With little movement in prices, cotton acreage in California will drop by about 35% in 2025, with almost all of the drop being pima acreage. According to the preliminary planting intentions survey conducted by the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association over the past month, the Association is currently estimating approximately 93,600 acres of pima, and about 22,690 acres of upland statewide for the 2025 cotton season plus or minus 10%. This survey is based on surveys from all the gins in California and things could change when the final field surveys are completed by CDFA. This is a total estimated cotton acreage for California of 116,290 acres. If it plays out, it will represent a 35% decrease in pima acreage and relatively no change in upland acreage in California as compared to 2024. Again, this is preliminary, but reflects what all gins are reporting.   

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced the latest slate of presidential appointments for key Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development (RD) State Director roles.  “When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put Farmers First again,” said Secretary Rollins.  FSA State Directors help implement and execute the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) policies in planning, organizing, and administering FSA programs through state offices across the country.  RD State Directors help affirm the mission of the Trump Administration by focusing on finding ways to empower rural America and unleash economic prosperity.  Key appointments for California include the following:

• Bryan Anguiano Appointed as State Director, California Rural Development Bryan Anguiano serves as State Director of Rural Development in California. Before being appointed to USDA, Bryan served as California State Director for the Republican National Committee and President Trump’s campaign. During his tenure with the RNC, he oversaw the RNC’s investment for four years and three elections cycles, including the 2022 midterms, 2024 presidential elections, and the California gubernatorial recall.

• Connie Conway Appointed as State Executive Director, California Farm Service Agency Connie Conway serves as State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency in California, a role she held during President Trump’s first term. She most recently served as chairman of the World Ag Expo, the largest annual outdoor agricultural exposition.

Continuing to focus on maximizing California’s water supplies, the Bureau of Reclamation has announced another increase in water supply allocations for the Central Valley Project for south-of-Delta agricultural contractors. While all north-of-Delta Central Valley Project contractors are currently at 100% of their supplies, south-of-Delta irrigation water service and repayment contractors are today being increased from 40% to 50%.  All other Central Valley Project contract allocations remain the same per the March 27 water supply update. Initial Central Valley Project contract allocations were announced on Feb. 25. “Today’s increase in allocations reinforces our commitment to achieving the objectives outlined in Executive Order 14181, which seeks to maximize water supplies within the Central Valley Project,” stated Acting California-Great Basin Regional Director Adam Nickels. “We are pleased that today’s optimization of available water supplies will continue to support California farmers and the communities we serve.”

AB 942: IOUs Trying to Break Ag Solar Contracts

AB 942 (Calderon) proposes to let the IOUs break the contracts that were signed by agricultural producers and processors who invested in solar energy. The bill would force customers who have been in the Net-Energy Metering (NEM) program for more than 10 years on NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0 to transition to the newest NBT tariff (NEM 3.0).
 
Customers in NEM 1.0 and NEM 2.0 contracted a 20-year grandfather period on the tariff when they entered the program. AB 942 wants to break that contract. 
 
The bill would also transition any solar installation to the newest tariff if a property is sold. 

AECA strongly opposed this legislation, and urges you to contact your local Assemblymembers and Senators to communicate your opposition. 
 
Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (SD 4, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, Tuolumne)
senator.alvarado-gil@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4004
Senator Anna Caballero (SD 14, Fresno, Merced, Madera, Tulare) 
senator.caballero@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4014
Senator Shannon Grove (SD 12, Fresno, Kern, Tulare)
senator.grove@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4012
Senator Melissa Hurtado (SD 16, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Tulare)
senator.hurtado@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4016
Senator Jerry McNerney (SD 5, San Joaquin)
senator.mcnerney@senate.ca.gov 916-651-4005
Assm. Juan Alanis (AD 22, Merced, Stanislaus)
assemblymember.alanis@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2022
Assm. Joaquin Arambula (AD 31, Fresno)
assemblymember.arambula@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2031
Assm. Jasmeet Bains (AD 35, Kern)
assemblymember.bains@asm.ca.gov 91-319-2035
Assm. Stan Ellis (AD 31, Kern, Tulare)
assemblymember.ellis@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2031
Assm. Heath Flora (AD 9, San Joaquin, Stanislaus)
assemblymember.flora@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2009
Assm. Alexandra Macedo (AD 33, Fresno, Kings, Tulare)
assemblymember.macedo@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2033
Assm. Rhodesia Ransom (AD 13, San Joaquin)
assemblymember.ransom@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2013
Assm. Esmeralda Soria (AD 27, Fresno, Madera, Merced)
assemblymember.soria@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2027
Assm. David Tangipa (AD 8, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tuolumne)
assemblymember.tangipa@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2008

Policymakers and regulators need stand up to the IOUs and ensure they honor the agreements made with growers and processors. 

It’s time for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting! This year it will be held in conjunction with Supima’s Annual Meeting and will be held Wednesday, May 21^st at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California. Registration and Continental Breakfast will begin at 7:30 am. The program will begin with Breakout Sessions at 8:30 am and will end with lunch. A link to the Registration Form and Agenda is below. Please complete and submit the form as soon as possible to allow the Association to make sure we can appropriately plan for the meeting. You can email the form to Michelle Franco at michelle@ccgga.org or fax it to our offices promptly at (559) 252-0551. The cost of the event is free, but we encourage you to consider making a donation of at least $25 to the CCGGA Federal PAC or CCGGA State PAC to help protect California cotton at the state and federal levels. The CCGGA Federal PAC can only accept personal checks. Any corporate contributions must be made to the CCGGA State PAC. If you have any questions, please call our office at (559)252-0684. 

The Association hosted the annual Ginners School & Managerial Seminar last week out in Corcoran. Ginning employees were able to hear presentations on Machine Guarding, Lock Out Tag Out, Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure Response, Workplace Violence, Loader & Module Handling Safety as well as Fire Response. Gin employees were also tested for their safety knowledge inside of the gin during the Safety Contest. This year’s test was tightly contested, but ultimately Anthony Arreguin of Olam Agri took home the top prize. Managers were able to hear updates from Catherine Houlihan of Barsamian & Moody on 2025 Updates to Labor Law, as well as receive the required Supervisor Sexual Harassment Training from Rigo Ceja with AgSafe. The Association would like to thank the sponsors for this year’s event: CropRX, L.P. Brown, R&C Supply, Robinson’s Sheet Metal, Samuel Packaging and Tama USA Inc.,. Additionally, the Association would like to thank the staff at J.G. Boswell for their help in setting up the event, as well as providing trainers for the different classes held that day. Another special “Thank You” also goes out to Captain Gonzalez with the Kings County Fire Department who helped teach some of the sessions in between responding to emergency requests that day. We couldn’t have done it without your help and support. 

It’s time for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting!  This year it will be held in conjunction with Supima’s Annual Meeting and will be held Wednesday, May 21^st at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California.  Registration and Continental Breakfast will begin at 7:30 am.  The program will begin with Breakout Sessions at 8:30 am and will end with lunch. Please complete and submit the registration form as soon as possible to allow the Association to make sure we can appropriately plan for the meeting.  You can email the form to Michelle Franco at michelle@ccgga.org or fax it to our offices promptly at (559) 252-0551.  The cost of the event is free, but we encourage you to consider making a donation of at least $25 to the CCGGA Federal PAC or CCGGA State PAC to help protect California cotton at the state and federal levels.  The CCGGA Federal PAC can only accept personal checks.  Any corporate contributions must be made to the CCGGA State PAC.  If you have any questions, please call our office at (559)252-0684.

This past week, the CSU Fresno Department of Industrial Technology held their Annual Spring Banquet to highlight the department’s activities and recognize graduating students of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom gave the keynote address urging students to “Write their own success story”, which just so happens to be the message presented front and center on home page of the Fresno State University website. Over 100 people attended the event, where several students were recognized for their academic excellence. One of the Association’s own members, Mallvinder Karal of Atlas Almonds, was recognized for his work as a part time instructor teaching the course on tree nut processing with the WTNA Tree Nut Processing Laboratory at Fresno State. In his speech, Isom highlighted the many students now working in the California tree nut industry that have graduated from the CSU Fresno Industrial Technology Program. He encouraged students stating “opportunities abound in the tree nut industry for students just like you. You’ve been given a golden opportunity to get a high-quality education right here in the breadbasket of the world and our industry needs you. Now is truly the time to “Write your own success story!” 

AgSafe are hosting outreach briefings on immigration enforcement resources for agricultural employers at different locations throughout the month of April. Some key highlights of the session are:

• Legal obligations and compliance strategies for employers
• Best business practices for handling ICE encounters in agricultural workplaces
• Resources to support our workforce and families while ensuring legal compliance
• Steps to prepare for and respond to enforcement actions

Please register below. For more information or help with registration, please email safeinfo@agsafe.org or call (209) 526-4400.

April 10 | Esparto

April 16 | Soledad

April 17 | Santa Maria

April 24 | Shafter

April 30 | Napa

It’s time for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting! This year, Supima will join forces with CCGGA to showcase valuable industry updates. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 21^st at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California. Please complete and submit the registration form. You can email the form to Michelle Franco at michelle@ccgga.org or fax it to our offices promptly at (559) 252-0551.

There is also an opportunity to sponsor the event. All sponsorships go toward offsetting the costs, which helps us deliver our message to the industry. If you’d like to sponsor, you may do so by clicking the sponsorship link.

The cost of the event is free, but we encourage you to consider making a donation of at least $25 to the CCGGA Federal PAC or CCGGA State PAC to help protect California cotton at the state and federal levels. The CCGGA Federal PAC can only accept personal checks. Any corporate contributions must be made to the CCGGA State PAC.

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** MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND**