Farm labor issues spur automation advances. Battling weedy rice. Young farmer training.

If you run a farm or a ranch in California, what’s your biggest expense? The USDA knows, and they have the numbers in their latest California farm production expenditure release. Here’s a hint: although it costs the most, it’s hard to get. Yep, you figured it out…it’s farm labor. That shortage has encouraged some entrepreneurs to develop more automated farming equipment. We visit a recent exhibition of 21st century technology for the farm. The battle against weedy rice. What’s that? We’ll explain, as well as what the California rice industry is doing to thwart its spread. The average age of the California farmer is over 59 years old. Where are the young farmers going to come from? We talk about the opportunities, and hurdles, to attract the next generation of farmers. All that, crop reports, extended weather and more….on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.