At the Produce Marketing Association’s Tech Knowledge Conference, Harvest Automation was displaying it’s potted-plant moving robot. The vehicle is about the size of a small suitcase and is loaded with…
Dairy Farmer Recognized for Helping Endangered Bird
…April, Mendonsa’s silage fields have been a temporary nesting habitat for the colonies of nearly 15,000 birds and Mendonsa is delaying harvest to help the birds safely fledge their young….
USDA Reminds Farmers to Certify Conservation Compliance
…have a certification form on file since it’s required for participation in most USDA programs including marketing assistance loans, farm storage facility loans and disaster assistance. However, farmers who only…
Beet Curly Top Virus Grower Alert
Beet Leafhopper Overwintering Adult The Beet Curly Top Virus Control Program (BCTVCP) would like to remind tomato growers to be aware of fallow fields, almond/pistachio orchards, or vineyards with weedy…
Editorial: Country of Origin Labeling
…The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which enforces COOL, has repeatedly said COOL is not a food safety program, but rather a marketing program. However, as a marketing program it is…
Legislation Introduced in House to Repeal COOL
…labeling efforts, efforts that give consumers the information they are looking for and reward producers all along the supply chain for meeting specifications,” said Ellis. “Programs like Born and Raised…
CDFA Announces 2015 Funding For The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP)
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) begins accepting applications today, May 18, 2015, for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP), authorized by emergency drought legislation (Assembly…
Vilsack: New Investments in Water Conservation, Resilience Across Drought-Stricken States
…Already this year, NRCS state offices have targeted significant portions of their fiscal year Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) allocations to address water conservation, soil health, and resilience. In California,…
Asian Citrus Psyllid Detected in City of Bakersfield, Kern County
…and the United States Department of Agriculture has begun an extensive survey and treatment program in response to the detection of an Asian citrus psyllid in the city of Bakersfield…
CDFA Announces Vacancies On The Fertilizer Research and Education Program’s Technical Advisory Subcommittee
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing three vacancies on the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP)’s Technical Advisory Subcommittee. This subcommittee reviews and recommends fertilizer research and…
Governor’s May Revise Budget Doubles-Down on CDFA Drought and Climate Change Programs
…substantial assistance to farmers to increase their water efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases, build dairy digesters and increase soil resilience. The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) would receive $40…
Almond Leaching Programs Starting Too Late
Almond growers waiting for rains before starting dormant season leaching programs could be hurting their trees. Programs Starting Too Late Less rains during the season means more water with varying…
USDA Announces Funding to Assist with Organic Certification Costs
…provided on a cost share basis and certification assistance is distributed by two programs. Through the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, $11 million is available to organic farms and…
Company Helping Organizations Gauge Sustainability
…with sustainability standards. Gauging Sustainability Sustainability Senior Associate Andrew Arnold says SureHarvest designs a survey program for companies, and then takes that data-collecting program and introduces it to the growers…