Local Ag Warns Corcoran – Suit Against Curtimade Dairy Will Have Statewide Consequences [Ivanhoe Valley Voice]
It was standing room only as supporters of Curtimade Dairy lined the walls of Corcoran City Council Chambers during last night’s city council meeting. Corcoran is currently suing the Curti family for $65 million dollars for damages incurred when their dairy allegedly contaminated the city’s water supply at the height of the drought in 2015. The Curtis have countered that their dairy has always been in compliance with all water regulations and permits and that the city wells have tested as having safe drinking water. To loud applause from those in attendance, a dozen public speakers urged the city council to drop its suit against Curtimade Dairy.
Trade truce with China raises hopes but not prices [Foothills Sun-Gazette (Exeter)]
News that there would be a truce in the escalating tariff war with China has offered some hope to the local citrus industry. But despite the announcement a few weeks ago by the Trump administration there is so far no relief where it counts: in farmer’s wallets. Citrus exports to China continue to suffer a 70% regulatory tariff. That results in too much fruit forced on the domestic market and continues a slump in prices.
U.S. agriculture secretary unsure if coronavirus will slow China’s farm imports [Reuters]
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Wednesday he does not know whether China’s coronavirus outbreak will upset Beijing’s pledge to radically increase purchases of American farm goods as part of the countries’ recent trade deal. The virus has cast further doubt on China’s ability to buy $36.5 billion of U.S. agricultural goods in 2020….Agricultural producers have grown worried China’s demand will temporarily suffer as the government has quarantined cities in a bid to contain the coronavirus. Delays or reductions in China’s planned purchases could put more pressure on U.S. farm incomes that suffered during the countries’ bruising trade war.
California completes 34 land projects to slow wildfires [Associated Press]
California has completed 34 of the forest-thinning projects it rushed to finish in the past year as a way to buffer 200 communities at high risk from wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday….The forest projects thin or clear brush and trees along wide paths so wildfires slow down and can be contained. Workers also removed hazardous dead trees and created roadways that can help with evacuations during wildfires.
https://apnews.com/3606b3ba7fd9a17a46b325ea19e6bd34
Napa County’s winery streamlining plan faces legal threat [Napa Valley Register]
Napa County intends to cut red tape for what it deems to be modest winery expansion requests, even though a group called Water Audit California warned of possible legal action. County officials said the goal is simply to move consideration of more routine decisions from the Planning Commission to county staff, such as adding a few employees or a certain amount of wine production. Environmental rules and public noticing will still apply. But Water Audit California is expressing concern that streamlining could hurt streams and fish….The group or its members have been involved in lawsuits to secure more water for streams from reservoirs serving St. Helena, Calistoga and Yountville.
Opinion: Pinyon and juniper woodlands define the West. Why is the BLM turning them to mulch? [Los Angeles Times]
The federal government is overseeing a program of massive deforestation on Western public lands. Some 7.4 million acres of pinyon-juniper forest in the care of the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada, Utah and southern Idaho are targeted for destruction over the next several years — an area larger than the state of Vermont. Why wipe out millions of acres of thriving pinyon-juniper, trees that are superbly adapted to the heat and drought that climate change will throw at the West? To satisfy the demands of the cattle industry for grazing forage on public lands.
