Editorial: A better border solution [Wall Street Journal]
The
horrifying sight of children from Central America sitting in camps at the U.S.
border has turned the immigration debate from mad to madder, so some basic
facts about migrants and the border may be irrelevant. But allow us to try. The
first fact to keep in mind is that America's southern border is already far
more under control than it was for most of the last 20 years….Another reality
is that current influx is increasingly not from Mexico but from Central
America….The larger tragedy of this episode is that it has done enormous and
needless damage to the cause of immigration reform. The Obama Administration's
incompetence has again undermined its own agenda. But once the misery of the
children is past, no one should think that illegal immigration can be stopped
by more enforcement alone, by more Border Patrol agents or more harassment of
American business. The way to reduce illegal immigration is by providing more
work visas to enter—and leave—the U.S. legally.
Commentary: Break the
immigration impasse [New York Times]
AMERICAN
citizens are paying 535 people to take care of the legislative needs of the
country. We are getting shortchanged. Here’s an example: On June 10, an
incumbent congressman in Virginia lost a primary election in which his opponent
garnered only 36,105 votes. Immediately, many Washington legislators threw up
their hands and declared that this one event would produce paralysis in the
United States Congress for at least five months. In particular, they are
telling us that immigration reform — long overdue — is now hopeless. Americans
deserve better than this….Most Americans believe that our country has a clear
and present interest in enacting immigration legislation that is both humane to
immigrants living here and a contribution to the well-being of our citizens.
Reaching these goals is possible. Our present policy, however, fails badly on both
counts.
Editorial: Water limits
should apply to all users [Contra Costa Times]
The
California Water Resources Control Board will decide next week whether to
impose mandatory limits on urban water use and slap violators with fines of up
to $500 a day. This raises two questions: 1) What took it so long? 2) Why
aren't agricultural water users, who gulp 80 percent of California's usable
supply, getting the same attention? All consumers and public and private water
suppliers need to get on board. We've had plenty of time to voluntarily reduce
consumption over three years of drought, and we blew it….Farmers say that
they're already using conservation methods and that the drought will force them
to fallow nearly 400,000 acres this year. But irrigation districts' inflexible
water delivery schedules create vast amounts of waste, sending water to farmers
whose fields don't need it. Central Valley farmers also have made irresponsible
choices of crops, doubling their acreage in almond orchards, for example, even
though they lacked sufficient water rights to keep the orchards alive through a
drought.
Drought
cutting into wine grape production [KFSN – TV, Fresno]
The
summer sizzle is helping wine grapes rapidly mature in central California
vineyards. Despite the drought experts say the vines will produce a good crop
in an area the wine industry heavily relies on….Valley wine growers gathered in
Fresno to hear how grape production will be down slightly from the past two
years but that's not necessarily a bad thing. John Aguirre is president of the
California Association of Winegrowers. He said, "The grapes are a little
smaller I think because of the lack of water. That does tend to have an effect
on the quality of the winemakers are looking for. They like slightly smaller
berries." Some growers though are scrambling to secure enough water to
bring their grapes into production….Grape growers who can't pump groundwater
face a painful summer.
Farmers
see threats growing [Stockton Record]
Every
year, an average of 30,000 acres of irrigated California farmland is converted
to other uses. Hoping to stem these losses, a coalition of environmental and
farm interests Thursday called on state officials to reinforce and renew existing
and recently lapsed programs that monitor and conserve farmland as well as set
overarching policies to discourage urbanization and improve the viability of
California agriculture. Edward Thompson Jr., state director of American
Farmland Trust, said the state needs a breakthrough in policy to protect the
nation's leading agricultural industry. Urbanization slowed during the
recession, but that is likely to reverse as the economic recovery gains
strength. In addition, Central Valley farming is facing other pressures from
the development of solar energy projects, natural gas and petroleum production,
and construction of high-speed rail.
Drakes
Bay Oyster Co. to shut down this month per federal order [Marin Independent
Journal]
The
Drakes Bay Oyster Co. will be out of business by the end of the month under
order of the federal government. The oyster farm plans on shutting down its
cannery and shack in Inverness by July 31, owner Kevin Lunny said Thursday.
"That's what the park service is telling us to do, and we will abide by
the law, we always have," he said….The farm's gross revenue is up to $2
million annually and it employs about 25 people, many of whom live on site.
Lunny is hopeful the park service will allow workers to stay beyond the closure
so they could make an easier transition….If he is forced to close at the end of
the month, Lunny would be forced to dump thousands upon thousands of oysters
now in Drakes Estero into a landfill.
Ag
Today is distributed by the CFBF Communications/News Division to county Farm
Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes; stories may
not be republished without permission. Some story links may require site
registration. To be removed from this mailing list, reply to this
message and please provide your name and e-mail address. For more
information about Ag Today, contact 916-561-5550 or news@cfbf.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment