Western Farm Press News Archive

ARS, Australian researchers team up against fruit bugs

Mar 17, 2009

Controlling two species of semitropical bugs that damage a variety of fruit and nut crops is the objective of a joint research project between the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Australian researchers....

2009 Postharvest Seminar for California citrus packers

Mar 17, 2009

The Citrus Research Board (CRB) in conjunction with University of California Cooperative Extension is conducting a 2009 Postharvest Research Seminar for California citrus packers on March 18....

Flood-prone lands eligible for easements and restoration through national stimulus funding

Mar 16, 2009

Landowners of areas previously damaged in floods may apply for floodplain easements through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. ...

Rural agenda for Senate Democrats

Mar 16, 2009

Senate Democrats have unveiled a “rural agenda” for the 111th Congress and a Web site highlighting issues important to rural communities and promoting policies that will benefit rural areas....

Galgiani victorious in Capitol sushi showdown

Mar 16, 2009

In an intense yet friendly competition, California State Assembly Member Cathleen Galgiani emerged victorious to lay claim as Capitol Roller, signifying California’s top legislative sushi maker....

Barrage of criticism hits direct payment idea

Mar 16, 2009,

By Forrest Laws
Farm Press Editorial Staff

Criticism continues to rain down on the Obama administration’s proposal to reduce government spending by phasing out direct payments to agribusinesses with more than $500,000 in annual sales, capping payments to individual farmers at $250,000 and ending cotton storage payments....

2008 California Final Grape Crush Report

Mar 13, 2009

California’s 2008 grape crush totaled 3,672,644 tons, down less than 1 percent from the 2007 crush of 3,674,453 tons, according to the Final Grape Crush Report released on March 10, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Sacramento, Calif., field office....

California Valencia crop down 6 percent

Mar 13, 2009

The 2008-09 Valencia orange forecast is 30 million (37.5-pound) cartons, 6 percent below last season’s estimated total of 32 million cartons....

USDA invites celebration of National Ag Day

Mar 13, 2009

David Schaad, acting executive director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in California invites everyone to Celebrate National Agriculture Day on March 20, 2009, and support the row crop farmers, fruit and vegetable producers, food scientists, livestock ranchers, equipment manufacturers and others who will take our country's agriculture industry into the future....

UC Cooperative Extension Rice Production Workshop set for March 25

Mar 13, 2009

The latest research findings on rice production will be shared with growers, pest control advisers, industry representatives, regulatory agencies and others March 25, at a University of California Cooperative Extension Rice Production Workshop in Yuba City. ...

For Mondani livestock, AngusSource adds value and builds buyer demand

Mar 13, 2009,

By Eric Grant

Like commercial producers everywhere, Teresa and Doug Mondani, who ranch near Ione, Calif., have been looking for ways to capture more dollars from their cattle so they can remain competitive during these tough economic times....

CM pheromone puffers can reduce sprays in walnuts

Mar 12, 2009,

By Dan Bryant
Contributing Writer

As regulatory pressure mounts on use of broad-spectrum insecticides, alternatives such as pheromone mating disruption (PMD) are being considered for control of codling moth (CM), the main pest in California walnuts....

Marketing and research results covered during Tri-County Walnut Day in Visalia

Mar 12, 2009,

By Dan Bryant
Contributing Writer

California’s walnut industry has a record 434,000-ton crop to find homes for this year, but that’s only part of the challenge in an uncertain global economy, says Dennis Balint, chief operating officer of the California Walnut Commission....

Canadian and U.S. produce grower-shippers gather to enhance trade north of border

Mar 12, 2009,

By Brenda Carol
Contributing Writer

Navigating the complex maze of trade issues between the U.S. and Canada is often frustrating, not to mention fraught with economic pitfalls for all parties concerned....