Cow belches have become a big problem in California. The state’s livestock are responsible for half of California’s methane emissions. A powerful greenhouse gas, methane is “the second-largest contributor to climate warming after carbon dioxide,” according to NASA. Simply put, the more methane that makes its way into the atmosphere, […]
The farm receipts have been collected, the numbers have been tallied, and the results are in! With a total gross production value of $8,612,450,000, Tulare County has been named the top-producing agricultural county in the entire United States. With Fresno County and Kern County claiming the silver and bronze medals […]
We’ve moved into November, which means colder temperatures and shorter days for our Central Valley friends who work outdoors. It also means we’ve reached the beginning of navel season, which brings sunshine to a darker time of the year in the form of sweet, seedless, easy-to-peel oranges. Navel oranges have […]
Four months after an invasion of Tau fruit flies prompted city officials to place Santa Clarita Valley under quarantine, Southern California has been hit with two new fruit fly infestations. This time, the invading insects are the Queensland fruit fly, which is native to northeastern Australia, and the Mediterranean fruit […]
Thanks to the historically wet winter of 2023, officials at the Bureau of Reclamation say California will have plenty of water to go around next year. The Bureau of Reclamation oversees the Central Valley Project, which is the largest source of irrigation water in the state. It stretches across central […]
When it comes to growing food, water is everything. That’s why California unveiled its State Water Efficiency & Enhancement Program — also known as SWEEP — nearly a decade ago. The grant program was created to provide financial incentives for agricultural operations to invest in irrigation systems that save water, […]
California is one of the sunniest states in America, receiving 5,050 kJ/m² of sunlight and 284 sunny days every year. Even Florida, the Sunshine State itself, can’t compete with those numbers. With all that daylight at its disposal, California has also become a potential home for agrivoltaics. What, exactly, is […]
More Americans are about to have access to freshly grown vegetables and fruits, thanks to a new bill called the Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act. If it makes its way through the legislative process, the Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act will help strengthen the connection between the USDA, American farms, […]
In California, the unusually wet winter of 2023 is leading to record-high harvests of the state’s walnut and tomato crops. Even so, growers are still adapting to a climate that’s becoming hotter and drier by the decade. Many growers in the olive industry have been turning to regenerative farming practices […]
It’s harvest season in California, and growers are excited about the increased production of two longtime regional staples. First up: the mighty walnut. More than 99% of America’s walnut supply comes from California, where fertile soil and temperate weather conditions allow walnut trees to flourish. The majority of those nuts […]