Western Farm Press News Archive

CCD research continues, with U.S. beekeepers ‘hanging on by fingernails’

Mar 11, 2009,

By David Bennett
Farm Press Editorial Staff

For several years, U.S. honey bees — key for good crop yields — have been dying off or abandoning colonies en masse, resulting in fears for the pollination of U.S. crops. ...

Westlands Water District files lawsuit on biological opinion

Mar 10, 2009

The Westlands Water District announced on March 4 that it is joining with other public water agencies in the San Luis Delta-Mendota Water Authority in filing a lawsuit to undo the latest round of cutbacks that federal authorities have ordered in California's water supplies....

Arizona snowpack melting fast, heavy runoff now, low runoff for spring

Mar 10, 2009

Arizona’s mountain snowpack is melting fast due to above average temperatures and below average precipitation during the past few weeks....

Obama may change directions on direct payment proposals

Mar 10, 2009,

By Forrest Laws
Farm Press Editorial Staff

The Obama administration appears to be having second thoughts about its proposal to phase out direct payments to agribusinesses with sales of more than $500,000 and replace them with “green” payments....

Central Coast Counties Walnut Institute set for March 13

Mar 10, 2009

Where: 649 San Benito Street, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Hollister, Calif....

Henderson named plant pathology farm advisor in Imperial County

Mar 10, 2009

Donna Henderson is the new plant pathology farm advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension in Imperial County effective March 2, according to County Director Eric Natwick....

Hedging seminar slated in Coalinga, Calif., March 11

Mar 9, 2009

To educate cotton producers about options and futures contracts, and what they can do to increase their profitability potential for the 2009 crop season, Cotton Incorporated is holding a free cotton price risk management and pricing strategies seminar in Coalinga, Calif., March 11. ...

Ag secretary finding that changing programs in midstream may be a tough sell

Mar 9, 2009,

By Forrest Laws
Farm Press Editorial Staff

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is trying to sell commodity groups on the idea of replacing traditional farm programs with so-called green payments or carbon credits. ...

California water crisis battle continues to erupt on many fronts

Mar 6, 2009,

By Brenda Carol
Contributing Writer

Sometimes it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees. ...

Sanitation definitely limits navel orangeworm damage in pistachios

Mar 6, 2009,

By Marni Katz
Contributing Writer

Navel orangeworm (NOW) is a significant pest in pistachios that requires an integrated and carefully planned strategy to keep damage levels below acceptable thresholds, according to experts at the UC’s Statewide Pistachio Day....

Agbiz: New fungicide coming for almonds

Mar 6, 2009

A new fungicide is scheduled to be registered this year in California that will provide not only control of at least eight almond diseases, but will add to the all important resistance management toolbox....

Guayule: Is this desert shrub a fuel of the future?

Mar 6, 2009

Superb natural latex from a desert shrub called guayule (why-YOU-lee) makes high-quality gloves, medical devices, and other in-demand natural rubber products....

San Joaquin Valley cotton quality very respectable for 2008 crop

Mar 6, 2009,

By Brenda Carol
Contributing Writer

California’s dwindling cotton industry hit a respectable home run last year in terms of quality, according to Craig Stevens with Dunavant of California, Fresno, Calif. ...