Feinstein's revised California water bill designed to woo GOP [Fresno Bee]
In
a move designed to lure Republican support, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein
has introduced a revised California water bill that could move lawmakers closer
to meaningful negotiation. The new bill drops spending proposals that had been
included in the original California water bill introduced by Feinstein and
Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer on Feb. 11. The $300 million in spending, in
turn, had stuck in the craw of some Senate Republicans.…Speedier Senate
consideration under what's called Rule 14, in turn, is designed to pass
something that can form the basis of a compromise with a far different
California water bill passed in early February by the Republican-controlled
House.
Water transfer
proposal ruffles some locals in ag community [Chico Enterprise-Record]
…Farmers
with surface water rights are scrambling to decide if they will pump
groundwater to make up for cutbacks from the state water supplies along the
Feather and Sacramento rivers. In the meantime, a "relatively quiet"
proposal to transfer water from Biggs-West Gridley Water District to south of
the delta a has some farmers in the Sacramento Valley upset. Mark Kimmelshue, a
rice trader, said he's not opposed to water transfers as a general rule.
However, it's important to look at whether there is a need for local water
within the county before making a sale, he continued….Kimmelshue, who served on
the Butte County Water Commission for 16 years, asked whether the transfer
would violate Chapter 33, the county's groundwater protection ordinance.
Water board questions
Willits bypass mitigation [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]
The
Highway 101 Willits bypass project, already delayed by protests and lawsuits,
could be further held up as a regional water board has raised questions about
Caltrans' environmental permit. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control
Board says Caltrans has not done sufficient mitigation to make up for sensitive
wetlands that are being filled to build the 5.9-mile highway around Willits.
The water board suggested that Caltrans scale back the size of the project or
find ways to accelerate or increase efforts to offset the loss of wetlands.
'Hot' Oregon
blueberry fight prompts farm bill changes [NPR]
…The
"hot goods" clause in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 authorizes
the agency to block the transportation, shipment, delivery or sale of goods
produced by workers not being paid the minimum wage or required overtime.
However, language in the farm bill, which was signed into law by President
Obama in February, may make it a bit tougher for Labor to act going
forward….While the rhetoric is running high, here's what we know: In August
2012, Labor blocked the shipment of blueberries from three farms after finding
1,300 workers were being underpaid. Not wanting to lose their perishables, the
blueberry farmers agreed to pay $240,000 in back pay and penalties….But two of
the farmers changed their minds. Along with the Oregon Farm Bureau, they tried
to get some answers from the federal agency, asking for written reports
summarizing the investigation and explaining the wage violations, but they say
they got no response.
Program looks to give
bees a leg (or six) up [New York Times]
Helping
America’s beleaguered bees could start with something as humble as planting a
shrub. Here in California’s Central Valley, researchers are trying to find
assortments of bee-friendly plants that local farmers and ranchers can easily
grow, whether in unusable corners and borders of their land or on acreage set
aside with government support….The federal government has announced a new $3
million program to step up support for honeybees in five states in the Upper
Midwest….The 2008 farm bill called for the service to include fostering
pollinator health in its efforts in all 50 states. That, in turn, has led to about
43 million acres of land across the country incorporating conservation features
that support pollinator health….In the Central Valley, the research to support
that work is done on 106 acres of prime farmland at a Department of Agriculture
plant materials center.
Engineered salmon may
be a tough sell [Associated Press]
Don't
expect to find genetically modified salmon — or any other engineered fish or
meat — on store shelves anytime soon. The Obama administration has stalled for
more than four years on deciding whether to approve a fast-growing salmon that
would be the first genetically modified animal approved for human consumption.
During that time, opponents of the technology have taken advantage of
increasing consumer concern about genetically modified foods and have urged
several major retailers not to sell it. So far, two of the nation's biggest
grocers, Safeway and Kroger, have pledged to keep the salmon off their shelves
if it is approved. Supporters of genetically engineered fish and meat say they
expect Food and Drug Administration approval of the salmon and still hope to
find a market for it. However, the retailers' caution and lengthy regulatory
delays have made investors skittish.
Ag
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