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Category Archives: Environment

California Climate Investments – CDFA part of $1.4 billion program in 2018

March 27, 2019   Office of Public Affairs

A new report details how cap-and-trade investments are reducing climate-changing emissions while pumping money into local economies and improving public health and the environment across the state — especially in disadvantaged and low-income communities. Nearly $1.4 billion in new funding last year went to projects across all of California’s 58 counties, almost double the $720 million spent in 2017. Projects ranged from …

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

Video – Rice fields and wildlife

February 4, 2019   Office of Public Affairs

Videos from the California Rice Commission Northern California rice fields demonstrate what are known as ecosystem services – multiple benefits gained from farming and ranching, including crop and livestock production. Please visit CDFA’s database of ecosystem services throughout the state.

Posted in Conservation, Environment | Leave a comment

LUNDBERG FAMILY FARMS RECEIVES CALIFORNIA LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD

November 20, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

From the Sand County Foundation: Lundberg Family Farms has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 California Leopold Conservation Award®. Sand County Foundation, the nation’s leading voice for private conservation, created the Leopold Conservation Award to inspire American landowners by recognizing exceptional farmers, ranchers and foresters. The prestigious award, named in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, is given in …

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Posted in Conservation, Environment, State Board of Food and Agriculture | Leave a comment

Turning waste into energy and other benefits: Secretary Ross addresses National Renderers Association

October 29, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

If it were up to her, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross would rather we all stopped using the word “waste.” That’s what she told the National Renderers Association last week at their conference in Orange County. When more than 62 billion pounds of animal by-products are converted annually into usable commodities such as animal feed, biofuels, fertilizers, soaps, and paints, that’s no longer “waste,” that’s …

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Posted in Environment | Tagged | 1 Comment

California launches first dairy digester pipeline cluster

October 26, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

California is proud to announce the state’s first dairy digester pipeline cluster. CDFA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt was on-hand this week for the launch of Calgren Renewable Fuels’ new facility, which partners with local dairies in the Pixley, California area. Eleven digesters, 22 miles of pipeline and 75,000 cows contribute to this interconnected system, which will collectively reduce an estimated of 1,867,651 metric …

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

New Partnership with UC advances Climate Smart Agriculture in California

October 26, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Vice President Glenda Humiston signed a memorandum of understanding this morning at Sacramento’s Stanford Mansion to initiate a new partnership to advance Climate Smart Agriculture in California. This partnership, funded by California Climate Investments dollars through the Strategic Growth Council (SGC), will provide $1.1 million to fund 10 …

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

Carbon Farming coming to Central Coast – from The Bottom Line

June 1, 2018   Office of Public Affairs

Note – The Bottom Line is the student newspaper at UC Santa Barbara.  By Tanner Walker Carbon ranching is coming to Santa Barbara County, but farmers aren’t growing carbon — they’re putting it back into the ground. With the help of compost and cattle, native grasses can sequester organic carbon, enriching the soil and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Environment, Healthy soils | 1 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

Update on climate change programs from CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation

August 30, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA recently issued this newsletter to provide updates about programs in its Office of Environmental Farming Initiatives. The Healthy Soils Program OEFI has a new program that aims to improve soil health by increasing soil carbon and reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions through several specific management practices, such as no-till and compost application methods. CDFA has $6.75 million to fund …

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Posted in Climate Change, Dairy, Environment, Healthy soils, Uncategorized | Leave a comment