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Agri-Pulse announces ‘Great Tomato Challenge’ winners

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:12:11 -0400

Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce that Assemblymember Avelina Valencia is the winner of the third annual Great Tomato Challenge.

Bettencourt tapped to lead Reclamation

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:24:04 -0400

California ag and water policy veteran Aubrey Bettencourt is expected to be nominated to lead the Bureau of Reclamation as the agency faces major decisions over Colorado River rules and federal water deliveries in the West.

Clean air bill targeting freight hubs stalls over cost concerns for supply chains

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:04:00 -0400

California air regulators are looking for new tools to tackle warehouse and freight pollution as federal rollbacks threaten clean air gains. But a bill to expand CARB’s authority stalled after farm and supply chain groups warned it could raise costs across the food and goods movement sectors.

State Water Project bill stirs fight over Delta tunnel

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:03:00 -0400

A bill to extend State Water Project water rights is drawing support from water agencies and farm groups seeking reliability, while Delta advocates warn it would bypass oversight and advance the Delta tunnel.

California charts regulatory roadmap to streamline water and food safety reporting

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:02:00 -0400

California’s new regulatory alignment roadmap promises clearer rules, better data systems and more help for farmers navigating food safety and water quality requirements.

CDFA races to contain vineyard pest found in Costco grapevines

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:01:00 -0400

CDFA is racing to track down grapevines sold at Northern California Costco stores after glassy-winged sharpshooters were found on stock shipped from a Fresno County nursery, raising fears of a wider Pierce’s disease threat to winegrapes.

Farm Hands West: James Gallagher wins special election, Ocean Spray names Sarah Gallo director of government affairs

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Sarah Gallo is the new director of government affairs and public policy for Ocean Spray Cranberries. The new CEO for the Center of Produce Safety is Suzanne Devereaux-McKinstrie.

New cap-and-invest rules approved for dairies, food processors and climate-smart ag grants

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:05:00 -0400

California’s cap-and-invest approval gives food processors and dairy biogas developers a potential boost. But farm groups warn the changes could squeeze funding for farmland conservation and other climate programs.

Wage theft fight targets farm labor contractors

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:04:00 -0400

A bill targeting farmworker wage theft would raise bond requirements and tighten licensing rules for farm labor contractors, but grower groups warn it could add costs for law-abiding employers.

Environmental group presses for more rice farming in the Delta

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:03:00 -0400

Delta rice farming could help slow land subsidence and protect California’s water infrastructure. But a new report says the region will need local milling and bioproduct investments to turn the crop’s rapid growth into a broader economic opportunity.

Federal bill targets golden mussels as Delta threat spreads

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:01:00 -0400

Federal lawmakers are pushing a $15 million-a-year response to golden mussels as the invasive species spreads through California waterways, threatening Delta infrastructure, water deliveries and farm production.

Farm Hands West: Newsom makes new appointments, Vieira named general manager for Kings County Water District

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The new general manager for Kings County Water District in California is Madalyn E. Vieira.

Growers warn soaring regulatory costs are squeezing California agriculture

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:05:00 -0400

Escalating costs are making it harder for California growers to stay in agriculture — a theme echoed repeatedly by panelists at an Agri‑Pulse summit in Sacramento. Nearly two dozen growers, policymakers and industry leaders pointed to regulatory pressures as a major driver of rising expenses.

California water leaders confront the hard math for agriculture

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:05:00 -0400

California water leaders are moving from broad planning to hard math, with the next administration facing tough choices over new supplies, groundwater recharge, nitrate rules and how much farmland the state can keep in production.

Climate bond dollars for rangelands caught in Capitol crunch

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:04:00 -0400

A bill to steer $90 million in climate bond funds toward protecting California ranchlands stalled in Assembly Appropriations, despite backing from ranching and conservation groups.

California may strengthen wolf deterrence measures

Wed, 27 May 2026 07:03:00 -0400

California appears on the verge of allowing more aggressive deterrence methods against gray wolves. UC Cooperative Extension and UC Berkeley are also seeking input from producers on the future of a wolf-livestock compensation fund through an anonymous survey.

California groundwater recovery stalls as pumping outpaces recharge

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:02:00 -0400

California’s aquifers saw some short-term relief from wet years, but a new DWR report shows groundwater storage losses, long-term water level declines and San Joaquin Valley subsidence continue to challenge the state’s sustainability goals.

Robotics challenge showcases next generation of ag-tech

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:01:00 -0400

Student teams from California and around the world took home Farm Robotics Challenge awards for tools aimed at weeding, crop scouting, spraying, orchard monitoring and dairy herd health.

Farm Hands West: Mitloehner named animal science department chair at UC Davis, Fresno Madera Farm Credit board of directors elections

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Frank Mitloehner was named chair of the Department of Animal Science at the University of California Davis. Dan Errotabere, Lance Shebelut and Jeff Boldt have been reelected for three-year terms on the Fresno Madera Farm Credit board of directors.

State shelves food additive crackdown after industry pushback

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:06:00 -0400

California lawmakers shelved a food additive disclosure bill after food and ag groups warned it would create a costly state-only regulatory system. But the fight over GRAS ingredients and ultraprocessed foods is far from over.

Solar bill stalls as farmland transition accelerates

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:05:00 -0400

A Central Valley solar study bill stalled in the Legislature, leaving unresolved how California should balance renewable energy goals with farmland preservation, SGMA-driven land retirement and the future of farm communities.

California almonds face emerging competition from Australia

Wed, 20 May 2026 07:04:00 -0400

Australia is experiencing record growth in almond production, and its success could put added pressure on a California industry that has been struggling to maintain its dominance.

Almond industry eyes a rebound, but old risks still loom

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:02:00 -0400

California’s almond industry is finding firmer footing after years of low prices, rising costs and orchard removals. But a new Terrain report warns that growers still face long-term pressure from groundwater limits, export dependence, trade shifts and changing consumer demand.

UCCE shifts leadership model to free up advisors for field research

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:01:00 -0400

UC Cooperative Extension is shifting to a regional area director model, aiming to reduce administrative burdens on farm advisors and free up more time for research, outreach and on-the-ground support for California agriculture.

Farm Hands West: Bettencourt departs NRCS, Sharma joins Sierra Club California, Bonitz takes role with California Energy Commission

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Sierra Club California hired Asha Sharma as deputy director. Jessica Bonitz was appointed deputy public adviser at the California Energy Commission. Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Aubrey Bettencourt has resigned, and Colton Buckley has assumed the role of chief. California Gov. Gavin Newsom made appointments to the Gold Country and Big Fresno Fair Boards.

California moves to regulate pesticide-treated seeds

brad@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 15 May 2026 13:39:17 -0400

California pesticide regulators are proposing new reporting requirements for treated seeds, reviving a long-running fight over seed coatings, pollinator risks and how far the state should go beyond federal pesticide rules.

Can California still build big water projects?

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:04:00 -0400

Newsom is urging water leaders to finish major projects like Sites Reservoir and the Delta tunnel. But they worry California’s ability to build is running up against affordability, permitting and political hurdles.

Farmworker wage bill fuels broader clash over H-2A labor in California agriculture

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:03:00 -0400

A proposed $19.75 per hour farmworker wage floor is fueling a broader fight over California agriculture’s reliance on H-2A labor and rising production costs.

H-2A wage rule could save California growers $100M

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:02:00 -0400

A new analysis estimates California growers could save more than $100 million this year under federal H-2A wage changes, but lower pay could complicate worker retention and morale.

Almond crop forecast lands slightly lower

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:01:00 -0400

USDA and Blue Diamond forecasts point to a slightly smaller California almond crop as the industry adjusts to a new crop-reporting landscape.