Expressing appreciation for the Trump administration’s broadened programs to ease the impact of retaliatory trade actions on American farmers, the president of the California Farm Bureau Federation reiterated the need to resolve the disputes at the root of the issue.

CFBF President Jamie Johansson was in Washington, D.C., today when the administration announced the tariff-assistance package.

Join the California Antique Farm Equipment Show (CAFES) this weekend, Friday through Sunday, as they celebrate John Deere and “Those Poppin’ Johnny 2-Cylinder tractors” with lots of fun for the whole family at the International Agri-Center in Tulare.

This year, the CAFES have joined with Rusty Roots Show, LLC. to bring more antiques, vintage junk, re-purposed, clever up-cycled, artisan, crafts, new and old, food, and so much more.

Looking to strengthen the market for California-grown olives, Musco Family Olive Company announced Tuesday it is offering new contracts to growers impacted by the recent decision of a competitor to cancel its contracts with California farmers.

The recent announcement of table olive processing contracts being cancelled by Bell-Carter Foods on nearly 4,500 acres of olives grown in Tulare County has Tulare County Farm Bureau paying attention. Farm Bureau is asking state and federal officials to take action to assist those growers impacted by these contract cancellations. 

City denies SVMC increase in Farmers Market budget

Tuesday night’s City Council meeting brought a lively debate on the partnership between the City and Sierra View Medical Center (SVMC) for the Farmers Market.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will begin accepting applications for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). The application period was targeted to open at the end of March.

The AMMP is one of two programs designed by CDFA to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The program will provide $19-33 million in grants to California dairy and livestock operators to implement non-digester manure management practices that reduce their methane emissions. In the last round each grant could be up to $750,000.

TULARE — Results of World Ag Expo’s Top-10 New Products Competition, sponsored by Bank of America, were recently made public. The winners will be showcased Feb. 13-15, during the World Ag Expo in Tulare.

SoCal fires impacting citrus industry

Let the planting season begin. Unlike gardeners in different climates, autumn, not spring, is the very best season to do the majority of planting, transplanting and moving soil. Exceptions: high mountain gardeners have a better season in spring. And frost tender sub-tropical plants, such as bougainvillea, citrus and palms should not be planted until spring. But for the majority of valley and foothill gardeners, and for a majority of plants, October is the perfect month to get outside and get things done.

TULARE — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has begun accepting applications for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). The AMMP is one of two programs designed by CDFA to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The program will provide $9-16 million in grants to California dairy and livestock operators to implement non-digester manure management practices that reduce their methane emissions. Each grant may be up to$750,000.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has begun accepting applications for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). The AMMP is one of two programs designed by CDFA to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The program will provide $9-$16 million dollars in grants to California dairy and livestock operators to implement non-digester manure management practices that reduce their methane emissions.

SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has received a $3.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help low-income Californians purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at certified farmers’ markets.

SACRAMENTO — California growers have affirmed the extension of a cooperative effort in response to the most serious threat to the state’s citrus crops. 

Goal is to improve ag education

The American Farm Bureau Federation and National FFA Organization signed a memorandum of understanding this month to grow leaders, build communities and strengthen agriculture. 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Twelve cotton producers from Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri will observe cotton and other agricultural operations in California’s San Joaquin Valley this week as part of the National Cotton Council’s 2017 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program.

1 billion sterile flies released

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner’s office have eradicated a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) infestation centered near the Panorama City area of Los Angeles County, ending a 127-square-mile quarantine that began Nov. 29, 2016. 

The International Agri-Center will host the 25th annual California Antique Farm Equipment Show (CAFES), April 28-30, in Tulare.

Hundreds of antique trucks, tractors, engines and farm equipment will be on display during the three-day show. Antique earth movers will be in action as they dig in the exposition area, and there will be a swap meet area for iron works, antiques and wood crafts.

SACRAMENTO — Three public stakeholder listening sessions and one webinar are scheduled from April 17 through April 28 to obtain feedback and comments on CDFA’s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) framework.

The Tulare-Kings California Women for Agriculture (CWA) Chapter is hosting its annual Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser on Friday, May 5, at Koetsier Ranch in Visalia.

Recharging underground water supplies through old and new channels and methods may only lead to overconsumption, especially if drought conditions return in a few years.

VISALIA — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) officially mailed continuation referendum ballots, on March 30, asking CITRUS growers to vote on continuing the work of the Citrus Research Board (CRB) for the next five years. Voting is underway and growers have a 30-day period to vote, making all ballots due April 29. 

Annual dinner May 2 in Tulare

Tulare County Farm Bureau will host its annual meeting of members on Tuesday, May 2, in the Heritage Complex at the International Agri-Center in Tulare. 

April is awareness month for invasive plant pests

WASHINGTON — Each year, harmful invasive plant pests and diseases cost the United States about $40 billion in crop losses, damage to forests and vulnerable ecosystems, and expensive eradication and control efforts. It only takes one person who moves one piece of infested firewood, one infected plant, or one piece of infested fruit to spread these invasive pests to a new area. That’s why USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has designated April as Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month. Spring is the perfect time to remind everyone of the simple steps they can take to prevent the spread of harmful invasive plant pests.

The Citrus Research Board will hold a post-harvest Pest Control seminar from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday in Exeter.

As the calendar turns to April, many tomato farmers find themselves behind schedule. 

EXETER — California Citrus Mutual was very pleased when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on March 29 that it would deny in full the administrative petition requesting that EPA revoke all tolerances and cancel all registrations for the insecticide chlorpyrifos.

While a storm of discussion rages about immigration and deportation issues, University of California researchers have found surprising stability in the state’s huge agricultural workforce, largely composed of immigrants.

WASHINGTON — America’s farmers and ranchers will soon have the opportunity to strongly represent agriculture in their communities and industry by taking part in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. 

SACRAMENTO — The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss agricultural labor issues, rural job development and opportunities for career technical education at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday in Sacramento. Over the next 5-10 years on-farm automation and research will impact the agricultural sector – creating a need for rural job development and technical training for farm workers in communities across the state.

Cotton plantings to increase — Improved water supplies in the San Joaquin Valley will encourage farmers to plant more cotton. 

It might be possible these days to start farming with a shovel, a wheelbarrow and a plot of land, the way some organic enthusiasts did in the ’80s.But expect growth to overtake you.

Local lawmakers also unhappy

After the federal Central Valley Project reported today it expects to deliver only 65 percent of contract water supplies to its agricultural water contractors south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger said the announcement shows how operation of the state’s water system remains in need of an overhaul.

Farmers, ranchers, public officials and other people gathered Wednesday in Sacramento to mark California Ag Day at the Capitol and to celebrate the state’s bounty. 

The full impact of winter flooding on Central Valley orchards may not be known for months, according to University of California farm advisers. If trees have suffered damage from disease caused by waterlogged roots, the stress might not become apparent until the hot summer months. Orchard sp…

Rounding up and sending home illegal residents in California as President Trump intends may not deplete the agricultural work force to the extent some expect.

The U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service announced last week 

It might come as a shock: California’s happiest cows may not be the black and white Holstein dairy animals so often pictured, but their beef cousins in a variety of colors.

FOLSOM — The California Walnut Board (CWB) will be conducting its biennial election of walnut growers and handlers statewide to serve as members and alternates for the next two-year term beginning on Sept. 1 and ending on Aug. 31, 2019. Walnut growers are eligible to petition the California …

The local dairy industry is now accepting applications from young women wishing to compete for the District 9 (Inyo, Mono and Tulare counties) Dairy Princess crown.

They won’t know until September, but California orchardists might find that their plots of trees look better from above than they do from ground up. Photos taken from unmanned drone aircraft will help them decide.