California Water Use Challenge and International Sweetener Symposium

California Water Use Challenge and International Sweetener Symposium

This is your agribusiness update from the Ag Information Network.

**State and federal agencies face the challenge of balancing farmers’ profitable water needs with the needs of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem in the face of difficult weather conditions.

A new environmental impact statement is being drafted for the Bureau of Reclamation to impact the operation of California’s two main water systems, which pump water south to tens of millions of people and millions of acres of farmland.

Comments are due by September 9.

**In a bipartisan demonstration of support for U.S. sugar policy, Representatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon and Rick Larsen and Dan Newhouse of Washington spoke at the

International Sweetener Symposium in Seattle.

Each of them emphasized the importance of agriculture for their region of the country.

Sugar production has a significant impact on the economy of the Pacific Northwest.

In Washington, sugar beets have an annual economic impact of $28 million, and in Oregon, $128 million.

**Global trading group Cargill plans to streamline its operations after missing its internal earnings targets.

Reuters reports that agricultural traders such as privately held Cargill are facing challenges as crop prices approach four-year lows and margins on crop processing shrink.

Effective September 1, Cargill will transform from five businesses into three: Food, Agriculture & Trading and a Specialized Portfolio.

Cargill has presented a plan but has not provided any details.

www.agrimarketing.com/s/150706