ASSOCIATION NEWS
#SoyHelp focuses on mental health
In honor of May being Mental Health Month, ASA along with state soybean affiliates and the United Soybean Board launched the #SoyHelp Campaign, a communications effort aimed at helping all farmers deal with the finan- cial and emotional stressors caused by the COVID-19 pan- demic and other agricultural disruptions.
The campaign provides state and national mental health resources and guidance to address concerns ranging from temporary stress to ongoing struggles with anxiety and depression to thoughts of suicide. The goals of this effort are to destigmatize the topic of mental health in agricultural communities and to provide people the tools to recognize farm stress and equip them to ask for help if needed.
These #SoyHelp resources are curated for all farmers, not just soy, and provide available content for social media and newsletters that are prevalent year-round. To learn more visit
www.soygrowers.com.
WG launches #AgIsEssential campaign
Essential farm workers are more important than ever as they continue to go into the fields during the COVID-19 health crisis to harvest safe and healthy food. To share appreci- ation for this essential work- force, Western Growers and its member farmers launched an #AgIsEssential social media campaign, featuring a series of videos and graphics that highlight their efforts.
California growers and employees are featured in a series of video clips showing the dedication of farms and farm workers in the continued harvesting, packing and deliv- ering of healthy and nutritious food for grocery stores and ul- timately to family tables — all of which are available on WG’s Facebook at www.facebook. com/westerngrowers.
For more information, go to
www.wga.com.
Fall Conference canceled
Due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Agricultural Irriga- tion Association’s annual Fall Conference in Pismo Beach, California, scheduled for Sept. 16-18 has been canceled.
CAIA is taking a very active role, along with other Western agricultural organizations, to work with the government at the state, regional and federal levels to ensure that any stimulus packages include money for Western irrigation infrastructure. CAIA’s board will be keeping its members advised on the progress of these efforts.
Farmers, ranchers and irriga- tion experts have all proven themselves to be essential to our nation’s survival as we have weathered the first wave of this pandemic, and we will continue to be feeding, fueling and clothing the country in the years to come. As we emerge from shelter-in-place, our industry will be on the front lines of helping rebuild our economy. Go to www.
calagirrigation.com for more information.
NPC hosts virtual meeting
On June 25, the National Potato Council held its first-ever virtual Summer Meeting hosted by 2020 President Britt Raybould. Originally sched- uled to be held in Boise, Idaho, the mid-year
meeting was moved to an online event due to travel restrictions.
The organization discussed the industry’s ongoing efforts to iden- tify and advocate for solutions to support relief for growers recov- ering from the nationwide food service sector shutdown. It also
36 Irrigation TODAY | Summer 2020
NCC launches Trust Protocol
Following a successful pilot, the NCC launched the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. U.S. cot- ton producers are being en- rolled in this new sustainability initiative, which has a goal of confirming and increasing awareness that these produc- ers are farming responsibly.
The launch comes on the heels of two significant develop- ments: 1) the Trust Protocol’s inclusion in the Textile Ex- change’s list of preferred fibers/ materials, and 2) the selection of Control Union Certifications North America to implement an independent, third-party verification program for the Trust Protocol. Trust Protocol cotton now provides another sustainable cotton option for TE’s 170-plus participating brands and retailers. Equally significant is that the CUC, which has certified more than 150 programs worldwide, has a very high reputation that also will provide brands, retailers and consumers assurance that it is meeting the highest stan- dards of sustainability.
For more information, go to
https://TrustUsCotton.org.
discussed policy opportunities to clear out the 1.5 billion-pound oversupply of potatoes in the supply chain and provide meaning- ful direct payment relief to keep family farms in business.
During the Environmental Committee meeting, the group wel- comed the finalization of the U.S. EPA rule defining the Waters of the United States, which clarified that rainfall, groundwater and farm ditches are not federally regulated under the Clean Water Act.
NPC’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2021, in Grapevine, Texas. For information, go to
www.nationalpotatocouncil.org.
irrigationtoday.org
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