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Category Archives: Environment

Still the People’s Agency 150 Years Later – Happy Birthday, USDA!

May 15, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

For producers and consumers of food, this is a sesquicentennial like no other. Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Morrill Act, the single piece of legislation that laid the foundation for the modern agricultural marvel we enjoy today. And now, it’s the 150th birthday of the USDA – as Abraham Lincoln called it, …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Alternative Fuels, Asian Citrus Psyllid, Climate Change, Community-based Food System, Dairy, Environment, Farm Bill, Farmers' Markets, Food Access, Food Safety, Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, HLB, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Invasive Species, Pierce's Disease, Specialty Crops, Trade, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Information on 2012 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards Program

May 2, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

The Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award Program is California’s highest environmental honor. The program recognizes individuals, organizations, and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable, voluntary contributions in conserving California’s precious resources, protecting and enhancing our environment, building public-private partnerships and strengthening the State’s economy. The annual Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award Program is administered by …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Alternative Fuels, Cannella Panel, Climate Change, Environment, Hydrogen, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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

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

Firewood Videos Urge Californians to Buy it Where They Burn it.

January 24, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA is a partner in the California Firewood Task Force, which initiates and facilitates efforts within the state to protect our native and urban forests from invasive pests that can be moved on firewood.  The following link takes you to videos promoting the task force’s mission, urging people to “Buy it Where You Burn it.” http://www.firewood.ca.gov/outreach.html Other partners on the task force are the …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Environment, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Extreme Climate Risks: Video from the Governor’s Conference

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

As many of you may have seen in the news, the Governor’s Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California’s Future, held on December 15 at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, brought together leaders on environmental issues, business, public health and public safety to focus on the risks of unpredictable and extreme weather events caused by climate …

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

A New Beginning – 21st Century Invasive Pest Management Symposium

November 30, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

On this day, about 200 people who care about farming, the environment and pest management issues are gathered at CSU Sacramento to begin a promising endeavor:a series of symposia designed to improve our shared understanding and approach to CDFA’s pest management efforts. This is a new beginning on one of the most urgent of matters. Resources are tighter than ever, …

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Posted in AG Vision, Environment, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Wanted: Ag Leaders for Public Policy Duty – Many Potentially Groundbreaking Initiatives Now on Table

November 7, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

This is a potentially historic time for farm policy in our country. As discussion continues in Washington D.C. about possible seismic shifts in Farm Bill funding, there is also a major effort underway to consider genuine, substantive change to public policy affecting agriculture apart from the Farm Bill.  At last count, there were more than 30 different initiatives being discussed …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Environment, Farm Bill, Farmers' Markets, Food Access, State Board of Food and Agriculture, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Cannella Panel to hold first public meeting on November 7th at CDFA

November 2, 2011   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

Understanding the strong link between agricultural production and the environment is vital to our food system. The Cannella Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel, established by Secretary Ross in August 2011, will convene its first meeting next week to discuss issues related to ecosystem services and agricultural stewardship.  The panel, which brings together the expertise of private industry, academia and …

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Posted in Cannella Panel, Environment | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment