SB 367: Agricultural lands: greenhouse gases.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2015-08-17
(1)Existing law, the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to convene a 5-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming for the purpose of providing advice and assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat, as specified.
This bill instead would authorize, rather than require, the environmental farming program to provide incentives, including loans, grants, research, technical assistance, or educational materials and outreach, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both. The bill would rename the panel the Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel and revise the panels membership and duties, as specified. The bill would require the panel to provide a biennial report describing its work to the Legislature and the Governor, among others.
The bill would provide that $25,000,000 shall be made available to the department, upon appropriation, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to support projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, as specified. The bill would require the department, in consultation with the panel, to develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of the act and would require the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the secretary and the panel, to consider and recommend, as appropriate, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the grant program.
(2)The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law continuously appropriates 20% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, as provided.
This bill would require the council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program established by the council in conjunction with the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations, as specified.
The bill would continuously appropriate 2% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council to be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with the provisions of that grant program, thereby making an appropriation.
(1)Existing law, the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to convene a 5-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming for the purpose of providing advice and assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat, as specified.
This bill instead would authorize, rather than require, the environmental farming program to provide incentives, including loans, grants, research, technical assistance, or educational materials and outreach, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both. The bill would rename the panel the Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel and revise the panels membership and duties, as specified. The bill would require the panel to provide a biennial report describing its work to the Legislature and the Governor, among others.
The bill would provide that $25,000,000 shall be made available to the department, upon appropriation, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to support projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, as specified. The bill would require the department, in consultation with the panel, to develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of the act and would require the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the secretary and the panel, to consider and recommend, as appropriate, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the grant program.
(2)The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law continuously appropriates 20% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, as provided.
This bill would require the council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program established by the council in conjunction with the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations, as specified.
The bill would continuously appropriate 2% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council to be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with the provisions of that grant program, thereby making an appropriation.
(1)Existing law, the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to convene a 5-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming for the purpose of providing advice and assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to assist in compiling scientific evidence identifying the net environmental impacts that agriculture creates for the environment and requires the department to serve as depository for that information and provide it to federal, state, and local governments, as needed.
This bill instead would require authorize, rather than require, the environmental farming program to provide low-interest incentives, including loans, grants, research, technical assistance, or educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things, instead of incentives, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both. The bill would rename the panel the Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel and revise the panels membership and duties, as specified. The bill would require the panel to provide a biennial report describing its work to the Legislature and the Governor, among others. The bill would require the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the panel, to consider and recommend, as appropriate, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from a specified grant program. The bill would eliminate the authorization for the department to assist in compiling scientific evidence identifying the net environmental impacts that agriculture creates for the environment and the requirement that the department serve as depository for that information to federal, state, and local governments.
The bill would provide that $25,000,000 shall be made available to the department, upon appropriation, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, as specified. The bill would require the department, in consultation with the panel, to develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of the act and would require the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the secretary and the panel, to consider and recommend, as appropriate, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the grant program.
(2)The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law continuously appropriates 20% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, as provided.
This bill would require the council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program established by the council in conjunction with the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations, as specified.
The bill would continuously appropriate 2% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council to be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with the provisions of that grant program, thereby making an appropriation.
(1)Existing law, the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to convene a 5-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming for the purpose of providing advice and assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to assist in compiling scientific evidence identifying the net environmental impacts that agriculture creates for the environment and requires the department to serve as depository for that information and provide it to federal, state, and local governments, as needed.
This bill would require the environmental farming program to provide low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things, instead of incentives, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both. The bill would rename the panel the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel and revise the panels membership and duties, as specified. The bill would require the panel to provide a biennial report describing its work to the Legislature and the Governor, among others. The bill would require the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the panel, to consider and recommend, as appropriate, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from a specified grant program. The bill would eliminate the authorization for the department to assist in compiling scientific evidence identifying the net environmental impacts that agriculture creates for the environment and the requirement that the department serve as depository for that information to federal, state, and local governments.
The bill would provide that $50,000,000 $25,000,000 shall be made available to the department, upon appropriation, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, as specified.
(2)The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law continuously appropriates 20% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, as provided.
This bill would require the council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program established by the council in conjunction with the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations, as specified.
The bill would continuously appropriate 2% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council to be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with the provisions of that grant program, thereby making an appropriation.
(1)Existing law, the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to convene a 5-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming for the purpose of providing advice and assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to assist in compiling scientific evidence identifying the net environmental impacts that agriculture creates for the environment and requires the department to serve as depository for that information and provide it to federal, state, and local governments, as needed.
This bill would require the environmental farming program to provide, in addition to incentives, provide low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things things, instead of incentives, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both. The bill would revise and recast the provisions regarding rename the panel, including, among other things, panel the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel and revise the panels membership and duties, as specified. The bill would require the panel to provide a biennial report describing its work to the Legislature and the Governor, among others. The bill would require the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the panel, to consider and recommend, as appropriate, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from a specified grant program. The bill would eliminate the authorization for the department to assist in compiling scientific evidence identifying the net environmental impacts that agriculture creates for the environment and the requirement that the department serve as depository for that information to federal, state, and local governments.
The bill would provide that $50,000,000 shall be made available to the department, upon appropriation, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, as specified.
(2)The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law continuously appropriates 20% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, as provided.
This bill would require the council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program established by the council in conjunction with the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations, as specified.
The bill would continuously appropriate 2% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council to be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with the provisions of that grant program, thereby making an appropriation.
(1)Existing law, the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to convene a 5-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming for the purpose of providing advice and assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat, as specified.
This bill would require the environmental farming program to provide, in addition to incentives, low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both. The bill would revise and recast the provisions regarding the panel, including, among other things, the panels membership and duties, as specified. The bill would require the panel to provide a biennial report describing its work to the Legislature and the Governor, among others.
The bill would provide that $50,000,000 shall be made available to the department, upon appropriation, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, as specified.
(2)The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law continuously appropriates 20% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, as provided.
This bill would require the council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program established by the council in conjunction with the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in solid soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations, as specified.
The bill would require no less than continuously appropriate 2% of the annual proceeds of the fund, from the proceeds appropriated to the council, fund to the Strategic Growth Council to be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with the provisions of that grant program, thereby making an appropriation.
Existing
(1)Existing law, the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to convene a 5-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming for the purpose of providing advice and assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat, as provided. specified.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature (1) to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce global warming impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state and (2) that the department support California agriculture in pursuing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody vegetation. The bill would require the environmental farming program, in addition to incentives, to provide, in addition to incentives, low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to increase the membership of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming and would require it additionally to advise and assist on climate change. The bill would require the panel to advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on the creation of programs to provide technical, educational, and financial assistance to agricultural producers that provide multiple environmental and health benefits. revise and recast the provisions regarding the panel, including, among other things, the panels membership and duties, as specified. The bill would require the panel to provide a biennial report describing its work to the Legislature and the Governor, among others.The bill would provide that $50,000,000 shall be made available to the department, upon appropriation, to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, as specified.
(2)The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law continuously appropriates 20% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, as provided.
This bill would require the council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program established by the council in conjunction with the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in solid and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations, as specified.
The bill would require no less than 2% of the annual proceeds of the fund, from the proceeds appropriated to the council, be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with the provisions of that grant program, thereby making an appropriation.
Existing law, the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to convene a 5-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming for the purpose of providing advice and assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat, as provided.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature (1) to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce global warming impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state and (2) that the department support California agriculture in pursuing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody vegetation. The bill would require the environmental farming program, in addition to incentives, to provide low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to increase the membership of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming and would require it additionally to advise and assist on climate change. The bill would require the panel to advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on the creation of programs to provide technical, educational, and financial assistance to agricultural producers that provide multiple environmental and health benefits.
The Legislature further finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Californias agricultural output is larger and more diverse than any state in the United States, providing the majority of the countrys fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
(b)Dependent on land and natural resources, California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to climate change, which poses a serious threat to California agriculture with rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels.
(c)California agriculture also is uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the State Energy Resources and Conservation Conservation and Development Commissions Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program finds that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also may help to store carbon in soils and trees. Carbon storage is an important strategy to help meet the states greenhouse gas emissions targets.
(d)Steps taken by those working in California agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester atmospheric carbon can provide other important environmental cobenefits, such as improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat, and healthier rural communities.
(e)It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce climate change impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state.
(f)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to this article, support the states agricultural sector in pursuing on-farm practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
SEC. 2.Section 564 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:564.Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this article:
(a)Agricultural activities means those activities that generate products as specified in Section 54004.
(b)Department means the Department of Food and Agriculture.
(c)Fund means the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code.
(d)Panel means the Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel.
(e)Secretary means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
SEC. 3.Section 566 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:566.(a)(1)The department shall establish and oversee an environmental farming program. The program may provide incentives, including, but not limited to, loans, grants, research, technical assistance, or educational materials and outreach, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both.
(2)The department may provide support through the program that may include, but need not be limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects in furtherance of the goals of the program.
(b)(1)The department may assist in the compilation of scientific evidence from public and private sources, including the scientific community, industry, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies identifying the net environmental impacts and benefits that agriculture creates for the environment.
(2)The department shall serve as the depository of the scientific evidence compiled pursuant to this subdivision and provide it to federal, state, and local agencies as needed.
(c)The department shall conduct the activities specified in this article with existing resources, to the extent they are available.
SEC. 4.Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:568.(a)The secretary shall convene an Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel to advise the secretary on the implementation of an environmental farming program, established pursuant to Section 566, and assist federal, state, and local government agencies, as appropriate or necessary, on issues relating to the impact of agricultural practices on air, water, climate change, and wildlife habitat.
(b)(1)The panel shall consist of the following members:
(A)Two members appointed by the Secretary for Environmental Protection. One of these members shall have expertise in climate change and its impacts on California agriculture, and the other member shall have expertise in greenhouse gas emissions reduction practices related to agriculture.
(B)Two members appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. One of these members shall be affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts. The other member shall be engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to the purposes described in Section 566.
(C)Five members appointed by the secretary, according to the following:
(i)Three members who are agricultural producers in the state with at least five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture. At least one of these members shall be registered as a producer pursuant to the California Organic Products Act of 2003 (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 46000) of Division 17).
(ii)One member who is affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
(iii)One member who is engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to the purposes described in Section 566.
(2)The secretary may appoint nonvoting advisers to the panel after consulting with the panel.
(3)The secretary shall designate the member who is to serve as the chair of the panel.
(4)Members of the panel shall be highly qualified and professionally active with at least five years of experience in their chosen field.
(5)Of the members first appointed to the panel, four shall serve for a term of two years and five shall serve for a term of three years, as determined by lot. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of three years.
(c)The panel, at a minimum and as necessary, shall do all of the following:
(1)(A)Review data on the impact impacts and benefits that agriculture has on the environment and recommend to the secretary and other appropriate state agencies data that the panel determines is scientifically valid.
(B)A state agency that receives data recommended by the panel may adopt and incorporate the data into the appropriate program.
(C) If a state agency does not utilize the data recommended by the panel, the state agency shall provide the panel with a written statement of reasons for not doing so. The reasons shall specify, at a minimum, the scientific basis for not utilizing the data. The reasons shall be provided within 180 days of receiving the data.
(2)Compile the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment, identified pursuant to paragraph (1), for use by the department, other relevant state agencies, and the public.
(3)Research, review, and comment on data upon which proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs are based to ensure that the environmental impacts of agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives that may be provided to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
(4)Assist government agencies to incorporate benefits identified pursuant to paragraph (1) into environmental regulatory programs.
(5)Review and advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on existing and proposed programs and projects that provide technical, educational, and financial assistance, including, but not limited to, competitive grants to agricultural producers that will result in multiple environmental and health benefits, including, but not limited to, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased carbon storage in soils and woody biomass, improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and improved local health outcomes.
(d)The State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the secretary and the panel, shall consider, and recommend, as appropriate, in the guidance developed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 16428.9 of the Government Code, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the grant program established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 569, including, but not limited to, the Natural Resources Conservation Services National Conservation Practice Standards and COMET-Farm and other quantification tools.
(e)The panel may establish ad hoc committees, which may include professionals or scientists, to assist it in performing its functions.
(f)(1)The panel shall submit a biennial report to the Legislature, the Governor, the agencies represented on the panel, and the State Board of Food and Agriculture that includes all of the following:
(A)A description of the work conducted by the panel during the prior two-year period.
(B)The panels action plan for the next two years, including goals and performance measures.
(2)The first report shall be submitted two years after the panels first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g)The panel shall be created and maintained with funds made available from existing resources within the department to the extent they are available.
SEC. 5.Section 569 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:569.(a)The sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, from the fund to the department to support projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, including the increased use of compost and biochar, cover crops, and low- and no-till practices.
(2)Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, including soil-moisture monitoring, irrigation scheduling, high-efficiency water delivery technologies, dry farming, and on-farm water catchment.
(3)Alternative-energy production and energy efficiency, including energy produced from agricultural waste from a farm or at a an agricultural processing facility located in the state, and improved on-farm operational energy efficiencies.
(4)Wildlife habitat conservation, including hedgerow planting, native grass planting and restoration, agroforestry, and managed grazing for enhanced habitat.
(b)The department, in consultation with the panel, shall develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of this article.
(c)The secretary and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall enter into a memorandum of agreement among the department, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing the programs and projects funded pursuant to this section.
SEC. 6.Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:39719.(a)The Legislature shall appropriate the annual proceeds of the fund for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this state in accordance with the requirements of Section 39712.
(b)To carry out a portion of the requirements of subdivision (a), annual proceeds are continuously appropriated for the following:
(1)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, and notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 35 percent of annual proceeds are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, for transit, affordable housing, and sustainable communities programs as follows:
(A)Ten percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Transportation Agency for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program created by Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.
(B)Five percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program created by Part 3 (commencing with Section 75230) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Moneys shall be allocated by the Controller, according to requirements of the program, and pursuant to the distribution formula in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 99312 of, and Sections 99313 and 99314 of, the Public Utilities Code.
(C)Twenty percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program created by Part 1 (commencing with Section 75200) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Of the amount appropriated in this subparagraph, no less than 10 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for affordable housing, consistent with the provisions of that program and no less than two 2 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with Section 75217.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(2)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 25 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the following components of the initial operating segment and Phase I Blended System as described in the 2012 business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 of the Public Utilities Code:
(A)Acquisition and construction costs of the project.
(B)Environmental review and design costs of the project.
(C)Other capital costs of the project.
(D)Repayment of any loans made to the authority to fund the project.
(c)In determining the amount of annual proceeds of the fund for purposes of the calculation in subdivision (b), the moneys subject to Section 39719.1 shall not be included.
SEC. 7.Section 75217.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:75217.5.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)It is in the interest of the state to provide incentives for the use of agricultural land management practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
(2)The councils Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, established pursuant to this chapter, has three elements, including financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that achieve these goals.
(3)The 2014 program guidelines establish grant programs for the 201415 fiscal year to promote agricultural lands strategic planning and agricultural land conservation easements, but the guidelines do not establish a grant program to provide incentives for agricultural land management practices.
(b)(1)The council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, shall establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations. The council shall consult with the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel, established pursuant to Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code, when developing the grant program and guidelines.
(2)The council, as part of the grant program established pursuant to this subdivision, shall give priority to working agricultural operations that adopt land management practices that achieve the goals described in paragraph (1).
The Legislature further finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Californias agricultural output is larger and more diverse than any state in the United States, providing the majority of the countrys fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
(b)Dependent on land and natural resources, California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to climate change, which poses a serious threat to California agriculture with rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels.
(c)California agriculture also is uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the State Energy Resources and Conservation Development Commissions Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program finds that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also may help to store carbon in soils and trees. Carbon storage is an important strategy to help meet the states greenhouse gas emissions targets.
(d)Steps taken by those working in California agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester atmospheric carbon can provide other important environmental cobenefits, such as improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat, and healthier rural communities.
(e)It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce climate change impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state.
(f)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to this article, support the states agricultural sector in pursuing on-farm practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
SEC. 2.Section 564 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:564.Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this article:
(a)Agricultural activities means those activities that generate products as specified in Section 54004.
(b)Department means the Department of Food and Agriculture.
(c)Fund means the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code.
(d)Panel means the Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel.
(e)Secretary means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
SEC. 3.Section 566 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:566.(a)(1)The department shall establish and oversee an environmental farming program. The program may provide incentives, including, but not limited to, loans, grants, research, technical assistance, or educational materials and outreach, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both.
(2)The department may provide support through the program that may include, but need not be limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects in furtherance of the goals of the program.
(b)(1)The department may assist in the compilation of scientific evidence from public and private sources, including the scientific community, industry, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies identifying the net environmental impacts and benefits that agriculture creates for the environment.
(2)The department shall serve as the depository of the scientific evidence compiled pursuant to this subdivision and provide it to federal, state, and local agencies as needed.
(c)The department shall conduct the activities specified in this article with existing resources, to the extent they are available.
SEC. 4.Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:568.(a)The secretary shall convene an Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel to advise the secretary on the implementation of an environmental farming program, established pursuant to Section 566, and assist federal, state, and local government agencies, as appropriate or necessary, on issues relating to the impact of agricultural practices on air, water, climate change, and wildlife habitat.
(b)(1)The panel shall consist of the following members:
(A)Two members appointed by the Secretary for Environmental Protection. One of these members shall have expertise in climate change and its impacts on California agriculture, and the other member shall have expertise in greenhouse gas emissions reduction practices related to agriculture.
(B)Two members appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. One of these members shall be affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts. The other member shall be engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to environmentally sustainable agriculture. the purposes described in Section 566.
(C)Five members appointed by the secretary, according to the following:
(i)Three members who are agricultural producers in the state with at least five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture. At least one of these members shall be registered as a producer pursuant to the California Organic Products Act of 2003 (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 46000) of Division 17).
(ii)One member who is affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
(iii)One member who is engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to environmentally sustainable agriculture. the purposes described in Section 566.
(2)The secretary may appoint nonvoting advisers to the panel after consulting with the panel.
(3)The secretary shall designate the member who is to serve as the chair of the panel.
(4)Members of the panel shall be highly qualified and professionally active with at least five years of experience in their chosen field.
(5)Of the members first appointed to the panel, four shall serve for a term of two years and five shall serve for a term of three years, as determined by lot. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of three years.
(c)The panel, at a minimum and as necessary, shall do all of the following:
(1)(A)Review data on the impact that agriculture has on the environment and recommend to the secretary and other appropriate state agencies data that the panel determines is scientifically valid.
(B)A state agency that receives data recommended by the panel may adopt and incorporate the data into the appropriate program.
(C) If a state agency does not utilize the data recommended by the panel, the state agency shall provide the panel with a written statement of reasons for not doing so. The reasons shall specify, at a minimum, the scientific basis for not utilizing the data. The reasons shall be provided within 180 days of receiving the data.
(2)Compile the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment, identified pursuant to paragraph (1), for use by the department, other relevant state agencies, and the public.
(3)Research, review, and comment on data upon which proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs are based to ensure that the environmental impacts of agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives that may be provided to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
(4)Assist government agencies to incorporate benefits identified pursuant to paragraph (1) into environmental regulatory programs.
(5)Review and advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on existing and proposed programs and projects that provide technical, educational, and financial assistance, including, but not limited to, competitive grants to agricultural producers that will result in multiple environmental and health benefits, including, but not limited to, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased carbon storage in soils and woody biomass, improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and improved local health outcomes.
(d)The State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the secretary and the panel, shall consider, and recommend, as appropriate, in the guidance developed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 16428.9 of the Government Code, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the grant program established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 569, including, but not limited to, the Natural Resources Conservation Services National Conservation Practice Standards and COMET-Farm and other quantification tools.
(e)The panel may establish ad hoc committees, which may include professionals or scientists, to assist it in performing its functions.
(f)(1)The panel shall submit a biennial report to the Legislature, the Governor, the agencies represented on the panel, and the State Board of Food and Agriculture that includes all of the following:
(A)A description of the work conducted by the panel during the prior two-year period.
(B)The panels action plan for the next two years, including goals and performance measures.
(2)The first report shall be submitted two years after the panels first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g)The panel shall be created and maintained with funds made available from existing resources within the department to the extent they are available.
SEC. 5.Section 569 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:569.(a)The sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, from the fund to the department to support projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, including the increased use of compost and biochar, cover crops, and low- and no-till practices.
(2)Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, including soil-moisture monitoring, irrigation scheduling, high-efficiency water delivery technologies, dry farming, and on-farm water catchment.
(3)Alternative-energy production and energy efficiency, including energy produced from agricultural waste from a farm or at a processing facility located in the state, and improved on-farm operational efficiencies.
(4)Wildlife habitat conservation, including hedgerow planting, native grass planting and restoration, agroforestry, and managed grazing for enhanced habitat.
(b)The department, in consultation with the panel, shall develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of this article.
(c)The secretary and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall enter into a memorandum of agreement among the department, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing the programs and projects funded pursuant to this section.
SEC. 6.Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:39719.(a)The Legislature shall appropriate the annual proceeds of the fund for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this state in accordance with the requirements of Section 39712.
(b)To carry out a portion of the requirements of subdivision (a), annual proceeds are continuously appropriated for the following:
(1)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, and notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 35 percent of annual proceeds are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, for transit, affordable housing, and sustainable communities programs as follows:
(A)Ten percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Transportation Agency for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program created by Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.
(B)Five percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program created by Part 3 (commencing with Section 75230) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Moneys shall be allocated by the Controller, according to requirements of the program, and pursuant to the distribution formula in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 99312 of, and Sections 99313 and 99314 of, the Public Utilities Code.
(C)Twenty percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program created by Part 1 (commencing with Section 75200) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Of the amount appropriated in this subparagraph, no less than 10 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for affordable housing, consistent with the provisions of that program and no less than two percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with Section 75217.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(2)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 25 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the following components of the initial operating segment and Phase I Blended System as described in the 2012 business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 of the Public Utilities Code:
(A)Acquisition and construction costs of the project.
(B)Environmental review and design costs of the project.
(C)Other capital costs of the project.
(D)Repayment of any loans made to the authority to fund the project.
(c)In determining the amount of annual proceeds of the fund for purposes of the calculation in subdivision (b), the moneys subject to Section 39719.1 shall not be included.
SEC. 7.Section 75217.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:75217.5.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)It is in the interest of the state to provide incentives for the use of agricultural land management practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
(2)The councils Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, established pursuant to this chapter, has three elements, including financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that achieve these goals.
(3)The 2014 program guidelines establish grant programs for the 201415 fiscal year to promote agricultural lands strategic planning and agricultural land conservation easements, but the guidelines do not establish a grant program to provide incentives for agricultural land management practices.
(b)(1)The council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, shall establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations. The council shall consult with the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel, established pursuant to Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code, when developing the grant program and guidelines.
(2)The council, as part of the grant program established pursuant to this subdivision, shall give priority to working agricultural operations that adopt land management practices that achieve the goals described in paragraph (1).
The Legislature further finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Californias agricultural output is larger and more diverse than any state in the United States, providing the majority of the countrys fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
(b)Dependent on land and natural resources, California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to climate change, which poses a serious threat to California agriculture with rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels.
(c)California agriculture also is uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the State Energy Resources and Conservation Development Commissions Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program finds that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also may help to store carbon in soils and trees. Carbon storage is an important strategy to help meet the states greenhouse gas emissions targets.
(d)Steps taken by those working in California agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester atmospheric carbon can provide other important environmental cobenefits, such as improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat, and healthier rural communities.
(e)It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce climate change impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state.
(f)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to this article, support the states agricultural sector in pursuing on-farm practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
SEC. 2.Section 564 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:564.Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this article:
(a)Agricultural activities means those activities that generate products as specified in Section 54004.
(b)Department means the Department of Food and Agriculture.
(c)Fund means the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code.
(c)
(d)Panel means the Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel.
(d)
(e)Secretary means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
SEC. 3.Section 566 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:566.(a)(1)The department shall establish and oversee an environmental farming program. The program shall may provide low-interest incentives, including, but not limited to, loans, grants, research, technical assistance, or educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both.
(2)The department may provide support through the program that may include, but need not be limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects in furtherance of the goals of the program.
(b)(1)The department may assist in the compilation of scientific evidence from public and private sources, including the scientific community, industry, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies identifying the net environmental impacts and benefits that agriculture creates for the environment.
(2)The department shall serve as the depository of the scientific evidence compiled pursuant to this subdivision and provide it to federal, state, and local agencies as needed.
(b)
(c)The department shall conduct the activities specified in this article with existing resources, to the extent they are available.
SEC. 4.Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:568.(a)The secretary shall convene an Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel to advise the secretary on the implementation of an environmental farming program, established pursuant to Section 566, and assist federal, state, and local government agencies, as appropriate or necessary, on issues relating to the impact of agricultural practices on air, water, climate change, and wildlife habitat.
(b)(1)The panel shall consist of the following members:
(A)Two members appointed by the Secretary for Environmental Protection. One of these members shall have expertise in climate change and its impacts on California agriculture, and the other member shall have expertise in greenhouse gas emissions reduction practices related to agriculture.
(B)Two members appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. One of these members shall be affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts. The other member shall be engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to environmentally sustainable agriculture.
(C)Four Five members appointed by the secretary, according to the following:
(i)Three members who are agricultural producers in the state with at least five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture. At least one of these members shall be registered as a producer pursuant to the California Organic Products Act of 2003 (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 46000) of Division 17).
(ii)One member who is affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
(iii)One member who is engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to environmentally sustainable agriculture.
(2)The secretary may appoint other members nonvoting advisers to the panel after consulting with the panel.
(3)The secretary shall designate the member who is to serve as the chair of the panel.
(4)Members of the panel shall be highly qualified and professionally active with at least five years of experience in their chosen field, and two of the members shall be engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to environmentally sustainable agriculture. field.
(5)Of the members first appointed to the panel, four shall serve for a term of two years and four five shall serve for a term of three years, as determined by lot. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of three years.
(c)The panel, at a minimum and as necessary, shall do all of the following:
(1)(A)Review data on the impact that agriculture has on the environment and recommend to the secretary and other appropriate state agencies the best available science on the environmental impacts of agriculture, as well as practices and policies based on that information to advance the goals of this article. data that the panel determines is scientifically valid.
(B)A state agency that receives data recommended by the panel may adopt and incorporate the data into the appropriate program.
(C) If a state agency does not utilize the data recommended by the panel, the state agency shall provide the panel with a written statement of reasons for not doing so. The reasons shall specify, at a minimum, the scientific basis for not utilizing the data. The reasons shall be provided within 180 days of receiving the data.
(2)Compile the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment, identified pursuant to paragraph (1), for use by the department, other relevant state agencies, and the public.
(3)Research, review, and comment on data upon which proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs are based to ensure that the environmental impacts of agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives that may be provided to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
(4)Assist government agencies to incorporate benefits identified pursuant to paragraph (1) into environmental regulatory programs.
(5)Review and advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on existing and proposed programs and projects that provide technical, educational, and financial assistance, including, but not limited to, competitive grants to agricultural producers that will result in multiple environmental and health benefits, including, but not limited to, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased carbon storage in soils and woody biomass, improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and improved local health outcomes.
(d)The State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the secretary and the panel, shall consider, and recommend, as appropriate, in the guidance developed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 16428.9 of the Government Code, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the grant program established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 569, including, but not limited to, the Natural Resources Conservation Services National Conservation Practice Standards and COMET-Farm and other quantification tools submitted by, among others, state agricultural commodity groups and academic institutions. tools.
(e)The panel may establish ad hoc committees, which may include professionals or scientists, to assist it in performing its functions.
(f)(1)The panel shall submit a biennial report to the Legislature, the Governor, the agencies represented on the panel, and the State Board of Food and Agriculture that includes all of the following:
(A)A description of the work conducted by the panel during the prior two-year period.
(B)The panels action plan for the next two years, including goals and performance measures.
(2)The first report shall be submitted two years after the panels first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g)The panel shall be created and maintained with funds made available from existing resources within the department to the extent they are available.
SEC. 5.Section 569 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:569.(a)The sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code, fund to the department to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, including the increased use of compost and biochar, cover crops, and low- and no-till practices.
(2)Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, including soil-moisture monitoring, irrigation scheduling, high-efficiency water delivery technologies, dry farming, and on-farm water catchment.
(3)On-farm alternative-energy production and energy efficiency, including on-farm bioenergy production from agricultural waste and improved on-farm operational efficiencies.
(3)Alternative-energy production and energy efficiency, including energy produced from agricultural waste from a farm or at a processing facility located in the state, and improved on-farm operational efficiencies.
(4)Wildlife habitat conservation, including hedgerow planting, native grass planting and restoration, agroforestry, and managed grazing for enhanced habitat.
(b)The department, in consultation with the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel established pursuant to Section 568, panel, shall develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of this article.
(c)The secretary and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall enter into a memorandum of agreement among the department, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing the programs and projects funded pursuant to this section.
SEC. 6.Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:39719.(a)The Legislature shall appropriate the annual proceeds of the fund for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this state in accordance with the requirements of Section 39712.
(b)To carry out a portion of the requirements of subdivision (a), annual proceeds are continuously appropriated for the following:
(1)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, and notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 35 percent of annual proceeds are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, for transit, affordable housing, and sustainable communities programs as follows:
(A)Ten percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Transportation Agency for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program created by Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.
(B)Five percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program created by Part 3 (commencing with Section 75230) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Moneys shall be allocated by the Controller, according to requirements of the program, and pursuant to the distribution formula in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 99312 of, and Sections 99313 and 99314 of, the Public Utilities Code.
(C)Twenty percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program created by Part 1 (commencing with Section 75200) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Of the amount appropriated in this subparagraph, no less than 10 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for affordable housing, consistent with the provisions of that program and no less than two percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with Section 75217.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(2)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 25 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the following components of the initial operating segment and Phase I Blended System as described in the 2012 business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 of the Public Utilities Code:
(A)Acquisition and construction costs of the project.
(B)Environmental review and design costs of the project.
(C)Other capital costs of the project.
(D)Repayment of any loans made to the authority to fund the project.
(c)In determining the amount of annual proceeds of the fund for purposes of the calculation in subdivision (b), the moneys subject to Section 39719.1 shall not be included.
SEC. 7.Section 75217.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:75217.5.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)It is in the interest of the state to provide incentives for the use of agricultural land management practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
(2)The councils Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, established pursuant to this chapter, has three elements, including financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that achieve these goals.
(3)The 2014 program guidelines establish grant programs for the 201415 fiscal year to promote agricultural lands strategic planning and agricultural land conservation easements, but the guidelines do not establish a grant program to provide incentives for agricultural land management practices.
(b)(1)The council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, shall establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations. The council shall consult with the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel, established pursuant to Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code, when developing the grant program and guidelines.
(2)The council, as part of the grant program established pursuant to this subdivision, shall give priority to working agricultural operations that adopt land management practices that achieve the goals described in paragraph (1).
The Legislature further finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Californias agricultural output is larger and more diverse than any state in the United States, providing the majority of the countrys fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
(b)Dependent on land and natural resources, California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to climate change, which poses a serious threat to California agriculture with rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels.
(c)California agriculture also is uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the State Energy Resources and Conservation Development Commissions Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program finds that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also may help to store carbon in soils and trees. Carbon storage is an important strategy to help meet the states greenhouse gas emissions targets.
(d)Steps taken by those working in California agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester atmospheric carbon can provide other important environmental cobenefits, such as improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat, and healthier rural communities.
(e)It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce climate change impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state.
(f)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to this article, support the states agricultural sector in pursuing on-farm practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
SEC. 2.Section 564 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:564.Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this article:
(a)Agricultural activities means those activities that generate products as specified in Section 54004.
(b)Department means the Department of Food and Agriculture.
(c)Panel means the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel.
(d)Secretary means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
SEC. 3.Section 566 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:566.(a)(1)The department shall establish and oversee an environmental farming program. The program shall provide low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both.
(2)The department may provide support through the program that may include, but need not be limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects in furtherance of the goals of the program.
(b)The department shall conduct the activities specified in this article with existing resources, to the extent they are available.
SEC. 4.Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:568.(a)The secretary shall convene an Environmental Farming Advisory Panel to advise the secretary on the implementation of an environmental farming program, established pursuant to Section 566, and assist federal, state, and local government agencies, as appropriate or necessary, on issues relating to the impact of agricultural practices on air, water, climate change, and wildlife habitat.
(b)(1)The panel shall consist of the following members:
(A)Two members appointed by the Secretary for Environmental Protection. One of these members shall have expertise in climate change and its impacts on California agriculture, and the other member shall have expertise in greenhouse gas emissions reduction practices related to agriculture.
(B)Two members appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. One of these members shall be affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.
(C)Four members appointed by the secretary, according to the following:
(i)Three members who are agricultural producers in the state with at least five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture. At least one of these members shall be registered as a producer pursuant to the California Organic Products Act of 2003 (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 46000) of Division 17).
(ii)One member who is affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
(2)The secretary may appoint other members to the panel after consulting with the panel.
(3)The secretary shall designate the member who is to serve as the chair of the panel.
(4)Members of the panel shall be highly qualified and professionally active with at least five years of experience in their chosen field, and two of the members shall be engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to environmentally sustainable agriculture.
(5)Of the members first appointed to the panel, four shall serve for a term of two years and four shall serve for a term of three years, as determined by lot. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of three years.
(c)The panel, at a minimum and as necessary, shall do all of the following:
(1)Review data on the impact that agriculture has on the environment and recommend to the secretary and other appropriate state agencies the best available science on the environmental impacts of agriculture, as well as practices and policies based on that information to advance the goals of this article.
(2)Compile the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment, identified pursuant to paragraph (1), for use by the department, other relevant state agencies, and the public.
(3)Research, review, and comment on data upon which proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs are based to ensure that the environmental impacts of agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives that may be provided to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
(4)Assist government agencies to incorporate benefits identified pursuant to paragraph (1) into environmental regulatory programs.
(5)Review and advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on existing and proposed programs and projects that provide technical, educational, and financial assistance, including, but not limited to, competitive grants to agricultural producers that will result in multiple environmental and health benefits, including, but not limited to, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased carbon storage in soils and woody biomass, improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and improved local health outcomes.
(d)The State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the panel, shall consider, and recommend, as appropriate, in the guidance developed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 16428.9 of the Government Code, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the grant program established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 569, including, but not limited to, the Natural Resources Conservation Services National Conservation Practice Standards and COMET-Farm and other quantification tools submitted by, among others, state agricultural commodity groups and academic institutions.
(e)The panel may establish ad hoc committees, which may include professionals or scientists, to assist it in performing its functions.
(f)(1)The panel shall submit a biennial report to the Legislature, the Governor, the agencies represented on the panel, and the State Board of Food and Agriculture that includes all of the following:
(A)A description of the work conducted by the panel during the prior two-year period.
(B)The panels action plan for the next two years, including goals and performance measures.
(2)The first report shall be submitted two years after the panels first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g)The panel shall be created and maintained with funds made available from existing resources within the department to the extent they are available.
SEC. 5.Section 569 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:569.(a)The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code, to the department to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, including the increased use of compost and biochar, cover crops, and low- and no-till practices.
(2)Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, including soil-moisture monitoring, irrigation scheduling, high-efficiency water delivery technologies, dry farming, and on-farm water catchment.
(3)On-farm alternative-energy production and energy efficiency, including on-farm bioenergy production from agricultural waste and improved on-farm operational efficiencies.
(4)Wildlife habitat conservation, including hedgerow planting, native grass planting and restoration, agroforestry, and managed grazing for enhanced habitat.
(b)The department, in consultation with the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel established pursuant to Section 568, shall develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of this article.
(c)The secretary and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall enter into a memorandum of agreement among the department, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing the programs and projects funded pursuant to this section.
SEC. 6.Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:39719.(a)The Legislature shall appropriate the annual proceeds of the fund for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this state in accordance with the requirements of Section 39712.
(b)To carry out a portion of the requirements of subdivision (a), annual proceeds are continuously appropriated for the following:
(1)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, and notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 35 percent of annual proceeds are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, for transit, affordable housing, and sustainable communities programs as follows:
(A)Ten percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Transportation Agency for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program created by Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.
(B)Five percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program created by Part 3 (commencing with Section 75230) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Moneys shall be allocated by the Controller, according to requirements of the program, and pursuant to the distribution formula in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 99312 of, and Sections 99313 and 99314 of, the Public Utilities Code.
(C)Twenty percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program created by Part 1 (commencing with Section 75200) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Of the amount appropriated in this subparagraph, no less than 10 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for affordable housing, consistent with the provisions of that program and no less than two percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with Section 75217.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(2)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 25 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the following components of the initial operating segment and Phase I Blended System as described in the 2012 business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 of the Public Utilities Code:
(A)Acquisition and construction costs of the project.
(B)Environmental review and design costs of the project.
(C)Other capital costs of the project.
(D)Repayment of any loans made to the authority to fund the project.
(c)In determining the amount of annual proceeds of the fund for purposes of the calculation in subdivision (b), the moneys subject to Section 39719.1 shall not be included.
SEC. 7.Section 75217.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:75217.5.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)It is in the interest of the state to provide incentives for the use of agricultural land management practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
(2)The councils Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, established pursuant to this chapter, has three elements, including financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that achieve these goals.
(3)The 2014 program guidelines establish grant programs for the 201415 fiscal year to promote agricultural lands strategic planning and agricultural land conservation easements, but the guidelines do not establish a grant program to provide incentives for agricultural land management practices.
(b)(1)The council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, shall establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations. The council shall consult with the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel, established pursuant to Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code, when developing the grant program and guidelines.
(2)The council, as part of the grant program established pursuant to this subdivision, shall give priority to working agricultural operations that adopt land management practices that achieve the goals described in paragraph (1).
The Legislature further finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Californias agricultural output is larger and more diverse than any state in the United States, providing the majority of the countrys fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
(b)Dependent on land and natural resources, California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to climate change, which poses a serious threat to California agriculture with rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels.
(c)California agriculture also is uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the State Energy Resources and Conservation Development Commissions Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program finds that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also may help to store carbon in soils and trees. Carbon storage is an important strategy to help meet the states greenhouse gas emissions targets.
(d)Steps taken by those working in California agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester atmospheric carbon can provide other important environmental cobenefits, such as improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat, and healthier rural communities.
(e)It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce climate change impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state.
(f)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to this article, support the states agricultural sector in pursuing on-farm practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
SEC. 2.Section 564 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:564.Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this article:
(a)Agricultural activities means those activities that generate products as specified in Section 54004.
(b)Department means the Department of Food and Agriculture.
(c)Panel means the Scientific Environmental Farming Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming. Panel.
(d)Secretary means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
SEC. 2.SEC. 3.Section 566 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:566.(a)(1)The department shall establish and oversee an environmental farming program. The program shall provide incentives, low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both.
(2)The department may provide support through the program that may include, but need not be limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects in furtherance of the goals of the program.
(b)The department may assist in the compilation of scientific data from public and private sources, including the scientific community, industry, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies identifying the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment. The department shall serve as the depository of this information and provide it to federal, state, and local governments, as needed.
(c)
(b)The department shall conduct the activities specified in this article with existing resources, to the extent they are available.
SEC. 3.SEC. 4.Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:568.(a)The secretary shall convene a Scientific an Environmental Farming Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to advise the secretary on the implementation of an environmental farming program, established pursuant to Section 566, and assist federal, state, and local government agencies agencies, as appropriate or necessary, on issues relating to the impact of agricultural practices on air, water, climate change, and wildlife habitat.
(b)(1)The panel shall consist of the following members:
(A)The secretary, or his or her designee.
(B)The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or his or her designee.
(C)The Secretary for Environmental Protection, or his or her designee.
(D)One member,
(A)Two members appointed by the Secretary for Environmental Protection, who shall be a member of a nonprofit organization with Protection. One of these members shall have expertise in climate change and its impacts on California agriculture. agriculture, and the other member shall have expertise in greenhouse gas emissions reduction practices related to agriculture.
(E)One member,
(B)Two members appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, who Agency. One of these members shall be affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.
(F)
(C)Four members appointed by the secretary, according to the following:
(i)Three members who are agricultural producers in the state with at least five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture. At least one of these members shall be registered as a producer pursuant to the California Organic Products Act of 2003 (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 46000) of Division 17).
(ii)One member who is affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
(2)The secretary may appoint nonvoting ex officio other members to the panel after consulting with the panel.
(3)The secretary shall designate the member who is to serve as the chair of the panel.
(4)Members of the panel shall be highly qualified and professionally active with at least five years of experience in their chosen field or field, and two of the members shall be engaged in the conduct of scientific research. research related to environmentally sustainable agriculture.
(5)The members of the panel identified in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (1) shall serve as voting ex officio members of the panel. Of the members first appointed to the panel pursuant to subparagraphs (D) to (F), inclusive, of paragraph (1), three panel, four shall serve for a term of two years and three four shall serve for a term of three years, as determined by lot. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of three years.
(c)The panel, at a minimum and as necessary, shall do all of the following:
(1)Review data on the impact that agriculture has on the environment and recommend to the secretary and other appropriate state agencies data that the panel determines is scientifically valid. A state agency that receives data recommended by the panel may adopt and incorporate the data into the appropriate program. If a state agency does not utilize the data recommended by the panel, the state agency shall provide the panel with a written statement of reasons for not utilizing the data. The reasons, at a minimum, shall specify the scientific basis for not utilizing the data. The reasons shall be provided within 180 days of receiving the data from the panel. the best available science on the environmental impacts of agriculture, as well as practices and policies based on that information to advance the goals of this article.
(2)Compile the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment, identified pursuant to paragraph (1). (1), for use by the department, other relevant state agencies, and the public.
(3)Research, review, and comment on data upon which proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs are based to ensure that the environmental impacts of agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives that may be provided to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
(4)Assist government agencies to incorporate benefits identified pursuant to paragraph (1) into environmental regulatory programs.
(5)Review and advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on existing and proposed programs and projects, including, but not limited to, competitive grants, projects that provide technical, educational, and financial assistance assistance, including, but not limited to, competitive grants to agricultural producers that will result in multiple environmental and health benefits, including, but not limited to, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased carbon storage in soils and woody biomass, improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and improved local health outcomes.
(6)Review and recommend to the secretary and relevant state agencies the appropriate uses
(d)The State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the panel, shall consider, and recommend, as appropriate, in the guidance developed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 16428.9 of the Government Code, the use of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions, reductions from the grant program established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 569, including, but not limited, to limited to, the Natural Resources Conservation Services Conservation Practice Standards and COMET-Farm and other quantification tools submitted by, among others, state agricultural commodity groups and academic institutions.
(d)
(e)The panel may establish ad hoc committees, which may include professionals or scientists, to assist it in performing its functions.
(e)
(f)(1)The panel shall submit a biennial report to the Legislature, the Governor, the agencies represented on the panel, and the State Board of Food and Agriculture that includes all of the following:
(A)A description of the work conducted by the panel during the prior two-year period.
(B)The panels action plan for the next two years, including goals and performance measures.
(2)The first report shall be submitted two years after the panels first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(f)
(g)The panel shall be created and maintained with funds made available from existing resources within the department to the extent they are available.
SEC. 4.SEC. 5.Section 569 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:569.(a)The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code, to the department to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, including the increased use of compost and biochar, cover crops, and low- and no-till practices.
(2)Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, including soil-moisture monitoring, irrigation scheduling, high-efficiency water delivery technologies, dry farming, and on-farm water catchment.
(3)On-farm alternative-energy production and energy efficiency, including on-farm bioenergy production from agricultural waste and improved on-farm operational efficiencies.
(4)Wildlife habitat conservation, including hedgerow planting, native grass planting and restoration, agroforestry, and managed grazing for enhanced habitat.
(b)The department, in consultation with the Scientific Environmental Farming Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming, Panel established pursuant to Section 568, shall develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of this article.
(c)The secretary and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall enter into a memorandum of agreement among the department, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing the programs and projects funded pursuant to this section.
SEC. 5.SEC. 6.Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:39719.(a)The Legislature shall appropriate the annual proceeds of the fund for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this state in accordance with the requirements of Section 39712.
(b)To carry out a portion of the requirements of subdivision (a), annual proceeds are continuously appropriated for the following:
(1)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, and notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 35 percent of annual proceeds are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, for transit, affordable housing, and sustainable communities programs as follows:
(A)Ten percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Transportation Agency for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program created by Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.
(B)Five percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program created by Part 3 (commencing with Section 75230) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Moneys shall be allocated by the Controller, according to requirements of the program, and pursuant to the distribution formula in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 99312 of, and Sections 99313 and 99314 of, the Public Utilities Code.
(C)Twenty percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program created by Part 1 (commencing with Section 75200) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Of the amount appropriated in this subparagraph, no less than 10 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for affordable housing, consistent with the provisions of that program and no less than two percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with Section 75217.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(2)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 25 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the following components of the initial operating segment and Phase I Blended System as described in the 2012 business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 of the Public Utilities Code:
(A)Acquisition and construction costs of the project.
(B)Environmental review and design costs of the project.
(C)Other capital costs of the project.
(D)Repayment of any loans made to the authority to fund the project.
(c)In determining the amount of annual proceeds of the fund for purposes of the calculation in subdivision (b), the moneys subject to Section 39719.1 shall not be included.
SEC. 6.SEC. 7.Section 75217.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:75217.5.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)It is in the interest of the state to provide incentives for the use of agricultural land management practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
(2)The councils Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, established pursuant to this chapter, has three elements, including financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that achieve these goals.
(3)The 2014 program guidelines establish grant programs for the 201415 fiscal year to promote agricultural lands strategic planning and agricultural land conservation easements, but the guidelines do not establish a grant program to provide incentives for agricultural land management practices.
(b)(1)The council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, shall establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations. The council shall consult with the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Scientific Environmental Farming Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming, Panel, established pursuant to Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code, when developing the grant program and guidelines.
(2)The council, as part of the grant program established pursuant to this subdivision, shall give priority to working agricultural operations that adopt land management practices that achieve the goals described in paragraph (1).
The Legislature further finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Californias agricultural output is larger and more diverse than any state in the United States, providing the majority of the countrys fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
(b)Dependent on land and natural resources, California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to climate change, which poses a serious threat to California agriculture with rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels.
(c)California agriculture also is uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the State Energy Resources and Conservation Development Commissions Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program finds that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also may help to store carbon in soils and trees. Carbon storage is an important strategy to help meet the states greenhouse gas emissions targets.
(d)Steps taken by those working in California agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester atmospheric carbon can provide other important environmental cobenefits, such as improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat, and healthier rural communities.
(e)It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce climate change impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state.
(f)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to this article, support the states agricultural sector in pursuing on-farm practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
SEC. 2.Section 566 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:566.(a)(1)The department shall establish and oversee an environmental farming program. The program shall provide incentives, low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both.
(2)The department may provide support through the program that may include, but need not be limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects in furtherance of the goals of the program.
(b)The department may assist in the compilation of scientific data from public and private sources, including the scientific community, industry, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies identifying the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment. The department shall serve as the depository of this information and provide it to federal, state, and local governments, as needed.
(c)The department shall conduct the activities specified in this article with existing resources, to the extent they are available.
SEC. 3.Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:568.(a)The secretary shall convene a Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to advise and assist federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, climate change, and wildlife habitat.
(b)(1)The panel shall consist of the following members:
(A)The secretary, or his or her designee.
(B)The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or his or her designee.
(C)The Secretary for Environmental Protection, or his or her designee.
(D)One member, appointed by the Secretary for Environmental Protection, who shall be a member of a nonprofit organization with expertise in climate change and its impacts on California agriculture.
(E)One member, appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, who shall be affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.
(F)Four members appointed by the secretary, according to the following:
(i)Three members who are agricultural producers in the state with at least five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture. At least one of these members shall be registered as a producer pursuant to the California Organic Products Act of 2003 (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 46000) of Division 17).
(ii)One member who is affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
(2)The secretary may appoint nonvoting ex officio members to the panel after consulting with the panel.
(3)The secretary shall serve as the chair of the panel.
(4)Members of the panel shall be highly qualified and professionally active in their chosen field or engaged in the conduct of scientific research.
(5)The members of the panel identified in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (1) shall serve as voting ex officio members of the panel. Of the members first appointed to the panel pursuant to subparagraphs (D) to (F), inclusive, of paragraph (1), three shall serve for a term of two years and three shall serve for a term of three years, as determined by lot. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of three years.
(c)The panel, at a minimum and as necessary, shall do all of the following:
(1)Review data on the impact that agriculture has on the environment and recommend to appropriate state agencies data that the panel determines is scientifically valid. A state agency that receives data recommended by the panel may adopt and incorporate the data into the appropriate program. If a state agency does not utilize the data recommended by the panel, the state agency shall provide the panel with a written statement of reasons for not utilizing the data. The reasons, at a minimum, shall specify the scientific basis for not utilizing the data. The reasons shall be provided within 180 days of receiving the data from the panel.
(2)Compile the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment, identified pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)Research, review, and comment on data upon which proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs are based to ensure that the environmental impacts of agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives that may be provided to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
(4)Assist government agencies to incorporate benefits identified pursuant to paragraph (1) into environmental regulatory programs.
(5)Review and advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on proposed programs and projects, including, but not limited to, competitive grants, that provide technical, educational, and financial assistance to agricultural producers that will result in multiple environmental and health benefits, including, but not limited to, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased carbon storage in soils and woody biomass, improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and improved local health outcomes.
(6)Review and recommend to the secretary and relevant state agencies the appropriate uses of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions, including, but not limited, to the Natural Resources Conservation Services Conservation Practice Standards and COMET-Farm and other quantification tools submitted by, among others, state agricultural commodity groups and academic institutions.
(d)The panel may establish ad hoc committees, which may include professionals or scientists, to assist it in performing its functions.
(e)(1)The panel shall submit a biennial report to the Legislature, the Governor, the agencies represented on the panel, and the State Board of Food and Agriculture that includes all of the following:
(A)A description of the work conducted by the panel during the prior two-year period.
(B)The panels action plan for the next two years, including goals and performance measures.
(2)The first report shall be submitted two years after the panels first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(f)The panel shall be created and maintained with funds made available from existing resources within the department to the extent they are available.
SEC. 4.Section 569 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:569.(a)The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code, to the department to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, including the increased use of compost and biochar, cover crops, and low- and no-till practices.
(2)Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, including soil-moisture monitoring, irrigation scheduling, high-efficiency water delivery technologies, dry farming, and on-farm water catchment.
(3)On-farm alternative-energy production and energy efficiency, including on-farm bioenergy production from agricultural waste and improved on-farm operational efficiencies.
(4)Wildlife habitat conservation, including hedgerow planting, native grass planting and restoration, agroforestry, and managed grazing for enhanced habitat.
(b)The department, in consultation with the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming, established pursuant to Section 568, shall develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of this article.
(c)The secretary and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall enter into a memorandum of agreement among the department, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing the programs and projects funded pursuant to this section.
SEC. 5.Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:39719.(a)The Legislature shall appropriate the annual proceeds of the fund for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this state in accordance with the requirements of Section 39712.
(b)To carry out a portion of the requirements of subdivision (a), annual proceeds are continuously appropriated for the following:
(1)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, and notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 35 percent of annual proceeds are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, for transit, affordable housing, and sustainable communities programs as following: follows:
(A)Ten percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Transportation Agency for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program created by Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.
(B)Five percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program created by Part 3 (commencing with Section 75230) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Moneys shall be allocated by the Controller, according to requirements of the program, and pursuant to the distribution formula in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 99312 of, and Sections 99313 and 99314 of, the Public Utilities Code.
(C)Twenty percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program created by Part 1 (commencing with Section 75200) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Of the amount appropriated in this subparagraph, no less than 10 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for affordable housing, consistent with the provisions of that program and no less than two percent of the annual proceeds of the fund shall be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with Section 75217.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(2)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 25 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the following components of the initial operating segment and Phase I Blended System as described in the 2012 business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 of the Public Utilities Code:
(A)Acquisition and construction costs of the project.
(B)Environmental review and design costs of the project.
(C)Other capital costs of the project.
(D)Repayment of any loans made to the authority to fund the project.
(c)In determining the amount of annual proceeds of the fund for purposes of the calculation in subdivision (b), the moneys subject to Section 39719.1 shall not be included.
SEC. 6.Section 75217.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:75217.5.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)It is in the interest of the state to provide incentives for the use of agricultural land management practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
(2)The councils Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, established pursuant to this chapter, has three elements, including financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that achieve these goals.
(3)The 2014 program guidelines establish grant programs for the 201415 fiscal year to promote agricultural lands strategic planning and agricultural land conservation easements, but the guidelines do not establish a grant program to provide incentives for agricultural land management practices.
(b)(1)The council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, shall establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in solid soil and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations. The council shall consult with the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming, established pursuant to Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code, when developing the grant program and guidelines.
(2)The council, as part of the grant program established pursuant to this subdivsion, subdivision, shall give priority to working agricultural operations that adopt land management practices that achieve the goals described in paragraph (1).
The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a)California agriculture helps to feed the world and fuel our economy. Agriculture provides one out of every 10 jobs in California, and our state has led the nation in total farm production every year since 1948. During 1993, Californias 76,000 farms generated nearly $20 billion in cash receipts and another $70 billion in economic activity.
(1)California provides the most agriculture of any state in the country, providing the majority of the countrys fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
(2)Dependent on land and natural resources, California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to global warming. Global warming poses a serious threat to California agriculture with rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels.
(3)California agriculture is also uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the California Energy Commissions Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program suggests that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they may also help to store carbon in soils and trees. Carbon storage is an important strategy to help meet the states greenhouse gas emissions targets.
(4)Steps taken by California agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester atmospheric carbon can provide other important environmental cobenefits, such as improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat, and healthy rural communities.
(5)It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce global warming impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state.
(6)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to this article, support California agriculture in pursuing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody vegetation.
(b)Many farmers engage in practices that contribute to the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. Agriculture plays a pivotal role in preserving open space that is vital to the environment. Seventy-five percent of the nations wildlife live on farms and ranches. Freshwater streams and stockponds on farms and ranches provide habitat to millions of fish. Corn, wheat, rice, and other field crops provide bountiful food and habitat for deer, antelope, ducks, geese, and other wildlife.
(c)Environmental laws should be based on the best scientific evidence gathered from public and private sources.
(d)Best scientific evidence should include the net environmental impact provided by agriculture.
(e)Additional research is necessary to adequately inventory the impact that agriculture has on the environment. Recognition should be afforded to agricultural activities that produce a net benefit for the environment, which is consistent with the growing trend of providing incentives for the private sector to undertake economic activities that benefit the environment.
SECTION 1.Section 562 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:562.The Legislature further finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Californias agricultural output is larger and more diverse than any state in the United States, providing the majority of the countrys fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
(b)Dependent on land and natural resources, California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to climate change, which poses a serious threat to California agriculture with rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels.
(c)California agriculture also is uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the State Energy Resources and Conservation Development Commissions Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program finds that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also may help to store carbon in soils and trees. Carbon storage is an important strategy to help meet the states greenhouse gas emissions targets.
(d)Steps taken by those working in California agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester atmospheric carbon can provide other important environmental cobenefits, such as improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat, and healthier rural communities.
(e)It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce climate change impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state.
(f)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to this article, support the states agricultural sector in pursuing on-farm practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
SEC. 2.Section 566 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:566.(a)(1)The department shall establish and oversee an environmental farming program. The program shall provide incentives, low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, habitat and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both.
(2)The department may provide support through the program that may include, but need not be limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects in furtherance of the goals of the program.
(b)The department may assist in the compilation of scientific evidence data from public and private sources, including the scientific community, industry, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies identifying the net environmental impacts that of agriculture creates for on the environment. The department shall serve as the depository of this information and provide it to federal, state, and local governments, as needed.
(c)The department shall conduct the activities specified in this article with existing resources, to the extent they are available.
SEC. 3.Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:568.(a)The secretary shall convene a five-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to advise and assist federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, climate change, and wildlife habitat to do the following: habitat.
(b)(1)The panel shall consist of the following members:
(A)The secretary, or his or her designee.
(B)The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or his or her designee.
(C)The Secretary for Environmental Protection, or his or her designee.
(D)One member, appointed by the Secretary for Environmental Protection, who shall be a member of a nonprofit organization with expertise in climate change and its impacts on California agriculture.
(E)One member, appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, who shall be affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.
(F)Four members appointed by the secretary, according to the following:
(i)Three members who are agricultural producers in the state with at least five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture. At least one of these members shall be registered as a producer pursuant to the California Organic Products Act of 2003 (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 46000) of Division 17).
(ii)One member who is affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
(2)The secretary may appoint nonvoting ex officio members to the panel after consulting with the panel.
(3)The secretary shall serve as the chair of the panel.
(4)Members of the panel shall be highly qualified and professionally active in their chosen field or engaged in the conduct of scientific research.
(5)The members of the panel identified in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (1) shall serve as voting ex officio members of the panel. Of the members first appointed to the panel pursuant to subparagraphs (D) to (F), inclusive, of paragraph (1), three shall serve for a term of two years and three shall serve for a term of three years, as determined by lot. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of three years.
(c)The panel, at a minimum and as necessary, shall do all of the following:
(1)Review data on the impact that agriculture has on the environment and recommend to appropriate state agencies data that the panel approves as determines is scientifically valid. A state agency that receives data recommended by the panel may adopt and incorporate the data into the appropriate program. If a state agency does not utilize the data recommended by the panel, it the state agency shall provide the panel with a written statement of reasons for not utilizing the data. The reasons, at a minimum, shall specify the scientific basis for not utilizing the data. The reasons shall be provided within 180 days of receiving the data from the panel.
(2)Compile the net environmental impacts that of agriculture creates for on the environment, identified pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)Research, review, and comment on data upon which proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs are based to ensure that the environmental impacts of agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives that may be provided to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
(4)Assist government agencies to incorporate benefits identified pursuant to paragraph (1) into environmental regulatory programs.
(5)Advise Review and advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on the creation of proposed programs to and projects, including, but not limited to, competitive grants, that provide technical, educational, and financial assistance to agricultural producers that provide will result in multiple environmental and health benefits, including, but not limited to, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased carbon storage in soils and woody biomass, improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and improved local health outcomes.
(b)Members of the panel shall be highly qualified and professionally active or engaged in the conduct of scientific research. Of the members first appointed to the panel, two shall serve for a term of two years and three shall serve for a term of three years, as determined by lot. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of three years. The members shall be appointed as follows:
(1)Three members shall be appointed by the secretary. At least one of these members shall have a minimum of five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture and shall represent production agriculture.
(2)One member, who has a minimum of five years of training and experience in the field of human health or environmental science, shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(3)One member, who has a minimum of five years of training and experience in the field of resource management, shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Resources Agency.
(c)
(6)Review and recommend to the secretary and relevant state agencies the appropriate uses of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions, including, but not limited, to the Natural Resources Conservation Services Conservation Practice Standards and COMET-Farm and other quantification tools submitted by, among others, state agricultural commodity groups and academic institutions.
(d)The panel may establish ad hoc committees, which may include professionals or scientists, to assist it in performing its functions.
(e)(1)The panel shall submit a biennial report to the Legislature, the Governor, the agencies represented on the panel, and the State Board of Food and Agriculture that includes all of the following:
(A)A description of the work conducted by the panel during the prior two-year period.
(B)The panels action plan for the next two years, including goals and performance measures.
(2)The first report shall be submitted two years after the panels first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(d)
(f)The panel shall be created and maintained with funds made available from existing resources within the department to the extent they are available.
(e)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase the membership of the panel.
SEC. 4.Section 569 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:569.(a)The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, including the increased use of compost and biochar, cover crops, and low- and no-till practices.
(2)Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, including soil-moisture monitoring, irrigation scheduling, high-efficiency water delivery technologies, dry farming, and on-farm water catchment.
(3)On-farm alternative-energy production and energy efficiency, including on-farm bioenergy production from agricultural waste and improved on-farm operational efficiencies.
(4)Wildlife habitat conservation, including hedgerow planting, native grass planting and restoration, agroforestry, and managed grazing for enhanced habitat.
(b)The department, in consultation with the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming, established pursuant to Section 568, shall develop and implement a grant program to carry out the purposes of this article.
SEC. 5.Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:39719.(a)The Legislature shall appropriate the annual proceeds of the fund for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this state in accordance with the requirements of Section 39712.
(b)To carry out a portion of the requirements of subdivision (a), annual proceeds are continuously appropriated for the following:
(1)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, and notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 35 percent of annual proceeds are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, for transit, affordable housing, and sustainable communities programs as following:
(A)Ten percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Transportation Agency for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program created by Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.
(B)Five percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program created by Part 3 (commencing with Section 75230) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Funds Moneys shall be allocated by the Controller, according to requirements of the program, and pursuant to the distribution formula in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 99312 of, and Sections 99313 and 99314 of, the Public Utilities Code.
(C)Twenty percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program created by Part 1 (commencing with Section 75200) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Of the amount appropriated in this subparagraph, no less than 10 percent of the annual proceeds, proceeds shall be expended for affordable housing, consistent with the provisions of that program and no less than two percent of the annual proceeds shall be expended for agricultural land protection consistent with Section 75217.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(2)Beginning in the 201516 fiscal year, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 25 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the following components of the initial operating segment and Phase I Blended System as described in the 2012 business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 of the Public Utilities Code:
(A)Acquisition and construction costs of the project.
(B)Environmental review and design costs of the project.
(C)Other capital costs of the project.
(D)Repayment of any loans made to the authority to fund the project.
(c)In determining the amount of annual proceeds of the fund for purposes of the calculation in subdivision (b), the funds moneys subject to Section 39719.1 shall not be included.
SEC. 6.Section 75217.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:75217.5.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)It is in the interest of the state to provide incentives for the use of agricultural land management practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
(2)The councils Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, established pursuant to this chapter, has three elements, including financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that achieve these goals.
(3)The 2014 program guidelines establish grant programs for the 201415 fiscal year to promote agricultural lands strategic planning and agricultural land conservation easements, but the guidelines do not establish a grant program to provide incentives for agricultural land management practices.
(b)(1)The council, no later than the 201516 fiscal year, shall establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon in solid and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations. The council shall consult with the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming, established pursuant to Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code, when developing the grant program and guidelines.
(2)The council, as part of the grant program established pursuant to this subdivsion, shall give priority to working agricultural operations that adopt land management practices that achieve the goals described in paragraph (1).
The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a)California agriculture helps to feed the world and fuel our economy. Agriculture provides one out of every 10 jobs in California, and our state has led the nation in total farm production every year since 1948. During 1993, Californias 76,000 farms generated nearly $20 billion in cash receipts and another $70 billion in economic activity.
(1)California provides the most agriculture of any state in the country, providing the majority of the countrys fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
(2)Dependent on land and natural resources, California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to global warming. Global warming poses a serious threat to California agriculture with rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels.
(3)California agriculture is also uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the California Energy Commissions Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program suggests that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they may also help to store carbon in soils and trees. Carbon storage is an important strategy to help meet the states greenhouse gas emissions targets.
(4)Steps taken by California agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester atmospheric carbon can provide other important environmental cobenefits, such as improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat, and healthy rural communities.
(5)It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to enhance the long-term viability of California agriculture by supporting activities that reduce global warming impacts that may negatively impact it and the rest of the state.
(6)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to this article, support California agriculture in pursuing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody vegetation.
(b)Many farmers engage in practices that contribute to the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. Agriculture plays a pivotal role in preserving open space that is vital to the environment. Seventy-five percent of the nations wildlife live on farms and ranches. Freshwater streams and stockponds on farms and ranches provide habitat to millions of fish. Corn, wheat, rice, and other field crops provide bountiful food and habitat for deer, antelope, ducks, geese, and other wildlife.
(c)Environmental laws should be based on the best scientific evidence gathered from public and private sources.
(d)Best scientific evidence should include the net environmental impact provided by agriculture.
(e)Additional research is necessary to adequately inventory the impact that agriculture has on the environment. Recognition should be afforded to agricultural activities that produce a net benefit for the environment, which is consistent with the growing trend of providing incentives for the private sector to undertake economic activities that benefit the environment.
SEC. 2.Section 566 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:566.(a)The department shall establish and oversee an environmental farming program. The program shall provide incentives, low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, or both.
(b)The department may assist in the compilation of scientific evidence from public and private sources, including the scientific community, industry, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies identifying the net environmental impacts that agriculture creates for the environment. The department shall serve as the depository of this information and provide it to federal, state, and local governments, as needed.
(c)The department shall conduct the activities specified in this article with existing resources, to the extent they are available.
SEC. 3.Section 568 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:568.(a)The secretary shall convene a five-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to advise and assist federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, climate change, and wildlife habitat to do the following:
(1)Review data on the impact that agriculture has on the environment and recommend to appropriate state agencies data that the panel approves as scientifically valid. A state agency that receives data recommended by the panel may adopt and incorporate the data into the appropriate program. If a state agency does not utilize the data recommended by the panel, it shall provide the panel with a written statement of reasons for not utilizing the data. The reasons, at a minimum, shall specify the scientific basis for not utilizing the data. The reasons shall be provided within 180 days of receiving the data from the panel.
(2)Compile the net environmental impacts that agriculture creates for the environment, identified pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)Research, review, and comment on data upon which proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs are based to ensure that the environmental impacts of agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives that may be provided to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
(4)Assist government agencies to incorporate benefits identified pursuant to paragraph (1) into environmental regulatory programs.
(5)Advise the secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on the creation of programs to provide technical, educational, and financial assistance to agricultural producers that provide multiple environmental and health benefits, including, but not limited to, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased carbon storage in soils and woody biomass, improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and improved local health outcomes.
(b)Members of the panel shall be highly qualified and professionally active or engaged in the conduct of scientific research. Of the members first appointed to the panel, two shall serve for a term of two years and three shall serve for a term of three years, as determined by lot. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of three years. The members shall be appointed as follows:
(1)Three members shall be appointed by the secretary. At least one of these members shall have a minimum of five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture and shall represent production agriculture.
(2)One member, who has a minimum of five years of training and experience in the field of human health or environmental science, shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(3)One member, who has a minimum of five years of training and experience in the field of resource management, shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Resources Agency.
(c)The panel may establish ad hoc committees, which may include professionals or scientists, to assist it in performing its functions.
(d)The panel shall be created and maintained with funds made available from existing resources within the department to the extent they are available.
(e)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase the membership of the panel.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2015 | From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 1152.) (May 28). |
| Aug 27, 2015 | Joint Rule 62(a) suspended. |
| Aug 27, 2015 | August 27 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| Aug 26, 2015 | August 26 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Aug 17, 2015 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jul 16, 2015 | From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 1.) (July 13). |
| Jul 6, 2015 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. |
| Jul 2, 2015 | From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1). |
| Jun 24, 2015 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on AGRI. |
| Jun 18, 2015 | Referred to Coms. on AGRI. and NAT. RES. |
| Jun 4, 2015 | In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. |
| Jun 3, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 35. Noes 3.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Jun 3, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 35. Noes 3. Page 1288.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Jun 2, 2015 | Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading. |
| Jun 1, 2015 | From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (May 28). |
| Feb 24, 2015 | Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
| May 23, 2015 | Set for hearing May 28. |
| May 18, 2015 | May 18 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| May 8, 2015 | Set for hearing May 18. |
| May 6, 2015 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| May 5, 2015 | From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 29). |
| May 5, 2015 | From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 857.) (April 29). |
| Apr 15, 2015 | Set for hearing April 29. |
| Apr 13, 2015 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q. |
| Apr 9, 2015 | From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 508.) (April 7). |
| Apr 6, 2015 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on AGRI. |
| Mar 24, 2015 | Set for hearing April 7. |
| Mar 5, 2015 | Referred to Coms. on AGRI. and E.Q. |
| Feb 25, 2015 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 27. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2015 | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources |
Passed |
|
| Jul 1, 2015 | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Natural Resources] | Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture |
Passed |
|
| Jun 3, 2015 | Senate 3rd Reading SB367 Wolk | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 28, 2015 | Do pass as amended | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| May 18, 2015 | Placed on suspense file | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 29, 2015 | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Quality |
Passed |
|
| Apr 7, 2015 | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Environmental Quality] | Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Abbott Ranch | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Agricola: flora et fauna | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Alameda County Resource Conservation | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Alameda County Resource Conservation District | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Alliance of Family Farmers | * Support | Apr 29, 2015 |
| American Farmland Trust | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Association Of Compost Producers | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Audubon California | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Autobahn California | * Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Berry Blest Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Big Bluff Ranch | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Big Sur Land Trust | * Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Burroughs Family Farms | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Burroughs Family Orchards | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Burrows Ranch, Inc. | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Cachuma Resource Conservation Districts | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Association of Resource | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Association Of Resource Conservation Districts | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Certified Organic Farmers | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Chamber Of Commerce | * Against | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Climate & Agriculture | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Climate and Agriculture Network | * Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Cloverleaf Farms | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| California Competency Coalition | * Indeterminate | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Compost Coalition | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Farm Bureau Federation | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Farm Link | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Food Policy Council | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California Institute for Rural Studies | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| California League Of Conservation Voters | * Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California League Of Conservation Voters | * Indeterminate | Jul 13, 2015 |
| California State Grange | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Californians Against Waste | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Camp Grant Ranch | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Canvas Ranch | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Carbon Cycle Institute | * Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Center For Biological Diversity, Inc. | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Central Valley Farmland Trust | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Community Alliance With Family Farmers | * Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Community Environmental Council | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Compost Coalition | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Conservation Districts | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| CR&R Incorporated | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Cruz County | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Defenders Of Wildlife | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Del Cabo | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Dixon Ridge Farms | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Eaton Cattle Co. | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Ecological Farming Association | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Eden Urban Farms | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Environment California | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Environmental Action Committee of West Marin | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Environmental Defense Center | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Environmental Defense Fund | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Environmental Entrepreneurs | * Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Four Elements Organics | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Foxwhelp Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Frog Hollow Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Full Belly Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Grass Valley Grains | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Green Oaks Creek Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Greenbelt Alliance | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Harpos Organics | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Hilltop & Canyon Farms | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Humboldt Regeneration Brewery & Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Jackrabbit Farms | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Jacobs Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Kern Family Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Land Trust Of Santa Cruz County | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Live Earth Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Lutheran Office of Public Policy | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Mamen Consulting | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Marin Resource Conservation District | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Markegard Family Grass-Fed, LLC | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Mendocino County Resource Conservation District | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Molino Creek Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Morris Grassfed | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| National Hmong American Farmers | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Network | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Occidental Arts and Ecology Center | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| One individual | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Open Space Authority Santa Clara County | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Page's Organics | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Paicines Ranch | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Peninsula Open Space Trust | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Pie Ranch | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Porter Creek Vineyards | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Quetzal Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Resource Conservation District of Santa | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Riverdance Farms | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Rominger Brothers Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Roots of Change | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Samuels Ranch | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| San Mateo County Resource Conservation District | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Sierra Farms Lamb | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Solano Land Trust | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Sonoma County Water Agency | * Support | Apr 29, 2015 |
| Sonoma Resource Conservation District | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| StopWaste | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Sustainable Agriculture Education | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Sustainable Conservation | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Swanton Berry Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| The Mendocino Grain Project | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Trust For Public Land, The | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Valley Clean Air Now | * Indeterminate | Apr 29, 2015 |
| Valley Land Alliance | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Viriditas Farm | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Whole Grain Connection | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Wild Farm Alliance | ** Support | Jul 13, 2015 |
| Wild Willow Farm and Education Center | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
| Yolo County Resource Conservation District | ** Support | Jun 3, 2015 |
Date of Hearing: August 26, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
SB 367
(Wolk) – As Amended August 17, 2015
Policy Committee: |
Agriculture |
Vote: |
7 - 0 |
|
Natural Resources |
|
8 - 1 |
|
|
|
|
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill establishes a $25 million grant fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), for projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural operations, as specified. This bill expands and revises the membership and duties of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel (Panel) to include on-farm practices to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon storage in soil. Specifically, this bill:
Renames CDFA’s Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming, the Environmental Farming Act Advisory Panel.
Expands CDFA's environmental farming program (Program) to specifically include activities related to the reduction of on-farm GHG emissions and increased carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
Specifies that incentives provided by the Program may include grants, loans, research, technical assistance, or educational materials and outreach.
Authorizes CDFA to support on-farm practices and activities by providing permit assistance and coordination, and by funding demonstration projects that further the goals of the program.
Adds the impact of agriculture on climate change to the list of issues that may be addressed by the Panel when providing advice and assistance to government agencies.
Revises the membership of the Panel to consist of nine members as specified
Authorizes a state agency that receives data recommended by the Panel to adopt and incorporate the data into the appropriate program. If a state agency does not use the data recommended, requires the agency to provide the Panel with a written statement of reasons.
Requires the Panel to submit a biennial report on their work as specified.
Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to provide guidance on GGRF expenditures.
Requires the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program, to provide incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that would reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations. Requires at least 2% of GGRF proceeds to be appropriated to SGC for the grant program.
Requires CDFA to develop and implement a grant program to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including:
Soil-building and carbon sequestration practices.
Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures.
Alternative energy production and energy efficiency.
Wildlife habitat conservation.
Specifies that $25 million from the GGRF, upon appropriation by the Legislature, will be available to CDFA for the above grant program and to carry out the purposes of the bill.
Requires the Secretaries of CDFA and NRA to enter into a memorandum of agreement among CDFA, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing these programs and projects.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Cost pressures of up to $25 million to fund the CDFA grant program including annual CDFA grant administrative costs of an estimated $2 million (GGRF).
Increased initial ARB costs of $2 million and ongoing annual costs of $1.2 to $1.6 million to provide guidance, develop quantification methodologies for grant programs, and evaluate projects.
Additional unknown CDFA costs to expand the membership and duties of the Farming Act Science Advisory Panel.
Unknown funding shifts within the SGC grant program.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. According to the author, this bill modernizes the Environmental Farming Act of 1995 to ensure that California maximizes its opportunities to achieve voluntary GHG emission reductions in the state's agriculture sector by developing and promoting projects and on-farm practices that also have other environmental and health benefits.
Upon appropriation, this bill will also direct $25 million to the
CDFA for a grant program to support on-farm demonstration projects,
and will direct 2% of the GGRF annual proceeds to the Strategic
Growth Council's Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program.
Background. The Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995 requires CDFA to establish and oversee an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers with practices that promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act also created the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming (Panel) to advise and assist government agencies, provide recommendations, and conduct scientific data reviews. The Panel is to identify incentives to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006), requires ARB to determine the 1990 statewide GHG emissions level, to approve a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to that level that will be achieved by 2020, and to adopt GHG emissions reductions measures by regulation. ARB is authorized to include the use of market-based mechanisms to comply with the regulations. All monies, except for fines and penalties, collected pursuant to a market-based mechanism are deposited in the GGRF.
Current law requires that the GGRF only be used to facilitate the achievement of reductions of GHG emissions consistent with AB 32. To this end, the Department of Finance, in consultation with the ARB and any other relevant state agencies, is required to develop a three-year investment plan for GGRF proceeds. The investment plan must allocate a minimum of 25 percent of the funds to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and to allocate 10 percent of the funds to projects located within disadvantaged communities.
Additionally, ARB, in consultation with CalEPA, is required to develop funding guidelines for administering agencies receiving allocations of GGRF funds that include a component for how agencies should maximize benefits to disadvantaged n communities.
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
SB 367
Page 7
Date of Hearing: July 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Das Williams, Chair
SB 367
(Wolk) – As Amended June 24, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 35-3
SUBJECT: Agricultural lands: greenhouse gases.
SUMMARY: Establishes, upon appropriation, a $25 million grant program to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural operations, as specified. Expands and revises the membership and duties of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel (Panel) to include on-farm practices to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon storage in soil.
EXISTING LAW:
Under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32):
Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to 1990 levels by 2020 and adopt regulations to achieve maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective GHG emission reductions.
Establishes the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF); requires that all funds, except for fines and penalties, collected pursuant to a market-based mechanism be deposited in the fund; and requires the Department of Finance, in consultation with ARB and any other relevant state agency, to develop a three-year investment plan for the GGRF.
Prohibits the state from approving allocations for a measure or program using the GGRF unless it determines that the use of those moneys furthers the regulatory purposes of AB 32, and requires moneys from the GGRF be used to facilitate the achievement of reductions of GHG emissions in California.
Creates the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC), which is developed and administered by the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) to reduce GHG emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development.
Continuously appropriates 60% of the GGRF to transit, affordable housing and sustainable communities, including 20% continuously appropriated for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program. From the 20% continuously appropriated for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, 10% must be allocated to affordable housing.
Under the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995:
Requires the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to establish an environmental farming program (program) to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat.
Requires the Secretary of CDFA to convene the five-member Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to advise and assist federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat.
THIS BILL:
Renames CDFA’s Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming the Environmental Farming Act Advisory Panel.
Expands the program to specifically include activities related to the reduction of on-farm GHG emissions and increased carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass; authorizes CDFA to provide incentives, including, but not limited to grants, loans, research, technical assistance, or educational materials and outreach.
Authorizes CDFA to support these on-farm practices and activities by providing permit assistance and coordination and funding demonstration projects that further the goals of the program.
Adds “climate change” to the list of issues that may be addressed by the Panel when providing advice and assistance to government agencies.
Deletes provisions relating to the five-member panel and establishes the Panel to consist of nine members, including:
Two members appointed by the Secretary for Environmental Protection; one with expertise in climate change and its impacts on California agriculture, and one with expertise in GHG emissions reduction practices related to agriculture;
Two members appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency; one affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, and one engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to the bill; and,
Five members appointed by the Secretary of CDFA, as follows:
Three members who are agricultural producers in the state, as specified;
One member who is affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension; and,
One member who is engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to the purposes of the bill.
Specifies that members of the Panel shall serve for three-year terms, as specified.
Requires the Panel to review data on the impact that agriculture has on the environment and recommend to the Secretary and other appropriate state agencies data that the Panel determines is scientifically valid.
Authorizes a state agency that receives data recommended by the Panel to adopt and incorporate the data into the appropriate program. If a state agency does not use the data recommended, requires the agency to provide the Panel with a written statement of reasons.
Requires the Panel to submit a biennial report on their work, the Panel's action plan for the next two years, and requires the first report to occur no later than two years after the Panel's first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
Requires CDFA, in consultation with the Panel, to carry out the purposes of the Cannella Environmental Farming Act and develop and implement a grant program to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including:
Soil-building and carbon sequestration practices, including the increased use of compost and biochar, cover crops, and low- and no-till practices;
Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, including soil-moisture monitoring, irrigation scheduling, high-efficiency water delivery technologies, dry farming, and on-farm water catchment;
Alternative energy production and energy efficiency, including energy produced from agricultural waste from a farm or at a processing facility located in the state, and improved on-farm operational efficiencies;
Wildlife habitat conservation, including hedgerow planting, native grass planting and restoration, agroforestry, and managed grazing for enhanced habitat.
Specifies that $25 million from the GGRF, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be available to CDFA for the above grant program and to carry out the purposes of the bill.
Requires the Secretaries of CDFA and NRA to enter into a memorandum of agreement among CDFA, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing these programs and projects.
Requires SGC to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program, to provide incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that would reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations. Specifies that no less than 2% of GGRF proceeds be appropriated to SGC for the grant program.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill would specify that $25 million be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support three specific programs at CDFA.
COMMENTS:
This bill. According to the author:
SB
367 modernizes the Environmental Farming Act of 1995 to ensure that
California maximizes its opportunities to achieve voluntary GHG
emission reductions in the state's agriculture sector by developing
and promoting projects and on-farm practices that also have other
environmental and health benefits. Upon appropriation, SB 367 also
directs $25 million to the Department of Food and Agriculture for a
grant program to support these on-farm demonstration projects, and
directs two percent of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds' annual
proceeds to the Strategic Growth Council's Sustainable Agricultural
Lands Conservation Program.
Environmental Farming Program. The Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995 created the Environmental Farming Program within CDFA and established a panel to guide the program. The panel is charged with reviewing and documenting agriculture's positive impacts to the environment and studying issues such as ecosystem services and how they relate to agriculture. The panel has produced a two-year report on initiatives and work completed to date.
Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program. The Budget Act of 2014 appropriated $130 million from the GGRF to develop and implement the AHSC. SB 862 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review), Chapter 36, Statutes of 2014, continuously appropriates 20% of GGRF annual proceeds to the AHSC beginning in FY 2015-16. The AHSC is tasked with reducing GHG emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development.
The SGC approved guidelines on January 20, 2015, for the agricultural land preservation component of the program, called the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program. SALC is intended to integrate and leverage existing agricultural land protection programs.
According to the guidelines, the principal goal of this grant program is to fund sustainable agricultural land strategy plans and permanent agricultural conservation easements in order to avoid increases in GHG emissions associated with agricultural lands, consistent with AB 32. The guidelines cite recent University of California research that estimates that land in agricultural and healthy open space use sequesters up to 70 times more carbon than any form of urban development. The guidelines also specify that in future years, SGC intends to add a third program element to provide incentives for land management practices that lead to additional reductions of GHG emissions on agricultural lands.
As the program is funded through moneys from the GGRF, the program must document how expenditures will reduce GHG emissions and further the purposes of AB 32. The eligibility and selection criteria presented in the guidelines are designed to prioritize projects that demonstrate the greatest potential for protecting lands most at risk of conversion to other purposes and the program intends to estimate the amount of GHG emission reductions of these projects based on GHG emissions attributable to a more intensive development of the land. In addition to GHG emissions reductions, the program also considers co-benefits of projects, including water conservation, economic benefits, improved air quality, nutrient cycling, energy conservation, wildlife habitat, and others.
Cap and trade funds. ARB has conducted ten cap-and-trade auctions, generating almost $1.6 billion in proceeds to the state. The 2014-15 Budget allocates $832 million in GGRF revenues to a variety of transportation, energy, and resources programs aimed at reducing GHG emissions. Various agencies are in the process of implementing this funding. The budget agreement specifies how the state will allocate most cap-and-trade auction revenues in 2015-16 and beyond. For all future revenues, 25% of the GGRF is continuously appropriated to the state’s high-speed rail project, 20% for affordable housing and sustainable communities grants, 10% to intercity capital rail projects, and 5% for low-carbon transit operations. The remaining 40% is available for annual appropriation by the Legislature. Of that 40%, $15 million was appropriated to CDFA to fund agricultural energy and operational efficiency programs, with $12 million directed for financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters, and $3 million to support deployment and use of renewable natural gas, its analogues, and other low-carbon renewable biofuels derived from agricultural waste, for use in the transportation sector.
The Governor’s proposed 2015-16 cap-and-trade expenditures propose $1.02 billion in spending, with $15 million dedicated to fund agricultural energy and operation efficiency programs through CDFA.
Drought relief funding. In response to California's ongoing drought, AB 91 (Budget and Fiscal Review), Chapter 1, Statutes of 2015 allocated just over $1 billion for drought-related activities. This allocation included $10 million from the GGRF to CDFA for agricultural water efficiency projects that reduce GHG emissions and $200,000 from the General Fund to CDFA to conduct an economic analysis of the ongoing impacts of California's drought on the state's agriculture sector and identify potential solutions.
Suggested amendments. The committee may wish to make the following amendments to the bill to correct drafting errors and clarify provisions of the bill:
Clarify that the Panel review data on the impacts and benefits that agriculture has on the environment, which will ensure consistency with various cross references.
Replace "operating efficiency" with "energy efficiency," on page 8, line 11.
Specify that a "processing facility" refers to agricultural processing facilities.
Correct related drafting errors.
Related legislation.
AB 761 (Levine) requires, upon appropriation by the Legislature, CDFA to establish a grant program to fund projects that increase carbon sequestration and GHG emissions reduction on agricultural lands, ranches and rangelands. This bill is set for hearing in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on July 15.
Double referral. This bill was passed by the Assembly Agriculture Committee on July 1st with a vote of 7-0.
REGISTERED
SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
American
Farmland Trust
Association of Compost Producers
Audubon California
CR&R Incorporated
Cachuma Resource
Conservation Districts
California Association of Resource
Conservation Districts
California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN)
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Food Policy Council
California League of Conservation Voters
California State Grange
Californians Against Waste
Carbon Cycle Institute
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Food Safety
Coastal
Environmental Rights Foundation
Community Alliance with Family
Farmers
Community Environmental Council
Compost Coalition
Defenders of Wildlife
Environment California
Environmental Action Committee of West Marin
Environmental Defense Center
Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Entrepreneurs
Environmental Justice Program at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Stockton
Greenbelt Alliance
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Lutheran Office of Public Policy
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
National Hmong American Farmers
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Peninsula Open Space Trust
San Mateo County Resource Conservation District
Solano Land Trust
Sonoma Resource Conservation District
Stopwaste
Sustainable Conservation
Trust for Public Lands
Whole Grain Connection
One individual
Opposition
California Chamber of Commerce
Analysis Prepared by: Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092
SB 367
Page 6
Date of Hearing: July 1, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Henry Perea, Chair
SB 367
(Wolk) – As Amended June 24, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 35-3
SUBJECT: Agricultural lands: greenhouse gases.
SUMMARY: This bill recasts and expands the membership and duties of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel (Advisory Panel) to include on-farm practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in soil. This bill appropriates $25 million from the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Fund (GGRF) to CDFA for the establishment of a new grant program to support these activities. This bill also appropriates 2% of the proceeds from this fund to the Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) to also address on-farm reductions of greenhouse gas and increased carbon storage. Specifically, this bill:
Makes findings and declarations in regard to California agricultural productivity and agriculture’s contribution to the environment and reduction of GHGs.
Adds the definition of "fund" to mean the GGRF.
Renames CDFA’s Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to the Environmental Farming Act Advisory Panel (Panel).
Expands the duties of CDFA’s Environmental Farming program (program) to specifically include activities related to the reduction of on-farm GHG emissions and increases carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, and allows for the program to provide incentives, as specified.
Authorizes CDFA to support these on-farm practices and activities by providing permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects, which further the goals of the program.
Adds “climate change” to the list of issues that may be addressed by CDFA’s newly termed Panel when providing advice and assistance to government agencies.
Expands the Panel from five to nine members; modifies the background requirements of the appointees, as specified; and, establishes term of appointments.
Provides $25 million, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to CDFA to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon storage in soils and woody biomass. Projects may include, but are not limited to, soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, alternative-energy production from agricultural waste from a farm or at a processing facility and improve on-farm efficiency, and wildlife habitat conservation.
Requires CDFA, in consultation with the Advisory Panel, to develop and implement a grant program to support the activities listed above.
Requires the Secretaries of CDFA and the Natural Resources Agency to enter into a memorandum of agreement, including other relevant state agencies, to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing these programs and projects.
Requires that no less than 2% of GGRF proceeds be appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council (Council) to be expended for agricultural land protection within the grant program described in item 12, below.
Requires the Council to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the SALC Program, to provide incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that would reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass.
EXISTING LAW:
Requires the CDFA, through the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, (ACT) to establish and oversee an environmental farming program that provides incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat.
Establishes the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to assist in the compilation and depository of scientific data from public and private sources, identifying the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment; to advise and assist government agencies on the above issues by conducting scientific data reviews and approving and recommending scientifically valid data.
Establishes the Council as a cabinet-level committee that is tasked with coordinating the activities of member state agencies to, among other things, improve air and water quality, protect natural resources and agricultural lands, and assist state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), goals.
Establishes the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, administered by the Council, to GHG emissions though projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices.
Establishes SALC as one component of AHSC and is implemented by the California Department of Conservation (DOC). The council is responsible for overseeing SALC and coordinating DOC with other agencies to develop program guidelines.
Requires the California Air Resources Board (ARB), through AB 32, to determine the 1990 statewide GHG emissions level, to approve a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to that level that will be achieved by 2020, and to adopt GHG emissions reductions measures by regulation. ARB is authorized to include the use of market-based mechanisms to comply with the regulations. All monies, except for fines and penalties collected pursuant to a market-based mechanism, are deposited in the GGRF.
Requires that the GGRF only be used to facilitate the achievement of reductions of GHG emissions consistent with AB 32. To this end, the Department of Finance, in consultation with ARB and any other relevant state agencies, is required to develop, as specified, a three-year investment plan for the moneys deposited in the GGRF. The investment plan must allocate a minimum of 25% of the funds to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and to allocate 10% of the funds to projects located within disadvantaged communities. Additionally, ARB, in consultation with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), is required to develop funding guidelines for administering agencies receiving allocations of the GGRF funds that include a component for how agencies should maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill would specify that $25 million shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support three specific programs at CDFA.
COMMENTS: According to the author, SB 367 provides an update to the 20 year-old Cannella Environmental Farming Act by adding current issues, terms and research needs that expand and direct newly available funds to the needs of California's ever changing environment. This bill is intended to provide California agriculture opportunities to deal with and participate in the AB 32 goal of addressing climate change.
Supporters of SB 367 state that California agriculture is uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research suggests some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but can also help to store atmospheric carbon in soils, trees, and other plants.
They further state: “Growers around the state have already begun to see the effects of drought, decreased chilling hours and extreme heat on their productivity and profitability. At the same time, growers and scientists recognize the tremendous potential for agriculture and agricultural lands to not only reduce existing greenhouse gas emissions, but also to draw down atmospheric carbon into soils and woody biomass.”
The opposition states that they have long held that CARB lacks the authority to raise revenues by the auctioning of "allowances" to meet the goals of AB 32." Further, they "support the cost- effective implementation of AB 32 and that "auctioning runs contrary to the expressed goals of AB 32 for maximizing the benefits and minimizing leakage risks and costs."
When the Act was created in 1995, agriculture was beginning to realize the impacts of various regulations from non-CDFA agencies. It was the intent of Assembly Member Cannella to give CDFA and agriculture the ability to better inform other state agencies and departments about how agriculture operates and the impacts of new regulations on them. Prior administrations have not used this tool but with the implementation of AB 32, new funding sources, and the changes provided by SB 367, CDFA can use the Act to assist agriculture and processors in meeting the challenges of change and compliance.
The requirements of two appointees having been engaged in research related to "environmentally sustainable agriculture raises several questions. There is no statutory definition for "environmentally sustainable agriculture," making the selection of these appointees potentially difficult. The intent of the Cannella Environmental Farming Act is clearly stated in Food and Agriculture Code Section 566 of current law and with that section's expansion within SB 367. The committee may wish to consider deleting the term "environmentally sustainable agriculture" from the two references for appointees research background, (page 5, lines 38, and page 6, line 9), and replace it with a reference to section 566, which reflects the intent of the Act. It would read: "... member who is engaged in the conduct of scientific research related to the purpose or purposes described in Section 566 of this chapter." This would clearly provide the type of research background needed to qualify for Panel appointees.
SB 367 is in conflict with SB 400 (Lara); both bills make changes to Health and Safety Code Section 39719 in a different manner. The committee may wish to ask the author how this conflict will be resolved.
Background:
The Act requires CDFA to establish and oversee an environmental farming program that provides incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The Act also created the Science Panel to, among other responsibilities, advise and assist government agencies on these issues by conducting scientific data reviews and approving and recommending scientifically valid data. The Science Panel is also authorized to research, review, and comment on data used as the base for proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs so that agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
The Council was created in 2008 as a cabinet-level committee that is tasked with coordinating the activities of member state agencies to improve air and water quality, protect natural resources and agricultural lands, increase the availability of affordable housing, promote public health, improve transportation, encourage greater infill and compact development, revitalize community and urban centers, and assist state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting AB 32 goals.
The AHSC Program, administered by the Council, was created in 2014 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions though projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices. The AHSC Program receives 20% of the annual proceeds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to achieve these goals (SB 862 of 2014; Health and Safety Code § 39719).
The SALC Program is one component of AHSC and is implemented by DOC. The Council is responsible for overseeing SALC and coordinating DOC with other agencies to develop program guidelines.
Guidelines for the SALC Program were approved by the Council on January 20, 2015, and include three major elements: 1) sustainable agricultural land strategy plans, which would provide grants to develop local strategies to ensure long-term protection of highly productive and critically threatened agricultural land; 2) agricultural conservation easements; and 3) financial incentives for adoption and use of land management practices. The guidelines specifically state that the third element is not included in the 2014 request for grant applications, but will be addressed in future years.
Background on Cap-and-Trade Funds. ARB has conducted ten cap-and-trade auctions, generating almost $1.6 billion in proceeds to the state.
Budget allocations. The 2014-15 Budget allocates $832 million in GGRF revenues to a variety of transportation, energy, and resource programs aimed at reducing GHG emissions. Various agencies are in the process of implementing this funding. The budget agreement specifies how the state will allocate most cap-and-trade auction revenues in 2015-16 and beyond. For all future revenues, the legislation appropriates 25% for the state’s high-speed rail project, 20% for affordable housing and sustainable communities grants, 10% to intercity capital rail projects, and 5% for low-carbon transit operations. The remaining 40% is available for annual appropriation by the Legislature. (According to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee analysis).
Related Legislation: AB 761 (Levine), currently in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, requires, upon appropriation of funding by the Legislature, CDFA to establish a grant program to fund projects that increase carbon sequestration and GHG emissions reduction on agricultural lands, ranches and rangelands.
SB 862 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review), Chapter 36, Statutes of 2014. Among other provisions, establishes the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, administered by the Council, to reduce GHG emissions though projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices.
SB 732 (Steinberg), Chapter 729, Statutes of 2008. Establishes the Council to coordinate member state agencies implementing projects to improve air and water quality, affordable housing, natural resource protection, transportation, and sustainable land use planning; and to meet the goals of AB 32.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Climate & Agriculture
Network (Co-Sponsor)
Community Alliance with Family Farmers
(Co-Sponsor)
Alameda County Resource Conservation
District
American Farmland Trust
Association of Compost Producers
Big Sur Land Trust
California Association of Resource
Conservation Districts
California Certified Organic Farmers
California Compost Coalition
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Farm Link
Californians Against Waste
Community Environmental Council
Ecological Farming Association
Environmental Defense Center
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Marin Resource Conservation District
National Hmong American Farmers
Open Space Authority Santa Clara County
Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association
Peninsula Open Space Trust
Resource Conservation District of Santa
Cruz County
Roots of Change
Sonoma Resource Conservation District
Sustainable Agriculture Education
Sustainable Conservation
Valley Land Alliance
Wild Farm Alliance
1 individual
Opposition
California Chamber of Commerce
Analysis Prepared by: Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
SB 367
Page 9
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Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478
|
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 367
Amended: 6/2/15
SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE: 5-0, 4/7/15
AYES: Galgiani, Cannella, Berryhill, Pan, Wolk
SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/29/15
AYES: Wieckowski, Gaines, Bates, Hill, Jackson, Leno, Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/28/15
AYES: Lara, Bates, Beall, Hill, Leyva, Mendoza, Nielsen
SUBJECT: Agricultural lands: greenhouse gases
SOURCE: California Climate and Agricultural Network
Community Alliance with Family Farmers
DIGEST: This bill recasts and expands the membership and the duties of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Science Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to include on-farm practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in soil. This bill appropriates $25 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to CDFA for the establishment of a new grant program to support these activities. This bill also appropriates 2% of the proceeds from this fund to the Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program to also address on-farm reductions of greenhouse gas and increased carbon storage.
Existing law:
Requires the CDFA, through the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, to establish and oversee an environmental farming program that provides incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat.
Establishes the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming (Science Panel) to, among other responsibilities, advise and assist government agencies on the above issues by conducting scientific data reviews and approving and recommending scientifically valid data.
Establishes in 2008 the Strategic Growth Council as a cabinet-level committee that is tasked with coordinating the activities of member state agencies to, among other things, improve air and water quality, protect natural resources and agricultural lands, and assist state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting AB 32 (Nunez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006) goals.
Establishes the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, administered by the Strategic Growth Council in 2014, to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions though projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices.
Establishes the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program as one component of the AHSC and is implemented by the California Department of Conservation (DOC). The Strategic Growth Council is responsible for overseeing SALC and coordinating DOC with other agencies to develop program guidelines.
Requires the California Air Resources Board (ARB), through the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (referred to as AB 32, Health and Safety Code §38500 et seq.), to determine the 1990 statewide GHG emissions level, to approve a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to that level that will be achieved by 2020, and to adopt GHG emissions reductions measures by regulation. ARB is authorized to include the use of market-based mechanisms to comply with the regulations. All monies, except for fines and penalties, collected pursuant to a market-based mechanism are deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). (According to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee analysis).
Requires that the GGRF only be used to facilitate the achievement of reductions of GHG emissions consistent with AB 32 (Health and Safety Code §39710 et seq.). To this end, the Department of Finance, in consultation with the ARB and any other relevant state agencies, is required to develop, as specified, a three-year investment plan for the moneys deposited in the GGRF. The investment plan must allocate a minimum of 25% of the funds to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and to allocate 10% of the funds to projects located within disadvantaged communities. Additionally, ARB, in consultation with California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), is required to develop funding guidelines for administering agencies receiving allocations of GGRF funds that include a component for how agencies should maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities. (According to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee analysis).
This bill:
Makes findings and declarations in regards to California agricultural productivity and agriculture’s contribution to the environment and reduction of GHGs.
Renames CDFA’s Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel (Advisory Panel).
Expands the duties of CDFA’s Environmental Farming Program (EFP) to specifically include activities related to the reduction of on-farm GHG emissions and increased carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
Authorizes CDFA to support these on-farm practices and activities by providing permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects.
Deletes CDFA’s authority to assist in the compilation and depository of scientific data from public and private sources identifying the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment.
Adds “climate change” to the list of issues that may be addressed by CDFA’s newly termed Advisory Panel when providing advice and assistance to government agencies.
Recasts and expands the duties and membership of the Advisory Panel as specified.
Provides $25 million, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to CDFA to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon storage in soils and woody biomass. Projects may include, but are not limited to, soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, on-farm alternative-energy production and efficiency, and wildlife habitat conservation.
Requires CDFA, in consultation with the Advisory Panel, to develop and implement a grant program to support the activities listed above.
Requires the secretaries of CDFA and the Natural Resources Agency to enter into a memorandum of agreement, including other relevant state agencies, to ensure the greatest possible coordination and collaboration in implementing these programs and projects.
Requires that no less than 2% of GGRF proceeds be appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council to be expended for agricultural land protection within the grant program, below.
Requires the Strategic Growth Council to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the SALC Program, to provide incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that would reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass.
Background
The Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995 requires the CDFA to establish and oversee an environmental farming program that provides incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act also created the Science Panel to, among other responsibilities, advise and assist government agencies on these issues by conducting scientific data reviews and approving and recommending scientifically valid data. The Science Panel is also authorized to research, review, and comment on data used as the base for proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs so that agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
The Strategic Growth Council was created in 2008 as a cabinet-level committee that is tasked with coordinating the activities of member state agencies to improve air and water quality, protect natural resources and agricultural lands, increase the availability of affordable housing, promote public health, improve transportation, encourage greater infill and compact development, revitalize community and urban centers, and assist state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting AB 32 goals.
The AHSC Program, administered by the Strategic Growth Council, was created in 2014 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions though projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices. The AHSC Program receives 20% of the annual proceeds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to achieve these goals (SB 862 of 2014; Health and Safety Code § 39719).
The SALC Program is one component of the AHSC and is implemented by the DOC. The Strategic Growth Council is responsible for overseeing the SALC Program and coordinating DOC with other agencies to develop program guidelines.
Guidelines for the SALC Program were approved by the Strategic Growth Council on January 20, 2015, and include three major elements: 1) sustainable agricultural land strategy plans, which would provide grants to develop local strategies to ensure long-term protection of highly productive and critically threatened agricultural land; 2) agricultural conservation easements; and 3) financial incentives for adoption and use of land management practices. The guidelines specifically state that the third element is not included in the 2014 request for grant applications, but will be addressed in future years.
Background on Cap-and-Trade Funds. ARB has conducted ten cap-and-trade auctions, generating almost $1.6 billion in proceeds to the state.
Budget allocations. The 2014-15 Budget allocates $832 million in GGRF revenues to a variety of transportation, energy, and resources programs aimed at reducing GHG emissions. Various agencies are in the process of implementing this funding. The budget agreement specifies how the state will allocate most cap-and-trade auction revenues in 2015-16 and beyond. For all future revenues, the legislation appropriates 25% for the state’s high-speed rail project, 20% for affordable housing and sustainable communities grants, 10% to intercity capital rail projects, and 5% for low-carbon transit operations. The remaining 40% is available for annual appropriation by the Legislature. (According to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee analysis).
Comments
Agriculture and Climate Change. Farmers and ranchers are uniquely sensitive to the effects of climate change as agriculture is largely dependent upon uncertain weather patterns and the availability of natural resources. For example, the current multi-year drought has caused many farmers to fallow fields, sell livestock due to lack of available grazing, and lay-off employees due to reduced workload and productivity.
The potential for agriculture to contribute to the reduction of climate change by sequestering carbon and reducing GHG emissions is not fully realized or utilized. Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and use it to grow, produce fruits and vegetables, and to also store carbon in the soil. Animals produce manure that could be used to create energy (through methane digesters), compost, and several other valuable products, while reducing the emission of methane and other GHG. Land management practices have been and are continuing to be adopted to reduce negative effects on the environment such as drip irrigation, reduced land tillage, nitrogen management, and the use of cover crops. This bill would provide funding to continue the development and implementation of on-farm management practices to further the environmental benefits of California’s agricultural lands.
[Note: See Senate Agriculture Committee and Senate Environmental Quality Committee analyses for a full discussion of this bill]
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, “This bill would specify that $25 million shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support three specific programs at CDFA.”
California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN) (co-source)
Community Alliance with Family Farmers (co-source)
Abbott Ranch
Agricola: flora et fauna
Alameda County Resource Conservation District
American Farmland Trust
Association of Compost Producers
Audubon California
Berry Blest Farm
Big Bluff Ranch
Burroughs Family Farms
Burroughs Family Orchards
Burrows Ranch, Inc.
Cachuma Resource Conservation District
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
California Certified Organic Farmers
California Cloverleaf Farms
California Compost Coalition
California Farm Bureau Federation
California FarmLink
California Institute for Rural Studies
California League of Conservation Voters
California State Grange
Californians Against Waste
Camp Grant Ranch
Canvas Ranch
Carbon Cycle Institute
Center for Food Safety
Central Valley Farmland Trust
Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation
Community Environmental Council
Defenders of Wildlife
Dixon Ridge Farms
Eaton Cattle Co.
Ecological Farming Association
Eden Urban Farms
Environment California
Environmental Action Committee of West Marin
Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Entrepreneurs
Four Elements Organics
Foxwhelp Farm
Frog Hollow Farm
Full Belly Farm
Grass Valley Grains
Green Oaks Creek Farm
Greenbelt Alliance
Harpos Organics
Hilltop & Canyon Farms
Humboldt Regeneration Brewery & Farm
Jackrabbit Farms
Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo
Kern Family Farm
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Live Earth Farm
Mamen Consulting
Markegard Family Grass-Fed, LLC
Molino Creek Farm
Morris Grassfed
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Page’s Organics
Paicines Ranch
Peninsula Open Space Trust
Pie Ranch
Porter Creek Vineyards
Quetzal Farm
Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County
Riverdance Farms
Rominger Brothers Farm
Roots of Change
Samuels Ranch
San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project
San Mateo County Resource Conservation District
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Sierra Farms Lamb
Sonoma Resource Conservation District
Sustainable Agriculture Education
Sustainable Conservation
Swanton Berry Farm
The Mendocino Grain Project
The Trust for Public Land
Travaille & Phippen, Inc.
Valley Land Alliance
Viriditas Farm
Wild Farm Alliance
Wild Willow Farm and Education Center
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
California Chamber of Commerce
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, “The modernization of the twenty-year old Environmental Farming Act gives the California Department of Food and Agriculture the authority and resources to more effectively deliver programs and improve growers’ access to resources for addressing climate change and other pressing environmental concerns.”
According to those in support, “Growers around the state have already begun to see the effects of drought, decreased chilling hours and extreme heat on their productivity and profitability. At the same time, growers and scientists recognize the tremendous potential for agriculture and agricultural lands to not only reduce existing greenhouse gas emissions, but also to draw down atmospheric carbon into soils and woody biomass.”
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: According to the California Chamber of Commerce, “CalChamber supports the cost-effective implementation of AB 32. CARB’s decision to arbitrarily withhold and sell (auction) allowances will raise billions of dollars at the expense of California businesses and consumers. This approach runs contrary to expressed goals of AB 32, which is maximizing benefits and minimizing leakage risks and costs. As CalChamber has long held, CARB lacks authority to raise revenue through the auction of allowances. Given the substantial legal uncertainties surrounding CARB’s authority to impose an auction, expending the proceeds is premature;” therefore the California Chamber of Commerce is opposed to this bill that would fund on-farm agricultural management projects with AB 32 auction revenues.
Prepared by: Anne Megaro / AGRI. / (916) 651-1508
6/2/15 20:13:17
**** END ****
SB 367 (Wolk) Page 4 of 4
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 367 (Wolk) - Agricultural lands: greenhouse gases
|
|
Version: May 6, 2015 |
Policy Vote: AGRI. 5 - 0, E.Q. 7 - 0 |
Urgency: No |
Mandate: No |
Hearing Date: May 18, 2015 |
Consultant: Robert Ingenito |
SUSPENSE FILE. AS AMENDED.
Bill Summary:
SB 367 would (1) recast and expand the membership and the duties of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA’s) Science Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to include on-farm practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and (2) specify $50 million, upon appropriation from the Legislature, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to CDFA to support these activities.
Fiscal Impact (as approved on May 28, 2015):
This bill would specify that $25 million shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support three specific programs at CDFA.
Background: The Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995 requires CDFA to establish and oversee an environmental farming program that provides incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act also created the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming (Panel) to, among other responsibilities, advise and assist government agencies on these issues by conducting scientific data reviews and approving and recommending scientifically valid data. The Panel is also authorized to research, review, and comment on data used as the base for proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs so that agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
The Strategic Growth Council was created in 2008 as a cabinet-level committee that is tasked with coordinating the activities of specified state agencies to improve air and water quality, protect natural resources and agricultural lands, increase the availability of affordable housing, promote public health, improve transportation, encourage greater infill and compact development, revitalize community and urban centers, and assist state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting AB 32 goals. Strategic Growth Council members include representatives from the Business, Consumer Services and Housing, Natural Resources, Health and Human Services, and Environmental Protection Agencies; the departments of Transportation and Food and Agriculture; the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research; and three public members.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (referred to as AB 32, HSC §38500 et seq.) requires ARB to determine the 1990 statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions level, to approve a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to that level that will be achieved by 2020, and to adopt GHG emissions reductions measures by regulation. ARB is authorized to include the use of market-based mechanisms to comply with the regulations. All monies, except for fines and penalties, collected pursuant to a market-based mechanism are deposited in the GGRF.
Current law requires that the GGRF only be used to facilitate the achievement of reductions of GHG emissions consistent with AB 32 (HSC §39710 et seq.). To this end, the Department of Finance, in consultation with the ARB and any other relevant state agencies, is required to develop, as specified, a three-year investment plan for the moneys deposited in the GGRF. The investment plan must allocate a minimum of 25 percent of the funds to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and to allocate 10 percent of the funds to projects located within disadvantaged communities. Additionally, ARB, in consultation with CalEPA, is required to develop funding guidelines for administering agencies receiving allocations of GGRF funds that include a component for how agencies should maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities.
The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC), administered by the Strategic Growth Council, was created in 2014 to reduce GHG emissions though projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices. The AHSC program receives 20 percent of the annual proceeds from GGRF to achieve these goals.
The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) is one component of the AHSC and is implemented by the California Department of Conservation (DOC). The Strategic Growth Council is responsible for overseeing SALC and coordinating DOC with other agencies to develop program guidelines.
Guidelines for the SALC program were approved by the Strategic Growth Council on January 20, 2015, and include three major elements: (1) sustainable agricultural land strategy plans, which would provide grants to develop local strategies to ensure long-term protection of highly productive and critically threatened agricultural land, (2) agricultural conservation easements, and (3) financial incentives for adoption and use of land management practices. The guidelines specifically state that the third element is not included in the 2014 request for grant applications, but will be addressed in future years.
Proposed Law:
This bill would do all of the following:
Specify that the Environmental Farming Program (EFP) established by the CDFA also provide low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality and wildlife and their habitat, and that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
Authorize CDFA to provide support through the program that may include, but is not limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects to further the goals of the program.
Rename the Panel as the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel, and make specified modifications.
Require the Panel to review and recommend to the Secretary and relevant state agencies the appropriate uses of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Require the Panel to submit a biennial report on their work, the Panel’s action plan for the next two years, and requires the first report to occur no later than two years after the Panel’s first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
Specify $50 million from the GGRF, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be available to the department to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including:
Soil-building and carbon sequestration practices;
Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures;
On-farm alternative energy production and energy efficiency;
Wildlife habitat conservation.
Require CDFA, in consultation with the Panel, to develop and implement a grant program to implement the above projects and carry out the purposes of the Cannella Environmental Farming Act.
Require SGC, in consultation with CDFA and the Panel, to establish and administer a grant program as part of SALC, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce GHGs, sequester carbon, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
Specify that no less than two percent annually of GGRF monies be continuously appropriated for agricultural land protection, as a part of SGC’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program.
Related Legislation:
AB 761 (Levine), currently in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, would provide $50 million to the Department of Conservation to establish a grant program to fund projects that increase carbon sequestration in agricultural soils to increase the resilience of working lands to climate change and drought.
Staff Comments:
As noted above, the bill would specify that no less than two percent annually of GGRF monies be continuously appropriated for agricultural land protection, as a part of SGC’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program. Staff notes that, mathematically speaking, two percent of twenty percent (the overall amount of the allocation) equals 0.4 percent. It is unclear if the author’s intent is this amount, or two percentage points, be used for agricultural land protection.
Committee amendments replace the contents of the bill with language specifying that $25 million shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support the development and implementation of three specific programs at CDFA: (1) $12 million for a dairy digester research and development program to facilitate the design and construction of dairy digester systems; (2) $10 million for water use efficiency projects; and, (3) $3 million for an alternative and renewable fuels program to develop fuel quality specifications and standards for renewable and zero emission fuels, such as biofuels produced from dairy digesters and other agricultural waste.
-- END --
SB 367 (Wolk) Page 4 of 4
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 367 (Wolk) - Agricultural lands: greenhouse gases
|
|
Version: May 6, 2015 |
Policy Vote: AGRI. 5 - 0, E.Q. 7 - 0 |
Urgency: No |
Mandate: No |
Hearing Date: May 18, 2015 |
Consultant: Robert Ingenito |
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary:
SB 367 would (1) recast and expand the membership and the duties of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA’s) Science Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to include on-farm practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and (2) specify $50 million, upon appropriation from the Legislature, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to CDFA to support these activities.
Fiscal Impact:
The bill would specify $50 million, upon appropriation by the Legislature, from GGRF (special fund) to fund programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage on farms. In addition, two percent of the 20 percent of GGRF revenues being continuously appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council would be dedicated for agricultural land preservation. Overall, GGRF would fund the following administrative costs:
CDFA indicates that it would incur annual costs of $2 million to administer the program.
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) indicates that it would incur costs of $1.7 million in 2016-17, $1.5 million in 2017-18, and $1.1 million ongoing to collaborate with CDFA and the Strategic Growth Council, as specified.
Costs to the Department of Conservation are unknown but likely of similar magnitude to implement the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation program.
The Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995 requires CDFA to establish and oversee an environmental farming program that provides incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act also created the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming (Panel) to, among other responsibilities, advise and assist government agencies on these issues by conducting scientific data reviews and approving and recommending scientifically valid data. The Panel is also authorized to research, review, and comment on data used as the base for proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs so that agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
The Strategic Growth Council was created in 2008 as a cabinet-level committee that is tasked with coordinating the activities of specified state agencies to improve air and water quality, protect natural resources and agricultural lands, increase the availability of affordable housing, promote public health, improve transportation, encourage greater infill and compact development, revitalize community and urban centers, and assist state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting AB 32 goals. Strategic Growth Council members include representatives from the Business, Consumer Services and Housing, Natural Resources, Health and Human Services, and Environmental Protection Agencies; the departments of Transportation and Food and Agriculture; the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research; and three public members.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (referred to as AB 32, HSC §38500 et seq.) requires ARB to determine the 1990 statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions level, to approve a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to that level that will be achieved by 2020, and to adopt GHG emissions reductions measures by regulation. ARB is authorized to include the use of market-based mechanisms to comply with the regulations. All monies, except for fines and penalties, collected pursuant to a market-based mechanism are deposited in the GGRF.
Current law requires that the GGRF only be used to facilitate the achievement of reductions of GHG emissions consistent with AB 32 (HSC §39710 et seq.). To this end, the Department of Finance, in consultation with the ARB and any other relevant state agencies, is required to develop, as specified, a three-year investment plan for the moneys deposited in the GGRF. The investment plan must allocate a minimum of 25 percent of the funds to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and to allocate 10 percent of the funds to projects located within disadvantaged communities. Additionally, ARB, in consultation with CalEPA, is required to develop funding guidelines for administering agencies receiving allocations of GGRF funds that include a component for how agencies should maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities.
The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC), administered by the Strategic Growth Council, was created in 2014 to reduce GHG emissions though projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices. The AHSC program receives 20 percent of the annual proceeds from GGRF to achieve these goals.
The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) is one component of the AHSC and is implemented by the California Department of Conservation (DOC). The Strategic Growth Council is responsible for overseeing SALC and coordinating DOC with other agencies to develop program guidelines.
Guidelines for the SALC program were approved by the Strategic Growth Council on January 20, 2015, and include three major elements: (1) sustainable agricultural land strategy plans, which would provide grants to develop local strategies to ensure long-term protection of highly productive and critically threatened agricultural land, (2) agricultural conservation easements, and (3) financial incentives for adoption and use of land management practices. The guidelines specifically state that the third element is not included in the 2014 request for grant applications, but will be addressed in future years.
Proposed Law:
This bill would do all of the following:
Specify that the Environmental Farming Program (EFP) established by the CDFA also provide low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality and wildlife and their habitat, and that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
Authorize CDFA to provide support through the program that may include, but is not limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects to further the goals of the program.
Rename the Panel as the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel, and make specified modifications.
Require the Panel to review and recommend to the Secretary and relevant state agencies the appropriate uses of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Require the Panel to submit a biennial report on their work, the Panel’s action plan for the next two years, and requires the first report to occur no later than two years after the Panel’s first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
Specify $50 million from the GGRF, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be available to the department to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including:
Soil-building and carbon sequestration practices;
Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures;
On-farm alternative energy production and energy efficiency;
Wildlife habitat conservation.
Require CDFA, in consultation with the Panel, to develop and implement a grant program to implement the above projects and carry out the purposes of the Cannella Environmental Farming Act.
Require SGC, in consultation with CDFA and the Panel, to establish and administer a grant program as part of SALC, to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce GHGs, sequester carbon, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
Specify that no less than two percent annually of GGRF monies be continuously appropriated for agricultural land protection, as a part of SGC’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program.
Related Legislation:
AB 761 (Levine), currently in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, would provide $50 million to the Department of Conservation to establish a grant program to fund projects that increase carbon sequestration in agricultural soils to increase the resilience of working lands to climate change and drought.
Staff Comments:
As noted above, the bill would specify that no less than two percent annually of GGRF monies be continuously appropriated for agricultural land protection, as a part of SGC’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program. Staff notes that, mathematically speaking, two percent of twenty percent (the overall amount of the allocation) equals 0.4 percent. It is unclear if the author’s intent is this amount, or two percentage points, be used for agricultural land protection.
-- END --
SB 367 (Wolk) Page 16 of 16
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Senator Bob Wieckowski, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 367 Hearing Date: 4/29/2015
Author: |
Wolk |
||
Version: |
4/13/2015 |
||
Urgency: |
No |
Fiscal: |
Yes |
Consultant: |
Rebecca Newhouse |
||
Subject: Agriculture: lands: greenhouse gases
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
Under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (also known as AB 32), requires the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to determine the 1990 statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions level and approve a statewide GHG emissions limit that is equivalent to that level, to be achieved by 2020, and to adopt GHG emissions reductions measures by regulation. ARB is authorized to include the use of market-based mechanisms to comply with these regulations. (Health and Safety Code §38500 et seq.)
Establishes the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) in the State Treasury, requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected pursuant to a market-based mechanism be deposited in the fund. (Government Code §16428.8)
Prohibits the state from approving allocations for a measure or program using GGRF moneys except after determining that the use of those moneys furthers the regulatory purposes of AB 32, and requires moneys from the GGRF be used to facilitate the achievement of reductions of GHG emissions in California. (HSC §39712)
Creates the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, developed and administered by the Strategic Growth Council (SGC), to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development.
Continuously appropriates 60% of GGRF moneys to transit, affordable housing and sustainable communities, including 20% continuously appropriated to the SGC for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program. From the 20% continuously appropriated for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, 10% must be allocated to affordable housing. (HSC §39719)
Under the Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995, requires the following (Food and Agricultural Code §561 et seq.):
The Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to establish an environmental farming program to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the wellbeing of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat.
Requires the Secretary of CDFA to convene a five-member Scientific Advisory Panel (Panel) on Environmental Farming to advise and assist federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, and wildlife habitat.
This bill:
Specifies that the Environmental Farming Program (EFP) established by the CDFA also provide low-interest loans, technical assistance, educational materials and outreach, or a combination of these things, to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality and wildlife and their habitat, and that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
Authorizes CDFA to provide support through the program that may include, but is not limited to, permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects to further the goals of the program.
Deletes provisions relating to the 5-member Panel and instead requires the Panel to consist of the Secretary of CDFA or his or her designee, with the Secretary of CDFA as the chair, the Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) or his or her designee, the Secretary for the Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), or his or her designee, one member appointed by the Secretary of CalEPA with expertise in climate change, as specified, one member appointed by the Secretary of the CNRA, affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, four members appointed by the Secretary with specified expertise, and one member affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
Adds to the duties of the Panel, reviewing and advising the Secretary and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on proposed programs and projects, including, but not limited to, competitive grants, that provide technical educational, and financial assistance to agricultural producers that will result in multiple environmental and health benefits, including, but not limited to, reduced GHG emissions and increased carbon storage.
Requires the Panel to review and recommend to the Secretary and relevant state agencies the appropriate uses of available tools to demonstrate and quantify greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Requires the Panel to submit a biennial report on their work, the Panel’s action plan for the next two years, and requires the first report to occur no later than two years after the Panel’s first meeting or January 1, 2019, whichever occurs first.
Specifies $50 million, from the GGRF, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be available to the department to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass, including:
Soil-building and carbon sequestration practices;
Irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures;
On-farm alternative energy production and energy efficiency;
Wildlife habitat conservation.
Requires CDFA, in consultation with the Panel, to develop and implement a grant program to implement the above projects and carry out the purposes of the Cannella Environmental Farming Act.
Requires the SGC, in consultation with CDFA and the Panel, to establish and administer a grant program as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALCP), to provide financial incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that reduce GHGs, sequester carbon, and provide other cobenefits on working agricultural operations.
Specifies that no less than 2% annually of GGRF monies be continuously appropriated for agricultural land protection, as a part of SGC’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program.
Background
Environmental Farming Program and Panel.
The Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995 created the Environmental Farming Program within CDFA and established a panel for that program.
In August 2011, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross announced appointments to the Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel. The panel is charged with reviewing and documenting agriculture's positive impacts to the environment and will examine issues such as ecosystem services and how they relate to agriculture. The panel has produced a two-year report on initiatives and work completed to date.
Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program.
The Budget Act of 2014 appropriates $130 million from the GGRF to develop and implement the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC). SB 862 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review), Chapter 36, Statutes of 2014, continuously appropriates 20% of GGRF annual proceeds to the AHSC beginning in FY 2015-16. The AHSC, administered by the SGC, is tasked with reducing greenhouse gas emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development.
The SGC approved guidelines on January 20, 2015, for the agricultural land preservation component of the program dubbed the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program. The SALC program is intended to integrate and leverage existing agricultural land protection programs, as established in various sections of statute.
According to the guidelines, the principal goal of this grant program is to fund sustainable agricultural land strategy plans and permanent agricultural conservation easements in order to avoid increases in greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural lands, consistent with AB 32. The guidelines cite recent University of California research that estimates that land in agricultural and healthy open space use sequesters up to 70 times more carbon than any form of urban development. The guidelines also specify that in future years, the
Council intends to add a third program element to provide incentives for land management practices that lead to additional reductions of GHG on agricultural lands.
As the program is funded through moneys from the GGRF, the program must document how expenditures will reduce GHG emissions and further the purposes of AB 32. The eligibility and selection criteria presented in the guidelines are designed to prioritize projects that demonstrate the greatest potential for protecting lands most at risk of conversion to other purposes and the program intends to estimate the amount of GHG emission reductions of these projects based on GHG emissions attributable to a more intensive development of the land should its protection for agricultural purposes via the program not occur. In addition to GHG emissions reductions, the program also considers co-benefits of projects, including water conservation, economic benefits, improved air quality, nutrient cycling, energy conservation, wildlife habitat, and others.
Background on Cap-and-Trade Funds.
ARB has conducted ten cap-and-trade auctions, generating almost $1.6 billion in proceeds to the state.
Several bills in 2012, and one in 2014, provide legislative direction for the expenditure of auction proceeds including SB 535 (De León), Chapter 830, Statutes of 2012, AB 1532 (J. Pérez), Chapter 807, Statutes of 2012, SB 1018 (Budget Committee), Chapter 39, Statutes 2012, and SB 862 (Budget Committee), Chapter 36, Statutes of 2014.
SB 535 (De León), Chapter 830, Statutes of 2012, requires that 25% of auction revenue be used to benefit disadvantaged communities and requires that 10% of auction revenue be invested in disadvantaged communities.
AB 1532 (J. Pérez), Chapter 807, Statutes of 2012, directs the Department of Finance to develop and periodically update a three-year investment plan that identifies feasible and cost-effective GHG emission reduction investments to be funded with cap-and-trade auction revenues. AB 1532 requires GGRF moneys be used to facilitate the achievement of GHG emission reductions.
SB 1018 (Budget Committee), Chapter 39, Statutes of 2012, created the GGRF, into which all auction revenue is to be deposited. The legislation requires that before departments can spend moneys from the GGRF, they must prepare a record specifying: (1) how the expenditures will be used, (2) how the expenditures will further the purposes of AB 32, (3) how the expenditures will achieve GHG emission reductions, (4) how the department considered other non-GHG-related objectives, and (5) how the department will document the results of the expenditures.
SB 862 (Budget Committee), Chapter 36, Statutes of 2014, requires the ARB to develop guidelines on maximizing benefits for disadvantaged communities by agencies administering GGRF funds, and guidance for administering agencies on GHG emission reduction reporting and quantification methods.
Legal consideration of cap-and-trade auction revenues: The 2012-13 Budget analysis of cap-and-trade auction revenue by the Legislative Analyst’s Office noted that, based on an opinion from the Office of Legislative Counsel, the auction revenues should be considered mitigation fee revenues, and their use requires that a clear nexus exist between an activity for which a mitigation fee is used and the adverse effects related to the activity on which that fee is levied. Therefore, in order for their use to be valid as mitigation fees, revenues from the cap-and-trade auction must be used to mitigate GHG emissions or the harms caused by GHG emissions.
In 2012, the California Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit against the ARB claiming that cap-and-trade auction revenues constitute illegal tax revenue. In November 2013, the superior court ruling declined to hold the auction a tax, concluding that it’s more akin to a regulatory fee.
Emergency drought relief legislation, SB 103 (Budget Committee), Chapter 2, Statutes of 2014, appropriated $10 million to the CDFA water and energy efficiency projects in the agricultural sector. The statute requires that the moneys be used to establish and implement a program before July 1, 2014, to provide financial incentives to agricultural operations to invest in water irrigation treatment and distribution systems that reduce water and energy use, augment supply and increase water and energy efficiency in agricultural applications through the installation of water efficient irrigation systems and use of renewable sources of energy for pumping.
Budget allocations: The 2014-15 Budget allocates $832 million in GGRF revenues to a variety of transportation, energy, and resources programs aimed at reducing GHG emissions. Various agencies are in the process of implementing this funding. The budget agreement specifies how the state will allocate most cap-and-trade auction revenues in 2015-16 and beyond. For all future revenues, the legislation appropriates 25% for the state’s high-speed rail project, 20% for affordable housing and sustainable communities grants, 10% to intercity capital rail projects, and 5% for low-carbon transit operations. The remaining 40% is available for annual appropriation by the Legislature. Of that 40%, $15 million was appropriated to CDFA to fund agricultural energy and operational efficiency programs, with $12 million directed for financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters, and $3 million to support deployment and use of renewable natural gas, its analogues, and other low-carbon renewable biofuels derived from agricultural waste, for use in the transportation sector.
The Governor’s proposed 2015-16 cap-and-trade expenditures propose $1.02 billion in spending, with $15 million dedicated to fund agricultural energy and operation efficiency programs through CDFA.
Comments
Purpose of Bill.
According to the author, “California’s agriculture industry contributes more than $40 billion annually to our state’s economy. Climate change, however, threatens the continued viability of this industry. The latest science suggests that future challenges will include rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events, constrained water resources, reduced winter chilling hours, and rising sea levels. As we enter the fourth year of an extreme drought, it is clear that farmers and ranchers are on the frontlines of climate impacts.
“California agriculture is also uniquely positioned to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research program suggests that some agricultural practices will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but can also help to store atmospheric carbon in soils, trees and other woody plants. Many of the most effective climate protection strategies provide additional environmental co-benefits such as enhanced on-farm resilience to climate impacts, improved air and water quality, water conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat and healthy rural communities.
“The Environmental Farming Act of 1995 (Cannella, 1995) created the Environmental Farming Panel, an advisory committee to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The Panel was created to promote farming practices that ‘contribute to the well-being of ecosystems, air quality and wildlife and their habitat.’ However, the 1995 Act did not anticipate the agricultural challenges and opportunities presented by climate change and should be updated.
“As proposed in SB 367, the modernization of the twenty-year-old Environmental Farming Act gives the California Department of Food and Agriculture the authority and resources to more effectively deliver programs and improve growers’ access to resources for addressing climate change and other pressing environmental concerns.
“Additionally, the Strategic Growth Council is implementing a program, funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, to protect agricultural land and promote beneficial land management practices for their climate benefits. However, the Council currently lacks sufficient resources to meet the demand for projects that prevent the conversion of agricultural lands to more greenhouse gas intensive development.
“SB 367 gives CDFA and the Strategic Growth Council the authority
and resources to more effectively deliver programs and improve
growers’ access to resources for addressing climate change and
other pressing environmental concerns.”
Scientific Advisory Panel.
The bill deletes provisions of the Cannella Environmental Farming Act that establish the Scientific Advisory Panel as a five-member body that requires members to be “highly qualified and professionally active or engaged in the conduct of scientific research.” Instead, SB 367 sets up a nine-member advisory Panel with the Secretary of CDFA, or his or her designee as the chair, the Secretary of CalEPA and Natural Resources Agency as ex-officio voting members (or their designees), and other members appointed by the various Secretaries, including three members who are agricultural producers and one member affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension. Only one member, appointed by the Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency, is required to have expertise in climate change. This member is required to be a member of a nonprofit organization.
The makeup of the Panel in SB 367 leads to the following policy concerns/questions:
The setup of the Panel, with the Secretary of CDFA as the chair, sets up an unconventional and possibly ineffective structure, with the Secretary as the chair of the Panel advising him or herself. Additionally, the Secretary of CalEPA and the Natural Resources Agency, or their designees, are voting ex-officio members. Is this necessary or appropriate on a Scientific Advisory Panel? Would it instead make more sense to have experts appointed by those positions, to inform the Secretary of CDFA and his or her agency on best agricultural practices for environmental sustainability? In this way, instead of having the various secretaries on the Panel, information from the Panel to the Secretary of CDFA, and subsequently from CDFA to CalEPA and CNRA, could occur through bodies already created for interagency coordination and collaboration such as the Climate Action Team or the Strategic Growth Council, of which all of the Secretaries are members.
Although still called the Scientific Advisory Panel in the bill, SB 367 does not require any members of the Panel be trained as a scientist. Similarly to what existing law prescribes for the Panel, SB 367 requires members of the Panel be “highly qualified and professionally active in their chosen field or engaged in the conduct of scientific research.”
Among the duties of the Panel are the following:
Review data on the impact of agriculture on the environment and recommend that data to appropriate state agencies;
Compile the net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment;
Research, review and comment on data upon which proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs are based;
Review and advise the Secretary of CDFA on proposed programs and projects that provide assistance to agricultural producers and will result in multiple environmental health benefits; and
Help develop guidelines for a grant program for land management practices that reduce GHG emissions.
As the duties include both the review of scientific information and the implementation of those findings as they pertain to programs for agriculture and agricultural producers, should the Panel instead require a mix of scientific experts in agriculture and environmental sustainability as well as members that have on-the-ground expertise in sustainable agriculture to best accomplish their duties?
Should those categories be broader than requiring members be affiliated with either the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, or affiliated with the UC California Cooperative Extension?
As the grant fund created by SB 367 would expend cap-and-trade auction revenue for GHG emission reduction practices related to agriculture, should there be a member of the Panel with expertise in agricultural GHG emission reduction practices?
Additionally, SB 367 specifies that the secretaries will be ex-officio voting members. Do science advisory panels require votes, or is it more appropriate that they develop recommendations by consensus?
SB 367 also specifies that the Secretary can appoint “nonvoting ex officio” members to the panel. Adding additional members to the panel may add greater depth of knowledge and experience, but “ex officio” pertains to a member who is part of the panel by virtue of holding another office. Is this requirement necessary, or should the Secretary have more flexibility in appointing members to the Panel?
To address these concerns, the committee may wish to consider amendments that do the following:
Specify that Secretaries designate members of the Panel, instead of sitting on the Panel, themselves;
Remove the specification that the Secretaries’ designees be ex-officio voting members;
Delete the requirement that additional members added to the panel by the Secretary be “nonvoting ex-officio” members.
Authorize the Secretary designate the chair of the Panel.
Delete the nonprofit requirement for one member appointed by the Secretary of CalEPA, and require that the other appointee by the Secretary of CalEPA have expertise in GHG emission reduction practices related to agriculture.
Delete the requirement that one member appointed by the Secretary of NRA be associated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, and instead require one member has training and expertise in the field of agricultural conservation practices and resource management.
Delete the requirement that one member appointed by the Secretary of CDFA be affiliated with the University of California Cooperative Extension, and instead require that they have training and expertise in the field of agricultural and environmental science.
Require that a minimum of two members be actively engaged in scientific research related to environmentally sustainable agriculture.
Rename the entity the Environmental Farming Advisory Panel, since not all members are required to have scientific expertise.
Reinstate the requirement that all members have at least five years of experience in their respective fields.
Updating Existing Law.
The Cannella Environmental Farming Act was enacted in 1995, and has not been amended since that time.
SB 367 builds on the existing statute and reworks the Scientific Advisory Panel and adds requirements for the development of a grant program funded through GGRF, but there are several areas where the existing Act should be updated and modernized.
Scientific Advisory Panel.
Although the Panel was created in the Act, the code doesn’t specifically require that the Panel advise the Secretary on the Environmental Farming Program, and instead requires the Panel to “advise and assist federal, state, and local government agencies on issues relating to air, water, climate change, and wildlife habitat.”
As the Panel seems intended to advise the Secretary on the EFP, and other agencies have their own respective Panels to give advice on relevant environmental issues, amendments are needed to delete those provisions and instead specify that the Panel is required to advise the Secretary on implementation of the Environmental Farming Program, and assist other agencies as appropriate or necessary on issues relating to the impact of agricultural practices on air, water, climate change and wildlife habitat.
The Act specifies that CDFA may assist in the compilation of scientific data from public and private sources, and that the department shall serve as the depository for that information and provide it to federal, state, and local governments as needed.
CDFA does not need statutory authority to perform these functions.
Additionally, the Panel was created in the Act in order to review scientific information and compile information on net environmental impacts of agriculture on the environment and SB 367 requires them to produce a report with their findings. An amendment is needed to strike the provisions relating to CDFA compiling and providing scientific information and serving as the depository of this information.
The Act requires the Panel to review data on agricultural impacts to the environment and recommend to state agencies data that the Panel has determined as valid.
Additionally state agencies that receive this recommended data are required to notify and document the reasons for not utilizing this data within 180 days.
Instead of this overly prescriptive and burdensome statute, it may be more appropriate to instead require the Panel to, after their review of data, recommend the best available science on environmental impacts from agriculture, and from this information, develop recommendations on practices and policies to advance the goals of the Environmental Farming Program.
The Act requires the Panel to compile the scientific information above. An amendment is needed to clarify that this information is for use by the department, and other relevant state agencies, as well as the public.
Recommendation of GHG Emission Reduction Quantification Tools.
SB 367 currently requires the Panel to review and recommend to the Secretary and other agencies, the appropriate uses of available tools to demonstrate and quantify GHG emission reductions.
SB 367, as amended, would only requires one member on the Panel have expertise in GHG emissions reductions from agriculture.
Does the Panel have the technical expertise to review GHG emission reduction quantification tools, or should this be done in conjunction with ARB in the guidance they create for agencies for expending GGRF funds and quantification methodology and tracking procedures?
The committee may wish to amend the bill to strike the provision that the Panel review and recommend to the Secretary and other agencies the appropriate use of these tools, and instead require that ARB consider these tools for GHG emission reduction quantification, and recommend them, as appropriate, in the guidance they are required to develop for agencies expending GGRF moneys.
Different Programs To Do Similar Things.
SB 367 sets up a grant program within the Environmental Farming Program, designed to demonstrate GHG emission reductions from projects including soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, on-farm alternative-energy production and energy efficiency, and wildlife habitat conservation.
As noted in the background section, the 2014 drought relief package appropriated $10 million of the GGRF moneys for reduction of GHG emissions through water efficiency and renewable energy for water pumping for agricultural operations, to be administered by CDFA.
Additionally, the 2014-15 Budget appropriated $15 million to CDFA from the GGRF to fund agricultural energy and operational efficiency for installation of dairy digesters and deployment of renewable natural gas. This year’s proposed budget also appropriates $15 million to CDFA for that same purpose.
In this way, SB 367 appropriates $50 million for potentially many of the same projects that have been, or will be funded through previous appropriations of GGRF. SB 367 is somewhat more expansive than existing programs, however, and allows for projects that include soil-building and carbon sequestration practices including the increased use of compost and biochar, cover crops and low-and no-till practices.
However, this latter category would receive GGRF funds from two distinct programs: (1) The EFP funded through the $50 million GGRF appropriation described above, and (2) a continuous appropriation of 2% of proceeds appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program to fund agricultural land protection (including projects that use land management practices that reduce GHG emissions through soil and woody biomass sequestration) as part of the SALC program. SALC is administered through the Department of Conservation.
The bill has language that requires a memorandum of agreement between CDFA, Natural Resources Agency, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure coordination and collaboration in implementing the grant program created by SB 367 as a part of the EFP. This may help with ensuring the various programs created by the bill are complementary and not competing.
Which Cobenefits?
The bill directs that, as part of the SALC program, financial incentives be directed to fund practices that reduce GHG emissions, sequester carbon and provide other cobenefits. The committee may wish to specify which cobenefits, including more efficient water usage, reduced fertilizer and pesticide use, as well as improved air and water quality.
2% Continuous Appropriation and SALC.
The bill specifies that 2% of the annual proceeds from GGRF appropriated to SGC be expended for agricultural land protection, and cites a section that SB 367 adds to the code on requiring a new grant program for land management practices be developed as part of the SALC program. The SALC program guidelines specify that they are currently planning to fund conservation easements and land conservation planning and that they plan to incorporate financial assistance for land management practices in the future. SB 367 requires that a program to provide incentives for land management practices to reduce GHG emissions be implemented no later than the 2015-16 year. However, because the bill only references the statute that requires incentives for land management practices, it is unclear whether the 2% appropriation is intended to encompass the other SALC projects, including conservation easements and planning that are currently being implemented.
This should be clarified as the bill moves forward.
Technical Amendments.
The Act contains language that requires the EFP to provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote sustainable agriculture. However, SB 367 amends the act to specify, in addition to incentives, low-interest loans, and creates a grant program through GGRF moneys. As the bill now specifies the type of incentives to be provided to agricultural producers, the word, “incentives,” should be struck from the Act.
The bill requires the Panel to review and advise the Secretary on proposed programs and projects. An amendment is needed to require them to also advise the Secretary on existing programs and projects.
Additionally, SB 367 specifies that the Panel advise on “proposed programs and projects, including, but not limited to, competitive grants, that provide technical, educational, and financial assistance to agricultural producers.” A clarifying amendment is needed to specify competitive grants as a type of financial assistance, to read, “…existing and proposed programs and projects that provide technical, educational, and financial assistance, including, but not limited to, competitive grants…”
Related/Prior Legislation
AB 761 (Levine), currently in the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee, would provide $50 million to the Department of Conservation to establish a grant program to fund projects that increase carbon sequestration in agricultural soils.
SOURCE:
California Climate and Agriculture Network
Community Alliance with Family Farmers
SUPPORT:
American Farmland Trust
Audubon California
Californians Against Waste
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
California Farm Bureau Federation
California League of Conservation Voters
Carbon Cycle Institute
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Food Safety
Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation
Community Environmental Council
Defenders of Wildlife
Environment California
Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Entrepreneurs
Greenbelt Alliance
Peninsula Open Space Trust
Roots of Change
Sustainable Agriculture Education
Sustainable Conservation
The Trust for Public Land
West Marin Environmental Action Committee
53 Individuals
OPPOSITION:
California Chamber of Commerce
DOUBLE REFERRAL:
This
measure was heard in Senate Agriculture Committee on April 7, 2015,
and passed out of committee with a vote of 5-0.
-- END --
SB 367 (Wolk) Page 9 of 9
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Senator Cathleen Galgiani, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 367 Hearing Date: 4/7/15
Author: |
Wolk |
||
Version: |
4/6/15 |
||
Urgency: |
No |
Fiscal: |
Yes |
Consultant: |
Anne Megaro |
||
Subject: Agricultural lands: greenhouse gases
SUMMARY
:
This bill would recast and expand the membership and the duties of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Science Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to include on-farm practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in soil. This bill would appropriate $50 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to CDFA for the establishment of a new grant program to support these activities. This bill would also appropriate 2% of the proceeds from this fund to the Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program to also address on-farm reductions of greenhouse gas and increased carbon storage.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
:
The Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995 requires the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to establish and oversee an environmental farming program that provides incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat. The act also created the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming (Science Panel) to, among other responsibilities, advise and assist government agencies on these issues by conducting scientific data reviews and approving and recommending scientifically valid data. The Science Panel is also authorized to research, review, and comment on data used as the base for proposed environmental policies and regulatory programs so that agricultural activities are accurately portrayed and to identify incentives to encourage agricultural practices with environmental benefits.
The Strategic Growth Council was created in 2008 as a cabinet-level committee that is tasked with coordinating the activities of member state agencies to improve air and water quality, protect natural resources and agricultural lands, increase the availability of affordable housing, promote public health, improve transportation, encourage greater infill and compact development, revitalize community and urban centers, and assist state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting AB 32 goals. Strategic Growth Council members include representatives from the Business, Consumer Services and Housing, Natural Resources, Health and Human Services, and Environmental Protection Agencies; the departments of Transportation and Food and Agriculture; the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research; and three public members.
The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC), administered by the Strategic Growth Council, was created in 2014 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions though projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices. The AHSC program receives 20% of the annual proceeds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to achieve these goals (SB 862 of 2014; Health and Safety Code § 39719).
The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) is one component of the AHSC and is implemented by the California Department of Conservation (DOC). The Strategic Growth Council is responsible for overseeing SALC and coordinating DOC with other agencies to develop program guidelines.
Guidelines for the SALC program were approved by the Strategic Growth Council on January 20, 2015, and include three major elements: 1) sustainable agricultural land strategy plans, which would provide grants to develop local strategies to ensure long-term protection of highly productive and critically threatened agricultural land; 2) agricultural conservation easements; and 3) financial incentives for adoption and use of land management practices. The guidelines specifically state that the third element is not included in the 2014 request for grant applications, but will be addressed in future years.
COMET-FarmTM is an online USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service tool developed in partnership with Colorado State University. COMET-farmTM, shorthand for “CarbOn Management & Emissions Tool,” was created to estimate carbon sequestration and GHG emissions on individual farms based on various factors such as soil characteristics, crop production, nutrient management, water use, and tillage practices. This tool would help farmers and ranchers calculate their farm’s potential for storing carbon in agricultural soils and reducing GHG emissions given specific land management and conservation practices.
PROPOSED LAW
:
This bill:
Makes findings and declarations in regards to California agricultural productivity and agriculture’s contribution to the environment and reduction of GHGs.
Expands the duties of CDFA’s Environmental Farming Program to specifically include activities related to the reduction of on-farm GHG emissions and increased carbon storage in agricultural soils and woody biomass.
Authorizes CDFA to support these on-farm practices and activities by providing permit assistance and coordination and the funding of on-farm demonstration projects.
Adds “climate change” to the list of issues that may be addressed by CDFA’s Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming when providing advice and assistance to government agencies.
Recasts and expands the duties and membership of CDFA’s Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming in the following manner:
Increases the number of members from five to nine by adding the secretaries of CDFA, CalEPA and Natural Resources Agency as voting ex-officio members and adding a member who is affiliated with UC Cooperative Extension as appointed by the secretary of CDFA.
Limits the appointment by the secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to persons affiliated with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.
Limits the appointment by the secretary of CalEPA to persons affiliated with a nonprofit organization with expertise in climate change and its impact on California agriculture.
Requires that one member appointed by the secretary of CDFA be a registered organic producer.
Requires the panel to review and advise the secretary of CDFA and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on proposed programs and projects for agricultural producers that would result in multiple environmental and health benefits.
Requires the panel to review and recommend to CDFA and other relevant state agencies the tools available to demonstrate and quantify GHG emissions reductions.
Requires the panel to submit a biennial report to the legislature, governor, and related agencies regarding their work, goals, and two-year action plan.
Provides $50 million, upon appropriation by the legislature, to CDFA to support on-farm projects to demonstrate agricultural management practices and activities that reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon storage in soils and woody biomass.
Projects may include, but are not limited to, soil-building and carbon-sequestration practices, irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures, on-farm alternative-energy production and efficiency, and wildlife habitat conservation.
Requires CDFA, in consultation with the panel, to develop and implement a grant program to support the activities listed above.
Requires that no less than 2% of the 20% of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund proceeds appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program be expended for agricultural land protection.
Requires the Strategic Growth Council to establish and administer a grant program, as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, to provide incentives for the adoption and use of land management practices that would reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon in soils and woody biomass.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:
According to the author, “The modernization of the twenty-year old Environmental Farming Act gives the California Department of Food and Agriculture the authority and resources to more effectively deliver programs and improve growers’ access to resources for addressing climate change and other pressing environmental concerns.”
According to those in support, “Growers around the state have already begun to see the effects of drought, decreased chilling hours and extreme heat on their productivity and profitability. At the same time, growers and scientists recognize the tremendous potential for agriculture and agricultural lands to not only reduce existing greenhouse gas emissions, but also to draw down atmospheric carbon into soils and woody biomass.”
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION:
None Received.
COMMENTS
:
Agriculture and Climate Change:
Farmers and ranchers are uniquely sensitive to the effects of climate change as agriculture is largely dependent upon uncertain weather patterns and the availability of natural resources. For example, the current multi-year drought has caused many farmers to fallow fields, sell livestock due to lack of available grazing, and lay-off employees due to reduced workload and productivity.
However, as the climate continues to impact California with extreme weather events, warm winters, and reduced freezing hours, additional agricultural vulnerabilities are further revealed. Non-native invasive species are a serious threat to California and without normal winter chill hours to create dormancy or to kill pests, invasive species are allowed to continue to reproduce and spread throughout California. Such examples include the aquatic weed water hyacinth, which is currently plaguing the Delta, and the Asian citrus psyllid, which could devastate the citrus industry as it has already done in Florida.
The potential for agriculture to contribute to the reduction of climate change by sequestering carbon and reducing GHG emissions is not fully realized or utilized. Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and use it to grow, produce fruits and vegetables, and to also store carbon in the soil. Animals produce manure that could be used to create energy (through methane digesters), compost, and several other valuable products, while reducing the emission of methane and other GHG. Land management practices have been and are continuing to be adopted to reduce negative effects on the environment such as drip irrigation, reduced land tillage, nitrogen management, and the use of cover crops. This bill would provide funding to continue the development and implementation of on-farm management practices to further the environmental benefits of California’s agricultural lands.
Scientific Advisory Panel Membership:
Currently, members appointed to the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming are required to have a minimum of 5 years of experience in specified fields (production agriculture, human health and environmental science, resource management). This bill would remove the minimum-experience requirement for members appointed by the secretaries of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and Natural Resources Agency but not for those appointed by the secretary of CDFA. This bill would instead require that all members be highly qualified and professionally active or engaged in scientific research. The committee may wish to consider whether this new language is vague and inconsistent and/or whether including a minimum-experience requirement would be appropriate.
This bill also limits the pool of panelists to specific groups such as nonprofit organizations, the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, and UC Cooperative Extension. The committee may wish to consider whether restricting the pool of qualified individuals and removing the experience threshold for members on a scientific panel is appropriate.
The secretary of CDFA is the designated chair of the Scientific Advisory Panel, which is tasked with reviewing and advising the secretary of CDFA and the State Board of Food and Agriculture on the proposed programs. Therefore, the secretary of CDFA would be advising herself on her own activities. Although a designee could take the place of the secretary, this person would most likely be on staff at CDFA and already be reporting to the secretary. If the designee is not an employee of CDFA, why is this panelist not stated as a member appointed by the secretary, as are the rest of the panelists? The committee may wish to consider whether the secretaries of CDFA, CalEPA and Natural Resources Agency are necessary additions to this panel.
Proposed Memorandum of Agreement:
The author has proposed an amendment that would establish an MOA among CDFA, DOC, and other agencies to avoid redundancies and inefficiencies between the two programs funded in this bill. However, given that the purpose of the Strategic Growth Council is to improve interagency coordination, an MOA may not be necessary. The DOC program is funded as part of the Strategic Growth Council and both CDFA and DOC are active members. Regardless, the desire to ensure that funds are appropriately spent and not used for duplicative or redundant purposes is an important consideration.
The committee may wish to consider the following amendments:
Amend the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming to include current law requirements and qualifications of panelists (5-years of experience in the designated field) and remove the references to membership or affiliation with a nonprofit organization, the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, and UC Cooperative Extension. Suggested amendments are as follows:
Amend Section 568 (b) subparagraphs (D) (E) and (F) of the Food and Agricultural Code (Page 6, Lines 19-35) to read:
(D) One member, who has a minimum of five years of training and experience in the field of climate change and its impact on California agriculture, shall be appointed by the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
(E) One member, who has a minimum of five years of training and experience in the field of resource management, shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.
(F) Four members appointed by the secretary, according to the following: (i) Three members who are agricultural producers in the state and who have a minimum five years of training and experience in the field of agriculture. At least one of these members shall be registered as a producer pursuant to the California Organic Products Act of 2003 (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 46000) of Division 17).
(ii) One member who has a minimum of five years of training and experience as a scientific researcher in the field of agricultural and environmental science.
Correct the title of CalEPA by replacing “for Environmental Protection” with “of the California Environmental Protection Agency” on Page 6, Line 17 and Lines 19-20.
Replace “solid” with “soil” on Page 11, Line 32.
Clarify that the 2% allocated from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for agricultural land protection (Page 10, Lines 31-33) be 2% of the annual proceeds from the entire Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (as is the author’s intent) and not 2% of the 20% appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council. As currently written, the 2% is appropriated from the Strategic Growth Council subparagraph, not the fund in its entirety.
The author proposes the following amendments:
Add Section 569 (c) to the Food and Agricultural Code:
569. (c) The secretaries of the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Natural Resources Agency shall establish a Memorandum of Agreement among the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Department of Conservation, and other relevant state agencies to ensure greatest possible coordination and collaboration in the implementation of programs and projects funded under this section.
Add language to Section 569 (a) of the Food and Agricultural Code, Page 9 Line 15, as follows:
569. (a) The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature
RELATED LEGISLATION
:
AB 761 (Levine), currently in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, would provide $50 million to the Department of Conservation to establish a grant program to fund projects that increase carbon sequestration in agricultural soils to increase the resilience of working lands to climate change and drought.
SB 862 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review), Chapter 36, Statutes of 2014. Among other provisions, establishes the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, administered by the Strategic Growth Council, to reduce GHG emissions though projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices.
SB 732 (Steinberg), Chapter 729, Statutes of 2008. Establishes the Strategic Growth Council to coordinate member state agencies implementing projects to improve air and water quality, affordable housing, natural resource protection, transportation, and sustainable land use planning; and to meet the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
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California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN) (Co-Sponsor)
Community Alliance with Family Farmers (Co-Sponsor)
Abbott Ranch
Agricola: flora et fauna
Berry Blest Farm
Big Bluff Ranch
Burroughs Family Farms
Burroughs Family Orchards
Burrows Ranch, Inc.
California Certified Organic Farmers
California Cloverleaf Farms
California Compost Coalition
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Institute for Rural Studies
Californians Against Waste
Camp Grant Ranch
Canvas Ranch
Center for Food Safety
Central Valley Farmland Trust
Dixon Ridge Farms
Eaton Cattle Co.
Ecological Farming Association
Eden Urban Farms
Environment California
Environmental Defense Fund
Four Elements Organics
Foxwhelp Farm
Frog Hollow Farm
Full Belly Farm
Grass Valley Grains
Green Oaks Creek Farm
Harpos Organics
Hilltop & Canyon Farms
Humboldt Regeneration Brewery & Farm
Jackrabbit Farms
Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo
Kern Family Farm
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Live Earth Farm
Mamen Consulting
Markegard Family Grass-Fed, LLC
Molino Creek Farm
Morris Grassfed
Page’s Organics
Paicines Ranch
Pie Ranch
Porter Creek Vineyards
Quetzal Farm
Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County
Riverdance Farms
Rominger Brothers Farm
Roots of Change
Samuels Ranch
San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Sierra Farms Lamb
Sustainable Agriculture Education
Swanton Berry Farm
The Mendocino Grain Project
The Trust for Public Land
Travaille & Phippen, Inc.
Viriditas Farm
Wild Willow Farm and Education Center
68 Individuals
OPPOSITION
:
None received
-- END --
Discussed in Hearing
7MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources
2MIN
Senate Floor
14MIN
