AgNet News Hour

Potter Valley Fight Escalates as Rich Brazil Warns California’s Water Future Is on the Line

The January 28 edition of the AgNet News Hour delivered one of the most detailed and urgent updates yet on the unfolding Potter Valley water crisis, as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill sat down with longtime local veterinarian Rich Brazil to explain what’s truly at stake if the Potter Valley Project dams are removed. The message was clear: this isn’t just a Northern California issue — it’s a warning for every rural community in the state.
Brazil, who has lived and worked in Potter Valley for 38 years, explained that the region’s farms, ranches, homes, and businesses exist because of a century-old water diversion system connecting the Eel River to the Russian River watershed. That small diversion — roughly 30,000 acre-feet — represents less than one-half of one percent of the Eel River’s annual flow, yet supports agriculture, domestic water supplies, fire protection, and entire rural economies downstream.
Environmental groups are pushing to remove Scott Dam and Cape Horn Dam, arguing that free-flowing rivers will restore fish populations. Brazil countered that argument with hard data. Over the past 20 years, diversion flows have already been cut by 60 to 80 percent, yet salmon numbers have continued to decline. “That tells you the problem isn’t the water diversion,” Brazil said. “It’s habitat issues, predators, and offshore impacts.”
One of the most alarming consequences Brazil outlined is what would happen if the dams were removed outright. Behind the dams sit an estimated 20 to 40 million cubic yards of sediment. If released, that material could bury the river system in silt, destroying spawning habitat and harming the very fish the removals are meant to protect. Meanwhile, communities would lose reliable water overnight. Domestic wells would dry up, farmland would be abandoned, and property values would collapse.
Brazil emphasized that local leaders have repeatedly proposed compromise solutions — including fish ladders and infrastructure upgrades — that would allow fish recovery while preserving water reliability for people. Those options, he said, were rejected outright. “This isn’t about sharing,” he warned. “This is about taking everything.”
The conversation also touched on the broader political landscape. Brazil believes the Potter Valley dams have become symbolic targets in California’s aggressive environmental agenda, and that rural communities are being treated as expendable. However, he expressed cautious optimism thanks to recent engagement from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and NRCS Chief Aubrey J. D. Bettencourt, calling their involvement a turning point after years of being ignored at the state level.
Papagni and McGill stressed that the Potter Valley fight mirrors other California battles — from wolves to water storage — where policy decisions are made far from the people who live with the consequences. As Brazil put it, “If this can happen here, it can happen anywhere.”
The episode closed with a call for awareness, engagement, and persistence. “Sunlight matters,” Brazil said. “When people understand what’s really happening, common sense still has a chance.”

California Wolves Push Ranchers to the Brink as Heather Hadwick Demands Action

The January 27 edition of the AgNet News Hour took a deep and urgent look at one of California agriculture’s most emotionally charged and fast-growing crises: wolves. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill were joined by Assemblymember Heather Hadwick, who represents California’s massive and rural District 1, stretching across much of the state’s northern tier. Her message was blunt—California’s current wolf policies are failing ranchers, rural families, and public safety.
Hadwick explained that while wolves have been present in Northern California for several years, the situation has escalated dramatically. Declining deer, elk, and antelope populations have left wolves without adequate natural food sources, pushing them closer to ranches, schools, and neighborhoods. In some areas, wolf packs have killed more than 100 head of cattle in a single season, devastating family ranching operations that were already struggling with rising costs.
What frustrates ranchers most, Hadwick said, is that California law leaves them virtually powerless. Wolves are so heavily protected that ranchers cannot haze them, deter them, or defend their livestock without risking legal consequences. “They’re being asked to watch their livelihoods be destroyed,” she said, “and they aren’t even allowed to protect their own property.”
The problem goes beyond livestock losses. Hadwick described growing fear in rural communities, where wolves have been spotted near schools, playgrounds, and homes. Parents are hesitant to let their children play outside, and ranchers are spending sleepless nights patrolling calving grounds. “There’s an emotional and mental toll here that no compensation check can fix,” she said.
Hadwick contrasted California’s approach with neighboring states and even Canada, where wolf populations are managed with clearer rules that balance wildlife conservation and human safety. In California, she said, predator management is fragmented, with wolves, bears, and mountain lions all handled separately—despite exploding populations and shrinking habitat. Bears alone are now estimated at more than 65,000 statewide, with some of the highest concentrations in her district.
To address the crisis, Hadwick is introducing legislation aimed at improving transparency, response time, and public safety authority. One proposal would allow local sheriffs to act when wolves pose an immediate threat, while another would require real-time tracking data so ranchers know when wolves are nearby—rather than learning hours later after livestock has been killed.
Papagni and McGill agreed the issue isn’t about eliminating wolves, but about restoring balance. Other states have proven coexistence is possible when policy reflects reality on the ground. Hadwick warned that without change, California risks pushing ranchers into desperate situations—and losing more of its rural communities in the process.
“This is about common sense,” she said. “And it’s about protecting the people who produce our food.”

California Raisins in Trouble: Kalem Barserian Warns the Industry Is Shrinking Fast

The January 26 edition of the AgNet News Hour focused on a crop that helped build the Central Valley—but is now fighting for survival: California raisins. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill welcomed legendary raisin industry leader Kalem Barserian, former CEO of the Raisin Bargaining Association, for a blunt, behind-the-scenes look at why raisin consumption is falling, why growers are struggling, and what it will take to keep the industry alive.
Barserian, who’s spent 65 years in the raisin business, explained that California used to dominate the world raisin market. But today, the state has dropped to fourth globally, and he warned it could slide even further. The biggest issue isn’t just foreign competition—it’s demand. “People aren’t eating dry grapes,” Barserian said, pointing to changing consumer habits since COVID, more snack options on grocery shelves, and a major lack of domestic advertising.
The numbers paint a stark picture. In 2016, California shipped about 320,000 tons of raisins. Last season, that total fell to around 170,000 tons—nearly cut in half in less than a decade. Production this year is expected to land near 180,000 tons, which means if sales don’t increase, surplus inventory will keep growing and prices to growers will stay weak.
Barserian also emphasized how rapidly raisin grape acreage has collapsed. He said California once had about 280,000 acres of Thompson Seedless raisin grapes in 2000—but now that number is down to roughly 70,000 acres, with another 20,000 acres in newer overhead drying systems. He predicted that within ten years, traditional Thompson vineyards could be nearly gone, replaced by newer varieties and drying methods that are fully mechanized and more reliable in unpredictable weather.
A major focus of the episode was a critical meeting in Washington, D.C., where raisin industry leaders were meeting with USDA to request additional government support. Barserian said USDA has already committed to purchasing $20 million worth of raisins, and the industry is pushing for another $70 million to support school lunch and food assistance programs. If approved, that could remove roughly 15,000 tons from the supply chain and help stabilize the market.
Nick and Josh also debated the marketing problem—especially how to get kids eating raisins again. With milk and other products using colorful packaging and fun messaging to reach young consumers, Papagni argued raisins need that same energy, even suggesting the return of the classic “Dancing Raisins” campaign. Barserian agreed that the old campaign worked, but stressed that private-label dominance makes generic advertising difficult unless the industry unites behind a bigger effort.
The takeaway from this episode was clear: raisins aren’t just a snack—they’re part of California’s farming identity. But if growers are going to survive, the industry needs stronger demand, stronger support, and a path forward that rewards farming families instead of pushing them out.

Potter Valley Water Fight Intensifies: Todd Lands Warns “This Could Happen Anywhere in California”

The January 23 edition of the AgNet News Hour delivered one of the most emotional and urgent interviews of the year as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill zeroed in on the growing crisis in Potter Valley—a Northern California farming region now facing the potential removal of two dams that support water, jobs, and everyday life for hundreds of thousands of people.
Papagni opened the show by saying this issue should stop every listener in their tracks, because what’s happening in Potter Valley isn’t just a local fight—it’s a warning for rural communities across the state. The guest was Todd Lands, Vice Mayor and former Mayor of Cloverdale, who explained how the Potter Valley Project depends on two dams: Scott Dam (which forms Lake Pillsbury) and Cape Horn Dam, which diverts water to help create Lake Mendocino and supports power generation.
Lands said the state’s long-running push to remove dams in the name of “free-flowing rivers” would devastate the region. If the dams are removed, Potter Valley becomes a dry basin, farmland values collapse, and farming and ranching communities could disappear almost overnight. Even areas far beyond Potter Valley—including wine country—depend heavily on this system because the diversion supplies a large portion of the Russian River’s flow.
One of the most striking moments of the episode came when Lands described what daily life could look like without the water system in place: families choosing between taking a shower or doing laundry, residents losing gardens that help feed their households, and water shortages weakening local fire protection during peak wildfire season. He warned that the situation would also trigger enormous cost increases for residents, estimating that utility bills could become unbearable for most working families.
Lands also challenged the argument that dam removal will restore a thriving fishery. He said the dams only block about two miles of river, and there is evidence that removal won’t meaningfully improve salmon and trout recovery. In fact, he warned it could make conditions worse by reducing water volume and raising river temperatures—creating a tougher environment for fish survival.
Perhaps most frustrating, Lands said, is that there was a practical compromise. An independent engineering report identified upgrading the dams and installing a fish ladder as the best, most cost-effective option—but that path was reportedly shut down because it didn’t satisfy activist demands.
The hosts emphasized that this is not a partisan issue. Lands noted that both Republicans and Democrats have voiced support for keeping the Potter Valley dams because “water is life,” and because the consequences of losing the project would ripple far beyond one small town. Papagni and McGill agreed—calling this the same “fish versus people” fight California has seen before, with real communities paying the price.
Lands said local leaders tried to work through state channels but were repeatedly told it was “too late” and the outcome was already decided. That’s when the effort reached the federal level. He credited U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt for stepping in, saying their involvement gave the community hope when state leadership would not.
As the episode wrapped, Lands issued a call to action for California agriculture: write letters, contact elected officials, and demand transparency. His warning to every farming community was simple—if the state can do this to Potter Valley, it can do it to anyone.

California Pears vs. Argentina Imports: Chris Zanobini Sounds the Alarm on a Market Under Pressure

The January 22 edition of the AgNet News Hour tackled a growing concern many California growers know all too well—foreign competition flooding the market during peak domestic seasons. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill focused the conversation on California pears, featuring an interview with Chris Zanobini, Executive Director of the California Pear Advisory Board, who laid out why the state’s pear industry is fighting for survival.
Zanobini explained that California’s pear industry is relatively small, with only about 60 growers remaining—many of them fifth- and sixth-generation family farmers. Pear orchards can remain productive for decades, meaning these farms represent long-term investment and deep roots in rural communities. But now, he says, the industry’s short and carefully managed marketing window is being disrupted by imported pears arriving at the worst possible time.
California pears typically harvest beginning in early July and aim to finish shipping by late October to avoid competing with other domestic pear-growing regions like Oregon and Washington. The problem, Zanobini said, is that Argentine pears are coming into the U.S. in heavy volume during June, July, and even into September, right when California is trying to sell its crop. The result is a market that starts the season already flooded, with retailers delaying California programs by weeks.
One major concern Zanobini highlighted is a product commonly used overseas called 1-MCP, a ripening inhibitor that allows pears to store for an extremely long time, but often prevents them from ripening properly. That can lead to a poor consumer experience—hard, disappointing fruit that hurts pear demand overall. California, he noted, made a commitment years ago not to use 1-MCP because of its impact on eating quality.
The competitive imbalance comes down to cost. Zanobini said California growers face the highest production standards in the world—labor, chemical restrictions, water requirements, and environmental compliance—yet they aren’t paid extra for meeting those standards. Imported pears, meanwhile, can arrive cheaper by $5 to $10 per box, making them attractive to retailers focused on price and margins.
Zanobini also shared a jaw-dropping stat: Argentina imported more than 1.3 million boxes of pears, which exceeded California’s production of Bartlett pears this year—California’s primary variety. He said the industry can’t tolerate that trajectory much longer, and without change, more multi-generation pear farms could disappear.
Papagni and McGill pointed out that this isn’t just a pear problem—it’s a California agriculture problem, impacting everything from citrus to tomatoes to raisins. Their message to listeners was simple: California growers need a fair playing field, and consumers can help by asking for domestic fruit and supporting local farmers when it’s in season.

Drones, Sharpshooter Precision, and Almond Bloom Protection: Technology Takes Over AgNet News Hour

The January 21 edition of the AgNet News Hour was a full-on technology showcase as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill explored the fast-changing world of ag automation—from spray drones to millimeter-accurate weed control to bloom-time disease protection in almonds. The message was clear: for California growers facing rising labor costs and tighter margins, innovation isn’t a luxury anymore—it’s survival.
The show opened with Papagni on the road in Salinas, sharing a quick reminder about heavy fog across the Central Valley and then jumping into a conversation about why marketing matters, even in agriculture. The hosts pointed to how companies like Crystal Creamery are adding kid-friendly games and facts to milk cartons, small changes that can boost long-term consumer demand through smart branding.
From there, the episode shifted hard into ag tech with a featured interview with Arthur Erickson, co-founder of Hylio, a U.S.-based company manufacturing large agricultural drones designed for heavy-payload crop applications. Erickson described Helio’s newest machine, the Atlas drone, as a massive unit capable of operating at around 550 pounds fully loaded, making it more like a small flying workhorse than a hobby drone. He also shared major industry news: the administration is moving toward restricting foreign-made drones and critical drone components, opening the door for American manufacturers to grow quickly and compete at scale.
Erickson explained that drone applications can generate strong return on investment depending on the crop and use case, with research showing drones can outperform traditional tractor applications due to improved canopy penetration and reduced spray volume. Just as importantly, he emphasized ease of use: because the drones fly autonomously, both young operators and older farmers can learn quickly and put the technology to work.
Next, Papagni interviewed Chad Yagow of Verdant Robotics, a company turning heads with its “aim before it applies” system called the Sharpshooter. Yagow explained that the machine uses AI and 3D field mapping to identify weeds and crops in real time and deliver micro-targeted applications, reducing liquid use by 96 to 99 percent compared to broadcast spraying. The system mounts on a standard three-point hitch tractor and is designed to be lightweight, fuel-efficient, and usable in softer field conditions where heavier rigs struggle.
To close out the episode, Cowboy Dale interviewed Kendall Johnson of UPL, focusing on almond bloom-time disease protection. Johnson stressed that bloom is the most vulnerable window for disease entry and highlighted threats like brown rot, jacket rot, blossom blight, shot hole, scab, bacterial blast, and botrytis. He recommended strong timing from pink bud through bloom and emphasized rotating fungicide modes of action to prevent resistance. Johnson also highlighted Axios 20SC, a newer fungicide option with a unique mode of action and potential value for summer diseases like Alternaria as well.
Between drones in the sky, precision sprayers on the ground, and smarter bloom programs in the orchard, this episode was a reminder that the future of farming is arriving fast—and California growers are right in the middle of it.

Damian Mason Says California Ag Is Outnumbered, Out Regulated, and Still Unmatched

The January 20 edition of the AgNet News Hour tackled one of the biggest questions facing farmers right now: Can California agriculture stay competitive when costs keep rising and regulations never seem to slow down? Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill opened the show with a safety reminder for Central Valley drivers dealing with heavy fog, then shifted into an eye-opening interview with national keynote speaker, farmer, and ag business host Damian Mason, an “outsider looking in” who didn’t hold back on what he sees happening in California.
Mason, who farms in Indiana and has spent significant time speaking to California agriculture groups, said California’s biggest challenge is simple: farmers are outnumbered politically, and the economic engine of the Bay Area distorts how the state treats agriculture. He explained that California can “punish” farming with regulations without feeling immediate pain statewide, because most residents don’t directly work in the industry, yet the impact lands hard on the people producing the food.
One of the most striking points Mason made was about the unique advantage California has, a Mediterranean climate found in only a handful of places worldwide. He warned that strangling farming in a state that grows hundreds of crops isn’t just bad policy, it’s reckless. “You have something God-given that other places can’t replicate,” Mason said, urging leaders to stop treating agriculture like an afterthought.
Papagni and McGill agreed that growers are expected to comply with expensive rules—without getting paid more for it, while cheaper commodities roll in from countries with lower labor costs and less regulation. Mason compared California to Peru and pointed out that global competitors now have stronger infrastructure and investment than they did a decade ago, meaning the old U.S. advantage in transport and scale is shrinking fast.
The discussion also turned to labor and automation, with the hosts noting that California growers are desperate for innovation, yet policies like Cal/OSHA restrictions make it harder to adopt technologies like autonomous tractors. Mason said California’s energy contradictions, like blackouts while mandating electric systems, are part of the bigger pattern of policy not matching reality.
Still, Mason ended with optimism. He said national attention on real food, produce, and protein could be a major tailwind for California. If consumer trends continue shifting toward whole foods, specialty crops could benefit, especially in the state that grows more fresh commodities than anywhere else in the country.
To wrap the episode, Papagni also caught up with Todd Burkdoll of Valent USA, who shared timely seasonal advice for citrus and almond growers, including winter orchard floor management and staying ahead of disease threats like Red Leaf Blotch with early fungicide timing.

California’s Budget Boom, Soil Solutions, and a Major Malaysia Trade Deal for U.S. Ag

The January 19 episode of the AgNet News Hour kicked off with plenty of energy as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill mixed farm talk, policy, and global trade into a show that felt like a preview of what 2026 could bring for California agriculture.
Early in the episode, Papagni and McGill reacted to Governor Gavin Newsom’s newly announced $348.9 billion California budget, noting it’s grown dramatically since he took office. The hosts raised concerns about what that kind of spending means for small businesses and agriculture in the most heavily regulated state in the country. Papagni pointed out that the budget has increased by more than 70% and warned that California “has no idea how to spend money” while farmers and rural communities keep feeling squeezed.
From state politics, the show shifted into soil health and crop efficiency with Russell Taylor of Live Earth, a company mining humate deposits in Utah and turning them into soil amendments designed to help farmers make better use of fertilizer and water. Taylor explained humates as an ancient plant deposit—essentially “really old compost”—that can improve soil structure, nutrient retention, and water holding capacity, especially in tough California conditions like high salt and low organic matter.
Taylor also noted that California’s evolving regulations around soil amendments and biostimulant labeling could actually be favorable for growers and manufacturers in 2026. He stressed that products like humic and fulvic acids aren’t “fancy chemicals,” but natural tools that help form soil aggregates—reducing compaction, improving infiltration, and keeping fertilizer in the root zone longer. For farmers trying to stretch every dollar, Taylor said the goal isn’t necessarily “use less fertilizer,” but to get more yield out of the same inputs through better efficiency.
One of the most memorable parts of the interview was Taylor’s backstory. He shared how Live Earth began as a family operation after his father left coal mining following a tragic mine fire. What started with shovels, bathroom scales, and hand-sewn bags has grown into a product now widely recognized across the Central Valley. As Papagni put it, “That could be a movie.”
Later in the show, listeners got a major international update from Cowboy Dale’s interview with USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg, who had just returned from a trade mission in Malaysia. Lindberg explained that the agreement is designed to reduce barriers by having Malaysia formally recognize the U.S. food system as safe—something he said could unlock broad new opportunities for American agriculture, including California tree nuts, apples, wine, and more.
Lindberg also highlighted efforts to improve access for halal-certified U.S. beef and dairy, noting strong demand in Malaysia and a big jump in exports like cheese. He emphasized that the administration is focused on shrinking the trade deficit and creating more reciprocal agreements, saying the U.S. is forecasted to improve its trade deficit by roughly $13 billion compared to last year.
The bottom line from this episode: California farmers are dealing with major pressures at home, but new tools in the soil and new markets overseas could provide real momentum in 2026—if the state can stop getting in its own way.