Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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#CDFACentennial – a history of California agriculture from 1939

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.   At the 1939 San Francisco World’s … Continue reading

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Northern California farmers win prestigious national conservation award – from the Winters Express

By Emma Johnson Bruce and Rick Rominger of Rominger Farms (near Winters, Yolo County) had no idea they were even nominated for the national Hugh Hammond Bennett Award for Conservation Excellence. It came as a surprise when, a few weeks … Continue reading

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Pests and disease cause worldwide damage to crops – from the University of California’s “California Ag Today”

By Pamela Kan Rice Farmers know they lose crops to pests and plant diseases, but scientists have found that on a global scale, pathogens and pests are reducing crop yields for five major food crops by 10 percent to 40 … Continue reading

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300 tons of food – 2018 State Employees Food Drive helps families in need

CDFA, the California Association of Food Banks, and Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services teamed-up again in 2018 to sponsor the State Employee Food Drive. The generosity of state employees throughout California, including donations at office bins as well as … Continue reading

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Prehistoric food globalization spanned three millennia – from Washington University

By Gerry Everding Since the beginning of archaeology, researchers have combed the globe searching for evidence of the first domesticated crops. Painstakingly extracting charred bits of barley, wheat, millet and rice from the remains of ancient hearths and campfires, they’ve … Continue reading

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Ag Leadership training – CDFA employee among recent graduates

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#CDFACentennial – Border Protection Stations then and now

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.   CDFA operates 16 Border Protection Stations … Continue reading

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CDFA among participants at World Ag Expo this week

The 2019 World Ag Expo is scheduled for this week in Tulare (today-Thursday), and several divisions at CDFA will be participating. The California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program will staff a booth to provide information about the Asian citrus psyllid, huanglongbing and other … Continue reading

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Video – Protecting flocks from Virulent Newcastle Disease

As CDFA and the USDA continue with their efforts to eradicate Virulent Newcastle Disease, here is a video (in English and Spanish) featuring CDFA veterinarian Dr. Ricardo Gaitan and Southern California bird owner Luis Aldana talking about ways to prevent … Continue reading

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Big potential changes ahead in land ownership and farm operators – from AgriPulse

By Ed Maixner and Sara Wyant Dig into U.S. farmland tenure to see what’s happening and what’s likely for the future, and Carson Futch’s 87-year-old dad, Alvin, is very typical. Carson, a real estate agent specializing in farmland for Lakeland-based … Continue reading

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