…in Focus The California Water Institute and Sustainable Conservation are hosting the event for farmers who own or lease farmland. The program is designed to provide growers with practical information…
USDA Expands Crop Insurance Options for Organic Stone Fruit Growers
…the specialty crop sector. More Flexibility for Specialty Crop Growers USDA Farm Production and Conservation Undersecretary Richard Fordyce said the change is part of an ongoing effort to improve crop…
Specialty Crop Leaders Push for Trade, Food Safety and Farm Bill Changes
…deploy similar technology. Later in the program, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce discussed changes to Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs, including the…
Senate Farm Bill Advances With E15 Provision, Proposition 12 Dispute Unresolved
…from members of both parties during the committee’s Farm Bill discussions. The legislation also addresses farm risk management, conservation, specialty crops and other agricultural programs. Committee Chairman John Boozman has…
MCOOL Debate Continues as Congress Considers Country-of-Origin Labeling
…risk management, conservation, specialty crops and rural development. The combination of the executive order and congressional consideration puts country-of-origin labeling among the ongoing policy discussions affecting the cattle industry. For…
Shannon Douglass Discusses Wolves, Labor and California Agriculture
…and Natural Resources and Resource Conservation Districts to provide training on nonlethal wolf-deterrence tools. She also said wolf management is complicated by overlapping state and federal protections. Beyond livestock, she…
Rick Roberti on Cattle, Beef, Wolves, Wildfires and California Agriculture
…and the need for greater communication among ranchers, wildlife officials and conservation organizations. Another major topic was the New World screwworm and other livestock threats, including the Asian longhorned tick….
Rancher’s First Initiative Targets Cattle Herd Rebuilding and Producer Stability
…expand disaster assistance on certain conservation acres, increase support for small and regional beef processors, and prioritize American beef in federal purchasing programs. New Insurance Option Addresses Heifer Retention A…
America’s Early Forest Management Begins in 1876
From Settler Clearing to Forest Conservation As early American settlers cleared land for homesteads, farms, and growing communities, the federal government increasingly recognized that the nation’s forests were an important…
Cannon Michael: California Farming at a Crossroads
…650 acres into a permanent federal easement dedicated to wetland habitat. The farm also invests in habitat and riparian corridors. Water conservation is another major component of the operation, including…
Bowles Farming Company: Adapting to Keep California Agriculture Moving
…future. Michael highlighted drip irrigation, solar energy and conservation efforts, including 650 acres the family placed into a permanent federal easement for wetland habitat along the Pacific Flyway. The conversation…
USDA: From Lincoln’s “People’s Department” to a Modern Agriculture Agency
…of agricultural and rural programs, including research, conservation, food and nutrition programs, agricultural markets, rural development and other services affecting farmers, consumers and rural communities. Lincoln’s “People’s Department” Legacy The…
USDA and the Birth of America’s Land-Grant Universities
…economy and future. USDA grew from earlier federal efforts to support American agriculture. Its responsibilities would eventually expand to include agricultural research, statistics, education, conservation, food programs and numerous services…
Business Leader Kyle Kirkland Outlines Vision for California’s Future
…future generations. He rejected the notion that agriculture and environmental protection must be at odds, saying responsible farming and conservation can coexist. He also expressed concern that regulations originally intended…