Western Grower & Shipper 2019 Jan-Feb

WESTERN GROWER SHIPPER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 WGA.COM

6 2019 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Ratto Bros. Thrives with Unique Niche 10 McInerney Set to Retire after 43 Years with Western Growers 12 “Growth” A Resonating Theme throughout WG Annual Meeting 16 Augean Robotics Hailed as “Comeback Kids” during AgSharks Competition 18 AgTechx Events Sparking Technology-Led Disruption in Farming Regions 20 SPEED BREEDING New Technology Shows Promise 28 WGCIT SPONSOR All Terrain Mower Has Roots in Czech Republic 29 ZAG Bringing IT Security Awareness to WG Center for Innovation & Technology

WESTERN GROWER & SHIPPER Published Since 1929

Volume XC Number 1

To enhance the competitiveness and profitability of Western Growers members

Thomas A. Nassif President Western Growers tnassif@wga.com Editor Tim Linden Champ Publishing 925.258.0892 tlinden@wga.com Contributors Cory Lunde 949.885.2264 clunde@wga.com Chardae Heim 949.885.2279 cheim@wga.com Production Diane Mendez 949.885.2372 dmendez@wga.com Circulation Marketing 949.885.2248 marketing@wga.com Advertising Sales Dana Davis Champ Publishing 302.750.4662 danadavis@epix.net Stephanie Metzinger 949.885.2256 smetzinger@wga.com

DEPARTMENTS 4 President’s Notes 8 Director Profile 22 Legislative Profile 24 CA Government Affairs 26 Fed Government Affairs 31

32 Insurance Corner 33

Agriculture & the Law Science & Technology

35

37 Financial Services 40

Western Growers Connections

Western Growers Assurance Trust

41 42

Contact Us

What’s Trending

Western Grower & Shipper ISSN 0043-3799, Copyright © 2019 by the Western Grower & Shipper is published bi-monthly by Western Grower & Shipper Publishing Company, a division of Western Growers Service Corp., 15525 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine California 92618. Business and Editorial Offices: 15525 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine California 92618.Accounting and Circulation Offices:Western Grower & Shipper, 15525 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine California 92618. Call (949) 863-1000 to subscribe. Subscription is $18 per year. Foreign subscription is $36 per year. Single copies of recent issues, $1.50. Single copies of issues more than three months old, $2. Single copies ofYearbook issue $4. Periodicals postage is paid in Irvine, California and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Western Grower & Shipper , PO Box 2130, Newport Beach, California 92658.

3

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019

Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com

Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker