CENTURY 21 M&M Ag and Ranch Division

The University of California Cooperative Extension in Fresno County, Fresno County Farm Bureau, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Agricultural Commissioner&#8217s office will host an ‘Ag Crimes & Terrorism Summit’ on Thursday, March 29, from 8 a.m. until noon at the Kearney Agricultural Center in Parlier, 9240 S. Riverbend Ave.

The summit aims to raise the awareness within the agricultural community and to provide strategies that minimize agricultural crimes and terrorism ‘both foreign and domestic’ in the San Joaquin Valley.

Tom Knowles, of the Sacramento Regional Terrorism Threat Assessment Center, will discuss the psychological and economic impacts of agroterrorism and the vulnerabilities of the food and water systems in California.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims is also scheduled to speak about the recent Harris Ranch arson attacks and how local farms and ranches can better protect themselves against crime.

Growers and industry representatives are encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact Stephen Vasquez at the UC Cooperative Extension at 559-600-7285 or Ryan Jacobsen at FCFB at 559-237-0263.

Courtesy of Lee Whistler, Realtor for Century 21 M&M Clovis

California needs to tighten its plan to require metering and pricing based on use for farm-water users, according to state officials. At stake, according to environmental advocacy groups, is the effectiveness of an ambitious plan to improve farm-water conservation on California farms. On the other hand, agricultural industry advocates fear ever-tighter regulations could mean higher water prices for farmers and ranchers. The Office of Administrative Law rejected proposed regulations for agricultural water submitted by the Department of Water Resources — interpreting the far-reaching Water Conservation Act of 2009.

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/02/25/2244357/state-officials-say-plan-for-metered.html#storylink=misearch

Courtesy of Lee Whistler, Realtor for Century 21 M&M Clovis

Snow levels in the Sierra stand at 30 percent of average for this time of year, according to a survey conducted Tuesday by the state Department of Water Resources. Snowpack levels help determine how much water will be available to streams, cities and farms this summer.

There’s still more water than usual stored in California reservoirs, but the state’s two largest water projects estimated last week that their deliveries to farmers will be one-third to one-half of contract supplies.

Source: California Farm Bureau Federation Food and Farm News, Feb. 29

Courtesy of Lee Whistler, Realtor for Century 21 M&M Clovis

On Wednesday, the Bureau of Reclamation announced the initial water supply allocation for South-of-Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) water service contractors of 30 percent.

The allocation reflects precipitation and snowpack in the Sierra Nevadas as of Feb. 1, 2012, which is below normal for the date with the snow water content statewide at 37 percent, reported the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).

“Hydrologically, 2012 is shaping up to be a challenging year. December and traditionally one of our wettest months, ended up being one of the driest on record and this pattern continues today”, said Mid-Pacific Regional Director Don Glaser. The good news is that we started the water year with exceptional carryover storage  9.3 million acre-feet  and storage in our reservoirs now stands at 103 percent of the 15-year average. This storage is the foundation for this initial allocation, and with almost two months remaining in California’s rain season, we continue to hope for improved precipitation.

In response to the water allocation announcement, Westlands Water District released a statement from General Manager Tom Birmingham. “This announcement exemplifies the short-term and long-term issues that public water agencies and their consumers face”, said Birmingham. In the short-term, farmers in Westlands Water District are making planting decisions, and they will be compelled to idle tens-of-thousands of acres of farmland, some of which have already been prepared for cultivation. A significant decrease in irrigated acres not only impacts farmers, but also their workers and the businesses and communities that support irrigated agricultural production. In the longer term, the forecast of operations on which this allocation is based suggests that even if the next water year approaches normal levels of precipitation and runoff, allocations to south-of-Delta CVP water service contractors will be exceptionally low.

“Here in Fresno County, water is our life, it’s our jobs and our food,” said Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO/Executive Director Ryan Jacobsen. “Reduced allocations put Fresno County’s number one employer’s and agriculture  at great risk. Again, this year’s dismal allocation forecast shows the need to find short and long-term solutions to California’s water restrictions.”

Water supply updates will be made as appropriate and posted on Reclamation’s website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water.

Courtesy of Lee Whistler, Realtor for Century 21 M&M Clovis

The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley will host the San Joaquin Valley Regional Economic Summit on March 29 from 1:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Pardini’s, 2257 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno. A planning meeting for this event was held at FCFB in January to develop proposals.

During the economic summit, attention will be focused on the economic engine of the Valley: the Ag Value Chain, from production agriculture to packing, food processing and distribution as well as biomass and biofuels, ancillary businesses such as water technology and manufacture of agricultural and food processing equipment, as well as supporting services. The goal is to develop 10 to 12 recommendations for the region.

As a follow-up, the California Stewardship Network and California Forward will host an economic summit for the state of California on May 11 in San Jose to convey to policymakers what is needed to revitalize California’s regional economies by addressing infrastructure needs; regulatory reform and sustainable growth; workforce needs; fostering a climate for innovation and entrepreneurship; and access to capital. Issues and opportunities for each segment will be identified, along with the actions that can be taken to address them. The recommendations developed at the March meeting will be presented at this time.

Registration for the March 29 event is $25. Contact Kristine Walter at kwalter@wheelhousestrategies.com for more information. The public is encouraged to participate in this workshop.

For more information about the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, visit www.SJVPartnership.org.

Courtesy of Lee Whistler, Realtor for Century 21 M&M Clovis

Brian Leahy, 55, of Sacramento, has been appointed director at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Leahy has served as assistant director for the California Department of Conservation since 2006.

He was a partner at EcoFacilitation in the Netherlands in 2006, and served as executive director for the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts from 2004 to 2006.

He was executive director at the California Certified Organic Farmers from 2000 to 2004.

Leahy was owner and operator of Cherokee Ranch Inc. from 1980 to 2003 and also a farm operator for Ackerlund Farm Incorporated from 1992 to 1993.

Leahy earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Creighton University School of Law.

This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $142,965. Leahy is a Democrat.

Courtesy of Lee Whistler, Realtor for Century 21 M&M Clovis