Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: September 2020

Today is the first-ever International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste — learn how you can make a difference

Today is the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations’ first-ever International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. “Reducing food losses and waste is essential in a world where the number of people affected by hunger … Continue reading

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New wildfires bring more evacuated animals to fairgrounds

A new series of wildfires erupting in Northern California in recent days has resulted in additional fairgrounds opening as animal shelters, evacuation centers, and fire camps. Fairgrounds in Petaluma (Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds) and Gridley (Butte County Fairgrounds) are newly available to … Continue reading

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Are fruits and veggies from the garden safe to eat if they’re exposed to wildfire smoke? From the Redding Record-Searchlight

By Leimone Waite, Master Gardener Q. How does smoke from wildfires affect my garden, and are my fruits and vegetables safe to eat after pollution levels reached “very unhealthy” levels over the last week? A: In the past few years we have … Continue reading

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In an era of distrust, ‘purpose’ resonates – opinion piece from Agri-Pulse

By Kerry Tucker and Teresa Siles By now, most companies have heard about “purpose” – a buzzword making its way around corporate boardrooms and even the farm gate. Heck, even the Business Roundtable – an association founded on principles of … Continue reading

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Climate Action Day Tomorrow: Secretary Ross to appear on panel on COVID-19 and climate change

With Climate Week 2020 events underway this week, Governor Gavin Newsom will host a virtual California Climate Action Day on Thursday, September 24, convening world, state, tribal and local leaders, business executives and other experts to discuss innovative solutions to … Continue reading

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USDA announces additional assistance to farmers and ranchers impacted by Coronavirus

From a USDA news release The USDA announced up to an additional $14 billion dollars for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) is … Continue reading

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Farmers and Farmworkers: Protecting Our Food Supply and Sustaining Our Industry in Times of Crisis

By CDFA secretary Karen Ross CA GROWN has announced that the first-ever California Farmer and Farmworker Month will be recognized in October.  It is a fitting tribute in a most challenging year.  When COVID-19 hit, farmers, farmworkers and the entire … Continue reading

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CA Grown kicks off “California Happy Hour at Home” campaign at Raley’s

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joined California Grown today for the unveiling of “California Happy Hour at Home,” an event at all Raley’s stores in California to promote California Grown products like wine, cheese, figs, grapes, pears and avocados. Pictured from … Continue reading

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Climate neutrality within reach for California dairy sector – from Feedstuffs

Researchers from the University of California-Davis (UC-Davis) are rethinking methane and showing that climate neutrality is within reach for the California dairy sector. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is 25-28 times stronger than carbon dioxide  — the primary … Continue reading

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Beneficial wasps released in Southern California to help reduce Asian Citrus Psyllid populations – from CBS-2 Los Angeles

Note – CDFA releases approximately 100,000 stingless parasitic wasps each week in areas of California with high populations of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, an invasive species that spreads huanglongbing, or citrus greening, a disease that is fatal to citrus trees. … Continue reading

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