In agriculture rich California, the state fair is facing an uncertain future [Palm Springs Desert Sun]
…With few exceptions, ticket sales have been on the decline for years, and what was once considered a central connection between the rural and urban communities sprawling across the state is now struggling to survive….An audit released in June shows Cal Expo, the state-run agency that oversees and operates the fair, has been forced to deploy drastic cost-cutting measures that include a hiring freeze and a stop on “non-essential” spending on equipment purchasing and repairs….The cuts have heavily impacted the organization’s ability to expand the events and services it sees as necessary to increase revenue.
Tainted Pork, Ill Consumers and an Investigation Thwarted [New York Times]
…The surge in drug-resistant infections is one of the world’s most ominous health threats, and public health authorities say one of the biggest causes is farmers who dose millions of pigs, cows and chickens with antibiotics to keep them healthy — sometimes in crowded conditions before slaughter….But public health investigators at times have been unable to obtain even the most basic information about practices on farms. Livestock industry executives sit on federal Agriculture Department advisory committees, pour money into political campaigns and have had a seat at the table in drafting regulations for the industry, helping to ensure that access to farms is generally at the owners’ discretion.
Union group targets agricultural burning [Imperial Valley Press]
The president of the union chapter representing El Centro Sector U.S. Border Patrol agents says his organization is concerned with the local health impacts of agricultural burning on the local population. “Outdated and unnecessary farming methods may be harming your children,” Michael R. Matzke, president NBPC Local 2554, wrote in a letter sent to this newspaper….Local officials could not be reached Saturday for comment, but the issue of agricultural burning came up previously in this newspaper in a question address to Probe in May. At that time, Reyes Romero, assistant air pollution control officer for the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, responded that agricultural burning is governed by the state Legislature.
Vineyard of Silicon Valley investor hit with $3.7 million in penalties after bulldozing Mendocino County [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]
A Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur and winemaker has agreed to pay $3.76 million in penalties after his company bulldozed a protected wetland and filled in a stream bed to build a vineyard in Mendocino County, North Coast water regulators announced Friday. The settlement — one of the largest ever involving water quality on the North Coast — stems from a litany of environmental violations tied to unpermitted work by Rhys Vineyards starting as far back as 2015 on owner Kevin Harvey’s 4,500-acre ranch west of Highway 101 near Laytonville….Rhys’ Santa Rosa-based lawyer Tina Wallis said in a Thursday news release the company “deeply regrets the mistakes made.”
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9858279-181/vineyard-of-silicon-valley-investor
Merced County’s invasive rodents are a problem for Valley farms. Can they be stopped? [Merced Sun-Star]
…South American rodents called “nutria” were found in Merced County in March 2017. That alarmed California wildlife officials because of the rodents’ potential to harm agriculture and water infrastructure that’s vital for San Joaquin Valley farms….The state Legislature appropriated about $1.9 million for the 2019-20 fiscal year to eradicate nutria, and set up continuing funding for the next three years. Some say that’s not enough….California Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, is pushing for legislation that would add another $7 million in federal funding towards the eradication.
https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/environment/article233423867.html
U.S. bill raising debt ceiling for farm bankruptcies heads to White House [REUTERS]
With farm bankruptcies rising and agricultural debt loads soaring, the U.S. Senate has passed a bill that will make it easier for more farmers with larger amounts of debt to file for bankruptcy protection. The bipartisan bill – called the Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019 – raises the ceiling on how much debt producers who file for Chapter 12 bankruptcy can have, to $10 million from the previous $4 million….“With what’s going on in farmland today – as net income has continued to decrease, all the market uncertainty and the natural disasters – this is a very timely change,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.
