Monthly Archives: September 2011

USDA Announces Funding in Program to Aid New Farmers and Ranchers

September 30, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2011/09/0427.xml&contentidonly=true Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded 36 grants totaling $18 million to organizations that will provide training and assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers to help them run successful and sustainable farms. As the average age of America’s farmers and ranchers increases, and with traditional rural populations in decline, …

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Food Dialogues Energize National Food Discussion

September 28, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.fooddialogues.com/ Americans have a lot of questions about how food is grown and raised, the impact on our health and the health of the planet. On September 22, America’s farmers and ranchers – in an effort to lead a conversation and answer those questions – kicked off The Food Dialogues, the launch of a new effort to bring together different …

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News Release – State Food and Ag Board Meeting on Sept. 28 to Focus on Encouraging New Farmers and Ranchers

September 27, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=11-051 As the average age of a California farmer creeps toward 60, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture will meet on September 28, 2011 to discuss how to encourage younger generations to pursue farming and ranching. The meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Center for Land Based Learning, 5265 Putah Creek Road, …

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Farm Bill Framing Document for California Ready for Review

September 23, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

Here in California and across the nation, discussion is well underway about development of the 2012 Farm Bill.  The legislation is renewed every five years and is the essential component in our country’s farm and food policy.  The Farm Bill is much more than just farm policy – 67 percent funds nutrition programs to improve the health of our citizens; approximately …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Animal Welfare, Environment, Farm Bill, Food Access, Food Safety, Specialty Crops, Trade | Leave a comment

News Release – Oriental fruit fly quarantine set in Stockton, San Joaquin County

September 21, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=11-050 A quarantine is in place in Stockton and surrounding San Joaquin County, where invasive Oriental fruit flies have been detected. Multiple flies have been trapped to date on properties near the center of the quarantine zone.  Additional information, including a map of the 118-square-mile quarantine zone, is available at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PE/InteriorExclusion/off_quarantine.html The zone is centered in Stockton and includes the …

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Update on Equine Herpes Virus in California

September 21, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

There has been a series of new cases of equine herpes virus in California over the last several weeks, in Tuolumne, San Joaquin and Sonoma counties.  Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) infection in horses can cause respiratory disease, neurological disease, abortion in mares and neonatal foal death. The neurological form of the disease, is known as Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). The neurological …

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Leafy Greens Industry Cites Improvements since 2006 E. coli Outbreak

September 19, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

The article below recently appeared in the Salinas Californian newspaper. For more information about California’s Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, please visit: http://www.lgma.ca.gov/  _________________________________________ Spinach had sand kicked in its face five years ago during a nationwide E. coli contamination episode, but it has come back stronger than Popeye’s biceps. “It’s basically back to where it should be,” said Steve Koike, …

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Secretary Ross Scheduled to Join Conference Promoting Agritourism

September 19, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=19372 It’s a new crop for Central Valley farmers and ranchers – tourists. With interest growing in the fledgling industry of bringing tourists to farm and ranch operations regularly, workshops are now scheduled, aimed not just at those who have the land but those who also benefit from increased tourism such as hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants and more. “The …

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TV Report: Pesticide Residue Testing at Farmers’ Markets

September 16, 2011   CDFA Staff

Bay Area NBC station KNTV aired a report this week that followed several fruit and vegetable samples from a local farmers’ market to CDFA’s lab, where analysts check for pesticide residues.  See the report online at http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/business/Farmers_Market_Inspections_Bay_Area-129888613.html

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Joint biofuel forum scheduled with California Energy Commission

September 15, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

The staff of the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Energy Commission will conduct a public forum to facilitate information exchange on agriculture business and the biofuel industry. Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 9 am at CDFA. Meeting notice….

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