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 …
Snowpack Increases, But ‘Still Nowhere Near Out of the Woods’
California experienced some important snowpack increases but levels are still below average according to the most recent snow survey. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the second manual …
Climate Goals Established by President Biden Executive Orders
President Joe Biden has established a set of climate goals through recent Executive Orders. Climate appears to be a high priority for the new administration. Several executive orders have been …
Potential Changes to Ag Burning Regulations in the San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (District) is considering making changes to ag burn regulations. During a recent meeting of the District’s Governing Board, further restrictions were approved …
ECP Signup Deadline Has Been Extended to March 1
The deadline to apply for assistance through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) has recently been extended. USDA’s California Farm Service Agency has extended the deadline to sigh-up for the ECP …