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Angela Fraser has been promoted at the California Avocado Commission and USDA announces new staff additions.

Farmers have long played a part in bringing new seeds and other technologies to market by trying things out on a small scale before a company makes a new product widely available. But now some ag tech start-ups are leveraging the knowledge and creativity of farmers to engage them earlier and more broadly in new product development.

A measure of the state of mind in farm country is at its lowest point since July 2020 as producers report less optimism about their current and future circumstances and signal concerns about the impact of inflation on their operations.

Federal weather officials are predicting a 70-80% chance that this winter will bring a La Niña weather system to the northern hemisphere. That could mean dry conditions continue across the west.

A UC Davis study finds that global warming could significantly disrupt the local economies of Napa and Bordeaux.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says a federal investment aimed at the middle of the food supply chain should improve economic conditions for producers and consumers alike.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is set to deliver a speech Monday about the Biden administration’s approach to U.S.-China trade, an issue that has taken a back seat to a domestic agenda the president is struggling to get through Congress.

In a victory for progressives, House Democrats delayed passage of a bipartisan infrastructure deal as President Joe Biden also insisted Friday on passage of a more ambitious package of social spending and climate priorities. He conceded privately that the latter plan would be cut significantly.