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REPORT CALLS FOR INVESTMENT IN ‘AG OF THE MIDDLE’ Page 5 Capital Press The West s Weekly FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 VOLUME 88, NUMBER 21 WWW.CAPITALPRESS.COM Judge: Does ‘right to farm’ cover GMOs? “There’s no way to win. It’s happening all around us, and it’s a losing battle.” — California farmer Gary Beene VALLEY IN CRISIS By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press Whether Oregon’s “right to farm” law extends to the production of genetically modifi ed crops is a central question in the legal battle over Jackson County’s prohi- bition against such crops. During oral arguments on May 20, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Clarke ques- tioned whether the statute was intended to protect such technology. The legislative history seems to indicate that law- makers passed the “right to farm” statute to prevent urban sprawl from undermining ag- riculture, he said “It seems to me this situ- ation doesn’t squarely fi t into that now, does it?” Clarke asked. The ban was approved by Jackson County voters last year, but two farms that pro- duce biotech alfalfa fi led a lawsuit challenging the ordi- nance’s validity. The growers — Schulz Family Farms and James and Marilyn Frink — claim their ability to grow genetically engineered crops is protect- ed by the “right to farm” statute, under which local governments are barred from restricting a common farm- ing practice as a nuisance or trespass. An attorney for the farm- ers said that the impetus of the law may have been urban sprawl, but “right to farm” protections are much broader. The statute is intended to preserve the entire resource base of Oregon agriculture, which include biotech crops, he said. Defendants also argue that Oregon lawmakers expressly authorized the GMO ban by excluding Jackson County from 2013 legislation, Sen- ate Bill 863, that pre-empted local governments from regu- lating biotech seeds. Water shutoffs, shortages imperil top U.S. agricultural region as drought continues in its fourth year MORE ON PAGE 4 By TIM HEARDEN Capital Press F RESNO, Calif. — Roger Isom was shocked by what he saw as he drove along High- way 33 through the west side of the San Joaquin Valley: Thousands of acres of rich farmland were fallowed because of a lack of water. “It’s fast becoming more and more like Nevada,” said Isom, who runs three organi- zations that help cotton and nut farmers and processors. “There’s nothing here anymore.” In nearby Helm, Calif., almond, cotton and tomato grower Gary Beene discussed whether his grandchildren should follow his two sons into the family business. “There’s no way to win,” the 68-year-old Beene said of the water shortages that have put some of his neighbors out of business. “It’s happening all around us, and it’s a los- ing battle.” About 40 miles away in Dinuba, Calif., grower and packer Jay Gillette watched a bulldozer rip out about one-third of his navel orange grove. “I don’t know anybody near here that isn’t affected” by water shortages, Gillette said. “I think it’s going to take some years off people’s lives. The stress is just incredible.” A pall hovers over the San Joaquin Val- ley these days. Water shutoffs and shrinking aquifers threaten to turn what has long been the nation’s most productive agricultural re- gion — producing slightly more than $22 Turn to WATER, Page 12 • Rain eases drought, but not much California drought conditions (As of May 14) D3-Drought (extreme) D0-Abnormally dry D1-Drought (moderate) Capital Press graphic D4-Drought (exceptional) D2-Drought (severe) • Roza District looking for water; forecast drops Source: National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Legend Intensity of drought by percent area affected Date Current 3 mo. ago 1 yr. ago None 0.1% 0.2 0 D0-4 99.9 99.8 100 D1-4 98.3 98.1 100 D2-4 93.9 93.4 100 • WSDA estimates statewide drought to cost farmers $1.2 billion D3-4 66.6 67.5 76.7 D4 46.8 40 24.8 From right, Louie Columbini, gen- eral manager of Westside Farmers Cooperative Gin Inc. in Tranquility, Calif., talks with grower Gary Beene and his sons, Brent and Brad Beene. Cotton acreage in western Fresno County has been devastated in recent years because of water cutbacks. • Western landowners can apply for drought mitigation funding $2.00 Tim Hearden Capital Press Turn to GMO, Page 12 Idaho ranchers report dry range By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press IDAHO Mont. Idaho Big Desert region 15 28 93 33 33 22 John O’Connell/Capital Press 20 Brian Lebrecht herds his cattle from his Bureau of Land Management grazing allotment in the Arco Desert near Aberdeen, Idaho, back to private ground on May 11. He moved them to irrigated pasture a month early due to the extremely dry range conditions. National Monument — are among the state’s most drought-stressed regions, according to BLM. “There are concerns all over the state because of the conditions of these range lands,” said Stan Boyd, execu- tive director of the Idaho Wool Grow- ers Association. “Everybody expects an early fi re season.” The Lebrechts moved their cattle Turn to DRY, Page 12 26 NAT’L MON. & PRESERVE ake Sn Pocatello e r ABERDEEN, Idaho — Wulf Leb- recht and his son Brian couldn’t fi nd enough forage this spring to sustain 53 cow-calf pairs within their 50,000- acre Bureau of Land Management al- lotment in Eastern Idaho’s Big Desert. Though recent isolated showers have revived patches of grazing land throughout the state following a dry and warm winter, storms have missed other areas, leaving them bone-dry and devoid of forage. Southwest Idaho’s Owyhee region and the Big Desert — which offers critical spring grazing terrain spanning roughly 75 miles long and 40 miles wide north of American Falls, south of State Highway 28/22/33 and west of Idaho Falls to Craters of the Moon Area in detail Ri v 15 N 84 25 miles Alan Kenaga/Capital Press