Valley farmers assess impacts of recent storms [KFSN TV, Fresno]
Storm activity has been bittersweet for Valley farmers. In some cases, hail has damaged crops, making them unusable, while snow and rainfall are helping Central California recover from a water deficit. … Ryan Jacobsen from the Fresno County Farm Bureau says he saw the worst hail in 10 years at his almond orchard in Easton. It was a potential big hit to his crop. Still, he says recent storms have done more good than harm. “By far, they have been much more beneficial. We are in such dire straits when it comes to what we have in the Sierra Nevada as far as our snowpack this year,” he says.
Greenfield seeks advanced notices for community regarding pesticide application [KION TV, Monterey/Salinas]
In a 4-0 vote, Greenfield City council passed a resolution asking the ag commissioner to make public all of the notices of intent they approve. The city would like these notices to allow enough time for families to take precautionary measures such as closing windows, doors and remaining indoors. … This is not the first time community leaders request something like this. In fact, Monterey County had a pilot program in which they notified North Monterey County families about the application of these pesticides. But, only five people registered.
Carriers rejected at least $1.3 billion in potential U.S. agricultural exports from July to December [CNBC]
The United States saw at least $1.3 billion in potential agricultural exports rejected at major ports on the East and West coasts, from July to December last year, according to a CNBC analysis. … The maritime carriers’ export decisions at these ports are under investigation by the Federal Maritime Commission. … Maritime carriers have been favoring sending back empty containers to China in an effort to quickly fill the boxes so they can be transported along the more lucrative China-U.S. route.
This wildlife refuge is drying up. An anonymous rancher wants to save it [Klamath Falls Herald and News]
A unique deal between ranchers and wildlife advocates may at long last bring a reliable water supply to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge — and the wetlands and birds that depend on it. … Because the refuge sits at the bottom of the water rights pecking order within the Project, it’s the last recipient of water diverted from Upper Klamath Lake—if it gets any at all. … The Wood River Valley rancher, who asked not to be named until the deal is solidified, proposed selling 4,500 acre-feet of his water right to the refuge.
Deb Haaland confirmed as Interior secretary in first for Native American [Wall Street Journal]
The Senate confirmed Rep. Deb Haaland as President Biden’s interior secretary Monday, in a vote that for the first time will make a Native American a White House cabinet secretary. … Opponents have said Ms. Haaland’s history of environmental activism—she has called fracking “a danger to the air we breathe and water we drink”—is a poor fit for a cabinet secretary who oversees drilling on vast tracts of public lands. … Along with energy leases on federal land, Ms. Haaland will oversee the national parks and endangered-species protections.
Push to prevent next meat shortage hits big obstacle [Associated Press]
Sudden meat shortages last year because of the coronavirus led to millions of dollars in federal grants to help small meat processors expand so the nation could lessen its reliance on giant slaughterhouses to supply grocery stores and restaurants. … There’s little doubt the grants will help small processors and in turn provide sorely needed rural jobs, but the economics of meat now centers on large, highly efficient slaughterhouses, not smaller plants whose numbers have been decreasing sharply.
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