Agricultural News

Drought Threatens To Dry Up California Farm Wells

Farmers in pockets of California hardest hit by the drought could begin to see their wells run dry a year from now if rain and snow remain scarce in the agriculturally rich state, according to a study released Tuesday. Richard …

Disaster Loans Made Available for New Mexico Small Businesses

Small businesses in eight New Mexico counties are eligible for federal disaster loans due to the drought. The U.S. Small Business Administration made the announcement Friday, saying the loans can help offset economic losses from reduced revenues caused by the …

California Drought Spawns Well Drilling Boom

The scarcity of irrigation water in drought-stricken California has created such a demand for well drilling services that Central Valley farmer Bob Smittcamp is taking matters into his own hands. He’s buying a drilling rig for $1 million to make …

Wildfire Bill Again Delayed In Colorado Legislature

The Colorado Legislature has once again delayed a vote on a bill aimed at preventing agricultural fires from starting wildfires. The move on Friday came after its sponsor said he wanted to kill the proposal because farmers oppose it. The …

California Farmers Hire Dowsers To Find Water

With California in the grips of drought, farmers throughout the state are using a mysterious and some say foolhardy tool for locating underground water: dowsers, or water witches. Practitioners of dowsing use rudimentary tools – usually copper sticks or wooden …

California Almond Farmers Face Tough Choices Amid Drought

With California’s agricultural heartland entrenched in drought, almond farmers are letting orchards dry up and in some cases making the tough call to have their trees torn out of the ground, leaving behind empty fields. In the California’s Central Valley, …

Millions in Aid for Drought-Stricken California Promises Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama is offering millions of dollars in aid and other assistance to California farmers, ranchers and communities beset by one of the worst droughts in the state’s history. The federal help will be detailed today by Obama …

Deep Freeze Damages California Citrus Crop

A weeklong blast of sub-freezing temperatures across California has damaged the state’s $2 billion citrus crop, but it will take several weeks before the extent of the loss is quantified, agricultural industry officials said on Wednesday. The National Weather Service …

Michigan Farmers Can Get Loan Help After Hail Storms

Farmers in 20 Michigan counties that had damage from severe hail storms earlier this year are eligible for emergency loans. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan announced the support Wednesday involving loans from the Farm Service Agency. The hail storms …

Wyoming Event Raises $56,000 For Blizzard-Hit South Dakota Ranchers

An auction in Gillette, Wyo. raised $56,000 for ranchers in South Dakota who lost nearly 20,000 head of cattle in a blizzard last month. The Gillette News-Record reported nearly 500 people attended Saturday’s auction at the Camp-plex events center. Co-organizer …