SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The California Agricultural Coalition, including the California Farm Bureau, California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association, California Association of Winegrape Growers and Western Tree Nut Association, will host a press conference to discuss the group’s key agricultural priorities for the upcoming legislative year.

Speakers will include Shannon Douglass, President, California Farm Bureau; Michael Miiller, Director of Government Relations, California Association of Winegrape Growers; Roger Isom, President/CEO, California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association and Western Tree Nut Association.

The press conference will be on Wednesday, March 19 from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. It will be located in the west side of the California State Capitol (10th and N Streets) in Sacramento.

Speakers will address critical issues impacting California agriculture which includes an alarming trend toward farm consolidation. The state lost farms and farmland at 7,387 farms (a 10.5% decrease) between 2017 and 2022, with irrigated lands decreasing by more than 120,000 acres during that time frame.

California’s regulatory costs create a competitive disadvantage for the farmers growing a majority of the country’s fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables. According to a recent study, regulatory compliance costs on farmers have surged by 1,366% since 2006, with a 63.7% increase since 2017.

California farmers and ranchers play an important role in the state’s ability to meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals, with working lands already an important solution to reaching climate goals. Agriculture programs lead the list of the most efficient cap and trade programs, so continued Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds in support of agriculture programs provides a good ROI.

Senate Bill 628, authored by Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and co-sponsored by the California Farm Bureau and the California Association of Winegrape Growers, increases the take-home pay for agricultural employees and delivers millions of dollars into hard-pressed economies in rural California by investing in agricultural employees through an employer payroll tax credit. Under SB 628, only after employees have been scheduled and paid overtime wages can employers earn a payroll tax credit to help cover the labor cost increases from overtime.

The press conference is scheduled to coincide with California Agriculture Day at the Capitol.

The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 26,000­­­ members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.8 million Farm Bureau members.