WEST

RSS

The federal agencies responsible for inspecting agricultural imports at national ports of entry lack sufficient staff and training, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have failed to document progress on their own strategic plan. These are among the findings of a Government Accountability Office report on imported agriculture inspections, released Tuesday.

The state Senate passed a proposal to set goals for carbon sequestration on natural and working lands.

Manuel Cunha, president of the Nisei Farmers League, has hit a roadblock in his long-running effort to address air quality issues in the valley.

Rep. Jim Costa of the San Joaquin Valley heard from several farm groups on ideas for climate-smart policies to frame up potential legislation in Congress.

Bayer will take another look at the use of glyphosate in lawn and garden products, including the possibility of new active ingredients to replace it, the company said in response to a court order rejecting a plan to address potential future Roundup litigation.

The State Water Board cut deliveries to junior water rights holders in Wine Country, while the feds cut in half previous allocations to valley communities.

Agencies are bracing for still more painful decisions to come, as they determine how and when California’s remaining storage water should be put to use.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget calls for millions of dollars to support new farmers and ranchers. Specifically, it proposes $10 million for beginning farmer and rancher training and farm management apprenticeship programs, which is a new budget proposal but still less than some farm advocates were hoping.

The Biden administration is assuring lawmakers that it's working to provide short-term emergency relief to the drought-stricken West even as farm groups continue to push for some relaxation of environmental rules that limit access to irrigation water.