USDA Announces $20 Million Grant Available For California Drought Relief Max Pringle State Of Drought Tuesday, February 4, 2014 | Sacramento, CA Listen / Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin. Richard Croft / Wikimedia The USDA will fund the grant through a federal sustainable agriculture program set up to help farmers save water and lessen their impact on the environment. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says cropland with at least 85 percent less water than normal will be given priority. “They may want to improve their irrigation system,” says Vilsack. “They may want to stabilize that fallow ground that can’t be farmed to avoid soil erosion. They may want to improve their watering facilities for livestock.” Projects like rehabilitating existing springs and using cover crops to enrich soil will also be funded under the grant. The money is part of the federal government’s Climate Action Plan to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The last day to apply for federal assistance is March 3rd. Related StoriesCalifornia Campaign Finance Regulator Resigns Before ElectionMay 30, 2018Fair Political Practices Commission chairperson Jodi Remke announced Tuesday that she will step down on Friday. It follows months of acrimony with other commissioners.California Senator Tony Mendoza Resigns After Sexual Harassment Investigation, But Says He'll Run For Re-ElectionFebruary 22, 2018His resignation followed an outside investigation, which found that Mendoza likely engaged in "flirtatious or sexually suggestive" behavior with six different women, including former staffers and fellows. The allegations date back to 2007. Report: California Senator Tony Mendoza ‘More Likely Than Not’ Made Sexual Advances Toward Six WomenFebruary 20, 2018A summary of the Senate’s outside investigation comes after the chamber’s Rules Committee met in closed session to discuss Mendoza’s fate for the second weekday in a row. Window For Sexual Harassment Complaints Could Widen Under New BillsJanuary 18, 2018New legislative efforts supporting the “Me Too” anti-harassment movement could change the reporting process for victims filing complaints.Women In Calif. Politics Share What They'd Like To See ChangeOctober 26, 2017Women in California politics, protesting sexual harassment and abuse at the Capitol, distrust the response from legislative leaders. Follow us for more stories like this CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today. Donate Today
