Supreme
Court to hear California raisin growers' case [Sacramento Bee]
The
Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to hear an appeal from Fresno, Calif., raisin
growers Marvin and Laura Horne, who contend that the federal marketing program
that can take nearly half their crop is unconstitutional. Their case poses a
significant challenge to the New Deal-era farm program that seeks to prop up
prices by keeping part of the crop off the market. It also raises questions
about the limits of the government's power to regulate commerce, an issue that
sharply divided the justices in the major health care overhaul case decided in
June.
Supreme
Court clears way for grapevine patent suit [Fresno Bee]
The
Supreme Court on Monday provided legal juice for growers who want to sue the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Table Grape Commission over
grapevine patents. In a decision noteworthy for farmers nationwide, the high
court declined to review a lower court's ruling that waived USDA's customary
immunity from lawsuits. The decision, issued without comment, effectively
upholds the earlier appellate ruling and gives a green light for further legal
battle over the "Scarlet Royal" and "Autumn King" grapevine
variety patents. "It's part of an effort by growers to curtail the power
grab by the table grape commission," Lawrence Hadley, an attorney for the
growers who are challenging the patents, said Monday. "Our clients believe
the grape commission has overextended its authority, to really insert itself
into private industry and become more of a regulatory body instead of a
promotions program."
Court
upholds groundwater basin rule [Santa Maria Times]
Virtually
all of an appeal filed over the 2008 decision in the Santa Maria Valley
Groundwater Basin lawsuit has been rejected by the state Court of Appeal. In an
opinion issued last Wednesday, the 6th Appellate District court upheld the
initial Santa Clara County Superior Court decision. However, the appeals court
did send the decision back to the Santa Clara County court for clarification of
two points.
Insect
could threaten California orange groves [USA Today]
The
discovery of two insects, each the size of a chocolate sprinkle, has set off a
wave of fear among California citrus growers. The insects can carry a
devastating citrus disease that has already cost Florida growers an estimated
$4.5 billion. Now California is waiting to find out how large an area of
orange-growing land the state will quarantine to try to stop it from reaching
the state's prime growing area. State agriculture officials found two Asian
citrus psyllids in traps in Tulare County….The California Department of Food
and Agriculture in Sacramento is working with the affected counties to plan a
quarantine, which is expected to go into effect this week, Hawkins said.
Fire
season 2012 leaves its mark [San Francisco Chronicle]
…From
January to November, wildfires burned about 867,500 acres statewide, including
state and federal park and forest lands, said Cal Fire spokesman Daniel
Berlant. About 127,000 acres were burned in the same area in 2011. Cal Fire saw
130,000 acres burn in its jurisdiction in 2012 and 56,000 acres burn in 2011….
While there is no preventing lightning-caused fires such as the Ponderosa
blaze, Cal Fire hopes to lessen the damage with off-season controlled burns and
other prevention work being paid for by a controversial new fire fee being
levied on homeowners living in unincorporated neighborhoods and rural areas of
the state.…The fee is set to bring in $89 million by the end of the year. The
funds are earmarked for fire-prevention services such as brush clearing and
prescribed burns during the winter. Opponents claim the fee is an illegal tax
and filed suit against the state in October to fight it.
Commentary: It's time for GOP
to adopt new stance on immigration [Sacramento Bee]
It's
time for Congress and the president to enact comprehensive immigration reform.
And it's time for Republicans to shift their position on the issue, indeed not
only embracing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, but
championing the cause. Doing so is the right thing to do, and it is consistent
with the history and core values of the party of Lincoln and Reagan. The Grand
Old Party has long stood for opportunity and against tyranny. Republican
defense of free markets and limited government has helped create economic
opportunities and prosperity unlike any other country in the world.…I am committed
to building consensus on the issue here in California. I call on Republicans
across the nation to return to the roots of our party and the causes of its
founder, Abraham Lincoln, by making liberty and economic opportunity the twin
beacons that unite and guide a painfully divided nation.
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.
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