Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: November 2016

#Farm2Fan video series – Sun-Splashed Peaches in Fresno County

California Grown and Visit California are teaming up to produce the #Farm2Fan video series, profiling farms throughout California and fans of those farms who stop by for a visit. The videos are funded by a grant from CDFA’s Specialty Crop … Continue reading

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California and Netherlands Renew Commitment on Climate Smart Agriculture

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross met with Netherlands Minster for Agriculture Martijn van Dam on Monday to discuss their ongoing commitment to collaborate on variety of agricultural issues. Secretary Ross traveled to the Netherlands last year and signed a Letter of … Continue reading

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Wettest start to NorCal rainy season in 30 years, but drought persists – from the Sacramento Bee

By Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow It’s only a beginning. But it’s a strong beginning, and it offers at least a rain gauge’s worth of hope to a state enduring its fifth year of drought. The National Weather Service said … Continue reading

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For the last minute Chefs – some menus and food safety tips

    Happy Thanksgiving!  

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Lone Star Ranch Named 2016 California Leopold Conservation Award® Recipient

By Alex Karolyi, Sustainable Conservation Sand County Foundation, the California Farm Bureau Federation and Sustainable Conservation are proud to announce Lone Star Ranch as the recipient of the prestigious 2016 California Leopold Conservation Award®. The award honors private landowner achievement in the voluntary stewardship … Continue reading

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Giving Thanks, Giving Back

It takes a lot of hands to bring a crop to harvest, starting with farmers, farm workers and ranchers. They’re responsible for California’s ongoing status as the leading agricultural state in the country and one of the leading Ag economies … Continue reading

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Cost of Thanksgiving dinner drops in 2016 – from the American Farm Bureau

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 31st annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.87, a 24-cent decrease from last year’s average of … Continue reading

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Cow Power! Dedication of first dairy digester in CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program

CDFA Undersecretary Jim Houston joined the celebration today in Fresno County for the dedication of a new dairy digester at Open Sky Ranch – the first digester in CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program. The program is one of … Continue reading

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What’s organic? A debate over soil may come down to turf – from the New York Times

  Basil growing in a hydroponic greenhouse. By Stephanie Strom If a fruit or vegetable isn’t grown in dirt, can it be organic? That is the question roiling the world of organic farming, and the answer could redefine what it … Continue reading

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Consumer tips for roadside stands – from the Fresno Bee’s “Action Line”

By Blair Looney, Better Business Bureau A reader: I was driving to work this morning and saw a booth space in a public parking lot that said they had meat for sale. It looked comparable to a fireworks booth. The … Continue reading

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