California’s Good-Bad Water Supply and New Dairy Cattle Testing Rules

**Heavy rainstorms this spring have boosted California’s water supply for farming but have dampened farmers market attendance and crop selection.

While grocery stores are stocking imported summer fruits and vegetables, farmers market produce remains in transition, with many farms still selling cool-season offerings like broccoli, cauliflower, hard squash, beets and navel oranges.

More fragile crops like strawberries have taken a beating from the wet weather.

**The USDA is funding more than 700 clean energy projects to help lower energy bills, expand domestic biofuels, create new jobs, and find new market opportunities for agriculture.

Deputy Secretary Xochitl (so-CHEEL) Torres Small announced more than $238 million in loans and grants available through the Rural Energy for America Program and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.

$194 million in loans and grants will be available to support projects in 35 states and Puerto Rico.

**The USDA has mandated testing for H5N1 of dairy cattle that cross state lines in a move to protect the U.S. livestock industry.

Before interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive a negative test for Influenza A virus at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory.

For interstate movement, owners of herds in which dairy cattle test positive will be required to provide epidemiological information, including animal movement tracing.