With cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cows rapidly rising in California, animal health officials continue to try to contain the spread, even as they remain flummoxed by how the virus moves among herds. Based on genetic information of the virus, officials say it appears migratory waterfowl initially introduced H5N1 bird flu to […]
As almond harvest continues statewide, growers say they are focused on their bottom lines, looking for ways to diversify their crop portfolios and identify other income to shore up narrowing profit margins due to lower prices and higher costs. “Cost controls are the biggest problem, so the price you get is absolutely a major factor,” […]
World Ag Expo® offers a look into the latest in innovation and education through the return of the Top-10 New Products contest and Seminar Series. Exhibitors and industry experts can now apply to put their mark on the 2025 show. The Top-10 New Products Competition at World Ag Expo provides a glimpse into cutting-edge technology […]
The plan to build California’s first new major reservoir in decades advances as the state considers whether to issue a water-right permit for the proposed Sites Reservoir, an off-stream water storage project that could store up to 1.5 million acre-feet annually. The California State Water Resources Control Board last week began a public hearing process […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in collaboration with County Agricultural Commissioners, are proud to announce that after a year of hard work we have eradicated all populations of invasive fruit flies from California. This significant achievement is a […]
With more California walnut orchards being removed, the outlook for the industry is expected to improve as growers try to balance supply and demand. But such efforts alone will not be enough to put them on a fast track to market recovery and profitability, analysts suggest. A new report by RaboResearch Food and Agribusiness says […]
With some of the state’s major agricultural commodities struggling and farmers and ranchers facing increasing economic and regulatory pressures, California farm leaders say the industry will continue to lose farms as more are squeezed out and few people enter the business. In a meeting last week of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, […]
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) awarded Westlands Water District (District), a $1,000,000 grant as part of DWR’s Flood Diversion Recharge (FDRE) Initiative. This grant will assist the State’s efforts to reduce flooding by increasing flood flow diversion volumes to recharge areas and expand local capacity to divert future flood waters. These efforts in […]
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation moved closer this month to finalizing a new regulation that would provide advance public notice of restricted-use pesticide applications on farms. During the past few weeks, the department held public meetings and accepted a final round of comments on the proposed rule it has been developing since 2021. DPR […]
Lisa Tate, a fifth-generation grower in Santa Paula, said she knew something was amiss in a block of young avocado trees planted on her family’s ranch. She had a hunch that too much water was sitting in the root zone after a second year of above-average rainfall. It was still spring, and her crew suggested […]