Government Aid for Insurance, Pandemic

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

Here are a few ag policy related updates from Sacramento and Washington, D.C. courtesy of the California Farm Bureau Federation.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation to enable farmers and ranchers to use the state’s insurer of last resort. Senate Bill 11, sponsored by the California Farm Bureau, is intended to help farmers who lost insurance coverage due to wildfires. After record-setting fires, many found that obtaining new coverage was extremely costly or impossible. They can now be insured under the California FAIR plan, a fire insurance pool for high-risk properties.

Timber harvesting, hauling and processing businesses can now apply for grants to offset financial losses suffered during the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing up to $200 million in total relief to help timber businesses. Firms that suffered revenue losses of 10 percent or more in 2020 may apply for grants between July 22 and October 15 this year.

California is imposing a quarantine against an invasive insect harmful to agriculture and natural resources. The state Department of Food and Agriculture announced the quarantine this month to prohibit entry into California of plants, materials or containers infested with the spotted lanternfly. The insects, first detected in Pennsylvania, produce a mold from feeding that can threaten grapes, apples and numerous plant and tree species.

[Source: California Farm Bureau Federation]