…benefits: Soil Fertility: Ashes from burned grasses, shrubs, and trees acted as a natural fertilizer, returning vital nutrients to the soil. Weed Control: Fire cleared competing vegetation, making it easier…
Don Cameron: California Ag Leadership & Challenges
…risk as housing developments expand and groundwater regulations tighten under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Farmers must achieve groundwater sustainability by 2040, a shift that will force tough decisions…
Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture: America’s First Farm Organization
…for: Sustainable farming practices still used in modern agriculture. Scientific research in crop and soil management. Collaboration among farmers, scientists, and policymakers, which continues to drive agricultural innovation. The organization…
Tariffs, Trade, and Table Grapes: Richard Matoian Shares Insights on California Farming Challenges
…state policy has left much of the resource untapped, pushing more farmers into groundwater reliance and leaving thousands of acres fallowed. “People just don’t understand what it takes to put…
California Wine Month Highlights Sustainability and Innovation: Julie Berge of the Wine Institute Shares Industry Outlook
…of California wine is produced in certified sustainable wineries, and around 65% of vineyard acreage is certified sustainable. Consumers increasingly want to know how their wine is produced, and California…
From Olives to Almonds: Melissa Oberti Shares Her Family’s Farming Legacy and the Struggles Facing California Growers
…and here it’s $20? Add in water costs, PG&E rates, and regulations—it’s not sustainable.” A Call to Action for California Agriculture Despite the challenges, Oberti urged farmers to speak up…
Beef on Dairy Industry Report Highlights Growth and Opportunity
…described this as beginning with the consumer in mind: “Let’s begin with the end in mind and what they’re looking for. That means quality genetics, strong colostrum management, and ensuring…
California Ag Battles: Water, Solar, and Farmland Futures
…California Land Conservation Act of 1965, better known as the Williamson Act. The act allows counties and cities to preserve farmland by restricting its use to agriculture. However, AB1156 opens…
Melissa Oberti on Grapes, Almonds, and Water Challenges
…wineries, while almonds are sold without contracts, leaving farmers financially stretched throughout the year. Water scarcity, pest pressures, and state regulations further complicate farming: SGMA regulations limit groundwater usage for…
Immigration Reform and Ag Labor: Manuel Cunha on the Dignity Act
…Ag Labor: Manuel Cunha on the Dignity Act What is the Dignity Act (H.R. 4393)? Manuel Cunha The Dignity Act, introduced by Congresswomen Salazar (R-FL) and Escobar (D-TX), is a…
Joe Del Bosque: Water, Labor, and the Fight for California Farming
…water to farms in the 1960s, but regulations beginning in 1992 drastically changed allocations. The Central Valley Project Improvement Act reallocated water toward environmental priorities, reducing supplies to agriculture. Additional…
California Agriculture: Fires, Wolves & Farm Labor Reform
…Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025. The legislation would delist the Mexican wolf from the Endangered Species Act, a move supported by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Arizona…
The Roots of U.S. Forest Management
…forestry practices. The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 A decade later, Congress passed the Forest Reserve Act, giving the President the authority to designate western public lands as forest reserves….
California Agriculture at a Crossroads
…management concerns. Vast tracts of unmanaged forest continue to fuel devastating wildfires. He recalled earlier calls to strengthen the lumber industry as part of the solution, but progress has been…



















