KSTE Farm Hour

Welcome to Part 2 of our 2020 KSTE Farm Hour retrospective. We take a look back this week at some of the more interesting farm stories and farm people of the past year, involved with the changing face of California agriculture. And we have some feel good stories, as well.

Welcome to Part 1 of our 2020 KSTE Farm Hour retrospective. We take a look back this week at some of the more interesting farm stories and farm people of the past year, involved with the changing face of California agriculture. And we have some feel good stories, as well.

Weather researchers say they miscalculated: revised models show California will likely experience drier winters in the future. We have that report. The Metropolitan Water District is pumping millions of dollars more into the proposed Delta tunnels project, despite the objections of many Delta residents. Here’s a twist for Golden State farmers who must wheel and deal for irrigation water in the spring and summer: you can now hedge your bets on water supplies by buying California water futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Farm trade with China is looking good for 2021. We have the forecast. All that, a look at the weather ahead, and more, on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

The State Water Project has released its first water allocation numbers for 2021…and it’s a small number. Which county is the number one county in the country for ag production? It’s here in California. There’s a record California pistachio crop this year. We have the numbers. And, it’s a great season for Christmas tree and poinsettia sales, we talk with two Northern California businesses who are deeply involved with these important seasonal commodities.

Wine grape researchers are well aware of the damage that smoke can do to the grapes. But what about ash? Some tips about what you shouldn’t do. We do a deep dive into the Sacramento County Agriculture crop report. The 2019 edition just came out. It’s no-till November, we talk with one farm advisor about the benefits of not tilling your fields. And we have more on cover cropping. All that and more, on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour. Let’s get started!

Despite smoke damage to hundreds of thousands of Napa-Sonoma wine grapes, growers in the area say the 2020 harvest will be a very good vintage. We have the details. Despite the USDA’s efforts, a robust, high-speed Rural Broadband system is still lacking in rural California and many other areas of the country. More and more people surveyed say farmers are doing the right thing when it comes to sustainability. We talk a lot of turkey this Thanksgiving week, and we take a deep dive into the world of cover cropping here in California. All that, the extended weather outlook, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

A combination of lighter yields and smoke damage is playing havoc with the California wine grape crush numbers. Hundreds of thousands of wine grapes have been rejected due to smoke exposure. A famous rice mill that towers over Kentucky Avenue near Interstate 5 in Woodland has been sold. We have the details. A bit of good news: exports are up… a bit. Is there going to be a pecan orchard in your future? Some California farmers are expecting long term growth for this minor nut crop, which is currently grown in the Golden State on a little over 3,000 acres. All that, crop reports, the extended weather outlook, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour

There is some good news this week for California farmers: more medium grain rice from the Sacramento Valley is headed to China. And, the federal government has okayed more funding to fight the 20 pound rodent that is a threat to Delta area farmland - the Nutria. The weather will be considerably colder in the days ahead. How cold? Will it get cold enough to damage young walnut trees in orchards? We talk with a farm advisor about precautions that walnut growers should now be considering. Also, we delve into the frontiers of agricultural science: the use of biologics on California farmland. That includes cutting edge products such as biostimulants for the soil and plant growth regulators for bigger crops. All that, crop reports, the extended weather, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

Wildfires, a Pandemic, Trade Issues, an election…where do you want to start this week? How about a good old reliable topic: California’s water wars. Lawsuits are flying in Kern County, after an attempt by a local water agency down there to start charging farmers $2100 an acre foot to replenish an aquifer. We have wildfire and trade news, too, with a little good news on both fronts. China is buying more ag products from the U.S. And table grapes in the Central Valley were unaffected by smoke taint. Rural broadband grants are back in the news. And how about we pay a visit to a Sacramento Valley wildlife refuge, where rice plays a big part in supporting overwintering migratory water fowl and other creatures. All that, crop reports and more…on this week’s KSTE farm hour. Let’s get started.

Winegrape growers in the Napa Sonoma area are getting a better handle on the damage estimates to their fields and facilities. We have the staggering numbers. Another staggering number: 10 million acres burned due to wildfires this year. We’re not there yet, but we are approaching it…for the third time in five years. Farmers are looking for estate tax relief, we have that report. And, an update on the U.S. Mexico Canada trade agreement. All that, crop reports, a look at the extended weather…and we celebrate Bat Week. It’s all on this edition of the KSTE Farm Hour.

Drought is expanding throughout the country, but especially here in the Western United States. We have the ugly numbers. The USDA has released the latest forecasts for several important California farm commodities, including fruits, nuts and rice. And Citrus growers in California are still evaluating the effect of smoke, wildfire, haze and heat on their 2020 crop. And so far, it looks like heat is taking its toll on the state’s orange crop. We talk with one California citrus grower about what he has to contend with in 2020. We take a look at how the California Farm Academy is preparing the next generation of farmers for the Golden State. We have All that, crop reports, extended weather, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

Even though the flames of September’s fires are subsiding there, wine grape growers in the Napa Sonoma area are still taking stock of the damage and lining up financial help. And winegrape growers with insurance face another obstacle in getting quick relief. Insurance companies want to see lab tests for smoke taint on wine grapes. But the laboratories that specialize in wine grape testing are overwhelmed; it could be a month or more before they can catch up. Raisin grapes in the Central Valley are also being effected by the smoke from surrounding fires. We talk with one raisin grape farmer who will explain. We have all that, crop reports, a look ahead at the week’s weather, and a chat with an organization that helps aspiring organic farmers learn the business in the Salinas Valley. It’s all on their week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

California wildfires continue their rapid spread throughout some very valuable wine country in our area. We have an update. Several farm groups are petitioning the federal government for more Covid-19 relief aid for farmworkers. What is California doing to stop the spread of illegal pesticides into the state? And, we talk with a Colusa County rice grower about the 2020 harvest. All that, crop reports, the weekly weather outlook and more, on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour. Let’s get started!

California farmers, their crops and their livestock continue to deal with a plethora of problems that will make 2020 one for the record books: the largest wildfires in state history, the resultant dense smoke that made Northern and Central California the most polluted area in the world recently; record high temperatures in August, and the Coronavirus pandemic that has everyone yearning for the good old days. We have an update. Yolo County has seen its pistachio orchard acreage zoom from a few hundred acres to 10,000 acres in less than a decade. We take a look at the reasons for the growth of this increasingly popular nut. Also, California rice growers are becoming fish growers. And the two go hand in hand. All that, crop reports, the weather outlook, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

It’s been a tough year for many of California’s major crops. The combination of the Covid-19 shutdown, wildfires and persistent smoke throughout California, but especially in the Central Valley, have slowed crop development, interfered with the harvest, hampered farm labor, and possibly may taint one very important California agricultural commodity, wine grapes. And all the coronavirus restrictions have caused astonishing disruptions to the California produce business, with sales at 20% below late winter forecasts. Another Covid-19 related casualty: the 2021 World Ag Expo in Tulare. It’s been cancelled. We’ll tell you why. We have all that, extensive crop reports, the week ahead in weather, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

California’s record shattering wildfire season continues. Honeybee losses from the fires in Yolo and Solano Counties will impact area almond growers in 2021. Smoke taint is an increasing concern for wine grape growers in Northern California. And livestock owners need to take precautions to protect their animals from smoke inhalation issues. We have all that, plus how you can protect your horses from the newest outbreak of West Nile Virus. We catch up with the Sacramento Valley rice harvest, and we take a look at the top California agricultural commodities for last year. All that, crop reports, the extended weather, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour. Let’s get started!

Larger than the state of Delaware. That’s the description of the number of acres burned in California’s recent lightning-started wildfires, decimating many Northern California counties, and that includes farms, ranches, vineyards, and orchards. The damage is still being registered, but we have an update, along with information about an upcoming webinar put on by the University of California to help small and large agricultural operations, as well as small acreage landowners, learn about restoration and erosion control options as well as financial assistance programs. The good news: there’s a nut glut. Record harvests of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are expected. The bad news: who’s going to buy all those nuts? We explain. We’re coming up to cover cropping time. We’ll go over the basics. All that, crop reports, the week ahead in weather, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

California’s wildfires continue, and as the smoke somewhat clears, the impact of those fires on the state’s agricultural industries is becoming more apparent. We have an update. Hurricane Laura’s impact on the Louisiana-Texas coastline last week decimated some of that areas biggest crops, including one that Sacramento Valley farmers are very familiar with. We have the details. Rural post offices in California are an important lifeline for residents and farmers. We take a look at the funding struggles to keep them operating efficiently in the current political environment. And congratulations to a Yolo county based agricultural non-profit group, the Center for Land Based Learning, who have received federal funds to help infuse West Sacramento with more agricultural opportunities. All that, crop reports, the week ahead in weather, and more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

Once again, Northern and Central California wildfires plague the entire region, with thick smoke blanketing populous urban areas, while flames are whipping up throughout farm and ranch land here. And once again, wine grape growers in the Napa Sonoma area who are about to begin harvesting are worried about smoke taint to their grapes, a minor concern next to staving off possible fire damage to their properties. The ongoing heat wave also is widespread. The latest concern: fruit and vegetable crops in coastal areas where triple digit temperatures are very unusual. The latest Covid-19 induced farm dilemma: a shortage of replacement parts for agricultural machinery. And ag teachers throughout northern and central california’s colleges and high schools are scrambling, trying to figure out how to teach hands on classes such as welding and crop production…via the computer. We have all that, and more, on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.

California’s specialty crop growers can breathe a bit easier, more of the Golden State’s unique commodities have been added to the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Those mysterious seeds from China that were received by unsuspecting homeowners here in the U.S.? There’s still a lot we don’t know, but so far, it appears to be a benign threat. We have the details. And we talk about controlling summertime weeds in farmland and pastureland here in California, especially one of the nastiest…puncture vine. All that, crop reports, a look ahead at the week’s weather, and a lot more…on this week’s KSTE Farm Hour.