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Comprehensive immigration reform bill passed by the Senate

Senate passes immigration reform

Farm groups are pleased by the Senate passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill by a 62-36 vote, which now goes to a conference committee. Members from both houses of Congress will create a final compromise. Farm Bureau plans a continued education program to outline the need for a temporary-worker program. Without temporary workers food production could move to other countries and Americans would be subject to the whims of producer nations as they are now with oil.

Fuel prices drop

Gasoline and diesel prices are dropping as the Memorial Day weekend approaches, according to the California Energy Commission. The commission says that wholesale prices fell an average of 19 cents a gallon even though inventories were below last year's levels. The average retail prices dropped only an average of seven cents a gallon. Diesel inventories increased about 12 percent from last week, and prices softened as well.

Fig farmers fret

The quarantine zone for the peach fly in Fresno County includes a dozen or so small-acreage fig farms. Those farmers face a serious loss of income, if they aren't able to market their figs on the fresh market. Typically the first picking of fresh figs brings growers about $6.25 a pound, vs. 50 cents a pound for dry. County authorities believe a treatment option will be available for fig growers before harvest starts in June.

Timber harvest begins

California timber farmers are beginning to harvest trees. Operations are starting later than average because of wet conditions in the forests. Another cause of delay is the check by government agencies to see if owls are nesting. The birds were slow to nest this year because of the cold, wet spring. Growers say prices are a bit higher than last year because mills are short on logs.

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