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Monthly Archives: September 2011

USDA Announces Funding in Program to Aid New Farmers and Ranchers

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2011/09/0427.xml&contentidonly=true Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded 36 grants totaling $18 million to organizations that will provide training and assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers to help them run successful … Continue reading →

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Food Dialogues Energize National Food Discussion

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.fooddialogues.com/ Americans have a lot of questions about how food is grown and raised, the impact on our health and the health of the planet. On September 22, America’s farmers and ranchers – in an effort to lead a conversation … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Education | 1 Comment

News Release – State Food and Ag Board Meeting on Sept. 28 to Focus on Encouraging New Farmers and Ranchers

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=11-051 As the average age of a California farmer creeps toward 60, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture will meet on September 28, 2011 to discuss how to encourage younger generations to pursue farming and ranching. The meeting … Continue reading →

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Farm Bill Framing Document for California Ready for Review

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

Here in California and across the nation, discussion is well underway about development of the 2012 Farm Bill.  The legislation is renewed every five years and is the essential component in our country’s farm and food policy.  The Farm Bill … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Education, Animal Welfare, Environment, Farm Bill, Food Access, Food Safety, Specialty Crops, Trade | Leave a comment

News Release – Oriental fruit fly quarantine set in Stockton, San Joaquin County

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=11-050 A quarantine is in place in Stockton and surrounding San Joaquin County, where invasive Oriental fruit flies have been detected. Multiple flies have been trapped to date on properties near the center of the quarantine zone.  Additional information, including … Continue reading →

Posted in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | Leave a comment

Update on Equine Herpes Virus in California

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Office of Public Affairs

There has been a series of new cases of equine herpes virus in California over the last several weeks, in Tuolumne, San Joaquin and Sonoma counties.  Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) infection in horses can cause respiratory disease, neurological disease, abortion in … Continue reading →

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Leafy Greens Industry Cites Improvements since 2006 E. coli Outbreak

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Office of Public Affairs

The article below recently appeared in the Salinas Californian newspaper. For more information about California’s Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, please visit: http://www.lgma.ca.gov/  _________________________________________ Spinach had sand kicked in its face five years ago during a nationwide E. coli contamination episode, … Continue reading →

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Secretary Ross Scheduled to Join Conference Promoting Agritourism

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=19372 It’s a new crop for Central Valley farmers and ranchers – tourists. With interest growing in the fledgling industry of bringing tourists to farm and ranch operations regularly, workshops are now scheduled, aimed not just at those who have … Continue reading →

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TV Report: Pesticide Residue Testing at Farmers’ Markets

Posted on September 16, 2011 by CDFA Staff

Bay Area NBC station KNTV aired a report this week that followed several fruit and vegetable samples from a local farmers’ market to CDFA’s lab, where analysts check for pesticide residues.  See the report online at http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/business/Farmers_Market_Inspections_Bay_Area-129888613.html

Posted in Environment, Farmers' Markets, Food Safety | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Joint biofuel forum scheduled with California Energy Commission

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Office of Public Affairs

The staff of the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Energy Commission will conduct a public forum to facilitate information exchange on agriculture business and the biofuel industry. Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 9 am at CDFA. … Continue reading →

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