On tap in California: Another drought four years after last [Associated Press]
… The state appears in the midst of another drought only a few years after a punishing 5-year dry spell dried up rural wells, killed endangered salmon, idled farm fields and helped fuel the most deadly and destructive wildfires in modern state history. … “Guys are in a really tough spot when they don’t know what water’s going to be available until the planting season, which is now,” said Danny Merkley of the California Farm Bureau Federation. With less water to draw from rivers and the state’s intricate network of canals and aqueducts, farmers fallowed hundreds of thousands of additional acres.
Imperial Valley farmer Michael Abatti hoping to take IID to the U.S. Supreme Court [Palm Springs Desert Sun]
The fight between Imperial Valley farmer Michael Abatti and the Imperial Irrigation District over control of the district’s massive allotment of Colorado River water could be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court if Abatti gets his way. … Abatti is seeking to have the country’s apex court hand control of IID’s water over to landowners, a move that would leave most of the valley’s water with a few larger agricultural operations. As the law stands, farmers have a guaranteed right to water delivery but not a special claim above other users like homes and geothermal plants.
First lady comes to Delano to pay tribute to Cesar Chavez at historic home of UFW [Bakersfield Californian]
First lady Jill Biden honored the legacy of civil rights icon Cesar Chavez during a visit Wednesday to the original home of the United Farm Workers, declaring she and her husband remain inspired by the late union leader’s service and sacrifices on behalf of people “who were mostly unseen.” … Biden mentioned her and the president’s support for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 pending before the U.S. Senate after passing the House earlier in March. “This is a great first step and together we are going to get this done,” she said.
Farmworkers take no day off as Calif. declares March 31 César Chávez Day [KCRA TV, Sacramento]
March 31 was officially declared “César Chávez Day” in California on the day the civil rights leader would have turned 94 years old. Residents in 10 states took the day off from work as the legacy of César Estrada Chávez is remembered. All while farmworkers went to their shifts like on any other day. … And while many of us can look forward to retirement and benefits as we age, that isn’t a reality for most farmworkers. For a majority of them, they will have to work until their bodies can’t work any longer, then having to depend on family for financial support.
‘I feel secure now’: Santa Clara County vaccinates farm workers on Cesar Chavez Day [KGO TV, San Francisco]
Santa Clara County health officials teamed up with an iconic labor union Wednesday afternoon to vaccinate hundreds of farm workers who are essential to the region’s food supply, bringing a sense of relief to those seeking to protect themselves from COVID-19. … The pop-up vaccination site was set up at Monterey Mushrooms with support from the United Farm Workers and UFW Foundation. … The push to get more farmworkers vaccinated is part of the county’s focus on prioritizing underserved communities, despite low vaccine supply from the state.
Column: Ag business recovery and growth workshop [Imperial Valley Press]
… Farmers and ranchers in particular have been faced with the regular increase in burdensome regulations while also facing the many challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought. A number of programs and resources are available that farmers and ranchers are able to utilize, but many times it can be hard to know what exactly is out there and how to access them. Imperial County Farm Bureau has partnered with California Treasurer Fiona Ma to host a virtual workshop that will have guests speaking on a range of resources available to farmers and ranchers.
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