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The Reservoir and Western Growers Open Applications for Agtech Robotics Incubator in the Salinas Valley

First-of-its-kind on-farm incubator offers real-world testing and farmer insight SALINAS, CALIF. (May 14, 2025) - Reservoir and Western Growers today announced the opening of applications for membership at Reservoir Farms, the pioneering on-farm robotics incubator in California’s Salinas Valley. This first-of-its-kind facility empowers California growers and agtech startups to co-develop,…

Specialty Crops Grateful for Vital Investments in U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s Reconciliation Draft

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 13, 2025) – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement today reacting to the U.S. House Agriculture Committee's release of draft text per the House Budget Committee’s reconciliation instructions:   "We are grateful to Chairman GT Thompson and his staff for advancing these vital investments in specialty crops that the Specialty Crop…

Ag Groups File Brief Supporting Supreme Court Hearing Glyphosate Case

Western Growers, along with other groups representing farmers across the United States have filed a brief encouraging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case on labeling for glyphosate and other pesticides. The groups, which represent a broad swath of agriculture and cover more than 300 million acres, argue glyphosate is a “once-in-a-century” herbicide given its effectiveness at controlling…

U.S. District Court Judge Temporarily Blocks Border Patrol’s Opt-In-Arrest Tactics in California

WG Thanks VCAA President/General Counsel Rob Roy for allowing us to share this article. On April 29, 2025, the U.S. District Court, (Eastern District) issued an injunction restraining the Border Patrol and its agents from engaging in certain activities relative to detentions/stops and warrantless arrests of individuals located with the geographical of the Easter District Court.  This Order…

Bipartisan House Members Reintroduce the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2025

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Mike Simpson (R-ID-02), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), David Valadao (R-CA-22), and Adam Gray (D-CA-13) reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, H.R. 3227, which creates a workforce solution for America's agriculture industry, one of the most critical sectors of the national economy. The bill, which passed…

Trade Impact Survey: Help Us Understand the Impact of the Trade War 

Western Growers is actively working to address market access challenges as ongoing trade disputes continue to impact agricultural exports. To strengthen our advocacy efforts, we’ve launched the Tariff Impact Survey to assess the current and anticipated impact on our members and their companies.  The survey is now available on our Tariff Updates page, your central hub for the latest…

Specialty Crops to Receive $1.3 Billion in Second Round of USDA Initiative

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 29, 2025) – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement of a second round of payments through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program. “The USDA’s MASC program is an important step in providing urgently needed assistance to specialty…

New U.S. Tariffs Announced: Key Changes Taking Effect This Month

April 10 Update: President Donald J. Trump paused the country-specific tariffs for 90 days, except for China. The 10 percent universal baseline tariff on all imports remains in place. This pause until approximately July 9, 2025 allegedly gives the Administration time to negotiate with various countries that have expressed interest in addressing U.S. trade deficit and barrier concerns. On…

Webinar: Resources for California Agricultural Employers: Rights and Responsibilities 

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, in partnership with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office and the American Business Immigration Coalition, invites you to an informative webinar designed to help agricultural employers navigate key federal and state regulations. Get the latest updates on I-9 audits, worksite enforcement, and worker protections to ensure compliance and…

Sens. Padilla and Tillis Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Agriculture Disaster Relief for Specialty Crop Growers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As farming communities across the country recover from recent natural disasters, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), along with Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.-03), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), and Austin Scott (R-Ga.-08), announced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve access to federal agriculture…

Facts and FAQs: U.S. Tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China—What You Need to Know

Updated April 10, 2025 President Donald J. Trump has paused the country-specific tariffs for 90 days, except for China. The 10 percent universal baseline tariff on all imports remains in place. This pause until approximately July 9, 2025 allegedly gives the Administration time to negotiate with various countries that have expressed interest in addressing U.S. trade deficit and barrier…

Strengthen Your Recall Preparedness – April 4 Meeting 

How confident are you in your facility's environmental monitoring and sanitation verification? Establishing a defensible clean break is critical in protecting both consumers and your business in the event of a recall.  Join George Nikolich, Food Safety Consultant and CFFA Strategic Partner, and Joelle Mosso, AVP of Science Programs at Western Growers, for an in-depth presentation and…

Management Strategies for Food Safety: Create an Environment of Support and Success Webinar

Navigating food safety compliance while meeting production goals is no easy task—but the right knowledge can make all the difference. Join Joelle Mosso, AVP of Science Programs at Western Growers, for a webinar designed to equip leaders with the skills to confidently manage the dual responsibilities of food safety compliance and production demands. Gain a clear understanding of the…

Diamondback Moth: Lessons from History and Future Solutions Webinar

Effective DBM Control Series Part 1. Presented by the Grimm Family Organic Center and Western Growers Science. 1 DPR CEU “Other” approved. Join us for a discussion about Diamondback Moth (DBM), a significant pest of brassica, and what future options show promise for control of this species. In this webinar, we will explore the history of control options development for Codling…

Ben Etcheverry, President of New Mexico Chile Association, Testifies before Senate Ag Committee

photo Courtesy of CSPAN Ben Etcheverry, President of the New Mexico Chile Association and Western Growers member, testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry during a hearing on "Perspectives From the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy." Etcheverry underscored labor shortages, increasing costs and unfair trade practices putting domestic…

Developing The Next Generation of Tech-Savvy Ag Workers: College of the Desert Event

The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, California Department of Food and Agriculture and College of the Desert have partnered to host AgTechX Ed – a half-day event dedicated to developing the next generation of tech-savvy agricultural workers. The AgTechX Ed Summit at College of the Desert will include three panel covering the following topics: industry issues and skill…

Diamondback Moth: Lessons from History and Future Solutions Webinar

Join us for a discussion about Diamondback Moth (DBM), a significant pest of brassica, and what future options show promise for control of this species. In this webinar, we will explore the history of control options development for Codling Moth, a major pest of apples, assess lessons that can be applied to DBM in cole crops, and introduce novel practices and tools that show promise to…

Testimony of Ryan Talley, of Talley Farms, on behalf of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance

photo Courtesy of CSPAN Testimony of Mr. Ryan Talley House Committee on Agriculture Hearing February 11, 2025, 10:00 a.m. ET Thank you, Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, and members of the Committee. Although not directly under the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committee, I cannot testify before Congress without first emphasizing how vital it is to the security of our nation’s…

SCFBA to Congress: Strengthen National Health and Food Security, Prioritize Specialty Crops in Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2025 – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) today called on Congress to advance a bipartisan farm bill that prioritizes investments in specialty crops, ensuring the long-term viability and competitiveness of growers. Ryan Talley, vice president and co-owner of Talley Farms in Arroyo Grande, Calif., testified before the House Agriculture Committee during a…

Testimony of Ryan Talley, of Talley Farms, on behalf of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance

Testimony of Mr. Ryan Talley House Committee on Agriculture Hearing February 11, 2025, 10:00 a.m. ET Thank you, Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, and members of the Committee. Although not directly under the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committee, I cannot testify before Congress without first emphasizing how vital it is to the security of our nation’s food supply, and the…