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House Republicans Unveil a Revamped Farm Bill
The text of the bill largely reflects the Republican proposal from 2024, but it faces an uphill battle with Democrats, who have vowed to oppose a farm bill unless cuts to federal food assistance are reversed. “The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,” released Friday by Agriculture Chair Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania), contains provisions…
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Cooperative Extension area director to emphasize water, land, labor issues in SoCal
Chandra Richards, who began as director in November, looks to grow partnerships Chandra Richards is returning to her roots in her new role as University of California Cooperative Extension area director for San Diego and Imperial counties. Richards vividly remembers running among orange groves and picking fruit at her family’s farm in Jamaica during childhood…
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7 Vegetables to Start From Seed in February
It takes a lot to get the farm ready for the growing season. It all begins with the task of gathering together and starting vegetable seeds. February is an ideal time to get many of your spring crops going. Consider these 7 vegetables as you prepare your rows. Source: modernfarmer.com
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Why Are My Cucumber Leaves Turning Yellow? The Real Causes Most Gardeners Miss
On June 14th last summer, I collapsed in my Austin garden, experiencing a knotting sensation in my stomach. My Straight Eight cucumbers showed their leaves turning yellow from the bottom up while new growth stayed green. I grabbed my trowel and dug down three inches. Fingers hit slimy, waterlogged clay underneath the compost I’d added.…
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FDA Makes It Easier for Food Products To Be Labeled ‘No Artificial Dyes’
In July, Consumer Brands Association (CBA), which represents over 2,000 food companies, volunteered to aid in the phase-out of artificial dyes. But it has also urged the administration to boost access to natural color alternatives. The FDA’s letter is a positive step in supporting companies through this transition, Sarah Gallo, senior vice president at CBA,…
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Livestock losses and wolf deterrence efforts cost Californians millions
The return of wolves to California is seen as a conservation success by some, but the predators have come to depend on cattle as a food source. Photo by Axel Hunnicutt, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Nearly a decade after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the state’s first wolf pack, the…
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The February Greenhouse: What to Grow Now
by Sarah Jay, Modern Farmer February 2, 2026 In February, many farms are in their annual pause. Winter’s snow is still covering the ground, while freezing and sub-freezing temperatures reign. In regions where this occurs, plants are dormant, and production isn’t happening. However, you can still grow in a greenhouse. February is the perfect time…
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When to Plant Sweet Potatoes (By USDA Zone)—After Losing Two Crops to Cold Soil
I know many gardeners are confused about when to plant sweet potatoes in their USDA zones. April 22nd near Knoxville wrecked my sweet potato season before it even started. Zone 7 b. The soil felt cool but not cold to my bare hands. Big mistake. Those slips sat frozen in place while I waited for…
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Senator Amy Klobuchar Launches Campaign for Minnesota Governor
January 29, 2025 – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, has officially joined the Minnesota gubernatorial race. The current governor, Tim Walz, who is also a Democrat, announced earlier this month that he would drop his reelection campaign, amid escalating tensions with the Trump administration. Walz and other Minnesota…
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Breakthroughs found for preventing hull split in pistachios
Drakakaki, Zhang offer insights into breakage, with potential benefits for fruit crops When pistachio hulls split before the nuts are harvested, insects and fungi can get inside, damaging the nut, costing farmers money and contaminating what consumers get. About 4% of the overall crop experiences hull split, but some cultivars can split as much as…