As farmers statewide prepare for anticipated cutbacks to groundwater under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, they are trying to stretch every drop of water to stay in business. Merced County farmer Benina Montes, owner of Burroughs Family Farms, planted cover crops between rows of almond, walnut and olive trees at her farm near […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed changes to how milk should be priced have been characterized as a mixed bag for dairy farmers, with some reforms impacting California producers more negatively than those in other states. Released earlier this month, USDA’s recommended decision came after the department considered 21 proposals that sought updates to pricing […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications starting on Monday, July 1 through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as H5N1infection in their dairy herds. USDA’s […]
A sprawling heat dome put more than 30 million people across the Western U.S. under excessive heat advisories last week, triggering warnings from the National Weather Service about the danger of extreme heat to human health and potential impacts on “heat-sensitive industries.” Over the past two decades, heat illness awareness and prevention has become a […]
On Friday, May 31, 2024, the Superior Court of Yolo County released an Order denying all claims in the Friends of the River v. Sites Project Authority case. In late 2023, six environmental organizations, Friends of the River, Center for Biological Diversity, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, California Water Impact Network, Save California Salmon, and Sierra […]
Directors of the Kings County Water District (KCWD) voted unanimously to sever the district’s relationship with the embattled Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency at a special meeting Wednesday, May 29. The change will take effect in 60 days on July 28. The departure caused an outcry from members of the agricultural community and municipal representatives. […]
The 2024 California Almond Forecast published Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) estimates that the crop harvested in 2024 will come in at 3 billion pounds, 21 percent higher than last year’s 2.47 billion pounds. Forecasted yield is 2,170 pounds per acre, up 380 pounds from the 2023 harvest. […]
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday presented his revised state budget plan, including spending cuts to address California’s historic budget deficit. In his presentation, the governor also said California should live within its means and avoid raising taxes. California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass commented on budget challenges affecting water priorities for agriculture. She noted that […]
To limit the spread of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in livestock, all lactating dairy cows must test negative for the virus before they can cross state lines under new requirements by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The federal order, which took effect Monday, excludes heifers, dry cows and bull calves. Culled cows going to […]
Facing challenging times, California’s almond industry is looking to expand foreign export markets and increase the diversity of almond products in domestic supermarkets. That is the strategic roadmap outlined by Almond Board of California President and CEO Clarice Turner. In a media briefing this month commemorating her first 100 days at the helm of the […]