The series of “Listening Sessions” provide a forum for the agriculture industry and public to provide input into the planning of a strategic agricultural vision for California. The vision will be used to guide public policy and investment priorities at the state and national level for the next 20 years, and will affect everyone who produces, ships, processes, markets, eats, drinks or uses California agricultural products.“The Ag Vision will give California agriculture the opportunity to design its future through 2030,” and Al Montna, president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, said the document will “not gather dust, but be an action plan to secure the viability of this industry for today and years to come.”Public input is essential for the agricultural vision to fully represent California. This includes perspectives from farmers, ranchers and processors, as well as nutrition, conservation and rural development groups. The state board and CDFA have already held listening sessions in Redding and Sacramento, and next month will hold sessions in San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Escondido and San Diego.The California Agricultural Vision will consist of strategic goals that the agricultural industry wants to achieve by the year 2030. More information about the California Agricultural Vision process and session venues can be found at www.cdfa.ca.gov/agvision.
Water should top list at state ag department ‘Listening Sessions’
July 04, 2008
Santa Paula News
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture and the Department of Food and Agriculture want to hear what Ventura County growers have to say, and next week’s special “Listening Sessions” will offer state officials the opportunity to hear at least one area grower address water issues.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe California State Board of Food and Agriculture and the Department of Food and Agriculture want to hear what Ventura County growers have to say, and next week’s special “Listening Sessions” will offer state officials the opportunity to hear at least one area grower address water issues. The input from the statewide “Listening Session” groups will be used to develop priorities for decades of agricultural policy.Calavo Company District Manager Paul Romero plans to attend one of the July 7 sessions. “Water is going to be a huge issue” in the future: “If they want to take water for development, that will probably supercede our existence out here.”The issue is of particular concern due to what Romero called “rumbles” that groundwater might be targeted for future monitoring and limiting, even at private wells. “Water,” Romero noted, “is definitely going to be the biggest issue” in the future of agriculture.Locally, “Listening Sessions” will be held at the Oxnard Performing Arts and Convention Center, 800 Hobson Way, on July 7 from noon to 3 p.m. The session will be held in the Thousand Oaks Room. A second Oxnard “Listening Session,” with simultaneous Spanish translation available, will be held that evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the City of Oxnard HR Activity Room, 300 W. 3rd St., First Floor, “B” Street entrance.
