More than 60 percent of California farmers said they had a difficult time hiring enough workers throughout 2012, according to a survey by the California Farm Bureau Federation.

MODESTO – A giant Central Valley almond processing and marketing company this week announced that sales had jumped to a record $1 billion for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

California saw a 15 percent increase in the sale of its agriculture products in 2011, according to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture.

The California Farm Bureau Federation said it was pleased voters rejected Prop 37, a ballot initiative that would have required foods containing genetically engineered ingredients to carry a special, California-only label.

Most of the produce samples collected by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) last year had no detectable pesticide residues, DPR Director Brian R. Leahy announced today.

About 4,000 third-graders from schools throughout San Joaquin County will get to tour the Manteca Unified School Farm Wednesday where they will learn the basics of agriculture. 

The National Ag Science Center has received an award from the Association of Science Technology Centers for its Ag in Motion mobile science lab.

The Modesto Chamber of Commerce next week will sponsor a luncheon at which water and its role in the Central Valley will be discussed.

The leaves are changing and thoughts soon will turn to the holiday season. That means the end of 2012 is fairly close at hand.