Western Farm Press News Archive

Potato disease bacterium identified

Oct 22, 2009,

By Jan Suszkiw, USDA

Studies tying a new species of Candidatus Liberibacter bacteria to zebra chip (ZC) disease in potato should speed efforts to better protect the tuber crop from costly outbreaks....

Focusing on NOW management

Oct 21, 2009,

By Bob Curtis, Associate Director, Agricultural Affairs, Almond Board of California

A five-year navel orangeworm (NOW) research project funded by USDA-ARS and established last year is already offering key insights to NOW management in almonds, such as efficacy of mating disruption, refining winter sanitation and harvest guidelines, and reinforcing the link between NOW and aflatoxin....

Global Harvest urges food production increases

Oct 21, 2009,

By Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff

The chief executive officers of two of the nation’s largest agricultural companies say the world’s farmers must double their production of food between now and 2050 if the world’s population is to avoid widespread famine....

California Crop Weather report

Oct 21, 2009

The latest California crop weather report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Sacramento, Calif., field office:...

Arizona Agri-Weekly report

Oct 21, 2009

The latest Arizona agriculture update from the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Phoenix, Ariz., field office:...

California's climate fosters abundance

Oct 20, 2009,

By Harry Cline, Farm Press Editorial Staff

California’s infamous ballot initiative campaigns are always interesting to watch. ...

Time’s one-sided food ‘expose’

Oct 20, 2009,

By Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff

We may not admit it, but writers like to be recognized for their work. ...

Clock ticking on dairy industry

Oct 20, 2009,

By Aaron Kiess, Executive Director, CAFA

Two “drive-by” evaluations of California’s agricultural crunch were a reminder that President Ronald Regan was right on when he joked: “I’m from the federal government and I’m here to help you.” ...

2010 AILP applications available

Oct 20, 2009

Leadership training, industry education, and hands-on learning are all part of the Almond Industry Leadership Program (AILP)....

Food safety programs alter farming

Oct 19, 2009

With food safety regulatory change on the horizon for U.S. producers, Rabobank recently found that approximately 40 percent of farmers have begun to alter their farming practices and methods....

Ag research grants announced

Oct 19, 2009

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced more than $7 million in grants for research on the biology of plant processes and traits which can be used to breed crops with enhanced value and resilience to climate stress. ...

Cotton acreage increase predicted

Oct 19, 2009,

By Cary Blake, Farm Press Editorial Staff

U.S. cotton prices in 2009-2010 are expected to flounder between 57 and 65 cents per pound as the U.S. tries to market a crop of about 13 million bales, according to Jarral Neeper, president of Calcot, the grower-owned cotton marketing cooperative based in Bakersfield, Calif....

Gates says technology must help defeat hunger

Oct 16, 2009,

By Forrest Laws, Farm Press Editorial Staff

If African farmers and the world’s hungry are to climb out of their misery and become more productive citizens, technology will have to pave the way, Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates says....

Slightly wetter winter in California?

Oct 16, 2009

El Niño in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is expected to be a dominant climate factor that will influence the December through February winter weather in the United States, according to the 2009 Winter Outlook released by the National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center....