Yreka, Calif. — Some have asked what has the Farm
Bureau has done for you.
The Farm Bureau had a successful legislative session
with numerous tallies in the win column.
Here are a few that could have or will directly
effect Siskiyou County:
The Governor signed the following Farm
Bureau-supported or -sponsored legislation:
Water Bond-AB 1265
Delays the vote on the water bond proposal
approved by the Legislature during the special
session earlier in the year until November of 2012.
Position: Support.
Timber Harvest Plans-AB 2163
Allows two additional extensions for timber
harvest plans from two one-year extensions to four
one-year extensions. Position: Support.
Williamson Act-AB 2530
Provides an alternative for counties that
are considering exiting the Williamson Act through
the mass no renewal of their landowner contracts.
Position: Sponsored.
In total there were nine Farm
Bureau-supported/sponsored bills signed.
The Governor vetoed the following bills that Farm
Bureau opposed:
Overtime for Farm Workers-SB 1121
Would have established an eight-hour work
day and 40-hour work week for farm workers, with
premium pay paid to farm employees working in excess
of those hours.
Groundwater Mapping-AB 2304
Would have allowed groundwater mapping
without notification of property owners.
In total there were 10 Farm Bureau-opposed bills
vetoed.
Important Siskiyou County Issues:
Farm Bureau sues fishery agency over water
rights enforcement; lawsuit charges Department of
Fish and Game with overstepping its authority:
California Farm Bureau Federation filed a lawsuit
that charges the state Department of Fish and Game
with exceeding its authority by threatening to
restrict farmers’ rights to irrigate their crops.
The Siskiyou County Farm Bureau has been very active
in fighting against local issues such as the
Department of Fish and Game ITP permit, AB 32 , the
KBRA, the Siskiyou National Monument and many more.
Rancher Jim Morris of Etna is president the
Siskiyou County Farm Bureau.
