Sustainable Conservation, a San Francisco- and Modesto-based non-profit, has developed two key resources to inform on-farm recharge practices that are protective of water quality. Over 600,000 Californians rely on nitrate-contaminated public supply wells for their household water needs. Many others struggle with contaminated groundwater from private, domestic wells – so the numbers are even greater. Recharging groundwater with water quality …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in California is reminding producers and landowners that the signup deadline for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) current general signup is fast approaching. Eligible producers must submit their offers by July 23, 2021. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) made several changes to CRP to make it more appealing to all producers, including those who …

Nisei Farmers League — The U. S. House of Representative passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021. NFL President Manuel Cunha stated, “Unfortunately, their version of the legislation did not include employees of packing house or processing facilities under the definition of ‘agricultural labor or services.’ It is our desire to expand the definition to include employees vital to our community …

On Monday, July 12, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that provides $100 million in initial budget funding toward restoring the capacity of the Friant-Kern Canal and the other major canals named in Senate Bill (SB) 559. A significant portion of this funding will be available for the Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project, which the Friant Water Authority …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced today an investment of over $7 million in research grants to U.S. Non-Land-grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA). These grants aim to increase research, education, and outreach capacity at Non-Land-grant Institutions to support development of the innovations and workforce needed to sustain the agriculture industry in the …

Jim Razor had little inkling how much the key agronomic principles he learned 30 years ago in his Fresno State classes on weeds and vegetable crops would serve him every day. After he graduated with a plant science degree in 1990, he began a career as a pest control adviser and is now vice president for J.G. Boswell Company, an …

With over 40,000 vaccinations administered to farm workers through the combined efforts of the Grower Shipper Association of Central California (GSA) and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS), this partnership has added smaller clinics for essential workers and will also provide vaccines to children and families of farm workers at farms and facilities. “Over the last five months, …

Field Fresh Farms (fieldfreshproduce.com), a leading grower/shipper of conventional and organic produce, will be introducing its new baby hemp greens product at PMA Foodservice at booth 506 in Monterey, CA July 21-22. Available as a baby leaf offering and as an ingredient in leafy green mixes—to both foodservice and retail—this specialty, new-to-market salad green is packed with nutrients (including Omegas …

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced chef finalists in the inaugural CADairy2Go foodservice competition – a spotlight on “to-go” meal innovation. The competition, which will award prize money totaling $22,500 for creative use of California cheese and dairy in off premise dishes, will culminate with a live cook off event July 28that the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, …