John Harris, a respected farmer and cattle rancher passed away on Wednesday, July 2, at the age of 81. As the longtime leader of Harris Farms, he played a pivotal role in shaping agriculture in California’s San Joaquin Valley and beyond. Under his guidance, Harris Farms became one of the most prominent integrated farming and beef operations in the western United States, known for its quality and deep commitment to land stewardship.
In the small town of Clinton, North Carolina, pig farmer James Lamb is the living embodiment of the old TV sitcom Cheers' theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name." With a population of around 8,300, nearly everyone in the town knows James Lamb—in part because his farming family has been embedded in the community for decades, and in part due to his mindset of working to improve the natural resources he’s been entrusted with for future generations in Clinton and beyond.
While the aroma of bacon and baby back ribs filled the air at the Iowa State Fairgrounds at the 2025 World Pork Expo, the hungry crowds weren’t just there to be delighted by the culinary faire on display. They were also hungry to learn, network and collaborate about the third most consumed meat in the United States: pork.
On September 27, 2025,the CLEAR Center is thrilled to once again sponsor the UC Davis Salute to Ag Football Game, a one-of-a-kind celebration of agriculture and athletics!
In California’s ongoing fight against greenhouse gas emissions, manure management in the livestock sector remains a major challenge—but emerging solutions like manure additives may offer a possible solution moving forward.
To meet farmer and restauranteur Brandon Lee is to meet a man who embodies the spirit of his native Hawaiian Islands, capturing the essence of the tropical paradise, as well as a deep connection to the land he calls home. From the way he cares for his land, to the meals he serves, Lee invites visitors to savor a taste of Hawaii—alive in every ingredient.
Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Director of the UC Davis CLEAR Center, recently joined host Jamie Mackay on New Zealand’s popular radio show “The Country,” a daily program that dives into the nation’s largest industry, agriculture.
As the saying goes, iron sharpens iron—and in that spirit, Ph.D. students from the CLEAR Center offered their expertise, guidance, and real-world insight to students visiting from a nearby community college.
California’s legendary rangelands, once the heart of the American West, are vanishing at an alarming rate. Driven by factors such as economic pressures, regulatory challenges, and relentless urban sprawl, these iconic landscapes are under threat—putting the future of cattle ranching in jeopardy. A powerful new documentary shines a spotlight on the determined ranchers battling to save these crucial rangelands for generations to come.
Farmers and ranchers are often called stewards of the land because of their close connection to it. They hold true to the belief that they can and must enhance natural resources to protect the environment, while simultaneously producing food for a growing population.
For the Mensink family, farming and preserving the natural resources under their care has been a part of their daily life since they began their family farm in Preston, Minnesota in 1981.
