California Ag Network

Category: News

  • Student Ambassadors to Share California Dairy Messages with International Audience

    Morgan Oliveira of Hilmar and Victoria Paolini of Los Banos have been selected to serve as interns for the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Julia Basch of Los Angeles and Ellie Dyt of Crows Landing will serve in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of the 2026 CMAB International Internship Program.

    Victoria Paolini of Los Banos

    These individuals were chosen based on academic achievement, connection to the California dairy industry, and willingness to travel abroad to learn more about international dairy sales and marketing. The goal of the International Internship Program is to provide young agriculture and dairy college students with an opportunity to learn about dairy foods and marketing in the international marketplace, with a focus on developing leaders who will serve on dairy industry boards, work in dairy foods processing, or in sales or marketing.

    Over the six-week period, the interns will spend time with the in-country CMAB marketing teams in Thailand and Mexico to gain a better understanding of markets, consumer buying habits, and promotional efforts on behalf of California’s dairy industry.

    “California accounts for approximately 33 percent of total U.S. dairy exports, making international trade critical to the industry’s continued growth. For more than 15 years, the California Milk Advisory Board has partnered with international organizations to build and expand markets for California dairy products. This program is designed to give future industry leaders firsthand insight into international dairy marketing,” said Glenn Millar, Executive Vice President, Strategy and International Markets for the CMAB.

    Morgan Oliveira of Hilmar

    Oliveira is working towards her B.S. in Agricultural Communications at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she is Vice President of the Dairy Club. She is also an intern for the Animal Ag Alliance, and has interned for the World Dairy Expo, Hoard’s Dairyman and the Ag Council of California. Additionally, Oliveira was a State FFA officer and District 4 Dairy Princess during high school. She plans to pursue an M.S. in Agricultural Communications and focus on strategic communication and agricultural policy upon graduation.

    Julia Basch of Los Angeles

    Basch attends University of California, Los Angeles where she is currently working towards her B.S in Public Affairs and Food Studies. She has gained firsthand experience in selling and promoting artisan cheese, as well as working with customers and leading cheese tastings. After graduation she plans to join her family’s business, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. to continue the multigenerational legacy of sustainable dairy farming.

    Dyt is currently working towards her B.S in Agricultural Business with a minor in Dairy Industries at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, where she is involved with the Dairy Club. She was an active member of 4-H and FFA, where she showed dairy cattle and participated in dairy judging. Dyt also served as District 4 Dairy Princess during her senior year of high school. Upon completion of the internship program, she will continue to advocate for the dairy industry and hopes to incorporate this passion into her career.

    Paolini is earning a B.S. in Agricultural Communications and a minor in Agricultural Business at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she is an active member of the Dairy Club. She has also worked on an international research initiative through the Cal Poly Dairy Products Technology Center and has served as a co-director of the Pacific Coast Coalition DBII podcast. She was also very involved in the California Holstein Association.

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer, and makes more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. California is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. California milk and dairy foods can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made with milk from the state’s dairy farm families.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world. Connect with the CMAB at RealCaliforniaMilk.com.

  • World Ag Expo® Opens Next Week in Tulare, CA

    World Ag Expo, the world’s largest annual outdoor agricultural exposition, will open its gates next week at the International Agri-Center in Tulare. The show looks to welcome thousands of attendees from around the world for three days of innovation, education, and networking.

    Now in its 59th year, World Ag Expo continues to bring together growers, exhibitors, and industry leaders, showcasing the latest in agriculture across 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space with an average of over 1,200 exhibitors.

    The excitement kicks off on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. with the Opening Ceremonies, which will feature Luke J. Lindberg, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), who will provide remarks. The ceremony will also highlight the winners of the Top-10 New Products Competition sponsored by F3 Innovate, and the recipients of the “We Believe in Growing” scholarship, sponsored by Coast Counties Peterbilt.

    This year’s World Ag Expo will also recognize the International Year of the Woman Farmer, celebrating the vital role women play in agriculture worldwide. Programming will be featured in the Women’s Conference Pavilion sponsored by Bank of America. Sessions will focus on leadership, innovation, and women in the field.

    A highlighted session on Tuesday afternoon will celebrate women working throughout agriculture in the Golden State with remarks from California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross. Additional programming includes a panel discussion featuring women business leaders from around the world discussing how artificial intelligence is changing ag today. The full schedule can be viewed at https://bit.ly/waewomen.

    “World Ag Expo continues to be the place where the agriculture community comes together,” said Ron Clark, 2026 World Ag Expo Chairman. “ We are excited for this year’s show and are looking forward to welcoming guests from around the world to Tulare.”

    World Ag Expo opens Tuesday, February 10, and runs through Thursday, February 12. Attendees can enjoy daily seminars, demonstrations, networking opportunities, and more. For a full schedule of events, additional show information, or to purchase tickets for the 2026 World Ag Expo, visit www.worldagexpo.com.

    To sign up for email updates and discount codes, go to https://bit.ly/WAEEmailList.

    The International Agri-Center® is home to World Ag Expo®, February 10-12, 2026 in Tulare, California. Over 100,000 individuals from an average of 70 countries attend World Ag Expo each year. The largest annual agricultural show of its kind, World Ag Expo hosts more than 1,200 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of show space. Learn more at www.worldagexpo.com.

    Event Details At-A-Glance:

    2026 World Ag Expo®, February 10-12

    Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    International Agri-Center®

    4500 S. Laspina St.

    Tulare, CA 93274

    $20 gate admission

    $3 off online ticket price with a discount code EARLYBIRD26

    Tickets: https://bit.ly/WAE26Tickets

  • CDFA Holds Dairy Double Header

    On Monday, February 2, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. While Phil was focused on the weather, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) was busy holding two virtual meetings on California dairy issues.

    The first meeting was a Producer Review Board (PRB) meeting. After the meeting was called to order, CDFA addressed board vacancies. The call for nominations remains open due to multiple vacancies, some resulting from recent resignations. Members of the dairy community were encouraged to apply or nominate qualified candidates.

    The discussion then turned to remaining funds in the former Pooling and Marketing branches of the state milk marketing order, which were left over after the transition to the California Federal Milk Marketing Order. CDFA has been providing updates on these funds for several years in preparation for their eventual release. At this meeting, CDFA reported that updated accounting showed lower balances than previously announced: approximately $2.053 million in the former Pooling Division and $2.6 million in the former Marketing Division, down from earlier estimates of about $3.5 million in each account.

    CDFA explained that it is conducting a transaction-by-transaction audit of the originating accounts to confirm the final balances, but indicated that the figures presented at this meeting were believed to be accurate. The PRB focused on the former Pooling Division funds, while the Marketing Division funds were scheduled to be discussed in a separate meeting later that afternoon.

    Related to this discussion, CDFA announced that the Quota Implementation Program (QIP) administrative fee was reinstated effective February 1, 2026, due to low account balances and the need to fund administrative operations, including development of a new QIP software tool.

    CDFA presented two options for use of the former Pooling Division funds. One option, previously discussed, was to refund the funds directly to individual dairy producers, though CDFA noted that administrative costs would significantly reduce the amount returned. A second option, newly identified by CDFA, but offered by Western United Dairies Board in January of 2024, would use the former Pooling Division funds to cover QIP administrative costs, eliminating the need to charge producers the QIP administrative fee for more than a year.

    The PRB adopted resolutions recommending that the Secretary of Agriculture move the former state pooling funds into a separate account to improve transparency and use the funds to support QIP administration. Later in the meeting, the board also approved a resolution to suspend the QIP administrative fee assessment effective March 1, meaning producers will be assessed the fee for February only.

    The agenda then moved to hardship petitions, with 16 requests before the board. CDFA legal staff recommended tabling hardship requests from four dairies involved in ongoing litigation against the Department and individual board members; the board approved this recommendation.

    The board denied the first hardship request, submitted by a raw milk producer citing bird flu impacts. At this point, several other petitioners, or their attorneys, requested continuances to allow more time for preparation, which the board approved. As the meeting approached 1:00 p.m.—when the next CDFA meeting was scheduled—the board moved more quickly through the remaining items and another hardship was denied. CDFA had deemed four of the hardship requests incomplete. The board took up all four in one motion and denied them due to insufficient information. Another request was tabled due to time constraints, and the meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.

    The second meeting focused on funds from the former Marketing Division. CDFA referenced a prior meeting in which approximately $3.5 million had been discussed as potential funding for industry grants benefiting both producers and processors. At that earlier meeting, there was broad agreement by the industry that the California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF) would be an appropriate entity to administer those funds.

    At this meeting, CDFA clarified that the available funding was actually $2.6 million, reflecting the updated accounting. CDFA also explained that it could not issue the funds to CDRF as a block grant because CDFA grants must be issued on a reimbursement basis for projects already underway or completed. Meeting participants suggested that the funds be treated as a refund to the industry rather than a grant, since the money originated from producer and processor assessments. CDFA expressed openness to this approach but indicated that further review would be needed. CDFA concluded by stating that it will continue working with industry representatives to determine the most appropriate and effective use of the former Marketing Division funds, with further discussion to follow.

    Punxsutawney Phil may be calling for six more weeks of winter, but he does not have the insight of seeing the bees show up in California from all over the nation as an indicator that Spring is just around the corner and almond blossoms will soon be here. — By Paul Sousa, Director of Regulatory and Environmental Affairs for Western United Dairies

  • A Scientific Journey to Achieve the Perfect Steak Bite

    Researchers at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS), U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, NE, continue to make significant discoveries towards achieving consistent beef tenderness across all cuts. Their work helps farmers, livestock producers, meat producers, and even grocery stores and restaurants make sure the meat you eat is as tender and tasty as possible.

    Beef tenderness is one of the most important characteristics consumers look for when selecting beef cuts. If the meat is tough, consumers are less likely to buy it again. Given the substantial role of beef in American agriculture — according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, cattle production accounts for about 22% of all farming revenue in the U.S. — the beef industry aims to ensure every piece of beef is tender to keep consumers satisfied.

    Various factors can affect meat tenderness, such as breed, diet, age, and cattle management. In addition, during processing, factors like chilling rate, the aging process, and the temperature and acidity levels in the muscle can all influence meat tenderness. However, until recently, scientists were not able to explain more than about 40% of the tenderness variation in beef steaks.

    ARS Research Food Technologist Andy King, at USMARC’s Meat Safety and Quality Research Unit, led a team of scientists to examine the metabolic pathways within the muscles that may influence the quality of meat post-harvest. Previous studies identified enzymes, proteins, and metabolites present within several pathways that were associated with tenderness variation. To build on that work, the USMARC scientists studied how these molecules interacted with one another and other known factors such as muscle shortening and aging, finding that it is not just one factor but a combination of different processes that play a huge role in tenderness — each impacting the others in intricate ways.

    “It’s like a matrix of interacting factors that now help us explain much more of the variation occurring inside the meat, showing that tenderness isn’t caused by just one thing, but is the result of many factors working together,” said USMARC Research Leader Tommy Wheeler.

    King explains that the way muscles utilize oxygen, breakdown proteins, and generate energy all influence the tenderness of the meat, and these processes vary among different beef cuts, such as NY strip or top sirloin steaks, but the overall concept is the same.

    “Now that we have a deeper understanding of all the factors influencing beef tenderness, we can begin developing strategies for the beef industry to manage these variables, ensuring consistently tender beef,” said King.

    Details on the peer-reviewed study can be found at https://doi.org/10.22175/mmb.20241.

    This study is part of a series at USMARC aimed at enhancing consumer dining experiences and increasing profitability for beef producers, which is a win-win for everyone. – by Maribel Alonso, ARS Office of Communications

  • USDA Announces Agribusiness Trade Missions for 2026

    As part of President Donald J. Trump’s unprecedented efforts to boost American agricultural exports, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) commitment to expanding and diversifying global market opportunities for U.S. agriculture, USDA will host six Agribusiness Trade Missions in 2026.

    “Every single day, President Trump’s cabinet is breaking down barriers and expanding new markets to sell the bounty of American agriculture. Boosting exports is critical to the success of the agricultural economy, and the American economy as a whole. Each year, USDA’s team of marketing and trade experts pinpoint new and growing global markets that offer top-notch prospects for U.S. exporters,” said Luke J. Lindberg, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. “This year, we are focusing those efforts on markets where President Trump has put America’s farmers and ranchers on an even playing field across the globe.”

    The Agribusiness Trade Missions scheduled for 2026 include:

    • Jakarta, Indonesia: February 2026
    • Manila, Philippines: April 2026
    • Istanbul, Turkey: May 2026
    • Australia and New Zealand: August 2026
    • Saudi Arabia: September 2026
    • Vietnam: November 2026

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Jakarta, Indonesia: February 2026

    Under the Trump administration’s agreement, Indonesia would eliminate tariffs on more than 99% of U.S. products and address long-standing barriers to U.S. agricultural trade, opening doors to expanded market access in the world’s fourth-largest country.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Manila, Philippines: April 2026

    In July, the Trump administration announced that the Philippines is opening its market to the United States and charging zero tariffs while the Philippines will pay 19 percent tariffs to the United States. 2026 also marks the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippines diplomatic relations.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Istanbul, Turkey: May 2026

    This ATM will provide invaluable engagement opportunities to address tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, such as import bans on U.S animal protein. Turkey is also strategically positioned as a regional transshipment hub, with this ATM connecting U.S. exporters with buyers from across the Caucasus region.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Melbourne, Australia: August/September 2026

    Following the Trump administration’s trade wins in Australia, U.S. producers will take advantage of major trade breakthroughs that give greater access to U.S. beef exporters, as well as capitalize on comprehensive duty-free market access under the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia: September 2026

    This ATM will allow USDA to engage with Saudi officials on technical issues and non-tariff barriers affecting U.S. agricultural exports to the 23rd largest export market. Saudi Arabia is the largest economy and gateway to the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) which together import over $3 billion in U.S. agricultural exports annually.

    USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Vietnam: November 2026

    USDA maintains a large footprint in Vietnam working to increase market opportunities for U.S. producers in one of the fastest growing Southeast Asian economies. This ATM to Vietnam will capitalize on several key market wins including preferential access for certain U.S. agricultural products including specialty cheese and meats, as well as improved market access for U.S. peaches and nectarines.   

    Additional information about USDA trade missions can be found at https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions. To receive email updates, go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/usdafas/subscriber/new, enter your contact information, and select the “Trade Missions” topic. — USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

  • Doubled Peaches Cause Double Trouble for Growers and Processors

    Two for one deals aren’t always a bargain growers are looking for. Doubles can occur in stone fruits like peaches when environmental factors like water stress impact the developing ovary and cause it to create a twin. This can result in off sizes and challenges for processors. UCCE Farm Advisor Cameron Zuber spoke about the issue at the Malcolm Media Tree & Vine Expo, and with Matthew Malcolm of California Ag Network. Watch this quick video and learn more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

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

  • U.S. Truffle Growers to Gather in Sonoma County

    The North American Truffle Growers’ Association (NATGA) 2026 Congress will feature two full days of useful, relevant research and the latest information on truffle cultivation. You’ll be able to network with industry experts, successful truffle producers and leading truffle researchers. In addition to the scientific content, we are adding unique Sonoma County Events centered around truffles, such as wine and truffle bite pairing and a moderated panel discussion with well-known Michelin Star Chefs.

    For the first time ever, we are also offering three additional Bonus Truffle Experiences, with a variety of optional programs including: Cooking With Truffles, Truffle Dog Training and the Truffle Microscopy Workshop.

    These Bonus Truffle Experiences will take place before and/or after the Congress for an additional fee.

    Congress kicks off on Sunday evening at the Flamingo Resort, June 14 with our annual Welcome Reception where you can connect with old friends, meet new NATGA supporters and network with the experts. Day One will start at the Flamingo Resort and will feature presentations from our Keynote Speaker, Professor Alessandra Zambonelli, as well as additional industry professionals on topics related to truffle cultivation, production, and marketing of truffles. The afternoon will be spent touring a Sonoma County truffle orchard and vineyards, watching a truffle dog demonstration, and experiencing fabulous Sonoma County wines, paired with gourmet truffle bites prepared by Eric Anderson, a Michelin Star Chef.

    Day Two will include our annual NATGA members Business Meeting, an additional presentation by Prof Zambonelli as well as more truffle and Ag industry professionals in the morning. For the first time ever, the afternoon will also be available to the public via a Day Pass. The afternoon session, From Soil Prep to Harvest: Latest Research and Development for Truffle Cultivation will also be especially informative for those considering starting a truffle orchard. We’ll also feature a moderated Chef Panel Discussion with Michelin Star Chefs, a Truffle Marketplace, and Silent Auction. Congress concludes with our Closing Reception and Wine and Truffle Bite pairing.

    Agenda Highlights

    Keynote Speaker: Alessandra Zambonelli, PhD, Univ of Bologna, Italy

    • State of the Truffle Industry and Perspectives from Italy
    • Latest Developments and Techniques in Improving Soil Microbiomes

    Breeding and Training Exceptional Truffle-Hunting Dogs, Raúl Deoiz, Spain Founder and Manager of Trufdog.

    Truffle Species and Tree Species; New Combinations and Opportunities, Brian Upchurch, Carolina Truffiéres, NC

    Chef Panel Discussion with Michelin Star Chefs

    Optional Programs

    NATGA are preparing a series of extra curricular opportunities which may require additional fees

    Sunday 6/14.

    • Truffle Orchard Tours
    • Microscopy Course – Ann Scanlan
    • Cooking Class – Carey Angerer
    • Dog Training Class – Fran Angerer

    Wednesday 6/17

    • Truffle Orchard Tours
    • Microscopy Course
    • Cooking Class
    • Dog Training Class
    • Mushroom producer tour

    For more information, visit the NATGA website at https://trufflegrowers.com/event/natga-congress-spring-2026/. — North American Truffle Growers’ Association

  • New Bill To Help Small Wineries Sell Wine & Offer Tastings At California Farmers Markets

    State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 917 on January 27th that will create opportunities for small winemakers to connect with consumers face-to-face by expanding who can sell wine and offer tastings at certified farmers markets.

    “California’s wine industry is facing one of the most difficult periods in decades,” said Laird. “Small wineries are closing, vineyards are being removed, and growers are leaving fruit on the vine. This bill is about giving family-scale winemakers a fair chance to connect directly with consumers, while maintaining strong public safety standards.”

    Sponsored by the Family Winemakers of California and the California Association of Winegrape Growers, SB 917 modernizes existing law governing Type 79 farmers market wine permits to better reflect today’s wine economy and help small producers reach new consumers.

    “Independent, family-owned wineries are essential to California’s wine identity and are where innovation, sustainability, and authenticity thrive,” said GinaLisa Tamayo, Chair of the Family Winemakers of California Board of Directors. “Expanding access to farmers market sales is critical for small businesses who rely on direct-to-consumer opportunities and this bill provides a fair and accessible pathway for small producers to compete and thrive.”

    “Vine-to-glass speaks to the farm-to-fork and ‘buy local’ sentiment that brings folks to their farmers market,” said Michael Miiller, Director of Government Relations for the California Association of Winegrape Growers. “We are happy to work with Senator Laird on this important issue and thank him for his leadership.”   

    Under current law, winemakers may only sell wine at farmers markets if it is produced exclusively from “estate-grown” grapes, meaning all grapes must be grown on-site. This requirement excludes many small and boutique wineries that responsibly source grapes from California growers. In addition, existing law limits instructional tastings to only one Type 79 permit holder per farmers market, regardless of market size or capacity.

    Laird’s legislation would allow non-estate wineries to sell wine at farmers markets, which will ensure equitable market access for the over 700 winegrowers in Senate District 17 and empower farmers markets to decide how many permit holders to allow. It will also encourage consumers to buy locally made wine, supporting small businesses and regional economic growth.

    “Farmers markets are one of the most effective ways for small producers to tell their story, educate consumers, and build loyal customer relationships,” Laird said. “By removing outdated barriers and trusting local market operators, we can support small wine businesses, strengthen local economies, and preserve California’s agricultural heritage.”

  • Farm Credit Fly-In Helps Lawmakers Understand Farm Country’s Needs

    Because few members of Congress have personal connections to agriculture, it’s important that the ag community continue to meet with lawmakers to keep them informed of farmers’ needs.

    “Just 6% of the nation’s 435 Representatives and 100 Senators have a strong connection to agriculture, which is why Farm Credit brings farmers and Farm Credit executives to Washington, DC, every other year as part of the Farm Credit Fly-In,” said Kevin Ralph, AgWest Farm Credit’s California President.

    “Because so few members have a strong connection to agriculture, we have to go the extra mile to help them understand what Farm Country is like.”

    California-based representatives from AgWest, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit and Golden State Farm Credit were among the 800 people from around the country who journeyed to the Capitol in late 2025 to meet with Congressional members and staff. The organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

    The messages are two-fold, Ralph said.

    “Every day, Farm Credit works to fulfill its mission to be a reliable source of funding for the agricultural community. Having our customers there to tell members and their staff what it’s like harvesting wine grapes right now is important – members can learn what farmers are facing and how they can help,” he said.

    The second focus is on legislation specific to Farm Credit.

    “It’s important for us to advocate for our California farmer and rancher customers on the importance of a new Farm Bill,” said Jacob DeBoer, a senior regional marketing manager for American AgCredit’s California Valley region. “It gives farmers and ranchers certainty and provides a safety net from unpredictable events, such as droughts, market crashes and input cost spikes.”

    DeBoer said several key fiscal measures important to Farm Credit’s success were included in H.R. 1, the comprehensive budget reconciliation bill enacted in 2025, but other important issues are still pending.

    “We still need reauthorization of the Farm Bill’s 12 titles,” said Marc Busalacchi, American AgCredit’s executive business manager of strategic initiatives. “We need updates to things like reference prices, ARC and PLC structure and dairy margin coverage reforms. Californians would also really like to see specialty crop and horticulture provisions, which were not included in H.R. 1.

    “We also focused on issues that affect Farm Credit’s ability to better fulfill its mission,” Busalacchi added. “The Farm Credit System was created by an act of Congress in 1916, and often legislative changes are needed to allow it to keep up with changing conditions. It’s important that we make our needs known to Congress.”

    For example, a top priority for Fly-In participants was to gain support for legislation to allow Farm Credit to provide home loans in additional rural communities.

    Since 1971, the Farm Credit System has been allowed to provide loans to purchase non-farm homes in rural communities of 2,500 or less. Because some rural towns have gradually grown in population over the years, the proposed bill would allow these loans to be made in communities of up to 10,000 people. This would make up to an additional 1.8 million rural Californians eligible.

    Busalacchi said this small change would be a game-changer for many rural residents.

    “Besides the fact that many rural bank branches have closed over the years, making these communities lending deserts, rural home loans are most often non-conventional and may not be appealing to traditional lenders that want to sell loans on the secondary market since many rural home loans can’t be sold that way,” Busalacchi said.

    “Because Farm Credit specializes in non-conforming loans in these communities, it would allow more rural families to become homeowners and help stabilize rural towns.”

    Farm Credit’s other priorities include increasing limits on direct and guaranteed loans by the Farm Service Agency, clarifying Farm Credit’s lending authority to invest in essential community facilities such as rural health clinics and allowing fishing-related businesses to borrow from Farm Credit in the same way as farm-related companies.

    During the Fly-In, California Farm Credit officials and customers met with Reps. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael; Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield; Jim Costa, D-Fresno; David Valadao, R-Hanford; Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena; and the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale.

    After a successful day on Capitol Hill sharing customer stories and advocating for legislation, Farm Credit welcomed lawmakers and staff to the Fly-In Marketplace Reception, which showcased Farm Credit customers and their products from across the country.

    About Farm Credit:

    AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit, Golden State Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit 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, visit www.farmcreditalliance.com.

  • Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Highlights Shift Toward Planning and Stabilization

    The 2026 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium concluded January 29th with signs of a broader shift in the American wine and grape industry, as conversations moved from acknowledging market disruption to planning for stabilization and future opportunity.

    “This year’s symposium reflected a grounded and forward-looking mindset,” said Natalie Collins, president of California Association of Winegrape Growers and co-host of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. “There was a clear willingness to confront difficult realities, but also a shared focus on problem-solving, collaboration and positioning the industry for what comes next.”

    In addition to the lineup of seminars and panel discussions hosted in Sacramento, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium dedicates over 200,000 square feet at the convention center to supplier exhibits.  Featuring products ranging from corks, barrels, and vines to mammoth grape harvesters and everything in between, the trade show offers industry members a one-stop opportunity to explore new technology, services, and solutions, all under one roof.

    “We had strong, high-quality traffic and meaningful conversations,” said Dan Howard, executive director of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and co-host of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. “Exhibitors were meeting the right people – the buyers, owners, and operational leaders who are making decisions. That is exactly what the trade show is designed to deliver.”

    The conversation will continue next year at the 2027 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, held January 26-28 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California.

    Put on by the industry, for the industry, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium serves as a clearinghouse of information for wine and grape industry professionals for more than 30 years. As the largest wine show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, the show combines seminars and panel discussions with a massive trade show featuring more than 650 exhibitors and 800+ booths. For more information, visit www.unifiedsymposium.org.