Davis, Calif., (March 6, 2017) – Kate Scow, a professor of soil science and soil microbial ecology at UC Davis, keeps plastic bags filled with soil on her desk. We are meeting in her office in Plant and the Environmental Sciences Building on campus, not out at Russell Ranch, where she’s the director of the university’s unique 300-acre research facility …

Visalia, Calif., (March 3, 2017) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of Major crops in the most valued county in the California Ag portfolio. They report that growers continue to wait for fields to dry out sufficiently so that they can resume planting winter grain and field crops. Lodging has occurred in mature wheat fields due …

Sacramento, Calif., (February 28, 2017) – Another wet week, with temperatures staying steady. Widespread freezes were reported Thursday through Saturday across the State. Rainfall followed a similar pattern Monday through Wednesday, with the heaviest rains falling in the northwestern mountains, and the northern and central Sierra foothills. Four to five inches of rain fell in these places, with two to …

Fresno, Calif., (February 24, 2017) – Kenneth Fugelsang, professor emeritus of enology and retired winemaster at the Fresno State Winery, died Monday, Feb. 20, from cancer. He was 70 years old. An internationally-recognized enologist credited with “producing world-class winemakers who are now making world class wines,” Mr. Fugelsang retired from the Department of Viticulture and Enology in 2011 but continued …

Visalia, Calif., (February 24, 2017) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of Major crops in the most valued county in the California Ag portfolio. They report that Growers continue to wait for fields to dry out sufficiently so that they can resume planting winter grain and field crops. The planted grains and field crops continue to …

Sacramento, Calif., (February 23, 2017) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Integrated Pest Control Branch is announcing a vacancy on the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee. The committee makes recommendations to the CDFA secretary on all matters pertaining to vertebrate pest control research. The term of office for a committee member is unlimited. Members receive no compensation, …

Sacramento, Calif., (February 23, 2017) – Strong storms during the Presidents’ Day holiday weekend flooded farm fields, caused several dairy farms to relocate their animals and brought other impacts on California farms and ranches. The storms also added more water to an already overtaxed system, and led to renewed calls to modernize the system. “In the long term, the surge …

Visalia, Calif., (February 17, 2017) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of Major crops in the most valued county in the California Ag portfolio. They report that Growers continue to wait for fields to dry out sufficiently that they can resume planting winter grain and field crops. The planted grains and field crops continue to mature …

San Francisco, Calif., (February 16, 2017) – U.S. wine exports, 90% from California, reached $1.62 billion in winery revenues in 2016, a new record. Despite challenges from a strong dollar, winery revenues were up 1% from 2015. Volume was 412.7 million liters or 45.9 million cases. “California wine exports continue to reflect the trend toward premiumization with the dollar value …