California leaders propose drought relief funding plan [Los Angeles Times]
Gov.
Jerry Brown and legislative leaders unveiled a proposed $687.4-million
drought-relief package Wednesday to free up water supplies and aid Californians
facing financial ruin because of the state's prolonged dry spell. The proposal
would provide millions of dollars to clean up drinking water, improve
conservation and make irrigation systems more efficient. It would increase
penalties for those who illegally divert water. The plan also contains money
for emergency food and housing for those out of work because of the drought,
including farmworkers, and to provide emergency drinking water to communities
in need….Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway of Tulare and Assemblyman
Frank Bigelow (R-O'Neals) issued a joint statement dismissing the proposal as a
"drop in the bucket." The lawmakers said they expect to announce
their own plan this week to better address the needs of farmers, small
businesses and families.
Valley farmers brace
for 'devastating water news' [Fresno Bee]
San
Joaquin Valley farmers are expecting devastating water news Friday -- the
worst-ever forecast for federal water delivery, reflecting the landmark dry
season. Federal Central Valley Project leaders are expected to announce an
unprecedented zero allocation for more than 2 million acres, spanning both east
and west sides of the country's most productive farmland….The record dry year
weighs even on growers who rarely face cutbacks because they have water rights
dating back to the 1870s. These historic rights land owners on the west side
have contracts to receive at least 75% of their allotments, even in droughts.
They've gotten the 75% only four times since 1977. But they were warned late last
week that only 40% of their water is available….If storms drop a lot of rain
and snow in the next two months in this part of the state, the federal
government might take a lot of Millerton water for the exchange contractors.
East-side farmers may still be left at zero.
Drought forcing
growers to give up on some crops [KFSN TV/Fresno]
The
drought in California is having its biggest impact on agriculture. With
virtually no water available in the state and federal water projects, growers
are giving up on some crops. Thousands of acres of land will not be in
production this year, and that means a big hit to the local economy and the
loss of thousands of jobs….Harris Farms will not grow lettuce, tomatoes,
broccoli, onions and melons this year, trying to save that water from the
nearly 10,000 acres of row crops to irrigate their 5,000 acres of almond trees.
That is, if they can buy enough water to keep the trees alive….Saving the
almonds means sacrificing the other crops, and an estimated loss 4,000 jobs on
this ranch alone. Much more land, perhaps 200,000 additional acres on other
farms, will be fallowed this year.
Hanford's Valley Meat
Co. reopens after fixing 'unsanitary conditions' [Fresno Bee]
A
Hanford meat processing plant that was closed by federal inspectors on Monday
because of unsanitary conditions has reopened. Central Valley Meat Co., a
supplier for the National School Lunch Program, resumed operations after taking
corrective action to fix the problem. Neither the company nor the U.S.
Department of Agriculture disclosed what those unsanitary conditions were. The
USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service withdrew its inspectors from the plant on
Monday after violations were found.
A new shell game: California's
nut industry brings crooks out of woodwork [Fox News]
California's
nut industry brought in more than $8 billion last year, and while you may not
have noticed, criminals did. Increasingly brazen thieves are stealing the crop
from farmers, field workers and truck drivers, sometimes at gunpoint. "We
really have seen a lot more brazen thievery in the area in recent years. We've
had field workers and employees that have just been accosted in the middle of
the day by armed assailants," Tricia Stever Blattler, with the Tulare
County Farm Bureau, said.
Editorial: Muscle for the fight against metal crooks [Palm Springs
Desert Sun]
Many
California laws have been enacted to combat metal theft. But as the problem
continues to escalate — affecting schools, utility districts, farmers,
construction sites, churches, homes and more — lawmakers keep looking for new
rules and resources. The latest idea comes from Assemblyman Brian Nestande, a
Palm Desert Republican who proposes a 1 percent tax on metal sales to add
muscle to law enforcement officials trying to catch crooks who mangle our
public works at night and recyclers who buy the booty. Based on estimated
annual sales of $7 billion, this could generate $70 million. That would be a
worthwhile investment.
Ag
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