In a move that many Californian farmers are warning will cause even greater food shortages and severe damage to small businesses and farms, the state of California is sequestering the water supply needed for rice crops to grow, and are being redirected to preserve the lives of fish for environmental purposes.

The California Globe details this move by the state, noting that Colusa County in the northern end of the state normally produces roughly 150,000 acres worth rice annually, the highest producers in Sacramento Valley. California is the second largest rice growing state in the U.S. But now officials for the county are lamenting that they will only be able to produce a small fraction of their normal amount.

‘California rice is highly prized all over the world—particularly in Asia and the Middle East. In 2019, more than 498,000 acres of rice were planted on 1,100 farms. Rice production contributes more than $775 million to the state economy,’ Think Rice reports.

In April 2022, the water districts serving Colusa County were given their final allocation for the 2022 growing season – 0.4-acre feet per acre. This allocation is not enough to support rice production, and estimates show that the Sacramento Valley will fallow 370,000 of 450,000 acres in the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors service area, primarily in Colusa and Glenn Counties. Currently, less than 7,000 acres are estimated to be planted in Colusa County, resulting in a direct financial loss to growers in excess of $270 million.

Colusa County officials said in a statement.

Public Policy Institute of California confirmed in 2019 that “Water in California is shared across three main sectors. Statewide, average water use is roughly 50% environmental, 40% agricultural, and 10% urban.” Namely, the 50% flows into the Pacific Ocean for environmental preservation and for the life of fish.

All of this is coming at a time where the state just got through major economic disruptions wrought by Covid lockdowns and restrictions, and “unprecedented drought and winter freeze,” Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) said.

In a statement to the California Globe, Colusa County Administrator Wendy Tyler, who has been working with Aguiar-Curry to shed awareness on this issue, further noted how the Covid restrictions really hurt businesses, and how this new water sequestration will make the problems far worse.

We need a payroll protection plan and rental assistance. We have the third largest farm worker housing in the state. Thousands of people come to Colusa County every season, and work with Colusa County’s own people. Their children go to Colusa schools, so when they aren’t here it impacts our ADA.

The economic devastation is unprecedented. People aren’t dying, but businesses and communities are.

Tyler said

The Globe added, ‘She said when growers can’t plant, suppliers are hurt – everyone from equipment suppliers to the people who make the bags for farm products. Specifically, this also impacts mills, aerial applicators, crop dusters, pesticide and fertilizer dealers, and ground applicators.’

Tyler also explained that 74% of almond crops in Colusa County and Sacramento Valley were lost in February due to a freeze that devastated farmers, costing farmers an estimated $210 million.

Tyler has asked Aguiar-Curry to see if the state can tap into the “$86 billion budget surplus,” to offset the crunch.

The budget surplus should go to a rainy day fund, but how about the day it doesn’t rain?


AUTHOR COMMENTARY

As I warned in my recent study about Loathing The Honeycomb, and other reports, famine is coming. And these nut-ball actions by good ‘ole California are only aiding in that. California is the 5th largest economy in the world. And so, with more rice being destroyed, along with so many other crops, and more to come, the shortages will be felt even harder as the months roll by. Hence, why I have been advocating stock-up for a while now.

[15] But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: [16] Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. [17] Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. [18] Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. [19] Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. [20] The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

Deuteronomy 28:15-20

[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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6 Comments

  • California, the birthplace of stupidity and heathendom, from Hollywood to sodomy from feminism to socialism, the divorce rates in California are over 75 percent! That’s a shocking statistic.
    It goes to show how wicked and vile California is as well as the rest of America or course and the Bible Belt is wicked too, but California is at the top.
    God bless those moving out of California: men, women, children, pets, businesses, belongings, sentimental value things, everything from A to Z is moving out of that cesspool state!

    I believe that California is going to have a massive hurricane or tropical storm far worse than Hurricane Katrina, NOT a prophecy just a thought call it wishful thinking, but I think a tropical storm or hurricane is gonna hit California hard!

    • Probably so, especially San Fran-SICKO where the earthquakes happen the most. Wildfires that’ll make the ones of 2020 and 2021 look like a s’mores roast, and maybe a tsunami.

      • I live out in a part of Calif where the wild fires are, over 100 people have died in wild fires since I moved up this way in the summer of 2018. I am originally from the Bay Area, I was born in San Francisco in 1957! My Grandfather was born in San Francisco in 1899! San Francisco was pretty at one time! Where I am now in Butte County is actually a conservative part of the state. I remember when I first moved up here seeing 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” on a bill board, it was great! The attached link has info on the Camp Fire, you shouldn’t wish this on anybody. You really shouldn’t.
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Fire_(2018)

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