Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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State Issues Limited Stay at Home Order to Slow Spread of COVID-19

Non-essential businesses and personal gatherings are prohibited between 10 PM and 5 AM beginning Saturday, November 21 at 10 PM SACRAMENTO – In light of an unprecedented, rapid rise in COVID-19 cases across California, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department … Continue reading

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CDFA Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship Program Recognizes World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

This is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (11/18 – 11/24). In recognition of that, CDFA is highlighting California’s innovative program focused on antimicrobial use and stewardship in livestock. Antimicrobial resistance is an issue of importance to all of us – across … Continue reading

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Secretary Ross joins those applauding Center for Organic Production and Research at Cal Poly

Grimmway Farms Donates $5 Million for center to bring industry and academia together to solve challenges and prepare future leaders in organic production and soil health  From a Cal Poly News Release Cal Poly is set to change the landscape … Continue reading

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Governor Newsom announces new immediate actions to curb COVID-19 transmission

New actions include pulling an emergency brake in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and strengthening face covering mandate Vast majority of counties are in the most restrictive tier starting tomorrow As COVID-19 cases sharply increase across the country and … Continue reading

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CDFA talks healthy soils with Canadian provincial government – from PEICanada.com (Prince Edward Island)

By Andy Walker Members of the Special Committee on Climate Change received a briefing recently on the California Healthy Soils program. Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, Dr. Geetika Joshi and Rachael O’Brien from the California Department of Food and Agriculture appeared via … Continue reading

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Fresno County farmer’s inspiration leads to large squash donation to food bank

From Morning Ag Clips West Side farmer John Diener had flash of inspiration. Why not plant butternut squash? Diener is a long-time research cooperator with UC Cooperative Extension specialist Jeff Mitchell, who has studied innovative, sustainable farming practices for 21 years … Continue reading

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From Service to Harvest – veterans finding opportunities in farming

In recognition of Veterans Day tomorrow, here is an encore presentation of a video from CDFA’s award-winning Growing California series. This was produced in 2013.

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Tiny stingless wasps helping with Asian citrus psyllids in Kern County – from the Bakersfield Californian

By John Cox, Bakersfield Californian Tiny wasps are here to save the day! In response to a local surge in detections of a pest threatening to wipe out California’s citrus industry, a coalition of researchers and government officials last (month) … Continue reading

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Fire, windstorms and hurricanes – California joins the Midwest and Louisiana with substantial Ag damage from natural disasters

CDFA secretary Karen Ross appears in this story from the PBS program Market to Market. The portion about California wildfire impacts to Ag begins at 4:00.

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Firewood awareness tips from CDFA

With the weather changing and Californians beginning to think more about heating their homes, CDFA is providing a video on the invasive species risk of moving firewood as well as tips from our Division of Measurement Standards for those buying firewood to … Continue reading

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