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Category Archives: Environment

Don’t forget to water the … bees!

Posted on September 28, 2012 by CDFA Staff

Beehives in Colusa County. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) operates 16 agricultural inspection stations along our state’s borders (interactive map here), and every year our vehicle inspectors stop thousands of plants, fruit, insects, pathogens and other suspicious … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Pollinators | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fresno Bee – State Ag Board Tours Valley Water Bank

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/11/2988334/valley-water-bank-showcased.html Fresno County farmer Marvin Meyers is proud of the work he has done to develop a 3,000-acre water bank and wildlife project. And on Tuesday, he was able to show it off to members of the California State Board … Continue reading →

Posted in AG Vision, Conservation, Environment | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Drought Assistance; New Farmers Programs; Guidebook on Access To Capital – Partnership With USDA Continues To Provide Outstanding Benefits For California

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

A key to success at the California Department of Food and Agriculture is great partnerships, and one of our most important ones is with the USDA. We share a mission, we share knowledge, and we share resources as we work … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

State Board of Food and Ag to focus on water at Sept. 11 meeting in Mendota

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-032 The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss a variety of water issues at its upcoming meeting on September 11, 2012. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spreckels Sugar Company … Continue reading →

Posted in AG Vision, Environment | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Steam shown to kill sudden oak death pathogen- From SF Chronicle

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Steam-shown-to-kill-Calif-plant-disease-3788696.php Scientists say they have discovered a new way to kill California’s most virulent forest- and plant-depleting disease, and it turns out the technique is as old as steam cleaning. Steam, in fact, is what researchers at Dominican University in … Continue reading →

Posted in AG Vision, Environment, Invasive Species | Tagged , | Leave a comment

News Release – CDFA to establish climate change consortium to help specialty crop growers plan for future impacts

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

California’s specialty crops account for more than half of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts as well as nearly $7 billion dollars of exports worldwide. California’s production of diverse specialty crops is threatened by potential climate-related phenomena, including reduced water … Continue reading →

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Climate Change, Environment, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Solar panels and onion power show the way to Ag energy self-sufficiency

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

One of the strategic objectives of Ag Vision: Strategies for Sustainability is to achieve the maximum usage of renewable energy by agriculture, thereby increasing economic productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.  Governor Brown has demonstrated important leadership with policy … Continue reading →

Posted in AG Vision, Alternative Fuels, Climate Change, Environment, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Got Data? CDFA Unveils New Searchable Database of FREP Fertilizer Research Projects

Posted on July 3, 2012 by CDFA Staff

Over the past 20 years, CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) has funded over $12 million dollars worth of scientific research on the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use of fertilizing materials.  One of the goals of this research … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Fertilizer | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Alternative Fuels in California

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

It’s been a watershed few weeks for alternative fuels in California with more than $30 million in grant funding announced recently by the California Energy Commission for research, development and distribution. At CDFA, we pay close attention to the distribution … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Fuels, Environment, Hydrogen, Measurement Standards | Leave a comment

Truckee Border Inspection Station on Reno TV

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

CDFA’s border inspection station at Truckee was recently featured as the lead story on a Reno TV newscast. Many northern Nevada residents regularly drive through the station, which is one of many safeguards in California to protect natural resources and a food supply that helps … Continue reading →

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Asian Citrus Psyllid, Community-based Food System, Environment, Food Access, Invasive Species, Specialty Crops, Trade | 1 Comment