There is great news from the Western Farm Press news desk. Todd Fitchette, a native Californian with a heaping helping of experience in California journalism over several decades, has joined the WFP staff as associate editor.

Todd will be based in Tulare, Calif.

In his new role, Todd will report on the widely diverse variety of California crops covered by Western Farm Press, including tree nuts, grapes, citrus, rice, alfalfa, vegetables, fruit, and cotton - just to name a few.

His articles and photography will appear in the widely respected Western Farm Press magazine and the successful westernfarmpress.com website.

Todd has a diverse California agricultural reporting background which includes service as the editor of Western DairyBusiness magazine. He was the editor of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau News, the nation’s only weekly Farm Bureau newspaper.

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Todd's excellent writing and photography skills will highly complement WFP's magazine and web pages.

When I first met Todd several months ago, he was very enthusiastic about the possibility of returning home to California and getting back into agricultural journalism. He has a deep passion, commitment, and appreciation for agriculture.

As many of you meet Todd in the months ahead, welcome him to the Farm Press fold and back to California agriculture. Todd can be reached at [email protected].

This hiring completes a transitional period at Western Farm Press. Earlier this year, Harry Cline, a Western Farm Press founding editor, decided after three-plus decades of service to slow down his work pace and shift into semi retirement.

As a result, Farm Press-Penton management asked me to take the editor's helm after six years in the associate editor post.

Harry will continue to write his highly-acclaimed commentaries, plus will continue to expand Farm Press’ very successful continuing education program which he created – both through the end of this year.

The CEU program, available at pentonag.com, has nearly 20 courses available for online credit. Most of the courses are free. Several are available for a nominal fee.

Getting back to full editorial staffing is exciting. Farm Press will continue its commitment of timely and accurate reporting on Western agricultural issues. As California and Arizona agriculture continues to evolve, we will keep you, our readers, abreast of the latest news and trends.

We look forward to serving you, our valuable readers, in the future. Feel free to contact me at [email protected].

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