Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Category Archives: Farm Bill


USDA Reaching Out to Farms and Ranches Impacted by Drought and Disaster

A wetter than usual February has helped turn the brown hills of California’s coastal ranges and Sierra foothills a light shade of green and while these rangelands won’t be mistaken for Ireland any time soon, this precipitation was a welcome … Continue reading

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Pest and Disease Prevention Projects Get a Boost from USDA

California’s approach to pests and diseases is as complex as the problem itself, but perhaps the most important element of our efforts is prevention.  Prevention projects in California and throughout the nation have been given a much needed boost from … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Bill, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Invasive Species | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Still the People’s Agency 150 Years Later – Happy Birthday, USDA!

For producers and consumers of food, this is a sesquicentennial like no other. Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Morrill Act, the single piece of legislation that laid the foundation for the modern … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Alternative Fuels, Asian Citrus Psyllid, Climate Change, Community-based Food System, Dairy, Environment, Farm Bill, Farmers' Markets, Food Access, Food Safety, Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, HLB, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Invasive Species, Pierce's Disease, Specialty Crops, Trade, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Wanted: Ag Leaders for Public Policy Duty – Many Potentially Groundbreaking Initiatives Now on Table

This is a potentially historic time for farm policy in our country. As discussion continues in Washington D.C. about possible seismic shifts in Farm Bill funding, there is also a major effort underway to consider genuine, substantive change to public … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Environment, Farm Bill, Farmers' Markets, Food Access, State Board of Food and Agriculture, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Farm Bill Framing Document for California Ready for Review

Here in California and across the nation, discussion is well underway about development of the 2012 Farm Bill.  The legislation is renewed every five years and is the essential component in our country’s farm and food policy.  The Farm Bill … Continue reading

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Farm Bill Discussion Begins in California

Every five years we have the ability to help shape national food policy through the farm bill. This legislation funds critical programs such as nutrition assistance (food stamps), technical assistance for farmers and ranchers, and initiatives that support food production … Continue reading

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