…and fresh tomatoes Niche crops such as asparagus, garlic, and onions Barcellos notes that crops like asparagus are a difficult but important niche, dependent on fluctuating markets and competition from…
Native American Agriculture: Roots of U.S. Farming
…Crops of Native American Farming The agricultural systems developed by Native Americans were not only about managing land—they also revolved around cultivating crops that became essential to global diets. The…
Don Cameron: California Ag Leadership & Challenges
…believes automation will be critical for the future, particularly for labor-intensive crops. Market Pressures and Global Competition California farmers face increasing pressure from imported commodities, where production costs are much…
Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture: America’s First Farm Organization
…by the Society was crop rotation. Instead of planting the same crop in the same field year after year—which quickly depleted soil nutrients—rotation introduced a system where different crops were…
From Olives to Almonds: Melissa Oberti Shares Her Family’s Farming Legacy and the Struggles Facing California Growers
…grapes and 170 acres of almonds, but both crops face major challenges. Oberti described how water regulations under SGMA and fees have strained operations, while the state’s high-speed rail project…
California Ag Battles: Water, Solar, and Farmland Futures
…While solar developers claim crops or grazing can coexist under solar panels, many California farmers remain skeptical. Boyer highlighted discussions in Kern County, where farmland is increasingly being eyed for…
Joe Del Bosque: Water, Labor, and the Fight for California Farming
…and Retailers’ Choices While melons have avoided heavy competition from imports, other crops like asparagus and raisins have been severely impacted. Low wages abroad make it impossible for California farmers…
The Roots of U.S. Forest Management
Photo by Roman Biernacki/Pexels image Early Recognition of Forest Stewardship Even as America’s early settlers were clearing land to establish homesteads and plant crops, the government recognized the importance of…
California Agriculture: Don Cameron on Labor, Water, and Innovation
…Agriculture A central topic of conversation was labor in agriculture. Cameron emphasized the critical importance of a stable workforce for California’s labor-intensive crops. He highlighted the need for programs like…
California Farmers Struggle with Water, Labor, and Regulations
…Modesto as a fourth-generation dairyman. After leaving the dairy industry, he worked with Duarte Nursery and then the California Farm Bureau, covering 16 San Joaquin Valley counties. Two and a…
Family Tree Farms on Quality and Water: Daniel Jackson
…with new warm-weather apple varieties like the Sugarburst. Rain, Trade, and Tariffs Recent storms across the Central Valley raised concerns about damage to late-harvest crops. Jackson said it is too…
Ted Torosian Builds Custom Produce into Ag Success Story
…Unlike many operations in the Valley that focus on a single commodity, Custom Produce set itself apart by offering a wide variety of crops in one location. From grapes and…
Freight Safety and Dairy Market Pressures: Nick Folio
…in the state’s freight industry. Rainfall Raises Questions for Crops Unexpected rainfall across the Central Valley sparked concern for sensitive crops like peaches, plums, nectarines, and grapes. While some crops…
California Trucking Rules Under Fire: EPA Pushback
…San Jose, triggering a quarantine in Santa Clara County. Medflies pose a devastating threat to fruit and vegetable crops, and the state is deploying a sterile male release program to…