Paul Ryan: Immigration legislation unlikely in '14 [Associated Press]
Days
after House Republicans unveiled a roadmap for an overhaul of the nation's
broken immigration system, one of its backers said legislation is unlikely to
pass during this election year. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said distrust of
President Barack Obama runs so deep in the Republican caucus that he's
skeptical the GOP-led House would pass any immigration measure. He said a plan
that puts security first could only pass if lawmakers believe the
administration would enforce it — an unlikely prospect given Republicans' deep
opposition to Obama….Last week, House Republicans announced their broad
concerns for any immigration overhaul but emphasized they would tackle the
challenge bill-by-bill. Immigration legislation is a dicey political question
for the GOP. The party's conservative base opposes any measure that would
create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living here illegally, but many
in the party worry that failing to act could drive many voters to Democratic
candidates. In 2012, Obama won re-election with the backing of 71 percent of
Hispanic voters and 73 percent of Asian voters. The issue is important to both
blocs.
S.J.
dairymen satisfied with new farm bill [Stockton Record]
Dairy
farmers expressed relief this week that a long fight over federal dairy
subsidies had ended with an overhaul that most thought would be fair and
effective in saving milk producers during hard times. Along with funding for
food stamps, proposed changes affecting dairy operations were a key stumbling
block to passage of a new, five-year farm bill. The House approved compromise
legislation Wednesday, and Senate approval is expected soon. The White House
said President Barack Obama would sign the measure.
Report:
US cattle herd at lowest number since 1951 [Associated Press]
The
lingering effects of drought across the Great Plains last year continued to
shrink the size of the U.S. cattle herd, according to experts and a U.S.
Department of Agriculture report released Friday. The National Agricultural
Statistics Service reported that the U.S. inventory of cattle and calves
totaled 87.7 million animals as of Jan. 1. That was down by about 1.6 million
cattle, or 2 percent, compared with this time last year. The agency said this
is the lowest January cattle inventory since 1951 and said it was the second
straight year the herd shrank by 2 percent.
California
farmers brace for drought, unemployment [Associated Press]
Amid
California's driest year on record, the nation's leading agricultural region is
locked in drought and bracing for unemployment to soar, sending farm workers to
food lines in a place famous for its abundance. One-third of the Central
Valley's jobs are related to farming. Strains on water supplies are expected to
force farmers to leave fields unplanted, creating a ripple effect on food
processing plant workers, truck drivers and those who sell fertilizer,
irrigation equipment and tractors….Fresno County led the nation in farming in
2012, generating nearly $6.6 billion in economic activity, said Ryan Jacobsen,
executive director of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. With no surface water for
farmers, he anticipates that up to 25 percent of irrigated field and orchards
in the county will lay unplanted….Jacobsen said the three months left in the
rainy season are not likely to rescue the year from drought. "We're right
on the front edge of it," he said. "It's going to worsen, worsen,
worsen."
Officials
tightening Delta tap [Stockton Record]
Water
exported south from the Delta will drop to a relative trickle, and flows
through the estuary toward the ocean will remain low under drastic - in some
cases unprecedented - actions announced Friday. State officials also said they
intend early this month to send notices to thousands of junior water rights
holders up and down the Central Valley, most of them farmers, ordering them to
stop diverting water….Tom Howard, executive director of the state water board,
said the water rights holders who will be affected are scattered across the
Central Valley. They may have access to groundwater to offset the loss of water
from rivers and streams. Howard warned, too, that even those with more senior
riparian water rights might face cutbacks. That could include many San Joaquin
County farmer.
Opinion : Our View:
Williamson Act should be considered for funding restoration [Marysville
Appeal-Democrat]
We
agree that the state shouldn't rush to spend the extra cash that seems to be
building up, thanks to a recovering economy and more prudent budgeting over the
last few years. A big part of that budget management included cutting or
pruning back funding for existing programs ... in some cases all but deleting
the service or program the funds supported. Like many others, we support
continued fiscal restraint. But like just about everyone, we have our wish list
for things to consider for re-funding ... sometime. California's Williamson Act
should be considered.
Ag
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