California water quality regulations and the USDA are investing in domestic fertilizers

This is your agribusiness update from the Ag Information Network.

**Farmers in San Diego County say proposed regulations on water quality on commercial farms are burdensome, costly and duplicate work for farmers participating in other regulatory programs.

The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board has released a proposed draft that establishes new monitoring and reporting requirements for nitrogen use and removal.

Local farmers say the proposed requirements apply to large farms in other regions, not small farms in San Diego County.

**Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is investing in domestic fertilizer projects to strengthen competition for U.S. agriculture.

USDA is awarding $83 million in 12 states through the Fertilizer Production and Expansion Program for projects that provide grants to independent business owners to help upgrade equipment, implement new technologies, build manufacturing plants and more.

Vilsack says the investments will increase domestic fertilizer production and strengthen our supply chain.

**With the Atlantic hurricane season starting tomorrow, some meteorologists fear there is a serious threat of rapidly intensifying storms this year.

AccuWeather chief hurricane forecaster Alex DaSilva says rapidly intensifying tropical storms and hurricanes are the main threat along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

DaSilva says: “The warmer the oceans are, the more favorable the environment will be for the development and intensification of tropical crops.”