Farm Bureau Friday

In this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Bill Penney of the Turlock Irrigation District breaks down Project Nexus, a first-of-its-kind effort to install solar panels over irrigation canals.Developed with UC Merced and state partners, the project aims to conserve water while generating renewable energy without taking farmland out of production. Early results point to reduced evaporation, minimal operational impact and fewer issues with aquatic vegetation. The conversation also looks at what’s next and whether solar canals could scale across California.

Omer Davidi, CEO and co-founder of BeeHero, joins Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci to discuss how AI and in-hive sensor technology are transforming pollination management. The conversation explores almond pollination trends, bee health, logistics challenges and how real-time data is helping growers and beekeepers improve decision-making and sustainability across agriculture.

Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci talk with Renee Pinel, president and CEO of Western Plant Health Association, about Sustainable Pest Management (SPM), common misconceptions about pesticide recommendations and the importance of maintaining a full toolbox of crop protection tools. Pinnell also discusses how research is challenging assumptions about PCAs and what policy developments growers should watch in 2026.

On this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci sit down with Bryan Little, Chief Operating Officer of Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS), to discuss the key regulatory issues ag employers should watch in 2026.nFrom H-2A changes and rising labor costs to ag overtime, indoor heat rules and autonomous equipment, Little outlines what’s ahead and how employers can prepare, while highlighting how FELS supports compliance and workforce management across California agriculture.

In this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci talk with Dr. Eliza Lockwood, Medical Affairs Lead at Bayer's Crop Science Division, about the role pesticides play in public health and modern food security. Lockwood shares how her path from emergency medicine to toxicology shaped her perspective and breaks down the scientific rigor behind today’s crop protection tools. The conversation explores misinformation, glyphosate safety, and why sound agricultural policy matters for both growers and consumers.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass to discuss the organization’s key challenges and achievements in 2025 and what they mean for California agriculture. Douglass highlights how Farm Bureau is addressing regulatory pressures, strengthening advocacy for growers and expanding its support for growers and ranchers statewide. 

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with Troy Gravatt, dean of agriculture, environmental sciences and technical education at Modesto Junior College, to discuss how the college's agriculture program continues to build a strong pipeline of skilled, career-ready students entering California’s ag workforce. The conversation also looks ahead to future plans for the School of Agriculture and how the college is adapting to meet the industry’s evolving needs.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with Linda Pinfold, Stanislaus County agricultural commissioner, to discuss the 2024 Crop Report. They cover the top 10 commodities, resilience of the dairy industry, impact of avian influenza and importance of public awareness around local agriculture.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with California Farm Bureau Director of Policy Advocacy Steven Fenaroli to discuss the recent win that protected ranchers’ ability to manage coyotes in California. Fenaroli explains the proposed restrictions, how grassroots efforts turned the tide and why vigilance will be key as predator management debates continue.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with UCCE Farm Advisor Franz Niederholzer, who shares the rich history and continual impact of Nickels Soil Lab in Arbuckle. Niederholzer explains how decades of research at the lab have shaped California agriculture and why outside support is still critical to sustain long-term trials, drive innovation and ensure the next generation of growers continues to benefit from this unique field-based research facility.Learn how you can support the Nickels Soil Lab: https://myaglife.com/fundraiser/Donations by check can be made to: Nickels Trust P.O. Box 246 Colusa CA, 95932

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with ag journalist Amy Wu, who shares how her platform, From Farms to Incubators, is documenting the overlooked stories of women in ag tech, and how a recently established UC Merced program is mentoring the next generation of ag communicators while reshaping how innovation is told in modern farming.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with Detectives Robert Domingos and Kyle Gomes from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Rural Crimes Division to discuss the current landscape of rural crime, how law enforcement agencies collaborate across county lines and practical steps growers and ranchers can take to protect their property and operations. 

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Dusty Ference, executive director of the Kings County Farm Bureau, to discuss their ongoing lawsuit against the State Water Resources Control Board. The legal challenge aims to prevent the Tulare Lake Subbasin from being placed on probation, a move that has already helped block costly state intervention and saved growers millions.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau, to discuss a recent Cal Poly study they commissioned to examine the true cost of regulatory compliance for California growers. Groot breaks down key findings from the report, putting real numbers behind the growing burden of compliance in the ag industry.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Central Region FFA officers Gabrielle Furtado and Gianna Genasci to discuss how FFA has shaped their leadership, skills and future goals. Tune in for a conversation about the impact of agricultural education and the opportunities FFA provides.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci sits down with Bryan Little from Farm Employers Labor Service to break down new and updated labor regulations impacting agriculture in 2025, how ag employers are navigating already enacted rules and what’s ahead for the industry.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with Jaclyn Bennett, general manager of Parabug, at the 2024 California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Monterey to discuss how the company's innovative drone-based technology is transforming pest management by efficiently delivering beneficial insects to crops. Farm Bureau Annual Meeting highlights are also discussed, including the importance of CE sessions, grassroots advocacy, and the inspiring achievements of county Farm Bureaus across California.

Kristin Platts and Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci sit down with Sean Runyon, agricultural commissioner/sealer of weights and measures for the Merced County Dept. of Agriculture, to discuss pesticides, the statewide notification system, California's Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap and more.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, director of science and research for the California Bountiful Foundation, to discuss how the foundation is using sound science and data to advocate for California’s growers and ranchers.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down Dayna Ghiradelli, Executive Director of Sonoma County Farm Bureau to discuss No on Measure J, a ballot measure proposed by an animal extremist group from Berkeley, that aims to eliminate Sonoma County’s diverse animal agriculture production.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Becca Whitman, executive director of California Ag in the Classroom, a Farm Bureau-led program, to discuss educating students and guiding teachers about the critical role agriculture plays in their daily lives.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Josette Lewis, Almond Board of California vice president and chief scientific officer, and Karen Werner, Beam Circular CEO, to discuss the variety of agricultural co-products and the recent partnership between the Almond Board and Beam Circular.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Steven Fenaroli, political affairs director for California Farm Bureau, to discuss updates on H5N1 Avian Influenza and how California producers can stay vigilant. 

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Shaun Crook, first Vice President of the California Farm Bureau Federation, to explore the state of California's forestry industry, wildfires and the need for more logging.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Shannon Douglass, California Farm Bureau's first-ever female president; Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's new President Kelly Fogarty-Tilma; and the organization's Executive Director Caitie Diemel to discuss how the three women leaders are addressing California ag issues.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Governmental Affairs Director for Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and Oakdale Irrigation District Board President Tom Orvis and Oakdale Irrigation District General Manager Scot Moody for a conversation on 2024’s miracle March, recent investments the district has put into its water delivery system, the state of water storage in California and more.  

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Paty Lopez, a longtime employee of Duarte Nursery in Hughson, Calif., to discuss the recent outcomes of AB 1066, California’s overtime law for ag workers, and how it has actually impacted farmworkers’ financial livelihoods negatively. 

On the first installment of this new MyAgLife podcast series titled "Farm Bureau Friday" in collaboration with the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Farm Employers Labor Service's Bryan Little to discuss new and updated regulations hitting agriculture in 2024. Listen in as they discuss the challenges with the NEW Indoor Heat and Workplace Violence Standards and more paid sick days in 2024. Episode notes/links: Tune in every second Friday of each month for new Farm Bureau Friday episodes. https://jcsmarketinginc.com https://myaglife.com/ https://stanfarmbureau.org https://www.fels.net/1/