…by all three sectors, environmental use is not dominant (33%, compared to 53% agricultural and 14% urban). Agricultural water use is holding steady even while the economic value of farm…
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Provides Six-Month Update on Farm Bill Implementation Progress
…organic certification cost-share assistance, making certification more accessible than ever for small certified producers and handlers. Whole-Farm Revenue Protection: On May 21, USDA announced Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, which will provide…
Counties Busy with Drought Meetings
…as others in that state. Added storage is needed but if the extra water stored can’t get through the environmental standards, the money spent on those projects could be wasted….
Almond Board: BMP Guide for Bee Health
…industry guide for best management practices for bee health. Almond Board Specialist for Environmental Affairs, Danielle Veenstra tells us more about it. She says there are two parts to the…
Recapping the 2014 California State Fair by the Numbers
…from The Farm. 14,400 children completed the passport program at The Farm. 2.5 tons of whole wheat flour, 1,000 lbs. of cream cheese and 1 ton of cinnamon sugar were…
Dairy Industry Finding New Sustainability Practices
The dairy industry continues to look for more ways to conserve resources and lessen their environmental footprint. AgNet West’s Taylor Hillman has the story. Dairy Industry Finding New Sustainability Practices…
CDFA benefits from new training initiative that helps State improve efficiency, cut red tape
…of Measurement Standards environmental scientist Kevin Schnepp, and Division of Measurement Standards director Kristin Macey. One of my priorities as secretary is process improvement, looking at all CDFA operations for…
Weird Al video demonstrates creativity, versatility of CDFA IT programming staff
…as is a recent feature story about Jarret in the Sacramento Bee. In a nod to the agency that we appreciate, the video segment includes a “Care-O-Meter” that was certified…
Global Food Safety Agreement Signed by China and UC Davis
…and livestock, and environmental chemicals. Additionally, the campus hosts the BGI@UC Davis Partnership, which focuses on genome sequencing, and the Confucius Institute, a cultural outreach program emphasizing food and beverages….
USDA Selects 36 Energy Facilities to Accept Biomass Deliveries
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has selected 36 energy facilities in 14 states to accept biomass deliveries supported by the Biomass Crop…
USDA Provides Aid to 73,000 Rural Californians Impacted by Drought
…with the hardships it has caused, including: Designated 57 counties as disaster areas, making farmers and ranchers eligible for emergency loans. Targeted $25 million from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program…
Almond Board: Be Aware of Dust During Harvest
The Almond Board this week is reminding growers to be aware of the dust caused by normal harvesting procedures. Reduce Dust During Almond Harvest Almond Board’s Associate Director, Environmental Affairs…
Research Projects to Improve Plant Feedstocks for Bioenergy Production
…programs to improve plant feedstocks for the production of biofuels, biopower, and biobased products. The investment is part of the Obama Administration’s broader effort to diversify the nation’s energy portfolio…
Innovation Allows Livestock Producers and Rice Farmers to Solve Each Other’s Problems
UC Cooperative Extension advisor Glenn Nader believes two problems could add up to one win-win solution. The California drought has ranchers desperate for inexpensive livestock feed. Air quality protection regulations…
