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 feed Nevadans: http://www.foxreno.com/s/news/11at11-archived-newscasts/
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/29/4521806/two-organic-certifying-agencies.html
California Certified Organic Farmers and Oregon Tilth, two of the nation’s largest third-party organic certification agencies, are joining forces in hopes of raising the visibility and consolidating the clout of West Coast organic farming.
A merger was approved by the boards of directors of both groups. Members of both organizations will be asked to ratify the merger before Oct. 31. Once approved, the new organization – CCOF Tilth – will be the nation’s largest such group in the $31 billion organic agriculture industry.
Farmers and food processors who currently use CCOF or Oregon Tilth labels on their products will be allowed to continue. A new CCOF Tilth label will be released this fall. The consolidation will affect more than 100 organic farming operations in the Sacramento region, and more than 2,200 statewide.
“The merger will create the strongest mission-driven certification program in the country, supported by a trade association of nearly 4,000 certified farmers, ranchers and processors and a robust educational foundation,” said Cathy Calfo, CCOF executive director.
Chris Schreiner, executive director of Oregon Tilth, said the merger will allow the group to raise awareness of one of the fastest-growing segments of U.S. agriculture.
“Both Oregon Tilth’s and CCOF’s origins date back to the 1970s, amidst growing interest in the benefits of organic farming,” Schreiner said. “We both have deep roots in the organic movement.”
CCOF, a nonprofit organization based in Santa Cruz, was founded in 1973 and is the nation’s oldest and largest third-party organic certification agency. It certifies more than 2,300 organic operations in 34 states and three foreign countries. It also serves more than 350 supporting members, such as consumers, suppliers and businesses, that support its work.
Oregon Tilth, based in Corvallis, certifies more than 1,400 organic operations in 46 states and six countries.
The two organizations have a history of collaboration. During the 1980s, CCOF and Oregon Tilth formed the Western Alliance of Certifying Organizations to ensure integrity and consistency in organic certification.
In the 1990s, the two nonprofits helped form the Organic Materials Review Institute, which determines whether input products are allowed for use in organic production and processing.
During the past decade, organically grown products have become a significant market as consumers have become more concerned about how their food is grown and processed, according to the organizations.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/29/4521806/two-organic-certifying-agencies.html#storylink=cpy
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is partnering with the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) to offer a timely and educational workshop for farmers and other stakeholders to explore and discuss the effective use and management of nitrogen. Over the past 20 years, FREP has funded research projects focusing on nitrogen fertilizer efficiency, precision irrigation, fertigation practices, and understanding soil and fertilizer interactions — all of which have helped mitigate environmental impacts. UC ANR is a statewide network of University of California researchers and educators dedicated to bringing practical, science-based answers to California Agriculture.
The “Managing Agricultural Nitrogen” forum will be offered June 11 at the California Farm Bureau in Sacramento (register at http://ucanr.org/sites/managingagriculturalnitrogen/Register_for_the_June_11_Forum/), and on June 18 at the Tulare UC Cooperative Extension Office. Preregistration is required for the Sacramento session only.
The agenda for the Sacramento (http://ucanr.org/sites/managingagriculturalnitrogen/June_11_Forum/) and Tulare (http://ucanr.org/sites/managingagriculturalnitrogen/June_18_Forum/) forums includes speakers from UC Cooperative Extension who will describe methods of managing nitrogen on dairies and cropland, members from the agricultural industry who will discuss the practical aspects of adopting nitrogen management practices, and representatives of statewide and regional programs who will discuss efforts underway to promote efficient nitrogen use. The forum will wrap up with a policy discussion on nutrient management. These events are excellent opportunities for growers to discuss what kinds of solutions and information farmers need most when it comes to nitrogen management.
California’s approach to pests and diseases is as complex as the problem itself, but perhaps the most important element of our efforts is prevention. Prevention projects in California and throughout the nation have been given a much needed boost from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, who has just announced his agency will support 321 projects with $50 million in funding from the 2008 Farm Bill (see the press release: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2012/05/pest_disease_funding.shtml).
Our border stations intercept thousands of illegally transported plants, fruits and other commodities that would otherwise pass uninspected; our detector dog teams scour package facilities for unmarked or otherwise prohibited shipments that could introduce infestations in our state; and we employ a comprehensive system of pest traps, surveys and inspections to detect invasive species as soon as possible if they do make it in. And when we do have to control or eradicate an infestation or outbreak, our decisions are guided by the principles of integrated pest management. Each of these elements must help us fulfill our mission protect agriculture while also preserving our environment.
California's preventive efforts include detector dog teams at package shipping facilities.
California’s pest prevention efforts include detector dog teams working in package shipping facilities.Examples of specific projects funded by USDA include a nationwide survey of honey bee pests and diseases, the monitoring of high-risk international and domestic pathways for invasive species, applied research to combat citrus pests, the development of detector dog surveillance programs in certain high-risk agricultural states, and targeted invasive species public outreach. The FY 2012 funding plan, list of selected projects, and general feedback are posted at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/section10201.
California’s projects total more than $15 million. They fall under categories including pest and disease surveys, detection technologies, diagnostic capacity building, taxonomic support, nursery certification programs, systems approaches for nursery production, outreach and education, producer/first detector training, applied mitigation R&D, and preparation (early detection). Specific projects include support for California’s detector dog teams; surveys for exotic pests such as khapra beetles and exotic wood-boring and bark beetles; development of attractants that will aid in the trapping of pests; digital training/screening/identification tools; development of best management practices (BMPs) for nurseries; enhanced molecular diagnostics for fruit flies; and research and outreach to protect forests, landscaps and ornamentals.
We are proud of California’s efforts to prevent, detect and respond to invasive species. These funds will improve and extend our ability to protect California’s agriculture, environment and habitat. I encourage you to use the links above to peruse the various projects that we wll now embark upon as we put this very important piece of the Farm Bill into action.
In the eyes of conservationist Aldo Leopold, an ethical relationship between the land and the people who benefit from it was “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.” His vision of a “land ethic” is what drives the search for nominees 2012 California Leopold Conservation Award. If you are a California farmer or rancher committed to sound environmental stewardship or know someone who is, please consider a nomination.
The award recognizes private landowners’ commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and land management. It underscores the fact that many ranchers, farmers and other private landowners are on the front lines of conservation and should be recognized for protecting the environment. So often, voluntary conservation by private landowners provides the most effective, efficient and durable means of protecting land, water and species.
At the recent Ag Day celebration at our Capitol, I had the pleasure of celebrating 2011 Leopold Award Winner Tim Koopman, a third-generation rancher whose efforts to protect wildlife and improve water quality have made his ranch an exemplary agricultural component of a largely urbanized community in Sunol.
As in past years, finalists in 2012 will be selected in part based on their commitment to responsible and sustainable land management, the overall health of their land, implementation of innovative practices and dedication to community outreach and leadership. The California Leopold Conservation Award judging panel will evaluate properties in two categories: (1) Nurseries & Crops, and (2) Livestock. In California, the award is presented by the Sand County Foundation, Sustainable Conservation and the California Farm Bureau Federation.
The grand prize of $10,000 and a crystal rendering of Aldo Leopold, author of the “Sand County Almanac,” will be presented at the California Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention in December. Runner-up prizes of $1,000 will also be presented.
The deadline for nominations is July 15. For more information and a nomination form, visit http://leopoldconservationaward.org/uploads/LCA_CANom2012_final2.pdf
or contact Sustainable Conservation at (415) 977-0380. For information about past winners and finalists, visit http://suscon.org/leopoldaward/index.php.
I encourage you to particpate in this program and help California’s innovative, forward-thinking farmers and ranchers get the credit they so richly deserve when it comes to conservation.
On April 24, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the nation’s 4th case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in an animal that was sampled for the disease at a rendering facility in central California. This animal was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a risk to the food supply, or to human health in the United States.
After USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) completed testing of the samples from the index animal, the samples were sent to The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reference laboratories in Canada and England. Both laboratories have confirmed that the index cow was positive for atypical (L-type) BSE.
Both dairies that were previously held under quarantine during the investigation have been released from those quarantines, after inventories were completed and records were reviewed.
In addition, investigation of the feed records at the index dairy premises has found no anomalies, and audits of all the feed suppliers to the index premises have shown them to be in compliance with the regulations.
APHIS previously announced that it has identified two progeny of the positive cow. One progeny born to the positive cow in the last 2 years was stillborn; the second animal was appraised, humanely euthanized, and sampled for BSE at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. Test results for that animal were negative for BSE.
Of several hundred potential birth cohort cattle, the focus of the tracing is on a small number (10-12) of cattle which may still be alive and have records that might allow them to be located. The remaining potential cohorts are no longer alive or have otherwise been ruled out.
As the investigation moves toward completion, local officials from the California Department of Food and Agriculture and USDA APHIS Veterinary Services are now in charge of the incident command.
The United States has a longstanding system of three interlocking safeguards against BSE that protects public and animal health in the United States, the most important of which is the removal of specified risk materials – or the parts of an animal that would contain BSE should an animal have the disease – from all animals presented for slaughter. The second safeguard is a strong feed ban that protects cattle from the disease. The third safeguard – which led to this detection – is our ongoing BSE surveillance program that allows USDA to detect the disease if it exists at very low levels in the U.S. cattle population.
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The “weight of the world” is housed at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris
First things first: this blog post is about metrology, not meteorology. Meteorology is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere and weather. Metrology is the science of measurement. Both are important sciences that impact our everyday lives, but in different ways.
A little known but critical function, metrology is one of the responsibilities of the Department of Food and Agriculture, which is California’s official keeper of the state’s physical standards of mass, volume, time, temperature, and length. These standards form the legal and scientific basis for all commercial transactions involving weights and measures. Since both buyer and seller rely on accurate measurement during commercial transactions, this function is the fundamental first step to providing equity and consumer protection in the marketplace.
California’s official state standards are regularly calibrated to the federal standards held by the National Institute of Standards and Technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce. The U.S. standards are based on an international standard, The International Prototype of the Kilogram, which is a one-kilogram weight made of platinum and iridium that is kept just outside Paris, France in a vault at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). It could truly be considered the “weight of the world,” as it facilitates the globalization of manufacturing, marketing, and distribution and allows for confidence between international trading partners.
This essential system was established by The Metre Convention, which was signed in 1875 and is now observed by 56 nations demonstrating equivalence between their national measurement standards.
As for World Metrology Day, it is celebrated every May 20 in recognition of the signing of the Convention. This year’s theme is “We Measure For Your Safety”.
For additional information about the Department of Food and Agriculture’s accredited metrology laboratory, please visit the Division of Measurement Standards website.
http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/California-growers-back-mandatory-cantaloupe-food-safety-151781935.html
In the wake of a listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupes from another state, the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board is establishing the state’s first mandatory food safety program implemented by a commodity board.
The group is also expanding its territory statewide.
“Imperial Valley growers have not been part of the board before,” John Gilstrap, California Cantaloupe Advisory Board manager, said May 16. The previous order was limited to fruit grown north and west of San Gorgonio Pass in Riverside County.
About 65 ballots went to handlers. More than 70% were returned, Gilstrap said, with unanimous approval of the food safety program.
“They’re still working on the actual details,” he said. “A guidance document is being reviewed right now for discussion at the next board meeting May 31 in San Diego.”
Among details to be ironed out are assessments and audits.
“We have existing assessments and revenue we can convert to food safety,” said Steve Patricio, board chairman. “There will be an additional assessment, probably as high as two cents a carton.”
Inspections will likely be from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
“But the intent is to make it as seamless and effective as possible by piggybacking on what is already being done by (Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement) and California Tomato Farmers,” Patricio said. “We’re not reinventing a wheel here. LGMA is using USDA-trained inspectors under supervision of CDFA. We’ll be using those same food safety inspectors for cantaloupes.”
He expects a program to be implemented this year.
“Most of us have been working on this privately for years with our own food safety programs,” Patricio said. “To have government auditors come in, it’ll be wrinkles of change but not monumental.”
Southern district cantaloupes have begun shipping.
“With the late start and the slowness of getting government involved, we can’t penalize growers,” he said. “We could start doing no-penalty risk assessment audits, but I hope we don’t have to.”
“A whole lot of questions are still to be answered, but quite a bit of the work has already been done in terms of research and putting together a guidance document,” Gilstrap said.
Desert production runs through early July. Bakersfield starts in late June; Huron, early July. San Joaquin Valley production runs to early October. Imperial Valley returns for a second deal in the fall. The state accounts for about 70% of cantaloupe production nationwide.
Expansion
With the formation of a new desert district, the California Department of Food and Agriculture will appoint members and alternates from nominations received at public hearings in March.
Noncompliance with the coming food safety metrics would amount to an unfair trade practice, according to the CDFA.
“CDFA has provided oversight for a very similar program involving leafy greens for the past five years,” Karen Ross, CDFA secretary, said in a news release. “We know first-hand how effective these types of programs can be. There is clearly overwhelming support among the California cantaloupe industry for a food safety program that operates with government oversight.”
Tim York, president of Salinas-based Markon Cooperative, also welcomed the vote, and referred to the listeria outbreak traced to Jensen Farms, Granada, Colo.
“Produce buyers across the country should support the efforts of suppliers who are willing to provide the additional assurances we have been asking for in light of last fall’s listeria outbreak associated with Jensen Farms cantaloupe,” York said in the release.
California cantaloupes have never been associated with a foodborne illness, Patricio said.
Dinuba-based Monfort Management Inc., provides management services for the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board.
We did it! Congratulations to the agricultural community, FFA and everyone who made this opportunity to create a California agriculture license plate a reality! We have collected 8,355 plate orders – meeting DMV’s threshold of 7,500 applications to establish a California Special Interest License Plate.
The California Agriculture License Plate will support future generations of farmers and ranchers through agricultural education, career awareness, career training and youth leadership programs. Proceeds generated through plate renewal fees will be awarded to agricultural education groups to support youth education and enrichment. It is anticipated that the first funding for educational programs will become available in July 2013.
CDFA is still working the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to incorporate the license plate into official order forms and online registration – these should become available before the end of this year. Updates will be posted to the CalAgPlate facebook and twitter accounts.
If you would like to join the agriculture community and order a license plate today, applications are being accepted and processed through the DMV. Simply complete the order form, print “CAL AG PLATE” at the top of the document, and follow payment and mailing instructions.
The Cal Agriculture License Plate is a great achievement for the agricultural community. Special thanks to all those individuals who made this initiative a success.
For producers and consumers of food, this is a sesquicentennial like no other. Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Morrill Act, the single piece of legislation that laid the foundation for the modern agricultural marvel we enjoy today. And now, it’s the 150th birthday of the USDA – as Abraham Lincoln called it, “the people’s agency.” The USDA is another piece of Lincoln’s extraordinary legacy, and lasting in the way it still touches millions of Americans every day.
Before I was named secretary of agriculture for California, I was honored to serve as chief of staff for USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and saw first-hand the phenomenal reach of the agency. It works to ensure food safety, protects the environment and the food supply from invasive species, facilitates trade, provides assistance to rural economies, supports producers in a variety of ways, is a key player in emerging new energy markets, promotes the absolute necessity of healthy eating, maintains a crucial safety net for our hungriest people, and—through its research arm—funds essential agricultural research and extension services that include all-important youth development through organizations like 4-H and FFA.
The USDA truly serves America in ways that can make us all proud. Please join me in wishing the agency the happiest of birthdays. May it have 150 more.
