Western Farm Press

Reclamation again cuts CVP Friant allocation

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:22:00 +0000

Bureau of Reclamation

The California Bureau of Reclamation has cut previously announced water allocations again.

Postharvest Technology Course answers grower questions

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:28:00 +0000

Diane Nelson, UC Davis

Many grower questions will be answered during the 35th annual Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops Short Course at UC Davis June 17–28.

Russell Ranch Field Day May 28

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:53:00 +0000

Russell Ranch Field Day May 28

Location

Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility Davis, CA

United States

See map: Google Maps

Russell Ranch Field Day May 28

Tuesday, May 28, 2013 8 am - 1:30 pm

Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility at UC Davis (http://russellranch.ucdavis.edu/directions)

Registration required at http://registration.ucdavis.edu.

$10 for general registration, $5 for students, free for farmers - 3.5 credits of CCA CEUs available

Questions? contact Emma Torbert: eetorbert@ucdavis.edu

Blueberry/Blackberry Field Day May 22, Parlier

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:49:00 +0000

Blueberry/Blackberry Field Day May 22, UC Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 9240 South Riverbend Ave., Parlier

Location

UC Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center Parlier, CA

United States

See map: Google Maps

Blueberry/Blackberry Field Day

Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 7:30 am - 3 p.m. (tour of local farms & packing facilities 3 to 6 p.m.)

UC Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 9240 South Riverbend Ave., Parlier

For more information, contact Karen, UCCE Tulare Coun-ty, 559-685-3300

Flyer with agenda: http://cemerced.ucanr.edu/files/165543.pdf

Register online: http://ucanr.edu/2013bbd. Cost is $25 per person if paid or postmarked on or before May 16 (includes lunch) and $35 after May 16 (lunch not guaranteed if registering after 16th).

Chile breeding — seed to sprout

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:35:00 +0000

Justin Bannister, New Mexico State University

For the super-hots, like Trinidad Moruga Scorpion or Bhut Jolokia, put on protective suits, masks and goggles.

Will algae fuel livestock?

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:10:00 +0000

Audry Olmsted, New Mexico State University

Algae is making biofuel strides, but can it fuel livestock?

SoilWeb: What’s under the ground?

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:04:00 +0000

Jeannette Warnert, UC ANR

Producing food, maintaining landscapes and building structures all depend on this little understood, but critical outermost layer of the Earth's crust - the soil.

Clear honey preferred by shoppers

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:56:00 +0000

National Honey Board

When purchasing honey, consumers prefer for honey to be brilliantly clear and golden. Consumers are increasingly likely to prefer honey that has pollen grains filtered out.

DCP/ACRE call goes out to farmers

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:41:00 +0000

FSA

Farmers are encouraged to enroll for the 2013 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (DCP) or the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) before the June 3 and Aug. 2 deadlines.

Honey bees: About those neonics

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:26:00 +0000

Kathy Keatley Garvey, UC Davis

Eric Mussen, California's only Cooperative Extension apiculturist, says the neonicotinoid situation is not as simple as it's usually presented.

Next round for farm bill May 20

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:27:00 +0000

USA Rice Federation

Senate farm bill debate is expected to begin on May 20; positioning the bill for possible floor consideration in June.

Farm bill momentum for specialty crops

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:18:00 +0000

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance

The committee’s approval of the 2013 farm bill by a bipartisan 36-10 vote is the second positive step for specialty crops this week.

Sustainability matters to wine consumers

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:55:00 +0000

Wine Institute

Wine sustainability is an important consideration when making purchasing decisions among key segments of wine consumers.

Onion report shows gains and needs

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:48:00 +0000

Western Integrated Pest Management Center

Onion growers are adopting integrated pest management practices.

California Certified Crop Adviser exam sign-up open

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:40:00 +0000

The Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) exam will be held Aug. 2, 2013.

Nutrition and dairy face major farm bill fight

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:39:00 +0000

Debates on nutrition programs and dairy policy are sure to be a source of rancor as the farm bill marches on.

Western leaders support Senate Ag Committee farm bill

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:22:00 +0000

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee’s approval of federal farm program legislation is drawing praise from groups representing western agriculture.

Almond growers groom $3 billion crop

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:58:00 +0000

Dennis Pollock

Almond growers are looking for ways to manage a crop that is worth more than $3 billion and is forecast to hit more than 2 billion pounds.

Conservation Reserve sign-up May 20 - June 14

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:31:00 +0000

FSA

USDA reminded farmers and ranchers concerning the four-week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up beginning May 20 and ending on June 14.

Fresno County almond grower expanding acreage

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:52:00 +0000

Greg Northcutt

Gary Martin of Firebaugh, Calif., will plant 130 more acres of almonds on his family’s farm once a total row crop operation.

Raw cotton absorbs crude oil spills, repels water

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:54:00 +0000

The Cotton Board

Low-grade cotton is highly effective at absorbing crude oil spills: 1 pound of low-micronaire cotton can absorb more than 30 pounds of dense crude oil.

NSAC backs Farm Program Integrity Act

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:22:00 +0000

NSAC

The Farm Program Integrity Act of 2013 is intended to restore integrity and fiscal responsibility to the commodity program portion of the farm safety net.

Walnuts jam-packed with health benefits

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:18:00 +0000

California Walnut Commission

In the last twenty years, 91 studies and counting have linked numerous potential health benefits from walnuts in the areas of heart health, diabetes, weight management and cognitive function.

Citrus attacked by tiny killer psyllid

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:01:00 +0000

A little creature called a psyllid is responsible for a disease that’s killing off citrus trees.

Audio File:

pint size acp.MP3

Saving citrus from greening scourge

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:59:00 +0000

Efforts are under way to help citrus growers address the threat posed by citrus greening.

Audio File:

saving-citrus.MP3

Weather delays demand for fertilizer market

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:44:00 +0000

Rabobank

Despite difficult weather, at some stage global buyers will need to lock in fertilizer supply contracts.

Healthy choice — farm-raised Atlantic salmon

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:35:00 +0000

Rosalie Marion Bliss, USDA

Farm-raised Atlantic salmon maintains its healthy levels of omega-3 fatty acids when baked.

Farm bill gets House Ag Committee nod

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:32:00 +0000

House Agriculture Committee

The House Agriculture Committee approved H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013.

University of Arizona researchers seek safer vegetables

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:35:00 +0000

Todd McOmber, University of Arizona

Desert-area vegetable growers periodically collect samples of irrigation water for lab testing of E. coli and other potential pathogens.

Farm bill heads for House committee

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:02:00 +0000

USA Rice Federation

The farm bill has cleared another hurdle and is headed for the House Ag Committee.