Fresno State Conference Examines Agricultural Risk
The 45th annual Agribusiness Management Conference, themed 'Navigating Risk in Uncertain Times,' drew agricultural business leaders and analysts to Fresno.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Agriculture
Live Poll
Do you think tariffs on Canada are hurting the economy where you live?
Fresno State's Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology held its 45th annual Agribusiness Management Conference on October 29 at Pardini's in Fresno. The event focused on navigating risk in uncertain times across the agricultural sector.
Why it matters
Fresno sits in one of the nation's leading agricultural regions, so the conference's discussion of federal policy, trade, and labor pressures bears directly on local growers and agribusinesses. The sessions addressed how changing rules and markets affect planning and day-to-day operations.
The event marked the 45th annual running of the Agribusiness Management Conference, hosted by Fresno State's Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. Attendance and financial figures for this year's edition were not reported.
The players
Fresno State Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
The academic college of Fresno State that hosts the annual Agribusiness Management Conference and focuses on agricultural education and research.
Jim Wiesemeyer
A Washington policy analyst for AgBull Media and a regular contributor to Farm Journal's AgriTalk radio program who covers federal agricultural policy.
Walt Duflock
An innovation executive with Western Growers who examines how robotics and automation can address labor and productivity challenges in agriculture.
The details
Jim Wiesemeyer, a Washington policy analyst for AgBull Media and contributor to Farm Journal's AgriTalk radio program, presented on how federal farm legislation, trade, regulations, and taxes affect farm budgets and commodity markets. A panel titled 'The Forces Reshaping Agricultural Risk' and a session on California's Private Attorneys General Act were also held, with Walt Duflock of Western Growers delivering the luncheon keynote on robotics and automation.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: Fresno State's 45th annual Agribusiness Management Conference is held at Pardini's in Fresno.
Industry Context
The conference's agenda centered on tariffs and trade disputes with Canada, which Wiesemeyer tied to federal farm policy and commodity pricing. Fresno's growers face these pressures alongside California's labor rules, which a separate session addressed through PAGA liability.
Growers and agribusiness planners in the Fresno area can use the conference's focus on federal farm legislation and tax rules to revisit budgets and commodity exposure. Sessions on robotics and automation also point to tools that may help with labor shortages and water management.
The takeaway
Agricultural risk now spans federal policy, trade, labor law, and technology at once, and planning that accounts for all of them is increasingly necessary for growers and agribusinesses.
Further reading
For more on the sector behind these risk discussions, explore Fresno agriculture coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Business Journal.
Live Poll
Do you think tariffs on Canada are hurting the economy where you live?
