…California Fresh Fruit Association represents growers and shippers of numerous specialty crops, including fresh grapes, kiwi, pomegranates, cherries, blueberries, peaches, pears, apricots, and nectarines. The organization advocates on behalf of…
Steve Hilton Blasts Solar Farms on California Agricultural Land
…Nearby Crops Hilton also raised agricultural concerns, especially for tree nut farmers. “Solar panels can actually affect nearby orchards by increasing surrounding temperatures,” he said. “That impacts chill hours, which…
Farming Isn’t Easy—But It’s a Story Worth Telling
…origin, he believes it’s up to farmers to step up and share what really goes into growing the crops that feed America. “Social media and 24-hour news mean someone will…
Cal/OSHA Staggered Schedules, Mask Rules Proposal Opposed
…labor. “Employers would be forced to pay for labor they cannot fully use,” the coalition argued, “while scrambling to cover gaps in essential operations in a strained labor market.” Mask…
Walnuts Deliver Year-Round Shelf Life, Says Jameson
…dynamics of California walnuts. With a background also in cherry production, Jameson highlighted key differences between the two crops—primarily in how long each product can remain viable in the marketplace….
USDA Rolls Out New Round of Blueberry Grower Support
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a second round of marketing assistance for specialty crops—delivering critical financial support for America’s blueberry growers. USDA Rolls Out New Round of…
Solar Push Sparks Water, Ethics Concerns in California
…groundwater—water that farmers are currently barred from using for their crops under SGMA. The situation raises serious questions about the priorities of California’s environmental policy and whether it fairly balances…
Agricultural Prices Rise 1.7% in May Amid Climbing Farm Costs
…tree nut markets also recorded appreciable price gains, a result of seasonal pressures and market demand favoring high-value crops. These increases, however, were tempered by price declines in food-grade grains,…
USDA Launches Support Program for Specialty Crop Growers
…targets producers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and other high-value specialty crops who are navigating increased costs and market uncertainty. USDA Launches Support Program for Specialty Crop Growers Specialty crop…
Imperial Valley Sugar Plant Closure Raises Crop Market Concerns
…affects not just growers but also the fine balance of supply and demand across multiple crops. Leimgruber emphasized that overproduction in other crops could now lower prices, compounding challenges. Diverse…
AgNet News Hour Thursday, 07-03-25
…covers some of the biggest topics facing agriculture right now—from labor reform to market outlooks for California’s leading commodities. The episode opens with a discussion of a major development from…
Water, Land, and Policy: Farmer Andrew Leimgruber Speaks Out
…in the ag community strongly oppose. The Solar vs. Farming Debate Leimgruber criticized the push to cover productive farmland with solar panels, arguing it creates a false choice between energy…
AgNet News Hour Wednesday, 07-02-25
…of crops and hundreds of jobs in Imperial County. Leimgruber outlines how losing such crop diversity could weaken the region’s ag economy and make farmers more vulnerable to price volatility….
AgNet News Hour Tuesday, 07-01-25
…how a perfect storm of heat stress, poor pollination conditions, and tree fatigue from two historically large crops led to this year’s shortfall—just 4.8 million cartons harvested, down from over…