Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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‘Farm to Folks’ – from the Growing California video series

The latest segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “Farm to Folks.”

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Secretary Ross calls on college students to lead change – from the San Luis Obispo Tribune

By Nick Wilson The state’s top agriculture leader urged about 250 people — mostly Cal Poly students — Thursday to lead change in the agriculture industry by taking innovative steps to conserve water and encouraging new and efficient ways to … Continue reading

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A food safety partnership with Alvin and the Chipmunks

The USDA’s agency of Food Safety and Inspection Services is joining the Ad Council and Alvin and the Chipmunks (new movie: The Road Chip) to promote food safety with a video PSA targeted for children. The PSA discusses the importance … Continue reading

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“Big Data” and agriculture – from Agri-Pulse

By Whitney Forman-Cook The House Agriculture Committee heard from the private sector Wednesday on how it plans to safely use the “big data” American producers collect with farm equipment during their day-to-day operations. “Big data has what seems like a … Continue reading

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Groundwater for the future: Sustainable Conservation’s partnership with the Almond Board of California

From Sustainable Conservation: After a harrowing string of dry years, California pines for wet weather. With summer in the rearview mirror, our farms, communities, and wildlife sure could use a hydrating boost this winter. The Golden State’s record-breaking drought has … Continue reading

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National Co-op Month a reminder of the cooperative nature of food and agriculture

Cooperatives are at the very heart of agriculture. Cooperative systems emerge at all levels of production and extend through many facets, from harvesting to marketing. Co-ops can be complex operations that serve as supportive foundations for farmers and ranchers, and … Continue reading

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Drought takes toll on Halloween agritourism – from the Los Angeles Times

By Geoffrey Mohan Bob Lombardi, 70, went ahead and planted two acres of baby bear pumpkins in a corner of his shut-down ranch this year, just to say he had farmed for 50 years. He hoed them every day by … Continue reading

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Experts say firewood should be bought close to home – from the Sonora Union Democrat

When autumn temperatures begin to cool, many people like to warm themselves with a cozy fire. When choosing firewood, natural resources experts ask that people use local firewood to avoid moving harmful insects and plant diseases into and around California. … Continue reading

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Could a mushroom save the honeybee? From NPR

By Ken Christensen Honeybees need a healthy diet of pollen, nectar and water. But at a bee laboratory in eastern Washington state, Steve Sheppard fills their feeding tubes with murky brown liquid from the forest. His bees are getting a … Continue reading

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CDFA grants help growers upgrade irrigation systems – from Ag Alert and the California Farm Bureau Federation

By Bob Johnson Hundreds of farmers around the state are upgrading their irrigation systems with the financial support of a California Department of Food and Agriculture grant program for projects that improve water and energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas … Continue reading

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