CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (right) and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Vice President Glenda Humiston signed the MOU this morning at Sacramento’s Stanford Mansion.
California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Vice President Glenda Humiston signed a memorandum of understanding this morning at Sacramento’s Stanford Mansion to initiate a new partnership to advance Climate Smart Agriculture in California.
This partnership, funded by California Climate Investments dollars through the Strategic Growth Council (SGC), will provide $1.1 million to fund 10 UC Cooperative Extension community education specialists who will be deployed in 10 counties statewide to assist and encourage farmers to participate in CDFA programs aimed at increasing adoption of smart farming and ranching practices.
“Agriculture is an important part of the climate solution,” said Secretary Ross. “This funding enables CDFA and UC ANR to partner with farmers to scale-up climate smart agricultural practices.”
“This new joint effort reflects our commitment to extending research-supported solutions to our farming community so they have the information and tools they need to make climate-smart decisions,” Humiston said. “It also demonstrates our shared goal of promoting new practices that are grounded in science.”
The program is focused on implementing on-farm solutions to improve soil health, nutrient management, irrigation management, on-farm composting and manure management – smart farming practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
The CDFA programs involved are:
• State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program
• Healthy Soils Program
• Alternative Manure Management Program
