Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: March 2018

Farm Bureau, NBA coach team-up for Farm Day

During the week that Ag Day was celebrated in California–last week–the California Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom teamed up with Sacramento Kings coach Dave Joerger for the first “Farm Day” in Sacramento.  CDFA Secretary Karen Ross was invited … Continue reading

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Here’s why California farmers are the toughest of all – Slide Show from Farm Futures

By Mike Wilson Drought. Regulations. Migrant labor under scrutiny. Complex water rights. Urban encroachment. And now, frost. In a high-stakes farm profit game, California farmers face these challenges and more with grit, smarts and determination. Last week (the week of … Continue reading

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Farmers for America – a movie about the present and the future

On Ag Day last week, the Center for Land Based Learning hosted a screening of a wonderful film, “Farmers for America,” created by Graham Meriwether and narrated by the excellent Mike Rowe. It’s a film I hope more organizations will … Continue reading

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Meet Generation Z – from Food Business News

“Real food” is the rallying cry of Generation Z grocery shoppers, according to a recent report from The NPD Group. Gen Z, those born between 1997 and the present, represent 27 percent of the U.S. population. They have higher consumption … Continue reading

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USDA announces funding in support of veterans and socially-disadvantaged farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement (OPPE) today announced up to $8.4 million in available funding for training and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers. Funding is made through the … Continue reading

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Fresno State study examines economic impact of strawberries – from the Business Journal

By David Castellon Fresno State researchers have concluded that non-farm workers and businesses that contribute to strawberry production, packing and distribution in five Southern California counties generate more than $2.7 billion in revenues annually.   The study, commissioned by the … Continue reading

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A look back at Ag Day 2018

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CDFA to receive $14.8 million in Farm Bill funding for pest projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating $14.8 million to California from Section 10007 of the 2014 Farm Bill as part of its effort to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, and threat mitigation, and … Continue reading

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World Water Day: UN report indicates nearly six-billion people may suffer from water shortages by 2050 – from Marketwatch

NOTE – Today is World Water Day, an annual observance highlighting the need for freshwater and to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. CDFA’s SWEEP program helps in that regard by making grants available to farmers and ranchers for … Continue reading

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California Ag Day 2018 – photo highlights

Our Ag Day 2018 celebration on the steps of the California Capitol was a lot like California agriculture: a little of everything. We had enough raindrops to keep things growing, and enough food, flowers and fun to fill every cowboy hat in the place. Our … Continue reading

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