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First-Ever Surface Water Flows into Kerman’s Lions Park Basin will Recharge Groundwater Supplies

Lions Park Basin began receiving surface water for the first time on April 14 thanks to a new intertie connection to Fresno Irrigation District (FID)’s Siskiyou Canal. Construction on the intertie was completed in December 2024 to improve the city’s groundwater recharge capabilities.

The City of Kerman is a groundwater-dependent city, so the intertie helps put water back into the ground to replenish the aquifer during wet years.

“We are grateful for the partnership with FID to receive surface water. Kerman is committed to making an impact on groundwater sustainability now and for the future,” said City of Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco.

Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco, who also serves on the North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) board of directors, said the project relieves pressure on the local aquifers that are threatened with overdraft as the community continues growing.

“The Lions Park recharge project is a great example of bringing community agencies together for the greater good,” Supervisor Pacheco said. “This project is a way to add underground water storage to achieve more sustainable water tables for both agricultural and residential users in growing communities like Kerman.”

The basin has the capacity to recharge up to 260 acre-feet in a year when supplies are available. A meter was installed as part of the project, which will help track water diversions off the canal and recharged.

“It’s exciting to see sustainability in action here. This is what partnership is all about — working together toward groundwater sustainability,” said Bill Stretch, Fresno Irrigation District General Manager.

The City of Kerman and FID are both member agencies of North Kings GSA, an agency formed after the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was passed in 2014. North Kings GSA exists to fulfill state requirements for sustainable groundwater levels by 2040, under local jurisdiction. The project is a picture of how effective partnerships can locally accomplish groundwater sustainability goals under SGMA.

“Every agency has a responsibility to mitigate the impacts of their own pumping so we achieve sustainability together. This partnership gets us all closer to the goal line,” said Kassy Chauhan, North Kings GSA Executive Officer.

A water conditions report in early spring indicated that local surface water runoff conditions remain near average. FID began delivering water supplies to customers, including agricultural growers, April 1.

Read more highlights about the project here, or watch the video to see the ribbon cutting recap.

California Ag Today2025-05-19T10:36:14-07:00May 19th, 2025|

UCCE Advisor Provides First-of-its-Kind Avocado Irrigation Data

Study findings from Southern California orchards help growers save water, money

Perched precariously on the steep hillside of an avocado orchard in San Diego County, Ali Montazar began to form a theory as to why there are so few studies of irrigation for avocados.

“Perhaps no one likes to do research on a nearly 45% slope and erect 30-foot-high towers to collect data from sensors above the canopy!” said Montazar, University of California Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties. “But if you’re on flat land looking at almonds or pistachios, everyone is happy to do such research there.”

Despite the ruggedness of the terrain (avocados are often planted on hillsides in California production systems), Montazar persisted in advancing his groundbreaking research to optimize irrigation for “Hass” avocado trees. California is the No. 1 state in the U.S. in avocado production, with the crop valued at more than $523 million, according to recent statistics.

A researcher with the California Avocado Commission (CAC), one of the primary funders of this project, was certainly glad Montazar finished his work unscathed.

“Water for avocado is the single biggest input, dollar-wise, that growers have – it tops harvest costs; it tops fertilizer costs,” said Tim Spann, a CAC research consultant who was formerly the director of the CAC research program. “Ensuring that growers are putting out irrigation at optimal rates goes directly to their bottom line.”

The need for efficient and effective irrigation scheduling is especially acute in Southern California, where most of the state’s avocados are grown.

“This region is under pressure due to a variety of water issues, facing uncertain water supplies, mandatory reductions in water use and rising costs of water,” said Montazar, noting that San Diego County has some of the highest water costs in the nation.

Data-based crop coefficients crucial for determining water needs

Crop coefficients are numbers used to calculate the amount of water a particular crop needs, given a variety of environmental and plant factors. Noting that as much as 50% of an avocado grower’s production costs go to irrigation, Montazar set out to develop more reliable crop coefficients for avocado, based on real-world data.

“This is huge; we have never had a project like this conducted for avocados in California,” Spann said. “The crop coefficient we used previously was developed out of a salinity project done 20-plus years ago.”

Because avocado growers had been using that roughly estimated crop coefficient (as well as coefficients borrowed from citrus), Montazar sought to calculate “true” crop coefficients by measuring actual evapotranspiration from orchards across California’s avocado-growing regions.

For three years, Montazar and his team collected data from sites scattered across the four counties where avocados are primarily grown: Riverside, San Diego, Orange and Ventura.

“We used cutting-edge remote sensing technology and ground-based data for this research, which had never been used for avocados at this scale,” Montazar added.

The scientists found that the actual evapotranspiration numbers – and therefore the crop coefficients – varied widely based on site-specific conditions and factors such as slope and row orientation, soil type and condition, canopy size and management, age of orchard and seasonal changes.

“Growers can rely on these numbers, because they come from their practices and may represent a wide range of site and environment features,” Montazar said. “We conducted this study in 12 different commercial sites in actual cropping systems.”

Montazar and Spann both observed that, in general, growers were likely overwatering during certain times of year.

“Overall, the biggest surprise was that Ali has shown we actually need less water than what most of us had previously thought – which is definitely a good thing,” Spann said. “Even if growers don’t fully utilize this information that he’s produced, we can still communicate with them that: ‘Look, our old information that we were providing you – that avocados need about three acre-feet per year – is probably on the high side. At the very least, dial it back 10% or something like that.’”

Scientists share research, develop tools to aid growers

Montazar said that he is developing crop-coefficient curves and user-friendly tools that growers can refer to – factoring in those variables such as growing region, crop canopy and topography features, and soil types and conditions – and thus determine more precisely the optimal amount of water to apply.

He also said the newly developed crop coefficients will be plugged into an existing irrigation calculator, and have also been used to verify the satellite data-based models available to growers through OpenET.

In addition, Montazar and his colleagues have been sharing the results of the research in the California Avocado Commission newsletter, which goes to 4,000 growers, at CAC meetings, and during more than 10 in-person field days, workshops and webinars. The results also have been presented at several international and national conferences.

“The avocado community has been very supportive,” Montazar said. “Maybe it’s because of the high water-costs in this region, and the fact that this information is an immediate need for water-efficiency enhancement in avocados. Avocado growers are very interested in adopting technology and any improvement in irrigation management; I observed a strong eagerness for these results, which I find very encouraging.”

In turn, Spann said avocado growers have been immensely appreciative of Montazar’s attention to this much-needed area of study.

“When he reached out, it was wonderful – we’ve never really had someone with his level of expertise, specifically on irrigation, working on avocados like this,” Spann explained. “It’s always nice to work with farm advisors, who don’t have the additional burdens of teaching and having students and so forth – they can really dedicate themselves to a project. They’re truly interested in helping the grower.”

And, based on those conversations with growers, Montazar is already formulating his next research project – quantifying, at several sites, the actual effects on avocado yield of following his new crop coefficients to apply irrigation water.

The avocado crop coefficient paper can be found at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425001957. The project was also supported by the California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The authors are Montazar; Ben Faber, UC Cooperative Extension soils/water/subtropical crops advisor for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, UC ANR; Dennis Corwin, research soil scientist, USDA-Agricultural Research Service; Alireza Pourreza, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in agricultural mechanization, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis; and Richard Snyder, biometeorology specialist, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis.

California Ag Today2025-05-15T15:07:18-07:00May 15th, 2025|

U.S. Citrus Industry Applauds House Ag Committee Chairman GT Thompson for Prioritizing Emergency Citrus Disease Funding

On behalf of the U.S. citrus industry, we extend our sincere thanks to Chairman GT Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for including critical funding for the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program in the budget reconciliation draft released this week.

This investment represents a vital commitment to the long-term health and competitiveness of citrus growers in Florida, Texas, California, and across the country. The Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program is essential to combating devastating diseases like HLB (citrus greening), which continue to threaten the viability of citrus production in the United States.

“As leaders of the citrus industry, we have long advocated for dedicated federal support to address citrus disease challenges through science-based solutions,” said Matt Joyner, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “Chairman Thompson’s leadership reinforces that the needs of our growers are being heard.”

Dale Murden, President of Texas Citrus Mutual, added: “This is an encouraging step forward for the citrus industry. Our growers are navigating increasing biological threats and economic pressures, and investments like this make a real difference in ensuring a future for U.S.-grown citrus.”

“California’s citrus growers, like our counterparts in Florida and Texas, are facing unprecedented challenges,” said Casey Creamer, President/CEO of California Citrus Mutual. “Chairman Thompson’s inclusion of this program is a strong signal that citrus is part of the future of American agriculture.”

While this funding is an important victory, the citrus industry continues to support passage of a comprehensive, bipartisan Farm Bill that incorporates the broader set of transformational policy reforms outlined by the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance – including improvements to crop insurance, mechanization investments, and fair trade policies.

Whenever Congress invests in American agriculture, specialty crops—including citrus—must be part of the equation. U.S. citrus growers produce nutritious food for American families while contending with significant cost, regulatory, and climate-related pressures. This funding is a meaningful step, but additional action is needed to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of our industry.

California Ag Today2025-05-15T11:43:38-07:00May 15th, 2025|

USDA Forecasts Slightly Larger Almond Crop

Harvest 2025 is estimated to be up 3 percent above last year’s final production

The 2025 California Almond Subjective Forecast, published Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS), estimates that the crop harvested in 2025 will come in at 2.8 billion pounds, 3 percent above last year’s 2.73 billion pounds.

Forecasted yield is 2,010 pounds per acre, up 30 pounds from the 2024 harvest.

“This larger crop estimate is what the industry expected after a solid water winter and generally good weather during bloom, but it’s also a testament to the hard work done by almond farmers throughout California,” said Clarice Turner, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California. “Demand for California almonds around the globe continues to grow and our almond farmers constantly deliver, producing high quality California almonds to meet that demand.”

The report shared that the 2025 almond bloom began the first week of February in the Sacramento Valley and peaked during the middle of the month. The weather during bloom varied throughout the state, with storms bringing heavy rainfall, wind and hail. Crop development in the San Joaquin Valley was slower than normal due to cool temperatures and lower bee flight hours. However, conditions improved in early March with warm temperatures accelerating the crop’s progress through the end of bloom.

There were also reports of significantly lower yields in the Nonpareil variety due to an overall lighter flower set than their pollinators. The impact on orchards from the intense summer heat in 2024 continues to be assessed. Growers are actively irrigating, fertilizing and treating their orchards for pests and diseases. Water is not expected to be an issue this year.

This Subjective Forecast is the first of two production reports from USDA-NASS for the coming crop year. It is an estimate based on opinions from a survey conducted from April 21 to May 7 of 500 randomly selected California almond growers. The sample of growers, which changes every year, is spread across regions and different sized operations, and they had the option to report their data by mail, online or phone.

On July 10, USDA-NASS will release its second production estimate, the 2025 California Almond Objective Report, which will be based on actual almond counts in approximately 1,000 orchards using a more statistically rigorous methodology to determine yield.

This Subjective Forecast comes two weeks after Land IQ’s 2025 Standing Acreage Initial Estimate found that bearing almond acreage in California has slightly increased about 6,000 acres from the previous year to 1.389 million bearing acres.

USDA-NASS conducts the annual Subjective Forecast and Objective Report to provide the California almond industry with the data needed to make informed business decisions. These reports are the official industry crop estimates.

California Ag Today2025-05-12T15:04:29-07:00May 12th, 2025|

UC Davis Doctoral Candidate Wins International Award

Doctoral candidate Alison Blundell of the laboratory of associate professor Shahid Siddique, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is the recipient of the 2025 John M. Webster Outstanding Student Award from the Society of Nematologists.

She is the first UC Davis student to win the award, launched in 2007 to recognize “a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in his/her thesis research in nematology as well as other skills necessary to be a well-rounded scholar.”

As the recipient of the $1500 prize, Blundell will deliver a 30-minute oral presentation of her research at SON’s 64th annual meeting, to be held July 13-17 in Victoria, British Columbia.

“The evaluation committee was very impressed by your personal qualities and accomplishments,” the committee wrote, in praising her scientific accomplishments, leadership and commitment to the field of nematology.

Blundell, who joined the UC Davis doctoral program in 2020, is completing her dissertation on “Trade-Offs Between Virulence and Evading Resistance in Root-Knot Nematodes.” She investigates how root-knot nematodes overcome Mi-1 in tomatoes and is testing for susceptibility associated with resistance breaking. Mi-1 is a crucial gene in tomato plants that confers resistance against root-knot nematodes, which are parasitic nematodes that can and do severely damage crops.

Blundell has collected root-knot nematodes (RKN) isolates from affected fields across the state, developed single egg mass cultures, and is now applying whole-genome sequencing to identify genetic signatures associated with resistance and its breakdown. Simultaneously, she is investigating whether resistance-breaking RKNs suffer fitness costs when rotated with non-host crops—an approach that could directly inform nematode management strategies for growers.

In addition to her scientific contributions, Blundell is involved in professional services with SON, including oral and poster presentations and as vice chair of the SON Graduate Student Committee. She engages in teaching, mentoring, and public outreach on the UC Davis campus. She promotes science education and agricultural awareness by volunteering at the annual UC Davis Picnic Day and the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day.

Active in SON, Blundell won first place in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition at the 2022 SON meeting. At the 2024 SON meeting, judges awarded her second place in the 12-Minute Best Student Paper Award Competition.

Blundell, formerly Alison Coomer, holds a bachelor of science degree in biology and a bachelor of arts in chemistry (2020) from Concordia University, Seward, Neb., where she received the Outstanding Graduate Student in Biology Award.

In the Webster Award application form, Blundell explained that “California’s processing tomato industry is responsible for one-third of all processing tomato production worldwide. The success of this industry depends on the growers’ abilities to implement management strategies such as integrated host resistance, effective pesticides, and non-host rotation crops to eliminate or control pathogens. Despite these efforts, root-knot nematodes (RKNs), Meloidogyne spp., cause an estimated 5% yield loss in processing tomatoes by suppressing the plant immune system, damaging root tissues, and creating entry points for secondary pathogens such as Fusarium species. These pathogen complexes result in a severe yield loss seen by growers each year.”

“For decades, the resistance gene Mi-1 has retained its ability to detect and inhibit RKNs in tomatoes, but the underlying mechanisms by which it recognizes these pathogens remains largely unknown. However, resistance-breaking RKN populations have been increasingly found in both greenhouse and field settings, threatening the effectiveness of the Mi-1 gene and consequently the tomato industry.”

“With this research we aim to improve our understanding of how RKNs evade Mi-1 resistance, increase grower and public awareness about plant parasitic nematodes, and develop management strategies to combat resistance-breaking populations, ultimately supporting California’s tomato growers.”

UC Davis doctoral candidate Alison Blundell, shown here holding a root knot nematode-infested tomato plant, is the winner of the 2025 John M. Webster Outstanding Student Award from the Society of Nematologists.

California Ag Today2025-05-05T08:28:06-07:00May 5th, 2025|

Hilmar™ Cheese and Whey Protein Awarded Medals

2025 United States Championship Cheese Contest

Hilmar, CA. April 25, 2025. Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. was awarded top honors at the CheeseCon banquet celebrating the United States Championship Cheese Contest® on April 17, 2025.

The contest is hosted biennially by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. More than 2,400 samples of cheese, butter, cultured products and dry dairy ingredients were evaluated this year with first, second and third awards presented in each category.

“Hilmar is honored to have received four awards in three categories,” shared Kyle Jensen, vice president global sales and marketing. “We are especially excited to share the acceptance of our first cheese award. This is a true testament to the dedication and commitment of our teams across the organization to produce high quality, innovative products.”

Hilmar TruSmoke® Hickory Smoked Cheddar took third place in the Open Class: Smoked Hard Cheeses category. Hilmar TruSmoke natural cheeses are slowly smoked utilizing Hilmar’s patented technology that integrates the smoke into the curd during the manufacturing process, unlike other smoked cheeses. Cheddar is one of four flavors available in the TruSmoke product line.

Hilmar PROfraction™ Beta received second place in the Whey Protein Isolate 90, Instantized category. PROfraction Beta is a lactose-free, instantized WPI that is rich in amino acids and aids in muscle synthesis. It is readily dispersible and has a neutral flavor profile, making it an ideal ingredient for powdered beverages and mixes.

Hilmar 8000 took both second and third place in the Whey Protein Concentrate 80 category. Hilmar 8000 is a highly functional 80% whey protein concentrate ideal for a variety of food and nutritional applications for basic fortification. It is a good source of high-quality protein to improve performance and overall health and well-being.

Ben Smith, cheese product manager; Lynn Ilano, cheese technologist; Muthu Ramanathan, ingredients technical manager; Chantelle Coelho, lead cheese technologist; and Ashley Cloward, associate cheese technologist proudly accepted the awards on behalf of the Hilmar team.

California Ag Today2025-04-28T08:12:25-07:00April 28th, 2025|

Small Increase in Bearing Almond Acreage Continues Trend Toward Drops in Overall Acreage

The small bearing acreage increase follows three years of drops in overall almond acreage.

California’s bearing almond acreage increased by a small amount in 2025, according to a new report from Land IQ to the Almond Board of California (ABC).

The Initial Estimate said bearing almond orchards at harvest will cover 1.389 million acres across California, a small increase of about 6,000 acres. That follows an increase in 2024 of just 9,000 acres, then the smallest growth in two decades.

In addition, Land IQ estimates that approximately 51,805 acres of orchards will be removed by the end of the crop year, adding to the nearly 67,000 acres removed in the 2023-24 crop year, according to the November 2024 Land IQ estimate.

“Despite a slight increase in bearing acreage, we’ve seen significant orchard removals and drops in non-bearing and overall acreage the past three years, signaling a trend toward lower overall California almond acreage,” said Clarice Turner, ABC president and CEO. “At the same time, we continue to see strong shipments of more than 200 million pounds a month. It’s clear that demand for California almonds continues to grow across the globe as California almond
farmers work hard to supply the world. We have no doubt that almonds will continue to have a very significant role in California and global agriculture for the foreseeable future.”

Land IQ’s 2025 Standing Acreage Initial Estimate issued Thursday does not include total almond acreage. It looked at bearing acreage – orchards planted before 2023 that have matured enough to produce a crop for the coming 2025 harvest. Land IQ’s report on total acreage and non-bearing acres – newer plantings not mature enough to produce almonds for commercial consumption – will come out in November.

The Land IQ report is a snapshot of the coming 2025 harvest but does not offer an estimate on the actual almond yield this 2025-26 crop year. The first look at yield will be on May 12 with USDA-NASS’ Subjective Estimate, and a fuller picture of crop size will come with USDA-NASS’ Objective Report in July.

April’s Land IQ estimate covers bearing acreage and removals from Sept. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025. The almond crop year runs from Aug. 1 to July 31, so this estimate includes the harvest for the 2025-26 crop year. Land IQ’s Initial Estimate and its Final Acreage Estimate in November are commissioned by ABC to provide statistical transparency and a robust picture of California almonds to industry stakeholders around the world. In 2018, ABC first commissioned Land IQ, a Sacramento-based agricultural and environmental scientific research and consulting firm, to develop a comprehensive, living map of California almonds, with the first report issued in 2019. The map is the result of more than a decade of research.

California Ag Today2025-04-24T13:40:37-07:00April 24th, 2025|

Real California Cow’s Milk Cheeses Bring Home 57 Awards at California State Fair Cheese Competition

Cow’s milk cheese and dairy processors that use the Real California Milk seal brought home 57 awards during the 2025 annual California State Fair Cheese Competition.

Out of 113 entries Real California cow’s milk cheeses earned 57 awards – 1 Best of Show, 4 Best of California, 13 Double Gold, 12 Gold, 17 Silver, and 12 Bronze awards in this year’s judging. Highlights from these wins include:

Marin French Cheese Company, Petaluma – 12 awards, Golden Gate (Best of Show, Best of California, Double Gold), Petite Breakfast (Gold) Petite Jalapeño (Gold), Camembert (Gold), Petite Camembert (Silver), Petite Garlic & Pepper (Silver), Petite Truffle (Silver), Petite Crème (Silver), Prospector (Silver), and Triple Crème Brie (Bronze).
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Pt. Reyes – 11 awards, Point Reyes Gouda (Best of California, Double Gold), Point Reyes Quinta (Double Gold), Point Reyes Bay Blue (Double Gold), Point Reyes TomaRashi (Double Gold), Point Reyes TomaProvence (Double Gold), Point Reyes Original Blue (Gold), Point Reyes Truffle Brie (Gold), Point Reyes TomaTruffle (Silver), and Point Reyes Toma (Silver).
Nicasio Valley Cheese Co., Nicasio – 10 awards, Nicasio Reserve (Double Gold), Foggy Morning with Jalapeño (Gold), Foggy Morning with Garlic and Basil (Silver), Locarno Wheel (Silver), Tomino (Silver), Nicasio Square (Silver), Halleck Creek (Silver), Loma Alta (Silver), San Geronimo (Bronze), and Locarno Rounds (Bronze).
Joseph Gallo Farms, Atwater – 8 awards, Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar (Best of California, Double Gold), Gouda (Gold), Pepper Jack (Gold), Marbled Jack (Gold), String Cheese (Bronze), Mild Cheddar (Bronze), Sharp Cheddar (Bronze).
Cowgirl Creamery, Petaluma – 5 awards, Wagon Wheel (Double Gold), Hop Along (Double Gold), Mt Tam (Double Gold), Pierce Point (Silver), and Devil’s Gulch (Bronze).
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Willows – 5 awards, Gina Marie Farmer Cheese (Best of California, Gold), Graziers RM Medium Cheddar (Double Gold), Gina Marie Cream Cheese Spread (Gold), and Organic Jack Wedge Traditional (Bronze).
Rumiano Cheese Company, Crescent City – 4 awards, Dry Jack (Silver), Organic Monterey Jack (Bronze), Organic Sharp Cheddar (Bronze) and Organic Pepper Jack (Bronze).
Crystal Creamery, Modesto – 2 awards, Cottage Cheese (Silver) and Low-Fat Cottage Cheese with Pineapple (Bronze).

In total, 8 Real California cow’s milk cheese and dairy companies won awards for products made with Real California Milk from the state’s more than 1,000 family dairy farms using some of the most sustainable dairy practices in the world.

California is the second largest cheese producing state in the nation, responsible for more than 2.4 billion pounds of cheese each year. Real California cheeses and dairy products are available at retailers throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Asia. For more information, visit: RealCaliforniaMilk.com.

California Ag Today2025-04-15T14:18:03-07:00April 15th, 2025|

USDA Announces New FPAC Leadership to Better Serve Farmers and Ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced key presidential appointments to the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area. These appointees will lead efforts to advance President Trump’s America First agenda and ensure that farmers, ranchers, and producers have the support they need to keep feeding, fueling, and clothing America.

“FPAC is the most farmer-facing mission area at USDA, housing the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service—agencies producers rely on every day,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “Following this week’s $10 billion economic assistance announcement, these appointees will help ensure that support gets to farmers and ranchers without bureaucratic delays. Strong leadership in FPAC means real results, less red tape, and a USDA that works for those who feed, fuel, and clothe America. I’m proud to welcome these new leaders who will champion our farmers and rural communities.”

The FPAC mission area plays a vital role in delivering USDA programs directly to farmers and ranchers across the country, from disaster assistance and risk management to conservation efforts that protect and enhance working lands. These newly appointed leaders will be instrumental in executing these programs efficiently and effectively, reinforcing the Trump Administration’s commitment to rural America.

Brooke Appleton Appointed as Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation

Brooke Shupe Appleton serves as the Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. Most recently, Appleton served as Vice President of Public Policy for the National Corn Growers Association. In this role, Appleton led NCGA’s Washington, D.C. office, overseeing advocacy for policy effecting corn farmers across the country. Previously, Appleton served as the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary at USDA during the first Trump Administration. Prior to her time at USDA, Appleton worked at the National Association and Wheat Growers and started her career on Capitol Hill working for U.S. Representative Sam Graves of Missouri. Appleton holds a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia and was raised on her family’s row crop and cattle farm in Stanberry, Missouri.

Andrew Fisher Appointed as Chief of Staff for Farm Production and Conservation

Andrew Fisher serves as Chief of Staff for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC). Most recently, Andrew served as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and previously held the same position for U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics from the University of Missouri. Andrew grew up on a farrow to wean hog operation where he also assisted his grandfather with backgrounding cattle.

Aubrey Bettencourt Appointed as Chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service

Aubrey Bettencourt will serve as Chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Aubrey is a prominent leader in agriculture, water, and sustainability, most recently serving as the Global Director of Government Relations and External Affairs for Netafim, an Orbia Company. Her previous roles include serving as President and CEO of the Almond Alliance and Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior in the first Trump Administration. Her work reflects a strong commitment to water policy, agricultural support, and sustainable practices, supported by her family’s farming roots in Kings County, California. Aubrey holds a degree in History from Westmont College.

Bill Beam Appointed as Administrator for the Farm Service Agency

Bill Beam will serve as the Administrator for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) within Farm Production and Conservation. Bill is from Elverson, Pennsylvania where he owns and operates Beam Farms Inc. with his family. In addition to growing corn, soybeans, wheat and hay, Beam Farms has a sawdust and wood shavings business that serves the wood industry and agriculture throughout Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Bill has served on various boards and committees including the Pennsylvania Soybean Board, United Soybean Board, United States Soybean Export Council, Rural Investment to Protect Our Environment and Tel Hai Board. Bill formerly served as Deputy Administrator of Farm Programs for FSA in the first Trump Administration.

Pat Swanson Appointed as Administrator for the Risk Management Agency

Pat Swanson will serve as the Administrator for the Risk Management Agency (RMA) within Farm Production and Conservation. Most recently, Pat has served as a director for the American Soybean Association (ASA) and completed her term on the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board. Along with her husband, Don, Pat has experience running a crop insurance agency, helping farmers in southeastern Iowa manage risk through crop, forage, pasture and livestock insurance. Pat and her family run a seventh-generation farm near Ottumwa, Iowa. They raise soybeans, corn, and have a cow-calf operation. Pat is an alumna of Iowa State University and is passionate about advocating for farmers through her involvement with Iowa 4-H, CommonGround Iowa and her work with ASA.

Colton Buckley Appointed as Chief of Staff for Natural Resources Conservation Service

Colton Buckley serves as the Chief of Staff for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Most recently, Colton served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils. Previously, Colton was appointed to the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents by Governor Rick Perry, the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture’s Advisory Council, and the Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board of Directors, representing rural economic development. He is a proud alumnus of Turning Point USA. Colton holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Services and Development from Tarleton State University, a Master of Arts in Communication from Liberty University, and was raised on his grandparents’ cattle ranch in Gatesville, Texas.

California Ag Today2025-04-15T09:04:57-07:00April 15th, 2025|

Summit to Showcase California Agritourism Best Practices, May 14-15

Ag producers, other stakeholders invited to register for event in San Diego County

Given market fluctuations and climate volatility, many agricultural producers are seeking additional sources of farm-related revenue to pay their bills. Agritourism is one avenue, and it could take the form of offering event venue space, on-farm educational tours and classes, or experiences to work on a farm or ranch.

On May 14-15, 2025, the California Agritourism Summit will provide farmers, ranchers and other key stakeholders a unique opportunity to explore agritourism ventures and develop productive partnerships. Interested parties are encouraged to register by April 30 for this gathering in San Diego County.

The event will feature practical tools to start or expand an agritourism business, expert panels, roundtable discussions, presentations, networking opportunities and tours of successful agritourism operations. The summit is organized by the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) and UC Cooperative Extension in San Diego County.

“This is an exciting time for agritourism in California – in 2025, California Jobs First and Visit California both released plans in which the majority of regions across the state specifically identified agritourism as a priority area for economic and tourism development,” said Rachael Callahan, statewide agritourism coordinator for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and SAREP.

“With a legacy of on-the-ground agritourism efforts and this recent recognition of agritourism’s importance at the state level, the summit is an important opportunity to bring everyone together to begin shaping a collective future of agritourism in California,” Callahan added.

She noted that representatives from producer and community-based organizations, state and local governments, and destination marketing organizations are all encouraged to attend – as well as tourism and economic development professionals.

The second day of the summit begins with a panel featuring Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California; Paul Towers, executive director of Community Alliance with Family Farmers; and leadership of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

“The summit will not only highlight the diversity and creativity of local agritourism but also spark conversations about how tourism organizations can better support and showcase these experiences across California,” said Darlene Ruiz, one of the summit organizers at the UC Cooperative Extension office in San Diego County. “It’s an opportunity to foster partnerships that strengthen both local economies and community pride.”

The first day of the summit comprises tours of exemplary agritourism businesses in the area, and culminates in a special evening reception, hosted by California Grown, at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.

“UC Cooperative Extension values the partnerships developed over the years with agritourism businesses throughout the region,” said Jan Gonzales, community education supervisor with UCCE in San Diego County. “We’re excited to coordinate with several of them and share with summit participants some of the diverse agritourism industry in our county.”

Register for the California Agritourism Summit at https://bit.ly/2025CAAgTourismSummit.

Businesses interested in supporting the summit can learn more here: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/83086/becomeasupporter/.

Funding for the California Agritourism Summit was made possible, in part, by a grant agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Services and supported by USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Award number 2023-70027-40445.

California Ag Today2025-04-11T15:19:59-07:00April 11th, 2025|

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