- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
While there have been whispers of skepticism about the Great California Drought of 2009, all would likely agree that California's water woes are complicated. The Wall Street Journal today ran a story outlining the decision process for farmers considering whether they should use the water allocated to them to grow crops, or whether they should sell the water to the state and let their land lie fallow.
Writer Pete Sanders penciled out the equation for Don Bransford, who grows rice on a 700-acre farm north of Sacramento:
- The state is offering $275 per acre foot of water
- Take 100 acres of his farm out of...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The director of UC Cooperative Extension in Ventura County, Rose Hayden-Smith, had the opportunity over the weekend to publicly express her delight in the news that the First Lady and her daughters broke ground last week on an organic kitchen garden at the White House. Hayden-Smith was among a group of activists who for many months have called on the country's leaders to lead a Victory Garden rebirth by example.
An article in the Ventura County Star opened with Hayden-Smith's reaction to the cover story in the April 2009 issue of Oprah...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Before the state budget fiasco of 2009, Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) wasn't well known outside his district. But by making deals with the upper house's Democratic majority and voting for their budget, Maldonado practically became a household name. Increasing his popularity still more among many Californians, he named UC Cooperative Extension when listing California state budget priorities, according to a story by Harry Cline published yesterday in Western Farm Press.
Cline said Maldonado flew his own twin-engine aircraft to Tulare County for the World Ag Expo in February to participate in a pre-show visit with the news...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
UC scientists are perplexed and concerned about the condition of California alfalfa fields this spring. Alfalfa should be a lush, green carpet, but in many areas, there are patches that appear dead; in some cases, entire fields have been reduced to bare ground, according to UC Davis Cooperative Extension alfalfa specialist Dan Putnum.
Although scientists caution that there may be several factors contributing to this damage, stem nematode symptoms are present and the pest has been observed in lab tests. Alfafa stem nematode is a voracious microscopic pest that is generally present in Valley soils, but rarely becomes such a severe problem.
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The news media attended yesterday's Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meeting in force to cover a variety of cuts the board is considering to balance the county's budget, currently $58 million short. Most of the media attention seems to be focused on a plan to cut out preventative health care for illegal immigrant adults, elimination of 58 sheriff's deputies and 18 deputy district attorneys.
Media outlets that covered the session included:
