CA Water Quality Regs and USDA invest in domestic fertilizers

**Farmers in San Diego County claim that the proposed regulations on water quality on commercial farms are burdensome, expensive and create duplication of 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.

**Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA is investing in domestic fertilizer projects to strengthen competition for American 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.

**During Atlantic hurricane season Starting tomorrow, some meteorologists are concerned about the 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.”