AgNet News Hour

Alexandra Duarte Pledges to Fight for California Farmers in State Senate Run

The October 3 edition of the AgNet News Hour featured a passionate interview with Alexandra Duarte, a farmer, mother of four, and candidate for California’s Fourth State Senate District. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill dug into Duarte’s background, her vision for California agriculture, and her fight against policies she says are driving family farmers out of business.
Duarte, who farms with her family in Stanislaus and El Dorado Counties, said her decision to run for office came from a desire to stop what she calls the “liberal policy agenda that’s devastating us.” She credited her husband, Congressman John Duarte, with encouraging her to step into politics while their children continue managing the family nursery. “I can be that middle gap in Sacramento, a voice of common sense,” Duarte told listeners.
At the heart of her campaign are water, regulations, and rural representation. Duarte insisted California does not have a water shortage, but a “Sacramento problem” created by policy failures. She called for dredging rivers and canals, building reservoirs, and increasing groundwater recharge to end manmade scarcity. “We live next to the tallest watershed in the world. We do not have a water issue,” she said.
Duarte also blasted Proposition 50, warning that it would gerrymander rural voices out of federal representation. “If Prop 50 passes, the Valley loses its ability to fight in Washington,” she cautioned.
On regulations, Duarte gave concrete examples of state overreach, including new laws requiring third-party certification for ranch gates and added costs for waste disposal in rural counties. “So many regulations seem okay, but they’re not,” she said. “They pile up until it’s impossible for farmers and small businesses to survive.”
The conversation also touched on predators threatening livestock, the struggles of the trucking industry, and the importance of youth ag programs like FFA. Duarte said her mission is generational: “We want to hand the farm down to our children. All food grown in America is safe to eat, and American-grown food is the best thing we can do for our families.”
For listeners, the message was clear: Duarte is campaigning on common sense, farm-first policies, and restoring California’s agricultural strength.
Listen to the full interview with Alexandra Duarte on the AgNet News Hour by clicking below, or on your favorite podcast app.

Raisin Industry Legends Warn of Challenges and Chart a Path Forward

The October 2 edition of the AgNet News Hour was dedicated to the raisin industry — past, present, and future. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill sat down with three icons of the raisin world: Kalem Barsarian, longtime president of the Raisin Bargaining Association, Dwayne Cardoza, current vice chairman of the RBA, and Mark McCormick, CEO of National Raisins.
Barsarian gave a sweeping history lesson, recalling how raisins were once California’s pride crop, producing more than 400,000 tons a year. But today, production has slipped under 200,000 tons annually, dropping California from the world’s number one producer to fourth — and possibly soon fifth — behind Turkey and others. He explained that land once planted with Thompson seedless grapes has been converted to more profitable crops like pistachios and almonds.
Cardoza detailed the financial pressures facing growers. This year, the RBA offered processors $2,020 per ton, the same as last year, despite growers’ costs rising by 10–15%. With rains causing additional crop damage, many growers face negative returns. He warned that without price increases and vineyard modernization, many will exit the industry. “The Thompson seedless raisin is a thing of the past,” Cardoza said, pointing to new earlier-ripening varieties and dry-on-the-vine systems as the only way forward.
McCormick brought the processor’s perspective, stressing the symbiotic relationship between packers and farmers. National Raisins supplies 85% of U.S. retail private label raisins and must hold firm on pricing despite pushback from major grocery chains. He described the challenge of competing with subsidized Turkish raisins, produced under much lower safety and labor standards, while California growers face some of the strictest regulations in the world.
Despite the challenges, all three guests emphasized opportunities. USDA programs, including crop insurance, market access funds, and school lunch purchases, remain crucial. They also highlighted the need for aggressive marketing to new generations of consumers, positioning raisins as a healthy, convenient snack. As McCormick put it, “It has to be sustainable — not just environmentally, but economically.”
The takeaway for California growers: the raisin industry isn’t dead, but it must adapt. With innovation, marketing, and political engagement, raisins can remain a vital part of the Central Valley’s farming landscape.

Kevin Kester on Cattle, Wolves, and the Fight to Keep Family Ranches Alive

The October 1 edition of the AgNet News Hour featured a wide-ranging conversation with Kevin Kester, a fifth-generation rancher from Parkfield, California, and former president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill highlighted Kester’s experience in both California ranching and national policy, bringing listeners a candid look at the future of cattle in the Golden State.
Kester described the uphill battle of running cattle in California, where land values, estate taxes, and regulatory costs far exceed most other states. “People wonder how we can even stay in business,” he said, pointing to California’s high costs and thousands of state-specific rules. Despite these challenges, the state still maintains 35 to 39 million acres of grazing land, underscoring the importance of cattle to California’s ag economy.
The conversation turned to the alarming wolf problem in the Sierra Nevada, where ranchers reported 77 documented wolf kills in just 90 days. Kester warned that California’s stricter protections compared to federal listings make the situation even harder to manage. “It’s going to take the loss of human life before anything will be done,” he said grimly.
Kester also spoke about his time at the White House, standing with President Trump and working on trade agreements, including opening markets for U.S. beef in China and Australia. He credited federal policies with helping offset some of California’s burdens but said the fight is far from over. He urged farmers to push for common-sense policies and to stay engaged in policy discussions that affect their livelihoods.
Looking ahead, Kester stressed the importance of FFA and youth engagement in agriculture. As someone who served as an FFA officer himself, he sees the program as vital to ensuring a sixth generation continues his family’s ranching legacy. “We do this to keep ranches intact and viable for the next generations,” he said, noting his six grandchildren are already helping on the ranch.
From wolf predation to estate taxes and international trade, Kester’s message was clear: California ranchers face enormous pressure, but with policy reforms and youth leadership, the industry can survive and thrive.
Listen to the full interview with Kevin Kester on the AgNet News Hour by clicking below, or on your favorite podcast app!

Pistachio Harvest Update and Fair Season Fun on AgNet News Hour

The September 30 edition of the AgNet News Hour mixed lighthearted fair talk with serious updates on California’s pistachio industry. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill opened the show with reminders to get out and support FFA and 4-H students at the upcoming Fresno Fair, before pivoting to an in-depth conversation with Rich Kreps, pistachio grower, Ultra Gro agronomist, and board chairman for American Pistachio Growers.
Kreps reported that despite late-season rains causing isolated losses in Kings and Fresno Counties, California pistachio growers are harvesting one of the best crops in years. Quality is high, volume is strong, and the U.S. industry has already committed over one billion pounds to domestic and international buyers. “Farmers are pretty darn happy,” Kreps said, noting that the only downside is the wait: growers won’t see final payments until 14 months after harvest.
Price, Kreps explained, depends on processors. While Wonderful’s opening price landed below a dollar, other handlers came in higher, and with bonuses and export premiums, many expect final settlements closer to $2 per pound or more. That’s welcome news in a year when pistachio quality is strong, even if nut size is slightly smaller due to the large crop.
The discussion highlighted why pistachios are a long-term play. Trees can live centuries — there are orchards still producing that were planted in the 1960s — but they take years to become profitable. “It’s legalized gambling,” Kreps said. “You better love it, because you’re not making money in the first 10 years.”
Beyond harvest, Kreps praised the marketing success of American pistachios abroad, including campaigns in India where cricket stars promote the nut as a healthy, high-protein snack. He also stressed the need for California water solutions, saying the state has enough annual runoff to supply five years of use if only it were stored properly.
From corndog recalls to trade policy, Nick and Josh kept the conversation lively, but the takeaway for farmers was clear: 2025 is shaping up as a strong year for pistachios, and California’s position as the world’s leading producer remains secure.

John Duarte Shares Bold Nursery Innovations and Warns of Prop 50 Threat

The September 29 edition of the AgNet News Hour kicked off the week with a deep dive into the future of California agriculture. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill sat down with John Duarte, president of Duarte Nurseries, for a conversation that blended innovation, new crops, and urgent political warnings.
Duarte, whose family nursery dates back to 1989, explained how forward thinking has kept the business at the cutting edge. From pioneering virus-free grapevines to advancing clonal rootstocks for almonds and pistachios, Duarte has made science the foundation of orchard success. He revealed that Duarte’s new Yorazani almond variety has broken records, producing 2,700 pounds per acre in just 36 months. “It resets the economics of almond growing,” Duarte told listeners, stressing that productivity is the key to surviving low nut prices.
The nursery’s work doesn’t stop with almonds. Duarte said their pistachio vigor clonal rootstock has shown a 30% improvement over seedlings in long-term trials. Looking ahead, he is most excited about a new frontier: avocados in the Central Valley. With breakthroughs in micropropagation, Duarte expects to deliver widely available avocado trees to California growers by 2027. “Consumers are telling us they want avocados — and the Valley can deliver,” he said.
But Duarte’s optimism was tempered by political concern. He called Proposition 50 a direct threat to Central Valley farmers, warning that the measure would gerrymander rural communities out of fair representation. “If Prop 50 passes, the Valley loses its voice in Washington,” he said, urging farmers and listeners to mobilize against it.
Duarte also tied California’s farm challenges to the larger issue of food security. With a $32 billion agricultural trade deficit, he argued that relying on imports makes the U.S. vulnerable. “Working families are the ones paying the price,” Duarte said, noting that higher costs and lower quality imports hurt everyday Californians most.
From almonds and pistachios to the promise of Central Valley avocados, Duarte continues to bring solutions at a time when agriculture needs them most. Farmers left this episode with both new ideas and a clear warning: the future of California farming depends on innovation and political engagement.
Catch the full interview with John Duarte on the AgNet News Hour by clicking below, or on your favorite podcast app.

California Farm Bureau’s Shannon Douglas Tackles Prop 50, Farm Bill, and the Future of Farming

The September 26 edition of the AgNet News Hour closed out the week with one of the state’s most important agricultural voices. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill welcomed Shannon Douglas, president of the California Farm Bureau, for a wide-ranging conversation on water, regulation, trade, and the survival of California’s family farms.
Douglas, a former FFA member and now a proud “FFA mom,” shared her passion for youth in agriculture. She reminded listeners that FFA isn’t just for farm kids — it can spark careers in science, technology, and leadership for students from all backgrounds. “We have tremendous career opportunities in agriculture,” she said, pointing to data showing over four jobs per crop science graduate in California.
On policy, Douglas highlighted three critical issues she and her team took to Washington, D.C.:
Labor and Immigration – Farmers can’t function without a reliable, respected workforce.
Trade – California’s high-quality specialty crops depend on international markets.
The Farm Bill – Current versions overlook specialty crops and need to better support healthy food programs.
She also raised alarm over Proposition 50, which she called a “surprise challenge” for farmers. By reshaping district maps in a gerrymandered way, rural representation could be severely weakened. One proposal would lump Modoc County in with Sausalito, a pairing Douglas called absurd. She stressed that rural voices must be preserved in California’s political process.
Perhaps the most staggering statistic Douglas shared: in the last 15 years, California farmers have seen regulatory costs increase by nearly 1,400%. That crushing burden has contributed to a 20% loss of family farms in just the past decade. “These are small farms, family farms — and we don’t want to see this loss continue,” she warned.
Despite the challenges, Douglas struck an optimistic tone. She pointed to innovation, automation, and the grit of California’s multi-generation farmers as reasons for hope. She also encouraged more farmers to get involved in Farm Bureau, which represents 26,000 members across 54 counties, and to attend the Annual Meeting in December with its theme: Strong Roots, Bright Future.
For Papagni and McGill, Douglas’ leadership was clear: she’s the right person to carry California’s farmer stories into the halls of power.
Listen to the full conversation with Shannon Douglas on the AgNet News Hour by clicking below, or on your favorite podcast a

Mike Harvey and Lorenzo Rios Share Powerful Stories on AgNet News Hour

The September 25 edition of the AgNet News Hour featured two guests with deep roots in the Central Valley, both offering powerful perspectives on the challenges — and the future — of California agriculture. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill first welcomed Mike Harvey, a Bakersfield native whose family once farmed in Delano, and later sat down with Lorenzo Rios, a military veteran and CEO of the Clovis Veterans Memorial District now running for Congress in District 21.
Harvey, now the head of the youth-focused nonprofit 5-11, reflected on his family’s long history in farming. Regulations, water shortages, and rising labor costs ultimately forced them out of land ownership, a story familiar to many Valley farmers. “We sold that property… it made it cost prohibitive to continue to operate,” Harvey said, pointing to how policies have driven out even well-established farm families. Today, Harvey is channeling his leadership into FFA programs and youth outreach, urging the next generation to carry forward agriculture’s values.
Harvey also recounted attending the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, calling it one of the most unifying events he’s ever witnessed. He stressed the importance of youth leadership, saying groups like FFA, Turning Point USA, and 5-11 give kids the tools to find their voice and future in agriculture and beyond.
The program then shifted to Lorenzo Rios, who brought both military and community leadership experience to the conversation. A naturalized citizen and retired Army officer, Rios has spent the last decade helping veterans transition into civilian life. Now, he’s seeking a seat in Congress to fight for farmers and small businesses in the Central Valley.
“Congress can approve and fund long-delayed projects like Temperance Flat and Sites Reservoirs,” Rios said, calling water storage one of his top priorities. He also pledged to streamline permitting, reform the Endangered Species Act, and push for a farm bill that protects family farms, not foreign corporations. For Rios, agriculture is national security, and he made clear he sees farmers as environmental stewards rather than the problem.
Both guests echoed a common message: California agriculture cannot survive without policy changes, water investment, and strong leadership. And both pointed to the Central Valley as the heart of America’s food security.
Listen to the full episode featuring Mike Harvey and Lorenzo Rios on the AgNet News Hour by clicking below, or on your favorite podcast app!

Lisa Kerr Warns of Policy Threats and Fights for California Farmers

The September 24 edition of the AgNet News Hour featured one of the program’s most eye-opening interviews yet. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill welcomed Lisa Kerr, founder of Terrain Technologies, who laid out a stark picture of California agriculture’s future if current policies continue unchecked.
Kerr, who has deep family roots in California’s oil and gas industry, connected her own experiences in Taft to the struggles farmers now face. She explained how state and federal policies, backed by billions in grant funding, have deliberately targeted industries like oil, gas, timber, and now agriculture. “They strategically go after landowners who are asset heavy and relentlessly pursue them until they get every last dime,” she warned.
Water was a central theme of the conversation. Kerr argued California’s shortages are a manmade crisis, worsened by policy failures and financial interests. With water being traded as a commodity and environmental groups wielding outsized influence, she cautioned that rural communities could soon face the same fate as Taft — once a thriving oil town, now struggling after restrictive policies forced wells to close.
Kerr also raised concerns about California’s push for electric trucks and solar panels on farmland. “If you’re not ready for the automation and you push $450,000 electric trucks on farmers, you squeeze them to death,” she said. The same, she argued, goes for proposals to convert fertile ground into solar farms. “Water is the answer, not solar panels.”
Despite the sobering outlook, Kerr pointed to opportunities. She highlighted new federal and NIFA grants that support ag innovators, encouraging farmers with bold ideas to pursue funding. Her company, Terrain Technologies, is working to defend agriculture and bring tools from AI and national security into farm operations.
For Papagni and McGill, Kerr’s story was both a warning and a rallying cry. “If you don’t think they can take farming away from you, just look at Taft,” McGill said. Both hosts agreed that farmers must stay united, engaged, and proactive in defending California agriculture.
Listen to the full conversation with Lisa Kerr on the AgNet News Hour by clicking below or on your favorite podcast app.