Food and Sustainability

If China Strikes Back On Tariffs, California Tree Nut Exports Could Take A Hit

March 27, 2018 | Julia Mitric

Following President Trump's move to slap tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum exports, China may retaliate by levying $2 billion in tariffs on U.S. agricultural exports.

Food and Sustainability

California Pesticide Spray Ban Could Hamper Effort To Curb Citrus Pest

March 1, 2018 | Julia Mitric

A judge ordered the California Department of Food and Agriculture to stop spraying dozens of pesticides. Some environmental groups count this as a win but a UC Riverside researcher warns the move will hurt efforts to fight a damaging citrus disease.

Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

Country's Wealthiest Farmer Stewart Resnick Makes 'A Kingdom From Dust' During Drought

February 6, 2018 | Jen Picard

California Sunday's Mark Arax shares his feature "A Kingdom From Dust" on how the nation's wealthiest farmer influenced the water wars during the state's five-year drought.

Food and Sustainability

California Ranchers Will Need Vet's Prescription To Use Livestock Antibiotics

December 20, 2017 | Julia Mitric

A new law requires California ranchers to get a veterinarian's prescription to administer antibiotics to livestock.

Food and Sustainability

Most Calif. Farmers Say They Don’t Have Enough Workers To Pick Crops

October 18, 2017 | Rich Ibarra

The California Farm Bureau conducted the survey which showed 70 percent of farmers experienced labor shortages. Yet many farmers in the survey say they have increased wages, benefits, and more year-round jobs.

Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

How The Mechanical Tomato Harvester Changed California

October 11, 2017

Do you like ketchup? The Cal Ag Roots podcast hosts share the history of the mechanical tomato harvester that changed the course of California agriculture. The podcast will be staged live at the Imagining America conference at UC Davis on Friday.

Food and Sustainability

California Farm Academy Offers Path For Immigrants And Second Career Farmers

September 26, 2017 | Julia Mitric

The average age of a U.S. farmer is nearly sixty. A training program based in Winters, California aims to open a path into farming for immigrants and "second career" farmers.

Food and Sustainability

California Citrus Outpaces Florida But Risk From Bacterial Disease Remains

September 11, 2017 | Julia Mitric

California produced a greater volume of citrus than Florida for the first time since the end of World War II. The pest that's ravaged Florida's citrus industry serves as a cautionary tale for California growers.

Annual Crop Report Shows Agriculture Production Down In San Joaquin County

August 23, 2017 | Rich Ibarra

San Joaquin County's Agriculture production took another plunge for the second year in a row, according to the 2016 Annual Crop Report.

Food and Sustainability

As Wine Grape Harvest Begins, Calif. Growers Face Ongoing Farmworker Shortage

August 15, 2017 | Julia Mitric

As California's wine grape harvest gets underway, the majority of it will be done by machine. But even as growers face ongoing labor shortages, mechanization isn't a cure-all for growers in every region.