Recently, the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference was held in Louisville, Ky., earlier this month. The conference included a range of contests including the Avian Bowl, which tested contestants’ knowledge of exhibition, husbandry, anatomy, and several other poultry-related subjects in a game show-like fashion. Contestants needed to show both speed and accuracy to win, and California 4-H members have won more Avian Bowls than any other state. 

The Farm Credit Alliance was recently presented with FFA’s Distinguished Service Citation for its longstanding contributions to FFA and agricultural education. Katie Otto, development director for the California FFA Foundation, the state organization’s fund-raising arm, said the California FFA nominated Farm Credit for the award because of its generous and enduring support.

Latinos have been the largest ethnic group in California since 2014 and make up an even larger portion of the population in many of California’s farming regions. To support the entry of Latinos into agriculture, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold the fifth-annual Latino Farmer Conference in November.

Once a niche product, organic farming is the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. food industry. In fact, organic food today is a nearly $50 billion industry, employing 1.4 million people nationwide and more than 400,000 in California alone, according to the California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation (CCOF).

For a small family-owned winery, it can often be difficult to get noticed by retailers, restaurants and wine aficionados. That’s why for 29 years, the Family Winemakers of California have been holding tastings for select audiences. The group now holds two events a year – one in Southern California in the spring and one in the Bay Area in mid-August.

Thanks in part to a series of grants from Farm Credit, the Forest Foundation's program Talk About Trees reached 50,108 students and 2,903 teachers, utilizing 10 independent facilitators who visited 66 schools in 16 counties last year alone. We look forward to continuing our support and helping the Forest Foundation expand this important program in the years to come.

Farm Credit is proud to once again sponsor this annual event, held this year from July 18-21. More than 50,000 fans from around the West – indeed, from around the world – were on hand this year during the four days that the California Rodeo rocked Salinas for the 109th time.

The California Agricultural Heritage Club, established in 1948, recognizes the perseverance of the agriculture industry and the pioneers who made it possible. The mission of the club is to honor families, businesses, and special interests that have worked in agriculture for over 100 years.

Without new technology, growers will have a difficult time addressing the many challenges they face. And that's where the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology comes in.

Farm Credit West is pleased to announce the 2019 Director and Nominating Committee election results.