Recently, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that for the second year in a row a La Nina weather pattern has set up in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Major metropolitan areas in the Carolinas have avoided mandatory water use restrictions this year, unlike in 2007, where many areas were down to a 60-day water supply, or in some cases, less. Mike Moneypenny, hydrologist with the National Weather Service says that avoiding that situation came about because of good management of water resources:
“Last winter we did have a La Nina, which we did see coming, and so a lot of our larger reservoirs, the operators, actually conserved water over the winter, rather than releasing it, you know, so that they would have storage during the potential spring recharge. They kept their lake levels up, so we started the summer in much better shape than we would have normally. So, even though we’ve had a running rainfall deficit, we’ve remained above, I guess the trigger levels instituted for mandatory restrictions.”
And are those plans in place again for this winter?:
“Most definitely. Oh, yes.”
House Fails to Pass CR Containing Disaster Relief Funds
Wednesday evening the U.S. House failed to pass a Continuing Resolution that would have kept the government open for business from October 1 through November 18. The final vote was 195 to 230 with 43 Republicans voting against the bill.
E-Verify Bill Makes it Through Committee Without Ag Worker Provision
The House Judiciary Committee has approved legislation that mandates the use of E-Verify for all U.S. employers. But as the proposed Legal Workforce Act goes to the full House for passage, it will not include a provision for an agricultural workforce. The committee rejected an ag worker amendment offered by Representative Dan Lungren of California.
World Bank and IMF Meeting Underway Today
When the IMF and World Bank gather together today for their annual fall meeting there will be plenty to talk about. World Bank President Robert Zoellick previewed some agenda items in a press conference yesterday. Zoellick warned developed nations that festering economy problems could impact other fragile economies around the world:
“A crisis made in the developed world could become a crisis for developing countries. Europe, Japan and the United States must act to address their big economic problems before they become bigger problems for the rest of the world.”
Farm Aid Leaders Want Action
Farm Aid Board of Directors Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews have sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack encouraging them to take swift action to ensure fairness and competition in the agricultural sector. Their letter continues, - ensuring fair markets in agriculture will create jobs and drastically change the landscape of our country and our food system for the benefit of not just farmers, but everyone who eats.
|