…Fire in Napa Valley, now contained but leaving growers anxious about potential damage to premium wine grapes. With smoke, air quality concerns, and fire season lasting longer every year, the…
California Agriculture: Fires, Wolves & Farm Labor Reform
…worsening Central Valley air quality caused by wildfires, likening the smoke to winter fog. He warned that tensions between state and federal governments over forest management may intensify as fall…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads
…challenges facing California agriculture. Recent thunderstorms in the Central Valley brought rare lightning-sparked fires near Madera, while wildfires threatened vineyards in Napa Valley, raising concerns about crop damage and smoke…
Federal Aid Available for U.S. Farmers Hit by Natural Disasters
New USDA Relief Program Offers Support for 2023–2024 Losses…
Cal/OSHA Staggered Schedules, Mask Rules Proposal Opposed
…the coalition criticized a proposed scheduling model that would limit workforce attendance to 20% on the first day of a wildfire smoke event, increasing to 80% over four days. According…
Key Dates for Growers and Agricultural Professionals
…look into the innovations supported by the Almond Board. 🍇 West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force Summit 📅 Date: July 15, 2025 🕚 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (PST)…
AgNet News Hour Thursday, 03-20-25
…to protect wine grape growers from wildfire smoke damage by allocating $32.5 million annually for five years to research smoke taint and develop risk management methods. es 4,800 wineries and…
AgNet News Hour Tuesday, 02-18-25
…Service Agency and NRCS operations. They delve into the firing of key USDA researchers investigating the effects of wildfire smoke on crops, highlighting the loss of critical ongoing research and…
American Agriculture History Minute: Wheat Production Grows with the Railroad
Strasburg, Pennsylvania, October 2019 – Antique Steam Freight Train Puffing Smoke and Steam DepositPhotos image I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. American Agriculture History Minute: Wheat Production…
Study: Wildfire Smoke Cuts Nut Production in California Orchards
…fires burned over 4.2 million acres and filled the air with dense smoke and ash. Wildfire smoke blocks sunlight, which reduces photosynthesis—trees’ ability to produce carbohydrates that are essential for…
AgNet News Hour, Wednesday, 09-11-24
…new technology that can help winemakers manage smoke taint from wildfires. Tune in for these news stories, interviews, features, and more. Listen to previous AgNet News Hour episodes… Sabrina Halvorson…
New Smoke Exposure Insurance Protection for California Grapes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced a new crop insurance endorsement to help California winegrape growers protect against the effects of wildfire smoke. The Fire Insurance Protection- Smoke…
New Technology Helping to Detect Plant Stress
…it be better to know like, hey, there’s smoke coming from your kitchen, you should do something about it now? And that’s the that’s the loop that we’re trying to…
AgNet News Hour, Monday, 08-12-24
…and contingency plans for wildfire smoke exposure. Tune in for this and more of the day’s agriculture news. Listen to previous AgNet News Hour episodes… Sabrina Halvorson National Correspondent /…

















