California ag counties to receive more COVID vaccines. Sacramento, Bay Area may see drop [Sacramento Bee]
California is making a big push to substantially increase COVID-19 vaccine availability for essential farm and agriculture workers in the Central Valley, a move that has ripple effects across the state as it redistributes limited supply. … Topping the list of biggest supply boosts was Tulare County, which more than doubled from about 4,800 doses to more than 10,000. Tulare was followed by Monterey, Imperial, Kings, Merced and Kern counties, all of which increased by more than 75%. … Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday the state plans to open 11 vaccination sites in the Central Valley, where supply allocations would also be boosted by 58%.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article249485250.html
Farm workers prove early challenge for Kern County vaccination efforts [Bakersfield Californian]
On Monday, local farm workers became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but advocates say Kern County lacks the infrastructure to effectively reach the hard-hit population. With the spring growing season approaching, the advocates worry workers could be left behind as eligibility expands beyond the current limits. … Farm workers have a variety of barriers that make it more difficult for them to sign up for vaccine appointments. Many cannot afford to cut work to get vaccinated, and work long hours with only Sunday off. Language barriers and distrust of state agencies further complicate vaccination efforts.
Push for more COVID-19 testing in Monterey County’s ag industry [KSBW TV, Monterey/Salinas]
Monterey County leaders and agriculture associations want to push for more COVID-19 testing as a layer of protection and safety for front-line farmworkers. These advocates have said they realize vaccinating the industry will take time which is something the county doesn’t have much of, as the essential industry enters the new season. … While Monterey County is in a limited vaccine rollout leaders are calling for a focus on the testing of front-line farmworkers.
https://www.ksbw.com/article/push-for-more-covid-19-testing-in-monterey-countys-ag-industry/35621731
California drought, dry conditions causing concern for farms and agriculture [KXTV, Sacramento]
Much of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley regions are seeing abnormally dry or drought-like weather so far in winter 2021. [Video]
Burning California to save it: Why one solution to raging wildfires can’t gain traction [Sacramento Bee]
… A growing army of experts argues that “prescribed fire” — planned, deliberate burns — can reduce the volume of combustible vegetation from parched landscapes and ease a crisis gripping the western third of the country. … Yet there’s also widespread agreement that the West doesn’t make nearly enough use of prescribed fire. … Why not do more? One problem is air pollution, which makes regulators leery about allowing smoke in the air — even in the interest of preventing major wildfires. They also worry that ill-timed gusts could turn a prescribed burn into an all-out wildfire.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article249345695.html
U.S. farmers are planting more row crops than ever [Wall Street Journal]
U.S. farmers are expected to plant a record amount of acres this year to take advantage of high agricultural prices after years of tough market conditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that farmers will plant 182 million acres of corn and soybeans in 2021. … Net farm cash receipts, the money made by selling crops, are expected to rise 5.5% or $20.4 billion in 2021, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
Opinion: The facts about pesticide safety [Bakersfield Californian]
… If our industry has not done a good job explaining the facts on safety, then that’s on us. … You want facts? Here they are. Before a pesticide can be approved, the United States Environmental Protection Agency must first conduct a comprehensive safety review through an established scientific process that has been developed under multiple administrations, both Democrat and Republican. … But for Californians, a federal review alone isn’t good enough. That is why state scientists re-review every product prior to allowing its use (as if the EPA findings did not exist).
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