Republican
lawmakers urge action on immigration bill [Sacramento Bee]
Fifteen
Republican state lawmakers today joined a chorus of business interests from
California urging Republican representatives to act on an immigration bill
stalled in the House. "There is no policy debate more important to the
future of California and America than passing comprehensive immigration
reform," the lawmakers said in a letter to House Republicans from
California. "By providing legal clarity to the status of millions of
people in California, we can spur an economic renaissance, solidify families,
and create an entirely new population of full taxpayers, many of whom who have
strong entrepreneurial and work ethics." The push by legislative
Republicans follows similar lobbying efforts by GOP donors and business
interests this year. Still, the lawmakers who signed the letter to Republican
representatives today represent fewer than half of Republican lawmakers in
Sacramento.
Farmers
tell Democrats how climate change affects crops [KPCC Radio, Pasadena]
American
farmers are experiencing climate change in their fields. That was the message
delivered to a group of Democrat lawmakers Thursday in Washington.
Consequently, drought in the Midwest is affecting California's dairy farmers —
and parents looking for a reasonably priced gallon of milk. Democrats
frustrated with the lack of Congressional action on global warming are trying a
new tactic: focusing on how climate change is affecting Americans in various
ways….Farmers want a more “robust” crop insurance program from Washington to
cope with weather-related losses. And they want federal investment in
research….What farmers don’t want is more regulation, including a cap or tax on
carbon emissions.
Psyllid
infestation to extend quarantine to Fresno County [Fresno Business Journal]
After
finding two Asian citrus psyllids in Dinuba on Tuesday, entomologists returned
and found more of the pests including at least 100 on one of the orange trees.
The result is that insecticide spray has been applied in about a half-mile
radius and a quarantine is being planned. That quarantine area will push up
into Fresno County, said Tom Tucker, assistant agricultural commissioner for
Tulare County….Gene Hannon, a Fresno County Department of Agriculture
entomologist, said he has been flooded with calls from residents who fear they
may have the huanglongbing disease on their trees….Hannon said it is vital to
prevent Asian citrus psyllids from getting established in urban areas. They are
more difficult to control in urban environments, he said.
U.S.-European
trade talks inch ahead amid flurry of corporate wish lists [New York Times]
…Negotiations
have barely begun for a potentially sweeping trade pact between the United
States and Europe. But the lobbying is already well under way by corporations
on both sides of the Atlantic. And the sometimes parochial nature of their
demands is sure to further complicate the trade talks, which no one expects to
proceed quickly or smoothly, given the geopolitics involved. Companies from an
array of industries have made their wish lists known, according to a review of
their public filings, as well as documents obtained via the Freedom of
Information Act in the United States….The fruit-growing cooperative Ocean Spray
expressed concern in its filing about the difficulty of complying with European
regulations on pesticide residue. In Europe, the company explains, maximum
pesticide residue levels for cranberries “are set at levels significantly more
restrictive than U.S. levels.”
Soy
climbs as USDA cuts crop forecast [Wall Street Journal]
Soybean
prices jumped nearly 3% after the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut its
forecast for the size of this autumn's harvest and said domestic supplies next
year will be tighter than analysts had expected. The USDA trimmed projected
soybean output by 3%, to 3.149 billion bushels, due to the emergence of drought
in parts of the Midwest in recent weeks. The hot, dry weather has afflicted the
crop during a critical stage of development in big soybean-producing states
including Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. The U.S. corn crop, by contrast,
largely underwent its main growth phase in July, when weather conditions were
largely favorable. In Thursday's crop report, the USDA raised its forecast for
corn production by 0.6%, to a record 13.843 billion bushels. The move surprised
traders, sending corn prices lower.
Commentary: Wildfire prevention
should be top priority in 2014 [Modesto Bee]
…There
is no doubt that the fire fee is unfair and should be repealed; however, we
also need to increase funding for fire prevention….This year, six bills were
introduced in the Legislature that would have repealed the fire fee for all or
part of the 825,000 State Responsibility Area property owners. Not one made it
to floor of either chamber for a vote of all members….Therefore, I think Mother
Lode residents and all Californians should support shifting the financial
burden of fire prevention services from property owners in State Responsibility
Areas to all Californians. I’m proposing a ballot initiative for the 2014
general election that calls for a $100 million bond to be spent over five
years. The funds would be spent exclusively on fire prevention services, based
on best practices.
Ag
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