AgNet West

Driscoll’s strawberries are facing increased scrutiny after a U.S. consumer lawsuit raised questions about pesticide residue testing and the company’s marketing claims. A recent report highlighted the controversy, which has also drawn ... Read More The post Driscoll’s Responds to Strawberry Lawsuit Over Pesticide Residue Claims appeared first on AgNet West.

The California stone fruit season is expected to end earlier than normal this year after an unusually warm start accelerated crop development across the state’s orchards. A recent report highlighted how early-season heat ... Read More The post California Stone Fruit Season Expected to End Early After Warm Start appeared first on AgNet West.

A proposed change to California sheep producers’ labor costs is raising concerns across the state’s sheep industry, with leaders warning it could have far-reaching consequences for ranchers and wildfire prevention efforts. ... Read More The post California Sheep Producers Warn H-2A Wage Rule Could Threaten Operations appeared first on AgNet West.

Land Grants: An Early Incentive That Strengthened a Young Nation During the American Revolutionary War, the newly forming United States faced enormous challenges, including building an effective military to fight ... Read More The post Land Grants Helped Build America’s Army and Agriculture appeared first on AgNet West.

California’s agricultural industry has long been recognized as one of the world’s most productive food-producing regions, but according to California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, state government has spent years making ... Read More The post Steve Hilton Says California Must End California’s “War on Agriculture” appeared first on AgNet West.

A Simple Invention That Made a Lasting Impact Many people recognize agricultural inventors such as Cyrus McCormick, John Deere, and Eli Whitney for revolutionizing farming through innovations in harvesting, equipment, ... Read More The post Edwin Budding’s Lawnmower Changed American Farm Life appeared first on AgNet West.

As California continues to grapple with water shortages, aging infrastructure, devastating wildfires, and increasing political division, one voice has emerged as a passionate advocate for rural communities: Keely Covello. In ... Read More The post Keely Covello Talks Potter Valley, Water, and California’s Future with The Ag Meter appeared first on AgNet West.

Water has always been one of agriculture’s most valuable resources, but the methods used to deliver it to crops have changed dramatically over time. From ancient civilizations to modern center ... Read More The post How Irrigation Revolutionized American Farming appeared first on AgNet West.

As consumer demand for nutritious dairy products continues to rise, Land O’Lakes is making a major investment in California’s dairy industry that will benefit farmers, strengthen processing capacity, and position ... Read More The post Land O’Lakes Invests in Tulare to Meet Growing Demand for Dairy Protein appeared first on AgNet West.

American agriculture has experienced several defining moments that forever changed the way food is produced. According to historians, three major agricultural revolutions dramatically increased productivity, improved efficiency, and laid the ... Read More The post The Three Revolutions That Transformed American Agriculture appeared first on AgNet West.

For nearly 60 years, Kalem Barsarian has been one of the most influential voices in California’s raisin industry. A former president of the Raisin Bargaining Association, longtime CEO of Lion ... Read More The post California Raisin Legend Kalem Barsarian Sounds the Alarm on the Industry’s Future appeared first on AgNet West.

America’s First Toll Roads Opened New Markets for Farmers When most people think about American agriculture history, turnpike roads probably don’t come to mind. Yet these early transportation projects played ... Read More The post How America’s First Turnpikes Helped Transform U.S. Agriculture appeared first on AgNet West.

California agriculture sits at the center of many of the state’s biggest challenges, from water policy and energy production to education, rural development, and government accountability. Those issues took center ... Read More The post Gloria Romero Outlines Vision for California Agriculture, Water, and the Golden State’s Future appeared first on AgNet West.

How Rubber Tires Changed Farming Forever The evolution of farm equipment has played a critical role in improving agricultural productivity across the United States. One of the most significant advancements ... Read More The post Steel Lug Wheels to Rubber Tires: A Revolution in American Agriculture appeared first on AgNet West.

Benjamin Franklin Laid the Foundation for the U.S. Postal Service Communication has always played a vital role in the growth of American agriculture, commerce, and government. Long before modern technology ... Read More The post Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of America’s Postal System appeared first on AgNet West.

Congress has returned to Washington, and Farm Bill negotiations are once again taking center stage as Senate leaders work to advance long-awaited legislation. A recent report highlighted the renewed push to move the ... Read More The post Senate Farm Bill Effort Resumes as Congress Returns to Washington appeared first on AgNet West.

The Whole Vine Festival is returning for its fourth year, bringing families, growers and community members together to celebrate one of California’s most important agricultural commodities. A recent report featured on AgNet News ... Read More The post Whole Vine Festival Returns to Celebrate California’s Grape Industry appeared first on AgNet West.

Natalie Collins Discusses Advocacy, Wine Labeling, Innovation, and the Future of California’s Wine Industry with “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni California’s wine industry has long been one of the state’s ... Read More The post California Winegrape Growers Fight for Fairness Amid Industry Challenges appeared first on AgNet West.

The Origins of the U.S. Postal System and Its Importance to Early American Communities Communication has always played a vital role in the growth and development of American agriculture and ... Read More The post How the U.S. Postal System Helped Connect Early America appeared first on AgNet West.

California’s almond industry is entering the 2026 harvest season with renewed optimism, thanks to strong export demand, stable pricing, and what appears to be another high-quality crop. During a wide-ranging ... Read More The post California Almond Outlook Brightens as Global Demand Stays Strong appeared first on AgNet West.

The Erie Canal Changed Transportation and Expanded Agricultural Trade For centuries, New York’s rivers and waterways served as important transportation routes for explorers, fur traders, and early settlers. However, these ... Read More The post Erie Canal Revolutionized New York Waterways and American Agriculture appeared first on AgNet West.

The latest Monterey County crop report highlights another strong year for one of California’s leading agricultural regions, even as disease pressure, insect pests and rising production costs challenged growers. A recent report reviewed ... Read More The post Monterey County Crop Report Shows $4.8 Billion in Fruit and Vegetable Production appeared first on AgNet West.

New research is providing additional insight into how California gray wolves are affecting livestock operations across the state. A recent report highlighted two University of California studies showing that gray wolves are relying ... Read More The post University of California Studies Find Gray Wolves Increasing Stress on California Cattle appeared first on AgNet West.

Fifth-generation California rancher and former National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Kevin Kester joined “The Ag Meter“ Nick Papagni for a wide-ranging conversation covering the biggest issues facing the U.S. ... Read More The post Kevin Kester on Cattle Markets, Screwworm, Wolves, and California’s Agricultural Future appeared first on AgNet West.

How Innovation Revived Farming Across the American South The history of American agriculture is filled with pioneers whose ideas reshaped the future of farming. Few individuals had a greater impact ... Read More The post George Washington Carver Helped Transform Southern Agriculture appeared first on AgNet West.

A broad coalition of agricultural organizations is urging state leaders to reconsider California Senate Bill 54, arguing the packaging law could increase costs for farmers, food producers and consumers. A recent ... Read More The post California Agriculture Coalition Calls for Changes to Senate Bill 54 appeared first on AgNet West.

A new digital crop acreage reporting pilot is bringing USDA’s reporting process into the modern era, replacing paper maps with digital tools designed to improve accuracy and make reporting easier for farmers. ... Read More The post USDA Modernizes Crop Acreage Reporting with New Digital Pilot appeared first on AgNet West.

New avocado rootstock research is helping pave the way for improved orchard performance, greater water efficiency and expanded growing opportunities around the world. A recent report highlighted an international collaboration between the University ... Read More The post Avocado Rootstock Research Advances Through International Collaboration appeared first on AgNet West.

America’s Agricultural Foundation Grew Strong After Independence Following the end of the Revolutionary War, the United States faced the enormous challenge of building a stable economy as a newly independent ... Read More The post How Early American Farmers Built a Thriving Agricultural Economy appeared first on AgNet West.

The San Joaquin Valley is home to one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions, and this fall, that legacy will once again be celebrated as the Whole Vine Festival ... Read More The post Whole Vine Festival Returns to Fresno State to Celebrate the San Joaquin Valley’s Grape Industry appeared first on AgNet West.

The settlement of the Northwest Territory marked one of the most significant turning points in the history of American agriculture. Following the American Revolution, the young United States looked westward ... Read More The post Northwest Territory Settlement Opened the Door to American Agriculture appeared first on AgNet West.

The latest global cherry market trends show production increasing in several key growing regions, creating added competition and putting downward pressure on prices. A recent report showed how harvest activity across the ... Read More The post Global Cherry Markets Shift as Harvests Expand Across the Northern Hemisphere appeared first on AgNet West.

Managing swine health has become increasingly complex as producers face multiple diseases at the same time rather than isolated health events. A recent report highlighted the concept of dynamic pig health, with ... Read More The post Dynamic Pig Health Approach Helps Producers Manage Multiple Disease Challenges appeared first on AgNet West.

The new SPUR program is designed to strengthen America’s meat processing capacity by supporting small and medium-sized processors that play a critical role in the nation’s beef supply chain. A recent report highlighted ... Read More The post USDA’s SPUR Program Aims to Strengthen Small and Mid-Sized Meat Processors appeared first on AgNet West.

California’s walnut industry is entering the 2026 season with tremendous momentum. Strong crop quality, expanding export opportunities, growing domestic demand, and promising international trade negotiations are all combining to create ... Read More The post California Walnuts Eye Strong 2026 After Global Success appeared first on AgNet West.

Early Midwest Farms Evolved Beyond Survival As settlers established permanent farms across the American Midwest during the 1850s and 1860s, their priorities shifted from simply surviving on the frontier to ... Read More The post Midwest Barns Grew Alongside America’s Expanding Family Farms appeared first on AgNet West.

California business owners could face higher taxes under a newly approved state budget proposal, a move that is drawing criticism from some lawmakers. During a recent appearance on AgNet News Hour, California ... Read More The post California Assemblyman Criticizes Proposed Business Tax Increase appeared first on AgNet West.

The new FIELDS program is designed to strengthen America’s fertilizer supply chain by increasing domestic production and reducing costs for farmers. A recent report highlighted details from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins ... Read More The post USDA Launches FIELDS Program to Expand Domestic Fertilizer Production appeared first on AgNet West.

An unusually early growing season has California’s organic stone fruit industry watching closely to see how supplies will hold up through the remainder of the summer. A recent report highlighted concerns ... Read More The post Early Harvest Raises Questions About Organic Stone Fruit Supply appeared first on AgNet West.

California entrepreneur, farmer, and former gubernatorial candidate Elaine Culotti joined Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter,” for an in-depth conversation covering everything from California agriculture and water policy to election integrity, ... Read More The post Elaine Culotti Talks California Politics, Agriculture, Water, and the Future With The Ag Meter appeared first on AgNet West.

A Simple Conversation Sparked One of America’s Greatest Agricultural Innovations Innovation has always played a vital role in American agriculture, and few inventions transformed farming more dramatically than the cotton ... Read More The post How Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin Revolutionized American Agriculture appeared first on AgNet West.

The latest fresh fruit price outlook from USDA suggests consumers are likely to see relatively stable prices at the grocery store this year, even as growers continue to face pressure from weaker ... Read More The post Fresh Fruit Prices Expected to Remain Stable Despite Lower Farm Prices appeared first on AgNet West.

Finding enough reliable workers remains one of the biggest challenges facing American agriculture, and lawmakers are once again looking for solutions. A recent report highlighted the introduction of the Securing Agriculture’s ... Read More The post New Bill Aims to Address Agriculture’s Ongoing Labor Shortage appeared first on AgNet West.

The newly released Senate Farm Bill framework is receiving a positive response from the cattle industry, though producers say additional work remains before the legislation addresses several of their top priorities. A ... Read More The post Senate Farm Bill Framework Earns Support from Cattle Industry appeared first on AgNet West.

California’s Fishing Families Face an Uncertain Future California’s commercial fishing industry is navigating some of the most difficult waters in its history. During an eye-opening interview with “The Ag Meter” ... Read More The post California Commercial Fishing at a Crossroads: Lori French Shares the Challenges Facing Morro Bay’s Fleet appeared first on AgNet West.

How a Young Blacksmith Changed Agriculture Forever The westward expansion of the United States brought tremendous opportunities for early settlers, but it also presented enormous challenges. Among the greatest obstacles ... Read More The post John Deere’s Steel Plow Revolutionized American Farming appeared first on AgNet West.

Rickey Bird Shares the Personal Story Behind “Kern Oil” and Why Californians Should Pay Attention California’s energy future—and the communities that have powered the state for generations—take center stage in ... Read More The post Kern Oil Documentary Explores California’s Energy Future appeared first on AgNet West.

The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Opened New Opportunities for Farmers and Commerce America’s transportation system has played a vital role in the nation’s agricultural success, and one of its earliest ... Read More The post America’s First Turnpike Helped Shape Agricultural Expansion appeared first on AgNet West.

John Newton Says Ag Labor Reform, Farm Bill, and Economic Relief Can’t Wait America’s farmers face no shortage of challenges in 2026, and according to John Newton, Vice President of ... Read More The post Farm Bureau Pushes Congress to Act on Labor and Farm Bill Priorities appeared first on AgNet West.

During an interview with “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce provided an in-depth update on several major initiatives shaping American agriculture. From ... Read More The post USDA’s Fordyce Highlights SPUR Initiative, Screwworm Fight, and Historic Farm Support appeared first on AgNet West.