…runoff annually. Beyond forestry, California has untapped natural resources: lithium for EV batteries, quarrying, and asphalt production. Local production could reduce reliance on countries with poor labor and environmental standards,…
Carbon Robotics Brings Laser Weeding and Autonomous Tractors to Center Stage
…farming problems — specifically herbicide resistance, rising labor costs, and environmental concerns. The LaserWeeder uses AI-powered cameras and high-precision lasers to identify and eliminate weeds without chemicals. According to Mikesell,…
Bee Season in Full Swing, Highlighting Pollination Urgency for Almond Growers
…without bees, there is no almond crop. As Papagni put it, water, labor, freight, and regulations matter — but without healthy hives in the orchard right now, nothing else counts….
California Agriculture’s Champions: John Duarte on Leadership, Policy & the Future
Screenshot California agriculture is at a pivotal moment. From water regulations and labor challenges to shifting political leadership in Sacramento, farmers and ranchers across the state are facing unprecedented uncertainty….
Fertigation vs. Foliar Sprays: Choosing the Right Nutrition Strategy
…is typically more cost-effective. By adding compatible nutrients to the spray tank, growers can address deficiencies without increasing labor or equipment costs. Fertigation, on the other hand, remains a primary…
John Duarte Lays Out a Blueprint for Water Abundance as World Ag Expo Hits Full Swing
…said, there is no backup plan for water delivery, agriculture, or public health in those regions. Immigration and labor rounded out the conversation. Duarte argued that agriculture needs a permanent,…
How 19th-Century Technology Transformed Corn and Wheat Farming
Labor, Land, and Innovation: How 19th-Century Farming Became More Efficient American agriculture in the 19th century underwent a profound transformation as new tools and techniques reshaped how crops were planted,…
California Walnuts Gain Momentum as Robert Verloop Sees a Turning Point for Growers
…plant-based nutrition. On the production side, Verloop said California has about 380,000 producing acres of walnuts, with acreage beginning to stabilize after recent declines. Rising input costs, labor challenges, and…
Early Innovations That Transformed American Agriculture
…and varied widely in quality and effectiveness. Farming during this period was labor-intensive, limited in scale, and largely focused on meeting immediate needs rather than producing surplus for broader markets….
When American Farming Shifted From Hand Power to Horsepower
From Hand Labor to Heavy Work: Early American Farming Agricultural production in the United States continued to expand in the early 1800s, but farming remained an intensely labor-driven endeavor. Despite…
Rick Roberti Calls on Californians to Get Involved as Cattle Industry Faces a Crossroads
…requiring constant care, daily labor, and long-term financial risk. “You don’t just flip a switch,” Roberti said. “Every animal represents years of work before it ever reaches a plate.” Despite…
How Mechanization Transformed Corn Farming in America
…in 1850: Heavy Labor, Limited Efficiency In 1850, corn farming was highly labor-intensive. Producing 100 bushels of corn required an estimated 75 to 90 labor hours and took 2½ to…
Rick Roberti Warns California’s Wolf Crisis Is Devastating the Cattle Industry
…their lowest level since 1951, and rebuilding a herd takes years — not months. While producers have improved meat quality and efficiency, challenges like labor costs, regulation, border issues, and…
Why California Growers and Agribusinesses Should Look East to the 2026 Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo
California growers and agribusiness leaders face no shortage of challenges — water management, labor availability, pest and disease pressure, rising input costs, and the constant need to stay competitive in…