California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association Announces $2 Million for FARMER Program in 2024-25 California State Budget

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA) is pleased to announce that $2 million has been allocated to the Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program in the final hours of the 2023-24 Legislative session. This funding, administered by the California Air Resources Board (ARB), will continue to support California’s agricultural sector in reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions through the replacement of outdated, high-emission equipment with cleaner alternatives.  The FARMER Program has been one of the most successful programs to date improving air quality across the state, particularly in regions heavily impacted by poor air quality, and directly contributes to California's ambitious climate goals.  "We are thrilled to see the continued investment in the FARMER Program," said Roger Isom, President/CEO of CCGGA. "This funding will enable our members to make meaningful strides in improving air quality, while also ensuring that California's agriculture remains competitive."

The $2 million allocation will be directed towards the replacement of high-emission tractors, trucks, irrigation pumps, and other agricultural equipment. These upgrades are not only essential for meeting state and federal air quality standards but also for protecting the health of California’s agricultural communities and preserving the state’s natural resources.  In a year of significant budget deficit, this funding would not be impossible without the leadership of Pro Tem Emeritus Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego). An ally of the agricultural community, Senator Atkins partnered with members like the chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced), to ensure resources were included in the final hours of the Legislature’s budget negotiation.

"Even during tough budget years, we need to move forward with our climate goals," says Senator Toni Atkins. "Investing in clean technology through the FARMER program is a win for all of us.” Since 2017, the FARMER program has resulted in the reduction of 368,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, over 1,500 tons of fine particulate matter, and over 26,000 tons of nitrous oxide.

“We need to continue to invest our resources in programs with a proven track record that serves our communities, our businesses and our environment. FARMER is the definition of multi-benefit,” says Assemblywoman Soria.

CCGGA extends its gratitude to the Senator and Assembly member for their ongoing commitment to supporting California agriculture. The Association remains dedicated to working with its members, CARB, and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the FARMER Program and to advocate for continued support in future budgets.

EPA Finalizes Plan to Protect Vulnerable Species 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its Vulnerable Species Action Plan (VSAP), finalizing its transition from its June 2023 Vulnerable Species Pilot (VSP) in order to help conserve federally threatened and endangered (listed) species from pesticides.  As part of implementing EPA’s Endangered Species Act Workplan, the VSAP is intended to provide a framework for EPA to adopt early, meaningful protections to address potential impacts for listed species that EPA identifies as particularly “vulnerable” to pesticides.  The plan describes the framework that EPA will use for vulnerable species when considering Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) actions for conventional pesticides (such as new chemical registrations and registration review).  EPA plans to incorporate mitigations from the VSAP into applicable pesticide actions, even if EPA has not yet determined effects under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). EPA will address species listed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) through a separate process.  The VSAP describes how the approach EPA plans to use to evaluate potential impacts to these listed species and any associated mitigations, and how EPA plans to expand the approach to additional listed species in the future.    In the VSAP, EPA has identified 27 species listed by FWS in the lower 48 states as “vulnerable species” and within the scope of the VSAP.  The species include the following:

The VSAP applies a three-step framework which builds off the herbicide and insecticide strategies and is intended to provide similar mitigations for the vulnerable species for pesticides with similar characteristics (e.g., exposure, toxicity, application method). The VSAP identifies the potential for impacts (Step 1), the type and level of mitigation (Step 2), and where mitigation applies (Step 3).  Any needed mitigations will only apply in geographically specific areas (referred to as Pesticide Use Limitation Areas or PULAs).  EPA is refining the species maps that it will use for PULAs and will not implement the VSAP in registration review until those maps are refined, which will likely be later in 2024.  The VSAP includes mitigations for common exposure routes, including spray drift and runoff, but also addresses other routes of pesticide exposure to the vulnerable species. Examples include on-field exposure to a vulnerable species and pesticide volatilization (the movement of pesticide vapors through the air). This action plan, along with the Ecological Mitigation Support document, are available in the public docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0327 at regulations.gov, and on EPA’s website.

DPR Visits Valley to Hear from Agriculture

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) visited Clovis this week to meet with agricultural organizations and representatives to provide an update on CDPR activities and hear concerns from agriculture.  Representing CDPR was Director Julie Henderson, Deputy Director Karen Morrison, Deputy Director for Enforcement Ken Everett, and Deputy Director for Environmental Justice and Equity Celia Pazos.  CDPR opened the meeting by providing a quick look at what they are currently working on including:

• Wrapping up their 5-year Strategic Plan to be released soon
• Working to streamline their pesticide registration process to shorten the time to register new pesticides
• Increasing staff
• Strengthening enforcement
• Finalizing their Advance Notification regulation in November for a tentative release in January.
• Working on the next set of 1,3-D restrictions to address concerns with innocent bystanders, which should be filed in November
• Working on next set of rodenticide restrictions with no timeline proposed

Association President/CEO Roger Isom was among the agricultural representatives in attendance and expressed concerns over invasive species, lack of alternatives if chemicals are phased out under the CDPR Sustainable Pest Management Program (SPM), concern that the legislature is regulating pesticides without science, and the need to coordinate with the California Department of Food and Agriculture on all these items.  Isom also expressed concerns with CDPR not addressing the rhetoric that is spewed at some of CDPR’s hearings and their lack of explanation of their intensive and robust registration process and their own regulations, which make them the toughest pesticide agency in the country.  Isom did express appreciation for the CDPR leadership to come to Clovis and sit down with agriculture moving forward.  Other groups in attendance included the American Pistachio Growers, California Table Grape Commission, California Citrus Mutual, Nisei Farmers League, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau.  In addition, the Monterey County Ag Commissioner Juan Hidalgo was present along with a representative from the Fresno County Ag Commissioner’s office. 

Senator Caballero Kicks Off F3 Workforce Certificate Program

Senator Anna Caballero and current California Department of Food and Agriculture Chairman Don Cameron kicked off the new Ag Systems Certificate under the F3 Agrifood Technology Engineering Collaborative (AgTEC) program.  The Kickoff was attended by Association President/CEO Roger Isom and held in Fresno.  The certificate is designed to provide farmworkers and people interest in pursuing a career in agriculture and is administered by community colleges throughout the Valley.  The program provides these individuals with the opportunity to update their skills with current and emerging technology and software, while also emphasizing soft skills like communication and problem solving.  To obtain the certificate, the participant must complete all 14 core competencies which are provided through seven different community colleges in the Valley including Merced, Coalinga, Fresno City, Lemoore, Reedley, Clovis Community and Madera Community Colleges.  The 14 core competencies are:

• Digital literacy
• Basic equipment operations
• Basic equipment troubleshooting
• General agricultural systems fundamentals
• Crop production systems
• Tool operations
• Applied technical reading
• Interpersonal skills
• Animal production systems
• Food safety
• Basic safety
• Industry communication
• Applied technical writing

There already over 100 participants enrolled in the program.  For more information, please contact one of the participating colleges or you can reach out to Karen Aceves at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..