Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: August 2017

California ISO issues statewide Flex Alert due to heat wave

The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) has issued a statewide Flex Alert that calls for voluntary electricity conservation from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, September 1, 2017. Consumers are urged to conserve electricity especially during the afternoon when air conditioners typically … Continue reading

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Heat Wave: Tips for Farmers and Ranchers

Animal health is a year-round part of what farmers and ranchers do, but it’s especially important as we gear up for this late summer heat wave. First of all, be sure to protect yourself, your family and your employees from … Continue reading

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Update on climate change programs from CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation

CDFA recently issued this newsletter to provide updates about programs in its Office of Environmental Farming Initiatives. The Healthy Soils Program OEFI has a new program that aims to improve soil health by increasing soil carbon and reducing atmospheric greenhouse … Continue reading

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Secretary Ross meets with Mexican agriculture agency – reaffirms partnership with California’s largest trading partner

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross is in Mexico this week with a California Grown trade delegation focusing on expanding opportunities for California specialty crops. Secretary Ross met with Mr. Raul Urteaga Trani, general coordinator for international affairs with Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture, … Continue reading

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Nevada-to-SoCal drivers may soon encounter new CDFA Border Inspection Station – from the Las Vegas Review-Journal

By Art Marroquin Drivers speeding into California along southbound Interstate 15 usually come to an abrupt, but necessary, stop about 100 miles past the Nevada border. And just like that, a worker usually waves them past a giant, yellow “California … Continue reading

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Agriculture’s role in climate change strategies – from the Washington Post

By Chelsea Harvey Agriculture has historically released almost as much carbon into the atmosphere as deforestation, a new study suggests — and that’s saying something. In a paper published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that … Continue reading

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Organic farms seeking new generation – from the San Francisco Chronicle

By Jonathan Kauffman Advocates of Bay Area agriculture and organics have been waiting to learn the fate of Star Route Farms since owner Warren Weber put his 100-acre Bolinas farm up for sale in 2013. When news broke this month that the … Continue reading

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New West Nile Virus detections in horses

A dangerous disease, west Nile virus, has returned to California this summer.  A total of eight horses have been confirmed positive for the disease,  in Glenn, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern (2), Riverside, Plumas, and San Joaquin counties. Six horses were unvaccinated and … Continue reading

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California provides Congress with 2018 Farm Bill recommendations

California has submitted recommendations to Congress for the 2018 Farm Bill, to inform upcoming deliberations by members of the House and Senate Agricultural Committees. California’s recommendations focus on robust funding for food and nutrition programs; protection and enhancement of conservation … Continue reading

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Watch plants during eclipse – From the Clemson Newsstand

CLEMSON — Clemson University researchers say the public can help collect scientific information about the effect of Monday’s eclipse on plants for future generations. This will be the first time since 1918 a total eclipse will cross the entire United States. Douglas Bielenberg, a … Continue reading

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