Jim Aschwanden knows a few things about agriculture.

The Woodbridge Municipal Advisory Council, meeting Thursday night, will discuss efforts to bring a Bookmobile to Woodbridge, road safety improvements, trespassing on irrigation canals and other topics.

Jim Aschwanden knows a few things about agriculture. The former Galt Joint Union High School District trustee and retired Galt High School agriculture teacher now serves as the executive director of the California FFA Foundation. He also sits on the FFA Adult Board, where he works with teachers and former student FFA leaders.

A California agency on Thursday unanimously adopted a broad, long-range plan to manage the ailing Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

A regular meeting of the Woodbridge Irrigation District board of directors, slated for Thursday, has been canceled.

(BPT) - With many states facing drought this summer, homeowners across the country will be looking for ways to save their landscaping while conserving water at the same time. Even if you’re not in a drought-affected area, it pays to keep conservation in mind when it comes to watering outdoors. Using less water is good for the environment and your wallet.

(BPT) - Summer can be tough on gardens. In what should be their glory days, many gardens suffer from neglect. Long weekends and summer vacations leave yards untended, while summer heat is an excuse for putting off chores. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s possible to have both a glorious well-maintained garden and time for fun in the sun by taking some smart gardening steps now.

Shaped by the land and climate and further molded by the economy and markets, Lodi’s agricultural landscape over the decades has evolved from grain to watermelons to grapes.

Two brothers and a sister in Thornton are busy farming in three counties, yet they find the time to be involved in small local boards, raise money for charity and participate in community activities.

The following is a list of public meetings in the Lodi and Galt areas this week:

Roy Yates leases property on four ranches, where he takes care of 105 cows and several calves. Not only that, but he also makes business decisions, prepares paperwork and watches the livestock market so he can decide when to sell his cattle.

A good water year for the East Bay Municipal Utility District does not always translate to a good water year for the local districts relying on their flows to serve customers.

After serving for 10 years on the Woodbridge Irrigation District's board of directors, Avery McQueen has completed his final meeting representing District 2.

(NAPSI)—Spring may have sprung, but is your sprinkler ready? Before you ramp up your watering this season, it might be time to spruce up your sprinklers to stop wasting water, save money, and promote a healthy lawn or garden.

(NAPSI)—Many homeowners looking to maximize the efficiency of their outdoor water use turn to drip irrigation systems as a solution for keeping weeds, diseases, garden pests, scorching heat and high water bills at bay. Drip irrigation systems are easily set up by even a novice gardener and will deliver an immediate water savings as they place the exact amount of water slowly and evenly at the plant’s roots—where it’s needed most.

Two women were arrested Friday after police chased a Honda that had been reported stolen.

(StatePoint) What do you do with your unused prescription pills and over-the-counter medications? Do you throw them away? Flush them down the toilet? Simply leave them in your cabinet for a rainy day?

To help get everyone get growing, News-Sentinel columnist Fred Hoffman offer these tips:

Great for vegetables

The basic requirements for a vegetable garden are an open area with good drainage, plenty of light (6 or more hours) and a ready supply of water. Choosing the size of your garden should depend on how much time you wish to spend and the number of people you want to feed. A 300-square-foot garden will adequately feed a family of 4.

(BPT) - Most of us have heard the rhyme “April showers bring May flowers." While April has traditionally been a rainy period, giving way to the start of spring growth and colors, this coming season also could bring stifling heat that scorches landscapes or results in on-going water shortages. After more than two-thirds of the country experienced drought-like conditions in 2012, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, homeowners everywhere are making preparations for yet another year of extreme heat and a lack of precipitation.

(BPT) - Having a well-kept lawn not only will keep you in your neighbors’ good graces, it also adds value to your home. Lawn care doesn’t need to be complicated, but sometimes it just needs to be done.

The Woodbridge Irrigation District will meet this week to hear several reports on district concerns and to refinance $13 million in certificates of participation.

California water officials released on Thursday the first part of a $23 billion plan to restore and protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem and guarantee a stable water supply for millions of Californians.

(NAPSI)—How does your garden grow? It could be one that makes the neighbors green with envy if you turn for inspiration to America’s amazing public gardens. Here are six ways public gardens can inspire: