AgNet News Hour

On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Danny Bernstein, CEO and managing partner of Reservoir and Reservoir Farms, joined the show to discuss an ambitious effort to bring more technology, startups and skilled jobs directly into California’s agricultural communities.
Reservoir already operates agricultural technology communities in Salinas and Santa Rosa, where farms and startups work alongside one another. Bernstein said the program currently includes 22 startups across the two locations, but its next expansion will bring the concept directly into the heart of the Central Valley.
Bernstein announced that Reservoir Farms plans to launch at Merced College in fall 2027, building on the college’s growing agricultural technology programs.
The planned facility will include a 7,000-square-foot prototyping studio along with on-site manufacturing capabilities. Bernstein said an ag tech startup developing equipment such as an automated stone fruit harvester could potentially design, prototype and manufacture the equipment at the Merced location.
The partnership could also create a direct pathway for Merced College students to work with agricultural technology companies. Reservoir already has community college interns working with startups at its Salinas location, and Bernstein hopes to create similar opportunities in the Central Valley.
The larger goal is to make sure agricultural technology is developed where agriculture actually happens.
“If we can start to bring more technology to solve real problems, we can bring acreage back,” Bernstein said, pointing to the dramatic decline of California asparagus production as an example of what can happen when labor-intensive crops become too expensive to produce domestically.
Bernstein also discussed the need for investment in water infrastructure, automation and agricultural technology as California growers face rising costs, labor challenges and international competition. He described food security as a national security issue and argued that California has an opportunity to remain a center of agricultural innovation.
The conversation continues in Part 2, including more on Reservoir’s technology partnerships and the changing agricultural workforce.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

On today's episode of the AgNet News Hour, Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, returned for Part 2 of a wide-ranging conversation about the future of California agriculture. From predators and agricultural education to healthy food and the next generation of farmers, Jacobson’s message was ultimately one of optimism.
One concern is the growing pressure from predators. Jacobsen said California is already struggling to properly manage wolves, mountain lions and black bears, and questioned proposals to even study the reintroduction of grizzly bears before the state addresses existing wildlife conflicts.
But much of the conversation focused on the next generation.
Jacobsen strongly advocated for programs such as FFA, 4-H and agricultural technical education. He said those programs give students hands-on experience while developing skills ranging from public speaking and leadership to welding, mechanics and business. With shortages of skilled workers in many trades, Jacobsen believes expanding those opportunities can benefit agriculture and the broader economy.
The discussion also turned to the growing emphasis on healthier food. Jacobsen, who is now a raisin grower himself, said he is optimistic that renewed interest in nutrition could create opportunities for California-grown fruits and vegetables.
“I’m bullish or hopeful that through trying to make people eat healthy again, that raisins are a big part of that,” Jacobsen said.
He also stressed the importance of clearly identifying California-grown products, particularly when food safety concerns involving products from elsewhere can negatively affect California farmers.
Despite the many challenges discussed throughout the two-part interview, Jacobsen ended on an optimistic note.
“I’m bullish on California agriculture. I’m bullish on the American farmer,” Jacobsen said. “We have so many opportunities to continue to feed this nation.”
That may be the biggest takeaway from the conversation: California agriculture faces serious challenges, but Jacobsen believes the industry is still worth fighting for.
Listen to Part 2 of the full interview with Ryan Jacobson below or on your favorite podcast app.

On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual, returned for Part 2 of his conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing California citrus growers. One of the biggest concerns is the growing volume of Argentine lemons entering the U.S. market at the same time California growers are trying to sell their crop.
Villagomez said the problem has been particularly difficult for lemon growers in Ventura County, where the California harvest overlaps with Argentine imports. According to Villagomez, Argentina shipped roughly 94,000 metric tons of lemons into the United States in 2024—a dramatic increase from the volumes anticipated when Argentine lemons were allowed to return to the U.S. market.
California Citrus Mutual is now asking the U.S. Trade Representative for a tariff-rate quota, or TRQ, that would establish a volume of Argentine lemons allowed into the country at the normal tariff rate, with a higher tariff applying to imports above that threshold.
"There needs to be some sort of balance here," Villagomez said, emphasizing that the goal is to provide relief for domestic growers competing in the market at the same time.
The discussion also turned to the 2026 California governor's race and why the outcome could have significant consequences for agriculture. Villagomez called the election "very, very, very pivotal," noting that the next governor will appoint hundreds of positions, including California's agriculture secretary and members of influential bodies such as the State Water Resources Control Board and California Air Resources Board.
Villagomez said California Citrus Mutual has spoken with both gubernatorial campaigns and hopes the next administration will give agriculture greater attention and work more closely with the Legislature on issues affecting growers.
The conversation also covers citrus research, HLB, the Farm Bill, California-grown marketing and the importance of helping policymakers and consumers better understand agriculture.
Listen to Part 2 of the full interview with Jacob Villagomez below or on your favorite podcast app.

California citrus growers are navigating challenges ranging from labor shortages and invasive pests to uncertain export markets and increasing competition from imported fruit. On the latest AgNet News Hour, Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual, discussed the issues his organization is working on in Sacramento and Washington on behalf of the state's citrus industry.
Villagomez has a personal connection to the industry. His parents are citrus growers in Sanger, California, and he grew up around the crop before studying at Fresno State and eventually moving into governmental affairs.
Today, some of the industry's biggest concerns are water, labor, pests and disease, rising production costs and trade.
Labor is particularly important because California citrus is overwhelmingly destined for the fresh market and still must be harvested by hand. Villagomez said the industry relies heavily on migrant and immigrant workers and continues to push for immigration and H-2A reforms that can provide a more reliable legal workforce.
Trade uncertainty is another concern. Canada is currently a critical export market for California citrus, and Villagomez described how previous tariff actions resulted in canceled orders and shipments being frozen almost overnight. He said losing access to an export market can have consequences that last well beyond the immediate dispute.
"When you lose market access, it takes a number of years to regain that access," Villagomez said.
Closer to home, California growers are also competing against imported citrus. Villagomez specifically pointed to large volumes of Argentine lemons entering the U.S. market and putting downward pressure on prices.
"We're not stopping imports," Villagomez said. "We're just requesting balance of those imports."
There has also been some positive news. Villagomez discussed the FDA's recent modernization of the federal standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice, including an increase in the amount of mandarin and mandarin-hybrid juice that can be included from 10 percent to 15 percent. He said the change could create another outlet for California mandarin growers.
From trade and labor to regulation and market access, Villagomez's interview provides an inside look at the policy battles shaping the future of California citrus.
Listen to Part 1 of the full interview with Jacob Villagomez below or on your favorite podcast app.

The future of California agriculture may depend on solving some problems that farmers simply cannot solve on their own. In Part 2 of his conversation on the AgNet News Hour, Cannon Michael, president and CEO of Bowles Farming Company, discusses the need for a reliable agricultural workforce, the growing role of automation and his concerns about California's long-term water future.
Labor remains one of the biggest issues. Michael said policymakers need to recognize that agriculture depends on workers willing to perform difficult jobs that many Americans simply aren't interested in doing. Rather than allowing the issue to continually become entangled in the larger immigration debate, he believes the country needs a reasonable legal pathway for people who want to work.
"We need to find ways that people can...have the same opportunities that many of our ancestors came to the United States for," Michael said, while emphasizing the need to maintain border security and keep bad actors out.
Technology is helping Bowles Farming Company respond to rising costs. The operation is already using AI-enabled sprayers that identify weeds, while also incorporating AI into office operations. Michael expects autonomous tractors and other technologies to play an increasingly important role.
But technology can't replace everyone. Experienced workers can determine by sight which watermelon is ready to harvest or carefully pick a fresh-market tomato without damaging it—skills that remain difficult to automate.
Perhaps Michael's greatest concern is water. With projects such as Sites Reservoir and Delta conveyance taking years to move forward, he worries California agriculture could lose productive farmland before adequate infrastructure is built.
"We have to have water to do what we're doing," Michael said. "You can't just get water one year and then...not have water for two years."
Despite those challenges, Michael isn't giving up on California agriculture. He believes farmers will continue adapting through technology and innovation, although agriculture's footprint could become smaller if current pressures continue.
"None of us are the faint of heart," Michael said. "We're not giving up."
Listen to Part 2 of the full interview with Cannon Michael on the AgNet News Hour.

Farming in California has never been simple, but for Cannon Michael of Bowles Farming Company, adapting to changing conditions has become a fundamental part of keeping a sixth-generation operation moving forward. In the latest AgNet News Hour, Michael discusses everything from extreme heat and limited water supplies to labor, regulation and the future of farming on California's West Side.
Bowles Farming Company manages roughly 11,000 acres near Los Banos and across the western San Joaquin Valley. The operation is remarkably diverse, producing carrots, sweet corn, garlic, onions, watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydew, tomatoes, almonds, pistachios and other crops throughout the year.
That diversity has become one way the farm continues adapting. Michael said Bowles expanded significantly into additional crops beginning around 2016, helping transform the operation into essentially a year-round business.
But water remains one of the biggest challenges. Michael discussed the frustration of receiving only a 25 percent water allocation despite relatively full reservoirs, pointing to aging infrastructure and regulations that have made moving water through California increasingly difficult.
"We keep delivering food to the markets," Michael said, noting that agriculture continues finding ways to remain productive despite the challenges.
Michael also addressed another concern facing California agriculture: whether the next generation will still see farming as a worthwhile future. He said increasing costs and regulatory pressure can discourage younger family members from returning to agricultural businesses that previous generations worked to build.
Still, Bowles Farming Company continues investing in its future. Michael highlighted drip irrigation, solar energy and conservation efforts, including 650 acres the family placed into a permanent federal easement for wetland habitat along the Pacific Flyway.
The conversation offers a look inside one of the West Side's major farming operations—and the constant balancing act required to grow food in California today.
Listen to Part 1 of the full interview with Cannon Michael on the AgNet News Hour.

A California olive oil company that began as a way for a longtime farming family to reinvent its operation is now growing into something much bigger. In Part 2 of his interview on the AgNet News Hour, Vincent Ricchiuti explains how Enzo Olive Oil is using direct-to-consumer marketing, new products and technology on the farm to build the next chapter of the family business.
For Ricchiuti, producing high-quality California olive oil is only half the equation. The other challenge is convincing consumers why they should choose it over lower-priced imports.
Ricchiuti said imported oils can contain blends sourced from several countries, while California producers face a considerably different cost structure. His strategy is to emphasize freshness, quality and the connection consumers have with the farm producing their food.
That relationship with consumers has become increasingly important to Enzo's business model.
"We're really going after direct to consumer," Ricchiuti said. "Cut out the middlemen, cut out the grocery store, cut out the brokers and the distributors."
The approach appears to be gaining traction. Enzo mails eight catalogs annually, and Ricchiuti said an extraordinary 60 percent of the company's revenue comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas, fueled heavily by holiday gifting.
Olive oil also isn't the only thing Enzo is selling anymore. The family has expanded into balsamic vinegars, pesto, biscotti, granola and other specialty foods, many produced using ingredients grown on the family's own farms.
Innovation continues in the orchard as well. Ricchiuti described using soil sensors, flyovers and olive sampling to closely manage irrigation and determine the optimal time to harvest for oil production. He said California's willingness to embrace technology is one way producers can compete with the centuries-old European olive oil industry.
And for Ricchiuti, that growth ultimately comes back to family. He hopes his three young children will someday find their own place in the operation and become the family's fifth generation in agriculture.
It's a conversation about much more than olive oil—it's about how a California farm can adapt, build a brand and create opportunities for another generation.
Listen to Part 2 of the full interview with Vincent Ricchiuti on the AgNet News Hour.

A fourth-generation California farming family made a major decision nearly two decades ago: move away from thousands of acres of stone fruit and bet on a crop that could offer a different future. On the latest AgNet News Hour, Vincent Ricchiuti shares how that decision ultimately led to Enzo Olive Oil and a California olive oil operation now competing on the world stage.
Ricchiuti's family has deep roots in Central Valley agriculture. His great-grandfather came to the United States from Italy in 1914, and subsequent generations built the operation around crops including peaches, plums, nectarines and almonds.
But by 2008, the economics of stone fruit were changing.
Ricchiuti said declining consumption, increasing competition from year-round imported produce and the labor-intensive nature of stone fruit led the family to reconsider its crop mix. Ultimately, they removed roughly 2,500 acres of stone fruit, expanded their almond acreage and dedicated several hundred acres to something new: olives for olive oil.
"We were able to rechart the course of the business," Ricchiuti said. "You don't get a lot of opportunities to be able to do that."
The family didn't enter the olive oil business casually. Ricchiuti traveled to Italy with his grandfather to study olive mills, equipment and production methods before the operation's first harvest in 2011.
Today, Enzo uses a distinctly California approach. Instead of the widely spaced, traditionally hand-harvested orchards common in Europe, its olives are planted densely and mechanically harvested, allowing fruit to move quickly from the tree to the mill.
The results have gained international recognition. Ricchiuti said Enzo has earned more than 500 awards for taste and quality since 2012, including honors in Italy.
Yet Ricchiuti sees an enormous opportunity still ahead. He said roughly 96 percent of olive oil consumed in the United States is imported, making one of the industry's biggest challenges convincing American consumers to reach for California-grown oil instead.
From changing crops to studying production in Italy and building a vertically integrated brand, Ricchiuti's story offers a fascinating example of how a multigenerational California farm can adapt without walking away from agriculture.
Listen to Part 1 of the full interview with Vincent Ricchiuti on the AgNet News Hour.