NEWS BRIEFS
Klamath The U.S. Department of the Interior has updated its legal guidance on the Endangered Species Act for the federal- ly operated Klamath Project in Siskiyou County, a change in favor of irrigators. Released last week, the guidance doc- ument specifies when the Bureau of Reclamation’s operations of the Klamath Project triggers ESA consultations, the le- gal principle that has driven regulation of the project for three decades. The update is expected to be the basis for new water operation procedures. The Klamath Water Users Association applauded the change, which reaffirms that Reclamation has only discretionary authority to take action to benefit a spe- cies if the contract provides such. The enactment of the Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act earlier this year does not affect the rights of water rights holders or the tribes, and it does not pro- vide Reclamation with discretionary au- thority to act to benefit a listed species. In other words, the change calls for Reclamation’s ESA approach to be the same at the project as it has been for other river basins for years, said KWUA Executive Director Elizabeth Nielsen. “There is work to do to translate the updated guidance into action,” Nielsen said. “We will work with Reclamation and
monitoring pesticides for their groundwater impacts. Each year, DPR typically monitors more than 120 wells statewide and tests for at least 77 pesticides and contaminants. To comment on DPR’s proposed rulemaking by the June 30 deadline, go to https://cdpr.commentinput.com/?id=eS- GhWfV8b. Learn more at www.cdpr. ca.gov/proposed-regulation/dpr-25-002- groundwater-protection-list/. Microirrigation The 2025 International Microirrigation School For Crop Production will be offered for the first time in California Oct. 13-17. Class lectures will be held Oct. 13-15 in the University of California, Davis, Conference Center. Field trips will be Oct. 16-17, with one day in the San Joaquin Valley for modernized irrigation delivery systems, and fruit and nut crops, and one day in the Central Coast for vineyards, veg- etable crops and berries. Topics include salinity management with microirrigation; microirrigation sys- tems design, operation, maintenance, automation and performance evaluation; and chemigation and fertigation. Registration is $850 for the three-day instruction course and $150 for the two days of field trips. Class size is limited to 100 registrants. For the full schedule and registation, visit https://caii.org/ international-micro-irrigation-school/.
almond acreage in California has slightly increased about 6,000 acres from the pre- vious year to 1.389 million bearing acres. The Subjective Forecast is the first of two production reports from USDA for the coming crop year. It is an estimate based on opinions from a survey conducted from April 21 to May 7 of 500 randomly selected California almond growers across regions and different-sized operations. USDA will release its second production estimate— the 2025 California Almond Objective Report—July 10. Water quality The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is accepting public comments on proposed regulations released last week to update its Groundwater Protection List. The updates in the proposed regulation are based on a new, peer-reviewed meth- od for determining which pesticides have the potential to pollute groundwater. DPR collects and samples groundwater for pes- ticides on the Groundwater Protection List to determine if there is contamination in the groundwater from agricultural use of pes- ticides to protect drinking water, especially shallow domestic wells in agricultural areas. DPR’s groundwater protection program is part of DPR’s work to evaluate pesticides for risks or impacts to public health or the environment. Since 1985, the state has pro- tected California’s aquifers by reviewing and
other parties to ensure that happens as soon as possible.” KWUA President Scott Seus, a Siskiyou County farmer said, “Project irrigators have suffered far too long with the ESA being used as a rationalization for federal agencies simply dividing up water. Each year has been a fight for who gets what, but with no consistent guidance or under- standing about the rules.” Almonds The California Almond Subjective Forecast, published last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, estimated the almond crop to be harvested this year will come in at 2.8 billion pounds, 3% high- er than 2024’s 2.73 billion pounds. “This larger crop estimate is what the industry expected after a solid water win- ter and generally good weather during bloom, but it’s also a testament to the hard work done by almond farmers through- out California,” said Clarice Turner, pres- ident and CEO of the Almond Board of California. “Demand for California al- monds around the globe continues to grow, and our almond farmers constantly deliver, producing high quality California almonds to meet that demand.” The subjective forecast comes two weeks after Land IQ’s 2025 Standing Acreage Initial Estimate found that bearing
2025 CE Series Members: Free Non-Members: $400
REGISTER NOW AND ENJOY FREE PESTICIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS Let your Farm Bureau membership more than pay for itself! Join us throughout the year for webinars that meet your pesticide continuing education (CE) requirements. Subject matter experts will share information applicable to your business operations and advance your professional development. Earn 1 Hour L/R or Other DPR • 1 Hour CCA Per Class Class Dates and Topics are Subject to Change.
Labor Management Consultant (LMC) Let a FELS Labor Management Consultant be your bilingual, bicultural Human Resources compliance advisor—a “bridge” to your workers. Access to FELS Employer Hotline and FELS.net Answers to your labor law questions are only a phone call or mouse-click away. FELS Group Legal Services Plan One hour of FREE legal advice, with additional hours at the low FELS subscriber rate. 20% discount on Forms and Supplies, Including Employment Notices, Books and Laminated Posters Document your compliance with statutory requirements and avoid costly lawsuits. SERVICES OFFERED TO FARM EMPLOYERS LET FELS HELP YOU COMPLY WITH FARM EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS For more information, please contact us: (800) 753-9073 | info@fels.net | www.fels.net
Next Class (all classes are from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) Thursday, June 12.............Personal Protective Equipment
Upcoming Classes Thursday, July 10 ..............Are you choosing the right pesticide?
Thursday, August 14.........DPR Common Violations
Thursday, September 11...Label Updates from Syngenta
Thursday, October 9 .........Managing Rodents & Compliance Requirements
Thursday, November 13 ...Pest Update from Cooperative Extension
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18 Ag Alert May 21, 2025
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