…determines CEC—sandy soils have lower holding capacity, while heavier soils can retain more nutrients. Knowing a field’s CEC helps growers determine appropriate application rates and avoid overloading the soil with…
Stephanie Moreda-Arend Warns Point Reyes Dairy Families Are Being Forced Off Generational Land
…for their children in an already tight California housing market. She pushed back strongly on claims that removing agriculture protects the environment. In her view, regenerative dairy operations and healthy…
Jamie Johansson Says 2026 Is a Turning Point for Northern California and Agriculture
…As Johansson put it, California still has everything it needs — soil, water, forests, and hardworking families. The question is whether leadership will restore accountability and abundance before more farms…
Using Tissue and Soil Data to Build Next Season’s Fertility Plan
…soil can interfere with zinc uptake, while sodium issues may impact potassium availability. By recognizing these interactions, growers can make targeted adjustments instead of simply increasing fertilizer rates. Fall soil…
Edward Ring Says Energy Abundance Could Transform California’s Water and Agriculture Future
…that reducing logging from historic levels has contributed to catastrophic wildfires and overgrown forests. Strategic thinning and responsible land management, he said, could improve forest health and potentially increase runoff…
Fertigation vs. Foliar Sprays: Choosing the Right Nutrition Strategy
…has previously noted, soil nutrient relationships can sometimes limit micronutrient uptake. In those cases, placing micronutrients directly into the spray tank bypasses soil tie-up and delivers nutrients straight to the…
Record Pistachio Crop, Global Demand, and California’s Water Reality
…where consumers are responding not only to pistachios’ nutritional value but also to California’s sustainability story. According to Kreps, pistachio growers are excelling at regenerative practices, soil health, and reduced…
How Sodium Interferes with Potassium Uptake in Tree Crops
…today’s Agronomic Minute, Dylan Rogers, Sales Account Manager for AgroLiquid, explained how elevated sodium levels in the soil can directly interfere with potassium uptake. Rogers noted that soil and tissue…
John Duarte Lays Out a Blueprint for Water Abundance as World Ag Expo Hits Full Swing
…said, there is no backup plan for water delivery, agriculture, or public health in those regions. Immigration and labor rounded out the conversation. Duarte argued that agriculture needs a permanent,…
How 19th-Century Technology Transformed Corn and Wheat Farming
…yields and the physical limits of pre-mechanized farming. Every step—from soil preparation to planting and cultivation—required significant time and effort, making efficiency gains difficult without technological change. Mechanization by 1890:…
Soil and Foliar Strategies to Improve Micronutrient Availability
…your soil samples and really diving deep into them,” he said. Understanding what’s happening in the soil, and how nutrients interact with one another, helps explain why certain elements may…
World Ag Expo Week Begins as John Duarte Talks Almond Innovation, Water, and California’s Future
…out to sea. He tied current orchard removals under SGMA to rising public health concerns, noting spikes in respiratory illness in areas where orchards have been removed and dust has…
California Walnuts Poised for Growth as Global Markets Align
…Walnuts are rich in omega-3s, fiber, and healthy fats, with emerging research pointing to benefits for heart health, gut health, sleep quality, brain function, and even colorectal cancer prevention. From…
Maximizing Nitrogen Efficiency in Permanent Crops
…root zone rather than pushing them too deep into the soil profile. Matching nitrogen applications to established demand curves further improves uptake and supports balanced growth. Rogers also encouraged growers…