Earlier this week the Western Growers Association (WGA) hosted the inaugural 2023 Salinas Biological Summit. Over the course of two days, attendees heard from government officials, growers, agtech innovators, and …
Industry Reps to House Ag: USDA Should Handle Rural Broadband
by Sabrina Halvorson Six representatives from the broadband and satellite industries testified at a House Agriculture Committee hearing Wednesday on the digital divide, or the lack of some digital services …
Animal Welfare Claims on Meat Packaging to Receive Further Scrutiny
Animal welfare claims put on packages of meat and poultry are going to be receiving further scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Voluntary claims including “grass-fed” and “free-range” …
Week in Review: Phase 2 of LandFlex is Available & Success with Cover Cropping in Tomatoes
VP of Environmental Science and Resources at Braga Fresh, Eric Morgan said their cover cropping system in tomatoes is showing promise. President and CEO of the Almond Alliance of California, …
FSA County Committees Seeking Nominations by August 1
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting nominations to serve on county committees. More than 7,700 individuals serve on Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees across the country. Nominations …
Citrus Breeding Research Receives Increased Federal Support
Citrus breeding efforts will be bolstered through an overall increase in citrus industry support. Congress has approved funding assistance for the Citrus Health Response Program and the HLB Multi-Agency Coordination. …
IFPA Wants Equity in Farm Bill
“We think that the federal government should up investment that they make in the specialty crop industry,” says IFPA’s Rebeckah Adcock The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) wants to see …
Success with Cover Cropping in Lieu of Heavy Tillage
VP of Environmental Science and Resources at Braga Fresh, Eric Morgan said their cover cropping system in tomatoes is showing promise. The approach has resulted in a sizable decrease in …
Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act Moves Out of Committee
A push for whole milk in schools moves forward. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Committee on Education and the Workforce last week voted to advance a …
Week in Review: Sites Project Progressing & Audit Highlights Shortcomings of CA Water Management
The State Water Resources Control Board has determined that the Sites Reservoir water rights application is officially complete. The specialty crop industry wants farm bill funding for research and new …
USDA Moving Forward with Potential FMMO Modernization
Industry groups have expressed appreciation for the Action Plan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Last week USDA detailed a series of actions for considering revisions to the Federal …
Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Treated Seed Regulations
Two environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in regard to treated seed regulations. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Food Safety …
VofV: How Bayer’s Dr. Frank Wong Overcame His Skepticism About Biologicals
Dr. Frank Wong, one of Bayer’s Industry Affairs Directors, discusses his shift in opinion about biological solutions on this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley. “I would say that …
McKalip Discusses Specialty Crops, GMO Corn, Dairy Trade at Summit
by Sabrina Halvorson The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is keeping specialty crops in focus for trade deals and working on disputes under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Chief Agricultural Negotiator …