Western Farm Press News Archive

Census of ag shows growing diversity in U.S. farming

Feb 13, 2009

The number of farms in the United States has grown 4 percent and the operators of those farms have become more diverse in the past five years, according to results of the 2007 Census of Agriculture released today by the USDA's National Agriculture Statistics Service....

Commercial farmers don’t need hatchet man at USDA

Feb 13, 2009,

By Forrest Laws
Farm Press Editorial Staff

The last time I wrote in less than glowing terms about a candidate for a particular job, he was named secretary of agriculture....

Researchers identify gene to improve wheat frost tolerance

Feb 13, 2009

The United States, the world's leading exporter of wheat, is struggling to keep pace with demand, and a decline in grain available is causing a worldwide crisis. ...

California NASS Crop Weather report

Feb 13, 2009

Here’s the latest California Crop Weather report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s field office in Sacramento, Calif....

Inventors win ARS technology transfer honors

Feb 12, 2009

Delicious new apricots, a better way to keep hot dogs and sausage safe to eat, and simpler ways to produce catfish are among the innovations that have garnered technology transfer awards for Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at laboratories nationwide. ...

Spring prevention of almond diseases

Feb 11, 2009,

By Brent Holtz
University of California Cooperative Extension
Madera County

Almond trees are susceptible to bloom and foliar diseases when it rains at bloom, and decisions of when to spray and what fungicides to use can be difficult....

Grape Pruning Field Day is Feb. 13 in Amador County

Feb 10, 2009

Foothill grape growers are invited to a Grape Pruning Field Day on Feb. 13, at 1:00 p.m., at the Sobon Estate Vineyards, 14430 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, Calif....

Central Coast Fruit Institute for apricot and cherry growers is Feb. 13

Feb 10, 2009

Apricot and cherry growers from California’s Central Coast counties can participate in a Fruit Institute on Feb. 13, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the Veterans Memorial Building, 649 San Benito Street, Hollister, Calif....

Smythe departs as FSA state executive

Feb 10, 2009

The United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency state office in Davis has announced that John Smythe has stepped down as state executive director after more than 30 years of dedicated service to the agency....

USDA extends comment period for regulation on payment limitations and payment eligibility

Feb 10, 2009

David Schaad, acting state executive director for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in California announced that following Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's announcement that the comment period for the regulation defining actively engaged participation in a farming operation has been extended for an additional 60 days....

New method speeds detection of ratoon stunting disease in sugarcane

Feb 10, 2009

A faster method for detecting ratoon stunting disease (RSD) — the most important disease affecting sugarcane production worldwide — has been developed by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and cooperators....

Senators demand changes to payment limit rules

Feb 10, 2009,

By Forrest Laws
Farm Press Editorial Staff

USDA officials erred when they wrote the new interim final rule for payment limits and should rescind it before it “adversely affects producers and farm operations from coast to coast,” a group of senators said....

Light brown apple moth e-mails continue to flow in

Feb 9, 2009,

By Harry Cline
Farm Press Editorial Staff

Most of the coastal anti-LBAM pheromone folks have given up on me (Western Farm Press, Nov. 15), but Mary Ann keeps writing (next)....

Water shortage threatens to curb UC research

Feb 6, 2009

Planned cutbacks in water deliveries to the UC West Side Research and Extension Center near Five Points are likely to have a significant impact on the amount and size of research projects that can be undertaken during the 2009 growing season....