Proposals focus on California's groundwater problems [Palm Springs Desert Sun]
Water
managers often liken aquifers to shared bank accounts, and in many areas of
California, the account balances have been dropping for years as overpumping
has depleted the underground reserves. Now, with one of the worst droughts on
record hitting the state, Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers are considering ideas
for addressing the problem, and they are likely to draw on a new list of
recommendations calling for stronger local management backed up by state
oversight and enforcement. The California Water Foundation released its
proposals on Monday after leading discussions about potential solutions at the
request of the Brown Administration….The organization's seven proposals
include: adopting a definition of "sustainable groundwater
management;" creating a prioritized statewide program covering all
aquifers; establishing local groundwater entities; providing those local
entities with tools and sufficient authority; providing funding; requiring
local agencies to draft groundwater management plans; and giving the state a
role in providing assistance, oversight and enforcement.
Farmers
wishing to join water coalition must ante up [Stockton Record]
Farmers
across San Joaquin County must pay double this year to join a coalition and
comply with stricter state water quality regulations. Bills were to be sent
Monday, officials said. Annual dues will rise from $2.75 per acre to $5.50 per
acre, which amounts to an increase of almost $1,400 per year for a typical
500-acre family farm….After all, if they don't join the coalition, farmers may
find themselves regulated individually by the Central Valley Regional Water
Quality Control Board. And that could cost some growers tens of thousands of
dollars per year, Wackman said….Leaders in the agricultural community are
preparing to respond to the many questions and concerns they're likely to hear
when the bills arrive, said Jack Hamm, president of the San Joaquin Farm Bureau
Federation….Hamm attempted to put a bright spin on the increased cost, saying
the data that are made available as a result of the more aggressive reporting
will show growers are "already doing the right thing" when it comes
to controlling pollution.
Almond
output threatened by drought [Stockton Record]
Federal
estimates that California could produce nearly 2 billion pounds of almonds this
year comes with a big maybe, spelled D-R-O-U-G-H-T. The U.S. National
Agricultural Statistics Service last week pegged this fall's nut haul at 1.95
billion pounds, based on a survey of growers statewide. That would be down 2.5
percent from the 2 billion pounds harvested in 2013, as well as the record 2.03
billion-pound crop of 2011. But an industry expert and San Joaquin County
growers said Monday the lack of water due to near-record drought conditions
could take an uncertain toll.
Ag
leaders renew push for immigration reform [KFSN - TV, Fresno]
There
is a new push for immigration reform. Local Ag leaders are warning politicians
that failure to act could mean the failure of Valley farmers….Manuel Cunha of
the Nisei Farmers League was part of a renewed national push for immigration
reform to bring 11 million workers out of the shadows….U.S. Secretary of
Agriculture Tom Vilsack says immigration reform is good for California and the
rest of the country because it would provide a reliable workforce and increase
production. "Some farms are no longer able to harvest what they are
planting," said Vilsack. "We've heard of situations where producers
are reducing the amount of acreage, not just because of the drought but because
of the lack of a stable workforce."
After
CNN exclusive, USDA probing 'personnel issues' in massive meat recall [CNN]
The
U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that it's investigating
"personnel issues" at a California slaughterhouse after an exclusive
CNN investigation detailed how officials believe Rancho Feeding Corporation
triggered one of the biggest meat recalls in years. Federal investigators
believe that Rancho processed cancerous cows when government inspectors weren't
there, triggering a massive recall of nearly 9 million pounds of meat and a
criminal investigation, according to sources familiar with the probe. And in
the plant where it all went down, a government inspector and a Rancho foreman
were involved in an inappropriate romance, according to documents obtained by
CNN….Federal officials familiar with the investigation said that the U.S.
attorney's office in San Francisco, which is conducting the criminal
investigation, is looking into the relationship between the inspector and
foreman, but so far officials haven't connected it to the recall.
Commentary:
The day of the psyllids [Santa Barbara Independent]
Santa
Barbara County is in a unique position: diligently find and treat citrus trees
for the Asian citrus psyllid or face possibly losing these beloved trees
forever. As farmers managing a combined 140 acres of citrus trees, it’s an easy
choice — we must act now to save our citrus trees, which represent a $12
million industry in our county and are a backyard staple….Nearly 24,000 tons of
lemons were grown in Santa Barbara County in 2012. The citrus industry employs
hundreds of workers; many of them have been part of this industry for
generations. Family farms dot the county, and for growers like us, citrus isn’t
a job — it’s part of who we are. Citrus growers care deeply for our region’s
agriculture and environment, and we must do everything we can to stop this pest
and disease.
Ag
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