Todd Fitchette

Arizona

Associate Editor and Staff Writer at Western Farm Press

Agriculture journalist, photographer, Army veteran.

Articles

Arizona cotton growers reduce insecticide use, promote sustainability

3 days ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

Almost half of Arizona’s cotton acreage last year was never sprayed with an insecticide, a testament to changes in pest management technologies and a message that university scientists and cotton industry representatives believe could bolster efforts to increase demand for U.S. Upland cotton.
University of Arizona entomology program ranks first globally for third year

1 week ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

Arizona’s land grant college can boast at least two things when it comes to insects: it’s collaborations to eradicate an insect responsible for decimating U.S. cotton, and its repeated ranking as the top entomology school in the world. The University of Arizona’s entomology program was ranked as tops in the world for the third year in a row in a metric-based independent recognition by EduRank of over 14,000 universities across 183 countries.
Longtime UA professor trains entomologists of tomorrow

1 week ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

The recognition of Arizona’s land grant college for its world class entomology program isn’t lost on current and incoming graduate students and those who advise them. The University of Arizona’s entomology program was ranked top in the world for the third consecutive year by EduRank, an independent firm that uses proprietary metrics to gauge a university’s research reputation.
Researcher on a mission to advance arid agriculture

1 week ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

Tanya Hodges once built college academic programs in agriculture for the University of Arizona’s Yuma campus. She now oversees an agricultural innovation and research hub to address challenges in arid agriculture in concert with the same Land Grant college. In the 16 years since then the campus has grown from three upper division students and one major to almost 200 upper division students and five or six different majors.
California farmers welcome first ag committee senator in 30 years

3 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

California farmers and agricultural leaders are getting to meet their new U.S. senator as he makes visits up and down the state. Perhaps more importantly for these leaders is the opportunity they see in helping to educate the first California senator to sit on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry in over 30 years. Since being elected to the senate late last year, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has made multiple trips to visit with California farmers and ag industry leaders.
Arizona extension funding stagnant as inflation hits ag program

3 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

Every year the ability of Arizona’s land grant university to continue its mission gets pinched by inflation as state funding has remained flat for a decade. Part of the pot of money the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension receives for extension research and programs comes from the State of Arizona. The $14.7 million in state funds is unchanged since 2015, according to Ed Martin, associate vice president and director of the Arizona Cooperative Extension system.
California fights South American palm weevil to protect date industry

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

Insect threats may be nothing new to farmers, but one pest of concern has established itself in parts of southern California from San Diego to Camp Pendleton. The South American palm weevil is currently California’s largest weevil species, according to Mark Hoddle, an entomologist with the University of California, and an integrated pest management expert whose work continues in a variety of crops and ornamental plants in southern California and elsewhere.
UA entomologist John Palumbo's impact on desert vegetable farming

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

Desert vegetable farmers lost a giant. John Palumbo, professor and extension specialist with the University of Arizona, recently died of cancer. Though we’ll miss his presence, his legacy will continue. The sad news of Palumbo’s passing spread quickly across social media. I first heard about it from the Yuma office of the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Those who knew him shared their exposure to Palumbo, which is safe to say was all positive.
2.8 billion pound crop expected for 2025

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

Weather during the critical almond bloom period varied this year in California, which is now being seen in nut set from Red Bluff to Arvin. In some cases, lower bee flight hours during pollination were reported. Still, growers are expecting a good crop size this year.Todd FitchetteThe first of two forecasts from the California almond industry points to the possibility of a 2.8 billion pound crop this year, slightly more than what growers harvested last year.
Imperial Valley farmers face challenges as last sugar beet plant closes

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Todd Fitchette

Imperial Valley, Calif., farmers are reeling from a decision to shutter the state’s last sugar beet processing facility. The mid-April decision to close the plant caught the industry off guard. Spreckels Sugar Company between Imperial and Brawley will cease production this summer, with warehousing and shipping activities expected to last through the end of the year.