Davis, Calif., (April 25, 2018) – To help table grape growers make decisions on which varieties to grow, the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Issues Center has released four new studies on the costs and returns of table grapes in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. The studies on different table grape varieties are each based on a 500-acre farm …

Water Attorney Shortages – Advocacy & Ethical Conflicts The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (“SGMA”) has led to an unintended and unpublicized effect: a shortage of water law attorneys that can provide non-conflicted representation of farmers, water districts and groundwater sustainability agencies (“GSAs”). Although in the past, water law attorneys had to bridle the ethical and advocacy wall between representing farmers …

Sacramento, Calif., (April 24, 2018) – A new website has been launched by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to help California farmers understand how to comply with new food safety regulations known as the Produce Safety Rule, which went into effect nationwide in January. The website introduces users to the Produce Safety Program, a newly created unit …

By Lauren D. Bernadett & Michael E. Vergara California’s recent drought challenged practically everyone in the state, and those challenges were most acutely felt by farmers and the agricultural industry. While the state and local districts made several significant law and policy changes during the drought, one decision that caused great concern and had significant effects for water providers and …

Sacramento, Calif., (April 10, 2018) – Dignitaries from the Baja California department of agriculture were recognized along with representatives of the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources 4-H program by the California State Senate on April 2 for an agreement the two organizations forged last year to bring 4-H to children across the border. In presenting a resolution, Senator Ben Hueso, whose district includes the …

Sacramento, Calif., (April 5, 2018) – China has threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on American exports following President Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Agricultural exports are in the crosshairs, reported Thaddeus Miller in the Merced Sun-Star. China’s tariffs would first hit U.S. products such as avocados and nuts with 15 percent duties, the article says. …

Sacramento, Calif., (April 5, 2018) – China has threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on American exports following President Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Agricultural exports are in the crosshairs, reported Thaddeus Miller in the Merced Sun-Star. China’s tariffs would first hit U.S. products such as avocados and nuts with 15 percent duties, the article says. …

Modesto, Calif., (April 4, 2018) – USDA released the long awaited final decision for a California Federal Milk Marketing Order today. The potential differences between the final decision and USDA’s draft recommended decision from February 2017 had been a source of speculation in the industry for many months. Exactly how different was the final decision from the previous version? The …