…To address rising labor costs and shortages, Terranova Ranch is testing automation technologies including: Mechanical and laser weeders using photo-cell technology. Drones and precision farming tools to improve efficiency. Cameron…
Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture: America’s First Farm Organization
…by the Society was crop rotation. Instead of planting the same crop in the same field year after year—which quickly depleted soil nutrients—rotation introduced a system where different crops were…
From Olives to Almonds: Melissa Oberti Shares Her Family’s Farming Legacy and the Struggles Facing California Growers
…grapes and 170 acres of almonds, but both crops face major challenges. Oberti described how water regulations under SGMA and fees have strained operations, while the state’s high-speed rail project…
California Ag Battles: Water, Solar, and Farmland Futures
…While solar developers claim crops or grazing can coexist under solar panels, many California farmers remain skeptical. Boyer highlighted discussions in Kern County, where farmland is increasingly being eyed for…
Melissa Oberti on Grapes, Almonds, and Water Challenges
…grape production. Almond orchards face rodent infestations, with limited pesticide options. Rising costs for labor, utilities, and materials challenge profitability. “Farming is one of the hardest businesses,” Melissa notes. “You’re…
Joe Del Bosque: Water, Labor, and the Fight for California Farming
…and Retailers’ Choices While melons have avoided heavy competition from imports, other crops like asparagus and raisins have been severely impacted. Low wages abroad make it impossible for California farmers…
The Roots of U.S. Forest Management
Photo by Roman Biernacki/Pexels image Early Recognition of Forest Stewardship Even as America’s early settlers were clearing land to establish homesteads and plant crops, the government recognized the importance of…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads
…shifting policies, soaring costs, and technological pressures are pushing many farmers to the brink. California farmers, already burdened by water shortages, must also contend with labor shortages, rising fertilizer prices,…
California Agriculture: Don Cameron on Labor, Water, and Innovation
…Agriculture A central topic of conversation was labor in agriculture. Cameron emphasized the critical importance of a stable workforce for California’s labor-intensive crops. He highlighted the need for programs like…
Central Valley Fight: Tangipa Stands for Farmers
…increasingly unable to survive under rising labor costs, freight expenses, and complex regulations. He believes there is a strategic effort in Sacramento to target industries that resist the dominant political…
California Farmers Struggle with Water, Labor, and Regulations
…another layer of complexity. Rising wages and overtime laws make it difficult for farms to compete with foreign producers. Many operations are turning to mechanization, replacing labor with robotics to…
Family Tree Farms on Quality and Water: Daniel Jackson
…creating excellent conditions for peaches, plums, and nectarines. “This has been one of the coolest summers we’ve ever had,” he said, noting that milder temperatures allowed trees to thrive and…
Small Wineries Under Pressure: Ziveli Winery
…candid about the headwinds California wineries face. Declining wine sales, high labor and equipment costs, and rising regulations have left many operations in the red. “There might be three or…
Marlena Paolilli on Cry Baby Wine and the Future of California’s Wine Industry
…store shelves. California Wine: Challenges and the Road Ahead California remains the top wine producer in the U.S. and the fourth largest in the world, but it faces rising challenges….