Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack are asking the world’s leading ocean carriers to get rid of disruptions to agricultural shippers of American exports. They want relief for the supply chain disruptions created by COVID-19 by restoring reciprocal treatment of imports and exports and improving service. Ocean carriers have made fewer containers…… MORE
Marin schools send students, staff home with Covid tests for the holidays
With the Omicron variant spreading quickly across the US, several school districts are sending Covid-19 antigen tests home for the holidays to help curb a spike when they return to school in January. The school systems include Marin County Schools in California, Chicago Public Schools, several cities in Massachusetts, and San Diego Unified School District. Home tests are…… MORE
Gov. Newsom Plans to Spend $300M to Stop Smash-and-Grabs
California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to spend $300 million starting in January as part of a new policy to aid small businesses and law enforcement affected by high-profile smash and grab thefts. Newsom plans to add the noted amount to the existing California budget, according to the New York Post. The spending proposal will include…… MORE
KNP Complex Fire ‘Fully Contained’
A huge forest fire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks has been fully contained more than three months after it broke out, officials said. Fire managers declared the KNP Complex 100% contained on Dec. 16 after significant precipitation in the Sierra Nevada, the National Park Service said Friday. The fire has not grown in…… MORE
Pfizer Tests Extra COVID Shot for Kids Under 5 in Setback
Pfizer said Friday it was changing plans and testing three doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in babies and preschoolers after the usual two shots didn’t appear strong enough for some of the children. Pfizer announced the change after a preliminary analysis found 2- to 4-year-olds didn’t have as strong an immune response as expected to…… MORE
Gov. Newsom Unveils Public Safety Plan to Aggressively Fight & Prevent Crime in California
Press Release Gov. Newsom’s Office: Published: Dec 17, 2021 Real Public Safety Plan focuses on strengthening local law enforcement response, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable and getting guns and drugs off our streets Plan funds state and local efforts to combat organized retail crime, provides grants for local prosecutors and small businesses victimized by retail theft,…… MORE
NCBA Stewardship Award Applications
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is looking for applications for its 2022 Environmental Stewardship Award. The program, established in 1991, annually recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers across the nation. A common trait among all program winners is the desire to leave the land in better condition for future generations…… MORE
USDA Wants to Survey Farmers
The Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting the 2021 Farm Producer Study. The study seeks to improve knowledge and understanding of agricultural producers and help USDA improve services to them. A brief questionnaire will mail this month to approximately 75,000 U.S. agricultural producers across the country. Taking no more than ten minutes…… MORE
California Signs Joint Agreement With Arizona and Nevada to Reduce Water Pulled from Colorado River
(KMJ) – California joins Arizona and Nevada, signing an agreement Wednesday to significantly reduce the amount of water pulled from the Colorado River. The Colorado River provides a source of water for around 40 million residents and farmers from Wyoming to the U.S-Mexico Border. Lake Mead is seeing dangerously low water levels due to rising…… MORE
Protecting Farmland Applications
American Farmland Trust is accepting applications to help farmers nationwide to improve farm viability, access, transfer or to permanently protect farmland or adopt regenerative agricultural practices. AFT’s Brighter Future Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 per project. A project may involve one or more individual farmers or farm families, and only one grant can…… MORE
