Preserving Our Farmland and Working Lands

Farmland is the backbone of our region and a cornerstone of California’s economy. From Napa Valley vineyards to the farms of Yolo, Colusa, Sutter, and Yuba Counties, our working lands support families, feed the country, and sustain rural communities. Once farmland is lost, it’s gone forever.

Preserving farmland isn’t about stopping progress — it’s about protecting our way of life, supporting farmers and farmworkers, and ensuring future generations can continue to live and work on the land.

The Challenges Facing Our Farms

Family farmers and agricultural workers are under growing pressure:

  • Rising land and water costs

  • Climate change, drought, and wildfire risks

  • Corporate consolidation squeezing small and mid-sized farms

  • Development pressures that convert farmland into sprawl

  • Aging infrastructure and limited access to capital

Without action, we risk losing not just farmland, but the communities built around it.

Eric’s Plan to Protect Farmland and Agricultural Communities

Protect Working Lands from Sprawl

Eric supports strong federal incentives to keep farmland in agricultural use, including:

  • Expanding conservation easements that allow farmers to protect their land while remaining economically viable

  • Supporting smart growth policies that prioritize housing near existing infrastructure instead of paving over farmland

  • Aligning housing policy with farmland preservation so growth doesn’t come at the expense of agriculture

Support Family Farmers and Farmworkers

Preserving farmland means supporting the people who work it.
Eric will fight to:

  • Expand access to affordable credit and crop insurance for family farmers

  • Strengthen labor protections and housing options for farmworkers

  • Support apprenticeship and workforce development programs in agriculture

Promote Climate-Smart Agriculture

Farmers are on the front lines of climate change — and part of the solution.
Eric supports:

  • Investments in regenerative and climate-smart farming practices

  • Incentives for soil health, water efficiency, and carbon sequestration

  • Research and innovation to help farmers adapt while staying profitable

Ensure Fair Markets and Competition

Corporate consolidation hurts farmers and consumers alike.
Eric will:

  • Strengthen antitrust enforcement in agriculture

  • Push back against monopolistic practices by large agribusinesses

  • Support fair pricing and transparent markets for producers

Protect Water and Natural Resources

Water is essential to agriculture and our communities.
Eric supports:

  • Federal investment in sustainable water infrastructure

  • Policies that protect groundwater and surface water for future generations

  • Collaborative, locally driven water management solutions

Why Farmland Preservation Matters

Preserving farmland:

  • Protects local food production and supply chains

  • Supports good-paying jobs in agriculture and related industries

  • Reduces wildfire risk and environmental degradation

  • Keeps rural communities strong and resilient

This isn’t about choosing between growth and preservation — it’s about growing smarter.