Arizona Agriculture Connection Ep. 11-MCFB Ag Report

Arizona Agriculture Connection: Updates and Opportunities

Hello, Arizona Aggies! Welcome back to another informative edition of the Arizona Agriculture Connection with the Maricopa County Farm Bureau. We're excited to bring you the latest updates and opportunities in Arizona's agricultural community.

A Successful Farm City Breakfast

Last week, we wrapped up our annual Farm City Breakfast, which was a fantastic event where we served over 250 community members, agriculturalists, and local elected officials. If you missed out on this opportunity to connect and engage, don't worry! You can check out our events calendar at maricopacountyfb.org/events to catch the next opportunity to join us.

Upcoming Events: Women's Leadership Committee Meet-up

We're thrilled to announce an upcoming Women's Leadership Committee meet-up. This is a great chance to network and participate in discussions relevant to women in agriculture. Stay tuned to our events page for more details!

Legislative Updates from the Capitol

There's been a significant amount of legislative activity affecting agriculture recently. The Maricopa County Farm Bureau has prioritized topics like groundwater rights, OHB regulation, and the usage of autonomous tractors. Significant among recent legislative developments is SB 1520, sponsored by Senator Dunn, which revisits and improves upon last year's SB 1221. This bill has successfully passed through the House Natural

Resources Energy and Water Committee.

In addition, SB 1517, also championed by Senator Dunn, focuses on OHV regulation, clearing the House Transportation Committee hurdle. And for the forward-thinking farmers, SB 1320 is paving the way for future use of autonomous tractors.

Federal Support: The Emergency Commodity Assistance Program

On the federal level, the USDA has launched economic assistance for producers with ECAP, the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program. Eligible commodities include corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, upland, extra-long staple cotton, rice, peanuts, soybeans, various oil seeds, dry peanuts, lentils, and chickpeas. Producers have until August 15th to apply online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap or by visiting your local FSA office. Don't miss this important assistance opportunity!

Revamping the Arizona Grown Program

The Arizona Department of Agriculture is seeking feedback as they revamp their Arizona Grown program. This is your opportunity to share valuable insights! Please visit the Arizona Department of Agriculture's website HERE to provide feedback.

Thank you for tuning in to this week's Ag report. Join us next week for another guest episode as we chat with American Farm Bureau Economist, Danny Munch. For more information on current legislative efforts, event updates, and resources, visit our website at MaricopaCountyFB.org.

Stay connected, stay informed, and keep nurturing the land that sustains us all!