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CDFA accepting proposals for 2021 Fertilizer Research and Education Program grants

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) Grant Program is now accepting proposals for the 2021 grant cycle.

Applicants are invited to submit two-page concept proposals to FREP by Friday, January 29, 2021. Concepts should be aligned with at least one of the identified priority research areas.

This year’s priorities include: demonstrating and/or validating management practices that optimize fertilizer and irrigation water use, addressing challenges and barriers to adoption of management practices, technical education, filling knowledge gaps in nitrogen management for specific crops, research on the role of organic input materials in soil nutrient management, understanding nitrogen movement and investigating mitigation strategies to reduce nitrogen loss.

View a CDFA press release for more details.

Since 1990, FREP has funded more than 250 research projects, investing more than $22 million in research and outreach projects focusing on California’s important and environmentally sensitive cropping systems. A database of completed and ongoing research is available on the FREP Research web page at www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/FREPresearch.

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

CA Farm to School newsletter highlights CDFA accepting applications for F2S grants, USDA proposed rule to change school meal program requirements, school garden success, resources & more

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Joshua Bingham

A California Farm to School monthly update was just released.

California Farm to School Network logo

Highlights include:

  • The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program is now open for applications. Grants will be awarded to support innovative local and regional farm to school projects in nutrition education, sustainable production and procurement, and high-quality student engagement through experiential learning. View the request for applications here. Application closes February 16, 2021. Click here to register for an informational webinar about the grant program at 1 p.m. January 7.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule for Child Nutrition Programs that would change the requirements for milk, whole grains and sodium at school meal programs. The public comment period closes December 28.
  • San Luis Coastal Unified School District Food Services has been working hard with local farms, businesses and schools to get a variety of healthy, nutritious food to students. Check out their various resources!
  • Information about resources, events, funding and more.

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 Office of Farm to Fork accepting applications for 2021 Farm to School grants

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) is now accepting applications for the 2021 Farm to School Incubator Grant Program. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. PT February 16, 2021.

The Farm to School Incubator Grant Program will award competitive grants to support innovative local and regional farm to school projects in nutrition education, sustainable food production and procurement, and high-quality student engagement through experiential learning.
 
Grants will be offered via two funding tracks, including the California Farm to School Innovation Grant and the California Farm to School Regional Partnerships Grant.

Click here to read a CDFA press release with more details. Click here to view the 2021 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program Request for Applications.

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

FREP blog highlights project promoting adoption of soil nitrate quick tests by Spanish-speaking operators on strawberry ranches in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Joshua Bingham
Project leader Dr. Gerry Spinelli trains a group of irrigators and ranch managers in Parajo Valley.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) released a blog post: Research Update: Soil Nitrate Quick Tests to Improve Nitrogen Fertilization in Strawberry Ranches.

The post, which is part of a series that highlights projects funded by the FREP competitive grant program, examines a project by the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz titled, “Promoting the adoption of soil nitrate quick tests by Spanish-speaking operators on strawberry ranches in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.”

Background: Given a considerable number of Central Coast communities rely exclusively on groundwater for their drinking water supply, it is crucial to enhance the efficiency of N fertilization to prevent nitrate contamination of water resources. On the other hand, high-value strawberry production requires N to be readily available for crop uptake to achieve high yield and quality. The risk of nitrate leaving the plant root zone and contaminating freshwater resources raises concerns and requires growers to be efficient with their nitrogen management.

This project is promoting the use of soil nitrate quick tests (SNQTs) as a tool to better manage N in strawberry farms on the Central Coast. SQNTs are performed in the field to measure available soil nitrate and inform N application decisions and practices. One barrier to adopting the practice of using soil nitrate quick tests is that many agricultural operators are Spanish-only speakers while many research and extension materials available are only in English. This project aims to remove the barriers for Spanish speakers to apply nitrate quick tests in strawberry and coastal vegetable crops.

Click here to read the full FREP blog post.

FREP is a CDFA program that funds and facilitates research to advance the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use and handling of fertilizing materials. It is part of the Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services branch of CDFA’s Division of Inspection Services.

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

Apply now to fill vacancies on Feed Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcommittee

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces four 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, Livestock Drug Program and Safe Animal Feed Education (SAFE) Program.

Click here to view a CDFA press release about the vacancies with instructions on how to apply to be a subcommittee member.

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

Beneficiaries of CDFA’s California Nutrition Incentive Program report lower levels of food insecurity

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Joshua Bingham

California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) beneficiaries report lower levels of food insecurity, greater ability to consume fruits and vegetables, and overwhelmingly positive appreciation for the program. This is according to an evaluation by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI).

Read more about NPI’s research brief in today’s CDFA Planting Seeds blog post.

Posted in California Nutrition Incentive Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork | Tagged , | Leave a comment

FREP Blog examines nitrogen-rich reference zones in small grain crops

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) released a blog post: Research Update: N management case studies: Utilizing N-rich reference zones in California small grain crops.

The post, which originally ran on the UC Small Grains Blog, examines recently developed, FREP grant-funded case studies detailing nitrogen (N) management actions and crop productivity outcomes in several small grain fields during the 2019-20 growing season. Growers from across California worked with UC Cooperative Extension to implement N-rich reference zones in their fields. To help growers determine whether and how much N fertilizer to add in-season, plant and soil measurements from the reference zone and broader field are compared to understand whether the broader field is sufficient in available N.

Click here to view the FREP blog post.

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

CA Farm to School Network newsletter highlights incubator grant program, Oakland Unified’s Central Kitchen facility, Davis Farm to School veggie giveaway and more

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Joshua Bingham

The California Farm to School Network just released a monthly update.

California Farm to School Network logo

Highlights include:

  • December 4, 2020, is the last day to submit a public comment for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program. The program will award competitive grants to support innovative local and regional farm to school projects in nutrition education, sustainable food production and procurement, and high-quality student engagement through experiential learning. Comments received will be considered before the program’s Request for Applications is made final.
  • Oakland Unified School District has completed its Central Kitchen facility. It is able to serve up to 35,000 student meals per day, and also contains a 1-acre urban farm and school facility to educate students in farming, nutrition culinary arts, and more!
  • Davis Farm to School recently worked with Fiery Ginger Farm for a Farm2Families veggie giveaway at Patwin Elementary School.
  • Information about virtual conferences and funding opportunities.
  • National Farm to School Network resources, including grants and funding; webinars and events; research and resources; policy news; and job opportunities.

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

ISD Staff Spotlight: Ted Bert is proud to work on a team whose members value and respect each other

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Joshua Bingham

NAME: Ted Bert

YEARS AT CDFA: 8

PROGRAM: Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services (FFLDRS) branch / Feed and Livestock Drugs

TITLE: Environmental Scientist

USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES: Day-to-day activities involve routine inspections at firms throughout my area to ensure feed and food safety. Though, about 80% of my job is federal contract work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducting Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance inspections. Sometimes my work includes investigating animal deaths, sampling feed, and ensuring label requirements meet the quality and quantity claimed by the manufacturer of the product.

HOW DO YOU WORK FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD SUPPLY? Our program is industry funded. Therefore, we regulate the industry we serve. Our program reports to a board which is made up of industry manufacturers, brokers and livestock industry nutritionists. We focus our program priorities and activities based on the board’s recommendations, which today is mainly feed and food safety and ensuring equity in the feed market. The feed industry funds our program not only to regulate them, but to ensure a safe food/feed supply to the global consumer. 

MEMORABLE MOMENT ON THE JOB: I don’t know if I have one particular moment, but I would just say that my field supervisor and my program manager, along with the whole feed team, are exceptional people. We all value and respect each other and we all have the same goal; and that is that the CA feed industry succeeds and the feed program is fair while providing exceptional service to the industry we regulate. The knowledge, talent and experiences that we all bring to the group make it a great team to be a part of.

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: Work hard and treat others the same way you want to be treated.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY? Working through COVID-19 has presented many challenges, but something that I appreciate about the feed program is the constant communication I’ve had with my whole team and program management. We were able to use our down time to update all of our inspection forms, standard operating procedures and document sharing capabilities. We communicate now more than ever, and I think it’s been really positive.

Posted in CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Livestock Drug Program, ISD Staff Spotlight | Tagged | Leave a comment

CDFA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR 2021 FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM’S REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) is now seeking public comments regarding the 2021 Farm to School Incubator Grant Program’s Request for Applications (RFA).

Read the CDFA press release for full details. Public comments are due by 5 p.m. December 4, 2020.

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