Gov. Brown's budget proposal bodes well for agriculture

Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed 2014-15 budget contains a $142.2 million funding increase for the University of California system, which would be a 5 percent increase in state funding for UC over the previous year, reported Tim Hearden in Capital Press.

Hearden sought comment on the proposed Brown budget from the vice president of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barbara Allen-Diaz.

"We’re very pleased with the governor’s proposed budget and encouraged by the show of support for the university,” Allen-Diaz said. “UC has always been supportive of UC Cooperative Extension as its representative in communities throughout California.”

Allen-Diaz said ANR is “committed to rebuilding Cooperative Extension and hiring more advisors.

The article noted other items from the proposed budged of interest to the California ag community, including:

• An extra $20 million  for CDFA in cap-and-trade revenue for nitrogen and dairy digester research and development of renewable fuels.
  
  
• $100 million in cap-and-trade funds for the Sustainable Communities program, which includes farmland preservation, and $1 million for a food safety laboratory CDFA and UC operate jointly.
  
  
• $1.8 million and 11 new positions at the State Water Resources Control Board to tackle illegal water diversions for marijuana cultivation.

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