DFA of California & Specialty Crop Trade Council 2014 Annual Conference
Ag Council Legislative Day Who We Are Member supported organization Founded in 1919 Advocate for over 15,000 farmers in California Membership comprises farmer-owned businesses Work in the state legislative & regulatory arenas
Legislative & Regulatory Overview
Legislative Accomplishments Protecting California’s #1 Industry SM Legislative Accomplishments Bills Halted Fertilizer tax Mandatory mediation under ALRA Two bills increasing fines on air emissions Bills Signed into Law Carl Moyer funding extended to 2024 Improving drinking water in disadvantaged areas
Regulatory Actions Water Board Compliance Costs Protecting California’s #1 Industry SM Regulatory Actions Water Board Compliance Costs Co-chair of wastewater discharge task force Permit compliance costs in six figures Permit Fee Increases Worked to lower fee increase on dairies Earlier engagement in the Board’s budget process
Law exploited for financial gain Gov. Brown’s stakeholder group Protecting California’s #1 Industry SM Regulatory Issues Prop 65 Meant to warn about chemicals in drinking water that cause cancer or reproductive harm Law exploited for financial gain Gov. Brown’s stakeholder group MOU between CDFA and Cal/EPA
2014 State Policy Issues
Protecting California’s #1 Industry SM Survey of Top 2014 Issues
Issues at the Forefront Protecting California’s #1 Industry SM Issues at the Forefront Water Drought Water Bond 2014 Groundwater Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet Suspendisse nec nisi eget leo feugiat egestas ac sit amet nisl.
Issues at the Forefront Protecting California’s #1 Industry Issues at the Forefront SM Genetically Engineered Food Labeling (SB 1381) Not grounded in science Expands liability Compliance costs Increases price of groceries Raw Milk (AB 2505) Exempts certain farms from health & safety standards Exemption could endanger public health Jeopardizes entire California dairy industry Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet Suspendisse nec nisi eget leo feugiat egestas ac sit amet nisl.
“Pre-regulatory discussion draft” on warnings Protecting California’s #1 Industry SM 2014 Regulatory Issues Prop 65 “Pre-regulatory discussion draft” on warnings Must provide information on chemicals, exposure pathways and ways to reduce exposure Warnings on product label for food, notice on Internet & catalog purchases, shelf sign
Harmful to Reproduction Protecting California’s #1 Industry SM 2014 Regulatory Issues Prop 65 Example of a proposed warning label: WARNING Harmful to Reproduction www.P65warning.ca.gov
Public workshop on April 14th Propose formal regulation in summer 2014 Protecting California’s #1 Industry SM 2014 Regulatory Issues Prop 65 Next steps Public workshop on April 14th Propose formal regulation in summer 2014 Adopt final regulation in summer 2015 Develop website concurrent w/reg process