…commodities and remains one of the nation’s agricultural powerhouses, yet many small farms are struggling to survive due to rising costs and government regulations. Maldonado agreed, saying farmers throughout the…
Pest Pressure Builds Across California Specialty Crops – Part 1
As California specialty crops move deeper into the growing season, growers are facing pressure from a wide range of pests across multiple commodities. Todd Burkdoll, Field Market Development Manager with…
California Table Grapes 2026: Early Season, Global Demand, Strong Future
…global exports and health benefits, the conversation paints a clear picture: California table grapes remain one of the most reliable, high-quality commodities in agriculture today. Early Start Driven by Warm…
Women in Agriculture Highlight Leadership, Challenges, and the Future of Farming
…into the industry through 4-H and later pursued a career that spans multiple commodities. She emphasized the importance of education and outreach, noting that many consumers still lack a basic…
Ag Council President Highlights Regulatory Pressure, Plastics Policy, and Political Uncertainty for California Farmers
…agriculture facing unique challenges across commodities and regions, she said advocacy now requires constant engagement across multiple issues, from water and labor to environmental regulation. “There are so many different…
California Agriculture Faces Policy Pressure, Weather Challenges, and Critical Election Year
…noted, pointing to the constant balancing act growers face. These conditions are already impacting markets, with early harvests in crops like cherries and potential disruptions in commodities such as hay…
California Cherry Crop Rebounds in 2026 as Growers Navigate Weather and Market Pressures
…much better crop than we saw last year,” Jameson said. Weather remains the biggest variable in cherry production. Unlike many commodities, cherries are highly sensitive to both winter chill hours…
From Cattle Drives to Cold Storage: How Kansas City Became a Meatpacking Powerhouse
…commodities. Railroads enabled large-scale livestock movement and made centralized processing economically viable. The ability to efficiently transport cattle and meat products positioned Kansas City as a key player in the…
The Missouri River: The Longest River in America and Its Agricultural Legacy
…historically allowed farmers to move grain, livestock, and other commodities to broader markets. An Enduring Part of American Agriculture History While the Mississippi River often captures public attention, the Missouri…
Why California Agriculture Is Losing Ground Despite Feeding the World
…State Undermining Itself Nick emphasized that California grows more than 430 different commodities, making it the most diverse agricultural state in the nation. Yet farmers face a perfect storm of…
Damian Mason Says California Ag Is Outnumbered, Out Regulated, and Still Unmatched
…paid more for it, while cheaper commodities roll in from countries with lower labor costs and less regulation. Mason compared California to Peru and pointed out that global competitors now…
How Soybeans Became America’s Leading Crop
…commodities. This transformation illustrates not only the adaptability of American agriculture but also the influence of global events on domestic farming priorities. Legacy of the Soybean Industry Today, soybeans remain…
AgNet News Hour: Nutrition Policy, Prop 50, and California Agriculture Under Pressure
…clean” strategies to manage herbicide resistance, especially against Palmer amaranth. The hosts also raise concerns over unfair import dumping impacting California commodities such as pears, mushrooms, sheep, tomatoes, avocados, and…
AgNet News Hour Podcast: 2025 Ag Review & 2026 Outlook
…for 2026. The episode covers trade and tariff shifts, California water and SGMA challenges, labor and immigration pressures, freight and regulation costs, and record-setting years for pistachios and other commodities….