Statement from California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass on End of Legislative Session
September 1, 2026
“As the legislative session ends, Senator Hurtado deserves our thanks for her work to keep goats available for wildfire fuel reduction. Common sense prevailed there, and we're grateful for it.
“We’re also appreciative of Assemblymember Hadwick and Senator Blakespear for securing $5 million in funding for the Wolf Livestock Compensation Program, so those dollars can reach ranchers who are losing cattle to nightly kills.
“The Legislature and the administration, however, failed to make autonomous equipment in farming a reality this year. California stands alone as the only state in the country that won't let farmers use this technology, a gap that puts our farmers and ranchers at a disadvantage and cuts them off from tools that improve efficiency, sustainability and worker safety. California Farm Bureau will not accept being the only state where farmers lack access to precision agriculture, and we intend to make this one of our highest priorities next year.
“Once again, the Legislature advanced policies that increase costs, add uncertainty and place California’s farmers and ranchers at an even greater competitive disadvantage compared to producers in other states and countries. As the industry consolidates into fewer producers growing a narrower range of crops, California's ability to produce more than 400 commodities is threatened. We hope lawmakers weigh these consequences carefully and decide whether they want to stand behind agriculture in this state or make it harder to grow food here at home.”
– Shannon Douglass, President, California Farm Bureau
California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches as part of a nationwide network representing more than 5 million Farm Bureau members. Learn more at www.cfbf.com or follow @cafarmbureau on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, or Facebook.
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