Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Tag: California Groundwater Recharge

  • Congressman Duarte Addresses Water Issues & Solutions for California Ag

    Despite the great rainfall and snowpack California has experienced in the last couple years, little of this abundance has been shared with agriculture or even saved for the inevitable times of drought that lay ahead.  Farmers are fed up with the state’s many years of mismanagement of our water resources and lack of practical investment in our water future.  This led a farmer to run for congress and bring some new, realistic solutions to the table.  Watch this brief interview with Representative John Duarte from the 13th Congressional District of California as he shares some of these priorities that offer relatively quick and longterm water availability benefits for farmers and all Californians.

    Special thanks to American Pistachio Growers for sponsoring this video.

  • SGMA Progress Hampered by Insufficient Surface Farm Water Allocations

    Farmers and local water districts have worked together endeavoring to rebuild and sustain California’s underground aquifers through groundwater recharge projects among other conservation practices. Much progress has been made in complying with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), but without access to adequate surface water in year’s of plenty such as this, farmers are left struggling to keep their crops alive and productive, prematurely having to tap back into groundwater supplies. Watch this brief interview with pistachio grower and Chairman of the California Water Alliance — William Bourdeau, as he explains. And read about farm water solutions in the September issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Special thanks to American Pistachio Growers for sponsoring this video.

  • Low, Late Water Allocations Undercut California Ag, Pistachio Grower Aims to Make a Difference

    After years of drought conditions, California has finally had a couple years of great rainfall and snowpack — yet that has not translated to much better water availability for California growers responsible for feeding the world with some of the safest most nutrient-dense crops. With the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) taking effect in the state as well, growers are very concerned for the future of their family operations. Crippled by gov’t regulations and delayed water allocations, watch this brief interview with pistachio grower Rebecca Kaser, who farms in Westlands Water District and aims to make a difference.

    Special thanks to American Pistachio Growers for sponsoring this video.

  • Congressman John Duarte Shares Legislative Priorities for California Ag in Crisis

    In November 2022, the newly realigned 13th Congressional District of California elected to send a farmer to represent them in congress. Representative John Duarte has been at the job for about a year in a half and has been working on a number of bills to support California’s specialty crop industries, which are in desperate need of recovery from many challenges brought on by the pandemic and drought, among other global trade, inflation, and invasive pest pressures. Watch his brief interview with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network to learn more.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Southern California Gas Company for their industry support.

  • California Growers Celebrate Legislative Win Supporting Groundwater Recharge

    Last Fall, Governor Newsom signed SB 659, The California Water Supply Solutions Act of 2023, sponsored by the California Association of Winegrape Growers and the Regional Water Authority in Sacramento.  But what does this mean for California farmers implementing groundwater recharge practices in the coming months?  Watch this video with Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers to find out.

  • LandFlex Succeeds as an Incentivizing Farmer-Driven Solution for SGMA Compliance

    Permanently retiring millions of acres of productive California farmland is not a solution the growing world population needs right now.  That is why a new program, known as LandFlex was created, providing an alternative solution to assist farmers in meeting the requirements of SGMA. Millions of dollars of LandFlex funding have recently been awarded to serve farmers within critically overdrafted basins of California.  Watch this video with Anja Raudabaugh, CEO Western United Dairies, to learn more about the success of the program.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor afimilk for their industry support.

  • Application Deadline Approaching for On-Farm Water Recharge Incentive Funding

    It’s very important for California farmers to know that not only will there be more funding available in the next round of the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), but the application deadline is coming much earlier this year. And for growers that are interested in getting some incentive funding for participating in on-farm groundwater recharge, applications are due by Nov. 3rd. Watch this brief interview with Wendy Rash from NRCS to learn more.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor afimilk for their industry support.

  • Exploring Different Options for On-Farm Groundwater Recharge

    While they can’t make it rain, California water districts and farmers are finding creative ways to be a part of the solution to severe drought conditions and subsiding groundwater levels by sinking water back into the earth during the “wet season”.  Watch this brief interview with Chase Hurley from Triangle T Water District as he shares some success stories and different ways growers and water districts can approach groundwater recharge.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • Is Overwinter Orchard Flooding a Good Option for Groundwater Recharge?

    While California farmers are taking more interest in opportunities for on-farm groundwater recharge to mitigate the effects of the drought, some tree nut growers may be hesitant to the idea of flooding their orchards over the winter months, concerned it may have a negative impact on the health of their trees and practices, such as cover cropping. The Almond Board recently released a groundwater recharge guide to address some of these concerns. Watch this brief interview with Jesse Roseman from the Almond Board as he shares some insights from the guide and positive results from recent studies on the topic. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • NRCS Incentive Funding for On-farm Groundwater Recharge Projects

    As drought conditions persist in California, farmers are making the most of every drop of water they use. However, there may be more they can do during the rainy season to put water back into the ground with assistance of the USDA-NRCS.  Watch this brief interview with California Water Quality Specialist Wendy Rash to find out.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.