How pandemic delivered humbling defeat for California’s struggling farmworkers union [Sacramento Bee]
The United Farm Workers had itself a win. But the celebration didn’t last long. In late January, the legendary labor union obtained a court injunction requiring Foster Poultry Farms to follow COVID-19 rules at its main chicken-processing plant in Livingston, a small farming-dependent town in Merced County. Hundreds of UFW members had been sickened at the plant and as many as nine workers died. Six days after the judge ruled, the plant’s workers voted the United Farm Workers out. … Today, Chavez’s bronze bust sits behind President Joe Biden’s desk in the White House, but the union Chavez built into a global symbol of worker liberation is a shadow of its former self.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article250507059.html
Governor Newsom declares drought emergency in two California counties [KGPE TV, Fresno]
Central Valley counties hoping for an emergency drought declaration to help get them through another dry year did not get their wish Wednesday. Governor Gavin Newsom targeted only two counties, Sonoma and Mendocino. Ryan Jacobsen the CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau said the outlook is grim for the San Joaquin Valley. “We’re looking at one of the worst years on record here. We got very dismal water allocations and so 2021 is shaping up to be one of the toughest years we’ve seen,” he said. … Jacobsen said he’s hoping even without an emergency declaration they may get some form of aid.
Modesto congressman urges more action as California faces another drought [KCRA TV, Sacramento]
… Central Valley farmers have had to make difficult decisions as they continue to face drier and drier weather. Daniel Bays is one such farmer in Patterson, who recently had to fallow his land. Bays on Wednesday shoveled a mound of dirt in a field that would have otherwise been full of lima beans this year as nearby workers tended to crops in Patterson, just off of Interstate 5. … The Patterson farmer said a drought declaration would have helped not just farmers, but the many sectors of the Central Valley that depend on agriculture. … Congressman Josh Harder, Modesto-D, said more action needs to be taken.
https://www.kcra.com/article/modesto-congressman-urges-states-drought-emergency/36191609#
Opinion: Facing drought, Modesto Irrigation board should increase farm water prices [Modesto Bee]
… With the hardships of the 2012-2015 drought fresh in Central Valley residents’ minds, we should look at how to make our water use more efficient. … The main problem with agricultural water use is pricing. Even though the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) has implemented a tiered pricing structure to incentivize water efficiency among its agricultural customers, the price is too low to achieve this goal. … This price makes it cheaper for farmers to use more water than it is for them to invest in water-efficient technologies.
https://www.modbee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article250698534.html
Farmers have more mouths to feed. Bring in the robots [Washington Post]
Robots are shouldering more responsibility at Church Brothers Farms in Gonzalez, Calif. From sunrise through sundown, rows of lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower are planted, tended to and harvested on the thousand-acre ranch — partially by humans, increasingly by machines. … Labor costs, climate change and growing food demand are ushering in an era of machine modernization across the nation’s agricultural landscape. … Many small farms operate with slim profit margins and can’t or don’t want to invest in the latest gadgetry. However, those that can afford to welcome a shift, have more options than ever to choose from as “AgTech” start-ups prepare AI-powered systems for a full farm invasion.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/04/22/tech-in-farming-growth/
Opinion: Point Reyes dairy stewardship protects agricultural heritage [Marin Independent Journal]
The Point Reyes National Seashore is a rare example of ranchers and government working together to protect the land and continue to produce high-quality food. … I am a fourth-generation dairy farmer operating on the lands of the Point Reyes Peninsula. … As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship, we are constantly improving our practices. … Two recent water quality tests commissioned by lobbying groups showed fecal contamination levels above federal standards in several waterways, but the tests were taken just after our only rain of the season this January, which can skew the results.
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