Over
60% of California farmers report labor shortages [Sacramento Bee]
Even
amid high unemployment, California farmers say they long for a larger labor
force. Nearly two-thirds of farmers who responded to a California Farm Bureau
Federation survey said they were challenged to find enough workers to help tend
and harvest crops this year. The Sacramento-based bureau said Tuesday that its
online survey included responses from nearly 800 of its members about the
harvest season.
Fresno
coalition wants new immigration policy [Fresno Bee]
A
coalition of religious organizations, business groups and law enforcement came
together in Fresno Wednesday to push for comprehensive immigration reform.
Members of the coalition, who met at the offices of Nisei Farmers League in
Fresno, say it's critical that the federal government provide illegal
immigrants with an opportunity for legal residency, while also giving employers
access to workers through a guest worker program. Without a new policy,
advocates say, immigrants will continue to fall prey to unscrupulous employers
and human smugglers.
Stalled
farm bill is pushed for its savings [New York Times]
As
President Obama and Republican leaders try to avoid automatic spending cuts and
tax increases beginning in the new year, several lawmakers say a stalled farm
bill that reshapes nutrition and agriculture programs could contribute billions
of dollars in savings. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan and
chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Representative Frank D.
Lucas, Republican of Oklahoma and chairman of the House Agriculture Committee,
are trying to persuade administration and Congressional leaders to include the
measure in negotiations that are seeking to avoid more than $500 billion in tax
increases and more than $100 billion in automatic spending cuts that would go
into effect next year. Both lawmakers have sponsored versions of a farm bill
with steep spending cuts that would help with deficit reduction, they said.
State
fire board makes rural fire "fee" permanent [Redding Record
Searchlight]
A
$150 fire fee that has drawn sharp criticism from rural officials statewide as
an illegal tax was made permanent Wednesday. The California Board of Forestry
and Fire Protection approved the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention
Benefit Fee during a public hearing in Sacramento. The board already had
approved an emergency regulation enacting the fee in August 2011, but the board
needed to vote on the issue Wednesday to approve the regulation establishing
the fee on a permanent basis, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the board.
Judge
OKs Delta reservoirs project [Stockton Record]
A
quarter-century-old plan to convert two Delta islands into reservoirs can move
forward, a judge has ruled. But the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors
voted this week to appeal that decision. The Delta Wetlands Project would flood
Bacon Island and Webb Tract while converting two more islands into wildlife
habitat.
End
of strike brings relief to Kern County exports, imports [Bakersfield
Californian]
With
the port strike in Los Angeles and Long Beach settled, Kern County agriculture
and commerce that had been worried about an extended fight affecting imports
and exports are ready for business to return to normal.…Some agricultural
interests said they worried about how they would export products during the
strike, while others said exports are slow this time of year anyway….Ben
McFarland, executive director of the Kern County Farm Bureau, said at least one
grape grower was very concerned about exports during the strike. Most of the
agriculture exports have already been completed for the year, McFarland said.
But grapes are still being exported, he said. "Every grape grower who
ships is being affected," he said on Tuesday, the day before the end of
the strike.
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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