Monthly Archives: December 2013

New study to reflect conservation benefits from farming in Central Valley

December 26, 2013   Anita Brown USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Every year thousands of California farmers work hard to protect the environment while maintaining the state’s enviable status as the Nation’s top agricultural producer. Farmers establish highly efficient irrigation systems, limit or stop the runoff from their farms, add vegetative strips and hedgerows to catch sediment, lend a patch of space to pollinators and wildlife, practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM), …

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CDFA employees get into the spirit of giving

December 23, 2013   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

I don’t know about you, but my office is filled with holiday spirit this year! Ornaments abound, along with snowy gnomes, red and green stockings, even little reindeer made with chocolate bars and pipe cleaners – the stuff of celebration is everywhere. It takes more than a little work to transform a suite of government-office cubicles into a winter wonderland, …

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Growing California video series – Almond Futures

December 20, 2013   Office of Public Affairs

The next segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “Almond Futures.”

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Farm to Food Bank Month – Big increase in fresh produce donations to Central Valley food bank

December 19, 2013   Andy Souza, President/CEO, Community Food Bank

“Feeding people is what Ag does.” -California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross. Feeding people is also what local food banks do. So it should be no surprise that agriculture is an essential and enthusiastic partner in the Community Food Bank’s work to fight hunger in Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Kern Counties. Without the support of our local …

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Governor Brown directs formation of interagency drought task force

December 18, 2013   Office of Public Affairs
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Citing concerns about agriculture, Department of Water Resources names drought management team – News Release

December 18, 2013   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.water.ca.gov/news/newsreleases/2013/121713.pdf The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has mobilized a new drought management effort to prepare for and reduce potential impacts of what is expected to be a third straight dry year in 2014. DWR Director Mark Cowin said the department is focusing its personnel and programs “to offset potentially devastating impacts to citizen health, well-being and our economy.” Cowin has appointed …

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The holiday gift that gives back

December 17, 2013   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

With the holiday season now fully upon us, I’d like to take moment to suggest a gift you may not have considered – the California Agriculture License Plate. This is an excellent way to show support for California agriculture while participating in a program that actually gives back. A portion of Ag license plate fees provides funding for agricultural education …

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Governor Brown weighs in with Congress on Farm Bill, opposes King Amendment

December 16, 2013   Office of Public Affairs

California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. has sent the following letter about the Farm Bill to Congressional leadership in Washington D.C.

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Vote CDFA’s “Report a Pest” for app of the year!

December 13, 2013   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA’s Report a Pest mobile app–available on iPhone and Droid operating systems–has been nominated by the web site govfresh as the Civic App of the Year. Please help us win by casting a vote for us!

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Farm-to-Fork web site connects consumers to California agriculture

December 12, 2013   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA is pleased to announce the California Farm to Fork web site, a place to highlight programs and projects that focus on sourcing, marketing and increasing the use of California crops. The web site features links to a page that shows what crops grow in certain regions at specific times of the year, and also profiles local efforts to increase …

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