http://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17451

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.

Gregory Ahern, 54, of Livermore, has been appointed to the California Lottery Commission. Ahern has been sheriff coroner for Alameda County since 2007, and has served in the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office since 1980. He served as assistant sheriff from 2006 to 2007, commander from 2005 to 2006, captain from 2003 to 2005, lieutenant from 2000 to 2003, sergeant from 1986 to 2000 and deputy sheriff from 1980 to 1986. Ahern is second vice president of the California State Sheriff’s Association. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ahern is a Republican.

Teveia Barnes, 58, of Tiburon, has been appointed commissioner of the California Department of Financial Institutions. Barnes has been a partner at Foley and Lardner LLP since 2005 and has been president and executive director at Lawyers For One America since 1999. She was executive director and general counsel at the Bar Association of San Francisco from 2001 to 2003. Barnes worked at the Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association from 1986 to 1999 in multiple positions, including associate general counsel and senior vice president. She serves on the boards of directors for the U.S. Bank Advisory Board of Northern California and On Lok, Inc. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from New York University School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $142,965. Barnes is a Democrat.

Charles Boyer, 62, of Fresno, has been appointed to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. Boyer has been dean at California State University, Fresno since 2006. He was department head and associate dean at Oregon State University from 1993 to 2006, and a professor at Pennsylvania State University from 1981 to 1993. Boyer is a member of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences and the American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources. Boyer earned a doctorate in genetics at Pennsylvania State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Boyer is a Republican.

Nancy Casady, 69, of La Jolla, has been appointed to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. Casady has been the general manager of Ocean Beach People’s Organic Food Co-Op since 1996. She was co-owner of Casady Whole Foods Market from 1988 to 1994. She served as vice president of the National Cooperative Grocers Association from 2006 to 2009 and was a member of the National Cooperative Development Board from 2009 to 2011. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Casady is a Democrat.

Mike Gallo, 61, of Merced, has been appointed to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. Gallo has been the co-owner of Joseph Gallo Farms since 1965. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Gallo is a Republican.

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-006

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch (MPES) is announcing seven (7) vacancies on the newly established Rendering Industry Advisory Board.  This advisory board makes recommendations to the CDFA Secretary on all matters pertaining to the MPES Rendering Program including:

• Adoption, modification, and repeal of regulations and procedures.
• Procedures for employment, training, supervision, and compensation of inspectors and other personnel.
• Rate and collection of license fees and penalties.
• Acquisition and use of equipment.
• Posting and noticing changes in bylaws, general procedures, or orders.
• All matters pertaining to Food and Agricultural Code Division 9, Part 3, Chapter 5, including, but not limited to, the inspection and enforcement program, annual budget, necessary fees to provide adequate services, and regulations required to accomplish the purposes of the chapter.

The board was established by the passage and signing of SB 513 (Cannella), which was supported by members of the rendering industry. The term of office for a board member is one to three years initially and three years thereafter. The members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.

Six of the seven vacancies are to be filled by licensed renderers, dead haulers, and transporters of inedible kitchen grease. At least one of these six licensee vacancies must be filled by someone that has experience and expertise in alternative uses of rendered products, including, but not limited to, use as energy, alternative fuels, lubricants, and other nontraditional uses.

There is also a vacancy for a public member.  The public member must have experience and expertise in one or more of the following:  water quality, publicly owned treatment works and water infrastructure, or law enforcement.

Individuals interested in being considered for the board appointment should send a brief resume by March 30, 2012 to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Meat Poultry and Egg Safety, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, California 95814, Attention: Dr. Bruce Carter.

For additional information, visit the branch’s web page at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/mpes/index.html
or contact: Dr. Doug Hepper, Chief, Meat Poultry and Egg Safety at (916)
900-5004, by fax, (916) 900-5334, or e-mail (dhepper@cdfa.ca.gov).

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-005

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss a variety of topics related to the nitrogen cycle and the proactive work by California farmers and ranchers on the issue at its upcoming meeting on March 6th in Sacramento. The meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 ‘N’ Street – Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814.

“California farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of environmental stewardship related to air, water, and soil quality,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Advances in research and technology continue to support the cutting edge environmental practices occurring in the state.”

Management of the nitrogen cycle is a key issue for farmers and ranchers. The California Department of Food and Agriculture, through the Fertilizer Research and Education Program, funds and coordinates research to advance the environmentally safe and sound use of fertilizing materials – addressing air, water and soil quality management and as well as other fertilizing issues.

Scheduled speakers for the March 6th meeting include: Tom Tomich, Agricultural Sustainability Institute; Barbara H. Allen-Diaz, University of California, Agricultural and Natural Resources; J.P. Cativiela, Dairy Cares; Paul Martin, Western United Dairymen; and Robert Curtis, Almond Board of California. Other speakers include representatives from the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

“Great strides are being made by California’s agricultural sector in addressing on-farm practices related to the nitrogen cycle,” said President Craig McNamara, California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “Challenging issues remain, but through collaboration, partnerships, and research we can work towards solutions.”

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the CDFA secretary on agricultural issues and consumer needs.  The state board conducts forums that bring together local, state and federal government officials, agricultural representative and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.

Follow  the board on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Cafood_agboard

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-004

“In recognition of the vital role California’s Division of Measurement Standards and our County Sealers play in protecting consumers and businesses throughout the state, I recognize March 1-7, 2012 as Weights and Measures Week in California,” Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. said in a letter announcing the designation.

Governor Brown’s recognition supports the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Division of Measurement Standards and its partners, the county Sealers of Weights and Measures, as they celebrate National Weights and Measures Week.

Weights and measures inspectors play an essential role in our economic system by protecting buyers and sellers in virtually all sales of goods in the country.  Inspectors monitor routine transactions in commerce and keep pace with rapidly advancing technologies to ensure fairness in the marketplace.

“California’s 150-year history of regulating weights and measures goes back to
the Gold Rush,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Our marketplace has evolved from measuring ounces of gold on the simplest of scales to evaluating intricate mechanical devices and highly sophisticated, software-based weighing and measuring systems. Regardless of the methods and machines, though, the goal remains the same: ensuring the accuracy of our transactions.”

Technological advancement has transformed the world of weights and measures.  Gasoline stations and supermarkets employ state-of-the-art weighing and measuring equipment. Railway cars and highway vehicles are weighed “in-motion.” Coal is weighed while moving rapidly across belt-conveyor scales. Weights and measures officials are also challenged with the development of performance specifications and laboratory testing of evolving fuel sources such as ethanol, biodiesel, biobutanol, and hydrogen. Regardless of the technology in place, inspectors are well-trained to secure accuracy and equity.

National Weights and Measures Week is declared by the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM), which is a professional, nonprofit association of state and local weights and measures officials, manufacturers, retailers and consumers. In 1905, NCWM was formed to develop model standards for uniform enforcement from city to city and state to state. The organization has set the example for bringing stakeholders to the table to develop and amend national standards to keep pace with innovative advancements in the marketplace.

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-003

SACRAMENTO,  February 28, 2012 – State and federal agricultural officials are lifting the European grapevine moth (EGVM) quarantine in Fresno, Mendocino, Merced and San Joaquin counties, and US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $8 million in federal funding to continue the program’s progress.  Grower vigilance and local support have combined with regulatory oversight to achieve a substantial reduction in the area affected by the grapevine pest.”The announcement of funding from our federal partners at USDA is welcome news for California grape growers and their consumers,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We have made significant progress toward reducing the quarantined areas with the help of residents, growers and local officials.  We have a lot of work still to do and the federal funding announced by USDA Secretary Vilsack ensures we can sustain our momentum toward eradicating the pest in the remaining counties.”

“This program is a model of how industry and government officials can coordinate detection, treatment and regulatory action to deal with a serious agriculture pest,” said USDA Deputy Undersecretary Rebecca Blue.  “The cooperating agencies and industry achievements to date encourage us all to complete the task of eradication of European grapevine moth in California.”

The lifting of the quarantines in the four counties will take effect March 8.  The quarantine continues in the original infested area encompassing portions of Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties.  More isolated infestations have also triggered smaller quarantines in Nevada, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.

The areas that remain under quarantine have also been reduced by a change in the regulation that originally required the inclusion of a five-mile “buffer” around any site where the pest had been detected.  Continual monitoring of the infestations and assessment of the biology of the insect have led officials to reduce the buffer requirement to three miles.

Approximately 661,110 acres are being released from the quarantine. The remaining quarantine areas cover a total of approximately 1300 square miles, down from 2335.

Maps of the quarantine and related information may be found online at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PE/InteriorExclusion/egvm_quarantine.html
-or- http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/eg_moth/index.shtml

The quarantines primarily affect farmers as well as those who harvest, transport and otherwise process or handle grapes and other crops. These growers and business people sign compliance agreements that indicate how crops, vehicles, equipment and related articles are to be handled and tracked during the quarantine.

Residents are also affected by the quarantine.  Agricultural officials generally work with residents to remove the grapes and flowers from their homegrown grapevines.  For those who prefer to harvest their grapes, the vines may be treated with the organic-approved pesticide Bt.
EGVM, or Lobesia botrana, is found in southern Asia, Japan, Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, the Caucasus and in South America. The pest primarily damages grapes, but has also been known to feed on other crops and plants.

The EGVM larvae, not the adult moths, are responsible for the damage to grapes. Larvae that emerge early in the spring feed on grape bud clusters or flowers and spin webbing around them before pupating inside the web or  under a rolled leaf.  If heavy flower damage occurs during this first generation, the affected flowers will fail to develop and yield will be reduced. Second-generation larvae enter the grapes to feed before pupating in the clusters or in leaves.  Larvae of the third generation – the most damaging – feed on multiple ripening grapes and expose them to further damage from fungal development and rot. These larvae overwinter as pupae in protected areas such as under bark, and emerge as adults the following spring.