…oil per day, in-state production continues to decline due to regulatory hurdles. Instead, the state imports oil from overseas — a move Bird argues increases costs while outsourcing environmental oversight….
California Freight in Crisis: Wildwood Express on the Pressures Facing Trucking and Agriculture
…costs, labor shortages, and insurance hurdles, their insights provide a rare glimpse into the daily challenges that keep the state—and the nation—fed. Families and Businesses Feeling the Squeeze Woods and…
From Backyard Prototype to Global Ag Tech: Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder Revolution
…Mikesell identified a critical challenge: weed control. Traditional methods rely heavily on herbicides and manual labor, which can harm crops, farmers, and the environment. Carbon Robotics’ solution? The LaserWeeder, an…
From Fresno Legend to Propane Pioneer: Lance Shebelut on Farming Smarter
…keeping citrus thriving, propane is proving to be a cost-effective, environmentally conscious solution. As Shebelut emphasizes, “Anything you can do to lower operating costs, you have to look at. Propane…
Fighting for Family Farms: Stephanie Moreda-Arend on Point Reyes’ Future
…noted, and these narratives often shape public opinion. “Manure isn’t waste—it’s the foundation for organic soil and healthy crops,” Stephanie explained. The Human Cost: Families and Communities Every farm lost…
Freight Industry Warning: California Trucking Companies Say Costs and Regulations Are Reaching a Breaking Point
…critical breaking point. Woods, who operates a 45-truck fleet based in Kings County, laid out the growing list of challenges facing California freight companies: rising fuel costs, increasing insurance premiums,…
California Water, Energy, and Resource Policy: A Conversation with Edward Ring
…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,…
Jamie Johansson: A Farmer Running to Fix California
…law’s cumulative impact on cost of living and farming viability. On his own farm, he manages 17 to 19 separate permits. He argues that rising regulatory costs push production out…
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…
Record Pistachio Crop, Global Demand, and California’s Water Reality
…by both convenience and confidence in California farming practices. Water Allocations and the Cost of Uncertainty The conversation turned blunt when discussing California water policy. Despite above-average reservoirs after multiple…
John Duarte Lays Out a Blueprint for Water Abundance as World Ag Expo Hits Full Swing
…Duarte said a roughly 50-mile extension could move millions of acre-feet of water south of the Delta each year at a cost far lower than most proposed storage projects. “These…