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Issues farmers and ranchers would like Congress to tackle

Ag sector seeks action on immigration reform, estate tax

Farm and ranch groups are developing strategies for their work with Congress for action on various issues. The economy will come first, but farmers and ranchers hope for action on immigration reform and the estate tax. With a new administration, farm groups are watching intently to determine how policy on many issues will change. California growers hope changes in nutrition policy may benefit the state's specialty crop farmers. Positive changes in the economy will also help California farmers and ranchers.

Dairy groups consider new federal market order

California dairy groups are discussing the possibility of a California federal market order for milk. They suggest officials who run the state order keep discounting California Class 1 milk to a point where it makes no economic sense to bring milk into the state. That means California dairy producers are losing millions of dollars in revenue. Competitors in other states have lower production costs. February meetings will provide milk producers and processors information on what a federal order could do.

Researchers study water quality

Agriculture doesn't deserve its bad rap for contaminating surface water, according to a recent water quality study by University of California resource economists. The study indicates only a very small portion of common water pollutants can be positively correlated with agricultural production. Some are negatively correlated, which means the water quality is better because of agriculture. The study concludes that swimming in the state's rivers and lakes is entirely safe.

Entrepreneurs market a wine for hard times

Bailout wine is the creation of a San Francisco-based winery. They're bottling some Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon as a hedge for all the 401(k) losses. Consumers buy futures of a vintage currently aging in oak barrels for $39 a bottle. Then, for each 100-point decline in the Dow, the wine price drops $2. The day the winery issued the news release, the wine price declined $5. The winery says they'll bottle the wine in August.

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