Agriculture Daily News 12/18

The landmark measure that would provide coverage to most uninsured Californians cleared its first major hurdle when it was approved along party lines in the Democratic-controlled lower house. If the Senate approves the bill and voters agree to pay for it, it would extend coverage to nearly 70 percent of the state's permanently uninsured and require most Californians to buy health insurance. The governor and Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez – who negotiated the legislation known as AB 1x – were optimistic, though the $14.4 billion plan must still be approved by voters.  Sacramento Bee 12/18/07

 

The Delta Vision Final Report is out and posted here..  Aquafornia 12/18/07

 

The DWR’s official statement regarding Judge Oliver Wanger’s decision over Delta smelt supports the ruling, stating, it underscored “the fragility and unreliability of the Delta as California's water delivery hub.”   Director Lester Snow  calls the Delta “broken, both environmentally and as a source of water for most of California's people.” The statement  goes on to support Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed plan to ensure California’s water. Snow said, and calls for major investments in surface and groundwater storage. DWR 12/17/07

 

There wasn’t a lot of optimism to be heard at a water issues panel discussion held at the California Farm Bureau Federation’s 89th annual meeting. Water leaders who participated in the discussion predicted years of difficulty, particularly for agricultural water users. Most anticipated higher prices for water and saw the hardest period as the 8-10 years before a periphery canal could be built. Siskiyou Daily News 12/18/07

 

Universities in California and three other states will receive $950,000 in cooperative agreements from the USDA for research against harmful pests and diseases. Among the subjects the projects will examine are:

-UC Riverside ($196,000) will examine mechanisms, including random inspections, compensatory payments, early warning systems, that may prevent the import of invasive species in agricultural commodities by encouraging exporters to reveal information about the presence of invasive species in cargo.

-UC Davis ($175,000) will examine the economic efficiency of alternative strategies for managing mobile insects and analyze incentives for homeowners and commercial growers to participate in regional pest management organizations. Western Farm Press 12/18/07

 

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will announce its support for plans to build the nation's first commercial wave power plant off the coast of Northern California, slated to begin operating in 2012. It will generate enough power to light only 1,500 homes at most, but it represents another potential front in the fight against climate change. California has ordered utilities such as PG&E to buy more power from renewable sources. San Francisco's PG&E won't build or own the proposed wave park, near Eureka, which will be designed and built by Canadian company Finavera. Instead, PG&E has agreed to buy the plant's power. SF Chronicle 12/18/07

 

At a seminar in Fresno last week, row-crop farmers learned how a new state law aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions could affect them. A California Farm Bureau specialist says farmers may develop opportunities to obtain and market carbon credits, through their work to reduce emissions and energy use.

 

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service received more than 3,500 comments on a proposed leafy greens safety program, which they are now posting online. USDA is weighing various options, including developing a marketing agreement similar to the one in California that requires handlers to comply with food safety standards after voluntarily entering the program. Another option is a federal marketing order that would be implemented following a grower referendum, requiring mandatory compliance for all handlers. Fresh Plaza 12/18/07

 

Scientists with the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) at California State University, Fresno are expanding their research in the use of air injection as a means of enhancing soil properties for crops. The system uses high-efficiency injectors to mix microscopic bubbles of air with the water inside irrigation drip lines. The air permeates the soil along with the water during irrigation and helps to aerate the soil. Fresh Plaza 12/17/07

 

A statement by A.G. Kawamura on 12/14/07 applauds the U.S. Senate’s passage of the 2007 Farm Bill, stating, “The farm bill recognizes the diversity of California production and special environmental needs.” CDFA News release

 

This fall, the California Department of Education distributed $11 million to California schools to help promote, develop and sustain gardens. The California Instructional School Garden bill, or AB 1535, designed by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, and signed into law last year, allocated $15 million, of which $4million will be saved for next year's applicants. Advocates say it helps connect kids with the sources of food. Tri-Valley Herald 12/17/07