California Water Management and Former ASPCA Chief Hammers Charity

**Improving data practices to best manage California’s water resources helped drive discussions last week as state and local water managers, farmers, environmentalists and others gathered in Sacramento for the California Irrigation Institute Conference.

With a theme of “Fluid Futures: Adapting to Extremes,” the February 26-27 event focused on leveraging information and data technology to make water-management decisions.

**The former president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is speaking out against the animal charity, which only gives 2% of its budget to local animal shelters.

Former ASPCA chief, Ed Sayres tells www.agrimarketing.com the grant program is now down to about $5 million a year for pet shelters when they have revenue of $390 million.

Sayres, telling his story in a three-part video series, says his ASPCA successors have lost their way.

www.agrimarketing.com/s/148675

**Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $2.3 billion to move forward on clean energy investments in 23 states to reduce pollution and strengthen rural America’s power grid.

This includes the first five awards totaling $139 million under the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program.

Secretary Vilsack also announced $2.2 billion for 39 projects to help ensure people in rural areas have access to reliable electricity.

For more, go to USDA.gov.