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Category Archives: AG Vision

Earth Day and Farming

April 20, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

As the daughter of a farmer, I grew up with a love of the land and a deep respect for nature – you might say a native understanding that every day was Earth Day. My father worked the land. He took care of it and it took care of us, as well as many other people consuming what our farm …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Alternative Fuels, Cannella Panel, Climate Change, Environment, State Board of Food and Agriculture, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Secretary Ross – We must work together to help prevent invasive species

April 3, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

The USDA has announced that it’s dedicating the month of April to sharing information about the threat that invasive plant pests, diseases and harmful weeds pose to America’s fruits, vegetables, trees, and other plants—and how the public can help prevent their spread. It’s great that we’re spending a month focusing on this enormously critical issue. I hope we ultimately reach …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Asian Citrus Psyllid, Community-based Food System, Farmers' Markets, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Invasive Species, Specialty Crops, Trade | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

State Vet Dr. Annette Whiteford Named Chair of National Institute of Animal Agriculture

April 2, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

One of the best things about the California Department of Food and Agriculture is the talented group of people who work here. We have dedicated public servants with deep expertise in their chosen fields and a passion for making our state a better place. We are fortunate that many of our senior employees are placed in positions of national leadership. …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Animal Welfare, Community-based Food System, Dairy, Food Access, Food Safety, Trade | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A look back at last week’s Ag Day festivities

March 27, 2012   Office of Public Affairs
Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Community-based Food System, Food Access, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ag Day – A Celebration of the Future

March 21, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

I am blessed to be in my 15th month as California’s secretary of agriculture. In my travels around the state, I have gained a new appreciation for the miracles that farmers and ranchers create every day, against considerable odds. As we look to the future and its anticipated demand that world food production double over the next 40 years, we …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Food Access, Specialty Crops, Trade, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

News Advisory – Ag Day on March 21

March 19, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-007 WHAT: Ag Day 2012 is the California agricultural community’s annual opportunity to give legislators, Capitol staffers and the public a chance to see what’s new down on the farm. California’s farmers and ranchers provide food, fiber, flowers and more for all of the Golden State’s citizens and many more around the world. Award-winning farmers will be honored, as will …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing | Tagged | Leave a comment

Connecting Consumers to Farmers and Farmers to Resources – the New Food Compass

March 9, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

From my experience at the USDA, I know the great wealth of data the agency has at its fingertips. With the release of the new Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food website tool – the food compass – resources and information about our local food systems become readily available. Did you know California has more than 435 farmers markets and …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Environment, Food Access, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nitrogen management – a key issue in farming

March 8, 2012   State Board of Food and Agriculture President Craig McNamara

Nitrogen, an essential plant nutrient for food crops, is a hot topic right now in California agriculture. Next week, a team of university researchers is scheduled to release a report on nitrate in groundwater in the Tulare Basin and Salinas areas. So I thought this was a perfect time to take the issue before the California State Board of Food …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Cannella Panel, Environment, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Secretary Ross Opinion Piece Praises Work of Food and Ag Board President Craig McNamara to Train New Farmers – McNamara Receives Irvine Foundation Leadership Award

February 12, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

California State Board of Food and Agriculture President Craig McNamara has been named as a recipient of the 2012 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. More information about the award program may be found here. To recognize McNamara’s leadership in programs training new farmers, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross authored an opinion piece in the Sacramento Bee: Viewpoints: How California can nurture …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Food Access, State Board of Food and Agriculture, Succession Planning, Trade, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Future is bullish for Ag graduates

January 26, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

My email in-box lit up last week after Yahoo! published a story claiming that college degrees in agriculture are useless.  It certainly is a counterintuitive statement. Across our country, farming is hotter than ever. Agricultural exports broke records in 2011, and demand for local production of food made available through farmers’ markets and other venues is an exciting trend that I firmly believe is …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Food Access, Trade, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments