Mar 13, 2026

Advocacy   |   Agriculture Farm Bill Path Uncertain as Senate Weighs House Framework

The farm bill continues to face an unclear road forward, even as the House Agriculture Committee voted 34-17 on March 5 to advance a new five-year bill.

May 30, 2025

Advocacy   |   Agriculture Bill of the Week:  AB 1156 (Wicks) Williamson Act: Solar-Use Easements

Assembly 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, Farmers 

This 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 Relief

On 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 NACo

On 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 Disasters

On 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 Committee

On 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 Disasters

The 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 Authorization

The 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...