Government Initiatives to Support Rural Californians
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
Here are a few government related ag updates brought to you by the California Farm Bureau Federation.
Farmers and ranchers are increasingly adopting technology designed to improve their understanding of crop and soil conditions and run their businesses more efficiently. The challenge is that, in many rural areas of the state and the country, broadband access is spotty—if it’s even available. That affects not only farming, but rural residents’ access to health care and education. State and federal leaders are working on ways to help fill the gaps.
New federal grants will help teachers across the country integrate food and agricultural sciences into their classes. Funds will also encourage students to explore career paths in food and agriculture and help them find mentors. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has invested $6.2 million in these professional-development agriculture grants for teachers in kindergarten through grade 14.
Residents of San Andreas will soon get an upgrade to the area’s 40-year-old water-supply system, thanks to loans and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This project will resolve an issue with high arsenic levels dating back to 2011. The USDA is investing $307 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 34 states and Puerto Rico, as part of the largest investment in clean drinking water in American history.
[Source: California Farm Bureau Federation]