- Driving Value through Innovation
- New Year, New Opportunities
- Why Sustainability? ABC's Sustainability Self-Assessment Program Discussed
- Reinvestment in Almonds and Heart Health Research
- What Does Greenhouse Gas Regulation Mean for California Almonds?
- Government Affairs: EU Pesticide Regulatory Reform
- Colony Collapse Disorder: Still No "Smoking Gun"
- EQIP Deadline for Priority 2010 Funding Is Jan. 15
- Thinking Out of the Shell: Innovation in New Products
- Increasingly Complex Legislative, Regulatory Landscape Forecast
- Needed: Enhanced Infrastructure
- Drought Management in Almonds around the World
January
12 Food Quality & Safety Committee 9:30AM 20 Environmental Committee 9:30AM
February
4 International Committee 9:30AM 18 ABC Election Ballots Due 24 PR & Advertising Committee 10:00AM
Increasingly Complex Legislative,
Regulatory Landscape Forecast
A California legislative panel consisting of Jim Collin, chief consultant to the Assembly Ag Committee; Tom Bohigian, Sen. Barbara Boxer's state director; and Kimberly Kauffman, field rep for Congressman George Radanovich, provided attendees at the Almond Industry Conference with an update on current key issues.
"The water legislative packet signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger in November will be the focus of the November 2010 election," pointed out Collin. "The $11.4 billion water bond measure will be fiercely contested."
"Federal climate change legislation will move forward in the Senate next year, following the House's earlier passage," said Bohigian. He added that the Senator feels "there are a lot of economic opportunities available to those who want to make use of the credits" available under the controversial cap-and-trade policy. Full consideration of the bill has been pushed back to next year because of the focus on health care reform.
Kauffman discussed how concern over foodborne illness has never been greater, with high pressure for legislative action. The House already passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act; the Senate Health Committee has passed its version (S510). Ultimately, the considerable differences between the two versions will need to be worked out. Industry members were urged to keep informed, and to offer their input to state and federal elected officials.
Click here to stay up to date on legislative news.
- New Mule Driver
- Watch for Your Ballot
- Industry Development Program Participants Recognized
- Retired Researcher Recognized
Winter sanitation is necessary to reduce NOW presence and control aflatoxin contamination. UC IPM guidelines state:
- Remove mummies before Feb. 1 by shaking and/or poling until there is an average of less than two per tree.
- Destroy mummies by Mar. 15 by disking or flail-mowing to prevent overwintering.
A new tool is being developed to help growers assess expected NOW damage in specific regions; the current model is for the southern San Joaquin Valley.
For more information on food safety issues, visit almondboard.com/foodsafety.
