From small plots to vast ranches, California’s farmland attracts investment from all over the world. But as drought and climate change provoke anxiety over water and natural resources, state legislators are proposing new restrictions. State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Sanger, introduced a bill April 24 to bar foreign governments and government-controlled enterprises from purchasing agricultural land […]
The onset of warm temperatures is accelerating snowmelt and triggering worries about continued flooding in the Central Valley from historic snowpack accumulated during winter and spring storms. In Tulare County, farm fields have been inundated as floodwaters and, now, more rapidly melting snow fill lowlands of the former Tulare Lake. Kings County Agricultural Commissioner Jimmy […]
Growers in Tulare County normally would be enjoying harvest and fragrant orange blossoms this time of year. But last month’s flooding is requiring an extensive cleanup operation and is a major challenge for the state’s top citrus-growing region. Flooding from multiple levee breaks in the east county Yokohl Creek carried away newly planted trees, ripped […]
Today, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) announced an increase in water allocations for the Central Valley Project (CVP). Last month, Reclamation increased the CVP allocation to 80% for contractors like Westlands Water District (Westlands) following an initial allocation of 35% of the water entitled to under contract. Today’s announcement brings the total up to 100% […]
After recognizing six exceptional California teachers as finalists through the Golden Owl Award, the California FFA Foundation, in partnership with Nationwide and the California Farm Bureau, selected Jason Ferreira, agricultural teacher at Hanford High School, as California’s 2022-2023 “Ag Educator of the Year.” Ferreira was formally recognized as the Golden Owl Award grand prize winner […]
Months of heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding have dealt a new financial blow to California farmers as they come out of a multiyear drought that had them fallowing land and plowing under crops due to water shortages. They now face flooded fields, waterlogged plants, crop delays and property damage. From dairies and orchards in the […]
World Ag Expo® served up more than 70 educational seminars in 2023, and they will be available online by the end of March. Sessions on dairy and livestock, international trade, ag tech, and more are being made available for free at https://bit.ly/WAE23VideosOnDemand. To access the agriculture content, viewers will need to log in with their […]
Today, the Board of Directors of Westlands Water District (District) named Allison Febbo as the next General Manager. With nearly 25 years of experience in natural resources, hydrology, and water operations, Ms. Febbo will be the first woman to serve the District as General Manager. “We are thrilled to welcome Allison Febbo to the Westlands […]
We congratulate the outstanding student artists in this year’s Farm Bureau Calendar Art Contest! An awards ceremony was held with the Tulare County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 21, at 9:00 am during National Agriculture Week, in the Tulare County Board of Supervisor’s Chambers, for the first time in-person since 2019. Students received cash […]
The California Farm Bureau today joined various California counties and forestry and wood products organizations in filing a legal brief seeking to intervene in defense of the U.S. Forest Service’s use of a critical retardant used in wildfire suppression. The Farm Bureau’s decision to intervene in the case is in response to litigation challenging the […]