California Ag Network

Tag: CDFA

  • CDFA to Receive $14.8 million in Farm Bill Funding for Pest Projects

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 27, 2018) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating $14.8 million to California from Section 10007 of the 2014 Farm Bill as part of its effort to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, and threat mitigation, and to safeguard the nursery production system. Overall, USDA is providing nearly $70 million in funding this year that will support 494 projects across the country.

    “We are pleased to partner with California to provide critical Farm Bill funds that will put innovative ideas into action and help us overcome our shared invasive pest and disease challenges,” said USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach. “California is a critical partner in protecting U.S. agriculture. These projects will enable California to protect its own resources, and, in doing so, contribute to USDA’s mission of keeping our nation’s agriculture economy healthy and strong.”

    These funds will support projects covering a range of plant health and pest mitigation activities, including the following:

    • $4.3 million to survey for harmful exotic fruit fly populations in the State;
    • $3.5 million to support the activities of California’s agricultural detector dog teamssearching for harmful, exotic plant pests in packages at mail and express parcel delivery facilities;
    • $1.8 million to support National Clean Plant Network foundation plant stocks for citrus, grapes, fruit trees, sweet potato, and roses;
    • $1.7 million to support California’s Emergency Plant Health Response Teams for responding to, delimiting the infestation area, and managing outbreaks of exotic plant pests;
    • $1.3 million for survey activities for plant pests such as Asian defoliator moths, Khapra beetle, and pests harmful to citrus, stone fruit, and palm commodities;
    • $1.1 million to develop or enhance plant pest and disease diagnostic and identification technologies for exotic fruit flies, cyst forming nematodes, downy mildew, and others;
    • $740,000 to develop best management practices for pest and disease mitigation at ornamental nurseries;
    • $260,000 to identify and use predatory insects as biological control tools for the insect pests Bagrada bug and shot hole borer;
    • $80,000 to support improvement of Varroa mite resistant commercial honey bee stocks; and
    • $9,000 for the development of molecular tools for the detection of gall forming nematodes in the family Anguinidae.

    USDA has provided approximately $263 million in Section 10007 funds to support more than 2,200 projects since the 2014 Farm Bill was enacted. Collectively, these projects continue to bolster our country’s safeguarding system while allowing USDA and its partners to quickly detect and rapidly respond to invasive pests and diseases. You can view the FY 2018 spending plans on the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/farmbill.

    APHIS created the Hungry Pests public outreach program to empower Americans with the knowledge they need to leave these “hungry pests” behind. Visit www.aphis.usda.gov/pestsdiseases/hungrypests to learn more about invasive plant pests and diseases impacting your area and how you can help.

  • CDFA Announces Vacancy on the Nursery Advisory Board

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 26, 2018) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Pest Exclusion Branch is announcing one mid-term vacancy on the Nursery Advisory Board.  The Board is composed of twelve voting members, each representing an establishment with a valid California License to Sell Nursery Stock.  No two members shall represent the same organization.  Members will represent a wide spectrum of the nursery industry, and the Board will be geographically representative of the nursery industry in California.

    The term of office for Board Members is four years. This position is a mid-term appointment and the term ends on January 31, 2021. Members typically meet twice per year but can meet more frequently if needed.  The members receive no compensation but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources.

    In addition, the Board includes eight non-voting ex officio members from the County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealers Association, the University of California, and groups affiliated with the nursery industry.

    The mission of the Nursery Advisory Board is to grow and maintain a strong relationship between CDFA and the nursery industry in order to secure the industry’s future.  The Board facilitates communication between state and federal regulators and the nursery industry, and it advises CDFA’s Nursery Services Program on policies, fees, and other issues concerning nurseries and nursery stock.

    Individuals interested in being considered for this Board appointment should send a brief résumé to Erin Lovig, Board Manager, by April 30, 2018 at:

    California Department of Food and Agriculture
    Pest Exclusion Branch
    1220 N Street, Room 344
    Sacramento, CA 95814
    Attention: Erin Lovig

    For additional information, you may contact the Nursery Services Program at (916) 654-0435.

  • CDFA Accepting Proposals For Small Dairy Research

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 12, 2018) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting proposals to address small dairy climate change research.

    Supported by a $250,000 allocation from the Budget Act of 2017, these grants will fund research proposals that evaluate how small dairies differ from large dairies in adapting and mitigating to climate change. The proposals will also help identify cost effective strategies to reduce methane from smaller dairies.

    Eligible applicants include California academic institutions, nonprofits and out-of-state groups collaborating with California-based scientists and organizations.

    Applicants are invited to submit grant proposals requesting up to $250,000 electronically to cdfa.oefi@cdfa.ca.gov no later than Friday, April 16, 2018 at 5 p.m. PDT.

    The 2018 Small Dairy Climate Change Research Request for Proposals contains detailed instructions, including: eligibility requirements, timelines, scoring criteria and research priorities. Interested parties can access this information at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/research/.

    Contact: Steve Lyle, Director of Public Affairs, California Department of Food and Agriculture – 916-654-0462

  • CDFA Announces Grant Funding Available For Healthy Soils Program

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 9, 2018) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for the Healthy Soils Program (HSP). The program provides funding for incentivizing and demonstrating soil health practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gases, and improve soil health.

    The HSP has two components: the HSP Incentives Program and the HSP Demonstration Projects.

    The HSP Incentives Program provides financial assistance for implementation of soil health practices that sequester soil carbon and reduce GHG emissions. California farmers and ranchers, as well as Federal and California recognized Native American Indian Tribes, are eligible to apply.

    The HSP Demonstration Projects showcase California farmers’ and ranchers’ implementation of HSP soil health practices. By using demonstration projects, awardees can help support widespread adoption of soil health management practices throughout the state.  Not-for-profit entities, University Cooperative Extension, federal and university experiment stations, Resource Conservation Districts, Federal and California-recognized Native American Indian Tribes, and farmers and ranchers in collaboration with any of the aforementioned entities are eligible to apply.

    A total of up to $1.6 million will be awarded for the projects, with no more than $500,000 allocated specifically for HSP Demonstration projects.

    This grant process may prioritize funding to agricultural lands in counties where a state of emergency was declared in 2017 due to wildfires under executive orders signed by Governor Edmond G. Brown, Jr. These counties include: Butte, Lake, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Ventura and Yuba.

    Applications and all supporting information must be submitted electronically by April 13, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. PDT. Awards will be made based on a first-come-first-served basis and will be subject to administrative and technical reviews prior to being funded.

    For detailed information on eligibility and program requirements, prospective applicants should visit the CDFA Healthy Soils Program website at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/.

    CDFA will hold two workshops and two webinars to provide information on program requirements and the application process (see below). CDFA staff will provide guidance on the application process, provide examples, and answer any questions. There is no cost to attend the workshops. Individuals planning to attend should email grants@cdfa.ca.gov with his or her contact information, the number of seats required, and the workshop location.

    Orange County – Tuesday, March 13, 2018
    1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – HSP Incentives Program
    2.30 pm – 4:00 pm – HSP Demonstration Projects
    OC Fair and Event Center – Board Room
    88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

    Yuba City – Friday, March 16, 2018
    9:00 am – 10:30 am – HSP Incentives Program
    10:30 am – 12:00 pm – HSP Demonstration Projects
    University of California Cooperative Extension Sutter/Yuba
    142 Garden Highway
    Yuba City, CA 95991

    Webinar – Monday, March 19, 2018
    9:00 am – 10:30 am – HSP Incentives Program
    10:30 am – 12:00 pm – HSP Demonstration Projects

    Webinar – Wednesday, March 21, 2018
    9:00 am – 10:30 am – HSP Incentives Program
    10:30 am – 12:00 pm – HSP Demonstration Projects

    To register for the webinars, please visit the program webpage at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/.

    Prospective applicants may contact CDFA’s Grants Office at grants@cdfa.ca.gov with general program questions. For information regarding free-of-charge technical assistance provided by non-profit organizations, Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs), and California academic institutions, applicants should refer to www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils.

    NOTE – The HSP is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.  The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.  California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more.  At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California.  For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at:  www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.

  • CDFA Now Accepting Applications For Alternative Manure Management Program Technical Assistance Grants

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 8, 2018) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is now accepting grant applications from non-profits, universities, and California Resource Conservation Districts that will offer technical assistance to farmers and ranchers interested in applying to the state’s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP).

    “These grants dollars will help fund workshops and other assistance in the application process, making it easier for our dairy and livestock operators to successfully apply to
    AMMP and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their operations,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.

    Applicants may apply for funding up to $10,000 and must meet several requirements, including: one-on-one application assistance, technical assistance, and internet access for application submission.

    Detailed information on funding, eligibility and program requirements can be found at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/AMMP/.

    Applications must be submitted by email no later than March 14, 2018, 5:00 p.m. PDT. Grants will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis.

    The AMMP is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap and Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.  The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.  California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more.  At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California.  For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at:  www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.

  • CDFA Announces Vacancies On The Avocado Inspection Advisory Committee

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 8, 2018) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing two vacancies on the Avocado Inspection Advisory Committee (AIC). This committee makes recommendations to the CDFA secretary on all matters pertaining to the California Avocado Inspection Program.

    This program ensures that avocados purchased by consumers have met standards established by the industry to provide a quality product in the marketplace. The California Avocado Inspection Program protects consumers and growers by providing uniform inspections of avocados, ensuring that the product meets size requirements and contains minimal defects.

    The AIC vacancies are for active handlers of avocados. The term of office is up to two years. Members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources.

    Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment should complete a Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire, available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/i_&_c/pdfs/CAIC-PMAQ.pdf, and attain a letter of recommendation from industry. Nominations will be accepted until the positions are filled. Applications should be sent to Thomas Osborn, CDFA Inspection and Compliance Branch, 1220 ‘N’ Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or via e-mail to thomas.osborn@cdfa.ca.gov.

    For further information on the AIC and vacancies, please contact Sam Santander at (760) 743-4712 orSamuel.santander@cdfa.ca.gov.

  • CDFA Now Accepting Applications For Healthy Soils Program Technical Assistance Grants

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 5, 2018) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is now accepting grant applications from non-profits, universities and California Resource Conservation Districts (RCD) offering technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who are interested in applying to the state’s Healthy Soils Program (HSP).

    “If we are to meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals and improve the health of California’s soil, we must do everything we can to help our farmers and ranchers apply to our programs,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Leveraging our partnerships with the academic community, non-profits and RCDs is key in getting more individuals to apply.”

    Applicants may apply for funding up to $5,000 and must meet several requirements, including: one-on-one application assistance, technical assistance and internet access for application submission.

    Detailed information on funding, eligibility and program requirements can be found at:www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/IncentivesProgram.html
    Applications must be submitted by email no later than March 9, 2018 5:00 p.m. PST. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

    The HSP is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap and Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.  California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more.  At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California.  For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.

  • How Dairy Farmers Are Helping Us Meet Our Climate Goals

    by Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

    Sacramento, Calif., (February 22, 2018) – Each time I drive through California’s Central Valley I am in awe of how much food it produces. The Valley is responsible for almost 10 percent of the country’s agriculture value and is home to many of California’s most productive dairies. In fact, 90 percent of California’s milk is produced in eight counties – all located in the center of our great state. California is the country’s number-one milk producer and our dairy farmers work diligently to provide the highest quality milk for America’s families.

    A great many of these dairies are family run. They have been passed from one generation to the next and have become a staple of the Valley’s landscape. But along with milk, Central Valley dairy farmers are increasingly producing something they never have before – renewable energy – and are doing it using manure from cows.

    Earlier this month I joined hundreds of dairy farmers, industry representatives, public officials and academics for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Lakeview Dairy Digester and two other digester facilities in Kern County.  The mood was electric (although that might have been the electricity buzzing through the digester system!)

    As I spoke with our partners who helped make this project a reality, I could not help but appreciate a genuine synergy.  When we were developing the Dairy Digester Research and Development and Program that helped fund the project, we knew that sister agencies like the California Energy Commission, the Air Resources Board, and the California Public Utilities Commission as well as private partners like California Bio Energy would be integral in bringing these projects to life and having them stay operational for many years to come. It was refreshing and energizing to see dairy families working with public and private partners to create something that produces benefits for all Californians.

    Digesters work by capturing methane released by manure in covered lagoons. The captured methane is then broken down in a high-efficiency generator, where it produces renewable electricity. By using this system, the Lakeview Dairy Project is expected to cut methane emissions by approximately 75 percent and produce 6.7 million kWh of electricity annually – enough to power 757 homes for one year!

    Along with energy production, these three projects will collectively reduce an estimated 503,990 metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent over 10 years, which is equal to taking 107,921 passenger vehicles off the road. In total, the 24 projects supported by the DDRDP will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent.

    The Lakeview project also serves as an excellent example of California’s innovative “hub and spoke” model for meeting our low carbon fuel standards, reducing emissions, and upgrading California’s transportation infrastructure. The concept is simple. One centrally located operation (the hub – in this case Lakeview) collects raw dairy biogas through low pressure PVC pipelines (spokes), from a group of existing dairies. The hub then serves as focal point for cleaning, conditioning and upgrading the gas to be used as fuel for transportation.  Not only does this model significantly reduce construction costs and environmental impacts, but also demonstrates how cooperation and collective action helps us modernize transportation to meet our climate goals.

    I am particularly proud of the environmental rigor in these projects. These digesters have met the strictest water and air quality requirements by double-lining their lagoons to meet the San Joaquin Valley’s strict NOx air quality limits and ensure protection of groundwater from nitrates. These technologies also help reduce odors and reduce overall dairy operating costs.

    It was heartening to hear the experience of Cal Bio Energy’s management team explain their appreciation and positive experience in meeting the new requirement for community outreach. According to them, this turned into a great opportunity to understand any existing concerns, answer questions, and explain to employees, neighbors and other local community stakeholders how the project operates.

    I want to applaud the leadership of all the parties involved in making these projects possible. Achieving our ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals will require cooperation between industry, government agencies and the public.  To quote Governor Jerry Brown, “Taking significant amounts of carbon out of our economy without harming its vibrancy is exactly the sort of challenge at which California excels.”

  • CDFA Among Participants At World Ag Expo

    Tulare, Calif. (February 12, 2018) – The 2018 World Ag Expo is scheduled for next week in Tulare (Feb 13-15), and several divisions at CDFA will be participating.

    On Wednesday, February 14, deputy secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt will join a panel to discuss the 2018 federal Farm Bill alongside participants from the USDA, the University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the California Farm Bureau Federation.

    The next day, Feb 15, a CDFA veternarian, Dr. Rosie Busch, will lead a presentation on microbial use in livestock in the wake of a new law that went into effect on January 1.  The law requires that all antibiotics for use in livestock must be under veterinary direction. The law also requires a veterinarian’s prescription for the sale of all antibiotics, prohibits the use of antibiotics for growth promotion, and limits the circumstances in which antibiotics can be used for disease prevention.

    The California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee will staff a booth at the Ag Expo to provide information about the Asian citrus psyllid, huanglongbing and other issues important to the citrus industry. CDFA collaborates with citrus growers on the committee.

    CDFA’s Inspection Services division will staff another booth to provide information about certified farmers’ markets, the State Organic Program, and the Food Safety and Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule.

    Visit this page for more information about CDFA’s booths.

    This will be the 51st annual World Ag Expo. Last year’s Expo hosted 105,780 attendees representing 43 states and 71 countries. This year there will be more than 1,500 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment across 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space.

     

  • California Department of Food and Agriculture Awards $9.64 Million for Alternative Manure Management Projects

    Sacramento, Calif., (February 5, 2018) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has awarded $9.64 million in grant funding to 17 alternative manure management projects across the state. These projects, part of the Alternative Manure Management Program, or AMMP, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on California dairy farms and livestock operations by using manure management practices that are alternatives to dairy digesters (i.e. non-digester projects).

    When livestock manure decomposes in wet conditions, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Changing manure management practices so that manure is handled in a dry form can help significantly reduce methane emissions. These reductions contribute to the state’s overall short-lived climate pollutant strategy under Senate Bill 1383, which aims to reduce California’s methane emissions to 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030.

    “California dairy farmers are leading the way in proactively addressing greenhouse gas emissions” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “I am excited to see both the diversity of farms and the variety of non-digester manure management practices being adopted through these projects that will help meet the state’s climate goals.”

    Financial assistance for the implementation of non-digester practices comes from California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that uses Cap-and-Trade program funds to support the state’s climate goals. CDFA and other state agencies are investing these proceeds in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide additional benefits to California communities. AMMP grant recipients will provide an estimated $2.7 million in matching funds for the development of their projects.

    Information about the 2017 Alternative Manure Management Program projects is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/AMMP/ .

    The Alternative Manure Management Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap and Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.  The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.  California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more.  At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California.  For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at:  www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.