Thursday, July 18, 2013

Ag Today Wednesday, July 17, 2013



Water rights holders warned that dry year could mean cutbacks [Chico Enterprise-Record]
A warning letter went out this week says that even the state's most secure water rights might not be totally secure during a dry year. The State Water Resources Control Board sent out the notice, which suggests landowners be realistic about what they plant later in the year, and suggested steps to take in case less water is available. At this point, no specific water users are identified, said Les Grober, assistant deputy director for water rights for the state board.

Judge rules against upper Klamath Basin ranchers [Associated Press]
A Klamath Falls judge denied a request Tuesday to keep the state of Oregon from shutting off irrigation water in the upper Klamath Basin. That leaves intact a state decision recognizing the senior water rights of the Klamath Tribes. The water rights decision came down this spring, as drought began to sap the water supplies in the high-desert basin.

SB Planning Commission discusses land use [Santa Maria Times]
How to make agriculture, natural resources and development peacefully co-exist on the Gaviota Coast was the aim of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission Tuesday as it resumed its examination of the Gaviota Coast Plan. The commission examined the land use section of the draft plan, the document that will eventually guide protection and development along the coast and coastal foothills from Goleta to Vandenberg Air Force Base. Discussion ranged from how to protect current agricultural operations, to preventing the spread of lavish homes along the coast bluffs and hilltops, to rezoning much of the ag land in the plan area.…Farmers and ranchers essentially asked the commission to be left alone, asking to be allowed to build secondary or family housing on their properties, which is currently prohibited.

Salinas scientists acquire new tool to fight nasty pathogen [Salinas Californian]
A particularly crafty fungus that causes widespread destruction of spinach leaves is in the crosshairs of a consortium of researchers and agriculture officials in the Salinas Valley. The Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner, the University of California Cooperative Extension, the Leafy Greens Research Commission, and growers and seed companies are pooling resources to bring a state-of-the-art environmental chamber to the laboratories at the Monterey County Agricultural Center in Salinas. Downy mildew, despite sounding like the hair of newborn fawns or fabric softener, is a formidable disease. The UC Integrated Pest Management Program calls it “the most widespread and destructive spinach disease in California.”

Group releases report in Santa Cruz on government food subsidies [Santa Cruz Sentinel]
On the heels of Twinkies making a comeback Monday after an eight-month hiatus, a student advocacy group used the packaged treat as an example of government subsidies for apples versus corn- and soy-derived ingredients. Half an apple sat next to 20 Twinkies, symbolizing the government subsidies of corn-laden processed food compared with apples. Apples receive just a fraction of federal money subsidizing corn and soy products, according to the California Public Interest Research Group. About 15 people stood outside The Food Bin, a Santa Cruz grocery store, Tuesday morning to release the report "Apples to Twinkies 2013: Comparing Taxpayers Subsidies for Fresh Produce and Junk Food."

California rice farmers see golden opportunity in TPP [Japan Times]
California rice farmer Charley Matthews Jr. remembers the excitement when Japan first started buying rice from the United States in 1993. “It really helped rice prices here,” Matthews, chairman of the California Rice Commission, said. It was also the beginning of a learning experience for California growers. Until then, marketing rice was not about quality, “it was about how many sacks you could grow,” he said. With 20 years of experience growing rice for Japan, California producers are hopeful the Trans-Pacific Partnership will open the market even more. Japanese negotiators are joining the latest round of TPP talks being held through July 25 in Malaysia.

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