Valley Headlines

Are nut forecasts skewed?

Western Farm Press. Are unmanaged almond orchards skewing crop forecasts?
Synopsis: Editor Todd Fitchette says both growers and processors agree that the USDA’s July Objective Estimate of 3.0 billion pounds was “too boastful.” Most farmers believe numbers have been skewed by the significant number of orchards that were abandoned after three years of prices below the break-even point. “Anecdotal conversations with growers in their orchards suggest that the math isn’t adding up. One farmer who has seen 4,000-pound yields in his almonds is thinking that’s not going to happen in his orchard this year.” The July objective estimate caused the price of almonds to plummet 50 cents virtually overnight and pushed many contracts to around $2.02 while farmers need $2.30 to break even. Anger aside, over 90% of farmers voted in December to continue funding for the board for another five years – essentially a vote of confidence. “The animosity towards the Almond Board of California is not new. In 2023, a group of about 200 almond growers accused the ABC board of misplacing its focus to build global almond demand,” writes Fitchette.

Federal cuts are going to hurt

Merced County Times. Merced County government takes proactive stance to fed, state funding cuts.
Synopsis: Editor Jonathan Whitaker writes that more than 50% of the county’s residents receive some form of public assistance, so cuts in federal funding “pose a high risk for Central Valley counties like Merced.” For instance, some 98% of spending through the three county agencies -- Human Services, Public Health and Behavioral Health & Recovery -- is covered by state and/or federal sources. That comes out to around $929 million, according to county CEO Mark Henderickson.

Merced Focus. 22% of Valley residents are on CalFresh; here’s how Trump’s SNAP cuts affect them. 
Synopsis: Tim Sheehan provides a comprehensive look at the impacts on “hundreds of thousands of low-income households in the San Joaquin Valley” of cuts to programs “aimed at helping them feed their families.” In Fresno, Kings, Kern, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare and San Joaquin counties, 482,000 families get assistance through CalFresh – which is funded by SNAP. Those benefits come out to about $365 a month per family. Trump’s budget cuts $287 billion from SNAP over 10 years. “These cuts will take food off the table of working parents, grandparents raising children and veterans,” said Kim Johnson, exec director of CA’s Health & Human Services Agency. One provision in the budget prohibits the USDA from increasing benefits to families even as the cost of food rises. The story provides a by-county list of families receiving benefits: Fresno 244,878, Merced 62,629, San Joaquin 114,471, Stanislaus 92,660 and Madera 35,328.

Maybe a ‘skinny’ Farm Bill

Morning Ag Clips. Lawmakers in ‘very early stages’ of Skinny Farm Bill discussions.
Synopsis: This report was compiled from various sources (Punchbowl, Agri-Pulse, Brownfield, AgWeb) mostly saying Republicans alone cannot pass a Farm Bill and they need Democrats to “help do the rest.” That said, no one is optimistic it will get done this year. Part of the reason is that the GOP cut $186 billion from SNAP through the budget bill but still needs changes in the farm bill to enact them. They also want to revoke the rights of voters to set standards for food sold in their states. Others want to emphasize price supports for commodity crops over specialty crops. Others have protecting Prop 12 a priority. Already, time is tight for anything except passing a few priorities.
MAD Note: Two prominent Valley Democrats sit on the House Ag Committee, Adam Gray and Jim Costa.

Return of red-light cameras

Modesto Bee. Red light cameras return to Modesto; how much a ticket will cost.
Synopsis: Statistically speaking, Modesto’s streets are among the most dangerous and deadly in the state. That data pushed the city council to approve a plan to bring back red-light cameras operated by Verra Mobility. Ten intersections – including McHenry & Standiford, Oakdale & Scenic and two on Briggsmore – will have new cameras installed. The city used red-light cameras for 10 years, but enthusiasm faded as monitoring staff was reassigned. Since then, technology has improved, and fewer cases are tossed in court. A ticket will cost $480. Of 27 cities using the vendor, 26 are “revenue positive.”

Giving up the farm

Uplevel Dairy Podcast. Only 3% of family farms make it to the 4^th generation.
Synopsis: A banker, a professor and a farmer conducted a podcast during the 2025 Ag Views Live event. They talked about why so few farms get passed down past the third generation. They agreed that an understanding of balance sheets, asset valuation and a “business mindset” are essential for any family hoping to keep its farm for the next generation.

Businesses come and go

Ceres Courier. Maverik gets green light to build.
Synopsis: A Maverik fueling station approved by the Planning Commission for Mitchell and Hwy 99 survived an appeal to stop it when the City Council voted 4-0 to let it proceed. City officials cited tax revenues for their support. Opponents, led by the owner of a nearby gas station, said the 5,950 square foot convenience store and 20 fuel pumps would result in more traffic while depriving other stations of customers.

Patterson Irrigator. Farewell to a downtown icon: McAuley Ford ends historic run in downtown.
Synopsis: There has been a Ford dealership in downtown Patterson for roughly 100 years, but that ends on Friday. The dealership has changed hands three times over the last century but closes its doors on Aug. 15.
MAD Take: Over the past two years, the company has shut down dozens of dealerships as it transitions to a direct-to-consumer sales approach. Another of the casualties was a very popular dealership in Escalon.

Fresno Bee. Fresno area’s newest upscale shopping complex debuts this fall.
Synopsis: The Avenue will locate at Willow and Shepherd avenues in Clovis across the street from a high-end eatery and luxury apartment complex. The mixed-use space will have a fitness studio, retail shops, restaurants and office space. The developer was inspired on a trip to Italy. It’s all part of Heritage Grove master-planned community.

Madera exec will retire

Madera Tribune. County chief administrator announces retirement. 
Synopsis: Jay Varney says he will retire in September as Madera’s Chief Administrative Officer. The former sheriff has spent 40 years in public service. Supervisor Leticia Gonzalez praised his leadership during COVID and through “difficult budgets and multiple disasters.”

Chromium-6 approach praised

Sacramento Bee. A CA bill takes a novel approach to address clean drinking water. 
Synopsis: Writer Natasha Navarra writes an op-ed in support of SB 466, by Sen. Anna Caballero of Merced to shield cities from litigation so long as they are trying to remove chromium-6 from their water. The “Erin Brockovich” chemical occurs naturally but also is found at sites where solvents have seeped into groundwater. The city of Los Banos offers a case in point. The city is trying to fix the problem but can’t afford to pay huge settlements while installing expensive filtration systems on 13 city wells.

Healthcare cuts will hurt

Fresnoland. ‘Very devastating for everyone’: More than half of Fresno County faces healthcare cuts.
Synopsis: The focus is on a couple – ages 67 and 72 – for whom Medi-Cal is “nothing short of a lifeline.” She’s blind and he has a thyroid condition. While Medi-Cal has informed them there will be no changes this year, they are deeply stressed over the future. In Fresno County, 52% of residents rely on Medi-Cal, the third-highest enrollment of CA’s 58 counties. At United Health Centers, 120,000 patients rely on Medi-Cal – two thirds of the entire patient population.

Merced Sun Star. Thousands of DACA recipients in CA lose health coverage this month.
Synopsis: Most of those protected from deportation under DACA have insurance through employers. But those who buy insurance through Covered California will lose their coverage in two weeks. The Trump administration removed the coverage that had been allowed when Joe Biden was president. Statewide, about 2,300 people will lose coverage with an estimated 450 in the Valley. Many will have no option for healthcare other than emergency rooms.

The stupid war on colleges

Westside Express. Please, no war on college education and consider Westside campuses.
Synopsis: Columnist John Spevak stands up for the value of a college education as the fall semester gets under way in Los Banos and Firebaugh. Our Valley’s community colleges offer paths toward better jobs, better skills and a better life. “But there’s more! Both the Los Banos and Firebaugh campuses also offer a wide variety of transfer programs” that enable students to get the first two years of college out of the way at a much lower cost. “What I find ironic about people who say a college education isn’t worthwhile is that they themselves have a college education and they want their children to have a college education.” It’s the children of OTHER people who don’t need it, they say.

Calling for more ‘good trouble’

GV Wire. It’s not too late for Islas and Levine to ‘Get in good trouble.’ 
Synopsis: If you’re in the mood for some great editorial writing, check out Bill McEwen’s forceful takedown of two particularly disappointing Fresno Unified trustees. He excoriates activists-turned-trustees Andy Levine and Veva Islas for having “bonded with the bureaucracy and (become) card-carrying members of the status quo.” They silently signed off on a $162,000 settlement with district PIO Nikki Henry, who used AI to fabricate charges against the teachers’ union. Basically, they sent off this highly paid employee “with parting gifts like life is a game show?” Bill calls on the ghost of John Lewis in imploring them to “get in good trouble, necessary trouble and redeem … the soul of Fresno Unified.”

CA’s big burger battle

LA Times. CA’s burger wars heat up as Habit Burger trolls In-N-Out with new billboard.
Synopsis: Habit Burger has a billboard directly across the street from one of In-N-Out’s signature locations on Sepulveda Boulevard in LA. They used the billboard to “congratulate” In-N-Out for having placed No. 4 in the recent USA Today rankings of “best fast-food burgers.” Habit was No. 1. It also took a jab at In-N-Out for having moved its headquarters to Tennessee.