The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently provided a progress report on the rollout of the New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint. FDA hosted a webinar in October …
Nearly 60 Conservation Practice Standards Revised by USDA
Conservation practice standards have been updated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The revisions to the standards were done in accordance with the 2018 …
UCCE Offering Water Measurement and Reporting Course November 18
The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) is offering a water measurement and reporting course on Wednesday, November 18. Water-rights holders are required to report any water diverted from surface …
Making Sense of Biologicals: Biological Delivering Targeted Ant Bait Sustainably
Ants can be a compounding issue for growers. Although the pest doesn’t always directly impact the crop or quality, they do hinder protective measures. UC Riverside Biological Control Specialist Dr. …
Proposition 15 Defeated: ‘Farmers Can Breathe A Little Easier’
Two weeks after the election, results show that Proposition 15 has officially been defeated. The ballot measure was defeated by a margin of more than 550,000 votes. A broad array …
Federal Officials Moving Forward on Friant-Kern Canal Repairs
The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is moving forward on critically important Friant-Kern Canal repairs. A Record of Decision was signed last month authorizing repairs to a 33-mile portion of the …
Proposed Neonicotinoid Mitigations Are Moving Forward
The proposed neonicotinoids mitigations from that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) are moving forward. It has been a lengthy process for DPR to address the material. The comment …
ACE Act Officially Signed into Law by President Trump
President Donald Trump recently signed America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act into law. The legislation will help to address several challenges that ranchers face in regard to wildlife. Senators John Barrasso …
Agricultural Committees Undergo Leadership Changes
Leadership positions in Congressional agricultural committees will undergo some changes in light of the recent election. Both the U.S. Senate and House Ag Committees are going to be led by …
H-2A Labor Rates Stay the Same Through 2022
A legal compromise stabilizes H-2A labor rates for two more years. In an effort to reduce production costs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture tried to discontinue the use of its Farm …
California Water Districts Receive Funding Through WaterSMART Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) selected the recipients of funding support as part of the WaterSMART Initiative. NRCS selected 31 priority areas to receive a …
Making Sense of Biologicals: Hoop House Example of Spider Mite Control
Twospotted spider mite can be a significant issue when populations get large enough. However, in several cropping systems, biological control is attainable as long as growers have the right beneficial …
EPA Finalized Rule for Exclusion Zones for Pesticide Applications
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a new rule changing exclusion zones for pesticide applications. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler recently announced that the agency had provided some clarification for Application Exclusion …
H-2A Wages to Remain Stable Over the Next Two Years
The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that H-2A wages will remain at 2020 rates for the next two years. DOL is revising the methodology for how the department determines …