Governor Newsom Signs $75-Million Drought Relief Package for Small Agricultural Businesses

Ag Coalition Applauds Lawmakers and Newsom Administration for Grant Program to Offset Losses of Small Businesses in California's Farm Economy

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, Governor Newsom signed AB 157, a first in the nation bill which creates a $75-million drought grant program to provide relief to many small agricultural businesses that support production agriculture, according to Western Plant Health (WPH).

The program offers grants of up to $100,000 to qualified businesses with fewer than 100 employees. It is open to dryers, mills, ag suppliers, ag aircraft, ag service providers, ag trucking and small or socially disadvantaged farmers.

"This is a groundbreaking measure that recognizes the devastating impact of drought on a wide range of small but vital businesses in California's agricultural sector," said Renee Pinel, President & CEO of WPH, one of the bill's sponsors. "We greatly appreciate this bi-partisan solution – it offers genuine relief to businesses that have been hard hit by the drought."

AB 157 targets small businesses that have experienced a loss of at least 30 percent in 2022 gross receipts or gross profit – compared to those in 2019, the last normal year of planting.

"We thank the Governor for his leadership on this new program," said Pinel. "We'd also like to recognize the efforts of California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross, and CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong for their leadership on this program, as well as members of the legislature for recognizing the importance of this issue by passing AB 157."

In addition to WPH, the AB 157 coalition included: the California Rice Commission, California Warehouse Association, California Agricultural Aircraft Association, California Tomato Growers, Ag Council of California, and Northern California Water Association.

For more information, please contact: Stevan Allen at stevan@allenstrategic.com / (916) 718-2999

About Western Plant Health:
Western Plant Health (WPH) is a Sacramento-based trade association whose member companies promote the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use of their products. WPH members provide farmers with a wide range of crop protection and fertilizers necessary for safely growing crops that produce nutritious food and high-quality fiber, as well as horticultural products.

Media Contact

Stevan Allen, WPH, 1 9167182999, stevan@allenstrategic.com

SOURCE WPH