USDA nominee Vilsack casts farmers as leaders in climate fight [Wall Street Journal]
President Biden’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture said farmers and cattle ranchers are potential leaders in the new administration’s battle against climate change. Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor who led the USDA for eight years during the Obama administration, said Tuesday that government-funded incentives could get farmers and agricultural companies to adopt climate-friendly practices without the need for additional regulation, and could make U.S. food more attractive on export markets. … The Senate committee voted Tuesday to advance Mr. Vilsack’s nomination to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.
Farmers want to create San Diego’s carbon dumps [Voice of San Diego]
San Diego County recently committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2035, which means cutting as much emissions as the county’s economy emits. But the state may have backed the county into a regulatory corner by limiting the ways it can take credit for cutting greenhouse gases. … Since the concept of planting trees is a verified way by carbon offset marketplaces to reduce planet-warming emissions, Hannah Gbeh, executive director of San Diego’s Farm Bureau branch, wonders why citrus or avocado trees wouldn’t count.
Farmworkers say employers, Cal/OSHA don’t enforce COVID-19 safety regulations [Salinas Californian]
… Farmworkers, despite their status as essential workers during the pandemic, felt shortchanged, vulnerable and disposable, an updated study comprised of in-depth interviews from more than 60 farmworkers by the California Institute for Rural Studies (CIRS) and partner entities shows. … Cal/OSHA, when reached for comment, said that its enforcement efforts in the agricultural industry are focused on worker protections. Officials went on to say that ag is the only industry where the number of inspections conducted exceeds the number of complaints.
COVID-19: Why UC Davis is launching a farmworker safety project before harvest ramp up [KXTV, Sacramento]
UC Davis is launching a new effort to change the course of coronavirus impacts on California farmworkers. It’s a $3 million project focused on training and safety information for farmworkers and community groups. The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS) at UC Davis will also be working with farmers and others in the agriculture industry to help them navigate a COVID-19 safe workplace before harvest starts to ramp up across the state.
Sierra snowpack lags behind average, despite ‘atmospheric river’ blasting California, Valley [Visalia Times-Delta]
An atmospheric river blasted the Sierra Nevada with more than seven feet of snow this week, but the mountain range’s snowpack is still far behind where it needs to be to deliver ample water to Central Valley communities and farmers come spring and summer. … Local agricultural leaders remained cautiously optimistic in the face of a looming drought. “We always welcome a good storm like this, but one good week of rain won’t change our overall water supply situation for the year,” said Tricia Stever-Blattler, Tulare County Farm Bureau executive director.
Opinion: Westlands Water District farmers use stringent conservation to face uncertain supplies [Fresno Bee]
… In summary, farmers in Westlands have fallowed their land, begun to implement SGMA-related regulations, invested hundreds of millions in water technology, and are constantly thinking about new and innovative conservation methods. However, there must be a more all-encompassing approach, one that also improves California’s aging infrastructure, specifically fixing subsidence along canals, and increasing storage capabilities, and a solution that addresses ecosystem needs more holistically, through reducing non-native species, improving the quality of water, and restoring habitat lost through land reclamation and flood protections.
https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article248950959.html
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