Nation's Produce Basket at Risk: Scientists to Forecast Impacts of California Drought through 2016 at National Press Club Newsmaker News Conference

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Jul 11, 2014, 11:52 ET

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- University of California scientists will update and expand their forecast of the California drought's economic impacts on agriculture at a National Press Club Newsmaker news conference on Tuesday, July 15, in the club's Zenger Room at 11 a.m. Eastern time, 8 a.m. Pacific and 9 a.m. Central. The event also will be webcast live at www.visualwebcaster.com/CAdrought

New data shows where the drought is hitting California growers hardest and how the state's uniquely unmanaged system of groundwater pumping threatens further losses in farm production, income and jobs in the nation's richest agricultural state.

The UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences study updates estimates of the drought's economic effects in the previously released report on the Central Valley farm belt, presents new data on the state's coastal and southern farm regions and projects acres fallowed, wells drying up, jobs lost and agricultural dollars lost through 2016. The drought is likely to stretch to a fourth straight year, through 2015, if not longer – regardless of El Niño conditions.

California produces nearly half of U.S. grown fruits, nuts and vegetables and nearly a quarter of the nation's milk and cream. Across the nation, consumers regularly buy several crops grown almost entirely in California, including tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, almonds, walnuts, grapes, olives and figs.

Speakers:

Richard Howitt, UC Davis professor emeritus of agricultural and natural resource economics
Jay Lund, director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences
Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture

Like all Newsmaker events, this news conference is open to all credentialed media and club members at no charge.

CONTACT:
Dianne Saenz, Newsmaker event moderator
[email protected], 703.362.7505 (cell) or 202.857.2370 (office)

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SOURCE National Press Club