The creation of AgNet West Media LLC was announced on Monday by farm media personality and longtime co-owner/editor of two California farm magazines, Patrick Cavanaugh.

The new partnership includes Laurie Greene, West Coast operations, and Gary Cooper and Robin Loftin, owner/operators of Southeast AgNet Radio Network based in Ocala, Fla.
 
AgNet West Radio Network programs are in production, affiliate stations and clearances are being arranged, and the network’s Web site is now active at www.AgNetWest.com.

The initial Web site features news and a weather page for visitors, and daily program feeds for radio stations.
 
Multiple weekday radio headlines focus on specialty crops; livestock and dairy; tree, nut and vine crops; and general agriculture news, localized for California and the western region. To target the proper audience and key advertisers, programs are designed for morning and mid-day airing.
 
Cavanaugh brings nearly 30 years of agricultural journalism experience to AgNet West and has received three first place Journalism Awards from Fresno County Farm Bureau.

His role and responsibilities as co-owner and editor of Vegetables West and Pacific Nut Producer magazines will not change.
 
“It has long been a dream of mine to be part of a local farm radio network to complement my other ag media interests and to better interact with audiences in California and the West,” Cavanaugh said. “The resources and people at Southeast AgNet allowed us to launch without delay.”
 
Cooper and Loftin have operated their network for nearly 30 years in the deep southeast region with similar specialty crops and urban diversity.

“We are excited about joining Patrick and Laurie to make AgNet West a reality,” said Cooper. “There are many similarities between our regions and this partnership is a natural for us all. Together we combine decades of experience and reputable local reporting with an already established network support team to achieve full operations, immediately.”
 
Station lists and advertising rates will be announced soon.

Cavanaugh’s reports originate from his office in Clovis, near Fresno, and from the field.

Cavanaugh and Cooper are voting members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB), and Cooper has served on the Boards of Directors of both NAFB and the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA).