The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Center for Analytical Chemistry (CAC) continuously improves processes and encourages staff to innovate new ways of doing things. For example, CAC recently implemented a new data logger system to automate temperature readings of cold storage units. These cold storage units keep samples, chemicals and more in controlled environments because their proper function is essential to the integrity of data that the labs produce.
CAC’s Nucleus Team was instrumental in the shift toward a state-of-the-art continuous temperature monitoring system. Nucleus Team members and technical lead Environmental Scientist Kaitlyn Erickson selected and installed the appropriate software and equipment for the lab upgrade that regularly transmits data to a secure cloud storage. The new system sends alert notifications for out-of-spectrum temperature readings to relevant supervisors, which enables timely appropriate actions to ensure temperature compliance and equipment performance.
CDFA is announcing three vacancies on the Feed Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcommittee.
This subcommittee provides technical and scientific advice to the Feed Inspection Advisory Board and CDFA on animal food nutrition, safety and efficacy data review of new and unapproved feed ingredients, research project oversight and other issues that will affect the Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, the Livestock Drug Program and the Safe Animal Feed Education Program.
Applicants must demonstrate technical, applied and scientific expertise in the fields of toxicology, pathology, ruminant and non-ruminant nutrition, as well as possess general knowledge of the California feed industry.
The term of office for subcommittee members is three years. Members receive no compensation but are entitled to payment of necessary travel expenses. Individuals interested in being considered for appointment should send a resume and a Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire (http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/pdfs/FIAB-TASC_PMAQ.pdf) to SAFE@cdfa.ca.gov. The application deadline is March 25, 2024.
For further information about the Feed Inspection Advisory Board TASC, please contact CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services branch staff at (916) 900-5022 or visit http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/Feed_FIAB.html.
Click here to view this original CDFA news release.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) annually funds and coordinates research to advance the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use and handling of fertilizer materials. Since 1990, FREP has funded such research on many of California’s important and environmentally sensitive cropping systems. The FREP Research and Project Database aims to make the wealth of information contained in FREP research projects readily available, easily understandable and convenient for growers to implement.
The following two research projects were recently completed, added to the FREP Database and blogged about in FREP’s Research Update series:
Development of Nutrient Budget and Nutrient Demand Model for Nitrogen Management in Cherry
Overview: Often the last trees to bloom and the first to harvest each season, California sweet cherry growers have a short window to make nitrogen (N) management decisions and in-season adjustments. Historically, cherry growers have utilized leaf sampling and critical values to manage N. While these tools can be useful for diagnosing a deficiency, alternate approaches may offer a better means for managing fertilization in this high value crop. In this project, the team collected measurements from three highly productive cherry groves to improve N fertilizer management tools available to California growers.
Key Takeaways: This project demonstrated that fertilizer use in mature California cherry groves can be optimized if N applications are adjusted based on tree demand and seasonal uptake patterns.
Tree Demand: N demand was determined to be an average of 2.59 lbs. per 1000 lbs. of harvested fruit plus an average of 28.3 lbs. per acre for perennial tissue growth and maintenance.
Seasonal Uptake Patterns: Starting approx. 30 days after bloom, N uptake from the soil occurs rapidly through the fruit development and vegetative growth stages with up to 90% of uptake occurring by September.
Click here for more information in this project’s Research Update blog.
Achieving Efficient Nitrogen Fertilizer Management in California Wheat
Overview: Wheat and other small grains are grown in diverse agricultural environments throughout California. Approximately 90% of the wheat, triticale, and barley in California is fall-sown and relies to some degree on precipitation that varies dramatically across the state. These conditions make efficient nitrogen (N) fertilizer management difficult because the right rate varies from field-to-field and year-to-year. Therefore, the goal of this project was to demonstrate and enable new ways of achieving best N management practices in California wheat and related winter cereals.
Key Takeaways: This project demonstrated that California wheat growers can effectively increase crop productivity and save N fertilizer by using:
N-Rich Reference Zones
Plant and Soil Measurements
UC Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Tool for California Wheat
Click here for more information in this project’s Research Update blog.
CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork is announcing the Urban Agriculture Grant Program — awarding $11.67 million to 33 projects across California that enhance the viability of urban agriculture.
“Urban agriculture provides places for community gathering, skills-sharing, workforce development, agricultural literacy, and increased food security,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “This investment by Governor Newsom and the Legislature brings a much-needed boost to local, innovative projects across the state dedicated to creating and enhancing local food production.”
Two types of grants have been awarded. Track 1 is the Systems Builder Community-Based Block Grant for community organizations, which will provide between $5,000 and $60,000 to urban agriculture projects in their regions. Recipients of this grant include $783.933 to Agroecology Commons in the Bay Area to uplift and reduce barriers for marginalized farmers by providing farm seed grants, mentorship, and technical assistance.
Track 2 is the Urban Agriculture Practitioners Grant for direct funding to urban agriculture projects. The funded projects include infrastructure, workforce development, community engagement, community gardens and more. Track 2 grant awards include:
$300,000 for Black Thumb Farm in Los Angeles County to provide an enriching after-school experience for BIPOC youth to learn sustainable farming approaches to improve food equity through mentorship, leadership training, and hands-on training workshops.
$246,689 for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians in Sonoma County to increase indigenous food sovereignty through the creation of cultural demonstration areas, hosting gatherings to educate on traditional food production/harvesting methods, providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, highlighting traditional food pathways, and restoring landscapes to include edible native vegetation.
All funded urban agriculture projects are either led by or serve priority populations as defined by the California Climate Investments Priority Population mapping tool. This means 100 percent of the funding will serve communities that are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and include disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households. More than $68 million was requested during the application period, highlighting the interest and need for urban agriculture across California.
Visit the Urban Agriculture Grant Program website to view the full list of 2024 grantees and to sign up for the program newsletter to receive future updates.
Click here to view this original CDFA news release.
PROGRAM: Research & Development, Center for Analytical Chemistry
POSITION TITLE: Senior Environmental Scientist
USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB? You’ll either find me in the lab working on some samples or helping others with theirs, at my desk writing or researching about those samples, or in my boss’s office or in meetings talking about those samples.
HOW DO YOU WORK FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD SUPPLY? As part of the Research and Development team here at the Center for Analytical Chemistry (CAC), we work toward improving or developing methods that the CAC or other agencies will use to test chemicals in food, water and the environment.
THOUGHTS OF WORKING AT INSPECTION SERVICES? Although many people don’t know what we do out here at the lab, I have a wonderful sense of pride in knowing that my colleagues and I are doing our part to help California and its people.
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE? As the verse goes, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Therefore, I try not to worry too much about things, laugh when I can, and treat others with kindness.
SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOU? I can think of song lyrics that will fit into almost any conversation. Don’t ask me the title of the song or the artist, I just have random bits of songs in my head at all times.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY? This is my home away from home. I’ve made wonderful friends here
The FREP team is inviting crop consultants and advisors to take part in evaluating how FREP can better support their work across California.
FREP will be holding a series of focus group sessions to gather feedback and suggestions on irrigation and nutrient management informational products and services provided by FREP and partnering organizations.
Click here to view a FREP blog will details who is eligible to participate, why it’s important, and when are where the sessions are being held.
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) Supervisor Mark Cady on Feb. 7 became president of the California Chapter of the American Society of Agronomy (CalASA).
“I’m excited to take on this responsibility,” Cady said. “My goals include trying to offer the best conference ever and helping our chapter develop a stronger relationship with our parent organization based in Madison, Wisconsin.”
CalASA was founded in April 1971 by California agronomists wanting a conference focused on California agricultural sciences. The CalASA annual conference was launched in January 1972 and has been held every year since. The purpose of the annual California Plant and Soil Conference is the same as the national chapter: to promote research, disseminate scientific information, foster high standards of educational and ethical conduct in the profession, and facilitate robust cooperation among organizations with similar missions.
This is Cady’s seventh year as a CalASA board member. Now in his fourth year on the CalASA executive board, the president position rotated to him for one year. CalASA presidential duties include organizing board activities and ensuring all tasks and processes are going according to plan for the California Plant and Soil Conference to occur at the beginning of each year.
“The value of the conference is it’s not simply high-level research reports, but more like relevant scientific topics suitable for academics and producers in the field,” Cady said. “The audience is a great mix of students and people with established careers interacting in a way that would not otherwise be possible.”
American Society of Agronomy (ASA) membership includes agricultural academics, private crop advisors and those working in crop, plant and soil sciences. ASA also is the home organization of the Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) program. CDFA’s FREP has a relationship with ASA in that FREP helped establish the California Nitrogen Specialty certification for CCAs. Crop advisors must have this certification to approve irrigation and nitrogen management plans in California’s Central Valley.
Click here for more information about CalASA or the annual California Plant and Soil Conference.
“If you’re involved in any way with agricultural sciences, this is a great conference that we invite you to participate in,” Cady said. “And you’re by definition a member of CalASA if you attend the conference.”
Fun Trivia Fact: Cady’s spouse, Casey Walsh Cady, was president of CalASA in 2003, making them the second husband-wife team to have served different terms as CalASA president.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program announces a new Flooding Response Resources section has been added to the Resources section of its Educate webpage.
As seasonal storms are underway, this new section offers several educational resources related to flooding and produce safety on farms. The California agricultural community is encouraged to visit this site regularly as new resources become available.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) is accepting applications for the 2023-24 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program, until 5 p.m. PDT April 4, 2024.
The program will award competitive grants to support projects that cultivate equity, nurture students, build climate resilience, and create scalable and sustainable change.
To support a systems approach to advancing farm to school throughout the state, the program offers four funding tracks:
Track 1: The California Farm to School TK-12 Procurement and Education Grant
Track 2: The California Farm to School Technical Assistance (TA) Grant
Track 3: The California Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Grant
Track 4: The California Farm to School Producer Grant
The California Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022 made appropriations for the 2023-24 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program. CDFA will make a total of up-to $52.8 million available via the four funding tracks outlined above. The amount of funds awarded in each funding track will depend on the number of competitive applications received in each funding track.
For assistance and questions related to the Farm to School Incubator Grant Program process, please email cafarmtoschool@cdfa.ca.gov.
Click here to view this original CDFA news release.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces three vacancies on the Feed Inspection Advisory Board (FIAB). This board makes regulatory and enforcement recommendations to CDFA to help ensure that commercial feed inspections contribute to a clean and wholesome supply of milk, meat and eggs.
The FIAB vacancies are for three commercial feed industry representatives. Board member applicants must hold a current California Commercial Feed License. The term of office for board members is up to three years. Board members do not receive compensation, but they are entitled to necessary travel expenses.
Individuals interested in a board appointment must submit a resume and a completed Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire (PMAQ). The PMAQ is available on the CDFA website at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/pdfs/PMAQ_Feed_IAB.pdf. Both the resume and PMAQ are due by February 29, 2024.
This is a blog for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Inspection Services Division (ISD). Read here for the latest news about how ISD is providing Californians professional services that support and contribute to a safe, abundant and quality food supply; environmentally sound agricultural practices; and an equitable marketplace for California agriculture.