Freelance Agriculture Writers

Ag Alert, a weekly newspaper the covers California agriculture, is looking for freelance reporters based in different regions of the state to write about farming, ranching and agricultural communities.

We are looking for stories that showcase farmers, ranchers and other agricultural businesses across the California landscape that comprises America’s most productive agricultural economic sector. We seek to inform both agricultural and broader audiences alike on research and innovations in agriculture, regional impacts and responses to drought and water shortages, as well as economic issues and trade impacts facing the Golden State’s various farming sectors and diverse agricultural communities.

We are looking for reports that tell compelling stories and illuminate agricultural issues, trends and challenges facing agriculture in multiple corners of California, including in the Central, San Joaquin and Imperial valleys, the Central Coast and Salinas Valley, Southern California, Northern California and Klamath Basin.

Our contributors submit stories and photographs for recurring Ag Alert special sections focused on different areas of agriculture, including wine and grapes, tree nuts, fruits, vegetables and other crops, as well as dairy and livestock, irrigation, organic farming and new technologies. Freelances also contribute to our general news pages on breaking news and other topics impacting farming communities.

We are looking for skilled writers, reporters and storytellers from agricultural regions across California that are familiar with A.P. style and sound journalistic practices. We currently have a high interest in a correspondent who can report from from the Fresno area who can write about tree crops, grape growing, dairy and livestock industries as well as cover agricultural field days at Fresno State University and the University of California Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

Candidates should also be able to take high-quality photographs suitable for Ag Alert section covers. We pay $250 for articles ranging from 700 to 1,000 words, with higher rates for indepth pieces or extra field reporting, plus $50 for photographs and mileage for longer-distance assignments. Freelancers often produce multiple engaging pieces from farming regions or agricultural events.

Ag Alert is published by the California Farm Bureau, California’s largest agricultural organization with nearly 31,000 members.

To apply, please send a resume and 2 to 5 writing samples to Peter Hecht, chief editor of publications, at phecht@cfbf.com