Category Archives: Agriculture News

California Grape Season Heats Up

The California table grape season is heating up just in time for the end of summer. Nearly two thirds of the crop is shipped after September first. In fact, the California Table Grape Commission says September through December will see nearly 80 different varieties being harvested, along with expanding promotional activities. Kathleen Nave, President of…MORE

Company Brings Virtual Fencing for Livestock

Halter, a New Zealand company, has brought its virtual fencing technology for livestock to the U.S. “Halter technology is a powerful system that helps users precisely manage pasture to lift the performance of your grazing animals,” says Craig Piggot, founder and CEO of Halter. The Halter app allows users to establish virtual fences anywhere on…MORE

North American Cattle Leaders Hold Joint Meeting

The Canadian Cattle Association hosted the third 2024 meeting with its North American counterparts, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and CNOG, their Mexican counterparts. The groups met on the sideline of the Canadian Beef Industry Conference and discussed the challenges and opportunities facing beef producers across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Topics this year…MORE

Clean Fuels is Disappointed in the CARB Proposal

Clean Fuels Alliance America expressed disappointment in the California Air Resource Board’s proposed amendments to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). If adopted, these changes would impose caps on credits for soy and canola-based biodiesel without sufficient scientific evidence to support such limitations. By restricting credit generation for these low-carbon alternatives, CARB risks unfairly disadvantaging…MORE

U.S. Beef Herd Rebuild Could Take Years

The U.S. beef cow inventory has fallen to its lowest level in more than 60 years. With no significant changes on the horizon that would quickly reverse the trend, rebuilding the U.S. beef cow herd to historical norms is shaping up to be a years-long undertaking. According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge…MORE

Many Farmers Still Without Internet Access

Census of Agriculture data says American producers saw some improvement in internet access from 2017 to 2022. Across rural America, the percentage of farm operations or operator residences with internet access increased from 75.4% in 2017 to 78.7% in 2022. While many of the southeastern states still lag behind the U.S. average, most of them…MORE

California Proposes Credit Cap on Renewable Diesel

Farm Policy News says the California Air Resources Board is proposing to cap the amount of renewable diesel made from soybean or canola oil that would qualify for the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Some of the proposed changes for California’s LCFS would also require feedstocks like soybeans to be certified as meeting sustainability criteria.…MORE

USDA to Expand Beef Testing for Bird Flu

The USDA will expand slaughterhouse testing for H5N1 in beef entering the food supply as a part of its response plan to combat the ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle. Officials say the tests will begin mid-September and urge livestock workers to remain vigilant. The Print says almost 200 herds in 13 states have contracted the…MORE

Million Dollar State Grant For Westlands Water District

Westlands Water District is announcing that The California Department of Water Resources is awarding the district the $1,000,000 grant. That money is part of DWR’s Flood Diversion Recharge Initiative. The announcement goes on to say the grant will assist the State’s efforts to reduce flooding by increasing flood flow diversion volumes to recharge areas and…MORE

USDA Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture intends to establish the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council. USDA is also seeking nominations for Council membership. The new Council is authorized by the Growing Climate Solutions Act also known as GCSA. The GCSA was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations…MORE