West

$1.5M NIFA grant for climate-smart agriculture goes to UC ANR

To help California farmers and ranchers adjust to uncertain weather and climate events, the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture has awarded $1.5 million to a team of scientists led by UC Agriculture and... more »

Advances in plant breeding could come from UC Davis findings

A simple roadside weed may hold the key to understanding and predicting DNA mutation, according to new research from University of California, Davis, and the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Germany. The findings,... more »

Clarity in revisions to US water rules sought by ag interests

Farmers and ranchers are advocating for a federal "waters of the United States" rule under the Clean Water Act that is clear and concise and maintains exemptions for normal agricultural activities. Upon review of the... more »

Early California rain surge is challenging for pomegranates

The pomegranate, a deciduous fruit that contains hundreds of deep-red seeds known as arils, is one of the oldest recorded fruits and is considered by many cultures a symbol of prosperity and luck. But for... more »

Port progress may aid agricultural exports, Vilsack says

U.S. ports are making progress in clearing docks piled high with shipping containers in a pandemic-induced crisis that is delaying billions of dollars in U.S. agricultural exports and causing severe financial worries for America's farmers,... more »

Next-gen ag workers curriculum funded for Western Growers

Western Growers received a $750,000 grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (HR 133) to develop and implement a curriculum to provide California college students with best-in-class... more »

Farmers and ranchers get on-farm compost research site

The Federal-State On-Farm Compost Work Group is pleased to announce the launch of an On-Farm Compost Resource Website. The resources on this website include information and tools to help farmers and ranchers compost agricultural byproducts, including... more »

Gov. Newsom’s budget plan viewed by California Farm Bureau president

California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson offered the following comments Jan. 10 on the $286.4 billion budget plan announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom: “California’s farmers are facing unprecedented challenges beyond their control. The Farm Bureau represents... more »