Join us tomorrow at 11:30 am at the west steps of the State Capitol! Post any pictures with the hashtag #CalAgDay

Schools across the United States purchased $789 million in local foods from farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food processors and manufacturers in school year 2013 – 2014, according to results from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm to School Census released today. That represents a 105 percent increase over the 2011-2012 school year when the first census was conducted, signifying the deepening commitment of schools nationwide to bring local food into the cafeteria and strengthen their local economies.

Schools report that farm to school programs can increase the number of students purchasing school breakfast and lunch, improve consumption of healthier foods at school, and reduce plate waste. The programs are often also heavily focused on nutrition education, helping teach children where their food comes from and exposing them to lessons about healthy eating. The census data show that school gardens, which can be both teaching tools and a sources of fresh produce, have nearly tripled over the past two years.

In California 55 percent of school districts surveyed say they participate in farm-to-school activities. That number represents 373 school districts, nearly 5,500 schools and more than 3.4 million students. Nationally, 42 percent of school districts that responded to the census are operating farm to school programs as of the 2014-2015 school year, and another 16 percent – more than 2,000 districts – have plans to start in the future.

The newly updated Farm to School Census website allows users to find information about farm to school programs in their state and in their particular school or district. The site also names three top school districts in each state that boast higher than average investment in local food purchasing. In addition, users can vote for a school that they believe administers a creative, innovative, and/or exemplary farm to school program for the “One in a Melon” award. Nominations will be accepted through April 15.

In order to establish realistic goals with regard to increasing the availability of local foods in schools, USDA conducted the first nationwide Farm to School Census in 2013. USDA conducted a second Farm to School Census in 2015 to measure progress towards reaching this goal. In 2015, USDA surveyed over 18,000 public, private and charter school districts and 12,585 school districts responded for a response rate of approximately 70 percent. Data were collected through an online survey and through a printable mail-in questionnaire. To view the full results, visit https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov.

Link to news release

More drought information here

By Alyssa Newcomb

California has been battling one of the most severe droughts in the state’s history, but with El Niño bringing storm clouds in over the Golden State, officials saw an opportunity to make it rain.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works was delighted at the prospect of some much-needed rain coming to the area and jumped at the chance to help increase the amount of rainfall the storm brought by intervening in a process known as cloud seeding. Monday’s storm was the first time that cloud seeding had been done by the Department of Public Works since 2002, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Yes, humans can actually modify the weather and it’s been going on for decades. Here’s the lowdown on how cloud seeding works.

What Is Cloud Seeding?

Cloud seeding is when humans try to modify the weather by targeting certain areas within clouds, with the goal of increasing rainfall, mitigating the potential damage from hail and clearing fog, according to the American Meteorological Society.

In the case of Los Angeles County, North American Weather Consultants, a Utah-based group, set up generators, which then sprayed silver iodide into the clouds, creating ice particles. Water vapor then froze onto these particles and fell as precipitation.

Wait, So Humans Can Really Modify the Weather?

Yes! It’s been going on all over the world for decades.

“Attempts to modify the weather have been conducted for centuries. However, modern cloud seeding dates from the late 1940’s, springing from a discovery at the General Electric labs in Schenectady, New York, in 1946,” according to North American Weather Consultants’ website.

Don Griffith, president of the group, told ABC News that “the beneficiaries typically are municipal water supply groups and irrigated agriculture groups that wish to enhance the snowfall so they can get better spring and summer runoff.”

How Effective Is Cloud Seeding?

Various research journals differ on this since there isn’t an opportunity to create a controlled experiment. However, in the case of California’s latest storm, the county estimated it resulted in 15 percent more rainfall, according to the LA Times.

Link to article