Former Congressman John Duarte Warns of Rising Food Imports As concerns about domestic food security grow, John Duarte—former California Congressman and owner of Duarte Nursery—has raised alarm over a troubling…
Proposition 12 Drives Up Pork Costs, NPPC Warns
NPPC Testifies Against California Law’s National Impact Pat Hord, an Ohio pork producer and vice president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), along with NPPC economist Holly Cook, testified…
Australia Reopens Market to U.S. Beef After 20-Year Ban
Historic Breakthrough for American Beef Producers For the first time in two decades, American cattle producers will now be able to export fresh and frozen beef to Australia. The National…
Federal Grant Fuels San Diego Port Upgrades
Major Federal Investment Targets San Diego’s Marine Freight Infrastructure The Port of San Diego has been awarded a $5.55 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration….
Schiff Pushes USDA for Fair Disaster Aid to California Farmers
Senator Adam Schiff Calls for Equitable Relief for Specialty and Diversified Growers California Senator Adam Schiff is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fulfill its commitment to…
Three Agricultural Revolutions That Transformed U.S. Farming
A Look Back: Key Turning Points in American Agriculture From horsepower to genetic engineering—three revolutions that redefined the American farm In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold reflects on…
John Duarte on Water, Immigration, and Fixing California
John Duarte, President of Duarte Nursery and former U.S. Congressman, joined The Ag Meter with Nick Papagni for a wide-ranging interview on the urgent issues affecting California agriculture—water, immigration reform,…
Los Gatos Tomato: Innovation, Labor & Water in Focus
California’s Tomato Powerhouse Balances Efficiency and Sustainability Los Gatos Tomato Products has been a quiet leader in California’s tomato processing industry for over 30 years. Owned by four multi-generational farming…
Farm Bankruptcy on the Rise Amid Economic Strain
Rising Financial Pressure Brings Back Pre-Pandemic Challenges Farm bankruptcy filings are on the rise across the United States in 2025, signaling a troubling return to the high financial pressures the…
Tomato Trade Shift Pressures U.S. Processors
U.S. Trade Policy Shift Raises Concerns for Tomato Processors The U.S. Department of Commerce’s recent decision to withdraw from the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico is sending ripples through…
Texas Revives Screwworm Fight with New Swormlure-5 Bait
Texas Takes Aggressive Action Against Screwworm Resurgence Courtesy of USDA/APHIS In a proactive move to prevent the return of the devastating New World Screwworm, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced…
Strawberry Volumes Rise, But Growers Still Lag Behind
Strawberry Supply Climbs, But Season Still Trails 2024 Despite a significant increase in weekly production—one million more trays of strawberries picked last week compared to the same period last year—California…
U.S.–Japan Trade Deal Boosts Agricultural Exports and Investment
Historic Trade Agreement Reduces Tariffs and Unlocks Market Access The United States and Japan have reached a significant new trade agreement, described by President Donald Trump as “the largest trade…
Early Turnpikes Paved the Way for American Agriculture
The Forgotten Role of Roads in Ag History In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights a surprisingly critical piece of infrastructure that helped shape the nation’s farming future—early…