Food And Farm News
6-4-2025
California weighs Hollywood tax credit boost after denying one to farms
California lawmakers are weighing a proposal from Gov. Gavin Newsom to more than double the state’s $330 million film and television tax credit to protect jobs in Hollywood. The move comes just weeks after a state Senate committee rejected a bill that would have created a more modest tax credit to support struggling farms and farmworkers by reimbursing the cost of overtime wages. “The Legislature elected to ignore our arguments about putting more money in the pockets of farmworkers,” said Bryan Little, chief operating officer of Farm Employers Labor Service and senior director of policy advocacy at the California Farm Bureau.
Farmers suspect heat waves is to blame for light cherry crop
California cherry growers are harvesting a lighter crop this year, with farmers in parts of the state blaming the reduced yield on the heat wave last summer and poor pollination this spring. San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner Kamal Bagri requested a disaster declaration after estimating the county’s crop was about 43% less than the five-year average, amounting to roughly a $100 million loss. Donald Drake, who grows cherries near Linden, said the quality of his fruit was excellent, but yields were down 50%. “The fruit I had, I wished I had more of,” Drake said.
Farm Bureau program pairs new farmers with seasoned mentors
Beginning farmers and their more experienced peers are forging fulfilling partnerships through a year-old mentorship program run by the California Farm Bureau’s California Bountiful Foundation and supported by state and federal funding. Launched in spring 2024, the Expanding Our Roots program aims to help newcomers navigate the complexities of farming and ranching by giving them access to seasoned pros who can share the knowledge they’ve gained through years of trial and error, said Tyler Rood, senior project specialist at the foundation and the program’s coordinator.
California farmers voice concerns in advocacy effort at state Capitol
California Farm Bureau members from across the state traveled to the state Capitol last month to advocate on issues such as the conservation of farmland and clean water laws, as well as regulatory burdens farmers face. “This is one of the most important things we do,” Chris Reardon, vice president of policy advocacy at the California Farm Bureau, said of the annual advocacy effort. “While we have a policy team up here on a regular basis, in all honesty, the most effective communicators of our issues are the members themselves.”
For more information about any story in Food and Farm News, contact the California Farm Bureau Marketing/Communications Division at 916-561-5550 or email news@cfbf.com. Connect with us on Facebook, X, or Instagram: @CAFarmBureau.
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