Monthly Archives: June 2015

The USDA has introduced the Can I Bring It web site to answer questions about items that travelers may carry into the U.S. and to reduce the risk of introducing dangerous stowaways – invasive species. The U.S. has laws that prohibit … Continue reading →

As communities across the Western United States struggle with one of the worst droughts in over a century, President Obama and his Administration are committed to doing everything they can to help the farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and communities facing … Continue reading →

  By Richard J. Sexton, Josué Medellín-Azuara, and Tina L. Saitone Food and beverage processing is the third largest manufacturing sector in California. In 2012 California’s food and beverage processing sector contributed $82 billion in value added to the California economy, … Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that incentives will resume this summer for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy. The support comes through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which … Continue reading →

By Mark Bittman Just about everyone agrees that we need more farmers. Currently, nearly 30 percent are 65 or older, and fewer than 10 percent are under 35. The number of farmers is likely to fall further with continuing consolidation … Continue reading →

By Nathanael Johnson There’s so much confusion about California’s drought, and a lot of my colleagues in the media, I’m sorry to say, have been amplifying that confusion. The proliferation of stories showing how much water various food products use … Continue reading →

By Lesley McClurg Because of California’s historic drought, the state’s rice crop will be 30 percent below normal –- at 375,000 acres. Experts say the smaller planting will hurt the economy and wildlife that depend on shallow flooded fields. Tim … Continue reading →

The Sand County Foundation, the California Farm Bureau Federation and Sustainable Conservation are accepting applications for the $10,000 California Leopold Conservation Award. The award honors California farmers, ranchers and other private landowners who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and management of natural … Continue reading →

By Foon Rhee With California stuck in a historic drought, there’s no shortage of blaming and shaming on who’s using how much water. Homeowners wag their fingers at farmers, farmers bash developers, environmentalists say fish need more water and so on. We’re … Continue reading →

By Padma Nagappan California almonds and the farmers who grow them have received a lot of bad press in recent months as city dwellers facing mandatory water restrictions turn their ire on the thirsty crop. While almonds and pistachios consume 10 percent of the state’s … Continue reading →