Ca. Water Allocations Up and FCC on Importance of AM Radio in EVs

**California farmers are expected to see increased federal water allocations this year, as winter storms bolster the Sierra Nevada snowpack and water levels rise in reservoirs.

The Bureau of Reclamation has announced an initial allocation of 35% of contracted water supplies for agricultural customers south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The February 22 announcement was welcome news after officials provided zero allocations for agriculture in both 2021 and 22.

**The National Association of Conservation Districts released policy recommendations for the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill.

The NACD’s Farm Bill Task Force has convened more than a dozen times and their most important priority is for Congress to keep conservation investments provided by the Inflation Reduction Act in the farm bill conservation programs.

The recommendations also push back against one-size-fits-all policies, the addition of national carve-outs within programs, and limitations on conservation practices.

**Nathan Simington, a Commissioner for the Federal Communications Commission, spoke out on the continued importance of AM radio to public safety.

He says the issue of continuing to include AM radios in electric vehicles deserves urgent attention.

Simington says, “As electric vehicle adoption increases, we must not leave behind those in rural areas who depend on radio for their news and alerts.”

He also believes the FCC has a duty to make clear how valuable AM radio is to its listeners.