News
California farms face new rules in 2026, from wages to waste disposal
In California, the new year has ushered in a handful of new rules and regulations affecting agricultural operations throughout the state. Caleb Howard with AgAlert.com writes, “As of Jan. 1, there are new laws pertaining to employee wages, mana... more
Trade petitions filed over Mexican winter strawberry imports
Strawberry Growers for Fair Trade (SGFT) filed petitions to counter unfairly low-priced imports that are injuring the winter strawberry industry, which are primarily grown in Florida. The petitions allege that the Mexican industry is dumping winte... more
What about apples, grapes? USDA bridge payments skip specialty crops, for now
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced the next phase in the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA): the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates. As part of the program, $12 billion will be paid to American farmers in 2026. ... more
Chardonnay, Cabernet pace top wine state California’s 2024 grape crush report
This likely won’t come as a surprise: California is the nation’s leading producer of wine grapes, both in total volume and varietal assortment. That’s according to the latest data from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS... more
Chinese drones and the FCC ban: What growers need to know
While many farmers in the U.S. were taking a break from the farm life grind and getting ready for holiday festivities, the long-rumored ban on foreign drone technology was quietly implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Decembe... more
$700 million USDA program aims to boost regenerative farming
USDA has launched a $700 million program aimed at helping U.S. growers adopt practices that improve soil health, enhance water quality and boost long-term productivity. Administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the R... more
Agritourism, organic and tech: 6 key themes from the 2025 Great Lakes EXPO
There’s no doubt Michigan is a hotbed of specialty crop production. A recent study coauthored by the Michigan Vegetable Council and Michigan State University confirms as much, saying the state today hosts over 3,000 fruit and vegetable farms a... more
















