…once rural farmland has since been transformed into suburban neighborhoods—a reflection of the urban growth that has reshaped California’s agricultural landscape. “It was a journey from Fresno back then,” DiBuduo…
Nat DiBuduo, the “Godfather of Grapes,” on the Future of California Wine and Farming
…of the grape industry,” DiBuduo reflected on growing up among vineyards where Copper River now stands — a reminder of how quickly farmland has disappeared under urban expansion. “Back in…
David Tangipa: Fighting for California Farmers and Rejecting Proposition 50
…lost roughly 20 percent of its small farms in recent years, while urban housing sprawls across prime farmland. The state now faces a $30-billion food deficit — importing more food…
California’s Water Puzzle: Insights from Avid Water’s Cory Broad
…Expansion: Finding Balance As cities grow and farmland shrinks, Broad and Avid Water are finding ways to support both urban and agricultural water needs. Through licensing and compliance with prevailing…
John Duarte on Central Valley Agriculture: Water, Prop 50, and the Future of Avocados
…for agricultural or urban use. This, he argued, devastates irrigated farmland, suburban neighborhoods, and rural communities alike. Children in the Valley suffer from dust-borne respiratory issues, and yet the policies…
Oregon Trail: How It Shaped American Agriculture
…by fur traders and trappers. At that time, it was only accessible by foot or horseback. But as the promise of fertile farmland grew, so did the need for a…
Lisa Kerr Warns of Policy Threats and Fights for California Farmers
…also raised concerns about California’s push for electric trucks and solar panels on farmland. “If you’re not ready for the automation and you push $450,000 electric trucks on farmers, you…
Fighting for California Agriculture and Values: David Tangipa on Water, Farmers, and Policy
…you want the state with the highest unemployment, the highest cost, the highest utility cost, an insurance collapse, devastating and fallowed farmland, to now set policy for the entire nation?”…
Native American Agriculture: Roots of U.S. Farming
…the floodplains. This annual renewal created some of the most fertile farmland in North America. By situating villages and fields near rivers, Native Americans ensured steady crop yields without exhausting…
Don Cameron: California Ag Leadership & Challenges
…for shaping effective agricultural policy. Water, Land, and the Future of Farming California’s agriculture faces dual pressures from urban expansion and water scarcity. Cameron warns that farmland is increasingly at…
California Ag Battles: Water, Solar, and Farmland Futures
…while farmland is proposed for solar conversion. California’s Future Food Supply at Risk As the state’s population nears 40 million, California continues to lose farmland. Papagni warned that reducing the…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads
…operations. Instead of helping “the little guy,” many rules unintentionally drive more farms out of business. Misunderstood Farmers and Vanishing Farmland Reisinger pointed to cases like dairy producer Stephanie Moreda…
California Agriculture: Don Cameron on Labor, Water, and Innovation
…farmers, including low commodity prices, rising costs, abandoned farmland, and pest challenges such as rodents destroying orchards and drip systems. He encouraged small and young farmers to take advantage of…
California Farmers Struggle with Water, Labor, and Regulations
…AB 1156, highlights tensions between renewable energy and farmland preservation. While solar panels provide farmers with alternative revenue in water-scarce areas, weakening the Williamson Act raises concerns about long-term farmland…