Governor Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future was announced earlier today. California agriculture leaders offered their support.

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Don Cameron, Chair of the State Board of Food and Agriculture – “As we adapt to a hotter and drier future – I applaud the Administration’s Water Supply Strategy.  For the communities and farm families in the Central Valley, this strategy is a call for action to not only adapt to our changing climate but also support a more drought-resilient, equitable and vibrant agricultural economy. This wouldn’t be possible without the leadership and vision of the Governor.”  

Chris Valadez, President of Grower-Shipper Association  –“Grower and farmworker communities benefit from the commitment within California’s Water Supply Strategy to move smarter and faster to update our water systems. Prioritizing recycling and desalination are critical needs for coastal communities, supporting safe drinking water and opportunities for greater water supply diversity.”

Bryce Lundberg, Vice President of Agriculture at Lundberg Family Farms – “Expanding water storage capacity is a must-do for California. We cannot meet our future water demand needs without developing new water supplies and reducing overall demand. The Governor’s Water Supply Strategy is an important step forward in modernizing our water infrastructure.”

Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers – “To adapt to climate realities, the Governor’s plan recognizes the urgent need to build new and improve existing infrastructure and to streamline and improve the practicality of the regulatory processes that govern them. Critically, that means new and expanded surface and groundwater storage to capture wet year flood flows that are too infrequent to be missed.” 

Ian LeMay, President of California Fresh Fruit Association – “We appreciate the efforts the Newsom Administration has taken to address the critical need for water investments to guarantee the continued sustainability of California agriculture.”

Aubrey Bettencourt, President/CEO of Almond Alliance of California —  “There is no silver bullet to California’s water problems. It takes different solutions, and this plan recognizes that. The Almond Alliance stands behind Governor Gavin Newsom in his work on relieving supply pressures on underrepresented communities and providing water supply certainty. This landmark effort supports our rural communities and ensures a secure food supply for California and the nation.”

Ag Council of California – “Appreciate Gavin Newsom for announcing a strategy to invest in NEW water supply sources and accelerate desperate needed water projects. Ag Council of CA looks forward to working with the governor on these urgent efforts.”  

Community Alliance of Family Farmers – “Appreciate your commitment to addressing the drought, Gavin Newsom. We hope these plans keep our small food-growing family farmers at the table.”

David Guy, President of Northern California Water Association – “We applaud Governor Newsom’s announcement today to accelerate improving our water supply infrastructure throughout California to serve people, farms, recreation and fish and wildlife.”  

California’s Water Supply Strategy outlines actions needed now to invest in new sources, transform water management

Without action, state officials believe extreme weather could diminish California’s water supply by up to 10% by 2040

Hotter and drier weather conditions spurred by climate change could reduce California’s water supply by up to 10% by the year 2040. To replace and replenish what we will lose to thirstier soils, vegetation, and the atmosphere, Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced California’s latest actions to increase water supply and adapt to more extreme weather patterns caused by climate change. 

Thursday’s announcement follows $8 billion in state investments over the last two years to help store, recycle, de-salt and conserve the water it will need to keep up with the increasing pace of climate change, generating enough water in the future for more than 8.4 million households by 2040.

The actions, outlined in a strategy document published by the Administration called “California’s Water Supply Strategy, Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future” calls for investing in new sources of water supply, accelerating projects and modernizing how the state manages water through new technology. 

This approach to California’s water supply management recognizes the latest science that indicates the American West is experiencing extreme, sustained drought conditions caused by hotter, drier weather. The warming climate means that a greater share of the rain and snowfall California receives will be absorbed by dry soils, consumed by thirsty plants, and evaporated into the air. This leaves less water to meet the state’s needs.

“The best science tells us that we need to act now to adapt to California’s water future. Climate change means drought won’t just stick around for two years at a time like it historically has – extreme weather is a permanent fixture here in the American West and California will adapt to this new reality,” Governor Newsom said at the Antioch Brackish Desalination Project. “California is launching an aggressive plan to rebuild the way we source, store and deliver water so our kids and grandkids can continue to call California home in this hotter, drier climate.” 

To help make up for the water supplies California could lose over the next two decades, the strategy prioritizes actions to capture, recycle, de-salt and conserve more water. These actions include:

• Creating storage space for up to 4 million acre-feet of water, which will allow us to capitalize on big storms when they do occur and store water for dry periods
• Recycling and reusing at least 800,000 acre-feet of water per year by 2030, enabling better and safer use of wastewater currently discharged to the ocean.
• Freeing up 500,000 acre-feet of water through more efficient water use and conservation, helping make up for water lost due to climate change.
• Making new water available for use by capturing stormwater and desalinating ocean water and salty water in groundwater basins, diversifying supplies and making the most of high flows during storm events.

These actions are identified broadly in the Newsom Administration’s Water Resilience Portfolio – the state’s master plan for water released in 2020 – but they will be expedited given the urgency of climate-driven changes. To advance the infrastructure and policies needed to adapt, the strategy enlists the help of the Legislature to streamline processes so projects can be planned, permitted and built more quickly, while protecting the environment.

Over the last three years, at the urging of the Governor, state leaders have earmarked more than $8 billion to modernize water infrastructure and management. The historic three-year, $5.2 billion investment in California water systems enacted in 2021-22 has enabled emergency drought response, improved water conservation to stretch water supplies, and enabled scores of local drought resilience projects. The 2022-23 budget includes an additional $2.8 billion for drought relief to hard-hit communities, water conservation, environmental protection for fish and wildlife and long-term drought resilience projects.

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Praise for the strategy:

Don Cameron, Chair of the State Board of Food and Agriculture – “As we adapt to a hotter and drier future – I applaud the Administration’s Water Supply Strategy.  For the communities and farm families in the Central Valley, this strategy is a call for action to not only adapt to our changing climate but also support a more drought-resilient, equitable and vibrant agricultural economy. This wouldn’t be possible without the leadership and vision of the Governor.”  

Chris Valadez, President of Grower-Shipper Association  –“Grower and farmworker communities benefit from the commitment within California’s Water Supply Strategy to move smarter and faster to update our water systems. Prioritizing recycling and desalination are critical needs for coastal communities, supporting safe drinking water and opportunities for greater water supply diversity.”

Bryce Lundberg, Vice President of Agriculture at Lundberg Family Farms – “Expanding water storage capacity is a must-do for California. We cannot meet our future water demand needs without developing new water supplies and reducing overall demand. The Governor’s Water Supply Strategy is an important step forward in modernizing our water infrastructure.”

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross today greeted a delegation from Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture. The delegation, representing local government officials and agricultural cooperatives, is visiting California to learn more about specialty crop production (stone fruit) and opportunities for further collaboration. Yamanashi Prefecture is a leading stone fruit producing region in Japan. Last year, California plum producers received market access in Japan and this year will be the first full season of export shipments. A representative of the California Fresh Fruit Association also joined today’s meeting.

Japan is the fourth largest agricultural export destination for California, valued at approximately $1.5 billion.

This summer, CDFA is asking farmers what this drought means for their farms, their families, and their ongoing efforts to reduce water use and improve efficiency. Almond and walnut grower Manpreet Sandhu of Sandhu Farms in Corning (Tehama County) is a grant recipient from CDFA’s State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP).

What does this drought mean to you, and what are you doing to adapt? 

“We’re still weathering the storm. We’re not sure which direction we’re going. Everyone in the farming community is struggling right now. Their product is cheaper and not selling for the right price. The best advice is to save. The fewer expenses you have, and the less water you need to use will directly connect with your energy usage. If you’re applying water in the right places, you’re not watering weeds. Once you start looking at it from a savings perspective, you’ll start asking, ‘What options do I have?’ The simplest option is to install irrometers (soil moisture sensors) and use them to strategically water. If you want to take those measures a step further, you’ll want to look at pressure chambers, which manage water use for specific areas. You can water those small areas and not have to over-water the entire area.” 

NOTE: These water savings measures were made possible through a SWEEP grant. 

What would your advice to others be for reducing water use and improving efficiency? 

“These SWEEP operations which I am doing, I personally feel, drought or no drought, everybody should be doing it like this. If it’s not a very wet winter, we should look at how we can resupply groundwater with surface water, so that groundwater levels at least come up. Otherwise, it’s a one-way street if groundwater levels keep going down. We should have certain incentives to put more water back into the soil. The way I see it is that rainwater, specifically in the wintertime – we should harvest that.” 

Upcoming California Farm Bill Listening Sessions

August 10, 2022 – 9:00-11:00 am (Virtual)

Virtual Listening Session (Registration Required)

 Register for the event on Zoom

August 16, 2022 – 12:00-2:00pm (San Diego) — NOTE — This listening session has been postponed to a time TBD.

(In-Person and Virtual Event)

Neighborhood House Association
5660 Copley Dr.
San Diego, CA 92111

 Register for the event on Zoom

August 23, 2022 – 12:00-2:00pm (Fresno)

Fresno County Farm Bureau
1274 W. Hedges Ave
Fresno, CA 93728

September 7, 2022: 9:00-11:00am (Richmond)

Urban Tilth North Richmond Farm
323 Brookside Dr.
Richmond, CA 94801

Public Comments may be submitted in writing to: farmbill@cdfa.ca.gov.

Farm Bill programs support farm competitiveness, help to revitalize rural communities, ensure affordable and healthy food to those who need it most, and promote conservation and environmental stewardship on working lands.

Learn more on CDFA’s Farm Bill page

During this National Farmers Market Week (August 7-13, 2022), CDFA encourages all Californians to visit their local Certified Farmers Markets. Farmers markets help rural and urban communities connect while creating more equitable economic opportunities. They’re a great opportunity to build relationships with local farmers.

View the video below for a message from CDFA Secretary Karen Ross about the benefits of farmers markets.

https://youtu.be/ZNEZmxXA600

Hank Giclas, who tirelessly served the produce industry for 30 years at Western Growers, has passed away. CDFA Secretary Karen Ross remembers Giclas with deep appreciation:

“Hank was a very special kind of leader – one of the quiet ones, willing to toil behind the scenes doing the heavy lifting of bridging science, technical expertise, and policy objectives to bring people together with a focus on practical implementation for successful outcomes. 

“I worked with Hank for more than two decades in the Sacramento world of advocacy. He and I were part of a number of collaborative efforts that led to the establishment of the California Roundtable on Agriculture and Environment, and the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops. 

“Hank’s dedication to growers, passion for the produce sector, and commitment to science was instrumental in the creation of the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement to implement and verify the highest standards of food safety to protect public health and prevent potential sources of contamination in California-grown leafy-greens. 

“I was fortunate to know and work with Hank and join his many friends in agriculture who mourn his loss.  My condolences to his family and his colleagues at Western Growers.”

Link to statement by Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia

Scientists from CDFA’s Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) have been recognized by the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) for co-authoring a paper recently published in the Journal of Economic Entomology. 

The paper, titled Balancing Bees and Pest Management: Projected Costs of Proposed Bee-Protective Neonicotinoid Regulation in California, received the award for “Outstanding Published Paper Which Significantly Contributed to Transdisciplinary Work of Specialty Crops Industries,” and was presented to OPCA scientists as well as researchers with University of California (UC) Cooperative Extension and the UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

There has been a recent effort from state and national governments to regulate neonicotinoids — a critical crop protection tool for many pests.  Without mitigation measures, they can be harmful to managed pollinators, including bees.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) began crafting regulations in 2018 to mitigate neonicotinoid dangers to managed pollinators. OPCA’s consultative services were used to outline potential regulatory impacts on production agriculture. As a result, three papers were written estimating potential economic impacts on California farmers for mitigating neonicotinoid risk. Those findings were then incorporated as CDPR began finalizing the regulations. The second of the three papers on neonicotinoids received the award. 

CDFA’s State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) provides financial assistance in the form of grants to implement irrigation systems that allow California farmers and ranchers to reduce greenhouse gases and save water.

In this video we see how University of California Cooperative Extension staff members provide specialized and impactful technical assistance to Asian-American farmers in the Central Valley, made possible by the funding allocated to SWEEP.

https://youtu.be/HkBC5Pyk13s

The SWEEP program has invested $123 million over the last eight years, leading to an estimated water savings of 1.5 million acre-feet, or nearly 50 billion gallons. Additionally, nearly 94,000 metric tons of CO2-equivalent are reduced each year, which is like removing more than 200,000 vehicles from the road.

Learn more about SWEEP at this link.

By CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

The first cohort of the Sonoma County Winegrape Growers Foundation Leadership Academy for Vineyard Employees has graduated! I spoke to this group at their first get-together several months ago, and their final installment for this innovative program was a visit to CDFA headquarters in Sacramento, so we were honored to be the “bookends” for them. I thoroughly enjoyed a chance to sit down with them and hear each one of their stories and what the program meant to them.

This first class of graduates is comprised of 15 local vineyard employees, each nominated by their employer. The goal of this first-of-its-kind program is to create future community and business leaders. The Academy class attended eight half-day sessions and two field trips, all focused on advancing skills and empowering vineyard employees to seek leadership roles within their organization or in the community. The program goes beyond farming to advance communication skills, financial literacy, and business knowledge.

It was so inspiring and touching to listen to these employees’ experiences in the program, and about how much they love agriculture and working in the vineyards. A common thread was how important it is to be treated with respect by their employers. They all have more than ten years working in the vineyards of Sonoma County, many of them with the same employer. A number of them started in harvesting and progressed to more responsibility with specialties like irrigation and operating tractors, and some are now supervisors.  

They also shared stories and spoke about their children as the reason they work so hard, and that is something I hear so often as I speak with California’s agricultural workers. One class member expressed such gratitude for being invited to CDFA, and it really made me remember and appreciate just how fortunate we are to be considered “leaders” and to do that work for California’s agriculture industry. It really is something special and I am excited to support these new leaders! 

For the growers out there who nominated these dedicated employees, you’ve done something meaningful by participating in this program and empowering your very best to become even better. And for the graduates, I hope you embrace your newfound leadership skills. Your farms, your industry and your state will be better for it!

The Leadership Academy will be held annually and will soon be taking nominations for the 2023 Class.