Monthly Archives: August 2016

Climate Smart Agriculture Online Webinar: Netherlands & California Discuss Saline Agriculture

August 17, 2016   Office of Public Affairs

Last month CDFA hosted a climate smart agriculture webinar in partnership with the Netherlands and the University of California’s World Food Center addressing salinity in specialty crops within California’s Central Valley and along coastal areas. The webinar is now available online with included presentations. Saline agriculture, the ability to produce crops with brackish water and in high salinity soils could …

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Posted in Climate Change, Drought, Specialty Crops | 1 Comment

Davis Farmers’ Market celebrates 40th anniversary

August 16, 2016   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

  On August 13 we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Davis Farmers’ Market. It is everything a Farmers’ market should be: a place to show the incredible diversity, quality and bounty of what our farmers produce. Where eaters can shake the hand of the grower and learn about their farming practices. It is a place for community and a …

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Updated UC Davis report on drought impacts to agriculture – from the California WaterBlog

August 15, 2016   Office of Public Affairs

Note – This report from UC Davis only lists land fallowed due to the drought, nearly 80 thousand acres. Total land fallowed in California is considered to be roughly 1.2 million acres.   By Josué Medellín-Azuara, Duncan MacEwan, Richard E. Howitt, Daniel A. Sumner, and Jay R. Lund The drought continues for California’s agriculture in 2016, but with much less …

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Moving the Needle on Nitrogen Fertilizer Management in California Agriculture

August 12, 2016   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

California Department of Food and Agriculture invests in crop-specific research, training for farmers and crop advisors, and development of best practices for nitrogen use. By Karen Ross, CDFA Secretary As young students we are taught that water, sunshine, seed and soil are the building blocks of agriculture. Scientists and farmers alike have come to embrace the basic and vital importance of …

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Posted in Environment, Fertilizer, Healthy soils | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

California’s Agricultural Vision – help shape the future…

August 12, 2016   Office of Public Affairs

Nearly eight years ago, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture began a strategic planning process for the state’s agriculture and food system that ultimately led to California Agricultural Vision. Ag Vision was motivated by the rapidly growing list of challenges facing agriculture, from regulations and water supplies to urbanization and climate change. The report identified 12 strategies and …

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Young African leaders visit CDFA to learn about agriculture, energy and the environment

August 11, 2016   Office of Public Affairs

UC Davis hosted 25 Young African Leaders as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship in July as part of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. For two of these young leaders, the trip to California also included a visit with CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI). Fatima Ademoh from Nigeria and James Kakeeto from Uganda visited CDFA on July 27 to …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Dairy, Drought, Environment | Tagged , | Leave a comment

SALC program preserves ag land for climate benefits – from the Strategic Growth Council

August 10, 2016   Office of Public Affairs

Its Second Year, Cap-and-Trade Funded SALC Program Commits $37.4 Million to Shield Agricultural Land from Development Twenty California properties may be permanently set aside for agriculture thanks to a first-of-its kind state program that invests in farmland conservation in order to benefit the climate. The Strategic Growth Council launched the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) in 2015. The program …

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Agritourism: UC Small Farm Program posts wealth of webinar info online

August 9, 2016   Office of Public Affairs

From the UC Small Farm Program Are you one of the thousands of California farmers and ranchers who invite the public to your land to shop at your farm stand, pick their own fruit, taste wine, stay the night, learn a skill, enjoy a festival, or tour your operation? Are you a tourism professional noticing increased interest in agritourism from …

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California Wine Shows Strength in Challenging Economy – from Wine Institute & CAWG

August 8, 2016   Office of Public Affairs

2015 Annual Economic Impact Grows to $57.6 Billion in California, $114.1 Billion in U.S. The California wine and winegrape sector and allied businesses deliver a total economic contribution of $57.6 billion annually to the state’s economy and $114.1 billion annually to the U.S. economy according to a new report commissioned by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. …

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A Visit from California’s Miss United States Agriculture Jacqueline Carter

August 5, 2016   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross had the pleasure today of visiting with the newly crowned California’s Miss United States Agriculture, Jacqueline Carter. A resident of Fresno, Ms. Carter is passionate about agriculture and has been a lifelong member of the Dinuba chapter of Future Farmers of America. She is working toward a career in agricultural education and is excited to impart her experience …

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