News

New Jersey Division of Ag and Natural Resources names Minch director

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher announced Dec. 23 the appointment of Frank Minch, of Raritan Township, as director of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources. Minch has been with ... more

Organic tomato greenhouses opened in Sonora, Mexico, by Wholesum

Wholesum, Fair Trade certified growers and shippers of organic fresh produce, cut the ribbon to their newest state-of-the-art organic tomato greenhouses in Sonora, Mexico. The ceremony took place on Dec. 9 in Imuris, Sonora, Mexico, and was attend... more

FDA: Outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes found in Dole packaged salad

Dole Fresh Vegetables announced Dec. 22 a Voluntary Precautionary Recall of all Dole-branded and private label packaged salads processed at its Bessemer City, North Carolina, and Yuma, Arizona, processing facilities due to a possible health risk from... more

California farmers lose $2.1 billion in exports due to ports’ snafu

Between wildfires, drought, a trade war and the COVID-19 pandemic, the last few years have been hard on California farmers. But recent research by agricultural economists from UC Davis and the University of Connecticut suggests that economic losses... more

Soil moisture retention helps cover crops offset water use

Cover crop research conducted by a team of university researchers is now helping to inform and shape policy to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in several San Joaquin Valley counties. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" w... more

Pandemic, winter fuel California surge in food-bank demand

Hunger knows no season; however, the California Association of Food Banks said demand for food increases during the winter months. The differences this year are new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a shortage of employees and vol... more

Wage rules change as ag faces host of new state laws in California

Farmers and ranchers will find themselves subject to new laws in 2022 that will raise wages, redefine animals' living arrangements and allow ranchers better access to livestock in evacuation zones. Effective Jan. 1, California's minimum wage rises... more