Immediate Notice

Effective January 1^st, our newsletter will no longer be available in print format.  We were notified by the United States Post Office that the 20 pound paper we currently use is no longer approved, and we must immediately switch to 70 pound paper for printing our newsletter.  This will increase our paper cost by more than 245%!  Coupled with postage cost increases, folding cost increases, it is no longer feasible to produce a printed version of our newsletter.  We sincerely apologize, but we will email you the newsletter or it will be available online at https://www.ccgga.org/ .

If you currently get the print version and would like it emailed to you directly, please email our office at mandy@ccgga.org.

We are truly sorry for this inconvenience.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has announced an initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation forecast of five percent of requested supplies for 2025.  The December initial water supply forecast is the first allocation of the new water year and is based on current reservoir storage and conservative assumptions for precipitation to come. For comparison, last year, the initial allocation for Water Year 2024 was 10 percent of requested supplies and it eventually increased to 40 percent by the end of the season.

The initial allocation forecast announced today does not take into account the series of strong storms that brought precipitation to above average across Northern California in the last two weeks of November. These storms will be taken into account along with other variables for future allocation updates. Prior to these storms, the start of the water year had been dry and warm.  “Based on long-range forecasts and the possibility of a La Nina year, the State Water Project is planning for a dry 2025 punctuated by extreme storms like we’ve seen in late November,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “We need to prepare for any scenario, and this early in the season we need to take a conservative approach to managing our water supply. Our wettest months of the season are still to come.” 

Nominations closed this past week for the seats up for election on the Board of Directors of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA).  There were 8 seats up for election, 4 ginner positions and 4 grower positions.  On the Ginner side, all four incumbents were re-elected including Matt Toste with Olam Silver Creek Gin and Pacific Ginning Company, Wade Van Hooser with Mid Valley Cotton Growers, Rosie Navarro with Modern Ginning and Adriane Carbonel with Farmers Coop Gin.  On the growers side, two seats were up in Kern County and both incumbents were reappointed including Jake Cauzza and Bryan Bone.  Merced County also had 2 open seats, one of which had been vacant. The incumbent Cannon Michael was re-elected and Kirk Teixeira as newly appointed to fill the vacant seat.  In addition, a long-time vacant Fresno County seat was filled Renato Serrano.  

For those with equipment under the Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP), the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released an updated timeline for phase-out requirements of equipment for two equipment categories. On December 31^st, 2024 Large Fleets will be required to phase-out Tier 3 equipment, while smaller fleets will have to replace their registered Tier 2 equipment.  As part of the PERP phase-out requirement, any operation of use of Tier 3 engines by larger fleets past the 12/31 deadline will be required to submit a Modification Request to either CARB or their local Air District.  Equipment granted this extension must meet Level-3 Emission Control technology, or else it will not be permitted to remain in use. Stay tuned for more updates!

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) and Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) in partnership with Cardinal Professional Products conducted a day long tour and training session on cotton gins and tree nut hullers and processors on air pollution permitting and issues.  24 engineers from all three regions (North, Central and South) of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District attended the training which included classroom training on fumigation practices and procedures, as well as cotton gin operation and how its air pollution control works.  In addition, basic tree nut huller operation was introduced and demonstrated.  The purpose of the training was to help permitting engineers know and understand the process of these operations to help expedite permitting times.  The group toured Perfect PAC  LP, led by WAPA Board Member Jason Baldwin, Sierra Valley Almonds, led by WAPA Board Members Jim Sears, and Olam Cotton’s Silver Creek Gin, led by CCGGA Board Member Matt Toste.  The training was led by the Association’s Director of Technical Services Christopher McGlothlin and President/CEO Roger A. Isom.  Representing Cardinal Products was Doug Belle and Kevin Willet.

Last week, the Association’s Director of Technical Services Chris McGlothlin was given the opportunity to speak at the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s (Air District) Annual Study Session.  The Study Session meeting provides an opportunity for the Air District and stakeholders to strategize on upcoming rules and tightening air emissions regulations.  The event kicked off with a press conference, where McGlothlin highlighted the importance of incentive programs such as the Tractor Trade In program, while emphasizing the current state of the industry.  “The industry is facing the worst commodity prices in the last 5 years, difficult export markets, and tightening regulations across all aspects of the industry.  Even amongst all of these conditions, the agricultural industry goes above and beyond to do its part to meet and exceed emission reduction goals”.  

During the meeting portion, the Air Resources Board (CARB) as well as EPA Region 9 provided updates on compliance plans for various standards.  Both agencies took the time to highlight the Air District’s success in meeting the stringent standards.  A significant amount of credit goes to the ag industry for turning over enough equipment to not only meet the proposed emission reduction requirement, but to do it in a quicker timeframe than a traditional regulatory approach.  Unfortunately, many Valley businesses face an uphill battle with the recently passed 2024 Rule, which lowers the particulate concentration limit from 12 micrograms to 9 micrograms.  Stay tuned for more!

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing approval of a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or ‘‘Act’’) requirements for the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality  standards in the San Joaquin Valley ‘‘Serious’’ nonattainment area.  The EPA is also finalizing a one-year extension of the applicable attainment date from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024, for the 1997 annual PM2.5 San Joaquin Valley, California, nonattainment area based on their evaluation of air quality monitoring data and the extension request and supporting information submitted by the State of California.  Earlier this year, EPA proposed two actions including  ‘‘Amendments to the 15 mg/m3 SIP Revision and Agricultural Equipment Incentive Measure for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard’’  as a revision to the California SIP.  These amendments seek to amend a SIP approved measure, the ‘‘Accelerated Turnover of Agricultural Equipment Incentive Projects’’ (‘‘Valley Incentive Measure’’), to include a quantification of the emissions reductions for the year 2023 from existing agricultural equipment projects from the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (‘‘Carl Moyer’’) and CARB’s Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) program and seek EPA approval of those emission reductions for SIP credit.   This action now formally recognizes the emissions reductions created by farmers replacing their tractors and harvesters voluntarily and formally acknowledges the Valley Incentive Measure has achieved emissions reductions of 5.0 tons per day (tpd) of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and 0.27 tpd of direct PM2.5 in the year 2023.   In the second action, based in part on our proposal to approve the 15 mg/m3 Plan Amendments, the EPA proposed to grant California’s request for a one-year extension of the applicable attainment date from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024, for the 1997 annual PM2.5 San Joaquin Valley, California, nonattainment area.  The proposed action to extend the applicable attainment date for this nonattainment area was based on the EPA’s evaluation of air quality monitoring data and xtension request submitted by the State of California, and our determination that the State has satisfied the two statutory criteria for a one-year extension under the Clean Air Act.  This is huge news for the San Joaquin Valley.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the selection of 27 new members to its prestigious  Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research.  The Task Force examines the intersection of agricultural production and air quality, and advises the secretary on scientifically sound, cost-effective, federally supported agricultural solutions that can help improve air quality.  The Task Force members are from diverse backgrounds, including agricultural producers, agricultural industry representatives, researchers, scientists and members of health and regulatory organizations, who have an interest and expertise with agriculture air quality issues.  The newly selected members will serve a term of up to two years. One of the new members will be the Association’s Director of Technical Services Christopher McGlothlin!   “USDA’s Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research continues to benefit from the expert guidance of local farmers, ranchers, academia and other environmental professionals to advance air quality and climate-smart agriculture,” said USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby. “Minimizing agriculture’s impact on air quality is a collective interest of Task Force members, which enables us to harness the full capacity and resources brought to the table to confront air pollution and produce tangible solutions for emerging and existing air quality challenges.”   The Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research continues to promote USDA research efforts and identifies cost-effective ways the agriculture industry can improve air quality. Focus areas of the Task Force may include:

• Providing recommendations for needed research related to agricultural air quality issues.
• Ensuring that implementation of USDA practices, programs and research for air quality and climate change promote environmental justice goals and exploring opportunities for improving the environment for all.
• Addressing reactive nitrogen emissions, including ammonia from agricultural sources, especially in relation to nitrogen deposition, greenhouse gas impacts and ammonia’s role as a precursor to fine particulate matter formation.
• Discussing agricultural greenhouse gas and carbon sequestration topics, including climate-smart agriculture and forestry options and sustainable solutions.
• Providing guidance and recommendations to the secretary regarding the impact on agriculture from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules and research, including the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and emissions estimating methodologies for livestock and poultry operations.
• Discussing state and local air quality regulations related to agriculture and the potential impact on agricultural operations in those areas.

Created by the 1996 Farm Bill, the Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research works to address agricultural air quality issues. It also helps better coordinate activities and resources among USDA agencies and other federal partners, including the Environmental Protection Agency.  Chaired by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief, this is the 12th Task Force since its launch in 1997.

The Bureau of Reclamation and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority have announced a negotiated consensus has been met for the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project.  The joint project creates an additional 130,000 acre-feet of storage space in San Luis Reservoir, the nation’s largest off-stream reservoir, producing additional water supply for two million people, over one million acres of farmland and 135,000 acres of Pacific Flyway wetlands and critical wildlife habitat. Reclamation signed the Record of Decision for the project on Oct. 20, 2023, the first approval of a major water storage project in California since 2011.  Significant provisions of the agreement include cost sharing and space management for the federally-funded and authority-funded shares of the expanded reservoir.  A $25 million investment to the project under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in October 2022 and an additional $10 million in July 2023.  An additional $60 million was authorized for project construction from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, for a total of $95 million in federal contributions to date in construction costs.  Previously, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided over $100 million to the B.F. Sisk Dam for a separate but connected project that will increase the dam crest by 10 feet to improve seismic fortification. Leveraging this existing project, Reclamation and project partners entered now-adjudicated negotiation sessions to add an additional 10 feet to the dam to allow for expansion of the reservoir’s storage capacity. The expanded space will store water that can be delivered to south-of-Delta water contractors and wildlife refuges. This water would meet existing contractual obligations and not serve any new demands.

“It’s an honor to celebrate this exciting milestone today with our partners,” said Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director Karl Stock. “The addition of new water storage capacity south-of-Delta in San Luis Reservoir is a crucial part of our strategy for enhancing water reliability for California communities, agriculture, and wildlife.”

“San Luis Reservoir has served as the hub of California’s water system south of the Sacramento San Joaquin Bay-Delta since its completion in 1967,” said San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority Board Chair Cannon Michael. “The ability to capture more water in the years it is available, particularly given California’s dynamic hydrology, is a critical component of a more secure future for the communities, farms and wildlife dependent on the Authority’s member agencies for their water supply.”

“This is a significant milestone for this project, and we are grateful to Reclamation and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority for the continued partnership and effort it has taken to get here,” said Valley Water Chief Executive Officer Rick Callender. “Investing in water infrastructure, including surface storage, is needed now more than ever to become more drought resilient.”

This past September, the requirements of AB 1963 became law, which requires the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) to do the following:  “On or before January 1, 2029, the department shall complete a reevaluation of paraquat dichloride pursuant to section 12824, and make the determination to retain, cancel or suspend its registration or to place new appropriate restrictions on the use of pesticide products containing the active ingredient paraquat dichloride.”  Currently, CDPR is assessing whether additional data are needed to fulfill the requirements of the new law to determine whether current uses of paraquat pose unacceptable risks to human health and/or the environment, and whether additional restrictions on use are necessary.  The reevaluation involves 7 registrants, and 7 pesticide products currently registered in California.