…on a persistent challenge: the high cost of doing business in California. From labor regulations to fuel costs, to freight and environmental standards, California agriculture operates in one of the…
Jeff Cox Explains the Freight Factor Behind California’s Ag Exports
…he said. “Help farmers feed the world.” Papagni closed the show with gratitude for Cox’s insight. “Jeff’s one of the good ones,” he said. “He keeps California agriculture moving —…
Early American Farmers and the Lost Art of Soil Stewardship
Photo by Matthew Lancaster on Unsplash A Myth of Responsible Farming Many Americans like to believe that early farmers and ranchers were responsible caretakers of the soil—working the land with…
Inside FIRA USA 2025: California’s AgTech Future
A Conversation with Hannah Johnson, Director of Industry for the California Ag Tech Alliance Bringing the Ag Tech Community Together Hannah Johnson At FIRA USA in Woodland, California, excitement and…
California Table Grapes: A Strong, High-Quality Season
California Table Grapes Shine in a Strong Season: Insights from President Ian LeMay A Promising Season for California Table Grapes Ian LeMay President of the California Table Grape Commission The…
Ian LeMay Shares California Table Grape Success Story Amid Global Competition
…by buying California-grown.” As the holidays approach, LeMay encouraged listeners to keep California grapes on their tables. “They’re still in stores, they’re sweet, and they’re healthy,” he said. “If you…
How Settlers Transformed the Heart of American Agriculture
…no timber for homes, fences, or fuel. Farmers had to adapt by building sod houses, fencing with barbed wire instead of wood, and finding alternative fuels such as dried prairie…
Kings County Farm Bureau Takes on State Water Board Over Groundwater Rights
…regulations is not equivalent to homegrown production. Ference highlighted that California farmers comply with more regulations than any growers in the world—and they still produce top-quality food. Without local farmers,…
Kings County Farm Bureau Takes on Sacramento Over Groundwater Rights
The November 13 edition of the AgNet News Hour hit home for farmers across California as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill sat down with Dusty Ference, Executive Director of…
California Walnut Harvest 2025: Quality, Volume & Market Outlook
A Strong Finish to the Season As the 2025 walnut harvest wraps up, growers and industry leaders are taking stock of an exceptional year for California walnuts. Michael Jameson, Director…
Michael Jameson Reports a Rebound for California Walnuts
The November 12 edition of the AgNet News Hour delivered a bright spot for California farmers as Michael Jameson, Director of Sales for Morada Nut Company, joined hosts Nick Papagni…
The Rise of Plantation Agriculture in Early America
…and other parts of the Deep South. In these humid, low-lying areas, farmers discovered the perfect conditions for rice cultivation. Rice plantations, like their tobacco counterparts, depended heavily on organized…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads: Insights from Fresno County Farm Bureau President Ryan Jacobsen
…represent some of the best and most innovative farmers or ranchers in the world.” California farmers have long produced more food with fewer resources—less land, less water, fewer inputs—than ever…
Ryan Jacobsen on Farming Through Storms, Labor, and the Future of California Agriculture
…“California’s diversity in crops and people is unmatched anywhere else in the world, and it’s our job to protect it.” He expressed concern over increasing imports that undermine local farmers….