78.6 F
King City
April 19, 2026

Monterey County crops decline in value after pandemic and fires

MONTEREY COUNTY — Crop values fell in 2020 by a total of $499 million from 2019, with 2020’s total at $3.9 billion, according to the Monterey County Crop Report issued by Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales on July 20. The 11.3% decrease in production...

Governor expands drought emergency to Monterey County

MONTEREY COUNTY — California Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded his prior drought emergency proclamation to an additional nine counties on July 7, including Monterey County. Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Salinas), who oversees Monterey County in his district along with Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties, urged residents...

Monterey County supervisors spare sputtering cannabis equity grant program

Cannabis marijuana
MONTEREY COUNTY — A Monterey County program to ensure equity in the local commercial cannabis market is sputtering but will continue on a smaller scale. The county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously March 19 to continue the Growing Equity Together program, known as GET, despite...

King City mural dedication ceremony reflects on agriculture’s impact

KING CITY — King City in Bloom hosted a dedication ceremony on June 24 for the recently completed mural, ā€œA Tribute to Cattle Ranching and the Salinas Valley Fair,ā€ which is the organization’s third historic mural in the town. Project co-chair Steve Schmidt spoke...

Local FFA members test their job interview and public speaking skills

Future Farmers of America members from King City to Watsonville gathered at Soledad High School for the annual interview contest on Jan. 31.

Templeton Wine Festival returns this weekend

The fifth annual Templeton Wine Festival, hosted by the Templeton Chamber of Commerce, is set to return Saturday, May 6.

Federal forestry cuts fuel wildfire, resource concerns in California

Redwood giants
CALIFORNIA — As wildfire conditions across California are expected to increase steadily through the summer, state officials last month expressed concerns about cuts in staff and funding at federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, a division within the Agriculture Department that partners with...

Monterey County plans for return of migrant farmworkers

SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County health officials have been working with agricultural companies and have reiterated safety plans with the onset of the new growing season, with the goal of keeping ag workers safe and the food supply network stable. ā€œWith the start of the...

How the drought is affecting California’s crops

In recent weeks, dangerous heat has killed hundreds of people in Oregon and Washington, endangered workers across the region and strained California’s power grid. It has also exacerbated the slow-moving natural disaster already punishing the West: the drought. Late last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom formally urged...

Arizona’s Salad Bowl becomes fertile ground for Covid-19

YUMA, Ariz. — The Rev. Emilio Chapa was delivering a homily on a recent Sunday when he paused to lament a sight that had shaken him as he entered the sacristy before Mass. The board where his staff posted requests for funeral services was covered...