its activities by current NCGA Executive Vice President Harrison Ashley, the USDA ARS Southwest Cotton Ginning Laboratory and the research they are conducting by Research Leader Dr. Derek Whitelock. Meanwhile, the growers were briefed on the status of Cotton Jassid and Cotton Seed Bug by the National Cotton Council’s Chad Brewer. Then researchers Dr. Maggie Ellis, with Fresno State, and Ian Grettenberger with UC Davis, provided updates on fusarium research and pesticide trials respectively. Then both groups came back together to receive an update on cotton classing update from Ryan Phillips with USDA AMS. Later, the Association staff led by Assistant Vice President Priscilla Rodriguez, and Assistant Vice president of Technical Services Christopher McGlothlin provided an overview of the important issues the Association is tackling. During lunch a special congressional issues panel was held that was moderated by CCGGA President/CEO Roger A. Isom and included Robbie Minnich from the National Cotton Council, Buddy Allen, with the American Cotton Shippers Association, Emma Vogel with Congressman Adam Gray’s office and Wes Andersen with Congressman David Valadao’s office. At the meeting, incoming Chairman Adriane Carbonel presented outgoing Chairman Gary Martin with a plaque and gavel recognizing him for his two years of tremendous service. The meeting was also held in conjunction with the Annual Meetings for Supima and the Western Cotton Shippers Association. The Association recognizes their contribution to the success of the meeting and wishes to express their appreciation for the cooperation and collaboration.

At its 2026 Annual meeting, the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) announced its new Chair of the Board of Directors, Adriane Carbonel, Gin Manager for Farmers Coop out of Buttonwillow. Carbonel replaces Gary Martin after completing his two-year term. The Association also used the event to announce all of its officers, as follows:

Chair – Adriane Carbonel
1^st Vice Chair – Jake Cauzza
2^nd Vice Chair – Wade Van Hooser
Secretary/Treasurer – Wyatt McKean

New Chair Carbonel thanked outgoing Chair Martin for his service and time spent at the helm of the board over the past two years. Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom commented: “We thank Gary for his tireless service, he not only attended numerous legislative fundraisers and many trips to Sacramento, he also served on the American Cotton Producers and was a delegate to the National Cotton Council attending several events throughout the country each year during his service to the Association. This industry owes Gary a debt of gratitude and much appreciation for all that he did during his time as our Chairman.”