Brad Hooker

Sacramento

Sacramento journalist covering California ag, labor and environmental policy for @agripulsewest. Latest articles at: https://t.co/VASOBP8z6H…

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Articles

Daybreak West April 17: California sues Trump over tariffs

1 week ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker |Chloe Lovejoy |Oliver Ward |Noah Wicks

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta are suing President Donald Trump over his use of emergency powers to enact broad tariffs. Filed in federal court in San Francisco, the lawsuit counters Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to enforce broad duties. Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum lashed out against the Newsom administration on Wednesday over California’s water policies.
Daybreak West April 16: Commercial salmon fishing banned for third year

1 week ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker |Chloe Lovejoy |Rebekah Alvey |Oliver Ward

The National Marine Fisheries Service is expected to close the California salmon season to commercial fishing for an unprecedented third year in a row. Recreational fishing, however, will be allowed to a limited extent for the first time since 2022. The Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended the closure Tuesday. Salmon stocks have remained low since the last drought due to several associated issues.
Daybreak West April 14: California upholds food safety for leafy greens

1 week ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker |Chloe Lovejoy |Rebekah Alvey |Oliver Ward

Despite cuts to federal food safety programs, the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement is assuring the public that its government-enforced safety practices remain as strong as ever. The farmer-led coalition encompasses 94% of the nation’s leafy greens. In a statement last week, LGMA CEO Tim York confirmed CDFA auditors are regularly visiting fields to verify compliance with the stringent practices and said the program has been unaffected by recent FDA changes.
Daybreak West April 11: What keeps Nemeth up at night

1 week ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker

California’s top official for water infrastructure is carrying a lot of anxiety about climate change. Speaking recently to lawmakers, Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth explained how the state averted a disaster in 2023. The state had rapidly shifted from an extreme drought to one of its wettest winters on record.
Daybreak West April 4: Legislature not sold on farm to school costs

1 week ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker

Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing to spend $25 million from the state’s taxpayer fund on Farm to School grants, a priority for the first partner. Yet budget chairs are weeding out any opportunities to cut costs to avoid further deficits. During a subcommittee hearing this week, Asm. Steve Bennett of Ventura agreed with CDFA’s justification for Farm to School. But he stressed that “every assemblymember is making a request for new expenditures,” bumping elbows with Newsom.
Daybreak West April 10: DPR takes data-driven approach to pesticide blacklist

2 weeks ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker |Chloe Lovejoy |Rebekah Alvey |Lydia Johnson

The Department of Pesticide Regulation took a significant step in its Sustainable Pest Management agenda this week. It held the first workshop to establish a scientific advisory committee to provide recommendations on a priority list of pesticides to target for potential elimination. After decades of evaluating risks to humans and the environment, DPR is reconsidering what “risk” means. The committee will help to rank the various risks each pesticide poses. That raised concerns with Renee Pinel.
Daybreak West April 9: RFK Jr. founded an enviro group and it is fighting Trump deregulation

2 weeks ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker |Chloe Lovejoy |Oliver Ward |Philip Brasher

Decades before he was the Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a staunch environmental advocate. In 1999 he founded the Waterkeeper Alliance, a network of environmental organizations that now has 350 members in 46 countries. It spawned the California Coastkeeper Alliance the same year. The group has recently pushed for legislation to make all surface water drinkable, fishable and swimmable by 2050 and to add an environmental justice member to the state water board.
The water board has expanded to fill a federal void - and lawmakers want to extend its reach further

2 weeks ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker

In the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision rolling back federal water quality protections, California stepped in to assume those duties. But lawmakers want to go further and are proposing to restructure the foundational law that established the state’s regulatory framework for water.
Daybreak West April 8: Trump orders a 25% boost to timber production

2 weeks ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing federal agencies to expand U.S. timber production by 25% in four years. The increased harvesting is the center point of the administration’s strategy to reduce wildfire risk. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said an abundance of timber has created a national forest emergency, with risks of fire, insects and disease.
Daybreak West April 7: Agri-Pulse Tomato Challenge kicks off today

2 weeks ago | agri-pulse.com | Brad Hooker

Back by popular demand, the Great Tomato Challenge returns to Sacramento today, in partnership with Senate Ag Chair Melissa Hurtado. The competition is open to members of the California Senate and Assembly and their staff. The winner will be announced at the Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Issues Summit in Sacramento on June 10. Agri-Pulse will make a $1,000 donation to a California food bank of the winner’s choice, along with a $500 donation for second place. The winner will be invited to speak at the summit.