Let freedom ring this 4th of July in SLO CAL! Whether searching for family-fun, live music or a spectacular firework show, SLO CAL has it all. Check out these awesome events celebrating Independence Day and kick back beneath firework-strewn skies.

U.S. consumers will pay $69.68 for their favorite Independence Day cookout foods, including cheeseburgers, pork chops, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, based on a new American Farm Bureau Federation marketbasket survey. The average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is $69.68, which breaks down to less than $7 per person.

Following the largest single day of vote counting of the past three weeks, the June 7 primary election results are finally solidifying in San Luis Obispo County. With 97 percent of the vote in, 4th District county supervisor candidate Jimmy Paulding is keeping his narrow lead over incumbent Lynn Compton-a 51.8 percent to 48.2 percent edge equating to 732 votes.

The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County officially got the green light to join the citizen-led lawsuit challenging SLO County's new redistricting map, following a June 17 court ruling.

Author: District Attorney Date: 6/27/2022 5:00:58 PM District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that former Arroyo Grande resident Ginger Lee Mankins (DOB 11/30/64) has been ordered to pay restitution to Rick Machado Livestock in the amount of $1,304,524.

WASHINGTON, June 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected another Bayer AG (BAYGn.DE) bid to dismiss litigation alleging that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer as the German pharmaceutical and chemical giant tries to avoid potentially billions of dollars in damages.

One of agriculture's chief inputs is not only a mainstay in the field, it's had its fair share of trips to the courtroom as well. Glyphosate, a chemical that was first used to clean out mineral deposits in pipes and boilers, is commonly used as an herbicide to protect a farmer's crops from being overtaken by noxious weeds.

Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran would be banned from owning U.S. agricultural land under legislation just advanced by a House panel. It was the second try for House appropriators after they failed last year to get the Senate to agree to a ban on foreign ownership of U.S.

Increased fuel prices for farmers and ranchers come at a time when all other inputs are higher, impacting their bottom line. Micheal Clements shares more on what they can do to help manage the issue. Clements: USDA estimates show that the cost of fuel, lube and electricity is expected to increase 34 percent in 2022 compared to 2021.

Secretary Vilsack announced the USDA is accepting applications for a new pilot program created under President Biden's historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the development of biobased products that have lower carbon footprints and increase the use of renewable agricultural materials. This press release was first published at usda.gov.

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2022 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that additional commodities and features are now available on the free USDA Market News App, which provides producers and others along the supply chain with instant access to market information about conventional and organic products.

Things look as if they're almost back to normal at the West Coast ports at the heart of the great supply-chain disruption that began rolling across the U.S. last year. But a new wave of disruption might soon come crashing down.

For Fourth of July cookouts this year, cheeseburgers could cost more than they did in 2021. In May 2022, the ingredients for a home-prepared 1/4-pound cheeseburger totaled $2.07 per burger, with ground beef making up the largest cost at $1.20 and cheddar cheese accounting for $0.35.

In a recent blog post, Dr. Ben Faber focuses on the importance of taking a measured approach when planting new avocado trees. In the post he elaborates on the importance of properly testing and preparing the soil, and once that has been completed ensuring the tree is planted at the proper depth.

In this installment of the 'Agronometrics In Charts' series, Sarah Ilyas studies the state of the California avocado season. Each week the series looks at a different horticultural commodity, focusing on a specific origin or topic visualizing the market factors that are driving change.

A bill negotiated by environmentalists, the plastics industry and lawmakers appears likely to keep a California recycling measure off the ballot. The bill passed a key committee Tuesday, two days before the deadline to withdraw the ballot initiative. Deal or no deal? Most likely, deal.

A coalition of environmental groups on Wednesday sued the Biden administration over its approval of oil and gas lease sales in four Western states. The lease sales in Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Utah mark the first since the administration temporarily froze new lease sales on federal lands in January 2021.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Heat waves and drought gripping California highlight the urgency to slash fossil fuel use and remove planet-warming emissions from the air, a top state official said Thursday during discussions of a new plan for the state to reach its climate goals.

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision today to drastically limit the power of the federal Environmental Protection Agency to regulate planet-warming emissions upsets environmentalists, but experts say it doesn't necessarily pose a threat to California's ability to maintain its own stringent greenhouse gas reduction rules. The 6-3 vote in the West Virginia v.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA) intends to make up to $200 million in assistance available to specialty crop producers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans to provide funding support for certain on-farm food safety expenses. USDA's new Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program will assist operations with food safety certification and related expenses in calendar years 2022 and 2023.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. - A catalytic converter was determined to be the cause of a 375-acre fire that broke out in a rural area near Arroyo Grande on Tuesday, according to CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo. The Camino Fire had burned 375 acres as of Wednesday afternoon and crews were able to reach 45% containment, according to CAL FIRE.

CAL FIRE has surpassed goal of treating 100,000 acres by 2025 years ahead of schedule SACRAMENTO - In preparation for the upcoming wildfire season, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has completed the transition to peak staffing across California and continues to report progress on key fuels reduction and forest health projects.

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) releases the Cold Storage survey near the 22nd of each month. As of May 31, USDA's June survey estimates red meat in storage was 1.087 billion lbs., down only slightly from April, but 20% greater than this time last year.

Paso Robles has been fortunate to receive multiple nominations for the 2022 USA Today 10BEST Readers' Choice Poll and we need your help to pull off a win! You can vote daily until Monday, July 18 at noon ET.

Winemaker Aaron Jackson is a force of nature, reaping the benefits of Central Coast soil, surf, and scenery for both business and pleasure. It's hard to distinguish between the two, because after 20 years in the industry, crafting an exceptional wine still brings him as much joy as catching the perfect wave or backpacking to a remote waterfall in Big Sur.

Halter Ranch Vineyard and Winery recently announced the purchase of the EOS Estate property in Paso Robles, California, from Foley Family Wines. The sale includes the 11,000-square-foot winery/hospitality center and 8.5-acre estate. The real estate transaction does not include the EOS brand name.

CALIFORNIA - Farmers up and down California are once again facing an uncertain season ahead of them as a state water curtailment order issued in August 2021 continues to take its toll on farming and ranching families. In July 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order calling a drought emergency and asking for water conservation.

With an extreme drought tightening its grip, drawing concerns about the future of water in Monterey County and throughout California, the county's Board of Supervisors overturned a 33-year-old law to allow the private ownership and operation of desalination facilities within the county.

The industry that overwhelmingly uses the most water resources in the West does so for good reason: to provide sustenance for the rest of the country. Globally, the agriculture sector uses 70% of all freshwater withdrawals.

The audit comes after California's water operations substantially overestimated the forecast and released more water than was necessary, officials said. There'll be an audit of California's water supply forecast after the state overestimated and prematurely released 700,000 acre-feet of ...

In the early afternoon in the Cuyama Valley, a hot June sun bears down as a dry wind gusts through the remote area that runs along San Luis Obispo County's southeastern border.