A joint initiative between California and Ohio focusing on sustainable livestock health and responsible antibiotic use has earned international recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 

Developed in partnership with UC Davis and Ohio State University, the Early and Accurate Disease Detection in Dairy Cattle training program was honored with Technical Recognition by the FAO in the areas of Sustainable Transformation, One Health, Animal Health, and Reference Centres, as part of FAO’s 80^th anniversary celebration.  

The program was supported by a team of research partners, led by University of California, Davis Associate Professor of Clinical Livestock Herd Health, Dr. Richard V. Pereira, and Ohio State University Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Dr. Greg G. Habing. CDFA’s Antimicrobial Usage and Stewardship (AUS) program provided funding to facilitate the translation of this project into Spanish and its adaption to the current web platform, making it accessible to a much wider audience. 

The recognition highlights the program’s leadership, collaboration, and innovation in upgrading agrifood systems, affirming international advances in the detection of infectious disease detection, and strengthening stewardship and dairy producer capacity. 

Early Detection Minimizes Antibiotic Use 

The success of this program lies in its direct support of the AUS mission to use antibiotics judiciously. The key to this is prevention and early intervention. 

The goal is simple yet critical: Identify animal illness early to prevent the condition becoming so severe that it requires antibiotic treatment, or more than would be otherwise necessary. By equipping farm staff with the knowledge to act fast, we can optimize treatment and reduce the overall need for antibiotics across the industry. 

Bilingual Training 

The free online training is an interactive, bilingual course (available in English and Spanish) that empowers dairy farm workers with essential skills. Comprised of six engaging modules, the course can also be paused and started at any time, providing flexibility to workers. 

The course teaches participants how to: 

• Recognize and define signs of illness in different body systems of dairy cows. 

• Follow established protocols for checking symptoms. 

• Identify common dairy cattle diseases in California and the US. 

The program provides workers with a formal certificate upon completion. This certification not only validates their expertise but also offers tangible value for their professional advancement, reflecting the high standard of care expected in California agriculture. 

Partnership in Health 

This global recognition from the FAO underscores the importance of these partnerships. By working with veterinarians, producers, educators, and, most importantly, dairy workers themselves, we are promoting the optimization of antimicrobial use and providing tangible value across the entire supply chain. 

Initiatives like this demonstrate how high-level, holistic consideration for animal health and agricultural quality drives sustainable transformation for the industry. 

As we gather with friends, family, and neighbors this Thanksgiving, California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross shares a heartfelt message of gratitude for everyone who helps bring food to our tables. In this video, Secretary Ross reflects on the beauty of fall, the bounty of California agriculture, and the many hands, from farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and supply-chain partners, who make our meals possible.

COP30, the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, brought together global leaders, scientists, advocates, and innovators to accelerate climate action. This year’s COP placed the Amazon, multilateral cooperation, and the urgent need for a just and resilient transition at the center of global climate discussions.

California’s participation came at a moment when the world is looking for real examples of climate solutions in action, and the importance of resilient agriculture and food production was a key piece of the discussion. 

California is a global agricultural powerhouse, producing more than 400 commodities and supporting a $61 billion farm economy. For decades, the state has demonstrated that environmental stewardship and agricultural productivity can go hand in hand. With more than $690 million invested in climate-smart agriculture, California has proven that farmers and ranchers are essential partners in climate resilience, water conservation, soil health, and methane reduction.

This year’s COP dedicated two full days to food and agriculture. As CDFA Secretary Karen Ross noted, “Of the four COPs I’ve attended, this was the strongest focus yet on the essential role of farmers and sustainable food systems – not only in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also in delivering solutions through healthy soils, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. It was powerful to see programming that integrated climate, agriculture, water, and biodiversity holistically.”

California’s role at COP30 was threefold:

• Share what’s working: methane reduction, healthy soils, water efficiency, biodiversity, and resilient working lands.
• Learn from international partners: gaining new approaches in science, policy, technology, and on-farm innovation.
• Represent California’s farmers and ranchers: ensuring their challenges, innovations, and perspectives are included in global climate conversations.

Many attendees expressed how impressed and encouraged they were to see California show up early and stay engaged at COP30. Having Governor Newsom and other state leaders on the ground sent a powerful signal to the world that America’s climate work won’t pause or slow, even amid political shifts, and it underscored the essential role that subnational and local governments play in driving real, sustained climate action.

Together on behalf of CDFA, Secretary Ross and Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands Virginia Jameson participated in panels, bilateral meetings, and strategy sessions focused on nature-based climate solutions, climate-smart agriculture, and resilient food systems. Secretary Ross spoke on ten separate panels and emphasized how much she learned from fellow panelists. She and Deputy Secretary Jameson also met with agricultural organizations, representatives from six countries, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization—opening the door to new collaborations in climate-smart agriculture and research.

By showing up at COP30, California gave voice to the realities of farming with climate strategies, and underscored that producers benefit from the science, partnerships, and opportunities emerging on the global stage. As Secretary Ross reflected, there are not enough farmers and ranchers present at COP due to time, cost, and responsibility at home. California’s participation helps elevate their voices and keeps agriculture centered in global climate decision-making.

The delegation left Brazil inspired, energized, and ready to bring home new ideas that support farmers, ranchers, and rural communities while strengthening the resilience of California agriculture.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) gathered this morning at CDFA’s headquarters for an in-person all-staff meeting. The morning was filled with appreciation, updates, and well-deserved recognition for some of CDFA’s longest-serving IT professionals.

Honoring 25+ Years of Service

A key highlight of the meeting was the 25+ Year Service Recognition, honoring ITSD employees (pictured above) whose long-standing commitment has strengthened CDFA over the course of decades. The following team members were celebrated for their extraordinary service:

• Victoria Nguyen – 25 years, 2 months
• Alex Ma – 25 years, 2 months
• Quyen Huynh – 25 years, 3 months
• Eric Wan – 26 years, 8 months
• Tony Woo – 27 years, 5 months
• Ru Ma – 28 years, 1 month
• Ed Lee – 30 years, 8 months
• Richard Howard – 31 years
• Scott McArdle – 31 years, 1 month
• Henry Ira – 33 years, 5 months
• Heather Majesko – 36 years, 1 month

Together, these eleven employees represent more than 320 years of cumulative service — an extraordinary testament to their dedication, institutional knowledge, and unwavering commitment to CDFA’s mission.

Leadership Appreciation

On behalf of CDFA’s executive leadership, the audience was thanked for their exceptional volume of work, adaptability, and professionalism—especially during a time of rapid technological change and evolving statewide initiatives. Leadership emphasized the high number of complex projects moving through CDFA and acknowledged the reliability and expertise with which ITSD consistently meets those demands. Their message underscored how vital the division is to the agency’s success and how deeply valued ITSD’s contributions are across the organization.

Related: CDFA IT department honored at “Best of California” awards

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and Virginia Jameson, Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands, are in Belém, Brazil this week for COP30, the United Nations’ annual climate summit.

California is a global leader in climate-smart agriculture and remains a steadfast partner in confronting the climate crisis.

Throughout the week, Secretary Ross will be highlighting California’s leadership and strengthening international cooperation to support farmers, ranchers, and communities worldwide.

It’s been a productive start to the week:

• Secretary Ross met with Mexico’s delegation to discuss shared strategies for addressing deforestation and expanding incentives for regenerative agriculture, and:
• Participated in a panel moderated by The Nature Conservancy, alongside Brazilian leaders, highlighting nature-based solutions, including healthy soils and regenerative grazing, and emphasizing the essential role of indigenous communities in climate action both in the Amazon and around the world.
• Convened with colleagues from Australia to discuss common challenges related to livestock methane, incentivizing soil health practices, and drought.
• Emphasized the importance of robust monitoring, reporting, and verification for global methane emission reduction in the livestock sector on the Clean Air Task Force’s panel on Methane in Action
• Met with CIGAR, a global research partnership, to discuss opportunities for collaboration in climate-smart agriculture.

California is proud to collaborate globally to advance sustainable agriculture and build climate resilience from the ground up.

Pictured: Secretary Karen Ross (third from left), along with California State Assemblymember Chris Rogers (fourth from left), Assemblymember Damon Connolly (fifth from right); Andy Berliner (founder and CEO of Amy’s Kitchen, center); also included, Amy’s Kitchen staff and California Energy Commission staff members.

CDFA Karen Ross visited Amy’s Kitchen in Santa Rosa to see firsthand the results of a California Energy Commission–funded project driving innovation in food processing.

Through the California’s Food Production Investment Program (FPIP), funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, Amy’s Kitchen has invested over $15 million in energy- and water-saving technologies—reducing greenhouse gas emissions while keeping food processing, farming, and jobs in California.

In the video below, Secretary Ross highlights how this project supports the state’s Cap-and-Invest strategy, helping California transition to a carbon-neutral economy while protecting local communities, sustainable jobs, and the future of California-grown food.

At CDFA we take great pride when we discover practices and standards utilized here in California are sources of inspiration beyond our borders. Recently, India’s Ministry of Fisheries Animal Husbandry & Dairying Government released its draft “Guidelines/SOP for Blood Transfusion and Blood Bank for Animals in India,” citing CDFA’s guidance in its references. This recognition underscores the influence of the agency’s work through the California Animal Blood Banks program (CABB). 

The guidance provides clear information on best practices and the requirements for starting and operating an animal blood bank. Its development, mandated by California statute, involved collaboration with the California Veterinary Medical Board, technical experts, and other stakeholders. The resource is regularly updated to reflect evolving industry standards. 

The CABB team works to forge new ground, developing comprehensive guidelines that not only ensure safety and efficacy but also prioritize the welfare of donor animals. To see this work serve as a model for a nation as large as India – with its vast and diverse animal populations – is a testament to the quality and foresight of our program. 

While there has been no formal collaboration with India’s government, we are proud that the guidance and standards we’ve helped pioneer are a source of inspiration, helping to establish safe, ethical, and effective standards for animal healthcare on a global scale. This is a clear indicator that our efforts are aligning with international best practices and contributing to a more structured approach to veterinary medicine worldwide. 

We look forward to seeing how these new guidelines are adopted and implemented in India and are thrilled to know that CDFA is playing a part in this important global step forward. 

For more information on the CDFA Animal Blood Banking Program, please visit our website at www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/cabb. 

By Gabriel Dillard

Fresno County is the No. 1 farm county in the nation, its farms selling a record $9.03 billion worth of production in 2024 — up nearly 6% from the previous year.

When it comes to total economic impact, that dollar figure more than doubles.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors received Agricultural Commissioner Melissa Cregan’s 2024 crop and livestock report, which catalogues acreage, production and gross farm receipts.

Cregan also offered a first look at an economic impact report for Fresno County agriculture.  Examining the 2023 crop year, farming contributed $21.66 billion to the county economy, directly supporting 63,103 jobs plus nearly 45,000 more from multiplier effects.

Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen said Fresno County is the food capital of the nation.

“California grows more than a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts, with a majority of that coming from right here in the San Joaquin Valley,” Jacobsen said in a statement. “Food grows where water flows, and 2024 was a good water year for our county allowing farmers to grow the full rainbow of crops that we are capable of here.”

Kern County was previously the top U.S. ag county in 2023, but its value dropped 8% last year.

Grapes, nuts battle

After two years in the No. 2 spot, almonds are back on top as the leading agricultural commodity in Fresno County with a gross value of $1.45 billion — up 43% compared to 2023 as prices recovered.

At the same time, harvested almond acreage fell by 6% to 308,170 last year.

Grapes moved to the No. 2 spot with a gross value of $1.04 billion, down from $1.27 billion the year before. There were 142,263 acres planted in raisins, table and wine grapes last year, down 8% from 2023.

Pistachios remained in third, with a gross value of $857.3 million — down 5% from 2023.

Incomplete picture

Despite the large numbers, Fresno County farmers were quick to point out that these represent gross returns — and don’t represent farm profits as input costs rise.

“While the public may see this record-breaking number as a reflection of the health of our local agricultural community, that couldn’t be further from the truth,” stated Jacobsen. “The past four years have been extraordinarily difficult for most local farmers due to a combination of stressors — including lower-than-average market prices, rising input costs, higher interest rates, and more.”

Focus on farmworker

This year’s report highlighted the agricultural workforce. Titled “California Farmworkers: A Vital Contribution to the State’s Economy and How We Feed the World,” the report examines the role of farm employees in the nation’s food supply.

Seasonal labor is crucial, according to the report, especially to three farm sectors — row crops, grapes and tree fruit. For instance, the Central Valley is one of three major growing areas for the year-round lettuce harvest.

California’s farm success depends on farmworkers, the report says.

“Without them, California would face significant labor shortages, reduced capacity, and increased costs, all of which would threaten its position as a national and global agricultural leader,” according to the report.

Economic impact 

The “Economic Contributions of Fresno County Agriculture” report found that in 2023, agriculture contributed a total of $21.66 billion into the economy, directly supporting 63,103 jobs plus nearly 45,000 employees from multiplier effects.

That equates to about 108,034 jobs, or 1 in 9 jobs in all of Fresno County.

Farmers raise more than 300 different crops across 1.88 million acres. Local food processing adds substantial value, with $6.02 billion in direct processing output spanning sectors from meat and poultry processing ($1.747 billion) to nut manufacturing ($1.5 billion), light processing of fresh produce ($831 million), and canning operations ($635.9 million). Major facilities process everything from beef and poultry to dried fruits, nuts, wine, frozen products, and dairy items, creating value-added products for domestic and international markets.

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CDFA joined a USDA trade mission to Mexico this week. Deputy Secretary Rachael O’Brien was able to connect with Mexican and U.S. government officials as well as meet with key trading partners in the bakery, retail, and produce sectors. The delegation visited Mexico City’s Central de Abasto (Latin America’s largest wholesale market) and toured Grupo Bimbo Bakery — a significant partner for U.S. wheat producers.

Other visits included discussions with the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico and a research overview with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).  

Mexico’s agricultural officials provided a detailed overview on the nation’s response to New World screwworm — a significant threat to the U.S. cattle industry.  Strong collaboration between Mexico, the US, and state departments of agriculture is ongoing to try to prevent the screwworm’s spread to the U.S.

Mexico is California’s fourth largest agricultural export destination, valued at $1.7 billion.