Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: April 2018

California and Chile to co-host webinar on climate adaptation strategies

Prolonged droughts. Erratic rainfall. Fluctuating temperatures. These extreme weather events are just some of the many ways climate change is exacerbating existing challenges faced by farmers and ranchers across the globe.  According to the United Nations, more than 80 percent … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Farm exports key to agriculture’s profitability – from Agri-Pulse

By Ed Maixner EXCERPTED Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue likes to tell people that he’s a “grow it and sell it kind of guy” who is always on the lookout for opportunities to do so. Increasingly, that means understanding world population and … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

CDFA fertilization guidelines offer insight on a number of crops

California grows over 400 commodities that account for one-third of the country’s vegetable production and two-thirds of the country’s fruit and nut production. For many of these crops, there are various research and technical articles available that provide fertilization information. … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

California Grown goes to Disneyland

When it comes to featuring nutritious California-grown foods, two of the best built-in ambassadors we have are in Anaheim – Disneyland and the California Adventure park. They host millions of visitors from around the world every year, providing an excellent … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The focus on recycling organic waste

Note – CDFA’s Healthy Soils Initiative includes a partnership with CalRecycle.  The composting of organic waste has important benefits – improving soil health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  From the CalRecycle blog The effects of global climate change are now upon … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Road Trip! “Scrumptious California Tour” shows foodies the salad bowl of the world

Get your foodie passport ready to tour scrumptious California veggie country! With over 970 thousand acres of harvested vegetables, melons, and strawberries, the just released USDA NASS Vegetables 2017 Summary places California at a whopping $7.85 billion in vegetable production – over … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Specialty Crops | Leave a comment

A reminder that it only takes one person to spread invasive pests

From the USDA Each year, harmful invasive plant pests and diseases cost the United States about $40 billion in crop losses, damage to forests and vulnerable ecosystems, and expensive eradication and control efforts. It only takes one person who moves … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

How 139 flocks of sentinel chickens help protect you from deadly disease – from the Long Beach Press Telegram

Note – With a focus on equine health, CDFA participates in  California’s Mosquito Borne Virus Disease Surveillance Program, which relies on sentinel chickens as well other approaches. Detections of viruses in horses that may have human health implications–like West Nile Virus–are … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

2018 Leopold Conservation Award seeks nominees

The Sand County Foundation, the California Farm Bureau Federation and Sustainable Conservation are accepting applications for the $10,000 California Leopold Conservation Award. The award publicly honors California farmers, ranchers, foresters and other private landowners who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and management … Continue reading

Posted in Conservation | Leave a comment

Video – SWEEP saves water (and reduces GHG emissions)

Learn more about SWEEP

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment