California bill would give farmworkers, grocery employees priority for COVID-19 vaccine [Palm Springs Desert Sun]
A new California bill would lay the groundwork for farmworkers, grocery store employees and other food sector workers to be prioritized for vaccine distribution and rapid testing during this pandemic and future ones. While still short on specifics, AB 93 is intended to ensure the food sector workers, as essential workers who have been hard-hit by COVID-19, are near the front of the line for vaccination. Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, a Democrat from Coachella, said he expects the bill to start conversations, shaping the legislation that “could potentially become a model for the nation.”
Sonoma wineries must shut down starting Saturday following new stay-at-home order [San Francisco Chronicle]
Sonoma County wineries will have to close to visitors starting Saturday, now that the county is joining five others in the Bay Area in implementing stay-at-home orders. … Last weekend, wineries in both Napa and Sonoma counties were still seeing a steady number of visitors for tastings despite the surge in coronavirus cases and shutdown news elsewhere in the Bay Area. … But Wine Country vintners have known that a new shutdown is on the horizon one way or another, and while many said they understood the public health concerns, some expressed disappointment at the prospect of losing the important revenue stream of their tasting rooms.
Feds defend permanent water contracts to benefit agriculture [Courthouse News Service]
Defending the decision to give farm irrigation districts permanent access to low-cost, federally pumped water in California, a Justice Department lawyer urged a federal judge Thursday to flush a Native American tribe’s lawsuit against the endless entitlements. The Hoopa Valley Tribe sued the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in August, claiming the Trump administration’s conversion of 14 time-limited contracts for Central Valley Project water into permanent deals violated a host of federal laws. The contracts were made permanent in February. Another 26 agreements are in the process of being converted to permanent deals.
https://www.courthousenews.com/feds-defend-permanent-water-contracts-to-benefit-agriculture/
Burroughs family earns statewide award for its sustainable farming east of Denair [Modesto Bee]
Burroughs Family Farms, a diverse organic venture in the hills east of Denair, has won a statewide honor for its efforts. The family on Monday received the Leopold Conservation Award during the virtual annual meeting of the California Farm Bureau Federation. … The state Farm Bureau met online because COVID-19 canceled the usual live gathering each December. The federation remains a supporter of conventional agriculture while also recognizing farmers who choose organic.
https://www.modbee.com/news/business/agriculture/article247708005.html
Agricultural markets heading into 2021 [Marysville Appeal-Democrat]
A global pandemic didn’t stop farmers from going about their business, though the impacts aren’t expected to go away any time soon as agricultural markets continue to feel the effects of a turbulent 2020. Still, growers and market experts are hoping for a brighter outcome heading into the new year. … Mat Conant, a Sutter County walnut farmer and county supervisor, said it isn’t looking too good for the 2020 walnut crop, with prices dropping to a point where it could be below the cost of production for growers.
Self-driving farm tractor rolls into service at California vineyard [KPIX TV, San Francisco]
An Alameda County winery has become the first customer to try out a major new improvement in high-tech farm equipment: the world’s first autonomous electric tractor. Monarch Tractor is out to prove that self-driving, battery powered vehicles aren’t just for the highway. … Workers at Wente Vineyards in Livermore are excited about the new technology. … The price tag for this smart tractor that learns and follows you around is about $50,000. Monarch said it plans to start production and retail sales next year.
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