Agriculture

Agriculture

‘Agroecology’: A pest to California farmers

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage our lives through diminished social contact, disrupted commerce and illness and death. One unobvious example has been interruptions in food supply chains, from farmers’ markets to large food manufacturers. To respond to crises, agriculture must be as efficient, innovative and resilient as possible. Even ...
Agriculture

Preparing for Another Drought

California’s historically severe drought, which ended in March 2019, had dominated Capitol discussions during its eight-year run, yet had not led to any dramatic changes in the way the state manages its water resources. This seems hard to fathom, given that state officials continue to warn about the impact of climate ...
Agriculture

California’s Failed Climate Change Policy

As California burns, Governor Gavin Newsom fiddles – with California’s climate change goals. In response to record-breaking wildfires, the Governor announced that California must accelerate its goal of reaching 100 percent green electricity by 2045. And on September 23, as dark smoke infiltrated our lungs and millions of acres burned, ...
Agriculture

Big Government Won’t Improve Broadband in Rural California

Pick nearly any state in the union and likely it has a large swath of rural area and population. Even California, which is rarely thought of as a “rural state,” is still physically more than half rural, with about four million residents living in those areas. Many assume they know ...
Agriculture

Ted Gaines – On Property Taxes and the Fight over Proposition 15

State Board of Equalization Member Ted Gaines joins us to discuss one of the most controversial issues on the November ballot, Proposition 15, which would create a new split roll property tax system for commercial property.  He shares his thoughts on how Prop. 15 would impact small businesses, renters, and ...
Agriculture

What We’re Watching – August 7

Evan Harris – 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II It’s a somber anniversary, but 75 years ago this week, the United States dropped two nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. As a fan of military history, American use of nuclear ...
Agriculture

Think July 1 Gas Tax Increase Will Fund Better Roads? Think Again.

On July 1, three days before we celebrate our American freedom, and while we’re still feeling the effects of a three-month loss of that liberty, the state tax on gasoline will increase by 3.2 cents per gallon. It should be enough to ensure California keeps its position as the state ...
Agriculture

CAPITAL IDEAS – Suing Oil Companies: It’s Not About the Environment

Download the PDF In late May, a panel of federal judges resurrected a couple of previously dismissed climate change lawsuits filed by San Francisco and Oakland, and also allowed six other community-based suits to go forward. The plaintiffs aren’t concerned with the environment, nor are they interested in justice. Their ...
Agriculture

What We’re Watching – May 22

Rowena Itchon – A Memorial Day Tribute 2020 Kerry Jackson – This Doctor Won’t Take Health Insurance – and Charges Just $35 a Visit Meet the Pittsburgh doctor who doesn’t take health care insurance and charges only $35 for most office visits. That makes him a doctor from a different era. But ...
Agriculture

Flummoxed Feds Freeze Out Frost Fix

Courtesy of the polar vortex, unseasonably cold temperatures came to a broad swath of the country, from Texas to Maine, last week, causing frost damage to crops and ornamental plants. (And snow in New York City’s Central Park on May 9). Cherry and other fruit trees are particularly susceptible, and losses ...
Agriculture

‘Agroecology’: A pest to California farmers

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage our lives through diminished social contact, disrupted commerce and illness and death. One unobvious example has been interruptions in food supply chains, from farmers’ markets to large food manufacturers. To respond to crises, agriculture must be as efficient, innovative and resilient as possible. Even ...
Agriculture

Preparing for Another Drought

California’s historically severe drought, which ended in March 2019, had dominated Capitol discussions during its eight-year run, yet had not led to any dramatic changes in the way the state manages its water resources. This seems hard to fathom, given that state officials continue to warn about the impact of climate ...
Agriculture

California’s Failed Climate Change Policy

As California burns, Governor Gavin Newsom fiddles – with California’s climate change goals. In response to record-breaking wildfires, the Governor announced that California must accelerate its goal of reaching 100 percent green electricity by 2045. And on September 23, as dark smoke infiltrated our lungs and millions of acres burned, ...
Agriculture

Big Government Won’t Improve Broadband in Rural California

Pick nearly any state in the union and likely it has a large swath of rural area and population. Even California, which is rarely thought of as a “rural state,” is still physically more than half rural, with about four million residents living in those areas. Many assume they know ...
Agriculture

Ted Gaines – On Property Taxes and the Fight over Proposition 15

State Board of Equalization Member Ted Gaines joins us to discuss one of the most controversial issues on the November ballot, Proposition 15, which would create a new split roll property tax system for commercial property.  He shares his thoughts on how Prop. 15 would impact small businesses, renters, and ...
Agriculture

What We’re Watching – August 7

Evan Harris – 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II It’s a somber anniversary, but 75 years ago this week, the United States dropped two nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. As a fan of military history, American use of nuclear ...
Agriculture

Think July 1 Gas Tax Increase Will Fund Better Roads? Think Again.

On July 1, three days before we celebrate our American freedom, and while we’re still feeling the effects of a three-month loss of that liberty, the state tax on gasoline will increase by 3.2 cents per gallon. It should be enough to ensure California keeps its position as the state ...
Agriculture

CAPITAL IDEAS – Suing Oil Companies: It’s Not About the Environment

Download the PDF In late May, a panel of federal judges resurrected a couple of previously dismissed climate change lawsuits filed by San Francisco and Oakland, and also allowed six other community-based suits to go forward. The plaintiffs aren’t concerned with the environment, nor are they interested in justice. Their ...
Agriculture

What We’re Watching – May 22

Rowena Itchon – A Memorial Day Tribute 2020 Kerry Jackson – This Doctor Won’t Take Health Insurance – and Charges Just $35 a Visit Meet the Pittsburgh doctor who doesn’t take health care insurance and charges only $35 for most office visits. That makes him a doctor from a different era. But ...
Agriculture

Flummoxed Feds Freeze Out Frost Fix

Courtesy of the polar vortex, unseasonably cold temperatures came to a broad swath of the country, from Texas to Maine, last week, causing frost damage to crops and ornamental plants. (And snow in New York City’s Central Park on May 9). Cherry and other fruit trees are particularly susceptible, and losses ...
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