Lynda Hopkins sells organic produce grown at her family’s Foggy River Farm in Healdsburg. Hopkins is a Sonoma County supervisor and member of the California Air Resources Board. Photo/Courtesy of Linda Hopkins for Supervisor
Natalia Pinzón co-founded Farmer Campus, which offers education and tools for farmers and ranchers. Courtesy of Natalia Pinzón
Two participants of Kinder Ground’s Hoof Care Academy practice their skills at a dairy in Escalon. Photo/Courtesy of Jen Walker
Hurtado pictured in 2024 in Sacramento. The San Joaquin Valley lawmaker coauthored Senate Bill 921, which would create a tax credit offsetting the cost to farmers of paying overtime premiums. Photo/Caleb Hampton
Pam Marrone makes notes in a California vineyard. She is founder and former CEO of Marrone Bio Innovations, now called ProFarm Group, which specializes in the development of bio-based pesticides. Photo/Courtesy of Pam Marrone
Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, D-Tracy, represents District 13 in the California Assembly. The district encompasses much of San Joaquin County and part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Ransom spoke with Ag Ale rt ® about representing Central Valley constituents in Sacramento and her observations following her first year in the Assembly. The below conversation was edited for length and clarity.
Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, R-Indio, represents District 36 in the California State Assembly. The district encompasses Imperial County and parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Gonzalez spoke with Ag Alert® about his approach to policymaking and his observations following his first year in the Assembly. The below conversation was edited for length and clarity. Can you tell me about your background and your experiences before going into politics? I was in the Marine Corps for 21 years, with combat tours
Cody Jacobsen of Merced College, from left, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, Jill Cunningham and Bryan Tassey, both of Merced College, pose at the college’s AgTechX Summit in 2024. Photo/Merced College
Dave Canny, vice president of the North Coast region at Pacific Gas and Electric Co., highlighted the energy provider’s efforts to mitigate wildfire risks and improve electric reliability for customers. Photo/Courtesy of Dave Canny
University of California, Davis, engineering researcher and professor Stavros Vougioukas poses near robotic technology that saves time and labor in harvesting strawberries. Photo/Courtesy of Stavros Vougioukas
After destructive wildfires, major insurance companies stopped writing policies in California. Ricardo Lara, the state’s insurance commissioner, has led efforts to restore access to insurance. Photo/Courtesy of California Department of Insurance
Photo/Courtesy of the California Farmworker Foundation
California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross addresses attendees of Ag Day, held annually in March, to celebrate the state’s bounty and recognize farmers and ranchers. Photo/Christine Souza
Debra Kawahara Photo/Michal Czerwonka
Wade Crowfoot Photo/Courtesy of CNRA
Assembly Member Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, speaks in 2023 at a gathering of Republican lawmakers calling on California’s Democratic leadership to prioritize water infrastructure and storage projects. Photo/Courtesy of Assembly Member Juan Alanis
Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters, participates in a committee hearing last year at the state Capitol. Aguiar-Curry says she wants to educate new assembly members about agriculture. Photo/Krishnia Parker
Aaron Fukuda, general manager of the Tulare Irrigation District and interim general manager of the Mid-Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency, surveys the site of a planned TID reservoir at McKay Point. Photo/Caleb Hampton
