Association Testifies at Joint Ag Committee Hearing

Association President/CEO Roger A. Isom testified yesterday before a special Joint Hearing of the Assembly and Senate Ag Committees on “The State of Agricultural Production in California”.  Isom was asked to testify about the current state of food and fiber processing.  In his comments, Isom highlighted the numerous increased costs impacting the industry and the inability to pass along those costs.  Isom pointed out the increased costs in electricity and natural gas, increased minimum wage and workers compensation costs, the cost of California-only regulations such as nighttime lighting, workplace violence, indoor and outdoor heat illness, and wildfire smoke, and the new single-use packaging regulation.  Isom suggested funding the all-important incentive programs like FARMER to replace tractors, Ag Burn Alternative Funds to help offset chipping and incorporating of orchard and vineyard removals, Food Processing Investment Program (FPIP) to help processors upgrade their energy systems and SWEEP to help farmers upgrade their irrigation systems.  Isom reminded the hearing audience of Ag Committee Chairwoman Soria’s comments made earlier this year “if we are going to ask more of agriculture, then we must give them the support and resources”, to which Isom responded “I couldn’t agree with you more!”