Agriculture

Since its founding in west Morgan Hill about six years ago, Fairytale Farm has rescued more than 250 mini-horses, ponies and donkeys that were living in unhealthy, neglectful conditions—many of whom were on their way to certain death, according to the nonprofit’s founder, Alexandra...

With a cold winter storm bearing down on Morgan Hill, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrators joined local and regional representatives Feb. 23 at the top of Anderson Dam to announce the availability of $727 million in low-cost loans that will fund the rebuilding of...

The Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras returns for the 41st year this weekend, May 28-29—this time with a new “Platinum Sponsor,” local mushroom cultivator Sempera Organics. Sempera Organics, located off Church Street, grows and processes “functional mushrooms” for a variety of wellness and cuisine purposes,...

The San Francisco Bay Area is likely to be warmer and wetter than normal for the next three months, forecasters said Nov. 18. A winter season outlook update shows a higher probability of above-normal temperature and precipitation for December, January and February, the National Weather...

Most true lovers of pinot noir have made a pilgrimage to Calera Winery in Hollister, the place that firmly established North America’s ability to produce “the heartbreak grape.”  Calera Wine Company, established in 1975 in the remote hills of San Benito County, was the beautiful...

State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, and state Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Bakersfield, introduced legislation to create a tax credit for agricultural employers to help cover the cost of paying overtime wages to farmworkers.   Senate Bill 921, co-sponsored by the California Farm Bureau and the California Association...

South Santa Clara County students in 4-H and FFA will have a new opportunity to show off their livestock this summer as the inaugural South Valley Ag Fair kicks off July 27-28, with an auction to follow Aug. 1. The first event, a two-day “jackpot”...

New vessel inspection and quarantine rules aimed at preventing the spread of invasive mussels will take effect June 15 at all Santa Clara County reservoirs open to recreational boating, county officials announced. Under the updated program, boats will no longer be able to use inspection...

Managers of California’s two main water storage and delivery systems on March 22 announced increases to forecasted water allocations for millions of people and vast tracts of farmland. The state Department of Water Resources, which runs the State Water Project, said its anticipated water deliveries...

The scent of fresh-cut pine fills the air as Jorge Garcia watches his children, ages 2 and 5, weave between rows of evergreens with their mother, searching for the perfect Christmas tree. It’s their first time at Battaglia Ranch as a young family, but...