A year into Trump’s trade turmoil, an iconic California industry struggles to resist [CALmatters]
…It has been a year since Trump sent a collective shudder through California’s economy, imposing taxes on imported steel and aluminum that in turn prompted China to impose new tariffs on agricultural products….Meanwhile, a bevy of signature California products—almonds, pistachios, walnuts, wine grapes, oranges, dairy—have teetered on the verge of becoming collateral damage. So far, the worst-case scenario has not come to pass, and some products, such as pistachios, have survived relatively unscathed, at least for now….And some fears have been entirely realized. Sales of California oranges to China are off by more than half, broader problems in the state dairy industry have been exacerbated by trade tussles, and the almond and wine industries have struggled to cope with price pressures and punishing tariffs.
https://calmatters.org/articles/trump-trade-california-impact-wine-almonds-mexico-china/
Biotech crops still a sticking point in U.S.-China trade deal -sources [Reuters]
China’s lengthy approval process for genetically modified crops remains a sticking point in talks to end the trade war between China and the United States, according to two sources with knowledge of the talks….The issue is one of a host of U.S. complaints that the administration of President Donald Trump is demanding China address if it wants to end trade disputes that have cost both countries billions of dollars and slowed the global economy. Trump on Thursday said the two sides were getting very close to a deal that could be announced in about four weeks, though there were still differences to be bridged.
As Trump visits Calexico, Calif., residents worry about rising border wall tension [NPR]
…The visit comes a week after the president threatened to shut down the border as a result of a surge of migrant families crossing in search of asylum. He has since walked back that threat, but uncertainty and nervousness remain in border towns like Calexico that rely on cross-border trade and traffic….Jack Vessey is a fourth-generation farmer in Holtville, Calif., about 15 miles north of the border. More than half of his workers cross from Mexico. He says that the threats and the tension along the border are just not good for business — especially in the midst of the cabbage harvest.
Sunny days, fertilizer runoff and sewage can create toxic bacteria at Salton Sea [Palm Springs Desert Sun]
Hot weather is on its way, and with it, potentially toxic bacteria could bloom rapidly in California’s largest lake, the Salton Sea, and other waters on the receiving end of runoff from farms and golf courses or sewage spills….The problem is growing up and down California and around the world, experts say, typically wherever industrial agriculture is situated near water….Major agriculture groups have fought tougher regulations for decades. In the United States, farming activities have largely been exempt from the Clean Water Act since it was adopted in 1972, Van Lent said. Along the Salton Sea and elsewhere, conditioned waivers from state water laws allow runoff, but cap amounts of certain contaminants or use “best management practices” by growers and others.
Senate panel backs Interior pick despite conflict allegation [Associated Press]
A Senate panel voted Thursday to put a veteran former lobbyist in charge of the Interior Department, despite a last-minute round of intense debate on allegations that he was using his federal position to benefit former industry clients….Bernhardt says he has complied with all ethics laws and codes, and Interior’s ethics office has sanctioned how he deals with former clients that have business before the agency. But Democrats and environmental groups accuse him of using his position at Interior to shape regulations and legislation in favor of big agriculture, oil and gas interests, and other former clients.
https://apnews.com/9319fc32faeb4ff7bcc792c390c10ffe
Sutter County Board of Supervisors table hemp ordinance for now [Marysville Appeal-Democrat]
After a lengthy discussion that saw a number of local farmers and industrial hemp advocates pushing for Sutter County supervisors to prevent a staff-recommended moratorium on the commodity, the board decided against taking action during Wednesday’s study session and will revisit the topic at a later date. Staff’s recommendation to prepare a temporary moratorium on growing hemp within the county revolved around the lack of rules and regulations currently in place by the state that would help county officials oversee the commodity’s production, said Steve Smith, interim county administrator….The majority of speakers that addressed the board during the meeting were in favor of preventing a moratorium. Some of the reasons noted by speakers as to why they supported industrial hemp included the benefits it would bring to the local economy, its medicinal uses and how it could serve as an alternative crop to others that have seen market declines in recent years.
