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Category Archives: Healthy soils

California Soils Week: GrowGood community garden tour

December 7, 2017   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joined Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Strategic Growth Council Executive Director Randall Winston and other guests in the Southern California city of Bell today to tour an innovative community garden, GrowGood, that works to provide food security to the homeless and needy as well as training and jobs. The group learned that the site has produced nearly 10,000 pounds …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Food Access, Healthy soils | 2 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

To Fight Climate Change, Heal the Ground – From the NY Times

June 5, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

California Today: To Fight Climate Change, Heal the Ground By:Mike McPhate The climate change fight has focused largely on cutting emissions. But California is now considering another solution: dirt. Whereas an overabundance of carbon in the air has been disrupting our climate, plants are hungry for the stuff. The Central Valley’s farmlands essentially operate as a vast lung, breathing in …

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

A Climate Change Solution Beneath Our Feet – from UC Davis

May 30, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

From UC Davis There’s too much carbon in the atmosphere and not enough in the ground where it’s useful. When we think of climate change solutions, what typically comes to mind is the transportation we use, the lights in our home, the buildings we power and the food we eat. Rarely do we think about the ground beneath our feet. …

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

Video: Secretary Ross joins celebration of the formation of the California Farm Demonstration Network – from UC ANR

May 24, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

The newly formed Farm Demonstration Network is designed to increase the adoption of improved-performance conservation agriculture systems in California. Founding signatories, including CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, gathered on May 5 to launch the network with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): the California Farm Bureau Federation, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the California Association …

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Posted in Conservation, Environment, Healthy soils | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Soil Health Institute releases action plan – from Agri Pulse

May 22, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

By Steve Davies, Agri Pulse Farmers and ranchers need better tools to measure and understand the value of soil health, the Soil Health Institute said in a sweeping action plan released recently. “Enriching Soil, Enhancing Life” lays out a series of goals along with accompanying “data gaps” that need to be addressed with research. Among the more ambitious objectives: development …

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California and Israel to co-host forum on Water and Agriculture Policy – May 25th in Sacramento

May 3, 2017   Office of Public Affairs

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will co-host a joint forum on shared issues related to water and agriculture. The forum will bring together Israeli and Californian government officials and researchers to address water/agriculture related issues while also exploring opportunities for future innovation. The forum will be held on …

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

California and Australia – a continuing partnership

March 30, 2017   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Our visit to Australia was another step in furthering California’s commitment on climate smart agriculture. The trip not only allowed us the opportunity to meet with government officials and academia, but also to see on-farm adaptations related to water management in citrus, nut and grape production.  Australia is a perfect climate analog for California. The landscape, temperature and farming operations …

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Posted in Climate Smart Agriculture, Healthy soils, Specialty Crops | 1 Comment

Moving the Needle on Nitrogen Fertilizer Management in California Agriculture

August 12, 2016   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

California Department of Food and Agriculture invests in crop-specific research, training for farmers and crop advisors, and development of best practices for nitrogen use. By Karen Ross, CDFA Secretary As young students we are taught that water, sunshine, seed and soil are the building blocks of agriculture. Scientists and farmers alike have come to embrace the basic and vital importance of …

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Posted in Environment, Fertilizer, Healthy soils | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Video: Earth Day @ CDFA

April 22, 2016   Jay Van Rein, CDFA Office of Public Affairs

Happy Earth Day from CDFA! This video provides a brief look at just a few of the programs and projects at the California Department of Food and Agriculture that help farmers protect the environment. From healthy soils and dairy digesters to alternative fuels and beneficial bugs, we are working toward a future when every day is Earth Day.

Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Fertilizer, Healthy soils, Hydrogen, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Invasive Species, Measurement Standards | Tagged | 1 Comment