California canals damaged by sinking soil, groundwater pumping. New bills aim to help [Fresno Bee]
Democratic congressman from Fresno introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to repair aging canals and water infrastructure in California that’s been damaged by sinking ground levels – called subsidence, caused by groundwater pumping….The bills are the Conveyance Capacity Correction Act, introduced by Costa, and the Western Water Storage Infrastructure Act, introduced by Cox. The second “would provide additional funding for surface storage, groundwater storage, and the supporting conveyance facilities” with $800 million between fiscal years 2020 and 2024.
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/water-and-drought/article239924363.html
Dog sleuths sniff out crop disease hitting citrus trees [Associated Press]
Dog detectives might be able to help save ailing citrus groves, research published Monday suggests. Scientists trained dogs to sniff out a crop disease called citrus greening that has hit orange, lemon and grapefruit orchards in Florida, California and Texas. The dogs can detect it weeks to years before it shows up on tree leaves and roots, the researchers report.
https://apnews.com/28f6ee842b9c14092766fdf038c0c733
Cream of the crop: 2 California North Coast dairy processors reveal how they’ve floated above industry woes [North Bay Business Journal]
…Two of the larger dairy operators in the North Bay — Clover Sonoma and Straus Family Creamery — have been able to stay ahead in a struggling industry that has seen nearly 3,000 licensed dairy farms in the U.S. close in the last two years, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s latest figures….Randi Black, UC Cooperative dairy adviser for Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino counties, said diversification and relationships with consumers are key to local dairies’ survival….Marketing is also critical to a dairy’s longevity, Black said.
Wildfires spared many Australian winemakers, but the smoke might not [Wall Street Journal]
…Smoke contamination is a growing threat to the $336 billion global wine industry as uncontrolled fires break out with more severity in Australia, California and other grape-growing regions. Unlike some other fruits, grapes absorb smoke and those ashy flavors can end up in the wine, making it unpalatable….In the U.S., where wildfires tore through the wine region that includes Sonoma and Napa counties in 2017, smoke has prompted litigation between wineries and insurers over who should pay for smoke-related losses.
California Lt. Governor visits Delhi, with aim to expand state’s economic, agricultural ties to India [India West]
California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis joined a Bay Area Council delegation for a visit to New Delhi, beginning Jan. 12, with the aim of expanding the state’s economic ties to India….The lieutenant governor spent time with agricultural importers and highlighted the importance of the Indian market for California’s growers….In a tweet from India, Kounalakis wrote: “India buys more California almonds than anyone! In 2018, they purchased 14 percent of our almond crop – over $600 million!”
Changing counts reveal inexact science of calorie labels [Associated Press]
Almonds used to have about 170 calories per serving. Then researchers said it was really more like 130. A little later, they said the nuts may have even less….But the shifting numbers for almonds show how the figures printed on nutrition labels may not be as precise as they seem….Conducted by government researchers with funding from nut producers, the studies show the inexact method of determining calorie counts established more than a century ago.
