Monthly Archives: July 2020

A report issued today identifies alternatives for California growers to the banned pesticide chlorpyrifos and calls for continued work towards safer, more sustainable pest management practices. Following California’s historic decision to end use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos in 2019, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) convened the Alternatives to Chlorpyrifos Work Group to evaluate potential alternatives. …

The implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and and other anticipated water restrictions pose major challenges for California agriculture. Without effective solutions, economists have estimated that up to one million acres of farmland will be fallowed, resulting in a revenue loss of $7.2 billion per year. As the state’s top agricultural commodity, dairy farming is an important part …

California agriculture is vital to the nourishment of our citizens, our economy and our environment. From the farm, to the packing and/or processing plant, and into the hands of consumers, California’s bounty is in high demand this time of year. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) acknowledges the hard work and dedication that it takes to bring these products …

Tulare County pesticide inspector Juan Rangel (left) delivers masks for farmworkers at a farm in Exeter. This is an example of the State of California and local governments working collaboratively to provide face masks to farmworkers and employers during the COVID-19 crisis. To date, nearly 13 million masks have been delivered to county agricultural commissioners offices for direct distribution within …

The challenges and anguish of 2020 have impacted us all and exposed deep-seated disparities affecting people of color across all aspects of our society, which must be urgently addressed to create a more just and caring state and nation. CDFA stands with the Black Lives Matter movement and recognizes the history of institutional and systemic racism in agriculture and its …

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is committed to helping all Californians access healthy and nutritious California-grown food. But for many disadvantaged Californians, our state’s bounty is out of reach. Two programs helping to bridge the gap between underserved communities and California-grown nutrition are CDFA’s California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) and the Healthy Stores Refrigeration Grant Program (HSRGP). …

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, in partnership with the Climate Science Alliance, has released the 2020 Climate Change Consortium for Specialty Crops Report for the Southern California Region, which covers three distinct growing regions: San Diego County, South San Joaquin Valley, and Imperial Valley/Inland Desert. The report is a reflection of feedback and recommendations from producers and agricultural representatives …

From a Farm Foundation news release CDFA environmental scientist Emily Zakowski, who works in the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis, has been named a 2020-2021 cohort for the Farm Foundation’s Young Agri-Food Leaders and Young Farmer Accelerator programs. Each of these new programs was established to engage and connect outstanding young leaders in agriculture from across the country, and …

As COVID-19 cases rise throughout the state and in advance of the Fourth of July weekend, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the “Wear A Mask” public awareness campaign encouraging Californians to use face coverings – one of the best ways people can protect themselves and others from the virus. The campaign is taking an aggressive approach to slowing the spread of …