Posts By: Western Growers
- All
- July, 2026
- June, 2026
- May, 2026
- April, 2026
- March, 2026
- February, 2026
- January, 2026
- December, 2025
- November, 2025
- October, 2025
- September, 2025
- August, 2025
- July, 2025
- June, 2025
- May, 2025
- April, 2025
- March, 2025
- February, 2025
- January, 2025
- December, 2024
- November, 2024
- October, 2024
- September, 2024
- August, 2024
- July, 2024
- June, 2024
- May, 2024
- April, 2024
- March, 2024
- February, 2024
- January, 2024
- November, 2023
- October, 2023
- September, 2023
- August, 2023
- July, 2023
- June, 2023
- May, 2023
- April, 2023
- March, 2023
- February, 2023
- January, 2023
- December, 2022
- November, 2022
- September, 2022
- August, 2022
- July, 2022
- June, 2022
- May, 2022
- April, 2022
- March, 2022
- February, 2022
- January, 2022
- December, 2021
- November, 2021
- October, 2021
- September, 2021
- August, 2021
- July, 2021
- June, 2021
- May, 2021
- April, 2021
- March, 2021
- February, 2021
- January, 2021
- December, 2020
- November, 2020
- October, 2020
- September, 2020
- August, 2020
- July, 2020
- June, 2020
- May, 2020
- April, 2020
- March, 2020
- February, 2020
- January, 2020
- December, 2019
- November, 2019
- October, 2019
- September, 2019
- August, 2019
- July, 2019
- June, 2019
- May, 2019
- March, 2019
- January, 2019
- November, 2018
- October, 2018
- September, 2018
- August, 2018
- July, 2018
- June, 2018
- May, 2018
- April, 2018
- March, 2018
- February, 2018
- January, 2018
- December, 2017
- November, 2017
- October, 2017
- September, 2017
- August, 2017
- July, 2017
- June, 2017
- May, 2017
- April, 2017
- March, 2017
- February, 2017
- January, 2017
- December, 2016
- November, 2016
- October, 2016
- September, 2016
- August, 2016
- July, 2016
- June, 2016
- May, 2016
- April, 2016
- March, 2016
- February, 2016
- January, 2016
- December, 2015
- November, 2015
- October, 2015
- September, 2015
- August, 2015
- July, 2015
- June, 2015
- May, 2015
- April, 2015
- March, 2015
- February, 2015
- January, 2015
CalRecycle Issues New Guidance Document for SB 54 Producer Compliance
CalRecycle has published a new guidance document to assist entities with navigating the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility System (PEPRS), including creating a CalRecycle WebPass account to log into PEPRS and submitting an Independent Producer application or Small Producer Exemption application. This information may be helpful for producers and others in navigating the requirements…
Chinese Supplier Drone Ban: What it Means for Specialty Crop Agriculture (June 11 Webinar)
Join us for a timely discussion on the current landscape surrounding the Chinese supplier drone ban, what these developments could mean for agricultural drone use and how growers and ag service providers may be impacted moving forward. The webinar will feature perspectives from industry leaders working directly with drone operations, grower services and agtech innovation. Webinar…
Prop 65 Litigation Update: Heavy Metals in Leafy Greens (May 20 Webinar)
Join Western Growers Legal for a timely webinar on the latest developments in Proposition 65 and its impact on the produce industry. Guest speaker Ann M. Grottveit, Partner at Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP, will provide an update on Prop 65 litigation involving heavy metals in leafy greens, including key legal considerations, the notice process, available defenses and regulatory…
May 15 Deadline Nears for HSP and SWEEP Block Grant Concept Proposals
Concept Proposals are currently being accepted for the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) and State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) Block Grants. HSP Block Grant recipients work directly with producers in their region by providing outreach, technical assistance and support throughout project implementation. These organizations manage the local application process, recommend…
Register Today for U.S. Labor Policies: Rhetoric vs. Reality Webinar on May 27
How are the Trump administration’s labor policies shaping the landscape for agricultural employers? As labor policy debates continue to dominate headlines, agriculture employers need real-world guidance to protect their workforce and operations. The California Farm Labor Contractor Association's upcoming webinar, "U.S. Labor Policies: Rhetoric vs. Reality," will provide members with…
SB 54 Regulations Approved and in Effect; Registration Deadline for Producers Updated to June 1
Packaging Regulation in CA SB 54 approved by the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) with early effective date; Obligated companies must register with the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) by June 1 to avoid penalties As of May 1, 2026, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) officially approved and implemented the permanent regulations for the…
New Report Warns California’s Pest Prevention System Is Falling Behind Growing Threats
California’s pest prevention system—critical to protecting the nation’s food supply, natural landscapes, and urban environments—is under increasing strain, according to a new comprehensive report released today. The report finds that while many elements of California’s system remain highly effective, they are being outpaced by a sharp rise in invasive pest threats driven by global…
Specialty Crops Applaud House Approval of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2026 — The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement on the approval by the House of Representatives of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. “The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance commends House Agriculture Committee Chairman Thompson for his leadership and perseverance, and we thank the House for advancing…
Statewide Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program: Upcoming Public Working Group Sessions
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will hold public working group sessions for the Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel (Panel) on the following dates: Monday, May 18, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The sessions will facilitate Panel considerations to the public comments received in response to the Draft Panel…
CDFA Seeks Qualified Applicants for Advisory Committee
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is seeking qualified applicants to apply for a seat on their Standardization Advisory Committee. The Committee is a 13‑member industry body that advises the CDFA on matters related to the Standardization Program, providing essential guidance on the standards, inspections and regulatory priorities affecting California’s fruit and…
CFLCA Now Accepting 2026 Scholarship Applications
The California Farm Labor Contractor Association (CFLCA) is now accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship program, supporting farmworkers and their families in pursuing higher education. The Gabriel Gomez-Sandoval Farmworker Memorial Scholarship provides financial assistance to students who are farmworkers or the children of farmworkers employed by a California farm labor contractor…
CDFA Releases Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces the release of the Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture (Strategy). The document provides a comprehensive overview of state actions designed to help the agricultural community prepare for, respond to, and thrive under the many conditions imposed by climate change, from uncertainty about water supply and drought…
USDA Reopens Acreage Reporting Period for Specialty Crop Farmers Impacted by Unfair Market Disruptions
Specialty Crops Acreage Reporting Deadline for 2025 is Now April 24 Washington, D.C., March 31, 2026 – The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the agency is reopening the 2025 crop acreage reporting period required for specialty crop producers who want to apply for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. Announced by U.S. Secretary of…
State Water Board Releases Draft Report of Recommendations of the Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) has released the draft report of recommendations of the Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel (Panel). The draft encompasses Panel recommendations on issues relevant to the Panel charge questions, which ask the Panel to consider the approaches in State Water Board Order WQ 2018-0002, In the Matter of Review of Waste Discharge…
The 2026 Western Food Safety Conference Comes to Salinas on May 6–7
The Western Food Safety Conference will take place May 6–7 in Salinas, CA. Now in its 21st year, the conference has become a cornerstone event for advancing food safety education, research and collaboration across the fresh produce industry. Bringing together leaders from industry, academia and regulatory agencies, the conference creates a unique forum to share critical insights, explore…
“Dirty Dozen” List Again Smears Safe, Healthy Produce
(Washington, DC) - The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) “Dirty Dozen” report once again villainizes safe, healthy, and affordable fruits and vegetables by misrepresenting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pesticide data. In its usual approach, EWG overstates the risk of consumer pesticide exposure by leaving out a key detail: more than 99% of the commodities sampled by the U.S.…
State Water Board Seeks Input on Agricultural Expert Panel Draft Report
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) is accepting public comments on the Recommendations of the Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel (Panel) Draft Report (Draft Panel Report), offering stakeholders an opportunity to help shape future water quality and agricultural policies. The Draft Panel Report will be available on or before March 30, 2026, on the…
Western Growers, SCFBA Among 54 Groups Calling on Administration for Farmer Support
Severe weather, high expenses and global uncertainty are hitting farmers from all sides, squeezing them to the breaking point. Fifty-four agriculture groups laid out the challenges facing rural America in a letter to President Trump today. The letter recognizes progress made last year in enhancing farm risk management tools and securing much-needed tax relief for farmers, but says additional…
Reservoir Opens Specialty Crop AgTech Innovation Center
Partners Create High-Density Hub of Innovators and Growers to Accelerate R&D and Field-Ready Technology for Food Production Salinas, CA, March 17, 2026 – Reservoir today officially opened Reservoir Farms - Salinas, its flagship on-farm innovation hub for specialty crops, turning its vision for an on-farm agtech innovation center into a working reality. The new site features multiple…
You’re Invited: Ag Leaders to Host California Gubernatorial Candidate Forum – April 1 in Fresno
A broad coalition of more than 30 agricultural organizations will host a California gubernatorial candidate forum focused on affordability and rural issues in the state. The California Gubernatorial Candidate Forum: Affordability and Rural California will bring together many of the major gubernatorial candidates from both parties for a substantive discussion on the issues shaping the future…