…Soil Management The experience of these early pioneers challenges the assumption that farmers in every era consistently practiced careful soil conservation. Although modern farmers and ranchers often emphasize their role…
How Crop Rotation Helped American Farmers Protect Soil Fertility
Early Settlers Overlooked the Importance of Soil Conservation In the early years of American agriculture, settlers often gave little thought to conserving and maintaining the fertility of their soil. As…
California Water Crisis, Rising Costs and Crop Protection Take Center Stage
…protection ahead of the 2027 growing season. Ring argued that California’s water challenges stem partly from decades of insufficient investment in major infrastructure projects. While acknowledging improvements in conservation and…
Kyle Kirkland Targets Water, Agriculture and Costs
…that he supports environmental conservation, he argued that environmental protections should mitigate the effects of development rather than unnecessarily prevent progress. His position is that government should be willing to…
USDA Announces $13.8 Billion in Farm Payments as Autonomous Spraying Technology Advances
On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Richard Fordyce, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, discussed billions of dollars in upcoming farm safety-net payments and new opportunities…
Fresno State Field Day to Highlight Groundwater Recharge Options for Farmers
…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…