Western Farm Press News Archive

California DWR schedules season’s first snow survey

Dec 30, 2008

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct its first snow survey of the new winter season today at 11 a.m., near Lake Tahoe. Survey Location and Results Phillips Station at Highway 50 and Sierra at Tahoe Road, about 90 miles east of Sacramento, is the manual survey location. ...

Researchers say global warming to have devastating impact on certain California crops

Dec 30, 2008

Global warming will likely put enormous strain on California's water supply and energy systems and have a devastating impact on certain crops....

Traceability Initiative update at Fresh Connections event in Monterey on Jan. 13

Dec 30, 2008

Produce industry members in the Monterey, Calif., area can learn about the industry-wide Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) at the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Connections event on Jan. 13....

Multi-state effort aimed at suppressing lygus in cotton

Dec 30, 2008

After holding the title of No. 1 pest in Arizona cotton for the past 10 years, the lygus bug is now the focus of a four-state effort to suppress its reach and reduce its potential damage across multiple crops....

USTR begins dispute settlement process on Chinese subsidies

Dec 30, 2008,

By Forrest Laws
Farm Press Editorial Staff

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has requested consultations under the World Trade Organization dispute settlement process to try to force Chinese officials to end their government’s “Famous Brands” export subsidy programs....

International Agri-Center launches new World Ag Expo Web site

Dec 29, 2008

World Ag Expo, the world’s largest annual farm equipment and agriculture technology exhibition, has launched a newly redesigned Web site....

Workshops on marketing produce in Canada scheduled for Jan. 20 and 22

Dec 29, 2008

Western produce growers, industry leaders, and others are invited to attend workshops in Salinas, Calif. (Jan. 20), and Visalia, Calif. (Jan. 22), on marketing produce in Canada plus efforts on behalf of the industry to facilitate business opportunities in Canada....

Plenty of advancements in agricultural biotechnology worldwide in 2008

Dec 29, 2008

Despite heavy spring rains and flooding that delayed the growing season in the United States, USDA is estimating increased production of corn and soybeans this year. ...

UC Davis gets $6.8 million wheat variety development grant

Dec 29, 2008

Davis researchers are working on a groundbreaking plant genome project funded by a three-year $6.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation....

Far West Equipment Dealers Association appoints 2008-2009 Board of Directors

Dec 29, 2008

The 2008-2009 Board of Directors of the Far West Equipment Dealers Association (FWEDA) was appointed at the group’s annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz....

Pink hibiscus mealybug pheromone licensed

Dec 24, 2008

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has granted an exclusive license to South Carolina Scientific, Inc., of Columbia, S.C., to produce and market an ARS-developed insect sex pheromone that can help control the pink hibiscus mealybug, a crop pest that can cause up $750 million in damage annually to U.S. crops....

A new tally for water use by thirsty plants

Dec 24, 2008

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their colleagues are helping to refine evapotranspiration rates in dryland riparian corridors by revamping estimates for current and future water use by mesquite and other plants....

USDA announces dairy program sign-up

Dec 24, 2008

USDA’s Farm Service Agency has begun sign-up for the Milk Income Loss Contract or MILC program. Dairy producers can enroll in the program from now until Sept. 30, 2012, the end of the new farm bill....