The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Applications for CIG are due by April 23. The competitive grants are…
Bond Legislation Introduced to Improve California Food System
…recovery and addressing climate change and food insecurity. The Equitable Economic Recovery, Healthy Food Access, Climate Resilient Farms and Worker Protection Bond Act will fund multiple initiatives aimed at enhancing…
Animal Agriculture Alliance Protecting Farmers from Animal Activists
…slowed them down at all. “They’re still at farms, and still at processing plants protesting.” AAA monitors activist pages, so if something is planned out and public, they can work…
Best Dual-Purpose Breeds to Considering if Raising Sheep
…breed is best for raising sheep, some say the Merino breed is the ideal option for small farms, while others are adamant that nothing will do but the Icelandic. If…
The Western View: It’s Railfest Weekend in Reedley!
It’s time to go ride the Wahtoke Railroad, a 1.2 mile long 15 inch gauge railway out at Hillcrest Farms on Reed Avenue, north of the college in Reedley. It’s…
Senate Hearing Highlights Role of Ag in Mitigating Climate Change
Agricultural industry members recently testified at a Senate hearing about the value that farming can provide in addressing climate concerns. Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and…
Legislation Introduced to Repeal Federal Estate Tax
Federal lawmakers have introduced legislation that would repeal the federal estate tax, often referred to as the death tax. U.S. Senator John Thune and U.S. Representatives Sanford Bishop and Jason…
2019 Crop Report Shows More Than $50 Billion in Cash Receipts
…crop year is one to be celebrated by the 69,900 farms and ranches that make up California’s remarkable agricultural community,” CDFA Secretary Karen Ross said in her forward of the…
Agricultural Burning in the San Joaquin Valley Officially Set to End in 2025
…impact smaller operations. Chipping ag waste is an option, however, chipping operations are generally working in 100+ acre farms. Operating costs for commercial chippers can prevent them from prioritizing smaller…
The Western View: Ag Safety Awareness
Safety needs to be top of mind for anyone on the farm. Statistically, farms are risky places. With an loss time accident rate of around 20 per cent, farming is…
Week in Review: Five Percent Water Allocations Disappoint and H-2A Wages Climb to $16
…U.S. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is offering On-Farm Readiness Reviews for small and very small farms as they prepare for compliance with the Produce Safety Rule. The…
On-Farm Readiness Reviews Still Available for Ag Operations
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is offering On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs) for small and very small farms. OFRRs are meant to help producers better understand the requirements…
Conservation Practices Proven to Lower Carbon Footprint in Recent Study
…dioxide were sequestered using these conservation practices that were installed on working lands; protecting farms, ranches, and forestlands.” The average Californian produces a carbon footprint of 9.256 metric tons of…
2020 Was ‘Banner Year’ for Organic Produce Sales
…six percent in sales. The number of organic farms in the U.S. has also steadily been growing in recent years. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. represents…