California Department of Food and Agriculture

CDFA News

CDFA Accepting Applications for Grants to Provide Workshops and Technical Assistance for Farmers Participating in the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP)

SACRAMENTO, January 13, 2017 — CDFA will begin accepting applications today from non-profit organizations, California academic institutions and California Resource Conservation Districts for grant funds....

Soil Health Summit at CDFA Headquarters on Wednesday, January 11

SACRAMENTO, January 9, 2017 — On Wednesday, January 11, the California Department of Food and Agriculture will partner with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service for a summit meeting: “Building Partnerships on Healthy Soil”....

CDFA Awards More Than $250,000 to Support Agricultural Education Through the California Agriculural License Plate Program

SACRAMENTO, January 4, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture has awarded $257,000 to four organizations for projects that enhance agricultural education and leadership opportunities for students, teachers and youth under the 2016 California Special Interest Plate (CalAgPlate) grant program....

CDFA and USDA to Host Joint Summit on Healthy Soils

SACRAMENTO, December 21, 2016 — The public is invited to a Soils Summit hosted by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) on healthy soil and climate smart agriculture. The meeting provides an opportunity to explore roles and collaborative opportunities for managing California soils while reducing greenhouse gases....

CDFA Accepting Concept Proposals for 2017 Fertilizer Research and Education Program Grants

SACRAMENTO, December 16, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is currently accepting concept proposals for the 2017 grant cycle. FREP’s competitive grant program funds research that advances the agronomic and environmental performance of fertilizing materials....

California Department of Food and Agriculture Announces Vacancy on the Nursery Advisory Board

SACRAMENTO, December 12, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Pest Exclusion Branch is announcing six vacancies 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....

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Shell Egg Advisory Committee

SACRAMENTO, December 12, 2016 — The Egg Safety and Quality Management (ESQM) Program monitors egg quality and food safety standards at production, wholesale, and retail levels. The goal is to provide California consumers with eggs that are wholesome, properly labeled, refrigerated, and of established quality, while maintaining fair and equitable marketing standards in the California egg industry....

Mediterranean Fruit Fly Quarantine Near Panorama City

SACRAMENTO, December 2, 2016 — A portion of Los Angeles County has a Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine following the detection of nine flies and three larvae in the Panorama City-area. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are working collaboratively to address the issue....

CDFA Announces Vacancy on the Beet Curly Top Virus Control Program Advisory Board

SACRAMENTO, December 1, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Integrated Pest Control Branch is announcing one vacancy on the Beet Curly Top Virus Control Board....

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Feed Inspection Advisory Board

SACRAMENTO, December 1, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing three vacancies on the Feed Inspection Advisory Board (FIAB). The board makes regulatory and enforcement recommendations to the department to help ensure that commercial feed inspections contribute to a clean and wholesome supply of milk and meat....

CDFA’S State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) Awards Funding to 167 Projects Totaling Nearly $22 Million

SACRAMENTO, November 28, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has selected 167 projects, totaling $22 million, to receive grants from the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP)....

Public Listening Sessions Scheduled to Discuss CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program

SACRAMENTO, November 7, 2016 — Three public stakeholder listening sessions and one webinar are scheduled during November 2016 to discuss the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP). These listening sessions are designed to obtain input from a wide group of stakeholders including but not limited to dairy farmers, project developers, environmental advocates....

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Shell Egg Advisory Committee

SACRAMENTO, October 21, 2016 — CDFA's Egg Safety and Quality Management (ESQM) program is announcing two vacancies on the Shell Egg Advisory Committee (SEAC). The committee makes recommendations to the secretary of CDFA on all matters pertaining to quality standards for shell eggs, uniformity of inspection, adjustment of fees for administration and enforcement, and the annual budget...

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Livestock Identification Advisory Board

SACRAMENTO, October 21, 2016 — CDFA's Bureau of Livestock Identification is announcing vacancies on the Livestock Identification Advisory Board (LIAB). According to Food and Agriculture Code 20469, the LIAB makes recommendations to the Secretary relative to improvements and changes in the administration and enforcement of the hide and brand laws and regulations...

CDFA Announces Vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee

SACRAMENTO, October 21, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing one vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee...

California Agriculture Leads Nation in Funding for Specialty Crops

SACRAMENTO, October 18, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced funding for the 2016 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). California received more than $22.3 million out of approximately $62.6 million awarded nationwide.
The SCBGP provides grants to state departments of agriculture to fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. ...

Asian Citrus Psyllid Quarantine in Portion of Placer County

SACRAMENTO, October 17, 2016 — A portion of Placer County has been placed under quarantine for Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) following the detection of multiple life stages on citrus trees within the City of Lincoln.
The quarantine zone in Placer County measures 118 square miles, bordered on the north by Riosa Road; on the south by the Roseville City Limit; on the west by Brewer Road; and on the east by Fowler Road....

Fertilizer Research Conference to be Held in Modesto, October 26-27, 2016

SACRAMENTO, October 14, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and the Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) are hosting their 24th annual fertilizer research conference on October 26-27, 2016 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Modesto, California....

Technical Review Committee Members Wanted for 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

SACRAMENTO, October 13, 2016 — California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross is welcoming volunteers with knowledge and expertise regarding California’s specialty crop industry to serve as reviewers on the 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Technical Review Committee....

CDFA Now Accepting Proposals for 2017 Specialty Crop Grants

SACRAMENTO, October 5, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting proposals for the 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Each year, CDFA conducts a two-phase competitive solicitation process to award funds to projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops....

Draft Flow Objectives for the Lower San Joaquin River and Implementation of the Food Safety Act to be Discussed at the Upcoming State Board of Food and Agriculture Meeting

SACRAMENTO, September 29, 2016 — The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss the draft flow objectives for the lower San Joaquin River recently announced by the State Water Resources Control Board....

CDFA Announces Funding for the 2016 “CalAgPlate” Grant Program

SACRAMENTO, September 19, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture is currently accepting proposals for the 2016 California Agriculture Special Interest License Plate (CalAgPlate) grant program. This program makes available an estimated $257,000 in grant funding to promote agricultural education and leadership activities for students at the K-12, post-secondary, and adult education levels....

Request for Proposals for the California Nutrition Incentive Grant Program

SACRAMENTO, September 15, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork is currently accepting proposals for the 2017 California Nutrition Incentive Program. The program was established by Assembly Bill 1321 (Chapter 442, Statutes of 2015) to encourage the purchase and consumption of healthy, California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables by CalFresh recipients....

CDFA & DWR Request Comments on $6 Million in Available Funding for Agricultural Water Use Efficiency Pilot Programs

SACRAMENTO, September 1, 2016 — The California Department of Water Resources and the California Department of Food and Agriculture have released a DRAFT Request for Proposals (RFP) for a 30–day comment period concerning a joint application process....

California State Board of Food and Agriculture to Discuss Rural Issues at Upcoming Meeting on September 6th

SACRAMENTO, August 30, 2016 — The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will be addressing issues impacting rural areas at its upcoming meeting on September 6th in Sacramento. The meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture – Main Auditorium, 1220 N Sacramento, CA 95814....

CDFA Announces Public Scoping Workshops and Comment Period for Medical Cannabis Cultivation Program

SACRAMENTO, August 29, 2016 — The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) is developing regulations to establish cannabis cultivation licensing and a track and trace system, collectively referred to as the Medical Cannabis Cultivation Program (MCCP)....

Announcement of Vacancy on the Rendering Industry Advisory Board

SACRAMENTO, August 25, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch (MPES) announces two vacancies on the Rendering Industry Advisory Board (RIAB). RIAB makes recommendations to CDFA’s Secretary on all matters pertaining to the MPES Rendering Program....

European Grapevine Moth Eradicated from California

SACRAMENTO, August 18, 2016 — Agricultural officials from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in cooperation with county agricultural commissioners, have declared the European grapevine moth (EGVM) eradicated from California and have lifted quarantine restrictions....

CDFA Announces Availability of Fertilizer Research and Education Grant Funding

SACRAMENTO, August 10, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is currently accepting proposals for a 2016 special grant program for fertilizer research and education. This competitive grant program funds research that advances the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use of fertilizing materials....

California Regains its “Accredited-Free” Status for Bovine Tuberculosis

SACRAMENTO, August 10, 2016 — California has regained its â€œ“accredited-free” status for bovine tuberculosis (TB), allowing cattle and bison to move to other states without the federal requirement of TB testing. The upgraded status is a result of several years of testing and related biosecurity efforts following the detection of the disease in five dairy herds dating between 2008 and 2013. These herds have all been declared free of the disease....

Medical Cannabis and GMO Labeling to be Discussed at August 2 Meeting of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture

SACRAMENTO, July 28, 2016 — The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will hold a discussion on the state’s regulatory and licensing framework for medical cannabis on August 2 in Sacramento. The board will also be discussing GMO labeling following the recent passage of federal legislation....

Asian Citrus Psyllid Quarantines in Merced and Monterey Counties

SACRAMENTO, July 13, 2016 — Quarantines are now in place in both Merced and Monterey Counties due to recent Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) detections. One ACP was detected near the City of Merced in Merced County and two ACP in one trap within the City of Salinas in Monterey County....

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board

SACRAMENTO, July 5, 2016 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing three vacancies on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board. The board advises the secretary on the department’s Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, which works to ensure that consumers receive fertilizing materials that are safe, effective, and meet the quality guaranteed by the manufacturer....