For the fourth year running, an emergency drought regulation will restrict diversions along California’s northernmost rivers. The state water board readopted the rules for the Scott and Shasta watersheds this week, after the board and all parties agreed it was not the best approach for protecting fish.
Board member Dorene D’Adamo pointed out that the region has not just experienced wetter conditions in the last two years. “But there’s actually been some localized flooding,” she said.
Over the years, board staff have spent countless hours collecting data, collaborating with outside researchers and gathering perspectives from local stakeholders to eventually draft a permanent regulation.
Yet California Farm Bureau’s Alexandra Biering said the absence of a permanent rulemaking process has left out a considerable degree of transparency and accountability. The emergency pathway also lacks an adequate understanding of the broader social and economic impacts, she argued.
Scott Valley hay farmer Lauren Sweezey, meanwhile, stressed that the low salmon numbers this year were not due to a lack of water. She blamed a massive sediment load released from Klamath River dam removals.
Point Reyes ranchers reach a conservation deal
The National Park Service has reached an agreement over converting rangeland to habitat for the native tule elk population along Point Reyes National Seashore.
Under the deal, 12 of 14 livestock operations will voluntarily close their operations within 15 months. Half are dairy farms and 90 employees currently live and work on the land. The operations will receive a $30 million buyout, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
The park is collaborating with The Nature Conservancy to establish restoration projects on the land, enabling the elk population to expand within the park.
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In exchanging, the service has granted 20-year leases to seven other beef cattle families to maintain their grazing operations.
Rollins hearing likely delayed
Brooke Rollins’ confirmation hearing may slip past next Wednesday, the targeted date. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., said Thursday the panel doesn’t have all the paperwork it needs from her.
"It's just hard to get everything together,” Boozman said. But, he added, the committee is “working with her, working with the transition team ... we're moving in the right direction."
Asked if Democrats were seeking additional documentation, Boozman said, “Sen. Klobuchar and her staff are being very, very cooperative.” Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is the committee’s new ranking member.
RFK Jr.: Hill visits are going “terrific”
Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., continued to meet with Senate Republicans and some Democrats this week.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who has been skeptical of Kennedy given some of his comments on agriculture and pesticides, said the nominee was “much more reasonable” than he expected. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., also indicated the meeting was productive, but both Republicans opted to wait until Kennedy’s confirmation hearing to make a final decision on their support.
Top economist doubts Trump can hit deficit reduction target
Goldman Sachs’ chief economist is doubtful the incoming administration can meet its steep targets for reducing the U.S. budget deficit.
Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has a plan dubbed “3-3-3” to slash the deficit, boost economic growth and spur U.S. energy production. The plan aims to reduce the deficit to 3% of GDP, achieve 3% annual GDP growth and lift U.S. energy production to 3 million barrels of oil per day.
In 2023 the federal budget deficit was above 6%. “Maybe we can bring it down somewhat below 6,” Jan Hatzius said. “It's going to be very difficult to get down to 3%.”
House Republicans introduce bill to facilitate Trump’s Panama Canal purchase
A group of House Republicans led by South Dakota’s Rep. Dusty Johnson has introduced a bill to authorize the purchase of the Panama Canal, citing Trump’s interest in returning it to U.S. ownership.
During a lengthy news conference at Mar-a-Lago this week, Trump claimed the U.S. needs the canal to bolster its “economic security.”
“President Trump is right to consider repurchasing the Panama Canal,” Johnson said in a statement announcing the bill. He also echoed Trump, arguing that growing Chinese “interest and presence” around the canal is cause for concern.
Keep in mind: The canal is fully owned by the Republic of Panama. Chinese companies have been involved in specific infrastructure contracts in and around the canal and concession deals at nearby ports. The U.S. is the canal’s biggest user. Around 70% of the annual shipments that go through the canal come from or go to U.S. ports – including around 600 million bushels of U.S. soybeans.
Take note: The U.S. reserves the right to use military force to defend the canal’s neutrality. But Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, says he’s seen no sign of Panama favoring any single country’s ships.
“The Panamanians have done a very credible job in maintaining and improving the canal and its operations,” Steenhoek told Agri-Pulse Thursday. He doesn’t anticipate any disruptions to U.S. producers’ use of the canal stemming from Trump’s rhetoric or future negotiations.
Final word:
“So many of us in these chambers have experienced wildfires that have decimated our communities.” — Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, in an emotional moment during Thursday’s floor session, when he recognized the damages and lives lost to Southern California fires this week.
McGuire found himself in a similar situation to his Los Angeles colleagues in 2017, when the Tubbs fire in his North Coast district became the most destructive in history.
