…slow due to cost and environmental complexity. Compounding the issue is climate change. Snowpack—once California’s most reliable and affordable water storage—is becoming less dependable due to rising temperatures and shifting…
California Ag Secretary Karen Ross Discusses Future of Farming, Water, and Regulation Challenges
…including reduced snowpack reliability, as a major factor impacting water availability. While some argue the issue is tied to infrastructure, she stressed that shifting hydrology must also be considered. “Our…
From Water Challenges to Agave Innovation: The Woolf Farming Story
…make difficult decisions about what land to farm and what to leave idle. Even in years with promising snowpack, uncertainty around water delivery limits planning and production. This challenge has…
R7 Enterprises: Dave Roberts on Water, Lemons & California’s Farming Future
…most productive farmland in the world. Roberts believes better snowpack storage, water recycling, and desalination must be part of the solution. “Food is every bit as important as water for…
Food Dyes, Fraud, and the Future of Agriculture in 2026
…priorities. The episode closed with discussion on livestock trucking regulations, water storage challenges after another strong snowpack year, and the need for common-sense infrastructure solutions to support farmers. Throughout the…
California Water Solutions: Inside Turlock Irrigation District
…spectrometers to measure snowpack across entire watersheds with up to 99 percent accuracy. By eliminating uncertainty in snowpack estimates, water managers can make better decisions about reservoir operations, flood protection,…
AgNet News Hour Podcast: Water, Policy, and the Future of California Agriculture
…recharge, and advanced snowpack measurement technology—developed in partnership with NASA—have helped protect growers from the worst impacts of SGMA and water shortages. He stresses that every watershed is different and…
California Agriculture at a Crossroads: Insights from Fresno County Farm Bureau President Ryan Jacobsen
…Valley don’t necessarily mean good conditions in the north, where much of the state’s supply originates. A healthy Sierra Nevada snowpack benefits the entire agricultural system, but a weak northern…
Pistachios, Water & Trade: Kreps on Farming’s Future
…of pistachio farming discussions. Kreps emphasized that the state receives enough annual rainfall and snowpack to supply five years of water, if only more storage infrastructure were built. Instead, California…
California’s Water Crisis: Edward Ring Calls for Abundance Over Scarcity
…forest density, snowpack would last longer, more runoff would reach rivers, and wildfire devastation could be curbed. Papagni noted the recurring destruction from fires and asked why practical solutions weren’t…
California Farmland at Risk from Solar Bill
…already threatening agricultural viability. “Water is the lifeblood of California agriculture,” Papagni emphasized. This year, California’s snowpack was an astounding 232% above average, yet farmers remain skeptical about long-term water…
California’s Water Crisis: Time to Turn Policy into Action
…strong snowpack, have still had to reduce their contracted water deliveries. Users in the Central and Southern regions of the state are only receiving 55% and 50% of their allocated…
Western Mountain Snowpack Experiencing Accelerated Melting
Diminishing snowpack will cause reductions in summer stream flows in the Pacific Northwest. U.S. Forest Service photo. The accelerated melting of Western Mountain snowpack, driven by unusually warm temperatures in…
How Westside Water Allocations Are Leaving Farmers Dry
…locked in.” This year’s initial allocation was only 35%, even with a full Lake Orville and favorable snowpack. Although the number was later bumped to 55%, the delay in information…