Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Video – SWEEP saves water (and reduces GHG emissions)

Learn more about SWEEP

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China’s retaliatory tariffs could have a negative impact on California’s farmers and ranchers

In response to the federal government’s recent decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, China has ordered retaliatory tariffs on about $2 billion worth of U.S. food and agricultural exports, which could have a significant negative impact on California’s … Continue reading

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Late winter storms fall short of “March Miracle” in Sierra – from the Sacramento Bee

By Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler  March’s powerful storms may have saved California from having one of the worst wet seasons on record, but the state’s Sierra snowpack still remains well below average. April 1 is considered the official end … Continue reading

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Is global public will enough to end hunger? From Agri-Pulse

By Ertharin Cousin Global public will alone will not end hunger. Increased donor support—while necessary to address immediate emergency food needs—will not create the food system improvements required for ending global hunger. Yes, even in 2016—after several years of decline—the … Continue reading

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