Water

Pest, disease damage expected, harvest impacts uncertain

The seemingly unending flow of water saturating their fields is burdening California growers with pests and diseases. In March and continuing into April and later, torrential rains and multiple “atmospheric rivers” swept across the state,... more »

Kurt Dramm, horticultural supply industry figure, dies

Kurt Dramm, a leader in the horticultural supply industry, has died. He was 85. Dramm died May 16. He was the co-founder of the Manitowoc, Wisconsin, based Dramm Corp., which supplied water treatment products, horticultural... more »

Commentary: California farmers seek solutions for flood-control failures

The destruction to agricultural properties and crops from January and March flooding in Monterey County is considerable. There is frustration about a failure to address known dangers that caused or worsened the flood toll in... more »

Ag Water Quality Certified Farms in Minnesota see higher profits

Farmers enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) experience higher profits than non-certified farms, according to a recent study by the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence. The results mark the fourth... more »

Aquifer plans weighed by California water board

Local agencies for six San Joaquin Valley subbasins, facing possible state intervention after their groundwater sustainability plans were deemed inadequate, learned more about next steps last week from California water officials. During a board meeting... more »

Purdue receives USDA grants for sustainable agriculture projects

Purdue University has received grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grants for five-year projects to enhance sustainable agricultural systems. The two grants exceed $1 million each. One... more »

Storms boost California’s water supply, drought impacts linger

Severe winter storms that caused widespread flooding and damage to California communities also contributed to improving the state’s water-supply picture, increasing reservoir levels and boosting the Sierra Nevada snowpack to 222% of average last week.... more »

Storms and floods strike California farms

Warm atmospheric river storms wreaked havoc on California last week, causing widespread flooding from rain and snowmelt, which overfilled rivers and creeks, displaced residents, washed out roads and damaged agriculture. In Tulare County, flooding forced... more »