Legal and Regulatory Advocacy Highlights In 2025, the Western Growers Legal Department played a pivotal role in shaping the judicial landscape in various critical cases impacting the agricultural industry, encompassing employment, water and environmental issues. Key involvements include: Western Growers v. ALRB: Western Growers and member Olive Hill Greenhouses filed a federal motion for preliminary injunction on April 24, 2025, to block enforcement of California’s Mandatory Mediation and Conciliation statute as unconstitutional, arguing it hands coercive power to unions, forces non- consensual “contracts” and undermines farmworkers’ choice of representation. The motion spotlighted the harm to Olive Hill, a small San Diego County nursery pushed into MMC after UFW’s AB 113 card check certification. While the district court denied the motion, Western Growers and Olive Hill have appealed to the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District. California Climate Litigation: Western Growers joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups in challenging California’s climate disclosure laws, SB 261 and SB 253, arguing that the mandates are unlawful and unworkable for
Industry Guidance The Personnel Procedures Manual (PPM) continues to be the industry-leading resource for agricultural HR professionals and managers, with updated content, policies and checklists. Members seeking Legal guidance received one-on-one guidance about employment law and HR-related questions by calling the HR/Legal Hotline at 877-942-4529 .
many agricultural businesses. On November 18, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction blocking enforcement of SB 261, which was set to take effect on January 1, so that law cannot be enforced while the appeal is pending, although SB 253 remains in effect for now. In parallel, the plaintiffs, including Western Growers, have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to issue an emergency injunction that would halt enforcement of both SB 261 and SB 253 against their members while the case proceeds. Water Rights Litigation Western Growers joined a coalition of agricultural organizations in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in United Water Conservation District v. United States, urging review of a Federal Circuit decision that misstates California water law and weakens protections for vested appropriative water rights. The brief explains how federal regulators effectively commandeered tens of thousands of acre-feet of water for endangered fish flows without compensating the right holder, and warns that, if left standing, the decision could undermine the reliability of irrigation supplies across the West. Through this filing, Western Growers is defending members’ property interests in water and the priority system that underpins Western agriculture. Water Quality Litigation Western Growers remained highly active in water quality litigation in 2025, challenging regulatory actions that threaten to impose unworkable standards and compliance costs on irrigated agriculture. WG has continued to contest and seek revisions to regional agricultural orders, defend key exemptions for irrigated lands and push back on efforts to expand discharge and monitoring requirements without sound scientific justification. Through appeals, petitions and amicus briefs, WG is working to secure fair, practical and science-based water quality programs that protect both environmental resources and the long-term viability of Western agriculture.
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