News

As an industry, we know surprisingly little about soil health. It seems counterintuitive. Soil is so fundamental to growing, and it’s not a new-fangled technology.

The Yuma Center for Excellence for Desert Agriculture (YCEDA) is the result. It’s a unique public-private partnership. Five area growers, including JV Smith Companies, identify issues needing attention.



Governor Katie Hobbs (D-Arizona) looked to Yuma for the next head of the Arizona Department of Agriculture. It was announced on Thursday that Paul Brierley, Director of the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture is going to be nominated for the position.


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is concerned about a fungus spreading throughout the United States. It’s called Candida auris, and it can be fatal, especially to people who have underlying health issues. So far there have been no positive cases in Yuma County.