Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a $5.1 billion package of immediate drought response and long-term water resilience investments to address immediate, emergency needs, build regional capacity to endure drought and safeguard water supplies for communities, the economy and the environment. The Governor’s proposal comes as part of a week-long tour highlighting the Administration’s comprehensive recovery plan tackling the most persistent challenges …

Governor Gavin Newsom significantly expanded his April 21 drought emergency proclamation yesterday to include the Klamath River, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and Tulare Lake Watershed counties, where accelerated action is needed to protect public health, safety and the environment. In total, 41 counties are now under a drought state of emergency, representing 30 percent of the state’s population. Climate change-induced early warm temperatures …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the availability of $92.2 million in competitive grant funding under the 2018 Farm Bill’s Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). The LAMP grants announced today are funded through the Farmers Market program as part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative. USDA launched this initiative in March to address shortfalls and disparities in …

California’s table olive industry is over 100-year-old, and it is currently undergoing transformation to mechanically harvestable acreage similar to almond, walnut, prune, pistachio, and other tree crops. The modern acreage configuration for table olives provides multiple benefits including increased tree count, efficient irrigation methods, mechanically adapted spacings, and a uniform tree structure. While traditional olive acreage is typically planted 60 …

Access to start-up capital is a big challenge for farmers. A small grant program through the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is helping. More than 100 farmer veterans received word Friday that they are being awarded equipment thanks to the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund. The grant supports veterans in their early years of farming and ranching.“We directly purchase a piece of equipment the …

Many wine lovers know that a hint of smoky flavors in Zinfandel or Pinot Noir are the perfect complement with grilled meats. They may also be familiar with the phrase, “Stressed vines make the best wines.” But what if those smoky overtones go overboard as the grapes are exposed to destructive wildfires? And what if those stressed vines are the …

Fruit World, a family-owned, flavor-focused grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit, is now shipping their organic cherries and will begin packing and shipping organic apricots the first week of May. “What a difference one year makes,” said Bianca Kaprielian, Fruit World co-founder and CEO. “2020 was a bumpy stone fruit season in California, but this year we had enough chill …

On April 1, 2021, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) suspended a mandatory aflatoxin inspection regime imposed on walnuts from the United States and other exporting countries. The suspension marks the first time Japan lifted a 100 percent inspection requirement for aflatoxin- vulnerable imports since 2004 when the current monitoring plan was implemented. In 2020, the United States …

 UnitedAg, a healthcare leader for the agricultural industry, announced several changes across its executive leadership team, further positioning the non-profit agricultural association health plan for future growth. The new executive leadership team reflects the strategic importance of UnitedAg’s member-focused approach. “UnitedAg’s success is attributed to the talent, culture, and our instinct, sense of empathy for the community we serve,” said …

The Westlands Water District Board of Directors recently elected Ryan Ferguson to serve as president of the District. Ferguson succeeds Daniel Errotabere, who will continue to serve on the Board. Director Ferguson was elected to the Westlands Board of Directors in 2017. His family has lived and worked on the westside, in what is now Westlands Water District, for four …