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Category Archives: Environment

Drought Assistance; New Farmers Programs; Guidebook on Access To Capital – Partnership With USDA Continues To Provide Outstanding Benefits For California

September 7, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

A key to success at the California Department of Food and Agriculture is great partnerships, and one of our most important ones is with the USDA. We share a mission, we share knowledge, and we share resources as we work together to protect and promote our food supply and natural resources. Several recent initiatives by the USDA are excellent examples …

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Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

State Board of Food and Ag to focus on water at Sept. 11 meeting in Mendota

September 4, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-032 The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss a variety of water issues at its upcoming meeting on September 11, 2012. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spreckels Sugar Company facility, 29400 West Whitesbridge Road, Mendota, CA 93460. “California farmers are at the forefront in developing on-farm solutions to improve …

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Posted in AG Vision, Environment | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Steam shown to kill sudden oak death pathogen- From SF Chronicle

August 15, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Steam-shown-to-kill-Calif-plant-disease-3788696.php Scientists say they have discovered a new way to kill California’s most virulent forest- and plant-depleting disease, and it turns out the technique is as old as steam cleaning. Steam, in fact, is what researchers at Dominican University in San Rafael have been using to combat Phytophthora ramorum, a pathogen that causes sudden oak death. Scientists from a variety …

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Posted in AG Vision, Environment, Invasive Species | 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

Solar panels and onion power show the way to Ag energy self-sufficiency

July 25, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

One of the strategic objectives of Ag Vision: Strategies for Sustainability is to achieve the maximum usage of renewable energy by agriculture, thereby increasing economic productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.  Governor Brown has demonstrated important leadership with policy and legislative initiatives to help the state expand renewable energy opportunities, especially from forest biomass and byproducts from farms and processors. Innovative farmers and …

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Posted in AG Vision, Alternative Fuels, Climate Change, Environment, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Got Data? CDFA Unveils New Searchable Database of FREP Fertilizer Research Projects

July 3, 2012   CDFA Staff

Over the past 20 years, CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) has funded over $12 million dollars worth of scientific research on the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use of fertilizing materials.  One of the goals of this research is to advise growers as well as agricultural supply and service professionals on effective agronomic practices. However, to date, the …

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Posted in Environment, Fertilizer | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Alternative Fuels in California

June 29, 2012   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

It’s been a watershed few weeks for alternative fuels in California with more than $30 million in grant funding announced recently by the California Energy Commission for research, development and distribution. At CDFA, we pay close attention to the distribution side at our Division of Measurement Standards (DMS). One of the grants went to Propel Fuels, which will build 100 …

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Posted in Alternative Fuels, Environment, Hydrogen, Measurement Standards | Leave a comment

Truckee Border Inspection Station on Reno TV

June 1, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA’s border inspection station at Truckee was recently featured as the lead story on a Reno TV newscast. Many northern Nevada residents regularly drive through the station, which is one of many safeguards in California to protect natural resources and a food supply that helps feed Nevadans:  http://www.foxreno.com/s/news/11at11-archived-newscasts/  

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Asian Citrus Psyllid, Community-based Food System, Environment, Food Access, Invasive Species, Specialty Crops, Trade | 1 Comment

“Managing Agricultural Nitrogen” – Educational Forum Scheduled

May 30, 2012   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is partnering with the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR)  to offer a timely and educational workshop for farmers and other stakeholders to explore and discuss the effective use and management of nitrogen.  Over the past 20 years, FREP has funded research projects …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Climate Change, Environment | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

California Leopold Conservation Award: Nominate Your Favorite Farmer or Rancher!

May 24, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

In the eyes of conservationist Aldo Leopold, an ethical relationship between the land and the people who benefit from it was “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.” His vision of a “land ethic” is what drives the search for nominees 2012 California Leopold Conservation Award.  If you are a California farmer or rancher committed to sound environmental stewardship or …

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Posted in Conservation, Environment | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment