California Department of Food and Agriculture

CDFA News

CDFA Healthy Soils Program Awards $5.23 Million in Grants

SACRAMENTO, December 5, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has awarded $5.23 million in grant funding to 86 projects as part of its Healthy Soils Program. The program is the first of its kind in the nation, and encourages farmers and ranchers to implement practices that reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases and improve soil health....

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee

SACRAMENTO, December 1, 2017 — CDFA is announcing 18 vacancies on the California Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee (CFMAC). The CFMAC advises the secretary of agriculture on issues related to the direct marketing of agriculture products at certified farmers’ markets....

CDFA Awards Nearly $800,000 to Improve Agricultural Fertilizer Management and Water Quality

SACRAMENTO, December 1, 2017 — CDFA's Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is pleased to announce the award of $800,000 in grant funds to agricultural organizations and universities this year. The grants will fund four projects designed to improve nutrient efficiency and reduce the nitrogen footprint of fertilizer use....

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Shell Egg Advisory Committee

SACRAMENTO, November 30, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Egg Safety and Quality Management (ESQM) program is announcing a vacancy on the Shell Egg Advisory Committee (SEAC). The SEAC makes recommendations to the CDFA secretary on all matters pertaining to quality standards for shell eggs; uniformity of inspection; adjustment of fees for administration and enforcement; and the annual budget....

First Annual California Soils Week to Highlight Connection Between Healthy Soils and Healthy Lives

SACRAMENTO, November 30, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture is joining with government partners, NGOs and private industry to celebrate the inaugural California Soils Week, scheduled to correspond with World Soils Day on December 5, 2017 but also including events in northern and southern California from December 4 to December 7....

CDFA Schedules Training Workshops for Cannabis Cultivators Seeking Information on Applications for Licensing

IMPORTANT NOTE: All of the training workshops are now full. Please see the new APPLICATION TRAINING VIDEOS, which cover the same steps reviewed at the in-person training workshops.

CDFA Releases Final Environmental Impact Report For CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Program

SACRAMENTO, November 13, 2017 — The final program environmental impact report (EIR) for the CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Program has been certified and is available for viewing at cdfa.ca.gov/calcannabis/PEIR.html....

California Department of Food and Agriculture Now Accepting New Proposals on Management Practices for Healthy Soils Program

SACRAMENTO, November 6, 2017 — CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI), in coordination with the agency’s Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel, is now accepting new proposals for soil carbon sequestration management practices for inclusion in its Healthy Soils Program (HSP)....

California State Board of Food and Agriculture to Discuss Wildfire Disaster Assistance and Waterfix at November 7th Meeting

SACRAMENTO, November 2, 2017 — The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will hear about federal and state resources available to communities impacted by the October wildfires in Northern California at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, November 7th....

CDFA Announcies Vacancies on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee

SACRAMENTO, October 31, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing two vacancies on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee. The Committee advises the CDFA Secretary on activities associated with the statewide citrus specific pest and disease work plan that includes, but is not limited to outreach and education programs....

California Department of Food and Agriculture Awards $35.2 Million for Dairy Digester Projects

SACRAMENTO, October 25, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has awarded $35.2 million in grant funding to 18 dairy digester projects across the state. These projects, part of the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from manure on California dairy farms....

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Rendering Industry Advisory Board

SACRAMENTO, October 20, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch (MPES) is announcing two vacancies on the Rendering Industry Advisory Board (RIAB). The RIAB makes recommendations to the CDFA secretary on all matters pertaining to the MPES Rendering Program....

CDFA and DWR Award $4.6 Million to Improve Water Efficiency

SACRAMENTO, October 19, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) have announced the recipients of a joint water efficiency grant. The North San Joaquin Water Conservation District and 19 farm operations within the district will receive $4.6 million to improve water delivery and on-farm water efficiency....

CDFA Extends Proposal Deadline for Specialty Crop Grants

SACRAMENTO, October 11, 2017 — In consideration of those affected by wildfires burning through many parts of California, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has extended the application deadline for the 2018 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Concept proposals must be submitted electronically using the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST) https://faast.waterboards.ca.gov by Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at 5 PM PST....

California Agriculture Leads Nation in Specialty Crop Funding

State receives more than $19 million in federal grant program

SACRAMENTO, October 5, 2017 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced funding for the 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). California received $19.2 million out of approximately $60.6 million awarded nationwide....

Medfly Infestation Triggers Quarantine in Portion of Solano County

SACRAMENTO, October 4, 2017 — A quarantine has been declared due to a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) infestation n Solano County. A total of four adult males and one unmated female have been detected. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Solano County Agricultural Commissioner, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are working collaboratively on this project....

California Department of Food and Agriculture Seeks Bids for Grower Food Safety Training

SACRAMENTO, October 2, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is seeking a contractor to provide food safety training for California produce growers. Interested parties can learn more and submit proposals through a Request for Proposals (RFP) that has been posted by the Department on the Cal eProcure website. Proposals are due October 16, 2017....

State Board of Food and Agriculture to Discuss DACA’s Impact on Farmworker Community at October 3 Meeting

SACRAMENTO, September 28, 2017 — The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will hear perspectives from stakeholders within the agricultural community concerning recent federal changes to immigration policy which will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ....

California’s FREP/WPHA Conference Comes to Modesto on November 1-2, 2017

SACRAMENTO, September 27, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and the Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) are hosting their 25th annual fertilizer research conference at the DoubleTree Hotel in Modesto, California, on November 1 and 2, 2017....

CDFA Announces Extension of Grant Application Deadline for the 2017 Alternative Manure Management Program

SACRAMENTO, September 27, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has extended the grant application deadline for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), from October 2, 2017 to October 16, 2017 at 5 P.M. PDT....

California Receives $500,000 to Boost Small Business Exports

SACRAMENTO, September 21, 2017 — California has received $500,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration to increase export activities among small businesses. The funding, part of the State Trade Export Promotion program, will boost trade in foreign markets, – including China, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Mexico, – and encourage exports of information technologies, food and agricultural products, consumer goods....

CDFA Announces Funding for the 2017 “CalAgPlate” Grant Program

SACRAMENTO, September 19, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture is currently accepting proposals for the 2017 California Agriculture Special Interest License Plate (CalAgPlate) grant program. This program makes available an estimated $260,000 in grant funding to promote agricultural education and leadership activities for students at the K-12, post-secondary, and adult education levels....

Technical Review Committee Members Wanted for 2018 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

SACRAMENTO, September 13, 2017 — 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 2018 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Technical Review Committee....

Medfly Infestation Triggers Quarantine in Portion of Los Angeles County

SACRAMENTO, September 13, 2017 — A quarantine has been declared due to a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) infestation detected in the Sun Valley neighborhood in northern Los Angeles County. Two adult males, nine females, and 55 larvae have been detected....

California Department of Food and Agriculture Now Accepting Proposals for 2018 Specialty Crop Grants

SACRAMENTO, September 12, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting proposals for the 2018 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Each year, CDFA conducts a two-phase competitive solicitation process to award funds to projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops....

CDFA Announces Vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee

SACRAMENTO, September 1, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing one vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee. The Committee advises the CDFA secretary on activities associated with a statewide work plan that includes outreach and education programs; and programs for surveying, detecting, analyzing, and treating pests and diseases specific to citrus....

California State Board of Food and Agriculture to Discuss Farmland Conservation at September 5th Meeting

SACRAMENTO, August 30, 2017 — The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss farmland conservation issues at its upcoming meeting on September 5th in Sacramento. The meeting will be held from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street - Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814....

Quarantine for Citrus Disease Huanglongbing Extends to Portions of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

SACRAMENTO, August 28, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have established a 94-square mile quarantine in portions of Riverside and San Bernardino counties following the detection of the citrus disease huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, in a single citrus tree in the city of Riverside....

CDFA Announces Grant Funding Available for the 2017 Alternative Manure Management Program

SACRAMENTO, August 21, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). CDFA was appropriated $50 million dollars from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, authorized by the Budget Act of 2016, to provide financial assistance for methane emission reductions....

CDFA Reopens Application Submission Period for Grants to Provide Technical Assistance for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)

SACRAMENTO, August 21, 2017 — CDFA has reopened the acceptance period for technical assistance providers to submit applications for financial grants that can be used to provide technical assistance to dairy and livestock operators applying for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)....

Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine Declared in a Portion of Los Angeles County

SACRAMENTO, August 18, 2017 — A portion of Los Angeles County has been placed under quarantine for the Oriental fruit fly following the detection of nine flies in the Hollywood area. The quarantine zone measures 75 square miles. A link to the quarantine map may be found here: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/off/regulation.html....

CDFA Announces Request for Proposals for Phase 2 of the California Nutrition Incentive Grant Program

SACRAMENTO, August 16, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork is currently accepting proposals for the 2018 California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), which was established to encourage the purchase and consumption of healthy, California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables by CalFresh recipients....

CDFA Utilizes California Climate Investment Funds to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions on California Dairies

SACRAMENTO, August 15, 2017 — Representatives from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week at Philip Verwey Farms in Madera to celebrate the installation of an on-farm anaerobic dairy digester. It was made possible by a $2.3 million grant from CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP)....

CDFA Certifies that Lyft, Uber Measurement Systems Accurately Establish Consumer Fares

SACRAMENTO, August 14, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has issued California Type Evaluation Program Certificates of Approval to Lyft, Inc. and Uber USA, LLC. after determining that the companies’ digital systems accurately measure distance and time in establishing costs to consumers....

CDFA Announces Grant Funding Available for Healthy Soils Program in 2017

SACRAMENTO, August 8, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for the Healthy Soils Program (HSP). The program, authorized by the Budget Act of 2016, receives funding from California Climate Investments, with proceeds from the state’s cap-and-trade auctions targeted to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions....

CDFA Receives $3.9 Million to Help Low-Income Families Buy Fruits, Vegetables

SACRAMENTO, August 8, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has received a $3.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help low-income Californians purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at certified farmers’ markets. The Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant will fund the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), which begins this summer....

CDFA Accepting Applications for Grants to Provide Technical Assistance for Dairy and Livestock Operators Participating in the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)

SACRAMENTO, August 7, 2017 — CDFA will begin accepting applications today from non-profit organizations, California academic institutions and California Resource Conservation Districts that provide technical assistance to applicants....

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Shell Egg Advisory Committee

SACRAMENTO, July 26, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Egg Safety and Quality Management (ESQM) program is announcing two vacancies on the Shell Egg Advisory Committee (SEAC). SEAC makes recommendations to the CDFA Secretary on all matters pertaining to quality standards for shell eggs, uniformity of inspection, adjustment of fees for administration, and enforcement, and the annual budget....

Citrus Growers Reaffirm Support for State’s Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program

SACRAMENTO, July 24, 2017 — California growers have affirmed the extension of a cooperative effort in response to the most serious threat to the state’s citrus crops. Years before the discovery of the citrus pest the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in California in 2008 and the subsequent detection in 2012 of Huanglongbing (HLB), the disease spread by the ACP....

CDFA Seeks Public Comment on Cap-and-Trade Funded Alternative Manure Management Program

SACRAMENTO, July 20, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting public comments on Requests for Grant Applications (RGA) for the new Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). CDFA was appropriated $50 million dollars from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, authorized by the Budget Act of 2016....

Announcement of Vacancy on the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory Advisory Board

SACRAMENTO, July 12, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing one vacancy on the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS) Advisory Board. The Board makes recommendations to CDFA and the University of California on matters pertaining to the operations of the CAHFS laboratory system....

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board

SACRAMENTO, July 11, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing three vacancies on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board. The board advises the secretary of food and agriculture on the department’s Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, which ensures fertilizing materials are safe, effective and meet quality guarantees....

CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork the New Lead of the California Farm to School Network

SACRAMENTO, July 10, 2017 — This summer the California Farm to School Network (CFSN) transitions to the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork, making the Office the new Network lead as well as a core partner for the National Farm to School Network....

California Department of Food and Agriculture Now Accepting Proposals for 2017 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program

SACRAMENTO, July 10, 2017 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting proposals for the 2017 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP)....

CDFA Accepting Applications for Grants to Provide Workshops and Technical Assistance for Farmers Participating in the Cap-and-Trade-Funded Healthy Soils Incentives Program

SACRAMENTO, July 7, 2017 — CDFA will begin accepting applications today from non-profit organizations, California academic institutions, and California Resource Conservation Districts for grant funds to provide technical assistance to....

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PEIR: FINAL Statewide Pest Prevention Environmental Impact Report
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CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing

NEW! Emergency California Cannabis Cultivation Licensing Regulations
NEW! Fact Sheet: Emergency Regulations Summary for Cannabis Cultivators
NEW! Final Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
NEW! Prepare Now for Your State Cannabis Cultivation License—A CalCannabis Checklist