After weeks of tit-for-tat over water policies, Gov. Gavin Newsom took a slightly more conciliatory approach with President Donald Trump on Thursday.
The governor stuck to his points but was more subdued than usual. The State Water Project “has nothing to do with” municipal water systems during wildfires, he said. Reservoirs are at or near record highs. The endangered species battles started under George H.W. Bush’s presidency, and Trump’s threats to withhold disaster aid predate Newsom’s tenure.
The governor attempted to throw a bone to Trump, saying “maybe the president just doesn’t know there’s not a spigot that can be turned to solve all the water problems he alleges exist.”
On disaster aid, Newsom said he and Trump “had a great relationship during COVID” and no other Democratic governor in the country worked more collaboratively with the president.
Water as common ground? He unleashed the typical Newsom energy (and hand gestures) when talking about water infrastructure.
The governor has been “working his tail off” to get the Delta tunnel project across the finish line and “would love to have a partnership” with Trump on water projects. He boasted about fast-tracking judicial reviews for Sites Reservoir litigation and the billions of dollars the state has spent on infrastructure projects.
Keep in mind: Trump will tour the wildfire destruction in Los Angeles today. He has yet to decide if he will meet with Newsom, who is in the city this week for the response effort. “I certainly plan on being there at the tarmac,” said Newsom.
Take note: The governor held the press conference to celebrate the Legislature approving his $2.5 billion in wildfire aid, money he hopes the federal government will reimburse California for.
CDFA seeks input on climate plan
CDFA is hosting listening sessions on its Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture.
As a priority listed under the department’s 2030 vision document, the resilience strategy is intended to respond to the state’s climate-adjacent ag challenges, such as pest management, energy demand and water availability.
Input from the Feb. 6 and 7 sessions will be integrated into a draft strategy later this summer.
Winegrape growers outline legislative priorities
The California Association of Winegrape Growers is expecting more battles over labor bills in the Legislature this year. They are keeping an eye out for any proposals to boost the minimum wage for farmworkers and to increase unemployment benefits.
The association is sponsoring another attempt to buoy ag employers hurting from the state’s ag overtime law. CAWG anticipates advocating to help growers better capture flood flows — either through recharge or stream diversions.
At Cal/OSHA: CAWG is watching for signs of easing a driverless tractor ban. It is anticipating activity on wildfire smoke protections, disease response in workplaces and violence prevention plans.
Rollins sails through hearing, but vote timing uncertain
Brooke Rollins appears poised for Senate confirmation after a Senate Ag Committee hearing where she strongly defended President Donald Trump’s policies while stressing repeatedly that she’ll work to protect U.S. agriculture.
As of Thursday, the panel still had not received Rollins’ FBI paperwork, but it’s possible the panel could vote on her nomination next week, according to a senior aide.
Two key takeaways: First, USDA is gearing up to do a new round of Market Facilitation Program payments should new Trump tariffs trigger another trade war. After the hearing Rollins told reporters she’s discussed possible modifications to the MFP of Trump 1.0 with former Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue.
Second, she stopped well short of assuring senators farmers wouldn’t be affected by Trump’s plan for mass deportations. She notably said the “first round” of deportations would be aimed at migrants with criminal records. That suggests there may be additional rounds that target migrants more broadly, but she didn’t elaborate.
Rollins said she will work with the Labor Department on possible changes to the H-2A visa program, but there’s only so much the administration can do to expand H-2A without an act of Congress.
Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com.
Bill to end PNTR for China draws bipartisan support
Reps. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., have introduced the first bipartisan bill to end permanent normal trade relations with China.
If enacted, the bill would phase in a new minimum tariff rate of 35% on imports from China, with at least 100% duties on certain strategically important products.
The proposal also strengthens assistance to farmers in the event of tariff retaliation. Tariff revenues would go into a trust fund that could be used to top up the Commodity Credit Corp. and buy agricultural products.
“The bipartisan consensus that both parties recognize the need to reset our economic relationship with China is a big win for our nation,” Moolenaar, who chairs the House China Select Committee, said in a statement. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., led the introduction of a Senate version — although without Democratic cosponsors.
Republicans mounted an effort to revoke China’s preferential trade status last year, with then-Florida Senator Marco Rubio among the backers. Rubio is now secretary of state.
IFPA lays out first 100-day asks of the Trump administration
The International Fresh Produce Association is calling on the Trump administration to address agricultural workforce concerns, fruit and vegetable consumption, and pesticide regulations in its first 100 days.
The group is urging immediate action on some policies that support the fresh produce industry.
Specifically, they call on the administration to ensure calculations in the H-2A program align with market conditions. Additionally, to increase produce consumption, they suggest the administration strengthen access to these products through programs like produce prescriptions, school meals, SNAP and FDA labeling policies.
Finally, IFPA wants the administration to modernize biotechnology regulations and support USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy to work with EPA on crop protection policies.
“These priorities highlight the critical role the fresh produce sector plays in advancing the nation’s health, food security and economic stability,” the group wrote in a statement.
Final word:
“The citrus farmers have already seen a huge reduction in the number of employees showing up to work, because they've been terrorized.” — Sen. Anna Caballero of Merced, who pointed to recent Border Patrol raids to warn that Trump’s deportation plans will impact farmworkers. She supported a $50 illion Trump litigation fund, which the Legislature approved on Thursday.
