Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Tag: The Almond Alliance

  • Western United Dairies and Almond Alliance Help Secure Placement of Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act on Ballot

    This week, Legislature passed SB 867 (Allen) the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, that will be placed before voters on the November General Election ballot. The bond would authorize $10 billion in general obligation bonds to finance projects for drought, flood, and water resilience; wildfire and forest resilience; biodiversity and nature-based climate solutions; and climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient farms, ranches, and working lands, among other priorities.

    The bond will provide significant investments for dairy farmers and almond growers to increase groundwater quality and supply in critical areas of the state. The bond would allocate $386,250,000 for the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for projects related to groundwater banking, groundwater recharge, and instream flow projects that support the conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water supplies.

    The two organizations have collaborated with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on a number of high-priority initiatives to promote improving water resiliency and management. Among these initiatives is LandFlex, a program designed as a tool for real-time flood control, protection of communities and properties, and developing long-term groundwater recharge capability. DWR has steadfastly supported the implementation of LandFlex, and with the passage of the bond, LandFlex will be prioritized within a larger water suite of programs that will assist in improving water quality and supply for agricultural regions of the state. LandFlex also accelerates compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), allowing farmers to explore innovative farming methods that align with our long-term sustainability goals.

    “Placing the Climate Bond on the ballot will allow voters to determine key investments to improve water availability for dairy farmers,” said Frank Mendonsa, President of Western United Dairies. “Our partnership with DWR has been instrumental in advancing projects that support water conservation and provide long-term certainty in sustainable agriculture. LandFlex is a prime example of how we can achieve these goals, and we are optimistic about its future with resources included in the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024.”

    “We are excited about the Legislature passing and the acting Governor signing the Climate Bond legislation,” said Blake Vann, chairman of the Almond Alliance. “Our collaborative efforts with DWR on initiatives like LandFlex demonstrate our commitment to innovative solutions that benefit both the environment and our agricultural communities. We look forward to voters approving the bond in November and allowing LandFlex to be a long-term water resiliency program.”

    The organizations would like to recognize and thank Assemblywoman, and Chair of the Agriculture Committee, Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) and Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) for championing the inclusion of funding for DWR and LandFlex programs. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Santa Rosa) and Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and their staff for working with AA & WUD on the inclusion of key funding priorities for dairy farmers and almond growers. Of course, without the support of Governor Newsom and key members of his administration, this bond and core funding for water programs would not be possible.

    The Almond Alliance and Western United Dairies remain committed to leading the way in establishing long-term water policies to promote sustainable agricultural practices and look forward to continued collaboration with the Governor’s Administration, DWR, and Legislative Champions to ensure passage of the bond in November and implementation of these vital initiatives for dairy farmers and almond growers.

  • Senate Version of Ocean Shipping Reform Act Introduced

    The Almond Alliance is happy to see the Senate take the next steps in addressing the supply chain crisis, and thank the bill sponsors for their leadership. We continue to work with partners and members of the Senate as this bill moves to address unreasonable ocean carrier practices that are undermining U.S. export competitiveness, and having a direct effect on our farmers, food supply, and communities.

    Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and John Thune, R-S.D., on Thursday introduced the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (S. 3580), the Senate response to the House version (H.R. 4996) passed by a wide bipartisan vote (364–60) in December.

    Farm groups and other industries have complained bitterly that ships coming to the West Coast from Asia are going back to China and other countries empty to pick up more consumer goods to be sold in the United States, while not picking up the U.S. products that they would normally take to Asian consumers.

    A trade association executive said the Senate bill “in some instances, is stronger than the House bill; however, aspects of it remain weaker as well. If passed, it will improve the overall supply chain situation in the future and help to build greater resilience against bottlenecks.”

    Both Klobuchar and Thune are members of the Senate Commerce Committee.

    In a news release, Klobuchar said the Senate bill “would address these supply chain challenges by making it harder for ocean carriers to arbitrarily turn away goods at ports that are ready to be shipped abroad. It would also give the Federal Maritime Commission, the federal agency responsible for the regulation of oceanborne transportation, greater authority to regulate harmful practices by carriers.”

    In her summary of the bill, Klobuchar said it would:

    • Prohibit ocean carriers from unreasonably declining opportunities for U.S. exports, as determined by the FMC in a new required rulemaking;
    • Promote transparency by requiring ocean common carriers to report to the FMC each calendar quarter on total import/export tonnage and twenty-foot equivalent units (loaded/empty) per vessel that makes port in the United States;
    • Authorize the FMC to self-initiate investigations of ocean common carrier’s business practices and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate; and
    • Establish new authority for the FMC to register shipping exchanges to improve the negotiation of service contracts.
    • Allow for third parties to participate in legal cases brought by the FMC against ocean carriers for anticompetitive harm; and
    • Let successful third parties in those legal cases receive money damages, with additional financial penalties designed to deter anticompetitive conduct.

    In his summary, Thune said the bill would:

     

    • Require ocean carriers to certify that late fees — known in maritime parlance as “detention and demurrage” charges — comply with federal regulations or face penalties;
    • Shift burden of proof regarding the reasonableness of “detention or demurrage” charges from the invoiced party to the ocean carrier;
    • Prohibit ocean carriers from unreasonably declining shipping opportunities for U.S. exports, as determined by the FMC in new required rulemaking;
    • Require ocean common carriers to report to the FMC each calendar quarter on total import/export tonnage and 20-foot equivalent units (loaded/empty) per vessel that makes port in the United States;
    • Authorize the FMC to self-initiate investigations of ocean common carrier’s business practices and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate; and
    • Establish new authority for the FMC to register shipping exchanges.

     

    Also joining as original cosponsors of the bill were Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; John Hoeven, R-N.D.; Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Todd Young, R-Ind.; Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

    To View Full Press Release, Click Here.