By Caleb Hampton, Assistant Editor, Ag Alert
Reprinted with permission from the California Farm Bureau Federation
A sprawling heat dome put more than 30 million people across the Western U.S. under excessive heat advisories last week, triggering warnings from the National Weather Service about the danger of extreme heat to human health and potential impacts on “heat-sensitive industries.”
Over the past...
By Joshua Stevens, Faith Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
Across the world, we find members of the body of Christ joining together to sing praise and worship our creator. Members of our congregations stand on stage and lead us in worship; they choose and practice the songs we sing together. In many churches there is great care for the kinds of...
By Valley Ag Voice Staff
California is gearing up for an exciting summer with various events catering to diverse interests. Upcoming events celebrate the rich agricultural heritage of the Central Valley and offer unique experiences ranging from educational sessions and field tours to rodeo competitions.
ORGANIC PRODUCE
The Organic Produce Summit will be held from July 10 to July 11 at the...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
On June 27, the California Air Resources Board adopted the proposed regulation on zero-emission forklifts, mandating a phase-out of gas-powered forklifts by 2043. Despite opposition from various labor unions and industry groups — including an agricultural coalition — CARB concluded that large spark-ignited forklifts exceed federal ozone standards.
As part of the California Environmental...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Two L-words are getting Central Valley agriculture in the weeds — legislation and litigation. Alongside water regulations, pesticide bans, bankruptcy filings, and other issues afflicting the industry, legislation and litigation are generally the root causes of concern.
Despite these challenges, there was a notable development recently as the groundwater measure that would restrict local...
By Valley Ag Voice Staff
A new agreement was reached to reform the Private Attorneys General Act after several months of discussion involving Governor Newsom’s administration, legislative leaders, labor advocates, and a coalition of businesses.
The agreement, which aims to balance workers’ rights and reduce exploitative lawsuits, will be introduced in legislation and considered by the legislature. If passed, the reform...
By Valley Ag Voice Staff
In an inaugural collaboration, the Kern County Farm Bureau and Bakersfield Republican Women Federated are hosting a From Farm to Freedom Mixer on June 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Crusader Brewing Company.
The idea for this mixer was born after an interview with KCFB President Jenny Holtermann on the BRWF podcast, “Guess What...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
The Maddy Institute, a nonpartisan public policy organization with a focus on the San Joaquin Valley, has become a central force in shaping the Central Valley’s agricultural landscape. Based out of Fresno State University and affiliated with UC Merced, CSU Stanislaus, and CSU Bakersfield, the Maddy Institute is a first-of-its-kind collaboration to serve...
A closer look at State Water Board probationary hearing staff reports.
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Despite varying interests and distinct stakeholder needs, one thing Groundwater Sustainability Agencies can collectively agree on is the need to avoid a probation determination from the State Water Resources Control Board.
Of the six critically overdrafted basins in the Central Valley, only the Tulare...
The Internet of Things promises water savings.
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Water conservation in the valley is receiving a high-tech makeover through the newly launched Internet of Things (IoT) network solution for the agriculture industry, promising to significantly advance AgTech and close the connectivity gap in fields and rural communities.
The IoT network solution is a collaborative effort between...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Following the State Water Board’s decision to place the Tulare Lake Subbasin on probation — and upcoming probationary hearings for five critically overdrafted basins in the Central Valley — local groundwater management has become increasingly critical.
Coming up on nearly a decade since the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act was signed into law by former...
By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Wetlands are the Earth’s largest natural source of methane — a potent greenhouse gas roughly 30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at warming the atmosphere — according to the Department of Energy’s Larence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Methane is a key point of controversy among dairy producers and the environmental justice community given that...
By Scott Hamilton, President, Hamilton Resource Economics
On May 8, 2024, in Sacramento, representatives for the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley (Blueprint) and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU). The purpose of the MOU is to establish the intent of collaboration between the Parties to identify, develop, and implement...
By Jenny Holtermann, President, Kern County Farm Bureau
Grassroots organizations, like the Kern County Farm Bureau, were created as a means to provide farmers and ranchers with an advocative voice. These organizations only work when those voices are heard and when true two-way communication is happening. In February, we started what I hope will become an annual series of Tailgate...
By Rachel Nettleton, Executive Director, Kern County Farm Bureau
Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to join my classmates of the 2024 Leadership Farm Bureau class in Washington D.C. Our days were filled with a whirlwind of activities designed to equip us with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the intricacies of agricultural advocacy on the national stage....
By Christine Johnson, Chair, Young Farmers and Ranchers
Spring has been quite busy for the Kern Young Farmers and Ranchers. In April, we started off with a Saturday morning tour of a non-profit horse rescue operation in Shafter. Known as “All Seated in A Barn,” the facility has rehabilitated hundreds of horses and donkeys. They also house a few exotic animals,...
By Austin Snedden, Ranching Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
I recently received a call from a bull customer. I always appreciate getting calls from folks who have purchased bulls from us as almost all of them are my friends and I am humbled by their patronage. I use the word “appreciate” referring to the call rather than “enjoy” because sometimes I...
By Caleb Hampton, Assistant Editor, Ag Alert
Reprinted with permission from the California Farm Bureau Federation
California’s new farm labor organizing law has in recent months delivered a series of union wins and a string of competing allegations from employers, farmworkers and labor organizers.
In March, Wonderful Nurseries, the nation’s largest grapevine nursery, claimed United Farm Workers organizers tricked more than a...
By Valley Ag Voice Staff
Grimmway Farms, a leading global fresh produce company based in Bakersfield, announced its acquisition of Oxnard-based San Miguel Produce, Inc. in April. According to a press release, this acquisition signifies Grimmway’s strategic expansion efforts and its commitment to providing innovative product offerings to its customers.
Integrating San Miguel Produce’s fresh-cut operation expertise and resources into Grimmway’s...
By Rob McCarthy, Reporter, Ventura County
Reprinted with permission from the California Farm Bureau Federation
Despite having wings, a diamondback moth isn’t much of a flier. That hasn’t stopped it from spreading across Ventura County, where cabbage is in the ground much of the year.
California cabbage growers have dealt with the moth for two centuries, according to published research. However, a...
By Christine Souza, Assistant Editor, Ag Alert
Reprinted with permission from the California Farm Bureau Federation
A state determination that Southern California steelhead trout merit additional protections could mean tighter water restrictions, according to agricultural groups and water districts.
California Farm Bureau environmental policy analyst Justin Fredrickson said strengthening protections for the Southern California steelhead under the California Endangered Species Act “is...
By Caleb Hampton, Assistant Editor, Ag Alert
Reprinted with permission from the California Farm Bureau Federation
California fleet owners are scrambling to comply with new rules designed to limit emissions from diesel-powered big rigs and other heavy-duty vehicles.
These trucks and buses, while a small fraction of the state’s vehicles, emit more than half the vehicle-related pollution in California, according to regulators....
By Valley Ag Voice Staff
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced the state’s entrance into a lawsuit against Robert Bonta, Attorney General of California, and Steven Cliff, executive officer of the California Air Resources Board, over California’s mandate requiring zero-emissions trucks by 2042.
Along with the state of Iowa — Nebraska, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma,...
Press release provided by California Citrus Mutual
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) commends Chairwoman Stabenow of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Chairman Glenn Thompson from the House Agriculture Committee for prioritizing the citrus industry’s fight against Huanglongbing (HLB) in each of their frameworks for the 2024 Farm Bill. Each Chair’s framework continues support of the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension...
By Valley Ag Voice Staff
Growers interested in learning more about the potato and mushroom industries are in for a treat this June.
MUSHROOMS IN MONTEREY
The Mushroom Summit at the Monterey Conference Center will occur on June 5-6. Industry veterans, entrepreneurs, scientists, and retailers are invited to attend. The summit will showcase new research, expert insights, and hands-on activities in the...
Joshua Stevens, Faith Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
Imagine yourself in the church of Ephesus caught up in all manners of debate regarding fundamental issues to the faith. Did Christ literally come to earth? Is He of the exact nature as the Father? Must we continue to keep the law? Imagine as brothers and sisters of the faith are swept up...
