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Category Archives: Agricultural Education

The Award-Winning European Grapevine Moth Eradication Program

August 28, 2012   Dr. Robert Leavitt, Director, CDFA Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services

Several years ago, CDFA detected a new pest in California – the European grapevine moth, an invasive species that targets a number of plants, notably grapes. Because California is the leading grape producer in the country and one of the largest in the world, we understood immediately that the stakes were enormous for the wine, raisin and table grape industries, …

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

News Release – Medfly Infestation Triggers Quarantine in Rancho Cucamonga Area

August 27, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-031 A quarantine has been declared due to a Mediterranean fruit fly infestation detected in the Rancho Cucamonga area of San Bernardino County. Three adult males and one unmated female were detected in two traps on August 16, 2012. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the San Bernardino County Agricultural Commissioner, the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner, and the …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Invasive Species, Specialty Crops | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Hollywood is Buzzing with Food … But Where are the Farmers? From the Food Dialogues

August 9, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.fooddialogues.com/posts/2012/08/06/hollywood-is-buzzing-with-food-but-where-are-the-farmers By George Motz Unlike stars in Hollywood, “food” may not have an agent, but it has definitely reached celebrity status across America. From documentary films to reality culinary challenges to stand-‘n-stir TV shows, the entertainment industry has created a giant stage that brings attention to how and where our food is grown, raised and processed, ultimately making its way …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What happens to school gardens in summer?

August 6, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://grist.org/food/no-more-trowels-no-more-roots-what-happens-to-school-gardens-in-summer/ The biggest irony of the school garden is that it often goes untended during summer, the peak season. This is no coincidence; what we now call “summer vacation” used to be the time when most parents needed their children at home in the fields, planting and harvesting. Now that the majority of Americans are no longer farmers, however, schools …

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

News Release – CDFA to establish climate change consortium to help specialty crop growers plan for future impacts

August 2, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

California’s specialty crops account for more than half of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts as well as nearly $7 billion dollars of exports worldwide. California’s production of diverse specialty crops is threatened by potential climate-related phenomena, including reduced water supplies, increased plant heat stress, decreased chill hours, shifts in pollinator lifecycles and increased influx of invasive species. Addressing these …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Climate Change, Environment, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

California State Fair brings together farming, heritage and communities

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

I had a chance to visit the California State Fair this week and, as the fair nears the end of another successful run at Cal Expo, I thought I would take a moment to share my thoughts about its meaning and the various ways it and other fairs connect to our everyday lives. Fairs are about communities, and that’s a …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Fairs, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Antelope Valley Fair leads the way with commitment to help develop future farmers and ranchers

July 18, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

One of the most serious challenges facing farming is a world food demand that is expected to double by 2050. And while it’s true that there are opportunities within any challenge, this particular one is made more complex by the fact that the average age of farmers in California is about 60. This is a national issue, as well. My former …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Succession Planning | Tagged , | 1 Comment

A world free of foot-and-mouth disease within sight – from the Homeland Security News Wire

July 9, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20120708-a-world-free-of-footandmouth-disease-within-sight The Departments of Homeland Security and Agriculture have developed a novel vaccine for one of the seven strains of the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), paving the way for the development of the others; FMD is one of the most economically devastating diseases in the world for those who raise cows, sheep, pigs, goats, deer, and other cloven-hoofed animals is …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Animal health | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Of Canadian geese, worker training and record-keeping – building a culture of food safety on the farm

June 13, 2012   Scott Horsfall, CEO, Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement

Last week, a group of Canadian food writers and bloggers, accompanied by staff of the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA), toured two leafy greens fields and a processing facility in the Salinas area. The group was there as part of an innovative block grant program – a partnership between the LGMA and CDFA designed to raise awareness …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Food Safety, Specialty Crops, Trade, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Bloomberg Businessweek – The Global Obesity Bomb

June 4, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-04/the-global-obesity-bomb?r=most%20popular New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in the headlines last week for his proposal to ban soft drink servings over 16 ounces. It’s the latest front of his war against obesity, which kills 5,000 residents in the city each year. (The mayor is the founder of Bloomberg LP, which owns Bloomberg Businessweek.) The U.S. is a heavyweight champion in …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Food Access, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment