Monthly Archives: January 2023

As relatively new farmers in California, Steven Turley and Vinnie Sassone continue to learn the importance of responsible water management. Coming from the eastern US where droughts aren’t as common, they didn’t have the same reliance on irrigation they do now in southern Monterey County. It wasn’t as significant a consideration, Turley said. Having owned their vineyard in the San …

From the USDA California agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by the recent floods throughout the state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, …

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross today joined leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds to unveil a roadmap of ambitious goals and actions to accelerate California’s systemwide transition to sustainable pest management and eliminate prioritized high-risk pesticides by 2050 to better protect the health of our communities and environment, while supporting agriculture, food systems and community well-being. The Sustainable Pest Management …

The hearts of CDFA employees go out to the community in the Half Moon Bay-area following yesterday’s shootings at two farming properties, and our thoughts are also with the Monterey Park community following the tragic shootings there over the weekend. CDFA understands that stressors felt by farmworkers and farmers are very real, and the agency maintains a webpage with mental …

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross recently traveled to the Monterey Peninsula to discuss the 2023 Farm Bill at the annual EcoFarm Conference, joining Congressman Jimmy Panetta and USDA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffit for a panel discussion with farmers.

From the USDA The USDA today announced the details of additional assistance for dairy producers, including a second round of payments through the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) and a new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). The update to the PMVAP and the new ODMAP will enable USDA to better support small- and medium-sized dairy operatiors who weathered …

Heavy rainfall in early 2023 caused floodwater challenges for many in California’s agriculture community, and CDFA is offering a web page featuring relief and support resources from state and federal partners. We will continue to monitor the range of resources available and will update the page as needed.

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross was in the Santa Rosa area this week to meet participating farmworkers at the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation 2023 Leadership Academy. Secretary Ross provided an overview of California agriculture and discussed the importance of a robust, highly-trained workforce. The academy was established a year ago. Secretary Ross spoke at the program’s inaugural opening session then …

From the Department of Water Resources The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is pleased to announce grant applications are now being accepted for the LandFlex Grant Program. The $25 million grant program awards funds to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) within critically overdrafted basins, which will then grant awards to growers to: 1. Immediately idle land as a drought-relief measure for a …

From a USDA news release Today, the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) published the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule, with an effective date of March 20, 2023. This update strengthens oversight and enforcement of the production, handling, and sale of organic products. This final rule implements 2018 Farm Bill mandates, responds to industry requests for updates to USDA organic …