Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Ag Today Tuesday, November 19, 2013


Cooperation urged over Valley groundwater loss [Modesto Bee]
Don’t wait for groundwater to go so low that a judge or state officials feel compelled to step in and take over. That message, in so many words, came through loud and clear from expert after expert at Monday’s packed forum addressing the Central Valley’s emerging crisis. “The writing is on the wall in Sacramento,” said Greg Zlotnick of the Association of California Water Agencies, predicting groundwater legislation early next year at the Capitol….Nearly 300 people, most with some stake in pumping of well water, converged Monday for the first forum hosted by the American Ground Water Trust in the San Joaquin Valley, where groundwater depletion is getting scary….Drought combined with increased farm pumping has dried up some families’ wells in Stanislaus County, mostly in the Denair area. Monday’s crowd learned that other regions have it much worse, in places such as Kansas, Texas and, closer to home, parts of the San Joaquin Valley south of Merced.

U.S. Meatpackers Fight New Country-of-Origin Labels [Wall Street Journal]
Big U.S. meatpackers are appealing to Congress in a last-ditch effort to stave off new federal labeling rules that require more information about the origins of beef, pork and other meats. At issue are regulations set to come into full force Saturday that require meat processors to list details including the countries in which livestock were born, raised and slaughtered. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the new rules this past spring to update previous country-of-origin regulations that the World Trade Organization said discriminated against Canada and other trading partners. A six-month grace period on the rules is set to end Saturday. Tyson Foods Inc., Cargill Inc. and other meatpackers are lobbying members of Congress to amend the latest rules within a new federal farm bill, arguing they impose unnecessary costs on the industry. Supporters of the mandates, including U.S. beef ranchers and consumer groups, are pushing back, contending the labels will help consumers make more-informed decisions about the meat they buy.
*Link may require paid subscription; text included in attached Word file.

Farm bill takes aim at state animal welfare laws [Associated Press]
The future of state laws that regulate everything from the size of a hen's cage to the safe consumption of Gulf oysters may be at stake as farm bill negotiators work to resolve a long-simmering fight between agriculture and animal welfare interests. The House Agriculture Committee added language to its version of the farm bill earlier this year that says a state cannot impose certain production standards on agricultural products sold in interstate commerce. The provision, authored by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is aimed at a California law that will require all eggs sold in the state to come from hens that inhabit cages in which they can spread their wings — a major burden for egg producers in Iowa and other states who don't use large cages and still want to sell eggs to the lucrative California market….But opponents say that depending on how the language is interpreted, the provision could lead to challenges of dozens of other state laws — including some aimed at food safety, fire safety and basic consumer protections.

Murky waters: Elk River residents, logging companies divided on sediment pollution [Eureka Times Standard]
State water quality officials announced Saturday their intent to reduce the rate of sediment pollution in the Elk River by 97 percent over the next 20 years by limiting it in timberland areas for both residents and logging companies. ”There's been a loss of property uses in terms of being able to get to and from homes, to and from work, damage to structures, damage to water systems,” North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board engineer Adona White said. “This watershed's been managed for timber for 150 years. There's been a lot of hard impacts to the river.” White said the board is in the preliminary steps of establishing a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Elk River watershed, with a goal of late 2014. The TMDL would establish a limit for on how much sediment could come from the property owners in the area.

Valley helps U.S. farm exports hit record [Modesto Bee]
The world’s appetite for what the United States grows has increased again, pushing the nation’s farm exports to an estimated $140.9 billion in the last fiscal year. Soybeans, corn and other Midwest crops played the biggest role, but the San Joaquin Valley found plenty of foreign buyers for its nuts, wine, dairy goods and other products….Agriculture continues to perform well in a Valley economy still feeling the effects of the housing market collapse that started in 2006. And it’s good for the nation’s economy, experts say, to have a sector that exports heavily, helping to make up for imports of electronics, clothing and many other consumer goods. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service reported the $140.9 billion in exports for the year that ended Sept. 30, up 3.8 percent from $135.8 billion the previous year.

Editorial :Chico Enterprise-Record Chico Enterprise-Record
It's understandable that the state agency has angered so many. Small trucking firms already operate on thin margins, with a long life required for their expensive equipment. Then the state came along and demanded expensive regulations that are supposed to improve air quality, mandating either new trucks or filters that supposedly will clean the air but truckers say don't work as promised….The state has retreated on when the filters need to be in place, delaying the implementation in the less-polluted north state and other regions of California for at least a year. While this won't have an impact on the local lawsuit, it is a good indication CARB's gotten the message. We hope the state will use the one-year delay to address equipment flaws and even the question of whether existing trucks in the north state should be exempt from the laws.

Ag Today is distributed by the CFBF Communications/News Division to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes; stories may not be republished without permission. Some story links may require site registration. To be removed from this mailing list, reply to this message and please provide your name and e-mail address. For more information about Ag Today, contact 916-561-5550 or news@cfbf.com.

Ag Today Monday, November 18, 2013


A decade after firestorm, blue-ribbon panel’s recommendations have mixed record [Sacramento Bee]
Torched homes still smoldered a decade ago this month when a panel of experts convened to figure out what went wrong in the deadly Southern California wildfires of fall 2003 and suggest ways to prevent similar disasters….Overall, fire officials say, the state is better prepared for the next big blaze. Yet more people than ever live in fire-prone parts of California, increasing the risk of accidental starts….Disagreements among the panel’s members scuttled any recommendation on ways to raise more money for wildfire-prevention efforts. In 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown and majority Democrats pushed through a fee on homes in rural areas, although critics call it an illegal tax and have gone to court to overturn it. Lawmakers also proposed several bills to increase state involvement in local land use decisions. The first law of its kind takes effect in January.

Residents' concern grows over Delta tunnels plan [Contra Costa Times]
As the state prepares to unveil key environmental documents for Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to build two large tunnels to move Sacramento River water south, dozens of concerned East Contra Costans were brought up to speed last week on how it could impact their Delta backyard. The governor's $24.7 billion plan is widely opposed around the Delta communities…Most, if not all, of the 60 residents at Thursday's forum hosted by the Contra Costa Farm Bureau and Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, echoed those sentiments…."They are taking too much (water), it's in the wrong location and there's no local control over it," she said. Dr. Jeffery Michael, an economist at University of the Pacific, said the plan is bad for the state as a whole and questions who would benefit….The state's plan assumes that Los Angeles is growing faster than it is, that the tunnels will open on time and there will be no extra costs, he said. Michael urged those in the farm bureau to show the math, which he says doesn't pencil out, to other group members around the state.

Editorial: Big obstacle for Delta tunnel project -- who will pay for it? [Sacramento Bee]
…But no matter what is released next month, financing for the project is far from settled. How will the costs be divided among contractors? Will it be affordable to both urban and agricultural farm districts? Would a smaller tunnel project make more financial sense? The other lingering issue is one of transparency. State officials are floating the idea of its “enhanced environmental flows,” with major public money going to water agencies, without involving the public. Trust in BDCP foundered years ago because of a lack of transparency. Why does the Brown administration keep repeating this mistake?

Commentary: Water is the value that runs farming [Modesto Bee]
…For now, the lending environment for agriculture is relatively strong. Farmland continues to possess considerable value. Land prices are rising. But the emerging concerns about water – both in their sheer number and their serious nature – seem of greater long-term concern than ever before….Lenders worry about risk. Water has rapidly risen to the top of the list of risks facing the industry. There was once a sense that water availability in the Central Valley was not a primary risk for the long term. That calculation is changing.…Land has farming value only if it has sufficient and reliable water. Long-term water solutions are essential to ensuring that money can continue to flow from lenders to farmers and to all beneficiaries of our agricultural economy. That includes all of us as we sit down to eat our next meal.

Editorial: Farm bill must preserve California's ability to set food standards [San Jose Mercury News]
Listening to Iowa Rep. Steve King rant about the five-year, $1 trillion farm bill lurching through Congress this fall, you'd think the Hawkeye State had the biggest agriculture industry in the nation. It doesn't. California does. But he and other tea party Republicans want to not only suck up all the subsidies they can, they also want to keep states from setting standards for food safety or animal treatment that may be different from federal rules. He has proposed a broad prohibition on state laws affecting food products that come from other states -- and his chief target is California's humane standards regarding poultry, pigs and cows, which include a requirement that eggs imported from other states be produced under similar standards.

Editorial: Big ethanol finally loses [Wall Street Journal]
It's not often that the ethanol lobby suffers a policy setback in Washington, but it got its head handed to it Friday. The Environmental Protection Agency announced that for the first time it is lowering the federal mandate that dictates how much ethanol must be blended into the nation's gasoline. It's about time. It's been about time from the moment the ethanol mandate came to life in the 1970s….About 40% of corn production is now used not for food or livestock feed, but for fuel. This has raised the price of corn, and a 2009 study by the Congressional Budget Office found that in some years ethanol has raised retail food prices by 5% to 10% for everything from corn flakes to ground beef….The EPA's modest reduction is a nod in the direction of market and technological reality. But expect the lobby to fight back ferociously, and it has powerful supporters in Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and GOP Senator Chuck Grassley. Democrats and Republicans who don't bow to Big Ethanol should unite to repeal the mandate for the good of consumers, business and the environment.

Ag Today is distributed by the CFBF Communications/News Division to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes; stories may not be republished without permission. Some story links may require site registration. To be removed from this mailing list, reply to this message and please provide your name and e-mail address. For more information about Ag Today, contact 916-561-5550 or news@cfbf.com.


Ag Today Friday, November 15, 2013


Editorial: Still plenty of time to pass a reform bill [Bakersfield Californian]
No time? Or lack of will? House Speaker John Boehner's announcement that Congress will not consider an immigration bill because time is running short in this session just doesn't fly…. A positive word from a party leader like Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House's No. 3 man, would make a huge difference. McCarthy's district, after all, faces economic issues that are virtually identical to those of the districts served by Denham and Rep. David Valadao, who has also voiced support for a bill. Growers in desperate need of workers, workers in desperate need of jobs, and federal immigration authorities torn between doing their jobs and acknowledging reality all wait for some resolution. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has already asked the relevant agencies to look the other way, at least where the immigrant labor force is concerned. But there's a better way: pass a bill, get these economic engines rolling again and stop the hypocrisy. There's time -- really.

Speed of timber salvage after Rim fire near Yosemite debated in Congress [Fresno Bee]
Salvage logging near Yosemite National Park could proceed without the customary environmental studies, public review or judicial oversight under a controversial bill that a key panel in the House of Representatives approved Thursday. Authored by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., the measure that the Republican-controlled House Natural Resources Committee approved clear-cuts the usual administrative and legal procedures that can slow emergency logging. McClintock, whose district includes Yosemite, says top speed is crucial in the wake of last summer’s devastating Rim fire, which ravaged a quarter of a million acres in the Sierra Nevada mountains….The bill, approved 19-14, faces opposition from the Forest Service and the Interior Department, though, as well as potential skepticism in the Senate. Further negotiations and tradeoffs of the kind that will test McClintock’s legislative skills will be necessary if the bill is to become law, Democrats say.

Group wants FDA to mirror its food-safety program [Salinas Californian]
Leafy greens growers in California and Arizona are telling federal regulators to adopt their food safety standards so that growers in other states won’t be operating under weaker federal rules. The Food Safety Modernization Act, administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has proposed a Produce Safety Rule that will nationalize regulations aimed at protecting the public from food-borne illnesses such as E. coli, salmonella and listeria, that could enter the food supply through lettuce, spinach, kale and other leafy greens. On Thursday, the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, based in Sacramento and formed after the disastrous E. coli outbreak on spinach in 2006, submitted its official comments on FSMA’s proposed Produce Safety Rule. The suggestions focus on strengthening the proposed rule, as well as a solution that would quickly allow regulators to address 90 percent of the leafy greens produced in the United States at no cost to the public, LFMA officials said.

IVEDC hosts water conservation forum [Imperial Valley Press]
Local and regional water experts discussed water shortages and conservation at the Barbara Worth Resort & Country Club Thursday. Most regional water issues boil down to water reliability. Colorado River water users are grappling with the effects of 14 consecutive years of drought. While the Imperial Irrigation District’s senior water rights are enviable, it is under tremendous pressure to conserve water….The forum’s panel discussion centered on on-farm water conservation and the lessons learned. “The Imperial Valley’s (water) priority system is quite high. And, I think that’s the wrong message. The message is, water is very valuable,” said Alex Jack, president of Jack Bros. Farms. “We farmers better start getting on our horse and start conserving water because one way or the other, if the cities go dry or are close to being dry, they’re going to find bits and pieces of the law that we’re violating,” he added.

Farmers, lenders talk about Modesto risks, rewards [Modesto Bee]
…The general strength of farming was a key theme at the second annual California Food & Ag Summit at the DoubleTree Hotel. But speakers also noted the state’s water issues, including a drought now in its third year and a shortage of reservoir space when the big storms do come….The water discussion dealt in part with the controversial plan to build a pair of tunnels on the east side of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Supporters see it as a way to make water supplies more reliable while protecting the delta ecosystem, but opponents say farmers and delta fish alike would suffer. The main point of agreement was that the state, in most years, does not have enough water to meet the needs of farms, cities and fish.

Clements meeting focuses on rural crime [Lodi News-Sentinel]
…Representatives from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s rural crime task force and the District Attorney’s Office discussed with an estimated 50 residents who filled the Clements fire station Thursday night how street gangs steal pricey metal, tractors and other farm equipment to acquire drugs and purchase guns. “Metal theft is probably your biggest problem now,” said Sheriff’s Detective Dan Levin, who focuses on crime in rural areas.…One community that is getting hit hard by rural crime is Linden, which grows a lot of walnuts, Levin said. Many people are stealing walnuts from Linden farms, he said.

Ag Today is distributed by the CFBF Communications/News Division to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes; stories may not be republished without permission. Some story links may require site registration. To be removed from this mailing list, reply to this message and please provide your name and e-mail address. For more information about Ag Today, contact 916-561-5550 or news@cfbf.com.

Ag Today Thursday, November 14, 2013


Obama pushing immigration as new doubts emerge in House [Wall Street Journal]
The White House is intensifying its push to get an immigration overhaul through Congress this year, but House Speaker John Boehner cast new doubt Wednesday about the prospects for quick action. President Barack Obama brainstormed at the White House Wednesday with religious leaders over how to persuade House Republicans to move on the issue.…But Mr. Boehner said House lawmakers wouldn't vote on any immigration bills while Republicans work on "principles" behind legislation. Many advocates for an immigration overhaul read the Ohio Republican's announcement as a setback. Others saw hope that the speaker was setting a course that could lead the GOP House to take up legislation, which has stalled since the Senate passed a sweeping bill in June.
*Link may require paid subscription; text included in attached Word file.

Editorial: Last call for the immigration bill [San Francisco Chronicle]
…Fixing this country's broken immigration system is one of the most important things Congress can do. Providing a path to citizenship for the millions of people who are already living, working and paying taxes here isn't just the right thing to do - it will improve the country's economic prospects and provide social stability for all Americans. The status quo - with sectors of the economy dependent on immigrant workers subject to deportation at any moment - is neither humane nor pragmatic. The House's job is to address the nation's pressing problems. If House members can't even take up a bill that's already been passed by the Senate and debated in this country for at least a decade - then they really do deserve every negative point of their approval rating.
*Link may require paid subscription; text included in attached Word file.

Water quality officials to unveil plan for Elk River; Humboldt County hosts public forum on sediment pollution [Eureka Times-Standard]
Local dairyman John Estevo wasn't able to pump water for his farm for six years because of the conditions on the Elk River. ”We don't have a ground water table, we're on clay, so a well is not an option,” the 57-year-old Eurekan said. “We need to pump out of the river for fresh water, and we couldn't because there was too much sediment. It would just chew up the pumps.” State officials will propose a pilot restoration plan for the Elk River to county representatives and local residents at a public forum this Saturday….Robbins said details of the proposed recovery plan will not be released prior to the forum. He said sediment can get into the river when companies use the dirt logging roads in the forest, which causes erosion. He also said that if trees are harvested too close to the water, a slide could occur.

Air district: Valley reaches long-awaited ozone standard [Fresno Bee]
Local air leaders are poised Thursday to announce the Valley has attained a federal ozone standard, a health landmark and a new symbol of hope in a region notorious for bad air. The announcement at the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District also will touch on a $29 million annual fee related to the one-hour federal ozone standard. Officials want to eliminate the mandate for the fee, paid mostly by a vehicle registration surcharge. But the mandate will remain while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency examines the district's case to be excused for problems in two Valley ozone hot spots. EPA can examine the evidence for up to a year….With cleaner fuels and vehicles as well as pioneering rules over such sources as farming, the air has improved dramatically since the 1990s.

Mendocino County cuts its ag preserve contracts [Ukiah Daily Journal]
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a measure that will cut the property tax break owners of agricultural land get as part of agricultural preserve agreements they have with the county under the Williamson Act….Having in recent years lost the state funding that compensated the county for its loss of property tax revenue, the board on Tuesday adopted the provisions of Assembly Bill 1265, which allows the county to temporarily shorten the 10-year Williamson Act contracts by one year.…The bill lets counties implement new Williamson Act contracts with landowners that run for 10 percent less time in exchange for the property owner getting 10 percent less tax relief.

Organic farming gains ground with consumers, California growers [KERO-TV/Bakersfield]
Organic farming continues to rise as consumer demand grows. The Kern County Farm Bureau says the number of local farmers markets has increased significantly over the last several years. Many who buy their produce from farmers markets look for locally grown fresh organic produce. "In 2002 there were only two farmers markets with 18 growers, but as of 2012, there are now 75 growers and more than 15 farmers markets in town," said Ben McFarland, Kern County Farm Bureau.

Ag Today is distributed by the CFBF Communications/News Division to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes; stories may not be republished without permission. Some story links may require site registration. To be removed from this mailing list, reply to this message and please provide your name and e-mail address. For more information about Ag Today, contact 916-561-5550 or news@cfbf.com.