Sacramento, California - Groundwater management and agricultural land trends will be the topics of discussion at the next California State Board of Food and Agriculture meeting on Tuesday, July 7th, 2015. The meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 ‘N’ Street – Main Auditorium, Sacramento.
“Sustainable groundwater management is essential for California’s agricultural future,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We look forward to hearing from various stakeholders on the implementation process and how local agencies are collaborating to develop the governance structure and plans that will be the best fit for their communities.”
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was passed by the California Legislature and ratified by Governor Brown in 2014. The law requires long term management of groundwater resources by local water agencies according to economic and environmental needs. SGMA also requires groundwater sustainability plans to be developed and implemented for medium and high-priority basins and sub-basins. Groundwater comprises more than 30 percent of California’s water supply in wet years and more than half of its water supply in dry years.
Invited speakers include: Dorene D’Adamo, California State Water Resources Control Board; Erik Roget, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers; Corny Gallagher, California Bankers Association - Agricultural Lending Committee; Mark Burrell, The WestMark Group, LLC; Lester Snow, California Water Foundation; Gary Bardini, California Department of Water Resources; Vito Chiesa, California State Association of Counties; Lauren Noland-Hajik, Kahn Soares & Conway LLP and Eric Osterling, Tulare Lake Hydrologic Region.
“Our ongoing drought not only impacts agricultural production – the food we grow – but also the land we farm,” said Craig McNamara, president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “What the drought is doing in regards to long-term land values and farm financing options is also critical to future planning decisions farmers will make.”
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the CDFA secretary on agricultural issues and consumer needs. The state board conducts forums that bring together local, state and federal government officials, agricultural representatives and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.
This meeting will be streamed online at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/LiveMediaStream.html
