Report Exploring the Potential for Water-Limited Agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley By Caitlin Peterson, Cameron Pittelkow, Mark Lundy Jul 20, 2022 As irrigated farmland comes out of production in the San Joaquin Valley, valley residents will face increased pests, weeds, and dust—as well as a loss of employment and economic activity. Water-limited cropping is one alternative to fallowing that can improve soil health and air quality, create habitat, and keep land in production.
blog post How Will the Coronavirus Affect California’s Economy? By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune Mar 20, 2020 As Californians limit their daily activities to slow the spread of COVID-19, the state's economy is poised to take a major hit. The effects are expected to be particularly large among certain occupations and regions.
blog post Water Availability for San Joaquin Valley Farms: A Balancing Act By Jelena Jezdimirovic, Ellen Hanak, Alvar Escriva-Bou Apr 21, 2020 California’s largest farming region has wide variability in access to surface water. We examined how the mix of supplies affects solutions to end groundwater overdraft.
blog post Food Security in a Time of COVID-19 Insecurity: How the Virus Affects Farming By Lori Pottinger Mar 30, 2020 How will COVID-19 affect California agriculture—key to food supplies locally and nationally? We talked to farmer Cannon Michael about the pandemic’s impact on farmers and farmworkers.
blog post Adapting to a Water-Scarce California By Ellen Hanak Jan 9, 2023 With the arrival of a series of atmospheric rivers, drought-weary Californians are now confronting the weather whiplash that’s a hallmark of our state’s climate. But the current deluge won’t erase California’s water challenges. PPIC Water Policy Center director Ellen Hanak reflects on what happened with California’s water in 2022—and explores how to manage the resource in our increasingly volatile climate.
Report Health Care Access among California’s Farmworkers By Paulette Cha Apr 25, 2022 Farmworkers are a key link in the food supply chain and important contributors to California’s economy. As farmworkers age, their health care needs are changing—and cost and lack of insurance are often barriers to care. While recent state and federal policies have made insurance more accessible, not all policies improved coverage among farmworkers.
blog post Video: Farming in a State of Extremes By Sarah Bardeen Apr 26, 2022 Last week, we brought together a panel of experts to discuss how the drought is affecting California’s farming regions—and what steps could be taken to soften the economic blow and improve the state’s resilience.
Report Priorities for California’s Water By Jeffrey Mount, Letitia Grenier, Ellen Hanak, Caitlin Peterson ... Nov 1, 2023 California has made great strides in preparing for a drier, hotter future, but it remains a challenge to harness the bounty of wet years while also reducing flood risk. How did California’s water sector manage the unusually wet 2023 water year—and what lessons can we glean for the future?
Fact Sheet Agricultural Land Use in California By Spencer Cole, Ellen Hanak, Caitlin Peterson Jun 24, 2024 About 40% of California’s land—roughly 40 million acres—is used for agriculture. But what does that mean for the state? Our new fact sheet takes advantage of brand-new data to show how the land is used in more detail than ever before.
