Blog posts by Guest Blogger
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, December 16, 2019
California Food Producers’ Starting a Specialty Food Business Course will cover the basics of product development, food safety, processing options, marketing, and cost analysis. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with university and industry specialists to learn the fundamentals of how to create a successful specialty food business. Participants will receive a course manual, USB flash drive with additional resources, and a certificate of completion from the University of California, Davis department of food science and technology.
This course is for anyone beginning or…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, December 9, 2019
Developing and implementing food safety plans (required under the Food Safety Modernization Act) can be challenging. Knowledge related to the overall food quality assurance system can enhance the development and implementation of food safety plans by food processors. The goal of this webinar series is to connect concepts and components of food quality assurance programs to food safety. The webinars will be hosted live by Dr. Linda J. Harris, Dr. Erin DiCaprio, and Dr. Luxin Wang from the department of food science and technology at the University of California, Davis.
Four webinars will be…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, December 2, 2019
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail letters with survey codes this December to more than 22,000 U.S. producers involved in certified or transitioning to certified organic farming for the 2019 Organic Survey. Each producer who self-reported organic farming in the 2017 Census of Agriculture will receive a unique survey code to respond conveniently online and to be represented in this very important, once-every-five-year data.
"The latest Census of Agriculture results show continued interest in organic agriculture among consumers, producers, and businesses,” said…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, November 25, 2019
Since the 2018 Farm Bill made industrial hemp legal, there has been a lot of excitement about the growing hemp marketplace. Hemp is an incredibly sustainable crop that builds soil, requires little to no pesticides, and only requires about a third of the water that is used to grow corn. The right varieties of hemp can even offer producers two harvests from one crop—the seed can be processed for oil, and the fiber can be used for textiles and manufacturing. Hemp has the potential to provide a lot of opportunities for growers, processors, the economy, and the environment.
Learn more at the…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, November 18, 2019
Healthy soils are key to organic farming and reducing soil disturbance is a cornerstone to improving soil health. No-till methods have spread to vegetable production on some small farms, but how can larger acreage be farmed to minimize soil disturbance?
A workshop on December 6 in Watsonville will highlight the conservation low-tillage methods and equipment developed by Israel Morales, voted Organic Farmer of the Year by the Organic Trade Association. Not only does reduced tillage improve soil health, it also saves time between crops, reduces fuel costs, and saves on labor.
The…
Written by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, growers using a treated Biological Soil Amendment of Animal Origin (BSAAO), such as compost, are required to keep documentation that the amendment was properly treated, handled, and stored before being applied to a produce field. This documentation is especially important as growers prepare for FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance and inspections. Though FDA does not have jurisdiction over companies that supply treated BSAAOs, suppliers should be prepared to provide this documentation to growers as needed. This factsheet…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, November 4, 2019
Rabo AgriFinance has announced a new loan product that can make it more financially viable for farmers to seek organic certification on all or part of their crop operations.
With guidance from Pipeline Foods, Rabo AgriFinance has developed a financial framework that gives farmers the flexibility to receive the capital needed for upfront costs associated with changing production practices. Farmers can schedule repayments when they receive the additional revenue from selling certified organic goods.
The USDA requires a three-year transition period for farmers to certify their land as organic…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, November 4, 2019
The Organic Trade Association asked the United States District Court to rule in its favor on its organic livestock welfare lawsuit against the USDA. In its motion for summary judgment, the trade association stated that USDA acted in an unlawful, arbitrary, and capricious way when it killed new organic livestock standards centered around improving animal care and welfare.
The Organic Trade Association argued USDA’s blocking of the implementation and rescission of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) rule in 2018 were actions plainly in excess of lawful authority and, if not…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, October 28, 2019
Although local food producers are broadly committed to food safety on their operations, there are still some barriers to implementing food safety best practices, according to a needs assessment report released today by National Farmers Union Foundation’s Local Food Safety Collaborative (LFSC) and Cornell University.
The publication is the result of a multi-year, two-tiered effort. It includes findings from a needs assessment survey, which was designed to determine the food safety practices, knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and needs of local producers, with a particular focus on food…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, October 28, 2019
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP), a competitive grant program that incentivizes farmers to invest in irrigation water and energy efficiency. Agricultural operations can apply for up to $100,000 for projects that involve improvements to irrigation systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save water. Projects funded through SWEEP commonly include elements such as soil, plant, or weather sensors; micro-irrigation systems; pump retrofits or replacements; renewable energy; and…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, September 23, 2019
As in past years, Dr. Brian Hogg at USDA’s Western Regional Research Center in Albany, California, is seeking research sites for bagrada bug research, and is interested to hear about bagrada bug infestations anywhere in California.
This is the time of year when bagrada bug populations usually start increasing in cole crop fields. High numbers may also be found on weeds, especially shortpod mustard and perennial pepperweed.
Any cole crop fields or weed patches that are infested with bagrada bug would work for our purposes. Time constraints prevent us from visiting sites more than four…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, September 23, 2019
Who: The Sierra Fund warmly invites community members and the interested public to join us alongside multidisciplinary technical experts and creatives for an evening of art at the nexus of science as we work to address legacy impacts of the California Gold Rush.
What: Evening art reception to launch the fifth biannual Reclaiming the Sierra (RTS) Conference being convened by The Sierra Fund. RTS 2019: Headwater Mercury Source Reduction is a conference to catalyze action around a regional strategy to abate the impacts of mercury from the Sierra to the sea.
Why: The 19th century Gold Rush…
Written by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, September 3, 2019
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting grant applications for its Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program (BIFS) and its Proactive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Solutions Program, administered by the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis.
Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program Grants
The goal of BIFS is to fund on-farm demonstration and evaluation of innovative biologically-based farming systems that employ IPM strategies.
CDFA is responsible for supporting agricultural production in California by fostering innovative,…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, August 12, 2019
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing that starting next week, 8,000 “small” and “very small” produce farms throughout California are being mailed educational letters about their roles in upholding the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), passed in 2011 to help prevent foodborne illness outbreaks. Accompanying the letters are questionnaires to be returned to the CDFA by August 31 in order to verify commodities grown, determine whether annual sales qualify farms for a PSR exemption, and to help prioritize future…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, July 29, 2019
The first of six educational sessions at the third annual Organic Grower Summit (OGS) features a dive into the changing landscape of food safety on organic farms, and how the industry is complying with the new Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) produce safety rule. The session will explore how FDA produce inspections will be rolled out and the changes affecting the leafy greens industry.
Together, the six educational sessions will include a range of topics designed to inform and engage organic growers, farmers and producers, and their service and supply chain partners. Farm soil…