Monthly Archives: February 2012

News Release-Progress, new funding in fight against European Grapevine Moth

February 28, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-003 SACRAMENTO,  February 28, 2012 – State and federal agricultural officials are lifting the European grapevine moth (EGVM) quarantine in Fresno, Mendocino, Merced and San Joaquin counties, and US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $8 million in federal funding to continue the program’s progress.  Grower vigilance and local support have combined with regulatory oversight to achieve a substantial reduction …

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For those thinking about farming – a new website helps the dream become a reality (start2farm.gov)

February 23, 2012   State Board of Food and Agriculture President Craig McNamara

When I first began farming, the best advice I received came from my neighbors and the local University Ag Extension Office.  The time honored tradition of trial and error was really my business partner in the field.  I learned that networking, mentorship and agricultural education were key resources within agricultural community. As the largest farm state, California has a variety …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, State Board of Food and Agriculture, Succession Planning | 1 Comment

Farmers give cows texting collars

February 21, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/farming/9091611/Farmers-give-cows-texting-collars.html By James Hall, Consumer Affairs Editor Using the same 3D motion sensors found in Wii computer game consoles, the   ‘intelligent’ collars pick up subtle changes in the cows’ movements and   behaviour. The collars then send a text message to the farmer’s phone or computer using   the wireless 3G network. The technology is saving farmers dozens of man-hours a week …

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CDFA bug lab on live TV!

February 21, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/video/6765910-michael-marks-sacramento-plant-pests/

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Social media meets farming in Know a California Farmer seminar series

February 21, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

The California Agricultural Communications Coalition, made up of more than 200 commodity organizations across California, is committed to providing learning opportunities about social media  for farmers and ranchers. The coalition founded a web site, http://www.knowacaliforniafarmer.com, that serves as a platform for these efforts, and also offers training seminars on reaching consumers through sites like Facebook and Twitter, utilizing tools such as blogs, videos and photographs. Consumers are becoming more …

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Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Communicating to the Consumer in a Changing Marketplace

February 17, 2012   Bill Bishop, Brick Meets Click

 Turmoil in the retail marketplace and new technology are opening opportunities for California food and agriculture.  The turmoil shows in the increasingly competitive retail and food service marketplace, which is changing the way, where and how people buy food.  The technology impact is clear in the consumer’s growing use of the internet. As retailers and food service operators strive to …

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Posted in Agricultural Marketing, Food Access | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Equine Herpes Virus quarantines lifted in Orange and Riverside counties

February 15, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html February 14, 2012: Riverside AND Orange County Facilities released from Quarantine. There are no facilities in California under quarantine for EHV-1. Recommendations for Participants at Horse Events CDFA Animal Health Officials continually monitor the Equine Herpes Virus-1 situation. Currently, CDFA is not aware of any EHV-1 cases.  Based on the current status of the EHV-1 situation, CDFA has not …

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Secretary Ross Opinion Piece Praises Work of Food and Ag Board President Craig McNamara to Train New Farmers – McNamara Receives Irvine Foundation Leadership Award

February 12, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

California State Board of Food and Agriculture President Craig McNamara has been named as a recipient of the 2012 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. More information about the award program may be found here. To recognize McNamara’s leadership in programs training new farmers, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross authored an opinion piece in the Sacramento Bee: Viewpoints: How California can nurture …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Food Access, State Board of Food and Agriculture, Succession Planning, Trade, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Robust testing for BSE (Mad Cow Disease) in California and U.S.

February 10, 2012   Dr. Annette Jones, California State Veterinarian

There was some confusion this week about bovine spongeform encephalopathy (BSE), or, as it’s commonly known, mad cow disease. Humans who are exposed to it by eating infected animal tissues–the only way it can be contracted–develop a disease called Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (VCJD), which is frequently confused with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a neurological illness that is not associated with VCJD. California …

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USDA – Farm exports hit record levels

February 10, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Vilsack on Record U.S. Farm Exports for Calendar Year 2011 WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2012 –Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement regarding data released today showing U.S. farm exports reached a record $136.3 billion in calendar year 2011: “The data released today by USDA represents a record-breaking calendar year for farm exports, demonstrating—once again—that American …

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