AgNet News Hour

USDA Specialty Crop Assistance, Water Policy, and California Agriculture in Focus

California agriculture received significant attention during a recent visit from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who announced nearly $1.7 billion in federal assistance for specialty crop producers while emphasizing the importance of food security, trade opportunities, and long-term support for American farmers.
During a stop in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Rollins highlighted the state’s critical role in feeding both the nation and the world. California produces more agricultural products than any other state, accounting for more than $60 billion in annual farm sales and supplying consumers with everything from almonds and grapes to potatoes, citrus, and vegetables.
One of the major announcements from the visit was the launch of the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. The initiative will provide nearly $1.7 billion in support to specialty crop growers facing economic pressures from rising labor costs, input expenses, and international competition. According to Rollins, enrollment began June 1 and will remain open through August 7.
“Specialty crop producers across the nation have faced negative margins and growing economic pressure due to rising labor costs, import pressures, and high input prices,” Rollins said.
The AgNet News Hour team attended the event and also spoke with USDA California State Executive Director Connie Conway, who emphasized the challenges California farmers face before a crop is even planted.
“I think Cal Poly did a study. I think they said it was $1,700 an acre in fees before you even start farming,” Conway said. “That’s not a seed. That’s not a tree. That’s not fertilizer. That’s not diesel. That’s not water.”
Much of the discussion centered on California’s regulatory climate, water management policies, and the future of specialty crop production. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill noted ongoing concerns about water allocations, particularly for growers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley who continue to face restrictions despite recent wet years and strong reservoir levels.
California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass also participated in discussions and stressed the importance of maintaining agriculture as a priority for state and federal policymakers. He noted that water availability, labor legislation, international trade, and predator management remain key issues facing farmers heading into the summer growing season.
The program also highlighted growing efforts to expand export opportunities for U.S. specialty crops. Rollins pointed to increasing agricultural exports and new trade agreements that could help California growers access additional international markets.
Throughout the discussion, a recurring theme emerged: the belief that food production should remain a central focus of public policy.
“Food security is national security,” Rollins said during the event.
As California growers continue navigating regulatory challenges, labor shortages, rising production costs, and water concerns, industry leaders say support programs and policy reforms will play an important role in maintaining the state’s position as one of the world’s leading agricultural producers.
For specialty crop producers, the newly announced federal assistance program may provide some near-term relief while larger conversations about water, trade, labor, and agricultural competitiveness continue.

California Agriculture, Water, and Regulations Take Center Stage in AgNet News Hour Discussion

The AgNet News Hour focused heavily on California politics, agriculture policy, water management, labor concerns, and the future of farming during a wide-ranging June 1 broadcast featuring political analyst David Collenberg and discussions surrounding the upcoming gubernatorial race.
Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill opened the program by discussing frustration among farmers and ranchers who feel agriculture is being overlooked in statewide political debates despite California producing much of the nation’s food supply.
“We need leadership that understands agriculture,” Papagni said during the broadcast as the conversation shifted toward regulation, water storage, energy costs, and food production.
Political analyst David Collenberg joined the show to discuss the evolving governor’s race and the growing divide between Sacramento policies and the concerns of working Californians, particularly in rural communities and the agricultural sector.
Collenberg said agriculture has become one of the clearest examples of California’s broader affordability and regulatory problems.
“When people can’t afford fuel, can’t afford electricity, can’t afford food, it all ties together,” Collenberg explained.
Water policy remained one of the dominant themes throughout the show. Papagni and McGill discussed ongoing frustration from growers who continue to see water shortages, pumping restrictions, and infrastructure delays despite multiple wet winters and strong reservoir levels in parts of the state.
“We have the water. We just don’t store it,” McGill said during the discussion.
The conversation also touched on increasing production costs facing California farmers, including labor expenses, insurance, fuel prices, fertilizer costs, and state regulations. Papagni noted that many longtime family farming operations are reaching a difficult crossroads as generational growers evaluate whether the next generation can continue farming in California.
Cherry growers and specialty crop producers were also mentioned as industries facing particularly difficult economic conditions this season due to rising costs and shifting markets.
“There are growers hanging on right now,” Papagni said. “But it’s getting harder every single year.”
Wildfire prevention and land management became another major topic during the discussion. Collenberg argued that California’s forest management and environmental policies have contributed to dangerous fuel buildup and growing fire risks across rural areas.
The show also explored migration trends as more Californians continue relocating to states such as Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Arizona in search of lower costs of living and fewer regulations.
Despite the concerns raised throughout the broadcast, the hosts emphasized optimism about California agriculture’s future if policy changes allow growers more flexibility and support.
“We still grow the best food in the world right here in California,” Papagni said.
The program concluded with continued calls for practical solutions involving water storage, regulatory reform, infrastructure investment, and support for California farmers and ranchers.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

Steve Hilton Calls for Major Changes to California Water, Energy, and Agriculture Policies

The AgNet News Hour featured California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton in a wide-ranging interview focused on agriculture, water policy, energy costs, regulations, and the future direction of the state ahead of the upcoming jungle primary.
Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill opened the program by noting frustration that recent gubernatorial debates largely ignored agriculture despite California’s massive farming economy. Hilton said agriculture has been “strangled and throttled” by state leadership and promised major changes if elected governor.
“You’re never going to have a stronger champion for farming and agriculture than me when I’m governor,” Hilton said.
Hilton repeatedly criticized California’s current water management system, arguing that environmental policies and regulatory decisions have limited water deliveries to growers while hurting rural communities.
“We can increase deliveries within our current water infrastructure,” he said while discussing the State Water Resources Control Board and water allocation policies.
Energy policy was another major topic throughout the interview. Hilton blamed California’s high diesel, electricity, and fuel costs on climate regulations, restrictions on oil production, and state environmental mandates that he argued increase costs for farmers and consumers alike.
“Energy costs go into everything,” Hilton explained, pointing to fuel, transportation, processing, and irrigation expenses impacting agriculture across the state.
Hilton also criticized California’s push toward solar development on farmland and accused state leadership of neglecting agriculture in favor of environmental ideology.
“They are happy to see farmland ripped out and replaced by solar farms,” Hilton said.
The interview also focused heavily on regulations and labor costs. Hilton discussed concerns over PAGA lawsuits, overtime rules, Air Resources Board regulations, and the cost of complying with state mandates.
“We’ve got to deal with the lawsuits that are crippling so many industries,” he said.
Hilton said his administration would work closely with the federal government on agriculture, transportation, and water projects rather than maintaining ongoing political conflict with Washington.
“I know Brooke Rollins very well,” Hilton said, referencing the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. “We’re going to be working together well.”
Transportation infrastructure and taxes also became part of the discussion. Hilton criticized California’s gas tax, vehicle registration fees, and the state’s ongoing high-speed rail project, arguing taxpayers are not seeing results from the money being spent.
“We put in the highest taxes in the country and get the worst results,” Hilton said.
Throughout the conversation, Hilton framed the election as a choice between continuing current policies or pursuing major reforms focused on affordability, water reliability, lower energy costs, and regulatory relief.
“We’ve got everything we need in California,” Hilton said. “We just need common sense leadership.”
The broadcast also featured a Growing Edge segment with Valent USA discussing organic pest management tools, including PyGanic and the Debug product line, along with challenges facing organic growers dealing with thrips, aphids, navel orangeworm, and spotted wing drosophila.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

Chad Bianco Says California Must End Forced Policies, Expand Water Storage, and Support Agriculture

Riverside County Sheriff and California governor candidate Chad Bianco returned to the AgNet News Hour for part two of his conversation about California agriculture, water policy, regulations, energy, immigration, and the future of the state.
The interview opened with discussion surrounding California’s latest water allocation announcement, which increased allocations to Westlands Water District growers from 20% to 25%. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill criticized the state’s inability to store water despite multiple wet years and full northern reservoirs.
“We don’t know how to store it when we do have it,” McGill said during the broadcast.
Bianco said California’s problems are driven by government mandates and policies that force ideas onto residents and businesses instead of allowing innovation and practical solutions.
“There is no way on earth that wind and solar provide us the electricity that we need,” Bianco said. “It just can’t happen. So why are we forcing it to happen?”
Bianco argued California should focus on reliable energy, domestic oil production, water storage, and reducing regulations that hurt farmers and businesses.
“We have way more water than we need in California,” he said. “It’s just purposely wasted and sent out to the ocean every single year.”
The conversation also focused heavily on agriculture. Bianco said California farmers are being crushed by regulation, rising costs, and water shortages despite producing food for the nation and much of the world.
“There is help on the horizon,” Bianco told listeners. “This is somebody that’s been working hand in hand with our ag community for 33 years.”
Bianco said he wants California to once again become a national leader in agriculture by removing barriers and supporting local food production.
“California school systems will be supplied with California food and ag,” he said. “Ag, meat, poultry — everything will be California grown, California made.”
Energy policy was another major topic. Bianco said California has the ability to reduce fuel costs significantly by utilizing its own oil resources instead of relying on imports.
“We will stop buying from other countries,” he said. “California can be oil independent.”
The interview also touched on sanctuary state policies, immigration, public safety, homelessness, and the relationship between California and the federal government. Bianco emphasized the importance of cooperation with Washington and said California cannot succeed while isolating itself politically.
“We have to have someone willing to work with anyone and everyone,” he said.
Bianco also addressed criticism related to protests and unrest during the BLM demonstrations several years ago, explaining that a widely circulated video showing him kneeling was part of a public prayer before law enforcement later dispersed rioters.
“The truth never changes,” Bianco said. “That was simply prayer.”
The broadcast concluded with Bianco encouraging Californians to vote and become more involved in shaping the state’s future.
“California is already great,” he said. “We’re just not doing what we should be doing.”
The program also featured an almond industry update with Almond Board of California spokesperson Bryce Spycher, who discussed the USDA’s 2.7 billion-pound subjective almond estimate for the upcoming season and described the market as stable and balanced heading into harvest.

Chad Bianco Says California Agriculture Needs Deregulation, Water Solutions, and Common Sense Leadership

The AgNet News Hour featured part one of a two-part conversation with Riverside County Sheriff and California governor candidate Chad Bianco, focusing on agriculture, water, regulation, public safety, and the upcoming jungle primary.
Bianco said recent governor debates failed to address one of California’s most important industries: farming and agriculture. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill also expressed frustration that candidates were asked about climate policy while agriculture, water, and food production received little attention.
“Ag is one of the main drivers of the success of California,” Bianco said. “Our current policies are causing it to dwindle away.”
Bianco argued that California’s challenges are not caused by farmers, ranchers, small businesses, or residents, but by state policy coming out of Sacramento.
“It’s a bad Sacramento policy,” he said. “It’s bad, broken policy that’s creating an environment where it’s not sustainable.”
Water was a major focus of the conversation. Bianco said California has the ability to grow and produce more, but current regulations and water policies are limiting agriculture’s potential.
“We have water, it’s disappearing, causing our farming and ag community to just dwindle away,” he said.
Bianco also said California should be expanding food production, not reducing it.
“We have to increase it, not shrink it,” he said. “We’re supposed to be prosperous. We’re supposed to be growing.”
The conversation also covered regulation, rising costs, generational farming, and the difficulty many family operations face when trying to pass farms down to the next generation. Bianco said government has made it harder for farm families to maintain ownership and continue operating.
“The California dream is being able to own your own home, own your own business, own your own farm,” he said.
Bianco said one of his first priorities as governor would be removing regulations that make California less competitive than other states.
“We are going to sign away the regulations,” Bianco said. “Not to make us a third-world country, but to make us have an equal playing field with the rest of the country.”
The interview also touched on polling, public safety, homelessness, the Palisades fires, COVID-era frustration, and growing concerns over state leadership. Bianco said many Californians—Republicans, independents, and moderate Democrats—are looking for practical solutions, not more political talking points.
“Democrats are willing to cross party lines because they want to be safe,” he said. “They want their businesses back open.”
As the primary approaches, Bianco encouraged voters to look past party labels and focus on who can actually fix California’s problems.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

California Pear Growers Push for Quality, Fair Market as Early Season Approaches

The AgNet News Hour featured California Pear Advisory Board Executive Director Chris Zanobini, who discussed the upcoming pear season, market challenges, imported fruit concerns, and the future of one of California’s longtime specialty crop industries.
Zanobini said the 2025 season was difficult for California pear growers, largely because of heavy competition from imported fruit on retail shelves. One of the biggest concerns is fruit treated with shelf-life extension products, which can leave pears hard and slow to ripen.
“Any inferior product in the marketplace, whether it’s from somewhere else or even from our neighbors, definitely has a negative impact on the product that we’re producing,” Zanobini said.
California pear growers have taken a different approach. Zanobini said the industry made a commitment several years ago not to use 1-MCP, a ripening inhibitor used in some imported pears.
“We know that our product is going to get in there, it’s going to turn color, and it’s going to have that sweet, juicy, incredible flavor that consumers want,” he said.
That quality message is especially important as California’s pear industry continues to shrink. Zanobini said the state is now down to about 50 pear growers and roughly 4,000 acres, compared to hundreds of growers and much larger production numbers in previous decades.
“These families have been doing this for multiple generations,” he said. “In many cases, we’re into the fifth or sixth generation of pear farmers.”
The 2026 crop is expected to arrive early, following the same trend seen in several California crops this season. Zanobini said Bartlett pears could begin showing up by the fourth week of June, possibly earlier.
“We bloomed two weeks earlier,” he said. “As long as things continue to go the way they’ve been going, we will definitely have pears by the end of June.”
For consumers, the message is simple: look for California-grown or USA-grown labels when buying pears. Zanobini said those PLU stickers matter, especially when shoppers are trying to avoid imported pears that may not deliver the same eating experience.
“Come the end of June, eat pears,” he said. “Eat California pears.”
The conversation also touched on broader pressures facing California agriculture, including labor, fuel, freight, water, regulations, and competition from imports. Zanobini said growers are not looking for handouts—they simply want a fair chance to grow a high-quality product and get paid for it.
“Farmers don’t really want bailouts,” he said. “They want to do their day’s work, grow a wonderful product, and then get paid for it.”
Despite the challenges, Zanobini said the outlook for this year’s crop is strong, with good supply and excellent quality expected.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

Edward Ring Says California Faces Critical Crossroads on Energy, Water, and Agriculture

The AgNet News Hour wrapped up its special four-part interview series with California Policy Center Director of Water and Energy Policy Edward Ring, focusing on California’s growing energy crisis, government overreach, water infrastructure failures, and the upcoming governor race that could shape the future of agriculture statewide.
Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill opened the Memorial Day episode by honoring military service members before diving back into the increasingly urgent discussion surrounding California’s oil, gas, water, and economic challenges.
Ring warned that California is approaching a dangerous turning point as refinery shutdowns, regulatory pressure, and political gridlock continue creating instability throughout the state’s energy sector.
“We have a very unique opportunity with the federal administration right now,” Ring said while discussing the need for California leadership willing to work alongside Washington instead of fighting ongoing political battles.
A major focus of the interview centered on California’s growing dependence on imported fuel and the potential for future gas shortages. Hosts noted concerns that refinery closures and limited imports could create severe supply problems later this summer if conditions worsen.
Ring argued that California’s energy and water shortages are largely the result of policy decisions, overregulation, and failed infrastructure planning rather than unavoidable environmental realities.
“Everything is a man-made problem in California,” hosts emphasized throughout the discussion.
Ring said one of the first priorities for a new governor should be replacing agency leadership and regulatory officials who continue promoting what he described as “scarcity-oriented bureaucracies.”
“We need genuine pro-abundance advocates,” Ring said.
The interview also explored how the federal government could potentially override some California restrictions tied to desalination, offshore drilling, and water infrastructure projects through existing federal law and partnerships with the state.
“If we were willing to work with the federal government, especially now, we could restore water and energy abundance,” Ring explained.
Politics remained front and center throughout the final installment of the series as Ring discussed the crowded California governor race and the challenges Republican candidates face in a heavily Democratic state.
“The Republican Party and the voters have got to unify,” Ring said while discussing the possibility of Steve Hilton emerging as the leading challenger in the race.
Ring also argued that California’s long-term problems stem from decades of prioritizing social programs and bureaucracy over infrastructure investment, including water storage, energy production, transportation, and housing development.
“If we simply deregulated and allowed private industry to compete, they could offer products at affordable prices,” he said.
The conversation repeatedly returned to agriculture and the importance of preserving farming, water reliability, and food production in California. Ring stressed that affordable water and energy remain foundational to every aspect of the economy, from fertilizer and transportation to housing and food prices.
“Everything in California costs more,” Ring explained while discussing how energy costs ripple through the entire supply chain.
As the four-part Edward Ring series concluded, hosts encouraged listeners to stay engaged ahead of the governor primary election and continue pushing for policies focused on infrastructure, abundance, and long-term sustainability for California agriculture and rural communities.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

Edward Ring Warns California Energy Policies Are Driving Up Gas Prices and Hurting Agriculture

The AgNet News Hour continued its special four-part interview series with California Policy Center Director of Water and Energy Policy Edward Ring, this time shifting focus from water to the state’s escalating oil, gas, and energy challenges. Part four of the series will air Memorial Day.
Ring joined hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill to explain why California drivers continue paying some of the highest fuel prices in the nation despite the state sitting on enormous oil reserves and possessing some of the strictest environmental regulations in the world.
“We are importing refined gasoline from refineries in Asia,” Ring said while discussing California’s growing dependence on overseas fuel supplies.
According to Ring, California now imports roughly 20 percent of its refined gasoline after shutting down multiple refineries over recent years. He warned that the state’s increasing reliance on imported fuel is driving prices even higher for consumers and businesses alike.
“That adds 50 cents to a dollar to the price of gasoline right there,” Ring explained.
The conversation focused heavily on how energy costs directly impact agriculture through fuel prices, freight, fertilizer production, processing costs, and transportation throughout the food supply chain.
Ring argued that California’s energy policies are making the state less competitive while simultaneously forcing businesses and jobs to leave.
“We have the cleanest, most strictly regulated oil drilling and refining industry in the world,” he said.
One of the more surprising parts of the interview involved Ring’s explanation that increased oil production in California could actually improve air quality in places like Los Angeles by reducing natural methane seepage and limiting pollution from overseas oil tankers waiting offshore.
“You could actually improve the air quality in Los Angeles if you drilled for more oil,” Ring said.
The discussion also explored how shrinking oil production is hurting communities throughout Kern County and towns like Taft, where generations of families have depended on energy jobs.
“When jobs go away, people have to move out,” hosts said while discussing the long-term economic impact on rural California communities.
Ring warned that uncertainty surrounding California regulations is discouraging long-term investment in energy infrastructure, pipelines, and refining capacity.
“You can’t demand companies lose money,” he said while discussing why businesses continue leaving the state.
The interview also turned toward California’s broader climate and renewable energy policies, including offshore wind, electric vehicle mandates, and rising electricity costs.
Ring criticized what he described as an “energy scarcity” strategy that artificially increases energy prices in order to force adoption of alternative technologies that still remain expensive and difficult to scale.
“That’s why electricity is 30 cents a kilowatt hour in California,” he said.
Beyond energy, hosts connected the discussion back to agriculture and the upcoming governor race, arguing that farming, food production, water, and energy policy remain deeply interconnected issues that have received too little attention during recent statewide debates.
“We need solutions,” hosts emphasized repeatedly throughout the broadcast.
The episode also featured an interview with Huma Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fred Nichols, discussing SurfMax, a new water management product now registered in California that aims to help growers improve irrigation efficiency and nutrient delivery.
As the Edward Ring series continues into Memorial Day, the AgNet News Hour remains focused on how California policy decisions surrounding water, energy, and agriculture could shape the future of farming and rural communities statewide.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.