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Energy rates are triple the national average in California and set to go higher. In response, lawmakers and farm groups are shining a spotlight on investor-owned utilities.

Hundreds of interest groups, trade associations, environmentalists and even a few farmers are submitting their ideas for a new farm bill to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Not to be outdone, representatives of key California departments recently submitted their own 2023 farm bill recommendations in a letter to chairpersons and ranking members.

Dairy farmers weary of aggressive state mandates fear federal approval could lead lawmakers or state agencies to force their adoption through regulations.

CMI Orchards has selected Brett Reasor as the new CEO of New Columbia Fruit Packers and President and CEO of Food Systems for the Future Ertharin Cousin has been tapped to assume the role of co-chair for USDA’s Equity Commission.

Strong commodity prices and tight grain stocks are likely to keep pressure on fertilizer prices for some time to come, a representative of the industry told the House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday.

An increase in capacity for technical assistance within the Natural Resources Conservation Service is necessary as the agency looks to integrate $18.5 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding into its conservation programs, but the agency will likely need to look at ways to expand its roster of non-government experts as it struggles to bring in enough qualified professionals to fill its internal workforce needs.

Agriculture Department leaders are offering the nation’s rice producers a look at the $250 million assistance program expected later this year and giving them a chance to start filling out their applications before the program is officially announced.

The Organic Produce Network reports that the industry sees a 3% increase in sales and a 3.7% volume decrease in 2022.