Western Farm Press News Archive

2010 Rice Program accepting applications

Aug 6, 2009

The Rice Foundation is accepting applications for the 2010 Leadership Development Program. ...

Mainstream writer “gets” organic

Aug 6, 2009,

By Cary Blake, Farm Press Editorial Staff

I let loose with a chorus of “amens” and “hallelujahs” when reading a July 1 article on organic foods in the Los Angeles Times written by Russ Parsons....

House passes food safety bill

Aug 6, 2009,

By David Bennett, Farm Press Editorial Staff

Aimed at enhancing U.S. food safety after a series of high-profile product warnings and recalls, on July 30, the House passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act (HR 2749) by a vote of 283 to 142. ...

Irrigating for 2010 almond crop

Aug 6, 2009,

Almond Board of California

UC researchers studying irrigation needs of almond trees have found that moderate water stress during the period of bud differentiation for next year's crop, from about mid-August to mid-September, will have little effect on subsequent year's nut numbers, but severe stress during bud differentiation has dramatically reduced fruit set the following season. ...

Farmland values decline

Aug 6, 2009

Farm real estate values, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $2,100 per acre on Jan. 1, 2009, down 3.2 percent from 2008....

CALF hires Bob Gray as CEO

Aug 6, 2009

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, provider of the nation’s premier agricultural leadership program, announced that it has hired Bob Gray as its new president and CEO. ...

Franzia shakes up wine industry again

Aug 5, 2009,

By Harry Cline, Farm Press Editorial Staff

The Franzia boys are at it again. John, Joseph and the terrible tormenter Fred Franzia will forever be the talk of the U.S. wine industry with their Two-Buck Chuck....

USDA announces dairy relief

Aug 4, 2009

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced that the Obama administration is taking immediate action to support struggling dairy farmers by increasing the amount paid for dairy products through the Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP). ...

Comment period opens for LBAM report

Aug 4, 2009

The draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Light Brown Apple Moth Program has been released for 60-day public review. ...

$58 million for water quality, quantity

Aug 4, 2009

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White announced nearly $58 million for water conservation and water quality improvements on agricultural working lands. ...

California's largest biodiesel plant opens

Aug 4, 2009

Crimson Renewable Energy (Crimson), of Denver, Colo., announced the completion of its biodiesel and glycerin production facility. ...

Expanded quarantine for LBAM

Aug 3, 2009

New and expanded quarantine boundaries are in effect in several California communities due to recent detections of the light brown apple moth (LBAM)....

WSFF infestation in Los Angeles County

Aug 3, 2009

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has detected an infestation of the white striped fruit fly (WSFF) in the La Verne area of Los Angeles County....