Ag Alert is the newspaper of the California Farm Bureau Federation, reaching Farm Bureau agricultural and collegiate members. Agricultural members are owners and decision-makers on California farms and ranches. The California Farm Bureau Federation is a non-governmental, non-profit, voluntary membership organization whose purpose is to protect and promote agricultural interests throughout the state of California and to find solutions to the problems of the farm, the farm home and the rural community. Farm Bureau is California's largest farm organization, comprised of 53 county Farm Bureaus. Farm Bureau strives to protect and improve the ability of farmers and ranchers engaged in production agriculture to provide a reliable supply of food and fiber through responsible stewardship of California's resources.
More strawberries Volumes up due to earlier harvest, improved varieties
Calling on the Capitol Young Farmers & Ranchers advocate on key issues
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Fruits & Vegetables Dairy & Livestock special reports Warm, dry start of spring sparks fire season concerns By Tim Hearden More than seven years after the Camp Fire ripped through the Paradise area in Butte County, burning 153,336 acres and killing 85 people, emotion still rings through Laurie Noble’s voice as she talks about preparations for what could be a busy wildfire season. She and her husband, Jim Noble, own- ers of the 106-year-old Noble Orchard, lost their home and agricultural buildings in the November 2018 blaze. Since then, they’ve slowly been rebuilding, and this year they’ll finish with a new cold storage and packing facility. For Laurie Noble, memories of rushing back to her house to grab whatever she could as the fire quickly approached are still vivid. “Both my husband and I got out,” she said. “I had two cats and next to nothing else. But we were separated, in separate cars. I ended up walking fire trucks through a line of traffic that was double-lane through a residential area.” The fire came quickly from the east side of Paradise, she recalled. Because it was such a dry year, her husband had been irrigating their orchard, which was mostly spared. The couple lost about 1% of their trees, though all their buildings were affected. Noble and other farmers and ranch- ers who’ve had close calls with wildfires emphasize the need for precautions this season, including creating defen- sible space around structures, eliminat- ing underbrush and other fuel ladders, and developing evacuation plans in case of disaster. The warnings come after an unusual- ly warm and dry start of spring through- out California, driven by a stubborn high-pressure ridge off the coast, which is likely to remain the dominant weather feature through at least June, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in an See WILDFIRE, Page 8 www.cfbf.com • www.agalert.com MAY 6, 2026
The Newspaper for California Agriculture
Groundwater law begins reshaping valley Merced County farmer Rosie Burroughs stands at the site of an almond orchard she removed to conserve water. Burroughs planted non-irrigated cover crops such as mustard and safflower that bring little financial return but help suppress dust, preserve soil health and provide livestock forage.
By Caleb Hampton
by about a fifth. San Joaquin Valley farmers are increas- ingly fallowing land as California’s Sus- tainable Groundwater Management Act curtails pumping. “Every farmer is affected,” Bur- roughs said. Groundwater serves as a lifeline for or- chards and vineyards in the valley that need
water regardless of rain or drought. For some growers, it’s their only water source. Under SGMA, which is implemented by local agencies, groundwater basins have until 2040 or 2042 to achieve sustainability. But since 2020 or 2022, depending on local conditions, groundwater agencies have been required to prevent “undesirable See GROUNDWATER, Page 13 Inside Farm Bureau....................2 From the Fields........................4-5 Fruits & Vegetables.................6-7 Classifieds........................... 18-19 Inside
Earlier this spring, an excavator maneu- vered through the rolling hills of eastern Merced County, stacking almond trees removed by farmer Rosie Burroughs. During the past couple years, Burroughs scrapped about 170 acres of almond and walnut trees. Another 140 acres are slated for removal, reducing the family’s acreage
n e w s p a p e r
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Cultivate the future through agricultural education For four decades, the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom stood at the intersec- tion of two of the state’s most vital pillars: agriculture and education. I am honored to serve as board chair as the foundation celebrates its 40th anniversary. It is humbling and in- spiring to reflect on how far we have come connecting California class- rooms with the people and prac- tices that sustain our food system. When this journey began in the early 1980s, the need was clear. Recognizing a growing disconnect between urban students and the Inside Farm Bureau toward a more robust outreach model. With regional representa- tives positioned across the state, we are now able to deliver more resources directly to classrooms and tailor our efforts to the unique needs of different communities. This localized approach ensures that our programs remain rele- vant and effective. Advancements in technolo- gy have also opened new doors. Digital tools, virtual field trips and interactive resources allow us to reach more students in ways that were unimaginable in the 1980s. Shaun Crook, second from right, and California Farm Bureau Second Vice President Ron Peterson present award to “Imagine This...” writing contest winner Porter Machado, a sixth grader from Turlock.
These innovations give us an opportunity to engage students when their career interests and worldviews begin to take shape. By intro- ducing agricultural concepts during their formative years, we can inspire curiosity, build understanding and potentially spark interest in agricultural careers. The need for this work has never been greater. Each year, fewer people are directly involved in production agriculture. As that gap widens, the risk of misunderstanding and disconnect grows. Agri- cultural literacy is not a luxury but a necessity. An informed public is essential for sound decision-making, whether at the kitchen table or in the halls of government. When we educate young people about agriculture, we invest in the future of our communities and state. Today’s students will become tomorrow’s voters, policymakers and leaders. Some will sit on city councils or boards of supervisors. When they do, we want them to re- member their experiences with Agriculture in the Classroom and carry with them an appreciation for what it takes to put food on their plates. That is why continued support of agricultural education is so critical. Every segment of agriculture has a role to play in sharing California’s story. By supporting Agriculture in the Classroom, you help ensure that the next generation understands not only the importance of agriculture but also the values and dedication of the people behind it. As we celebrate this 40-year milestone, we are not simply looking back; we are looking ahead. The challenges and opportunities before us call for renewed commitment and collaboration. I urge all those who are part of California agriculture to remain engaged, support this work and help us expand our reach even further. Together, we can ensure that Agriculture in the Classroom contin- ues to thrive for another 40 years and beyond—cultivating knowl- edge, fostering understanding, and strengthening the connection between our farms and our future. Shaun Crook, who operates a family timber business in Tuolumne County, is first vice president of the California Farm Bureau. He can be reached at scrook@cfbf.com.
sources of their food, farm groups organized what became known as Farm Day in San Francisco. Farmers and ranchers loaded trucks with animals, crops and equipment and brought them direct- ly onto school grounds. That moment—when agriculture was brought into the classroom in the most tangible way—planted a seed that has continued to grow for 40 years. My own involvement in Agriculture in the Classroom is driven by a deep respect for agriculture and education—and the natural connection between the two. Agriculture is science, history, eco- nomics, environmental stewardship and culture rolled into one. Education, at its best, prepares students to understand the world around them. When we bring agriculture into the classroom, we bridge that gap. We give students context for the food they eat, the resources they depend on and the communities that sustain them. During the past 40 years, the foundation has served as a trust- ed resource for educators and a strong advocate for farmers and ranchers. Today, we reach more than 1.3 million California stu- dents and support some 39,000 educators each year. But our role extends far beyond simply reaching students and teachers. We also equip volunteers, community organizations and agricultural professionals with the tools they need to tell agricul- ture’s story effectively. Through lesson plans, hands-on activities and a wide array of educational resources, we ensure that anyone who steps into a classroom or interacts with young people can present agriculture in a way that is accurate, engaging and mean- ingful. This multiplier effect is one of our greatest strengths. Programs such as the “Imagine This…” writing contest exemplify how we can make agricultural education creative and accessible. Now in its 32nd year, the contest invites students in grades three through eight to explore agriculture through storytelling and imagi- nation. By encouraging students to think creatively about agriculture, we help them form personal connections that can last a lifetime. Of course, Agriculture in the Classroom has not stood still. We have evolved significantly to meet the changing needs of edu- cators and students. One of the most important shifts has been
By Shaun Crook First Vice President
To support the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, visit learnaboutag.org/ get-involved/. To learn more about the “Imagine This…” contest, visit learnaboutag.org/ programs/contest/.
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VOL. 53, NO. 9
May 6, 2026
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2 Ag Alert May 6, 2026
C ommentary
Recognize signs of distress and when help is needed By Debra Kawahara-Nagata
during times of distress. One of agriculture’s greatest assets, how- ever, is its close-knit community. Farmers notice changes in one another. Neighbors step in when help is needed. Because of this, members of the community are often in a position to recognize when someone may be struggling. Signs of emotional distress are not always obvious. Often, it is a collection of small changes rather than one clear signal. Trusting your instincts is import- ant. If something feels “off,” it is worth paying attention. Possible warning signs include: • Noticeable changes in behavior or mood. The individual may seem different than usual—quieter, more withdrawn, ir- ritable or disengaged. Conversations may feel strained, or their energy and focus may be diminished. • Giving away belongings. This can in- clude tools, equipment, animals, or person- al possessions being given away without a clear reason or in a very abrupt manner. • Major life stressors. Situations such as significant financial difficulty, crop or livestock losses, legal challenges, foreclo- sures, injuries or the death of a loved one can increase emotional strain and risk. In
agriculture, these hardships may not be readily known or discussed because of the belief in handling challenges and personal matters privately, making it more difficult to identify or address when any of these challenges arise. • Increased isolation. Pulling away or distancing themselves from family, friends, meetings or community activities they previously valued. • Expressions of hopelessness or despair. Statements such as “What’s the point?” or “I don’t see a way out” should be taken se- riously, especially if they reflect a change from their usual outlook. You do not need to see every sign or be certain there is a problem before reach- ing out. Concern alone is enough to start a conversation. You do not need to have all the answers, and you do not need to “fix” the situation. Often, the most helpful ac- tions are simple, human ones: noticing, listening and staying connected. • Start the conversation. Choose a pri- vate and comfortable setting when pos- sible. Be direct but compassionate. You might say: “I’ve noticed you don’t seem like yourself lately, and I wanted to check in.” “You’ve been dealing with a lot. How are you holding up?” “I wanted to see how you’re really doing. I care about you.”
• Avoid minimizing their experience or rushing to reassurance. Statements such as “It’ll work out” or “You’re strong. You’ll get through it” may unintentionally shut down conversation. • Listen and be present. Allow the per- son to talk at their own pace. Silence can feel uncomfortable, but it gives space for reflection. Your role is to listen, not to make any conclusions or solve the prob- lem for them. • Helpful responses include: “That sounds overwhelming.” “I can see why this would weigh on you.”“I’m really glad you told me.” Listening without ex- pressing judgment can reduce feelings of isolation and help someone feel seen and understood. • Encourage support and stay connect- ed. If distress appears ongoing or intense, gently encourage additional support. In agriculture, framing help as another tool or resource—no different from seeking expert advice for equipment or financ- es—can feel more acceptable. You might say: “You’ve been carrying a lot on your own. Talking with someone outside the situation could really help.” “Asking for help doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means
As a farmer’s wife living with the realities of sustaining a family farm, I understand the unique pressures that come with this
way of life. Farming depends on many factors outside our control—weather, market prices, legal and regulatory pol- icies, and financial uncertainty. At the same time, agri- culture is built on deeply held values: independence, self
Debra Kawahara- Nagata
sufficiency, responsibility and pride. For many farmers and ranchers, the farm is more than a business; it is a legacy and a core part of their personal identity. When the future of the farm feels un- certain or threatened, the emotional toll can be significant. Stress can become overwhelming, and the sense of isola- tion can deepen, even when family or community members are nearby. In ag- riculture, there is often an unspoken ex- pectation to persevere quietly and solve problems on one’s own. While this resil- ience is a strength, it can also become an obstacle to speaking up or asking for help
See HELP, Page 16
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May 6, 2026 Ag Alert 3
From the Fields ®
Jeff Colombini San Joaquin County cherry and apple grower It’s just been a goofy year because it was so warm in February and March, and everything bloomed early. Now we’re getting all this rain. One of the crops I grow is cherries, and the rain we got last month did some damage to them. They’re still harvestable, but we’re going to have a higher per- centage of off-grade than normal. When it rains, the cherries are accumulating sugars. The skin is permeable, so the cherries absorb the rainwater. Because the rainwater is pure and the cherries already contain sugars and water, they absorb more moisture through osmosis. As that happens, the cherries start to swell, and the skin can only stretch so much. After absorbing too much mois- ture, the skin will split open. Once they split, they become off-grade because they’ll rot within a few days. I also grow walnuts, so that means we have to spray again for walnut blight. I also grow apples, and I would say it’s a possibility that the crop is going to be a little smaller than normal. The crop load on the trees looks lighter. At this stage, the apple skin is very tender, so any amount of hail can ruin the apples. We didn’t get any hail here that I know of, but I’ll be able to tell if there was any. We grow several varieties of apples. We grow Galas, and we start harvesting those around the last week of July, around the 25th, and that takes a few weeks to harvest. From there, we move into Fuji and Granny Smith, and then we finish up with Pink Ladies, which we don’t start harvesting until mid-October. It’s a fairly drawn-out season that goes from the end of July to the first part of November. Between the early bloom, the rain and the added pressure from disease and crop-quality issues, this year has been unusual. It’s created more work, more cost and more uncertainty across multiple crops at once.
Stuart Mast Calaveras County vintner
We’re just about 10 days into bud break. We’re getting some rain on the vines, but that’s not hurting them as long as we don’t get a freeze. That’s what we worry about this time of year. In all the years I’ve been growing grapes, there’s only been one year—2022—that I had to turn it into the insurance company because of a freeze. Usually in March, a crew prunes back the growth from the previous year and does some vine training and tying. In late April, the new growth starts coming out of the buds on the vines. That’s what bud break is—the new growth coming out of the buds. Our biggest enemy in the vineyard is powdery mildew. We aren’t certified organic, but we’ve always farmed organically, and that limits what products you can use. Mostly what we’re using is sulfur. We spray the vines beginning now and as often as at least every 21 days. We’ll be spraying the vineyard with sulfur to keep mildew at bay. If we get wildfire smoke, that diminishes the quality of the crop. The smoke ab- sorbs into the skins of the fruit. We just had a local event with all the participat- ing wineries in the Murphys area. It’s called Spring Wine Weekend. That kicks things off for us. The fortunate thing about our location is we are surrounded by second home- owners. This year, we’re doing better than ever, which is really good news. We don’t depend on a lot of outside sales. Most of our sales are through the tasting room and during events, so we’re in a good position here. We also have camp- sites on the property and music events. We’re gearing up for the concert series. There are a lot of little details that have to be in place to put on the concerts, and that’s what we’re concentrating on right now.
Loren Poncia Marin County rancher
Prices are extraordinarily high—record book prices—for cattle and for sheep, so that’s a good thing. In March, it looked like it was going to be a dry year and we were going to have an end to the season. But we got 4 inches of rain in April, which is going to extend the season out to June. We were thinking that it was going to be really bad, but the timing was right, and we got some nice rain. It’s going to be a good grass season. Basically, the first rain is the most important, and the last rain is the most important. So, we want rain in October, and we want rain in May or close to May. And we’ve had a wet April, so we are probably going to have green grass up until the end of June. The cattle market has never been this high, so that’s good for ranchers. I’m a rancher, but I’m also a meat company, so we buy a lot of cattle, and it’s hard for consumers and meat companies. But we’re double-dipping. We have high-priced cattle and high-priced meat right now. Traditionally, it’s a good thing when we raise the cattle and we market the cattle because most ranchers are price takers, and we can build in our margin on the meat. But it’s hard when the price of cattle is so high to sell meat at a good margin, so we’re struggling on the meat side, and we’re doing good on the cattle side. Capital is high. The interest rates on operating loans are high compared to five years ago. The cost of doing business in California is extremely high. It’s affecting our bottom line. We have about 20 employees between the meat company and the ranching company. We’re trying to be as efficient as possible with labor and trying to do everything with the people that we have.
4 Ag Alert May 6, 2026
Insights from farmers and ranchers across the Golden State, including members of the California Farm Bureau.
Ron Macedo Stanislaus County agritourism operator
I run a seasonal pumpkin patch and corn maze. We also do a temporary ice rink and sell Christmas trees in Turlock. I farm all the pumpkins and about another hundred acres of feedstock or row crops like corn and oats. With the weather bringing a few spring storms, we’re getting ready to start planting pumpkins in about three to four weeks. We’ll put our first varieties in then. We’re also cur- rently working on winter forage hay. We’re going to make hay this year, laying down oats and barley. Right now, it’s all preparation, growing and planning. Every year the corn maze has a different design, so we work through that. We’re also working on marketing campaigns for pumpkins, how to approach them and where to focus, since we do a lot of wholesale and retail. Currently, it’s about getting everything lined up so that once harvest starts, it’s all about delivery, picking and moving product from point A to point B. Marketing is challenging, so we try to carve out a niche market. The bulk of what we do is decorative pumpkins, along with traditional jack-o’-lantern pumpkins. Broker sales have gone down and are almost niche now because we’re having trouble competing with out- of-state pumpkins, so we’re really focusing on decorative markets, patch-to-porch pro- grams and local delivery. We also try to keep up the social media side of the operation, keeping people aware of what we’re doing so it stays in the back of their minds and they remember us when fall comes around and they’re deciding where to get their pumpkins. There are always challenges. Right now, it’s high fuel costs, high fertilizer costs and continuing high labor costs. Those increasing costs make it harder to compete, which is why we focus more on niche and specialized markets. It also depends on the econo- my staying relatively strong so people continue to spend, especially around Halloween, which is the No. 2 holiday for spending.
To contribute to From the Fields, submit your name, county of membership and contact information to agalert@cfbf.com.
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May 6, 2026 Ag Alert 5
Fruits & Vegetables A SPECIAL GROWERS’ REPORT OF AG ALERT ® CALIFORNIA
Hot temps, new varieties boost strawberry volumes By Rob McCarthy Strawberries grow in a Santa Barbara County field. Unseasonably warm temperatures in February and March ripened Central Coast berries weeks earlier, with the region harvesting at the same time as the Oxnard growing district in Southern California. By the first week of April, Watsonville-Salinas growers picked 10 times more berries than the same period two years ago.
hit 2.9 million crates, compared to 230,000 in 2024. The northern district is the state’s largest strawberry producer, with a two-year average of 106.4 million trays per season. Meanwhile, Oxnard district growers were 3.5 million crates ahead of last year’s output, and Santa Maria farms were running 7.1 million trays ahead of their 2025 production for this early in the season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The heat also contributed to record levels of insect and mite pressure in Monterey Coun- ty strawberries, Bolda said. The coastal region experienced consecutive days of 80-degree heat April 4-5, followed by two days of rain starting April 21. “That’ll wipe out the Watsonville-Salinas crop for about a week,” he said. The strawberry commission’s Chris Christian credited the back-to-back warm, dry months in February and March and the planting of newer strawberry cultivars bred to deliver early fruit for the bullish year so far. “We’re seeing some shifts,” she said. “There’s more publicly available varieties now from the university programs and from breeding companies that are making their varieties more available to the industry at large.” California grows 90% of the nation’s strawberries, with 43,726 total acres this year, the commission projected. Fall-planted acreage for winter, spring and summer production was 32,412 . Another 11,314 acres of fall-production berries are expected to be planted in
The introduction of new commercial strawberry varieties has raised expectations for an industry turnaround after years of declining production linked to soil health and a spike in plant disease. Heading into 2026, the California Strawberry Commission projected earlier spring pro- duction and marketable fruit volume in April, citing the availability of new commercially available varieties of strawberries from the University of California and private companies. There has been significant increase in acreage in recent years of day-neutral strawberry varieties that can produce fruit from spring into the fall and can be harvested sooner than the short-day varieties that are summer bearing. Strawberries ripened weeks earlier this year not because they were day-neutral but due to record-setting heat in February. In Monterey County, usually the last of the state’s four main strawberry-growing regions to start harvest, temperatures reached into the 80s, Mark Bolda, University of California Cooperative Extension strawberry adviser, noted. That means the Watsonville/Salinas district was picking berries at the same time as Oxnard in Southern California. “It’s been all about unseasonably warm temperatures early on. It bumped the season up by two or three weeks,” Bolda said. Watsonville-Salinas growers harvested 10 times more strawberries by April 4 than the same period two years ago, according to industry figures. Monterey County’s berry volume
See STRAWBERRIES, Page 7
6 Ag Alert May 6, 2026
the summer. Nearly half the state’s strawberry acre- age is planted with proprietary varieties, the commission reported. Driscoll’s is the largest proprietary breeder, and its trade- marked “Berry Big” line are specifically cultivated to be larger for premium use in dipping and slicing, according to the com- pany. It licenses its cultivars to indepen- dent farms that grow, sell and market the fruit under the Driscoll’s brand. Berry Genetics and Plant Sciences Ge- netics also breed strawberry varieties for sale to farms in the Oxnard district, said Oleg Daugovish, UCCE adviser in Ven- tura County. The most popular varieties released by the university are Monterey, Alturas and Fronteras. Strawberry growers in 2016 lost their critical-use exemption to continue treating fields with methyl bromide. Ever since, the industry has funded research to identify effective controls for four soil-borne root diseases found up and down the coast. Funded research and trials continue for verticillium wilt, phytophthora crown rot, charcoal rot and strains of fusarium known as race 1 and 2, speakers told growers at an April 24 research production meeting in Santa Maria hosted by the strawberry commission. Gerald Holmes, director of the Straw- berry Center at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Strawberries Continued from Page 6
effort to provide strawberry growers with disease-resistant plants. The work involves breeding and screening 2,000 new selec- tions each year for resistance to the four soil-borne diseases. UC varieties released before 2018 are susceptible to fusarium race 1, he noted. The university’s releases since 2023 all show 90% resistance to fusarium race 1, and new varieties are closer to being re- sistant to macrophomina, Feldmann said. “These plants often will look very healthy,” he said. “They may not have the same yield potential as a plant that is asymptomatic, but it’s a quite a lot better than it was.” Surfline, Monarch, Golden Gate, Key- stone and Eclipse—all UC varieties—have moderate resistance to verticillium and phytophthora, but they aren’t an improve- ment over earlier UC releases, including Monterey, Alturas and Portola. More than 50% of new varieties in the UC Davis program show few or no symp- toms of macrophomina, Feldmann said. Even a 25% mortality rate seen in a block of Portola summer strawberries in Guada- lupe represents progress, he added. “It isn’t perfect, but it’s a strong improve- ment over where we were a couple of short years ago,” Feldmann added. Rob McCarthy is a reporter in Ven- tura County. He can be reached at agalert@cfbf.com.
Warm winter temperatures accelerated the state’s strawberry production during the first quarter, with record-breaking volumes hitting the market this spring as California enters its peak season.
showed the results of a three-year survey to detect which soil-borne pathogens were present in the state’s growing districts. His team collected samples of dead and dying plants at 100 sites starting in Watsonville in 2021 and found all four pathogens present in 20% to 30% of all strawberry fields. The team in 2022 collected samples in Oxnard, where charcoal rot from the fun- gal pathogen macrophomina phaseolina was detected in two-thirds of the sample sites. Santa Maria in 2023 tested positive
for all four soil-borne diseases, with mac- rophomina present in half the sites, the data showed. “This gives us benchmark. In any giv- en year, this might look a little different,” Holmes said, adding the survey data showed how the soil-borne pathogens in strawberries differ in the northern growing region compared to the southern region. Mitchell Feldmann, director of the Strawberry Breeding and Research Group at UC Davis, is leading the university’s
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May 6, 2026 Ag Alert 7
Wildfire Continued from Page 1
marsh and becoming the first large fire of the season. The federal Climate Prediction Center reported elevated chances of above-nor- mal temperatures throughout the West during the next three months, with dri- er-than-normal conditions most likely in Northern California. The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook predicts drought is likely to develop throughout Northern California by June 30.
“I would say within fire circles, we’re all bracing for a long, busy fire season,” said Lenya Quinn-Davidson, director of the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network. Even though there has been spring rain, Quinn-Davidson said the absence of a snowpack means the fire season will start much earlier because “rain doesn’t do as much to slow fire season as a snow- pack would.”
“In fact, late rains can increase the veg- etation available to burn when things dry out,” she added. Sierra Valley rancher Rick Roberti lost his U.S. Bureau of Land Management allot- ment in the 2021 Dixie Fire and saw some neighboring properties burn. He said con- ditions at the beginning of April this year were as dry as they normally would be at the start of May. “I think everyone’s a little nervous,” he said. “So much has burned around us that there’s not a lot left to burn, … but that’s not saying it couldn’t burn again.” Even in the middle of California’s rainy season, Roberti noted a fire broke out last month in the forest of the Warner Moun- tains in Modoc County. Groups such as the California Cattle- men’s Association are urging ranchers to prepare by making sure they’ve gone through the Livestock Pass training and are current pass holders. The Livestock Pass program enables trained commer- cial producers to enter their properties during disasters to care for or evacuate their animals. Ranchers should also be aware of what is needed to be eligible for federal disaster assistance programs. Mariposa County rancher Tony Toso helped advocate for the state Livestock Pass program after the Detwiler Fire broke out near his ranch in 2017. He said he was unnerved in mid-March by seeing a small fire break out near his BLM site before firefighters had it under control within a couple of hours. “It kind of stung me seeing the smoke,” Toso said, adding that he and other ranch- ers are expecting a warm summer. “We’re going to be preparing for what could be … a fire season we’re going to have to reckon with,” he said. One tool gaining popularity among ranchers is virtual fencing, with which GPS-collared livestock are kept within cer- tain areas without physical barriers. Toso has been using it to manage grazing on his own property, and he said he plans to use it on his BLM allotment this summer. Toso said he plans to have his cattle eat down vegetation around his home and barns for about a month before taking them to their summer grazing allotment in June. Using his cattle for managed graz- ing on public lands is “kind of a pilot for us,” he noted. “I know everyone’s doing it,” Toso said. “We’re trying to do our part.” For Laurie Noble, public education about wildfire prevention is a key point. During a local fire safe council meeting recently, she noted that July 4 will fall on a Saturday this year, enticing large crowds to celebrate a three-day weekend on pub- lic lands. “I think we need to be extra serious about anybody taking fireworks into the mountains,” she said. “It’s bad enough they take them into the valley. I think we need to talk about it and get out in public with it.” Tim Hearden is a reporter in Redding. He can be reached at agalert@cfbf.com.
April outlook. Record heat in many areas in mid- March melted most of the snowpack and led to increased dead fuel flammability as the month progressed, the center ob- served. The daily fire ignition average in Northern California in March was nearly double the average for the month since 2008, with the largest wildfire growing to 164 acres northeast of McArthur in a Tule
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8 Ag Alert May 6, 2026
Young farmers talk policies during Capitol advocacy visit
By Manola Secaira Participants of the California Farm Bu- reau Young Farmers & Ranchers, a program that supports agriculturalists between the ages of 18 and 35, converged in Sacramento last month for a day of advocacy. Their April 21 visit represents the second of the Calling on the Capitol series, which allows Farm Bureau members to meet with lawmakers and their staff to share their sto- ries and discuss policies that affect farmers and ranchers. The advocacy event coincided with Ag Day at the Capitol, an annual celebration of California agriculture that showcases state-grown crops while providing agricul- tural education to the public. Jennifer Cortez, a Farm Bureau member based in Sacramento County, said it was her first time joining the day of advocacy. While it sometimes felt overwhelming, she said, it’s important for young people in ag- riculture to represent their interests in front of lawmakers whose decisions shape the industry’s future. “Throw me on a farm and I know a lot about livestock and animals, but this is where the disconnect happens,” she said. “This is exactly where we need to be in or- der to have our voices heard.”
Labor was one topic that continually popped up in discussions. One piece of legislation that participants discussed was Assembly Bill 2646, which would boost the minimum wage for certain seasonal agri- cultural workers to $19.75 beginning next year. California Farm Bureau opposes the bill, citing concerns about reduced hours and opportunities for workers if costs in- crease for farmers. YF&R participants also spoke to law- makers about Senate Bill 921, which would have created a tax credit to help agricultural employers offer overtime pay for employees. The bill was created to respond to the decline in overtime hours for agricultur- al workers in California, spurred by the passage of a 2016 law requiring overtime benefits. While the law was intended to boost their wages, many farmers report- ed being unable to afford to pay for the extra hours, which resulted in overall cuts. University of California researchers have since found a resulting cut in aver- age hours and wages for farm employees overall since the law’s passage. San Joaquin County farmer Elliot Locke said his family’s walnut farm is one of many that had to cut employee hours. He said tight margins in the walnut market made
Members of California Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Mariah Fellows, from left, Lauren Farber, Haley Aldana and Samantha Loprieato advocate during Calling on the Capitol last month.
the move necessary, and he’s seen other farmers in his region follow suit. “We all feel the same way, which is we don’t want to do this, but we just can’t af- ford it,” he said. On April 22, the bill failed in the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee. However, a California Farm Bureau spokesperson said legislators are committed to working on the issue and ac- knowledged the 2016 law wasn’t working as intended. The topic of labor resurfaced in discus- sions about autonomous technology on farms. August D’Amato, a Napa County vineyard manager and YF&R state chair, said she’s been trialing an autonomous ro- bot at her farm. The robot, Saga Robotics’
Thorvald, uses ultraviolet-C light to steril- ize the environment around her crops and target fungal spores and bacteria. But under California’s current regu- lations, D’Amato can use the robot only when someone is monitoring it, even if it could operate by itself. She said the re- quirement has already stalled her work, and she’d like to use the technology more efficiently. “Ultimately, one of the key parts of being able to use autonomous technology in ag- riculture is having less people exposed to equipment, different dangers in the field— having less labor to run this equipment, and maybe I can use that labor elsewhere as well,” she said.
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Drought, water restrictions drive innovation in tech By Manola Secaira Ashish Shah is drinking water to prove a point. When he explains his project to people, he finds it’s often the most efficient way to show proof of concept. “If you have 30 seconds, you can explain it real quick,” Shah said. “If you have five min- utes, then they might even drink it with you.” The larger need they’re looking to fulfill, he said, is being a one-stop shop for farmers figuring out how to adapt their processes to their water needs: “Our goal is to be out of your hair. We’ll take care of your water while you focus on your core business.” BioFiltro’s patented technology uses red worms, inset, to process dairy manure water so it can be reused as irrigation water. At Dennis Verhoeven’s Tulare County farm, sprinklers apply wastewater to a mixture of wood chips and worms, a key step in the process of treating the water.
Projects to find new uses for wastewater have become more common, especially as California farmers grapple with drought and tightening water use restrictions tied to the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. It’s a constant balancing act of planning crops around water they think they’ll have and using it efficiently while complying with state law and trying to keep costs down. Despite the challenges, farmers’ increasingly urgent need to reduce water use has attracted new business ventures and more creative solutions for recycling wastewater. “You always see companies and entrepreneurs and innovators kind of show up where there’s opportunity,” said Ben Montpetit, who chairs the viticulture and enology depart- ment at the University of California, Davis. Montpetit said the university used Revida’s technology to process wastewater from the UC’s research winery during last year’s harvest. He said the winery always tries to be more sustainable, so leaning into new technologies comes naturally. But testing new technology at a research winery might come more easily than doing so at a winery operating under commercial pressures. He said cost will likely be a big factor in
Shah’s company, Napa-based Revida Water, processes wastewater from places including wineries and dairies for reuse. Similar projects have existed for years, often focusing on getting the water clean enough that it can be used for irrigation. But Shah’s process makes such wastewater drinkable. It’s why his kids sometimes jokingly refer to his product as “cow poop water.” “They get a kick out of it,” Shah said. Shah said his company is the first to do so. Although the concept can be hard to imagine, Shah said it’s proven to be safe. Revida’s technology ushers the wastewater through a series of steps—including filtration and introducing specific microbes—that have been used in treatment processes before. “We didn’t reinvent the wheel or the science on this. We just put together what was already there,” he said. Not all clients will need their water to be drinkable, he noted. Revida’s process allows them to decide at what level they want to treat their wastewater.
See WASTEWATER, Page 11
10 Ag Alert May 6, 2026
making such technology accessible. “If you can be more cost-effective and efficient, that’s going to be better for you,” Montpetit added. Beyond cost, different water users have different needs, so it’s important to have options. For some, it’s not just a water problem, according to BioFiltro co-found- er Matias Sjögren. The Davis-based com- pany uses a worm-powered treatment pro- cess that can turn wastewater into water for irrigation and other uses. “There is a water shortage issue, so you need to start using less water for the things you do—try to grow the same thing with less water,” he said. “Secondly, there is a problem of water quality. In the Central Valley, a lot of the underground water has an excess of nitrates.” BioFiltro first worked with municipal water supplies and businesses in the in- dustrial sector, which still make up most of its clients. But during the past few years, it has expanded and started to focus more on treating liquid manure from dairies. Tulare County dairy farmer Dennis Ver- hoeven started using a BioFiltro system about a year ago. He said he’d been looking for a way to capture methane emissions while also managing water nitrate levels. He had considered installing a digester, which involves putting a tarp-like structure over manure lagoons to capture methane. Wastewater Continued from Page 10
see in other states,” Sjögren said. “We have been able to accelerate this project be- cause of that.” Shah said Revida works best on dairies where digesters have been installed. He expects most clients he works with will want to use the treated water for purposes such as irrigation and animal misting but added that perhaps over time “once more comfortable, some of the clients may want us to bring it back to drinking water.” He said he hopes to have around 100 dairies using the process by the end of 2027. With California’s water issues be- coming more urgent, he stressed the im- portance of this growth. “We’re not going to wait around,” Shah said. Montpetit said he hopes introducing students to new technologies at the UC Davis winery can also help transform the industry’s future. By knowing what’s out there, he said students will be better equipped to make changes when they en- ter the workforce. “They can say to their then boss, ‘I saw this technology during my education. I know it exists, and maybe it’s something we can think about,’” Montpetit said. “If they’re in a leadership position, they can say, ‘We want to think about these things. We know it exists. It’s possible.’” Manola Secaira is a staff writer for Ag Alert. She can be reached at msecaira@cfbf.com.
Revida Water founder Ashish Shah holds a cup of wastewater that’s midway through treatment. His company can take wastewater from dairies and wineries and convert it into drinkable water.
But it wasn’t right for his needs. “With a digester, you’re pulling off more methane … but it actually increases the ni- trate levels and the nutrients that’s actually in your water,” which would worsen the nitrate problem, he said. BioFiltro has allowed him to address his methane and nitrate problems. Verhoeven said nitrate levels in the water coming out of his BioFiltro system are low enough that he can use it directly on his crops without
having to mix it with fresh water. “I have cut out a huge amount of fresh water that I’ve had to use otherwise,” Ver- hoeven said. Sjögren said he hopes to have 70 to 80 dairies using BioFiltro’s technology by the end of 2030. He said outside support makes it possible for technologies like his to keep expanding. “In California, we see the state support- ing this a lot through grants that you don’t
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