Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a measure proposing to consolidate reporting processes for organic producers. Backing the bill, Rebekah Weber, policy director for California Certified Organic Farmers, said that record keeping is one of the sector’s biggest barriers and the paperwork “simply gets in the way.”
In his veto statement, Newsom reasoned Assembly Bill 404 would have duplicated existing efforts and added more costs to the state. He referenced CDFA’s ongoing initiative to streamline state water board reporting requirements for all ag producers.
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The author, Assemblymember Damon Connolly of San Rafael, had two other bills on organic ag that failed to pass out of committee this year. One would have modernized the public health department’s registration and payment system for organic food processors; the other would have prioritized organic practices in healthy soils grants.
Newsom also vetoed a bill to incentivize farmers to share equipment through regional cooperatives. While he liked the idea of supporting small farmers and ranchers, the governor again cited the budget shortfall and added costs.
