October 5,2108-
Good Start – Springville/Giant Forest get 3 inches of precipitation
The storm that passed through Tulare County this week dropped 3 inches of precipitation in Springville at the Tule power station. On the Kaweah Giant Forest also saw more than 3 inches of rain on the 3rd and 4th of October.On the San Joaquin River – Kaiser point is registering 0.84 inches and a inch of snow today. Up north Shasta Dam has recorded 1.4 inches so far this month.
Finally, better prices for raisin growers
Raisin acreage in the Central Valley has dropped from over 273 thousand acres in 1999 to under 150 thousand acres in 2018. The drop in supply has helped push up raisin prices for those left farming to over $2000 per ton this year year.In 2016 raisin growers received closer to $1100 per ton.
Dairies still struggling
Some 13 Tulare county dairies went out of business in 2017 say ag commissioner Marilyn Wright. And more in 2018 with two large ones in the past few weeks and a smaller operation this month. Dairies are looking forward to the change to a new federal marketing order hoping it will make a difference .In the meantime as if we did not have enough butter from US cows Ireland has been flooding the US with butter says USDA .July butter imports hit an all-time high s the U.S. imported a record 7.5 million pounds of butter that month, breaking the record from May 2004. Of that, 5.8 million pounds came from Ireland.
Taking a cue from raisin growers, dairymen are trying to to cull their herd to help reduce the oversupply. For the week ending September 15, dairy cow slaughter reached 63,456 head, up 4.8% from the same week a year ago.There are 14,000 fewer cows in California than there were a year ago.
Dead citrus tree removal
Concerned about HLB ,Tulare County, is working with preppy power to remove dead citrus trees as soon as possible.
The problem is biggest near Porterville and Terra Bella.
So far land with 400 acres of dead and dying citrus trees have been removed by property owners.
Big Beef recall
Some 6.5 million pounds of beef has been recalled after salmonella scare: Arizona meat processor JBS Tolleson Inc. recalled 6.5 million pounds of raw beef products that might be contaminated with salmonella, after USDA found 57 cases of the illness across 16 states. Some of that beef came to California where it was pulled form supermarket shelves.
Work Starts to raise Shasta dam
Congress has earmarked $20 million for pre-construction work and design on raising Shasta dam and the work is underway.
Increasing the height of the dam 18½ feet will allow the Bureau of Reclamation to store an additional 630,000 acre-feet of water, adding 14 percent to the lake’s capacity.
Kaweah Delta to knock down Acequia eateries
Kaweah Dealt hospital plans to flatten the former Docs Drive in well as the Checker’s Hamburgers on Acequia according to an application to the city. The demo will make room for more parking.
Visalia brewery expands
Moose Dog Brewing is proposing to expand at 9626 W. Nicholas Ave in the Industrial Park, adding more production and potential tap room space.
Gun store coming to Tulare
Turner’s Outdoorsman Fresno opened in the former location of Herb Bauer Sporting Goods .Now Turner is coming to Tulare doing a 6,200sf tenant improvement located on Prosperity near then Habit Burger.
New Tulare RV Park
Tulare RV Park is a proposed 167 site RV Park with clubhouse, fitness center, pool and laundry facility on approximately 16 acres to be located at the NEC of Retherford Street and Corvina Avenue
Betty Drive is open and ready to let traffic roll.
The Betty Drive Interchange on State Route 99 is now open, with work only remaining on the westbound ramp to Southbound 99 loop on-ramp. Work is scheduled to be completed with a full opening tomorrow, Monday, September 17th. “There is some remaining work to be done with striping and removal of K-rail, but other than that, Betty Drive is open for traffic,” shared Christian Lukens, Caltrans District 6 Information Officer.
Caltrans is planning a ribbon cutting ceremony for early October.