Food And Farm News
May 27, 2026
Farms increasingly use drones for aerial applications
Drone operators say they see an uptick in business as agricultural drone application technology improves, farmers become more comfortable with it and more products receive aerial labels. Drones have proven useful for aerial applications, especially for specialty crops. “Vegetable crops have probably adapted drones faster than any other crop,” said Briana Layfield, president and owner of Temecula-based Ag-Bee LLC. “When vegetable plants start growing, (growers) can’t get tractors in past a certain growth stage.” Last winter, her company treated vegetables in the Imperial, Coachella and Pajaro valleys. Other seasons, the company flies coastal vegetable fields from Ventura to Watsonville. Nicholas Steed, who operates Oakdale-based UAV Ag Solutions with brother Brandon, said they’ve also experienced increased producer interest. The company has used drones to treat walnuts, almonds, alfalfa and field corn.
Former dairy vet looks to improve welfare on farms
Founded in 2022, Tennessee-based nonprofit Kinder Ground makes animal welfare improvement more accessible on farms by offering grants and expertise to farmers who are looking to learn more about animal welfare. “The idea is for farmers to come to us with ideas,” Jen Walker, chief animal welfare officer at Kinder Ground, told Ag Alert® in an interview. “We really like projects that elevate welfare beyond those basics. Sometimes it’s seeing the simplest of opportunities. That’s where I think relationships are important. What we have found is if a farmer can have somebody go in on it with him or her, it’s much easier to take a risk.” A former dairy veterinarian, Walker said one new animal welfare technology she is excited about is cattle-vision goggles. “It’s a computer program that takes input from a camera and digests it, and puts it up in virtual reality goggles so that what you’re seeing is what we think cows would see,” she said.
Committee meets to advise DWR on state water plan
An advisory committee to the California Department of Water Resources held its first meeting this month to begin work on the next update to the California Water Plan, the state’s long-range strategy for managing water resources across all sectors. The plan is updated every five years and guides statewide water policy, planning and investment priorities. The meeting came months after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 72 in October 2025, launching a multiyear effort to modernize California’s water planning framework in response to intensifying droughts, floods and long-term water reliability challenges tied to climate change. SB 72 established an interim statewide planning target of 9 million acre-feet of additional water supply by 2040. The target is expected to play a central role in the development of the state’s 2028 and 2033 water plans.
U.S. meat consumption increases despite rising prices
America’s demand for meat continues to grow, even as the cost of beef, pork and chicken rises. Industry analysis shows meat sales hit $112 billion in 2025, with more than 98% of American households purchasing meat for daily meals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting consumption of beef, pork and chicken to rise in 2026. “Home-grown meat continues to be a staple for America’s families,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said. “Despite higher prices at the grocery store, families trust America’s farmers and ranchers to grow the food that is put on the grill and on dinner tables across the country.” USDA reported the average retail price for beef set a record in April at $9.64 per pound, up about 13% from the previous year. Beef prices remain elevated by strong demand and the smallest U.S. cattle herd in 75 years.
For more information about any story in Food and Farm News, contact the California Farm Bureau Marketing/Communications Division at 916-561-5550 or email news@cfbf.com. Connect with us on Facebook, X, or Instagram: @CAFarmBureau.
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