Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: January 2014

Final State Water Action Plan Released: Outlines California’s Near- and Long-Term Water Priorities – News Release

http://resources.ca.gov/docs/Final_Water_Action_Plan_Press_Release_1-27-14.pdf SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As California experiences one of the driest winters on record, the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture released the final California Water Action Plan, laying … Continue reading

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USDA Crop Insurance Deadlines for California Fast Approaching

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers that the sales closing dates for several crop insurance programs are almost here. Producers need to make sure to sign up, review, or change their crop policies before these dates have passed. January … Continue reading

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New virus linked to Colony Collapse Disorder – from the Los Angeles Times

By Geoffrey Mohan A rapidly mutating virus has leaped from plants to honeybees, where it is reproducing and contributing to the collapse of colonies vital to the multibillion-dollar agricultural industry, according to a new study. Tobacco ringspot virus, a pollen-borne pathogen … Continue reading

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Is reclaimed sewage water a viable water supply option? From NBC News

Andre Casasola / Orange County Water District Purified water from Southern California’s Groundwater Replenishment System exceeds state and federal drinking water standards. The water seen here is fresh from the facility.   After touring a plant that turns sewage into … Continue reading

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Governor Brown Declares Drought State of Emergency

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (far left) appears with Governor Brown today in San Francisco as he declares a drought state of emergency in California. A link to the Governor’s news release may be found here: http://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18368   Secretary Ross with KNBC-TV reporter … Continue reading

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National Recognition for Center for Land-Based Learning – From the Sacramento Bee

By Cathie Anderson Mai Yang Vang, only 28 years old, has already come full circle in her life. She’s now a board member at the nonprofit that inspired her passion for environmental justice as a teenage student at Sacramento High School. … Continue reading

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Most students get food and beverage marketing at school, study says – from the Los Angeles Times

By Mary MacVean Most students are exposed in school to efforts by food and beverage companies to sell food or gain brand loyalty, despite a decline in some kinds of commercial enterprises, including in soda machine contracts, researchers reported Monday. … Continue reading

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Nitrogen management training program underway for California certified crop advisers

CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is excited to announce the debut of the Nitrogen Management Training Program for California certified crop advisers (CCAs). Since October 2012, FREP has collaborated with the California Certified Crop Adviser Program and UC … Continue reading

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Dry conditions force ranchers to make tough decisions – from the Willits News

By J.J. De Forest Area ranchers battling the worst drought ever recorded are facing some tough decisions-sell off some of their stock or spend money to buy feed and water to keep the herd going. The Little Lake Valley should … Continue reading

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Governor Brown’s proposed budget and CDFA

Governor Brown’s proposed budget for 2014-2015 reflects a fiscal outlook that, while positive, continues to exercise caution. There are prudent investments in infrastructure with a focus on schools, health care and public safety. The budget also pays down debt. For … Continue reading

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