Agriculture briefs

Lawmakers seek dairy aid

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Lynn Woolsey have joined other members of Congress from Western states in urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to distribute $350 million in federal dairy relief fairly and "without regional bias."

Feinstein, D-Calif., and Woolsey, D-Petaluma, were among seven senators and 16 representatives who signed a recent letter to Vilsack that sets forth recommendations on how to use money this fall for two relief programs.

About $290 million likely will be used for direct cash payments to struggling dairy farmers, who are losing up to $100,000 a month, according to a press release from Feinstein's office.

In the past, such payments have "disproportionally benefited farmers in other regions in the country," the press release stated. However, the elected officials maintain that Congress set up the relief program in ways that allow for a more equitable distribution.

Another $60 million has been set aside to purchase surplus dairy products. The letter urges Vilsack to use those funds to purchase cheese as a means of boosting milk prices.

Bone up on new diesel rules

Farmers can obtain an overview of stringent new regulations for diesel vehicles at a training course Nov. 10 at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, 970 Piner Road in Santa Rosa.

The free course will include information on funding opportunities for retrofitting or replacing diesel-powered vehicles.

Under the new regulations, owners are required to report their diesel vehicles to the state Air Resources Board and then begin a program to retrofit, repower or replace their diesel-fueled vehicles over the next decade.

Air Resources Board staff also will discuss greenhouse gas control strategies, including federal standards that soon will be required for all diesel vehicles in California.

The course, sponsored by the Farm Bureau and the Air Resources Board, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration is required by Nov. 4 and can be made by calling 544-5575.

Tax to fight citrus disease

California citrus farmers soon will tax themselves to fight a disease that could cripple their billion-dollar industry.

The new funds will be used to combat a disease called huanglongbing, which is carried by the Asian citrus psyllid, an insect no bigger than an aphid.

More than 200,000 acres have been destroyed or abandoned in Florida because of the disease, the California Farm Bureau Federation reports.

And psyllids now are found in urban areas not far from the state's citrus growing regions, including Tulare County, where navel oranges alone are a $415 million crop.

Under legislation recently signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, farmers would pay a penny-per-carton assessment on oranges, lemons other citrus fruit harvested this fall. That would raise $1.7 million per year.

-- Robert Digitale