CDFA and the USDA are hosting a webinar to help California farmers and agricultural communities impacted by current disasters understand programs and resources that may be available to them.
If your farming operation in California was impacted by a natural disaster or if you live in an agricultural community impacted and are looking for resources to recover and rebuild, please join us for a webinar that will be hosted on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday April 11, 2023 at 9 a.m. PT.
During the webinar, you’ll hear from:
USDA: Farm Production and Conservation Deputy Under Secretary Gloria Montaño Greene, Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Blong Xiong, Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Carlos Suarez, and Rural Development State Director Maria Gallegos Herrera; and
CDFA: Undersecretary Christine Birdsong.
The webinar is free to join. You can join on your computer or via the Teams app on your smartphone. You do not have to RSVP in advance to attend. Attendees will have a chance to submit written questions during the event.
This national outreach month is dedicated to highlighting the impact of invasive plant pests and diseases on plants nationwide. The focus is on raising public awareness about the threat and how residents can help.
Each year, invasive insects and plant diseases cause an estimated $40 billion in damages to plants in the US.
Non-native plant pests can hitchhike in untreated firewood, attach themselves to cars, boats, and other outdoor surfaces—or take a ride in the mail. They can travel to new areas on agricultural material such as soil, seeds, homegrown produce, and plants.
Invasive pests have few or no natural predators in their new environments, so their populations quickly outpace native species and spread. These non-native plant pests and diseases disrupt our ecosystems and reduce biological diversity.
Climate change can magnify the impact of invasive species by increasing the level of plant pest infestations and disease infection, allowing pests to produce more generations each year, and increasing their suitable habitat.
To protect domestic plant health:
Learn about possible quarantines in your area, as well as the signs of invasive pest infestation on plants.
it’s important to clean your car and outdoor gear before traveling with them to new places, because invasive species can travel with you.
Don’t move untreated firewood—even if it looks pest-free on the outside. To avoid unintentionally spreading tree-killing beetles that hide in firewood, buy or source wood locally, or use certified, heat-treated firewood.
Source your plants and seeds responsibly. When ordering online, ensure the plant is coming from a domestic source or follow import regulations. If you don’t know where an agricultural product is coming from, don’t buy it online. U.S. regulations apply to the importer of record—meaning the person purchasing and importing the product from overseas—not the online merchant. Learn how to safely and legally order plants and seeds online.
Don’t mail homegrown plants, fruits and vegetables to avoid inadvertently mailing a plant pest with them.
To comply with U.S. laws and avoid introducing new invasive species into the U.S., declare all agricultural items, including seeds, soil, and handicrafts to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for inspection when returning from overseas travel.
It’s National Tomato Day! California produces nearly all the processing tomatoes in the United States. In 2022, California growers led the nation in tomato production with 1.5 million tons, at a value of nearly $1.2 billion.
As we celebrate one of California’s signature crops, we took a closer look at River Vista Farms, one of the leading tomato growers in Colusa County. This family-owned farm has been producing tomatoes for several generations.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the California State Board of Food and Agriculture are announcing a bold plan for the future: Ag Vision for the Next Decade.
Ag Vision centers on growing opportunity – for farmers and ranchers, farmworkers, individuals and communities – and demonstrating leadership on climate action. The plan will guide areas of focus for CDFA and serve as a catalyst for action. And it’s not just a plan for agriculture, but something to benefit every Californian.
Ag Vision was developed using a robust and inclusive process and focuses on five priority areas:
Fostering climate-smart, resilient, and regenerative food systems —Support farmers and ranchers to be leaders on climate change and support efforts that improve agriculture’s impact on the environment. Also, encourage wise stewardship of water and natural resources, eliminate waste, and promote regenerative practices that enhance ecosystems and improve the land.
Building healthy, local communities — Invest in local and socially disadvantaged communities – with emphasis on the diverse populations who often work at and with, and live adjacent to California farms – while supporting equity and the California economy through nutritious, California-grown farm products. From the need to provide access to clean drinking water to challenges related to housing and workforce development, agriculture is not only a good neighbor, but is taking a action on these issues.
Driving next-generation talent and tools — Support workforce development programs aimed at attracting, supporting and providing high-quality jobs and leadership opportunities for a diverse agricultural workforce, while also driving research and real-time feedback from farmers and ranchers to stimulate and accelerate innovation to solve problems and build opportunities. Expand investment to meet current agricultural labor needs and opportunities for career advancement and upskill of the existing workforce.
Enhancing understanding of agriculture — Support engagement with rural and urban audiences on the value of California agriculture. Capitalize on the scientific and agronomic expertise of the Department, collaborate with other agencies in the administration, and with farmers and ranchers to highlight community, sustainability and opportunities that working lands provide.
Collaborating on smarter regulations — Work with other state agencies, stakeholders and the administration to explore and support smarter regulations that rethink ways to both meet public obligations and support farmers with simplified, less expensive regulatory compliance, reporting and implementation.
“Ag Vision is a plan for every Californian, from those who care about the land and landscape and making it better for the future, to those who work with or live around farming communities,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “It’s a plan for those curious about their food and health, as well as those who care about climate action, to foster more climate smart, resilient and restorative food systems. While the plan is intended to guide the actions of CDFA, we can’t do it alone. To bring Ag Vision to life we need private and public entities, community leaders, and diverse stakeholders to come together to advance the vision through collaboration, partnerships and action.”
Ag Vision was created with multiple inputs from a diverse set of agricultural stakeholders. One-on-one interviews were held with members of an Ag Vision task force representing the diversity of geographic regions and crops grown in California, and members of the State Board of Food and Agriculture. Seven virtual roundtable discussions occurred with various segments of California agriculture – from dairy and livestock farmers to berry growers and tree nut producers – along with processors and supply chain partners and historically underserved farmers.
“California is the fifth largest agricultural economy in the world and with that comes the responsibility to enable a framework where farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and communities can thrive,” said Jenet DeCosta, state board member and Ag Vision committee chair. “Through Ag Vision, the farming community will further its positive impact to make an even bigger difference to people in our communities, state and around the globe.”
All interested parties are invited to register for the State of the Science Summit: Feed Strategies to Reduce Enteric Emissions, May 2-3, 2023, in the UC Davis Activities & Recreation Center Ballroom. The summit will be cohosted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
The summit will include informational presentations and panel discussions with leading experts in methane mitigation and animal science, connecting the dots between the scientific and regulatory aspects of feed strategies to reduce enteric methane emissions with perspectives from across the state, nation and world. The purpose of the summit is to identify opportunities for collaboration and research that can help the dairy and beef industries meet climate goals.
Scheduled speakers include CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and CAES Dean Helene Dillard. Joining them will be CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie, leading academic researchers, CDFA staff, cattle and dairy producers, and industry representatives.
The state of current research around enteric methane reductions via feed strategies
Methods and protocols for evaluating methane reduction
Opportunities for research
Supply chain drivers influencing the adoption of feed additives
Outlook and industry guidance when evaluating product safety and claims
Producer adoption of feed additives
Lunch will be provided both days. Registration costs $200. If unable to attend in person, a virtual registration option is available at a discounted price. Online registration is open until April 14.
Featured above — top, from left: Vanessa Alexandre (Alexandre Family Farm, Crescent City), Myrna Arambula and Alma (Holtville – Imperial County), Doria Robinson (Urban Tilth, Richmond and State Food & Ag Board Member). Bottom, from left: Kate Elmore McCutcheon (Vail Ranches, Brawley), Krystal Del Bosque (Del Bosque Farms, Firebaugh), and Ying Vue (Fresno County).
Video below with Secretary Ross on women in agriculture, from International Women’s Day on March 8.
With ongoing heavy rain and snow bringing flooding to the Central Valley and posing a risk of more in the weeks ahead, CDFA is offering a web page featuring a substantial number of relief and support resources from state and federal partners, from tax relief and additional financial assistance to mental health and housing resources for impacted farmworkers.
We will continue to monitor the range of resources available and will update the page as needed.
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross with California Governor Gavin Newsom at today’s event in Yolo County
From the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom:
WHAT TO KNOW: Climate change has made California’s dry and wet spells more extreme and unpredictable – after the three driest years on record, recent rain and snowfall have dramatically changed conditions in many parts of the state. The state has also advanced actions to boost storage and supply. Today’s action eases drought emergency provisions that are no longer needed while maintaining others to support impacted communities statewide.
Harnessing water captured and stored from recent storms, the state also announced a major increase in expected State Water Project deliveries to local agencies – now an anticipated 75% allocation.
YOLO COUNTY – Governor Gavin Newsom today rolled back some drought emergency provisions that are no longer needed due to current water conditions, while maintaining other measures that support regions and communities still facing water supply challenges, and that continue building up long-term water resilience. Amid climate-driven weather whiplash, the state has taken action to boost water supplies through groundwater recharge, stormwater capture, reservoir storage, and more.
Today’s action comes as the state announced increased water deliveries to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians, now expecting to deliver 75% of requested water supplies – up from 35% announced in February, and the highest since 2017.
While recent storms have helped ease drought impacts, regions and communities across the state continue to experience water supply shortages, especially communities that rely on groundwater supplies that have been severely depleted in recent years. Today’s order is responsive to current conditions while preserving smart water measures:
Ends the voluntary 15% water conservation target, while continuing to encourage that Californians make conservation a way of life;
Ends the requirement that local water agencies implement level 2 of their drought contingency plans;
Maintains the ban on wasteful water uses, such as watering ornamental grass on commercial properties;
Preserves all current emergency orders focused on groundwater supply, where the effects of the multi-year drought continue to be devastating;
Maintains orders focused on specific watersheds that have not benefited as much from recent rains, including the Klamath River and Colorado River basins, which both remain in drought;
Retains a state of emergency for all 58 counties to allow for drought response and recovery efforts to continue.
A copy of today’s executive order can be found here.
WHAT GOV. NEWSOM SAID: “We’re all in this together, and this state has taken extraordinary actions to get us to this point. The weather whiplash we’ve experienced in the past few months makes it crystal clear that Californians and our water system have to adapt to increasingly extreme swings between drought and flood. As we welcome this relief from the drought, we must remain focused on continuing our all-of-the-above approach to future-proofing California’s water supply.”
Since Governor Newsom announced the 15% voluntary conservation goal, Californians conserved 600,000 acre-feet of water – representing 1.2 million households’ yearly usage.
The Governor today visited the Dunnigan Groundwater Recharge Project in Yolo County, where he highlighted the state’s work to accelerate and increase groundwater recharge to make the most of winter storms. California is working to expand groundwater recharge by at least 500,000 acre-feet in potential capacity as part of our water supply strategy.
Leveraging the state’s long-term water supply strategy and more than $8.6 billion committed by Governor Newsom and the Legislature in the last two budget cycles to build water resilience, California is taking aggressive action to prepare for hotter and drier conditions driven by climate change that could reduce the state’s water supply by up to 10% by 2040. In the 2023-24 state budget, Governor Newsom is proposing an additional $202 million for flood protection and $125 million for drought-related actions.
Here are other actions that Governor Newsom and the Legislature have taken to boost water supply, expand storage, and improve infrastructure:
EXPANDING SUPPLY & STORAGE BY 1.1 MILLION ACRE-FEET: California has bolstered supply and storage through groundwater recharge and other projects, including a combined 1.1 million acre-feet of water – enough for 2.2 million households’ yearly usage.
EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO CAPTURE & STORE MORE WATER: During recent storms, Governor Newsom signed executiveorders to accelerate stormwater capture to boost groundwater recharge and other conservation measures.
FAST-TRACKING GROUNDWATER RECHARGE: The state is expanding groundwater recharge by at least 500,000 acre-feet in potential capacity – streamlining permits and $1 billion for groundwater recharge projects for 88,000 more acre-feet per year.
MAXIMIZING STORMWATER CAPTURE: $176 million for 67 stormwater projects and streamlining permitting to take advantage of major storm events.
EXPANDING STORAGE ABOVE & BELOW GROUND: California is supporting seven locally-driven water storage projects that would expand the state’s capacity by 2.77 million acre-feet – about three times as much water as Folsom Lake can hold. And, California is working to expand San Luis Reservoir by 135,000 acre-feet to store more storm runoff.
ADVANCING CLEAR, AMBITIOUS TARGETS:142 actions to improve water resilience and bolster water supplies, and a roadmap for expanding urban stormwater capture capacity by 250,000 acre-feet and adding 4 million acre-feet of water storage capacity.
MODERNIZING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE: California is working to modernize aging water conveyance systems across the state to safeguard long-term water reliability and help carry winter storm runoff into storage.
Over an aerial photo of Denali’s Imperial Western Products facility in Coachella that shows part of a new solar energy system, the inset is of officials at the solar energy system’s activation ceremony, including (L-R) Denali Vice President of Advocacy David Isen, California Energy Commission Energy Analyst Claire Sweeny, Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez, Denali Vice President of Operations Jason Cabanyog, CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program Manager Jenna Leal, CDFA Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands Virginia Jameson and CDFA Inspection Services Division Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg.
CDFA leadership attended a ribbon cutting this month to mark the activation of a large solar energy system at the Denali Imperial Western Products (IWP) facility in Coachella. Partly funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission, this new system will provide enough power to cover one-third of the electricity used at the facility. It is estimated to reduce energy usage by 35% and reduce carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to taking 140,000 cars off the road each year.
Denali is a nationwide organic waste management company, and the Coachella facility models its processes after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Hierarchy. Each year, Denali IWP handles hundreds of thousands of tons of bakery waste, salvaged and distressed pet food, recalled and off-spec human grade food, and used cooking oil. This landfill diversion avoids landfill emissions of 672,840 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, based on the CalRecycle Waste Diversion Greenhouse Gas Calculator.
The facility transforms agricultural organic waste into cattle feed and the used cooking oil (UCO) is refined into biodiesel. In 2022, Denali IWP converted UCO into more than 10 million gallons of biodiesel and produced more than 33,000 tons of bakery and cottonseed animal feeds, mostly supplied to California dairy farms.
Denali IWP’s work contributes to fulfilling the mandates of California Assembly Bill (AB) 32 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as legislation requiring businesses to recycle organic waste and reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfills.
“CDFA is proud to celebrate our partners in animal food production reducing energy costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy projects like these,” said Virginia Jameson, CDFA Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands, who attended the ceremony. “We congratulate Denali’s Imperial Western Products for their innovative thinking and encourage other partners to do the same.”
