Innovator Spotlight: WISRAN – ‘Live Lean Farming’ to Capture Labor and Other Efficiencies in Agriculture

by vine-admin | Aug 28, 2018 | Agriculture, Featured Stories, Innovator Spotlight, Technology

By Leanna Sweha Sunnyvale-based WISRAN helps improve ag machinery and labor utilization efficiency, resulting in a potential 2 to 5 percent boost in revenues. WISRAN won the 2015 UC Davis Big Bang Competition award for innovation in food and, a Rabobank-MIT Innovation...

Let’s Raise the Roof for Vertical Farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture

by vine-admin | Aug 21, 2018 | Agriculture, Featured Stories

As a kid I loved to draw cities of the future that were in the sky with gardens and homes far above the ground. Perhaps this is one reason that I am a huge fan of vertical farming and its potential. In addition to it being a childhood dream, it also makes a lot of...

Grow Cover Crops to Attract Beneficial Insects, Add Nutrients, Suppress Weeds and Build Soil

by vine-admin | Aug 21, 2018 | Agriculture, Featured Stories

George Washington, the father of our country, said it well when he proclaimed he grew “crops to eat and sell” and “crops to replenish the soil.” Generations of farmers follow his footsteps. Cover crops (also known as green manures) are plants primarily grown for the...

School Food: Supporting Healthy Kids and Local Food

by vine-admin | Aug 21, 2018 | Featured Stories

School food service is a multibillion dollar industry that impacts the lives of over 30 million (mostly) low-income students. Every school day and, with increasing frequency, during summer weekdays as well, this industry provides two-thirds of students’ meals...

University Researchers and Organic Farmers to Build Soil as Nature Intended

by vine-admin | Aug 21, 2018 | Agriculture, Featured Stories

A USDA grant will allow a group of California organic farmers to team up with researchers from the University of California, Chico State and Fresno State to determine whether tilling less soil on the farm will improve production of vegetable crops. The aim is to...

Fresno’s Southeast Asian Farmers Are On Trend With New ‘Superfood’ Moringa

by vine-admin | Aug 14, 2018 | Agriculture, Featured Stories

By Jeannette Warnert originally published in Food Blog by UCANR Farmer Vang Thao has been managing a successful farm south of Fresno for nearly 30 years, producing a spectacular array of vegetables – heirloom tomatoes, purple bell peppers, water spinach, bitter melon,...