Chairman David Scott of Georgia welcomed new and returning Democratic Members of the Committee for the 117th Congress—many representing California. In a statement, Chairman Scott shares is hope for the …
NASDA Seeks More Flexibility for Specialty Crop Block Grants
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is asking for additional flexibility when it comes to Specialty Crop Block Grants. NASDA has sent a letter to U.S. Acting …
Registration Open for Inaugural Soil Health Innovations Conference
The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has opened registration for the inaugural Soil Health Innovations Conference. The event was postponed last year and is now scheduled to be a virtual conference …
USDA Measuring Financial Well-Being of California Farmers and Ranchers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working to understand the financial well-being of California producers. For the next several months USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be gathering information from …
CRP General Signup Period Extended by USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that the general signup period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been extended. The CRP general signup has previously been scheduled …
Winery Wastewater Requirements Will Impact About Half of Industry
New regulations from the state of California will unify water discharge rules for wineries and will impact almost half the industry. The State Water Resources Control Board adopted a general order for how …
Vilsack Outlines USDA Opportunities During Confirmation Hearing
During his confirmation hearing, Tom Vilsack outlined priorities he would like to see the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) address. The Senate Agriculture Committee also questioned Vilsack on a variety …
Farmworker COVID Safety Project Launched Through UC Davis
The University of California, Davis, have launched a farmworker COVID safety project with a multitude of partners. Funded by a $3 million contract, the COVID-19 Statewide Agriculture and Farmworker Education …
ACEP Final Rule Released by USDA Includes Several Updates
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released the final rule for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Updates to the program were made as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill. …
Conservation Practices Proven to Lower Carbon Footprint in Recent Study
A recent study from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) shows how effective conservation practices are in addressing emission levels. The study incorporates data collected between 2004 and 2018. As …
More Than $2 Million Awarded for Nutrient Management Projects
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has awarded more than $2 million for nutrient management projects. CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is awarding $2.18 million dollars …
2020 Was ‘Banner Year’ for Organic Produce Sales
Organic produce sales experienced significant overall growth in 2020, according to a report from the Organic Produce Network (OPN) and Category Partners. The 2020 Organic Produce Performance Report shows that …
Winery Wastewater Guidelines Impact Half of All California Operations
A new set of winery wastewater guidelines will be imposed on a statewide basis. The State Water Resources Control Board recently adopted a general order regulating how wastewater will be …
MSOB: Not All Biopesticides Safe for Beneficials
Just because a biopesticide is naturally derived, it doesn’t mean they are safe for beneficial insects. There are many biopesticides on the market and the class that includes microbials are generally …