Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA
  1. CDFA Home
  2. Planting Seeds Blog
  3. Category Archives: Animal Welfare

Category Archives: Animal Welfare

Montna Farms: A Multi-Generational Rice Farm Advancing Sustainability in California Agriculture

June 29, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

This video was developed by CDFA in collaboration with the California Rice Commission, highlighting the shared commitment to sustainable rice farming and agricultural stewardship in California. At Montna Farms in Sutter County, California rice farmer Nicole Montna Van Vleck shares how her family’s multi-generational farm has become a model for sustainability, wildlife habitat, and innovation in agriculture. From conserving water …

Read More
Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Animal Welfare, Biodiversity, Conservation, Drought, Environment, Farm Labor, Trade, Water | Tagged | Leave a comment

CDFA Supports Spay and Neuter Awareness Month 

February 13, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

February is Spay and Neuter Awareness Month! Whether you’re a proud pet parent or just a fan of four-legged friends, this is a great time of year to  focus on the wellbeing of these beloved animals.  This month, CDFA is highlighting the Pet Lovers Spay and Neuter Grant Program, which helps keep California’s pet population healthy and manageable.  How does the program work?  Funding for these grants doesn’t come from regular taxes. Instead, the program is powered …

Read More
Posted in Animal health, Animal Welfare | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2019 in Review: Protecting Animal Health & Food Safety

January 3, 2020   Office of Public Affairs
Posted in Animal health, Animal Welfare, Food Safety | Leave a comment

Avian Influenza Update for Backyard Bird Owners, Commercial Poultry Farmers

June 23, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

New Requirements for Bringing Poultry, Eggs, and Related Products into California Parts of the Midwest are dealing with a serious and ongoing outbreak of avian influenza, so California is taking extra steps to protect birds here. Poultry farmers, veterinarians and the larger commercial community in general are aware of the additional requirements, which focus on inspecting and testing farms and …

Read More
Posted in Animal Welfare, Food Safety | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

CDFA’s Bureau of Livestock ID Works to Prevent Cattle Rustling

December 13, 2012   CDFA Staff

Cattle rustling may seem like a crime of yesteryear, but it is still a part of the agricultural landscape today. That’s why the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Bureau of Livestock Identification keeps careful track of the sale, transport and slaughter of cattle. The bureau’s inspectors protect livestock and help ensure the safety of California’s food supply by verifing the legal use of …

Read More
Posted in Animal health, Animal Welfare, Food Safety, Livestock ID | Tagged , , , , | Leave a 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. …

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

CDFA Launches Biosecurity Toolkit For Equine Events

March 14, 2012   Dr. Kent Fowler, Chief of Animal Health Branch

Six different outbreaks of Equine Herpes Virus-1 among show horses in California over the past year have increased awareness of the need for stronger biosecurity measures at equine events. In response, CDFA’s Animal Health Branch developed the Biosecurity Toolkit for Equine Events, which recommends enhanced biosecurity in an attempt to minimize future disease outbreaks. The keys to implementing this plan …

Read More
Posted in Agricultural Education, Animal Welfare, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Equine Herpes Virus quarantines lifted in Orange and Riverside counties

February 15, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html February 14, 2012: Riverside AND Orange County Facilities released from Quarantine. There are no facilities in California under quarantine for EHV-1. Recommendations for Participants at Horse Events CDFA Animal Health Officials continually monitor the Equine Herpes Virus-1 situation. Currently, CDFA is not aware of any EHV-1 cases.  Based on the current status of the EHV-1 situation, CDFA has not …

Read More
Posted in Animal Welfare | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Profile: CDFA’s Bureau of Livestock ID

January 17, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

Is California still the Wild West?  For the men and women of the Bureau of Livestock Identification here at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the days of cattle rustling never ended. More than two thousand head of stolen and stray livestock were returned to their owners last year, at a value of approximately $2 million. Investigations in …

Read More
Posted in Agricultural Education, Animal Welfare, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Farm Bill Framing Document for California Ready for Review

September 23, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

Here in California and across the nation, discussion is well underway about development of the 2012 Farm Bill.  The legislation is renewed every five years and is the essential component in our country’s farm and food policy.  The Farm Bill is much more than just farm policy – 67 percent funds nutrition programs to improve the health of our citizens; approximately …

Read More
Posted in Agricultural Education, Animal Welfare, Environment, Farm Bill, Food Access, Food Safety, Specialty Crops, Trade | Leave a comment