Western Farm Press News Archive

California olive oil is worth the splurge

May 6, 2009,

By Jeannette Warnert
UC Center - Fresno

Healthful, flavorful and environmentally green, California olive oil has a promising future if word of its many benefits is effectively shared with consumers, according to UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Paul Vossen, an olive oil expert....

Psyllid fears continue to hover

May 5, 2009,

By Dan Bryant
Contributing Writer

Although San Joaquin Valley citrus pests, for the most part, are manageable, fears of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and the deadly citrus greening disease it transmits continue to hover in the horizon....

Judicial battle over crop protection

May 5, 2009,

By Richard Cornett
Communications Director
Western Plant Health Association

Once again a federal agency has drafted an opinion that has put agriculture in the crosshairs while blatantly highlighting the tendency of government to run amok....

The myth of ethanol and food prices

May 5, 2009,

By Forrest Laws
Farm Press Editorial Staff

What a difference a year makes – unless you’re a grocery manufacturing company or oil conglomerate CEO. ...

Expanded drought assistance available

May 5, 2009

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is expanding a previously announced drought assistance program to $3 million....

California Crop Weather report May 4

May 5, 2009

The California Crop Weather report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service released on May 4:...

Californians selected for produce program

May 4, 2009

Five Californians are among 12 selected produce industry members who will participate in United Fresh’s 2009-2010 Produce Industry Leadership Program....

Some CRP contracts may be extended

May 4, 2009

USDA’s Farm Service Agency will offer certain producers the opportunity to modify and extend their Conservation Reserve Program contracts that are scheduled to expire at the end of the government’s fiscal year (Sept. 30)....

2008 California almond acreage reaches 795,000 acres

May 4, 2009

California’s 2008 almond acreage is estimated at 795,000 acres, up 4 percent from the 2007 acreage of 765,000 acres, according to a May 1 report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service....

World cotton stocks projected higher

May 4, 2009

Declining mill use is expected to cause another increase in world cotton stocks by the end of the 2009-2010 marketing year, the International Cotton Advisory Committee says....

Conferees leave safety net intact

May 1, 2009,

By Forrest Laws
Farm Press Editorial Staff

House and Senate conferees made no changes in the funding for the 2008 farm bill’s direct payments or export market promotion programs when they agreed on a concurrent budget resolution for fiscal year 2010 Wednesday (April 29)....