California almond farmers face tough choices

Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle / SFGate.com ^ | Updated 8:13 am, Sunday, February 23, 2014 | By SCOTT SMITH, Associated Press

[thecodont]

FIREBAUGH, Calif. (AP) — With California's agricultural heartland entrenched in drought, almond farmers are letting orchards dry up and in some cases making the tough call to have their trees torn out of the ground, leaving behind empty fields.

[SkyDancer]

All Jerry Brown has to do is get legislation passed that would fine any grower who went out of business because of the fed’s not releasing water to them.

[LegendHasIt]

"All Jerry Brown has to do is get legislation passed that would fine any grower who went out of business because of the fed’s not releasing water to them."

Or 0bama could do it himself by E.O. for all businesses, for any reason.

He could call it Directive 10-289.

[LegendHasIt]

My heart goes out to these people.
I can’t imagine that the folks that grow pecans to the east of me, or pistachios to the west would murder their trees for any reason.

[BenLurkin]

[Don Corleone]

This is all in the predominantly Conservative central valley of California. Wonder why? Nah.

[DJ MacWoW]

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[Sacajaweau]

Great....another purported health food will sky rocket or come from ???

[JimRed]

Call out the unorganized militia and TAKE the water as needed. What are they going to do about it, shoot you?

[Cold Heart]

Not true. O’Reily called Obama a patriot just the other day.

[DJ MacWoW]

Was that the day that the single brain cell O’Reilly owns was on vacation? Golly I think so. :-)

[Lion Den Dan]

Call out the unorganized militia and TAKE the water as needed. What are they going to do about it, shoot you?/I>

Yes.

[null and void]

Communists always use the full might of the state to destroy agriculture.

[null and void]

10-289. You beat me to it.

[Ditter]

I hope these almond farmers will survive. A few years ago my husband and I went salmon fishing on the British Columbia coast. We were informed before we left home that we would be sharing a cabin with 3 California residents.

I was nervous, all I could imagine was an actor, a film maker and a liberal politician. A nightmare right?

When we arrived we were introduced to 2 almond farmers and a tractor salesman. Imagine how relieved I was. They were great guys, all of them and I hate to think they are having this trouble.

[skeeter]

Great. Just when I develop a taste for almond milk.

[moose07]

This month President Barack Obama visited the Central Valley, announcing millions of dollars in relief aid that in part will help the state's ranchers and farmers better conserve and manage water.

A better idea of where to spend it: Desalination plants.

[edpc]

The almonds scream oppression and the walnuts shake their heads.

[RockyTx]

am I suppose to feel sorry for these multimillionaire
1%ers?

[thecodont]

Desalination plants are a great idea. Where is the money for this? Going towards high-speed rail instead?

A California almond orchard in bloom in the spring is a beautiful sight. We need to work to keep this from being a memory.