Irrigating precious crops equals jobs Tuesday, February 9, 2016 Almond, stone fruit, grape and citrus owners once paid $70 an acre foot to irrigate their orchards in Kern County in California's central valley. Now they are paying as much as $1,300 an acre foot, more than 18 times as much, with very little retail increase in their products, says the December newsletter of the national crop insurance program. Yet California agriculture is surviving only because of "massive but unsustainable over pumping" according to a study published by the Pacific Institute, which describes itself as an independent global water think tank.Farm revenue remains strong even though acreage is down by 640,000 acres. The Pacific Institute says some losses have been offset as farmers fallowed their land and sold water rights to growers of high-value crops. The study is available at http://pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2015/08/ImpactsOnCaliforniaDrought-Ag.pdfAccording to the study, a California acre of fresh tomatoes, melons, squash or cucumbers supports more than 160 jobs. BF Appeal lost for obstructionist farmers Grow-ops cause Pacific power blowouts
How Busch turned bales into advertising dollars for farmers Wednesday, July 29, 2026 Busch is taking a different approach to advertising in rural Canada by moving marketing dollars from city billboards directly into farmers’ fields. The brand’s new “Baleboard” campaign transforms hay bales into oversized six-pack displays inspired by Busch’s limited-edition Farmer’s Pack.... Read this article online
Great Ontario Yield Tour Seeks Volunteer Farm Fields as Final Crop Tour Events Approach Tuesday, July 28, 2026 Ontario farmers have an opportunity to help shape one of the province's most closely watched crop assessments as the Farms.com Great Ontario Yield Tour prepares for another season of field scouting and yield forecasting. The annual tour is currently seeking volunteer farmers who are... Read this article online
Canada Opens Interprovincial Alcohol Sales Monday, July 27, 2026 A major change to Canada's internal marketplace is set to create new opportunities for wineries, breweries and distilleries after nine provinces signed a landmark agreement allowing direct-to-consumer sales of alcoholic beverages across participating jurisdictions. The deal is being hailed... Read this article online
Ontario Spinach is a Relatively Small Crop for the Province Monday, July 27, 2026 Canadians are eating more fresh leafy greens than ever, and spinach continues to be one of the most popular choices in salads,smoothiesand prepared foods– but it islikely notCanadian. Spinach production is highly concentrated in a small number of growing regions across North America.... Read this article online
Ontario Grows Most of the Nation's Celery Friday, July 24, 2026 When Canadians reach for a stalk of celery at the grocery store, there is a good chance it began its journey on an Ontario farm. While celery occupies only a small share of Canada's overall vegetable acreage, the crop continues to play an important role in the country's fresh... Read this article online