KSTE Farm Hour

Amidst all the bad farm economic news due to the pandemic, there are some bright spots. The Central Valley Project is releasing more water to its farm customers south of the Delta. And we hear from President Trump, who last week announced a new, $19 billion dollar relief plan for farmers, including California’s specialty crop producers. We have the outlook for the Western wildfire season, and we pay a visit to a Sacramento Valley rice-growing family that includes a flying farmer, who has been seeding the rice fields from the air, for over 40 years. All that, crop reports, and a lot more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

There are about 25 million acres of farm and ranch land in California. Which commodity utilizes the most acreage? It’s almonds, and more and more almond trees are going in the ground in the Golden State. We have the numbers. Hard to say which is flowing faster right now, water from California’s dams, or lawsuits, to stop the flow of water from dams intended for California’s farmers. We have the latest news on that front. And, we dive into a sea of garbanzo beans, a crop that is also enjoying an increase in acreage here. All that, crop reports, the extended weather, and…what about using robots in meat processing plants? It’s all coming up, on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

There is a lot of Covid 19 pandemic-related california farm stories this week, and we will get to them, but we turn our attention first to what could be the most persistent worry of California’s farmers: the summer water supply. We take a look at the final snow survey numbers that will play a big part in how much surface water farms will be getting this year. USDA Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently said that meat supplies at your local grocery store will be back to normal in a few days. You will hear what he said. And, we tackle the most important task for almond growers this time of year, getting ready to spray to avoid navel orange worm damage due to almond hull split…we get tips from a Northern California farm advisor. All that, crop reports, and the week ahead in weather, all coming up, on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

Everyone’s concern level is heightened recently, and that includes California’s farmers. Will the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic fundamentally change the way we do business? What will be the new normal? We don’t know. But we do have good news - farmers, and everyone associated with agriculture here in California - will keep producing healthy, safe food. But in the meantime, things will stay interesting. The effects of the Coronavirus on agriculture dominates our news today, but we also delve into the drive to get better broadband service to rural areas of California. And, we talk to one local farmer who, along with other area farmers, have pivoted their businesses to community-supported agriculture. All that, crop reports, the weather, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

California farmers and the rest of the nation’s farmers were getting a bit miffed earlier this month at being on the short end - the real short end - of Covid19-related relief money from the Trump Administration. Well, that’s about to change. We have the numbers. And they’re big numbers. Another casualty of Covid 19- related anxiety: a run on seeds, especially seeds for home gardeners. Why have those seed packs disappeared from catalogs and nursery racks? We talk with one seed company about the underlying causes. We get an update on rice planting in the Sacramento Valley. All that, and a lot more, on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

Despite the early spring rains in the valley and snow in the mountains, the Central Valley Project will be reducing the amount of available water to California’s farmers, including those with senior water rights. We have the numbers. Covid-19 woes continue for many sectors of California agriculture. Overall, most ag prices are down. But there is some good news: organic produce sales are way up. We talk with an expert on how to attract more of the farmer’s flying friends, barn owls, to your property to control springtime rodent infestations. Plus we take a look at the extended weather outlook for our area, and the latest crop reports as well, all on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to roil California agriculture. The beef, dairy, poultry, fruit and vegetable sectors all have their tales of concerns and setbacks. We have the details. Farmers and fishermen haven’t been the best of partners when it comes to divvying up California water supplies. But the state’s rice industry is spearheading an attempt to increase the number of wild salmon…by using fallowed, waterlogged Sacramento Valley rice fields in the winter. We have that story. Farmers can, and are, adapting to recent lurches in the state’s food processing and delivery systems. We hear about what one Davis-based group of farming veterans is doing to stay afloat. All that, upcoming weather, crop reports, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

The April Sierra Snow Survey by the Department of Water Resources is considered the benchmark for spring and summer water deliveries to farmers throughout the Valley. The results are in. And let’s just say, it could have been worse. We have the numbers. New farmworkers from Mexico: are they allowed to come into the U.S.…or not? We unravel the latest twists and turns in that story. How is the USMCA deal for freer trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico moving along? Slower than a turtle. And the turtle is taking a nap. And we address the 800-pound gorilla in the room: how is California agriculture faring during this coronavirus event? We have all the details on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

Water and labor issues once again dominate the worries of California’s farmers, oh, and yeah…that Covid-19 situation, as well, is creating confusion and problems. The coronavirus outbreak may put a halt to any new farm workers coming from Mexico. We update that story. Farmers markets: are they open, or are they closed. We unravel the confusion. A UC Study says that full implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act could lead to economic disaster for the San Joaquin Valley. But there’s good news: dairy sales are way up in California. Apparently people eat a lot of ice cream when they’re cooped up indoors. Birds can be your friends when battling codling moth on the farm. We’ll tell you how. And we learn how to correctly stake a walnut tree. It’s the KSTE Farm Hour.

Coronavirus woes are hitting everyone, including California’s farm communities. Markets for California farm goods are diminishing, especially crops earmarked for restaurants, airplanes and hotels. Confusion about what constitutes an essential service or an essential business in agriculture during shelter in place orders has become a bit clearer. We’ll explain. What happens to those food products? The USDA thinks they have a partial answer. And coronavirus worries temporarily put a crimp in the Mexican farm labor force coming to the United States. But there was a last minute solution. With more farm families working and studying from home due to coronavirus shutdowns, poor rural internet broadband service is a problem that is back on center stage. We talk with one group that’s attempting to get better internet service to rural areas of California. All that, and a lot more, on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.