{"id":1,"date":"2025-02-20T22:08:58","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T22:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs02dev.cdfa.local\/oars-blog\/?p=1"},"modified":"2025-03-05T16:40:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T16:40:00","slug":"new_office_name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/02\/20\/new_office_name\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing OARS: A New Name for a Stronger Agricultural Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are excited to announce that our office has a new name: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars\/news\/\">The Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability<\/a> (OARS).\u00a0 This new name better reflects our mission to strengthen the agricultural system while also addressing the challenges of the future. Along with the name change, we have introduced a new, unified logo that replaces our many siloed grant program logos, symbolizing our shared mission across all programs. Over the next few months, you will notice updates to our communications that incorporate the new name and logo. We encourage you to share this information with your colleagues, partners and stakeholders. You can find our official announcement and our new logo here, as well as our recently updated mission and vision statements.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision to rebrand was rooted in the evolution of CDFA\u2019s relationship to sustainable farming over the last 30 years.&nbsp; Our original name, \u201cThe Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI),\u201d stemmed from the Canella Environmental Farming Act of 1995. The Canella Act laid the groundwork for our incentive programs and codified the Department\u2019s commitment to advancing sustainability through science. Today, our programs not only support a healthy environment \u2013 marked by clean water, fresh air, and thriving biodiversity -but also the social and economic health of California&#8217;s farms and ranches. Looking forward, we also recognize the need to build resilience for the challenges ahead- from extreme weather to regulatory changes. We must develop research, demonstration and incentive grant programs to help agricultural stakeholders adapt and thrive.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019re excited to announce that our office has a new name: The Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS). This change reflects our commitment to strengthening agriculture while addressing future challenges. Alongside the name change, we\u2019ve introduced a unified logo, symbolizing our shared mission across programs. This rebrand marks the evolution of our role in sustainable farming, building on decades of progress since the Canella Environmental Farming Act of 1995. As we move forward, OARS will continue to support California\u2019s farmers and ranchers through research, incentives, and innovation to ensure resilience in an ever-changing landscape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[3],"class_list":["post-1","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-informational","tag-information","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-4.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":175,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/technical-assistance-program-builds-statewide-partnerships-in-climate-smart-and-conservation-agriculture\/","url_meta":{"origin":1,"position":0},"title":"Technical Assistance Program Builds Statewide Partnerships in Climate Smart and Conservation Agriculture\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The OARS Technical Assistance (TA) Program is critical to realizing the OARS mission: \u201cto use the best available science and knowledge from the agricultural community to design and implement practical solutions to California\u2019s natural resource challenges that improve the environmental and economic sustainability of producing nutritious food, fiber, and energy.\u201d\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Informational&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Secretary Ross gives an inspirational talk to Technical Assistance Providers on the importance and impact of their work at the 2024 OARS TA Conference.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":70,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/03\/28\/what-is-the-office-of-pesticide-consultation-and-analysis\/","url_meta":{"origin":1,"position":1},"title":"What is the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis?","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"March 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The California Department of Food and Agriculture\u2019s (CDFA\u2019s) Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) was formed in 1992 following the formation of CalEPA\u2019s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Prior to this time CDFA was responsible for pesticide regulation in the state. OPCA's primary role is to provide DPR with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Informational&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Meet-Our-Team-OPCA.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Meet-Our-Team-OPCA.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Meet-Our-Team-OPCA.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Meet-Our-Team-OPCA.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Meet-Our-Team-OPCA.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Meet-Our-Team-OPCA.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":150,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/cdfa-looks-to-get-ahead-of-invasive-agricultural-pests\/","url_meta":{"origin":1,"position":2},"title":"CDFA Looks to Get Ahead of Invasive Agricultural Pests","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"California leads the nation in specialty crop production, growing more than 400 different crops across its diverse agricultural landscape. With such variety comes a complex web of pest management challenges that demand innovative, research-driven solutions. The OARS Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis is continuously working to support pest management\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Informational&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tuta-absoluta-herbivory-test-on-commercial-tomatoes-vs-wild-South-American-tomato-species.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tuta-absoluta-herbivory-test-on-commercial-tomatoes-vs-wild-South-American-tomato-species.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tuta-absoluta-herbivory-test-on-commercial-tomatoes-vs-wild-South-American-tomato-species.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tuta-absoluta-herbivory-test-on-commercial-tomatoes-vs-wild-South-American-tomato-species.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":171,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/investing-in-impact-how-the-oars-team-helps-deliver-climate-solutions-on-california-dairy-and-livestock-farms\/","url_meta":{"origin":1,"position":3},"title":"Investing in Impact: How the OARS Team Helps Deliver Climate Solutions on California Dairy and Livestock Farms\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The CDFA Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) is dedicated to supporting California's dairy and livestock farmers in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As proof of that, the CDFA\u2019s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) and Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP) awarded nearly $25 million\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Informational&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A technical assistance provider and rancher are reviewing data at a dairy farm","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AdobeStock_289583412_Preview-e1753726652620.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AdobeStock_289583412_Preview-e1753726652620.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AdobeStock_289583412_Preview-e1753726652620.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AdobeStock_289583412_Preview-e1753726652620.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":193,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/a-note-from-our-director-august-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":1,"position":4},"title":"A Note from Our Director | August 2025","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"August 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Stakeholders,\u00a0 I hope you enjoy this newsletter showcasing the accomplishments of our grantees and partners and giving you a peek at how we lead our programs to serve producers while contributing to the state\u2019s sustainability goals. Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to summarize the funding status of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Informational&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"August 2025 OARS Director Report","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":143,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/california-conservation-planning-partnership-c2p2-advances-the-oars-technical-assistance-program-goals\/","url_meta":{"origin":1,"position":5},"title":"California Conservation Planning Partnership (C2P2) advances the OARS Technical Assistance Program Goals","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"CDFA & OARS are committed to supporting farmers through the C2P2 MOA, uniting key partners for effective conservation practices.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Informational&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dr. Sara Garcia, OARS Technical Assistance Coordinator, represents CDFA\u2019s OARS team in a C2P2 Panel Discussion at the 2024 CARCD State Conference","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1\/revisions\/30"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}