California wineries brace for big losses during holiday season after looming lockdown [San Francisco Chronicle]
Following news of a looming shutdown, winery owners and executives throughout the Bay Area said that while they understood the public health concerns, they were disappointed that they would likely have to close their tasting rooms at some point in December for at least three weeks. … Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, wineries throughout California have been through a series of shutdowns, reopenings and, in some cases, partial re-shutdowns, which many vintners have complained has been excessively burdensome.
Water managers urge patience after initial, 10% allocation from State Water Project [Bakersfield Californian]
The rainy season is still young, but that’s about the only consolation to be found in California’s initial estimate this week that farmers who get water from the State Water Project will only get 10 percent of their requested allocations next year. … Water managers say the only thing to do is hope for precipitation in the months ahead. … Local water users can borrow from their reserves for now. The question is whether the State Water Project will be ample in the future.
Weather-upending La Niña is a headache for farmers around the world [Wall Street Journal]
… Past La Niñas have created significant market volatility and raised prices for many foods, and the current edition is already pushing up prices of crops such as corn and reducing supplies of pineapples and mangos. … So far, dry conditions have been reported in Brazil, Argentina, and parts of the U.S., and bouts of excessive rain in Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. … As well as affecting prices, volatile weather could interfere with farmers’ ability to harvest and sell their crops.
California Rep. Jim Costa loses bid to chair powerful House panel [San Francisco Chronicle]
Central Valley Rep. Jim Costa lost his bid to chair the powerful House Agriculture Committee on Thursday, falling short of a Georgia colleague who had more seniority. The vote among House Democrats was 144-83 in favor of Rep. David Scott. The vote shuts out the nation’s top agricultural-producing state from leading the committee for at least another term. A Californian has not chaired the panel since 1867.
Opinion: Goodbye, U.S.D.A., hello, Department of Food and Well-Being [New York Times]
… The U.S.D.A. supports a system that, overall, prioritizes trade and profit at the expense of most farmers, the environment and everyday Americans. … Expanding the department’s vision of the food system beyond the interests of agribusiness would allow the U.S.D.A. to promote health and well-being for all. … The secretary of agriculture should lead the fight against corporations that have created a toxic food environment and support groups building healthful alternatives.
Clovis rancher shoots trespasser’s dog. Who’s at fault? Fresno County DA to decide [Visalia Times-Delta]
A Fresno County man could face trespassing charges after his dog was shot and killed by a Clovis-area rancher who said he was protecting his cattle. California law allows ranchers to use lethal force against animals if they are endangering their property, but the dog’s owner, Beau Bjorkman, argued in a widely circulated Facebook post that the rancher overreacted. … The sheriff’s office said that the rancher has received numerous death threats and complaints following Bjorkman’s social media post.
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