Environment
Commentary
California Shouldn’t Set America’s Environmental Policy
For decades, California has made environmental policy as if it were a sovereign nation, not an equal member of the Union. The federal government granted it this privilege on the premise that the Golden State faced uniquely urgent challenges requiring special treatment. Over time, that sense of exceptionalism has only ...
Blog
Taking The Wind Out Of California’s Net-Zero Sails
“We’re not going to let windmills get built because we’re not going to destroy our country any further than it’s already been destroyed,” Trump said before the June 12 signing ceremony. “You go and look at these beautiful plains and valleys, and they’re loaded up with this garbage that gets worse ...
Agriculture
Fourth of July cookout costs emphasize the need for agriculture
As in years’ past, the American Farm Bureau Federation highlights our food production history by examining the cost of cooking for our family and friends on Fourth of July in the present. The West Coast has retained the dubious distinction of being the most expensive region of the country to ...
Commentary
Lessening California’s Energy Regulations Will Help Consumers
Gas costs too much in the Golden State. Addressing this unaffordable energy problem should be a top priority for state legislators and the governor. California has taken a step backward toward this goal, however; but may be primed to take a step forward too. Read the op-ed here.
Commentary
California gasoline prices on the rise — yet again
Three days before celebrating Independence Day, drivers will take another hit at the gas pump on what has become an annual ritual in California. On July 1, motor fuel taxes will edge up, just as they have on this date for a number of years. The current state excise tax ...
Agriculture
Context matters when considering immigration enforcement
According to most recent data, 44 percent of farmworkers in the U.S. are undocumented. However, it is hard to know with certainty how accurate that percentage is with some estimates hovering around 50 percent and others as high as 75 percent. The U.S. National Agricultural Worker Survey (NAWS) breaks down ...
Agriculture
Mental Health is Important for Food Security
Brian Brett is credited with writing, “Farming is a profession of hope.” It is one of my favorite reminders about the life I pursue. My bio notes I am a fourth-generation farmer in Eastern Washington who works in public policy advocating for farmers and ranchers. It is a balancing act ...
Agriculture
Empathy for ag could save lives
American farmers and ranchers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The stressors for farmers and ranchers are difficult for many in the general population to understand because many of them are difficult to quantify. However, they are not impossible to empathize with when ...
California
Read the latest about CA's government green mandates
Newsom’s ‘California way’ would take away your gas-powered car
Newsom has joined a new coalition with other states to spread the “California Way” across the Sierras. Like Newsom, the other governors in this group want to take away your choice to drive a more affordable gas-powered ride, force you to drive a much more expensive electric vehicle, and outlaw ...
Agriculture
Bankruptcies in farm country put strain on mental health
Financial stress on farms is often cited as the single biggest stressor for farmers and their families. The 2024 data shows farm bankruptcies are up 55 percent from 2023, a trend that should ring alarm bells not just for lenders. When a farm owner files Chapter 12 bankruptcy, it is ...
California Shouldn’t Set America’s Environmental Policy
For decades, California has made environmental policy as if it were a sovereign nation, not an equal member of the Union. The federal government granted it this privilege on the premise that the Golden State faced uniquely urgent challenges requiring special treatment. Over time, that sense of exceptionalism has only ...
Taking The Wind Out Of California’s Net-Zero Sails
“We’re not going to let windmills get built because we’re not going to destroy our country any further than it’s already been destroyed,” Trump said before the June 12 signing ceremony. “You go and look at these beautiful plains and valleys, and they’re loaded up with this garbage that gets worse ...
Fourth of July cookout costs emphasize the need for agriculture
As in years’ past, the American Farm Bureau Federation highlights our food production history by examining the cost of cooking for our family and friends on Fourth of July in the present. The West Coast has retained the dubious distinction of being the most expensive region of the country to ...
Lessening California’s Energy Regulations Will Help Consumers
Gas costs too much in the Golden State. Addressing this unaffordable energy problem should be a top priority for state legislators and the governor. California has taken a step backward toward this goal, however; but may be primed to take a step forward too. Read the op-ed here.
California gasoline prices on the rise — yet again
Three days before celebrating Independence Day, drivers will take another hit at the gas pump on what has become an annual ritual in California. On July 1, motor fuel taxes will edge up, just as they have on this date for a number of years. The current state excise tax ...
Context matters when considering immigration enforcement
According to most recent data, 44 percent of farmworkers in the U.S. are undocumented. However, it is hard to know with certainty how accurate that percentage is with some estimates hovering around 50 percent and others as high as 75 percent. The U.S. National Agricultural Worker Survey (NAWS) breaks down ...
Mental Health is Important for Food Security
Brian Brett is credited with writing, “Farming is a profession of hope.” It is one of my favorite reminders about the life I pursue. My bio notes I am a fourth-generation farmer in Eastern Washington who works in public policy advocating for farmers and ranchers. It is a balancing act ...
Empathy for ag could save lives
American farmers and ranchers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The stressors for farmers and ranchers are difficult for many in the general population to understand because many of them are difficult to quantify. However, they are not impossible to empathize with when ...
Read the latest about CA's government green mandates
Newsom’s ‘California way’ would take away your gas-powered car
Newsom has joined a new coalition with other states to spread the “California Way” across the Sierras. Like Newsom, the other governors in this group want to take away your choice to drive a more affordable gas-powered ride, force you to drive a much more expensive electric vehicle, and outlaw ...
Bankruptcies in farm country put strain on mental health
Financial stress on farms is often cited as the single biggest stressor for farmers and their families. The 2024 data shows farm bankruptcies are up 55 percent from 2023, a trend that should ring alarm bells not just for lenders. When a farm owner files Chapter 12 bankruptcy, it is ...
