Bowles Farming Company: Adapting to Keep California Agriculture Moving

Farming in California has never been simple, but for Cannon Michael of Bowles Farming Company, adapting to changing conditions has become a fundamental part of keeping a sixth-generation operation moving forward. In the latest AgNet News Hour, Michael discusses everything from extreme heat and limited water supplies to labor, regulation and the future of farming on California's West Side.

Bowles Farming Company manages roughly 11,000 acres near Los Banos and across the western San Joaquin Valley. The operation is remarkably diverse, producing carrots, sweet corn, garlic, onions, watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydew, tomatoes, almonds, pistachios and other crops throughout the year.

That diversity has become one way the farm continues adapting. Michael said Bowles expanded significantly into additional crops beginning around 2016, helping transform the operation into essentially a year-round business.

But water remains one of the biggest challenges. Michael discussed the frustration of receiving only a 25 percent water allocation despite relatively full reservoirs, pointing to aging infrastructure and regulations that have made moving water through California increasingly difficult.

"We keep delivering food to the markets," Michael said, noting that agriculture continues finding ways to remain productive despite the challenges.

Michael also addressed another concern facing California agriculture: whether the next generation will still see farming as a worthwhile future. He said increasing costs and regulatory pressure can discourage younger family members from returning to agricultural businesses that previous generations worked to build.

Still, Bowles Farming Company continues investing in its future. Michael highlighted drip irrigation, solar energy and conservation efforts, including 650 acres the family placed into a permanent federal easement for wetland habitat along the Pacific Flyway.

The conversation offers a look inside one of the West Side's major farming operations—and the constant balancing act required to grow food in California today.

Listen to Part 1 of the full interview with Cannon Michael on the AgNet News Hour.