…Survey With an annual market value exceeding $1 billion, mushrooms are classified as a specialty crop, largely due to their unique cultivation methods and the limited number of growers involved….
AgNet News Hour Friday, 07-04-25
…the disconnect between state leadership and modern agriculture, especially in California, where farmland continues to be threatened by energy policy and water restrictions. The hosts highlight the enduring wisdom of…
USDA Launches Support Program for Specialty Crop Growers
In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rolled out a new assistance initiative designed to support America’s specialty crop growers as they face mounting economic pressures. The program…
U.S.–Morocco Ag Ties Strengthened During California Almond Tour
…with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the initiative was supported by funding from the U.S. Department of…
H-2A Guestworker Program Burdening California Farmers
…discuss pressing agricultural labor challenges facing California. At the center of the conversation was the controversial H-2A guestworker program. H-2A Guestworker Program Burdening California Farmers “That program has a lot…
Imperial Valley Sugar Plant Closure Raises Crop Market Concerns
…affects not just growers but also the fine balance of supply and demand across multiple crops. Leimgruber emphasized that overproduction in other crops could now lower prices, compounding challenges. Diverse…
Extreme Heat Blamed for California Cherry Shortfall
The California cherry crop took a significant hit this year, and according to industry veteran Michael Jameson of Morada Produce, the weather is largely to blame. Extreme Heat Blamed for…
AgNet News Hour Thursday, 07-03-25
…covers some of the biggest topics facing agriculture right now—from labor reform to market outlooks for California’s leading commodities. The episode opens with a discussion of a major development from…
Water, Land, and Policy: Farmer Andrew Leimgruber Speaks Out
California Farmer Confronts Water, Regulation, and Foreign Land Sales Andrew Leimgruber and Family Fourth-generation Imperial Valley farmer Andrew Leimgruber of Leimgruber Farms has become a national voice for California agriculture,…
Farming with Less Water: Leimgruber’s “Crop per Drop” Success
Imperial Valley Grower Increases Yields While Cutting Water Use Water Scarcity Demands Innovation Andrew Leimgruber of Leimgruber Farms in California’s Imperial Valley knows what it means to farm under extreme…
Wine Grape Growers Back Pierce’s Disease Program
California Growers Approve Continued Funding to Fight Vineyard Pests The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has certified the results of the Wine Grape Grower Continuation Referendum for the…
California Cherry Crop Plummets by 50%, Prices Spike
Michael Jameson of Morada Produce Discusses a Historic Season for California Cherries A Season Marked by Extreme Heat and Low Volume California’s 2025 cherry harvest saw a dramatic downturn, with…
Pierce’s Disease Program Extended to 2031
California Wine Growers Back Program to Combat Vineyard Threats The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has reauthorized the Pierce’s Disease Control Program, a vital effort aimed at protecting…
AgNet News Hour Wednesday, 07-02-25
…critical and candid conversation with Imperial Valley farmer Andrew Leimgruber —shedding light on the daily battles California growers face just to stay in business. From water rights to foreign land…