Author Archives: Office of Public Affairs

News Release from Governor Newsom What you need to know: Following the spread of Bird Flu in sixteen states, including in California and outside the Central Valley, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency today to further enhance the state’s preparedness and accelerate the ongoing cross-agency response efforts.  ——- Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a State of Emergency to streamline …

From a USDA News Release The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has partnered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to award $21.5 million for 117 projects through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food …

CDFA Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program Manager Nick Young was recently awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award by the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) — the first person from California to receive the award in the organization’s 77-year history. Young received the award for providing outstanding service to the association over the past 12 years, including a stint …

CDFA staff members recently took part in the 2024 California State Employees Food Drive by volunteering at the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. The CDFA team separated bulk elbow macaroni into one-pound bags, vacuum-sealed them, then applied stickers to the packages and boxed them. In total, the team prepared 1,456 bags of macaroni.  Participating CDFA staff members were from …

CDFA’s Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship Program, created by legislation in 2017, provides leadership in animal health circles for innovative approaches to antibiotic resistance and responsible use of medications. The program looks closely at antibiotic sales, surveys producers about on-farm practices, and analyzes veterinary feed directives. These activities improve the understanding of the use of antibiotic drugs in livestock and guide …

In honor of Healthy Soils Week (December 2-6), CDFA joined legislators, their staff members, and stakeholders for a tour of farms in Yolo County to see greenhouse gas-reducing healthy soil practices in action. Farmers who have received healthy soils grants from CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation showed successful implementation of mulching and cover crop practices on adjacent farms …

Healthy Soils Week is underway! We’re celebrating the incredible role that soil plays in California’s sustainable agriculture. This year’s theme, “A Circular Economy for Healthy Soils,” spotlights how transforming waste into valuable resources can strengthen soil health for generations to come. Check out this video from Secretary Ross as we dive into practices that nourish our soil, support farmers, and …

Representatives from across CDFA divisions and programs participated in the 10th annual Latino Farmer Conference, held this week at California State University, Monterey Bay. The two-day event, hosted by the National Center for Appropriate Technology and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, brought together Spanish-speaking farmers and ranchers to discuss sustainable agriculture, equity, and resources for underserved communities. This year’s conference …

CDFA and the Monterey County Farm Bureau are announcing the joint release of the report “California Agricultural Neighbors: Building a Proactive Food Safety Culture.” California Agricultural Neighbors (CAN) was formed in January 2021 to bring together members of the Salinas Valley agriculture community to review what could be done to help reduce outbreaks of pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 associated with …