…by at least 20 per cent. They had devised this system out of necessity, but it was incredibly labor intensive. They were changing 7 separate sets, 6 times a day,…
Funding for Robotic Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $3 million in available funding for robotic research, application, and education for agricultural systems that benefit…
Winter Vegetable Harvest Gets Early Start
…facing his farm: the strength of the dollar. In the immediate aftermath of President-elect Donald Trump’s election, for example, the Mexican peso lost value against the dollar. “As their peso…
Agri View: Hard Work
Everett Griner talks about dairy farming, more than just hard work, in today’s Agri View. Hard Work I don’t see where any industry is more labor intense than farming. And…
California Fighting Global Warming on the Backs of Dairy Farmers
…U.S. News and World Report publication. California dairy farmers are dealing with five years of drought, low milk prices and rising labor costs. A spokesperson for Western United Dairymen says:…
Agri View: Farm Production
…total labor force. Alright a hundred years later. 1890 population total was just under 63 million. Farmers were then about 43 percent of the labor force. Finally let’s go to…
Optimizing Oats for Use as Dairy Forage
…the number of milk cows has been reduced. Read more about this research in the November 2016 AgResearch. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s chief in-house scientific research agency….
Labor Issues Increase Vineyard Mechanization Attention
…labor challenges. The Sustainable Ag Expo was headlined this year by presentations on labor challenges and a panel discussion on how those challenges are driving the adoption of mechanization. There…
Changes to Improve the Prevented Planting Program
New Provisions to Take Effect for 2017 Spring Crops The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced updated factors for prevented planting coverage that will strengthen the…
Back to the Future? H-2A Program Growth
The H-2A program has grown exponentially over the last seven years, especially in California, showing history repeating itself in the agriculture labor sector. The H-2A program allows employers to hire…
Trump Election Leaves Agriculture Awaiting Clarification on Issues
A new report from Rabobank says the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States has the food and agriculture sector awaiting clarification on his policies and…
USDA Awards Funding for Market Development Programs
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is awarding $200 million to more than 70 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand…
California Citrus Carry Over from October Forecast
…Crop Forecast USDA/NASS Citrus Maturity Test Results and Fruit Size form. THANK YOU to our Citrus Crop Forecast Coverage Sponsors! Got Labor? Need Labor? Phone toll free 1-877-758-5035 Click here…
West Coast Ports Improving Infrastructure, but More Needed
…port disruption in various ways. In July 2014, the labor agreement that covers most West Coast port workers expired and was not renewed until February 2015. During this period, as…