House
group works to present its own immigration plan [New York Times]
The
group met, on and off, in almost complete secrecy for nearly four years. It
lost members to political disagreements, and to re-election battles. After the
November elections, it regrouped and redoubled its efforts. Soon, the
bipartisan group of about eight House members hopes to unveil its own
immigration legislation, adding a voice to a growing swell of politicians — a
bipartisan group in the Senate, as well as President Obama — who say they are
serious about overhauling the nation’s immigration system by the end of the
year….On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold its first
hearing on the immigration issue. The bipartisan group of House members hopes
to release legislation of its own, perhaps accompanied by its own set of principles,
by Feb. 12, the day Mr. Obama delivers the State of the Union address.
California
farmers eager for immigration reform [Los Angeles Times]
At
Chandler Farms, just outside of Selma in the San Joaquin Valley, about three
dozen workers are needed each season to pick acres of delicate peaches, plums,
nectarines and citrus. In recent years, however, owners Carol and Bill Chandler
have struggled to find laborers as immigration from Mexico has slowed to a near
standstill.…The Chandlers are among the state's farmers who welcomed a move
this week by Congress to make immigration reform a legislative priority this
year…. Diego Olagaray, 51, who grows 750 acres of wine grapes in Lodi, just
north of Stockton, said that granting legal status to the state's agricultural
workers ensures that both farm hands and employers would be able to breathe a
little easier.…Olagaray said that if immigration isn't resolved soon, labor
shortages will become more pronounced. Last spring, he said he had trouble filling
his usual crew to work on his vineyard, and other growers saw ripe crops
languish in the fields.
Solar
development absorbing Calif. farmland [Associated Press]
There's
a land rush of sorts going on across the nation's most productive farming
region, but these buyers don't want to grow crops. They want to plant solar farms….Developers
are flocking to flat farmland near power transmission lines, but agriculture
interests, environmental groups and even the state are concerned that there is
no official accounting of how much of this important agricultural region's
farmland is being taken out of production.…The California Department of
Conservation, which is supposed to track development on privately held
farmland, has been unable to do so because of staff and funding reductions,
officials say….Just three weeks into 2013, five valley farmers have told the
Department of Conservation that they want to cancel low agriculture tax rate
contracts to develop solar on their property. None takes advantage of a
year-old law making it easier to cancel on marginal land, Penberth said.
CA
wildlife officials: Runoff pond plan needs work [Associated Press]
An
evaporation pond proposed for disposing toxic water from farmland in
California's Central Valley could harm birds and other species and needs more
review, state wildlife officials said Friday. The proposal by the Tulare Lake
Drainage District calls for building an 1,800-acre evaporation pond to capture
agricultural runoff in the Tulare Basin and dedicating 3.6 acres of farmland as
mitigation habitat. The district says the huge pond would allow irrigation and
continued farming of 18,000 acres of land now marred with salty groundwater.
Groups
trying to protect wolf oppose coyote hunt [Associated Press]
A
once obscure coyote hunting contest in northernmost California has become
anything but, as environmental groups lobby the state to call it off to protect
a lone, roaming wolf. The hunt is sponsored by a hunt club and outfitter supply
store in Adin in Modoc County, with the team that kills the most coyotes
between Feb. 8 and 10 winning a silver belt buckle. Organizers say they're
trying to rid the Big Valley cattle ranching community of coyotes, a predator
that can harm livestock. The state's lone gray wolf currently is about 100
miles from the hunt, state wildlife officials say.
Editorial: Everyone needs to
speak up in relicensing process [Modesto Bee]
Fish
can't talk, but they have people who regularly speak up for them. Farmers and
others who work in or near agriculture think that the fish often are better
heard than the humans whose livelihoods depend on the same rivers and
reservoirs.…The Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, local business leaders and
others want to avoid anything resembling such a scenario here. They have made
sure that the economic benefits of Don Pedro Reservoir and the Tuolumne River
water that runs through it is fully laid out for the federal agency that will
set the new rules for the operation of Don Pedro powerhouse….Why would there be
concern that the FERC won't appreciate the value of Tuolumne water to
Stanislaus County agriculture and residents? The study process seems loaded in
favor of the environment….We want FERC to issue a license with terms that
promote a healthy habitat for fish and other wildlife and plant life, ample
recreation opportunities and that continues to provide sufficient water for our
ag-based economy and for municipal and industrial users. To get the best
outcome, every voice needs to be heard.
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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