Commentary: California needs
more water storage to end conflicts, bolster its economy [Sacramento Bee]
…We
must do more to prepare for increasingly harmful dry years by capturing more
water in wet years. In short, California needs a lot more water storage – and
we need it now….More than a decade ago, legislation passed that authorized the
Bureau of Reclamation to do feasibility studies on expanding or building four
reservoirs: Shasta, Sites, Los Vaqueros and Temperance Flat….Waiting a decade
or more for these studies is unacceptable. The Bureau of Reclamation must
complete these studies, and they must do so now. California's Legislature also
must do its part by updating the long-anticipated water bond and ensuring that
it includes adequate funding for water storage.
Farm
worker shortage leads to increase in pay, other issues [KCRA TV, Sacramento]
With
tighter border security and immigration reform discussions continuing, farmers
in the San Joaquin Valley said Thursday they're experiencing a tough time
finding workers. Joe Cotta, of Rhythm & Blueberries, told KCRA 3 someone
came to his property to try and steal his workers. The upside to all this is
that farm workers are seeing an increase in pay because their skills are
needed. Some are getting paid double what they would normally receive….Mark
Mayer, with Mayer Vineyards Inc., said he has no choice but to adjust to the
changes. Mayer said he's trying to offer workers year-round jobs, so that when
it comes time to harvest, he'll have a reliable crew.
Ranchers
seek court order to stop water shutoffs [Associated Press]
Some
of the ranchers facing irrigation shutoffs in the upper Klamath Basin are
asking a judge to stop state officials from enforcing newly recognized water
rights held by the Klamath Tribes. Klamath County Circuit Judge Cameron Wogan
has scheduled hearings Friday in Klamath Falls. State watermasters started
telling ranchers Wednesday that they had to stop irrigating in order to be sure
enough water remains in the Sprague, Williamson and Wood rivers to meet senior
water rights held by the tribes, which are using them to protect endangered
fish.
Ventura
County poised to match San Diego County as top avocado producer [Ventura County
Star]
That
the California Avocado Commission, which promotes the state’s nearly $400
million avocado industry, chose Santa Paula for its first field office is one
sign of Ventura County’s increasing strength as a producer. Other signs are
acres of new avocado groves, many of which have replaced older citrus orchards,
and a surge in businesses supplying local growers with young avocado trees. The
signs are clear, say officials, nursery owners and growers: the avocado
industry is moving north, and Ventura County may soon match acreage with
long-dominant San Diego County.
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Editorial: An Iowa fox in
California's hen house [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]
Rep.
Steve King is a small-government conservative, a tea-party darling who will
enthusiastically tell you that Washington meddles too much in state and local
affairs. Until he disagrees with local voters and their elected
representatives. Then he's all for Washingon laying down the law. King, R-Iowa,
doesn't like a California law that sets standards for humane treatment of hens
on egg-producing farms.
Editorial: Fresno County must
quicken review of Williamson Act tax breaks [Fresno Bee]
There's
only one reason Fresno County isn't relentlessly pursuing local folks who are
cheating cities, schools, special districts and the county out of millions of
tax dollars every year. The scoundrels are farmers, and most of the members of
the Board of Supervisors are content to look the other way because farmers are
their political allies….An independent report last year suggested that 5% of
Fresno's Williamson Act tax benefits go to properties no longer being farmed.
The report also estimated that 20% of the tax breaks were wrongly calculated.
Given that the Williamson Act tax breaks total nearly $30 million a year, the
loss in revenue is considerable. The supervisors' stated reason for not
aggressively pursuing the cheaters is a lack of money for extra staff. Given
the millions of dollars at stake, this excuse doesn't wash.
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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