Voice of California Agriculture

Reaction to Farm Bill extension, farmers urged to answer an important survey, Farm Bureau’s president interviews Ag Leadership Program head about molding future agricultural leaders, new wage laws in the new year, and early season snowpack conditions.

The government’s new set of dietary guidelines is being formulated—what you can expect, find out about the supply of navel oranges, required labor postings for agricultural employers will soon be available, expected pork supplies for 2025, ESA, public utilities issues, and bird flu affects egg supplies

CA Farm Bureau president recognizes County Farm Bureau successes, our featured interview is about fresh-cut Christmas trees, the water year outlook, and USDA looks to expand fruit and vegetable availability in school cafeterias. 

Ventura fire takes toll on avocados and citrus, Bay Delta Plan Phase 2, SGMA turns 10, Persimmons for the holidays—they’re healthy too. 

H-2A worker rates, new indoor heat regulations prove confusing, a new federal program to help specialty crop farmers, and many holiday foods are toxic to your pets.

We explore the rising costs of Thanksgiving meals and what it means for families and farmers alike. Hear directly from farmers reporting live from the fields as they share insights on the challenges and triumphs of this year’s harvest. Discover how cutting-edge robotic farm equipment is transforming the way America grows its food. Plus, we shine a spotlight on Kern County, the nation’s top farming...

Sonoma County farmers defeat Measure J, Identifying the drop in wine consumption, more on autonomous agricultural equipment, Bird flu update, and Brussel sprouts gain in popularity.

Agriculture is ready to work for farm solutions with the new president and Congress.   Our featured interview is about the rising concern of mental health on the farm.  Some things you can do to help, and resources available.   We continue to look at autonomous agricultural equipment.  Today, robotic platforms have many uses.  Also, agricultural officials battling the Oriental fruit fly in souther...

Tukey supplies for Thanksgiving, autonomous sprayers claim significant reduction in herbicide use, water flow standards for two north state rivers, more estimates on hurricane crop damage in the south.

Our featured interviews on the watermelon harvest and adopting farm automation and robotics. Stories include Hurricane Milton hits Florida agriculture, bird flu affecting more California dairies, monarch butterflies, and mountain lion update. 

A groundwater law causes San Joaquin Valley land values to plummet.  Reasons for the state’s winegrape glut.  Farmers comment on their crops this year for beekeeping, sheep producing, pumpkin agrotourism, and mangos. Plus, some interesting facts about major U.S. pumpkin producing states.   https://cfbf.com/

The current U.S. farm economy resembles the farm crisis of the 1980s, according to a farm economist.  Hurricane Helene’s impact on agriculture. Our featured interview on the pumpkin crop and market conditions for Halloween. State Water Board raises water rates. 

Mountain Lion kills of livestock and pets explode in Sierra Nevada counties, harvest and growing season update, bird flu in dairy cows spread—cause unknown, and more hurdles to getting a Farm Bill passed in the lame duck Congress.

U.S. farm trade deficit, Tulare Lake Subbasin, Farm group on ballot propositions, and the port strike. 

Retail beef prices are at record levels, but are cattlemen benefitting? More bird flu found in California dairies.  More stringent National Organic Program regulations for livestock and poultry forces Marin’s public certifier to extinguish its program, we’ll check in on California’s date harvest, and more. 

Wolves and lions preying on livestock, animal activists put a measure on the Sonoma County ballot that threatens livestock and poultry farmers, plus the agricultural trade deficit grows again, and more.

Vice President Harris recently charged the grocery industry with price gouging.  In our featured interview, the grocer’s say it isn’t so and explains why.  The recently averted Canadian Railroad workers strike would have affected California farmers. They’re keeping an eye on the outcome. The Farm Bureau will work to retain some important, Trump Era tax provisions for farmers next year.  Plus, educ...

Why California walnut farmers are removing orchards. A study shows that childcare is an issue for farm families, and it often affects the operation. Our featured interview today is on the Farm Bill, what California farmers hope to gain. We’ll look at some of the crop conditions around the state.  Finally, some important tax provisions for farmers will be expiring at the end of 2025. Farm Bureau sa...

Five California irrigation districts will receive USDA money to address drought and conservation issues. Site Reservoir Project water rights hearings have begun. The Department of Pesticide Regulation gets a budget increase this year, they say they will work to streamline the registration process of new pesticides. Our featured interview concerns federal issue topics for farmers to discuss with Co...

A check-in with farmers around the state to see how their crops are faring this summer. Our featured interview concerns a proposed program to give advanced public of all restricted chemical application has agricultural commissioners concerned about costs, public understanding, and farm employee safety should there be protests. California produces 95% of the nation’s supply of tomatoes for processi...

We’ll look at how the season is going for farmers of almonds, table grapes, and cling peaches. The USDA’s proposed milk pricing formula could be detrimental to many California dairy farmers. Our featured interview is on succession planning—Nationwide Agribusiness is helping farm families pass the farm to the next generation—a free of charge service.   Finally, opportunities to mentor farmers enter...

A hot summer has farmers using more water to produce food this year. As agricultural burning is phased out in the San Joaquin Valley, farmers are looking to other methods to get rid of orchard and vineyard trimmings. Kings County farmers get some good news in their lawsuit against the state., Farm groups express concerns over proposed public pesticide application notifications.  Time is running ou...

The American Farm Bureau sues the Bureau of Land Management over grazing access A policy expert says more forest thinning would lead to numerous environmental benefits,  A county Farm Bureau leads a tour for elected leaders to increase their understanding of local issues. And we’ll check out July being National Ice Cream month, it got its origins from a California connection.

Grasshoppers are invading residential yards in some Northern California counties; we’ll see what effect they may be having on agriculture.  Our featured interview is regarding a lawsuit against the State on its denial of a local groundwater plan. Why the Supreme Court ruling on the Chevron Deference was a victory for agriculture, and an update on some significant state legislation. 

Your Independence Day meal is costing you more this year, we’ll see how much more. We’ll look at some significant legislation that got settled during he week ending June 28. Our interview segment looks at some significant water bills that came to a positive conclusion for water rights holders and those looking to drill a new well.  Finally, the California melon crop is a good one. That’s good news...