California State Board of Food and Agriculture to meet September 1st

Aug 27, 2015

Meeting will focus on the drought and conservation

An upcoming meeting hosted by the California State Board of Food and Agriculture in Sacramento will focus on the drought’s impacts on the Russian River and how agriculture can play a role in conservation efforts.

Meeting

Due to the four-year drought that continues to affect California, the Russian River’s watershed levels have lowered to the point where some species of fish are threatened because of the rising temperatures. To try and combat the situation, California put forward emergency measures to add water to four of the Russian River tributaries in hopes of protecting the threatened species.

“There are innumerable ways agriculture can contribute to protecting and preserving our precious natural resources,” said Craig McNamara, president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture.

The meeting will also feature a variety of guest speakers ready to share their expertise and ideas on how to help California’s water and agriculture succeed going forward. The speakers include:

Charlton Bonham – California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Grant Davis – Sonoma County Water Agency
Gregory Giusti – University of California Cooperative Extension
Carolyn Wasem – Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens

“These speakers will be able to provide insight and direction for the agricultural community to complement ongoing efforts and practice environmental stewardship,” McNamara said.

The meeting is scheduled to take place Tuesday, September 1^st at the California Department of Food and Agriculture office in Sacramento. For people who wish to participate in the meeting but are unable to attend, the meeting will be streamed online.

Join the conversation and tell us if you’ll attend the meeting. What are some steps that can be taken to help California farmers during the drought?

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