The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) are rescheduling cooperatively funded reports that were affected by the lapse in federal funding. During the lapse, NASS was not able to collect data nor issue reports, including those funded by state and industry programs. The following reports have been rescheduled and others will be …

UC Cooperative Extension cropping systems specialist Jeff Mitchell is issuing a standing invitation to the public to visit the site of an ongoing conservation agriculture research project and see for themselves the results of long-term soil-building practices. “Every Friday morning from 9 o’clock till noon, beginning in February and going through June, I invite folks to come to the project …

Hearing will be held February 27-28, 2019 in Kansas City, Kansas Following President Trump’s directive to provide certainty to American farmers and landowners so that the economy can continue to expand while waters are protected, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) are moving to the next steps in proposing a new definition of …

Farm Bill implementation high on list for Organic Trade Association fly-in Twenty-two farmer members of the Organic Trade Association’s Farmers Advisory Council, a national coalition of organic farmers and organic farming organizations representing nearly 8,000 organic farms, will come to Washington on Feb. 5 and 6 to meet with new and incumbent members of Congress, to familiarize the freshmen lawmakers …

The Bureau of Reclamation released late last week the Biological Assessment for the re-initiation of consultation on the coordinated long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. The document was transmitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service for consideration in developing new biological opinions covering CVP and SWP operations. Reclamation …

The third annual Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award for major contributions to the American grape and wine industry, and to research, was given to Jerry Lohr of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines. Lohr has committed nearly 50 years of leadership and achievement to the wine industry. The award was presented to Lohr at the annual Leadership Luncheon of the Winegrape …

Blue Diamond Growers, a nonprofit grower-owned cooperative and the world’s leading processor and marketer of almonds, begins expansion of its award-winning processing facility in Turlock, CA. Today a groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the 200,000 square foot manufacturing plant recognized as the 2014 Plant of the Year by Food Engineering Magazine. The new addition is part of Blue Diamond’s …

Almond Industry Receives $6,900,690 in Funding Allocations U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $200 million to 57 organizations through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) to help U.S. farmers and ranchers identify and access new export markets. The ATP is one of three USDA programs created to mitigate the …

A New Era for Jones Family Farm: Robots Taking Dairy Automation to the Next Level Are Retailers Destroying the Dairy Industry? A Discouraging Predicament Keeping Up with Navel Infections Calf Care Considerations CA FMMO Advanced Prices & Factors Some Contention Regarding Quota & QIP

A New Era for Jones Family Farm: Robots Taking Dairy Automation to the Next Level Are Retailers Destroying the Dairy Industry? A Discouraging Predicament Keeping Up with Navel Infections Calf Care Considerations CA FMMO Advanced Prices & Factors Some Contention Regarding Quota & QIP