Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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For the last minute Chefs – some menus and food safety tips

    Happy Thanksgiving!  

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Lone Star Ranch Named 2016 California Leopold Conservation Award® Recipient

By Alex Karolyi, Sustainable Conservation Sand County Foundation, the California Farm Bureau Federation and Sustainable Conservation are proud to announce Lone Star Ranch as the recipient of the prestigious 2016 California Leopold Conservation Award®. The award honors private landowner achievement in the voluntary stewardship … Continue reading

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Giving Thanks, Giving Back

It takes a lot of hands to bring a crop to harvest, starting with farmers, farm workers and ranchers. They’re responsible for California’s ongoing status as the leading agricultural state in the country and one of the leading Ag economies … Continue reading

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Cost of Thanksgiving dinner drops in 2016 – from the American Farm Bureau

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 31st annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.87, a 24-cent decrease from last year’s average of … Continue reading

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What’s organic? A debate over soil may come down to turf – from the New York Times

  Basil growing in a hydroponic greenhouse. By Stephanie Strom If a fruit or vegetable isn’t grown in dirt, can it be organic? That is the question roiling the world of organic farming, and the answer could redefine what it … Continue reading

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Consumer tips for roadside stands – from the Fresno Bee’s “Action Line”

By Blair Looney, Better Business Bureau A reader: I was driving to work this morning and saw a booth space in a public parking lot that said they had meat for sale. It looked comparable to a fireworks booth. The … Continue reading

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Elementary School in Central Valley partners with school in Sierra foothills to share love of Ag education

One of the great challenges of farm-to-school programs is taking the message from rural communities, “preaching to the choir,” if you will, to communities with cultural frames of references other than agriculture. They could be urban communities or communities with … Continue reading

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Central Valley farmers grow quality tomatoes with half the nitrogen and a third less water – from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service

How do you cut your water use by a third, cut your nitrogen use in half, maintain your tomato yield and improve your fruit quality?  “With patience, perseverance and by treating your soil like a living ecosystem–which it is,” says … Continue reading

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Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory on the leading edge of research beneficial to agriculture

I was honored to have an opportunity this week to visit the world-class Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and learn about some of the cutting-edge research underway that has value to agriculture. The Berkeley lab is an example of our lengthy and … Continue reading

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CDFA, UC Davis team-up on tips to keep bird flocks safe from Avian Flu

By Pat Bailey, UC Davis As leaves begin to fall and sunlight takes on a golden sparkle, you may be noticing increased activity in the skies. It’s that time of year when migratory waterfowl are on the move, heading south … Continue reading

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