Food And Farm News
April 22, 2026
Big cats complicate ranchers' livelihoods
Mountain lions in California have faced challenges as their environments are developed. Blocked in by roads and other human-made structures, their ability to roam has been limited. In February, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife listed the species’ populations in parts of Southern California and the Central Coast as threatened, broadening protections for mountain lions spanning from the San Francisco Bay Area to the southern border. Ranchers and rural residents say the protections given to the predator leave them with inadequate options to protect their livestock and livelihoods when the lions become a problem. “It’s a very frustrating situation for anybody in the rural communities, pet owners and the ranchers,” said Vince Fontana, a San Mateo County rancher. “We’re the ones that are living and working and basically co-existing with these animals.”
California weighs ‘truth in labeling’ wine industry law
California lawmakers are set to consider new legislation that would close a loophole that for decades has allowed winemakers to label wines as “American” even when they are made partly from imported bulk wine. Under current federal law, wines can be labeled American when at least 75% of the liquid came from U.S.-grown grapes or agricultural products. Assembly Bill 1585 would change that threshold to 100% for wines sold in California. The bill’s authors and sponsors said their intent is to promote trust among consumers by improving the accuracy and transparency of wine labels. “We want to make sure that there is truth in advertising when it comes to wine coming from the U.S.,” said Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, D-Tracy, who co-authored the bill. “This is another way of us ensuring that consumers know what they’re purchasing.”
Dry conditions push farms to new irrigation strategies
With California facing a below-average snowpack and recent warm temperatures triggering early snow melt, farmers anticipate constraints on their irrigation plans, especially those who farm south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Some technologies and methods are emerging to help farmers adapt their irrigation practices. Improvements to modern drip emitters have allowed growers to ration water and deliver it directly to their crops’ root zone, and now different kinds of software are being integrated into those systems to squeeze out more savings, said Eric Hadden, executive director of the Water, Energy and Technology Center at California State University, Fresno. “It is about smart management,” Hadden said. “The newest advancement in that field is the integration of AI (artificial intelligence) and the ability to analyze the data, look at it and make decisions.”
National survey shows most farmers can't afford fertilizer
An overwhelming majority of U.S. farmers who responded to a nationwide survey say they cannot afford to purchase enough fertilizer to get them through the year. The percentage of farmers who prepurchased fertilizer varies significantly by region. Conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation April 3-11, the survey shows 70% of respondents say fertilizer is so expensive that they will not be able to buy all of what they need. The survey was conducted as the conflict in the Middle East sent fertilizer and fuel prices soaring. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has kept critical fertilizer supplies and crude oil from reaching global markets, putting a squeeze on supplies around the world. “Spring planting decisions depend heavily on access to fertilizer and diesel fuel, both of which have been impacted by geopolitical risks that have disrupted global markets,” AFBF economist Faith Parum said in her analysis of the survey results.
For more information about any story in Food and Farm News, contact the California Farm Bureau Marketing/Communications Division at 916-561-5550 or email news@cfbf.com. Connect with us on Facebook, X, or Instagram: @CAFarmBureau.
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