Don Cameron, longtime cotton industry advocate and friend, was awarded Fresno Chamber of Commerce’s Agriculturalist of the Year award. Cameron who farms more than 7,500 acres has proven to be an industry leader through innovative farming practices as well as through his high level of involvement in the industry. Cameron, who once served as California Cotton Growers Association Chairman from 2007-2008, has participated on numerous committees and boards. He currently serves on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture and is currently the chairman for the California Cotton Alliance and serves on the Western Growers Board of Directors. He has had critical involvement with the Sustainable Ground Water Management Act formation, in the Kings Sub-basin. President/CEO Roger Isom said, “There is no one more deserving than Don. If you look at what a grower needs to be successful in California in 2017, it’s Don Cameron.” California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association congratulates Don Cameron on a well-deserved award! To watch Don Cameron receive the award watch the link below.

https://video.valleypbs.org/video/3006267487/

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association is offering folks the chance to win a Beretta Silver Pigeon I shotgun at the same time as supporting the Association’s PAC efforts! Funds from the CCGGA Federal and State PAC are critical in influencing legislation, campaigns and industry efforts in Sacramento and D.C. With today’s political climate these funds prove to me more valuable now more than ever!

Tickets are $100/each, limit 250 entries. You can purchase a ticket online by clicking the button below or by check mailed to our offices (1785 N. Fine Ave. Fresno, CA 93727). Payment can be accepted in the form of a personal or company check. Checks can be made payable to California Cotton Ginners & Growers PAC and you MUST include your phone number on the check. Payments must be received by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 22 to 1785 N. Fine Ave. The drawing will be held during the CCGGA Board Meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 6^th, winner need not be present.

If you have questions or would like more information please call Jodi Raley at (559) 252-0684.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pink Bollworm Program has released its final report for monitoring Silverleaf Whitefly. The program monitored for whitefly and other cotton pests from July 11, 2017 to September 29, 2017. Throughout the season California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations encouraged growers, PCAs and others to utilize this valuable information in working to eliminate sticky cotton. We encourage the industry to read and share this critical information.

http://bit.ly/2yIDmGa

California Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-48) joined the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association and other members of the Agricultural President’s Council on a day long tour of agriculture in the Central San Joaquin Valley. Rubio, who represents areas including Baldwin Park, Covina, Glendora and Azsu, had the opportunity to visit Dos Palos Coop Red Top Gin, The Specialty Crop Company, Fowler Packing as well as Minturn Huller Coop. The Assemblywoman was joined by Association President/CEO Roger Isom, Director of Technical Services Chris McGlothlin and Director of Regulatory Affairs Jodi Raley. The primary issues discussed were water availability, necessary oversight from legislature over regulatory agencies, along with discussing the impacts operations are beginning to feel from the ag overtime and minimum wage bills. The Association looks forward to building our relationship with this Assemblywoman and future opportunities to bring southern California representatives to the Valley!

Last month the Association, in working with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD), solicited potential participants for an Electric ATV Incentive Program, in which the SJVAPCD would pay 75% of the cost of an electric ATV to replace old fuel fired ATVs. The list of participants was submitted with the District’s application for funding and the funds are anticipated to be approved next month with the hopes of issuing vouchers for the replacements at the beginning of 2018. The Association continues to see this project through. President/CEO Roger Isom, Director of Technical Services Chris McGlothlin and Director of Regulatory Affairs Jodi Raley met with an ATV dealer to learn more about how electric ATVs operate and the feasibility of electric equipment on a farming operation. After lengthy discussion and a demo, it seems incredibly promising! We will continue to be engaged in seeing this program come to fruition so stay tuned!

As the season continues, it is important to remain vigilant to invasive cotton insect pests. The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pink Bollworm Program has released their latest Silverleaf Whitefly Report from August 14, 2017 to September 14, 2017. Please use and share this report to maintain the industry effort to eliminate sticky cotton! To view the Silverleaf Whitefly Monitoring Report (8/14/2017-9/14/2017) click the link below.

http://bit.ly/2xTvXCY 

This past week, CCGGA President/CEO Roger Isom testified before the California Air Resources Board touting the success of the incentives approach to replacing tractors and harvesters in an effort to stave off a mandatory replacement regulation for tractors and harvesters.  It was yet another hearing/meeting in a two-year process for CARB and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.  CARB announced they are now looking at putting a firm date in place by which all Tier 0 and Tier 1 engine equipped tractors and harvesters would have to be replaced. Those dates were not announced and Isom encouraged the board to allow the incentives to work. Isom also briefed the board on the huge influx of money coming from the recent Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) budget bill that was passed that will being $135 million in incentive funding for agricultural equipment. This is very significant and should be allowed to be utilized first, Isom stated. The latest timeline has the Air District adopting the State Implementation Plan (SIP) in December and CARB will consider the plan in March.

At a workshop last night, the environmental community blasted the oil and agricultural industries for not doing enough to clean up the air.  To make matters worse, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) failed to recognize the accomplishments that agriculture has made to clean up the air and the efforts that agriculture has made to find new solutions for reducing emissions.  Those new efforts include the significant Cap & Trade funding for agriculture, the efforts to create a second-generation AG ICE program to electrify ag pump engines, the research and development of biogas solutions, and the most recent investigation of incentives to replace tractors, harvesters and all-terrain vehicles.

There was particular attention to almond harvesting, including one attendee who blamed the recent passing of their father-in-law on an almond harvesting operation that blew dust on their house.  The Association commented that research is underway by the Almond Board to look at low dust almond harvesters, and there is an incentive program to replace low dust harvesters with NRCS, and one under development by the SJVAPCD.  ARB did announce there will be a rule regarding tractors that is based upon incentives, but has backstop dates by which this equipment will need to be replaced.  ARB did not provide those details at this meeting stating they are still under development. It is clear that the situation is growing worse as we head into the last few months of plan development with adoption slated for December.  Ag will need to be engaged.

This month, the Governor signed the Cap and Trade Expenditure Plan bills, AB 109 and AB 134, which set forth how money collected from Cap and Trade would be spent.  Agriculture will receive $300 million in this plan during this fiscal year.  The money will be allocated as follows:

• $60 million to food processors to reduce GHG emissions
• $6 million for renewable energy research and development in agriculture
• $99 million in dairy digester research and development and alternative manure management
• $135 million to reduce emissions from agricultural pumps, tractors, harvesters, and other equipment

The Association played a critical role in creating this funding, including being involved in high level meetings during the negotiations of the Cap & Trade legislation.  While the Association’s involvement was necessitated by the need to continue the Cap & Trade program for food processors, we saw this as an opportunity to re-direct this funding towards projects that actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions, yet help our farms, cotton gins, and tree nut hullers and processors address critical air quality issues through the use of incentives.  With a potential mandatory farm equipment replacement regulation looming in the not so distant future, it was important to seize the opportunity while it was there.  Stay tuned for details on when this money is available and how to receive this funding.