blog post Commentary: Can San Joaquin Valley Agriculture Survive with Less Irrigation? Here Are Ways To Do It By Caitlin Peterson Aug 5, 2022 Water-limited crops can be a challenge to grow in the San Joaquin Valley. But where water is scarce they could offer a good alternative to fallowing—and provide other benefits.
blog post Commentary: San Joaquin Valley’s Next Big Air Pollution Threat—Blowing Dust from Fallowed Farmland By Andrew Ayres, Jaymin Kwon Jul 25, 2022 Without careful stewardship, widespread farmland fallowing could create a surge in windblown dust in the San Joaquin Valley. Read our recent op-ed about how the valley can get ahead of this problem.
Report Land Transitions and Dust in the San Joaquin Valley By Andrew Ayres, Jaymin Kwon, Joy Collins Jul 20, 2022 Agricultural operations and wind erosion are two of the largest sources of dust in the San Joaquin Valley, and the valley’s air quality may decline with increased farmland fallowing and a warmer, drier climate. This will impact low-income, rural communities first and foremost, but proactive management can help identify high-risk areas and direct funding to cost-effective interventions.
Report Exploring the Potential for Water-Limited Agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley By Caitlin Peterson, Cameron Pittelkow, Mark Lundy Jul 20, 2022 As irrigated farmland comes out of production in the San Joaquin Valley, valley residents will face increased pests, weeds, and dust—as well as a loss of employment and economic activity. Water-limited cropping is one alternative to fallowing that can improve soil health and air quality, create habitat, and keep land in production.
Report Employment Patterns for CalFresh Adults By Tess Thorman, Caroline Danielson Jul 13, 2022 CalFresh provides food assistance to about 4.5 million low-income Californians. While many adults who access CalFresh are working, their jobs may be temporary or unstable. Understanding changes in employment before, during, and after adults enroll in CalFresh can help policymakers and administrators better align the program with workers’ needs.
blog post Video: Health Care Access among California’s Farmworkers By Stephanie Barton Jun 29, 2022 PPIC’s Paulette Cha presents new research on how recent policy changes affected insurance coverage and access to health care for farmworkers, and discusses farmworker health with an expert panel.
event Health Care Access among California’s Farmworkers Jun 23, 2022 Farmworkers are a key link in the food supply chain and important contributors to California’s economy. As farmworkers age and settle with family, their health care needs are changing—and cost and lack of insurance are often barriers to care. PPIC researcher Paulette Cha will present findings from a recent report and moderate a panel discussion on policies that could insure more farmworkers, and on health concerns farmworkers faced with COVID-19.
blog post Health Risks Persist for Older Farmworkers as COVID Lingers By Paulette Cha Jun 16, 2022 The aging of California’s farmworker population means greater health care needs, especially as the pandemic continues. Low-income farmworkers who are undocumented immigrants may lack access to essential services.
blog post California’s Unemployment Gaps Have Narrowed during the Pandemic By Sarah Bohn May 19, 2022 Racial and regional disparities in unemployment have narrowed over the course of the pandemic—a sign that the state might be on the path toward an equitable recovery.
Fact Sheet The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta By Jeffrey Mount, Ellen Hanak, Greg Gartrell May 18, 2022 The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta is California’s largest estuary and a vital hub in the state’s water supply system. Three interlinked issues currently face the Delta: an increasingly unreliable water supply, a decline in ecosystem health, and a fragile system of levees. Learn more about this key watershed in our new fact sheet.