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- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
This board is partially composed of seven members who are seed labelers, and two members who may be seed dealers.
These nine members are registered to sell seed under provisions of the California Seed Law and represent the functions of seed production, conditioning, marketing or utilization. The board also has two public members.
The term of office for board members is three years. Members typically meet twice a year but can meet more frequently if needed. Board members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.
Funded by the seed industry and implemented by the Seed Services Program at CDFA, enforcement of the California Seed Law ensures an orderly market of high quality seeds in California.
The Seed Advisory Board makes recommendations to the CDFA Secretary on all matters pertaining to seed law and regulations, enforcement, seed laboratory diagnostics and annual budgets required to accomplish the purposes of the California Seed Law.
The upcoming vacant positions are for two vegetable seed labelers or dealers from the southern California region, one agricultural seed labeler or dealer from northern California.
The successful candidates will be appointed to serve a three-year term that expires March 31, 2022.
Individuals interested in being considered for this board appointment should send a brief letter of interest and a completed prospective member appointment questionnaire with resume to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Pest Exclusion Branch, 1220 N St., Room 344, Sacramento, California 95814, Attention: Carl Pfeiffer by Oct. 16.
For additional information, and a Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire, visit the Seed Services Program web page at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/pe/nsc/seed/vacancies/sab_vacancy_notice.pdf or contact Carl Pfeiffer, senior environmental scientist, Seed Services Program, telephone 916-654-0435, fax 916-651-1207 or e-mail
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
“The newly announced U.S.-Canada agreement, in combination with the earlier agreement between the U.S. and Mexico, strengthens relations with two key trading partners,” CFBF President Jamie Johansson said, “and we urge Congress to ratify the USMCA without delay.”
Johansson said the agreement will provide California farmers and ranchers with “much-needed certainty” in key export markets.
“We applaud the three governments for working to modernize the agricultural chapters in the agreement,” he said. “It’s a welcome development at a time when farmers have faced obstacles in selling their products to foreign customers.”
Canada represents the second-largest market for California agricultural exports, with sales of more than $3.3 billion in 2016 – the most recent year for which full statistics are available. Mexico is the No. 5 foreign market for California farm products, with sales of just more than $1 billion in 2016.
“Agricultural exports support thousands of jobs in California, both in rural areas where crops and commodities are grown and packed, and in urban centers from which products are marketed and shipped,” Johansson said. “We hope the agreements with Mexico and now with Canada lead to further easing of trade restrictions.”
The new agreements leave in effect Canadian and Mexican retaliatory tariffs on farm goods imposed after the U.S. placed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Johansson urged U.S. negotiators to reach agreements on those issues as soon as possible.
“We’ve seen California farmers, ranchers and agricultural marketers lose sales because of the retaliatory tariffs from Canada, Mexico and in particular from China,” he said. “Until those tariffs come off, farmers won’t see the full benefit of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement.”
The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 40,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 5.5 million Farm Bureau members.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
ABC Supply is the nation’s largest distributor of roofing, siding, windows and other exterior building products and tools that contractors need to tackle their construction projects and build their businesses.
Kris Mason will be the manager of the new branch. Mason joined ABC Supply in 2015 as a driver at the Hudson, Florida, branch and moved to Santa Rosa, California, in 2016 for a delivery services manager role.
Prior to joining ABC Supply, Mason dedicated 13 years to the U.S. Army, with two deployments to Iraq. Mason is excited to partner with area contractors in this new region, providing them with the solutions they need to make their projects successful.
ABC Supply now has 41 locations throughout California with the opening of the Ukiah branch.
“This latest branch addition in Northern California allows our professional contractor customers to have access to the materials they need, while having a strong partner alongside them,” said Matt Cooper, vice president of ABC Supply’s West Region. “Kris brings strong leadership skills to his team, and they will do a great job of working with area contractors to make their jobs easier and businesses successful.”
Branch hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 707-462-1059.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
FSC is an independent, nonprofit organization that protects forests for future generations. It is a membership-led organization that sets standards under which forests and companies are certified.
Billig will serve in the board’s Economic Chamber and work closely with FSC US staff to develop strategy, review and approve national forest management standards and policies, ensure effective financial oversight of the organization, and oversee the chief executive.
As the stewardship director for the Mendocino Family of Companies, Billig manages the organization’s FSC forest management certificates for more than 530,000 acres of forests, including a group certificate of external landowners.
She manages the FSC chain-of-custody certification for two sawmills, three distribution centers, and four treated-wood plants. In addition to these duties, Billig also manages the companies’ forest inventory and information systems.
“In this new board role, my first priority will be to build consumer awareness and market demand for wood products,” said Billig. “All of the rigorous standards and protections of FSC require strong market demand for FSC-certified products to be effective and I’m committed to making sure consumers understand the benefits of the certification.”
Billig’s three-year term begins on Sept. 1, 2018.