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By Lizzy Stevens and Natalie Willis, Valley Ag Voice
The Kern County Farm Bureau held its 19th Annual Spray Safe event on Jan. 17 at the Kern County Fairgrounds. Nearly 800 farmers, applicators, and agricultural professionals gathered for the educational event, learning the best practices for safe and effective pesticide use.
Spray Safe events, now hosted by several counties around...
Despite above-average snow levels in Northern California, the southern region lags behind.
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
The California Department of Water Resources conducted its first snow survey of the season on Jan. 2 at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada, recording 24 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of nine inches — 91% of average...
Public Comment Period on Paraquat Open Through February 13.
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
On Dec. 30, the Department of Pesticide Regulation provided an end-of-year update on pesticides undergoing reevaluation as well as its estimated timeline for the completion of each reevaluation.
According to California’s Food and Agricultural Code, section 12824 requires DPR to continuously evaluate registered pesticides in the...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Following the Nov. 5 presidential election, California Governor Gavin Newsom called a special session to safeguard certain state policies and requested $25 million from the state legislature to fund potential legal battles with President-elect Donald Trump.
Governor Newsom’s proclamation to “safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration”...
By Scott Hamilton, President, Hamilton Resource Economics
Proposition 4, authorizing $10 billion in bonds for safe drinking water, wildlife prevention, and protecting communities and natural lands from climate risks, was passed with 60% approval in the general election on November 5, 2024. Of the total, $3.8 billion was designated for “safe drinking water, drought, flood and water resilience.”
The San Joaquin...
By Lizzy Stevens, Copy Editor, Valley Ag Voice
Agritourism is increasing, blending the best of agriculture and tourism to give people a taste of farm life while boosting local economies. It’s a unique experience that can include everything from staying overnight on a farm and picking fresh fruit to taking behind-the-scenes tours of agricultural operations or learning hands-on skills like...
By Jenny Holtermann, President, Kern County Farm Bureau
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a blessed holiday season with your friends and family. It is truly a joyous time of year, and as I reflect on 2024, I see progress, commitment, and advancement in our Farm Bureau.
Your Kern County Farm Bureau leadership attended the California...
By Katelyn Filkins, Chair, Young Farmers and Ranchers
Happy New Year! Before I share a bit about myself, I want to take a moment to highlight some memorable experiences from December that truly stood out for our Young Farmers & Ranchers chapter.
The first weekend in December, three of our chapter's members attended the 2024 California YF&R State Conference held in...
By Austin Snedden, Ranching Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
Drawing parallels and seeing the world in analogies is not necessarily profound, but it can be useful in conveying a message. I like to come up with analogies because they amuse me, and when I occasionally come up with a clever one, it fools people into thinking I am smart. It’s surprising...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
The California Air Resources Board voted to amend its Low Carbon Fuel Standard program on Nov. 8. The LCFS updates aim to reduce the carbon intensity of California’s transportation fuel pool by 30% by 2030 and by 90% by 2045 while increasing zero-emissions infrastructure, a CARB press release explained.
According to a report the...
Experts discuss the importance of proper soil management during Arbuckle Field Day hosted by USDA.
By Brian Milne, Vice President, Director of Marketing & Communications, The Holloway Group
ARBUCKLE, Calif. – Soil health was naturally the topic of conversation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Smart Field Day at Chamisal Creek Ranch on Dec. 4, taking place in the middle of...
By Valley Ag Voice Staff
With the new year, opportunities to apply for 2025 agricultural grant cycles are available for Central Valley growers.
SUSTAINABLE AG
The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program is accepting grant proposals until Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. for projects aimed at building resilience and adaptability in farming and food systems.
These projects should help businesses and organizations...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
California almond acreage dropped again in 2024, marking the third consecutive year that acreage has decreased. According to Land IQ’s report to the Almond Board of California, this continuous decline has not happened since at least 1995.
Each year, Land IQ produces an in-year, statewide almond acreage estimate based on extensive ground truthing and...
By Valley Ag Voice Staff
Mark your calendars for a trio of essential agricultural events kicking off the new year. From innovative approaches to managing grapevine diseases and extreme heat to safety advancements and best practices across agriculture, these events are designed to address critical issues and bring the farming community together.
GRAPE SYMPOSIUM
The 2025 San Joaquin Valley Grape Symposium is...
Joshua Stevens, Faith Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
“Scripture alone is the true lord and master of all writings and doctrine on earth. If that is not granted, what is Scripture good for? The more we reject it, the more we become satisfied with men’s books and human teachers.” 1
Martin Luther's statements like this and others ignited a reformation that swept...
Press release provided by Brown Armstrong
Brown Armstrong, a leading full-service public accounting firm with offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, and Stockton, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Nielsen as Managing Partner, effective January 1, 2025. Peter C. Brown started the firm 50 years ago on April 1, 1974, and served as managing partner until 2005, when Andrew J....
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
On Dec. 20, Congress approved a Continuing Resolution — American Relief Act, 2025 — to avoid a government shutdown and extend the 2018 farm bill for the second time since it expired on Sept. 30, 2023.
In his opening remarks and introduction of H.R. 10545, Republican Representative Tom Cole explained that the bill provides...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
In December, the Kern County Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies finalized and approved a coordinated, amended Groundwater Sustainability Plan ahead of the Kern Subbasin’s probationary hearing on Feb. 20, 2025.
The amended GSP is endorsed by all 20 GSAs within the subbasin, incorporating feedback from the State Water Resources Control Board staff and public comments....
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
The World Ag Expo named former Assemblymember and 22nd Congressional District Representative Connie Conway as the 2025 Show Chairman, highlighting Conway’s connection to the valley and history in serving its constituents.
Born in Bakersfield and raised in Tulare, Conway describes herself as a “quintessential Valley girl,” and her roots in the Central Valley instilled...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
As California's farming population ages — with the average farmer nearing 60-years-old, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture — local colleges and universities are investing in the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Central Valley higher educational institutions such as Bakersfield College, Fresno State University, UC Davis, and California State University, Bakersfield have made...
By Scott Hamilton, President, Hamilton Resource Economics
Roughly every two years, the California Department of Water Resources issues its “Delivery Capability Report” for the State Water Project (SWP). Those studies estimate the amount of SWP water that can be delivered each year, based on simulations of current facilities and regulations applied to over 70 years of historic hydrology. The first...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
A little-known piece of California agriculture history is positioned off Central Valley Highway in Shafter, California. The Shafter Depot Museum, an authentically restored early 20th-century Santa Fe Railroad depot, offers a glimpse into Shafter’s agricultural heritage.
Stan Wilson, the museum’s curator, carefully selects and maintains countless artifacts and farm equipment dating back to 1915....
By Jenny Holtermann, President, Kern County Farm Bureau
‘Tis the season for being grateful, remembering what we are thankful for, and blessing others with holiday cheer. Easier said than done sometimes. I know agriculture has its ups and downs, and it seems like we have had more downs than ups lately. But during this time of year, it is important...
By Christine Johnson, Chair, Young Farmers and Ranchers
In my early 20s, I had the opportunity to live overseas. These experiences impacted me in a way I could never have anticipated. One place that became home in 2011 was the English countryside, in the Lakeside District. My residence for seven months was an old manor house built in the 1800s,...
Bilingual Workshops & Expert Insights on Ag Chemical Safety
Press release provided by Kern County Farm Bureau
BAKERSFIELD, CA– The Kern County Farm Bureau will hold its 19th Annual Spray Safe Event on Friday, January 17thfrom 7:00 AM- 1:00 PM at the Kern County Fairgrounds located at 1142 S PSt, Bakersfield, CA 93307.
Spray Safe is an educational event that promotes farmer-to-farmer...
By Austin Snedden, Ranching Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
When the government grows to the point that its tentacles are in everything, it inevitably gains the power to lay a finger on the scales of lifestyle and health. The questionable food pyramid from my youth, built on a foundation of grains and carbs with just a light topping of animal proteins...
