Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: August 2011

New state record for farm cash receipts in 2010 – $37.5 billion

CALIFORNIA FARM REVENUES REACH NEW HIGH IN 2010 The State’s 81,700 farms and ranches received a record high $37.5 billion for their output last year. California agriculture revenues increased 9 percent for 2010 from the revised 2009 income level of … Continue reading

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Asian citrus psyllid update – The Packer

Source: The Packer VISALIA, Calif. — The task force fighting the Asian citrus psyllid is not prepared to declare victory in California, but it seems to have the enemy surrounded. Barring surprise discoveries of the pest in citrus producing regions, … Continue reading

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TV coverage of Secretary Ross at Farm Bill Listening Session in Fresno

Please see this link for video Dale Yurong FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — California’s Secretary of Food and Agriculture came to the Valley to ask local growers and ranchers to help shape the 2012 federal farm bill. Growers say they know … Continue reading

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Japanese Beetle Treatment Completed in Sacramento County

In early August, CDFA, working with its partners at the Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, began a Japanese beetle eradciation project at nearly 100 properties in the Fair Oaks area. Treatment was completed on Friday, August 26. The Japanese beetle is a voracious … Continue reading

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Ever wanted to learn about kitchen grease theft?

http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?1=1&_c=zy3xvmrq55pz7s&xid=zy1w5awkgid5tq&done=.zy2803kzad3bmm&_credir=1314297021&_c=zy3xvmrq55pz7s# It’s after midnight in a gritty urban alleyway, empty except for clusters of 10-foot by 4-foot  green dumpsters and a smaller, locked 250-gallon metal green container. A pickup with headlights off comes to a quiet stop. Men approach the … Continue reading

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USDA Announces Recipients of Conservation Innovation Grants in 40 States

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2011/08/0373.xml&navid=NEWS_RELEASE&navtype=RT&parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&edeployment_action=retrievecontent Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the winning proposals for the 2011 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Through CIG, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing nearly $22.5 million in innovative conservation technologies and approaches that address a … Continue reading

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Pollination Preservation: Grants Help Assess, Improve Health of Bee Colonies

California’s farmers and beekeepers are harvesting the benefits of two Specialty Crop Block Grant (SBCG) projects awarded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Federal Funds Management Office (FFMO).  The grantee, Project Apis m (PAm) reports that the … Continue reading

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Coin Counting Survey in Northern California

Earlier this month, Sacramento TV station KOVR-13 contacted CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) about the  coin counting machines that are found in supermarkets. These machines count a customer’s change, charge a fee, and return a voucher that can be … Continue reading

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Secretary Ross and California Ag Leaders talk trade with Ambassador Ron Kirk, United States Trade Representative

Today, I had the great opportunity to meet with Ambassador Ron Kirk and California agricultural leaders to discuss trade and greater market access for agricultural products worldwide. California is the largest agricultural producer and exporter in the nation – with … Continue reading

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Secretary Ross Announces Science Advisor and Environmental Farming Appointments

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross has announced the appointment of Dr. Amrith Gunasekara as Science Advisor to the Secretary.  Dr. Gunasekara is returning to CDFA after a period as a research scientist for the California Department of Public Health. In his … Continue reading

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