SANTA BARBARA, CA – USA Rice participated at the recent California Warehouse Association (CWA) Annual Convention held here March 6-9. CWA represents dryers, warehouses, millers, brokers, and businesses that support rice production in northern California, and their convention provided an opportunity to build relationships among those industry segments.
During the annual meeting, the CWA evaluates grading results, shares common challenges, and addresses issues affecting rice mills and warehouses. In addition to the formal activities, there was ample opportunity for attendees to network along with other social programming.
Kicking off the events was Roger Cornwell, general manager of the Basin Irrigation and Drainage Authority, who provided an update on the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program and the Bay Delta Water Quality Plan. Attendees also heard from Dennis Albiani, who gave a summary of legislative activities in Sacramento and a political update on the 2026 elections in California. Additionally, Roberta Firoved gave a presentation on the rice pesticide maximum residue level, and a representative from the California Cybersecurity Integration Center delivered a cybersecurity briefing.
USA Rice Vice President of Government Affairs Jake Westlin talked about ongoing rice-related advocacy work in Washington, DC, including a status report on the recent legislative activity in the House Agriculture Committee, which recently advanced its version of a 2026 Farm Bill.
“Kudos to the California Warehouse Association for hosting an informative meeting that was also an excellent opportunity to visit and learn from industry experts about the rice industry in northern California,” said Westlin. “There have been a lot of policy developments over the past year, and it was good to share those developments with the CWA and also hear about how federal policy is influencing their day-to-day operations.”