Farm Bureau Friday

5/8/26 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 28: Title: Solar Over Canals: Inside TID’s Project Nexus with Bill Penney

In this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Bill Penney of the Turlock Irrigation District breaks down Project Nexus, a first-of-its-kind effort to install solar panels over irrigation canals. Developed with UC Merced and state partners, the project aims to conserve water while generating renewable energy without taking farmland out of production. Early results point to reduced evaporation, minimal operational impact and fewer issues with aquatic vegetation.  The conversation also looks at what’s next and whether solar canals could scale across California.

4/10/26 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 27: AI and Pollination: A Conversation with Omer Davidi, CEO and Co-Founder, BeeHero

Omer Davidi, CEO and co-founder of BeeHero, joins Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci to discuss how AI and in-hive sensor technology are transforming pollination management. The conversation explores almond pollination trends, bee health, logistics challenges and how real-time data is helping growers and beekeepers improve decision-making and sustainability across agriculture.

3/13/26 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 26: Interview With Renee Pinel on Sustainable Pest Management, PCA Myths and What’s Ahead for California Ag

Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci talk with Renee Pinel, president and CEO of Western Plant Health Association, about Sustainable Pest Management (SPM), common misconceptions about pesticide recommendations and the importance of maintaining a full toolbox of crop protection tools. Pinnell also discusses how research is challenging assumptions about PCAs and what policy developments growers should watch in 2026.

Farm Bureau Friday Episode 25: Interview with FELS’ Bryan Little on the 2026 Regulatory Outlook

On this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci sit down with Bryan Little, Chief Operating Officer of Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS), to discuss the key regulatory issues ag employers should watch in 2026.nFrom H-2A changes and rising labor costs to ag overtime, indoor heat rules and autonomous equipment, Little outlines what’s ahead and how employers can prepare, while highlighting how FELS supports compliance and workforce management across California agriculture.

Farm Bureau Friday Episode 24: Interview with Bayer’s Dr. Eliza Lockwood, on Pesticides, Public Health and the Future of Food Security

In this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci talk with Dr. Eliza Lockwood, Medical Affairs Lead at Bayer's Crop Science Division, about the role pesticides play in public health and modern food security. Lockwood shares how her path from emergency medicine to toxicology shaped her perspective and breaks down the scientific rigor behind today’s crop protection tools. The conversation explores misinformation, glyphosate safety, and why sound agricultural policy matters for both growers and consumers.