Wednesday, July 28, 2010
CARDOZA INTRODUCES "GROWN IN AMERICA" ACT FOR PRIDE IN AGRICULTURE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dennis Cardoza said he introduced the Grown in America Act today in the U.S. Congress. The bill encourages both consumers and producers to show their pride for American agriculture. Specifically, H.Res. 1558 encourages producers to display the American flag on U.S.-grown product labels, the congressman said in a news release... [read more]
Source: MERCED SUN STAR

Wednesday, July 28, 2010
SCHWARZENEGGER TO VETO FARMWORKER OT BILL
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to veto legislation that would give workers on California farms to the same overtime pay standards as most labor forces, the bill's author said today. .. [read more]
Source: SACRAMENTO BEE -- TOREY VAN OOT

Sunday, July 25, 2010
DON'T BELIEVE CRITICS OF NEW PESTICIDE
As an author on the patents and the person who first proposed the use of methyl iodide as a soil fumigant, I am writing to address the coverage that has stemmed from the proposed registration of methyl iodide for use as a fumigant in California... [read more]
Source: The Bakersfield Californian

Monday, May 31, 2010
POIZNER, WHITMAN FIGHT FOR SUPPORT IN VALLEY
Fresno Republican voter Deena Papagni has been following the governor's race closely for at least two months. But she still can't make up her mind... [read more]
Source: By E.J. Schultz / Bee Capitol Bureau

Monday, April 19, 2010
DIVERSE CROP OF AG BILLS IS SOWN
It's growing season on the farm -- and in the Legislature too, where an assortment of agriculture-related bills has sprouted this spring. .. [read more]
Source: Fresno Bee -- E.J. Schultz

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
US, MEXICO FORM WORKING GROUP TO RESOLVE TRUCKING ISSUE
The U.S. and Mexico have established a working group to help find a solution to the trucking dispute that has hammered selected U.S. fruit and vegetable exports with retaliatory tariffs for more than a year.. [read more]
Source: The Packer -- Tom Karst

Tuesday, March 30, 2010
PRODUCE TRACEABILITY INITIATIVE RELEASES SURVEY RESULTS
Nearly three out of four produce industry companies say they are working to implement the Produce Traceability Initiative, according to a survey, but less than two-thirds are on track with the timeline... [read more]
Source: TOM KARST -- THE PACKER

Monday, March 29, 2010
LOCAL PEAR INDUSTRY LOOKS FORWARD TO A GOOD YEAR
Local pear industry looks forward to a good year; growers discuss 2009 harvest and market .. [read more]
Source: LAKE COUNTY NEWS -- TERA DEVROEDE

Thursday, February 04, 2010
MEXICAN FRUIT, VEGETABLE TARIFFS DRAGGING EXPORTS DOWN
Tariffs on U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico over the past 11 months are weighing on sales, and a coalition of industry advocates and sympathetic Democratic lawmakers are pushing the Obama administration to solve the Mexican truck dispute that caused the trade friction... [read more]
Source: The Packer -- Tom Karst

Tuesday, February 02, 2010
NEW FIELD BURNING RULES TOO COSTLY, VINEYARDS SAY
A long-awaited deadline for a ban on open-field burning in the San Joaquin Valley is coming June 1. But many vineyard owners say they can’t afford to follow the rule... [read more]
Source: Fresno Bee -- Mark Grossi

Thursday, January 07, 2010
DPR REPORTS PESTICIDE USE DECLINED AGAIN IN 2008
Pesticide use declined in California for a third consecutive year in 2008, Department of Pesticide Regulation Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam announced today... [read more]
Source: DPR NEWS RELEASE

Friday, December 18, 2009
DECADE OF WORK PAYS OFF WITH WIC PRODUCE VOUCHERS
The inclusion of fruit and vegetable vouchers in the Women, Infant and Children feeding program this fall is arguably the most decisive federal nutrition policy win for the fruit and vegetable industry, but state officials and industry leaders are waiting to see exactly how big the dividends will be... [read more]
Source: The Packer - Tom Karst

Monday, November 23, 2009
NON-PARTISAN STATE ANALYST EXPECTS FUTURE DEFICITS
The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) released its 2010/11 fiscal outlook report on the state budget on November 18 and estimates that between now and the time the Legislature enacts a 2010/11 state budget plan the budget will be projected to contain $6.3 billion deficit for 2009/10 and a $14.4 billion gap between projected revenues and spending in 2010/11. .. [read more]
Source: Legislative Analyst's Office

Friday, November 20, 2009
SENATE PANEL OK'S GIVING FDA MORE POWER TO POLICE FOOD SAFETY
WASHINGTON—A key Senate committee approved sweeping legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration more power to police food safety and reorient its efforts toward preventing food contamination instead of reacting to outbreaks of food-borne illnesses... [read more]
Source: Jane Zhang - Wall Street Journal

Tuesday, November 10, 2009
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PUSHES $11B BOND PLAN, DAMS
FRIANT, Calif — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a far-reaching water bond intended to rebuild California's crumbling water system and fund new dams to save up the precious resource for dry years... [read more]
Source: Garance Burke - Associated Press

Sunday, November 08, 2009
WATER PLAN GOES EASY ON AG USERS, CRITICS SAY
Cities across the state must slash water consumption by about 20 percent over the next decade under newly passed legislation aimed at reworking the aging policies and plumbing that determine water flow to 38 million Californians... [read more]
Source: Kelly Zito -- SF Chronicle

Friday, October 30, 2009
DAY OF RECKONING FOR WATER IS HERE
California lawmakers face an epic moment in the state’s wrangling over water. They are now are mulling an imperfect but heavily negotiated package of reforms for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the state's use of water... [read more]
Source: Editorial - Sacramento Bee

Friday, October 30, 2009
LAND USE AND WATER RIGHTS
They’re fighting over water in Sacramento, but lurking just below the surface is the real issue — how and where California develops land in the years and decades ahead. .. [read more]
Source: Dan Walters - Sacramento Bee - Editorial

Friday, October 30, 2009
LAWMAKER DOES HER HOMEWORK ON AGRICULTURE
A common complaint among farmers is that urban legislators who don't know anything about agriculture or rural life write and pass laws that negatively impact farm and ranch businesses. .. [read more]
Source: Editorial - Capital Press

Friday, October 30, 2009
FEDS READY FOR STERILE MOTH RELEASE
A pilot program to test whether the so-called "sterile insect technique" could eradicate the light brown apple moth has been delayed, but is still scheduled to take place on three acres of private vineyard land in Carneros, perhaps as early as next week... [read more]
Source: Emily Charrier-Botts - Sonoma Index-Tribune