Storms bring water and havoc to farms

Historic storms have hammered California for more than two weeks, causing widespread flooding, road closures, power outages and evacuations in numerous counties. As the state received roughly five times its average rainfall, the deluge offered water relief for drought-stricken farmlands. But the storms also inflicted a harsh toll on agriculture. Since Dec. 31, showers, mudslides […]

Agricultural Community Honors 6 Valley Women – Blattler to Receive Honorary Award

Six astonishing women have been selected as the recipients of the prestigious Common Threads Award, which honors women in agriculture for their remarkable contributions to agriculture and philanthropic stewardship. The honorees for 2023 include: Aubrey Bettencourt, Hanford Holly Rosa, Hanford Juanita Calzadillas-Pedrozo, Merced Lucy Areias, Fresno Nanette Simonian, Fowler Sheri Kanagawa, Hanford Honorary Award – Tricia […]

Report: California on path to significant dairy methane reduction

The California Dairy Research Foundation and University of California, Davis CLEAR Center announced on Dec. 14 the release of a new analysis of methane reduction progress titled “Meeting the Call: How California is Pioneering a Pathway to Significant Dairy Sector Methane Reduction.” The paper, authored by researchers at UC Davis affiliated with UC Agriculture and […]

Conversion to organics could increase food prices, shrink farm profits

A European Union policy goal to exponentially increase organic farming to 30% of all agricultural production by 2030 is expected to be considered by Gov. Gavin Newsom for next year’s budget. However, a new economic analysis says such a plan would dramatically increase the price of food for many consumers and jeopardize the solvency of […]

Efforts to protect groundwater are tested by drought

Balancing the state’s groundwater supplies for a sustainable future may not be easy due to severe drought and ongoing economic challenges facing farmers. “We’ve got the lowest prices and highest production costs and the least-reliable water supply that we’ve had since I’ve been farming,” said Bill Diedrich of Firebaugh, who farms row crops and permanent […]

Farmers brace for water cuts to help river

As the Colorado River water crisis deepens amid withering drought in the West, Imperial Valley growers with historic rights to water from the river are making calculations on whether to farm or fallow. This month, the Imperial Irrigation District, which supplies Colorado River water to farmers in America’s largest growing region for winter vegetables, joined […]