Gary Hilberg’s Post

California - The state will start measuring #water usage and collecting #fines later this year, but it has never attempted any such enforcement action before, and there is no way to know yet whether #farmers will comply with the fees. The larger question is whether the state’s policing effort will succeed in forcing a long-term reduction in groundwater usage in the state’s agricultural areas. What is your take on this?

The Process of Saltwater Intrusion and Its Effect on Soil Salinity Saltwater intrusion is a big environmental issue as a result of the movement of saline water into freshwater structures, consisting of groundwater reserves and agricultural lands. This phenomenon affects soil salinity, main to damaging consequences for ecosystems, agriculture, and freshwater availability. https://lnkd.in/gsiumhK5

Our hydropower system is critical in ensuring food security, access to clean & affordable energy, and driving economic success for millions of people. We don’t need redundant federal studies to confirm what we already know: our hydropower system is essential for providing affordable, reliable, clean energy and a vital river transportation system for the U.S. A big 'thank you' to Save Family Farming and Dillon Honcoop for the opportunity to discuss this. With support from the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Idaho Grain Producers Assn, Washington State Potato Commission, Port Of Lewiston, Port Of Clarkston, PORT OF WALLA WALLA, Shaver Transportation Co, Port of Pasco, and thousands of others, this system supports farmers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, providing more than 400 miles of climate-friendly and efficient river transportation and some of the cleanest energy on the planet. Hydropower infrastructure isn’t just energy—it’s the lifeline for sustainable farming and resilient communities. #Hydropower #FoodSecurity #CleanEnergy #SustainableFarming #PacificNorthwest #ourpoweriswater

Think saltwater contamination is only a problem for coastal states? Think again. Michigan's freshwater may not be safe for long either. Due to the depletion of surface aquifers, we are forced to dig deeper for groundwater. Unfortunately, this deep groundwater is often contaminated with salty water, which poses a serious threat to the drinking water and agriculture in the area. We are honored to have GVSU Research Professor and AGL Board Member Alan Steinman share his knowledge on this pressing issue. Check out the link below to learn more. https://lnkd.in/eFSMSFh2

The File under DEFINITION OF A POINT SOURCE OF POLLUTION UNDER THE U.S. CLEAN WATER ACT “The term "point source" means any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include agricultural stormwater discharges and return flows from irrigated agriculture.” In case your missed that quick regulatory ‘carve out’ for big agriculture … a point source “DOES NOT include agricultural stormwater discharges and return flows from irrigated agriculture.” The Clean Water Act only grants authority to regulate “point source” #pollutants. #agriculture #lobby #pollution #cleanwater #water #regulation #nitrates #drinkingwater

Wow...California water regulators are cracking down on one of the state’s major farming regions for failing to take steps to curb growers’ excessive groundwater pumping, which has sent water levels into rapid decline and is causing the land to sink. California water regulators placed the Tulare Lake sub basin in the southern San Joaquin Valley on probation due to insufficient measures to curb severe groundwater depletion that has resulted in land subsidence and environmental risks. It’s the first time California officials have used their authority to intervene in a community to force stronger measures to rein in the depletion of groundwater, as required under the state’s decade-old Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Land suspension is a fascinating way to go about climate action... Per Los Angeles Times #regenerativeagriculture #landuse #climatechange https://lnkd.in/eGMe6yPQ

According to the LA times, California has put the Tulare Lake sub-basin on probation due to excessive groundwater pumping, leading to severe water level drops and land sinking up to six feet in a decade. This marks the first enforcement under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Large agricultural landowners must now report water usage and pay fees. The state deemed local plans inadequate and will assist in developing sustainable solutions. If issues persist, stricter measures like pumping restrictions and fines could follow. These measures bring up economic concerns but also opportunities - which sustainable tools empower farmers? Despite smaller average farm sizes compared to the rest of the U.S., the state’s reliance on irrigation has increased due to long droughts. Farmers are in need of a solution that is able to monitor large areas consistently and equip them reliable data to create space for sustainable decision making. Satellite-derived land surface temperature (LST) offers a scalable way to monitor crop water usage remotely, identifying which areas need water and which do not, and which areas are receiving too much. The image shows an LST 30 heat map by constellr derived from Landsat data. 🛰 The area around Tulare lake provides a great example of how #thermalintelligence can provide insights into crop water usage and availability across a wide area. After our launch constellr’s #HiVE constellation aims to meet these needs, providing precise information to help California farmers manage water in a regulated environment. For details on the California law change, see the link in the comments.

This is a damning report about the state of freshwater in Canterbury, New Zealand. Water testing has shown elevated levels of nitrates, phosphorus and faecal bacteria across a majority of the samples. These contaminants make water unsafe to consume and also lead to ecological devastation of other species. Note: these contaminants are a direct consequence of intensive industrial agriculture, including high stock numbers, synthetic fertiliser application and poor effluent management. Therefore it becomes imperative to recognise that finding alternatives to intensive industrial animal farming is necessary to ensure ecological sustainability and commercial viability for Aotearoa's farmers. Alimentary Systems looks at decoding solutions for both sides of this wicked problem. Reach out if you're interested in learning more about #effluent #management, #organic #farming and #bioenergy. #transitionengineering https://lnkd.in/gSSnMUNp

On December the 12th, we’re holding a webinar to walk you through the new Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings method.     The Clean Energy Regulator recently launched the highly anticipated new Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings method. This replaces the 2014 version of the method, which expired earlier this year.    In the webinar, the Carbon Farming Foundation’s Head of Methodology Compliance, Samuel Bean, will walk you through the new method, including: 🌳Why it is important 🌿What changes have been made 🍃How these may affect new projects   🌱How to start a project under the new method with the CFF 🍂A Q&A session for your submitted questions The webinar will be held on Thursday the 12th of December from 11am-12pm AWST, 2pm-3pm AEDT.     Questions for the Q&A will need to be submitted prior to the webinar through the sign-up link.     Sign up here to secure your spot here: https://lnkd.in/gsATUYr5    #farming #sustainableagriculture #climateaction #climatechange #sustainablefarming #environmentalsustainability #carboncredits 

What to do about water? Specifically, how to manage increased water scarcity in parts of the world where agriculture is still the major land use. One solution, perhaps, is a citizens' court model designed to ensure that water allocation is done fairly--what the Guardian articles refers to as a successful example of "democratic resource self-management." This is a system that has existed since the 8th century, so it clearly works. It's instructive to compare this system with the state-mandated water boards in, say, the state of Kansas discussed by Lucas Bessire in "Running Out," about the failing attempts to manage drawdowns on the Ogallala aquifer, which is a critical resource for Great Plains agriculture in the US. Could this model be transferred to Kansas? There's only one way to find out before the aquifer becomes unsustainable. https://lnkd.in/e2Xat8cz