Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Author Archives: Office of Public Affairs

CDFA joins invasive mussel prevention effort over holiday weekend

California Department of Fish and Wildlife News Release California agencies combating the spread of invasive quagga and zebra mussels remind boaters to remain cautious over the three-day Memorial Day weekend. Quagga and zebra mussels are invasive freshwater mussels native to … Continue reading →

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Wet spring delays California crops – from Associated Press via Morning Ag Clips

California growers are frustrated by an unusually wet spring that has delayed the planting of some crops like rice and damaged others including strawberries and wine grapes. The state’s wet conditions come as much of the West is experiencing weird … Continue reading →

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California dairy family provides habitat for 25,000 imperiled birds

News release from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service A Merced dairy family is playing a key role in protecting imperiled Tricolored Blackbirds, a California-native species federally listed as a Bird of Conservation Concern and as a State of California … Continue reading →

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#CDFACentennial – Centennial Reflections video series with Amadou Ba

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a state agency in 2019. Throughout the year this blog will feature a number of items to commemorate this milestone. Today we continue with the Centennial Reflections … Continue reading →

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Video series on vegetable production of the future

A 26-episode weekly video series has debuted on YouTube to help train the next generation of vegetable crop workers and increase their use of effective stewardship practices in vegetable production. Projections for near-future retirements of people working in California’s agricultural … Continue reading →

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Diverse bee forage could lead to good honey crop – from Ag Alert

By Christine Souza It’s a “mixed box” when it comes to beekeeper expectations regarding this season’s honey crop. Some beekeepers report that winter weather brought plenty of forage for honeybees to feast on this year, and others say uneven citrus … Continue reading →

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#CDFACentennial – Centennial Reflections video series with George Deese

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a state agency in 2019. Throughout the year this blog will feature a number of items to commemorate this milestone. Today we continue with the Centennial Reflections … Continue reading →

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Secretary Ross at groundbreaking for new facility for Center for Land Based Learning

By CDFA Secretary Karen Ross What a fabulous and inspiring event in Woodland recently to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new home for the Center for Land Based Learning! Hoorah to founders Craig and Julie McNamara for the vision to … Continue reading →

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Is Vertical Farming an option for feeding our cities? Analysis from the UC Davis Aggie

By Daniel Oropeza With the world’s population estimated to reach 9.8 billion people by 2050, is vertical farming a viable option for feeding our rapidly growing cities while keeping us from committing climate suicide?   City life is in demand. According to … Continue reading →

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CalRecycle awards $11 million in grants for food recovery

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has awarded $11 million in grants to 36 local projects that prevent waste, reduce pollution, and combat climate change by getting good food to Californians who need it.  CalRecycle’s Food Waste Prevention and … Continue reading →

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