Monthly Archives: December 2018

By Ruby Larson Soil health and research on using cover crops were discussed by farmers, researchers and others at the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Soil Health and Cover Crop Field Day on Dec. 6. Dozens gathered for a presentation on the Healthy Soils Project, which the local UCCE is participating in. The project focuses on managing soil health, changes …

A diversified farmer from Tulare County and a farm couple from Glenn County have earned awards for achievement and excellence among young farmers and ranchers in California. They received the awards during the 100th California Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in San Diego. Zack Stuller of Exeter received the Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, which recognizes accomplishments in production …

From the UC’s Water Security and Sustainability Research Initiative There are only two ways to reduce groundwater overdraft: decrease pumping or increase recharge. While addressing California’s overdraft will certainly require both actions, we convened a meeting of water management experts around groundwater recharge. The goal of the “Recharge Roundtable” was to address California’s severe groundwater overdraft problem through actions that would produce substantial …

From a news release Dr. Kent Fowler, a CDFA veterinarian and chief of the agency’s Animal Health Branch, has been recognized with a Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). The Distinguished Service Award honors exemplary service to the AAEP or a similar organization to the benefit of the horse, horse industry or profession of equine veterinary …

Dr. Jamie Peyton, chief of the Integrative Medicine Service with the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, is assisting veterinarians in the Chico-area by using sterilized tilapia skins to treat burns on dogs and cats injured in the Camp Fire. Peyton first used the procedure on two bears and a mountain lion burned in the Thomas Fire in Ventura County in 2017. She …

CDFA secretary Karen Ross joined the Almond Board of California this week at a meeting to introduce and discuss the board’s sustainability goals for 2025. The goals are: Further reduce the water used to grow almonds. Increase adoption of environmentally friendly pest management tools. Achieve zero waste in orchards. Improve local air quality during almond harvest. Secretary Ross participated in …

Farmers, ranchers and agricultural organizations around the globe today are celebrating “World Soil Day,” a day designated by the food and agriculture arm of the United Nations to celebrate soil and its nexus with human well-being, climate stabilization, and vibrant ecosystems. With a growing population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, healthy soils enhance agricultural production and are key to food …

Note – CDFA routinely works with CalRecycle and the Department of Justice to provide information about used beverage containers entering the state at Border Protection Stations. The agencies have also teamed-up to conduct several interdiction efforts on roads commonly used to bypass the stations.  From a news release from the California Attorney General’s office California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and …

From a California Public Utilities Commission news release The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have announced funding for six pilot projects in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys designed to demonstrate the collection of biomethane from dairy digesters and its injection into natural gas pipelines. The …

News release from the Lake County Winegrape Commission With an increase in the number and duration of large wildfires, the California wine industry is working together to explore ways to combat the effect of smoke exposure and fire damage on winegrapes and wine. Industry leaders in Lake County, a region that has experienced multiple devastating wildfires in recent years, are …