Agricultural Council of California

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With the changes brought about by COVID-19, what’s going on with agricultural policy? Emily Rooney is the President of the Agricultural Council of California, which supports farmer-owned businesses of all sizes on state-wide policy issues focused in Sacramento.

Rooney… “Our organization started over a hundred years ago representing just cooperatives, and we still have a handful of those flagship members, including Sun-Maid, Blue Diamond, Sunkist, and Sunsweet. But we do have vertically integrated operations as well in our membership like Campos Brothers Farms and Wonderful Company.”

Rooney says despite social distancing measures, the work of the state government continues.

Rooney… “Things are moving and they're moving rapidly. I would say after the stay at home orders were put into place, it was probably like a two week period where all the state agencies and the Capitol kind of got its sea legs. But the budget process is still moving forward, very actively in the state Capitol. And they are going to meet their deadlines in terms of trying to get the governor to sign a budget by July 1st. And then the state water board is on fire with Zoom meetings. And everything is full speed ahead at this point.”

Learn more about what’s happening in Sacramento ag policy on their website www.agcouncil.org.