Category: Featured Post

  • What the Coming Farm Bill Could Mean for Specialty Crop Agriculture

    As specialty crops become a bigger topic of conversation in the development of a new US Farm Bill, California growers could potentially receive more national support than ever before.  Watch this brief interview with Sara Arsenault, new Vice President of the Almond Alliance of California as she explains — based on her presentation at the recent Tree & Vine Expo.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • Recent IPM Challenges for Western Desert Vegetable Growers

    University of Arizona Extension Specialist John Palumbo was honored recently by the California Association of Pest Control Advisors with their Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture award. Visiting from Arizona, watch this brief video as he shares some of the challenges desert vegetable growers were up against this season.

  • Fumigation Considerations Before Replanting an Orchard

    It’s that time of the year when orchards are being pulled and growers begin preparing their soil for future plans.  For growers looking to replant their orchards, watch this brief interview with UC Riverside Nematologist Andreas Westphal as he shares some considerations to take for fumigation when it comes to nematode pressure.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • New UCCE Advisor to Serve Tree Fruit & Nut Growers in Merced and Madera

    The UC Cooperative Extension is pleased to introduce one of their newest Orchard Crops Advisors, Cameron Zuber, who will be serving tree fruit and nut growers in Merced and Madera Counties. Watch this video interview to get to know Cameron, his history with California agriculture, and what his research and extension focuses are.  Cameron can be reached at (209) 385-7403 or cazuber@ucanr.edu.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • Fresno-Area Women in Ag to Receive Support, Learning Circle & Resource Fair Nov. 2

    Fresno-area farmers face water management and business viability challenges like never before, but financial and technical resources are available to help growers and landowners navigate these challenges. American Farmland Trust is partnering with the Sierra Resource Conservation District and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to gather women in agriculture around these issues and feature services they can lean on at a Women for the Land Learning Circle and Resource Fair on Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m in Fresno.

    At this women-centered gathering, growers, landowners and others involved in agriculture will be able to share experiences, while agricultural resource providers will describe local services that support the viability of agriculture and agricultural communities. The event has been co-designed with input from a broad range of partners in the region to reach a diversity of communities engaged in Fresno agriculture, according to Caitlin Joseph, AFT’s Women for the Land Program and Policy Manager. As such, multilingual resources will be provided in English, Spanish, Hmong and Punjabi, as needed.

    “AFT is excited to bolster the work of local RCDs, NRCS staff and others, by partnering on this free event for women producers and landowners, applying a peer-to-peer learning model we have utilized nationally to great effect, says Joseph. “In addition to a farm tour led by Lilian Yang, one of the region’s innovative Hmong women farmers, there will be discussions on how the drought is impacting water and land use in the San Joaquin Valley, and what is still needed to support farm viability throughout these changes. Through our Women for the Land Initiative, we have found that learning in this type of environment can really drive women farmers to take action to support their operations.”

    “Sierra RCD is thrilled to offer this space for women farmers to build relationships with service providers who can help them access financial and technical resources,” says Karin Roux, District Development Manager at Sierra Resource Conservation DistrictWe are particularly interested in the powerful ways that AFT’s peer-to-peer learning will help women hear directly from each other on the unique challenges and successes they are experiencing farming here in the Central Valley, and receive firsthand accounts of technical and financial assistance opportunities available to improve their farms’ water efficiency and resilience.”

    Where:

    Start at Sierra RCD Office (10637 N. Lanes Road, Fresno, CA 93730), take bus to farm visit and return to office where lunch will be provided
     
    When:  Nov. 2, 2022; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     
    Organizers
    Caitlin Joseph, Women for the Land Program and Policy Manager, AFT
    Anel Trujillo, California Outreach Specialist, AFT
    Vicky Espinoza, AFT and The Nature Conservancy (discussion leader)
    Alyssa Flores, Water Use, Soil Health, and Conservation Planning Support Assistant, SRCD
    Karin Roux, District Development, SRCD
    Veronica Martinez, Community Engagement Youth and Education Program Manager, SRCD
     
    For multilingual assistance, contact:
    Karin Roux (English) – (845) 527-6590
    Anel Trujillo (Español) (559) 385-1517
    Deep Singh (Pajābī) (559) 909-9962
    Vila Xiong (Hmong) (559) 402-0067 ext 108

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advancing environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.

    USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) mission is “Helping People Help the Land.” NRCS helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners conserve the nation’s soil, water, air and other natural resources. All programs are voluntary and offer science-based solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment.

    The Sierra Resource Conservation District (Sierra RCD) is a non-regulatory, non-taxing, nonprofit, Special District of the State of California; the mission and function of the Sierra RCD is to take available technical, financial, and educational resources, whatever their source, and focus or coordinate them at the local level, to meet the present and future natural resource needs of the local land user. Offices are in Auberry and Fresno, CA. More information can be found at www.sierrarcd.com

    Sierra RCD service area covers the eastern half of Fresno County and has two main programs in operation that interact with local land users and landowners: the Forestry and Watershed Program which predominantly focuses within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Agriculture and Rangeland Program which focuses within the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Central Valley floor.

  • GroPro Announces Facilities Expansion in California and Florida

    – SPONSORED CONTENT –

    Due to the growing demand, GroPro is pleased to announce the expansion of its storage, manufacturing, and packaging facilities in the USA. GroPro, an international Bio-Pesticide, Bio-Stimulant, and Bio-Fertilizer manufacturer with headquarters in Minneapolis (the USA), is planning an expansion of its operational facilities in California and Florida.

    The planned expansion will replace California’s existing 5,000 sq ft storage facility with a new development facility of about 12,000 square feet. The new facilities, located in Fresno, Ca, also will include liquid bio-fertilizer manufacturing and storage integrated with crop protection blending and bottling facility and warehouse. In addition, the new liquid facility will be equipped with a new research and development laboratory. Also, with additional 5,000 sq ft warehouse in Florida GroPro to allow its south East dealer quicker access to materials. According to the GroPro team, these expansion projects aim to improve customer service and operational efficiency; the projects are expected to be launched this October.

    “GroPro is committed to investing in continuous process improvements and deepening the implementation of GroPro US commercial, manufacturing, and R&D strategy that will benefit and support our existing and new customers. With these new facilities in California, we will be able to continue providing uninterrupted deliveries and faster supply of our products to our partners and customers,” – commented Benito Varela, GroPro’s COO.

    GroPro’s approach includes a combination of unique natural ingredients and modern technologies to increase the bio-efficacy of products. Sustainability is firmly rooted in the entire company’s decision process, from early research to product development. This empowers our development team here and abroad to research and formulate effective materials that benefit our distributors, dealers, and growers.

    When Plant Health Matters and Yields Count!

    More info: groproag.com

  • Exploring Different Options for On-Farm Groundwater Recharge

    While they can’t make it rain, California water districts and farmers are finding creative ways to be a part of the solution to severe drought conditions and subsiding groundwater levels by sinking water back into the earth during the “wet season”.  Watch this brief interview with Chase Hurley from Triangle T Water District as he shares some success stories and different ways growers and water districts can approach groundwater recharge.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • NRCS Incentive Funding for On-farm Groundwater Recharge Projects

    As drought conditions persist in California, farmers are making the most of every drop of water they use. However, there may be more they can do during the rainy season to put water back into the ground with assistance of the USDA-NRCS.  Watch this brief interview with California Water Quality Specialist Wendy Rash to find out.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • The Facts on San Joaquin Valley Water Use & Realigning Priorities Amidst Drought

    In a panel discussion titled, “Water: What Real, What’s Not, What’s Next” at the Annual Convention of the Almond Alliance of California, Friant Water Authority CEO Jason Phillips shares his views on solutions to California’s water crisis based on the reality of the San Joaquin Valley’s water supply and use.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • What Ag Employers Should Know about Firing Employees

    When is it appropriate to fire an employee and how should you go about doing it properly to prevent negative repercussions? At the Annual Convention of the Almond Alliance of California, Stacy Henderson, Almond Alliance’s go-to attorney for ag labor law, shared some key insights every ag employer should know. Watch this brief video with Stacy as she explains.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.