Editorial: So many ideas, so little progress in addressing drought [Fresno Bee]
The
third year of the California drought brings a reminder of just how fractured
and messy democracy can be. There have been dozens of proposals -- seven
versions of a state water bond, for example -- to improve the water situation
and more are surely on the way….But do we need this many ideas? At times, it
appears that some folks are simply looking for a headline or to build a
political legacy -- instead of helping California responsibly deal with its
water crisis….At some point, the debate has to move beyond whether or not to
build more dams. There needs to be a discussion about possibly limiting the
number of thirsty almond trees grown in California. Given that ag gets the
lion's share of California water, we should figure out how much land should be
farmed. And how many golf courses we need. We should figure out, too, the
amount of water needed to maintain a healthy delta. Apparently, we'd rather
chase our tails until the rains return and put off the hard decisions for
another day.
Editorial: Valley congressmen heard what they wanted at ‘field
hearing’ [Modesto Bee]
…Most
congressional field hearings, like the one in Fresno on Wednesday, are
essentially echo chambers. Those invited to speak generally hold the same views
as those who invited them….No one wants to see farming investments lost, but
growers who depend on federal and state water allocations know that there will
be years when there’s not enough water to keep trees alive. That’s why in the
past they mostly planted annual crops, which are less lucrative than almonds
but won’t be destroyed during droughts. Denham and Valadao heard the usual
demands for more water storage, a demand we can only hope politicians will
someday heed. If, as scientists assure us, droughts are going to be more
frequent and more severe, there is no other solution. And that storage has to
be at a high enough elevation so that gravity can push the water downstream to
help farmers and then help anadromous fish find their way out to sea.
Agriculture forecast:
San Joaquin Valley's major crops surviving despite drought [Fresno Bee]
A
robust export market, strong consumer demand and increased production will
benefit several of the San Joaquin Valley's major crops even as California
farmers struggle through a historic drought, said several agriculture industry
leaders Thursday.…That isn't to say that farmers won't be facing challenges,
said the experts who spoke at the Outlook 2014 Agribusiness Conference in
Fresno.…Among the toughest challenges facing nut crop growers will be the
state's ongoing drought….One of the major drivers of growth for both almonds
and pistachios has been a positive health message and exports, especially to
China. And that is expected to continue….Barry Bedwell, president of the
California Grape and Tree Fruit League in Fresno, said the state's growers of
peaches, plums and nectarines are rebounding after several difficult years that
saw many farmers and packers exit the industry….Also rebounding is the state's
dairy industry.
Food prices expected
to soar due to drought [KFSN TV, Fresno]
Consumers
are already feeling the impact of the drought conditions at the grocery store.
Prices for beef, milk and vegetables are on the rise….The prices we pay for
milk, vegetables and beef are all impacted by our worsening drought….The
California Farm Water Coalition indicated as many as 800,000 acres may be idled
this year without water to irrigate crops. As a result, you can expect to pay
more for the fruits and veggies. Ryan Jacobsen of the Fresno County Farm Bureau
said, "Overall without a doubt there's going to be less tomatoes, less
bell peppers, less cantaloupe, lettuce, broccoli that are available."
California drought:
Ray of hope in fish-vs.-farms dispute [San Francisco Chronicle]
Tens
of thousands of squiggling salmon fattening up on bugs and other nutrients on
flooded cropland in the Sacramento Valley could soon provide a solution to the
long-running dispute over who should get the bulk of California's diminishing
supply of water: farms or fish. There appears to be a way to satisfy both.
Researchers from UC Davis flooded rice paddies on a 1,700-acre farm in nearby
Woodland (Yolo County) and converted the fields into wetland fish habitat, much
like the vast marshlands that once covered the state's inland valleys during
the winter. The idea is to give young chinook salmon a spot where they can rest
and feed as they migrate through the Yolo Bypass and into the Sacramento-San
Joaquin River Delta. It is a strategy that Asian countries have long used
between planting seasons.
Commentary: Bureau backs Cannella's SB 1398 [Salinas Californian]
The
Monterey County Farm Bureau is supporting SB 1398 authored by state Sen.
Anthony Cannella, the Salinas River Environmental Stability Act, which will
ease maintenance of the Salinas River channel in Monterey County….We cannot
forget the flood of 1995, which destroyed close to a quarter of the Salinas
Valley projected crop value, caused the loss of more than a thousand acres of
farmland and significantly damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure. We
simply cannot let this happen again….SB 1398 does not evade environmental law
or circumvent state and federal regulations, and all environmental impact
reports must follow the California Environmental Quality Act rules. Instead,
once an environmental impact report for a project is approved, this bill would
streamline the permit process, allowing landowners to begin streambed
maintenance quicker, and continue to provide food to the entire state of
California, our nation and beyond.
Ag
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