…labor-intensive but lucrative commodity that thrived in the region’s wetlands. These developments marked the beginning of plantation agriculture in America—systems that would shape not only the economy but also the…
Edward Ring on California’s Water Crisis: Fixing a Broken System
…takes 30, 40, 50 years to build things, and it costs two or three times as much as it ought to because of all the regulations and litigation.” A Tale…
Nanette Simonian: Championing California Agriculture & Women in Ag
…to national politics. She expressed concern about inexperienced decision-makers impacting California’s complex and labor-intensive farming industry. “Farming is such an intimate topic for me. I grew up on a family…
Nanette Simonian and California Women for Agriculture Take a Stand on Prop 50
…roots drive her passion for advocacy. “Farming isn’t just a job — it’s who we are,” she said. “It’s labor-intensive, complex, and deeply personal. You have to have it in…
AI and Automation Drive Florida’s AgTech Revolution
…opportunities that exist in Florida.” Tackling Florida’s Top Challenge: Labor Boyd made it clear that labor remains the number one issue for Florida agriculture. With nearly all crops planted, maintained,…
Trump, Trade & U.S. Beef: Kevin Kester on Cattle Markets
…long-standing frustration among U.S. producers who compete against imports grown under cheaper labor, fewer regulations, and different standards. Kester supports U.S.A. labeling but cautions that consumers must understand what labels…
Building the Future of Ag Tech: Danny Bernstein and The Reservoir at FIRA 2025
…like those in Hanford or other Central Valley towns — Bernstein emphasized listening first. “We’d want to understand what you’re growing, your top labor challenges, your precision needs, and what’s…
Building the Future of Ag Education at Merced College
…work today. Preparing for Tomorrow’s Farming Jacobsen understands that the challenges facing agriculture — water regulations, labor shortages, transportation costs, and environmental pressures — require new thinking. “What we’re doing…
Ecorobotix, AgTech Grants, and Hannah Johnson’s Push for California’s Future
…cut input costs, labor needs, and environmental impact all at once. Ecorobotix recently raised $150 million in funding to expand its U.S. operations and announced plans to begin assembling products in America…
California Farmers Confront Global Competition and Retail Pressure on AgNet News Hour
…Wild Goose Farms, a major blueberry grower from Florida, said he attended to explore automation that could offset rising labor costs. “Blueberries are still handpicked in most of the country,”…
Building the Future of Farming: Insights from UC ANR’s Gabe Youtsey at FIRA USA 2025
…out that California growers face serious and immediate pressures: Water scarcity Land access issues Labor shortages Increasing regulatory burdens Farmers need help now, but they also need the tools and…
From Citrus Greening to Ag Robotics: California Faces the Future of Farming
…Show in Woodland. Arav Gupta of Bonsai explained how their retrofit kits can turn any existing tractor into an autonomous vehicle — helping farmers save on labor and fuel while…
First American Silo: How Fred Hatch Revolutionized Grain Storage in 1873
…remained a cost-effective option for certain feed types. Remarkably, both designs—first conceived in the 19th century—are still in use on farms today. The Legacy of Fred Hatch’s Innovation Fred Hatch’s…
Beef Plan, Spray Tech, and AI: California Ag Eyes Relief and Reinvention
…water infrastructure inches forward. Rounding out the episode, University of Florida’s Dr. Nathan Boyd joined from FIRA to compare Florida and California specialty crops and explain why labor is his…