Agriculture
My great-grandfather came to the Central Valley to farm peaches in Manteca back in the 1850s. Just about everyone you talk to around here has a similar story. Agriculture is not only a key driver of our local economy and a source of jobs, it’s also an important part of who we are.
The Central Valley is the fruit and nut basket of the world – which is why I fought to serve on the House Agriculture Committee. One of my most important roles in Washington is serving as the voice of our local growers and producers on the committee. It’s vital that we have clear Farm Bill implementation and a trade policy that actually works for our farmers and families. My job is to make sure that federal agriculture policy works for our farmers – not just folks in other parts of the country.
My office is dedicated to helping our farmers in any way possible, if you need help cutting through red tape with the USDA please contact us.
For more information concerning work and views related to Agriculture, please contact our office.
More on Agriculture
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder sent a bipartisan letter to House and Senate leaders urging them to invest in 21st century satellite technology to measure land subsidence nationwide. In the last 100 years the San Joaquin Valley has sunk, or subsided, by at least 33 feet, causing significant regional infrastructure challenges.
WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Josh Harder announced that $35 million from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, which he helped negotiate and pass into law, will go toward improving levees in San Joaquin County this year.
WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder led a letter alongside a bipartisan group of lawmakers including Reps. Panetta and Levin pushing Congressional leadership to include relief for agricultural fairs in potential upcoming omnibus legislation. Before the pandemic, agricultural fairs generated an average of $4.67 billion per year, supporting thousands of jobs in communities across the Central Valley.
WASHINGTON — In a House Agriculture Committee hearing today, Representative Josh Harder secured Agriculture Secretary Vilsack's commitment to speeding up, providing more clarity, and helping improve the reimbursement process so Central Valley fire departments have the resources they need to keep their communities safe. With Sec. Vilsack's support, Rep.
WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) backed a new bill that will raise federal firefighter pay to at least $20 an hour and increasing annual pay to at least $20,000 per season, create a permanent federal classification so wildland firefighters are correctly recognized for their dangerous work, improve their physical and mental health care services, secure their retirement benefits, provide housing stipends for those fighting fires 50+ miles from their homes, offer tuition assistance, and more.
WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) successfully secured passage of his green technology bill, the Pyrolysis Innovation Grants Act, out of the House Agriculture Committee.
WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) hosted Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at a virtual event to discuss the state of agriculture in the Valley. The two were joined by dozens of local farmers and ranchers spanning the full range of Valley produce. At the meeting, Rep. Harder highlighted the six major issues he and Sec. Vilsack are working on to support farmers, ranchers, and the entire Valley economy:
WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) pushed for new support for the Valley's agricultural fairs during a critical House Agriculture Committee markup. The bill, the bipartisan Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act, will provide $500 million in federal grants for agricultural fairs through state departments of agriculture. State and county fairs are a primary source of promotion of U.S.
WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) announced that he will be joined by the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland for a virtual event focused on the state of California's water on September 8th at 2:00 PM PT. The two will discuss issues surrounding water in the Central Valley and the need for federal investments in water infrastructure and combatting drought.
WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) sent a new letter to President Biden and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in support of the State of California's request for a major disaster declaration in response to the ongoing extreme drought and wildfire conditions. A major disaster declaration would unlock resources and coordination to help Central Valley farmers and communities adapt and recover from the dual threats of extreme drought and wildfires.