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CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL VALLEY IS ONE OF THE AREAS HARDEST HIT IN LICAFORNIA’S DROUGHT. REPRESENTATIVE JOSH HARDER SAY THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY IN HIS DISTRICT IS 100% IN EXTREM OR SEVERE DROUGHT. KCRA 3 INVESTIGATES’ BRITTANY JOHNSON SPOKE WITH HARDER TODAY. SHE JOINS US LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM WITH WHAT HE SAYS IS THE SOTI.LU BRITTA:NY REPRESENTATIVE JOSH HARDER AND U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TOM VILSACK SPOKE WITH RANCHERS AND FARMERS TODAY ABOUT CHALLENGES THEY’RE FACING DUTO THE DROUGHT. ONE OF THE TOPICS ADDRESSED WAS CALIFORNIA’S BOOM AND BUST CYCLE OFAT WER. DISCUSSING, WHEN THERE’S AN AB UNDANT SUPPLY, STORING WATER IN A RESERVOIR ABOVE GROUND OR IN A GROUND WATER BASIBEN LOW GROUND. SO IT CAN BE USED DURING A DROUGHT. FO LLOWING THE DISCUSSION, THE U.S. HEAD OF AGRICULTURE TOLD ME, MANAGG TINHIS DROUGHT IS ABOUT PUTTING RESOURCESN ITHE RIGHT PLACES. FOR HARDER, HE SAID IT’S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW WATER IS BEING ALLOCATED, AND BUILDING MORE INFRASTRUCTU. >> WE’RE STILL LIVING OFF OF PROJECTS BLTUI BY OUR GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS. THAT’S WHY SOME OF THE WORK TTHA WE’RE DOING IN D.C. RIGHT NOW IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WILL FINALLY GET FUNDING FOR SOME OF THESERO PJECTS LIKE BUILDING A RESERVOIR NEAR THE CITYF O PATTERN,SO EXPANDING NEAR THE CITY OF TRACEY. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY MAKE GOOD ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT DECESAD AGO. >> THE USDA AGRICULTURE PERSPECTIVE, IT’S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WSAY IN WHICH FARMERS CAN USE WATER MORE EFFICIENTLY TO BE ABLE TO GROW MORE BY USING LESS. SO THAT MEANS PUTTING RESOURCES BEHIND SIGNIFICANT REARSECH, FIGURING OUT WAYS IN WHICH WE NCA ALTER CROPS IN A WAY IN THE WAY THEY USE WATER EFFICIENTLY, DROUGHT RESISTANT CROPS BEING DEVELOPED. THAT’S ONE ASPECT OF IT. THE SONDEC ASPECT I TNKHI IS TO HELP FARMERS STAY IN BUSINESS DURING A DROUGHT. SOMETIS IMET’S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY PRODUCE WHAT THEY NEED TO KEEP AFLOAT. BRITTANY: WHEN IT COMES TO CALIFORNIA’S WATER RESTRICTIONS, THERE’S ALSO BEEN TALK OF MANDATES. HARDER SAID THOSE TRADE OFFS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT. INSTEAD, HE’D LIKE TO SE INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS LIKE WATER RECYCLING AND GROUNDWAR TE RECHARGE, ITEMS HE’S PUSHING FOR IN AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL. BACK T
Q&A: Rep. Josh Harder, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on options to CA drought
Updated: 7:48 PM PDT Oct 5, 2021
It’s no secret that farmers and ranchers have been hit onerous by California’s extreme drought. Rep. Josh Harder hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at a digital occasion on Tuesday to focus on the state of agriculture in the Central Valley and what is being completed to provide farmers and ranchers help. According to a press launch, Harder highlighted six main points he and Vilsack are engaged on to help farmers, ranchers and the complete Valley economic system: Making it extra reasonably priced to run a farm or agribusiness in the ValleyFixing immigration guidelines to resolve the labor scarcity and let of us get proper with the legislationGetting American ports again on monitorFighting in opposition to tax will increase on household farmsBuilding the subsequent technology of water infrastructurePutting the Valley entrance and middle in the subsequent Farm BillFollowing the dialogue, KCRA 3’s Brittany Johnson spoke with Harder and Vilsack about doable options to California’s drought.Q: California’s rainfall is inconsistent. What actions are you taking and what is the federal authorities doing to guarantee the state is saving sufficient water for the drier years?Harder: Water is the lifeblood of an agricultural area like the Central Valley. And this does not simply have an effect on farmers, this impacts all of us. We have enormous layoffs and drought years like this one. We have to find a way to do two issues; first, in the quick time period, now we have to make it possible for folks perceive how this water is being allotted, that the voice of the Central Valley is being represented, however long run, now we have to construct extra water infrastructure. We’ve been 50 years throughout our state with out constructing a single new reservoir. In that point, the state of our inhabitants has doubled. We’re nonetheless residing off of tasks constructed by our grandparents, and oldsters. That’s why a few of the work that we’re doing in D.C. proper now is so essential as a result of we are going to lastly get funding for a few of these tasks like constructing Del Cuarto Canyon Reservoir out right here, the metropolis of Patterson increasing Los Arqueros, close to the metropolis of Tracy. We have the alternative to lastly make good on a few of these tasks that ought to have been constructed a long time in the past. Harder: We have a growth and bust cycle for water. Sometimes now we have means an excessive amount of and it floods, typically now we have not practically sufficient, and it is a drought yr. It does not take a rocket scientist to say that one in all the issues that we must always find a way to do is make it possible for in the growth years when there’s numerous water popping out, we must always find a way to retailer that water and a reservoir above floor or in a groundwater basin beneath floor and make it possible for we are able to then use that water the subsequent time that we even have a drought.Vilsack: First of all, I congratulate the congressman on his work on attempting to get an infrastructure invoice by way of the course of that would supply help and helped to construct the water infrastructure. It’s essential. From a USDA agriculture perspective, I believe it is attempting to determine methods wherein farmers can use water extra effectively to find a way to develop extra through the use of much less. So meaning placing assets behind vital analysis, determining methods wherein we are able to alter crops in a means that they use water effectively, grip drought-resistant crops being developed. So that is one side of it. The second side, I believe, is to assist farmers keep in enterprise throughout a drought. Sometimes it is tough for them to truly produce what they want to hold afloat. We have a look at a sequence of packages at USDA to present monetary help and assist to get them by way of this tough interval at the moment, once they have enough rain, they usually have a plentiful crop, which in flip permits them to statements.Q: How can lawmakers guarantee the wants are met for not solely farmers and ranchers, but additionally shoppers? Harder: We have a related ecosystem right here in the valley. I believe the most essential level to take note is if each single venture that this infrastructure invoice is going to fund was constructed at the moment, then this drought could be a fraction of the injury that it has been wrecking throughout California. We ought to have constructed these tasks 20 or 30 years in the past. If we had, then a drought yr like this one would look very completely different, not only for farmers, however for anyone who desires to activate their faucet or take a bathe. And frankly, I believe it is somewhat outrageous, a few of the trade-offs that we make in water. Sometimes it may be lots simpler to get all the water you want for an attractive inexperienced garden in Beverly Hills, however when it truly comes time to develop our meals or, you realize, get some water for our dairy cows, it may be somewhat bit troubling. That’s why we want to make it possible for we’re not simply pitting folks in opposition to one another, however we’re ensuring that now we have extra water to go round for everyone.Q: Should the state enact obligatory water restrictions?Harder: I believe there has to be a good system. We have to make it possible for we’re having the voice of the valley lifted up. I believe typically when folks discuss these restrictions, what finally ends up occurring is all these restrictions get placed on agriculture, and never on of us which can be you realize, ensuring that these lawns are trying lovely and inexperienced in Beverly Hills or elsewhere. So, it has to be a good course of. And now we have to make it possible for it is not simply San Francisco and Los Angeles which can be being heard … If we do, then these trade-offs are going to be very tough to make. We have to be serious about how will we make it possible for there’s extra water to go round for everybody. The means to try this is to make it possible for we are literally making historic investments in packages like water recycling, and groundwater recharge, which this infrastructure invoice additionally does. Right now. The metropolis of Modesto takes all of its wastewater, recycles it, after which makes use of that wastewater for agricultural makes use of. That’s an extremely profitable venture. How will we make it possible for that kind of venture is the norm for each metropolis in California?Vilsack: That identical course of is being utilized in agriculture — the means of a dairy farm to basically take the manure, separate the solids from the liquids, and reclaim the liquids to find a way to use of their dairy operation creates a way more environment friendly water system. So it is not a query of getting to produce extra water, it is determining methods wherein you should utilize water a number of occasions and nonetheless find a way to do what you want to do. And that will get again to analysis. It will get again to demonstration tasks, it will get again to our Climate Smart Partnership Initiative, it will get again to the numerous farm invoice packages that we offer assist and help conservation packages that allow farmers to find a way to fund and finance these sorts of improvements.
It’s no secret that farmers and ranchers have been hit onerous by California’s extreme drought. Rep. Josh Harder hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at a digital occasion on Tuesday to focus on the state of agriculture in the Central Valley and what is being completed to provide farmers and ranchers help.
According to a press launch, Harder highlighted six main points he and Vilsack are engaged on to help farmers, ranchers and the complete Valley economic system:
- Making it extra reasonably priced to run a farm or agribusiness in the Valley
- Fixing immigration guidelines to resolve the labor scarcity and let of us get proper with the legislation
- Getting American ports again on monitor
- Fighting in opposition to tax will increase on household farms
- Building the subsequent technology of water infrastructure
- Putting the Valley entrance and middle in the subsequent Farm Bill
Following the dialogue, KCRA 3’s Brittany Johnson spoke with Harder and Vilsack about doable options to California’s drought.
Q: California’s rainfall is inconsistent. What actions are you taking and what is the federal authorities doing to guarantee the state is saving sufficient water for the drier years?
Harder: Water is the lifeblood of an agricultural area like the Central Valley. And this does not simply have an effect on farmers, this impacts all of us. We have enormous layoffs and drought years like this one. We have to find a way to do two issues; first, in the quick time period, now we have to make it possible for folks perceive how this water is being allotted, that the voice of the Central Valley is being represented, however long run, now we have to construct extra water infrastructure. We’ve been 50 years throughout our state with out constructing a single new reservoir. In that point, the state of our inhabitants has doubled. We’re nonetheless residing off of tasks constructed by our grandparents, and oldsters. That’s why a few of the work that we’re doing in D.C. proper now is so essential as a result of we are going to lastly get funding for a few of these tasks like constructing Del Cuarto Canyon Reservoir out right here, the metropolis of Patterson increasing Los Arqueros, close to the metropolis of Tracy. We have the alternative to lastly make good on a few of these tasks that ought to have been constructed a long time in the past.
Harder: We have a growth and bust cycle for water. Sometimes now we have means an excessive amount of and it floods, typically now we have not practically sufficient, and it is a drought yr. It does not take a rocket scientist to say that one in all the issues that we must always find a way to do is make it possible for in the growth years when there’s numerous water popping out, we must always find a way to retailer that water and a reservoir above floor or in a groundwater basin beneath floor and make it possible for we are able to then use that water the subsequent time that we even have a drought.
Vilsack: First of all, I congratulate the congressman on his work on attempting to get an infrastructure invoice by way of the course of that would supply help and helped to construct the water infrastructure. It’s essential. From a USDA agriculture perspective, I believe it is attempting to determine methods wherein farmers can use water extra effectively to find a way to develop extra through the use of much less. So meaning placing assets behind vital analysis, determining methods wherein we are able to alter crops in a means that they use water effectively, grip drought-resistant crops being developed. So that is one side of it. The second side, I believe, is to assist farmers keep in enterprise throughout a drought. Sometimes it is tough for them to truly produce what they want to hold afloat. We have a look at a sequence of packages at USDA to present monetary help and assist to get them by way of this tough interval at the moment, once they have enough rain, they usually have a plentiful crop, which in flip permits them to statements.
Q: How can lawmakers guarantee the wants are met for not solely farmers and ranchers, but additionally shoppers?
Harder: We have a related ecosystem right here in the valley. I believe the most essential level to take note is if each single venture that this infrastructure invoice is going to fund was constructed at the moment, then this drought could be a fraction of the injury that it has been wrecking throughout California. We ought to have constructed these tasks 20 or 30 years in the past. If we had, then a drought yr like this one would look very completely different, not only for farmers, however for anyone who desires to activate their faucet or take a bathe. And frankly, I believe it is somewhat outrageous, a few of the trade-offs that we make in water. Sometimes it may be lots simpler to get all the water you want for an attractive inexperienced garden in Beverly Hills, however when it truly comes time to develop our meals or, you realize, get some water for our dairy cows, it may be somewhat bit troubling. That’s why we want to make it possible for we’re not simply pitting folks in opposition to one another, however we’re ensuring that now we have extra water to go round for everyone.
Q: Should the state enact obligatory water restrictions?
Harder: I believe there has to be a good system. We have to make it possible for we’re having the voice of the valley lifted up. I believe typically when folks discuss these restrictions, what finally ends up occurring is all these restrictions get placed on agriculture, and never on of us which can be you realize, ensuring that these lawns are trying lovely and inexperienced in Beverly Hills or elsewhere. So, it has to be a good course of. And now we have to make it possible for it is not simply San Francisco and Los Angeles which can be being heard … If we do, then these trade-offs are going to be very tough to make. We have to be serious about how will we make it possible for there’s extra water to go round for everybody. The means to try this is to make it possible for we are literally making historic investments in packages like water recycling, and groundwater recharge, which this infrastructure invoice additionally does. Right now. The metropolis of Modesto takes all of its wastewater, recycles it, after which makes use of that wastewater for agricultural makes use of. That’s an extremely profitable venture. How will we make it possible for that kind of venture is the norm for each metropolis in California?
Vilsack: That identical course of is being utilized in agriculture — the means of a dairy farm to basically take the manure, separate the solids from the liquids, and reclaim the liquids to find a way to use of their dairy operation creates a way more environment friendly water system. So it is not a query of getting to produce extra water, it is determining methods wherein you should utilize water a number of occasions and nonetheless find a way to do what you want to do. And that will get again to analysis. It will get again to demonstration tasks, it will get again to our Climate Smart Partnership Initiative, it will get again to the numerous farm invoice packages that we offer assist and help conservation packages that allow farmers to find a way to fund and finance these sorts of improvements.
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