Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: June 2020

Ag shrinking under weight of California regulations – from Western FarmPress

Rising costs of compliance are forcing many growers to switch crops, shut down or leave the state By Tim Hearden Dairy owner Steve Nash used to be enmeshed in California politics, staying active in the Fresno County Farm Bureau and … Continue reading

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Do Your Part. Wear a Mask. A COVID-19 video with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

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A video for #PollinatorWeek2020 – CDFA’s Bee Safe Program

National Pollinator Week is June 22-28, 2020 Many of our crops are dependent on pollinators. CDFA’s Bee Safe Program protects beekeepers and bees from a number of issues, such as theft, pests and lack of forage. Check out this video … Continue reading

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Farmworkers in the Land of Plenty – A digital exhibit from the California State Archives

California is one of the largest agricultural producing regions in the world generating billions of dollars in revenue every year. Farmworkers have come to California from various parts of the world to plant, care for, and harvest the crops of … Continue reading

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People, Agriculture, and Water in California – from California WaterBlog

by Jay Lund Agriculture is California’s predominant use of managed water.  Agriculture and water together are a foundation for California’s rural economy.  Although most agriculture is economically-motivated and commercially-organized, the sociology and anthropology of agriculture and agricultural labor are basic … Continue reading

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Join CDFA in Celebration of National Pollinator Week, June 22-28, 2020

In honor of National Pollinator Week, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross will kick off a webinar on Thursday, June 25, 2020 entitled, “California’s Efforts to Restore and Protect Pollinator Populations.” The webinar, set for 10-11:30 … Continue reading

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Workplace COVID-19 Outbreak Guidance for Employers from the California Department of Public Health

​Memo from State Public Health officer Dr. Sonia Y. Angell: This checklist is intended for use by employers experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 in their workplace. Employers should be proactive and keep in mind that identification of even a single … Continue reading

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Man arrested for allegedly stealing beehives in California and other states – from the Associated Press via the Mercury News

A man who stole dozens of beehives across the West has been arrested in Washington state, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (WA) said. The bees could be worth more than $200,000. “The case has the potential of over 30 victims … Continue reading

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State Board of Food and Ag member Jeff Huckaby named Organic Farmer of the Year – from The Packer

By Chris Koger Jeff Huckaby, president of Grimmway Farms and Cal-Organic Farms (and member of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture), has been named the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Farmer of the Year. Huckaby has grown Cal-Organic’s production from … Continue reading

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Visit CDFA website for latest COVID-19 worker safety resources

Did you know that the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) offers Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Food and Agriculture via a web page that is updated regularly? This is part of CDFA’s continuous effort to provide food and agriculture … Continue reading

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