USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey discusses the Pacific Northwest’s above-average mountain snowpack accumulations, noting a pattern consistent with La Niña conditions despite the absence of an official La Niña. The Northwest …
American Agriculture History Minute: Center Pivot Irrigation System Developed
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. In 1946, Robert Doherty was looking for a good business opportunity, and he recognized the potential of a small manufacturing company …
A View of Farm Irrigation and Water Management
USDA’s latest edition of its Irrigation and Water Management Survey offers insights into farm irrigation. Rod Bain has more. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Protecting Your Operation from Damaging …
USDA Workshop Sets Research Roadmap for Tackling PFAS Challenges in Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently outlined steps toward addressing Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in agricultural soils and waters. In collaboration with the …
Decline in California Farmland Values Raises Economic Concerns
The California Farm Bureau reports a significant decline in San Joaquin Valley land values, attributed primarily to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA restricts groundwater pumping, which has hit …
American Agriculture History Minute: Irrigation Developed in the Great American Desert
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Agriculture in what is now Colorado began taking shape in the early 1850s. Then Rocky Mountain News founder William N. Byers …
California Groundwater Levels Show Improvement, but Challenges Remain
As California enters a new water year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) released its Fall Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions update. The update highlights improvements made under the Sustainable Groundwater Management …
State Water Board Approves Rate Hikes for 2024-25, Impacting Farmers and Groundwater Recharge Projects
The California State Water Resources Control Board has approved rate increases for the 2024-25 fiscal year, impacting various water quality and water rights programs. These increases aim to address budget …
Farm Struggles Similar to Those Seen in 1980’s Continue to Impact Growers
There’s hope that ongoing farm challenges will begin to ease in the near future. Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobson said that it’s been a tough couple years for …
Kern County Subbasin Considered for SGMA Probation
The California State Water Resources Control Board is considering placing the Kern County Subbasin on probation because of concerns about its groundwater sustainability plans. A public hearing about this decision …
Restraining Order Against the State Water Resources Control Board Extended
Legal efforts to challenge probationary status under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act continue moving forward. Kings County Superior Court Judge Kathy Ciuffini extended a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the …
New Report Released on Delta Drought Response Pilot Program
The Delta Conservancy’s report on their 2023 Delta Drought Response Pilot Program reveals mixed results in testing drought-resistant field management practices in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The program involved 61 …
USDA Providing $400 Million to Support Water Management in the West
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment of $400 million to help support at least 18 irrigation districts in the West. Districts across various states, including Idaho, …
Reclamation Seeks Comments on Proposed Changes to CVP Operation
The Bureau of Reclamation is hosting a series of events to garner public feedback about the future of water management projects. The community is being asked to weigh-in regarding the …