CA Insurance Commissioner visits Butte County [KRCR TV, Redding]
Recent wildfires have made it harder and more expensive for homeowners and agricultural businesses to buy insurance coverage. … California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara visited Paradise on Monday to discuss with the community what he is doing to help solve the problem. … For the first time in the history of the California Department of Insurance, Lara has directed insurance companies to report data on non-renewals and underwriting restrictions with a focus on agriculture and outdoor industries. … Lara is also a big proponent of Senate Bill 11 (SB 11). SB 11 would expand the coverage for agribusiness across the state under the FAIR plan.
https://krcrtv.com/news/local/insurance-commissioner-visits-butte-county
New bill would make it easier to transfer water throughout California [KFSN TV, Fresno]
Growers are dealing with severe cutbacks in the surface water deliveries they normally receive from reservoirs. … A bill introduced by Republican Congressman David Valadao would allow more water to be moved south from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta while keeping protections in place for fish such as the delta smelt and salmon. … The legislation is called the NEED Water Bill, which stands for Necessary to Ensure Expeditious Delivery. The bill is not a permanent fix but is designed to temporarily expedite water transfers and reduce regulatory burdens.
https://abc30.com/business/new-bill-would-make-it-easier-to-transfer-water-throughout-ca/10818141/
Drought: Emergency project being built to protect California water supplies [Bay Area News Group]
In a new symbol of California’s worsening drought, construction crews are putting the finishing touches on a $10 million emergency project to build a massive rock barrier through part of the Delta in Contra Costa County to preserve water supplies for millions of people across the state. … Its purpose: To block salt water from the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay from flowing too far east and contaminating the huge state and federal pumps near Tracy that send fresh water south to 27 million people — from San Jose to Los Angeles — and to millions of acres of farmland in the Central Valley and beyond.
Opinion: Farmers and ranchers need support during drought [CalMatters]
… The history of California agriculture is one of evolution in crops, adjustment to changing markets and innovation in farming practices to minimize environmental impacts. Just as other major industries in California have evolved as conditions change, the state’s agricultural sector must adapt to increasingly scarce water supplies. The $500 million proposed by the governor would create a new grant program to incentivize farmers to put their lands to work in ways that use less water and benefit California. Earlier this month, the Assembly unanimously passed Assembly Bill 252 to create the program. Let’s take action and help the farmers and ranchers who put food on our plates through this difficult transition.
https://calmatters.org/commentary/my-turn/2021/06/farmers-and-ranchers-need-support-during-drought/
The $213 billion meatpacking industry faces stricter oversight in Washington [Wall Street Journal]
The American meatpacking industry faces stricter oversight in Washington, as lawmakers and regulators push an overhaul of the $213 billion sector following complaints about meat companies’ alleged influence over markets and farmers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is crafting new rules that would change how companies such as Tyson Foods Inc. and Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. pay chicken farmers, while making it easier for farmers to pursue disputes against meatpackers, the agency said this month. On Capitol Hill, Republican and Democratic lawmakers have proposed legislation that would require beef processors like Cargill Inc. and JBS USA Holdings Inc. to buy more cattle on open markets, and set minimum regional prices.
Sunflowers are blooming in Yolo County. These local businesses help you see them safely [Sacramento Bee]
… As the blooming season arrives seasonally from mid-June to mid-July, a problem tends to arise for sunflower farmers: tourists. They come in large numbers each season looking for spots to photograph. Some park on the side of roads, trespass on private lands and pick or step on the flowers. … Also, 95% of the sunflower seeds grown in Yolo County are sent around the world, according to the Yolo County Visitors Bureau. … The bureau has created a guide to educate and inform sunflower seekers with some suggestions on what and what not to do when visiting sunflower fields in the county.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article252224363.html
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.
