Blog Archives - BWTL

Episode 18 - News from Washington

1/27/2017

Episode Highlights:

[3:05] Check out our Twitter account: @bwtlpodcast.
[6:05] Trump and the EPA - back in 2015, President Trump spoke about how EPA is harming his hair. He was referencing the showerheads promoted by EPA's WaterSense program.
- EPA does not require WaterSense products be used, but some states or local governments may make a regulation that requires such products.
[9:50] EPA Administrator - Scott Pruitt is still going through the nomination process.
[11:36] Secretary of the Interior - Ryan Zinke's nomination has still not been voted on but all signs point to him being confirmed as well.
[11:52] Secretary of Agriculture - Sunny Perdue's confirmation hearing will not take place until mid-to-late February.
[13:30] Executive Orders - President Trump has signed numerous executive orders during his first week, including one about pipelines.
- This EO advances the Dakota Access Pipeline and Keystone XL. The process will now be in place to move these projects forward.
[17:35] Social media and the presidency - With the new administration in place, they have started putting some holds on releasing information.
- The original restrictions on USDA and the Agriculture Research Service were lifted though.
[20:43] Farm Bill update - The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold its first farm bill hearing on Feb. 23, 2017. This hearing will take place in Kansas.
[22:50] Infrastructure Projects - there was a leaked list of priority infrastructure projects.

Episode 17 - Current Events and Water in 2017

1/19/2017

Episode Highlights:

[3:57] John builds off our last podcast on workforce development - attended manufacturing conference early this week and workforce was a big topic of discussion.
- Workforce shortage in manufacturing: the messaging coming out of associations representing manufacturing businesses is that jobs are available and they are looking for a qualified workforce.
- Bringing more jobs back to the United States may not actually be the issue. There are jobs but they may not be in the right areas of the United States.
[8:50] Update on President Trump Administration - going through confirmation process for cabinet nominees now.
- Both EPA Administrator and Interior nominees should be confirmed.
- As of today, there is also an official nominee for agriculture secretary: Sonny Perdue.
- [12:44] During Scott Pruitt's confirmation hearing the Waters of the United States Rule was part of the questioning. Pruitt understands people's concerns with the rule.
  
  However, he did mentioned the fact that the Supreme Court did take up a matter of jurisdiction may add complications to ending the rule.
[15:15] Nearly half of California is now out of drought - water suppliers seek end to emergency conservation regulation.
- No place in California is in exceptional drought.
- Snow pack is at a great level for this time of year.
- Balancing how to keep long-term drought solutions without keeping the regulations that did not help conserve water.
  - John uses the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as an example.
[25:00] Coca-Cola replenishes all the water it uses globally - company and its bottling partners meet 2020 water replenishment goal five years early

Episode 16 - Workforce Development

1/13/2017

Mission: Promoting careers in irrigation

Episode Highlights:

[1:04] Welcome IA Foundation and Administration Director Janine Sparrowgrove - In this episode, we focus on her role with the Irrigation Foundation.
[1:56] Foundation's mission is to promote careers in irrigation - Programs help support this mission, including:
- Faculty Academy - the goal of this program is to reach those that are training our workforce (college professors and some high school teachers now) to help give them the knowledge they need to teach their students. There are currently two faculty academies - one focused on landscape irrigation and the other focused on agriculture irrigation.
  - 2017 Agriculture Faculty Academy: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension on June 8 - 9.
  - 2017 Landscape Faculty Academy: Disney World Horticulture Services on June 15 - 16.
[6:48] How the Irrigation Association & Irrigation Foundation Overlap - IA's new strategic plan includes workforce development.
- See past episodes to learn more about the association's work:
  - Episode 7 - Certification
  - Episode 8 - Irrigation Industry
  - Episode 12 - Irrigation Show
- Workforce is an issue we see throughout the irrigation industry (agriculture listening sessions and survey of irrigation contractors).
- Brent saw this firsthand earlier this week at the Northern Green Expo while walking the trade show floor. Many booths had large help wanted signs and he heard people speaking about how "there is a demand in all aspects of the landscape industry for qualified, trained people."
[15:16] Irrigation Foundation Vision Statement - The Foundation strives for a future where the irrigation industry is thriving with an ample supply of educated, highly skilled professionals who employ technology and best practices to provide efficient irrigation solutions that protect water and the environment.
- Foundation programs run off of this vision statement:
  - E3 Program - Exposure, Experience & Education - bring students to the Irrigation Show. At the 2016 show, 23 students came and networked with others in the industry and look at new technologies.
  - Irrigation Career Link - Job bank where job seekers can put up their resumes.
  - [20:10] Scholarship Program - New program that will award scholarships ranging from $1,000 - $2,500. Deadline to apply is Feb. 15, 2017.
[21:33] Update on the California Drought - Is California out of drought?
- Appears to be over in the Northern part of California - may get to Southern California but right now they are still in extreme drought.
- Last week: 19% of California drought-free. This week: 35% drought-free. The entire state was in drought 3 months ago. See below graphic of the Drought Monitor from a Washington Post article.

California Drought Monitor
Changes from October 11, 2016 and then in January 2017

Washington Post graphic.