https://www.facebook.com/AgNetWest/videos/468154640485448/ While the organic sector has been expanding in value and acreage in recent years, there are still numerous challenges involved in organic production. There are concerns related to acquiring…
Getting Started Growing Tomatoes from Seed
…from seed, look for certified organic seed. If you live in an area that is prone to disease, look for varieties with built-in resistance. Plant size matters. Many seed descriptions…
Farm System Reform Act Looks to Overhaul Animal Agriculture
Legislation was recently unveiled that would significantly alter the landscape of animal agriculture in the United States, particularly livestock production. The Farm System Reform Act of 2019 would establish a…
Strong Year for U.S. Cotton Exports
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made a significant reduction to its production estimate for the 2019-2020 domestic cotton crop, the export market appears to remain strong for U.S. cotton. …
Proceeding with Caution in Hemp Industry
Hemp production presents a lot of potential for California growers, but there are still several challenges facing the hemp industry. The California State Board of Food and Agriculture (Board) recently…
USDA Encourages Input for EQIP Rule
…updated program will also require NRCS to offer an advance payment option for historically underserved producers. Other changes include altering the payment cap for producers who participate in the Organic…
FARM 4.0 Standards Effective January 1
…of dairy farmers, processors, cooperatives and other industry members to build consumer confidence in the industry through ensuring responsible production practices. After 16 months of stakeholder review, the FARM 4.0…
Ban of Chlorpyrifos Products Continues to Expand
The effort to ban the use of chlorpyrifos products in agriculture continues to expand. Other states are following California’s example in prohibiting the use of Chlorpyrifos in agricultural production. The…
Farm Equipment Industry Adapting to Grower Needs
…organic sector is a relatively new approach for equipment manufacturers. At the recent Organic Grower Summit, AGCO’s Director of Sales-Southwest Region, Greg Milstead noted that the organic sector is an…
Maintaining the Integrity of the Organic Seal
…organic seal stands for. Combatting fraudulent products in the marketplace is a critical factor for enabling the continued success of the organic industry moving forward. “We’ve worked really hard with…
Potential for Using Hemp as Animal Feed
…2018 Farm Bill authorized the production of industrial hemp which should help speed up the process. However, HFC points out that there is still a lack of research into the…
Winter Mulching – Why and How to Do it Right
…be organic and degradable, so that the nutrients can break down into the soil. Some ideas that might work include: shredded mulch, pine needles, straw, shredded needles, cut boughs from…
Groups Respond to China Phase One Trade News
…tariffs for many months.” said Woodall. “While tariffs grab most of the headlines, China’s unjustifiable non-tariff barriers and restrictions on science-based production technologies must be addressed so that Chinese consumers…
Understanding Soil Biology Critical for Farming Systems
…panel of industry experts highlighted some of the disruptive practices making an impact on agricultural production at the recent Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, where soil health and biology was…