Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: July 2019

#CDFACentennial – Centennial Reflections video series with Jeff Cesca

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a state agency in 2019. Throughout the year this blog will feature a number of items to commemorate this milestone. Today we continue with the Centennial Reflections video … Continue reading

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The quest for a perfect California avocado – from the Los Angeles Times

By Julia Wick The long road to a more perfect avocado certainly didn’t begin in Parlier, Calif. But the tiny agricultural town 30 minutes southeast of Fresno is where a U.S. Department of Agriculture flavor scientist has been pushing samples … Continue reading

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Garlic on broccoli – study suggests that unfamiliar scents can disrupt invasive pests. From the University of Vermont via EurekAlert.

Agricultural insect pests seek out familiar scents to find their plant hosts. However, they can also be repelled by odors from other plant species. A new study from the University of Vermont published in Scientific Reports offers a novel framework for exploiting … Continue reading

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CDFA teams with Department of Public Health to encourage safe practices around animals during fair season

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are urging visitors attending fairs to practice good hygiene when visiting farm animal exhibits. Direct and indirect contact with the animals could put individuals … Continue reading

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World hunger increases for third year in a row – from Morning Ag Clips

An estimated 820 million people did not have enough to eat in 2018, up from 811 million in the previous year, which is the third year of increase in a row. This underscores the immense challenge of achieving the Sustainable … Continue reading

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#CDFACentennial – Centennial Reflections video series with A.J. Yates

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a state agency in 2019. Throughout the year this blog will feature a number of items to commemorate this milestone. Today we continue with the Centennial Reflections video … Continue reading

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New technology may improve California spinach harvest capacity while easing labor challenges – from the Salinas Californian

By Kate Cimini A new tool to more efficiently harvest Monterey County’s $143 million spinach crop might bring relief for farmers struggling to find enough fieldworkers to pick it.  The spinach guard, developed by Harvest Moon Automations Inc., looks like … Continue reading

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#CDFACentennial – Centennial Reflections video series with Islam Siddiqui

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a state agency in 2019. Throughout the year this blog will feature a number of items to commemorate this milestone. Today we continue with the Centennial Reflections video … Continue reading

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#CDFACentennial – CDFA recognized for 100th anniversary by California Ag Heritage Club

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USDA announces $16 million in funding to support socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers

USDA News Release The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced up to $16 million in available funding to help socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers own and operate successful farms. Funding is made through the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance … Continue reading

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