…mess think they can fix it.” Papagni nodded. The two agreed that Proposition 50 would accelerate job losses, worsen the water crisis, and weaken rural labor markets. “It’ll be a…
Shannon Douglass Doubles Down on Prop 50 Opposition
…Farmers are struggling with water shortages, labor issues, and global trade pressures. Losing rural representation, she argued, would only make those problems worse. Without strong farm voices in Sacramento and…
Mando Perez: Innovation & Leadership in California Ag
…has had a strong 2025, Perez noted. The company continues to innovate in pest management, irrigation, and climate monitoring. Its solutions aim to improve fruit quality while reducing labor and…
Mando Perez of Semios Named CAPCA Member of the Year
…save labor, reduce input costs, and make data-driven decisions. “Growers need solutions that cut costs and improve efficiency,” Perez said, highlighting the role of technology in today’s farm economy. Perez…
California’s Water Puzzle: Insights from Avid Water’s Cory Broad
…drip line. Beyond infrastructure, they also assist with irrigation scheduling and crop advising, ensuring systems run efficiently year-round. Fertigation: Precision and Cost Efficiency Labor shortages and high operating costs have…
Corey Broad of Avid Water on California’s Fixable Water Crisis
…labor through these systems. “It’s about finding the right solution for each grower,” Broad said, noting Avid Water’s ability to handle everything from pumps and wells to system design and…
Alexandra Duarte’s Fight for California’s Future
…crops, fruits, vegetables. Agriculture needs energy, water, fewer regulations, and labor laws that work. What agriculture needs, everybody needs.” Her vision even extends to creative ways to highlight agriculture’s value:…
California Raisin Leaders on Trade, Water & Future
…A Different Playing Field While California growers face strict labor, environmental, and food safety regulations, conditions in Turkey are very different. Cardoza described a system where most of Turkey’s 46,000…
Raisin Industry Legends Warn of Challenges and Chart a Path Forward
…grocery chains. He described the challenge of competing with subsidized Turkish raisins, produced under much lower safety and labor standards, while California growers face some of the strictest regulations in…
Kevin Kester on Ranching, Trade, and Ag’s Next Generation
…hands if you even think about crossing into it,” he said. Cartels now control vast regions, exploiting opportunities wherever they can profit, including agriculture. This reality complicates trade, labor migration,…
Pistachios, Water & Trade: Kreps on Farming’s Future
…high in potassium, and rich in fiber. That combination makes them attractive in both domestic and international markets. Still, Kreps acknowledged that pistachio farming requires dedication—“a labor of love,” he…
Shannon Douglas: Leading California Agriculture Through Opportunity and Challenge
…is on issues with direct impact: labor, trade, and the Farm Bill. California’s dependence on seasonal and immigrant labor makes workforce policy a constant priority. Trade agreements influence everything from…
California Farm Bureau’s Shannon Douglas Tackles Prop 50, Farm Bill, and the Future of Farming
…highlighted three critical issues she and her team took to Washington, D.C.: Labor and Immigration – Farmers can’t function without a reliable, respected workforce. Trade – California’s high-quality specialty crops…
California Trucking: Costs, Rules & Roadblocks
California Trucking Battles: Regulations, Costs, and the Future of Freight Freight at the Center of Agriculture Challenges In California, agriculture discussions often revolve around water and labor, but freight has…