SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CALIFORNIA - The small family farm was once the cover story of the American dream. But today, American farms are dying left and right, and American farmers are on their way to extinction - and arguably at a faster rate here in California.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture 2020 data, 1.4 percent of the nation’s population is responsible for farming. That equates to 2.6 million farming jobs providing for the 329.5 million people living in the United States.

To put that statistic into historical perspective, in 1840, nearly 70 percent of the American labor force worked in agriculture, and in 1935, the number of farms peaked at 7 million....

The San Luis Obispo County wine industry annually comes together to honor members of the local wine community. These awards recognize dedication, stewardship, innovation, and leadership demonstrated in the San Luis Obispo County wine community.

The California Mid-State Fair has announced that 17-year-old Brooke Smith of Templeton has been crowned the 2022 Miss California Mid-State Fair Queen and Miss Congeniality. 19-year-old Sarah Barr of Templeton was the 1st Runner Up, and 17-year-old Jenna Shapero of Paso Robles was the 2nd Runner Up.

On Nov. 8, Paso Robles residents will have the opportunity to vote for two open councilmember seats (one in District 1 and one in District 2) and for the mayor. Each position serves a four-year term. For those interested in running for office, the initial period for filing nomination papers is July 18, through Aug.

As last-minute preparations came together for "the biggest little fair anywhere," the Paso Robles City Council was deciding the fate of a seven-year-long negotiation with the California Mid-State Fair over Pioneer Park. "This agreement in its current form-while it was great in 2015, it doesn't pass the mustard in 2022, and we need to rescind this," City Manager Ty Lewis said during the July 19 City Council meeting.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) today opened the application period for the 2023 Alliance and Research Grants cycle, offering $4.65 million in potential funding to accelerate the transition to safer, more sustainable pest management in agricultural, urban and wildland settings. "California is a leader in the development of more sustainable pest management," said ...

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2022 - Today, during a visit to the Yolo County Food Bank in Woodland, Calif., Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has signed a cooperative agreement with California under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA).

Nearly 200 organizations representing a variety of industry interests have raised concerns about tax increase proposals. In a letter sent to Congressional leadership, the coalition highlights certain tax considerations that would create significant hardship for small businesses. One of the proposals being considered includes expanding the 3.8 percent Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) to individuals actively participating in their business.

The federal government will channel $43 million into efforts to purchase and distribute locally grown food from California's underserved farmers and producers, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday in Woodland. Funds will be distributed through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which was established this year to stabilize agricultural supply chains throughout the country.

Through a series of articles we call The State, the American Farm Bureau Federation's Advocacy and Political Affairs team is providing analysis related to "the state of" various aspects related to advocacy and political trends impacting farmers and ranchers and rural Americans.

Could we see lower food prices next year? That's coming up on This Land of Ours. The all-items Consumer Price Index increased 1.4 percent from May to June and is 9.1 percent higher than in June of last year. USDA once again raised its consumer food price inflation forecast from 8.5 percent to 9.5 percent for 2022.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for the On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials program. USDA will be investing $25 million made available through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. At least 10 percent of the overall funding to be made available for On-Farm Trials will be allocated for proposals that will benefit historically underserved producers.

Producers are being given more time to return pre-filled applications for Phase One of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the deadline is being extended indefinitely. Potentially eligible participants of the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) will be receiving pre-filled applications from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Eggs, fruit, bacon, milk - all are more expensive now than they were a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ground coffee prices increased nearly 15% in the past year, while citrus shot up 18%. Unless farmers can find workers, food prices will continue to rise, experts say.

President Biden's nominee for Chief Ag Negotiator finally got a hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee. Chad Smith has more on the back-and-forth discussion. Smith: The position of chief agricultural negotiator within the office of the U.S.

Global Algae has chosen North County as the site for Farm 160, its algae farm project that aims to capture carbon dioxide and produce polymer products from algae oil with the goal of contributing to rainforest growth and providing a new sustainable source of protein and oil.

Farmers and the environmental community are not always at odds with each other. Often, the agricultural industry and environmental and conservancy groups have overlapping interests, which can be better addressed through collaboration rather than government intervention. Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia said that groups like The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, and Sustainable Conservation have all been tremendous partners to collaborate with.

Feature from American Farm Bureau on City Farm SLO

Farming involves more than just the farmer.

As a college student interested in the future of farming and sustainable farming practices, I am constantly seeking to learn about the methods of farming that help restore the environment and continuously improve natural resource conservation.

In a strawberry field surrounded by strawberry fields on the outskirts of Santa Maria, a team of robots have been picking berries all summer. Each robot, made by a Colorado company called Tortuga AgTech, trundles between the elevated beds on rugged wheels, then stops in front of a plant.

Strawberries remained Santa Barbara County's top grossing crop in 2021, with the overall value of agricultural production in the county climbing to $1.9 billion, a 5.1% increase from the previous year, according to the county Agricultural Commissioner's Office annual crop report.

PUBLISHED ON SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A new study suggests that drip irrigation for sweet corn can significantly conserve water, reduce fertilizer use and boost crop yield in the low desert of California - and likely in other areas of the state with similar conditions.

A Ninth Circuit panel took up the question Wednesday of whether a crop must be grown in soil to be considered organic. SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - A legal fight over whether hydroponic crops can be labeled "organic" played out Wednesday at the Ninth Circuit, where a panel of judges seemed unconvinced that dirt is a required component of organic growing.

"Help Wanted." "Now Hiring." "Apply now!" Drive through any town - large or small - and you'll see businesses looking for employees. We've been trying to fill open positions on America's farms and ranches for decades, so we're no stranger to the current labor shortage.

California's largest lobbying group of unions kicked off Wednesday with a one-two punch to reset the conversation around labor laws in the Golden State. The California Labor Federation, which represents 1,200 unions comprised of 2.1 million California workers, is boasting its long-awaited recruit to helm the organization: former California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher (D-San Diego) will serve as its Executive Secretary Treasurer.

A bipartisan pair of senators are racing to reach agreement on a bill to overhaul the broken farm labor system. But time is running out for the bill to have any chance of passage. - Doubt is brewing in Ukraine and in the West over whether Russia will live up to its commitments in a newly struck Black Sea deal to resume grain exports from Ukraine.

A fire burned a little more than an acre in the Salinas Riverbed south of the Niblick Bridge in Paso Robles on Tuesday afternoon. Fire officials say crews were able to quickly contain the fire because of goat and sheep grazing that was recently completed in the area.

NORTH COUNTY - San Luis Obispo County is sending aid to the Oak Fire near Yosemite Park, which started on Friday. The fire in Mariposa County is now 32 percent contained, compared to 10 percent on Monday. And on Tuesday, the number of homes destroyed by the blaze was 42, plus 19 outbuildings.

Taller smoke plumes means that more harmful fine particles can travel farther from their wildfire source, potentially hurting more people. Wildfire smoke is made up of a mix of gases and fine particles which penetrate deep into the lungs causing numerous health problems from burning eyes to chronic heart and lung disease, according to the U.S.

As climate change supercharges blazes, livestock and wildlife are suffering from smoke inhalation. California's wildfire season has kicked off in earnest, with the Oak Fire chewing extraordinarily quickly through the parched landscape around Yosemite National Park. The fire has burned nearly 17,000 acres so far, forcing thousands from their homes and blanketing the surrounding area in smoke.

URBANA, Ill. - The USDA's July cattle inventory report confirms the general sentiment that the cattle cycle remains in a contractionary phase, with most statistics coming in close to pre-report expectations, according to Jason Franken, agricultural economist at Western Illinois University and contributor to the Illinois farmdoc team.

A highly pathogenic Eurasian avian influenza may be heading to the Central Coast. Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC), which rescues and rehabilitates wildlife in San Luis Obispo County, is quickly responding to the approaching threat. The virus has been detected in at least 1,825 individual wild birds in 42 states since January, according to the U.S.

California is on year three of one of the worst droughts in state history, and it’s hurting our farmers and ranchers.

PUBLISHED ON FRESNO, Calif. - Saviez Wines 2016 Cabernet Franc and Eberle Winery's 2021 Cote-du-Robles Blanc earned Gold-Medal, Best of Show Red & White, respectively at the San Joaquin Valley Wine Competition July 13. Held for the first time at Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery's Paso Robles Winery, the competition featured wines from through the State of California and prices anywhere between $6.00 and $100.00!

Join us online for a virtual seminar on Phylloxera, nematodes, and other vineyard pests. This seminar qualifies for 2 hours of DPR CEUs in the "other" category. As always, this seminar is free for members and $30 for guests. SEMINAR AGENDA

The Harvest Wine Weekend in Paso Robles Wine Country is a time of excitement and celebration. Click here for more information about this wonderful event!

SACRAMENTO -- The water that comes out of the tap for more than 900,000 Californians is unsafe to drink and the state isn't acting fast enough to help clean it up, state auditors said in a report released Tuesday.

NIPOMO, Calif. - A court-appointed technical group released the spring 2021 index area groundwater conditions report, revealing that it was the eighth consecutive year that the key well index was in a severe water shortage.

In his time at the California State Water Resources Control Board, Max Gomberg has witnessed the state grapple with two devastating droughts and the accelerating effects of climate change. Now, after 10 years of recommending strategies for making California more water resilient, the board's climate and conservation manager is calling it quits.