May 30, 2025
Advocacy | Agriculture Bill of the Week: AB 1156 (Wicks) Williamson Act: Solar-Use EasementsAssembly Bill 1156, authored by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks (D, Oakland), seeks to update a law allowing solar use easements on Williamson Act lands, thereby putting unproductive farmland to use for renewable energy generation. RCRC has removed its opposition to the bill and now supports the measure
Mar 21, 2025
Advocacy | Agriculture U.S. Senators Ask USDA to Reverse Canceled Local Food Purchases for Schools, FarmersThis week, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) led a group of 31 Senators in a letter that voiced “serious concerns” about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cancelation of food purchase programs across the United States. They noted
Mar 14, 2025
Advocacy | Agriculture Congress Introduces Bicameral Legislation to Improve Access to Agricultural Disaster ReliefOn March 12, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), along with Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-Monterey), Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), Zoe Lofgren (D-Monterey), and Austin Scott (R-GA-08), announced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve access to federal agriculture disaster programs.
Mar 07, 2025
Advocacy | Agriculture Secretary Rollins Previews Her Vision for Restoring Rural Prosperity at NACoOn March 4, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins delivered remarks to hundreds of local leaders at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington DC…
Nov 22, 2024
Advocacy | Agriculture USDA Announces More than $2 Billion to Strengthen Specialty Crops Sector, Expand Crop Storage for Producers Following 2024 Natural DisastersOn November 19, 2024, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of new programs that will help farmers who grow fruits, vegetables, and nuts overcome market barriers for their products, and help producers access necessary...
Nov 15, 2024
Advocacy | Agriculture EPA Announces Members to the Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory CommitteeOn November 13th, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the appointment of 18 new members and reappointment of 6 members to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. The FRRCC...
Nov 01, 2024
Advocacy | Agriculture USDA to Issue More than $235 Million to Farmers Hit by Natural DisastersThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing payments this week to agricultural producers impacted by natural disasters, including $143 million in crop insurance indemnities for Florida producers impacted by Hurricane Milton and about $92...
Oct 30, 2024
Advocacy | Agriculture District Agricultural Associations (County Fairs)District Agricultural Associations, commonly known as “county fairs”, are the community center for many of the RCRC member counties. They provide a venue for activities as diverse as emergency operation centers, including cooling/heating centers, to...
Oct 30, 2024
Advocacy | Agriculture Farm Bill AuthorizationThe federal Farm Bill is typically taken up and renewed by the Congress on a five-year cycle since being authorized as part of the New Deal era of programs. RCRC member counties benefit from several...
Oct 29, 2024
Advocacy | Agriculture About the Williamson ActThe California Land Conservation Act of 1965, commonly referred to as the Williamson Act, is a program that was created by the State to help conserve agricultural land. The Williamson Act enabled local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of…