A federal agency is backing a request from Gov. Jan Brewer to declare a drought disaster that will help ranchers and farmers.

Zimmerman Diary has been operating in Arizona for nearly 90 years, but its long-lasting success doesn’t mean its third-generation owners haven’t had to innovate to survive along the way.

Facing rising costs, in March 2011 the Zimmermans installed a shiny new fixture they say will enable them to continue to stay in business regardless of electricity rates.

Arizona is set to get $5.2 million in disaster aid from the Department of Agriculture.

Proposed federal restrictions on the use of certain antibiotics in livestock and poultry wouldn’t have much an effect on Arizona’s farms and ranches, according to experts here.

An Arizona appeals court on Wednesday considers whether to block a judge’s ruling that a state agency will effectively scuttle most of its funding.

An Arizona appellate court says it was legal for the Legislature to take $161,400 from three agricultural research and promotion funds in 2008 to help balance the state budget.

Ronald Rayner has weathered many ups and downs in the four-plus decades he’s grown cotton in the West Valley. For Rayner, and for many other cotton farmers in the state, it’s looking like an up year.

The lion’s share of the inside information gained from Bas Aja’s 22 sessions lobbying at the Arizona Legislature is contained inside a large file cabinet at the Arizona Cattlemen’s Association office. About five years ago, the longtime cattle industry lobbyist knew the time was coming to share the keys to this treasure trove with a younger, future industry leader.

PEORIA – Caleb Gillispie said he knew long before coming to Peoria High School that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a high school agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America adviser.

As farmers see hay and alfalfa prices tanking, cotton production in Arizona is expected to rise by 4 percent this year, industry experts say.