Twin
tunnels formal plan 5 months away [Stockton Record]
The
state and federal governments announced Wednesday that a formal draft of the
Delta twin tunnels plan will be finished by Oct. 1. Portions of the plan have
already been released, but these are merely previews to the formal plan, which
will be subject to public comment and, most likely, litigation. Officials had
previously hoped to have the plan by July. Last month, Gov. Jerry Brown wrote
to new U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, asking that the work be
expedited.
County
announces consensus with IID on QSA litigation [Imperial Valley Press]
The
county of Imperial and the Imperial Irrigation District have reached a
consensus in the coordinated Quantification Settlement Agreements lawsuits,
according to county press release. “The next step will be to negotiate a
memorandum of understanding between the parties that would be presented to the
other QSA litigation parties and that would become part of an enforceable
judgment submitted to the Court for its approval,” states the press release.
The points of agreement are not yet clear, with officials only saying that they
center on a comprehensive restoration plan for the Salton Sea.
Some
cuts likely for food stamps [Associated Press]
The
government's food stamp program, which helps feed 1 in every 7 America, was one
of the few programs exempted from this year's automatic spending cuts. But now
it is likely to get trimmed. Unresolved is by how much. The Democratic chairman
of the Senate Agriculture Committee is only willing to take roughly one-half of
1 percent, or about $400 million annually, off the top as the panel prepares to
move a massive farm bill through committee next week. Her Republican
counterpart in the House, also preparing to consider a farm bill next week,
would give the program a makeover and cut it by five times that amount.
Republicans complain the popular safety net program — now known as the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — has more than doubled in
size since 2008, to $78.4 billion last year, and critics say its growth is
partly due to an expansion of the program through President Barack Obama's
economic stimulus law the year he took office. Last year, it helped feed more
than 46 million people.
Farmers
cultivate alternative revenue [San Francisco Chronicle]
Hunting
tours, wildflower escapes, rock concerts, even leasing out a swath of land to a
cell phone company - whatever it takes, in tough times, farmers, ranchers and
grape growers have learned to diversify to pay the bills. Sometimes it's as
simple as leasing or selling land for easements. Other times it's as elaborate
as creating banquet facilities on their land for weddings, parties and
corporate functions. And many are borrowing the European tradition of
agriculture-tourism - everything from lodging and chef's dinners to organized
events and educational programs. Not only do these extras bring in a little
pocket change - sometimes a lot - but farmers say they promote agriculture and
help brand their products. Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys (Calaveras County)
has it all - weddings, concerts, a jewelry store and even a Gold Rush museum.
SoCal
farm workers canned for fleeing fire? All a misunderstanding, Farm Says [LA
Weekly]
The
story of more than a dozen farm workers fired after fleeing smoke from the
Springs Fire in Ventura County has turned out to be the story of more than a
dozen farm workers who still have a job. Maybe. You see, after the story became
a headline, the SoCal farm in question said it was all just a big
misunderstanding: It happened during the blaze last week when the
strawberry field hands said they fled their workplace in Camarillo as the fire
smoked them out. Understandable. But when they returned Friday, the workers
reportedly said, they were told they were fired for walking off the job. A rep
for the farm told Telemundo that the employees had left without permission and
would be paid for work performed but were otherwise terminated.
Editorial: Saving bees,
reducing the risks [Santa Maria Times]
…A
U.S. Department of Agriculture study indicates the so-called bee colony collapse
disorder is caused by disease, parasites, poor nutrition — and exposure to
pesticides. That’s the human connection, a point vigorously debated by
pesticide manufacturers, but as far as the science community is concerned,
supported by solid evidence….Still, we can’t afford to fool around with half
measures. Government at all levels needs to collaborate with the science
community to devise a blueprint for saving bee colonies at the local, regional,
state, federal and global levels. Because, if this problem is ignored for too
long, there is a very real possibility of famine, on a scale modern science and
government could not have imagined just a few short years ago. Humans need to
understand that the world we live in and depend on is completely interdependent
and if, in our ignorance, we allow our appetites to destroy the parts, the
entire structure is at great peril. That’s a risk we don’t want to take.
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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