Critics,
supporters await news of guest worker program [Imperial Valley Press]
Recent
remarks by Obama administration officials suggest immigration reform will be a
priority for the president in the initial months of his second term….While the
president has yet to make any public remarks, many are expecting him to do so
during the upcoming inaugural address or State of the Union speech. The
agricultural industry in particular will also be paying close attention for any
news of a guest worker program….Several problems with the current H-2A program
include burdensome rules associated with the program, substantial additional
costs and added transportation and housing requirements, said imperial County
Farm Bureau executive director Linsey Dale.…The local bureau, in conjunction
with state and national agricultural interests, has proposed a plan that would
permit migrant laborers either a contract or at-will work. Workers would
then be able to choose their form of employment, Dale said.
Editorial: Crossing border for
economy [Santa Maria Times]
…Immigration?
Not an easy one. We have in our readership area a wide range of views on
immigration, specifically the presence of thousands of people in this country
illegally, mostly from Mexico. And here is why immigration policy reform at the
federal level is so important — our economy depends on those workers. We’ve
made this point a number of times, but it bears repeating — if not for illegal
workers, about two-thirds of the field work in our readership area would simply
not be done. Or, assuming American citizens could be convinced to take a job
picking crops, the salaries that farmers would have to pay them would push the
price of fruits and vegetables beyond most middle-Americans’ ability to pay.
The obvious solution is to create policy that somehow legalizes those workers,
either with temporary work visas and an easier path to citizenship.
Groups
say smaller delta tunnel is better [Los Angeles Times]
A
group of conservation organizations and Bay Area water agencies is proposing a
vastly scaled-down version of a new export system for the Sacramento-San
Joaquin River Delta, arguing that it would cost less and be more reliable than
a plan supported by Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration. The groups are asking
state and federal agencies to include their proposal in the ongoing
environmental review of an ambitious plan to revamp the way Northern California
water is shipped through the delta to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern
California. Federal and state officials have not made a final decision on the
plan. But they favor a proposal to build three large intake facilities on the
Sacramento River near Hood that could divert 9,000 cubic feet of water a second
into two side-by-side underground tunnels, 35 miles long, that would feed into
existing government pumps in the south delta. Currently, supplies are drawn
entirely through the delta to the pumps, a system that has caused considerable
environmental harm.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-delta-water-tunnel-20130116,0,5994806.story
Commentary: Growers seek
salvation in sewage [San Diego Union-Tribune]
…As
you know, many North County growers are getting crushed by the price of
water….Viewed that way, the city and the growers have the makings of a
life-sweetening deal: After a two-year rate preference, the farms will line up
as the prime customers for reclaimed water suitable for irrigation but not for
drinking.…The two-year grace period, which Wohlford calls a “bridge,” is the
time it will take for Escondido to set up the reclaimed water infrastructure.
If it doesn’t do something to reduce its sewage, officials have said, the city
may be on the hook for $300 million to widen pipes carrying Escondido sewage
into the ocean. The smart green solution is to pump treated sewage into the
groves. The recycled H2O will be cheaper than potable water, giving Escondido
growers an edge in the marketplace.
Denham
takes wheel of House committee on high-speed rail [Modesto Bee]
High-speed
rail skeptics gained new traction Wednesday with the promotion of Rep. Jeff
Denham to chairmanship of the House panel that oversees railroads. A sharp
critic of California's ambitious high-speed rail plan, the Turlock Republican
can use his post to challenge one of the Obama administration's top public
works priorities. Rail legislation must pass through Denham's subcommittee,
which can hold hearings to shed potentially unflattering light on projects such
as California's. "I'm opposed to it, but I'm going to work with the
California High-Speed Rail Authority on going forward," Denham said Wednesday.
"I want to work together with them, though I still have doubts about their
funding and ridership numbers."
Avocados
survive cold snap [San Diego Union-Tribune]
Cheer
up, guacamole fans. As of now it appears you won’t have to spend an arm and a
leg for your favorite dip while celebrating Cinco de Mayo this spring. But keep
your frozen fingers and toes crossed. At least that’s the word from local
avocado growers who say our recent cold snap has had no significant effect on
this year’s crop. “We’re all concerned but I haven’t heard of any problems, at
least in our area,” said Ohannes Karaoghlanian, who’s been growing avocados
near Temecula for about 14 years. “I haven’t seen any damage and it looks like
we’ll still be able to supply the market
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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