Tag: California Drought

Environment, Social Implications in Agriculture

Will Climate Take the Center Stage at Expo West this Year?

Melody Meyer

Do you believe our climate is changing? You may not be feeling the record warmth in the Arctic which has even the most pessimistic scientists rethinking their climate views. But you probably took note of the storms, fires, floods, and heat that caused at least $306 billion in destruction last year in the US.

Climate change is upon us now. Food and agriculture are some of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. As we gather this week in Anaheim, many companies have taken a pledge to leverage the power of the industry to reverse climate change together.

They aim to bring climate awareness to the center stage of this year’s Expo. Continue reading “Will Climate Take the Center Stage at Expo West this Year?” →

Environment, Social Implications in Agriculture, What is Organic

Can California’s Farmers and Fish Navigate the Current Water Dilemma?

Melody Meyer

We ended 2017 in California with one of the driest Decembers on record. San Jose had its second driest December since records began in 1893. San Francisco had its fourth driest dating back to 1849, according to the National Weather Service in Monterey.

Despite recent rains in the news, the entire state of California is still well below average in precipitation for the season to date.  California has seen less precipitation  due to a ridiculously resilient high-pressure ridge that knocks all the storms away from California’s thirsty landscape. Continue reading “Can California’s Farmers and Fish Navigate the Current Water Dilemma?” →

Environment, Social Implications in Agriculture, What is Organic

Organic Growers Occupy Ground Zero in Today’s Climate Conflagration

Melody Meyer

It’s the middle of December in what should be the wettest month of California’s rainy season. Yet windswept infernos continue to ravage the dry tinder landscape. The Santa Ana’s blow with hurricane forces whipping the flames up chaparral and ridges.

These out-of-control infernos aren’t only torching forests. The rural-urban intersection has grown, and widespread development puts more people, farms and packing houses directly in the path of destruction. The blazes are imperiling the avocado and citrus orchards, vineyards and fields of organic farms. Many are in the bulls-eye of this climatic conflagration. Continue reading “Organic Growers Occupy Ground Zero in Today’s Climate Conflagration” →

Environment, Social Implications in Agriculture, What is Organic

El Niño Brings Short-Term Relief to California’s Farmers

Melody Meyer

California DroughtThe forecasters predicted it, the young and wild boy-child, El Niño would come. A warm pacific current that often wreaks havoc promised torrential rains for the west coast of the North America continent. We believed in him like the god of water who would bestow wet blessings upon the land. California, my home for the past 39 years, has always been wet and green in the winter with golden dry hills casting the summer. These past few years, the boy went dry, and the rains ceased. 2016 was to be the year of relief, of promise, that El Niño would bring us water. If ever he forsakes us, much of California’s agriculture will be under duress.   Continue reading “El Niño Brings Short-Term Relief to California’s Farmers” →

Environment, Social Implications in Agriculture

California’s drought affects us all

Melody Meyer

Farmers in DroughtIt rained in Northern California last week, a late season downpour after six weeks of parched, record heat conditions. This is an April gift to the thirsty soils of California, but not a drought breaker. I listened to the rare sound of heavy drops pounding on my rooftop and pondered the reality. Snowpack in the Sierras is 5% of normal, its lowest in recorded history. Groundwater tables have dropped 50% in some areas and the land is sinking, caving in under its own weight. California’s crippling drought will have far reaching affects for all of us. Continue reading “California’s drought affects us all” →