By Shaun Crook
First Vice President
California Farm Bureau
I’m a second-generation logger and third generation in agriculture. Have you introduced yourself in a similar way? Ever thought about why you did so or the importance of it? We are often defined by our occupations. This isn’t necessarily good or bad, but what are the ramifications?
For most of us in production agriculture, farming is not just a job but a way of life. It is an amazing opportunity that God has entrusted us with. But if you are like me, finding balance is a constant struggle and a battle I’ve probably lost more than I have won.
I apologize if you expected forest management wisdom in this commentary, but I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about the struggles we don’t usually want to talk about.
With all that we produce in California, time is still our most precious commodity. I’ve known for a long time that quality time together is my wife’s love language, as that is what is most important to her. Yet I have been guilty of sacrificing my presence with my family for working long hours in the woods, taking on too much extra work—and yes, even for Farm Bureau.
The Bible talks a lot about the value and importance of hard work and service to others, and I agree completely. But we should also be mindful of the sacrifices our loved ones make because of our decisions and because we “have to work.”
In agriculture, “have to work” is often unavoidable. Many times, the livelihood of our livestock or crops is completely
dependent on our presence, and that means we have to work. But what about the times when things on the farm aren’t necessarily relying on our being there? Do we go to work anyway and miss that baseball game or performance at school? Our loved ones need us there more than we realize. And when we are there, are we really there or is our mind on the work that isn’t getting done?
I guess I started to have this midlife crisis—even though at 47 years old, I realize I am past midlife and should have had this crisis at least seven years ago. When it comes to raising children, we have all heard “it goes fast,” “don’t blink” and a thousand other sayings. As an officially “old head,” I can tell you those sayings are true.
I first ran for the state Farm Bureau office more than eight years go. At that time, our oldest son hadn’t started high school, and our youngest could barely throw a baseball. With a couple of blinks, Gregory is a college graduate working on the East Coast, and Walker is about to start his first year at Cal Poly. Velina went back to school and is about to complete her bachelor’s degree. I couldn’t be more proud of my family, but I do have regrets that I wasn’t more present.
One huge change since we started this journey together is that my father passed away two and half years ago. Dad started our logging company and was in charge until the very end. He battled prostate cancer for about four years. He missed an appointment for a prostate screening test because he “had to work.” By the time his cancer was diagnosed, it was advancing to Stage 4. While I can’t be certain he would be here today if he had made it to that appointment, I can be certain that everything at work that day would have been fine if he had missed work to go to the doctor.
The other huge part of all this is we have bad habits of not talking about succession planning. When our patriarch gets diagnosed with advanced cancer, we want to be positive, and talking about how things will go without him doesn’t seem appropriate. It feels too late at that point. But not talking about these things with our families does more harm than good. As hard as it is, someone must start the conversation. Our partners at Nationwide, with the Land as Your Legacy program, have great tools to help in this process. But someone must have the courage to start the conversation.
It’s hard to separate life from work, but it is crucial for our well-being and state of mind to be present for our families. Do we live to work or work to live? Sometimes I must be reminded that being a logger is what I do and not always who I am. I want to first be remembered as a Christian, a husband and a father. Then I can be remembered as a logger.
Shaun Crook, who operates a family timber business in Tuolumne County, is first vice president of the California Farm Bureau. He can be reached at scrook@cfbf.com.
As I reflect on where we are as an organization and where we are headed, the words community, engagement and shared values come to mind.
We are in what I’d call the heart of advocacy season, a time of tremendous opportunity to activate our grassroots energy, create meaningful conversations and renew our shared purpose.
During the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of traveling to county Farm Bureau events across the state—from San Diego and Orange to Siskiyou, Butte and El Dorado. Each stop reinforces something essential: Community is still alive and well. But it’s up to us to keep it vibrant, connected and relevant. We do that by showing up, listening to our members and creating authentic opportunities where they feel heard, supported and inspired.
The events I attended weren’t just celebrations of agriculture. They were vibrant demonstrations of what Farm Bureau stands for.
In San Diego County, the Graze at the Fields event held at the beautiful Carlsbad Flower Fields brought together farmers, chefs, local businesses and community members around food and kinship. The San Diego event was a powerful example of our mission in action. From the smoked tuna chowder to the educational exhibits and the presence of Ag in the Classroom, this was agriculture brought to life. We didn’t just talk about the importance of farming. We showed it.
Orange County’s Steakfry had its own unique flavor both literally and figuratively. Santa Maria-style barbecue and the energy of 4-H and FFA youth reminded us of the deep roots we have in our communities.
In El Dorado County, people came together across generations to reclaim a community space, dance and celebrate their rural lifestyle. This is what makes Farm Bureau more than an organization. It makes us a movement.
Advocacy is no longer something we do once a year with a large contingent in Washington, D.C., or Sacramento. Through our Calling on the Capitol Series, we are reimagining what member engagement can look like. Smaller groups meeting more frequently are building stronger, more personal connections with elected officials. Members who’ve never advocated before are stepping up, supported by our staff and empowered with information.
This approach is delivering tangible results: more confidence among our members, better visibility with policymakers and deeper relationships. Our advocacy is becoming more accessible, more dynamic and more effective because it’s rooted in the lived experiences of our members.
Whether in board meetings or at community events, what I hear again and again is a desire for connection, support and relevance. People are craving meaningful engagement.
At a recent gathering in El Dorado County, I sat with a family that was raising their kids in the agricultural lifestyle. They didn’t regularly attend board meetings, but they were there, involved and invested to secure the future of the next generation.
That’s why listening is at the core of everything we do. It’s how the Calling on the Capitol Series evolved. It’s how we’re shaping programs at the county level, and it’s how we ensure that innovation and relevance stay central to our mission.
We know the headwinds farmers face: uncertainty with tariffs, high costs and added regulatory pressure. These are real challenges impacting livelihoods. So how do we respond? With new ideas, solutions and a commitment to making Farm Bureau essential to the people we serve.
This year, we’ve made intentional growth to increase operational engagement and align our work with three clear goals: advocacy, organizational strength and member value. We’ve reorganized the board around these pillars, and the questions coming from our leadership reflect a forward-looking mindset: What does the Farm Bureau of the future look like? How can the state office better support the counties?
Today’s world is filled with distractions, and lifestyle changes have pulled people away from the traditional concept of community. But what I see—event after event, county after county—is that people still want to come together. And when Farm Bureaus provide the right opportunities, they do—by the hundreds.
When we talked in January about the three pillars—policy advocacy, business solutions and leadership development—we committed to not just talk but act. I can confidently say that we are moving the needle. The unity I’ve seen among members, the curiosity and engagement of youth, and the dedication of our board and staff are a testament to that.
The heart of our strength is our people. Our power lies in our unity and our grassroots energy. Let’s keep growing. Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep connecting.
Dan Durheim is chief operating officer of the California Farm Bureau. He can be reached at ddurheim@cfbf.com.
Efficient water management is a growing priority in California as agriculture, urban and recreational development, and environmental needs increasingly compete for limited resources.
There is a pressing need for professionals who understand water system complexities but also can design, manage and optimize irrigation systems. To meet this need, professionals need an excellent source of irrigation education that includes extensive written material to emphasize the details and a tested hands-on component to help understand complex topics.
Stuart Styles
Cal Poly’s Irrigation Training and Research Center, or ITRC, plays a critical role in addressing that need.
I started working for the ITRC in 1993 and have been director since 2000. Founded in 1989 by Dr. Charles Burt and housed within the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department, ITRC was specifically developed to ensure long-term positive benefits to Cal Poly’s academic irrigation training program, emphasizing the “Learn by Doing” motto.
The center’s work spans irrigation district modernization, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, or SCADA, and canal automation, flow rate management, on-farm irrigation system evaluations, energy efficiency and evapotranspiration measurement.
ITRC balances its academic irrigation program while also serving as a technical resource for the water industry. It integrates training, research and technical support to serve students and professionals across California. The center is operated by 15 professionals and 30 part-time student technicians.
ITRC offers year-round technical training for irrigation district staff, engineers, consultants and growers. These workshops combine classroom instruction with hands-on experiences at the Irrigation Performance Facility and the Water Hydraulic Laboratory.
Thirteen irrigation courses are available to Cal Poly students. During COVID-19, these were among the few classes held on the Cal Poly campus. The outdoor facilities provided a perfect classroom setting, bringing safe instruction. Courses designed for students have been shared with irrigation dealers, districts and the broader industry. These 525 professional offerings have served more than 11,700 participants, with 157,200 professional education hours logged over 35 years.
Irrigation System Evaluation, or ISE, short courses, sponsored by the California Department of Water Resources, prepare participants for ITRC Certified Distribution Uniformity Evaluator certification. ISE1 combines theory with lab practices, while ISE2 involves complete field evaluations of drip and microirrigation systems in the San Joaquin Valley.
Certified evaluators perform summer distribution uniformity evaluations statewide. Offered free through DWR and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, these assessments involve measuring pressures and flows and inspecting system components. Students input the data, analyze it with staff support, then compile reports with results and recommendations. They also meet growers to review findings and suggest improvements, often boosting yield and crop quality.
The Designer/Manager School of Irrigation program offers courses in scheduling, hydraulics, pumps, row crop drip irrigation, and drip and microirrigation design aligned with Irrigation Association certifications. Most exams and books were provided by ITRC and authored by me and Charles Burt, who has been my mentor.
For water districts, the Irrigation District School of Irrigation courses are held during the winter months. The workshops are sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, California Great Basin region. The program includes courses in flow management, pumps, modernization and SCADA.
ITRC is updating its popular flow management short course to become a certified program, which will include a formal exam and certificate. This new certification is designed to strengthen industry standards and better prepare participants for real-world applications. The certified course is expected to be launched soon. The SCADA course now features cutting-edge Schneider Electric 474i controllers, offering water districts a state-of-the-art training for modernizing canal and pump control systems.
The Certified Irrigator Program is sponsored by the CDFA Water Efficiency Technical Assistance program. The two-class sequence focuses initially on basic irrigation principles and advances to topics such as pipeline hydraulics and irrigation efficiency. These classes are offered in English and Spanish and are targeted for on-farm irrigation professionals, with an emphasis on drip systems. After completion of each in-person course, attendees can take an exam to receive certification.
ITRC also provides two self-paced online courses that are available year-round. The online Certified Fertigator course is sponsored by CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program and is available in English and Spanish. The classes cover techniques in the control and application of fertilizers through irrigation systems and strategies to conform to nitrogen regulations in California.
Other key topics include the characteristics and behavior of nitrogen fertilizers, challenges associated with phosphorus and potassium applications, use of growth enhancers and organic-compliant methods for keeping drip systems clean. The course emphasizes increasing crop yields per acre-foot of evapotranspiration through improved fertility management, a critical objective for California growers facing ongoing water and regulatory pressures.
Cal Poly’s ITRC continues to be a vital hub for irrigation education, research and innovation, training the next generation of professionals to meet California’s water management challenges. For more information about projects or short courses, visit itrc.org.
Stuart Styles is a professor of irrigation and director of the Irrigation Training and Research Center at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He may be contacted at sstyles@calpoly.edu.
Victoria Paolini, agricultural communications technician at Cal Poly’s Irrigation Training and Research Center, contributed to this commentary.
By Shannon Douglass
President
California Farm Bureau
Activate. It’s one of the most important words in Farm Bureau’s vocabulary. It’s not passive. It doesn’t wait. It doesn’t settle. It moves. It organizes. It amplifies.
To activate is to engage with purpose. And that’s exactly what Farm Bureau does every day. Together, members and staff activate to protect the future of farming and ranching in California and the quality of life that comes with it.
It’s not an easy path. But challenges don’t intimidate farmers and ranchers. They activate us.
And right now, the challenges are mounting.
California lost more than 15,000 farms between 2012 and 2022, according to the latest U.S. Census of Agriculture. That’s not just a number. That’s families, land, food production—a way of life—disappearing at an alarming rate.
One major reason? The cost of doing business has exploded. A Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, study shows regulatory compliance costs for California farmers have increased nearly 1,400% in less than 20 years. That’s not sustainable—for family farms, rural communities or the millions who rely on California-grown food.
In just the past five years, we’ve lost more than 120,000 acres of irrigated farmland and seen a 10.5% drop in the number of farms. These aren’t isolated statistics. The state with the heaviest regulatory burden is also leading in farm loss—and the consequences ripple far beyond the farm gate.
But here’s what matters most: We can make a difference.
Last year, we proved that when we speak up, we’re heard. From key legislative wins to growing public awareness, our collective voice has power. The passage of Proposition 36 and momentum around issues like Measure J show that Californians are starting to ask the right questions and our elected leaders are beginning to listen.
Why? Because people like you are speaking up. Your voice matters. Together, we ensure decision-makers understand what’s at stake.
That’s what it means to activate. We speak up. We share the facts. But most importantly, we tell our stories—because that’s what people remember.
Like the farmer watching once-productive fields sit idle, only because the cost of staying in compliance is higher than the return on the harvest. Or the rancher losing cattle to predators—or worse, who’s hesitant to let his children play in the backyard because of those same threats.
These stories bring the statistics to life. They make the issue personal and impossible to ignore.
We need to keep that momentum going. It’s going to take all of us—farmers, ranchers, advocates and families—activating together.
That’s why we’re asking you to step forward in two powerful ways:
First, join your fellow Farm Bureau members for legislative visits this month during our Calling on the Capitol Series. These one-day trips are designed to maximize your voice while minimizing your time away from the farm. May is a critical time in the legislative cycle, and your story can make a real difference. (See Make time to voice concerns on issues affecting your farm.)
Second, if you can’t leave the farm, you can still activate in seconds. Sign up for FarmTeam to receive quick, impactful alerts via text and email. When legislation threatens agriculture, your voice—sent directly to elected officials—helps shape outcomes. It takes only 60 seconds, but it makes a big difference. (See details below.)
Let’s not wait for change. Let’s activate it.
FarmTeam makes it easy to activate
When policy decisions threaten the way of life for California farmers and ranchers, timing is everything.
FarmTeam provides a fast, effective way to make your voice heard in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Members sign up to receive timely alerts via email and text about critical legislation that impacts California agriculture. With just a few clicks on your phone or computer, you can send a message directly to your elected representatives.
It’s quick. It’s easy. And it works.
FarmTeam has played a key role in stopping harmful bills before they become law—because lawmakers listen when they hear from the farmers and ranchers they represent.
FarmTeam is a service of Farm Bureau, but membership is not required to participate. Anyone concerned about the future of California agriculture is encouraged to sign up.
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Commentary
By Shaun Crook
First Vice President
California Farm Bureau
I’m a second-generation logger and third generation in agriculture. Have you introduced yourself in a similar way? Ever thought about why you did so or the importance of it? We are often defined by our occupations. This isn’t necessarily good or bad, but what are the ramifications?
For most of us in production agriculture, farming is not just a job but a way of life. It is an amazing opportunity that God has entrusted us with. But if you are like me, finding balance is a constant struggle and a battle I’ve probably lost more than I have won.
I apologize if you expected forest management wisdom in this commentary, but I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about the struggles we don’t usually want to talk about.
The Bible talks a lot about the value and importance of hard work and service to others, and I agree completely. But we should also be mindful of the sacrifices our loved ones make because of our decisions and because we “have to work.”
In agriculture, “have to work” is often unavoidable. Many times, the livelihood of our livestock or crops is completely
dependent on our presence, and that means we have to work. But what about the times when things on the farm aren’t necessarily relying on our being there? Do we go to work anyway and miss that baseball game or performance at school? Our loved ones need us there more than we realize. And when we are there, are we really there or is our mind on the work that isn’t getting done?
I guess I started to have this midlife crisis—even though at 47 years old, I realize I am past midlife and should have had this crisis at least seven years ago. When it comes to raising children, we have all heard “it goes fast,” “don’t blink” and a thousand other sayings. As an officially “old head,” I can tell you those sayings are true.
I first ran for the state Farm Bureau office more than eight years go. At that time, our oldest son hadn’t started high school, and our youngest could barely throw a baseball. With a couple of blinks, Gregory is a college graduate working on the East Coast, and Walker is about to start his first year at Cal Poly. Velina went back to school and is about to complete her bachelor’s degree. I couldn’t be more proud of my family, but I do have regrets that I wasn’t more present.
One huge change since we started this journey together is that my father passed away two and half years ago. Dad started our logging company and was in charge until the very end. He battled prostate cancer for about four years. He missed an appointment for a prostate screening test because he “had to work.” By the time his cancer was diagnosed, it was advancing to Stage 4. While I can’t be certain he would be here today if he had made it to that appointment, I can be certain that everything at work that day would have been fine if he had missed work to go to the doctor.
The other huge part of all this is we have bad habits of not talking about succession planning. When our patriarch gets diagnosed with advanced cancer, we want to be positive, and talking about how things will go without him doesn’t seem appropriate. It feels too late at that point. But not talking about these things with our families does more harm than good. As hard as it is, someone must start the conversation. Our partners at Nationwide, with the Land as Your Legacy program, have great tools to help in this process. But someone must have the courage to start the conversation.
It’s hard to separate life from work, but it is crucial for our well-being and state of mind to be present for our families. Do we live to work or work to live? Sometimes I must be reminded that being a logger is what I do and not always who I am. I want to first be remembered as a Christian, a husband and a father. Then I can be remembered as a logger.
Shaun Crook, who operates a family timber business in Tuolumne County, is first vice president of the California Farm Bureau. He can be reached at scrook@cfbf.com.
By Dan Durheim
Chief Operating Officer
As I reflect on where we are as an organization and where we are headed, the words community, engagement and shared values come to mind.
We are in what I’d call the heart of advocacy season, a time of tremendous opportunity to activate our grassroots energy, create meaningful conversations and renew our shared purpose.
The events I attended weren’t just celebrations of agriculture. They were vibrant demonstrations of what Farm Bureau stands for.
In San Diego County, the Graze at the Fields event held at the beautiful Carlsbad Flower Fields brought together farmers, chefs, local businesses and community members around food and kinship. The San Diego event was a powerful example of our mission in action. From the smoked tuna chowder to the educational exhibits and the presence of Ag in the Classroom, this was agriculture brought to life. We didn’t just talk about the importance of farming. We showed it.
Orange County’s Steakfry had its own unique flavor both literally and figuratively. Santa Maria-style barbecue and the energy of 4-H and FFA youth reminded us of the deep roots we have in our communities.
In El Dorado County, people came together across generations to reclaim a community space, dance and celebrate their rural lifestyle. This is what makes Farm Bureau more than an organization. It makes us a movement.
Advocacy is no longer something we do once a year with a large contingent in Washington, D.C., or Sacramento. Through our Calling on the Capitol Series, we are reimagining what member engagement can look like. Smaller groups meeting more frequently are building stronger, more personal connections with elected officials. Members who’ve never advocated before are stepping up, supported by our staff and empowered with information.
This approach is delivering tangible results: more confidence among our members, better visibility with policymakers and deeper relationships. Our advocacy is becoming more accessible, more dynamic and more effective because it’s rooted in the lived experiences of our members.
Whether in board meetings or at community events, what I hear again and again is a desire for connection, support and relevance. People are craving meaningful engagement.
At a recent gathering in El Dorado County, I sat with a family that was raising their kids in the agricultural lifestyle. They didn’t regularly attend board meetings, but they were there, involved and invested to secure the future of the next generation.
That’s why listening is at the core of everything we do. It’s how the Calling on the Capitol Series evolved. It’s how we’re shaping programs at the county level, and it’s how we ensure that innovation and relevance stay central to our mission.
We know the headwinds farmers face: uncertainty with tariffs, high costs and added regulatory pressure. These are real challenges impacting livelihoods. So how do we respond? With new ideas, solutions and a commitment to making Farm Bureau essential to the people we serve.
This year, we’ve made intentional growth to increase operational engagement and align our work with three clear goals: advocacy, organizational strength and member value. We’ve reorganized the board around these pillars, and the questions coming from our leadership reflect a forward-looking mindset: What does the Farm Bureau of the future look like? How can the state office better support the counties?
Today’s world is filled with distractions, and lifestyle changes have pulled people away from the traditional concept of community. But what I see—event after event, county after county—is that people still want to come together. And when Farm Bureaus provide the right opportunities, they do—by the hundreds.
When we talked in January about the three pillars—policy advocacy, business solutions and leadership development—we committed to not just talk but act. I can confidently say that we are moving the needle. The unity I’ve seen among members, the curiosity and engagement of youth, and the dedication of our board and staff are a testament to that.
The heart of our strength is our people. Our power lies in our unity and our grassroots energy. Let’s keep growing. Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep connecting.
Dan Durheim is chief operating officer of the California Farm Bureau. He can be reached at ddurheim@cfbf.com.
By Stuart Styles
Efficient water management is a growing priority in California as agriculture, urban and recreational development, and environmental needs increasingly compete for limited resources.
There is a pressing need for professionals who understand water system complexities but also can design, manage and optimize irrigation systems. To meet this need, professionals need an excellent source of irrigation education that includes extensive written material to emphasize the details and a tested hands-on component to help understand complex topics.
Cal Poly’s Irrigation Training and Research Center, or ITRC, plays a critical role in addressing that need.
I started working for the ITRC in 1993 and have been director since 2000. Founded in 1989 by Dr. Charles Burt and housed within the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department, ITRC was specifically developed to ensure long-term positive benefits to Cal Poly’s academic irrigation training program, emphasizing the “Learn by Doing” motto.
The center’s work spans irrigation district modernization, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, or SCADA, and canal automation, flow rate management, on-farm irrigation system evaluations, energy efficiency and evapotranspiration measurement.
ITRC balances its academic irrigation program while also serving as a technical resource for the water industry. It integrates training, research and technical support to serve students and professionals across California. The center is operated by 15 professionals and 30 part-time student technicians.
ITRC offers year-round technical training for irrigation district staff, engineers, consultants and growers. These workshops combine classroom instruction with hands-on experiences at the Irrigation Performance Facility and the Water Hydraulic Laboratory.
Thirteen irrigation courses are available to Cal Poly students. During COVID-19, these were among the few classes held on the Cal Poly campus. The outdoor facilities provided a perfect classroom setting, bringing safe instruction. Courses designed for students have been shared with irrigation dealers, districts and the broader industry. These 525 professional offerings have served more than 11,700 participants, with 157,200 professional education hours logged over 35 years.
Irrigation System Evaluation, or ISE, short courses, sponsored by the California Department of Water Resources, prepare participants for ITRC Certified Distribution Uniformity Evaluator certification. ISE1 combines theory with lab practices, while ISE2 involves complete field evaluations of drip and microirrigation systems in the San Joaquin Valley.
The Designer/Manager School of Irrigation program offers courses in scheduling, hydraulics, pumps, row crop drip irrigation, and drip and microirrigation design aligned with Irrigation Association certifications. Most exams and books were provided by ITRC and authored by me and Charles Burt, who has been my mentor.
For water districts, the Irrigation District School of Irrigation courses are held during the winter months. The workshops are sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, California Great Basin region. The program includes courses in flow management, pumps, modernization and SCADA.
ITRC is updating its popular flow management short course to become a certified program, which will include a formal exam and certificate. This new certification is designed to strengthen industry standards and better prepare participants for real-world applications. The certified course is expected to be launched soon. The SCADA course now features cutting-edge Schneider Electric 474i controllers, offering water districts a state-of-the-art training for modernizing canal and pump control systems.
The Certified Irrigator Program is sponsored by the CDFA Water Efficiency Technical Assistance program. The two-class sequence focuses initially on basic irrigation principles and advances to topics such as pipeline hydraulics and irrigation efficiency. These classes are offered in English and Spanish and are targeted for on-farm irrigation professionals, with an emphasis on drip systems. After completion of each in-person course, attendees can take an exam to receive certification.
ITRC also provides two self-paced online courses that are available year-round. The online Certified Fertigator course is sponsored by CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program and is available in English and Spanish. The classes cover techniques in the control and application of fertilizers through irrigation systems and strategies to conform to nitrogen regulations in California.
Other key topics include the characteristics and behavior of nitrogen fertilizers, challenges associated with phosphorus and potassium applications, use of growth enhancers and organic-compliant methods for keeping drip systems clean. The course emphasizes increasing crop yields per acre-foot of evapotranspiration through improved fertility management, a critical objective for California growers facing ongoing water and regulatory pressures.
Cal Poly’s ITRC continues to be a vital hub for irrigation education, research and innovation, training the next generation of professionals to meet California’s water management challenges. For more information about projects or short courses, visit itrc.org.
Stuart Styles is a professor of irrigation and director of the Irrigation Training and Research Center at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He may be contacted at sstyles@calpoly.edu.
Victoria Paolini, agricultural communications technician at Cal Poly’s Irrigation Training and Research Center, contributed to this commentary.
By Shannon Douglass
President
California Farm Bureau
Activate. It’s one of the most important words in Farm Bureau’s vocabulary. It’s not passive. It doesn’t wait. It doesn’t settle. It moves. It organizes. It amplifies.
To activate is to engage with purpose. And that’s exactly what Farm Bureau does every day. Together, members and staff activate to protect the future of farming and ranching in California and the quality of life that comes with it.
It’s not an easy path. But challenges don’t intimidate farmers and ranchers. They activate us.
And right now, the challenges are mounting.
California lost more than 15,000 farms between 2012 and 2022, according to the latest U.S. Census of Agriculture. That’s not just a number. That’s families, land, food production—a way of life—disappearing at an alarming rate.
One major reason? The cost of doing business has exploded. A Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, study shows regulatory compliance costs for California farmers have increased nearly 1,400% in less than 20 years. That’s not sustainable—for family farms, rural communities or the millions who rely on California-grown food.
In just the past five years, we’ve lost more than 120,000 acres of irrigated farmland and seen a 10.5% drop in the number of farms. These aren’t isolated statistics. The state with the heaviest regulatory burden is also leading in farm loss—and the consequences ripple far beyond the farm gate.
But here’s what matters most: We can make a difference.
Last year, we proved that when we speak up, we’re heard. From key legislative wins to growing public awareness, our collective voice has power. The passage of Proposition 36 and momentum around issues like Measure J show that Californians are starting to ask the right questions and our elected leaders are beginning to listen.
Why? Because people like you are speaking up. Your voice matters. Together, we ensure decision-makers understand what’s at stake.
That’s what it means to activate. We speak up. We share the facts. But most importantly, we tell our stories—because that’s what people remember.
Like the farmer watching once-productive fields sit idle, only because the cost of staying in compliance is higher than the return on the harvest. Or the rancher losing cattle to predators—or worse, who’s hesitant to let his children play in the backyard because of those same threats.
These stories bring the statistics to life. They make the issue personal and impossible to ignore.
We need to keep that momentum going. It’s going to take all of us—farmers, ranchers, advocates and families—activating together.
That’s why we’re asking you to step forward in two powerful ways:
First, join your fellow Farm Bureau members for legislative visits this month during our Calling on the Capitol Series. These one-day trips are designed to maximize your voice while minimizing your time away from the farm. May is a critical time in the legislative cycle, and your story can make a real difference. (See Make time to voice concerns on issues affecting your farm.)
Second, if you can’t leave the farm, you can still activate in seconds. Sign up for FarmTeam to receive quick, impactful alerts via text and email. When legislation threatens agriculture, your voice—sent directly to elected officials—helps shape outcomes. It takes only 60 seconds, but it makes a big difference. (See details below.)
Let’s not wait for change. Let’s activate it.
FarmTeam makes it easy to activate
FarmTeam provides a fast, effective way to make your voice heard in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Members sign up to receive timely alerts via email and text about critical legislation that impacts California agriculture. With just a few clicks on your phone or computer, you can send a message directly to your elected representatives.
It’s quick. It’s easy. And it works.
FarmTeam has played a key role in stopping harmful bills before they become law—because lawmakers listen when they hear from the farmers and ranchers they represent.
FarmTeam is a service of Farm Bureau, but membership is not required to participate. Anyone concerned about the future of California agriculture is encouraged to sign up.
Join the more than 40,000 members of FarmTeam and make your voice heard.