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Senate Democratic leaders on Thursday unveiled a budget plan for spending an estimated $68 billion surplus.

While dozens of Democrats have already signed onto Assembly Bill 2183, the measure has nearly identical provisions as one Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed last year after heavy pressure from agriculture and business groups.

State Sen. John Laird is hoping to catalyze more partnerships between ranchers and conservationists to preserve wildlife and support California’s climate goals.

Seven demonstration projects are set to split $1.12 million in funding through a program designed to improve soil health throughout California.

The Grower-Shipper Association of Central California (GSA) has appointed Victor Ramirez as the new vice-chair and Greg Beach as the new secretary of the board of directors.

With the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 advancing quickly in Congress, shipping experts have begun to turn a critical eye toward the Federal Maritime Commission – the agency responsible for regulating overseas trade.

Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse, a GOP leader of congressional efforts to curb foreign influence in U.S. agriculture, has returned $17,500 in campaign donations to political action committees representing the Chinese-owned agribusiness companies Smithfield Foods and Syngenta.

Leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees say farmers’ repeated need for disaster assistance will be an issue as lawmakers write the next farm bill.

Prominent urban water districts have joined a Central Valley coalition in lobbying the Newsom administration for major infrastructure investments, while rice growers begin to tally the toll from fallowing and flood costs rise to $30 billion.