West
California farmers seek rebound after floods, virus hits lettuce crop
Things were challenging enough for lettuce growers in Monterey County’s Salinas Valley before Mother Nature dealt a one-two punch in this year’s storms. Farmers in 2022 suffered an estimated $150 million in crop losses as... more »
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 »
California bill addresses fire costs to farms
Wildfires that raged across California over the past several years have devastated farms, spoiling crops and burning farm buildings. After the flames were extinguished, the threat of wildfires has continued to cost farmers in other... 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 »
Ocean Mist expects strong spring artichoke season
Despite California’s rain storms and saturation of fields, Ocean Mist Farms is expecting a favorable 2023 spring crop of artichokes from their northern California growing region in Castroville, California. “The storms that devastated parts of... more »
California cantaloupe growers report delayed planting
California cantaloupe farmers are overjoyed with the amount of rainfall received this winter and for the welcome relief to severe drought conditions that have impacted growing areas for the past several years. Although rainfall was... 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 »
California pesticide report shows declining use
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has released its annual Pesticide Use Report for 2021 which confirmed preliminary data that showed a more than 10% statewide decline in pesticide use compared to the prior... more »