An ambitious water quality regulation known as Agricultural Order 4.0 sits on shaky legal ground, according to agricultural groups contesting the draft order.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has created a centralized portal for wildfire recovery assets as flames rip through the state.

The Agriculture Department is making changes to eligibility rules for commodity programs that could make it more challenging for some family members involved in farm operations to qualify for government payments.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service announced Monday that through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), it will award up to $360 million in grants to public-private partnerships that “improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.”

After 35 years at the Californian Department of Food and Agriculture, Dale Woods retires from the agency and AgBiome hires Jason Kuhlemeier as vice president of marketing.

Matt Lohr, who has served as the only appointed chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service during the Trump administration, is leaving USDA, he announced Friday in a social media post.

Carlos Suarez began his tenure as State Conservationist for USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California in January of 2013, but the Puerto Rico native still has the same level of enthusiasm for soil and water conservation as when he started his career in the early 1990’s as an unpaid volunteer and later as a soil conservationist in West Virginia.

Countless deteriorating dams on rivers and old farm ponds out in the pastures are in escalating need of rebuilding before disaster strikes again. Some federal help is available for reservoir owners ready for the task.

Hundreds of California farmers who have successfully completed prior conservation projects are well positioned to move to the next level of conservation, according to NRCS.

USDA is rolling out competitive grants under the new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, led by the NRCS.