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Category Archives: Climate Smart Agriculture

California is turning farms into carbon-sucking factories – from Grist

May 14, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

By Nathaniel Johnson, Grist In a grand experiment, California switched on a fleet of high-tech greenhouse gas removal machines last month. Funded by the state’s cap-and-trade program, they’re designed to reverse climate change by sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. These wonderfully complex machines are more high-tech than anything humans have designed. They’re called plants. Seriously, though: Plants breathe …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Healthy soils | Leave a comment

California Ag Day 2018 – photo highlights

March 20, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

Our Ag Day 2018 celebration on the steps of the California Capitol was a lot like California agriculture: a little of everything. We had enough raindrops to keep things growing, and enough food, flowers and fun to fill every cowboy hat in the place. Our exhibitors embraced this year’s theme of “Climate Smart – California Grown” with plenty of handouts, demonstrations and messages about all …

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Posted in Agricultural Marketing, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture | Leave a comment

Bakersfield dairy farmers embrace climate smart technology

February 27, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

For second generation dairy farmer Felix Echeverria, dairy farming is a family affair. His father, an immigrant from Spain’s Basque country, began milking cows in Southern California in the early 1950’s. Since then, Mr. Echeverria and his brother Johnny, have spent most of their mornings on dairy farms, waking early to milk the cows, put out the feed and check …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Dairy, Environment | Leave a comment

Video – Climate Smart Ag in action at Giacomazzi Farms

January 8, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) investments in irrigation technology and other advancements through its State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) are explored in this video about Giacomazzi Farms. Through the SWEEP program, CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation provides financial assistance in the form of grants to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Environment | 3 Comments

Video: CDFA helps California’s Hmong farmers conserve water and reduce emissions

January 4, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

California farmers Fong Tchieng and Vang C. Thao have a lot in common. They both have farming operations in the Central Valley. They both belong to the state’s vibrant – and growing – Hmong farming community. And most importantly, they have both partnered with state agencies to save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Funded through California’s Cap-and-Trade Program and …

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Posted in Climate Smart Agriculture, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Video: Climate Smart Agriculture in action at Russow Farms

December 20, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) investments in irrigation technology and other advancements through its State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) are explored in this video about Russow Farms. Through the SWEEP program, CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation provides financial assistance in the form of grants to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save …

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Posted in Climate Smart Agriculture | Leave a comment

Climate Smart Agriculture – Chile trip concludes

December 5, 2017   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

We ended our Climate Smart Agriculture delegation visit last week by visiting the La Serena region of Chile. This region, North of Santiago, is a cool season agricultural region very similar to Ventura and Salinas, California. This region received little rain during the drought and there is an overall downward trend in how much water the region has been receiving over time. …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Specialty Crops | Leave a comment

Secretary Ross welcomes delegation from Mexico, stresses importance of ag in achieving climate change goals

September 22, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

California Department of Food And Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross addressed a delegation of Cochran fellows from the United Mexican States this morning at CDFA headquarters in Sacramento. Ross spoke on the importance of bolstering the relationship between Mexico and California and emphasized the need for international collaboration in combating climate change. The delegation, which was composed of public and private …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Trade | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Aguiar-Curry supports cap-and-trade extension – from the Davis Enterprise

July 20, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters, voted in favor of landmark legislation Monday to extend California’s cap-and-trade program. The package includes AB 398 by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella; AB 617 by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens; and ACA 1 by Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes, R-Yucca Valley. “Together, these bills will ensure that California continues to meet its ambitious climate change goals …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Environment | Leave a comment

CDFA Honors Environmental Farming Science Advisory Panel Member Luana Kiger on Her Retirement

June 30, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

The Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel (Science Panel), appointed by CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, has the critical job of assessing and documenting agriculture’s positive impacts on the environment. The group examines issues like ecosystem services and how they relate to agriculture. The panel has also been responsible for developing the framework for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) and the …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Environment | 1 Comment