With Southern California ablaze, President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday fired off another missile in the looming water war with California.
Trump posted on Truth Social that “Newscum” refused to sign a water restoration declaration that would have freed more water from the North to flow to the “areas that are burning in a virtually apocalyptic way.” Trump called the endangered Delta smelt at the center of the water conflict “an especially worthless fish.” As president, he plans to demand Newsom allow “fresh water to flow into California.”
The post raised a lot of eyebrows — and questions. According to Izzy Gardon, who directs communications in the governor’s office, “there is no such document as the water restoration declaration.” In her statement to Agri-Pulse, Gardon called it pure fiction and said the governor is focused on protecting people and not playing politics.
Translation: Trump was likely referring to the 2019 biological opinions governing pumping operations for the Central Valley Project. While Trump framed the disagreement as an unamicable divorce, the breakup was much worse than not signing the papers.
For several years, California litigated the Trump administration over the environmental plan and, for the first time in history, it operated the State Water Project separately from its federal counterpart to offset any increased pumping. Politicizing the biological opinions frustrated many in water policy who were hoping for a more adaptive management approach through the plan.
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That history may repeat itself as Trump takes office and maintains his pledge to export more water to CVP contractors.
Read more about the messy divorce at Agri-Pulse.com.
New walnut lobbying arm modeled after Almond Alliance
Walnut growers have launched an advocacy association to engage in lobbying outside of the Walnut Board. The new Walnut Alliance of California – loosely modeled after the almond group of a similar moniker – will focus on assisting the Walnut Board and commission with their marketing mission.
Donald Norene, who helped form the organization, said they are starting a political action committee to “fight for fair regulations and trade policy on behalf of California walnut growers.” Norene cited an industry study showing in 2023 growers suffered unprofitable and unsustainable prices.
Initial membership will be filled by members of the former Walnut Bargaining Association, which the Walnut Alliance is absorbing.
Correction: Agri-Pulse incorrectly stated on Tuesday the food and ag board drafted a definition of regenerative ag that CDFA would put into state code. CDFA is not pursuing a statutory path and is instead using the recommendation to develop a guidance framework to assist other state agencies with policies and programs related to regenerative practices.
Dockworkers secure labor deal, avoiding strike
East and Gulf Coast dockworkers have reached an agreement on a new six-year contract, ending a long-running labor dispute and avoiding a port strike set for next week.
The International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance had been at loggerheads as the union sought protections from job-shedding automation at U.S. ports. While the details of the deal have not been made public, both sides called the contract “a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs.”
Senators press FDA on potential cut to state food safety programs
A group of Senate Democrats has sent a letter to FDA’s Human Foods Program pressing for answers about an expected drop in funding for state food safety inspection programs, which they say could have major consequences.
While the anticipated cuts haven’t taken effect yet, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture says states are already taking action. The group anticipates between 300 to 400 jobs will be lost at state programs, and there will be reduced capacity within rapid response teams, which are critical during foodborne illness outbreaks and product recalls.
NASDA and lawmakers have pointed out that it costs more for federal entities to carry out food safety inspections than state programs.
Meanwhile: A Government Accountability Office report found that FDA has not met its mandated targets for domestic and foreign facility inspections since 2018. The GAO’s analysis accounted for inspections conducted by the FDA and contracted state partners.
Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com.
GOP committee chair: Democrats using delay tactics on Trump nominees
The Senate is preparing to begin hearings next week on some of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks. But Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Mike Lee says Senate Democrats are attempting to delay confirmation of one of Trump’s least controversial selections, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, the pick for interior secretary.
After Lee, R-Utah, scheduled a hearing for next week, the committee’s top Democrat, Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, said Republicans had breached protocol as the committee had not received the necessary documents from the nominee.
“[W]e won’t give in to delays,” Lee said in a statement Wednesday. He claimed Burgum had submitted paperwork last week and that the committee has the same information it had in 2009 when it scheduled hearings for President Barack Obama’s nominees.
Take note: Axios reported Tuesday that Senate Democrats claim vetting materials from Tulsi Gabbard are also missing. Trump has selected Gabbard to be director of national intelligence.
Most of milk supply covered by testing order, USDA says
USDA says 28 states representing close to 65% of the nation’s milk supply have now enrolled in a testing program to determine the extent of highly pathogenic avian influenza among dairy herds.
The 15 newly enrolled states are Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia. As of Jan. 8, the only detections of HPAI in the past 30 days occurred in California and Texas. Testing under the department’s National Milk Testing Strategy “has so far reaffirmed the absence” of HPAI in other states and not found any new ones, a USDA press release says.
The department also says it makes sense to develop a stockpile of poultry vaccines that match current strains of the virus now in circulation.
“While there are U.S.-licensed avian influenza vaccines for certain virus subtypes (H5N1, H5N3, and H5N9), none are fully matched to the more virulent strain of H5N1 found in the current outbreak,” USDA says.
The department has consolidated several steps in the vaccine review process for bovines to speed up its approval. Seven candidates are in field safety trials.
Final word
“Instead of Trump-proofing California, Newsom needs to fireproof our state.” — GOP Asm. Bill Essayli of Riverside, who called on the governor to hold a special session on the state’s wildfire response.
