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Rep. Jim Costa of the San Joaquin Valley heard from several farm groups on ideas for climate-smart policies to frame up potential legislation in Congress.

Bayer will take another look at the use of glyphosate in lawn and garden products, including the possibility of new active ingredients to replace it, the company said in response to a court order rejecting a plan to address potential future Roundup litigation.

The State Water Board cut deliveries to junior water rights holders in Wine Country, while the feds cut in half previous allocations to valley communities.

Agencies are bracing for still more painful decisions to come, as they determine how and when California’s remaining storage water should be put to use.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget calls for millions of dollars to support new farmers and ranchers. Specifically, it proposes $10 million for beginning farmer and rancher training and farm management apprenticeship programs, which is a new budget proposal but still less than some farm advocates were hoping.

The Biden administration is assuring lawmakers that it's working to provide short-term emergency relief to the drought-stricken West even as farm groups continue to push for some relaxation of environmental rules that limit access to irrigation water.

Newsom has proposed $100 million in water use efficiency grants. The Senate bumps that to $250 million.

A number of environmental groups voiced opposition to the $60 million proposal.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow is working to secure a historic increase in conservation spending as part of a climate and infrastructure package, creating a rift with the panel’s top Republican, who says she is prematurely trying to reshape farm bill programs without GOP input.