Valley Headlines

The many dangers of raw milk

Modesto Bee. Bird flu forces recall of raw milk sold from Modesto-area farm.
Synopsis: The CA Dept of Food & Ag discovered H5N1 virus in a milk tank at the facility west of Modesto and ordered a recall of all Valley Milk Simply Bottled products. No human illnesses have been reported in Stanislaus County. Among products being recalled is DESI Milk Raw Cow Milk, sold by dietician Desiree Lopez. It is the fourth recall in 3 years of Valley Milk products.

Modesto Bee. Two cases of bird flu in humans confirmed in San Joaquin County; both farmworkers.
Synopsis: The two cases of bird flu in humans, reported Friday, brings CA’s total to 34. Authorities would not provide the location of the farms, but most dairy farms are around Manteca, Ripon and Escalon.

Fresno Bee. Salmonella outbreak from Fresno dairy worse than first though; lawsuits have followed.
Synopsis: Several people fell ill with salmonella poisoning in San Diego during October from drinking raw milk; now they’re suing. The supplier was Raw Farm, the same dairy that has been fighting any restrictions based on H5N1 which has been found in its products. Dairy owner Mark McAfee says he found the sick cow and got rid of it when the salmonella was first discovered.

Don’t believe this fish story …

Cal Matters. ‘No way, not possible’: CA has plan for water rules; will it save salmon from extinction?
Synopsis: Reporter Alastair Bland says the Newsom administration is finalizing rules that will require farms, cities and water districts to take more responsibility for rivers. Already, Big Green groups are insisting Newsom’s new “Healthy River” rules are inadequate and will lead to extinction of salmon. Why? Because they’re based on establishing voluntary agreements with those who use river water. Groups like the Sierra Club and NRDC would prefer to dictate terms.
MAD Take: This story is an extension of Alastair Bland’s previous work for environmental organizations. Using the “first-quote, last-quote” rule for judging a reporter’s bias, Bland’s story qualifies as propaganda – not journalism. He starts with Jon Rosenfield of SF Baykeeper and finishes with Regina Chichizola of Save California Salmon. It’s his way of refuting anything that falls in between his opening and closing statements. And saying salmon are facing “extinction” is ludicrous. Chinook salmon are one of the most common species in the world with commercial fishers killing over 1.2 million metric tons per year off the US Pacific Coast and 7 billion pounds worldwide.

But this fish story makes sense

Turlock Journal. Local salmon, trout get new home for Christmas.
Synopsis: Joe Cortez writes about the 7.5-acre project on the Tuolumne River near La Grange that will enhance salmon nesting sites, provide floodplain restoration and is expected to result in a significant increase in both salmon and trout populations. The $8 million cost is being covered by SF Public Utilities Commission and Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts – all part of an $80 million program established under the Voluntary Agreement signed two years ago. Even the Tuolumne Trust’s Peter Drekmeier, long a ferocious critic of the water districts, praised the project – guardedly. He called it a “good start” but, basically, said if something isn’t done about the river’s expanding bass population, it won’t work.
MAD Take: It is interesting to see Pete Drekmeier – a fervent advocate of the “flows-only” approach to increasing salmon populations – admit that bass predation is a bigger problem than inadequate flows. That’s something the districts have been saying for 20 years. But don’t worry, Palo Alto Pete is still demanding 50% flows. In light of Alastair Bland’s impassioned condemnation of Voluntary Agreements, it must be noted that the only significant restoration taking place on the Tuolumne River is being done by the three water districts who signed Voluntary Agreement two years ago. Even Pete admits that without this restoration, salmon will never recover.  

Merced projects moving ahead

Merced County Times. Merced Council on a roll with quality-of-life projects.
Synopsis: Jonthan Whitaker writes about several important projects for the city of Merced: 1) Zoo facelift, using about $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. 2) Expansion of downtown’s Bob Hart Square, funded with $3 million in ARPA money. 3) Tourism Business Improvement Development, a long-term $75 million project that focuses on the Campus Parkway corridor and is supported by motel owners. Jonathan notes that councilmember Fue Xiong voted against all three.

UC Ag Station ‘a major step’

Merced County Times. A major step forward for UC Merced’s Agricultural Experiment Station.
Synopsis: Four people have been appointed to the program – Reza Ehsani, Safeeq Khan, Josue Medellin-Azuara and Rebecca Ryals. Associate Dean Josh Viers says the school has “made history” with these appointments. “We are extending world-class faculty expertise across our region to address some of the most pressing challenges we face on this planet.” The program will be based on a 45-acre parcel called the Experimental Smart Farm.

Ball Ranch reopens to public

Fresno Bee. San Joaquin River Parkway effort returns to roots with reopening of Ball Ranch.
Synopsis: Marek Warszawski writes about the 360-acre area that was long used for fishing, hiking, horseback riding and birding until liability insurance concerns forced the SJ River Conservancy to close it. Over the past 18 months, the Conservancy has made significant improvements and now feels confident reopening. Among those quoted is Jim Costa, who was instrumental in making sure the property was not turned into a golf course back in 1992.

Del Monte cannery sold

Fresno Bee. Del Monte Foods to sell Hanford tomato processing plant, affecting 400-500 jobs.
Synopsis: One of the world’s largest canners of tomato products with $1.7 billion in sales, Del Monte will sell its 670,000-square-foot plant in Hanford. But it won’t yet say who is buying the facility or what will happen to its 500 workers. Del Monte has 10 more food production facilities in the US, including a major cannery in Modesto.

Long-delayed family shelter to open

Fresno Bee. Largest family shelter in Central CA was supposed to open last year; what’s the delay?
Synopsis: The 72-unit family shelter at Blackstone and Dakota has been in the construction phase for over 2 years. Now, the CEO says it’s only weeks away from opening. Think February. Delays were blamed on PG&E and thieves who stole copper wiring from the building during construction. The former Sierra Hospital is capable of housing 400 individuals. There are 150 families on the waiting list.

Farmers angry with Congress

Politico. Johnson faces brewing GOP rebellion after farm aid deal collapses.
Synopsis: Farm district Republicans are threatening to break ranks if that’s what it takes to get a farm bill that includes aid for beleaguered growers. The first Republican quoted was John Duarte, who pointed out that “farmers across our nation are simply at the end of their debt and equity resources.” Among the loudest voices is the American Farm Bureau Federation. Democrat Debbie Stabenow pointed out that she had a bill offering $10 billion in farm aid, but Republicans rejected it because it also included money for food programs for poor kids. Republicans blame Senate Democrats for demanding those same food programs.

Successful Farming. Farm groups demand ag aid despite Congressional impasse.
Synopsis: The American Farm Bureau is threatening to “torpedo” any legislation – including the “continuing resolution” that funds all government operations -- unless it includes a multi-billion bailout for farmers. Zippy Duvall is especially concerned for those who grow “program crops” – soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice and sorghum. No mention of specialty crops like almonds, walnuts, cheese or winegrapes. Joining the Farm Bureau’s calls for help are the National Farmers Union and National Corn Growers Assn. Republicans and Democrats blame each other for the impasse.

Mountain House gets pricey

SF Chronicle. CA’s newest city has fastest-growing home prices in northern part of the state.
Synopsis: In Mountain House, ZIP code 95391, the median home price has surged 70% since the pandemic ended. It is now $1 million, up from $560,000 in 2020. That jump is the biggest in the state. For reference, CA-13 goes right up to the eastern edge of the new city. Interestingly, back in 2009 you could have bought a home in Mountain House for $285,000. The other ZIP codes with accelerated appreciation were mostly in the Bay Area – San Jose, Danville and San Ramon. Fresno checked in at No. 10 with prices having risen 55% since 2020.

Saving peat saves the Delta

Maven’s Notebook. Save the peat, save the planet, save the Delta?
Synopsis: John Hart of Estuary News writes about the organically rich peat soil that makes up most Delta islands. Since levees were built 150 years ago, they have been oxidizing, drying out and compacting. The islands are now some 20 feet lower, putting them well below the river level. Worse, peat soil created an incredible carbon sink for decaying vegetation. Now that stored carbon is being as the peat dries, releasing methane. The solution is to “rewet” the peat. That doesn’t mean tearing down levees but allowing controlled flooding through floodplain restoration and rice cultivation. The Nature Conservancy converted 4,000 acres from corn to rice and 1,000 acres of marsh on Staten Island – which it owns. All that rice has another benefit – it pays the bills. Restoring wetlands has many more benefits, from creating fish habitat to slowing saltwater incursion.