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The California Farm Bureau is weighing in on growing concerns about immigration that could have an impact on farmers across the state.
While there have been news reports of unease among some farm employees, the California Farm Bureau said it has been in contact with numerous farmers across the state and has not heard of any widespread workforce disruption.
Bryan Little, senior director of policy advocacy at the California Farm Bureau, which represents more than 26,000 farm and ranch families in the state, clarified that while concerns exist, farmers are continuing operations.
While it’s unclear if all farms are fully operational, Farm Bureau has not received reports indicating otherwise, and efforts are always underway to ensure workforce stability.
“We recognize that some workers may feel uncertain right now, and we want to be very clear: California agriculture depends on and values its workforce,” Little said. “Farm employees are not just workers — they are partners in this industry. They are people with families, dreams and an incredible work ethic that keeps food on tables across America. We understand the uncertainty some might feel right now, and we want to be absolutely clear: California’s farmers stand with you. We respect you. We value you. And we will do everything in our power to ensure that agriculture remains a place where you are safe and supported.”
With one-third of the nation’s agricultural workforce located in California, farm employees play an indispensable role in food production. These skilled workers plant, cultivate and harvest the crops that make California the leading producer of fruits, vegetables and nuts in the United States.
“Without these employees, crops would go unharvested, rural businesses would suffer and food prices could rise for families across the country,” Little said. “This is not just a farm issue — it’s a food security issue, an economic issue and a community issue.”
The interdependence of agriculture and rural economies is without question, according to Little. Thousands of employees in ag-adjacent industries — including food processing, transportation and equipment suppliers — depend on the steady flow of agricultural work to sustain their livelihoods.
Little addressed the urgent need for immigration policy reform, noting that California’s agricultural workforce challenges are not new.
“Farmers and ranchers have struggled with chronic labor shortages for years, and uncertainty surrounding immigration policy only exacerbates the problem,” he said. “California’s farmers and ranchers are ready to work with the administration and Congress to advance real, bipartisan workforce reforms this year,“ Little said. “This isn’t just about filling jobs — it’s about ensuring security and stability for the agricultural workforce and the farmers who depend on them.”
To provide a long-term solution, Little outlined three key priorities for workforce reform:
• Modernizing the H-2A agricultural visa program to make it more flexible and responsive to the labor needs of farmers and ranchers.
• Providing earned legal status for current agricultural workers, recognizing their longstanding contributions to U.S. food production.
• Crafting immigration policies that reflect the reality of agriculture in a diverse state like California, where workforce stability is essential to feeding the nation.
While supporting lawful immigration policies, the Farm Bureau cautioned against indiscriminate enforcement actions that do not account for workforce stability.
“We need policies that offer real solutions, rather than uncertainty,” Little said. “It’s like pulling the foundation out from under a house. If we want a strong agricultural economy and a secure food supply, we need solutions that reflect the reality of farming — not blanket enforcement measures that put the entire agricultural system at risk.”
Little said the California Farm Bureau remains in close contact with worker advocates, policymakers and agricultural leaders to monitor any reports of workforce disruption and to help ensure that California’s farms continue to function smoothly during all of California’s upcoming harvest periods.
“California Farm Bureau will continue to advocate for practical, compassionate solutions that protect our workforce, stabilize our industry and secure America’s food supply,” Little said. “California agriculture is strong, and our message to farm employees is simple. You are essential. You are valued. And farmers will continue to stand with you. As harvest season approaches in key growing areas, we will do everything in our power to ensure a stable and secure workforce, a dependable food supply and a strong agricultural economy for the future.”
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 26,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.8 million Farm Bureau members.
While there have been news reports of unease among some farm employees, the California Farm Bureau said it has been in contact with numerous farmers across the state and has not heard of any widespread workforce disruption.
Bryan Little, senior director of policy advocacy at the California Farm Bureau, which represents more than 26,000 farm and ranch families in the state, clarified that while concerns exist, farmers are continuing operations.
While it’s unclear if all farms are fully operational, Farm Bureau has not received reports indicating otherwise, and efforts are always underway to ensure workforce stability.
“We recognize that some workers may feel uncertain right now, and we want to be very clear: California agriculture depends on and values its workforce,” Little said. “Farm employees are not just workers — they are partners in this industry. They are people with families, dreams and an incredible work ethic that keeps food on tables across America. We understand the uncertainty some might feel right now, and we want to be absolutely clear: California’s farmers stand with you. We respect you. We value you. And we will do everything in our power to ensure that agriculture remains a place where you are safe and supported.”
With one-third of the nation’s agricultural workforce located in California, farm employees play an indispensable role in food production. These skilled workers plant, cultivate and harvest the crops that make California the leading producer of fruits, vegetables and nuts in the United States.
“Without these employees, crops would go unharvested, rural businesses would suffer and food prices could rise for families across the country,” Little said. “This is not just a farm issue — it’s a food security issue, an economic issue and a community issue.”
The interdependence of agriculture and rural economies is without question, according to Little. Thousands of employees in ag-adjacent industries — including food processing, transportation and equipment suppliers — depend on the steady flow of agricultural work to sustain their livelihoods.
Little addressed the urgent need for immigration policy reform, noting that California’s agricultural workforce challenges are not new.
“Farmers and ranchers have struggled with chronic labor shortages for years, and uncertainty surrounding immigration policy only exacerbates the problem,” he said. “California’s farmers and ranchers are ready to work with the administration and Congress to advance real, bipartisan workforce reforms this year,“ Little said. “This isn’t just about filling jobs — it’s about ensuring security and stability for the agricultural workforce and the farmers who depend on them.”
To provide a long-term solution, Little outlined three key priorities for workforce reform:
• Modernizing the H-2A agricultural visa program to make it more flexible and responsive to the labor needs of farmers and ranchers.
• Providing earned legal status for current agricultural workers, recognizing their longstanding contributions to U.S. food production.
• Crafting immigration policies that reflect the reality of agriculture in a diverse state like California, where workforce stability is essential to feeding the nation.
While supporting lawful immigration policies, the Farm Bureau cautioned against indiscriminate enforcement actions that do not account for workforce stability.
“We need policies that offer real solutions, rather than uncertainty,” Little said. “It’s like pulling the foundation out from under a house. If we want a strong agricultural economy and a secure food supply, we need solutions that reflect the reality of farming — not blanket enforcement measures that put the entire agricultural system at risk.”
Little said the California Farm Bureau remains in close contact with worker advocates, policymakers and agricultural leaders to monitor any reports of workforce disruption and to help ensure that California’s farms continue to function smoothly during all of California’s upcoming harvest periods.
“California Farm Bureau will continue to advocate for practical, compassionate solutions that protect our workforce, stabilize our industry and secure America’s food supply,” Little said. “California agriculture is strong, and our message to farm employees is simple. You are essential. You are valued. And farmers will continue to stand with you. As harvest season approaches in key growing areas, we will do everything in our power to ensure a stable and secure workforce, a dependable food supply and a strong agricultural economy for the future.”
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 26,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.8 million Farm Bureau members.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has more new dogs ready to be adopted this week.
The shelter has 48 adoptable dogs listed on its website.
This week’s dogs include “Dodge,” a male short coat Chihuahua.
The shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call the shelter at 707-762-6227, email
This week’s adoptable dogs are featured below.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol is investigating a Wednesday crash that resulted in one fatality near Clearlake Oaks.
So far, the identity of the crash victim has not been released by authorities.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Lauren Berlinn told Lake County News Thursday afternoon that they are still working on next of kin notification.
The CHP’s Clear Lake Area office said their officers were dispatched to assist the sheriff’s office with a fatality traffic collision at 3:11 p.m. Wednesday.
The CHP said the sheriff’s office was investigating a missing persons case and, with the assistance of California Department of Fish and Wildlife, located a vehicle down a steep embankment on High Valley Road, near Valley Oak Drive.
The investigating officers and deputies found the missing person dead near the vehicle.
The CHP is investigating this incident.
Anyone with information or knowledge of the incident is asked to contact the Clear Lake CHP Office, at 707-279-0103.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
So far, the identity of the crash victim has not been released by authorities.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Lauren Berlinn told Lake County News Thursday afternoon that they are still working on next of kin notification.
The CHP’s Clear Lake Area office said their officers were dispatched to assist the sheriff’s office with a fatality traffic collision at 3:11 p.m. Wednesday.
The CHP said the sheriff’s office was investigating a missing persons case and, with the assistance of California Department of Fish and Wildlife, located a vehicle down a steep embankment on High Valley Road, near Valley Oak Drive.
The investigating officers and deputies found the missing person dead near the vehicle.
The CHP is investigating this incident.
Anyone with information or knowledge of the incident is asked to contact the Clear Lake CHP Office, at 707-279-0103.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A series of inbound winter atmospheric river storms are forecast to bring several inches of rain and — in the higher elevations — snow into early next week.
The National Weather Service’s Eureka office said rain will arrive late on Thursday, with as much as 4 inches expected to fall across Lake County over the course of several days.
The Lake County forecast anticipates daytime conditions on Thursday to include temperatures in the high 50s and mild winds from the southeast.
There will be up to a quarter of an inch of rain on Thursday night, when temperatures will dip into the high 30s, with light winds of just under 10 miles per hour.
The rain will continue on Friday, with light winds continuing and about an inch and three quarters of rain. Daytime temperatures will be in the high 40s, dropping to the low 40s at night.
Another one to two inches of rain is forecast to fall during the day on Saturday and up to three quarters of an inch on Saturday night. Temperatures will be in the low 50s during the day and the low 40s at night, with mild southwest winds.
The California Nevada River Forecast Center said the storms are expected to cause Cache Creek’s flow to double and for the level of Clear Lake to climb from just over 6 feet Rumsey — the special measure for the lake — to nearly 6.8 feet Rumsey.
The National Weather Service said another atmospheric river is expected to arrive on Sunday.
“This system has more moisture and the potential to bring at least localized flooding if rain falls on the same areas that receive the rain Thursday night through Friday night,” the National Weather Service reported.
Forecasters said it’s uncertain of where that second storm system will hit and how much rain it might bring.
That rain will combine with temperatures in the high 40s to low 50s during the day and the low 30s to low 40s at night, based on the forecast.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
The National Weather Service’s Eureka office said rain will arrive late on Thursday, with as much as 4 inches expected to fall across Lake County over the course of several days.
The Lake County forecast anticipates daytime conditions on Thursday to include temperatures in the high 50s and mild winds from the southeast.
There will be up to a quarter of an inch of rain on Thursday night, when temperatures will dip into the high 30s, with light winds of just under 10 miles per hour.
The rain will continue on Friday, with light winds continuing and about an inch and three quarters of rain. Daytime temperatures will be in the high 40s, dropping to the low 40s at night.
Another one to two inches of rain is forecast to fall during the day on Saturday and up to three quarters of an inch on Saturday night. Temperatures will be in the low 50s during the day and the low 40s at night, with mild southwest winds.
The California Nevada River Forecast Center said the storms are expected to cause Cache Creek’s flow to double and for the level of Clear Lake to climb from just over 6 feet Rumsey — the special measure for the lake — to nearly 6.8 feet Rumsey.
The National Weather Service said another atmospheric river is expected to arrive on Sunday.
“This system has more moisture and the potential to bring at least localized flooding if rain falls on the same areas that receive the rain Thursday night through Friday night,” the National Weather Service reported.
Forecasters said it’s uncertain of where that second storm system will hit and how much rain it might bring.
That rain will combine with temperatures in the high 40s to low 50s during the day and the low 30s to low 40s at night, based on the forecast.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
On Wednesday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced he joined 153 colleagues in sending a letter to the Trump Administration after President Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office that could pause all disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding immediately.
The administration has not yet clarified which projects, programs and activities are frozen.
The letter urges the Trump Administration to disclose a full list of these frozen initiatives.
This order is separate from Monday evening’s grant funding freeze issued by the Office of Management and Budget.
"This executive order is a source of great anxiety for communities and businesses across the country that use this funding to build new roads, fix bridges, replace lead pipes, expand broadband access, strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters, and much more," Rep. Thompson wrote in the letter. "Work is already underway on tens of thousands of projects in both the public and private sector, but their completion depends on these funds, which were already approved by Congress and enacted into law."
California’s Fourth District has been awarded critical federal funding through the IRA and BIL to carry out local infrastructure projects. Pausing the receipt of funds that have not yet been delivered would be detrimental to those projects.
The full text of the letter can be found below.
Dear Directors Vaeth and Hassett,
We write to request an itemized list of programs, projects, and activities that have been put on hold because of President Trump’s January 20, 2025, executive order pausing the disbursement of funds included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Section 7 of the order states that this pause goes into effect “immediately” for these two laws, “including but not limited to funds for electric vehicle charging stations made available through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program...” This vague language has sweeping implications, potentially pausing everything from active highway and bridge construction projects to broadband and water infrastructure expansions that received IIJA funding.
A day after President Trump issued the executive order, you followed up with a memorandum that did little to clarify exactly which projects and programs the executive order paused. In the memorandum, you wrote, “this pause only applies to funds supporting programs, projects, or activities that may be implicated by the policy established in Section 2 of the order.” Section 2 of the order, however, provides only a series of broad, subjective policy objectives, rather than detailed guidelines specifying which projects ought to be frozen. Additionally, your memorandum states that “agency heads may disburse funds as they deem necessary after consulting with the Office of Management and Budget.”
Given the “immediate” nature of this pause and OMB’s role in overseeing further disbursements, OMB must have a list of which programs are currently receiving disbursements and which are frozen. We ask that you be transparent with the American people and make this information available immediately.
This executive order is a source of great anxiety for communities and businesses across the country that use this funding to build new roads, fix bridges, replace lead pipes, expand broadband access, strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters, and much more. Work is already underway on tens of thousands of projects in both the public and private sector, but their completion depends on these funds, which were already approved by Congress and enacted into law.
As a businessman, President Trump ought to know that delaying an ongoing construction project comes at an immense dollar price. As a president, he ought to know that delaying these projects needlessly makes our government less efficient.
We urge you to clarify what specific funds this Administration is withholding unconstitutionally – funds that our laws require be invested in American communities. The American people deserve an answer, and if President Trump’s repeated claims that he cares about government transparency were honest, you will provide them with one.
The administration has not yet clarified which projects, programs and activities are frozen.
The letter urges the Trump Administration to disclose a full list of these frozen initiatives.
This order is separate from Monday evening’s grant funding freeze issued by the Office of Management and Budget.
"This executive order is a source of great anxiety for communities and businesses across the country that use this funding to build new roads, fix bridges, replace lead pipes, expand broadband access, strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters, and much more," Rep. Thompson wrote in the letter. "Work is already underway on tens of thousands of projects in both the public and private sector, but their completion depends on these funds, which were already approved by Congress and enacted into law."
California’s Fourth District has been awarded critical federal funding through the IRA and BIL to carry out local infrastructure projects. Pausing the receipt of funds that have not yet been delivered would be detrimental to those projects.
The full text of the letter can be found below.
Dear Directors Vaeth and Hassett,
We write to request an itemized list of programs, projects, and activities that have been put on hold because of President Trump’s January 20, 2025, executive order pausing the disbursement of funds included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Section 7 of the order states that this pause goes into effect “immediately” for these two laws, “including but not limited to funds for electric vehicle charging stations made available through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program...” This vague language has sweeping implications, potentially pausing everything from active highway and bridge construction projects to broadband and water infrastructure expansions that received IIJA funding.
A day after President Trump issued the executive order, you followed up with a memorandum that did little to clarify exactly which projects and programs the executive order paused. In the memorandum, you wrote, “this pause only applies to funds supporting programs, projects, or activities that may be implicated by the policy established in Section 2 of the order.” Section 2 of the order, however, provides only a series of broad, subjective policy objectives, rather than detailed guidelines specifying which projects ought to be frozen. Additionally, your memorandum states that “agency heads may disburse funds as they deem necessary after consulting with the Office of Management and Budget.”
Given the “immediate” nature of this pause and OMB’s role in overseeing further disbursements, OMB must have a list of which programs are currently receiving disbursements and which are frozen. We ask that you be transparent with the American people and make this information available immediately.
This executive order is a source of great anxiety for communities and businesses across the country that use this funding to build new roads, fix bridges, replace lead pipes, expand broadband access, strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters, and much more. Work is already underway on tens of thousands of projects in both the public and private sector, but their completion depends on these funds, which were already approved by Congress and enacted into law.
As a businessman, President Trump ought to know that delaying an ongoing construction project comes at an immense dollar price. As a president, he ought to know that delaying these projects needlessly makes our government less efficient.
We urge you to clarify what specific funds this Administration is withholding unconstitutionally – funds that our laws require be invested in American communities. The American people deserve an answer, and if President Trump’s repeated claims that he cares about government transparency were honest, you will provide them with one.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — This fall, young people in Lower Lake High School’s Friday Night Live club launched a campaign to tackle underage drinking in Lake County in partnership with Lake County Behavioral Health Services.
Friday Night Live, or FNL, is a youth-led program facilitated by Lake County Behavioral Health Services that builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development, engages youth as active community leaders, and generates resources to create positive changes on issues that matter to them.
Although underage drinking rates continue to decline, the 2023 California Healthy Kids Survey found young people in seventh, ninth and 11th grades had engaged in alcohol use at least once in the past month at rates of 4%, 10% and 14%, respectively.
Research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has shown underage alcohol consumption can lead to a variety of risks and dangerous consequences for consumers, including impaired judgment, risky behaviors, interference with brain development, and increased risk of developing substance use disorders in adulthood.
California youth in Lower Lake High School are taking a stand with retail partners to promote healthy alternatives to underage drinking and support in creating safer communities.
As part of this year-long prevention campaign, Lower Lake High School’s FNL chapter members will drive initiatives to engage alcohol retailers to conduct store assessments and provide merchant education on preventative safety measures to reduce youth access to alcohol products.
Youth leaders will also work with retailers to inform customers of the consequences of providing alcohol products to minors.
Throughout the campaign, young people will receive training on data collection, public speaking, creating public service announcements, and leadership and advocacy skills.
Friday Night Live is a statewide initiative and includes forty-five FNL chapters from across California.
Each receives support from the California Friday Night Live Partnership, with funding provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
FNL’s efforts will utilize environmental prevention strategies through youth-led initiatives to educate their peers, neighbors, and local leaders on ways to reduce underage drinking access and mitigate damage to communities resulting from underage drinking.
Locally, Lake County Behavioral Health Services plays a key role in facilitating these efforts, ensuring young people have the resources and support needed to drive meaningful change.
For more information about FNL, visit fridaynightlive.org or Instagram (llhs_fridaynightlive).
Friday Night Live, or FNL, is a youth-led program facilitated by Lake County Behavioral Health Services that builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development, engages youth as active community leaders, and generates resources to create positive changes on issues that matter to them.
Although underage drinking rates continue to decline, the 2023 California Healthy Kids Survey found young people in seventh, ninth and 11th grades had engaged in alcohol use at least once in the past month at rates of 4%, 10% and 14%, respectively.
Research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has shown underage alcohol consumption can lead to a variety of risks and dangerous consequences for consumers, including impaired judgment, risky behaviors, interference with brain development, and increased risk of developing substance use disorders in adulthood.
California youth in Lower Lake High School are taking a stand with retail partners to promote healthy alternatives to underage drinking and support in creating safer communities.
As part of this year-long prevention campaign, Lower Lake High School’s FNL chapter members will drive initiatives to engage alcohol retailers to conduct store assessments and provide merchant education on preventative safety measures to reduce youth access to alcohol products.
Youth leaders will also work with retailers to inform customers of the consequences of providing alcohol products to minors.
Throughout the campaign, young people will receive training on data collection, public speaking, creating public service announcements, and leadership and advocacy skills.
Friday Night Live is a statewide initiative and includes forty-five FNL chapters from across California.
Each receives support from the California Friday Night Live Partnership, with funding provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
FNL’s efforts will utilize environmental prevention strategies through youth-led initiatives to educate their peers, neighbors, and local leaders on ways to reduce underage drinking access and mitigate damage to communities resulting from underage drinking.
Locally, Lake County Behavioral Health Services plays a key role in facilitating these efforts, ensuring young people have the resources and support needed to drive meaningful change.
For more information about FNL, visit fridaynightlive.org or Instagram (llhs_fridaynightlive).