By Cannon Michael

In California, I think we in agriculture sometimes feel like there’s a lot of things stacked against us.

We face a lot of regulatory pressure that many of our neighbors don’t feel, and that can push us more into an insular nature. We have done a great job feeding and clothing people, but the consumer is disconnected from who is producing their products, further increasing the sense of isolation.

I was in that space.

Over time, I got involved in industry groups and served in different leadership roles. I started broadening my scope and got into water, starting on our local water district.

It started to get to me that there are a lot of negative outcomes because of this polarized nature. Agriculture vs. urban vs. environment, I always felt was a false narrative because at my core, I’m a Californian.

All of us are united in that we live in this amazing state of diversity that we appreciate. California has amazing agriculture, amazing nature and amazing communities.

We’re seeing a lot of family farmers getting out of the business and a lot of outside players coming in and expanding. For me, I wanted to find pathways toward better solutions. In meeting a lot of different people throughout the state and listening to their thoughts, this exposure to other groups and ideas made me realize that we’re in this together.

As passionate as I am about being a farmer and what I do, there’s people on the other side that are equally as passionate. We’ve got folks in our camp who are not always proactive and productive and, learning from my NGO friends, a lot of times they recognize some folks on their side can have a negative effect as well.

So, how do we come at problems with more of an open-lens approach? How do we look through each other’s viewpoints and try to craft solutions that are ultimately going to be more durable?

I’ve invited different groups to the farm to have discussions on the landscape, and to show people what we do. Getting to know each other in a different setting is really important in seeing firsthand what the realities are. People can paint issues in very simplistic ways, but it’s harmful in ways because it doesn’t really give the true picture and it doesn’t help drive discussions forward.

I’ve hosted a number of dinners on our farm, and the things that have come out of those dinners have been really valuable, mainly just the relationships. There comes a point where we all need to work in the middle to get things done.

I believe that we can craft solutions with the mindset of: What is the California we want to leave to the next generations? That to me isn’t a California that is agriculture only or environment only or urban only. We have a duty—all of us—to figure out: What is the California we’re going to work for? And how do we leverage each other’s strengths?

We don’t know a lot of things about each other’s passions and we don’t always see things through each other’s lenses. But there are super-talented people in California who are solution-oriented.

Every time I’ve taken the effort to engage with other groups, I’ve never had a bad experience. We haven’t always come away agreeing, but I think there’s always a lot of respect. There’s a lot of great, willing partners who can work together to craft durable solutions for our great state. A lot of different farms, agencies and NGO groups can come together to look at actual solutions and try to be creative to leverage dollars. There are positive outcomes that we can get to. There are some positive examples out there and I think there can be a lot more if we find ways to come together.

A farmer-centric point I would make is whatever your passion and whatever your drive is, we actually do have to be fueled by a farmer somewhere every day. It is important for me, as a California farmer who does labor under a lot of these regulations, that people know it is getting much harder to endure some of this.

We are proud to be California producers and hope that consumers will take the time to choose California-grown when possible. You can be assured the product will be produced with a high level of regard for workers and the environment. Support California agriculture where you can.

(Cannon Michael is president of Bowles Farming Co. in Merced County. This commentary is adapted from remarks delivered at the 2019 Flood-MAR Public Forum in Sacramento.)

Link to item on the California Farm Bureau Federation web site.

By CDFA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt

Like millions of Californians and people around the world, I have celebrated New Year’s Day by watching TV coverage of the Rose Parade, a time-honored tradition started in 1890 by the Valley Hunt Club.

The parade celebrates the beauty of a new year with carriages, floats and so much more – all adorned with flowers. On Tuesday, I had the privilege of joining the California Cut Flower Commission and many flower farmers in certifying entries as California Grown, meaning they were comprised of at least 85 percent California-grown flowers.

The Rose Parade is a tradition that brings people together. And that’s what California agriculture does, as well. The farmers and ranchers in this state bring communities together.

Yes, farmers and ranchers provide the food, fiber and flora we all depend on. But they provide so much more. They provide jobs and economic opportunities. They provide the foundation for so many of our communities. More importantly, they provide a legacy and tradition of taking care of the land that sustains us. That is what California Grown symbolizes.

It was an honor to certify the Wells Fargo Stagecoach for a carriage adorned in brilliant California Grown roses. It was also an honor to meet with David Eads, CEO of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, and the Pasadena Police Department to certify its motorcade entry as California Grown.

In a very special celebration, we visited the Valley Hunt Club, founder of the Rose Parade, and certified its carriage as California Grown. The Valley Hunt Club partners with the Leyendekker family, dairy farmers from Visalia who provide the carriages – yet another example of California agriculture partnering to bolster time-honored traditions!

The floral company FTD has also been adorning parade cars with California-grown flowers for decades, so certifying their entries as California Grown is a natural step, and a pleasure.

We ended the day by watching the judging of the Cal Poly float, “Aquatic Inspirations.” The student team sat in silent anticipation as the judges noted each intricate detail of their design – from mushrooms that served as barnacles to orange slices that created part of a jellyfish hood. This incredible float showcased the bounty of California agriculture! When the judging bell rang, signaling the end of the competition, the students burst into cheers and tears – a demonstration of their hard work and effort!

Students from both Cal Poly campuses (San Luis Obispo and Pomona) began planning the float last February, spending the spring and summer designing, engineering and building it. They partnered with California flower farmers, who generously donated flowers. But most importantly, they worked as a team in decision-making and execution. Their talent, their commitment, and their stellar teamwork inspire me and make me excited to have them lead us into the future. Their hard work paid off! They learned on Wednesday (Jan 1) that they won the Director award for most outstanding artistic design and use of floral and non-floral materials!

To all the California Grown entries: Thank you for showcasing California Grown flowers in such a stunning way!

To the California Cut Flower Commission and California flower farmers: Thank you for generously donating tens for thousands of flowers and for your partnership with the great legacy of the Rose Parade and for your commitment to California Grown. Thank you for sharing the beauty of this state with the world.

To all that made the Rose Parade possible, especially the flower growers, the florists and community members that volunteered their time and energy: Thank you for setting an example of the beautiful things that happen when people come together to work on something bigger than themselves.

It was an honor to participate in the incredible tradition that is the Rose Parade and certify so many entries California Grown – and all that California agriculture stands for.

As we celebrate the new year and the beauty of a new decade, I look forward to the bright future of agriculture in California.

2019 was a year of celebration and reflection at CDFA, as we observed our centennial and looked back at 100 years of accomplishments and milestones. As CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and her senior staff made the rounds to Sacramento-area offices and facilities this week, they passed on personal wishes for the season as well as simple, sincere “thanks” for all of the hard work the department has done this past year for California’s farmers and ranchers, and for the broader agricultural community.

Secretary Ross also looked forward to 2020 as “a year of clarity” (get it? 20-20?)  and further accomplishment for CDFA and the industry it promotes and protects.

May your holidays be filled with family and friends, may your table be filled with all that California’s bounty has to offer, and may your hearts be filled with anticipation for the coming year.

California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones has granted a 24-hour permit clearing all brand inspection and health requirements for nine reindeer scheduled to visit California on the evening of December 24 and in the early morning hours of December 25.

The permit application was filed in person by a rotund, jolly man with a red suit, a white beard, and a pocketful of candy canes to share with CDFA staff. The signature on the paperwork reads, “K. Kringle.”

State law mandates that all animals entering California be individually identified. The nine reindeer named on the permit are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph.

The permit was granted with two conditions: the nine reindeer may not co-mingle with other reindeer in the State of California, and the visiting reindeer may not be used for breeding purposes while in the state. They are, however, invited to partake of the Golden State’s famous and varied agricultural bounty if they need to refuel.

“We are pleased to issue this permit to Mr. Kringle,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We wish him safe travels and plenty of California milk and cookies as he and his reindeer make deliveries to the good children of our state.”