Pests and Abandoned Orchards Rodent pressure continues to intensify across the Central Valley, and it’s being amplified by unmanaged and abandoned acreage that becomes a dependable “safe harbor” and creates pest hotspots for entire areas. When blocks are left unattended, the impacts spread quickly, driving up control costs and damaging infrastructure in surrounding producing orchards. That’s why we’re focused on practical, regional solutions: continued engagement with state agencies on mitigation strategies and long-term land management expectations, with particular attention to public lands and other properties that aren’t being responsibly managed. The objective is to reduce spillover impacts on neighboring growers and avoid rodent pressure becoming a permanent, region-wide cost of doing business. What Comes Next Almonds are a long-term crop, and the decisions being made right now—on trade rules, water policy, nitrogen, energy, and pest tools—will shape the viability of family farms for years to come. Our commitment is to stay engaged where those decisions are made and keep the industry’s needs front and center, with a clear focus on practical, science-based solutions. With consistent advocacy and strong coordination across the supply chain, we can protect what growers have built and keep California almonds competitive.
input-cost inflation, many growers are operating at or below breakeven. Our goal is to ensure the assistance provides real, grower-level relief, scaled to documented cost and margin pressure, so it serves as a true bridge rather than being diluted across too many commodities to make a difference. Advocating in Sacramento In California, we are tracking an active legislative and regulatory environment that touches nearly every part of almond production and processing. Groundwater adjudication and recharge debates will continue as basins work toward SGMA compliance. Energy policy will remain front and center as lawmakers grapple with grid reliability, rising utility costs, and climate mandates that directly affect both farm operations and processing facilities. Labor policy is also expected to stay active, with ongoing conversations around wage standards, compliance obligations, and workforce availability. Air quality and invasive species management continue to surface as well. One bill we are closely tracking is the Nitrogen Pollution Reduction Act (AB 2447). We began engaging policymakers early to reinforce two realities: nitrogen management is essential to orchard productivity, and growers have made meaningful progress in improving efficiency and stewardship under existing frameworks. We are working with an agricultural coalition to combat approaches that would create new, duplicative mandates without producing workable outcomes on the ground. Overlaying many Sacramento debates is a broader focus on affordability and state budget pressure. When policymakers search for solutions, proposals often show up as new fees, new reporting requirements, or new compliance burdens. Our role is to ensure lawmakers understand the operational realities and cost impacts before those ideas become policy.
Alexi Rodriguez, President & CEO, Almond Alliance
25
MARCH–APRIL 2026
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