Monthly Archives: November 2017

Any antibiotic use – in people or animals – can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance, making it vital to recognize and eliminate unnecessary or inappropriate uses of antibiotics. In California, farmers, ranchers and veterinarians share a common goal … Continue reading →

By Ellen Hanak When strong winter rains finally ended the recent five-year drought, many water districts seized the opportunity to recharge depleted aquifers. How did they do, and what barriers did they face? A public forum brought more than 30 experts together … Continue reading →

By Tim Hearden ORLAND, Calif. — State Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross held up the rice industry in the middle Sacramento Valley as an example of how growers can respond to public concerns about their production activities. The industry’s … Continue reading →

What California industry directly employs more than 104,000 people with a ripple effect that supports an additional 285,000 full-time jobs in retail, construction and other sectors? If you said dairy, reward yourself with a cold glass of milk. But don’t … Continue reading →

This week in Palm Desert, CDFA joined the third annual ‘Growing Together’ Latino Farmers’ Conference, hosted by the the National Center for Appropriate Technology and the USDA. CDFA staffed booths representing several of its programs, including CalCannabis, the Fertilizer Research … Continue reading →

By Rebecca Plevin As workers harvest dates across the Coachella Valley, growers and researchers are undertaking another huge task: Preventing a two-inch, invasive pest from boring into the palm trees that bear the sticky, sweet fruit. The pest, the invasive … Continue reading →

Watch the live stream for tomorrow’s  Public Forum on Managed Groundwater Recharge to Support Sustainable Water Management, hosted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Water Resources. Broadcast available at CDFA Live Events. Conference Agenda

I was pleased to travel to Modesto on Sunday (Nov 5) to meet with USDA secretary Sonny Perdue on his first official visit to California!  We had a great discussion about Farm Bill programs important to California and other issues like … Continue reading →

USDA NEWS RELEASE USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is continuing to offer assistance to landowners affected by recent catastrophic wildfires.  The assistance, provided through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) covers erosion control and water quality practices … Continue reading →

By CDFA veterinarian Rebecca Campagna The ability to quickly trace movements of sick animals or animals exposed to disease is essential to maintain the health of California’s livestock. Individual animal identification and accurate record keeping are the foundations of animal … Continue reading →