The nation’s largest Biofuels Association called Growth Energy submitted comments to the California Air Resources Board regarding the board’s proposed changes to California’s low-carbon fuel standard. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says, “While California has its sights set on the future, the state continues to overlook a significant challenge that it faces right now: decarbonizing…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
California Weather: What Does it Mean for Water Supply?
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a dry start to winter, California’s rainy season is finally well under way. December downpours sent water racing through streets in coastal Ventura County and the city of Santa Barbara. Flash floods hit San Diego in late January, and back-to-back atmospheric river-fueled storms arrived earlier this month, causing wind damage…… MORE
January Tractor Sales Up Slightly
Unit sales of four-wheel-drive tractors grew slightly in the U.S. during January. The latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers shows four-wheel-drive tractor sales increased 1.4% year-over-year and was the only segment to show growth in January. “The slight gain in U.S. four-wheel-drive tractors is positive news as 2024 begins,” says AEM Senior Vice…… MORE
Census of Agriculture Highlights Aging Farmer Population
The 2022 Census of Agriculture shows the number of farmers over the age of 65 is outpacing younger farmers. Almost 1.3 million farmers are now at or beyond retirement age, while just 300,000 farmers are under the age of 35. The average age of all producers was 58.1, up 0.6 years from 2017. However, this…… MORE
EPA Outlines Potential ESA Pesticide Policies
EPA Outlines Potential ESA Pesticide Policies The Environmental Protection Agency announced implementation approaches for pesticide policies under the Endangered Species Act. Assistant Administrator Michael Freedhoff talked about the steps during a speech at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s winter policy conference. When registering pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act,…… MORE
Lack of Heifers May Limit Milk Production Growth
A sharp decline in the number of dairy heifers available to replace older cows exiting the U.S. dairy herd could limit meaningful growth in milk production. The number of dairy replacement heifers has fallen almost 15% in the last six years to reach a 20-year low. While the global demand outlook for U.S. dairy products…… MORE
Market Prices and Input Costs are Pushing Expectations Lower
Farmer outlook took a downturn at the start of 2024 as the January Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index fell to a reading of 106, eight points below a month earlier. Compared to year-end, producers had a more negative outlook of their farms’ current situation along with a weakened outlook for the future. The…… MORE
Agricultural Disaster Loss Survey
Fresno County agricultural producers are being urged to fill out a disaster loss survey if they suffered any property loss due to the recent winter storm activity. The form is posted on the Ag Commissioner’s county website near the top of the front page. After filling out information for every damaged site on each permit…… MORE
America’s Biggest Landowners
The Land Report Research Team issued a report detailing who are America’s largest landowners. The “Land Report 100” shows that as of 2021, America’s largest landowner is named Red Emmerson. He and his family own just over 2.4 million acres in California, Oregon, and Washington through their timber products company, Sierra Pacific Industries. They surpassed…… MORE
New Poll Suggests Ag Economic Downturn
A new poll of agricultural economists by Farm Journal shows most expect lower commodity prices, along with the outlook for higher costs, to weigh on the agriculture industry in 2024. Farm Journal has partnered with the University of Missouri to create the Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor. University of Missouri agricultural economist Scott Brown says, “If…… MORE
