The San Luis Obispo Food System Coalition (FSC) is a community organization launched in 2011 to maximize the efforts of local agencies and non-profits working to enhance the sustainability and quality of our local food system. As a resource providing inspiration, collaboration and advocacy, we achieve impacts that create a more equitable, profitable, resilient, and health promoting food system.

PUBLISHED ON SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - A flight delay and missed day of practice didn't stop the Cal Poly Soil Judging Team from beating out 21 other teams to take second place at the National Collegiate Soils Contest at Oklahoma State University.

San Luis Obispo County turned back the clock on April 18 and adopted a new redistricting map that mirrors what it'd used for the decade prior-before the county transitioned to the redrawn and controversial "Patten map" last year.

The March 2024 primary election is nearly a year away, but at least one candidate has already thrown her hat in the ring for the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors ' District 5 race. Atascadero mayor pro tem Susan Funk announced Friday that she will run for the seat.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has a stated goal of eliminating the use of "priority pesticides" by 2050.

Part of that effort includes the implementation of the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California that was released earlier in the year.

“It is easy to see that the impacts of the legislation are not just limited to farmers and ranchers, but to entire communities that we live in,” Jamie Johansson, president of the California Farm Bureau, said at the hearing.

PUBLISHED ON WASHINGTON - Wall Street rules intended for publicly traded companies should not extend to family farms. That is the message the American Farm Bureau Federation and six other agricultural groups sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

PUBLISHED ON WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through May 26, 2023. Among CRP enrollment opportunities, Grassland CRP is a unique working lands program, allowing producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while conserving grasslands and promoting plant and animal biodiversity as well as healthier soil.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY- On April 11, SLO County Farm Bureau hosted a listening session with Congressman Salud Carbajal on the 2023 Farm Bill and storm disaster issues. Farm Bureau board member Tom Ikeda spoke about the need to modify the USDA Farm Service Agency's Emergency Conservation Program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor launched the first-ever regional agribusiness trade mission to the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Under Secretary Taylor and her delegation of representatives from 41 agribusiness and farm organizations and 10 state departments of agriculture look to expand economic partnerships between the ...

The outlook for agricultural retailers is generally favorable for 2023 following a year of record profits in 2022. However, the sector faces an emerging set of risks that could depress profit margins and challenge traditional business models in the years ahead. Lower levels of industry working capital, higher property insurance costs, and changing grower needs ...

Data shows that pesticide use in California has once again declined. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) confirmed the findings in a recent report. DPR's annual Pesticide Use Report (PUR) for 2021 shows that the use of pesticides declined by more than 10 percent.

The CAISO region's spring solar record setting season is upon as, with solar peaking at greater than 95% of the state's demand.

Combined, solar was meeting greater than 90% of California’s electricity needs at the moment.

PUBLISHED ON DAVIS, Calif. - The University of California, Davis, is releasing five new strawberry varieties that are resistant to the soilborne disease Fusarium wilt, have high yields and improved fruit quality. UC Eclipse, UC Golden Gate, UC Keystone, UC Monarch and UC Surfline are available for sale to California nurseries from Foundation Plant Services.

Drones are being used for an ever widening range of agricultural applications enabled by new technology and diminishing regulatory constraints. Most current drone options are small, battery powered units and when equipped with cameras or other sensors they are very well suited to scouting and monitoring tasks (see this earlier article).

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- Many farmworkers in California are undocumented -- but that could change if state lawmakers pass Senate Bill 831 -- which would create a pathway to citizenship for people who work in the agriculture industry, which includes farm workers.

An estimated 1.1 million undocumented immigrants work in California, with large numbers laboring in low-wage jobs like agriculture, construction, and food service. But none of those workers are eligible for unemployment insurance, even though their wages contribute to the system.

By Peter Nissen and Ryan Klobas In 2021, the Napa County Farm Bureau was gratified to see the passage of Senate Bill 11-Farm Bureau-sponsored legislation that began to seriously address the issue of the lack of wildfire insurance availability for agriculture in Napa County and in fire-prone regions across California.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.- Controlled burns to reduce wildfire threats at Hearst San Simeon, Morro Bay, and Montaña de Oro State Parks are set to begin Apr. 20 through May 19, according to California State Parks.

A legal dispute in Montana could drastically curb the government's use of aerial fire retardant to combat wildfires after environmentalists raised concerns about waterways that are being polluted with the potentially toxic red slurry that's dropped from aircraft.

The 15-page search warrant and affidavit were very specific about the target Shasta County sheriff's officials were after. "The location is a single family residence in a rural residential area," the warrant, signed at 6:33 p.m. on July 8 by Shasta County Superior Court Judge Monique McKee, read.

OROVILLE - Much like the world around it, American cattle ranching has changed tremendously since its early days with the exception of one thing: it's still grueling.

The 40th anniversary of Paso Wine Fest weekend is set to take place beginning Thursday, May 18 to Sunday, May 21 in Paso Robles Wine Country. Since 1983, this festival has been the iconic celebration of the Paso Robles wine region. This year’s festival will feature four days of events at more than 150 individual wineries as well as multiple winemaker dinners and the marquee event – the grand tasting.

Corriedale sheep snack on weeds among rows of vines; along the way, they fertilise the soil, adding nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium. Owls and bats swoop from vineyard boxes from dusk 'til dawn, eliminating vine-root-eating gophers and grapevine moths. Native flowering plants create sanctuaries for beneficial insects.

So you want to be mechanized; Now what? Mechanization affects many farming practices from trellising to pest management, from machine maintenance to labor. Learn from experienced farmers and precision agriculture specialists about how technology drives mechanization and how you can implement these practices on your vineyard.

After almost 70 years, San Luis Obispo County's use of water from Lake Nacimiento will no longer be restricted—a shift in policy that could be key to helping cities across the county meet new state sustainability standards.

The April 7 change to the Monterey County-based permit affects Nacimiento Water Project participants, including the city of Paso Robles, Templeton Community Services District, Atascadero Mutual Water Company, Santa Margarita Water Company, the city of San Luis Obispo and some parts of Cayucos, according to SLO County Engineer Wes Thompson.

The Monterey County Farm Bureau is calling for a change on regulations of river maintenance along the Salinas River by hosting a meeting with agencies that oversee the river to ask for an emergency permit. The Monterey County Farm Bureau represents farmers like fifth-generation farmer, Jynel Gularte.

With hopes of incentivizing water conservation in the country's drought-prone regions, two lawmakers on Thursday will introduce bipartisan legislation seeking to expand the flexibility of voluntary cutback programs.

California will be investing $5 million in three new desalination projects - in a bid to protect water resources from the effects of climate-driven weather extremes, state agencies announced on Wednesday. "California is taking action to adapt to the extremes in weather we're seeing across the state...

California's wet water year could have some sizable implications when it comes to groundwater levels. Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, Mike Wade said it will take some time to determine the full impact. ...