…its agricultural communities. Chad Bianco: “Somebody’s Got to Fix California” California’s farming sector has long struggled under what many consider burdensome regulations and misguided priorities. Papagni opened the conversation by…
San Joaquin Valley Water Blueprint Pushes for Bold Water Reforms
The San Joaquin Valley Water Blueprint, a diverse coalition of agricultural, municipal, and community stakeholders, is stepping up efforts to improve water supply reliability in California’s Central Valley. At the…
AgNet News Hour: Citrus Expo Preview, USDA Snap Crackdown, and Chad Bianco’s Bold Vision for California Ag
…move as a long-overdue step toward fiscal accountability, while Josh dives into the potential political pushback and what it could mean for California. The episode rounds out with a longform…
California Fruit Leader Calls Out Regulations Hurting Growers
…Hartwig noted, has become increasingly complex, placing California producers at a serious disadvantage. Global Disadvantage for California Growers Hartwig also pointed out the uneven playing field California growers face compared…
Tariffs and Oversupply Strain California Walnut Growers
Robert Verloop, Executive Director and CEO of both the California Walnut Board (CWB) and the California Walnut Commission (CWC), is sounding the alarm over the mounting challenges facing California’s walnut…
Mexico Remains Top Market for U.S. Ag Exports in 2024
…2022. Table 1: Top U.S. Agricultural Exports to Mexico (2022-2024) Value Million U.S. Dollars % Change 2022-24 2022 2023 2024 1. Corn 4,923 5,324 5,512 12% 2. Pork…
Steve Hilton Blasts Solar Farms on California Agricultural Land
Solar Panels vs. Farmland: A Growing Controversy Nick Papagni, host of The Ag Meter, sat down with Steve Hilton, candidate for Governor of California, to discuss a major issue affecting…
AgNet News Hour Thursday, 07-10-25
…most vocal candidates in California’s upcoming gubernatorial race, Steve Hilton. It’s a high-energy episode packed with policy critiques, hard-hitting interviews, and a call to action for California’s farming communities. Hilton,…
India Tariff Cut Boosts California Walnut Outlook
…in both crop projections and international trade. India Tariff Cut Boosts California Walnut Outlook Strong Crop Expected for 2025 “This year’s crop is estimated at 650,000 to 700,000 tons, which…
USDA Launches Grape Grower Survey
…National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the survey will be sent to 2,000 grape growers across the country in late July. USDA Launches Grape Grower Survey Vital Data for the Grape…
Is This the Year of the Spider Mite? Strategies for Tree Nut and Grape Growers
…From the hot pockets along California’s I-5 and Hwy 99 corridors to early signals in Delano, Todd breaks down where mite populations are flaring—and what growers need to do before…
AgNet News Hour Wednesday, 07-09-25
…at the innovation table. They also tackle major challenges like labor shortages, automation bans, and California’s regulatory hurdles, with Bernstein emphasizing the need for inclusive, scalable solutions. Spider mites and…
Hilton: California Broken by Extremism, Incompetence
Steve Hilton: California’s Crisis is “Democrat Extremism and Incompetence” Nick Papagni, known as “The Ag Meter”, recently sat down with Steve Hilton, who is officially running for Governor of California….
Fixing Ag Labor: Cunha Pushes for Legal Guest Worker Program
Guest Worker Program Could Ease Labor and Border Strains As California agriculture continues to grapple with persistent labor shortages and mounting immigration challenges, Manuel Cunha, president of the Nisei Farmers…





















