Family Farmers say YES on Proposition 4

From heatwaves to wildfires, drought to flood, farmers confront climate change long before most people do. Weather extremes have lately made farming an even more risky business. And if California doesn’t take action now, it’ll only get worse. Which is why family farmers see in Prop 4 a major step towards tackling the impacts of climate change. 

Prop 4 or the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural Lands from Climate Risks Bond is meant to address these significant threats to agricultural communities across the state, from urban to rural. It would provide significant investments in initiatives to promote healthy soils, fair groundwater access, affordable land access, tool sharing exchanges, urban agriculture, farmers market infrastructure, to name just a few. And there are numerous other investments in water, wildfire and drought resilience that benefit all California communities. A vast majority of Californians vote by mail now, and ballots will begin arriving on October 7th, in advance of the November 5th general Election Day.

Family-scale farmers agree with YES on Prop 4. Here’s what they have to say:

Tool-Sharing & Cooperatives

"Farmers are at the forefront of the climate crisis. Access to expensive equipment and tools is critical for farmers like me who are building healthy soils and resilient farms to adapt to the threats of extreme heat, droughts and floods. A Yes on Prop 4 means more cooperatively-managed equipment sharing, more regenerative farms, and more secure food systems."
Chris Fields
Fields Produce Farm

Groundwater

“Our multi-generational farm relies on groundwater to produce everything we grow, including what you see at the farmers market and our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes each week. The continued availability of groundwater is our largest uncertainty and vulnerability as a farmer in California. Our farm and the groundwater that we depend on is threatened with continued climate challenges. To transform and find residency for our future, Proposition 4 will help small farmers continue to have access to this precious resource."
Annie Main
Good Humus Farm

Land Access

“Farmland access and conservation for future access is critical for California to meet its climate goals. Ensuring that new and beginning farmers have access to land, and can steward it, means more healthy farms that can adapt to climate change. We secured land for farmers in our area only with public investment and want to ensure an easier pathway for others like us throughout the state."
Nathaniel Brown
Brown Sugar Farm &
Ujamaa Farmer Collective

Urban Agriculture

"Urban ag means growing food in our communities for our communities. It means more green spaces that provide shade and reduce extreme heat. And it means fewer trucks on the road, and better air quality since food will be closer to consumers. Prop 4 also helps us utilize more climate-friendly practices for sustainability. YES on Prop 4 will mean more significant investments in urban ag projects like ours, and for more protection of our resources."
Kenneth Sparks II
The Farmer Ken

Prop 4 is built on previous efforts, including several years of grassroots advocacy from the Food & Farm Resilience Coalition (which CAFF is both a member of and fiscally sponsors) and by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (AB 408) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (AB 125), who championed the initial efforts through the Legislature. 

Visit yesonprop4ca.com to learn more about the bond and how you can support or get involved.

 

Paid for by Community Alliance with Family Farmers Foundation

 

Photos by Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times, Jason Elias & Civil Eats.