California Agriculture

Volume 80, Issue 1, 2026

California Agriculture 2026

Articles

Building soil health: Lessons learned from seven field trials on the California Central Coast
California’s Healthy Soils Program (HSP) funds demonstration projects to assess and showcase the impact of HSP practices in California agroecosystems. Here, we summarize findings from seven controlled field trials, each 2 to 3 years in length, and assess the potential of various HSP practices to improve soil health and mitigate climate change in California’s Central Coast vineyards, orchards, cropland, and rangeland. The effect of compost application on soil health and carbon (C) sequestration varied between trials and was impacted by application rate, compost source, and soil properties. Reducing tillage intensity decreased yield in one of three project years and had limited effects on soil health and C sequestration in dryland forage, while no-till did not affect yield or winegrape quality in a biodynamic vineyard. Cover crops in two lemon orchards also showed few effects, likely due to low biomass production of rainfed cover crops during drought. We emphasize the importance of long-term assessments to quantify HSP practice effects and evaluate potential returns on investment across varying soils, environments, and agroecosystems, especially under climate change.
Accepting food assistance benefits varied by market operator type at Sacramento region farmers markets
This study examines the availability of food assistance programming at certified farmers markets in the Sacramento region of California. These programs offer nutrition benefits to shoppers and economic benefits to direct-marketing farmers and the wider regional economy. We used surveys (n = 59) and interviews (n = 9) to ask market managers about acceptance of CalFresh (the program name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in California), WIC/Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and incentive programs. Food assistance programming was widespread: 59% of markets redeemed CalFresh, 64% accepted WIC/Senior FMNP benefits, 34% offered the incentive program Market Match and 14% offered another type of incentive. Regarding CalFresh, market managers reported that staffing needs, administrative work and lack of information were their top challenges. The most common concerns with FMNP were a perceived lack of customers, lack of participating farmers and lack of information. One of the most notable findings was that the market operator’s legal entity type was related to program acceptance: 80% of markets that accept CalFresh and 90% that offer incentives were operated by nonprofits, whereas only 14% of certified producer-operated markets accepted CalFresh and 5% offered incentives. The results point to the need to collaborate with markets operated by certified producers who are interested in accepting CalFresh and work with community organizations interested in partnering with markets to support the availability of food assistance programs.
- 1 supplemental ZIP
4-H Sustainable Polymers curriculum strengthens youth scientific literacy
Plastics are integral to modern life, but their production, use, and disposal also create significant environmental and social challenges, making scientific literacy about plastics important for informed civic and personal decision making. We examined how the grade 9-12 4-H Sustainable Polymers curriculum supported youth scientific literacy in two California school settings led by 4-H educators. Using a multiple case study design, we analyzed post-program focus group data from 13 high school youth with a framework that defined scientific literacy across four dimensions: science content, scientific reasoning skills, interest and attitudes, and contribution through applied participation. Youth described learning core ideas about plastics, including material properties, life cycles, and environmental impacts. They also reported using evidence through graphs, observations, research, and discussion to interpret plastics-related issues. Hands-on, materials-based activities were described as especially engaging, and youth connected what they learned to possible actions ranging from reducing personal plastic use to supporting community, producer, and policy responses. These findings suggest that experiential, place-based environmental science education can support youth scientific literacy when learning is tied to meaningful everyday issues.
- 1 supplemental ZIP
Grassland biomass thresholds critical to fire behavior in California
Anecdotal and fire behavior modeling evidence indicates that livestock grazing can reduce herbaceous fuels and improve ecosystem resilience in an era of expanding and intensifying wildfires. To quantify these effects in California, we established a statewide, multi-year (2020 to 2022) study manipulating herbaceous biomass levels within prescribed fire footprints to examine the relationship between herbaceous biomass levels and key fire behavior metrics. We identified multiple biomass thresholds that may be incorporated into land management and planning documents. Grasslands with fewer than 384 pounds (lb) per acre (43 grams per square meter [g/m²]) biomass had greater than 90% probability of stopping a fire before reaching 33 feet (ft) (10 meters [m]) while grasslands with biomass greater than 1,248 lb/acre (140 g/m²) had a near zero probability of stopping a fire before reaching 33 ft. Biomass values below 2,496 lb/acre (280 g/m²) had only a 3% probability of reaching 4 ft (1.2 m) flame height. These biomass thresholds and associated fire behavior metrics can be strategically employed to manage grasslands to protect California’s communities in the context of meeting other goals, including minimum residual dry matter standards.
- 1 supplemental ZIP
California sheep and goat ranchers adjust to wage increases
California’s Assembly Bill 1066 overtime-for-farm workers law increased minimum sheep and goat range herder wages by 250% in 6 years, from less than $2,000 a month in 2018 to almost $5,000 in 2025. However, higher wages did not attract domestic U.S. workers to herding: most herders in the United States are workers from Peru and Mexico who have H-2A visas. Sheep and goat ranchers responded to higher herder wages by assigning more animals to each herder, switching from monthly to hourly wages where feasible, and expanding their herds or exiting the business. More became vegetation managers, earning payments from clients when their sheep and goats consume vegetation on crop lands and solar farms and grass and brush in the urban–wildland interface to reduce wildfire risks.
The benefits of oak woodland restoration can exceed the costs of treating conifer encroachment
Woody encroachment is a common threat in many fire-dependent ecosystems throughout the world. In northwestern California, conifer encroachment threatens the survival of deciduous oak woodlands and rangeland habitats, resulting in many negative impacts to flora and fauna biodiversity and livestock production. This study characterizes the benefits and costs of oak woodland restoration projects where Douglas fir is removed, weighing the timber value of the encroaching Douglas fir trees with the costs of removal and the value of post-restoration forage. Through a series of interviews and surveys, coupled with additional data collection and literature review, we found that the benefits of oak restoration through the removal of the Douglas fir encroachment exceeded the costs of treatment for landowners on average.
- 1 supplemental ZIP
Exploratory survey of rice growing practices identifies perceptions and management of weedy rice
Weedy rice (Oryza sativa L. spp.) is an emerging weed in California rice production. To address weedy rice issues and improve extension efforts, information is needed about the prevalence of growing practices that may contribute to or prevent weedy rice infestations, and about grower awareness and perceptions of weedy rice. Using a mail-in and online survey, we gathered information in the spring of 2019 from growers and pest control advisors about their rice production practices and attitudes about weedy rice. The 157 respondents reported diverse rice production systems, growing practices, and weed management methods. Weedy rice was reported on only a small number of respondents’ farms, and most respondents did not consider weedy rice to be a serious issue for them. Survey results indicate that most respondents are already implementing practices to prevent the spread of weedy rice on the land they manage. These proactive measures will play a critical role in safeguarding rice production and mitigating the potential for future infestations.
Nitrogen budgeting made easy for annual summer crops with a new online calculator
The need for fertilizer nitrogen (N) highly depends on site-specific factors. In addition to fertilizers, residual soil nitrate, nitrate in the irrigation water and N mineralized from soil, organic matter can provide significant amounts of crop-available N. The need for fertilizer N can be more accurately determined by having estimations of N contribution from these sources. In this paper we discuss the factors affecting the amount of N available to summer annual crops from these sources. We introduce an online tool that calculates the amount of fertilizer N required to meet average yields expected at the field scale based on user supplied site-specific input.