Sabrina Hill reviews this week’s progress with quick updates on dozens crops. Weekly Crop Progress Fruit Crops The peach, nectarine and fresh plum harvests continued. Prunes were progressing well in…
Crop Report Offers Some Good News
…crop report is now out, and it shows a potential for some records. Gary Crawford gives us a quick look at the details. USDA Forecasts Record Corn and Soybean Crops…
2012 Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) Coverage for Frost, Freeze, or Weather Related Fruit Losses
The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to retroactively provide assistance at additional coverage levels under the 2012 Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance…
Researchers Working on ‘Ladderless’ Orchards
…fact, according to the article, peach and nectarine growers pay as much as 40 percent more for worker’s comp insurance than growers with crops that don’t require ladders. For the…
Water Use in California – Analysis from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)
…production is growing. Approximately nine million acres of farmland in California are irrigated, representing roughly 80% of all human water use. Higher revenue perennial crops—nuts, grapes, and other fruit—have increased…
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Provides Six-Month Update on Farm Bill Implementation Progress
…date: TITLE I – Commodity Programs Agricultural Risk Coverage Program and Price Loss Coverage Program: On April 29, USDA began a competitive process to award funding for Farm Bill decision…
Golden State Experience for NAFB
…to see local crops like artichokes, pick organic strawberries fresh from the field, taste organic wine and see how important California FFA is to our ag industry and communities. Atkinson,…
Recapping the 2014 California State Fair by the Numbers
…750,000 guests came through the gates. 159,242 cars were parked 38 baby animals were born in the Baby Barn. 3,696 pounds of crops were harvested and donated to food banks…
Possible Losses from Inefficient Irrigation
…field. Ag/H2O Founder and Owner Jim Anshutz says he is seeing under-efficient systems that cost the grower in energy use, water waste and yield loss. For example in nut crops,…
Disaster Assistance for 2012 Frost or Freeze Fruit Crop Losses Announced
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) assistance for losses to bush or tree fruit crops due to frost or freeze during the…
USDA/NRCS Video: Cover Crops and Water Infiltration of Soil
Russ Lester of Dixon Ridge Farms in Solano County, Calif., owns an orchard with a green carpet of cover crops. This orchard is part of his organic walnut operation in…
Research Projects to Improve Plant Feedstocks for Bioenergy Production
…renewable chemical feedstocks. Dedicated feedstock crops tend to require less intensive production practices and can grow on poorer quality land than food crops, making this a critical element in a…
Non-citrus Fruits and Nuts 2013 Summary Highlights
Kiwifruit In 2013, the Nation’s utilized production of the leading non-citrus fruit crops totaled 19.2 million tons, up 9 percent from the 2012 utilized production. Utilized production increased from 2012…
Innovation Allows Livestock Producers and Rice Farmers to Solve Each Other’s Problems
…the straw immediately after it exited the grain harvester. They stacked the green straw bales and covered them with a tarp to retain moisture and prevent spontaneous combustion. The result…