Monthly Archives: January 2022

From a USDA news release USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced plans to increase capacity at the Port of Oakland and improve service for shippers of U.S. grown agricultural commodities. The USDA is partnering with the Port of Oakland to set up a new 25-acre “pop-up” site to make it easier for agricultural companies to fill empty shipping containers with …

From a news release The Sonoma County Winegrowers are joining Ford Pro™ in a pilot project that will bring electric vehicles and connected services to three farms in Sonoma County. The heart of the project is to demonstrate how electric vehicles and web-based fleet management tools can have a positive impact on the agriculture industry in terms of increasing productivity, …

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross participated this week at the California Association of Resource Conservation District’s (CARCD) 76th Annual Conference, joining USDA-NRCS state conservationist Carlos Suarez and Dr. Glenda Humiston, vice president of the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources division. The virtual panel discussion was moderated by Karen Buhr, executive director of CARCD. The discussion focused on the ongoing …

CDFA has received $2 million from the USDA for a research consortium to implement a demonstration and outreach approach to help farmers improve nitrogen fertilization and irrigation practices. These funds are being awarded through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grants program, which this year is providing $15 million to 19 projects nationwide to support the development of …

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) recently was allocated $20 million to continue its Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program. CDFA encourages interested parties to stay tuned for announcements about how to apply in the next round of this grant program that funds energy-efficient refrigeration units in corner stores and small businesses in low-income or …

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing a revision of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule that would change the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for farms covered by the Produce Safety Rule (other than sprouts). Most California fruit, vegetable and nut farms are covered by the Produce Safety Rule, including those with more than $25,000 …

From a Farm Credit Alliance news release Going off to college is a big leap into the unknown for most college-bound high school seniors – especially when they’re doing so in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. To help ease the transition, the California Association of Future Farmers of America (FFA) has introduced a new program to make that leap …

The federal government has launched a website that allows individuals to order free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests delivered directly to one’s home. Order online at www.covidtests.gov Every home in U.S. can order four (4) free at-home COVID-19 tests Tests are free and will be shipped by the U.S. Postal Service Tests should arrive within 7-12 days from order The tests …

California leads the nation in citrus production, and Tulare County leads California in navel orange production. Meet a farmer whose family has been on land in Tulare County since 1917! Videos in English and Spanish.

From a Nuffield Scholars news release The Nuffield International Farming Scholars program, which develop leaders to help shape the future of agriculture, has named vintner Thomas Merwin of Clarksburg (Yolo County) as a scholar for 2022. He is the program’s first-ever scholar from California. Merwin is the General Manager and Vice President of Merwin Vineyards, a multi-generational family farm, and …