The California State Beekeepers Association is excited to announce a new effort aimed at preventing the rapidly expanding number of hive theft incidents that continue to jeopardize California’s agricultural production and increase food costs. “California has experienced an 87% increase in hive thefts since 2013 with loss to beekeepers estimated at over $3.5 million. Beekeepers […]
To reduce nitrates and ensure that people have access to safe drinking water, the state has proposed tighter water quality requirements for all California dairies that collect dairy waste and apply it to land. The dairy general waste discharge requirements regulate only existing milk-cow dairies in the Central Valley region. But the draft order, if […]
California has dropped its landmark rule that would have phased out nearly all diesel trucks in the coming years, the California Air Resources Board announced earlier this month. The “first-in-the-world” rule, called Advanced Clean Fleets, was adopted in 2023 and was set to ban the sale of new medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks, including the […]
Blake Wilbur, whose family has farmed in Tulare County for four generations, grew up hearing stories of his grandfather’s artesian wells, the water bubbling to the surface without being pumped and irrigating the family’s cotton, wheat and barley. “It almost sounds mythical at this point,” said Wilbur, who runs a dairy and grows almonds, pistachios […]
Scores of farmworkers stayed home last week amid an immigration enforcement operation conducted in Kern County by U.S. Border Patrol. Immigration experts said it was the largest operation by an immigration enforcement agency in the Central Valley in years. The operation was carried out by Border Patrol’s El Centro sector, which is based in the […]
Despite economic challenges for those in the almond business, the Almond Board of California painted an optimistic outlook for the industry, emphasizing the organization’s ongoing efforts to build demand for the nut by easing trade barriers and making new strides in marketing, innovation and research. In a presentation about the state of the industry during […]
The results are in for World Ag Expo’s® 2025 Top-10 New Products Contest. The winners will be showcased February 11-13, 2025 during the World Ag Expo® in Tulare, California. The impressive field of new products was submitted by exhibitors, showcasing innovations ranging from simple solutions to advanced technologies. The competition was evaluated by a panel […]
Ten years into the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, local agencies are implementing plans and projects to achieve long-term sustainability in aquifers by limiting overdraft, land subsidence and impacts to drinking water. Navigating SGMA challenges, including the probation process under the California State Water Resources Control Board and how to fund and implement […]
Applications are now open for the “We Believe in Growing” scholarship, presented by E.M. Tharp and World Ag Expo®. The scholarship was created to support agriculture education and inspire students from the Central Valley to pursue careers in agriculture. The scholarship is available to high school seniors from Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Kern counties. […]
The Annual World Ag Expo® is slated to make its return in February, naming Connie Conway as the 2025 Show Chairman. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter, as she will lead efforts to shape the upcoming show. “I am both excited and honored to serve as the 2025 World Ag Expo® Chairman,” said Conway. […]