Ag Today Friday, June 8, 2012

Senate kicks off debate on farm bill that offers mixed benefits for California [McClatchy Newspapers]

The Senate on Thursday started digging into a mega-bucks farm bill that’s a mixed bag for California. The state’s fruit and vegetable growers largely like what the bill serves up. The state’s commodity farmers want some changes, though the title card in this year’s subsidy fight still pits the Midwest against the South. Overall, the 1,010-page Senate bill boosts some programs and eliminates others used by California farmers. “In general, they’re very supportive,” Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein said of the state’s farmers in an interview Thursday. “In general, I believe this is a good bill for California ag.”

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/06/07/151537/senate-kicks-off-debate-on-farm.html#storylink=misearch

Op-Ed: America needs a farm bill that works [Los Angeles Times]

…After 80 years, the time has come to rescue agriculture from the farm bill — and to improve the health of Americans in the bargain. Numerous food access and healthcare advocates, family farm organizations, sustainable agriculture nonprofits, celebrity chefs and even local governments (including Seattle, New York and Los Angeles) have entered the fray and are calling for reform as Congress works to draft legislation to replace the 2008 farm bill, which expires at the end of September. But the U.S. Senate's first draft of the omnibus legislation — which will be debated over the next few weeks — falls short.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-imhoff-farm-bill-20120608,0,7923048.story

S.J. puts off vote on wineries [Stockton Record]

The San Joaquin County Planning Commission put off making a decision Thursday night on a controversial proposal to prohibit existing or new wineries in rural areas from adding to the number of weddings, concerts and "marketing" events they hold. Opponents of the effective moratorium were happy with the delay to a rule change they say could stunt the growth of the thriving wine scene in the Lodi wine region. Supporters of the moratorium were sanguine, calling the skipping of one meeting a relatively short delay in the long process under way….The San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation supports a temporary moratorium, noting issues such as the traffic events can bring into an agricultural zone, potentially disrupting operations. "A timeout is a good thing," said Bruce Fry, president of the organization.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120608/A_NEWS/206080312

Water heading south: It's not about no, it's about how [Modesto Bee]

…California agriculture is booming like no other time in our history thanks to technological innovations. While many countries face starvation and poverty, we have the ability to not only feed our own state but supply food to many emerging countries. The more we are able to trade, the more revenue flows to our state's general fund to provide for K-12 education, our universities and public safety. As long as the water wars continue between the northern and southern parts of our state, all of California loses. Water problems can be solved within the next 10 years; there are solutions that benefit both sides….California cannot afford 20 more years of the same old arguments between delta and Southern California water interests. We need a long-term solution that will work for all parties now. This can only be accomplished if the delta is involved and both sides ratchet down the rhetoric. Real solutions that meet the co-equal goals are possible, but require people from both sides who are solution based — not just saying "no" all the time or proclaiming the delta's inevitable collapse. We must put an end to the water war and give peace a chance.

http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/07/2232502/water-heading-south-its-not-about.html

Time is now to seek new water sources for the Coachella Valley [Palm Springs Desert Sun]

Coachella Valley is merely a pebble on the beach of the long-term expected drought. The entire Southwest will be impacted. Every town, city and farm will be looking for new sources of water at the same time.…Yes, we have a large supply of water underground. But no, we can't have it. Certainly not all of it. The more water we take from the aquifer the greater the risk of the aquifer collapsing. As that happens, building and highway foundations would begin to crack and buckle, as would the value of property and the entire valley economy. It is for this reason our CVWD is now making every effort to replenish back into the aquifer, gallon for gallon, what we draw out.

http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012206080303

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