Smith-Lever Act

How the Smith-Lever Act Created 4-H and Transformed Rural America

DanAgri-Business, American Agriculture History Minute, Education, This Land of Ours

…livestock, and home economics. The law created a system that connected land-grant universities with communities across the nation, ensuring that agricultural innovation and scientific research reached producers and their families…

California raisin

California Raisin Leaders on Trade, Water & Future

DanAgri-Business, Economy, Energy, Grapes, Interview, Irrigation, Legislative, Regulation, Special Reports, Tariffs, Trade, Water

…Burdens and Industry Realities Nick Papagni raised the question of whether California’s political environment has offered meaningful support for raisin producers. Mark McCormick, CEO of National Raisins, did not hesitate…

Kevin Kester

Kevin Kester on Ranching, Trade, and Ag’s Next Generation

DanAgri-Business, Cattle, Drought, Economy, Interview, Irrigation, Legislative, Regulation, Special Reports, Trade, Water

…overdrafted Paso Robles water basin. While drought still impacts his operation, he does not face the same basin management requirements looming over many producers in the San Joaquin Valley. That…

John Duarte

John Duarte on Central Valley Agriculture: Water, Prop 50, and the Future of Avocados

DanAgri-Business, Avocado, Economy, Environment, Grapes, Interview, Irrigation, Nursery crops, Pistachios, Regulation, Special Reports, Water

…that field this year,” John noted. For producers, the variety represents not only a new nut with excellent quality but also a critical economic shift in an industry where prices…

California Dairy Relief, Ag Policy Battles, and a Turning Point for Farmers

DanAgNet News Hour, Agri-Business, Dairy and Livestock, Economy, Exports/Imports, Interview, Labor and Immigration, Legislative, Podcasts, Special Reports, Trade, Walnuts, Water

…announced another $1 billion in disaster relief funds for California’s dairy industry through the ELRP program. This comes on top of an earlier billion-dollar package, providing critical support as milk…

Don Cameron

Don Cameron: California Ag Leadership & Challenges

DanAgri-Business, Almonds, Biofuels/Energy, Carrots, Corn, Economy, Energy, Environment, Exports/Imports, Exports/Imports, Field & Row Crops, Interview, Irrigation, Organic, Regulation, Solar, Special Reports, Tariffs, Tomatoes, Trade, Vegetables, Walnuts, Water

…lower. Cameron points to Brazil, where farmworkers earn around $300 a month, creating a steep disadvantage for California growers. Despite offering better working conditions and higher standards, California producers must…

California Ag Battles: Water, Solar, and Farmland Futures

DanAgNet News Hour, Agri-Business, Drought, Economy, Energy, Environment, Exports/Imports, Interview, Irrigation, Labor and Immigration, Legislative, Podcasts, Special Reports, Tariffs, Water, Weather

…Papagni noted, that means four years without almond production—a devastating blow for growers and the local economy. While investors circle California land, many producers see it as a “bridge to…

California Agriculture: Fires, Wolves & Farm Labor Reform

DanAgNet News Hour, Agri-Business, Conservation, Drought, Economy, Energy, Environment, Exports/Imports, Interview, Irrigation, Labor and Immigration, Legislative, Podcasts, Special Reports, Tariffs, Trade, Water, Weather

…June—the highest since 2022. Domestic yogurt consumption rose 12.2%, while overall use of milk solids grew 3%. Competitiveness and Global Pressures Papagni noted the difficulty of competing with countries paying…

California Agriculture at a Crossroads

DanAgNet News Hour, Agri-Business, Conservation, Drought, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Exports/Imports, Exports/Imports, Forestry, Interview, Irrigation, Labor and Immigration, Legislative, Podcasts, Special Reports, Tariffs, Technology, Trade, Water, Weather

…by misunderstanding agricultural realities and placing additional burdens on producers. Water, Energy, and Political Missteps Water policy remains California’s defining agricultural challenge. Papagni criticized priorities like solar panel expansion while…

California Agriculture at a Crossroads: Organics Innovation and Prop 50

DanAgNet News Hour, Agri-Business, Economy, Exports/Imports, Grapes, Interview, Labor and Immigration, Podcasts, Special Reports, Tariffs, Trade, Wine

…the challenges organic producers face, from high input costs to strict regulations. She stressed that success in organic farming requires a whole-systems approach—managing soil health, irrigation, habitat diversity, and biological…