Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: May 2015

June is fairs month! Find a fair near you

                    Alameda County Fair 6/17/2015 to 7/5/2015 Pleasanton, CA Colusa County Fair 6/4/2015 to 6/7/2015 Colusa, CA El Dorado County Fair 6/18/2015 to 6/21/2015 Placerville, CA Kings Fair 6/11/2015 to 6/14/2015 … Continue reading

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Ten California drought myths debunked – from SF Gate

By Amy Graff Slide show with the 10 myths  California is in the midst of a four-year drought, the worst in 106 years. The Sierra snowpack is dwindling; lakes and reservoirs are reaching historic lows. The lush green lawns of … Continue reading

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USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Socially-Disadvantaged Producers

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications to provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups in rural areas. “These grants will help socially-disadvantaged business owners develop the tools and skills they … Continue reading

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USDA seeks input from growers about 2015 crops, stocks, inventories and values

During the next several weeks, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will survey more than 2,600 operations across California and … Continue reading

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Say hello to the dementor wasp; it turns cockroaches into zombies – from the Washington Post

By Elahe Izadi Add this to my nightmare list: A creature that turns prey into a zombie, then eats it alive. That’s pretty much the M.O. of Ampulex dementor, a wasp named after the mythical “Harry Potter” creatures that suck … Continue reading

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Citrus trees may ‘eat their spinach’ to ward off huanglongbing – from AgProfessional.com

In a landmark step in the fight against citrus greening disease, also known as hunaglongbing (HLB), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved an application from Southern Gardens Citrus of Florida for an Experimental Use Permit under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and … Continue reading

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Drought relief program offers training for impacted workers

The California Drought Employment Training Program provides 12 different training opportunities, each requiring roughly 250 hours for completion, to workers, employers and students impacted by the drought. Training programs include Irrigation Technicians, Logistics Technicians, Industrial Maintenance Technicians, Water Treatment Operators, … Continue reading

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Secretary Ross Delivers Commencement Address at UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources

California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross was honored to deliver the commencement address for the UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources on May 16, 2015. Her remarks: Dean, faculty members and staff, families, and—of course—students and graduates.  What a great night … Continue reading

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USDA to Expand Investment in Water Conservation, Resilience across Drought-Stricken States

Targeted drought funding builds on substantial drought relief efforts From the USDA: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest approximately $21 million in additional Farm Bill dollars to help farmers and ranchers … Continue reading

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Another example of how Ag is always looking for ways to save water: “hullsplit strategic deficit irrigation” in almonds

Tucked away in the Almond Board of California’s Outlook newsletter for growers last week was a gem of an article about something called “hullsplit strategic deficit irrigation.” The upshot of the piece is: “A five-year study found that well-timed deficit … Continue reading

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