Ag Today Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Calif. governor signs workers' compensation fixes [Associated Press]

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bipartisan bill Tuesday intended to reduce workers' compensation costs for California businesses while increasing benefits to people injured on the job. His office said statewide changes were needed because the cost of workers' compensation insurance has risen from $14.8 billion to $19 billion for California businesses in the past two years. Supporters said by making the system more efficient and limiting litigation, the bill, SB863, will save businesses $1 billion next year and allow increased payments to disabled workers. Opponents, including some chiropractors and attorneys for injured workers, argued that limiting litigation would mean fewer benefits for people who are unable to return to work. According to the insurance-run Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California, there were 527,000 workplace injuries reported in 2011, about 174,000 of which resulted in temporary and permanent disability or death.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/18/4829706/brown-to-sign-calif-workers-compensation.html#storylink=misearch

Fresno Co. supervisors retain Williamson Act tax break for farmers [Fresno Bee]

Fresno County supervisors agreed Tuesday to preserve a longtime tax benefit for farmers, even as the benefit is costing the county millions in lost revenue. The state's 47-year-old Williamson Act, which provides property tax breaks for landowners who commit to keeping their land in agriculture, has been under scrutiny ever since state reimbursement for the program dried up.…The 2-2 vote not to touch the Williamson Act pitted two rural supervisors, who were not in favor of changes, against two members from the county's urban core. The decision was cheered by the farm community, many of whom turned out for Tuesday's hearing in downtown Fresno to deliver personal accounts of how they couldn't afford a tax hike.…Local agricultural groups, including the Fresno County Farm Bureau, had fought to keep Williamson Act benefits intact.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/18/2997349/fresno-county-supervisors-vote.html

Imperial Irrigation District adopts QSA report but questions remain [Imperial Valley Press]

Months of discussion and outreach to the public came to an end with the adoption of a report developing a Plan B to the Quantification Settlement Agreement, yet a big question mark remains: how to conserve the water?...Imperial County Farm Bureau President Mark McBroom said he agreed with much of what DuMars had to say when he presented his final report to the Board of Directors two weeks ago. “It’s a breath of fresh air to hear a perspective that doesn’t have a vested interest in what’s going on here,” he said. McBroom said the farming community was frustrated because it feels many of the ideas and solutions it offers are turned down because of the QSA. However, DuMars’ message was met with resistance when he spoke to the Farm Bureau last week. Farmers said that on-farm water conservation programs mandated by the QSA pose an unreasonable financial burden on their businesses and articulated a fear that they might lose their shirts if forced to follow the QSA.

http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-imperial-irrigation-district-adopts-qsa-report-but-questions-remain-20120918,0,4163356.story

US needs arsenic limits in rice-Consumer Reports [Reuters]

Consumer Reports is urging U.S. limits for arsenic in rice after tests of more than 60 popular products -- from Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal to Gerber infant cereal -- showed that most contained some level of inorganic arsenic, a known human carcinogen. The watchdog group said that some varieties of brown rice -- including brands sold by Whole Foods Markets Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc -- contained particularly significant levels of inorganic arsenic. It recommended ways for children and adults to limit their intake of rice products each week and said U.S. regulators should ban arsenic-containing drugs and pesticides used in crop and animal production….The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday that it plans to collect data on 1,200 food samples by the end of the year and make its own recommendation on arsenic intake.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/usa-rice-arsenic-idUSL1E8KJ3BT20120919

Breaking out of guacamole to become a produce star [Wall Street Journal]

…Not long ago, avocados were beloved in Super Bowl guacamole but seldom encountered the rest of the year. Now, the fruits are having a mass-market breakthrough, as supermarket sales surge and restaurant chains spread them and slice them on sandwiches and salads. In consumers' minds, the avocado has been transformed from exotic "fatty food" to everyday source of "heart-healthy" fats….Mexican imports, available in all 50 states only since 2007, have led to year-round availability and now contribute more than 60% of U.S. supply. Avocado sales in 2011 totaled $2.9 billion, beating 2010 by 11%, according to the Hass Avocado Board, based in Irvine, Calif. Consumption in the first half of 2012 was 30% ahead of the same period last year….Helping propel avocados to high status in the produce aisle is consumers' efforts to eat "healthy fats." Avocados contain mono- and polyunsaturated fats, otherwise known as "good fats" because they help reduce "bad" cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443995604578004161804598092.html?KEYWORDS=guacamole

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Editorial: Prop. 37 is wrong approach to food labeling [Fresno Bee]

Consumers want more information, not less. Opponents of genetically engineered food are taking advantage of that desire as they promote Proposition 37, an ill-conceived initiative on the Nov. 6 ballot that would require California-only labels on some food that is genetically modified or contains genetically altered ingredients. We don't oppose labeling of genetically modified food. But the federal government, or the food industry, should develop standards, not individual states. Prop. 37 is an overreach, and would encourage countless lawsuits against retailers who sell food that might lack the proper labeling. Proponents made no effort to push the concept through the Legislature. While such a bill might have failed, at least the Legislature's attorneys and analysts could have refined ambiguous provisions.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/19/2997278/editorial-prop-37-is-wrong-approach.html

Ag Today is distributed to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes, by the CFBF Communications/News Division, 916-561-5550; news@cfbf.com. 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.

Ag Today Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Editorial: Farm Bill Foolishness [Wall Street Journal]

With Congress back for a few weeks, Democrats are pressuring Speaker John Boehner to hold a vote on this five-year farm spending reauthorization, which passed the House Agriculture Committee in July. The farm lobby piled on last week, with a "Farm Bill Now!" rally outside the Capitol, at which even some Republicans, including South Dakota's Kristi Noem, blasted her leadership for inaction… That's because despite Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas's assurances that his product is "fiscally responsible," the House farm bill authorizes a nearly 60% increase in spending over 2008 levels. Some of that money goes to new crop entitlement programs, although nearly 80% would finance Mr. Obama's soaring food-stamp program at historic levels.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443816804578002530634025870.html?KEYWORDS=farm+bill+foolishness

Opinion; McEwen: Fresno County supervisors can do the right thing on Williamson Act [Fresno Bee]

Today we'll learn about the priorities of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors… Now the board has a chance to add about $2.5 million to the general fund by adopting a modification of the Williamson Act, a state law that promotes farmland preservation through tax breaks… The state no longer partially reimburses counties for lost taxes from Williamson Act properties. Moreover, the proposal before the board wouldn't eliminate tax breaks. Supervisors are being asked to shave the tax reductions by 10% in exchange for reducing the time that property owners must preserve their land. You should know that this modification was proposed by the California Farm Bureau Federation and the legislation (Assembly Bill 1265) was introduced by farmer-friendly Assembly Member Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/17/2996306/mcewen-fresno-county-board-of.html

Imperial County faces more stringent dust control rules [Imperial Valley Press]

The first information workshop addressing a revised set of more stringent regulations for dust mitigation in Imperial County was held Monday, as compliance with the Clean Air Act and a stay on recent sanctions are being sought… And while many of the changes deal with updating single words within dust control general requirement, others changes explicitly impact dust mitigation measures in farming operations. Under the revised rules, agricultural operations are going to have two additional control measures, said Air Pollution Control District Director Brad Poiriez… Linsey Dale, executive director of the county Farm Bureau said after the meeting that farmers should also be aware that new conservation management practice plans will have to be prepared for each crop change.

http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-news-imperial-county-faces-more-stringent-dust-control-rules-20120918,0,5112333.story

Fight to Save Citrus from Bugs in Desert Hot Springs [KMR-TV Palm Springs]

A little bug that can carry a disease that kills citrus trees has been found in Desert Hot Springs.

Monday night the California Department of Food and Agriculture talked to residents about how they are fighting the invasion. The California Department of Food and Agriculture will begin spraying citrus trees in a two-mile stretch of Desert Hot Springs on Thursday. The disease the bug can carry is not a health risk to people, but can wipe out entire citrus crops.

http://www.kmir6.com/news/toprotator/170132036.html

Forest Fire Research Questions the Wisdom of Prescribed Burns [New York Times]

Scientists are at loggerheads over whether there is an ecological advantage to thinning forests and using prescribed fire to reduce fuel for subsequent fires — or whether those methods actually diminish ecological processes and biodiversity. The United States Forest Service, which manages nearly 200 million acres of public land, believes limited thinning and burning will prevent catastrophic wildfires. The agency contracts with logging companies to cut down large and small trees across sweeping landscapes, and uses prescribed fire. Besides protecting homes, experts say, these methods also recreate the natural state of the forest… Some ecologists and environmentalists, however, are challenging the Forest Service’s model, saying it is based on incomplete science and is causing ecological damage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/science/earth/forest-survey-questions-effect-of-prescribed-burns.html?pagewanted=all

Occupy Monsanto starts campaign on movement's anniversary [Ventura County Star]

Local food activists chose Monday, the anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street activist movement, to start a global outcry in Oxnard against agribusiness giant Monsanto Co.'s chemicals and genetic modifications of plant seeds. Less dramatic than Tuesday's protest at Monsanto's seed distribution plant Seminis Vegetable Seeds Inc. on Camino Del Sol, in which nine protesters in chains and shackles were arrested when they blocked the gates, Monday's event at the same site drew about 35 protesters who limited their opposition to signs, masks and shouting on the sidewalks… The demonstrators were part of a group called Occupy Monsanto, which identifies itself with Occupy Wall Street. Monday was the first day of the group's weeklong series of 65 events planned worldwide to protest Monsanto, its relationship with Third World farmers and the seeds it develops.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/18/occupy-monsanto-starts-campaign-on-movements/

Ag Today is distributed to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes, by the CFBF Communications/News Division, 916-561-5550; news@cfbf.com. 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.

Ag Today Monday, September 17, 2012

Valley farmers may lose Williamson Act tax break [Fresno Bee]

A handful of prominent Valley families stand to lose big if tax breaks under the state's 47-year-old farm preservation program are scaled back. The Williamson Act, which cuts property taxes for landowners who agree to keep their land in agriculture, is on the chopping block in Fresno County….Last year, about 14,000 county parcels benefitted from the Williamson Act, worth nearly $23 million, more than in any other California county. But, according to a Bee review of county property tax records, half of the total tax breaks given out under the program went to roughly 250 big landowners. About a dozen enjoyed tax reductions greater than $100,000. By comparison, the majority of landholders in the program saw reductions well under $1,000….The California Farm Bureau Federation praises participation in the Williamson Act by large landholders as well as small ones. The program ensures adequate food supplies and provides an economic anchor for local communities, said John Gamper, the federation's director of taxation and land use. "You can say it's a tax benefit, but there is something given in return," Gamper said. "Having these large landowners put thousands of acres under (conservation) contract is a huge benefit for the county by protecting agriculture."

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/16/2994242/watchdog-report-valley-farmers.html#storylink=misearch

Solar companies look to the East Bay for expansion [Contra Costa Times]

…Spurred by California's mandate that all utilities produce 33 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020, solar companies hoping to harness the sun's energy have eyes on flat land just west of Mountain House near the San Joaquin County border. It is a prime location next to transmission lines and substations. At least four applicants showed interest in that area of Alameda County last year. They proposed building solar energy facilities -- ranging from 14 to 2,000 acres -- on prime farmland, prompting members of the county board of supervisors to ask their planners to begin work on a policy to guide development….The area of focus for the new policy is south of Byron Highway near Kelso and Mountain House roads and takes in about 2,000 acres of prime farmland. After more than a year of the county's staff working with landowners, ranchers, environmentalists and solar facility developers, the policy is at least another year away….Most of the 2,000 acres attracting the attention is protected through the Williamson Act, a state law enacted in 1965 that preserves prime agricultural land and open space by offering landowners property tax relief if they leave the land as is for a minimum of 10 years.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21547469/headline?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com

Whole Foods endorses Prop. 37 [Los Angeles Times]

Whole Foods Market, the largest U.S. natural-goods specialty retailer, has endorsed a California initiative that would require the labeling of genetically engineered food ingredients. The Austin, Texas, company is backing Proposition 37 on the November ballot "because it has long believed its customers have the right to know how their food is produced."…Whole Foods' endorsement of Proposition 37 came with a couple of reservations. In a Sept. 11 press release, the market complained that a 0.5% threshold was too low for exempting a product containing a small amount of genetically engineered content from the labeling requirement. The company also objected to a provision that would allow private attorneys to sue on behalf of the state, alleging a violation of the labeling mandate, should it become law.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/15/business/la-fi-whole-foods-endorse-20120915

Inspectors wary of Mexican cattle pen [Wall Street Journal]

Mexican cattlemen opening a state-of-the-art inspection facility intended to speed livestock exports are facing a problem: U.S. veterinarians fear traveling to the complex. The U.S. government inspectors in charge of checking the animals for dangerous diseases before the cattle are shipped north say they are afraid to show up at the inspection station south of the border near Laredo, Texas, because of drug-cartel-related violence….Officials from the agency's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service met with the concerned veterinarians on Thursday to brief them on safety measures at the new cattle pens located in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, about two miles from the U.S. border. The pens, which cover close to 100 acres, are protected by high-security fencing and an adjacent military garrison with armed soldiers. There is also a safe room with direct communication to the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, about 30 miles to the southeast, where personnel can take shelter in case of a threat.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444433504577651802624719804.html?KEYWORDS=mexican+cattle+pen

*Link may require paid subscription; text included in attached Word file.

Decline in immigration felt in vineyards [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]

…Grape harvest is underway in Sonoma County, but it has yet to reach full-swing. So on the days when his crew doesn't have grapes to pick, Enrique Castillo, owner of Enrique's Vineyard Management, is sure to keep them busy….Castillo is one of many vineyard managers in the North Coast dealing with a dwindling supply of labor.…Grape growers in Sonoma and Napa said the problem didn't begin this year, but they're starting to feel the impacts of tighter border restrictions that have been in place over the last decade. Some have increased wages to attract workers. Castillo pays his crew $25 an hour for harvest work, well above the average wage of $14 an hour for North Coast grape pickers last year, based on figures reported by the state Employment Development Department. Others are trying to keep their crews employed year-round, with erosion management, pruning or odd jobs like chopping wood for mulch….Generally, around harvest time, migrant workers show up at the vineyards where they worked the previous year, said Manuel Rios, owner of Rios Farming Company in St. Helena, which has 200 employees. “This year we haven't had any people show up,” Rios said. “We've had to go out and find them.”

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120916/BUSINESS/120919724

10 things farm stands won’t tell you [Wall Street Journal]

Ah, the old farm stand, that seasonal roadside wellspring of sweet, ready-to-be-shucked corn, crisp and juicy apples or jugs of real maple syrup. But that humble stand has now become big business—in more ways than one. Spurred by the “eat local” movement, consumers are flocking to stands connected to family farms (and those farms account for fully 96% of the 2.2 million farms in the United States). No less an authority than the U.S. Department of Agriculture calls the trend of selling directly to consumers “an important new opportunity for small and beginning farmers and ranchers to become financially secure.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-farm-stands-wont-tell-you-2012-09-17

*Link may require paid subscription; text included in attached Word file.

Ag Today is distributed to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes, by the CFBF Communications/News Division, 916-561-5550; news@cfbf.com. 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.

Ag Today Friday, September 14, 2012

Dairy farmers struggle to stay afloat with low milk prices [KXTV News 10/Sacramento]

California's dairy farmers are making some noise about the price the state of California set this summer for milk….Tachera was part of a group that went to Washington, D.C., this week to ask that California be included in a group of states where the federal government sets the milk price, which is currently at $18 per hundred weight….Since federal approval could take months, the farmers marched to Secretary Ross's office because she has the authority to raise milk prices now. But the protestors were refused at the door. The agency said it's aware of the farmers' challenge, but looks at a variety of factors when setting milk prices taking into account the impact on consumers, producers and processors.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=209356

Uneasy allies in the grocery aisle [New York Times]

Giant bioengineering companies like Monsanto and DuPont are spending millions of dollars to fight a California ballot initiative aimed at requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods. That surprises no one, least of all the proponents of the law, which if approved by voters would become the first of its kind in the nation. But the companies behind some of the biggest organic brands in the country — Kashi, Cascadian Farm, Horizon Organic — also have joined the antilabeling effort, adding millions of dollars to defeat the initiative, known as Proposition 37….The uproar highlights the difference between large organic brands that have driven the double-digit growth of the organic market and the smaller, independent businesses and farms that most shoppers envision when they buy an organic peach or shampoo…Although certified organic products are prohibited by law from containing genetically engineered ingredients, organic companies generally favor the labeling law, contending that consumers have a right to know what is in the products they buy. What is left unsaid is that it may also be a marketing advantage for organic companies, distinguishing them from conventional food producers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/business/california-referendum-pits-organic-brands-against-corporate-parents.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Editorial: Food labeling law leaves a bad taste; No on Prop. 37 [Ventura County Star]

Proposition 37 is a good example of something that doesn't belong on the ballot. It asks voters to pass a state law about labeling foods with ingredients from genetically modified crops. Let's get real: Only a relative handful of voters are in a position to make an informed decision on such a complicated, technical subject. For that reason and more, The Star recommends voting no on Proposition 37 in the Nov. 6 election….Supporters of Proposition 37 claim it would give consumers more information about what they eat and would foster transparency and trust in the food system. We think they're mistaken on both counts. Such a law would create mistrust and confusion about the foods that Californians eat. The Star recommends a no vote on Proposition 37.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/13/editorial-food-labeling-law-leaves-a-bad-taste/?opinion=1

On-farm conservation program moves forward [Imperial Valley Press]

The Imperial Irrigation District is working on contracts that will allow all farmers to move forward with on-farm conservation programs that are mandated by the Quantification Settlement Agreement. On-farm conservation is a crucial component of the QSA, a series of agreements that make up the nation’s largest ag-to-urban water transfer….IID representatives explained how far along they are in clearing the way for tenant farmers to proceed at Thursday’s Water Conservation Advisory Board meeting at IID headquarters. They said the legal review process took longer than expected….Farmers were vocal that time is of the essence, and that they favor short and simple contracts. “We can’t wait around any longer to cover every base,” said Imperial County Farm Bureau President Mark McBroom. “We need to move forward.”

http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-onfarm-conservation-program-moves-forward-20120913,0,930213.story

Fresno Co. company recalls cantaloupes due to salmonella evidence [Fresno Bee]

A Fresno County produce company is voluntarily recalling 28,000 cartons of cantaloupes after a routine government test found evidence of salmonella contamination. Although no illnesses have been reported, the company, DFI Marketing Inc., is asking consumers to discard the fruit or return it to the store where it was purchased. This is the first recall of California cantaloupe since the industry rolled out its mandatory food safety program in May.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/13/2991183/fresno-county-produce-company.html

Lawyers: 'Pink slime' lawsuit an uphill climb [Associated Press]

Beef Products Inc. will face a steep climb in its "pink slime" defamation lawsuit against ABC News as the South Dakota-based meat processor works to rebuild its public image, legal experts say. BPI sued ABC News, Inc. for defamation Thursday over its coverage of a meat product that critics dub "pink slime," claiming the network damaged the company by misleading consumers into believing it is unhealthy and unsafe. The Dakota Dunes, S.D.-based meat processor must prove that the network knowingly published false information and intended to harm its business. A lawyer for BPI expressed confidence that the company would prevail. But defamation- and food-law experts said the case would be difficult to win.

http://santamariatimes.com/news/national/lawyers-pink-slime-lawsuit-an-uphill-climb/article_0784da97-1e78-5c55-804c-14d5f4d60def.html

Ag Today is distributed to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes, by the CFBF Communications/News Division, 916-561-5550; news@cfbf.com. 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.