SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 409 by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) which seeks to make climate change adaptation tools more readily available to farmers and agricultural businesses was introduced.
California is home to just over 77,000 farms and ranches and as a result is heavily impacted by the effects of climate change. Increased frequency of extreme weather has brought a new set of issues to farmers and ranchers like new pests, constrained water sources, wildfires, and reduced winter chill hours.
“Climate change has taken on a toll on farmers throughout the state and in my district,” said Assemblymember Monique Limón. “To protect our agricultural businesses, the livelihoods of hardworking Californians and address a changing climate, we need to invest in our farmers and support their effort to face these growing challenges. I’m proud to author this bill.”
Assembly Bill 409 would establish a competitive grant program in the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to develop climate adaptation planning tools and trainings for agricultural producers. The bill would require the director to make available, upon appropriation, up to $2,000,000 to fund the grant program.
“Farmers and Ranchers are hungry for data, new equipment, resources and trainings on how to remain competitive and adapt our operations to the fluxes caused by climate chaos,” said Helen McGrath of Flying M Ranch in Fillmore, California.
Assemblymember Limón seeks to ensure that adaptation tools and methods are made available for farms of all sizes. “Small or moderately sized farms, socially disadvantaged farms and ranches do not have equal access to resources on how to adapt to climate change, AB 409 seeks to address that disparity,” said Assemblymember Limón.
— Monique Limón represents the 37th Assembly District which includes Santa Barbara, Ventura, Goleta, Carpinteria, Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Buellton, Solvang, Summerland, Isla Vista, Montecito and parts of Oxnard. She currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.