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Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
The Kern County Fair honored David Poncetta of Poncetta Farms and Livestock at Thursday's Person of the Year dinner. The Poncetta family has been integrated into Kern County’s agriculture industry for the past century, with Poncetta taking over the family farm in Pumpkin Center roughly 29 years ago.
The Kern County Fair Board of Directors...
Audrey Hill, Feature Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
The importance of understanding American food systems has been recognized by the masses over the years, and as a result, many have faced the reality that meat and animal products can be quite difficult to track down. Of course, there are farmers market stands and small business fronts, but there are other ways...
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Following the close of legislative sessions on Sept. 14, Governor Gavin Newsom has several pieces of agricultural legislation to consider within the next three weeks. The state will consider measures in climate action, water rights, and pesticide regulation.
WATER
At the forefront of water legislation, Senate Bill 389 moved on to the governor’s desk, marked as...
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Bakersfield College football is hosting leaders in the oil and agriculture industries at their home game this Saturday, with free admission for industry workers. All oil and agriculture-related businesses are welcome to join the Renegade community on Saturday — all industry workers that supply an employee ID or business card will be admitted along...
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Kern County farmers saw a 7% reduction in crop revenue in 2022 as a result of harsh weather conditions and increased water regulations. The top five commodities in Kern remain the same from 2021 — grapes, citrus, milk, almonds, and pistachios — but milk products replaced pistachios as the third commodity, according to the...
Limited post-harvest technologies result in citrus fruit decay.
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
After harvest, crops undergo a detailed post-harvest process to ensure the food is safe and FDA-approved. The 41st Citrus Post-harvest Pest Control Conference on Sept. 6 brought the small post-harvest community together to discuss new technologies, food safety protocols, and numerous regulations for citrus fruit.
Post-harvest losses due...
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
The deadline for each legislative house to pass bills is approaching on Sept. 14 before an interim study recess is enacted. Multiple bills on pesticide regulation in California have set hearings ahead of the deadline, provoking worry from state farmers and ranchers.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, up to 40% of global crop...
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Since its implementation in 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act has monopolized California’s political landscape, propelling various agendas among stakeholders in restructuring the state’s water infrastructure.
With six Central Valley groundwater basin plans rejected and deemed inadequate by the California Department of Water Resources, the State Water Board has begun an intervention process.
When Groundwater Sustainability...
By Scott Hamilton, President, Hamilton Resource Economics
The road to meaningful change in managing California’s scarce water resources is long and dusty. The journey is not for those in a hurry. Patience, perseverance, a willingness to listen, a desire to be understood, a solid plan, and friends who believe in the cause – these are essential for success.
Recognizing this, there...
By Audrey Hill, Valley Ag Voice
The Kern County Fair is approaching fast! The 12-day event will start on September 20 and end on October 1. This year’s fair includes free concerts, delicious food, monster trucks, a rodeo, livestock events, and much more!
The first Kern County Fair took place in 1916, located where the Kern County Museum and Clock Tower...
By Patty Poire, President, Kern County Farm Bureau
Summer has come and gone! Now comes the “Fall”—legislation is back in session in Sacramento, continuing the overburdening of regulations as well as the discussion on the 2023-2024 budget. Last month’s article was strictly about the Sustainable Management Act (SGMA), but this time, I am going to cover several items that are...
By Rachel Nettleton, Executive Director, Kern County Farm Bureau
In the heart of the valley, my journey as the new Executive Director of the Farm Bureau began with a sense of enthusiasm and curiosity. Stepping into this role, I embarked on a variety of experiences that have not only enriched my knowledge but have also deepened my connection with the...
By Timothy Collins, Chair, Kern County Young Farmers & Ranchers
I have written in previous articles about how the Young Farmers & Ranchers are giving scholarships, promoting ag, learning about the industry, or being involved in the community, but this month, I want to focus on the leadership development aspect of YF&R. Members of our officer team were able to...
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
With the Farm Bill set to expire on Sept. 30, the House Committee on Agriculture has begun to draft the multi-year bill after numerous listening sessions and requests from agriculture workers across the nation. During an August trip to Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson explained that the Farm Bill is...
By Austin Snedden, Ranching Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
It is important that we recognize that the strength of an industry is vital for every sector, but it is equally important to recognize that we can have industry strength and producer contraction at the same time. As associations and advocates for our trade, we need to realize that industry strength and...
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
The increasing influence of renewable energy on the farming industry has entered legislation in the U.S., with Senators passing two bills this year for priority solar projects. Agrivoltaics utilizes land for agriculture and solar energy generation, wherein livestock graze around solar panels.
The Senate bills—the Pollinator Power Act and the Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Act—would...
Social Media campaign warns drivers to use caution while driving through ag regions busy with harvest crews and equipment.
By Brian Milne, Vice President, Director of Marketing & Communications, The Holloway Group
Holloway Agriculture has started a campaign this harvest season, warning drivers to use extra caution while driving through agricultural areas where harvest machinery and crews are busy working.
“On behalf...
Monitoring soil samples now can help growers better prepare for post-harvest activities.
By Brian Milne, Vice President, Director of Marketing & Communications, The Holloway Group
Harvest is in full swing in the Central Valley, and our crops are loaded up after a wet year and mild growing conditions.
That said, during harvest, many of our crops are as stressed as they get...
The mill, a fee paid by pesticide retailers or manufacturers when a pesticide is first sold in California, has not increased in nearly two decades; state-funded study documents need for fee increase to address long-term department funding needs.
2023-24 state budget provides immediate funding to begin to address the department’s most urgent needs.
Press Release Provided by the Department of Pesticide...
By Christine Souza Assistant Editor Ag Alert
Reprinted with Permission from the California Farm Bureau Federation
As California growers harvest this season’s processing tomato crop, there is concern that canneries could struggle to keep up with a backlog of fruit deliveries.
Yolo County farmer Bruce Rominger, board chairman for the California Tomato Growers Association, said growers are worried about risks to fruit...
By the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program
A dangerous pest called the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is often found this time of year in Kern County, posing a serious threat to Central Valley’s commercial citrus. The pest can spread a deadly citrus tree disease called Huanglongbing (HLB), and growers in Kern County should be on high alert.
There is no...
By Al Stehly , Rural Health Department, CFB
Reprinted with permission from the California Farm Bureau Federation
In my San Diego County vineyard one day, I watched as my employees carried 60-pound backpacks loaded with chemicals. They trudged up and down hills, avoiding rocks and gopher holes while applying pesticides with mist blowers to protect my winegrapes.
There must be a better way,...
By Emily Cerf, Engineering Writer and Media Relations Officer
Press release provided by UC Santa Cruz
Three UC Santa Cruz research teams led by engineering faculty will pursue innovative agriculture technology projects with the support of seed grants from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). Faculty and student researchers will work in interdisciplinary teams...
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Ahead of the Kern County Fair, 4-H and other youth programs are preparing livestock for exhibition. Despite the freshly implemented Proposition 12—which establishes minimum space requirements based on square feet for calves raised for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens—all fairs are exempt from these minimum confinement standards.
According to Dawn Stornetta, livestock supervisor for...
Joshua Stevens, Faith Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,...
Valley agriculture navigates expensive production, colder weather, and low crop prices.
Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Unusual weather events, higher input costs, and lowered crop prices hindered agricultural economics in the Central Valley this year, creating a grim outlook for local producers.
According to Aaron Hedge, chair of economics at Cal State Bakersfield and director of the Grimm Family Center for...
