Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: November 2022

Climate smart ag collaboration between California and the Netherlands

California and the Netherlands continue their longstanding partnership on Climate Smart Agriculture, first established in 2015 with a visit by CDFA Secretary Karen Ross to the Netherlands. The two governments share opportunities for innovation within the food sector to reduce … Continue reading

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California citrus growers — leaders in production and water efficiency

Citrus is a way of life for our state! California leads the nation in tons and value of citrus production., and the US is also among the top-five citrus producers in the world. Of course, citrus depends on responsible water … Continue reading

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Building Belowground Biodiversity: A Free Webinar for Healthy Soils Week 

Healthy Soils Week is December 5-9, 2022 More than a quarter of the world’s biodiversity lives belowground, in our soils. And about a third of the biodiversity in the United States is right here in California. California farmers and ranchers … Continue reading

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2022 Census of Agriculture is here!

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) mailed an invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture on November 22. A paper questionnaire will follow in December and responses are due February 6, 2023 either online, by mail, or … Continue reading

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Giving Thanks: A Celebration of our GRATITUDE for California Agriculture

By Karen Ross, SecretaryCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture The dictionary defines gratitude as the state of being grateful:  THANKFULNESS. It is important to express appreciation to people every day, but especially at this time of year – a time to … Continue reading

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Report: Climate extremes compound the severity of California’s continuing drought

Estimated $2 billion in GDP and 19,414 jobs lost to drought in 2022 Any way you look at it – precipitation, temperature, the amount of stored water available – the past three years have been the driest period on record, … Continue reading

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Farmer and rancher grant writing workshop offered December 1

California farmers and ranchers, including veterans and beginners, are invited to attend a Farmer & Rancher Grant Writing Workshop 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 1 via Zoom. The workshop is being offered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) … Continue reading

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CDFA participates in 8th annual Latino Farmer Conference

Representatives from across CDFA divisions and programs were on hand at the Latino Farmer Conference in Escondido on November 17 and 18. The event was held at the California Center for the Arts with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture, equity, … Continue reading

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Californians selected for EPA farm, ranch and rural advisory committee

Taken from an EPA news release Two Californians–Lake County supervisor Eddie Crandell Sr. and Jeanne Merrill of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition–have been appointed to join the Environmental Protection Agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC), which … Continue reading

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Check your cord — firewood buying tips from CDFA

CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) oversees fair commerce in California, including firewood purchases that are common this time of year. If you’re a consumer who wants to purchase firewood to last through the winter, you’re going to be spending … Continue reading

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