Articles by Amy Mayer

California ranchers knew months ago they were in for another dry year, and as drought grips most of the state, how a particular area’s conditions are labeled by the U.S. Drought Monitor could be a factor in whether, or how well, some ranches survive.

The federal agencies responsible for inspecting agricultural imports at national ports of entry lack sufficient staff and training, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have failed to document progress on their own strategic plan. These are among the findings of a Government Accountability Office report on imported agriculture inspections, released Tuesday.

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.

California farmers grow the vast majority of lettuce for the country, though in recent years the number of acres planted has declined and the salad staple has dropped from consistently the number 2 crop in California (by value) at the start of the century to number 5 in 2018 and 2019.

The Census of Agriculture will be taken again next year and may reflect changes from additional challenges such as increased labor costs, water scarcity and environmental regulations.

The CDFA has developed a draft request for proposals for its Conservation Agriculture Planning Grants program and is seeking public comment.

Washington State will phase in mandatory overtime pay for agricultural workers. Gov. Jay Inslee has signed SB 5172 into law, triggering a multi-year process that will begin in 2022 with time-and-a-half for workers beginning after 55 hours in one week.

As drought grips many of California’s prime agricultural areas, its two top-grossing crops are positioned well to pull through, much as they did during the last prolonged dry spell in the mid-2010s. Grapes and almonds, which since 2004 have been the state's top sellers, both have some natural drought tolerance thanks to their origins in the Mediterranean climate where recurring aridity is expected. But in California, their success is also tied to irrigation.

In its most recent report, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation found illegal amounts of chemical residue on 4% of the samples it tested, with most violations on imported produce.