Climate Smart Citrus Groves and AFBF Annual Convention

**The California Farm Bureau and its partners have received $5 million from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to implement climate-smart farming practices in citrus groves.

The project, part of CDFA’s Healthy Soils Block Grant Pilot

Program, will focus on hedgerow planting, carbon sequestration and soil management practices, which create safe pollinator habitat in citrus groves.

The money will fund citrus groves in 11 counties.

**The American Farm Bureau Federation concluded its 2024 Annual Convention setting policy direction for the year.

Passing a farm bill is the top priority for Farm Bureau members, followed by labor and artificial intelligence data privacy.

Delegates voted to create new policy to address the growth of artificial intelligence in agriculture, which has the potential to enhance farming practices and conserve resources.

Delegates also voted to stabilize wage rates for guest workers.

**Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow wrote a letter to her colleagues on writing a new farm bill, outlining several proposals for strengthening the farm safety net.

Her vision for modernizing the safety net centers around programs targeted to active farmers, providing farmers choice and flexibility, and sending them timely assistance.

She adds officials need to expand the reach of programs to help more farmers and address emerging risks.