In 2022 the California feed industry diverted more than 18.5 million tons of byproducts from human food, fiber and biofuel production to livestock feed. If these byproducts were not diverted to feed, they would likely have gone to landfills.

The byproducts include canola meal, cotton seed, almond hulls, distiller’s grains, bakery byproducts, and culled fruits and vegetables.

The carbon emissions of incinerating byproducts at a landfill are, on average, 60 percent greater than feeding them to cows, according to the UC Davis CLEAR Center.

California leads the nation in the production of nuts, fruits, vegetables, wine and beer. Processing these foods creates various byproducts, such as fruit pulp/pomace, almond hulls, brewer’s grains and other products not consumable by humans. Livestock, particularly ruminants (cattle), have digestive systems that can utilize the remaining nutritional value of these byproducts. For example, more than 85 percent of what cattle consume is feeds that humans can’t, including by-products (40 percent) and forages (45 percent). Importantly, diversion of byproducts to livestock feed creates an “upcycling” opportunity that channels food waste into the production of high-quality, nutritious products like meat, milk and eggs.

The amount of byproducts diverted to livestock in 2022 is based on tonnage reported to CDFA’s Commercial Feed Regulatory Program. Visit CDFA’s Safe Animal Feed Education (SAFE) Program’s Human Food Waste (Byproduct) Diversion webpage for more information.

CDFA has contracted with Crowe LLP to conduct a Regulatory Alignment Study in collaboration with the State Water Resources Control Board. The study is evaluating food safety and water quality regulations as part of an effort to streamline administrative processes and optimize information collected by the state.

Stakeholder input is being sought for this effort, and Crowe is offering listening sessions with all interested parties, either individually or in groups. Input will be kept confidential.

Key Regulatory Programs Being Evaluated:

1. Produce Safety Program

2. Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

3. Dairy / Confined Animal Facilities Program

4. Stormwater Industrial General Permit

5. State and Regional Winery Programs

Email RegulatoryAlignmentStudy@crowe.com to schedule a listening session.

From a Governor’s Office news release

California and Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), forging a new climate partnership between two of the largest economies in the world.

The MOU outlines five years of cooperation between California and Australia on clean energy, clean transportation, clean technologies, nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, green finance and investment and circular economy. 

Led by Governor Gavin Newsom and The Honorable Dr. Kevin Rudd, Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, the California and Australia delegations signed the historic MOU at the Stanford Mansion in Sacramento.

What Governor Newsom said: “California and Australia are on the front lines of the climate crisis. From extreme heat and historic drought to catastrophic wildfires and rising sea levels, the last few years have further crystallized the need for urgent action. It’s not enough for us to act alone. We’re coming together to confront the greatest crisis our world has ever known for the good of all Californians and Australians.” 

What Ambassador Rudd said: “I’m proud to join Governor Newsom for the signing of this landmark climate MoU. While Australia and California face shared challenges from the climate crisis, we also share a mutual ambition to find bold solutions to combatting climate change and achieving net zero emissions. This MoU accelerates our cooperation and affirms our intent to be global leaders in areas including clean transportation, clean energy, nature-based solutions, research and development, and climate-friendly business.” The text of the MOU can be found here. In addition to the MOU, Governor Newsom and Ambassador Rudd signed a Joint Statement affirming their partnership on the climate action outlined in the MOU. 

Following the MOU signing, the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) co-hosted a business forum with CalChamber and the Australian Embassy that focused on the importance of public-private collaboration in the fight against climate change.

HOW WE GOT HERE: California’s world-leading climate policies have led the state to exceed its 2020 climate target four years ahead of schedule, and created partnerships across the U.S. and around the world:

• Earlier this month, California signed a MOU with the Chinese province of Hainan to advance climate action. 
• In 2022 alone, California signed Memorandums of Cooperation with Canada, New Zealand and Japan, as well as Memorandums of Understanding with China and the Netherlands, to tackle the climate crisis. The Governor also joined with Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia to recommit the region to climate action.
• Last year, California enacted aggressive climate measures with a sweeping package of legislation backed by a multi-billion-dollar record investment. 
• The California Climate Commitment cuts pollution, protects Californians from big polluters, accelerates the state’s transition to clean energy, and expands economic opportunities for all Californians.

BY CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

Our last two days in Jakarta included “first ever” experiences for me!  In addition to informative meetings with two industry groups — the Global Food and Beverage Association and the U.S. Soybean Export Council — we traveled outside of the city to watch the filming of an Indonesia “Master Chef” episode featuring Nebraska beef with ranch couple Matt and Audra Allen from Arthur NE, and Professor Chris Calkins, an international expert on beef quality whose work has led to new cuts of meat, including the very much in demand flat iron steak. He recently retired from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln after more than 40 years.  

We also participated in a CA Milk Advisory Board “Real California Milk” exclusive CA cheese tasting event with Chef Barbara Alexander, a consulting chef for the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in the Napa Valley. Approximately 25 social media influencers and media representatives were in attendance and most were posting on Instagram throughout the event!  The chef’s cooking demonstration featured five delicious and easy to prepare dishes that ended with each participant creating their own cheese tray from a beautiful assortment of CA cheeses, dried fruits and tree nuts with local honey comb and jams. Our team selected the winners of best presentation cheese trays.  

The USDA’s Foreign Ag Service worked hard to make both of these novel events happen as a way to introduce U.S. products and show how they can be integrated into traditional Indonesian menus. My colleagues came up with lots of fun content to pitch to Master Chef producers to feature the U.S. ag products we are so proud to share with the world!! Along those lines, I was thrilled to meet Douglas Lim of his family’s importing company, Pandu Rasa, at a reception last week. He had been in California three weeks ago on a visit sponsored by our western regional association, WUSATA.

Our two ag industry meetings reinforced how important it is to “show up” and take the time to understand the country, its culture, and its regulatory system.  We spent a great deal of time in our discussions to gain greater clarity on new Halal certification and labeling requirements that will take effect in October 2024. I am very fortunate to have traveled with this great group of colleagues and to have the opportunity to meet so many warm and welcoming Indonesians!    

My experience last week reinforced for me the critical importance of hosting importers, chefs, and government regulatory officials on inbound missions so they visit our farms, processing plants, and our state labs to better understand the great care for food safety and the high quality of our CA GROWN products for consumers around the world. 

By CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

What an incredible learning journey with colleagues on the NASDA (National Association of State Departments of Agriculture) Emerging Markets visit to Indonesia.

In addition to government meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Bureau of International Cooperation and others, we have met with two state-owned enterprises and hosted a reception for about 75 government officials, importers, in-country cooperators, and organizations representing ag.

Touring outdoor markets and retail stores is an excellent way to understand food consumption, culture, and the palate of the country. We enjoyed the hospitality of the general manager of a “Grand Lucky” store, a fast-growing retail chain in Jakarta and Bali.

We have also met with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce. They were so knowledgeable and helped us better understand doing business in Indonesia. This country is clearly an important place to be but requires a long-term plan, patience, and relationship building without expecting overnight results.

As the nation continues to celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week (August 6-12) CDFA encourages voting for your favorite market in the 2023 America’s Farmers Market Celebration. Winning markets will receive cash and prizes from sponsors American Farmland Trust and the Farmers Market Coalition.

“We believe that every farmers’ market in America is special in its own way,” the sponsors state on their website. “Big or small, in cities or rural towns, farmers’ markets nourish their communities while helping local farms, food makers and artisans thrive. … Our intention is to lift up the vital role farmers’ markets play across the country.”

The top-five vote-getters in the US will receive an award. Prizes are $5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second, $1,500 for third, $750 for fourth, $250 for fifth and $100 for first place in each state. These funds will be awarded to markets to help expand the market’s reach and impact.

Visit https://markets.farmland.org/ to see what nationwide farmers’ markets currently have the most votes, and let’s help a California market win!

By CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

I am honored to be representing California on a policy mission in Indonesia sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).

I’m traveling with four other state ag secretaries/commissioners along with NASDA CEO Ted McKinney and several staff members, and I’m thrilled that our guest industry partner on the trip is Krysta Harden, CEO of the Dairy Export Council.

We are participating in a series of meetings, to not only learn about market opportunities but to invest time in building government-to-government and trade relationships. I’m looking forward to gaining a better understanding of the opportunities for California ag products. From a California perspective dairy is showing great promise in Indonesia, and California table grapes, dried fruits and tree nuts are here with opportunities to expand. I’d like to see the development of a citrus market here.

One of our first meetings was with US Ambassador Sung Kim, followed by briefings from our friends with Foreign Ag Service (FAS). I am a big fan of FAS – they are boots on the ground in about 90 countries with in-depth knowledge about the country, the culture, the politics and the market opportunities and challenges.

In 2022, Indonesia was the 11th-largest destination for U.S. agricultural exports. Indonesia’s growing and increasingly wealthy population is likely to drive future demand for our food and ag offerings. The population is estimated to be 273 million, making it the fourth-most populous country in the world, and it has the largest economy in Southeast Asia. We will learn a lot about the market, its regulations, and ways we can collaborate with importers to meet rising consumer demand.

CDFA encourages all Californians to celebrate National Farmers Market Week by visiting a local Certified Farmers’ Market!

National Farmers Market Week is an annual celebration that highlights the vital role farmers’ markets play in our nation’s food system. Coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition, this year’s celebration recognizes that for more than 50 years, farmers’ markets have influenced the way Americans eat, shop and connect to their food, to farmers, and with each other.

For example, did you know that many farmers’ markets increase food access for the underserved by redeeming nutrition incentives? Nationwide since 2017, farmers’ market and direct marketing redemptions of SNAP (CalFresh in California) have increased by 162 percent. Click here to view CDFA’s California Nutrition Incentive Program grantees currently distributing Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program incentives at farmers’ markets in California.

Also, did you know that farmers’ markets are business incubators for young farmers? Farmers’ markets provide one of few low-barrier entry points for new farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs.

Farmers’ markets also serve as a valuable education opportunity — to speak with local farmers and learn what’s in season and how favorite fruits and vegetables are produced, and also acquire an enhanced understanding of agriculture as a whole. According to a study conducted by the American Farm Bureau, 72 percent of consumers know “nothing” or “very little” about farming or ranching. Let’s work to fix that!

CDFA invites all Californians to click here to find a Certified Farmers’ Market to visit this National Farmers Market Week!

Governor’s Office News Release

WHAT TO KNOW: Governor Newsom signed an executive order to streamline levee repairs and debris removal to help local communities recover from flooding and prepare for the next wet season. This is the latest in a series of actions to protect communities and conserve water from record rain and snowfall.
 
SACRAMENTO – In anticipation of another possible wet season with record rain and snowfall, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that will expedite critical work like levee repairs and debris removal to help protect and prepare communities.

A copy of the executive order can be found here.

WHY IT IS NEEDED: This year’s historic winter storms damaged levees and left debris in river channels that exacerbate the risk of flooding next winter – damaged levees provide less protection from high water flows, and debris and vegetation within river channels reduce capacity to move high water flows.
 
WHAT IT WILL DO: By acting now, the executive order allows affected communities to accelerate work to restore levee function and river channel capacity degraded by last winter’s storms and floods. More specifically, the executive order:

• Streamlines public agencies’ emergency levee repair and debris removal work to address this past winter’s storms and prepare for next winter;
• Applies to emergency levee repair and debris clearing impacted by this past winter’s storms, including: the San Joaquin River and tributaries, the Tulare Lake Basin and tributaries, the Salinas River and tributaries, the Pajaro River and tributaries, and other coastal streams between the Pajaro River and the Ventura River;
• Suspends certain laws, regulations, and criteria in existing orders – conditioned on agencies complying with specified environmental and resource protection requirements – for emergency levee repair and debris removal projects. Suspensions include:
  • Lake and streambed alteration agreement laws and regulations implemented by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife;
  • Limiting provisions in State Water Board water quality certifications that would otherwise limit circumstances under which a public agency could rely on emergency regional general permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
  • Waste discharge requirements laws and regulations implemented by the Water Boards for projects that do not require an Army Corps of Engineers emergency permit;
  • The California Environmental Quality Act.
• Includes a number of common-sense conditions to protect the environment and natural resources, drawn from the existing regulatory expertise at the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Water Resources, and the Water Boards.

HOW WE GOT HERE: This action builds on the series of measures Governor Newsom has taken to protect communities from flooding while replenishing California’s groundwater and storage. 

• Proclaimed a state of emergency in January mobilizing state government ahead of the winter storms, proclaimed a state of emergency in 53 counties to support response and recovery efforts, and activated the National Guard to support disaster response and relief;
• At the Governor’s request, President Biden issued a Presidential Emergency Declaration and a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster state and local recovery efforts; 
• Executive orders to expedite emergency flood preparation and response activities in the Tulare Lake Basin and San Joaquin River Basin, such as floodwater diversion, debris removal, and levee repairs;
• Visited the Tulare Lake Basin to see flooding impacts firsthand, meet with community leaders, and emphasize the state’s commitment to supporting the counties impacted by flooding.
• Announced $17.2 million to fortify the Corcoran Levee, protecting critical infrastructure, correctional and medical facilities, and more;
• Committed over $500 million in the 2023-24 state budget to support flood response and projects to protect communities from future floods;
• Executive orders in February and March to capture rain and floodwater for groundwater recharge, reservoir storage, and more.

Leveraging the more than $8.6 billion committed by Governor Newsom and the Legislature in the last two budget cycles to build water resilience, the state is continuing to take aggressive action to prepare for the impacts of climate-driven extremes in weather on the state’s water supplies.

Link to news release

Santa Barbara County now has a mobile resource center for farmworkers known as Proyecto Campesino. It’s an office on wheels that provides support to farmworkers and their employers by bringing resources to the agricultural community.

The mobile resource center is a specially-designed van painted with bright images of farmworkers from local fields. This is the first month the county is deploying the van.

Cesar Guerrero is the Program Coordinator. He said the van will move around the county meeting farmworkers and their families in convenient locations, whether that’s near local shops or parks or out in the fields.

“What we’re going to do is connect them with the resources that can provide the services for them whether that’s medical assistance, financial assistance, education, things like that,” Guerrero said.

The van has computers, internet access, printers, and a multilingual staff.

“We will service people in English, Spanish, and Mixteco. We also have a contract with an agency that can provide various types of dialects as well,” he said.

The office-on-wheels is equipped with a large screen, folding chairs, and a retractable sunshade – ideal for larger training and information sessions. Guerrero said his team will work with farmworkers and their employers to plan and schedule visits.

They’re also ready to assist with emergencies and natural disasters.

“For example, in a flood, people obviously need the necessities like food, shelter, all that stuff. We’ll definitely set up shop at one of the emergency stations,” Guerrero said.

The Farmworker Resource Center is part of the Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services. Guerrero said the van will serve the entire county, and they expect to reach about 8,000 families in the first year.

Link to story