Hartnell College awarded $9.5M grant to support students in agricultural careers
SALINAS — Hartnell College has been awarded a $9.5 million grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s inaugural NEXTGEN program.
The official announcement was made during a presentation by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Washington, D.C., on June 20.
“This...
Dangerous herbicide used on California crops banned
SALINAS VALLEY — A dangerous herbicide banned immediately by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been sprayed on crops in many California counties and has contaminated groundwater in low concentrations in the Salinas Valley and Santa Barbara County.
The weed-killing chemical, known as DCPA or...
South Monterey County cattle business evolves into growing beef producer
KING CITY — Jeremiah Casey arrived in San Lucas, Calif., in 1861 as a young Irish immigrant. He started homesteading and ranching, raising beef, finishing them on grass and marketing them as best he could, given the limited resources at hand.
Back then, ranchers didn't...
Enrichment program teaches hundreds of South Monterey County youth about farming
KING CITY — Hundreds of third-graders recently roamed the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City to learn about agriculture during the annual South County Farm Day.
Students from Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City schools attended the free educational enrichment program on Jan. 26,...
Monterey County agriculture sets off ripples through local economy, report shows
MONTEREY COUNTY — The role of agriculture and the resulting monetary ripples through the economy was the subject of a recent analysis conducted by the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.
Titled “Economic Contributions of Monterey County Agriculture,” the report was published in June 2020 based...
Thousands of farmworkers are prioritized for the coronavirus vaccine
COACHELLA, Calif. — The sun-baked desert valley tucked behind the San Jacinto Mountains is best known for an annual music festival that draws 100,000 fans a day and a series of lush, oasis resort towns where well-heeled snowbirds go to golf, sunbathe and party....
Monterey County crops fall 6.1% in value last year
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo has announced the release of the 2023 Annual Crop and Livestock Report, which recorded a production gross value of just over $4.35 billion, reflecting a 6.1% decrease from 2022.
“The values represented here reflect gross values...
Monterey County Fair Junior Livestock Auction returns with in-person show Saturday
MONTEREY — The thrill of in-person bidding at a livestock auction with live auctioneers and an engaged audience returns this Saturday, Aug. 28, with the Monterey County Fair Junior Livestock Auction.
The 2021 auction, returning for the first time since 2019, begins at 10 a.m....
Farmworker resource center set for Greenfield
GREENFIELD — The drive for Greenfield residents seeking county resources will be shortened with the creation of a farmworker resource center.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the allocation of $250,000 on Feb. 1 for the creation of the center in Greenfield. The county allocation...
