Global warming is stirring up health problems that are likely to worsen, witnesses told a Senate committee Tuesday, pointing to heat waves, severe weather, rising air pollution, waterborne diseases, water and food supply disruptions and even refugees resulting from civil conflict. The chart foretold increasing rates of asthma and cardiovascular diseases, malaria, dengue, malnutrition, migration and premature death. The testimony came during a hearing on global warming held by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Next week the committee's global warming panel begins work on legislation to cut emissions by 60 percent by 2050. The legislation would allow states such as California to move ahead with even tougher laws. Sacramento Bee 10/23/07
Regardless of other conflicts, for the first time both the House and Senate are determined to carve out a farm bill chunk for specialty crops. The Senate's proposed five-year bill includes a record $2 billion for specialty crops, four or five times greater than in 2002. The House's farm bill, approved in late July, offers an estimated $1.7 billion for specialty crop programs, and the Senate is proposing $2 billion. Roughly half of the House bill's $286 billion total cost goes to traditional crop subsidies. Sacramento Bee 10/24/07
An environmental group says the city of Burlingame’s antiquated sewer system "frequently overflows untreated sewage into homes and neighborhood streets" and that its sewage treatment plant regularly discharges wastewater into San Francisco Bay through an illegal pipe located just north of Coyote Point. The group filed a claim Monday with the city that sets in motion a 60-day period for Burlingame officials to respond to the allegations, or settle them, before the group files a lawsuit. SF Chronicle 10/24/07
Two senators proposed a rebel farm bill called the Fresh Act that would replace billions of dollars in payments to farmers of a handful of crops with an insurance program that would be available free to all farmers - including the 91 percent of California farmers who receive no federal crop subsidies. They estimate that California would by far be the biggest beneficiary of the changes, gaining an additional $7 billion in federal aid over five years. In the plan are provisions to divert funds to food stamps and fruit and vegetable purchases in school food programs, to preserve farm land from suburban sprawl, and to aid organic farms and locally based food purchases, research for fruit, nut and vegetable crops. The bill could put California’s senators in a pinch. SF Chronicle 10/24/07
In an effort to speed cleanup of the state's air pollution, the California Air Resources Board has adopted a sweeping plan that would require all farmers in the state to use cleaner engines in farm equipment. The new plan, which was adopted by the board in September, must now be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, farmers say once they have paid for a tractor and learn it has no resale value, it will be difficult to turn around and buy a new one to comply with the regulations. California Farm Bureau Federation 10/24/07
"The Michelin Guide to San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country 2008," was released Monday, with four restaurants in Yountville receiving stars. Bouchon (also owned by French Laundry proprietor Thomas Keller), Bistro Jeanty and Redd, from the Napa town, each received a star and makes Yountville the city with more starred restaurants per capita than any other city in the United States. Bushi-tei (San Francisco) and Dry Creek Kitchen (Healdsburg) both lost their one-star ratings. Masa's and Sushi Ran kept their one star rating. SF Chronicle 10/24/07
Coalitions of agricultural groups say they are making headway to protect water quality and control runoff from 7 million acres of Central Valley farms as
State water officials ponder new regulations to protect groundwater. At a joint meeting of the state's Water Control Board and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board on Sept. 13 in Clovis, representatives of nine agriculturally-based watershed coalitions representing 21,000 farmers told regulators about the progress of the four-year-old Irrigated Lands Program. According to the groups the collective watershed approach mandated under a conditional waiver from general waste discharge requirements is working. Capital Press 10/24
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