Wildlife groups seek help for California owl [Associated Press]
Loggers
cutting down forests burned in wildfires could bring about the extinction of
California spotted owls, wildlife advocates said Tuesday as they sought
protection for the birds under the federal Endangered Species Act. The petition
says emerging science has shown that the owls thrive in old growth forests that
are still living as well as those that have been burned and turned black by
high-intensity forest fires. That finding contradicts current common practice
of the U.S. Forest Service, which opens up some burned forests to loggers, the
petition states. U.S. Forest Service spokesman John Heil said officials don't
believe the California spotted owl is in danger of extinction….Mike Albrecht, a
logger and owner of Sierra Resources Management, said removing burned trees
creates healthier forests, which benefits spotted owls and people…."It's a
little misleading to blame logging or massive fires or any one thing on the
demise of the spotted owl," he said. "We're all working hard to preserve
it."
Leprino
adopts new animal standards for dairies [Hanford Sentinel]
In
the wake of an undercover video operation that caused a New Mexico dairy to
shut down over allegations of animal abuse, Leprino Foods has announced new
animal care standards for all the dairy co-ops that supply its cheese plants
with milk….Leprino announced its new animal standard enforcement program last
week. “Leprino has a zero-tolerance policy for the willful mistreatment of
animals which results in maliciously causing undue pain, injury or suffering,”
Leprino spokeswoman Kim DeVigil said in a written statement. Leprino’s
standards appear to be similar to the National Dairy Farmers Assuring
Responsible Management Program launched by the dairy industry in 2011,
according to Hanford dairy operator Brian Medeiros….The main difference between
the industry program and Leprino’s new rules appears to be what DeVigil called
“a more rigorous compliance element.”
Egg
farmers scramble to comply with new law [Ramona Sentinel]
As
2014 comes to an end, many farmers who sell eggs in California are working to
comply with new regulations that go into effect Jan. 1 and could possibly lead
to an egg shortage or price increase…."We have to be ready by the first
because we could get a random inspection at any time," said Luie Nevarez
of Eben-Haezer Happy Hens Poultry Ranch on Dye Road. The new regulations stem
from California Proposition 2, which prohibits the confinement of specific farm
animals in a manner that does not allow them to run around freely, lie down,
stand up, and fully extend their limbs….To comply is costing lots of money,
time and labor, said Nevarez. At Eben-Haezer, a family-run poultry ranch
founded in 1957, third-generation Nevarez said they are basically doubling the
size of each cage and converting more of their buildings to free range.
Opinion: Harvesting crop
insurance profits [Wall Street Journal]
Over
the past three years, proposals from the Obama administration and the House
Budget Committee to reform the $80 billion-a-year federal crop-insurance
program have been defeated by opposition centered in the House and Senate
agricultural committees. With the new Congress, Republicans and Democrats who
stand for fiscal responsibility have an opportunity to finally implement
reforms. Farmers have a sweet deal with crop insurance: Taxpayers currently
cover all the administrative costs associated with marketing and managing the
program and fund more than 60% of the premiums to cover anticipated
crop-insurance payouts, according to annual data from the Agriculture Department’s
Risk Management Agency….Bipartisan congressional support should go to programs
that spend federal dollars to serve the public’s interest and cannot be
provided by the private sector. Subsidies that induce farmers to buy
gold-plated harvest-price-option crop insurance fail on both counts.
Lauren
Small Children's Medical Center gets holiday gift from farmers [Bakersfield
Californian]
Local
farmers donated $2,000 to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital's Lauren Small
Children's Medical Center Monday….Each check represented a $1,000 donation from
the Kern County Young Farmers and Ranchers, and Kern County Farm Bureau to a
fundraising arm for Bakersfield Memorial Hospital….Nick Brunni, owner of Brunni
Ag Recycling, came up with the idea to pool membership funds and donations from
the Kern County Farm Bureau as he was driving home one evening. Brunni said he
knew the idea of giving to children would be supported by Greg Wegis, president
of the Kern County Farm Bureau. Bakersfield gets a lot of negative attention
because of its air quality issues, and a lot of people blame farmers, Brunni
said, but agriculture also gives thousands of dollars in community support.
Editorial: Farm Bureau is a
strong voice for local agriculture [Porterville Recorder]
This
month the Tulare County Farm Bureau was honored with several awards at the
annual California Farm Bureau meeting. The awards were not only well-desered,
but highlighted the important role the Farm Bureau plays in local
agriculture…Farm Bureau is not only a voice for farmers, speaking out on a
variety of issues from water to regulations, it also offers a wide variety of
services which many farmers rely on….Tulare County Farm Bureau Executive
Director Patricia Stever Blattler and the strong group of farmers who make up
the board of directors are to be commended for not only being honored on a
statewide level, but for the work they do day in and day out keeping
agriculture in Tulare County No. 1 in the world.
Ag
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