…Work Capability: Shorthorns were strong and dependable animals capable of pulling carts and plows, essential for farm labor before mechanization. Beef Supply: When the winter months approached, these cattle also…
Farm Labor and Market Shifts: Today’s AgNet News Hour Highlights
…adapt to shifting pressures while keeping production moving forward. Labor Shortages Remain a Top Concern Farmers are once again voicing concerns about ongoing labor shortages and the difficulty of securing…
Roger Isom on California Farming Challenges in 2025
…wage mandates make manual labor unsustainable. Immigration Reform and Farm Labor Labor remains one of the most pressing issues in California agriculture. Isom expressed optimism that bipartisan immigration legislation may…
California Pistachio Harvest 2025: Insights from Richard Kreps
…on the Farm: Labor, Freight, and Pests Despite optimism, farmers face a long list of challenges. Labor shortages, freight disruptions, and California’s ongoing water crisis continue to weigh heavily on…
Dairy, Family, and Football: Joseph Bakker’s Life in the Central Valley
…us a stronger team.” He believes milk offers a healthier alternative to energy drinks and sugary sodas. Labor Pressures in the Dairy Industry While water dominates headlines, labor regulations are…
Fires to Food Security: Elaine Collotti Outlines Bold Plan for California Agriculture
…planned presence in California—including new legal representation—could uncover mismanagement of funds and bring accountability. Water, Labor, and Immigration Solutions Water policy remains a flashpoint for California agriculture. Collotti criticized the…
Inside Hanford Dairy Life with Farmer Case Anker
…for generations. While he acknowledges dietary trends will continue to rise and fall, his stance on milk’s benefits is unwavering. Labor Stability on the Farm Unlike some farmers facing labor…
Fighting for California Agriculture: Rich Kreps
…environment, California risks losing production permanently. The conversation also tackled labor and workforce challenges, particularly immigration reform. Kreps underscored the need for a legal, stable labor supply, arguing that lawmakers…
Freight, Labor, and Water: Roger Isom Unpacks the Big Challenges
…the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. From labor policy to freight and water infrastructure, Isom doesn’t hold back in explaining what’s holding California agriculture back and what might just…
Minturn Nut’s Darren Rigg Talks Almond Industry
…Eastern markets favor pallet-level trading. Freight, Labor, and Logistics Freight disruptions during COVID-19 were severe, but shipping and container availability have improved. Minturn has not faced significant labor shortages due…
California’s Half-Billion Dollar Rodent Crisis: A Looming Threat to Tree Nut Growers
…residential areas and push into adjacent agricultural land. It’s a growing and spreading issue, one that’s exhausting both financial and labor resources. Later in the show, we hear from Roger…
Robert McCormick and the Birth of American Agricultural Innovation
…inventiveness clearly influenced his son, Cyrus McCormick. In 1831, Cyrus demonstrated a groundbreaking harvester capable of cutting six acres of oats, significantly surpassing the capacity of manual labor. Just a…
California Almonds at the Crossroads: Tariffs, Trade, and Hope for a Better Harvest
…and the shelf life advantage of California-grown almonds. With freight and labor issues less problematic than in past years, Darren believes the almond industry is positioned to adapt, provided policy…
Cyrus McCormick and the Reaper Revolution
…American farmers remained unconvinced. Cyrus McCormick and the Reaper Revolution At the time, hand labor was abundant and relatively cheap. For many, the reaper seemed unnecessary or too complex. As…