Yard Stick PBC的动态

- Imagine there is a big project called Sites Reservoir that people have wanted to do for a long time to help with water in Sacramento Valley. They have been working on it for over 40 years, and now they are making good progress with getting the final approvals and money from the government. - The project, which involves building an off-stream reservoir by pumping water from the Sacramento River to a dry valley, is aimed at addressing water needs for environmental, agricultural, and community purposes while avoiding environmental harm typically associated with traditional dams, such as endangering salmon. - The Sites Reservoir project, a $4.5 billion initiative, has been a longstanding goal of Sacramento Valley water districts and farmers for over 40 years, with recent progress towards its realization, including the certification of the final environmental impact report and significant federal funding support. - The project, which involves building an off-stream reservoir by pumping water from the Sacramento River to a dry valley, is aimed at addressing water needs for environmental, agricultural, and community purposes while avoiding environmental harm typically associated with traditional dams, such as endangering salmon. - Proponents of the project, including. https://lnkd.in/g9R_qgHT

The enormous cost of this proposal merits a much wider public conversation. It should not just be about can we do it but why, how and where. Should areas of dryland native pasture become irrigated grain and oilseed cropland just because we can? Is there a parallel meaningful investment in a SK vegetable and prairie hardy fruit industry to support regional food security and create local jobs?

The USDA announced that $1.5 billion is being made available to help farmers advance climate smart ag and conservation. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of an historic $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2024 to invest in partner-driven conservation and climate solutions through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting project proposals now through July 2, 2024, that will help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis. These projects in turn can save farmers money, create new revenue streams, and increase productivity. The investments in climate-smart agriculture that USDA has made since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, and will continue to make through the Inflation Reduction Act and Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, are estimated to support over 180,000 farms and over 225 million acres in the next 5 years. https://hubs.li/Q02stcw50

?? How to Navigate #RCPP Grants Outcome Measurement with Regrow ?? Are you involved in or applying for a USDA RCPP grant? This year is likely to be the most competitive ever, making a thoughtful approach to outcome measurement even more important. Tapping into our experience with RCPP projects, we’ve crafted a guide to help you understand: ? Outcomes expected from an RCPP grant ? Important considerations for outcome measurement ? How to vet an measurement partner Check out the guide to help you plan and execute a successful RCPP project: https://lnkd.in/eXbyvHFs #SustainableAgriculture #RCPP #USDA

This is important knowledge to diseminate.

More changes to digest. What is running through my head: - We need everyone to remember that there is a big water quality issue in NZ and status quo isn't going to fix it. - Change is hard. - Regulation is never perfect. (If you do have an example of perfect RMA rules and regulations, please don't show me as I will probably die from shock...). - The Essential Freshwater Package wasn't just a regulatory package, there was A LOT of money that got dished out to support non-regulatory measures. I would love to see someone do a study on how effective this funding was, and what contribution it has made to improved freshwater outcomes. - The 'war on farming' narrative isn't helpful. - Let's stick to the facts - we have known water quality issues in the country. Water quality outcomes are affected by land use. Farming is a land use (among a swag of others) that will therefore impact on water quality. We need to consider how all land uses (including farming) impact on water quality and how these may need to be regulated to achieve the necessary improvements. #planning #water #wecandobetter #compliance https://lnkd.in/ggBWUdqF

Knowing exactly where the Colorado river water flows to (residents, animal feed, agriculture) is the first step. Next, with even more uncertain hydrological patterns in the future, how can we more efficiently use and not loose this precious resource? The state of Colorado is a headwaters state with its largest water reservoir, snow. As snow patterns change, the state must reinvent its largest resevoir using methods new and old to slow the flow and retain water within its boundaries. #ColoradoRiver #WaterMapping #SlowTheFlow

The future of farming in the Central Valley may mean greatly reduced acreage. Studies have shown that California farmland has been shrinking for some time. Almond acreage has been especially impacted, with a reduction of 74,000 acres in 2023, according to the Land IQ 2023 Standing Acreage Final Estimate.??

Despite the recent 2023 Land Value summary from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing that agriculture land value increased by 7.4% from 2022, Kern County’s ag land value remains on a steady decline. This decline has a marked peak in 2014 — the year the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act came to fruition. “When SIGMA was implemented, it actually took probably six months for the market to realize what was happening. Six to 12 months,” Mike Ming, Accredited Rural Appraiser, and owner of Alliance Ag, said. “We reached a high of about $15,000 per acre for a district and lands in Kern County, and since then it’s just been a steep decline down to somewhere around $4,700 an acre.” ... The lack of available water resources in Kern County — one of the top agriculture producers in the nation — has led to a depressed market and extensive acres of fallowed land. “We know that the market is depressed with commodity prices being depressed and demand is on the lower side. We’re hopefully starting to see demand come back but it’s just a very tough time for the ag space in general,” Ming said. “But you see that when you see all the dead trees and the dead vines, the dead vineyards.” . . Follow the link to read on: https://lnkd.in/gyTBgG-f