Stakes
are high in state, federal water contract negotiations [Sacramento Bee]
Gov.
Jerry Brown's plan to build two massive water diversion tunnels in the Delta
has hogged the spotlight in the crowded theater of California water issues. But
contract negotiations going on backstage could prove just as significant. The
state and federal water agencies that control most of Northern California's
water are negotiating new contracts with their 279 farm and urban water buyers.
These contracts will govern those relationships – and extend the government's
obligation to provide water – for decades. How the new contracts are shaped
will affect water rates for millions of Californians. It also will change how
taxpayers at large continue to subsidize the many dams and canals that deliver
water.
Editorial: California's Fish
Fry [Wall Street Journal]
President
Obama says he wants to "redesign government" and deliver services in
a "smarter" way. Terrific. Perhaps he could start by ensuring a
reliable water supply to people living in the devolving state of California.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation this spring cut water deliveries to farmers and
the two-thirds of Californians who live south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta to between 20% and 35% of their contractual allocations. The reason?
Because 300 three-inch smelt were caught in the pumps at the south end of the
delta….To rescue Californians from this government-made drought, the Governor
and the state's Congressional delegation will have to bring their pressure to
bear on the Obama Administration to loosen pumping regulations and smelt
protections. Perhaps they could point out that it's "smarter
government."
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Milk
price changes could be coming [Stockton Record]
Dairy
farmers and cheese makers, who have long tussled over state-regulated milk prices,
may be close to an agreement on a short-term price increase to help producers
offset staggeringly high feed prices. And in seeking a longer-term solution,
the state Senate Agriculture Committee approved legislation Thursday that would
fund an industry task force and give it a July 1 deadline to recommend reforms
to California's antiquated and byzantine milk pricing system.…Gary Conover,
government relations director for Western United Dairymen, a farmer interest
group, said an agreement has been reached that would raise the price on milk
used for cheese.…Close, but not quite, said Rachel Kaldor, executive director
of the Dairy Institute of California, representing milk processors.
Bugs
threaten Tulare County citrus industry [Fresno Bee]
Bugs
capable of carrying an incurable citrus tree disease have been found in traps
near Porterville, the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner's Office said.
The invasive species Asian citrus psyllid is a potential nightmare for citrus
growers because it can carry the huanglongbing disease, also known as citrus
greening, the commissioner's office said. Six bugs were found in three traps
south of Porterville when the traps were picked up June 25 and 26. All citrus
and related species are targets for the insect, and there is no cure for
infected trees. Once infected, they will produce bitter and misshapen fruit
until they die.
Job
hunting? Ag offers bumper crop of opportunity [Gannett News Service]
U.S.
agriculture and food companies are struggling to attract enough workers, a
problem the industry concedes is getting worse as innovation and growing demand
for their products leads to the creation of thousands of new jobs.
Agribusinesses have been working for years to shed their stodgy and outdated
image to help draw employees and stop the loss of highly qualified workers to
other fields such as engineering and financial services. Agribusinesses,
colleges and others have promoted opportunities beyond the farmer in the field
that were overlooked in the past — resulting in a dearth of employees today.
Napa
County Farm Bureau marks centennial [San Francisco Chronicle]
More
than 60 families in Napa County are still farming the same land they worked
more than a centennial ago, when the valley was home to beef and dairy cattle,
prunes, pears, cherries, field crops, nuts - and, of course, grapes. Now, 97
percent - 43,207 acres - of the county's agricultural output is grapes. Last
year's crop was valued at $665 million, generating $13.3 billion in economic
impact, said Sandy Elles, executive director of the Napa County Farm Bureau,
which next month celebrates its 100th anniversary.
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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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