Republican Asm. Juan Alanis of Modesto is pressing for more accountability in the state water board’s drought regulations. His new bill would require the board to perform a comprehensive economic study on the potential impacts of each emergency regulation before renewing it.
Last month the board readopted an emergency drought regulation along California’s northernmost rivers for the fourth year in a row. Local farmers and ranchers have unsuccessfully pleaded with the board for years to carefully consider the broader economic impacts of the regulation.
Keep in mind: Alanis has a penchant for symbolic legislation. Last year he revived a Republican effort to amend the state constitution to dedicate 1.5% of California’s general fund revenues to water infrastructure investments. The bill was never taken up in committee.
Agri-Pulse is in Tulare this week covering the World Ag Expo.
Grape crush down 23%
CDFA estimates the state’s grape crush was the lowest in two decades last year. A new preliminary report indicates the crush was down nearly 23% from the previous year, ending at 2.8 million tons.
Accounting for the largest share of the crush, red winegrapes were down 27%, while white winegrapes were down 18%. Average prices were down 2.6% for red and 4.8% for white.
The San Joaquin Valley accounted for the largest share of the crush. But its average price, at $338 per ton, was far below that of Napa County, which saw $6,900 per ton, though it was down 2.4%.
Trump hikes tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25%
President Donald Trump raised tariffs on all U.S. steel and aluminum imports to 25% on Monday, even as major U.S. suppliers are still reeling from recent tariff threats.
The president issued two proclamations Monday evening amending the tariffs introduced during his first term on steel and aluminum to protect U.S. national security. A proclamation on steel ends several exemptions to the previous 25% duty and tariff-rate quotas that had been negotiated during the previous Trump and Biden presidencies. A second brings the tariffs on aluminum up to 25% from the 10% rate imposed during Trump’s first term.
Both measures will go into force from March 12.
Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com.
Senators push ahead with budget plan
Republicans on Capitol Hill remain sharply divided over the best way to advance President Trump’s policy priorities.
The Senate GOP is pushing ahead with a two-step strategy. The Budget Committee is scheduled today to take up the first of two budget resolutions. The measure the committee is considering calls for increasing annual spending by $85.5 billion for four years. The money would be designated for the military and border security.
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Take note: The resolution would only instruct committees to find $5 billion in spending reductions over 10 years, with $1 billion coming from the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The House GOP leadership continues to insist on doing a single bill that would include tax cuts.
Censky highlights dangers of repeated tariff threats
Former Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Censky warns that tariff threats may secure concessions in the short-term, but their overuse risks fraying trade ties with U.S. partners.
“I do worry about the long-term effects,” Censky, who is now CEO at the American Soybean Association, said during a panel at the annual meeting of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
“Using the threat of tariffs to make deals, I think that could work for a while,” Censky said. The former Trump official added that countries “don't want to do business with someone that they think is a bully.”
“People like to move someplace else and do business with people that they think are more predictable and people that they can trust,” he said. Persistent tariff bluster could drive trade partners to look to U.S. competitors like China, Brazil or BRICS countries, he added.
Why it matters: Trump this week announced negotiated exemptions on steel tariffs will end from March 12. Aluminum tariffs will also rise on all U.S. imports. Meanwhile, Mexico as well as Canada could be facing new duties next month, and China has already seen a tariff hike.
California grower Ryan Talley testified at the House Ag hearing Tuesday.
Farmers warn against county office staff reduction at House Ag hearing
Farmers warned at a House Ag Committee hearing Tuesday that losing USDA staff in county offices could add barriers to accessing funding and conservation assistance.
Staff at the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service provide an important service to farmers, witnesses said. “Any … reduction in staffing or opportunities to speak with people in those offices could potentially lead to inadequacies and inefficiencies,” Texas farmer Alisha Schwertner told lawmakers.
Illinois Corn Growers Executive Director Rodney Weinzierl said local NRCS staff provide support to farmers with contracts. But he added that he would like to see them provide more general technical assistance as well. When pressed by Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, Weinzierl said staffing cuts would ultimately limit the agency’s ability to do that.
"I would say they’re not providing as much technical service support already, and if their staffing was reduced, obviously, it would be less,” he said.
Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com.
Final word:
“It's not easy to say all that you did — to make everybody in this room upset all at one time.” — Vanessa Delgado, chair of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Delgado responded to comments from board member Gideon Kracov, who took the time from a recent hearing to blast each party involved in discussions over regulating emissions at Southern California ports.
Read the latest on the district’s rulemaking in the Agri-Pulse West Newsletter hitting inboxes later this morning.
Correction: Daybreak West incorrectly stated last week that the state water board has received funding for drinking water projects from the Inflation Reduction Act. The money came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
