Author Archives: Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

Denmark inspires US delegation with biogas energy innovation

October 3, 2018   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

By Geetika Joshi, PhD I was honored to represent CDFA last week in Denmark as part of a US delegation sent to learn about he use of biogas as a renewable energy source. I joined a contingent of 14 people from all over the US, and we traveled to a number of cities to study successful digester projects generating biogas and utilizing …

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Officials assess wildfires’ toll on agriculture – from Ag Alert

August 16, 2018   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

By Kevin Hecteman, Ag Alert / California Farm Bureau Federation As the Ranch Fire became California’s largest-ever wildfire during the past weekend, the county where it’s doing the most damage—Lake—continued assessing the toll on local farmers and ranchers. Keith Brandt, compliance and safety manager at Bella Vista Farming in Kelseyville and president of the Lake County Farm Bureau, said he’s …

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California Soils Week: GrowGood community garden tour

December 7, 2017   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joined Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Strategic Growth Council Executive Director Randall Winston and other guests in the Southern California city of Bell today to tour an innovative community garden, GrowGood, that works to provide food security to the homeless and needy as well as training and jobs. The group learned that the site has produced nearly 10,000 pounds …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Food Access, Healthy soils | 2 Comments

CDFA Honors Craig McNamara’s tenure and leadership on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture

December 5, 2017   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

After more than 16 years on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, with the last 7 years as Board President, Craig McNamara is stepping down from his position on the Board to participate as a 2018 Fellow in the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute program.  The fellowship program offers an extraordinary opportunity for individuals to advance social impact at …

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Posted in AG Vision, State Board of Food and Agriculture | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Bats, allies to farmers, return home to roost in spring

April 14, 2017   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

From the University of California’s Division of Agriuclture and Natural Resources (ANR): Bats, those night-flying creatures of horror film fame, are beginning to migrate back to the Central Valley. It is an annual journey for most bats, flying south for the winter and returning home in the spring to their birth place to roost and give birth to their own pups …

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Posted in Environment, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | Leave a comment

Governor Brown issues order to continue water savings as drought persists

May 9, 2016   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

Executive Order Aims to Make Water Conservation a Way of Life in California SACRAMENTO – Moving to bolster California’s climate and drought resilience, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an executive order that builds on temporary statewide emergency water restrictions to establish longer-term water conservation measures, including permanent monthly water use reporting, new permanent water use standards in California …

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Posted in Climate Change, Drought | Leave a comment

Video: Earth Day @ CDFA

April 22, 2016   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

Happy Earth Day from CDFA! This video provides a brief look at just a few of the programs and projects at the California Department of Food and Agriculture that help farmers protect the environment. From healthy soils and dairy digesters to alternative fuels and beneficial bugs, we are working toward a future when every day is Earth Day.

Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Fertilizer, Healthy soils, Hydrogen, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Invasive Species, Measurement Standards | Tagged | 1 Comment

Hydrogen Vehicle Rally from Santa Monica to Sacramento – from SCTV

April 21, 2016   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

On Wednesday, April 20, California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols led a rally of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles with Energy Commissioner Janea Scott and Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) Deputy Director Tyson Eckerle on a 400-mile journey from Los Angeles to ARB headquarters in Sacramento in celebration of Earth Day. The rally highlights the fact …

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Posted in Alternative Fuels, Hydrogen, Measurement Standards | Leave a comment

State Water Action Plan Updated to Reflect Two Years of Progress

January 14, 2016   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

Efforts to Achieve Sustainable Water Resources Tracked and Detailed SACRAMENTO, Calif.  – The Natural Resources Agency, Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Environmental Protection Agency today announced an updated California Water Action Plan that incorporates two years of significant progress toward sustainable water management and an implementation report that tracks and details that progress. The Administration’s water policy …

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Posted in Climate Change, Drought | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Farmers Are Embracing Sustainability – You Just Aren’t Hearing About It (From The Huffington Post)

October 27, 2015   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

“Things are changing. It’s just how do you get them to change fast enough?” By Joseph Erbentraut Senior What’s Working Editor, The Huffington Post When farmers make the news in relation to climate issues like droughts, floods or extreme heat, they are often described in opposition to both environmentalists and, sometimes, scientists alike. But such a depiction doesn’t tell the full …

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