Rice farmer Charley Mathews Jr. stands next to a field in Yuba County that has been dry-seeded, as an agricultural airplane working another nearby field flies overhead. Favorable weather has kept the Sacramento Valley rice planting season on time this spring.
Photo/Ching Lee
Rice farmer Charley Mathews Jr. applies aqua ammonia to a field in Yuba County in preparation for planting.
Photo/Ching Lee
Planting conditions improve for rice crops
After two wet springs that had them scrambling to plant their crops on time, California rice farmers say they're off to a good start in 2013. Warm, dry weather this season has allowed many Sacramento Valley farmers to seed their fields without delay. Read more...

Farmers, ranchers outline problems with coastal rules
Concerns about inconsistent and arbitrary regulation arose as farmers and ranchers spoke before the California Coastal Commission during a workshop in San Rafael last week. About 75 farmers and ranchers from coastal counties outlined regulatory problems they say harm coastal agriculture, rather than protecting it as required by state law. Read more...

Commentary: Next few weeks will be key for immigration, farm bills
In four congressional hearing rooms on Capitol Hill this week, House and Senate committees debate two legislative packages that could affect California farmers and ranchers for years to come. Read more...

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