Crop Management

USDA awards $73 million in specialty crop grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding almost $73 million in fiscal year 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding. The $72.9 million in grants, through the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, will be used for... more »

Drain tiles manage excess water in fields

There are few tools that farmers can use to expand marketing windows, to get a slight jump-start on supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to restaurants, farmers markets and retailers eager to feature locally grown food.... more »

Grafting watermelons could boost yields for California growers

As growers across California navigate severe drought, supply-chain challenges and rising inflation, reducing inputs has become an existential necessity. And for watermelon growers, a new twist on a thousands-year-old practice is showing real promise. In... more »

Investors fund autonomous tractor company Sabanto

Sabanto Inc. has closed an oversubscribed $17M Series A funding round led by ag-tech venture firm Fulcrum Global Capital. DCVC Bio, Hico Capital, Yara Growth Ventures, Cavallo Ventures, Johnsonville Ventures and Trimble Ventures also participated... more »

USDA devotes $300 million to ease transition to organic production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making a $300 million investment, the Organic Transition Initiative, to help new spur growth in the organic sector and fulfill consumer demand while opening revenue streams for growers. Agriculture... more »

Look to California for day neutral strawberries for repeat blooming in East

There is significant interest in the use of repeat blooming strawberries for extended production. These “day neutral” varieties can provide good spring production with continued production into the summer and fall, depending on the planting... more »

Square Roots opens largest facility with Gordon Food Service

Square Roots and Gordon Food Service recently celebrated their largest indoor farm to date, taking another step in their journey to build indoor farms together across North America. The Kenosha, Wis., facility has the capacity... more »

Biome Makers expanding client base, moving to larger HQ

Biome Makers, a global leader in soil microbiology, will be moving into a new 4,200-square-foot headquarters in Davis, California, early next year to accommodate growth at the company. Construction and redesigning the space has already... more »