Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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Secretary Ross joins ag leaders to meet with US Trade Representative in Sacramento

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New United Nations-backed report: invasive species cost hundreds of billions of dollars each year

From the Washington Post Invasive pests are wreaking havoc across the planet, destroying crops, disseminating pathogens, depleting fish people rely on for food and driving native plants and animals toward extinction, according to a major report backed by the United … Continue reading

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California Highlights Climate Action and Trade Promotion in Mexico

CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong, along with staff from the department’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation, highlighted California’s climate smart agricultural leadership as well as trade this week in Mexico City. In collaboration with Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural … Continue reading

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In recognition of California Biodiversity Day: farmers hold the earth in their hands

From the Sacramento Bee Opinion Piece by CDFA Secretary Karen Ross “Farmers Have the Earth in Their Hands.” That’s the title of a book written by Paul Luu, a European agronomist and leader in the international push to recognize the … Continue reading

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September 7 — California Biodiversity Day: video with Secretary Ross on the importance of biodiversity in soil

Today, September 7, is California Biodiversity Day. Here at CDFA, we are focused on the biodiversity below ground — in our soils. In this video, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross highlights a new report on soil biodiversity detailing the active, integral … Continue reading

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Secretary Ross honored as Leader of the Year by California winegrape growers

From a news release by the California Association of Winegrape Growers CDFA Secretary Karen Ross has been honored as the 2024 Leader of the Year by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG). Secretary Ross served as the first woman … Continue reading

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New detections of West Nile Virus in California horses — prevention tips from CDFA

Fourteen California horses have tested positive for West Nile Virus in recent weeks, as far north as Butte County and as far south as Orange County. Six of the horses are deceased and a number of them were unvaccinated or … Continue reading

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The California story — California Grown report shines spotlight on state’s leading role in food production

California farmers, ranchers and farmworkers work together to produce more than 400 different specialty crops, and California Grown, also known as the Buy California Marketing Agreement, was created to promote those products. California Grown is a statewide marketing program that … Continue reading

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Climate adaptation assistance for Ag — off-road vehicle incentive program promotes purchase of zero-emission equipment

The California Air Resources Board has launched the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) to help businesses and fleets invest in the most advanced zero-emission off-road freight, agricultural, harbor craft and construction technologies. The program will offer vouchers of … Continue reading

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USDA announces $12.3 million investment in private-sector tech innovation for food and agriculture — California companies to receive more than $1.4 million

From a USDA News Release The USDA has announced an investment of more than $12.5 million as part of the USDA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The awards will support 76 small businesses … Continue reading

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