Director of Regulatory Affairs

Announcement Date: January 19, 2015
Application Deadline: February 27, 2015
The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations (CCGGA) and the Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) are seeking Director of Regulatory Affairs. This position is slated to begin Monday, March 23rd, 2015.
This position is an entry level position, but the Association will consider applicants with experience in the Association’s areas of interest. This position is a full time, exempt employee status position that will report to the President/CEO.
Primary Responsibilities:
• Provide support and analysis on regulatory and legislative issues related to air quality, water quality, worker safety, food safety, pesticides, labor, taxes and how they affect the cotton and tree nut industries
• Provide administrative support for day to day operations and duties, as well as industry meetings, Association meetings and membership relations and development
• Provide support for the industry information and outreach including the Associations’ website and social media sites (Linked In)
Qualifications and Requirements:
• Bachelors degree from an accredited university with major in agriculture, business, safety, engineering, environment or political science
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Ability to accomplish tasks w/ minimal supervision
• Good customer service skills
• Effective communicator and planner
• Ability to set priorities and work on multiple tasks
• Ability to travel 20% of the time within state and 2% of the time within US
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access & Outlook)
Compensation will include a competitive salary, paid vacation and sick leave, medical and dental benefits, as well as an employer funded retirement program. More details are available by contacting Roger Isom at (559)252-0684 or email at roger@ccgga.org.
Interested individual should mail their resume with a letter explaining their interest to:
Roger A. Isom
CCGGA/WAPA
1785 N. Fine Avenue
Fresno, CA 93727

Job Description_Director of Regulatory Affairs

Association Description – CCGGA

Mark your calendars for the California Cotton Growers Associations (CCGA) 25^th Annual Meeting to be held at the Visalia Convention Center on March 6, 2015.   This year’s Annual Meeting will begin 9 am with concurrent sessions on Pest & Products Chaired by Pete Goodall, Varieties – Trials & New Releases Chaired by Bob Hutmacher, and Water – Issues and Irrigation Efficiency Chaired by Dan Munk. Please RSVP to Shana at (559) 252-0684.  We hope to see you there!

CA Cotton Growers 25th Annual Meeting Flyer, Registration Form & Agenda

CA Cotton Growers Associate Member – Annual Mtg Sponsorship/Exhibitor Flyer

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing to improve the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), one of USDA’s largest conservation programs. The interim final rule includes program changes authorized by Congress in the 2014 Farm Bill.   USDA has established a 60-day comment period for the rule.  “This interim final rule provides a roadmap to help streamline and simplify EQIP for farmers and ranchers,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “We strongly encourage agricultural producers, private forest landowners and stakeholders to provide comments on our implementation processes. This feedback will help us improve our operation and deliver technical and financial assistance more efficiently to our nation’s agricultural producers and forest landowners.”   The changes are intended to simplify the EQIP regulation regarding conservation practice scheduling, payment limitations and other administrative actions. Highlights of program changes in this rule include the following:

– Requires at least 5 percent of available EQIP funds be targeted for conservation practices that promote wildlife habitat;

– Establishes EQIP as a contributing program for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program;

– Increases the advanced payment from 30 percent to 50 percent for eligible historically underserved producers, including beginning farmers, to help purchase material or contract services;

– Targets assistance to veteran farmers and ranchers including eligibility for the new 50 percent advance payment and up to 90 percent of the cost to implement EQIP conservation practices;

– Increases the payment limitation for EQIP from $300,000 to a maximum of $450,000 for benefits received during 2014-2018 and removes the option for a waiver to exceed payment limitations;

– Eliminates the requirement for a program contract to remain in place for one year after the last practice has been implemented, allowing practices to be scheduled through the tenth year of a contract;

– Includes an option to waive the irrigation history requirement under certain conditions;

– Incorporates the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program functions into EQIP.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers EQIP, a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to eligible agricultural producers and forest landowners to help them address soil, water, air and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. Resulting conservation and environmental benefits include improved water and air quality, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved energy conservation, improved grazing and forest lands, and created or improved wildlife habitat on working farms, ranches and non-industrial forestlands.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
CONTACT:

Rep. Valadao: Anna Vetter; (202) 815-1685
Rep. McCarthy: Matt Sparks; (202) 225-4000
Rep. Calvert: Jason Gagnon; (951) 277-0042
Rep. LaMalfa: Kevin Eastman; (202) 308-8529
Rep. McClintock: Jennifer Cressy; (202) 225-2511
Rep. Nunes: Jack Langer; (202) 225-2523

Washington – On Tuesday, December 9, 2014, the United States House of Representatives passed legislation aimed at providing immediate emergency drought relief to California.

H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act was introduced on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 by Rep. David G. Valadao (CA-21) to improve the dire drought conditions currently threatening California. The legislation would provide operational flexibility for the two California State water projects in order to immediately provide relief to hardship caused by water supply shortages. This temporary solution would expire after 18 months, on September 30, 2016. The legislation does not amend the Endangered Species Act and has received bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. On Tuesday, December 9, 2014 the legislation passed in the House by a vote of 230-182.

Original cosponsors Reps. David G. Valadao (CA-21), Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), Ken Calvert (CA-42), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Tom McClintock (CA-04), and Devin Nunes (CA-22) released the following statement following the passage of the legislation:

“Californians are suffering and this bill will provide them with the immediate relief they desperately need. The House of Representatives has recognized the importance of this legislation, not just for California, but for our entire nation. The drought is a natural disaster, and like any other disaster, deserves immediate action. Earlier this year, the House and Senate both passed drought-relief bills, and we entered negotiations to try and find middle ground. Every time we return home, we see how much pain this drought continues to cause. In order to get this bill across the finish line in time for the rainy season, House Republicans included many provisions from the Senate’s own legislation as well as agreed upon language from negotiations in the bill passed in the House today. Unfortunately, Barbara Boxer and many of her Democratic colleagues in the Senate have not shown the same commitment to achieving a solution to the California water crisis as House Republicans have, and they remain opposed even to bipartisan compromise. It is time the Senate recognize the severity of this situation and act on this legislation before they adjourn for the year.”

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Congressman David G. Valadao represents the 21st Congressional District, which includes Kings County and portions of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties.

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The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations (CCGGA) and the Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) submitted comments calling into question the proposed new requirements by CalOSHA.  The new requirements would require lighting to be provided such that light can be measured at 10 foot-candle light power within a 25 foot radius when working around agricultural equipment.  In attempting to determine the impact of these proposed rules, CCGGA and WAPA took measurements of an almond loading operation, cotton module unloading operation and a cotton bale loading operation, with all of these activities occurring at night.  These measurements clearly demonstrated the inability to comply with the law as proposed, and in the one instance where additional had been provided to help rectify the situation, an air pollution control district violation was also created!  As a result, CCGGA and WAPA have serious concerns with the premise for the proposed revisions, serious concerns with the industry’s ability to meet the proposed requirements for levels of light intensity, and issues with whether or not the standard is necessary based on a couple of the measurements we conducted.  CCGGA and WAPA submitted the comments and the measurements in response to CalOSHA’s request for data supporting the industry’s claims that the proposed regulations are not necessary and impractical to meet.

As follow-up to the STAX/Farm Bill Workshops, the National Cotton Council is hosting a series of regional information webinars.  Each session will include regional examples of insurance rates, county yields and information regarding farm programs.
Anyone who was unable to attend the meetings or who wishes additional information is welcome to participate in one the webinar sessions.  To participate, call the conference number provided and then login to the webinar site.  If you have any questions, contact the National Cotton Council, 901-274-9030.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Southeast Region:
9:00-11:00 am Central
10:00 am – 12:00 noon Eastern

MidSouth Region:
2:00 – 4:00 pm Central

Thursday, December 18, 2014
Southwestern Region:
9:00 – 11:00 am Central

Western Region:
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Pacific
12:00 noon-2:00 pm Mountain

Conference Number:
800-377-8846; Participant Code: 55634947#

Webinar login: https://cotton.adobeconnect.com/stax/

Webinar Instructions: Once at the web address, the default option is to enter as a Guest. Type your name into the box and Select the button “Enter Room”.

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations (CCGGA) and the Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) partnered with several other agricultural groups to submit comments in opposition to the proposed amendments to CalOSHA’s latest proposed revisions to the Heat Illness Standard.  While the agency has removed the onerous and impractical distance requirements for shade and water, serious issues remain.  The concerns focused on a failure to demonstrate necessity, as CalOSHA has not provided a shred of evidence that these changes will provide any additional protection over the existing standard.  The group also expressed concerns with the additional rest period requirements that would only apply to agriculture!  And while the distance requirement for shade at 700 feet was removed, it still requires shade to cover all employees at any point in time.  This is not only impractical it is most likely impossible in an ag setting.  These proposed changes were under a 15 day comment period.  CalOSHA remains under serious pressure to pass these changes due to a lawsuit by the UFW.  But the Associations remain resolute in opposition to the proposed changes and will remain so until such time as evidence is provided that demonstrates sufficient evidence to warrant revisions to the existing standard.

It has been, nearly, three weeks since the issues at the port began, and the situation has not experienced any improvement.  Long lines at the receiving terminal, the constant changing of   containers, and the uncertainty of vessel departure times have led to higher costs on containers, storage fees as well as transportation.

With the processing season in full swing, more goods including cotton and tree nuts are expected to leave the ports for destinations across the seas.  The effects of the delays at the ports have caused uncertainty among producers as to when their products will be delivered.  The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) and the Western Agricultural Processors Association have been collecting information from many of our members regarding their experiences with the ports up to this point.  Some of the repetitive reports that CCGGA and WAPA are receiving regards the long lines that transportation trucks have to wait in.  One almond processor explained that “…the truckers are having to wait in lines for hours and sometimes they will wait in line for 4 to 6 hours and then get turned away because they decided to close.” This, in turn, is driving the price of transportation higher, as drivers are having to spend all day waiting in line to deliver one container.  Container prices are also climbing because shipments are often being received, only to be transferred to a storage yard.

Not only are producers paying more to have their goods stored, but the delays at the ports also have the potential to cost the industry future business.  “We have bookings that have rolled or been delayed by weeks. This creates a huge problem, especially when the sales are guaranteed delivery by a certain date,” wrote one almond shipper.  Demand for tree nuts overseas is at its peak, and buyers are willing to find other producers or methods to meet their demands.  One walnut processor was forced to pay twice as much in transportation fees to have his containers picked up from a storage yard at the port, and trucked across the country to the port in Montreal.

These issues must be resolved quickly in order to keep the industry functioning properly.  CCGGA and WAPA have participated in conference calls with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, informing Secretary Karen Ross of the effects our industry is experiencing.  To ensure that your voices are heard, WAPA has been sending updated reports to the Governor’s office, as well as Senator Feinstein’s office to collectively find a solution.  If you have experienced the long lines at terminals, had your goods transferred to a storage yard when it should have been on an outgoing vessel, or have had to find other means of shipment to ensure your deadlines are met, we want to hear from you.  Please send your information to Chris McGlothlin (chris@agprocessors.org).

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to strengthen the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, based on what EPA claims is extensive scientific evidence about ozone’s effects on public health and welfare.  With this announcement, business just got a whole lot tougher, if not impossible for California.  EPA is proposing to update both the primary ozone standard, to protect public health, and the secondary standard, to protect the public welfare.  Both standards would be 8-hour standards set within a range of 65 to 70 parts per billion (ppb).  EPA is also seeking comment on potentially setting the levels for the health standard as low as 60 ppb!  To put this in perspective, in the 1990’s the Central California Ozone Studies measured background ozone levels on the Farallon Islands off the California Coast of 60 ppb!  The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has made the comment that it would take the elimination of every car, truck, tractor and cow and it would still be unable to achieve this standard.   Ozone forms in the atmosphere when emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds “cook” in the sun.  Emissions from sources such as cars, trucks, buses, industries, power plants, and products such as solvents and paints are among the major man-made sources of ozone-forming emissions.  As required by the Clean Air Act, EPA would make attainment/nonattainment designations for any revised standards by October 2017; those designations likely would be based on 2014-2016 air quality data.  A number of California counties likely would have attainment dates ranging from 2032 to late 2037.  EPA analyzed the benefits and costs for California separately, because a number of areas in California would have longer to meet the proposed standards.   Estimated costs in California post-2025 are $800 million for a standard of 70 ppb and $1.6 billion for a standard of 65 ppb.

For Immediate Release:
CONTACT:
Roger A. Isom, President/CEO                                                              Phone: (559)252-0684
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations                        Fax: (559)252-0551
Western Agricultural Processors Association                                      email: roger@ccgga.org

CCGGA/WAPA President/CEO Roger Isom reacted to the withdrawal of negotiations on federal drought legislation by stating “It is unconscionable to walk away from talks at this point in time.  In a year where hundreds of thousands of acres of productive farmland received zero surface water, this delay is unacceptable.  Thousands of acres lay fallow and productive orchards were ripped out – this is unacceptable.  The jobs that are associated with this acreage go far beyond the individual farmer and his family.  It affects farm workers and their families, the fuel delivery personnel and their families, the custom harvesters and their families, the bankers and their families, the insurance companies and their families, the equipment dealers and their families.  The list goes on and one thing remains the same.  The lack of water is devastating.  There are cities in the San Joaquin Valley that are without water for even the basic necessities.  This is not a time when politics should come before the needs of the people.

While we applaud the bipartisanship that went into the serious negotiations that were undertaken, the fact remains that there will be no legislation this year.  Despite assurances that this will be taken up early in the next session it is simply too late.  Another planting season will have gone by.  Without a miracle winter, more acreage will be removed.  Consequently, more farmworkers will be laid off or simply not hired.  There will be even less work for the fuel suppliers, harvesters, banks, chemical supply companies, equipment dealers, and others that rely upon a viable agricultural industry.

We don’t know what happened or why the negotiations were discontinued, but it doesn’t matter.  Simply put, something has to be done to provide more water at these critical times.   Farmers have done their part by investing billions converting irrigation systems to automated, high-efficiency, low water use systems, such as buried drip on cotton.  It’s time for Congress to do theirs.“

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations are trade organizations representing cotton growers and cotton gins throughout California.  The Western Agricultural Processors Association is a trade organization representing tree nut hullers and processors of almonds, pecans, pistachios and walnuts.  All three organizations are operated and managed in the same offices in Fresno, California.