Newsom seeks peace with Trump in California water wars. Enviros are ready to fight [Sacramento Bee]
Two months ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom seemed poised to file yet another suit against President Donald Trump — this time, over a federal plan to pump more water to Trump’s farming allies in the San Joaquin Valley. Instead, Newsom announced a compromise this week that aims to avoid another protracted legal battle….The governor’s newest proposal signals Newsom may be softening his fight against Trump, but opening another battle. Newsom may have traded a court fight with Trump for a legal battle with the very environmentalists the Democratic administration has seen as allies.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article239967733.html
Trump budget proposal pitches billions for rural America, a key constituency in 2020 [USA TODAY]
President Donald Trump will use his budget rollout next week to propose spending billions on health care, infrastructure, business loans and internet access in rural America, a key part of his constituency as he seeks reelection in November….Trump is expected to make a major appeal to rural voters in his reelection campaign, especially as it relates to farmers in key states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin….It is difficult to put a price tag on Trump’s “rural program,” officials said. Some proposals are additions to existing programs, some are part of mandatory spending, and some could be applied to urban and suburban areas as well.
Corteva to stop making pesticide linked to kids’ health problems [Reuters]
Corteva Inc will stop producing the agricultural pesticide chlorpyrifos by the end of the year, the company said on Thursday, removing the world’s largest manufacturer of a chemical that has been linked to low birth weight, reduced IQ and attention disorders in children. Corteva, spun off last year after a merger of Dow Chemical and Dupont, said declining sales drove its decision to end production and officials continue to believe chlorpyrifos is safe….On Thursday, manufacturers must stop sales in California under an agreement with the state, which says chlorpyrifos is harmful. California farmers cannot possess or use chlorpyrifos products after Dec. 31.
If bumble bees become endangered in California, farmers say it sets a ‘dangerous precedent’ [Capital Public Radio, Sacramento]
California native bumble bees are poised to become protected under the state’s Endangered Species Act — and they’d be the first insects on the list….But many agricultural interests are upset over the listing, and are suing to stop the insects from joining the more than 250 species protected by the act….Specifically, they say putting bees on the list will greatly impact agriculture. They argue that bumble bee advocates and scientists deliberately made the bee’s homerange as the entire state. “So, essentially, farmers just everywhere have to just act as if those bees are around and make sure they are not taking [killing] them,” said Noelle Cremers, a senior policy advocate for the California Farm Bureau Federation.
US wine shipments increase slightly to 409 million cases in 2019 [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]
Wine shipments in the United States advanced slightly in 2019, continuing a more than 25-year trend of annual growth in the sector, despite growing fears of an eventual retraction….The data was released Wednesday at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento, the largest wine industry trade show in North America….Still, industry concern was evident at the conference given the well-documented oversupply of grapes and bulk wine at a time when retail wine sales are flat….California now has an excess of 30,000 vineyard acres, which include acreage in the North Coast, said Jeff Bitter, president of the Allied Grape Growers, a cooperative that represents 500 growers statewide.
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/business/10668162-181/us-wine-shipments-increase-slightly
WINE TO WEED: Wine grape growers lose labor to cannabis farms [Foothills Sun-Gazette, Exeter]
…Vilchis is among a growing number of people leaving their vineyard jobs for the higher pay and better working conditions many cannabis growers offer. The result is increasing tensions between these relative newcomers and the state’s long-established wine producers — also adding pressure to an ongoing labor shortage that shows no sign of easing anytime soon….Devon Jones, the director of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau, said wine grape growers in her county have suffered since recreational marijuana was legalized….On the other end of the spectrum is Napa County, considered the cradle of the state’s wine industry. It’s solution was to ban cannabis cultivation altogether. Ryan Klobas, the director of the Napa County Farm Bureau, said he doesn’t see things changing anytime soon.
