California Farm Bureau Highlights Wildfire Wins, Calls for Autonomous Farming Tech in Final Legislative Session

California agriculture leaders met in Sacramento on September 10, 2026 to review the state legislature’s final actions for the 2026 session. The California Farm Bureau (CFB) praised two legislative victories—preserving the use of goats for wildfire fuel reduction and securing $5 million for a wolf‑livestock compensation program—while condemning lawmakers for not authorizing autonomous farming equipment and for policies that add to farmers’ operating costs.

The first win was a bill championed by State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D‑Sanger, that allows ranchers to continue using goats to graze brush and reduce wildfire fuel. CFB President Shannon Douglass said the decision was a “win for common sense in state land management.” The measure follows a growing trend of using goats in California’s fire‑prone regions, a practice that has been documented by local fire‑management groups and ranchers.

The second achievement was the appropriation of $5 million for the Wolf Livestock Compensation Program, a pilot that began in 2021 with a $3 million grant from the state. Assemblymember Heather Hadwick, R‑Alturas, and Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D‑Encinitas, co‑sponsored the bill. The program provides financial relief to livestock owners who suffer cattle losses from expanding gray‑wolf populations. According to the program’s website, the funds are intended to cover direct livestock loss, non‑lethal deterrent tools, and indirect losses.

Despite these successes, Douglass criticized the Legislature for failing to authorize autonomous farming equipment. “California Farm Bureau will not accept being the only state where farmers lack access to precision agriculture, and we intend to make this one of our highest priorities next year,” she said. The state remains the only one in the nation that restricts the use of self‑operating machinery, a limitation that industry leaders argue hampers worker safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

The CFB also warned that rising compliance costs and regulatory uncertainty are accelerating consolidation in the sector. A study released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that regulatory costs grew 1,366% from 2006 to 2023, rising from 1.24 % of production costs to 12.6 %. The study noted that these costs are a significant burden on smaller farms, which already average 328 acres in California.

California’s agriculture sector is a major part of the state’s economy. In 2023, the industry generated $59.4 billion in revenue and produced more than 400 commodity crops, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The sector also consumes about 40 % of the state’s water, underscoring the importance of efficient and sustainable practices.

The Farm Bureau’s message to state officials is clear: policies that increase operational costs or limit technology adoption make food production increasingly difficult for California producers. The organization urged lawmakers to reconsider regulations that disadvantage local farmers against out‑of‑state competitors.

The legislative session concluded with a mixed record for the agriculture community. While the state secured funding for wildfire mitigation and livestock protection, it fell short on technology and regulatory reforms that could help farmers remain competitive and resilient.

The next steps for the CFB include lobbying for the passage of autonomous farming legislation and continued advocacy for cost‑reduction measures. The organization also plans to monitor the implementation of the wolf‑livestock compensation program and assess its impact on ranchers across the state.

In summary, California’s 2026 legislative session delivered targeted gains in wildfire and livestock policy but left critical gaps in technology and regulatory reform that the agriculture sector will continue to push for in the coming year.