Eager to be vaccinated, California farmworkers face obstacles [CalMatters]
… California has more than half a million farmworkers — and they appear to be eager to be vaccinated. Counties only recently started offering vaccinations to this hard-hit workforce, but agricultural workers are so far accepting the vaccine at high rates. … But workplace vaccination events are still few and far between in California, so farmworkers face many obstacles getting the vaccine, advocates say. The clinics are sometimes only open to workers of certain companies, and they are reliant on how many doses a county sets aside for them.
https://calmatters.org/health/coronavirus/2021/03/california-farmworkers-vaccine-obstacles/
New vaccine allocation aims to reach farm workers as second season approaches during pandemic [Stockton Record]
The recent announcement by the governor’s office that 40% of upcoming vaccine allocations in the state will be distributed among the most vulnerable residents that have been impacted by COVID-19, is welcome relief to the cherry industry, where vaccinating staff is an urgent need. The cherry industry has not only worked through a year of COVID-19 protocols, but will be packing and exporting its second harvest during the pandemic. “I think everybody is trying to get some clarity” after the state’s transition for Blue Cross Blue Shield to manage vaccination distribution said Chris Zanobini, executive director of the California Cherry Export Association. “It’s a much bigger process.”
Opinion: Prioritize California’s farmworkers and provide them COVID vaccines [CalMatters]
… Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced California would reserve 10% of its vaccine allotment specifically for teachers and school employees. … We applaud these moves and say that now is the time we extend that same recognition to the men and women who have protected the integrity of our food supply and made sure we can all have a meal on our kitchen tables. That is why we are calling for the state of California to set aside at least 10% of vaccines for farm employees.
Air Resources votes to end agricultural burning in San Joaquin Valley [KTXL TV, Sacramento]
The California Air Resources Board recently voted to phase out agricultural burning in the San Joaquin Valley region by 2025. … “Maybe after 20 years, 25 years they’re going to be looking at having to go ahead and replace that orchard. So it’s not something that you’re doing every year,” said Bruce Blodgett, the executive director for San Joaquin County Farm Bureau. Blodgett is frustrated with the recent decision from CARB to phase out agricultural burns by 2025.
County’s updated conservation plan aims to save more San Diego farmland [San Diego Union-Tribune]
More San Diego farmland will be eligible for an agricultural conservation program under new rules the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved Wednesday. … The county has tried to stem that decline through the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement, which is called the PACE program. … The county supervisors voted unanimously to approve changes to PACE that will increase the amount of eligible farmland more than six-fold, from about 101,000 acres to 628,000 acres countywide.
Opinion: Kern’s oil and ag industries are an extraordinary, beneficial partnership [Bakersfield Californian]
… Farming is more modern and innovative than it’s ever been before, making us more efficient than we’ve ever been. But the fact of the matter is, without the oil and gas industry, our beloved industry will be headed backward to pre-industrial days and for a state that’s hell-bent on “progression,” that doesn’t sound very forward thinking to me. … Without oil and gas, farmers in the breadbasket of California would not be able to efficiently feed the world.
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