…and domestic vulnerabilities. 1. Protecting American Farmland Ownership At the forefront of the plan is a push to prohibit foreign adversaries from purchasing U.S. farmland. Secretary Rollins emphasized the importance…
Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin Revolutionized American Agriculture
…agriculture was immediate and profound. Cotton production soared, transforming it into a dominant cash crop in the South. This, in turn, fueled economic growth, expanded farmland use, and reshaped the…
Chad Bianco: “California Is in Crisis—And Agriculture Is Paying the Price”
…AB-1156, a bill allowing solar panel development on farmland in Central California. “You’ve got to be a moron to combine solar panels and farming and think that’s okay,” he said….
California Fresh Fruit Industry Faces Crisis
…frustration over farmland being converted to solar fields due to lack of water. “Farmers don’t want to put solar on prime land—they’re forced to,” he said. He stressed that the…
Hilton Slams Solar on Farmland, Pledges Support for California Ag
…leadership and a promise of change. Steve Hilton Slams Solar on Farmland, Pledges Support for California Ag The Crisis in California Ag “The situation keeps getting worse,” Hilton said. “Whatever…
AgNet News Hour: Citrus Expo Preview, USDA Snap Crackdown, and Chad Bianco’s Bold Vision for California Ag
…interview with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who’s running for Governor of California. Sheriff Bianco lays out his farmer-first agenda, takes on misguided solar development on farmland, and calls out…
Steve Hilton Blasts Solar Farms on California Agricultural Land
Solar Panels vs. Farmland: A Growing Controversy Nick Papagni, host of The Ag Meter, sat down with Steve Hilton, candidate for Governor of California, to discuss a major issue affecting…
AgNet News Hour Thursday, 07-10-25
…a businessman and longtime supporter of agriculture, lays out his vision to revitalize California by reducing regulation, restoring water infrastructure, and protecting farmland from being converted into subsidized solar developments….
AgNet News Hour Monday, 07-07-25
…lawmaker, Tangipa is one of the few politicians pushing back on solar panel expansion into productive farmland. The conversation dives into the ongoing frustration over California’s water management, with growing…
Ag Economy Barometer Dips in June, Signals Mixed Outlook
…cut back on equipment purchases this year, reflecting a strategic, cost-conscious approach to capital spending. Farmland Value Expectations Improve One bright spot is farmland: the Short-Term Farmland Value Expectation Index…
Solar Push Sparks Water, Ethics Concerns in California
…the unintended consequences of solar development on farmland. AgNet West’s own Josh McGill investigated the issue and found a troubling contradiction: while farmers are restricted from pumping groundwater due to…
David Tangipa: Defending California Farmers from Costly Policies
…of preserving it for food production. “The Williamson Act was intended to keep farmland, farmland,” Tangipa said. “Farmers are carbon-capturing through photosynthesis. They should be credited, not penalized.” Immigration and…
AgNet News Hour Friday, 07-04-25
…the disconnect between state leadership and modern agriculture, especially in California, where farmland continues to be threatened by energy policy and water restrictions. The hosts highlight the enduring wisdom of…
Imperial Valley Sugar Plant Closure Raises Crop Market Concerns
…many in the area is the increasing pressure from green energy projects that could take prime farmland out of production. “Whenever we pave over, we develop our arable ag lands,…