The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reopened the signup period for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2). Farmers and ranchers will have at least 60 days from…
Slow Process for Moving Ag Professionals into the Digital Space
While more innovative digital tools continue to become available for farmers and ranchers, adoption of new technologies is still a slow process. Some of the discussions at the recent Salinas…
Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative to Support Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
…new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. The assistance program puts an emphasis on small and socially disadvantaged farmers that have been affected by COVID-19. The initiative is aimed at developing…
AB 125 Receiving Support from Multiple Farm Groups
…chains, investing in technical assistance, and supporting the transition to organic, this bond equips current and future organic farmers with the tools they need to provide Californians with healthy, climate-friendly…
Ag Groups Largely Support $2 Trillion Infrastructure Package
…providing good-paying jobs and an economic boon for the construction industry.” Other supporters of the plan include Farmers for Free Trade, the California Farm Bureau Federation, Rural Voices USA, and…
Federal Agencies Asked to Address California Wildfire Problems
…and the U.S. Department of the Interior to assist in wildfire mitigation efforts. In a letter addressed to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Interior Secretary Haaland, the group highlights the need…
Week in Review: Dismal Snowpack Reflects Drought Conditions, More COVID Relief Coming
The latest manual snow survey from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) reflects a dismal snowpack. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has unveiled the Pandemic Assistance for Producers program to…
Pest Management Workgroup Seeks Sustainable Alternatives to Pesticides
…farmers, community members, university researchers, representatives from the pesticide industry, commodity groups, etcetera. The new workgroup will help identify practices, protocols, and tools to make the shift to safe pest…
Dismal Snowpack Survey Reflects Third Driest Year on Record
…Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently declared all California counties natural disaster areas due to drought. Water allocations have also been disappointing for farmers in recent weeks. DWR lowered water…
Pressure is Rising to Reinstate the Organic Animal Welfare Rule
…integrity of the organic label. Signatories of the letter include the Organic Trade Association, National Farmers Union, and the American Sustainable Business Council. A group of four lawmakers also sent…
Latest COVID Relief Package to Benefit Cotton Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced additional coronavirus relief is on the way for farmers and ranchers. Additional aid will be provided through the existing Coronavirus Food Assistance…
Water Futures Market May Not Have the Ag Solutions Proponents Suggest
…the water futures market present it as an economic tool available to farmers to help offset the real costs of physical water transfers. However, the risks involved may outweigh the…
Report Highlights Concerns About Food System Concentration
…mid-sized farmers to compete. The process of food system concentration has also been occurring within the processing sector. A small number of processing firms have increased their market share considerably….
Farm Groups Push for Swift Action on Agriculture Labor from The Senate
…Senate, many farmers do not see a future in labor-intensive agriculture as the margins between profitability and loss disappear due to the federal government’s outdated policies and broken immigration system.”…