Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Author Archives: Office of Public Affairs

Ag Day Photo Gallery 2026: “California Leads”

California Agriculture Day, the state’s annual celebration of agriculture on the west steps of the State Capitol, brought together farmers, ranchers, agricultural enthusiasts and leaders today around this year’s theme: “California Leads.” California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom joined the celebration, praised … Continue reading

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California Agriculture Day is Tomorrow, April 21 – Rain or Shine!

California Agriculture Day returns to the west steps of the State Capitol tomorrow: Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Come on out and help us celebrate our agricultural community! The event is open to elected officials and staff from 10:30 am – 11:30 am and … Continue reading

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CDFA Climate Bond Grants: accepting concept proposals for Healthy Soils Program and State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program

CDFA’s  Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) is pleased to announce that Concept Proposal applications are now open for both the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) and the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) Block Grants, funded by the Climate Bond.  This milestone reflects the continued momentum … Continue reading

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CDFA’s Information Technology Team Celebrates Major Wins at the 2026 California Public Sector CIO Academy Awards

Congratulations to all of our California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Information Technology (IT) Services Division award recipients and teams recognized at the 2026 CIO Academy Awards! Your dedication, expertise, and leadership continue to drive progress across the agency. … Continue reading

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Common Threads: Reflections on Women, Agriculture, and the Power of Showing Up 

By Sureena Johl, CDFA Earlier this month, Secretary Karen Ross attended the 2026 Common Threads North event in Chico, an evening dedicated to recognizing women whose contributions have strengthened agriculture and the communities it sustains.  Common Threads North brought together a diverse group … Continue reading

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Ag Day at the State Capitol is coming up: April 21

California Agriculture Day returns to the west steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Come on out and help us celebrate our agricultural community! Ag Day is presented by CDFA in partnership with the California Foundation for Agriculture in the … Continue reading

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“Ranch-to-Tray” tours help school nutrition professionals and California ranchers build connections

From the California Beef Council Tours aim to show how cattle are raised and how beef is processed ROCKLIN, CA – As schools across California work to incorporate more locally sourced foods into their meal programs, many districts are increasingly … Continue reading

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CDFA Continues Celebrating Healthy Soils Week in California (April 6 – 10)

Earlier this week, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability kicked off California’s Healthy Soils Week. We started the week with a farm tour alongside the Almond Board of California, where we heard directly … Continue reading

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CDFA Farm to School Grant “Sparks” support of women in agriculture – expanding local citrus into school meals

CDFA’s California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program supports small to midsize farms while increasing healthy food choices for school meals. And in California, where women outpace the nation by making up 38% of producers, that includes supporting women in … Continue reading

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Secretary Karen Ross Introduces California’s Plan to Help Agriculture Thrive in a Changing Climate

What is the Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture? Watch this short video to learn about how the state is fostering resilience in the agricultural sector. The full Strategy is available on www.cdfa.ca.gov/climate – visit the website to download the … Continue reading

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