Todd Fitchette

Researcher on a mission to advance arid agriculture Women in the Field: A year ago, Tanya Hodges was named to lead the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture. Since then, she’s hit the ground running.

Tanya Hodges leads a unique public-private partnership that collaborates conversations between private industry, the University of Arizona and public agencies. www.farmprogress.com/crops/resear...

California fights South American palm weevil to protect date industry Learn how California researchers are developing innovative methods to combat the South American palm weevil threat to the date industry.

UC Riverside entomologist studying effective, sustainable ways to control insects responsible for killing palm trees in southern California. Efforts could lead to effective tools for date farmers. www.farmprogress.com/insects/rese...

California's last sugar beet processor to close, impacting local economy Learn how the closure of California's last sugar beet processor will affect the local economy and the US sugar industry.

Farmers are scrambling to figure out what other crop(s) they can plant to the 20,000 acres of land once dedicated to sugar beets. www.farmprogress.com/business/cal...

Demand rages ahead of U.S. pistachio supply This year’s pistachio crop is estimated at 1.1 billion pounds. Walnut production is expected to top 700,000 tons. Almonds are recovering from unprofitable grower returns.

U.S. pistachio industry finds itself in an interesting position: last year's crop is largely "sold out." www.farmprogress.com/tree-nuts/de...

California farmland values drop, billions in equity lost Learn how water challenges and commodity prices are causing a significant decline in California farmland values.

California ag land values plummet amidst growing water regulations and some commodity prices. www.farmprogress.com/farm-busines...

Ag industry adapts as tariff effects unfold slowly Explore how evolving tariffs affect California and Arizona farmers, from specialty crops to major exports.

While tariffs on exported specialty crops remain concerning, ag leaders say they have been common for Western farmers. Almonds remain California's top exported crop. www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/...

Planting decisions suggest significant fallowing Insufficient water allocations are prompting dismal stories for planned cotton acreage this season in California.

Ongoing water policies in California could force thousands of acres of prime farmland to be fallowed this year. www.farmprogress.com/commentary/p...

Rollins unveils $30 billion farm aid plan, vows to ‘right-size’ USDA Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced a $30 billion Emergency Commodity Assistance Program at Commodity Classic while vowing to cut government spending, scale back climate priorities and res...

Ag secretary noncommittal when questioned by reporters on crop insurance subsidies. www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/...

Commodity Classic highlights farmer uncertainty amid growing trade war While farm leaders celebrate progress, growers brace for the economic realities of new tariffs with key trade partners.

Undercurrent of uncertainty remains, despite optimistic statements from U.S. ag secretary. www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/...

Trade war escalates as retaliatory tariffs hit struggling farm economy With tariffs now in effect on China, Canada and Mexico, farmers brace for retaliatory tariffs, market uncertainty and rising input costs. Industry leaders urge policymakers to find solutions before ru...

Ag secretary says President will help U.S. farmers, though farm groups don't see how or when this will happen. www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/...

Organic transition: Don’t just leave the ground fallow It pays to invest in cover cropping and other practices that can deliver long-term benefits during the three-year transition period, producers say.

So you want to convert from conventional to organic: Invest in cover crops and soil health during that three-year transition. It will pay dividends in the future. www.farmprogress.com/organic/orga...

YouTube video by Farm Progress Editors Rooted in the South

Farm Progress is the link that connects farmers across the country with relevant information on the industry. youtu.be/XKF2q2nxa2E?...

YouTube video by Farm Progress Editors Rooted in the West

Our deep knowledge of Western specialty crops and connections in the industry are what set us apart. youtu.be/5VPyxnvM5hs?...

America Is Abandoning DEI. The NFL Remains All-In. Everyone from the federal government to Fortune 500 companies is dialing back their diversity efforts. But the NFL is standing its ground.

Everyone from the federal government to Fortune 500 companies is dialing back their diversity efforts. But the NFL is standing its ground.

Aflatoxin biocontrol products have their place in pistachios The pistachio industry is particularly concerned of aflatoxin contamination because those nuts are exposed to the air as the nuts ripen and shells split.

Researchers continue to study efficacy of competing aflatoxin products in tree nuts. www.farmprogress.com/tree-nuts/af...

"It's important to cut through the fog of misinformation," says @adamconover.net. He spoke with @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.bsky.social to get the facts about environmental factors that fueled the #PalisadeFire, #EatonFire & others and hampered disaster response

Pepsi accused of illegal pricing deals with 'a large, big box retailer' in U.S. lawsuit The Federal Trade Commission is suing Pepsi, alleging it has rigged competition by offering unfair pricing deals to a big retailer at the expense of smaller rivals, resulting in higher costs for shopp...

The Federal Trade Commission is suing Pepsi, alleging it has rigged competition by offering unfair pricing deals to a big retailer at the expense of smaller rivals, resulting in higher costs for shoppers.

Organic farm feeds students in more ways than one Chico State gives some of its fresh produce to students in need and sells the rest commercially, providing income to sustain its program.

Three-acre organic farm provides ag students with useful learning opportunities. www.farmprogress.com/organic/orga...

UA studies look at organic cotton Arizona Ph.D. student explores organic cotton as summer crop for desert vegetable farmers, addressing challenges in ginning, defoliation, and water availability.

Organic cotton sounds like a viable summertime rotation for organic winter vegetables in the desert if challenges of defoliation, ginning, and water can be successfully addressed. www.farmprogress.com/organic/ua-s...

New irrigation head design shows promise As Arizona deals with both drought and soil salinity, a university scientist is developing a more efficient way to water crops.

Early indications suggest the goal of saving water in flood irrigation systems is likely. www.farmprogress.com/conservation...

Yuma grower is new Arizona Farm Bureau president John Boelts farms about 3,000 acres of vegetables, cotton and forage crops in the desert region.

Water and labor remain top challenges for Arizona farmers. www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/...

Will Western irrigated lands be a Trump priority? The new administration will have to reform burdensome federal environmental laws and regulations.

Can Western water policy be adequately addressed under Trump 47? www.farmprogress.com/commentary/w...

Snapshot from ECMWF ensemble showing a classic Santa Ana wind pattern (depicted as a strong offshore ridge and westward-moving (retrograding) mid-level low pressure system on the 500mb GPH chart).

Ensembles have been suggesting high potential for another offshore/Santa Ana wind event in SoCal next week. This potential event could be quite strong (& also warm). With extremely dry conditions so far this season in SoCal, wildfire risk could be very high indeed. #CAwx #CAfire

Reaping the promises of ag technology Organic farms among thousands in West to invest in automation to save on labor costs.

Organic farmer says he's seeing benefits of ag tech adoption in his California operation. www.farmprogress.com/organic-grow...

Fresno district capitalizes on over $27m in grants Most of FID’s customers are commercial farmers that grow over 100 crops across 250,000 acres.

State and federal grants aid water district's abilities to deliver irrigation water to local farmers. www.farmprogress.com/farm-operati...

Campus’ organic dairy puts students on path to success The Chico State dairy farm is perhaps one of a few certified dairies on a college campus in the United States.

Chico State College of Agriculture students learn organic dairy systems as college looks to provide branded dairy products created from the university farm. www.farmprogress.com/organic/camp...

Chico State plans branded products from campus farm Farm store will provide consumers with organic cheese and ice cream products sourced from the university’s farm.

It's always nice to hear about interesting things going on at my alma mater. Biased? Perhaps, but it's still a good story. www.farmprogress.com/livestock-an...

From AI to inputs, OGS had it all Variety of industries represented as companies, experts gathered to support organic sector.

Ag tech gets played up at this year's Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, California. www.farmprogress.com/organic-grow...

From AI to inputs, OGS had it all Variety of industries represented as companies, experts gathered to support organic sector.

Ag tech hopes to help build the success of U.S. organic industry. www.farmprogress.com/organic-grow...

Leaner, cleaner almond industry ponders future Leaders cite reasons for optimism amid declining acreage, lagging prices, new pest and disease pressures.

California almond industry faces pest and disease headwinds as federal marketing order chief believes the Almond Board can still double down on global demand to improve sales. www.farmprogress.com/tree-nuts/le...