Author Archives: Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

A Promising New Technique for Controlling Spray Drift

October 17, 2016   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

CDFA’s Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) is a division of the agency’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation. OPCA works with scientists in California’s academic community to provide unbiased consultative and economic impact information to the Department of Pesticide Regulations (DPR) on potential pesticide regulatory impacts and pest management alternatives. The program also funds research to fill important …

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COMET-Farm: Science-based Tools to help Specialty Crop Growers

December 15, 2015   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

Agricultural food production and the relationship with the air, water and soil systems is complex, both from scientific and practical perspectives. Bringing the scientific interrelationships into a user-friendly on-line tool to help agricultural producers understand their entire farming operation’s carbon footprint is the challenge that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services (USDA-NRCS) and Colorado State University undertook …

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Climate Change: Register now for the first California Adaptation Forum

July 10, 2014   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

The consensus is overwhelming: our climate is changing. According to NASA’s Global Climate Change website, “97% of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position.” Adapting to climate change is critical at all levels of our …

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Agriculture recognized by Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards

July 1, 2014   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

What do Joseph Gallo Farms, Gills Onions and Parducci Wine Cellars have in common? Yes, they are all California farms with well-known, high-quality products, but they have something else in common. They are all past winners of a Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), the state’s highest environmental honor. This year, for the first time, GEELA has an agricultural …

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State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) built on collaborative partnerships

June 30, 2014   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

CDFA continues to accept applications for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, or SWEEP. The deadline to apply is July 15, 2014. The program is designed to provide financial assistance to agricultural operations for the implementation of water conservation measures that increase water efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately $10 million has been made available for SWEEP through …

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New climate hubs are a critical resource in addressing climate change

February 20, 2014   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

There is sufficient scientific evidence to support the fact that climate change and its associated extreme events are happening now. With the recent historic drought conditions in California and little explanation as to why it is happening, climate change has been suggested as a potential cause. To address climate change impacts and help prepare the state will require concerted efforts …

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“Managing Agricultural Nitrogen” – Educational Forum Scheduled

May 30, 2012   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is partnering with the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR)  to offer a timely and educational workshop for farmers and other stakeholders to explore and discuss the effective use and management of nitrogen.  Over the past 20 years, FREP has funded research projects …

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Cannella Panel to hold first public meeting on November 7th at CDFA

November 2, 2011   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

Understanding the strong link between agricultural production and the environment is vital to our food system. The Cannella Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel, established by Secretary Ross in August 2011, will convene its first meeting next week to discuss issues related to ecosystem services and agricultural stewardship.  The panel, which brings together the expertise of private industry, academia and …

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