Category Archives: Agriculture News

Tulare County Ag Production Value Increases

Tulare County is reporting that total gross agriculture production value for 2022 comes in at $8,612,450,000. This represents an increase of $522,828,700 or 6.5% above 2021’s value of $8,089,621,300. The county announcement highlights that milk continues to be the leading agricultural commodity in Tulare County; with a gross value of $2,671,291,000, an increase of $728,248,000 or 37%. Livestock…MORE

Legislation Would Require Crop Insurance Transparency

Looking for less secrecy in the Crop Insurance Program, representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Ralph Norman (R-SC) introduced the Crop Insurance Transparency Act. If passed, it would require USDA to publicly disclose the names of producers and insurers who receive federal crop insurance subsidies and the amount received. “At a time when federal crop insurance…MORE

Fed EPA Versus eBay

The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice filed a complaint against eBay. The complaint alleges eBay allows the unlawful selling of pesticides, violating the Clean Air Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, commonly known as FIFRA and the Toxic Substances Control Act. FIFRA prohibits the unlawful distribution or sale of unregistered, misbranded,…MORE

Organic Cal Strawberries Bring Higher Prices

New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows what California organic strawberry growers have known for years, their crop brings higher prices compared to conventional strawberries. In the United States, grower prices for fresh organic strawberries move in tandem with conventional strawberry prices throughout the year while also typically running 40 to 50% higher than…MORE

Californian’s Join USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Chile

A U.S. agribusiness delegation arrived in Santiago, Chile led by USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor. The delegation includes representatives from the U.S. food and agriculture sectors. Among the those taking part, America Dairy Inc in Fresno which is a food and beverage manufacturer and distribution business. Taylor says, “Customers in…MORE

Asian Citrus Psyllid Found in So Cal

An insect carrying the bacteria that causes the HLB disease, also known as citrus greening has been found on a residential citrus tree in Ventura County, according to the California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program. This is the first detection of an Asian citrus psyllid with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) in that county. The HLB disease a tree…MORE

Farmers Union Supports Right to Repair Bill

The Agricultural Right to Repair Act was introduced in both the House and Senate, and the legislation is strongly supported by the National Farmers Union. NFU President Rob Larew says the Right to Repair Act is an important step in the fight to ensure farmers across the country have fair and affordable access to the…MORE

Majority of U.S. Apples Used in Juices

Apples are a fall staple, showing up in lunch boxes, pies, cobblers, crisps, and cider. However, new data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows a majority of apples are used in juices. In 2021, 45.9 pounds of apples per person were available for domestic consumption, according to USDA’s Food Availability data product. Fifty-two percent of…MORE

USDA Seeks Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Committee Members

The Department of Agriculture is asking for nominations to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. First established in 1992, the committee advises the Agriculture Secretary to enhance USDA’s goals for new farming and ranching operations. Members of the public are invited to submit nominations for themselves or other qualified experts by October 10th.…MORE

Survey Shows Consumers Willing To Pay More Despite Cal Prop 12

A new Purdue University survey indicates that consumers appear to be more willing to live with higher pork prices if they are the result of meeting animal welfare standards like California’s Prop 12. In the nationwide survey, consumers said they would scale back their purchases if pork prices went higher. But fewer of them would…MORE