Trump gets Harder bill aimed at ‘swamp rats’ threatening Central Valley waterways [Modesto Bee]
Congress has given final approval to a bill that would take on nutria, a giant rodent threatening waterways in the Central Valley and beyond. The bill, by Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, passed the U.S. Senate unanimously on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The House of Representatives approved it without opposition in February. The bill now goes to President Donald Trump, who has indicated support, Harder spokesman Ian Lee said by email Friday. When it will be signed is unclear, as Trump has been hospitalized since Friday with mild COVID-19 symptoms.
https://www.modbee.com/news/business/agriculture/article246187050.html
Wildfire ravaged this rancher’s cattle and maybe his family legacy. He blames politics [Los Angeles Times]
Dave Daley stood recently on the edge of a barren ridge and bellowed out a guttural cry meant to call his cows home — if any remained alive after the North Complex wildfire decimated this national forest….“You can replace a house,” he said, his voice hoarse and sorrow crinkling the sun-baked lines around his eyes, their color a pale green-brown that mirrored the scorched pine needles nearby. “You can’t replace this.”
Comment: California’s tax system needs to be overhauled. Making changes to Proposition 13 won’t do it [Los Angeles Times]
Proposition 15 is arguably the most significant state measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. And that’s saying a lot because Californians will be voting on several very significant measures….With Proposition 15, voters are being asked to partially repeal a historic 1978 property tax cut that triggered a nationwide anti-tax revolt. That revered initiative, Proposition 13, has always been considered untouchable — the third rail of California politics. But labor unions, led by one representing schoolteachers, are trying to roll back part of it. Their effort is supported by tax-seeking big city mayors, including Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles.
Glass Fire fans uncertainty around Napa’s ongoing harvest [Napa Valley Register]
Concern for Napa Valley’s wine grape crop — previously plunged into uncertainty during the LNU Lightning Complex fires — has been compounded this week by smoke from the ongoing Glass Fire. More than 170 homes have burned in Napa County, as have a number of wineries and a few vineyards. The Glass Fire had burned more than 62,000 acres and was 10 percent contained as of Saturday morning. A “cooling trend” was expected beginning Sunday, when an additional Red Flag Warning issued for portions of the county late Saturday afternoon was set to end.
Rain finally expected across Northern California. How much will it help with fires? [Sacramento Bee]
…With wildfire after wildfire battering California since late summer, burning record acreage and killing at least 30 people in less than two months, weather experts have repeatedly said conditions conducive to critical fire risk probably won’t begin to subside until the first significant rainfall of autumn. Rain might finally — and mercifully — be coming soon to Northern California. Some big questions remain: How much rain will we get? Where exactly will it fall? And will it be enough to end this year’s wildfire danger?…It’s still a bit too soon to estimate how much precipitation might fall in any of those regions, but the forecasts do say “rain,” not “showers,” at this point. The NWS also says there’s a possibility of wet snow at the “highest mountain peaks” in the Sierra Nevada range. The system will also bring much cooler weather. Sacramento, which has had max temperatures in the low 90s since the start of October, is expected to cool down to 85 degrees Wednesday, 76 on Thursday and 72 by Friday, according to NWS forecasts.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/weather-news/article246141390.html
Letter to the editor: Ag must remain the priority [Imperial Valley Press]
…Every election cycle we are deluged with candidates claiming that “we” own the water rights. Collectively, we do – however, with these caveats: 1) the water is to be put to beneficial use; 2) the beneficial use in our case is the growing of crops, and 3) the beneficial use is not “selling” the water. The only entity that has EVER sold water is the IID….For many reasons, it is vitally important that agribusiness remain at the top of the water supply chain. Without this critical link, our economy is at risk of taking a devastating turn. Consider the consequences if the IID board continues to erode our water rights. If you are employed at the IID’s water department, where will you work if there is no water to deliver? What will become of Spreckels Sugar if there are no beets to harvest? The same with other ag-related jobs: no seed sales, no farm implement sales, no vehicle sales, no mechanics, no cold storage, no packing, no trucking … the list goes on and on.
Ag Today is distributed by the CFBF Marketing/Communications Division to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF 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 CFBF. 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.
