On a recent episode of the AgNet News Hour, the conversation covered both the current California almond season and a new approach to protecting high-value crops from birds and other…
Apple Orchard Robots Target Labor Challenges
…intelligence, machine learning and autonomous equipment can work together in specialty crop production. Listen to the accompanying podcast for more on the Cornell project and how researchers are working to…
Norman Borlaug: The Agronomist Who Helped Launch the Green Revolution
…These honors reflected the extraordinary significance of his agricultural work. Borlaug wasn’t simply developing better crops—he was helping demonstrate how advances in agriculture could affect societies, economies, and the future…
California Pilot Finds New Market for Surplus Strawberries
…and other highly perishable specialty crops, improving the connection between farms and alternative buyers could provide another avenue for fruit that might otherwise have limited market value. Listen to the…
California Cantaloupes Use Social Media to Reach Younger Consumers
…and the team is producing humorous material that consumers may not typically expect from an agricultural organization. Specialty Crop Grant Provides Marketing Resources A modern social media campaign requires more…
California Cantaloupes Turn to TikTok to Reach a New Generation
…markets one of the state’s longtime specialty crops. Farmers Communication Exchange serves as the marketing agency for the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, and Freeman said a major focus of its…
Danny Bernstein: Ag Tech Could Help Save California Farms
…bring that model to Merced. The goal is to create technology jobs in agricultural communities rather than forcing young people to leave for Silicon Valley. Technology Could Bring Crops Back…
Parka Helps California Citrus Growers Protect Fruit Quality and Packout
…Rio has worked with Parka for approximately 15 years, initially using the product in cherries to address cracking before incorporating it into other crops, including citrus. He says Parka has…
UC ANR Opens Applications for Grower-Focused Ag Technology Program
…application cycle is targeting commercially available technologies for permanent crops and other specialty crop production systems. Areas of focus include fresh fruit, pistachios, desert vegetables, table grapes, avocados, citrus and…
Ag Tech Hub Coming to Merced College as Reservoir Expands in California
…can happen when labor-intensive crops become too expensive to produce domestically. Bernstein also discussed the need for investment in water infrastructure, automation and agricultural technology as California growers face rising…
Ryan Jacobsen: California Ag’s Future Depends on Water
…2025, Jacobsen cited fertilizer costs rising 37%, fuel 31% and labor 50%. Specialty-crop costs increased about 47% over just two years. Those higher costs have collided with weak commodity prices,…
California Judge Blocks Trump Administration H-2A Wage Rule
…hiring agricultural workers more difficult and expensive. Labor remains one of the largest operating costs for many U.S. farms, particularly in labor-intensive specialty crop production. The ruling comes as producers…
Smith-Lever Act Created USDA Extension Service in 1914
…research has the greatest value when people can put it to work. For American farmers in 1914, that meant gaining access to better information about crops, livestock, production practices and…
John Deere Invests $10 Million in AI Research for High-Value Crops
…the farm. The announcement was highlighted as the company works to develop practical AI tools for high-value crop production. John Deere AI Investment Targets High-Value Crops The partnership with ag-tech…