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Category Archives: Farm Bill

USDA Reaching Out to Farms and Ranches Impacted by Drought and Disaster

March 13, 2014   Val Dolcini, CA State Executive Director, USDA Farm Service Agency

A wetter than usual February has helped turn the brown hills of California’s coastal ranges and Sierra foothills a light shade of green and while these rangelands won’t be mistaken for Ireland any time soon, this precipitation was a welcome relief from weeks of severe drought conditions. Despite this much-needed rainfall, 2013 was one of the driest years in California’s …

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Pest and Disease Prevention Projects Get a Boost from USDA

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

California’s approach to pests and diseases is as complex as the problem itself, but perhaps the most important element of our efforts is prevention.  Prevention projects in California and throughout the nation have been given a much needed boost from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, who has just announced his agency will support 321 projects with $50 million in funding from …

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Posted in Farm Bill, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Invasive Species | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

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

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

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 …

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

Farm Bill Discussion Begins in California

August 15, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

Every five years we have the ability to help shape national food policy through the farm bill. This legislation funds critical programs such as nutrition assistance (food stamps), technical assistance for farmers and ranchers, and initiatives that support food production and environmental conservation. In representing California’s 81,500 farms, I have the pleasure to work directly with the men and women …

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