Governor Gavin Newsom’s State of the State address on Wednesday morning touched on a multitude of topics that need addressing in California, but noticeably absent was any mention of the …
USDA Selects 30 Future Agricultural Leaders
Thirty college students will attend the USDA’s 2020 Ag Outlook Forum as participants in the USDA Future Leaders of Agriculture Program. Since 2007, USDA has provided opportunities for undergrad and …
Relationships and Service Bring NRCS Conservationist State, National Honors
Emma Chow is the Santa Barbara County district conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This is Chow’s second go-around at the Santa Maria office, coming back to the …
AFBF Urges Improvements to Hemp Regulation
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) recently submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calling for changes to hemp regulation. The Interim Final Regulations on Establishment of a …
Secretary Perdue Details Trade Barriers to Overcome in EU
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture recently highlighted some of the trade barriers that need to be resolved in an effort to forge an agreement with the European Union (EU). During a …
Conflict Between SGMA and California Water Rules
Some of the California water regulations may be at odds with some of the provisions of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The guidelines established under the Waters of the …
NCBA Unveils Top Policy Priorities For 2020
(NCBA) — The Executive Committee of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) approved the organization’s top 2020 Policy Priorities. Approval came at the annual Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, …
Questions Remain as AB-5 Implementation Takes Shape
The agriculture community has many questions regarding AB-5 implementation and how that is going to affect common farming practices. The nature of the farming business makes the application of the …
Secretary Perdue on President Trump’s State of the Union Address
(USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address: “Tonight, President Trump’s State of the Union address …
Perdue Hopes Coronavirus Won’t Inhibit China’s Purchase Promises
The recent outbreak of the Coronavirus sparks the question–will China be able to meet its purchase goals agreed upon in the phase-one trade agreement with the United States? The deadly …
USDA Accepting Applications for ReConnect Program Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun accepting applications for another round of loan and grant funding for the ReConnect Program. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue recently announced that applications …
Third MFP Payment Coming This Week
After anxiously waiting for the final tranche of the 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP), the third MFP payment should begin arriving in farmers’ bank accounts by the end of the …
Farm Bankruptcies Rose in 2019
Recent court data put together by the American Farm Bureau Federation showed farm bankruptcies jumped by almost 20 percent last year. Overall, there were almost 600 Chapter 12 family farm bankruptcies in …
Agricultural Fatality Highlights Importance of Enforcing Safety Protocols
A recent fatality at a processing plant in Fresno County serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of enforcing safety protocols in agricultural operations. The preliminary reports indicate that …