48.1 F
Salinas
December 1, 2025

Senior researcher joins Farm Fuel

Dr. Joji Muramoto recently joined Farm Fuel part-time as senior researcher/consultant to conduct research improving the efficiency of mustard seed meal and ASD applications and products.

From horses to Merrill’s Thundering Herd: Rose Escobar shares love of rodeo and serving others

SALINAS VALLEY — Ever since a young child, Rose Escobar dreamed of becoming a Rodeo Queen — a best-in-class combination of horsemanship and athletic abilities paired with personal skills of public speaking and knowledge of the heritage of agriculture. That dream came true this year...

Gills receive award for dedication to Salinas Valley agriculture and community

Gills receive award
SALINAS VALLEY — In a gathering that underscored the enduring spirit of innovation and generosity in California’s ā€œSalad Bowl of the World,ā€ David and Susan Gill of King City received the prestigious E.E. ā€œGeneā€ Harden Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grower-Shipper Association of Central...

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...

Farms statewide hit by storms and floods

MONTEREY COUNTY — Warm atmospheric river storms wreaked havoc on California last week, causing widespread flooding from rain and snowmelt, which overfilled rivers and creeks, displaced residents, washed out roads and damaged agriculture. In Monterey County, there was significant flooding along the Salinas River and...

Salinas schools to close as Taylor Farms fire, evacuation order continues

SALINAS — A fire in a Salinas food processing plant that has prompted authorities to evacuate surrounding neighborhoods has now closed four nearby elementary schools as sunrise approaches Thursday. City officials announced the closure shortly after 5:30 a.m. Thursday forĀ Lincoln Elementary, Monterey Park Elementary, Sherwood...

Monterey County’s Covid-19 infection rates highest in agriculture

SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County Health Department reports that 475 agriculture workers, or 36.79 percent of the county’s total confirmed cases, have been infected with Covid-19 as of June 22. A large gap separates that figure and the 261 ā€œunknown or under investigationā€ category, and...

Women in agtech: Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos

Editor’s Note: The following profile is an excerpt from Amy Wu’s upcoming book, ā€œFrom Farms to Incubators: Women Innovators Revolutionizing How Our Food is Grown,ā€ which tells the stories of women entrepreneurs who are transforming agriculture through high technology. Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos was born and raised...

Monterey County’s 2022 Crop Report reveals strength in lettuce industry, weakness in cannabis production

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County’s crop production increased in value last year by more than $500 million despite decreases in both wine grapes and cannabis, according to the county’s 2022 Crop and Livestock Report. Overall gross crop and livestock production was over $4.6 billion in...

Salinas Valley Fair to host online livestock auction Saturday

KING CITY — Salinas Valley Fair will host a virtual livestock auction this Saturday, June 20. This year’s auction is a charitable auction, with no meat product exchanging hands. Proceeds will instead be directed to 4-H and FFA exhibitors who participate in the auction. Some...

Local News

Soledad Unified School District

Soledad Unified School District honored with 2025 Golden Bell Award for...

SOLEDAD — California School Boards Association (CSBA) has announced that the Soledad Unified School District was selected as a 2025 Golden Bell Award recipient...