The February 10 edition of the AgNet News Hour kicked off a big week for California agriculture as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill broadcast on the eve of the World Ag Expo, often called the Super Bowl of farm shows. With rain in the forecast and growers preparing to head to Tulare, the show blended excitement, innovation, and serious conversations about water, policy, and the future of farming in the Golden State.
Papagni opened the program from the road, reminding listeners that the first day of World Ag Expo is traditionally the busiest, rain or shine. With more than 1,200 vendors, massive equipment displays, and growers from across the state and around the world, the Expo once again serves as a hub for ideas, technology, and networking. The hosts also celebrated a major milestone for the program itself — the AgNet News Hour podcast surpassing 100,000 downloads, a sign that the show’s message is resonating far beyond the airwaves.
The heart of the episode featured the first part of a two-part interview with John Duarte, President of Duarte Nursery, one of the most influential voices in California permanent crops. Duarte discussed groundbreaking almond varieties developed through decades of USDA research, including Yorizane and Par-Perel, which are showing unprecedented yields of nearly 2,900 pounds per acre in third-leaf orchards.
Duarte explained that these self-fertile varieties could significantly reduce reliance on bees, lower production costs, and improve consistency in challenging weather years. With almond prices under pressure and input costs still high, he said growers need varieties that produce more with fewer passes, fewer bees, and earlier harvest windows.
The conversation expanded beyond almonds into water policy, where Duarte was especially blunt. He criticized decades of mismanagement that have forced productive farmland out of production while surface water flows are sent 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 replaced tree cover.
Duarte also shared optimism about renewed federal attention on water infrastructure, including momentum behind raising Shasta Dam and improving forest management to reduce wildfire risk and protect watersheds. He argued that water abundance, not scarcity, should be California’s guiding principle.
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