California to host drought forum on May 5th

Apr 29, 2015

Will be held at the Fresno County Fairgrounds

Farmers, ranchers and other agriculture producers in California are invited to attend a drought forum at the Fresno County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, May 5^th. The meeting is being hosted by the California State Board of Food and Agriculture.

“Having the opportunity to hear from our state’s farmers, ranchers and farm workers provides perspective for all us,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross in a release. “With all the information and misinformation that has developed in the last several weeks, we need to keep in mind that all Californians are in this together.”

As it currently stands, the U.S. Drought Monitor considers 92% of California to be in a “severe drought” while more than 40% of the state battles “exceptional drought.” In 2014, more than 400,000 acres were left fallowed, causing nearly 17,000 jobs to be lost in the process.

The whole situation resulted in economic losses of about $1.5 billion to California’s economy in 2014 and could exceed that number.

Not only is the drought causing havoc, but the water supply in California is in jeopardy - to the point that Governor Jerry Brown called for fines of up to $10,000 for residents and businesses who waste the most water.

“This drought will have lasting impacts to cities, farms and the environment,” said Craig McNamara, president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “Farmers and ranchers across the state have made significant strides in water conservation and efficiency, reducing overall water use and producing more food and fiber than ever before. These conservation and efficiency efforts are only even more critical in times of drought. We must ensure that we as farmers are making every drop of water count.”

The drought forum will take place at the Fresno County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, May 5^th from 10am – 1pm in the Industry Commerce Building.

Join the conversation and tell us your thoughts about the drought in California.

Drought is ravaging California's farm lands.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.