… Navigating the historically intricate regulatory environment has long posed challenges for agricultural producers and water managers. However, growing momentum toward streamlining and modernizing these regulatory frameworks signals a promising new era of government-industry cooperation. Farmers throughout the San Joaquin Valley are actively advocating for policies that provide greater flexibility in water allocation, enhance local groundwater management, and upgraded mixed use flood control infrastructure. Recent executive orders and updated regulations have already begun to reduce administrative burdens, providing farmer with greater confidence and an enhanced sense of certainty with making critical planting and investment decisions.
–Written by William Bourdeau, executive vice president of Harris Farms, owner of Bourdeau Farms, director of the Westlands Water District, director of American Pistachio Growers, Family Farm Alliance, and chairman of the Valley Future Foundation.