West Coast Port Labor Disagreements Could Impact Ag Shipments

The lack of a West Coast labor contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association could be dangerous and permanent. That’s according to the Agriculture Transportation Coalition. Coalition Executive Director Peter Friedmann says, “Too many West Coast marine terminals are operating on reduced schedules, creating massive disruption.” Shippers are moving…MORE

Coalition Supports Ag Export Programs

The Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports is urging congress to continue mandatory funding for Market Access and Foreign Market Development programs. The Coalition is also asking the Senate agriculture committee to include a provision that would double the dollars for those programs in the next Farm Bill. In letters sent to the chairs and…MORE

Louisville Bank Employee Livestreamed Attack That Killed 4

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace Monday morning, killing four people — including a close friend of Kentucky’s governor — while livestreaming the attack on Instagram, authorities said. Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and killed the shooter…MORE

California Ag Disaster Aid Webinar

The California Department of Food and Agriculture along with the USDA are hosting a webinar to help California farmers and agricultural communities impacted by current disasters to better understand programs and resources that may be available to them.   This CDFA and USDA webinar that will be hosted on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday April 11th at…MORE

Police: 4 Killed In Shooting At Downtown Louisville Building 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville killed at least four people and wounded at least eight others Monday, police said. The suspected shooter was also dead.  The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and…MORE

California Storms Hit Beekeepers, But Honey Outlook’s Sweet

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Calif. — During California’s prolonged, wet winter, beekeeper Gene Brandi said he had to spend twice as much money on a sugary syrup to feed his honeybees and keep them alive. That’s because the bees sent to pollinate blooming almond orchards took longer than usual to emerge from their hives due to…MORE

California To Keep Paying Walgreens Despite Abortion Dispute

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s Medicaid program will continue to pay Walgreens about $1.5 billion each year despite Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom declaring last month the state was done doing business with the pharmacy giant after it indicated it would not sell abortion pills by mail in some states. “California won’t be doing business with…MORE

April is Invasive Plant Pest And Disease Awareness Month

USDA is announcing that this national outreach month is dedicated to highlighting the impact of invasive plant pests and diseases on plants nationwide. The focus is on raising public awareness about the threat and how residents can help. Each year, invasive insects and plant diseases cause an estimated $40 billion in damages to plants in…MORE

It’s National Tomato Day.

California is the nation’s number one tomato processing state. And California produces about a fourth of all tomato tonnage in the world according to the California Tomato Growers Association. More than a million tons were produced last year.MORE