Cap-and-Trade was a controversial program invented some years ago as a way for big polluters to offset the damage done by their pollution. It’s had its problems being implemented, but It has also had some success in reducing carbon pollution. It works like this: the government sets how much pollution a company can release. If …
Category: Ag business
More Regs and Taxes on Farmers
Every business person in California is painfully aware of the cost of doing business in such a highly regulated state, and the appearance that some state agencies have a strong bias against agriculture just adds to the pain. This last year, the state made things even worse when they added a slew of costly new …
Write an Essay, Win a Farm!
It’s a part of the American dream, it seems, to be self sufficient, to live off the land on a place out in the country. Lots of folks dream about being a farmer, including a lot of us who write or talk about it. But it takes real money and real commitment, and if …
The Swing of the Pendulum
There’s an ebb and flow to politics, and it’s very apparent that we’re going through a time of change. The political pendulum had swung far to the left, with all kinds of new social programs and new rules under Obama. but the pendulum hit the wall and is swinging to the right. Donald …
Harvest Hosts bring visitors to the farm
If you are a grower or vintner with a retail outlet on your property, or if you are thinking about selling directly to the public, here’s something that may help you reach a new market. A company called Harvest Hosts is a membership program that connects RV owners with farmers, wineries, and museums around …