Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Category Archives: Uncategorized


Climate Week highlight — California electric vehicle chargers installed well ahead of schedule, with CDFA’s help

The annual Climate Week NYC is underway. Each year, climate leaders from all over the world gather to spur progress and champion change that is already occurring. Governor Gavin Newsom and other state officials are in New York City, calling … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Soil health — national study finds cover crops, reduced tillage boost farmers’ bottom lines

From Agri-Pulse By Steve Davies A new study of 30 geographically diverse farms suggests growers who consistently employ soil health management practices such as cover crops and reduced tillage can spend less on inputs and make more money. The numbers … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

CDFA celebrates partnerships, advancements in food safety initiatives during Food Safety Education Month

CDFA joins the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other state and federal partners in recognizing September as National Food Safety Education Month. CDFA also celebrates FDA’s recent announcement to form a new, unified Human Foods Program, with James … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Keeping the Supply Chain Flowing — Recommendations to Ensure a Steady Labor Force of Agricultural Truck Drivers

A new report released by the UC Berkeley Labor Center finds that record trucking costs in 2021 were not due to a long-term shortage of truck drivers in California. The report, Ensuring the Supply of Agricultural Truck Drivers: What the State of California … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Secretary Ross joins ag leaders to meet with US Trade Representative in Sacramento

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

New United Nations-backed report: invasive species cost hundreds of billions of dollars each year

From the Washington Post Invasive pests are wreaking havoc across the planet, destroying crops, disseminating pathogens, depleting fish people rely on for food and driving native plants and animals toward extinction, according to a major report backed by the United … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

California Highlights Climate Action and Trade Promotion in Mexico

CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong, along with staff from the department’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation, highlighted California’s climate smart agricultural leadership as well as trade this week in Mexico City. In collaboration with Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

In recognition of California Biodiversity Day: farmers hold the earth in their hands

From the Sacramento Bee Opinion Piece by CDFA Secretary Karen Ross “Farmers Have the Earth in Their Hands.” That’s the title of a book written by Paul Luu, a European agronomist and leader in the international push to recognize the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

September 7 — California Biodiversity Day: video with Secretary Ross on the importance of biodiversity in soil

Today, September 7, is California Biodiversity Day. Here at CDFA, we are focused on the biodiversity below ground — in our soils. In this video, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross highlights a new report on soil biodiversity detailing the active, integral … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Secretary Ross honored as Leader of the Year by California winegrape growers

From a news release by the California Association of Winegrape Growers CDFA Secretary Karen Ross has been honored as the 2024 Leader of the Year by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG). Secretary Ross served as the first woman … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment