…its end destination. Researchers say several improvements could help increase the amount of fruit successfully marketed through the program. Faster delivery, improved packaging and stronger cold chain management could help…
Young Farmer Dolce Calandra on Keeping a California Family Farm Going
…citrus, with roughly 800 acres under production, including about 200 acres of citrus. That vertical integration gives Calandra a firsthand look at challenges throughout the supply chain. One of those…
Danny Bernstein: Ag Tech Could Help Save California Farms
…potentially private investment in infrastructure. For Bernstein, water is directly connected to food security. If California continues losing agricultural acreage, more of the state’s food supply will have to come…
Rancher’s First Initiative Targets Cattle Herd Rebuilding and Producer Stability
…nation’s cattle supply. Rounds emphasized the difficult decision producers face when determining whether to retain heifers. “How can a cow-calf operator, for that matter, a cattleman, look at this thing…
USDA Plans $30 Million Walnut Purchase to Support California Market
…opportunities, but it can also put pressure on prices when supplies outpace demand. The additional USDA purchases could help absorb some of that supply while placing walnuts into nutrition programs…
Smith-Lever Act Created USDA Extension Service in 1914
…upon to increase production and help supply food for the nation and its allies while the country also faced wartime labor shortages. Extension responded by helping farmers increase production and…
$2 Million Investment Targets Pest Control and Quality in U.S. Tree Nuts
…quality of nuts as they move through the postharvest supply chain. The project will also incorporate phytosanitary traceability, adding another layer of support for managing products as they move toward…
Rising Produce Imports Add Pressure to U.S. Specialty Crop Growers
…crop to market. Boatright’s comments highlight the growing challenge facing U.S. specialty crop producers as imported fruit and vegetables become a larger part of the domestic food supply. For growers,…
Rosa Brothers Milk: From Tulare Dairy to California Brand
…National Milk Supply Recent triple-digit temperatures also affected dairy production. Rosa said modern cow-comfort systems—including fans, soakers and misters—have helped the herd handle heat. However, prolonged extreme temperatures caused a…
Joe Del Bosque: Water, Labor and the Future of West Side Farming
…his farm received only a 25% water supply allocation, forcing the operation to purchase supplemental water from other districts. That water can be extremely expensive, but Del Bosque said it…
Joe Del Bosque: California Farming Faces a Critical Future
…imports. Agriculture, Food Security and California-Grown Produce A central theme of the conversation is the importance of California agriculture to the nation’s food supply. Del Bosque emphasizes that California has…
Joe Del Bosque on Farming the West Side: Water, Labor and Resilience
…creating a supply buildup that pressured prices. Extreme heat has also created challenges, including sunburn damage to some melon varieties. Water remains one of the biggest concerns. Del Bosque says…
Merced College Prepares the Next Generation of Ag Leaders
…enough employees. Merced College is responding by training students for the entire food-processing value chain. The new innovation center will allow students to develop and test products and experiment with…
Growing Milk Supplies Continue to Pressure U.S. Dairy Prices
…contributing to lower milk prices and what they could mean for dairy farmers moving forward. Although milk production continues to grow, demand has not kept pace. The imbalance between supply…





















