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Spring Quarterly Feed Update newsletter released

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Joshua Bingham
Spring Quarterly Feed Update newsletter cover

Click here to read the spring 2021 Quarterly Feed Update issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Commercial Feed Regulatory Program.

Highlights include:

  • Notice to industry: tonnage tax report changes
  • New webpage for human food by-product diversion
  • Tonnage classification
  • Incentives for human food by-product diversion
  • 2020 sampling survey

The Commercial Feed Regulatory Program is part of the Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services branch of CDFA’s Inspection Services Division.

Posted in CDFA Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship Program, CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Safe Animal Feed Education (SAFE) | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

FREP blog highlights transition of Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Training Program to CDFA, including new webpages

Posted on April 20, 2021 by Joshua Bingham

As of March 1, 2021, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) assumed full management responsibility of the Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Training Program. The management transition includes the addition of two FREP webpages.

The new Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Training Program webpage includes:

  • Information on the Nitrogen Management Specialty for Certified Crop Advisors
  • Information on the Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Training for Grower Self-Certification
  • List of upcoming training dates.

The new Continuing Education webpage includes:

  • List of upcoming continuing education courses
  • List of self-study continuing education courses
  • Application to offer Continuing Education Credits

Click here to read the original FREP blog post with more details about this transition.

Posted in CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

CDFA Announces Awards for 2021 Farm to School Grant Program

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) announces that it is awarding $8.49 million in grants to 60 farm to school projects throughout the state via the 2021 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program.

“We’re happy to report that so many projects are being funded in our inaugural year of the California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “The excitement to participate demonstrates how much the program goals resonate with school meal providers, educators and regional food system partners.”
 
View the Farm to School Incubator Grant Program section of the California Farm to School Program webpage for a list of awardees and their projects.

View the CDFA press release announcing these awards for more information.

Posted in CDFA Farm to School Network, CDFA Farm to School Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Did you know changes in feed industry tonnage tax reporting highlight vital role of human food by-products being upcycled to animal feed?

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Joshua Bingham

Did you know the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Commercial Feed Regulatory Program (CFRP) recently changed tonnage tax reporting in the California feed industry to highlight the vital role of the diversion of human food by-products to animal food?

These changes will include expanded and specific reporting such as overall feed categories, specific feed or ingredient, and intended species. Human food by-product definitions for the California feed industry can be found on the CFRP website, and are categorized as: wet food processing waste; recovered retail food; restaurant food waste; and cull fruits and vegetables.

CFRP also is working diligently to publish regulations pertaining to the incentivization of licensing and tonnage tax reporting of by-products, including assessing licensees at a lower tonnage tax and license rate. Notification will be provided to the industry when the regulations are published.

Visit CDFA’s Safe Animal Feed Education Program Human Food Waste (By-product) Diversion webpage for more information about how more than 12.5 million tons of by-product are currently being diverted to animal feed within California’s livestock industry. The diversion of this tonnage that would otherwise be going to landfills demonstrates the feed industry’s innovative recycling nature!

CFRP is part of CDFA’s Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services branch in the Division of Inspection Services.

Posted in CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Inspection Services: Did You Know?, CDFA Safe Animal Feed Education (SAFE) | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Register now for California Farm Food Safety E-Learning Series about biological soil amendments of animal origin and production agricultural water

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Joshua Bingham
E-Learning Series flier

Register now for two tracks in the UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology California Farm Food Safety E-Learning Series funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture Produce Safety Program.

Several speakers will provide short presentations during the two-hour sessions and time will be dedicated to answering questions from participants. Pre-registration is required for the free sessions that will be held online via Zoom.  

The Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin (BSAAO) series will provide information about the benefits and risks of BSAAO during production. This series is tailored to Californians, with specific BSAAO regulatory and enforcement information relevant to California growers.

  • Session 1: 1-3 p.m. April 7 – Overview of BSAAO and the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule
  • Session 2: 1-3 p.m. April 14 – Compost
  • Session 3: 1-3 p.m. April 21 – Soil amendments containing ingredients of animal origin
  • Sign up for the free BSAAO series here

The Production Agricultural Water series will provide information on risks associated with production agricultural water, current best practices for agricultural water management, treatment options for agricultural water and updates on the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule agricultural water testing requirements. This series is tailored to Californians, with specific agricultural water regulatory and enforcement information relevant to California growers.

  • Session 1: 1-3 p.m. May 6 – Update on agricultural water and the Produce Safety Rule
  • Session 2: 1-3 p.m. May 13 – Assessing on-farm risks associated with agricultural water systems
  • Session 3: 1-3 p.m. May 20 – Introduction to options for treating agricultural water
  • Sign up for the free Production Agricultural Water series here

Visit the UC Davis California Farm Food Safety E-Learning Series webpage for more information.

Posted in CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Produce Safety Program | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Reducing food waste through recovery and upcycling

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Joshua Bingham
Food Recovery video

Did you know that “food recovery” means preventing waste by recovering as much wholesome food as possible for people in need?

Did you know that “food upcycling” is the re-use of food or food byproducts to create new ways of feeding people and animals while minimizing food waste?

Both of these concepts are presented in this video on the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Food Recovery website.

View this original post on the CDFA Planting Seeds blog.

Posted in CDFA Food Recovery, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Inspection Services: Did You Know? | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CA Farm to School Network newsletter highlights recent conference, upcoming events, success stories, funding, research

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) California Farm to School Network just released its monthly newsletter.

Highlights include:

  • Update on CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program
  • Review of March 10-12 CA Farm to School Virtual Conference
  • Upcoming workshop: designing a more inclusive school meals program
  • USDA update: children will continue to receive free meals through summer 2021 due to pandemic
  • Farm to school success story: Orcutt Union School District develops culinary arts program
  • USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program success story: CA produce company partners with food banks
  • National Farm to School Network resources, including grants & funding, webinars & events, and research & resources

The California Farm to School Network is composed of farm to school practitioners and enthusiasts statewide. Click on the newsletter subscribe button to also receive these monthly updates that include information about grants, resources, research, webinars, events and news from the National Farm to School Network. The California Farm to School Program is part of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) in the Division of Inspection Services.

Posted in CDFA Farm to School Network, CDFA Farm to School Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CDFA Inspection Services #CelebratingResilience this #CaAgDay2021 through release of annual report

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Joshua Bingham
Annual Report Cover

Today’s California Agriculture Day theme of “Celebrating Resilience” recognizes the agricultural industry’s ability to adapt to change, especially considering the events of last year.

Many examples of this, and how California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Inspection Services Division staff continued to provide services to our resilient California Ag, can be found in the Inspection Services Annual Report 2020 (FY2019-2020).

Examples include:

  • Shipping Point Inspection inspected 114,280 lots / 2.55 billion pounds of almonds (setting a new seasonal record for CA almond production)
  • Center for Analytical Chemistry developed 20 new scientific methods while satisfying the regulatory and monitoring needs of 33 public agencies
  • Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program reviewed and registered 3,032 organic input and 9,658 conventional fertilizer labels
  • California Nutrition Incentive Program distributed $2.85 million in incentives to low-income shoppers by providing a dollar-for-dollar match of nutrition benefits spent on California-grown fruits and vegetables at participating Certified Farmers’ Markets and small retail stores
  • Critical food safety inspections continued for both produce safety and animal feed

We invite you to further inspect our Annual Report 2020 to learn how Inspection Services fulfills our mission of providing professional services that support and contribute to a safe, abundant, quality food supply; environmentally sound agricultural practices; and an equitable marketplace for California agriculture.

Posted in CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork, Inspection Services Division Administration Unit | Leave a comment

Anaheim Food Safety Lab remodeling project fosters optimal operation

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces its Center for Analytical Chemistry (CAC) Anaheim Food Safety Laboratory remodeling project is complete.

The remodeling included complete reconfiguration, updating infrastructure and adding electrical power to the CAC laboratory at the site in Anaheim, California. The work was completed in stages to allow operations to continue at a reduced capacity during construction. The new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and advanced lab equipment are essential for the optimal operation of sensitive instruments and allow for flexible work configurations.

CAC is a branch of CDFA’s Division of Inspection Services. CAC scientists utilize state-of-the-art equipment and processes to conduct agrochemical analyses to ensure a safe, abundant and quality supply of food and fiber in California.

Posted in CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Food Safety Laboratory, CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged , | Leave a comment

California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and CDFA Secretary Karen Ross headline state Farm to School Conference

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) will conclude its bi-annual, three-day California Farm to School Virtual Conference today.

Featured conference speakers include California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, co-chairs of the newly formed California Farm to School Working Group, a committee of experts focused on expanding farm to school programming in California.

Click here to read a CDFA press release that includes details of the conference and the California Farm to School Working Group.

Posted in CDFA Farm to School Network, CDFA Farm to School Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork | Tagged , | Leave a comment