California Ag Network

Category: News

  • CAWG Advancing, Pushing Back on CA Legislation

    CAWG is actively working on several policy priorities this year, including three bills sponsored or co-sponsored by the association.

    • AB 1585 (Connolly, D–San Rafael; Ransom, D–Tracy)
      Co-sponsored by CAWG and Family Winemakers of California, this bill would require that wine labeled as “American” be made from 100 percent American-grown winegrapes. The measure aligns the American designation with California’s long-standing requirement that wines labeled “California” contain 100 percent California grapes, strengthening truth-in-labeling standards and supporting domestic grape growers.
    • SB 921 (Grove, R–Bakersfield; Hurtado, D–Bakersfield)
      Co-sponsored by CAWG and the California Farm Bureau, this bipartisan legislation would create a payroll tax credit to fully offset the cost of overtime wages paid by agricultural employers. The proposal aims to provide critical relief for growers facing rising labor costs while maintaining overtime protections for farmworkers.
    • SB 917 (Laird, D–Santa Cruz)
      Co-sponsored by CAWG and Family Winemakers of California, this bill would allow small, non-estate wineries that purchase local grapes to sell wine and offer tastings at certified farmers’ markets. The measure supports direct-to-consumer connections and strengthens local grape supply chains.

    A significant part of CAWG’s work involves responding to legislation that could negatively impact growers and ensuring lawmakers understand the real-world consequences of those proposals.

    Several bills introduced this session have raised concerns for the winegrape industry, including:

    • AB 2646 (Krell, D–Sacramento)
      This proposal would establish a minimum wage for agricultural workers of $19.75 per hour, along with an annual cost-of-living increase.
    • AB 2227 (Connolly)
      The bill would increase bond requirements for farm labor contractors by linking them to gross revenues rather than payroll and would also require similar bonding for foreign labor contractors operating as farm labor contractors.
    • AB 2336 (Macedo, R–Tulare) and AB 1550 (Sanchez, R–Rancho Santa Margarita)
      These bills would exempt overtime compensation from income tax for employees. However, the federal version of this policy excluded agricultural workers, and CAWG members have made clear that any similar proposal in California should include agricultural employees.

    — By the California Association of Winegrowers

  • California Table Grape Industry Welcomes Farm Bill Momentum

    The California table grape industry welcomed renewed momentum toward advancing the Farm Bill through the House Agriculture Committee with the approval of H.R. 7567, restoring regular order to the legislative process and emphasizing the importance of ensuring specialty crops remain a central part of the discussion.

    “California table grape growers compete in a global marketplace while supplying families across the United States with fresh, healthy fruit,” said Ian LeMay, president of the California Table Grape Commission. “A Farm Bill that reflects the needs of the specialty crop sector is essential to maintaining that competitiveness. We are encouraged to see forward progress and a return to regular order that gives growers the opportunity to be heard.”

    About the California Table Grape Commission

    The California Table Grape Commission represents California table grape growers which produces 99 percent of commercially grown table grapes in the U.S.

  • Goldwater Institute: Unconstitutional California Winery Mandate Must End

    California’s wine industry is facing mounting pressures: rising production costs, increased competition, and shifting consumer habits. But a new Santa Barbara County ordinance—a mandate that all local wineries join a private marketing association and pay a 1% fee on their sales—is not only accelerating the squeeze on smaller operations, it’s also unconstitutional.

    That’s why the Goldwater Institute sent a letter to Santa Barbara County leaders urging them to amend their ordinance and to make both the fee and the association membership voluntary. Goldwater just sent the letter on behalf of its client, Flying Goat Cellars, a local winery in Lompoc, Calif., whose owners are standing up against the county’s forced arrangement.

    “I’m not opposed to partnerships or marketing,” said Flying Goat founder Norm Yost. “But as an independent business owner, I am opposed to being forced into an association I don’t necessarily agree with and paying fees that may not benefit my business. I just want to make wine I love and connect with customers on my own terms.”

    Last year, Santa Barbara County approved the creation of a wine “Business Improvement District,” (also known as a Wine BID) requiring all local wineries to pay a 1% fee on sales to fund regional marketing efforts. It also requires them to become members of the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association, which controls how the money is spent.

    But that’s Unconstitutional, and Here’s Why:

    • It violates the First Amendment’s protections for the freedom to associate—or not associate—with a private organization. Santa Barbara’s ordinance effectively makes all local wineries de facto members of the Vintners Association.
    • It violates the First Amendment by compelling Flying Goat to subsidize the speech of the Vintners Association—speech it doesn’t agree with.
    • It violates the Fifth Amendment’s taking clause by taking Flying Goat’s property—its money—and redirecting it to the Vintners Association with no legitimate public use.

    “The Supreme Court has made clear that the government cannot force Americans to subsidize speech they disagree with,” said Goldwater Institute Senior Attorney Adam Shelton, who represents Flying Goat Cellars. “It has also recognized a fundamental right not to be compelled into private associations. Santa Barbara County’s mandate violates both principles.”

    “This is the most challenging time in the history of the wine industry since Prohibition,” said Flying Goat co-owner Kate Griffith. “Santa Barbara County is adding insult to injury by forcing us to pay a 1% fee and join an association against our will. The timing could not be worse for small wineries like ours.”

    Read more here: https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/california-winery-challenges-government-mandate-forcing-businesses-to-fund-speech/

    Read the Goldwater Institute’s demand letter here: https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Santa-Barbara-BID-Constitutional-Issues.pdf

  • Taking the Bite Out of Cattle Fever Tick Disease

    ARS researchers identified innovative ways to prevent the potential spread of the cattle fever tick, a known carrier of babesiosis, into the U.S. Babesiosis is a disease caused by a protozoan parasite that infects red blood cells. It was eradicated in the U.S. decades ago, but it continues to be a significant problem in Mexico, which raises concerns about its potential return to the U.S. The cattle fever tick is the most economically important pest of cattle worldwide. Pesticides have been shown to be effective in managing this tick, but pesticide resistance has become an emerging issue.

    ARS researchers in Edinburg, TX, in collaboration with university partners, evaluated the efficacy of different organic compounds for controlling this tick, including NootkaShield™, Stop the Bites®, and BioUD®. The results indicated that NootkaShield™, Stop the Bites®, and BioUD® led to significant mortality in cattle fever ticks when dosed at low concentrations. They also demonstrated strong repellent properties and a significant reduction in the tick’s fecundity (ability to produce an abundance of offspring). These compounds show promise for controlling cattle fever ticks, and scientists plan to further test them in the field.   

    Related links:

    Project: USDA ARS

    Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit: Kerrville, TX

    —By USDA Ag Research Service

  • Research Fund Drives Vaccine Breakthroughs for Cattlemen

    The Livestock Memorial Research Fund, an arm of the California Cattlemen’s Association, is on a roll.

    Since its establishment in the 1980s, members of the livestock community have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote scientific and educational projects to benefit the industry, while also providing scholarships for graduate students in ag-related fields.

    Their signature projects have included working to develop three important vaccines to address serious problems cattlemen encounter. The first one was approved for use in late 2020, the second is showing great promise with hopes of being approved within a couple of years and a third effort is now underway, said Research Fund committee member Tom Talbot.

    These grants have been crucial seed money to help researchers attract larger grants from state and federal sources.

    “Researchers can show them, look – California ranchers are excited about this, support the project and it’s important to the industry,” said Talbot, a rancher and veterinarian in Bishop.

    Talbot said the Research Fund has built up an endowment over the years to fund research and scholarships but also relies heavily on the sale of raffle tickets at the Cattlemen’s Association annual convention. The prize is a stock trailer that for more than 15 years has been purchased with donations by California Farm Credit associations.

    Ag West Farm Credit California President Kevin Ralph said Farm Credit has been proud to sponsor the prize each year, and to see the Research Fund’s investments pay off.

    “The vaccines already on the market or in the development stage will prove to be incredibly valuable for California ranchers and save them collectively millions of dollars a year,” Ralph said. “Farm Credit is proud to have played this ongoing role in the Research Fund’s successes.”

    Farm Credit associations supporting the Research Fund are AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit and CoBank. These organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

    The first vaccine was developed to prevent a dangerous ailment called epizootic bovine abortion, a tick-borne disease that for decades had caused tens of thousands of cows in the West to abort their calves.

    “That was truly a home run for the industry,” said Talbot, a rancher and veterinarian in Bishop. “The efficacy of the vaccine has just been outstanding.”

    While detailed statistics are not available, Talbot said the vaccine has caused the loss rate of calves to drop from between 10% and 40% in tick-infested areas down to the 5%-10% range today.

    The Research Fund contributed nearly $350,000 to the research over several years.

    For the past several years, the Research Fund’s has been supporting efforts to create a vaccine against another major tick-borne illness called bovine anaplasmosis. This disease, caused by bacteria that infects the red blood cells of cattle, leads to anemia, weight loss and even deaths that cost U.S. ranchers hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses each year.

    The work involved genetically modifying the pathogen in a lab. By deleting a specific gene and then injecting the modified pathogen into cattle, the animals were immunized. Talbot is hopeful that the vaccine could hit the market within a couple of years, which he said would be a significant development for California ranchers.

    The Research Fund is now providing seed money for studies into developing a third vaccine, this one to prevent pinkeye – another common livestock disease. The bacteria-caused disease, largely spread by flies, costs producers nationwide over $150 million a year due to reduced weight gain (as much as 20-35 pounds per calf), along with lower milk production and sale value.

    2026 marks the third year the Research Fund has contributed to this vaccine research.

    “We have high hopes for it as we move forward and the funding has helped allow him to recruit additional funds to support research for the beef cattle industry,” he said.

    Talbot said the Research Fund has contributed about $50,000 to each of these two projects.

    Besides helping fund vaccine projects, the Research Fund also has awarded over $150,000 in graduate-level scholarships for students in fields that would benefit cattle production

    Pierce Mallery, Director of Regional Banking with American AgCredit, said Farm Credit financially supports several ag-related scholarship programs each year because highly educated professionals must be trained to provide people with the skills and services the industry will continue to need.

    “The Research Fund is investing wisely in developing the lawyers, veterinarians and other skilled professionals the industry will need to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” Mallery said. “Farm Credit strongly supports programs to train people to help ensure that agriculture continues to thrive in California”.

    About Farm Credit:

    AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit and CoBank are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. For more information, visitwww.farmcreditalliance.com

    About the Livestock Memorial Research Fund:

    The Livestock Memorial Research Fund is a 501(c)3 organization that funds scientific and educational projects and scholarships for students in fields related to California’s livestock industry. LMRF monies are used solely for scientific, charitable or educational purposes and are administered by a board consisting of California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) members. Other uses of LMRF funds include studies by University of California researchers which identify grazing management strategies that improve riparian resource conditions. Other studies funded in part by LMRF contributions have researched the effects of livestock grazing upon endangered species and sought methods to control livestock disease.

  • An Indoor Air Scrubber for Removing Ammonia in Poultry Houses

    Researchers from the USDA’s Ag Research Service (ARS) are helping poultry farmers protect their flocks and their employees, while improving poultry production. ARS researchers recently developed an indoor air scrubber that purifies the air in chicken houses and reduces ammonia levels by 87% to 99%.

    High levels of ammonia pose problems for poultry and agricultural workers. Ammonia, which is released from litter in poultry houses, reduces birds’ body weight gain, causes poor feed conversion, and makes birds more susceptible to viral diseases. In addition, ammonia exposure can pose health risks to agricultural workers.

    Poultry manure accounts for 27% of atmospheric ammonia emissions in the United States, representing a significant loss of nitrogen that could otherwise be used as fertilizer for crop production.

    Currently, farmers use poultry litter acidifying amendments such as adding aluminum sulfate, known as alum, to litter to reduce ammonia levels in poultry houses. However, the amendments only last up to three to four weeks. Ammonia scrubbers offer an alternative solution; however, current systems only treat exhaust air. As a result, they provide no direct benefits to poultry production and are not cost-effective.

    To find a more economical solution for farmers, researchers from the ARS Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit in Fayetteville, AR, designed and patented a full-scale prototype of an indoor air scrubber that can be easily installed in a poultry house to purify the air and save valuable nitrogen. The scrubber has a fast sand filter that removes particulate matter from the scrubbing solution to prevent the nozzles from clogging – a problem that existing air scrubbers have in animal facilities with heavy dust.

    “In study trials at our testing facility, our scrubber purified the amount of air in a 40 foot by 400-foot chicken house every 30 minutes and reduced ammonia levels by 87% to 99%, depending on the ammonia concentration and the air flow rate at which it is operated,” said ARS Research Soil Scientist Philip Moore.

    Moore and his research partners are planning to test the air scrubber in commercial poultry houses in the near future.

    In addition to measuring ammonia levels, the researchers will look at how effectively the air scrubber can remove dust and pathogens from the air, such as viruses responsible for avian influenza and other pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses.

    “This innovative technology could transform livestock production in poultry and potentially swine housing operations by improving animal welfare and worker safety, reducing disease transmission risks, and increasing farm profitability and environmental sustainability,” said Moore.

    The study was published in the Journal of Applied Poultry Research and done in collaboration with the ARS Poultry Research Unit at Mississippi State University, MS, and the University of Delaware’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

    Abou USDA Ag Research Service

    The Ag Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

  • Transformative Gift Propels UC Davis’ Leadership in Ag Tech

    The University of California, Davis, has received a gift of more than $25 million that will transform the advancement of agricultural technology and innovation for generations to come, made possible by a bequest from late philanthropist and local businessman Dan G. Best II.

    The gift honors the enduring legacy of his grandfather, C.L. Best, an agricultural innovator and founding leader of Caterpillar Tractor Co., whose design of his first track-type tractor in 1912 still forms the basis for all current track-type machines used across the world today.

    The two-part gift provides foundational support for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. First, $12 million is creating three endowed chairs named for C.L. Best in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. An additional $12.5 million establishes the C.L. Best Innovation in Agriculture Fund to support student scholarships, faculty and staff research, and facility improvements.

    “We are deeply grateful to Dan Best for this extraordinary gift, which allows UC Davis to carry forward the legacy of C.L. Best by continuing to invent and respond to the evolving needs of the agriculture industry,” said Chancellor Gary S. May.  “This game-changing investment strengthens the university’s leadership in innovation while helping educate future leaders who will address critical challenges around food, water and sustainability.”

    UC Davis is widely recognized as a world leader in agricultural sciences, ranking first in the nation and second in the world for agriculture and forestry by the QS World University Rankings and as well as first in the nation in biological and agricultural engineering by U.S. News & World Report.

    The gift is driving growth during a significant time for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, which is opening the Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation in fall 2026. The facility, located in the heart of campus along Hutchinson Drive, will provide state-of-the-art spaces for advanced work in robotics and sensing, AI and big data, plant breeding, sustainability and student success. The robotics and sensing suite in the new facility will be named the C.L. Best Agricultural Innovation Robotics and Sensing Suite in his honor.

    “Thanks to the tremendous generosity of Dan Best, our college will build on our first-rate programming and support for students, accelerate the interdisciplinary research of our faculty and staff, and continue advancing agricultural technology on a global level,” said Ashley M. Stokes, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

    Endowed chairs power innovation in engineering

    The three endowed chairs created by the gift are the first for the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. These prestigious positions provide funds in perpetuity to support distinguished faculty members in research, teaching and service. The new positions are named:

    • C.L. Best Endowed Chair in Agricultural Big Data Analytics,
    • C.L. Best Endowed Chair in Robotics and Cyber-physical Farming Systems, and
    • C.L. Best Endowed Chair in Controlled Environmental Engineering.

    “These three chairs will help translate agricultural research and innovation into deployable products and tangible solutions, supporting ag-tech startups and companies as they bring new technologies to the field,” said Fadi Fathallah, chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

    Together, the positions address critical challenges facing agriculture today — from food security and climate resilience to energy efficiency and workforce issues — while drawing from different disciplines across engineering like robotics and artificial intelligence.

    “The roles are designed to be symbiotic; they will work collaboratively with each other and across departments within the college and the university, bringing together the expertise needed to move cutting-edge research into practical farming and agricultural practices,” said Fathallah.

    These resources, along with the Resnick Center’s new equipment and infrastructure, together act as a catalyst bolstering an already top-tier program to go farther and faster than ever before, accelerating UC Davis’ impact and leadership in ag innovation and food systems sustainability. Fittingly, the Agricultural Innovation Robotics and Sensing Suite within the center will be named in honor of the gift.

    Honoring the Best legacy 

    A farmer and long-serving leader in Yolo County, Dan G. Best II was a member of the Woodland Chamber of Commerce, who named him Agribusiness Person of the Year in 2013, and served on the Woodland Healthcare Foundation Board. He was part of a long line of agricultural innovators. His great-grandfather, Daniel Best, worked to improve early grain harvesters and steam tractors in the late 1800s in San Leandro, Calif. — and received 41 patents over his lifetime.

    “Dan was a tremendously generous yet modest man, who was incredibly proud of his grandfather’s legacy and contributions to agricultural innovation. He was adamant that his pioneering work be celebrated, and that UC Davis’s strength in this area made it a fitting tribute for lasting dedication and impact,” said Shaun B. Keister, vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations.

    C.L. Best was also an inventor and businessman who changed how land is worked around the world. He perfected the track assembly of the track-type tractor — a machine that moves on continuous steel tracks instead of wheels — making it more durable in difficult ground conditions. His designs became the foundation for nearly all modern tracked machines still in use today.

    In 1925, C.L. Best helped form the Caterpillar Tractor Co. and served as its chairman until his death in 1951. Best’s work supported major advances in agriculture through irrigation, flood control and land development. The machines built on his ideas helped shape farms, infrastructure and communities worldwide, creating a legacy that continues to influence modern-day agriculture and industry. — By Clémentine Sicard

  • FDA and Partners in the Central Coast Share Findings from Environmental Study

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is sharing initial findings from a multi-year environmental study conducted in California’s Central Coast agricultural region that will inform efforts to further improve the safety of produce — an essential component of a healthy diet. The California Longitudinal Study was conducted in partnership with the Western Center for Food Safety at the University of California, Davis, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and regional agricultural stakeholders.

    The Central Coast of California is farmed year-round and supplies a large volume of produce, which includes more than 400 commodities. However, there have been periodic foodborne illness outbreaks associated with the region, including several that occurred between 2016 and 2020 caused by the same E. coli O157:H7 strain. This study sought to identify environmental factors that significantly contribute to the introduction, persistence, and spread of foodborne pathogens that could contaminate produce prior to harvest. Increasing our understanding of the ecology of this growing region as it pertains to foodborne pathogens is to the benefit of consumers, producers, academia, and food safety officials as it allows for continued improvement in best growing practices to enhance food safety.

    The longitudinal study, which began in 2020, followed an adaptive research design in which sample collection matrices, sites, and frequencies were continually assessed and refined to obtain maximum useful, practical information. Through repeated sample collection, testing, measurement, and analysis, the research team observed trends in pathogen presence in this region over time, providing insightful information on prevalence, location, and potentially influencing factors such as seasonality, weather conditions, and domesticated and wild animal activities on adjacent and nearby land.

    Initial findings related to E. coli O157:H7 and other Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) have been posted to the FDA’s California Longitudinal Study webpage and are summarized below:

    Animal Sources of Contamination: Fecal samples from rangeland beef cattle, feral pigs, deer, birds, and coyotes were frequent sources of STEC. Viable STEC was recovered from fresh and older, drier feces from livestock and wildlife found in the sampling area. These results suggest that STEC may remain viable in fecal material for extended periods.

    Environmental Sources of Contamination: Surface waters and associated sediments may facilitate STEC persistence, and in the case of water, STEC movement in the region. STEC was not recovered in a substantial amount of soil or air samples, indicating that these are not likely impacting the spread of STEC in the region. However, STEC was observed in water and sediment from rivers and creeks, and to a lesser extent in irrigation tailwater and tailwater sediment (accumulations of field runoff from irrigation practices) collected at field edges.

    STEC Diversity, Persistence, and Movement: Twelve different E. coli O157:H7 strains were isolated from environmental samples; however, the strain responsible for outbreaks between 2016 and 2020 was not recovered. STEC isolated from wildlife feces genetically matched strains from cattle feces, other wildlife feces, and in some cases, water, sediment, and soil. Six different highly pathogenic STEC serotypes were identified and some strains of these serotypes persisted for nearly two years.

    The FDA will engage with stakeholders to further discuss the data and findings from this study and assist stakeholder efforts to develop practices to manage the risks posed by the potential sources of contamination. Additional information and publications will be added to FDA’s California Longitudinal Study webpage as they become available. — By the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

  • Land Tax Dispute

     

    Growers in Cochise County, Arizona are fighting back against a proposed tax increase on land used for permanent crops like pistachios, pecans and wine grapes. Growers like John Heuler have fought back and won in tax and appeals courts, but the county is taking the dispute to the State Supreme Court. At the American Pistachio Growers’ Annual Conference, Heuler spoke with Matthew Malcolm from Malcolm Media Ag Publishing to go over the latest details. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Kingman Ag for their industry support.

  • Bloom Winding Down in Almond Orchards

    The 2026 almond bloom is winding down almost as quickly as it started this season. The weather for this period was significantly drier and warmer than that of the previous week. Temperatures reached as high as 80 degrees in the San Joaquin Valley, and the Sacramento Valley saw temperatures swing from lows in the 20’s last week to highs in the 70’s this week. Despite warmer and drier conditions, wind and clouds suppressed bee activity for much of the week in the Sacramento Valley. Bee activity in the San Joaquin Valley was fair to good for most of the period.

    Bloom in the Sacramento Valley has consistently stayed slightly ahead of the rest of the growing regions this season and continued its progress through petal fall and into jacket and early nutlet stages. Only Butte Padre plantings there have any significant bloom remaining at this point.

    Bloom continued its decline for Nonpareil, Monterey, Independence, and California varieties for this period in the San Joaquin Valley as well. Most of the remaining bloom is in Butte Padre plantings, though even these have passed their peak by the end of this period. Bees were more active in the milder weather there and worked whatever viable bloom they could still find.

    Ranvir Tung, a grower in Fresno County, summed up the week by saying, “The remaining bloom progressed rapidly after the storms, and with leaf-out now underway, the next round of fungicide applications are being applied.”

    Bee hives began to be removed from the most advanced orchards at the end of this period. As orchards continue to dry out, growers will conduct maintenance activities such as mowing and removing trees that were downed in last week’s storms. They will also look to begin nutrient applications and pest management discussions. — By Anthony Scudder, Regional Manager, Blue Diamond Growers