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Issues Facing the Produce Industry 2010 Western Region SLR/CLC Meeting, Yuma, AZ

Issues Facing the Produce Industry 2010 Western Region SLR/CLC Meeting, Yuma, AZ . Presented by Hank Giclas – Western Growers – March 17, 2010. To be presented - - - . The WG perspective on agriculture! Legislative Food Safety Science & Technology Water Trade Practices/Transportation

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Issues Facing the Produce Industry 2010 Western Region SLR/CLC Meeting, Yuma, AZ

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  1. Issues Facing the Produce Industry2010 Western Region SLR/CLC Meeting, Yuma, AZ Presented by Hank Giclas – Western Growers – March 17, 2010

  2. To be presented - - - • The WG perspective on agriculture! • Legislative • Food Safety Science & Technology • Water • Trade Practices/Transportation • International Trade • Labor

  3. Agriculture is …. • … a business and Western Growers unlike many agricultural entities engages in issues that affect the business environment and health of our member companies as opposed to focusing exclusively on the “ag” issues. • Example – WG led the way for agricultural involvement in “card check”, health insurance, climate change and other issues not considered core ag issues yet having considerable impact on our members

  4. Legislative – Federal • Employee Free Choice Act (binding arbitration, ambush elections, elimination of secret ballots) driven by unions – opposed by ADW led by WG and CDW • Ag JOBS (revises H2A and provides for “earned legalization) • Health Care Reform (Plan Requirements, Individual Mandate, Employer Mandate, Tax Credit, Insurance Exchanges, Funding) • Climate Change (cap and trade legislation regulation of greenhouse gasses by USEPA)

  5. Legislation – Arizona • Monitoring over 30 bills • Actively working over 20 bills • Topics – Water, Labor, Environment, Transportation, Taxes, Food Safety, Budget, Government • Key Issues • Fund Sweeps • Fairness in Fees • Labor

  6. Legislation – California • Monitoring over 40 bills • Actively working over 20 bills • Topics – Water, Pesticides, Taxes, ESA, Land Use, Environment, Budget, Labor • Key Issues • Heat Illness • State Card Check • Economic Impact Analysis • RUP prohibitions • Fees

  7. Food Safety, Science & Technology • Food Safety • Federal Legislation, • Federal Regulation • Marketplace Initiatives (Traceability, MA/MO, Harmonization) • Sustainability • ANSI • SISC • Pesticides • ESA Consultation – BiOp Implementation • Kerb, Phosphine, MRLs • Water Quality • Research (CPS, WIFSS, FDA Center)

  8. Water • Federal Policy Proposals • Jobs Bill (Feinstein) • Water Transfer Facilitation (Cardoza) • California Water Package (2009) • Colorado River Quantification Settlement

  9. Trade Practices/Transportation • CARB Rules for On Road Trucks and Busses • WG Transportation Program • AzPhytosanitary Certificates • Iceberg Lettuce Weights

  10. International Trade • Punitive Tariffs for Cross Border Truck Ban • FDA Border Inspections

  11. Labor • DOL Enforcement • Immigration Audits • E- Verify

  12. Conclusion • Water • Labor • Food Safety • Environment • Taxes and Fees • These issues consistently rank in the Top 10 concerns identified by our members during an annual issues survey. • They impact the bottom line of every agricultural business in California and Arizona. • Hgiclas@wga.com

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