John Duarte Discusses California Ag, Water and Energy

California agriculture is facing a complicated mix of challenges, from water availability and rising energy costs to smaller tree-nut crops and the search for new opportunities. On the latest AgNet News Hour, “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni sits down with John Duarte of Duarte Nurseries for an in-depth conversation covering California agriculture, water policy, crop trends and the future of farming. The program also features Michael Newland of the Propane Education and Research Council discussing propane and its potential role in reducing energy costs for growers.

Duarte and Papagni begin with California’s broader political and economic landscape, including the importance of voter participation and the issues facing farmers and rural communities. Their conversation touches on California’s water challenges, high fuel prices and the need for policies that address the practical concerns of agriculture. Duarte also discusses the importance of economic growth, infrastructure and water availability as California looks toward the future.

The conversation takes a deep dive into current crop conditions. Duarte says pistachio and almond production is coming in below expectations, with the pistachio crop potentially much smaller than earlier projections. He also discusses Duarte Nursery’s VigorClone pistachio rootstock, along with the Yorizane almond variety, which he says continues to perform well despite a down year.

Another intriguing part of the interview focuses on avocados as a potential new California crop. Duarte explains that Duarte Nursery is expanding its avocado work and sees opportunities for production in areas of the Central Valley and other regions where freeze risk is manageable. He also discusses the economics of olives and why growers continue looking for alternative crops that can generate stronger returns.

Water forecasting becomes another major topic as Duarte discusses meteorologist Rob Doornbos and efforts to improve long-range precipitation forecasting. Duarte believes better forecasting could help California water managers make more informed reservoir decisions, potentially allowing additional water to be stored during anticipated dry or normal years.

The program then turns to propane with Michael Newland. He explains how propane is used throughout agriculture and discusses its potential for irrigation engines and on-farm power generation. Newland also highlights the Propane Farm Rebate Program, which can provide rebates of up to $10,000 depending on the equipment.

This wide-ranging episode covers some of the biggest issues facing California agriculture today. Listen to the full podcast with “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni, John Duarte and Michael Newland on your favorite podcast app or visit AgNetWest.com for the complete interviews.