Red alert sounding on California drought, as Valley gets grim news about water supply [Sacramento Bee]
… The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Tuesday that most of the water agencies that rely on the Central Valley Project will get just 5% of their contract supply, a dismally low number. Although the figure could grow if California gets more rain and snow, the allocation comes amid fresh weather forecasts suggesting the dry winter is continuing. … Farm groups that purchase water from the Central Valley Project complained mightily about the announcement, arguing that the miserly allocation isn’t simply about unfortunate weather patterns.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/water-and-drought/article249458755.html
Newsom signs COVID-19 stimulus bills to send money to Californians, small businesses [Sacramento Bee]
California will send money to low-income families and other assistance to struggling small businesses as part of nearly $7.6 billion in economic stimulus measures Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Tuesday. Under the deal Newsom negotiated with lawmakers, millions of low-income Californians will receive $600 payments from the state, on top of the money many already received from the federal government. Small businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic will be able to apply for a share of $2 billion in grants.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article249446825.html
Two Salinas organizations will soon distribute vaccines to farmworkers over 65 [Salinas Californian]
Two Monterey County organizations partnered to begin distributing vaccinations to farmworkers over the age of 65. Starting Thursday, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California (GSA) and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS) will begin vaccinations for eligible Monterey County farmworkers. … Ag employers interested in securing a vaccine for their workers will have to do it through this program, according to GSA officials. … Next week, GSA and CSVS plan to expand the program in order to vaccinate agricultural employees under 65.
Should Tulare County get a mass vaccine center? Local officials say it should [Visalia Times-Delta]
As Gov. Gavin Newsom is pledging more vaccines for the Central Valley including four mobile clinics targeting farm workers in Tulare County, local officials are advocating the International Agri Center in Tulare be designated a regional mass inoculation site. Tulare County Board of Supervisors Eddie Valero and Pete Vander Poel say both the size and central location of the Agri Center — which hosts the World Ag Expo — off Highway 99 is perfect for a mass vaccine site similar to ones held at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles County or the Oakland Coliseum in Alameda County.
Food groups fight to save one Trump virus program [Associated Press]
… The U.S. Department of Agriculture began the Farmers to Families Food Box program last April after many people were shocked to see farmers destroy crops because restaurants and institutions abruptly canceled orders due to the virus even as food banks were crushed by demand from people suddenly out of work. … If the USDA extends it, the program will be a rare example of the new administration retaining rather than dismantling a Trump initiative. … Unlike some other programs, the food box initiative was widely praised from the start, despite early concerns about contractors’ ability to handle the job.
A look at how Biden’s Cabinet nominees fared Tuesday [Associated Press]
President Joe Biden’s Cabinet is starting to fill out, with nominees for agriculture secretary and United Nations ambassador gaining Senate approval Tuesday. … The Senate voted 92-7 to confirm Tom Vilsack for a return engagement as agriculture secretary. … In his testimony, Vilsack, 70, heavily endorsed boosting climate-friendly agricultural industries such as the creation of biofuels, saying, “Agriculture is one of our first and best ways to get some wins in this climate area.” … Rep. Deb Haaland, Biden’s nominee to lead the Interior Department, fielded sharp questions from Republicans over what some called her “radical” ideas that include opposition to fracking and to the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Ag Today is distributed by the California Farm Bureau Marketing/Communications Division to county Farm Bureaus, California Farm Bureau directors and staff, for information purposes only; stories may not be republished without permission. Some story links may require site registration. Opinions expressed in stories, commentaries or editorials included in Ag Today do not necessarily represent the views of the California Farm Bureau. To be removed from this mailing list, reply to this message and please provide your name and email address. For more information about Ag Today, contact 916-561-5550 or news@cfbf.com.
