January 2025
farmbureaunews Meeting today’s challenges. Planning for tomorrow.
san joaquin
Vol. 110 No. 1
Volunteer agreements touted over proposed unimpaired flows
TOP STORY
FELS addresses new laws that take effect in 2025
By Vicky Boyd
A Jan. 23 webinar designed to bring Farm Bureau members up to speed on new and newish state laws and regulations also will provide an update on autonomous tractors. Livermore-based Monarch Tractor has petitioned the state to modify a 1977 labor code that governs driverless equipment operation.
By Vicky Boyd THE NEW YEAR brings a slate of
new state laws and regulations as well as newish ones that could affect Farm Bureau members and their operations. To help bring
members up to speed, San Joaquin Farm Bureau has partnered with the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau to host a free webinar at 10 a.m. on Jan. 23. See Laws, page 6
are advocating for voluntary agreements – hybrid plans they say better balance environmental needs and water demands than state-proposed Sacramento River unimpaired flows. While at least one large water district in San Joaquin County doesn’t necessarily oppose those agreements, they must first benefit all sectors, said Oakdale Irrigation District Board Member Herman Doornenbal Jr., who also is San Joaquin Farm Bureau second vice president. “So far, we haven’t been able to structure anything
INSIDE: 2 The media
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With its headwaters in the Sierra, the 95-mile-long Mokelumne River flows into Pardee Reservoir and Camanche Reservoir, through Lodi and eventually into the San Joaquin River and the Delta.
that suits either side,” he said. “We’re still working on it and haven’t given up, but it’s going very, very slow. “If we could find something that works for every-
body, then everybody would have some peace and know where we were as far as allocations. At this point, they are
5 California Farm Bureau president celebrates accomplishments in Annual Meeting address
Photo by Calibas, Wikipedia
Vicky Boyd
A GROUP OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA water districts
See Water, page 3
8 Time for
Farm Center Meetings
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