…grafted vines due to natural perils like freeze or fire. The initiative complements the existing Grape crop insurance, which covers the fruit grown on the vines. “We are always striving…
Stump Buster Brings Observation to Prevent Forest Disease and Wildfire
…on This Land of Ours. Martin MacKenzie, a forest pathologist for the USDA Forest Service, South Sierra Shared Service area, observes brown needles in a young sugar pine in the…
Western Citrus Projects Receive Block Grant Funding
The California and Arizona departments of agriculture have received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for four citrus projects. Funding comes from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) 2023…
Almond Update: New Marketing Approaches for New Crop Year
…Board has been working on a way to ensure that ABC market development resources are being optimally allocated. “What we tasked staff with was the developing of what ultimately has…
Dairy Checkoff Smoothie Program Expands
…this year. General Mills joined the effort by providing culinary support and training, and Hubert, a food service equipment manufacturer, offered blenders and other materials at a discounted rate. Chefs…
Regional Obesity Comparisons Shift During Pandemic
…pandemic, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). From 2019 to March 2020, adult obesity rates ranged from a low of 36.7 percent in the West to the highest rate…
Tech Use on Farms
…have the highest internet use aren’t anywhere near the Silicon Valley. Tony Dorn of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) explains some of the findings. “As far as the states,…
California to Fund 46 Specialty Crop Projects Through 2023 SCBGP
…conservation within specialty crop production are also receiving grant support. Some of the projects include studying water and heat stress in chili peppers, irrigation practices in pistachio orchards, and evapotranspiration…
USDA Network Protects Livestock
…USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), says that’s the key role the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). “That’s a network of over 60 Animal Health diagnostic laboratories….
Angola Trade Mission Application Window Extended to September 1
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline to apply for the Angola trade mission. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is now accepting applications through Friday, September 1….
Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act Seeks to Bolster NRCS Program
Lawmakers are looking to enhance resiliency to drought and flooding by making improvements to an important Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) program. U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, Deb Fischer, and Jeff…
USDA Publishes Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule
…Food Program, that have already been in place. The provisions streamline processes, provide additional resources, and increase accountability. The rule also allows for more efficient use of state agency resources…
California Continues to Lead U.S. Peach Harvest
…comes to fresh, juicy peaches, California is by far the largest peach-producing state in the United States. USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) reports that last year, California’s harvest yielded 475,000…
State-Funded Study Recommends Increasing the Mill Assessment
…out a lack of resources for developing safer pest management alternatives in various settings. “This study highlights the urgent need to provide short- and long-term funding for the department to…