Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Category Archives: Uncategorized


Snails – an ancient invasive species? From the Los Angeles Times

Scientists study modern snails, shed light on ancient humans? By Eryn Brown Genetic analysis of certain snails in Ireland suggests that the creeping mollusks may have arrived on the Emerald Isle when humans carried them there some 8,000 years ago … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Diesel Fuel Substitute Shows Promise – CDFA Partnering in Test Project

A new fuel will soon be powering some vehicles in a test project in California. Volvo’s heavy truck division is partnering with an innovative California start-up, Oberon Fuels, to develop Dimethyl Ether (DME) as a diesel engine fuel replacement, at … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Alternative Fuels, Environment, Measurement Standards, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Huell Howser and California’s Golden Fairs – Alameda County

Several years ago, the late public television personality Huell Howser produced a series of reports called California’s Golden Fairs. One of the segments featured the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, which begins its 17-day run today. California’s Golden Fairs #109 – … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Growing California video series – For the Love of Olives

The next segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “For the Love of Olives.”

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

California State Board of Food and Agriculture Continues its Work to Cultivate New Farmers and Ranchers

Farm demographics continue to change in California. The average age of a farmer is 58 years old, relatively few heirs are willing to take over farms, and fewer people are interested in becoming farmers because of a variety of challenges. This dynamic is … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Growing California video series – “Blossom Buddies,” part two

The next segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is part two of “Blossom Buddies,” a story about honey bees in California and the challenges to their health in recent years.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Turning Cow Dung into Electricity – From the Los Angeles Times

    http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-dairy-digester-20130609,0,878419.story By Ricardo Lopez, Los Angeles Times Dairy farmer Ron Koetsier’s 1,200 cows produce roughly 90 tons of manure daily, and for the last three decades, he has tried unsuccessfully to turn the stinky dung into energy to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Strategic Plan a Way to Maintain and Improve CDFA’s Service to Stakeholders

On behalf of CDFA, I am pleased to present the agency’s 2013-2018 Strategic Plan. While strategic planning is essential to any organization, it is often misunderstood, considered by many as merely an internal plan to reach goals and objectives. The … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Succession Planning, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Huell Howser and California’s Golden Fairs – San Diego County

Several years ago, the late public television personality Huell Howser produced a series of reports called California’s Golden Fairs. One of the segments featured the San Diego County Fair, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which begins its 24-day run tomorrow. … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Fairs, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

California Wines on the World Stage – Seminar on July 23rd

Once a year the California Wine Institute assembles in San Francisco for a seminar to review promotional programs and discuss new export opportunities for California vintners.  It’s called California Wines on the World Stage, and it is intended for new-to-exporting wineries as well … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment