While the organic sector has been expanding in value and acreage in recent years, there are still numerous challenges involved in organic production. There are concerns related to acquiring organic …
Farm System Reform Act Looks to Overhaul Animal Agriculture
Legislation was recently unveiled that would significantly alter the landscape of animal agriculture in the United States, particularly livestock production. The Farm System Reform Act of 2019 would establish a …
Strong Year for U.S. Cotton Exports
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made a significant reduction to its production estimate for the 2019-2020 domestic cotton crop, the export market appears to remain strong for U.S. cotton. …
USMCA Vote Moves Deal Closer to Ratification
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) continues forward progress with the House of Representatives passing the trade deal by a large margin. The USMCA vote was 385 to 41 in favor of …
Almond Update: China Dispute Impact and Overall Picture
The announcement of the ‘phase-one’ agreement with China was good news for industries across California. However, the dispute has been going on long enough to show effects on supply chains and …
USDA Encourages Input for EQIP Rule
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is asking for input on its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS will make more than $1 billion available for producers in fiscal …
Feds Get Involved in Fixing Friant-Kern Canal
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is looking for input from the public related to plans to repair a 33-mile stretch of the Friant-Kern Canal. The waterway has lost approximately 60 …
Trump Administration Taking on New Trade Front
President Donald Trump expressed his intention to address a new trade front after significant improvement was made with Chinese trade relations, as well as forward progress achieved with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada …
USDA Funds Conservation Innovation Across the Country
(USDA/NRCS) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is awarding about $12.5 million in grants to support the development of innovative systems and technologies for private lands conservation. The funding …
Proactive IPM Projects Tackle Weevils, Leafminers, Midges
Three IPM projects (Integrated Pest Management) looking at potential issues facing California agriculture industries get funding from the state. The California Department of Food and Agriculture granted more than $1.1 million …
Voices Of The Valley Podcast: Technology and Food Safety, Part 2
This episode of the Voices of the Valley podcast is made possible by HarvestPort, an innovation hub and marketplace for better agricultural products, practices, and ideas. Find out more at …
Groups Respond to China Phase One Trade News
NCBA Welcomes First Phase In U.S./China Trade Deal (NCBA) — National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall issued the following statement regarding today’s announcement that the U.S. and China …
‘Very Large’ Chinese Trade Agreement Reached
After nearly 18 months of negotiation, a limited Chinese trade agreement was announced on Friday morning. President Donald Trump confirmed that the first phase of a trade deal with China …
Industries Anxiously Watching China Relations This Weekend
This weekend is an important deadline for the nation’s most significant ongoing trade dispute. December 15 is the deadline for more retaliatory tariffs that President Trump threatened to impose against China. Those …