Ag communications professional covering production agricultural issues in the West for Farm Progress publications. I'm a US Army veteran and a graduate of California State University, Chico.https://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lrsv6sabyk2rTanya Hodges leads a unique public-private partnership that collaborates conversations between private industry, the University of Arizona and public agencies. https://www.farmprogress.com/crops/researcher-on-a-mission-to-advance-arid-agriculture17 Jun 2025 16:13 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrsv6sabyk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lqdnb5kop22pUC Riverside entomologist studying effective, sustainable ways to control insects responsible for killing palm trees in southern California. Efforts could lead to effective tools for date farmers. https://www.farmprogress.com/insects/researchers-seek-better-ways-to-kill-palm-weevil29 May 2025 21:16 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqdnb5kop22phttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lnyoqjbm2k2yFarmers are scrambling to figure out what other crop(s) they can plant to the 20,000 acres of land once dedicated to sugar beets. https://www.farmprogress.com/business/california-s-last-sugar-beet-facility-closes30 Apr 2025 01:52 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnyoqjbm2k2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lnfzmkzcwc2xU.S. pistachio industry finds itself in an interesting position: last year's crop is largely "sold out." https://www.farmprogress.com/tree-nuts/demand-rages-ahead-of-u-s-pistachio-supply22 Apr 2025 15:46 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnfzmkzcwc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lnfzkf6wwc2xCalifornia ag land values plummet amidst growing water regulations and some commodity prices. https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-business/calif-farmland-values-are-plummeting-where-s-the-bottom-22 Apr 2025 15:45 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnfzkf6wwc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lnfzdsq2d22xWhile tariffs on exported specialty crops remain concerning, ag leaders say they have been common for Western farmers. Almonds remain California's top exported crop. https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/ag-export-tariffs-nothing-new-for-specialty-crops22 Apr 2025 15:42 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnfzdsq2d22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3ljq4npsygc2fOngoing water policies in California could force thousands of acres of prime farmland to be fallowed this year. https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/planting-decisions-suggest-significant-fallowing06 Mar 2025 18:27 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljq4npsygc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3ljq4giqgh22fAg secretary noncommittal when questioned by reporters on crop insurance subsidies. https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/will-usda-reduce-crop-insurance-subsidies-06 Mar 2025 18:23 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljq4giqgh22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3ljq4b432wc2fUndercurrent of uncertainty remains, despite optimistic statements from U.S. ag secretary. https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/commodity-classic-highlights-farmer-uncertainty-amid-growing-trade-war06 Mar 2025 18:20 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljq4b432wc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3ljndewff2s2xAg secretary says President will help U.S. farmers, though farm groups don't see how or when this will happen. https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trade-war-escalates-as-retaliatory-tariffs-hit-struggling-farm-economy05 Mar 2025 15:49 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljndewff2s2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lhm26rsqmc2pSo you want to convert from conventional to organic: Invest in cover crops and soil health during that three-year transition. It will pay dividends in the future. https://www.farmprogress.com/organic/organic-transition-don-t-just-leave-the-ground-fallow07 Feb 2025 16:41 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhm26rsqmc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lhkb35a6nk27Farm Progress is the link that connects farmers across the country with relevant information on the industry. https://youtu.be/XKF2q2nxa2E?si=krD0Ii6Bw4dUn8dT06 Feb 2025 23:39 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhkb35a6nk27https://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lhkauzp7yk2pOur deep knowledge of Western specialty crops and connections in the industry are what set us apart. https://youtu.be/5VPyxnvM5hs?si=p0wVjAMB7nAivsje06 Feb 2025 23:36 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhkauzp7yk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lhjx23rozk2jResearchers continue to study efficacy of competing aflatoxin products in tree nuts. https://www.farmprogress.com/tree-nuts/aflatoxin-biocontrol-products-have-their-place-in-pistachios06 Feb 2025 20:40 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhjx23rozk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lfxn5h7t6k2mThree-acre organic farm provides ag students with useful learning opportunities. https://www.farmprogress.com/organic/organic-farm-feeds-students-in-more-ways-than-one17 Jan 2025 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfxn5h7t6k2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lfftcq56kc2cOrganic cotton sounds like a viable summertime rotation for organic winter vegetables in the desert if challenges of defoliation, ginning, and water can be successfully addressed. https://www.farmprogress.com/organic/ua-studies-look-at-organic-cotton10 Jan 2025 18:32 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfftcq56kc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lfcxn7mxbs2lEarly indications suggest the goal of saving water in flood irrigation systems is likely. https://www.farmprogress.com/conservation-and-sustainability/new-irrigation-head-design-shows-promise09 Jan 2025 15:12 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfcxn7mxbs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lf3rfrpnss2fWater and labor remain top challenges for Arizona farmers. https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/yuma-grower-is-new-arizona-farm-bureau-president06 Jan 2025 18:31 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lf3rfrpnss2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3leug7rfvk223Can Western water policy be adequately addressed under Trump 47? https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/will-western-irrigated-lands-be-a-trump-priority-03 Jan 2025 20:22 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3leug7rfvk223https://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3lecohg44xc2aOrganic farmer says he's seeing benefits of ag tech adoption in his California operation. https://www.farmprogress.com/organic-grower-summit/reaping-the-promises-of-ag-technology27 Dec 2024 19:02 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3lecohg44xc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3leagedtq6k2aState and federal grants aid water district's abilities to deliver irrigation water to local farmers. https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-operations/fresno-district-capitalizes-on-over-27m-in-grants26 Dec 2024 21:32 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3leagedtq6k2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3ldrbq7yfec2wChico State College of Agriculture students learn organic dairy systems as college looks to provide branded dairy products created from the university farm. https://www.farmprogress.com/organic/campus-organic-dairy-puts-students-on-path-to-success20 Dec 2024 20:59 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldrbq7yfec2whttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3ldowanm3hk2qIt's always nice to hear about interesting things going on at my alma mater. Biased? Perhaps, but it's still a good story. https://www.farmprogress.com/livestock-and-dairy/chico-state-plans-branded-products-from-campus-farm19 Dec 2024 22:28 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldowanm3hk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3ldltlokrpk2aAg tech gets played up at this year's Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, California. https://www.farmprogress.com/organic-grower-summit/from-ai-to-inputs-ogs-had-it-all-draft-18 Dec 2024 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldltlokrpk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3ld7fk7lxt226Ag tech hopes to help build the success of U.S. organic industry. https://www.farmprogress.com/organic-grower-summit/from-ai-to-inputs-ogs-had-it-all-draft-13 Dec 2024 18:19 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld7fk7lxt226https://bsky.app/profile/agwriter.bsky.social/post/3ld5aju4b3c2eCalifornia almond industry faces pest and disease headwinds as federal marketing order chief believes the Almond Board can still double down on global demand to improve sales. https://www.farmprogress.com/tree-nuts/leaner-cleaner-almond-industry-ponders-future12 Dec 2024 21:44 +0000at://did:plc:hoe4n2zrhabcl53fufoavgby/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld5aju4b3c2e