Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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June is fairs month! Find a fair near you

                    Alameda County Fair 6/17/2015 to 7/5/2015 Pleasanton, CA Colusa County Fair 6/4/2015 to 6/7/2015 Colusa, CA El Dorado County Fair 6/18/2015 to 6/21/2015 Placerville, CA Kings Fair 6/11/2015 to 6/14/2015 … Continue reading

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Ten California drought myths debunked – from SF Gate

By Amy Graff Slide show with the 10 myths  California is in the midst of a four-year drought, the worst in 106 years. The Sierra snowpack is dwindling; lakes and reservoirs are reaching historic lows. The lush green lawns of … Continue reading

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USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Socially-Disadvantaged Producers

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications to provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups in rural areas. “These grants will help socially-disadvantaged business owners develop the tools and skills they … Continue reading

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USDA seeks input from growers about 2015 crops, stocks, inventories and values

During the next several weeks, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will survey more than 2,600 operations across California and … Continue reading

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Say hello to the dementor wasp; it turns cockroaches into zombies – from the Washington Post

By Elahe Izadi Add this to my nightmare list: A creature that turns prey into a zombie, then eats it alive. That’s pretty much the M.O. of Ampulex dementor, a wasp named after the mythical “Harry Potter” creatures that suck … Continue reading

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Citrus trees may ‘eat their spinach’ to ward off huanglongbing – from AgProfessional.com

In a landmark step in the fight against citrus greening disease, also known as hunaglongbing (HLB), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved an application from Southern Gardens Citrus of Florida for an Experimental Use Permit under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and … Continue reading

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Water Wisdom – from the Growing California video series

The latest segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “Water Wisdom,” a profile of Central California farmer Don Cameron and his innovative water management to lessen the pain of the drought.  

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Food hubs a valuable tool for farmers and consumers – from the Sacramento Bee

By Edward Ortiz, Sacramento Bee When employees at technology giant Oracle sit down to lunch, they often eat produce grown in Yolo County’s Capay Valley. The fruits and veggies come from the Capay Valley Farm Shop, which buys from more … Continue reading

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Governor’s May Revise budget doubles-down on CDFA drought and climate change programs

Governor Brown’s revised budget for May, released today, makes great strides in helping agriculture adapt to the ongoing drought and climate change. The Governor proposes to provide substantial assistance to farmers to increase their water efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases, build … Continue reading

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CDFA’s Drought Resources web page a useful tool for farmers, ranchers and farmworkers

CDFA’s Drought Resources web page stands as a valuable tool for farmers, ranchers and farmworkers seeking information about the drought in California and assistance programs. The page features links to the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, the Farm Services Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development. … Continue reading

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