Farm-state
lawmakers returning home empty-handed [San Luis Obispo Tribune]
Farm-state
members of Congress have campaigned for decades on the back of farm bills
delivering election-season subsidies and other goodies to rural voters. Not
this year. The bill is stalled, primarily because House GOP leaders don't want
a noisy fight over food stamps this close to the election. That poses a
particular problem for some Republicans in tight races for the Senate or the
House who will go home empty-handed when Congress adjourns this week…. It is
unclear how angry rural voters will be about the lack of a farm bill. The farm
economy has been strong in recent years, and expiration won't mean an immediate
loss of benefits for most farmers. But farm-state members argue that the
certainty of federal policy is necessary for farmers making their annual
business plans this fall and approaching bankers for loans. Punting the bill
may also mean less money overall. While both chambers' versions of the bill
would save tens of billions of dollars from current spending, the agriculture
committees may be asked to save even more as budgets tighten further next year.
Feds
approve first leg of Calif. high-speed rail [Associated Press]
The
Federal Railroad Administration gave its approval Wednesday for construction on
the first phase of California's high-speed rail system, clearing the final
technical hurdle for construction to start next year on a 65-mile span from
Merced to Fresno. The decision supports the California High-Speed Rail
Authority's so-called hybrid alternative, which state officials say is the
least costly approach and the one that is least harmful to the environment.
Rail authority Chief Executive Officer Jeff Morales said the federal decision
will allow the project to break ground next year….The project still faces
significant legal challenges that could delay next year's planned construction
start. Groups representing Central Valley farmers claim in lawsuits that the
state failed to conduct thorough environmental reviews, as required by
California law. "We're not seeking necessarily to stop the project
entirely, but we do think the project should be stopped until some of these
environmental issues, and their severity, are addressed," said Anja
Raudabaugh, executive director of the Madera County Farm Bureau.
Oakdale
Irrigation District sets vote on selling water [Modesto Bee]
The
board of the Oakdale Irrigation District plans an Oct. 2 vote on the tentative
terms of a water sale to the city of Brisbane. That was the outcome of the
first public discussion of the sale Tuesday — the same day the Modesto
Irrigation District dropped its contentious proposal to sell water to San
Francisco, which lies right next to tiny Brisbane. The OID would sell up to
2,400 acre-feet from its Stanislaus River supply each year, according to a
"term sheet" discussed by the board. This would come out of the
roughly 40,000 acre-feet the OID has available because two previous water
transfers — to Stockton-area domestic users and to river fishery flows — have
ended.
Editorial: Modesto Irrigation
District's problems won't evaporate [Modesto Bee]
While
the Modesto Irrigation District has ended negotiations with San Francisco about
the sale of water, the bigger issue has not evaporated — the need to repair,
upgrade and modernize the irrigation system that nurtures our bountiful
agriculture industry. While it's tempting to let this whole debate fade into
mist — and be thankful for a break in the relentless name calling and conflict
— the district should not wait too long before starting fresh on identifying
the needed projects and, just as important, identifying the options to pay for
them. Water sales should not be ruled out as a source of revenue, but should be
thoroughly investigated as part of a larger strategy. And farmers will have to
pay more. They cannot expect electricity customers to continue subsidize the
water system….The starting point on which all should agree: Water is the
lifeblood of our biggest industry, agriculture, but also essential to urban
residents and to businesses. We inherited a vast treasure from our predecessors
in the form of secure rights to a lot of Tuolumne River water. We have to make
the best and most efficient use of that water through a distribution system
that is always reliable and not wasteful.
Businesses
plead for changes to California's new cap-and-trade market [Sacramento Bee]
Heavyweight
business groups are staging a last-ditch protest against California's new
cap-and-trade carbon market, demanding changes to a program they've labeled a
job killer. Manufacturers, oil refiners and others are lining up to testify
today before the California Air Resources Board, which will run the carbon
market. Their goal: To get the Air Resources Board to reduce the costs of
participating in the market. The program is set to begin Nov. 14, when the
state agency will auction off millions of carbon emission allowances….The
manufacturers' group, along with the California Chamber of Commerce, California
Business Roundtable and California League of Food Processors, urged Gov. Jerry
Brown recently to rewrite the rules of the market.
Almond
harvest wrapping up, a little lighter than expectations [Chico
Enterprise-Record]
Every
year has its surprises, and this year almond growers were expecting a bigger
crop for nonpareil nuts, the most popular variety. All seemed perfectly aligned
in the spring. The bloom from different varieties overlapped, and the bees
looked like they were doing well at pollination, said Joe Connell, UC farm
adviser. The weather was good, without rain. But it wasn't quite as bountiful
as had been hoped.
Ag
Today is distributed to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for
information purposes, by the CFBF Communications/News Division, 916-561-5550; news@cfbf.com.
Some story links may require site registration. To be removed
from this mailing list, reply to this message and please provide your
name and e-mail address.
No comments:
Post a Comment