Scientists from CDFA’s Plant Pest Diagnostics Center and Division of Measurement Standards joined colleagues in state service to give students a day of science on the steps of the capitol. CDFA’s experts showed students live insect pests and pollinators, experiments with metrology tools, and a host of other technical equipment and concepts that come into play when your title is “scientist.” The annual event is hosted on the west steps of the state capitol by the California Association of Professional Scientists.
Thanks to the following CDFA scientists for participating:
Plant Pest Diagnostics Center:
Environmental Scientist Jackie Airoso Senior Insect Biosystematist Dr. Martin Hauser Senior Insect Biosystematist Dr. Kevin Williams Senior Insect Biosystematist Dr. Michael Forthman Environmental Scientist Dr. Severyn Korneyev
Division of Measurement Standards:
Environmental Program Manager Kevin Schnepp Traditional and Alternative Fuels Lab Supervisor Megan McWayne Principal State Metrologist Tony Gruneisen Environmental Scientist Alex Loyer Agricultural Technician John Mindanao
This was the start of a two-day conference co-hosted by CDFA and the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to identify opportunities for collaboration and research that will help animal agriculture meet climate goals for a reduction of methane emissions.
Conference objectives include providing an overview of the need and opportunities for enteric methane reduction strategies to achieve state, national and global methane reduction goals; exploring producer and supply chain support for adopting methane-reducing feed strategies; and hearing agency and producer perspectives.
Program has awarded $373 million to date, conserving more than 194,000 acres of agricultural land across California
Grants prioritized for projects that benefit California Native American tribes, beginning farmers and ranchers, U.S. Military Veterans, and farmers and ranchers in low-income communities, among others
California has announced funding for the next round of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program, which fights climate change by providing grants to projects that conserve agricultural lands and encourage sustainable development. Since the first round of awards in 2015, the SALC Program has awarded $373 million to projects in 36 counties, permanently conserving more than 194,000 acres of agricultural land.
“California is enlisting our working lands to fight climate change, support local economies, and combat urban sprawl,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Across the state, we’ve conserved thousands of acres of agricultural land under this program, and will continue to support a wide range of innovative projects to reduce emissions and protect our communities.”
The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) yesterday announced the release of funding for Round 9 of the program, which is funded by Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds. While the total amount available in this round will be determined later this year, funds available in Round 8 last year totaled nearly $105 million.
The SALC Program prioritizes funding for projects that benefit California Native American tribes, beginning farmers and ranchers, farmers and ranchers who are U.S. Military Veterans, and farmers and ranchers who live in disadvantaged communities or low-income communities or households.
SGC has reduced the match requirement for acquisitions from 25% to 10%, recognizing that match funding requirements may be prohibitive in communities where such match funding is harder to access. Applicants whose projects will benefit priority populations may apply for 100% funding with no match funding required.
SALC grants are available for projects that develop plans to protect agricultural lands or to conserve such lands directly by acquiring agricultural conservation easements or purchasing land outright for conservation. The program also provides grants to support the capacity of local organizations to develop agricultural conservation projects.
More information on applying for Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation grants can be found here.
CDFA’s branch chief for Milk and Dairy Food Safety, Dr. Stephen Beam, stepped down this month after a 10-year term as chair of the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS), a body of government and private interests that meets every two years to review national policies designed to keep dairy products safe.
Dr. Beam’s time as chair was marked by challenges brought by the Covid pandemic as well as changes required for harmonization with the federal Food Safety Modernization Act, and he worked with colleagues around the country to ensure that the dairy industry and dairy food safety regulatory programs remain strong.
“I have always valued Dr. Beam’s thoughtful leadership,” said Dr. Annette Jones, State Veterinarian and director of CDFA’s Division of Animal Health and Food Safety Services. “I honestly cannot think of a better person to have led national milk policy discussions through these times, and I congratulate him for his distinguished service.”
From left: Ambassador JuanGabriel Valdés, CDFA Undersecretary Christy Birdsong, Josh Eddy, CDFA, and Chilean Agricultural Attache Andrés Rodríguez.
Today, CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong met with Chilean Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdés. The discussion focused on opportunities to further collaboration on agricultural trade, climate smart agriculture and issues related to drought and wildfires. California and Chile share a strong agricultural partnership through the University of California Davis – Chile Life Sciences Innovation Center (UC Davis Chile).
Have you seen a new or unusual plant or pest in your area? If so, you can play an important role in protecting California agriculture and your environment by reporting the sighting of a plant or pest that you suspect may be a new invasive species in your area.
If possible, take photographs of the plant or pest. Tips: including something of commonly known size in the photo for comparison is helpful; taking photos of the immediate environment where the sighting occurred and key landmarks for finding the site is also often helpful.
Photos can be attached to the Report a Pest Sighting Form either electronically or in hard copies (see below for online and hard copies of this form).
If you wish to collect a specimen to assist with identification, it is important to keep the specimen secure to avoid the spread of the collected species, or any organism that may be attached to it. Please keep a record with the specimen of the location and date that it was collected.
Or, report a pest by calling the CDFA Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.
Or, download and complete the CDFA “Report a Pest Sighting Form” and mail to the address provided at the top of the form. Note: sending specimens by mail is not recommended. Contact your local county agriculture department for instructions before doing so.
Reporting Tip: the CDFA Report a Pest Sighting Form can be downloaded and completed for use as a prep tool when contacting your local county agriculture department or when calling the CDFA Pest Hotline. The form provides you with the type of questions you may be asked by your local county agriculture department or by the CDFA Hotline operator.
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross with Netherlands Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Guido Landheer
Visiting last week with farmers, ag tech companies, and academic researchers in Denmark and the Netherlands demonstrated the shared priority of investing in science-based tools and agricultural technology to advance climate resiliency on working lands. From biological and nature-based solutions, to seed development and on-farm automation – agriculture can address climate challenges with increased sustainability, productivity, and innovation.
Partnerships were a common theme to advance research and innovation through data sharing. The commitment to meet targeted climate reductions and become carbon neutral by 2050 requires significant on-farm adaptation. In the ag tech sector a focus on precision farming that moves from the orchard-level to the tree-level is one example, as smart sprayers for sustainable pest management in addition to sensors and other technology to reduce spray volume and drift are more readily available now. Technologies and research are vital to achieve climate goals, and investments are needed through partnerships between industry, government and academia.
California’s farmers and ranchers have done great work in furthering climate smart agricultural practices on working lands. We have many opportunities ahead of us to leverage international partnerships and collaborations to invest in a carbon-neutral economy. The work we are doing in greenhouses, precision farming, fertilization, biologicals and agricultural technology will support further climate advances on our working lands. California can meet the climate challenge in demonstrating that one of the most productive agricultural economies can reduce climate emissions while maintaining sustainability and productivity. Our international partners share this commitment.
I would like thank the California delegation for participating in this trip and furthering collaborations with our international colleagues. Participants in the climate and trade mission included: Michelle Buffington, California Air Resources Board & CDFA’s Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel; Helene Dillard, UC Davis; Maresse Keene, OpenGate; Josette Lewis, Almond Board of California; Mark Mason, Grower-Shipper Association of Central California; Dave Puglia, Western Growers; and Gabriel Youtsey, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
CDFA’s Climate and Trade Delegation meeting with the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and partner organizations.
(Top photo — Secretary Ross, third from right, with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Governor Newsom, and other Earth Day attendees at Soil Born Farms in Rancho Cordova)
On Earth Day, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, joined by Governor Newsom and CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, convened stakeholders to explore opportunities to build upon California’s nation-leading Farm to School program, which connects local farmers and food to California students while creating a more sustainable and equitable food system for the betterment of the planet.
“California’s Farm to School program presents endless possibilities to address so many priority issue areas: the health and well-being of children, moving the food and agriculture industry towards regenerative practices to combat climate change, creating sustainable career pathways, bolstering local economies, and building partnership within communities,” said the First Partner. “Given the state’s unprecedented investments in universal school meals and unparalleled agricultural production, California is uniquely positioned to scale up Farm to School and create a healthier, more equitable future for ALL Californians.”
“California is laser-focused on creating healthier communities with our nation-leading Farm to School efforts – leveraging our unique position as the bread basket of the nation to bring more sustainable and healthy options to our schools,” said Governor Newsom. “We’re taking real action that makes a difference in the lives of thousands of California families, giving kids access to healthier meals that fight climate change and support our agricultural communities.”
First Partner Siebel Newsom led the work – in partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) – to develop the innovative California Farm to School grant program. Farm to School works in tandem with California’s first-in-the-nation universal school meals initiative to ensure California’s two free school meals are also locally sourced, nutritious, and delicious.
Under the First Partner’s leadership and in partnership with CDFA, Farm to School has touched over 1.5 million students, 163 school districts and educational entities, over 50 farms and four food hubs.
“As we celebrate Earth Day 2023, we also celebrate the enthusiasm of California school leaders, students and farmers to embrace the farm to school movement and Farm to School Incubator Grant Program championed by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Governor Newsom and the California Legislature,” said Secretary Ross. “There is clear excitement from students about building lifelong relationships with nutritious food, and we’re just as excited to encourage an equitable, healthy, local food system that creates community around what we eat and celebrates the bounty of a healthy Earth through the curious minds and hands of children.”
Through Farm to School, California school districts are developing new markets for California farmers and food producers – including small farmers, women, and people of color who have historically been left out of the massive school food marketplace – catalyzing broader food systems change towards greater climate-smart practices, and implementing educational programming that connects traditional curriculum with hands-on learning opportunities like cultivating school gardens, cooking classes, and farm field trips.
The Earth Day event was held at Soil Born Farms in Rancho Cordova and included school superintendents, Farm to School program grantees, farmers, members of California Native communities, chefs, and labor representatives. The group came together for a creek clean up project led by California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday and a lunch curated by renowned chef and longtime farm to school champion Alice Waters.
The Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch within CDFA licenses and inspects rendering plants and promotes the safe and legal collection, transportation, processing and disposal of dead livestock, animal and fish materials, and used cooking oil.
Rendering is recycling, an environmentally friendly way to reuse materials that would otherwise be wasted.
The rendering industry plays a critical role to California’s agriculture by removal of fallen animals to protect the health of our livestock populations and the environment. The industry also plays an essential role in diverting organic waste (including animal by-products) from landfills. Safe rendered materials are used in the manufacturing of many products, from animal feed and fertilizers to paints and cosmetics.
